The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1838-03-20 00:00:00

TO CORRESPONDENTS.

We suspect that the writer of a letter on the Methodist Bazaar.
who assumes the signature of "A Conservative," is the "real
Simon Pure" who figured in the Mail. We shall publish
his letter if he consents to its insertion with his own name
attached.

Zbe itiberpool sL.,tanbarb.

TUESDAY MORNING, MARCH2O, 1838.

{' The Publication of the STANDARD commenced this morn-
ing at 5 o'clock.

REPEAL OF THE CORN LAWS.—On Thursday evening
another abortive attempt was made, in the House of
Commons, to procure a repeal of the corn laws. Mr.
Villiers moved for a committee to consider the act re-
lating to the importation of corn, and the philosophical
radical, who represents the town of Leeds, delivered him-
self of another drowsy oration in support of the motion.
After the decisive majority against this 'motion—the
numbers being, for it 95, against it 300—we sincerely
hope that this question will not be revived for a long
time.

It is pretty evident that these philosophers, who would
deprive our native industry of every species of protec-
tion, are destitute of any efficient external support. The
people have no sympathy with them, and care nothing
about their ridiculous motions on the subject. This wilt.
be apparent enough when we consider that the popular
tion of the country is estimated at 24,000,000, and that
out of these millions only 24,000 have petitioned par—
liament for a repeal of the coin laws, whilst upwards of
190,000 have, in the same space of time, prayed for the
repeal of the poor laws. This apathy of the public mind
in reference to the question is a sufficient proof that
the people are perfectly satisfied with things as they are.
About twelve years ago there was a general cry for the-
repeal of the corn laws, and petitions were poured into.
the House of Commons from all parts of the country..
The agitation got up on the subject then produced a sen—
sation. NOW it would be fruitless to attempt to make
any impression of a similar kind. Why ? Evidently
because the people have become more intelligent—be—
cause they have discovered the selfish motives in whicli
the opposition to the corn laws originated—because they
have practically experienced the delusive character
of the arguments urged in favour of cheap bread. The
great bulk of the bread consumers in the country art%
now fully persuaded that any further reduction in the
price of corn must be injurious to all interests—to the
landowner—to the farmer—to the manufacturer—to the
tradesman—and to the labourer and mechanic.

The injury to the landowner would be great and irre-
trievable, and coupled with the most flagrant injustice.
Those who have purchased land under the condition of
high prices, would, by the operation of a free trade in.
corn, be literally robbed of one half their property. Itt
is plain that, in order to compete with the slightest de-.
gree of success with the foreign producer, the farmer
must have a reduction of rent correiponding to the di-
nished price of corn. The effect of this would be the,
most severely felt by those who have a limited income,
from landed property. These parties, who are now en-
abled to live in comfort, would be either compelled to fly
to the continent, to eke out their scanty means, or they
would have to turn their tenants from their fauns, ands
cultivate their own land.

To the farmer a free trade in corn would be. still more,
injurious. The removal of the restrictive.duties upor4
the importation of corn would require an equivalent in-
crease of taxation in another shape. How could the
farmer, with his diminished means, contribute more than
he does at present towards the expenses of government
How considerate and humane are our political econoi
mists—►when their own interests are not affected ! They

MARCH 20 l SrS

would deprive the farmer of that

jotection v(hieli he

now enjoys, and by which alone he is enabled to live, and
then they would inflict upon him an increased amount of

taxation !

Rut this would not be the only evil which the farmet
quid experience. When we reflect that the small land-
lords own the greater part of the soil of Great Britain—
that they world be the greatest sufferers by a free trade
in corn—and that many of them, in consequence, would
be forced to become practical farmers—when we bear
these things in mind, it is easy to conceive that a great
number of agriculturists it nuld be forced to relinquish
their farms, and become labourers, or emigrate to other
countries. In short, the repeal of the corn laws would
be little short of universal ruin to the landholders
throughout the country.

A free trade in corn, notwithstanding the specious ar-
guments to the contrary, would he greatly injurious to
the manufacturing interests. It is scarcely necessary to
say that the landlords and farmers of this country consti-
tute the most important classes of customers for the sta-
ple manufactures of Great Britain. By depressing and
impoverishing these classes the manufacturer must ine-
vitably be a sufferer. It is preposterous to speak of the
increase of our foreign trade from the repeal of the corn
litws, as if. those laws had any tendency to diminish our
foreign exports. It is a well known fact that our foreign
trade has actually been more than doubled within the
last few years, notwithstanding the restrictive duties on
the importation of corn. The tables of exports for the
last seven years will show that our trade with Russia,
America, and all the corn-growing countries abroad,
have been steadily increasing. The exports to America
have been doubled within that period, whilst the exports
to Russia have advanced from £1,500,000 to £2,300,000.
The same tables. also show that in those years when we
imported most corn we exported least goods—a triumph-
ant proof that our existing corn laws do not operate in-
juriously upon our foreign trade.
But the trades Men, labourers, and mechanics would
be the severest sufferers from a free trade in corn. It is
well known that the price of corn regulates the rate of
~wages. A reduction in the price of corn is always fol-
lowed by a corresponding reduction in the rate of wages,
and vice versa. It is easy for our political economists to
assert that this does not necessarily follow ; but let them
ask any labouring man—any artisan or operative in the
country—whether what we have just now asserted is not
strictly in accordance with his own experience. We
have no doubt that the answer, in every case, would cor-
roborate our views. In fact, the labouring classes are
better off when bread is dear, and for a very good rea-
son... When bread is dear wages are high, and the la-
bourer is enabled to purchase the other necessaries of
life with greater ease. • But when-. corn is cheap, and
wages are reduced, he finds that the pi ices of other arti-
cles of ordinary consumption are not reduced, and he,
therefore, finds it more difficult to maintain its family.
What can it signify to the labouring classes that they
get their -bread cheap, if they find that their reduced
Wages will only enable them to procure the same
number of pounds of flour per week, whilst all
other articles are as expensive as when their wages were
higher? From this reduced scale of wages, which is
always the consequence of a reduction in the price of
corn, the tradesman must necessarily be a sufferer to a
great extent. The best class of his customers, because
the largest, will not be able to lay out as much money
with him as when corn is dear and wages high ; and this
loss will only be compensated for to a very insignificant
degree by his own saving from the diminished price of
ead.

But there would be another source of loss to the
tradesman from a free trade in corn. The landowners
would not be enabled to spend so much upon their
houses, carriages, &c., and would have to reduce their
•establishments in proportion to their diminished incomes.
From all this the tradesman would be a sufferer, and that
to a very serious extent.

We leave entirely out of consideration the conse-
quences Which would result to the public charities of the
country from any scheme which would impoverish the
class by whom they are mainly supported. What care
our philosophical radicals about the claims of charity or
beevolence ? ,

The only parties that would be gainers by the repeal
of the corn laws would be the moneyed interests—the
fa.ndliolder and the large capitalist. They would, no
doubt, find it very advantageous to reduce the price 9f
labour to one-half its present amount. They would re-
joice to find the farmer ruined, the landlord robbed, and
the industrious classes ground down by the most abject
poverty, if their own profits were thereby increased, and
their own means of enjoyment multiplied. But we very
much question whether the people of England would to-
lerate the perpetration of such injustice.

:We have only one further consideration to submit to
the notice of our readers before we quit thig subject.
Ile repeal of the corn laws would be followed by an ac-
tual diminution in our national wealth. Under a system
sof free trade in corn, nearly one-third of the land at pre-
-sent in cultivation in Great Britain would become an
unprofitable waste. The farmer could trot produce corn
upon the inferior soils, at the same price as corn could
be imported, even if tie got his land rent-free. And
'where, we ask, is the man who would be so mad as to
recommend a plan involving such an amount of national
loss—such a wholesale abstraction from the public wealth
of the country ? Is there one so insane ? We are
Sorry to say that ninety-five members of the House of
"Commons have been guilty of such insanity. That we
aFejustified in designating their conduct as insane will
the evident, when we consider that the immense wealth
which annually arises from the cultivation of inferior
80ils—amounting to several millions per annum—and
which wealth is now expended in this country—
would be absolutely annihilated by the adoption of the
Plan which these radical philosophers recommend. It
would be almost as rational to propose the burning of
our ships, or the destruction of our manufactories.

THE ELECTION COMMITTEES.—TIIE Dublin Evening
Post, the Dublin Castle journal, writes as follows :

" DUBLIN is safe—eight to three.
"CARLOW COUNTY is safe—sit to fire.
- WALSALL is safe--eight to three.
Cadaqw.Burough is. already secured.
After all, the Grenville Act is not so very bad. With the
4141oiible exceptions of Belfast and Marylebone it has really
worked pretty well during the session."
.The wing-radical journals on this side the channel" in-
dulge in a similar strain 'Of exultation. The Morning
Chroui4e, the' G. lobe, the Courier, and that abusive and
scurrilous print, the Liverpool Chronicle, are equally
delighted with the results of *the various election peti-
tions which have been already decided—excepting only
those in reference to which the committees have evinced
a disposition to administer justice.
At the commencement of the session all the revolu-
tionary papers were violently in favour of the repeal of
the Grenville Act. Now their tone is altered—they
speak of it either in terms of approbation or subdued
Moderation. And well, indeed, may they, and the fac-
tion whose interests they advocate, be satisfied with the
Manner in which it is made to work. It is of no use to
*Teak mincingly on this question. There has been some
scandalous trickery practised in order to render the ap-
PlAntment .of election committees subservient to the
41.44e.e5s of the ministerial party. We pass by the fla-
tgraot i'ijustice perpetrated by those committees in which
the ta:d—teiris have preponderated. We pass by the arbi-
tr4r-Ylialle in which they have stifled all inquiry into
tile real nieria of the petitions on which they were sworn
to adiddicate,. We say nothing as to their refusal to
n
-Pen'the registry in various instances. We take no note
of their grossparti'ality in coming to decisions complete-
ly at variance with the evidence. We complain rather
of the inv'sterious manner in which the committees have
been-Constituted—of the infamous juggle by which the
radicala have been. enabled to prejudge the merits of
tliree-fourthii -4the petitions by obtaining a majority of
their own friends on the committees. We do not profess
to know by what means this end has been accomplished,
boy- vrhose duty it is to take cognizance of the mode in
!Wel) the committees are struck; but whatever may
havo beep the means employed, or whoever .has been

guilty of conniving nt the trickery practised, we do not

hesitate to say that there has been "foul play--a tam-
pering in some way with the ballot box. That the com-
mittees have been unfairly balloted for must be quite
evident to any man who knows any thing of the doctrine
of chances. The conservatives have been sedulous in
their attendance in the House—they compose one-half
of the House, within a trifling fraction-Land yet, the
number of radicals on the committees have doubled those
of the conservatives ! Indeed, this is not the only sus-
picious circumstance connected with the appo.intment of
the election committees. There is a singular peculiarity
in the manner in which certain names have been called
over in close succession to each other. This is a subject
which ought to engage the attention of the House, as we
have no doubt it will, before another month has elasped.
We subjoin the following statement of the relative
numbers of wigs and conservatives on the several com-
mittees, which have been already ballotted for, as far as
we have been able to ascertain the particulars :
Roxburgshire Committee ....Whigs B....Conseryatiyes 3
Salford ditto ....ditto 7.... ditto 4
Ipswich ditto ....ditto 5.... ditto 6
Longford ditto ....ditto 8.... ditto 3
Belfast ditto ....ditto 1.... ditto 10
Pete rsfield ditto ....ditto 8.... ditto 3
Sligo ditto ....ditto 8.... ditto 3
Bristol ditto ....ditto 8.... ditto 3
Marvlebone ditto ....ditto 3.... ditto 8
Tynemouth ditto ....ditto 5.... ditto 6
Youghal ditto ....ditto 5.... ditto 6
Taunton ditto ....ditto - 4.... ditto • 7
London ditto ....ditto 6.... ditto 4*
Queen's County ditto ....ditto 9.... ditto 2
Newcastle-under-Lyne ....ditto 7.... ditto 41-
Durham ditto ....ditto 6.... ditto 54:
Tralee ditto ....dit►o 7. .. ditto 4
Readin,, ditto ....ditto 6.... ditto 5
Evesham ditto ....ditto 6.... ditto 5
Carlow ditto ....ditto 7.... ditto 4
Carlow County ditto ....ditto 6.... ditto 5
Walsall ditto —.ditto 8.... ditto 3
Dublin ditto ....ditto 8....- ditto 3
Shaftesbury ditto ....ditto 3.... ditto 8
Kinston un-Hull ....ditto 8.... ditto 3
• Saunderson, Tory, excused. t Sir Charles Grey, doubtful.

Mr. Townley, doubtful

Here we have a list of twenty five committees. On
seven of these the conservatives had a majority. On the
remaining eighteen the whigs had a majority. Out of
the seven on which the firmer had a majority, two have
decided in favour of the whigs; one came to no decision
at all, i❑ consequence of the retirement of the member
petitioned against—two have decided in favour of the
conservatives !—and two have not yet lerminatEd their
inquiries. In opposition to this, we have only to say,
that no committee in which the whigs preponderated,
has come to a decision favourable to the conservatives.

NATIONAL EDUCATION.---We perceive that the radical
philosophers of Liverpool—the anti-bible'agitators—the
enemies of our national religion—the abettors of Popery
and infidelity—have got up a petition in this town in fa-
vour of-a system of national education. We are not in-
formed in what manner it originated; but we know that
it did not receive the sanction of "the people" in a
Clayton square meeting. Our impression is that it was
hatched in some hole-and•corner gathering of the Unita-
rian clique, and that it was submitted for approbation to
the Popish priests of the town, before any degree of pub-
licity was given to the matter.
The radicals, with their usual cunning policy, have
announced that the petition lies for signature at thirty-
three different places in the town. The object of this is
palpably evident. It is done in order to enable those
zealous tools, whom they employ and pay for doing their
dirty work, to multiply their signatures at pleasure.
The plan answers well—for their purpose—that of ob-
taining a great number of names. Nothing in the world
can be more simple than the way in which ten or twelve
thousand signatures are procured for a radical petition.
They need not be obtained under false pretences, as the
names which were attached to Mr. Elphinstone's requisi-
tion. The trick can be clone in a much more expeditious
way. It is only necessary for some twenty of the
"runners" of the faction to go round and sign their
names ten times at each of the places where the sheets,
are lying—allowing a short interval to elapse between
each period of signing. In this manner 6600 signatures
can be very easily obtained, which, with four or five
thousand genuine signatures, will make a very formidable
impression in the House of Commons. We are not
joking. This trick is habitually practised by the radical
faction... We dare them do get up a petition in favour
of a God-denying system of national education, and let
the same lie for signature exclusively at the Exchange,
Athenteum, Lyceum, and Union news-rooms, and let
the name, profession, and residence of every individual
so signing it be stated at length. We defy them to do
this. We pledge ourselves to produce a counter petition
signed at the same places, and in the same manner, with
four times the number of signatures.. So much for the
radical boast that the respectable and intelligent people
of this country are in, favour of the Socinian nostrum of
a national system of education.

As to the object which the national education agitators
have in view' we need say little. From the characters,
connections, and opinions of those itinerating philoso-
phers, who have rendered themselves most conspicuous
in their advocacy of this wily scheme, it is evident that
the end contemplated is the•eradication of the Protestant
religion from the soil of Great Britain. Mr. Wyse and
his party have uniformly attacked all our scriptural
schools without exception—National, Lancasterian, Sun-
day, and Infants'. The language of the petitions on
this subject, as well as the public addresses of the apostles
,of the education committee, is totally irreligious. It is
true that Lard Brougham protested against the idea that
any one could be so mad as to introduce a systeM of
purely secular education—a system which excluded the
bible from the hands of the youth of Great Britain. But
the Bishop of London confronted this eccentric peer with
evidence of an incontestable character, proving that such
was the " mad idea" of the leading men among the edu-
the
Popishlndeed, no p
roitehset
ar pa lnadn
tcould obtain
n
thee at i o
ana
nangt tnant o
nr sf.
teachers.

We need not travel out of Liverpool for an illustration
of the plans which the advocates for a system of national
education, based upon the principles to which we have
adevrted, intend to adopt. We have here seen an at-
tempt made upon a limited scale, to banish scriptural
education from the public schools. That attempt has
been so far successful as to make religious instruction
a separate thing from the business of the schools. It is
only permitted as an act of supererogatory zeal. But any
such plan, we are confident, will be met by a similar 41e-
monstration of Protestant feeling throughout the king-
dom to that which was provoked in Liverpool iby the n-
trocluetionof the " Irish Extracts."

TWO OF A TRADE.—We perceive that the proprietor
of the (Cork) Southern Reporter has brought an action
for libel against the editor of the Cork Standard. This
is certainly a very extraordinary proceeding., and can
only have its origin either in party spleen, or in motives
of lucrative jealousy. If we thought fit to adopt such a
mode of retaliating upon our contemporaries, by strain-
ing the law, of libel in our favour, we could get up actions
enough to engage the judges and counsel on the northern
circuit the whole year round. We trust, for the credit
of the press, that the proprietor of the Southern Reporter,
will see the utter absurdity of affording such an untrades-
manlike precedent.

RADICAL NOTIONS OF POPULAR ELECTIONS.—TiIe
Journal of Saturday last, after alluding to the election of
officers for the West Derby Parochial Union, and ani-
madverting upon the appointment of Mr. Dolling, pro-
ceeds to remark that—

" The appointments by the guardians are not final, but are
subject to. the approval of the Poor Law commissioners, who
po4sess and daily exercise a peremptory jurisdiction. Let the rate-
payers then, if they have any sufficient grounds for condemning
the appointment which the guardians have just made, state them
on memorial to the commissioners, and if their complaint be.
well founded, it will not long be unredressed."
Now, as the Guardians have been elected by the rate-
payers, we contend that' the appointments made by the
fo`rtner are virtually those of the rate-payers. But the
liberal editor ofthe Journal prefers the " arbitrary juris-
diction" of the Malthusian triade at Somerset House to
the expression of the rate-payers' feelings conveyed
through the recommendation of a vestry meeting. Such
is Radical liberality.

CANADA.

(From our Second Edition of Friday.)

The London-line packet-ship Wellington, which ar-
rived at Dartmouth, on Wednesday evening last, has
brought intelligence of the renewal of disturbances in
Canada. Private correspondence corroborates the facts
detailed in the American papers, so that no doubt can
be entertained of the truth of these reports. The disaf-
fected party, commanded by General Renssellaer and
other rebel commanders, have again taken the field.
Their numbers are estimated at from 800 to 1000 men.
Every means bad been taken by the loyalists to defeat
their objects. By some prix ate letters we learn that an
attempt was made in Lower Canada to effect a rising in
that quarter.

With regard to commercial affairs the papers state that
the sub-treasury scheme remained still undisposed of in
the senate. The premium upon good European bills
had declined nearly three per cent from the last advices,
and the market exhibited tokens of a still further de-
cline. Money was also very scarce. We have but
space for the following extracts, but which contain most
important information relative to the renewal of the
war

( From the New York Evening Star, Feb. 19.

The Patriots are again breaking into the public depositories
of arms. The council room at Cleveland, Ohio, was broken
into on the night of the 9th of February, and 17 stand of arms
taken off by one of the gentry. _ _

The patriots are i❑ motion again, as before announced, about
Sandusky and Toledo, Ohio. On Feb. 6th, " the army," so
called, under Gen. 111`Leod and Cul. Start, commenced their
movements at Sandusky city for the islands opposite. Col.
Sutherland and a remnant of the Navy Island band reached
Toledo the evening of the 6th from Tecumseh. 'They had an
ammunition waggon drawn by four white horses. On one of
the boxes was a tall man with sandy hair, supposed to be Van
Reussellaer. An advanced guard of 70 were at Monroe on the
sth, and some 3or 400 were behind with same Cattaraugus In-
dians. St. Clair, above Detroit, is supposed to be the point of
rendezvous.

Extract of a Letter to a Gentleman in this City, dated in
Vermont, Feb. 11, 1838.

The Canada fever is in some degree revived here. It is
supposed that an incursion into the lower province is soon to
be made, and at the same time a general rising is to take place.
The arms and munitions of war collected and purchased in this
state (Vermont), have, in the course of the last week, been
transported to the frontier. From the increased vigilance
in the province, and the collecting of arms and men it is ap-
parent that the plans of the patriots have been communicated
to the Canadian government. The efforts of the patriots, I
think, must fail. The force of the government is too great to be
overcome by the means now in the hands of the revolutionists.
We are expecting every day to hear of the attempt to enter the
province.

The following letter, written by a highly respectable
merchant in New York, and addressed to the editor Of
the London Standard, affords additional evidence, if it
indeed were wanting, of the fatal policy pursued by the
government relative to the affairs of Canada :

MONTREAL, Feb. 13.—Lord Gosford, after feasting and car-
ousing with the heads of the French pyrty, to the exclusion of
the British interest, was ready to take his leave o us, when,
unfortunately', his lordship experienced a fall, and, not-falling
on his head, is suffering from the effects of it. This will delay
his departure for eight or ten days, and, whilst he remains in
the country, the government remains with him.
" This is most annoying to us, as every day he remains is
considered a❑ infliction. Sir John Colborne was to have been
sworn in this very day. The prisons will be kept filled longer
than we had hoped. Mr. Andrew Stuart, of Quebec, is going
home to join in representing to her Majesty's government the
absolute necessity of a legislative union of the two provinces
or the union of Montreal to the upper province. We are deter.
mined, for the future, to have something to do with the manage
meet of our own interests. It will no longer do to allow an
ignorant French party to have the commercial key of both pro•
vinces—to keep us in constant hot-water, and to prevent the
entrance of British population and British capital: In short,
we must be made more a British province to be enabled to show
our own capabilities, and do justice to the resources of the
country, and the glory of Great Britain.
The last division of the 34th regiment crossed The St: Law-
rence to Quebec on the 9th, without accident; and in high order.
One of Lord Gosford's last acts was ordering a day of thanks,
giving on the 26th, for 'the termination of the rebellion!' This
be it observed, is in the face of the martial law still existing, and
not without reason. No doubt it is to bolster up the fudge-
fying loyal addresses,' which he is carrying home to lay at the
foot of the Throne. Arrests still continue, notwithstanding.

(From the New York• Journal of Commerce of Feb. J..)
MONEY AND EXCHANGE.

Money is scarce, though there is no great difficulty in ob-
taining good notes, being discounted at 7 per cent. European
exchange fell a good deal. The business of packet day was
done chiefly at 71 down to 61- for good and private bills on En-
gland, but the packet being detained, further sales were made.
and the price continued to drop, the last transaction being 5
for prime bills, and 5.1 for southern bills of unquestionable
strength ; some of the banks were large buyers, and at the rate
of their purchases they will procure returns of specie below
par. In Stock, the business was extremely small, but appeared
rather better towards the close.

Further intelligence from Canada may now be daily
expected, and will be looked for with great anxiety.

REBELLION IN CUBA.

By the Leeward Island mail we have received our re-
gular file of papers, those from Jamaica reaching to the
Bth ult. Some insubordination had been displayed on
several of the largest estates on the west coast of De-
merara. The legislature of Montserrat had decided on
the final termination of the apprenticeship system on the
Ist of August.

The Jamaica Kingston Chronicle of the 2d February
has the following extract :
By a gentleman lately arrived at this port from Cuba, we re-
gret to learn the tidings of an insurrection among the negroes
of that island. The revolt is stated to have broken out on the
12 inst., on a very extensive estate in the district of Triuidada,
which the rebels had burned down, along with two others. Se-
veral overseers and book-keepers have been killed; the pro-
prietors only saved themselves by flight.
By the last accounts they were completely surrounded, to the
number of 2000, by the militia, and there was every reason to
expect that they would soon be crushed.

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD