The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-09 00:00:00

GRIEVANCES OF THE PEOPLE.

On the question that the HqWe do resolve itself into
a Committeee of Supply, •

Mr. S. CRAWFORD rose for the purpose of pre-
senting several petitions, complaining that the House did
not fairly represent the opinions of the people, and that
they were not adequate to the voting away of the pub-
lic money. The Hon. ' Member presented petitions to
this effect from Aberdeen, and from the inhabitants of
Bridport, and other places.
RELATIONS WITH BUENOS AYRES AND
MONTE VIDEO.

Mr. EWART wished to bring under the consideration
of the House the importance of our commercial relations
with the River Plate, especially with reference to the
war now raging between the States of BuenoS Ayres
and Monte Video. It was most important that the
House should take the condition of this immense tract of
country under their most earnest consideration. The
capabilities of_ that country were very great ; its
mines of tin were most prolific; and its
produce of cotton and wool very considerable. They
had recently had experiences that the article of
wool now imported from the districts of Rio de la Plata
was of a very improving character and greatly in de-
mend. • The wool from Germany ranked in the first
class amongst the hest judges of it in this country; that
of New South Wales in the second class; and thirdly
came the wool from Buenos Ayres. The cotton trade,
however, claimed the greatest share of our consideration,
and for this reason he presumed it was that his Hon.
Friend, the Member for Manchester. (Mr. M. Gibson),
had been requested to pay attention to this subject, as
he (Mr. Ewart) had been by many of his former consti-
tuents, merchants and others of Liverpool. Our exports
in 1841 to the river Plate amounted very nearly to one
million, and rather more than one-half of that was in the
article of cotton goods. With regard to woollen goods, the
same returns gave the exports for .the same year, 1841,
at about 200,0001, and there had also been a consider-
able export, of linen and other goods. Turning from,
our own exports to the imports of that country, he found
that in 1830 we had imported 30,9001b5. of wool, but at
the present epoch we had imported no. less 'than five
millions of pounds of that article. Having stated the
importance of the trade of that part of the world, he-
now came to what he might call the diplomatic part of
the question.: ,He had nponthis snbject received eom-.
plaints of various sorts. It was thought that in consee
qiience of the suspension of commerce which had been
caused by the hostilities between Buenos. Ayres and
Monte Video, that France and England would have in-
terposed to put an end to such a state of things. It'
was - within his own' knowledge, that a great part
of those persons. ho had been previously advantageously
employed inesuppryine th.ose articles which were sent in
return for our, goods had been compelled to enlist in the
army of Rojas., He, was sorry to say there had been
very strong complaints made of . the conduct of our
Minister out there . hut on thatmccasion he would no
further refer to it. It had' been stated • that our Minis-
ter had been more favourable to - Buenos Ayres than to
Monte -Video, but 'he trusted there was no ground for
that statement.. Our naval commander, •on the other
hand,.was said' to. be more favoureblelo Monte Video
than to Buenos' Ayres ; and thus it appeared that they
did not Tull ,together. Again, it was said the French
commander hacKtaken a, different view of things to the
English commander. It was from a hope that some
course might be taken to bring- about a general harmony
between the two Governments, by-the united efforts of
England and France, that, he new, ventured to make this
appeal - 'to the 'Right 'Honourable -Baronet oppo-
site (Sir Robert Peel): -Whether Justice was on
the side of .Buenos. Ayres,. or of. Monte Video it
was not forhiin'(Me. Ewart) to state. His sole object
was the restoration of peace, and the return to the
peaceful pursuits of industry . and commerce—(Hear,
hear, from Sir R. Feel)—which might redound to the
interests, not only of those two now hostile countries,
but to this' country and to the world. He admitted
freely that the general policy of the Right Hon. Baronet
(Sir R. Peel) was a policy of peace, and he for one, as
an independent Member of that House, would ever sup-
port him, or any other Minister, in that policy, so long
as to do So was consistent with. our honour and dignity.
—(Hear; hette.) He did not believe that the Right Hon.
Baronet would consent to anything which wonld com-
promise our nationel honour, nor submit. to any unjust
or tyranniCal exclusion of our commerce. He trusted,
therefore, he would be .enabled, in
.unison with that
great anti high-minded man at the-head of the councils
of France—and whom, .he thought, no one could look
upon without admiration and regard—to arrive at some
common understanding, 'by which hostilities might be
stopped between Buenos Ayres and Monte. Video; and the.
- peaceful relations and peaceful pursuits of all countries
be restored. France was as much interested in this
question as England; and as there was a common object
to be attained, he trusted' there would be a common
combination between the Governments of the two coun-
tries, to effect it. It ,vas with these views, and in this
, hope,: he now begged to ask the Right Hon. Baronet
(Sir R. Peel) if he could
_communicate to the House
.any inforniation upon this most important and interest-
ing subject....e-(Hertie hear.)
Sir ROBERT PEEL said, in the first place, he would
express the.very great satisfaction with which he, had
heard; the observations" which had .fallen from the Hon.
Member, .in thee,cOnclncling portion of his address, with
respect to his determination, although Opposed in . his
:general politics to . him (Sir R. Peel),`' to' I put a' liberal
-construction upon every act of the Executive which had
for its object the continuance of amicable relations with
France., The Hon. Member might depend upon it, that'
no compromise of the honour of • this country would take
place, and that' he and his friends around him were by"
such conduct as he . had mowed his intention to
pursue this greatly 'strengthening the hands of the
Government, -instead of pursuing. that petty course.
adopted by others of stigmatising every measure of fair.:
',less and conciliation as a mean subserviency to France.
He wished that a similar honourable feeling which had
been declared that evening would be pursued in another'
place, where the man, whose only desire was to main-
tain the .hohour of his own country, and respect the
rights of others, had every unfair an.dungeherou *ob-
stacle thrown in his path. He sincerely believed 'that
the Ministry of France were influenced by precieely the
same motives as the Government of England, convinced
that they might hare , every reciprocal advantages en-
courage arts, promote industry, extend commerce, and
contribute to the general civilisation and happiness of the
world ; and that this good understanding, and. these
good offices, were to be secured consistently
with the most absolute independence on both
sides, and with • the most scrupulous regard
to the honour and character of each of thern.---(Hear,
hear.) Ile avowed, there that such 'Was the principle
he wished to act upon towards Fraece, and he would
fearlessly. express his opinion that the same liberal and
enlightened spirit characterised the conduct of France
towards this country.—(llear, hear.) He (Sir R. Peel)
fully agreed with the 'Hon. Gentleman (Mr.- Ewart) in
respect- to:the consequences 'of the lamentable state of
things arising out of this war between Buenos Ayres and
'Monte Video. Look at the Rio Plata—it was the great
outlet of the vast southern coast of that great 'country:
It was the channel 'byWhich. the produce of all that
country must be-brought to
,Europe, and by which our
own goods must be introduced into that country. And,
therefore, he granted that nothing could be more vexa-
tious or injurious to the commercial interests of this
country than. the continuance -in tbit quarter
of the present state
.of things. The complaint,
too, was of .no Ordinary character, and had
originated in' no ordinary cause. It' was
a conflict of mere personal passions and personal inte-
orefsttbs,eatrindotleioisunatfrtih6se
tebiepnerhoef,:o. peace and happineBs.
and. greatly to the de,
triment of all others who might hale :connexion with
them.—(Hear, hear:) ellue!the Hon. Member (Mr.
Ewart) must recollect in what • a delicate position this
Government was placed, and how he (Sir R. Peel)
fright forfeit his' character as a Minister of- peace if he
interfered too vigorously- to bring' hoStilities to .a. 'cleee.
Now, he begged to say that the Government, of which
he had the honour to-bethe head, had done everything
'short of an armed. intervention for putting an end, to
hostilities between-Buenee Ayres and Monte
—(Hear, heat..) The-English Government first offered
its good offices singly, and afterwards, with . France,
offered a joint mediation.. This offer was accepted by.
Video, and rejected by Buenos Ayres. No effort
to bringnbotit'a better state of things had been left un-
tried by this 'country ; and he feared it would
not be wise for .this • country, certainly not singly, to
interfere by &ice of arms. He very
much doubted if a
tranquillity brought about by such'means would be effe
'W c-
tual. hether it might be advisable for the Powers
tmooisntteinterested inarAmh eedpeianctee
royfetnhtiiso
in the case. of
Greece—to bring
,matters to a termination, was, per-
haps, not wholly- undeserving of cousideration. With
n.q_urirter a the globe
ns
respect to the conduct pursued by the British authori-
ties out there, they lamented greatly the state of things;
and were disgusted at what they witnessed; and it
_might
be possible' that, iti their zeal, they had gone a little tea
far. But if they had, it was from the best of all mo-
tives—a sincere desire to do all they could to put an end
to the very unhappy and injurious -state of things then
existing on the. Rio Plata. • Ile-trusted, however—and
from what had recentli come to his knowledge he had
'reaassn to hope—that the 'present state of, thinget
Agee, be altered ; and that whichever party was vi(-400e
-*tie would pursue such a policy, as would heal the
teeth duff the past, con tribute to the mievid of trade tupxli
real:amerce. and- t hemfeee ee,:ehaptereeeeetthdek4elitial
of the world.—(Hear, hear.)
the eeneaution then dropped.