The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-03-05 00:00:00

Chamber of Commerce, and taking a course
diametrically opposite to that which our leading
merchants and traders, and not a few of our
enlightened bankers, would have suggested.

Mr. MUNTZ merely asked for an enquiry into
the operation of laws which more directly affect
this and every seat of commerce than
any other. He did not want to change or
demolish our monetary system, but merely to
enquire into its practical operation, that some
amendment or improvement might be made,
if Parliament should deem it necessary. Such a
course must appear both reasonable and advisable,
at a moment when taxation is being increased,
and the commercial rates of discount are excel.
sively and oppressively high. And yet Mr. EWART
gave his vote against such an inquiry gratuitously,
and more as an expression of individual opinion,
than in deference to an ascertained majority of
his mercantile constituents. Wre have already
admitted that Mr. Ewarrr had a perfect right to
exercise his own discretion, as well as Air. HORS-
PALL and the party with whom that gentleman acts,
and who very wisely abstained from giving a vote
on a subject which they must see is not alto-
gether unconnected with future Parliamentary and
Ministerial changes. Mr. EWART is entitled to be
a bullionist, if he will, and to advocate any mono-
polies he pleases, but he ought, in consistency, to
show us that his bullionism is bona fide, and that,
instead of a miserable show of comparatively
empty boxes, those who profess to have gold
enough to carry on the trade of this country, really
have a sufficiency of the metal of which they boast.
No sane man would pretend to say, that because
the Bank of England possesses only a trifle over
10,000,0001. of gold, that the producers throughout
the country requiring money are to pay
usurious rates of interest for that seem_
modation, without which trade cannot
exist. Those who take part in such weighty
matters ought to be able to substantiate the
correctness of their opinions by some exposition
of facts, which those amongst their consti-
tuents, who differ with them, might be able
to understand. Mr, EWART must know that a
great many of his influential supporters at the
last election, believe, most conscientiously, that our
monetary laws are arbitrary and unjust, and that they
would be in favour of the course suggested in Mr.
MUNTZ'S motion. The honourable member knows
that those newspapers which advocate his return
to Parliament, and many of those who supported
Sir GEORGE BONHAM as a fit and proper person to
represent this Borough, are equally in favour of a
rational reform in our monetary system. And yet
Mr. EWART rushed into the House of Commons to
give a silsnt vote on a question of such transcen-
dent import. This was carrying that independence
and freedom of action we would accord to every
representative, to nothing short of impunity.

Mr. HORSFALL did precisely the same thing,
but then he did not attempt anything like a direct
compromise of some of his most influential
supporters. He selected a negative course, the
wisdom of which may show itself in some future
division, or at a general election. Mr. HORSFALL
and his party may see that the country now view
usury as the revival of the solo ruling principle
and undying motto of our hereditary and common-
place Whigs; and not wishing to be contaminated
by coming too closely in contact with them on a
matter which is engrossing so large a share of
public attention, have decided onkeeping aloof from

those whose system has provoked an agitation
which gains strength daily. Mr. ENVART'S
opponents cannot, however, say that he was
influenced by the whip of the Government on the
occasion in question. Ministers left the House to
be counted out, and it was not until they
found that Mr. MUNTZ had a House of sixty
members on his side, that a hundred and
some odd votes were collected to support the
CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER. Mr. EwAItT,
therefore, voted with the majority gratuitously,
and by doing so he has stultified the opinions and
course pursued by a large number of his
constituents on one of the leading subjects of his
times; and, having thus plainly noticed the fact,
we leave the honourable member to make peace
with those whose confidence he has shaken, and to
put himself right with those whose support at the
hustings may again be of service.