OFFICIAL MEMBERS OF LARGE CONSTITUENCIES. LIVERPOOL and Manchester have instituted
proceedings to make two of their Members resign, on the score of differences about the Income-tax. We object to the Income-tax as it now stands, but are not clear as to the expediency of dismissing Representatives on grounds so narrow.
Mr. Cardwell's course in the matter of the tax appears to us to be erroneous ; but Liverpool would search some time before it could discover a more appropriate or creditable representative. We hold it a manifest advantage to have a man of so much intelligence and ability in the council of the nation: if he be there, is there any advantage in making him sit for some other constituency, or in shifting the constituency, on which he reflects credit, to some ordinary Member?
Mr. Milner Gibson 's case presents two points of distinction. Mr. Gibson is a Minister ; and he is under a special pledge. At his election in July last, he volunteered a promise, that when great principles were involved," "he should make the wishes of his constituents his leading consideration." " I will first consider in my Parliamentary course," he said, " what I essentially believe to be the wishes ofthe great body of enlightened and independent people of Mandiester.' That great and enlightened, body wish their dutiful Member to vote against the Income-tax. He thinks it impracticable to do without the tax ; vainly awaits some feasible improvement; and claims "that fair allowance which may with justice be made for the Parliamentary course of a Member holding office in any Government." Equitable enough; but his constituents 'Ives' him to his pledge. He evidently does not think that this is one of those occasions when great principles are involved " ; and that is the point at issue. A way to cut the gordian knot would be to resign his seat : but we can understand that there may be sound objections to that course. It is not desirable to court defeat at the hustings for a member of a Government which already appears to be weakly. On the other hand, so important a constituency. as Manchester may reasonably object to being trifled with, or being represented by a Member who is not free to consider any measure upon its merits. The case is a strong illustration of the inconvenience which accrues when gentlemen undertake to fill posts of which the duties so often clash as the seat for a large constituency and a place in the Government. Mr. Milner Gibson is a Member who reflects credit on his constituents by his talents as a debater; and, though we do not know that the commercial office selected for him is altogether suited to his natural turn, he is useful in the same debating capacity to the Government : but it is evident that he cannot conveniently serve the two masters at once. If we might advise, it would be to suggest that Manchester should adopt no rough course now ; but that, on future elections, both official gentlemen and constituencies should remember these em- barrassing conflicts of duty.
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