The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-01-20 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD.

SIR ROBERT PEEL AND HIS MEASURES

From a highly influential quarter we have just re-
ceived the following information with respect to the
probable .course of the ministry and of its opponents
in the approaching session. It is fully anticipated by
both parties that Sir Robert Peel is prepared to pro-
pose some measure, with respect to the Corn Laws,
which will have the effect of crippling the existing
azitation of the anti-corn law league, and be, in effect,
a-final settlement of the question. The precise na-
ture of the measure—whether it will be one of total
and immediate repeal, or a fixed duty, rapidly di-
minishing to total repeal is not definitely ascertained,
or predicted by either party. The league partizans,
however, we learn, are in high spirits—not caused by
any expectation that their full demands will be con-
ceded by Sir Robert Peel, but rather that, something
short of these being proposed, they will be enabled,
by the votes of the ultra-protectionists, to overthrow
the ministry. A division on the address is fully re-
solved upon by the Whig and league members; and
they calculate that so many of the agricultural party
will vote with them as to render the victory of Sir
Robert Peel a very narrow one, if a victory at all.
This information, we may remark, receives confirmation
from the confident assertion of Mr. Bright, at the late
meeting at the Amphitheatre, that the question could
not be settled without a dissolution of Parliament.

Amongst the sedative propositions to be submitted
to the agricultural interest, to purchase their acquies-
cence in Sir Robert's further in-road upon the protec-
tion afforded them by the present law, will be, it is
said, one to charge the poor rates, and county rates,
and, it is also added, the tithes, upon the consolidated
fund, or upon the general income of the country,
instead of upon local property, landed, household, or
otherwise. This, it is thought, by equalizing the
burthens of the community, will be a course which
will win for the ministers the support of the most
ardent opponents of their proposed measure.
We observe that the BRITANNIA-a paper usually
recognised as possessed of the best information on
political matters—coincides with us, in the main, as to
the probable policy of the government. Our con-
temporary, however, expresses his opinion that Sir
Robert Peel's measure will be " one of total repeal,
excepting only a small duty of one shilling, or two
shillings and six-pence per quarter, to afford a record
of the quantity imported." He agrees, however, with
our own sentiments, expressed elsewhere, that Sir
Robert Peel " will be able to carry his measures
against any opposition which may be offered to him."
We think so too, though still unaware what they will
be. Consequently, we shall have no dissolution this

Mr. Wodehouse, M.P. for the county of Norfolk,
has given notice of an amendment to the address from
the throne, which declares that the house will agree
to any measures of government which " shall not in
any way compromise the broad principle of protection
to the native soil, from the heart of which the great
mass of the population have hitherto, under God's
blessing, through strange vicissitudes, been abundantly
supplied, and from the decay of which they may be
hereafter thrown into wretchedness, want, and ruin."
The lIERALD of yesterday in semi-ministerial lan-
guage has the following :

"We have reason to b—elieve that Sir Robert Peel will an-
nounce to the House of Commons, on Thursday evening, that
it is his intention to lay before the house, on the ensuing
Monday, a full statement of his financial and other plans for
the session. The country will, therefore, soon be in possession
of the nature of the changes which Government contemplaces
with reference to the tariff ; and great practical convenience
will undoubtedly arise out of so early a revelation."