--the breach of pledges--the
forfeiture of confidence--the abandonment of a national cause. On the
other it is doubtful; it rests but on personal feeling, which may be
painful to overcome, but which ought not to stand for a moment in the
way of public duty.

Far be it from us to say, that amongst those who have cast their lot on
the opposite side, there are not many who have done so from the best and
the purest motives. The public career of some, and the private virtues
of others, would belie us if we dared to assert the contrary. With them
it may be conviction, or it may be an overruling sense of
expediency--and with either motive we do not quarrel--but surely it is
not for them, the new converts, to insinuate taunts of interested
motives and partial construction against those who maintain the deserted
principle. "For whom are you counsel now?" interrupted Sir Robert Peel,
in the midst of the able, nay chivalrous speech of Mr Francis Scott, the
honourable member for Roxburghshire. Admitting that the question was
jocularly put and good-humouredly meant, we yet admire the spirit of the
reply. "I am asked for whom I am the counsel. I am the counsel for my
opinions. I am no delegate in this assembly. I will yield to no man in
sincerity. I am counsel for no man, no party, no sect. I belong to no
party. I followed, and was proud to follow, that party which was led so
gloriously--the party of the constitution, which was led by the Right
Honourable Baronet. I followed under his banner, and was glad to serve
under it. I would have continued to serve under his banner if he had
hoisted and maintained the same flag!" Can it be that the Premier, who
talks so largely about his own wounded feelings, can make no allowance
for the sorrow, or even the indignation of those who are now restrained
by a sense of paramount duty from following him any further? Can he
believe that such a man as Mr Stafford O'Brien would have used such
language as this, had he not been stung by the injustice of the course
pursued towards him and his party:--"We will not envy you your
triumph--we will not participate in your victory. Small in numbers, and,
it may be, uninfluential in debate, we will yet stand forward to protest
against your measures. You will triumph; yes, and you will triumph over
men whose moderation in prosperity, and whose patience under adversity
has commanded admiration--but whose fatal fault was, that they trusted
you. You will triumph ov