The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-03-02 00:00:00

lie had endeavoured to explain, both towards the most

t weak of the nations of the earth.
,nahled to maintain the b 1(
lrther to revive towards this coun
iendship of the various nations of
ieved our navy never was more efficient
than it was at this pres-nt time. lie believed it would
be effectual, whether it was for the purpose of guarding
our shores from attack.. or whether it was to guard our
distant possessions and colonies, or to protect that almost
bound less extent of commerce which wandered over every
sea, and visited every port throughout the known world.

of peace, hi
try the gaol

1 rind f

the world

He believed also that tl
was r

nil;tary service of the country
not so numerically larze as to

lousy to any foreign pc

The di
armies

people was against large standing
) desire to extend the dominions

of the Crown, far less ►o engage in any warfare with ano-
ther country. He believed if the country was threatened
with invasion the people of England, Ireland,and Scotland
would rise as one man for the purpose of protecting their
own rights. The noble earl then deprecated the attempt
to get up an invasion panic, which gave rise to the neces-
paring additional armaments. Still he thought
t military force of the country which had been

,ty of pri

formerly res,
nisation and

I be placed under better orga-
'he noble lord next adverted to

irded to political refugees
from foreign nations, and said that, though the ancient
principles of the constitution would be adhered to, he
should deem it his duty to inform foreign Governments
of any steps which those persons might take while here
to upset their native Governments. On the financial and
commercial policy of the Government he still entertained
the opinion, that he saw no reason why corn should be
the only article among foreign imports which was to be
exempted from duty. He approved of the principle of
taxation adopted in the United States, of taxing all those
imports which entered into competition with the produce
of their own soil. The American system appeared to him
to be the easiest to depend upon in principle, and the least
burdensome in practice; but though he did not shrink
from avowing his opinion as to the imposition of a duty
on corn, he would state, as he had on former occasions,
that the question could only be solved by a reference
to the well-understood and clearly-expressed opinion of
the people—that a measure of this kind could only be
carried by a Government possessing the confidence of the
country and of Parliament. He readily avowed that he
did not possess a majority in the other bolls?, nor was he
sure that he had a majority in that house. He, the-efore,
thought he should not consult the public interest if at this
period of the year, and in the present circumstances of
the world, he interrupted the regular course of legislation
in the other house. He confessed he thought it would be
for the advantage of the country, if the Government took
a much humbler, but perhaps not less useful, task, than
reviving the question of protection. He avowed, as he
could not command a parliamentary majority, that the
Government would have to make appeals to the indulgence
of both houses, and he had sufficient confidence in the
good sense and judgment of the House of Commons to
think that they would not unnecessarily introduce sub-
jects of a controversial or of a party nature, for the mere
purpose of interrupting sound and useful legislation, and
driving a Government, which owned its weakness, out of
that moderate and temperate course which it had chalked
out for itself. There were subjects enough to discuss
without dealing with large or complicated questions. He
believed that the Government, even with a minority in the
House of Commons, would not, if such a course were
adopted, be altogether useless in conducting the business
of the country. If any factious opposition was offered, it
would, he was assured, recoil upon its authors. The no-
ble earl t:len stated it was not his intention to proceed
with the Parliamentary Reform Bill. He could solemnly
aver, in the presence of that Providence which disposed of
the affairs of men, that no personal ambition of his own
bad led him to seek that dangerous eminence which the
favour of his Sovereign had imposed upon him, and with
that convictir.n, be his Administration long or short, he
would not only have attained his heart's desire, hut have
fulfilled the highest ambition which mortal could aspire
to—to secure the great objects of peace upon earth and
good-will towards men, of advancing the social and moral
improvement of the country, and the safety and honour of
his Sovereign. The noble earl sat down amid loud and
universal cheers.—Earl GREY then rose and said that he
bad heard with regret, if not with consternation, of the
intention of the Government to recur to a policy which
bad already been abandoned by imposing a duty on the
food of the people.—The Earl of DERBY said what he had
stated was, that he could see no reason why corn should
form an exception to other articles imported from abroad
on which it was customary to impose a duty for the sake
of revenue. But he had also stated, that that was a ques-
tion, which ought to be settled, and which, in fact, could
only he settled, by the general voice of the community.—
Earl GRRY expressed himself greatly relieved, but im-
plored the noble earl not to keep the country any long
time in suspense on a matter concerning which it had
every right to have early information.—Earl FITZWIL•
LIAM said he had hoped there would have been no further
debate on that occasion, after the frank, manly, and
honourable disclosure of his intended policy made by the
noble earl at the head of the Government. He regretted
that Earl Grey, instead of taking a comprehensive view of
that statement, had singled out one particular topic for
commentary, and that the most exciting of any which had
been referred to.—The Marquis of CLANRIEARDE de-
fended Earl Grev.—The Earl of ABERDEEN professed his
intention of adhering to the commercial policy of Sir R.
Peel, but in other respects be coincided with the views of
the noble earl at the head of the Government.—After
some observations of Lord BROUGHAM on the inconve-
nience, in a judicial point of view, of a prlolonged ad-
journment of the house, it was agreed, on the motion of
Lord DERBY, that the house should adjourn, except for
the transaction of judicial or private business, for some
days from Monday (yesterday).

the refug