The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-19 00:00:00

Urniiig J:fl

LONDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 1846.

mostTh mild eEarle of CLARENDOS and ABERDEEN are men of the
and amiable character, and no two statesmen
perhaps could be chosen to speak on the Oregon question
who could show a more peaceable disposition, or so much
moderation, or such a total absence of every appearance of
hostile feeling even towards the violent war party in America.
Their brief speeches on Tuesday
peace are perfect models in this
respect—they breathe onlywill to the mis-
guided men of the west, and even to Mr. and General
Case, who have behaved towards England in a way that
might justly have called forth differenAt
this moderation may have a language.aiireln
place
geo
01 efPffeocstsibliyn
America frota that intended, and
induc-
ing certain parties to follow the example,
and act like Christians, may lead them,
And mild language has hitherto done, to rise la:w
theire
demands, and attribute the apparent submissiveness of Eng-
land to fear, or commercial iniereets, or some other
motive
equally unbecoming a great and high-spirited nation. On
the other hand, such a course has its advantages in a moral
point of view, and cannot fail to make a favourable impres-
every Continental Power. England, they must set,
has adopted a ,system in every respect different from that of
her antagonist. She has used no insulting language, made
no unreasonable demand;. She has offered to settle the
diapute by nef:oL;ation, or reference to a third Power. She
has, in short, effere.l everything consistent with her honour.
Looking at the nay of this country, her vast wealth,
her almost inexhausti:Ae resources, and the noVe contest
she so long maintained against the most gigantic power
ever seen by Europe—such a peaceful attitude cannot fail to
make the deepest impression in favour of her rights, and ex-
hibit her in a Ight which may well excite the envy of the
world. We only trust that this moderation will not be car-
riea beyond the proteer limits, and that Lord ABERDEEN will
not for: et t:Jat there arc bounds beyond which even the most

peaceable of her MA.tr.sTr :1 subjects could not be induced to
% S r %, Iprh The rights of the I..Tudson's Bay Company must be
_..------reeerve,l, the Columbia River cannot be surrendered, nor any
,'lS*Neonc ion made which can interrnot a free communication with
-', .'..- "--41i0. \ P ific • and it ought never to be forgotten that
c
1-. t •-,N,',.;
.....,_ ,i, . '
.;:. ....,, _.---Vy el mg to unreasonable demands we only the more en-
_ .4-_, .:-:-1. ailgO he blessings of peace. On these points Lord ABBllt-
i'l7*o . id nothing—his remarks were all general, and his
-7,-,-- 1- bop
: 1 _ , ' of an
.amicable settlement of the Aiffarences much
T ri 411.5 ngar, we tear, than those entertained by any other person.
6. .6 4ir !id

" I cannot," he said, " bring myself tobelieve that any reason-
able doubt remains of our being able to bring this matter to a
satisfactory conclusion." Ile knows more than the public, and
the public in the mean time may take his word when he
assures them that the conduct of this great transaction will ;
be fStbearing, conciliatory, moderate, and just, without any 1
sacrifice of honour or of the real interests of the country. We
only hope that he will never forget his own solemn declara-
tion, that " England has rights in the Oregon, and that she
is prepared to maintain them."

The tariff is not yet inished. We had hoped too much,
it appears, of the discretion and even of the humanity of
protectionist legislators. Though the Corn Bill is waiting
for the tariff, and none of the articles included in the tariff—
some of them of prime importance to a people suffering
from scarcity—can be admitted at the proposed reduced du-
ties till the whole report on the tariff has been received—
notwithstanding the appalling accounts of the march of
famine in Ireland, and the authoritative representations of
the injury done to all the commercial interests by the con-
tinuance of delay—the protectionist pop-guns still go on
popping, Lord Goconcs BENTDICK still goes on practising
himself into an orator at the expense of starving millions,
and Sir Jonx TynnELL and Colonel Swum? snaking" merry
descants on a nation's woes." When and how is all this
tomfoolery to end ?
The protectionists, it appears, had. made up their mind not
to let the second reading of the Corn Bill pass till suxt Fri •
day week. Lord G. BENTINCK has made up his book so as
to let the third reading be taken the last day that the House
of Commons will sit before Easter, that the Lords may not
begin with it till after Easter, so as the protectionists can
talk, and will talk, and there is no shame in them.
Sir ROBERT PEEL has lost nothing by allowing the second
reading of the Corn Bill to be postponed till Monday next ; for
whether it comes en next Monday, or bad come on on Tuesday,
in either case it had been settled by Lord GEORGE BENTLNCK,
whose decrees are irrevocable, that the division should take
place on Friday week. And Lord GEORGE BErrincE, who
shows himself every night a great calculator, has calculated
that the debate on timber is to last six hours; so as the
House were not unnaturally unwilling to sit for six hours, from
eleven o'clock on Tuesday night, to begin work again at twelve
yesterday, and as nothing is lost by letting the six hours' pro-
tectionist mooning on timber come off on Friday, on Friday
it is to come off; and then let us hope that the tariff will be
finished, and the new duties come into operation on Satur-
day morning.
Yesterday morning the Irish Fever Bill was proceeded
with. The sentiments to which Mr. \VARLET has given
expression in connexion with this Bill have, we think, been
most unjustly misrepresented, when he is ridiculed as pre-
scribing high diet for fever, and accused of throwing ob-
structions in the way of the cure of fever, by remonstrating
against a previous absence of measures for preventing it.
The frightful returns laid before Parliament, if they show
anything, show that the fever has its origin in want of food.
That is the Government case. It is a case universally
assented to. The existence of scarcity has been long known,
its production of disease has been long foreseen. " Why,
then," asks Mr. WALLET, " have effectual measures not
been taken to supply food to the starving ?" And it is
not too late yet. Why are not effectual measures now taken
for providirg every starving man, in whom starvation has
not yet produced disease, with food that may yet be in time
to prevent it? And Mr. WALLET lays hold of the defect
of the Irish poor-law system, which does not provide the
means of relieving the destitute immediately, without first
bringing him into the workhouse. Mr. P. SCROPE has also
ably enforced the necessity of making some alteration in the
provision of the Irish poor-law to meet the sad necessity

of the present moment. This is not the time to cling to

theories, when starvation and death threaten on every
side. This is not the time to wait for the operation
of the measures introduced by the Government with a view to
providing employment, nor even for the distribution of those
supplies of food which the Government have collected, and
by the collection of which Sir J. GRAHAM is so ready to
justify himself to his country and posterity, by a state of
things such as now exists in Ireland. The means should be
at hand in every parish of providing immediate relief.to the
destitute, as it is provided by the relieving officers in Eng-
land. Till these means are given, the Government will not
have done all their duty. This is what Mr. WAKLIY has
urged upon the Government with his usual ability, and with
a benevolence of which one would have thought his public
life had afforded proof enough to protect him from the un-
handsome insinuations in which a Liberal paper has per-
mitted itself to indulge.

We alluded in our columns of yesterday to the promised
motion of Lord Joan RUSSELL, and entirely approved of its
postponement until the all-engrossing, the vitally important
topic of the day, the introduction of cheap food for the many,
shall have been safely carried through its various stages to a
triumphant termination, but we do not the less keenly feel
the imperative necessity of an early and attentive investiga-
tion into the causes which have hitherto rendered so fair a
country, so large a portion of our dominions, as Ireland un-
doubtedly is, rather &thorn in the side of Great Britain, the fer-
tile source of embarrassment and difficulty to the Government,
than (as undoubtedly she ought to be) her great strength
and support. The people of Ireland have long suffered under
the blighting effects of misgovernment and oppression ex •
tended through ages of misrule—let us hope that a new and
a brighter era is dawning upon both nations, and that the
abolition of all political distinctions, the removal of all un-
equal and unjust laws, which have hitherto rendered a people
possessing so many high and noble qualities, so ready to feel
and appreciate any kind (we should rather say just) acts,
dissatisfied and insubordinate, will restore it to us as an
integral portion of our nation rather than a province.
Never was there a time when acts of concession, cf justice on
our part could be rendered with a better grace.. The visita-
tion of PSOVIDEICE has unhappily afflicted our Irish brethren
with all the horrors of famine and of pestilence, occasioned
by the deteriorated quality of the scanty provisions retained
for home consumption ; and this, be it remembered, at a
time when they are exporting to oar shores large quantities
of the finest description of esculents. Our Government, with
the sanction and approbation of persons of all
classes, varieties, and shades of politics through-
out the country, are anxiously seeking for and
ready to adopt any means to alleviate their distress—to
extend the warmest sympathy and the most disinterested
friendship to the sufferers—amply sufficient to testify to a
people of such high and generous impulses the true character
of our feelings towards them—that we do not wish in any re-
spect to enact the part of a superior, but
in all things to make them part and parcel
of ourselves in full and perfect equality—that
we are actuated by a laudable and anxious desire to
remove their grievances and to render them complete justice,
to develope their energies, and to bring their great national
resources into full and perfect operation.
But much remains still to be done before this happy con-
summation can be attained, and gladly do we hail the exist-
ence of an improved spirit amongst our legislators in the
manner in which they discuss the affairs of our sister island.
Men of the highest and most exalted talent, of compre-
hensive intellect, have shaken off many of the antiquated
prejudices which formerly hung around them, and prevented
the free exercise of their faculties; they can now give full
liberty (unrestrained by considerations of party) to their nobler
feelings; the Government, and many of the most intellectual
of what was formerly termed the Conservative party, have
happily emancipated themselves from the thraldom of the
more bigoted and intolerant of their associates, from the sup-
posed necessity of acting with whom, and keeping them-
selves united as a party, their better feelings were formerly
fettered andenchained. Already* measure has been brought
forward to sweep off the last remnants of the penal cede
which so long disgraced our statute-book, and it
was received with the almost unanimous approbation of the
House. True it is that some little opposition was manifested,
but it was of the faintest description, and appeared to have
been given rather as a protest against the measure than
with any well-grounded hope of resisting it in its progress.
Indeed, we should doubt the efficacy, the justice of any
measure which was not greeted by some such exhibition.
And now that this improved spirit is animating the
national councils we entertain the sanguine expectation
that but a short while will elapse before we shall witness its
happy fruits—that where discontent and anarchy now prevail,
contentment and peace will become their substitutes—where
poverty and its attendant miseries have attained a rank and
spurious growth, wealth and its cheerful adjuncts will supply
their place—where the assassin now lurks, the hardy and
peaceful yeoman will be found. And that Ireland at large,
hitherto writhing beneath the tortures of misrule, will soon
be converted into a thriving and prosperous portion of our
dominions, and in place of reproach, will reflect honour on
the British Legislature.

We have received Madrid journals of the 10th, which left
little doubt that a speedy change of Ministry was certain,
and this event, by no means unexpected, has been confirmed
by an extraordinary express which reached Paris on Monday
night, announcing that on the 12th all the Ministers had
resigned. This is believed to be the work of CHRISTINA and
NARVAEZ ; for the moderation of the latter, ever since the
fall of MARTI:4E2 DE IA ROSA'S Cabinet, and the acquits=
cence of the Qu EEN-MoTss ER in the change, were all feigned,
and displayed for some ulterior object of their plans. The
public absolutely know nothing, bat strong and well-founded
suspicions are entertained that some dark, mysterious scheme
is in operation for the marriage of the QUEEN to one not
acceptable to the Spanish nation. No doubt remains that a
now Cabinet will be formed with • •
NAttvaEz as Chief Mi-
nister.

On the 10th the Three per Cents. closed at 29i at 30 days ;
the Five per Cents., at 21i at 30 days; and the Coupons, at
2:3N at 30 days.

In the French Chamber of Deputies, on Monday, the
de-
bate on the motion of M. REMUSAT relative to public
func-
tionaries having seats in the Chamber had commeneed,hu
up to the hour of post it possessed no feature of the slightest
interest. A Committee had been appointed on M. ST.
PRIEST'S Bill for the reduction of the Five per Cent. Stoek
Of the Members six are Ministerialists, and consequently in
favour of postponement, and the measure therefore may be
regarded as settled, at least, for this session. A Bill for granting
300,060 f. to the Minister of the Interior, for charitable pur-
poses, had been passed on a previous day almost unani-
mously. The late insurrection in Poland still forms the
principal topic in several of the journals, but the remarks upon
it are without either novelty or interest, The total amount
of subscriptim Pins up t 4 Saturday, was 43,000f1 and

those in the provinces already known were reckoned at 7,000 f,
making altogether 50,000 f. (2,0001.) We are glad to find I
that the accounts received from the United States of the
manner in which the new tariff of Sir ROBERT PEEL was
received at New York and Washington, has given satisfac-
tion at Paris. This is a good sign for the continuation of
peace between England and France. War, even among
men that at one time belonged to the war party, is becoming
unfashionable, and the blessings, of peace begin to be
estimated at their real - value, The Constitutionnel,
adverting to the accounts from America, says :—" They
afford an additional argument for the advocates of peace,
and the most powerful that can be urged in an American
assembly, for it is founded on self-interest; but the next ar-
rivals will tell us whether the impressions of the first day
were fugitive, or whether they have remained permanent in
,the minds of the American statesmen." The arguments of
the Courrier Francais, :a journal not partial to England,
might be put forth by any peace society in England. We
are much pressed for SpaCe, but the article is too good to be
abridged :

" It is long since political economists have said to their Govern-
ments—grant ns commercial liberty, free trade with all nations, and
we in our turn guarantee to you, in the name of the science of which
we are the advocates, that the liberty which you bestow as a gift on
humanity, shall not meet an ungrateful return; we guarantee that
It shall successively remove all the causes of trouble, disorder, and
antagonism, which ft is your duty to combat and destroy ; we gua-
rantee to you that there shall one day reign in the world, that
golden age, which has been placed so mal-apropos in the past, and
which in the future is the golden age of peace. These eco-
nomists have been Scarcely listened to, and if they have been,
it has been only 'with the intention of stigmatising their ideas
as dreams and utopian reveries. The first answer given was ' This
liberty is impossible. Nations have been always imparked within
their frontiers; they are accustomed to be separated, divided, dis-
united ; how then will you accustom them to unite and treat each
other as brothers?' The economists have not replied to this, they
have done better; they have allowed facts to speak for them-
selves; they have shown populations drawn towards each other,
uniting themselves by the bonds of interest and sympathies,
and breaking by degrees those shackles which separated them ;
they have shown societies formerly scattered, and forming
each a separate world, drawing towards each other in
such a manner as to form a great whole, the parts of which,
though distinct and different, are attached to each other by the in-
dissoluble bond of commercial relations. They have, in fine, pointed
out the constantly increasing amount of the imports and exports of
each country, and have said-, This is what will henceforth secure
peace. War will not take place when one nation depends on another
for its subsistence.' Events that are taking place on all sides prove
the correctness of the opinion of these who have been hitherto
designated as dreamers and utopians. The genius of war re-
coils before that of commercial liberty. We have, fur instance,
just received from the United States accounts in which 'the
political economists will - receive an admirable confirmation
of the excellence of their principles, in which they will find the an -
nouncement of a signal victory, which the application of their prin-
ciples is on the point of giving to the cause of peace. After remaining
for a mouth without any news from England, the Americans re-
ceived by the Cambria the financial plan proposed by Sir Robert
Peel. This great measure which has slut an end to the old system
pursued in England, and inaugurates in the world the era of commer-
cial liberty, has caused a complete revolution both at Washington
and at New York. All warlike ideas, even by the most
ardent adversaries of England, were immediately laid aside.
The language of the press, hitherto so threatening, has become
completely pacific. The Oregon question may be considered
to be, if not arranged, at least in a fair way of settlement. This,
we repeat, is a victory of which the friends of freedom have a just
right to be proud. In England, the accounts from America have
caused general satisfaction, except ameugst the ohd protectionist
party. For this party, already half vanquished, and which will to-
morrow have disappeared, the blow is painful. If the news !from
America had not been favourable, the protectionists might perhaps
have succeeded in causing :the postponement of the :reform of the
eons-laws ; perhaps they might have succeeded In causing its re-
jection by the House of Lords. But how can they now struggle
against a measure which, by giving the people food at a cheap rate,
will secure peace to England? All opposition is henceforth impos-
sible."

The irenchFunds continued to improve on Monday; the Three per
Cents. closed at 84f. 40e. ; . the live per Cents., 1201. 45c. ; the
Orleans Railroad shares, 1,340 f. ; Rouen, 1,0801. ; Havre, 762 f. 50c. ;
Great Northern, 7961. 25c.; Avignon, 1,000 f.; Vierzoa, 757 f. 50c. ;
Bordeaux, 6851. ; Basle, 2501. ; Fampoux, 460 f. ; Dieppe, 480 f.; Paris
and Strasburg, 547 f. 50e. ; Tours and Nantes, 5761. 25e.; Paris and
Lyons, definitive, 6241. ; Spanish Three per Cents., 38.

The following are the quotations for other lines :

Lyons and Avignon Railroad (Talabot). 512 f. 50c. ; ditto (Le-
cointe), 5061; ditto (Conapagnle Merldlonale), 5041. ; Bordeaux and
Cette (Mackenzie), 5031. ; ditte(Espeleta), 5041. ; Dijon and Mul-
haussen (O'Neill) definitive% 565 t. Charleroi, 4961. 75e.
LYONS, Mellen 14.—Parts and Orleans, 1,3151. ; Rouen, 1,050 f.
Viezron, 7551.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK ESCHANGE, Afenen 17.

Bordeaux, Tealouse, and Cette (Espeletaj, 2% —Dendre Valley,
% —Dutch Rhenish, 6 —*reat Northern of Franco Constituted, 16%
—Louvain and Jemappe, I%,—Jamaica South Midland Junction,
2—Luxembourg. I —Namur and Liege, 3%—Rouen and Havre, 30
—Sambre and Meuse, 4 —Tours and Nantes Constituted, 734.