The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-10-10 00:00:00

THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

hich O'Connell has been the Magnus Apollo—
"language of a seditious and inflammatory nature
has been addressed to the persons there assembled,"
—nay, in another paragraph, it distinctly points to
himself as its utterer; and surely the just course to
be pursued towards him is here as clearly indicated
as if an indictment was already framed and the
criminal placed at the bar, to answer for his manifold
crimes against an insulted country and a betrayed
people.

Whilst the wiseacres of our anti-monopoly, and
other similar associations, are fiercely agitating for
the erection of an unsafe commercial prosperity
upon the ruin of the agriculture of the nation, an
influence is silently at work which promises, at no
distant period, to snatch out of our hands a large
portion of that foreign trade, upon whose extension
the hopes of the country are fixed. For years past,
it is a well-known fact, that from the supplying to
foreign markets of the heavier fabrics of our cotton
manufacture we have been excluded by the cheaper
productions of the foreign manufacturer himself, or
by neutral competitors. In the continental markets
this has been extensively the case ; and from the
United States and a number of the South American
markets we have long been shut out, not by any
tariff, but in reality by the ability of the American
manufacturer to produce certain classes of goods
upon more favourable terms than ourselves. The
supply of our own colonies is even menaced from
the same quarter ; and in our rising commerce with
the vast markets of China we find our active and
energetic competitor advancing step by step with
us, and looking forward already to the period at
which he will be enabled to oust us from our supre-
macy as a manufacturing and mercantile people.
Our attention has been called to this subject by
the following remarks extracted by the Manchester
Guardian, from the New Orleans Price Current of
the Ist September:—

" Among the peculiar features developed during the
past season, we may notice the increased activity and
extension of our home manufactures, consequent upon a
more favourable adjustment of the tariff, and the open-
ing of a new trade in goods and cotton with China. This
last new resource has already attained some corsiderable
importance, in view of the brief period that has elapsed
since its commencement, and a spirited rivalry appears
to be maintained between our own counts y and Great
Britain for ascendancy in the markets of the celestial
empire

Already, as we see stated in the northern pa-
pets' have cotton goods, to the extent of 15,000,000
yards, been shipped from this country to China, while
only 12,000,000 are known to have gone from England ;
and if the success of the American manufacturer in this
enterprise be equal to that which has attended him in
other parts of the world, in his competition with the Bri-
tish for the supply of heavy fabrics, the rivalry will pro-
bably not he of long duration unless some modification of
the duties on the raw material should give a more fa-
vourable position to the manufacturers of Great Britain.
From our own port, two cargoes of raw cotton, amount-
ing to 4303 bales, have been shipped direct to Canton,
and other shipments, though we know not to what ex-
tent, have been made from the ports of the north."

Now what, we ak, ought to be the attitude of a
body of men, professing to he enlightened beyond
measure upon all the affairs of the commercial
world, under circumstances such as these ? Should
the leading members of the cotton trade be seen
running up and down in pursuit of their brawling
agitation for corn-law repeal and other similar spe-
cifics, when here is palpably before them an evil
which threatens the ruin of a valuable portion of
their business, and which the first energetic effort
would succeed in removing ? The impolitic and
paltry tax, levied upon the great staple of our ma-
nufactures, is obviously the source of our weakness
in the race of competition with the foreign manufac-
turer; and sensible and prudent men would un-
doubtedly use their efforts rather to procure the
withdrawal of so direct an obstacle to their pros-
perity, than waste their time and energies in the
search of a speculative good which, certainly at pre-
sent, does not seem to be of very easy or very early
achievement.

Whatever may be the course of our Manchester
neighbours with respect to the question ;—whether
they choose to stir in it, or to bewilder themselves
and harass the government and the community with
their ravings on corn-law repeal—we do trust that
the merchants of Liverpool will direct their atten-
tion at once to a practical effort for the removal of a
practical and direct evil. To the memorial of such
a body of men, no government can refuse to listen
with respect, and, if possible, to concede.

THE MERCURY'S SLANDER OF THE PROTESTANT

ABERCROMBY WARD MEETING.

A numerous and highly respectable meeting of the elec-
tors of Abercromby Ward took place last night, at the
Phoenix Hotel, Mount-pleasant, for the purpose of elect-
ing officers for the ensuing year, and also to propose a
candidate as a representative in the Council, in the room
of Mr. Procter, who had intimated his intention to retire.
RICHARD GRIFFITHS, Esq., was called to the chair,
and opened the business of the meeting in an able man-
ner. From the account read at his request by the secre-
tary, Mr. Smith, it appeared that the funds were in a
prosperous condition, and that all that was wanted for a
full realization of the " sinews of war" was the annual
collection from the members, a great part of which was
paid up before our reporter left the room. Mr. Muncas-
ter, the treasurer, was much complimented on his activity,
which had produced this gratifying result.
It was then announced that one of the present repre-
sentatives, who had served them well, had, from want of
time, made up his mind to retire from the council. The
necessity that had urged that gentleman to such a step
was much regretted. _ .

Mr. PROCTER expressed his gratitude for the compli-
ment paid to him, and said that if they hereafter should
stand in need of a representative, he would again be
willing to serve them when the causes of his retirement
had subsided. He felt great, gratification in finding that
his humble services had been appreciated in so flattering
a manner. _ _ _

Mr. EDWARDS proposed that Mr. Muncaster, and the
two secretaries, Mr. Waddington and Mr. Smith,
should again be appointed. He congratulated the ward
on having returned as representatives Mr. Gladstone and
Mr. Procter. The former, while he had occupied the
civic chair, had displayed all the urbanity and impartiality
which became his position.
A committee was then proposed, and votes of thanks
were proposed to the various officers.
A vote of thanks was also passed to Mr. Procter, " for
his manly and independent conduct in the council, and
his attention to the interests of the ward on all occasions."
Mr. PROCTOR expressed his grateful thanks. He hoped
that he had done his duty. He had, at all events, done
what he considered was right. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN having stated that they had now to
nominate a candidate, _ _

Mr. PROCTOR said, it was pleasing to him to propose
Mr. Boutflower, as having known him himself for some
years, and being also aware that he bad been long known
and tried by those around him._

The proposition being seconded by Mr. BUSHELL, was
enthusiastically received.

Mr. BOUTFLOWER then came forward, and was re-
ceived with much applause. He made at the opening of
his speech some allusions to the able and efficient manner
in which the retiring councillor, Mr. Proctor, had dis-
charged the duties confided to him. He said that his
(M. B.'s) task would have been comparatively an easy
one were he about to supplant an individual altogether
opposed to him in sentiment, but he felt the difficulty
enhanced by following one who had so ably represented
the ward, and who was so deservedly esteemed by all. He
(Mr. B ) was entirely devoted to the maintenance of those
important principles which were entertained by a large
majority of the Conservative electors of that ward, and
from which he would never swerve. He believed that the
advance of Popery in this country was a national judg-
ment for the great national crime committed in 1829, when
the barriers of the constitution were so unhappily broken
down. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Boutflower then alluded to
the school question. He said there were those who feared
that the strong Protestant feeling which prevailed when
these schools were established was dying away; but he
(Mr. B.) would never shrink from maintaining the su-
premacy of the principle of Scriptural education, and i❑
doing so he felt no apprehension that the children of
Roman Catholics would be left without education, since
in Ireland great numbers of Roman Catholic children,
notwithstanding the opposition of the priests, were sent
to Protestant schools. (Cheers.) Mr. Boutflower con-
cluded by staling his determination to promote the com-
mercial interests of the town to the utmost of his power,
but especially to uphold the Protestant and educational
principles which he had then avowed. He sat down
amidst tremendous applause. . .

The principal busi‘ness of the evening being now con-
cluded, the treasurer and secretary proceeded to receive
subscriptions, and the meeting, after thanks to the Chair-
man, broke up.

Cumous ASSAULT.—At the Police-court, yesterday,
a man named William Watson, was charged with assault-
ing a Mr. Buxton. The complainant said that that morn-
ing, shortly before eight o'clock, as he was passing St.
Patrick's Chapel, the prisoner accosted him, and asked
him if he were a Roman Catholic and an Irishman, to
which he did ❑ot reply. The prisoner afterwards came
up to him and struck him severely. The case being
',roved, Mr. Rushton said he would not deal with it sum-
marily. If differences in religion were to cause such
assaults, the town would soon be involved in disturbance.
The prisoner must therefore go for trial for the assault.

REPEAL AGITATION IN LIVERPOOL.—The Times of
yesterday under this head asserts that it was the inten-
tion of the anti-repe tars of this town to prevent the re-
peaters from embarking for Dublin on Thursday and Fri-
day last, and that the Mayor, determined to protect the
latter, and had the whole police force called out, &c. We
can tell our contempora-y that:,,o such intention ever ex-
isted on the part of the loyal portion of Liverpool, and
that the only objection raised against the repeaters' pro-
ceedings, was in opposition to a rumoured intended pro-
cession on their part, which, of course, atter what has re-
cently taken place in this town, could not with decency
be submitted to. We can also inform our contemporary,
that the Protestant operatives have to endure quite enough
of unmerited obloquy heaped upon them by the popish
and infidel press, without being unjustly maligned by a
profess( d oast rva'ive journal.
MUNICIPAL ELECTION.—We are glad to see that in
most of the wards preparations are now making for the
approaching struggle on the Ist Nov. next. In Everton
Ward, Mr. David Hodgson will in all probability be re-
elected without opposition. In Scotland Ward, Mr.
Thornhill will be opposed by a gentleman of great re-
spectability—Mr. Wilson, the shipbuilder—who, we con-
fidently predict, will be able to unseat his opponent. We
believe Mr. Copeland retires from the representation of
Vauxhall Ward, and we are not aware that any other
gentleman has yet been brought forward on the conser-
vative interest to succeed him. It is said in the radical
papers that Mr. William Rathbone is to be put in nomina-
tion by the party they represent, though our old friend
Mr. David M'Clellan, who gained no very enviable
notoriety at the last election for Pitt-street Ward, insists
upon Mr. Rathbone coming forward for that ward ; but
we hope the conservatives are sufficiently alive, though
we are sorry to hear of the rumoured retirement of Mr.
Touimin. We are glad to find that Mr. Blundell, the re-
tiring councillor for St. Paul's Ward, has consented to
stand again, and we doubt not but that his long connexion
with the ward and neighbourhood will ensure his tri-
umphant
return. We have not heard of any opposition
to him. In Exchange Ward, no doubt Mr. Sands will
be returned without opposition. Mr. Sands was extremely
popular before his connexion with the ward, but he has
risen amazingly in public estimation since. In Castle-
street Ward we have not heard of any opponent to Mr.
Aikin. There is no conservative candidate yet announced
for St. Peter's. We are not aware of the movements in
Great George's Ward, though it is said Mr. Cooper has
retired. In Rodney-street Ward, Mr. Birkett is secure
in spite of all the venomous spleen of the radicals. The
proceedings in Abercromby Ward will be found elsewhere.
In Lime-street Ward, Mr. KilshaW stands again, with
every prospect of success. Mr. Brassey, we believe, re-
tires from St. Anne's Ward, and we have not heard of
any conservative candidate in the field. Mr. R. E. Har-

vey comes forward on the radical interest. The contest
in this ward will, we anticipate, be close. We have not
heard of any opposition to Mr. G. H. Lawrence in West
Derby Ward. A conservative may be returned for each
of the Toxteth wards, if the requisite exertion be made :
there is a noble Protestant spirit alive in this quarter,
which will sustain and encourage under circumstances
before which mere conservatism would quail and die.

PROPOSED EXTENSION OF THE EDINBURGH LEITII
AND NEWHAVEN RAILWAY.—We have much pleasure
in referring to an advertisement in our columns this day,
by which it will be seen that a concern, which has bad to
contend with a more than ordinary amount of misrepre-
sentation, is about to receive a vast benefit and, if we
mistake not, to be added to the list of our most profita-

ble Trunk railways. It may not be known to many of
our readers that this line, at present, extends from Trinity
Chain Pier, on the Frith of Forth, to a station at Scot-

land-street, in the outskirts of Edinburgh. To secure
however, a more central and convenient terminus, a tun-
nel is now more than half completed, which will bring
the line to the north bridge, in the hear tof the town of
Edinburgh. At the same time the Edinburgh and Glas-
gow railway, whose terminus was situated at the out-
skirts of the former city, had resolved by an almost
unanimous vote, to extend their line to the ground at the
north bridge, the property of the Newhaven Company,
thus connecting the lwo lines. Simultaneous with these
important movements, and indeed prompted, in part, by
them a prospectus has been issued for the formation of a
line to connect Edinburgh with Berwick-upon-Tweed
and thence to form a continuous line from Glasgow by
Edinburgh, Newcastle, York, Birmingham, and London,
thus forming a portion of the most important trunk
line in the kingdom. Under these circumstances it
has appeared to the Newhaven Company that the
time has arrived for the carrying out of their original
plans, by the formation of branch lines to Leith and
Granton pier; and a company is now forming and capital
being raised to carry into execution these important ad-
juncts to the Newhaven line. By the formation of
these branches, coupled with the extension of the
Edinburgh and Glasgow line to the North Bridge,
and the execution of the projected line to Berwick,
the Newhaven must sustain vast advantages, and in
fact be converted, from its present position of a
fair paying and improving line, into a very profitable and
valuable link in the grand chain which connects England
and Scotland. The branch to Leith connects it with the
most important port in the Frith of Forth. By this line
valuable mineral traffic, at present very inconveniently
and expensively carried by canal to a point of the Frith
twenty-five miles from the port of Leith, where the bulk
of shipping entering it load and discharge, will be con-
veyed more cheaply and expeditiously along the Edin-
burgh and Glasgow and Newhaven Lines, to the latter
port, and bring in a most valuable revenue to both com-
panies. By the branch to Granton a communication will
be formed from Burntisland, on the opposite shore of the
Forth, to Glasgow and all parts of Great Britain, which
will ensure an adequate return for the outlay. Added to
these advantages, the formation of the line to Berwick, in
connection with the 1,„

ones to tne soutnwaro, will connect
the ports of Leith and Granton directly with Great Bri-
tain ; and, we have no doubt, render the Newhaven Line
with its branches a highly important and valuable concern
for its proprietors.