The Sun.
London, England, 1848-12-22 00:00:00

(Eittning .7)1n1

Wilt-not proviso. Whether this report be true or
inaccurate, we are sanguine as to the moderate Whig
policy which will be very soon introduced under the
auspices of old Rough and Ready.

Never, perhaps, wince the work of civilization
commenced has a more brilliant example been af-
forded of the blessings flowing to the people of this
earth from the operation of democratic institutions
than that which is now visible in the condition of
the United States. Of this fact President POLK
has been fully conscious. The tone of his Mes-
sage is, on this account, a grand organ-tone of ex-
ultation. Referring to the convulsions which have
during 1848 shaken to their foundations the old
princedoms and powers of Europe, he can say
of his own country—of that democracy which
has sprung from the loins of the Anglo-
Saxons—" the nation is prosperous, contented, and
happy !" The sentence is full of golden auguries.
It is of itself a justification (if any such were re-
quired) of the revolution which has transformed
France into a Republic, and which is now ferment-
ing in Germany, in Italy, in Hungary, in Poland,
and in the Spanish and Portuguese peninsula. The
light which was kindled beyond the Atlantic by the
patriotism of GEORGB WABBINGTOIC has grown at
last into the Pharos of the Liberty of the nations of
Christendom.

Mr. COBDEN has buckled on his armour for the
forthcoming strife. He has put forward his views on
the all-important questions of economy and retrench-
ment, and he has done so through an association
formed for the express purpose of enforcing upon the
Legislature the absolute necessity of great, compre-
hensive, and speedy measures of reform on these
points. Such an ally is indeed a valuable acquisition.
The Hon. Member for the West Riding of Yorkshire
has already afforded sufficient evidence of his
skill and power in the direction of a popular
movement. Great as have been the Par-
liamentary achievements of the Hon. Gentleman,
they vanish into insignificance when compared with
his exploits beyond the walls of Parliament. He is
peculiarly qualified to act as the leader of a calm and
thinking people. He appeals not to their passions, but
to their reason. He endeavours not to work upon
their feelings, but to convince their understandings, and
when we find him again submitting his plans to an
assemblage of the people, and detailing the alteration
that he conceives to be essential to the well-being of
the country, we are forcibly reminded of the good
old times when the free-trade agitation was
at its height, when RICHARD COUDEII day by day
gained new adherents to the noble cause by his simple
and unadorned, but clear and convincing eloquence.
Would that he were with us on every point, and that
he laboured with the same indefatigable zeal and de-
votion in the cause of monetary reform that he has
already exhibited in agitating for the total and un-
conditional repeal of the corn- laws, or that he now
appears inclined to evince in the cause of economy
and retrenchment—that he would labour as well for
an alteration in the entire financial system, and the ab-
solute substitution of direct for indirect taxation
in every particular, so that his own free-trade prin-
ciples might be carried out to the fullest extent.
It is by no means necessary that any of these great
reforms should be abandoned even for a time, in
order that all our energies may be concentrated upon
one of them, and one only. It is by no means necessary
that we should relax in our exertions for monetary
reform, and the obtaining a currency adequate to the
wants and exigencies of the nation, because we also
desire a considerable reduction in the na-
tional burdens. We may strive simultaneously
for an alteration in the mode of taxation as well as in

LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1848.

Another of those enormous documents called Pre-
sidential Messages has just arrived from the United
States. It is invested, however, in the present in-
stance, with a more than usual interest from the cir-
cumstance of its being the farewell manifesto of
JAMES K. POLK. It is a prolonged pa3an over the
triumphs of his administration, a flourish of trumpets,
by which he proclaims the successful issue of his
policy. Not a syllable is whispered in reference to
his successor, although many eulogistic allusions are,
of course, made to the military capacity displayed by
ZACHARY TAYLOR in the conquest of Mexico and Ca-
lifornia. The message—a mere condensation of which
occupies so many columns in this evening's impression
of our journal—is rather retrospective than anticipa-
tive : it reviews in language of confident satisfaction
the course pursued by the Government of the Union
during the last four years—years fraught with vic-
tory and emolument to the Cabinet at Washington.
Other matters relating to subjects of a strictly
local or national interest are, undoubtedly, considered
but the principal portion of
.the manifesto published
by President PoLK, on the approximation to the
period of his retirement from office, may be divided
into paragraphs relating to the territorial acquisitions
of the States ; to its financial prosperity resulting
from the felicitous working of free trade as a system
of commerce; to the prospects of emigration;
to the projected alterations in the postal arrangements
with Europe ; to the continuance or abolition of negro
slavery ; to the prospective remuneration to be de-
rived from the Californian mines of gold and quick-
silver; and to the general efficiency of the American
citizens as impromptu soldiers, an instinctive capa-
city for participating in the perils and manoeuvres of
war, which, while it relieves the Executive from the
necessity of maintaining a standing army, perpetually
holds at its disposal an efficient force of nearly two
millions of men, skilled in the management of the
rifle, and immured to the hardships of a campaign
by their hunting expeditions into the primeval forests
and their chase of the buffalo over the prairies. At
the present moment it is desirable only to take into
account the operation of the new tariff, the spoliative
policy of Mr. PoLk, and the beneficent influences of a
moderate democracy as exemplified in the extraordi-
nary destinies—the rise, the development, and the
almost unparalleled prosperity—of the great Republic
of the United States. _ _

As to the working of the principles of free trade in
America since the fiscal innovations of 1846, nothing
could, most certainly, have afforded a more direct
contradiction to the whining prophecies of the Pro-
tectionists on either side of the Atlantic. We cannot
but feel satisfied that this division of the
Presidential Nessage will be perused with the
profoundest gratification by CHARLES VILLIERS, the
Copernicus, by RICHARD COBDEN, the Galileo, by
Sir ROBERT PEEL, the Newton, of the novel and
rational science of political economy as adapted to
international commerce. What the Member for
Wolverhampton foresaw, the Member for the West
Riding demonstrated, and the Right Honourable
the Representative of Tamworth accomplished. The
accuracy of their calculations has been proved
beyond all further cavil by the remarkable results
of a tariff, the advantages of which have not, as in
our instance, been counterbalanced by an accu-
mulation of severe national calamities. In
the United States, where neither the funds
nor the vegetable produce have been injuri-
ously affected by a variety of unforeseen blights
and difficulties, the results of the reductions effected
in 1846 have been fortunate beyond even the most
sanguine anticipations. The gloomy forebodings of
fromamounted
o 0 nearly
117,000,000 to
2
the Duke of RICHMOND in one country, and of Mr.
WEBSTER in the other, have been alike falsified.
importsrevenue—they
producing
25 ,00 to 0
o have attained
f 0 Whereash
0e
past
i n 1
nearly the sum of 155,000,000
oto,ooos
t y
dollars,ea dollarsBr2 svery thefp r
r dollars, yielding upwards of 31,000,000 dollars
of revenue to the Exchequer ! While, in
1825, no less than 15,000,000 worth of im-
ports, out of the 117, were re-exported, leaving
barely 102,000,000 worth for home consumption—
during the past year only 21,000,000 worth of im-
ports, out of the 155, have been exported, leaving
in consequence, a gross.amount of 133,000,000 worth
for consumption by the population of the United
States I While, in 1825, the exports of domestic
produce hardly exceeded 99,000,000 worth in the
aggregate—they have this year attained no less an
areount than 133,000,000 I Such have been the
memorable consequences of the measures inaugurative
of the system of free trade in America. The deduc-
tions deriveable from these calculations, officially re-
corded by President PoLE, can only strengthen the
conviction of the English advocates of free trade, and
afford a direful blow and discomfiture to the scat-
tered ranks of the Protectionist Opposition.
When referring to the territorial extension of the

dominions of the Union, it was impossible but that
the President should speak in terms of the warmest
self-gratulation. Since his installation as Chief Ma-
gistrate of the Republic the boundaries of the States
have extended with such astounding rapidity that the
area obedient to the legislative influences of the Con-
gress now amounts in square miles almost to the
magnitude of the whole of the European continent.
Unsatisfied with the acquisition of Texas, the
, greed of empire has induced the Government at

the amount thereof; and the popular desires will not
be slighted because these topics are forced upon the
attention of the Legislature, with equal energy and
determination. Indeed, the questions are intimately
connected together, and cannot be severed. The
anxiety for monetary and fiscal reform is no less
urgent than for economy and retrenchment. We
cannot, therefore, agree with Mr. COBDEN in his
suggestion that the question of direct taxation should
be thrown overboard, or put upon the shelf,
even for a brief period. It is one, and
by no means the least important, of the objects for
the attainment of which the Association was called
into existence, and its abandonment would excite the
greatest dissatisfaction among many of the most
strenuous and determined members of that body.
Much as we desire the assistance and co-operation of
RICHARD COBDEN, wecannot afford to obtain it at thef
cost of deserting that which is especially the cause o
the poor man—a determined agitation for the imme.
diate abolition of the iniquitous and impolitic system
of indirect imposts.

We shall now briefly allude to the various sugges-
tions put forward by the Hon. Gentleman. He first
proposes " to take for the basis of the budget—to
inscribe as the motto upon the banner of the as-
sociation—the expenditure of 1835, which will be a
reduction of 10,000,0001. from this year's budget."
He does not state definitively the details of the various
reductions that should take place. Their character
is, indeed, indicated by the emphatic assertion that
" all hope of material relief from taxation hinges
upon the question of a large reduction in the cost of
our army, navy, and ordnance." He :adopts the
view of Sir HENRY PARNELL, who, whilst arguing
for a reduction in the expenditure of the military
department, said " Fix upon a much smaller sum,
and tell them they must make it answer." We might
be disposed to coincide with the Hon. Gentleman, if
assured that the pruning knife would be applied to
the excrescences—that superfluities only would be
lopped off—but we fear that the real strength and
power of our armaments would be unduly reduced if
such a course were adopted—that our effective force,
naval and military, would be reduced below that
which the honour and the safety of our country de-
mand. We are fully aware that there is a needlessly
heavy outlay in many respects, which might easily
be spared ; but if a certain sum only should
be given, it is more than probable that
the bone and sinew would be dispensed with—that
hardy sailors would be cast adrift, in place of super-
annuated Admirals—that jobbing would still prevail
in our dockyards—that the unnecessary portions of
our expenditure would be continued, while that which
is really the result of a wise and prudent economy,
would be first discarded. We confess, therefore, that
before we can assent to any fixed limit, w e should
have pointed out the exact items in the various esti-
mates that should be struck out or reduced in
amount, and those that should be retained. Such
information could easily be given. We doubt not
that the Honourable Member has full access to the
evidence taken during the past session before the
Committee on the Naval and Military Estimates,
and that he is quite aware of the character of
the intended recommendations to be proposed by the
members favourable to economy and retrenchment.
In addition to the saving of 10,000,000/. to
be effected by a recurrence to the budget of 1835,
Mr. COnDEN proposes a new source of revenue
of the most unobjectionable character, which would,
he calculates, produce 1,500,0001. per annum,
viz., by an extension of the probate and legacy duty
to real property. With all the arguments of the Hon.
Gentleman in this respect we coincide to the fullest
extent. A more unfair or partial exemption from
taxation has never been suffered to prevail in any
country or in favour of any class. The hard-earned
savings of industry—the sums that have been

Washington acting under the instigation of Mr. spared from present necessities, in order to make
POLK, to secure by treaty, by force of arms, by ctjo- future provision for the family that would otherwise
lery, or by open seizure, Oregon, New Mexico, and be wholly destitute when deprived of a father and
California. True it is that the acquisition of the two protector, are diminished by heavy duties; while.-
latter cost the United States no less than 25,000,0001. princely domains and wide- spread territories are
in hard cash, a considerable expenditure of blood, and exempted from any contribution on a charge of
the odium and execration of the whole civilized world ; ownership consequent upon the death of the former
yet, on taking these things into consideration, the proprietor. This is neither equitable or just. The
result of the Polk policy can only prove beneficial in sympathies of the nation will indeed be with Mr.
the end; first, because of the mineral and agricultural COBDEN in his efforts to reform this crying grievance.
fruitfulness of the new provinces ; secondly, because We have only space left briefly to refer to the
the late campaign has added to the renown of the Union manner in which the Hon. Gentleman proposes to
for its strength and glory; and, thirdly, because of the dispose of the amount thus rendered available, which
elastic and ductile consciences of its citizens as a na- will be shown in the tabular summary contained
tion. The materials which have been thus hurriedly in his letter, to which we refer our readers. In the
heaped together by President PoLx will have to be Customs he proposes to reduce the duty on tea to one
developed from this normal condition, and welded shilling per pound, or to an ad valorem duty pro-
into one concrete mass by the administration of ducing the same amount of revenue—to abolish the
President TAYLOR. With what lenity of manner duties on timber, wood, butter, cheese, and about
this will be accomplished may be conjectured from 100 smaller items in the tariff. In the Excise, to
the rumour already prevalent that the Ministry now abolish the duties on malt, hops, soap, and paper,
on the eve of its accession to power are resolved to and to do away with the window- tax and the aclver-
apply to New Mexico and California the celebrated tisement duties, in the Stamps and Taxes.

When a Government persists in committing wrong,
be it private or public, time never fails to aggravate
the difficulties into which the Government
flounders as it proceeds in perpetuating that
wrong. So it is in the case of the East India Com-
pany with respect to the Raja of SATTARA. Often as
that question has been before the Court of Directors,
and often as it has been discussed before the Proprie-
tors, in both Quarterly and Special Courts, still the
same ungenerous system of evasion is resorted
to, and the real question at issue shuffled aside
or blinked, merely to gain time and weary out
the advocates of an unfortunate Prince in their en•
deavour to restore his dynasty, and vindicate the
character of our country for the impartial adminis-
tration of justice. And, true to that pur-
pose, the Chairman, on Wednesday, contrived
to play the old game of delay —the papers
were before the Court, and it would be useless
to discuss the question until the Court had time
to come to a decision. Why ! they have been making
a show of deciding for the last ten or twelve years, and
yet there is no result but that of the wolf and the
lamb !—" I have you, and mine you must remain
be it right or wrong !" Even so with the Raja-
ship of SATTARA ! The East India Company are
numerous—they are mighty, and they can afford to do
wrong because they have the power. And this they
term British justice. They make treaties, and after-
wards explain them away if any unforeseen obstacle
interfere with their projects of ambition. But if we
are not mistaken, the manoeuvre of Wednesday'
last, in abruptly adjourning the Court, and so quashing
discussion, is strong presumptive evidence that the
Court of Directors only want some plausible excuse
to confess their errors, and do justice ovith more
becoming grace.

niE FRENCH REPUBLIC•

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
A Moniteur Extraordinary appeared on Wednes'
day night with the following :
"At six o'clock this evening the President of
National Assembly received the following Message• from
the President of the Republic:—' M. le President, I re-
quest you to announce to the National Assembly the
in conformity with Article 64 of the Constitution,

have by a decree of this day named—
" M. Odilon Barrot, representative of the pe°Ple'
Minister of Justice, charged with the Presidency Of tbe
,
Council of Ministers in the absence of the President el
the Republic.
" M. Drouyn de Lhuys, representative of the peoples
Minister of Foreign Affairs.
" M. Leon de Malleville, representative of the people,
Minister of the Interior.
" M. Rulhieres, General of Division, representative
of the people, Minister of War.
" M. de Tracey, representative of the people,
Minister
of the Marine and Colonies.
" M. Falloux, representative of the people, Minister
of Public Instruction and Worship.
M. Leon Faucher, representative of the people,
Minister of Public Works.
" ' M. Bixio, Vice-President of the National Assemblf,
Minister of Agriculture.
"' M. Passy (ilypolite), member of the Institute,
Minister of the Finances. _ _

" Accept, Monsieur le President, the assurance of WI
high consideration.

"'Louis NAPOLEON BONAPARTE.
" (Countersigned) ODILLON BARROT,
" Minister of Justice.'"

Another decree appoints M.BERGER, former mayor
of the 2d Arrondissement, Prefect of the Department
of the Seine ; and Colonel RERILLOT, Colonel of the
Gendarmerie of Paris, Prefect of Police.
By another decree all the troops of the garrison of
Paris and of the towns comprised within the firs'
military division, together with the Garde Mobile,
are placed under the orders of General CHANGARNISItt
who is to preserve the command of the National
Guard of the Seine, and to assume the title of Corn-
rnander-in•Chief of the National Guards of the Seine,
and of the troops of the first military division.
General CHANGARNIER had immediately issued an
order of the day, in which he states that the organivr
tion of the divisions subdivisions, and brigades, 113
maintained, and that he has established his hen'
quarters in the Palace of the Tuileries. "In taking
possession of his command," says the General, "the
General-in-Chief relies on the patriotism, courage,
and discipline, of which the troops have given e
many proofs, as they may rely on the solicitude of
i
the Commander in Chief for their welfare and
interest.
Another decree of the President of the Republic,
dated the 20th inst., names Marshal BUGEAUD Coln-
mander-in Chief of the army of the Alps.
M. VARAGUAT, Secretary-General of the Ministrl
of Marine, had resigned that effice.
M. BAROCHE was to be appointed Attorney-Gene'
ral, in the place of M. CORNE.
M. ETIENNE ARAGO has resigned the office of
Director. General of the Post office.
There was a partial illumination in Paris on Wed;
nesday evening, in honour of the new President 0'
the Republic.
M. RECURT has resigned the office of Prefect of
the Seine.
The Toulonnais, of the 10th, announces that ti
idea of armed intervention in the affairs of Rome bgi
been abandoned, and that the steam-frigates, en
board of which the troops of the proposed expedition
had been embarked at Marseilles, had returned t°
Toulon.
It was decided early on Wednesday morning this,!.
pt''
the proclamation of the President of the Rel.
should take place on the afternoon of that day. {
General CAVAIGNAC, immediately after the Cabin
had agreed to this resolution, invested General Coin:
GARNIER with the command in chief of all the troop*
of every denomination quartered in Paris or the .84,11;
lieu. General CHANGARNIRR at once made t,O
arrangements necessary for the preservation of pub
tranquillity, and for rendering all suitable filial
honours to the PRESIDENT of the Republic on 111
proclamation.
When the PRESIDENT of the Republic arrived st
his official residence, the Palace of the Elysee
tional, he found the Prefect of Police, Colonel R'
BRILLOT awaiting his orders.
A Cabinet Council was held in the evening, see
which the PRESIDENT held a levee. He slept In t";
last bedchamber occupied by the Emperor NeroLS°'
in Paris.
The Prince de Montfort (JEROME BortApAno)l
the only surviving brother of the EMPEROR, was se
the Elysee National to receive the President of tilt
Republic on his arrival. JEROME BONAPARTE 10130
forth to meet him, and they embraced. JETtoit
was affected to tears; he had met his nephew on the
same spot on which he had parted from his brother
the EMPEROR for the last time.
The PRESIDENT of the Republic has appointed his
uncle, JEROME BONAPARTE, Governor of the In'
t
valides, and Marshal MOLITOR Grand Chancellor 0'
the Legion of Honour.
The following is the address read to the National
Assembly by the PRESIDENT of the Republic, *ft°
taking the oath :
" Citizen Representatives, The suffrages of the
nation, and the oath I have just taken, trace out for me
my future conduct. I shall follow it as a man of honour'
I shall regard as enemies of our country all those Wllll
should attempt to change by illegal means what 0
France has established Between you and me, Citizen
Representatives, there cannot be any real difference
of opinion. Our wishes, our desires, are the sate'
I wish, like you, to place society on its true basis ; to
strengthen democratic institutions, and to alleviate tb!
miseries of that generous and intelligent people whicu
has just given me such a striking proof of its confidence'
file majority which I have obtained not only penetrates
me with gratitude, but it will give to the new GoverlY.
went that moral force, without which there is no autb°-
city. With peace and order our country can again jar
prove—can cure its wounds, bring back the men the:
nave been misled, and calm down passions. Animated
by a sincere spirit of conciliation, I have called rotten'
me capable and patriotic men, who, in spite of the diver•
sity• of their political origin, are ready to devote them-
selves with you to the application of the Constitution,
(he improvement of the laws, and the glory of the
Republic. A Government coming into power owes s
debt of thanks to its predecessors when the deposit Of
its authority is handed over to it intact, and in par-
ticular I owe' it to the lion. General Cavaignao to
say that his coi,cluct is worthy of the generosity of his
character, and that sentiment of duty which is the first

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