The Sun.
London, England, 1847-09-27 00:00:00

THE SUN,

we have already instanced, in the days when feudality
effected changes at the point of the lance or at the
edge of the broadsword, those alterations which
tended to the happiness of the people were always
born of the intellect and nurtured by deliberation.
As it is from the effervescence of the tart juice ex-
pressed from the grape that the most generous wines
are concocted, so the crude thoughts of the legisla-
tive innovator have to be fermented by discussion
into the ripeness of actual reform. Honour, then,
we repeat, to M. LEUARDI DE BEAULIEU, the on
ginator of the Congres des Libres Echangistes at
Brussels !

No city could have been selected more suitable
than the capital of Belgium for the first assemblage
of this most important association, for assuredly no
seat of commerce could afford more conclusive evi-
dence than Brussels of the miseries resulting from
the effete system of commercial or agricultural pro-
tection. Thanks to Mr. COBDEN and Sir
ROBERT PEEL, we can now investigate the
deplorable operation of the protective system
upon the industry of our neighbours without
that distracting knowledge of our own subjection to
the like evils which hitherto embarrassed the inquiries,
and divided the attention of Englishmen. Having
released ourselves from the bondage of restrictive du-
ties we can the more dispassionately observe the
working of the old scheme of international commerce,
and can strive the more readily and effectually for
the emancipation of the other kingdoms, whether
manufacturing or agricultural. Besides which, it
must never be forgotten that self-interest incites U 3
to disseminate the doctrines of free trade. Now that
our insular ports are opening we must endeavour, for
our own sakes, as well as for the advantage of hu-
manity generally, to open the ports in the four con-
tinents. Receiving the produce of foreign nations
without Subjecting it to exorbitant imposts, we must
strive to disclose to their rulers the advantage of a
reciprocal proceeding. Giving such freedom to our
importations we must, by diffusing the wisdom of
ADAM SMITH and HUSKISSON, facilitate the pur-
chase of our exportations. Sufficient evidence of the
rationality of free trade will be afforded in the lapse
of time by the prosperity of the British islands—a
prosperity resulting from the equalization of
all interests amongst its inhabitants. But it
is only in accordance with right reason to
make every exertion to anticipate that evi-
dence by argument, and to convince the judg-
ments of foreigners by our logic, rather than to wait
inertly to excite their avarice by our ulterior suc-
cesses. To do this only required the extension of
that plan of periodical disputation which was followed
by the renowned League, the establishment upon the
European Continent of an association similar to that
which, although of more restricted capacities, effected
such a stupendous but bloodless revolution within
the limits of the United Kingdom. This considera-
tion appeared so manifest to M. DR BEAULIEU, that
he plainly announced the necessity for an aggregate
meeting of Free-traders in one of the European capi-
tals, for the purpose of extending to the other king-
doms of Christendom the beneficent principles already
incorporated with the Constitutions of England and
Tuscany. Remembering, doubtless, the old legal
aphorism, quod non habet principium, non habet finem,
M. DE BEAULIEU so far impressed his contemporaries
with the necessity of propagating the doctrines sub-
versive of the incubus of Protection, that his notion
has been already realised ; and the Congress of Brus-
sels has taken that premier pas which, according to
the adage, comprises the chief difficulty of any un-
dertaking. And Brussels, as we have already ob-
served, was most appropriately selected for the
inaugurative assembly of free-trade delegates
from different territories ; for Belgium is
among the number of those commercial
states which have peculiarly suffered from
the erroneous policy of the monopolists—a policy
which, pretending to favour the enterprise, cripples
the industry of the community. Perhaps a more
emphatic testimony of the evil consequences of this
system could not be adduced than that mentioned by
Mr. MADAM, that by reason of the duties imposed in
1842 upon yarn, the e portation of Belgian linen,
from amounting to the value of 33,000,000 f. in 1838,
had decreased in 1846 to the value of 20,000,000 f.
Such is the Protection which the Congress of,
Brus-
sels has been convened to destroy ! Such is the insane
system which M. RITTINGRAUSEN and his associates
are solicitous to uphold 1
The League, under the auspices of RICHARD
COBDEN, has afforded to the artizans of Great Britain
a positive immunity from the ills hitherto inflicted
upon them by the law for the exclusive satisfaction
of their taskmasters. The Congress may perform a
similar service for the artizans of Europe, and it may
do immeasurably more—it may realise the dream of
the most illustrious of the poets of the people. "
have seen peace descend upon the earth," says BERAN-
GER, " swing gold, and flowers, AND CORN. The air
ivas calm, avd she quenched the thunderbolts of the God
of Battle. Arise ' cried the Goddess, Arise !ye
equals in 'glory, 'men of France, of England, of Bel-
gium, of Russia, and of Germany .l Arise, ye people,
and, hand, in hand, establish among yourselves a Holy
Alliance !' " Or, to give this noble vision in its ori-
ginal beauty :
" J'ai vu la Paix elescendre sun Ia terre,
Semant de l'or, des fleurs et des (via.
L'air edit calme, et du dieu de la guerre
Elle etouffait les foudres assoupis.
Ah! disait-elle, t;gaux par Ia vaillance,
Francais, Anglais, Beige, Russe, ou Germain,
Peoples, formez une sainte alliance,
Et donnez• vous la main!'"
Utopian as a dream like this might have appeared
when raillery campaigns were regarded as the only
means of acquiring greatness, it appears rational and
I feasible to a generation animated by a feeling of
universal brotherhood. It was from a profound
conviction of this glorious truth that SURINGAR, a
gentleman of Holland, exclaimed the other evening
to the assembled Congress, " War is talked of as
probable, but I am satisfied that if Sovereigns are
foolish enough to think of the project, the people are
wise enough to prevent its execution." Onwards,
then, in your humanizing course, advocates of free
trade with all the world 1 Happier than ARCHIMEDE3,
you have the power to move that world—morally.
You have the lever in your grasp and the ground
under your feet in Tuscany and England.

The Poor-law Commissioners have dissolved the
Lowtherstown board of guardians, pursuant to the
power vested in them under the 18th section of the
Irish Relief Extension Act, and the affairs of that
union are to be henceforward, or, at least, so long
as it may seem fit to the Commissioners, to be managed
by paid officers, who will, of course, forthwith be
appointed, and whose first act will be to strike a rate
sufficient to reimburse the Government the full
amount of the advances under the Temporary Relief
Act, the payment of which will be strictly and
speedily enforced. The late board did not repudiate
the whole of the debt, but they proposed to pay oae
moiety thereof by six annual instalments, and forth-
with to raise the first of these instalments. This,
however, the Commissioners have positively refused
to accept, and in the letter announcing the disco_
lution of the board, they have sharply censured the
members for their refusal to act in accordance with
their moral obligations, which the Commissioners de-
signate " as inconsistent with that honesty in pecu-
niary transactions which ought to be one of the
leading principles both of individuals and public bo-
dies." This lecture has, it appears, given the greatest
offence to the parties to whom it was addressed, and
a very strong reply 'has been returned, in which
they attack the Comniissioners for having raised
the salaries of the Protestant and Roman Catholic
chaplains, without any reference to the board, for
having dismissed the master of the workhouse, not-
withstanding the remonstrances of the board ; and,
finally, for the present act by which they are dis-
solved, which acts they state " to be neither
courteous nor marked by that deference which
should be paid by the Commissioners to a board
composed of the persons most deeply interested in
the well-being of the union." And they add, that
" As to the letter accompanying the dismissal, their
unanimous opinion is, that the Commissioners have ex-
ceeded their duty in presuming to write to any
board of guardians their opinion of what moral
obligations, and of what honesty or dishonesty may
consist in, and, in doing so, have taken advantage of
their official position to use language to a public
board which, in a private capacity, they dare not use
to them as individuals." Even this was not sufa-

ciently strong for one of the body, who added
a memorandum, to the effect " that he did
not consider it to go far enough in ex-
pressing his opinion of the arbitrary and
unjust proceedings of the Commissioners, nor of
the impertinent and unfounded statements in their
letters." In addition to the above, a memorial to the
Lords of the Treasury, calling their attention
to the correspondence and resolutions passed
relating to the matters at issue between the
Commissioners and the board, and giving it
as their opinion that "if the rate demanded is
attempted to be levied in the present distressed state
of the country, a system of resistance (induced solely
by an inability) would be originated, which at a
future period it would be difficult to suppress ; and
calling upon their Lordships to decide that the mode
of repayment proposed is that best suited to the con-
dition of the country, and most likely to be attended
with success in the levying; and that they will be
pleased to direct the Poor-law Commissioners to act
accordingly."
Such is the present state of the contest, but we
regret to say that the spirit of insubordination is very
widely spread, and that similar examples will pro-
bably take place in very many parts of the country.
The Enniscorthy board have unanimously decided on
adhering to their previous resolutions, notwithstanding
the remonstrances and the threats of the Commis-
sioners, and the express intimation that their perse-
verance would be followed by their immediate disso-
lution. The Antrim board and several others have
also rebelled against the central authority; and despite
of the very fair and reasonable explanation given to
them as to the necessity for the appointment of
relieving officers in every union, even though out-
door relief should not be administered, many other
boards have positively refused to carry the directions
of the Commissioners into execution, and very few
indeed have evinced, or are likely to follow the prece-
dent set by the Nenagh board in withdrawing from
the contest into which they had entered. One of the
most remarkable features of the conflict in every part
of the country is that, with some few exceptions, the
chief and most strenuous opponents of the Commis-
sioners are the ex-officio guardians, the landed pro-
prietors, who thereby are considerably increasing the
difficulties of their position, while those elected by the
people, on the contrary, seem more inclined to accord
with the views of the Commissioners, or, at least, re-
frain from carrying on the battle to the extremity.
We deeply regret this untoward state of affairs,
and lament that a little more moderation and dis-
cretion has not been exhibited on all sides. The
law, although perfectly just, and calculated ulti-
mately to benefit all parties—the proprietors of
the soil as much as any others—and will at first
press with much severity on those whose proper-
ties are already deeply encumbered, and from whom
the portion that would be applicable for their own use
will be taken in order to meet the liability, and we
fear that a very large proportion of the landowners
will be placed in this unpleasant position. It is,
therefore, only fair to make some allowance for their
feelings, who believe, whether justly or otherwise,
that their ruin will be thereby effected. Any ground,
therefore, on which even the slightest appearance of
injustice or undue severity can be ascribed had better
be avoided. In a little time, too, all parties will see
the necessity for their zealous co-operation in
reducing the burdens to the utmost ex-
tent, by afibrding adequate employment for
those who must otherwise be supported in idleness.
Many plans will undoubtedly be speedily brought
into operation for that purpose which cannot now be
made available. The weight, too, will be more
heavily felt at first, more particularly when following
a year of such unusual distress as that which has just
gone by. There is also much reason, notwithstanding
the bountiful harvest that -has been gathered in, to
fear that much destitution will be manifested among
the poorer classes in consequence of the small quan-
tity of potatoes that were planted throughout
the country, to meet the exigencies of the
coming winter. The full amount of the expen-
diture necessary cannot be safely calculated.
There is, therefore, every reason why the Govern-
ment should not press at this moment for the
full amount of their claim, but be satisfied with a re •
eognitiorr of its justice, and a pirfial payment on
account thereof. On the other hand, we have
already. pointed out the dangers and the fatal come-
quences that must ensue to the landlords themselves
from any general or organized resistance to the rates.
Even if it were practicable, they would be the chief
sufferers themselves, for it is impossible to suppose
that the example would not be speedily followed with
respect to their own rents. We sincerely trust that
some mutual concessions may terminate these Very
unpleasant differences, and that all parties may, again
be united for the benefit of Ireland, which so
urgently requires the cordial services of all her chil
dren at this crisis.

Letters from Leghorn state that the people of that
city received with marks of great discontent the law
organizing the National Guard, which has just been
promulgated in Tuscany. A protest was drawn up,
and had received innumerable signatures, when the
Grand Duke appointed a committee, to propose such
modifications as might be deemed admissible. The
departure of the Duke of LUCCA. continues to be the
subject of discussion, and the most contradictory re-
ports upon it are is circulation. It was not without
great reluctance and regret that the young consort of
the Hereditary Prince quitted Lucca. The Princess,
who is sister of the Duke DE BORDEAUX, accused
her father-in-law and husband of pusillanimity, and
strongly urged them to stay. It is deeply regretted
at Lucca that her councils did not prevail.
The Piedrnontese Gazette of the 20th states that
the Duke of MODENA has ordered a cordon militaire
to be drawn along the frontier of Tuscany.
A letter from Rome, of the 19th, says :
" There is nothing of much novelty at Rome ;
everything is perfectly tranquil, as well as in all the
rest of the Pontifical States. Addresses of provinces
and towns pour in, and place everything at the dis-
posal of his Holiness, to enable it to be prepared for
events. At Ferrara things are still in the state in
which they were ten days ago. There has been
neither increase nor diminution in the garrison. But
the Austrians hold with firmness the positions which
they so brutally invaded. On his part the Holy
Father, and his excellent Secretary of State, Ferretti,
persist more firmly than ever in the attitude which
they have assumed with respect to the Austrian Ca-
binet. This firmness of the Government renders the
Romans prouder and more devoted than ever. In
short, never did a Government find itself in so advan-
tageous a position. Surrounded by the love and en-
thusiasm of his subjects, by an Italian population of
25,000,000 men, and by the admiration of the world,
the Pope has nothing to fear from his enemies. The
French squadron is still in the Bay of Naples, ready
to proceed wherever need may require."
It is said that Prince METTERNICH offered the
POPE to leave the question of the occupation of Fer-
rara to the arbitration of France, which offer the
latter declined to entertain until after the evacuation
of the town.

According to letters from Bologna of the 17th
inst., some rioting took place in that city on the
previous day, on the occasion of the translation of
the banner, given to the inhabitants of Bologna by
those of Florence, to the head-quarters of the Civic
Guard. The friends of M. ZAMRECCARI, who lately
returned from emigration, having failed in procuring
his election as officer of the Civic Guard, loudly de-
nounced, in the coffee-house of the " Union," what
they called the ingratitude of his fellow-countrymen.
This statement was impugned by persons of the mo-
derate party, and such a scene of confusion arose that
the troops were obliged to interfere to restore order.
A letter from Venice, of the 16th, mentions a
rumour that Prince LUCIEN BONAPARTE had been
ordered to leave Venice, in consequence of the exces-
sively liberal tone of his speech in the Scientific Con-
gress, and his eulogiums on the POPE. The same
letter states that the town of Venice has made a mag-
nificent present to the congress—of a description of
Venice in three volumes, got up with great elegance.
In addition to this, each member of the congress has
received a fine engraving of Venice and several books.
The Government intends to strike a medal with the
head of MARCO PoLo, in commemoration of the con-
gress.

Milan continued tranquil according to the last
accounts. This state of tranquillity is owing, it is
said, to the arrest of Count BOLZA, a very influential
person in the high Austrian police. The matter took
place in this way. It is known how the rejoicings in
that city for the installation of the new Archbishop
degenerated into quarrels with the police and the

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