The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-01-07 00:00:00

factures—markets which we can even monopolise to
the exclusion of every other nation—markets which
will not periodically drain this country of its circu-
lating medium—markets which afford the highest rate
of profits which can any where be obtained—let us look
to our colonies. If our colonies were only peopled
to the extent they ought to be, and which they would
have been, had they been in the possession of any other
nation than England, (which from her insular position,
and her vast manufacturing resources, requires colo-
nies for the ontlet orhermariufactilres more than any
other) we might have nolV been exporting to the West
Indies alone twelve millions of goods annually, instead
of from three to four millions, If we had able states-
men at the head of affairs this would ere long be the
case. Gross misrule on the part of the Government,
and culpable mismanagement in the administration of
our colonial affairs, have caused the trade with the
'Vest Indies to decline at a fearful 'ratio : and unless
prompt and effective measures be taken, it will be
speedily lost to this country. It is notorious that our
ships, that formerly were never at a loss for cargoes of
sugar, molar4es, ruin, coffee, cotton, &c., are now too
frequently compelled to return with sand as ballast, or
to go to foreign colonies to seek for employment. The
carrying trade for the supply of most of our wants is
now in the hands of foreigners, who take off as little
as they can of our manufactures, and will rest satisfied
with nothing but our gold, Foreigners, owing to the
encouragement of every thing foreign, have acquired
such influence over the monetary affairs of this coun-
try as has, within the last few months, paralysed the
entire trade of Great Britain, and caused a stagnation
of business from one end of the land to the other.
The people of England ought not to be in such a
humiliating position. They have the remedy in their
own hands. Let them encourage, by every means in
their power, the increase of our colonial trade. From
this source ive-shall never have much reason to fear
any thing like a commercial panic, It is the safest and
most profitable trade in which Great Britain can be
engaged ; and, what is more, it is exclusively her own.

The important case of " Stockdale versus Hansard"
is likely to occupy the attention of Parliament at a
very early period .of the approaching session. Its
settlement wil,l, no doubt, prove a matter of some dif-
ficulty. The question at issue is one which very
seriously involves the liberties of the subject; and it
will require great prudence and discretion to adjudicate
upon it in a manner satisfactory to all parties. While
we cheerfully accord to the House of Commons the
exercise of such privileges as are consistent with con-
stitutional principles, we cannot concede to its mem-
bers the right to set aside the laws of the realm. The

House is not competent, in our opinion, to contravene

the legislative acts which it has passed, concurrently
with the House of Lords, and to which the regal
sanction has been given. The resolutions of the House
are not to be considered as superior to the law, how-
ever necessary those resolutions may be to support the
dignity of Parliament and to uphold its privileges.
Strictly speaking, indeed, the question to which we