THE CONSERVATIVE RtiFOliMEKS. 



The Constitution of England, to remind them once more of a fact 

 which does not appear to be often borne in mind by them, is com- 

 posed of King, Lords, and Commons their privileges equal, and the 

 checks upon each mutual. 



In the last event, however, it might be found, were the experiment 

 once more hazarded, that, since governments were made for the 

 people, and not the people for governments, the people are the 

 strongest power of the three, after all. In plain language, it will no 

 longer answer to affect a love for the Constitution, and at the same 

 time to attempt to cajole, and failing that, to coerce one of the three 

 powers of which it is formed. Let each be equal for a time, if 

 it be only by way of giving it " a fair trial ;" for let the Conservatives 

 be assured, that the days of " divine right" are gone by and would 

 they know whither, let them once more exhume the head of Charles 

 the First, and that may tell them. 



Sir Robert Peel and his subaltern master will find it no easy task 

 to bend the existing House of Commons to their pleasure. They may 

 have gained a few votes in the last election, but they have only ren- 

 dered their adversaries more determined to co-operate, more impla- 

 cable, more impracticable. Already has the Minister tried his 

 utmost available strength assisted by some few waverers, who may 

 perhaps become deserters and he has been thrown. Sir Robert still 

 harps upon his "fair trial," and claims the confidence of the nation. 

 He must not be permitted a trial he can beget no confidence. A 

 Minister must have entitled himself by years of service for the 

 people to its confidence, ere he can be permitted to claim it. It 

 behoves the people of this country to look upon their rulers with 

 the most suspicious jealousy ; and to give the present men what 

 they call a fair trial, is to put the House of Commons into their 

 hands, and to wait to see whether they will hand it over to the aristo- 

 cracy, or no. 



For what, after all, are the present set of men ? Are they 

 Reformers, or Tories ? No man can answer positively. They have, 

 at this moment, the support of the Tory party, only because it has the 

 most entire and implicit confidence in their insincerity. Except 

 upon this supposition, can we believe that a whole party, which 

 has to this moment, set itself obstinately against every thing in 

 the nature of Reform; which hates the very word which has 



