The Express.
London, England, 1864-01-02 00:00:00

[Stamped, ld. Additional.)

really did not know, but suggested that perhaps
the other peasant could tell. The Caesacks turned
to the other, and on receiving a similar answer to
the last began to beat him also, and finding that
this had no effect one of them tied the peasant by
the neck to his horse with a string, and then rode
off, dragging the peasant after him, who was
obliged to hold on to the string to prevent his
being strangled. After continuing this torture for
some time without effect the Cossacks hanged the
unfortunate peasant on a tree and rode away.
Luckily a Polish soldier who was near cut the
man down in time to save his life.

- - -
MR. CARDWELL, M.P., A? OIRORD.

OXFORD, JAN. 1.

The annual dinner of the Ancient Order of Druids
at Oxford took place this evening in the Tows-hall, and it
being the occasion on which the members for the city of
Oxford address their constituents, the ball was as usual
densely crowded. Both Mr. Cardwell and Mr. Neste, the
recently-elected member, were most cordially received by
their constituents. The chair on the present 00011400 was
occupied by the Arch Druid, Mr. Bauwena, and among the
company we observed the Mayor of Oxford (Mr. Carr),
Aldermen Ward, Randall, Towle, Thompson, the ex-Mayor,
the Right Hon. Mr. Cardwell, ALP., Mr. Neate, M.P.,
Ooloael Pent, M.P., Caplan Munk Certain' Yaw Mr.
Sheriff Watson. Mr. Clay, Mr. Pike, Mr. E. T. Spins, Mr.
Homey, Mr. Elanuden, he.
The usual loyal and patriotic toasts having been given,
and cordially responded to,
The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of the City members,
which was received with loud cheers.
The Right Hon. E. W. CARDWELL on riming was received
with renewed cheering. After some preliminary remarks—
in the course of which he alluded in feeling terms to the
death which had taken place since he bad last addressed
them, of his late colleague, Mr. Langton, sad to the more
recent death of Mr. Thackemy —be expressed the pleasure
he should have in working with a common purpose with his
newly-elected colleague, Mr. Neale. He then continued :
The most remarkable feature of the year which has just
the great and happy contrast which under the
age of Divine Provideop in our tiaagnil, steady, and
continuous progress in prosperity, this kingdom has presented
to the signal sorrows which have been experienced in
some foreign countries, and the great anxiety and alarm which
have been prevalent throughout the whole of Europe. So far
as oar pecuniary prosperity is concerned, I for one own that
it has exceeded altogether any anticipations that I bad per
viously entertained. It certainly appeared to me, and
have no Imitation to acknowledging it, that it was ha-
possible for that great convulsion which has shaken
the United States of America to the centre to have
taken place without producing more disastrous effects
to this country than those which we have actually expe-
rienced. But, gentlemen, probably in the very circnm.
stances from which we anticipated, and indeed have expe-
✓ienced such great trials, we may trace at least a part of
the causes of our comparative prosperity. At the 'insane ing
of a great war, when the expenses are met by means of
borrowed money. and by that most seductive form of bor-
rowing money, the issue of paper money not corresponded
to by actual gold—in the commencement of a great war
there is always a large expenditure, not only on military
objects, but alto on those articles which are luxuries even
in times of peace, and I have no doubt whatever that a
great part of the American expenditure has contributed
to maintain the trade and commerce of this king-
dom. Then again there is little question that
we owe a great deal to the iocreasiog intercourse between
this country and France, an intercourse which has not only
been beneficial to us in itself, but which is highly to be che-
rished as giving mutual securities between two great nations
for the maintenance of peace. (Cheers.) But after all, the
great cause probably why we have suffered less than we
expected to suffer is to be found in that continuous expan-
sion which the energy of the English people has always found
for the broad deep stream of British industry and commerce.
Let us be thankful to the Giver of all Good for the benefits
which we have enjoyed, and let us endeavour to prove our-
selves worthy of them in future years. With regard to
foreign countries, the great question of interest to us mutt
ever be until happily it shell be closedlthat wonderful, that
sorrowful chapter of history which we are reading in the
condition of the United States of America, an epoch which
will probably have as great an effect iu that country as the
civil wars ending in the great revolution had in
our own, or as the first
.great revolutionary
struggle had in France. To this country it
has been particularly interesting during the year that has
passed, for it has brought into action in this country a prin.
ciple of law of the utmost importance to England, the
greatest maritime country of the world—a principle which
will gamin the war in America, and will remain to guide
the destinies of nations long after those who are contem-
porary with it shall have gone to their net. I refer to the
question now under c'iscussion in our courts with regard to
the rights of belligerents and neutrals at sea. Seventy
years have just elapsed since we began our struggle with
revolutionary France, arid the minister who represented
France in the United States of America then endeavoured
to make the harbours of the United States a focus for expe-
ditions hysea agaiust the commerce and the possession of
England. The remonstrances of England were acknow-
ledged in America, and the complaints of Mr. Pitt sod Lord
Grenville being received by Washington and Jefferson, the
result was the enactment in America of that law which now
under altered circumstances, they being the belligerents and
we neutrals, is the principal subject of discussion in this
kingdom, The ability with which the matter has been
discussed upon both eidee has beau remarkable, and we sow
wait patiently for the decision of our tribunals. But of this
there will be no doubt in this or any other assembly,
namely, that with the same measure with which we CI.
pected they should mete to us with that same measure, now
that the circumstances are reversed, it is oar duty to mete
to them. The one principle by which you are to be guided
is that, fearless to menace, uninfluenced by favour, we shall
give to the principle of strict neutrality full sod impartial
effect, and carry out to the utmost of our power that prin-
ciple of international law to which we in our own time of
danger and necee-ity ourselves appealed. (Cheers.) I Irish
most heartily that I could give you a more satisfactory
account in regard to what has paned in respect
to the unhappy kingdom of Poland. 1 wish I
could have told you that when the wrongs of Poland
excited the sympathy of Europe, and when Austria, France,
and England thought proper to remonstrate, their remon-
strances had been effectual for the end which they had in
view. But I can give you no such assurance, sad I deeply
regret that the consequences should have been those
which are familiar to your knowledge. AU that I
shall say upon that subject is that there were only
two other courses which England could have pursued. One
was to have preserved absolute galena, which, under the
circumstances of the case, might have been interpreted into
giving its assent to thecourse which was being pursued in
Poland ; and the other was, that Austria, Frame, and Eng-
land should, by openly raising war *pint Russia and the
allies of Rumen, have opened again those floodgates of •
general Etuopean war which were closed some fifty years
ago, of which few of us have seen the desolation
and the misery it entailed, but which are
yet green in the memory of Europe, for there
are probably many of its provinces that have sot attained
to that prosperity sod progress e bleb they would have
otherwise enjoyed. You have looked with arrest interest to
the proposals which have been made by the Emperor of the
Freoch for a generel European Cougren, and I believe that
I speak the sentiments of every man in this room, and I
am sure that l speak my own. when I say that I yield to no
man in the most earliest desire for the cordial union at all
times between the policy of Eoglandd and of France, for I
hold that the cordial union of England mid France is one of
the neaten safeguards for the peace of Europe, which I
value beyond all things. (Cheers.) I sympathise cordially
with ail the motives by which the congres, was recommended
to the consideration of England. but on those very grounds,
namely, difference of view, I think the people of England
generally agree that it was right on our parts to refuse to
join in it. They rightly thought the hazard was too great
too in encountered, and that such a congress, with
the moat earnest desire for peace, would have pro-
duced a totally contrary and opposite result. We
could have no self-interest in view ; England desires
no nrograndisernent ; she has nothing to seek ; and
in the case of the Tinian Wands, she has shown the
very year that has pared that, if there be anything which
she possesses, that she believes it be for the interest of
these who are chiefly onticerned, and for the welfare of the
country, that she should germicide, she is prepared at once
to surrender it, not at the natation of any number of per-
sons, but by her own free will, sod from her own spon-
taneous feeling. (Cheers.) In another quarter clouds have
arisen, which threaten the maintenance of peace between
two nations with which we have been upon every account
on terms of the closest and most intimate relationship.
From the Danes and from the Germans we draw our blood.
I sincerely trust that as Germany hitherto has bees on-
sidered,with justice, the most pacific of all European powers,
as the great ceutre of tranquillity nod peace in Europe, so
by the wisdom and moderation of its councils, this great
danger might be averted, and peace be happily preserved.
In this case, at any rate, the appeal of England is to
treaty. Treating of the statute law of Europe, it is the
title deeded monarchs and the charter which gonantees
the rights of nations. (Cheers.) I sincerely tried that by
wisdom, by firmness, and by moderation on both sides, that
that peace which we all so earnestly and cordially desire
may still be preserved. As I have said, to us the year has
been one of great arid solemn thankfulness, and the re-
venue returns which have been published this morning
show bow prosperous upon the whole has been nor coodi-
tire, and how buoyant has been our revenue. By the 100-

[TWOPENCE

'Aims of the past year every duty which impeded foreign
trade has been removed, every duty upon domestic menu.
factures which tends to prohibit the nee of articles in the
promotion of manufactures has been remitted, and in the
course of the year which has just expired parliament felt
itself at liberty to remove a portion both of your direct and
indirect taxation to relieve a portion of the burdens upon
property, and also of the borders upon consumers in
regard to those articles which form the humble luxuries of
the poor. How far those remissions of taxation can be
further carried will depend upon two considerations, one of
which is to what amount the expansive trade and industry
of the country will contribute to pour into the treasury an
increased revenue, and the other us the state of our foreign
relations, and how far they will permit us,with a due regard
to the safety and honour of the country, to put • restriction
on the expenditure necesaery for the Ailitary defence of the
nation. It was General Washington who, In fouodisg the
republic of America, gave birth to the wise maxim that the
people of that country should avoid all the quarrels of
Europe, enlarge their commerce, and study to be at peace
and amity with the whole world. It never can be our case
that we can avoid the questions that agitate Europe, but I
sincerely hope that under allgpartres and all governments
we shall observe thee nth, with respect to other conutries as
far as wecan, and with a proper spirit of moderation and
firmness, Ido not doubt that we can secure to ourselves
the blessings of peace.
Mr. Kura also addressed the meeting, observing that as
yet he was uotned in parliament, but his satidaction at
Wog their repreaeutative was considerably enhanced by
his having the right hon. gentleman who bad just sat down
for a colleague ; and though he could not say that he should
always follow his advice, he should certainly resort to hint
he ie a tines ef doubt sod diMoulty. He (Mr. Neale)
could not but think that it would have been better and
more dignified on the part of our government if it
had maintained absolute silence on the Polish question,
considering the position in which it had been placed. He
thought that the government were right in having nothing
to do with the co pee. He, like other Englishmen, was
not averse to seeing a fair stead up fight, and they bad
lately had a conflict between the great champion of the press
end hemight soy the great champion of freedom of opinion,
or gwhat some might call the champion of detnocemy.
referred to Mr. Cobden. When a t man had dose good
service to the country he must protest against the uefaineem
with which be bad been treated by the great organ of the
press. He should sot have said this if others had not
shown themselves reluctant, and had shrunk from coming
forward in his cause, and he most confess that he felt
disappomted when he saw that at a great gathering
in Lancashire the other slay no voice had been
raised by the Laucatbire or Yorkshire geutlemen, for whom
Mr. Cobden bad dime so much in his favour. He should
have thought that voice. would have been found to speak in
favour both of Mr. Bright and Mr. Cobden, in a district
which they had so much benefited. (Heer, hear.) He was
one of times whir thought that the present law of the settle-
ment of landed property ought to be amended, and that the
agglomeration of the landed property into the bands of a
few iodividuais, was not only au inconvenience, but might
one day become a (huger.
The health of Colonel Fans, M.P., in connection with
the county magistracy, was also drank, and having been
briefly responded to by the gallant colonel, various other
toasts of a local character were drank, and the proceedings
did not terminate till a late hour.