Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/289

 1837.] First Reformed Parliament to Death of William IV. 275 which they were bound either to carry or to resign. There has never been a case in which this honourable obligation was more binding than it was on the Melbourne Admini- stration, with regard both to the appropriation principle and to the introduction of representation into municipal government. They were both points on which there could be no com- promise, and with regard to tithes, Sir Robert Peel had set the nobler example of resigning because the opposition had carried a vote, the effect of which, now that they were in office, they allowed to be destroyed. There could be no public confidence in politicians who acted in such a manner, and they were only retained in power because the real Liberals were afraid of the immediate intentions of the Conservatives. If they could not defeat the opposition, ministers could with its aid, and with that of the Irish members, set at defiance the wishes of the English Radicals. A measure which they brought in to carry out the recommendations of Peel's ecclesiastical commission, was in effect a proposal to increase the influence and strengthen the position of the Anglican episcopacy. It was opposed by the Radicals, and on the third reading, on the iQth of July, Hume proposed, C. Buller seconded, and Buncombe supported, a motion for its rejection, all of them speaking strongly of the folly of the Government in passing Conservative measures. As O'Connell and his friends deserted their old associates, only forty-four votes were obtained for the amendment, that being a fair test of the number of the thorough-going English Radicals who would rather sacrifice the Whig Ministry than betray their principles. For the rest the session was tame enough. A bill to amend the marriage laws for the relief of dissenters was passed without opposition, Peel having, when in office, pro- posed a measure pretty much on the same lines. The commutation of tithes in England, being equally agreeable to the Conservatives was also passed. The stamp duty on news- papers, instead of being repealed, was reduced, a half-and-half way of proceeding which satisfied no one ; what was retained