The house of Commons will reassemble on Monday, and the
ad- journed debate on Mr. WaRD's resolution must be resumed. It will then be seen bow the new Cabinet will meet the important question involved in that Resolution. An amendment, it is said, will be moved by LordAurnoite, or somebody, for the Ministers. But why move an amendment at all, if it be really true that a majority of the Cabinet concur in the principle laid down in Mr. Waras Resolution? It is possible certainly, though improbable, that the critical acumen of Lord ALTHOBP may sugest a verbal amendment which does not interfere with the principle. If Ministers and their supporters think it worth while to stickle as to mere phraseology, no man of sense will quarrel with them on that score. But it is of importance to scrutinize closely theircoun ter-resolution, in order to ascertain that no latent deceit lurks therein—that no loophole is left for Ministers by the introduc- tion of ambiguous parts of speech. Should there be any, the rely least, doubt as to the real meaning of the Ministerial amendment, the whole body of Reformers—every man who was prepared to vote OD Tuesday last with Mr. \WARD—should scout the subterfuge. There are not it few deceitful and suspected Members of the House of Commons—not a few who would be glad to find some method of escaping from a decided vote on this question, as well as others. They call treachery to their constituents and their professions, "supporting the Government !" Such men betray all Governments. But we can most distinctly assure them, that on this occasion the thing is impossible. Their votes will be recorded, and their motives rigidly examined and exposed. This is no common question : it is one upon which every man will be called upon to say Yes or No, without equivocation.
As to the suggestion that the House of Commons should be satis- fied with a mere verbal assurance on the part of the new Ministers that they coincide in the principle of Mr. WARD'S Resolution, and are prepared in due time to act upon it, it is one which should be repudiated at once. There is no time left for tampering with this subject. We must not lose another year. A majority of the House of Commons may have perhaps, but the People of Ireland assuredly have not, confidence in the Ministry; and it is of the utmost iinportance that a solemn reso- lution should be entered on the journals of the House qf Commons, pledging that branch of the Legislature to a substantial and satisfactory reform of the Irish Church. Besides, if Ministers are prepared to take that course, why should they object to record their intention, and pledge themselves to act up to it ? The straightforward path is in this case the easiest. "Honesty is the best policy" both for Ministers and Members.
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