The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-11 00:00:00

vetting -111

LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 11, 1846.

Mexico
of cob: veryought by the last packet
froTinheihaeccuounnittesafrsotm llates
rcharacter,
an b
since
longer
and leave scarcely any hope thapeace alarming
e
maintained between the two republics. Ever
accession of PAREDES to the Presidency no secretn emehtahte.
ever has been made by the Mexican Government of its
hostility to the Americans, of its indignation at the
deceitful and unprincipled occupation of Texas, and of
its wish to recover a territory of such m • portance and so
long united to Mexico. For these reasonsi the President
refused to receive Mr. SLIDDELL, the American
Extraordinary, sent to complete the settlement Ministerof the
Texan question, as well as to enter upon negotiations
respecting California, or some other province that had
attracted the cupidity of these friends of peace,
liberty, and justice. PAREDES had enough of pub.
lie spirit to reject such a negotiator. SLID-
DELL, of course, was obliged to return to Wash,
ington without having been allowed even to
open his dispatches or show his credentials,
and this is regarded as a grievous insult to the majesty
of the great republic. . The American President roust,
as a matter of course, view this contemptuous treatment
of his Ambassador as a serious offence, to be expiated
only by some new concession, some strip of territory
that lies convenient for annexation to Texas, or some
portion of California, or perhaps the port of Vera Cruz,
as a security that the Mexicans will know better
for the future bow to conduct themselves to--
wards Mr. SLIDDELL or General GREEN, now
plotting at Mexico, or any other great General
that may be appointed as representative of POLK.
Preparations have evidently been made for some display
of the kind. The American army sent to protect
Texas had been ordered to advance to the Rio del
Norte; the Mexicans were, of course, compelled to take
the same course, and the consequence is that these two
hostile forces are arranged against each other on the
opposite banks of the river, and the slightest accident
sufficient to muse is collision. Possibly the

Mexicans might have the advantage should a
battle ensue, but they have not the means, we
fear, to maintain their ground. They unfortunately,
too, are divided among themselves. There are Ame-
rican agents at the capital for the very purpose of sow-
ing divisions and creating anarchy in the Government.
They have no fleet, they are sadly deficient in the ma-
nagement of state affairs, and altogether Mexico at pre-
sent appears totally incapable of defending herself
against a fifth-rate power. On the other hand, the Arne-
aicans are of one mind—at all events they will act
as a people of one mind ; the army on the Rio del
Norte will be speedily increased, plenty of emigrants
from other states will be found to offer themselves as
volunteers, on the security that they are to be remune-
rated by large grants of land in Texas, and not a few,
too, may join their ranks under the conviction that in a
few years the Americans may encamp under the very
walls of Mexico itself. The American fleet is powerful
and active, and could, if left at full liberty to carry on its
operations, bombard or occupy every seaport of Mexico,
for even the ports in the Pacific are open to the attacks
of the ships cruising at present in that quarter, and in a
very few weeks every vessel belonging to Mexico,
whether armed or engaged in trade, would be cap-
tured, or shut up in some creek. Mexico—for the fact
cannot be disputed—is totally unable to cope with her
powerful and encroaching antagonist. When the last
accounts left Washington, it was understood that the
President would forthwith send a message to Congress
complaining of the insult offered to Mr. SLIDDELL,
the hostile spirit displayed by PAREDES in his
last proclamation, his abuse of the Americans,
and especially of those who consummated the annexa-
tion of Texas, and the general tone of hostility displayed
by the Mexican Government ever since the new Presi-
dent was elected almost by acclamation. The Congress,
no doubt, would willingly recommend the most active
and warlike measures, provided POLK could have
induced England and France to concur with him in
his beautiful theory of non-interference, but against that
these two powers have expressed themselves in the most
decided language, and they will not suffer Mexico,
though weak and helpless, and divided against itself, to
be devoured by her unprincipled and avaricious neigh-
bour. We must wait for more precise intelligence from
those parts in order to form any conclusive opinion, but
as far as can be judged from a concurrence of circum-
stances, war between the two countries is certain, and
Mexico can be saved only by the interference of
European powers.

We insert elsewhere a letter from Mr. Witalam H.
LE MARCHANT in reference to the article contained in
The Sun of Saturday, respecting the Channel Islands.
Mr. LE MARCHANT impeaches the accuracy of our
statement on two grounds. He says, "it is there as-
serted that the most valuable prerogative of the Crown,
that of mercy, is practically abolished ;" and his answer
is,;that the sentence of a man named NIcoLLE had, within
the last six weeks, been commuted from death to trans•.
portation for life. Such may have been the case, and
our statement be true and correct in every particular.
That statement in substance was —" That no appeal
lay from the decision of the Court in criminal cases, that
the majority decided as to the guilt and its punish-
ment; no matter how erroneous it might be in point of
law, there was no power of revision ; that no power
existed in the island to stay the execution; none to
mitigate the punishement ; and we drew the natural
consequence of such a state of facts by adding—thus
the most valuable prerogative of the Crown, that
of mercy, is practically abolished." If he read
further, he would see that we said " True it
is, the QUEEN in Council may pardon or lessen
the punishment." Does our correspondent venture a
denial of any one of the statements? Does he show to
what tribunal the appeal lies, or in what manner the
sentence, if erroneous, can be revised? or does he refer
to the authority existing in the island by which the
execution can be stayed or the punishment mitigated?
No, he well knows that he cannot do so with truth, and
he therefore attempts to infer that we have stated what
was not the fact by showing that a sentence has re-
cently been commuted from death to banishment.
Does he not know that the exception proves the
rule, that a total silence is better than a bad
defence? Our argument was against the extraordinary
accumulation of powers vested in the Court. Does he
attempt to show that the sentence might not have been
carried into execution, without time having been afforded
to the criminal to apply fur an extension of mercy?
Far from it. On the contrary, by his silence he prac-
tically admits the truth of those statements, which he
has not ventured to contradict.
The second ground on which Mr. LE MARCHANT
im-
pugns our statement is, that we say, " that no
record of any of the proceedings of the Court is
kept; or, if kept, it is nct open to public in-
spection." We added, " All they condescend to
announce in any case, civil or criminal, is the con-
clusion they have arrived at, the sentence they have
pronounced." In answer to this, Mr. LE MARCHANT t
says—" That a full record is kept of every proceeding,
and that these records are open to public inspection, at
least as much as those of any court in England." We
shall merely say that our informant is a gentle-
man of the highest character and respectability,
and that we place the most implicit confidence in
the truth of his assertion, and it will require
something more than the uncorroborated statement
of Mr. LE MARCHANT to shake our faith in his cre-
dibility ; the result of the Commission just appointed
will satisfy the public as to which is the most trust-
worthy. We again re-assert on that authority the truth
and accuracy of the statements we have made. Having
thus disposed of the points on which a contradiction has
been attempted, let us see what remains untouched.
Has anything been said of the mode of election of
the jurats, the corrupt influences brought to bear during
such election, of the limited number of the electors,
and the total want of any qualification on the part
of the newly-elected jurat, of his prejudice in favour of
his friends and in opposition to his enemies; that there
is no legal education of any kind—no knowledge of the
law necessary for this expounder and administrator of
the law? What answer is given to the extraordinary
accumulation of powers, executive, legislative, and judi-
cial? What to the magisterial capacity, the acting as a
pelice•court, and the secret investigation, we shouhl
rather say inquisition, which takes place previous to the
public criminal trial? What to the assumed right of
making ordinances, by which laws may be enacted and
taxation imposed without reference to any other body
whatever? No, the champion is silent on each and every
one of these points. " Save me from my friends," is an
old and true adage, and the Royal Court of Guernsey
may justly deprecate the continued advocacy on their
behalf of Mr. WILLIAM H. LE MARCHANT.

Seldom, if ever, has an announcement been made in
The Sun of such incalculable importance, or one which
augurs such beneficent consequences both to the present
and to all after generations, as the one which we have
at length the happiness of making.—This evening the
Ministerial Bill fur the total abolition of the Corn-laws
will be submitted to the House of Commons for a third
reading.—ln the estimation of too many sceptics, a pre-
diction to this effect uttered only three years previous to
its actual fulfilment would have been scouted as the
very insanity of hopefulness. Nevertheless, as expe-
rience has -repeatedly shown, principles originally re-
garded as chimerical, and ruinous, and revolutionary,
are ultimately sanctioned by the unanimous voice of the
Legislature. Never was this extraordinary fact more ,
glaringly attested than upon the present occasion ; never
did its demonstration give promises more glorious of in-
creased happiness, and security, and tranquillity to the
entire human family. What so many popular
advocates have striven for, earnestly, manfully,
and perseveringly, during so many years of
disparagement, and contumely, and discomfiture,
is now rapidly drawing to its realisation. The convic-
tions which the eloquent associates of the League have
been so long fructifying in the popular mind, amidst a
torrent of mingled ridicule and vituperation, have re-
ceived the acquiescence of the representatives in a
British Parliament. The spontaneous labours of CoBDEN,
and VILLIERS, and BRIGHT have been eminently
havevic-
torious,hbo
od
importation beenb erov
eof
theeminentlyforetiegrnmfpiurntoai
provisions,
s,oinofno
osr,,f
thnheitashl levrehrgu)r.
while the counter-labours of their antagonists
iawnneoerklikeethaltie
wxii
loluhsae:eacrtemceeinvtesdwthhieeihr havefinal
chointhdeermtonarteisotnricfrtoedm thean
gbeyofosocveettni.semn:
overwhelmingtle majority of the Commons. Of this occur-
ts nroawdenpool7csyti
Andtis easaecceerit)atai n-
trieonnc occur-
rence
f there
free-trade
ei
as it was once considered impossible.yet, i with
that invariable quiescence which is the accompaniment
of a knowledge of assured conquest, the public contents
itself with a noiseless though an earnest tense of satis-
faction; it entertains one general sentiment of gladness at
the boon, but that boon is already so certainly its own
that any violent jubilation at its possession becomes su-
perfluous. Natural, however, as this feeling is, we
cannot but look upon our own tranquillity in
making the above announcement without some real
astonishment. The most sanguine worshipper of
free trade could net possibly have anticipated a triumph
so wonderfully facile, nor one so marvellously rapid, as
that which is just reaching its conclusion in the Lower
House. Although the frivolous and intolerable postpone-
ments, which have solely originated in the obstinacy of the

Protectionists, have retarded this great measure inn man-
ner absolutely unconscionable, those whoremember—and
whose memory is so unretentive as to be incapable of
the reminiscence ?—the incessant and almost contemp-
tuous rejection of the motion of the Honourable CHARLES
PELHAM VILLIERS session after session, cannot but feel
a considerable amount of amazement when they couple
that recollection with the progress which principles
tallying in every particular with those inculcated in that
motion of the Hon. Member for Wolverhampton have
at this moment made in Parliament. As we have
already observed, the acceptation of those principles is
now so perfectly secure that any ovation or any conspi•
cuous complacency on that very account becomes an
unnecessary exhibition of enthusiasm. We are reduced
to the happy necessity of quietly subsiding into a con-
templation of the consequences likely to result from so
thorough an alteration in the commercial system.
Bearing in recollection, however, the influence which
the majority on the Corn and Customs' Bill will un-
doubtedly have upon the House of Peers, on its being for-
warded thither for their sanction, it becomes not altogether
uninteresting to notice the proportion which that ma-
jority will hear in its relation to the aggregate number
of representatives. It would be almost frivolous to anti-
cipate a division this evening, because of the habitual
propriety observable under similar circumstances among
our legislators. Something indicative of deliberation in
the settlement of a question of so much importance is
but naturally to be expected in every national
assembly, if only in deference to the extent of their
responsibility, the comprehensiveness of the proposed
change, and the abstract welfare of the empire. Some
such evidence of caution is indeed for these reasons
almost requisite. Hence we may naturally look for one
adjournment of the debate, though we earnestly pray
that such an adjournment may meet with no
repetition. we conceive, is necessary to prove
actualthatnoNt
necessity'thign exists, as far as argument is con-
cerned, for further procrastination. The whole debate
has so manifestly dwindled away in energy and bulk,
and illustration. Protectionists and Free-traders, Conser-
vatives and Liberals, Mmisterialists and Opposition, have
severally elecidated or obscured the matter under dis-
cussion, and have absolutely exhausted the vocabulary
of their different opinions—a more indubitable sign of
which could not possibly have presented itself than the
so-called debate of Friday evening, which, under the
appearance of being devoted to the • corn ques-
tion, was composed principally of the most irre-
levant personalities. A small, an insignificantly
small, amplification of the kedium viler, in listening to
thrice-repeated platitudes from the gentleman seated
behind the front row of the Ministerial benches, is now
all that is expected from the supporters of this gigantic
measure, so as to terminate for ever those " impolitic
and unjust" restrictions which have ground down the
multitude for the emolument of a paltry faction of mo-
nopolists. This additional annoyance—but one which
however irksome in itself is as nothing in comparison
with the abrogation which it will ensure—this
additional annoyance, we repeat it, is all that
is now expected by the people from those legislators
who have already battled for the general interest on so
many previous occasions. It is a sacred duty, incum-
bent upon those lion. Members individually: nothing
except of ',the most extraordinary importance should be
regarded by them as having superior claims upon their
attendance. By enrolling their names in the majority
catalogue, they will moreover be inscribing them in
letters of light upon one amongst the brightest pages in
our national records— they will be associating themselves
with an epoch and an achievement the remembrance of
which can never fade. Personal ambition, but
above all, the good, of their country, of mankind,
and of posterity, call upon each of those
Members to deliver in his vote upon the final reading of
this glorious Bill. The division list will be the third
and the most momentous blow ever struck at an infamous
and pernicious monopoly; let the increase of the majority
infuse into that blow an additional and irresistible energy!

The state of affairs in the Austrian dominions appear to be
anything but satisfactory to the Government. From a Bo-
hemian correspondent of the Swabian Mercury, whose letter
is dated April 26; we learn that the disturbances in Austrian
Galicia had produced a great agitation among the popula-
tion of Bohemia, who were beginning to suffer from want of
food. "A slight cause," says this writer, " would be suffl••
cient to induce the peasants to rise against the nobles."

Letters from Constantinople of the 22d ult. announce the
arrival in that city of Vice-Admiral Sir W. PARKER. He
had gone as far as Gallipoli in the Hibernia, of 120 guns,
from whence he proceeded to Constantinople in the Virago
steamer. The greatest attention has been paid to him by
the SULTAN and his Ministers. In consequence of the
mediation of the Russian Minister the differences be-
tween the Greek Patriarch and the Porte had been arranged.
In Austrian Galicia the people are suffering from the
want of food, and a letter from Lemberg, of the 30th ult.,
published in the Augsburgh Gazette, states that many of
the peasants refuse to perform the duties they are bound to
perform to their landlords, and declare that the land ought
to be equally divided among all the inhabitants. The Go-
vernment both in Galicia and Bohemia were endeavouring,
to the utmost of their power, by providing food, to
alleviate the sufferings of the people.
Madrid papers to the 3d have been received.

In the Gazette of the 2d we find the Oicial:nnouncement
a the execution of Sous and eleven (not fifteen, as at first
stated) of his companions, followed by a decree, ordering
that the lives of the other prisoners should be spared.
The: Gazette of the 3d contains a royal ordon-
nance, abrogating the ordonnance of the 18th March, relative
to the offences of the public press. MM. BERROGIN,
VELO,
ESCULANTE, and SAGASTI, who had been arrested in Madrid
at the commencement of the Galician insurrection, were
liberated on the Ist of May. It was supposed that the
Government would suppress the provincial battalions. A
letter from Valladolid, of the 20th, says :
" The sergeants of a company of the regiment of infantry
of Zamora were brought before a court-martial in this city
on a charge of having taken part in the rebellion of Galicia,
under General Iriarte. The accused, in their defence, said,
that they had passively obeyed the orders of their chief,
and that not knowing General Iriarte personally, they
imagined with the other insurgents that he was legally
invested with the functions of Captain-General. The court-
martial, considering that the facts did not involve capital
punishment, and disregarding the requisitory of the judge-
advocate, who called for 10 years' transportation to the Pre-
sidios, merely condemned the sergeants to four years' trans.
portation. The Captain-General, to whom this sentence was
submitted, refused to ratify it, on the ground that it was in
violation of the law, and ordered that not only the president
aml the judges, but also the judge-advocate—for not having
demanded capital punishment—should be suspended from
their functions, and imprisoned until the decision of the Queen
should be known on the subject. Another court-martial was
summoned,, and this also declared that the offence was not
punishable with death, and had given a sentence of ten years'
transportation to the Presodias ; the members of the court and
the assessor have been suspended from their functions and
shut up in a fortress."

We have received the Paris papers of Friday and Saturday.
On Friday the first article of the Central Railway Bill, au
thorising the construction of the section between Chaleauroux
and Limoges, Was adopted by the Chamber of Deputies by a
majority of 232 to G. The Gray and St. Dizier Railway Bill,
as amended by the Committee, was adopted, and
it was ordered that, if within six months no
company should oiler to undertake the construction of the
road the Government should commence the works forthwith.

Among the addresses of congratulation received by the
KING on Friday was one from the Lord Provost, magistrates,
and Town Council of Edinburgh. The Epoque says that Duke
PasuiEn, the Chancellor, is perfectly astonished at the cool-
ness and intelligence exhibited by LE:COMTE in answering his
interrogatories, the Chancellor has been heard to say of him,
"He has an intelligent head, with a heart of iron." The
compliment has not been thrown away on LEco3rric, who
declares that if Duke PesqufEr. should be removed by tleatli,
he can never be replaced. Happy Duke PASQUIER, thus to
possess at the some time the confidence of the KING and the
regicide, and to be able to reciprocate compliments with both.
On Friday, the colours taken from the Buenos Ayrean
troops in the engagement of the Obliged° were presented to
the KING by the Minister of Marine.
On Thursday, according to the Courrier Francais, an ex-
press was sent off by the Minister of Foreign Affairs to the
French Ambassador in London, with copies of dispatches
from Admiral LAINE and other documents relating to the
affairs of La Plata, which were to be communicated by Count
Du: ST. AULAME to the British Cabinet.
The success of the attompt to bring the Indian overland
mail to England, rid Trieste, has had the effect of putting
the Prench authorities on the qui vire, and the Journal des
Deba.ts has an article showing the necessity of reforming the
whole of the Levant service, so as to facilitate
the communication between Alexandria and Mar-
seilles, and also of abolishing, or, at all
events, :materially ameliorating the present vexatious
system of quarantine. For years past scientific and commer-
cial men have been urging the necessity of these reforms
As long as France thought she possessed a monopoly these
suggestions remained unattended to. Now the vexations
will probably be removed, and for their removal we shall.
have to thank the much-abused principle of competition,
which brings Governments as well as individuals to reason.
The 'Three per Cents. closed on the Paris Bourse on Saturday at
83f. 95c. ; the Five per Cents, 1201. 20c.; the Orleans Railroad shares,
1,250 f. ,• Rouen, .1,040 f. ; Havre, 757 f. 50e. ' • Great Northern,
7,„60,f.; Avignon, 920 f. ; Vierzon, 670 f. ; Bordeaux, 625 f. • Boulogne,
"". 25e. ; Troyes and Montcreau, 403 f. 75c. ; Base, 217 f. 50c. ;
Dieppe, 450 ; Paris atid Strasburg, 515 f. ; Tours and Nantes, 536 f. 25c. ;
Paris and Lyons, 567 f. 50c.; Belgian Two-and-a-Hair per Cents.,
56% ; SpanLsh Domestic Debt, 313: . -
The following are the quotations in railway shares .
Lyons and Avignon Dellnitives,
Definitives, 511 f. 25c.
Maasxmx.s.s, MAY 5.-Marseilles and Avignon, 927 f. 50c.:
Northern, 767f.50e. • l'aris and Lyons, 572 f. 50c.
LYONS, 31Ay 7.-2.farseilles and Avignon* 936 f. 25c. ; Paris and
527 f. 50c.; Bordeaux and Cate
Orleans, 1,262 f. 50e. ; Vierzon, 686 f. 25c.; Northern, 773 f. 75c.
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN- RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, MAY 9.
Central of Spain, 1 Dutch Rhenish, 644-East Indian, %-
Great Western Ca,apa, 4-Jamaica South Midland Junction, 2-
Luxembourg,
10%- Paris mid Lyona %-- ,yuoUtuted, 7-L' aris. sag Strasbourg Con-
stituted, D%, 1%-Namur and Liege, 4 ti-Orleaus and Bor-deaux, I