The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1848-04-04 00:00:00

the destinies of the world, that she will be contented
with a humbler part,—then it is for this country to
say so ; it is for this country to carry those words
into effect : only let me not be the instrument.
what would have been the state or tots count', a, , Let ins not, I say, be the instrument in carrying into
effect that which I should think to be the degradation
of the country ! " His lordship was, no doubt,
sincere in this declaration ; yet it is very doubtful
whether the Colonial policy of his lordship's ad-
ministration is not advancing the very result which
his lordship so much deprecates; and whether, too,
that result is not more close at hand than either him-
self or the people of England generally imagine.
We commented in our last upon the instructions
sent out from the Colonial office to our possessions
in America, suggesting to their legislatures the im-
position of restrictions upon emigration to this
country—restrictions which we showed to be un-
necessarily harsh,. framed, as they obviously were,
to meet an evil which no longer exists. We showed
how those instructions were acted' upon by the
legislature of a portion of those Coloniee—the
Canadas ; that the measure suggested by them
was so increased in the. severity of its pressure upon
the shipowner, as to put a stop entirely to the emi-
gration of British subjects to those Colonies; and
thus to take away from: the shipowner a valuable
outward freight, and to transfer it to his American
and the course e rival. But there was a further circumstance- to
Whig press and the - which we promised to diisect the attention' of our
Mercury says : readers, viz :—the animus displayed by the Ohne-
" The vote of Sir Thomas Birch, on the contrary, was dian legislature towards thia country in discussing
such as accorded with the wishes of the Liverpool consti-
tuency ;it was in favour of the modification proposed, and, the measure in question. It was sufficiently signi-
ficant of the feeling of the "'Liberal" majorit? of
of course, against the perpetration of the injustice pro-
posed by ministers—although, had it been given in the the Canadian parliament towards us, to observe at
contrary direction, less surprise would have been felt in what a low estimate they regarded the further in-
the town than was caused by Mr..cardwell's vote, on ac- fi"lc of a British emigration population into the
count of what we stated at the time—namely, ' his long-
colony ; that they were ready to
established Whig principles, and his personal friendship , snatch at the plea
with ministers.' His spirited independence of such con- of a temporary evil—the distress.:e# and sickly con-
siderations, in this instance, gained .for the hon. baronet dition of the emigrants who arrived there last year—
the heartiest approbation, which was expressed in a glow- in order to put a stop to that-influx altogether.
ing address of thanks, signed by the leading men of all But the, measure itself, as passed in its present
parties in the town. form, against the earnest protest of the loyal and
"A few days afterwards, however, on the vote upon
Mr. Hume's motion, which was designed to limit the Conservative body of that legislature, does not dis-
duration of the iniquitous characteristics of the Income close the full extent of that feeling. Still more
Tax to one year, and to enforce an equitable adjustment violent and stringent provisions were proposed by
of taxation for the future, Sir Thomas 'Birch voted with the members of the ultra-Liberal, or anti-British
ministers, thereby signifying his consent to the perpetua- nartv' —the terms are synonymous—and were only
tion of glaring wrong for three years, seeing that, by the • -
rejected by the influence of the leaders of that
previous rejection of Mr. Horsman's motion, it had been
decided not to rediess that wrong at once." party—the ex-rebels and present proteges of the
We shall have, bye and bye, to direct attention Colonial office, Messrs. Papineau and Lafontaine—
to the concluding lines of the above extract, which because these gentlemen saw that the measure, in
we have given in italics. Our contemporary con- its present shape, was practically sufficient to se-
tinues : cure their present object, to prevent the hands of the
" Great dissatisfaction was caused by this vote; but loyal population of the colony being strengthened by
neither the press nor the National Confederation adopted a further infusion of British settlers into the upper
such a tone of remonstrance in this case as in the other. province ; and, perhaps, because they conceived
"Our Orange contemporary of Tuesday has expressed
that
the time had not arrived for throwing down
his surprise at the circumstance, though we were by no
means silent at the time ; but the fact is, that the cen- the gauntlet openly to the mother country. The
surable vote of Sir Thomas in this instance was in a great opportunity, however, was not lost of venting a
measure covered by the very extensive delinquency of torrent of abuse on our poor emigrant brethren, as
some of the best men we have in the House of Commons, " the scum of Ireland," "the sweepings of England
who were panic-stricken by the threat of Lord John Rus-
and Scotland," as idle beggars and lazzaroni, unfit
sell to relinquish the government unless the fraud were
sanctioned for three years." to mingle with these republican traitors and Ame-
rican Now what does all this amount to ? Sir Thos. sympathizers.
Birch voted in accordance with the wishes of his The French Canadian party had already been
constituents, notwithstanding " his long established rendered, by Whig-Radical policy, supreme in the
Whig principles, and his personal friendship with Canadas ; and every effort had been added by the
Ministers," on the first division, those Ministers quasi-Conservative ministry of Sir Robert Peel to
and particular friends being very well able, on that disgust the loyalists of the colony. This last stroke
occasion, to spare his vote. But what became of
of Earl Grey will tend to introduce a further ele-
the Hon. Baronet's " spirited independence of such ment of weakness into the hold which Great Britain
considerations" as " Whig principles" and " per_ has upon her subjects in the North American con-
sonal friendship with Ministers," when the occa- tinent, by alienating the shipowners and the Cana-
sion came that his vote might have been efficacious dian party at home. When the struggle comes for
in advancing the wishes of the people of Liverpool, separation between Great Britain and Canada—and
and gettin rid of a "glaring wrong and a it is nearer than we dream of—it will be found that
"fraud ?" gLord John threatened to resign if Mr. "
if Lord John Russell's has not been "the hand"
to strike asunder the connexion between Great
Hume's motion for a limitation of the duration of
the Income Tax was carried ;and poor Sir Thomas's Britain and these valuable possessions, his col-
league, Lord Grey, has done his utmost to bring
spirited independencefied. Flesh and blood couldn't
stand the thought of parting with his personal about such a consummation.
friends. "Long established Whig principles" at But the influence of the policy of the Colonial
Office, in producing disgust and disaffection
least couldn't stand such a parting. So Sir Thomas,
to use the words of his apologist, " voted with amongst our colonists, is not confined to the Ca-
Ministers, thereby signifying his consent to the per- nadas. It is in full operation in our West Indian
petuation of a glaring wrong for three years," in- Islands, whose planters and traders are fast sinking
stead of one. into a state of insolvency and beggary, as the re-
Our contemporary says that the offence of the suit of the measures which have emanated during
Hon. Member " was covered by the very extensive the past few years from that office. "You," writes
a West Indian Planter, in a letter addressed to
delinquency of some of the very best men we have
in the House of Commons, who were panic stricken Lord John Russell in the Morning Chronicle of
e.s. Le_ 41...,_.... _r r __.,l r_i_ r).____u %)f ees- -- e---e Frislmliat
imagine the scene of such a panic—the horror—the
and gained 'eollir '-'-'rr -.-- ---- ic‘isi;‘,... ...: ,J.11...1111.1. ItllllloVv.,
lonnlott i
blank amazement which must have been painted signs of indegpendeunocpe Exeter-hall t epty
influencesgivi "gws?iimA
upon the faces of these " very best men" at the rule that very mischievous office—influences which have
bare thought of Downing-street and the Treasury, cost and are costing millions to the country, with a cruel
patronage, commissionerships, and cabinet dinners waste of life and property (witness New Zealand and the
receding from their grasp. Our's is not a pictorial Cmaupset)a,l
saocacid ptahnei elody fejt
y the
coloniststlres ffe cstn
oi on 2
es
evidence
I
newspaper, or we would cut it in wood for the gra- has been lately given of this feeling in one colony before
tification of our readers. We cannot, however, but a committee now sitting, and much more might have
admire the Mercury's notion that delinquency is been obtained as to others ; believe me, it is not confined
covered,—that crime is less crime,—when it is corn- to the island question ; a deep sense of injustice and
mated in company. Sir Thomas didn't rob an oppression prevails, anda lrooking out for more conside-
orchard by himself. He only went with the other ration elsewhere.
Are What the
they not to foster, protect, and govern
big lads to commit the robbery ! the colonies on just and British principles ? And what
Our contemporary says that although " great is the Pict ? When an application is made there, a grie-
dissatisfaction was created by the vote (of Sir Thos. vance stated, a remedy proposed—in lieu of a kind con-
Birch) neither the press nor the National Confede- sideration and even apparent s-;mpathy and wish to afford
ration adopted such a tone of remonstrance in this fieelt
of ,f aadl
all
statementsfensive attituids e
implied,isass ti e d:
objectionsathorough
sought for,
as in the other," (the case of Mr. Cardwell.)
, and the applicant is repulsedwith a convictions °tuhga thei s'
When he says the press, he means, of course, the a sacrifice to cant and crochet, and the crude theories of
Whig-Radical press; and we are quite old enough an obstinate man, who is said to be viceroy over you all."
to know that a very light excuse will serve that His lordship may depend upon it that the above
press as a ground for refraining from censure of is not an idle warning—the language of one who
the conduct of a Whig Member in propping up, at has not weighed his words. Similar indications
the expense of the interests of the community, or of the feeling described are weekly reaching us ;
at any expense, a Whig Ministry. But with respect and we do not hesitate to declare our conviction
to the National Confederation, we cannot conceive that the time is coming, unless steps be taken to
them to he a political body ; and to them the im- mete out justice to them, when it will not require a
putation of party prediliction ought not to apply. direct blow from either his hands, or any other
They abstained from visiting his just punishment statesman's, to strike asunder the connexion of our
upon the head of Sir Thos. Birch, because of "the colonies with the mother country. Our colonists
very extensive delinquency of some of the best men themselves will have saved his lordship both the
of the House of Commons !" Such, at least, is the trouble and the odium of having been the direct
plea put forth in their behalf by the Mercury. But author of that country's dishonour and degrade-
there was an " extensive delinquency" when Mr. tion in the scale of nations.
Cardwell voted against Mr. Horsman's motion.
And after all, what had the extent of the delin-
quency to do with the matter. Liverpool has two
members only. One—Mr. Cardwell—voted in
opposition to his constituents unon this question,
and was denounced ; and when the other had simi-
larly offended, why should his offence be passed
- The Confederation have only to act at home,
' their own delinquent members; and
leave the rest of the constituencies to:deal with theirs.
And now with respect to the passage marked in
talics in our first quotation, viz., that "by the pre-
vious rejection of Mr. Horsman's motion it had
been decided not to redress that wrong"—the une-
are of the income tax—" at once." We
deny thatthe rejection of Mr. Horsman's motion any
such thing was decided; fora has notyetbeen proved
that the plan of Mr. Horsman would have redressed
the wrong inflicted upon the community by the
income tax. It was the rejection only of a specific
measure, regarded, by many, who are firmly opposed
to the present tax, as crudely drawn up and unlikely
+o be efficacious in its object. But on what ground
Thos. Birch's vote against the proposition
to refer tne subject to a select committee, with in-
structions to "redress the wrong at once" by the
production of a well-considered and just plan of
imposing the tax, he justified? Such a committee,
composed of practical men from both sides of the
House, need not be a fortnight in drawing up such
a plan. They might even, if there be so much ab-
solute wisdom in Mr. Horsman's proposition, make
it the basis of their labours. At all events it is
clear that the principle involved in the motion for
which the Hon. Baronet voted was virtually the
same as in that of yesterday week against which he
voted, viz., that it was inexpedient to concede a
three-years Income Tax without the inequalities of
--esure being first removed.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
M. D." We join you heartily in your hope that the founda-
tion stone of the new church for Bebington district will soon
be laic) _ _ _

The spini
.nd the I

Lies of the neighbourhood are
‘,er labours indefatigably ; but
a church. It has been well

:qr. rov

OUR TRADE WITH THE CONTINENT OF EUROPE

FOR 1848

We have remarked in an article in our leader columns
upon the prospect of an increased trade with the European
Markets, which was developing itself in the commence-
ment of the present year, until checked by the spread of
Republican movements on the Continent. Since those
remarks were written we have received the circular of
Messrs. Dufay and Co., of Manchester, dated the Ist
April, by which it will be seen our views are fully borne
out. These gentlemen say :
" It gives us great pleasure to be able to lay before our
friends, at this early period, a table of the exports of textile
fabrics' for the first quarter of the present year, ending 16th
ultimo, compared with the corresponding period of 1847. At
this particular time, when one of the most valuable branches
of our export trade, namely, that to the continent of Europe,
(which is equal in value to one-half of our total exports to all
parts of the world,) lies prostrate, it may afford but a poor con-
solation to those interested in it to state that, prior to the
French revolution, (five weeks ago,) our commercial prospects,
as regards that branch of our trade, were highly satisfactory,
and that the expectations which were pretty generally enter-
tained
at the beginning of the year, respecting a revival of our
commercial intercourse with the continent of Europe, were
fully borne out by the facts which we are now in a position to
submit to our friends.
.. One atatemeut of Lb. enpuirta of eattcrn yarns Mni manu-
factured goods, during the first quarter of the present year,
shows the following result :
Au increase of 6,093,661 lb. in cotton yarn, of which about
N millions went to Hambnrghl Rabe
1/ millions went to Holland Conti-
-1 million went to Belgium
And 1,470,351 yds. in plain cotton I Chiefly to 1 :cat.
And 1.366,856 yds.in dyed & pt(l.do. I H'burgh.)
1
An increase of 2,338,240 lb. in cotton yarn To Turkey, lonian
And 6,135,732 yds. in plain cottons Islands, Greece,
And 6,135,732 yds.in ptd.&dyed do. and Malta.
This increase, in every article, shows the increasing importance

1 press

can Sir

of our trade to the Levant

A decrease of 10,141,935 yds.in plain cottons l To Brazils & other
And 6,761,920)-dg. in dyed&ptd. do. I parts ofS.America.
To China, Manilla,
A decrease of 17,473,381 yds.in pin.calicoes I and Sincapore.

Messrs. Dufay and Co. have the same anticipations
which we have expressed with respect to the probability
that a result favorable to the industry of this country may
be anticipated to arise fiom the changes which are taking
place in Germany, and the reduced duties which will pro-
bably be imposed upon manufactures from this country.

its pre..
We shall not follow the Mercury through the
remainder of this poor apology for his friend, and
for his own want of independent spirit in hushing
up all direct mention of his delinquency. It is stuff
to tell us that " the feeling of the country was di-
rected against the House generally," and that "indi-
viduality was - ''-ely lost." Individuality

" SINGULAR TRANSFORMATION."—Under this heading
a contemporary informs us that " the old cockpit at Ain-
tree is about to be transformed into a place of worship in
connexion with the Established Church." The transfor-
mation
is not only singular but gratifying in the extreme.
We have seen many transformations of an opposite kind,
in which places of worship—our own St. Nicholas's
Church, for instance—have been transformed into cock-
pits by liberal and dissenting brawlers at Easter Vestries.
'WHO IS BE ?—The Mercury of Tuesday states that at
Runcorn, " on Friday evening, the 24th instant, Mr.
Smitb, of Liverpool, delivered a lecture in St. John's
School-room, on ' the Bottle,' as illustrated by Cruik-
shank." Who, in the name of all that is mysterious, is
Mr. Smith ? Louis Philipp
orte, we know, in selecting a
travelling name for his passp, thought that John Smith
would be a puzzler sufficient to drive his pursuers from
their scent. But Smith ! Smith, without a Christian
name to distinguish him from the countless family of
Smiths ! We cannot conceive a more vague index to the
identity of any human being. The family of the Smiths,
however, are benefitted by the modesty of this Mr.
Smith. Any Smith can appropriate anything that may
happen to have been good in his blank relations lecture,
and deny anything of a contrary description, without fear
of detectior.. We trust that the lecture was not a failure,
for the sake of the average reputation for cleverness of the

comparati

was only lost in quiirters where it was more conve-
nient to inveigh against the House generally than
against a Whig-Radical representative.