The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-23 00:00:00

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LONDON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 1846.

The royal speech delivered at the opening of the
session of Parliament yesterday cannot be charged
either with vagueness or inanity—two qualities regarded
almost as inherent in such documents. It adverts to
four topics at least of great interest ; and regarding the
sentiments expressed as those of the Minister rather
than of the Sovereign, we are enabled to anticipate with
tolerable correctness the more important business to be
brought forward during the present session. These
topics are, the state of Ireland—one of the most usual
and most prominent features in a speech from the
Throne; our relations with the United States; the
increase of the naval and military establishments; and,
last and greatest, the whole of our commercial relations
with foreign states, as well as our domestic
policy for the encouragement of skill and industry.
The document, therefore, is pregnant with great pur-
poses, and, taking into account the character of the
Minister now at the head of affairs, his return to office
after a great struggle with his colleagues, and' the in •
effectual attempt of his political opponents to form a
Cabinet, the conciliatory measures, which last year
he introduced for the better government of Ireland, the
unexpected strides he made towards free trade, and the
preparations now in progress to increase the strength of
the navy, we may be justified in hoping that these pur-
poses are sincere, and that he is resolved to carry to a
still greater extent those principles which form the basis
of sound commercial policy, and to put the country in a
fit position to meet any great emergency from foreign
countries. As regards Ireland, possibly it is difficult to
find any immediate remedy for its evils, or anycertain pre-
vention for the dreadful crimes to which her MAJESTY
alludes. The horrible system of assassination has lately
increased to a fearful extent, and means must be re-
sorted to abate the evil, but the great question is how is
this to be accomplished ? If no witnesses can be ob-
tained—if no man, woman, or child will inform against
persons guilty of the most horrible crimes, chiefly be-
cause the law is not sufficiently powerful to protect
them against the same ruthless murderers—it is to be
feared that the ordinary laws are defective for such a
state of society, and that some extraordinary and uncon-
stitutional system will be adopted. Should this unfor-
tunately be the intention of the Government, every
friend of order and peace and justice, must be anxious
that punishment should not be the only resource, but
that an ample and thorough investigation should be in-
stituted forthwith to ascertain the root of the evil, and
to abate or abolish it by removing the cause.
We cannot form such • a bad opinion of human
nature as to believe for a moment that these
) assassinations would be repeated day after day, and that
rational beings should be more savage and cruel than the
wild beasts of the desert, if they were not driven to such
a course of life by some merciless treatment or dire
necessity. It may be necessary to inquire whether the
landlords do their duty, and whether their agents are
not guilty of crimes which these misguided and revenge-
ful people consider deserving of death. At all events,
whatever may be the measures of the Government for
putting down without delay such fearful crimes, it is
to be hoped that the miserable condition of the peasantry
will be taken into account, and that the innocent will not
be punished with the guilty. Coercive laws and military
punishments have hitherto proved of little avail, and
the result, we fear, will be the same, till some com-
prehensive and wise measures are adopted for
civilising the people, and rendering their condi-
tion less miserable. The Speech properly refers
and in a right tone to the disputes with America. Tire
()Eject of every man in the United Empire is to preserve
peace with that country on honourable terms, but on no
other. England has hitherto made every effort to settle
the conflicting claims. She has not been met in a similar
spirit by the last and the present Chief Magistrate of the
United States, and the Legislators of both Houses during
the present session, have displayed a hostility to this
country, and a disposition for violent measures, which
we fear leave little hopes for an amicable settlement of
the disputed points. Our Government, however, will
act wisely, notwithstanding these unfavourable symp-
toms, in avoiding all cause of blame, and all precipitate
measures, and the people will cordially concur in the
efforts of her MAJESTY to bring the question to
an early, a peaceful, and an honourable
conclusion. In the meantime it is proper
that we should be prepared for the worst,
and that the naval and military establishments should
be put on such a footing, that no nation, however
powerful, shall be able to attack us with impunity.
The allusions in the Speech to the extension of com-
merce, and to the repeal of prohibitory, and the relax-
tion of protective duties, are highly satisfactory. " I
recommend 3-ou," says her MAJESTY, " to take into your
early consideration whether the principles on which
you have acted may not with advantage be yet more
extensively applied, and whether it may not be in
your power, after a careful review of the existing
duties upon many articles, the produce or manufac-
ture of other countries, to make such further reductions
and remissions as may tend to insure the continuance of
the great benefits to which I have adverted, and, by en-
larging our commercial intercourse, to strengthen the
bonds of amity with Foreign Powers." The corn-laws,
it is true, are not bore specified, but it is impossible to
read the paragraph without the conviction that they
form the main topic of the recommendation ; and
indeed the speech of Sir ROBERT PEEL, last
night, leaves no doubt on the subject. He
stated candidly, that in the month of November he had
proposed to his colleagues the opening of the ports ; he
admitted, with equal candour, that his opinions, like
those of Lord JOHN RUSSELL on that subject, had un-
dergone a material change within, not twenty, but
three years, and his speech altogether left no doubt, that
this change in his sentiments was the main, nay, the sole
cause of the disruption of his Cabinet, and that he was
prepared to use every means in his power for carrying
his purpose into effect. That he will succeed we have no
doubt whatever. He may be thwarted for a time.
Possibly the Lords may resist, and demand an appeal
to the country, but their resistance, now that the country