The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-02-15 00:00:00

TUESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY 15, 1812

We endeavoured, in our publication of Friday, to
convey to the public the feeling with which the pro-
posed measure of Sir Robert Peel had been received
by the commercial people of Liverpool. We took
every pains, which our opportunities of observation
afforded, to arrive at the truth; and, having done so,
however disagreeable to us it might be to notice that
the first impression created was of an unfavourable
nature, we did not hesitate fully and unequivocally to
admit the fact,—accompanying, however, the admis-
sion with an expression of our belief that, upon mature,
consideration and a better acquaintance with the details
of the government plan, it would receive eventually the
cordial approbation of a majority amongst onr best-
informed mercantile men. In this anticipation we are
happy to say that we have not been disppointed ; and
we trust that the candour, with which we recorded the
unfavourable impression at first evinced, will bespeak
for us the confidence of our readers whilst describing
the feeling which time and consideration have contri-
buted to produce.

The prevailing opinion amongst all classes, and
especially amongst those of the greatest standing and
weight in this important mercantile community, is
now, we can state without hesitation, unequivocally
favourable to the ministerial measure, as one admirably
calculated to reconcile conflicting interests, and to effect
a settlement, at least for some time to come,-of this
much-agitated question. As a matter of course, the
opponents of all restrictions upon the importation of
food—the ultra free-trade party—it has not satisfied.
In fact, it is not too much to assume that the very
reasonableness of its nature, and its tendency to con-
ciliate the support of moderate men of all parties, is its
greatest fault in the estimation of these violent politi-
cians. The very fact that it is based upon the princi-
ple of protection to the home agriculturist, is sufficient
of itself to ensure the bitter hostility of men in whose
jaundiced eye the owners and the cultivators of the
soil are objects of unrelenting hatred, and who would
gladly witness their utter prostration, in order to erect
an overriding tyranny of capital and " liberalism"
upon their ruins.
There are some, too, we are ready to acknowledge,
amongst our moderate men, who, although favourable
to the degree of protection which this measure is cal-
culated to afford to the agricultural interest of the
country, are yet predisposed in favour of a fixed duty
to effect that object. With such a duty, fixed even as
high as 10s. or 125., it is argued that foreign grain
might be made a safe vehicle of remittance in return
for British exports ; whilst the principle of -a sliding
scale, however regulated, is considered as one unfa-
vourable to regular investments by merchants gene-
rally, and as leading to hazardous speculation. These
views, however, we believe that consideration has
greatly and favourably modified; and the impression
has gained ground that, by the proposed measure, the
hazard, which has hitheito attended operations under a
sliding scale of duties and averages, will be much less-
ened, and that in practice the scale will seldom vary
further than from-12s. per quarter down to 65., be-
tween which limits the great portion of foreign corn
required for consumption in Great Britain will be im-
ported. Substantially, therefore, the measure of Sir
Robert Peel is regarded by them as imposing a fixed
duty between these limits, the gradations of the scale
only operating when the pressure for food would other-
wise render necessary the resort to an order in council
for its admission duty-free.
By the manufacturing interest of Manchester, we
need scarcely intimate that it has been received with
very general dissatisfaction—so far at least as we have
had an opportunity of ascertaining. We are satisfied,
however, that the public at large have been quite pre-
pared for this feeling ; and, at all events, we are confi-
dent that the merchants of Liverpool will not be de-
terred from awarding their cordial approbation of the
measure which is now offered for their acceptance, by
all the ravings of the Manchester monomaniacs. There
are very, very few men to be found upon our Exchange
or in our streets, disposed to barter this chance of a
fair and reasonable settlement of this great question for
the prospect of a total repeali'of all protection upon na•
tive agriculture, which the league-men hold out as the
only measure to which they, in their high mightiness,
will condescend to listen. We have noticed the freaks
and the temper of these gentlemen in another article,
to which we refer our readers.

We have nothing to add to the gratifying report
which we are this day enabled to present to our read-
ers upon this subject, except that the extension of the
number of towns, from which returns are to be made
for the purpose of regulating the averages, and by
which it was feared by some of our best informed corn
merchants that the measure might be impaired in va-
lue to the consumer, has been received with perfect
satisfaction. No indirect attempt has been made, in
the selection of those towns, to act prejudicially upon
the justice and fairneSs of the general plan. That our
readers may upon this point be enabled to form a
judgment for themselves, we give here the list for
Cheshire and Lancashire, with which, we are confident,
they will be fully satisfied. For Cheshire the returns
haVe been made hitherto from Chester,. Nantwich,
Middlewich, Four Lane Ends, and Knutsford. To
these towns Sir Robert Peel has added Congleton,
Macclesfield, and Stockport. For Lancashire, the re-
turns have been hitherto made from Liverpool, Ulver-
ston, Lancaster, Preston,. Wigan, Warrington, Man-
chester and Bolton. To these are now to be added,
Ashton-under-Lyne, Blackburn, Bury, Oldham, Orms
kirk, and Rochdale.

There is one feature in the proposed corn-law mea-
sure of Sir Robert Peel which we do not think has
attracted the not ice which its importance demands. We
have been told, again and. again, by the free-trade agi-
tators that, as applied to the corn growers of the United
States, the very principle of a sliding scale is, per se,
an effectual bar to importation from that country into
Great Britain. Now what, let us inquire, is likely to
be the operation of the proposed scale with respect to
shipments from the United States ?

For some time, it is well known that a contraband
trade in wheat has been carried on, along the Canadian
frontier, by which American wheat has been intro-
duced into the Britith'possessions, and thence found
its way into British markets, in the manufactured state,
as flour, the produce of a British colony,—paying a
duty at the rate of ss. per quarter when the average
price in Great Britain was under 675., and at the rate
of 6d. per quarter when the average exceeded 675.
The necessarily hazardous and expensive nature of this
trade has to some extent, operated as a check upon it;
yet it is notorious that considerable quantities of grain
have for some time been forwarded down the great
rivers and lakes in the interior, and have been tran-
shipped from the River St. Lawrence to this country.

The effect of the measure introduced on Tuesday
last by the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, for
the first time legalises the introduction of American
grain into Canada, upon payment of a duty at the rate
of 3s. per quarter, the corresponding duty upon the
admission of Canadian wheat into the United States
being 10s. per quarter. The measure, however, of
Sir Robert Peel reduces the scale, at which the ex-
treme duty of ss. upon Canadian grain into Great
Britain is charged, from 675. to 545., from which it
gradually descends to ls. on the average reaching
58s. Upon the present average, therefore, of 61s. 3d.,
the duty upon American wheat, transported through
Canada, or shipped at a Canadian port for Great Bri-
tain, would he 4s. per quarter (3s. for the import duty
into Canada, and ls. as the duty upon Canadian pro-
duce on importation into this country); and in no case
could the exports from the United States, if shipped
from a Canadian port, exceed Bs. per quarter. The
only condition which would be required on the part of
the American grower, to enable him to avail himself
of this boon, would be that his grain should be ma-
nufactured into flour within the British possessions.

Undoubtedly we have here a large concession to the
corn growers of the United States, and one which
effectually neutralizes any
_disadvantage, which on the
score of distance from the British market, they can
sustain from the existence of a sliding scale, To the

Navateva Btatzs of Amerin this marluA to Etivittyl
open, at a duty never exceeding Bs.; and, although
some additional expense of freight will of course be
incurred, it is unquestionable that the agriculturists of
those States must be very largely benefitted. It may
perhaps be a question how far this change may be for
the advantage of the Canadian or the British farmer.
Looking, however, at all the circumstances—bearing
in mind that by this means the employment of British
shipping from Canadian ports will be greatly pro-
moted—considering, too, the beneficial results which
may be created, by the impression to be established in
the minds of our American neighbours, that the ex
istence of Canada as a British colony is essentiatto the
preservation, to them, of Great Britain as a market for
their surplus produce, we are not disposed to offer any
serious objections upon the subject.
As a great boon to the people of the United States,
the proposed arrangement is viewed, we understand,
by those of our American merchants who have turned
their attention to the subject; and when added to the
concessions which are made to them by the measure
of Mr. Gladstone, ought surely to induce them to
listen in a kindly spirit to a modification of their own
tariff in our favour. But will they do so, we ask ?
We fear much, notwithstanding the predictions of
the anti-corn law league, that no such result will flow
from any liberality of ours.

The measure introduced on Wednesday evening by
Mr. W. E. Gladstone, the Vice-President of the Board
of Trade, to reduce the duties upon foreign produce
imported into our colonies, was received with the
strongly marked approbation of both sides of the
house; and whether we look at the judicious or well-
considered nature of the proposition itself, or at the
admirable manner in which it was introduced to .the
house, we cannot withhold from the honourable gen-
tleman, or from the government of which he is an effi-
cient and valuable member, the expression of our sin-
cere thankfulness. By the colonies to which Mr.
Gladstone's measure applies we have no doubt that it
will be received as a boon of very beneficial nature,
and as an earnest, as well, of the careful attention
which colonial. interests are about to receive from the
government of Sir Robert Peel. As such only they
can view it with any great satisfaction ; for it cannot
be disguised now that the position of some of our co-
lonies is one of far too great difficulty and peril to be
seriously benefitted by any measure of this descrip-
tion, however intrinsically excellent.

We called attention recently to the state of things
by which the prosperity of the West Indies is retard-
ed, and which threatens ultimately to effect their utter
destruction as valuable producing colonies. In Bri-
tish Guiana and in others of those noble possessions
the cultivation of the soil with a view to the supply of
the markets of the mother country with tropical pro-
duce must shortly cease, unless some efficacious mea-
sure by which a large supply of labour can be afforded
to the planters is devised by the home legislature. By
the recent advices, brought by the arrival of the West
India mail, the views which we hare previously held
with respect to the condition and prospects of these
colonies are fully confirmed ; and we cannot but de-
spair of any remedy being adopted by the colonists
themselves which can do more than protract for a few
seasons the entire abandonment of the attempt to com-
pete by free labour against the produce of foreign slave
states. This great experiment must be given up, and
with it must be dashed to the earth the fond hopes of
millions of the human race, whose liberties are in-
volved in its successful issue. It is painful to contem-
plate such a lamentable contingency. To the people
of Great Britain—to the humane and good of every
clime—it will he a subject of inexpressible grief and
disappointment if that experiment, in which they have
embarked so large an amount of money and of sym-
pathy, should result only in failure. And yet, advisedly
and deliberately, we must express our sincere and sor-
rowful conviction that to such a result it is at this mo-
ment rapidly verging.

So far as the supply of labour, the great desideratum
in the West Indies, can be increased by the efforts of
the planters themselves, we are informed by the last
advices that there is no longer ground for hope. Im-
migration from Sierra Leone, and the migration of la-
hot:: crs from other ,phices to British Guiana, where
their aid is most needed, appear to have ceased. An
attempt is indeed being made to reduce the exorbitant
rate of wages, and to provide for continuous cultiva-
tion, by internal arrangements between the planters and
their workpeople ; but from this attempt we must con-
fess that we anticipate no permanent benefit to arise,
and we are rather inclined to fear that it may terminate
in the production of ill-feeling and bickerings on the
part of the negro population towards the proprietors of
the soil. We are satisfied that there can he no effec-
tual cure for the evil which presses upon the prosperity
of West India cultivation, except in a measure to pro-
mote extensive immigration into those colonies ; and
we have hoped, and still hope, for- such a measure at
the hands of the present government.
So far as it goes, we are quite ready to acknowledge
that the measure of the Vice-President of the Board
of Trade will alleviate the severe pressure at present
existing upon the West Indian planters. To some ex-
tent it may decrease the expense of cultivation, and al-
low, perhaps, a small margin of profit upon their ship-
ments of produce to Great Britain. But whilst the
giant evil prevails—so long as the present scarcity and
costliness of labour remains—we can see no hope of
their being enabled to compete with the Brazilian or
the Cuban planter. This, if the noble effort of Bri-
tish humanity is not to be made in vain, is the object
to which the measures of a wise government ought to
be directed. To effect this the West India proprietor
must not only be relieved from every impost which
presses upon the cost of production, but, above all, he
must be relieved from the jealous suspicions of the in-
judicious friends of the negro race, who, in their dread
of promoting any system the most remotely resembling
that of slavery in those colonies, do not hesitate to cast
every impediment in the way of those supplies of free
labour being procured, without which it is perfectly
evident that cultivation can go on no longer.
Notwithstanding the declaration of Lord Stanley
that lie is unprepared with any large measure to pro
mote emigration, generally, from great Britain, we.
trust that neither he nor the government of which he-
is a member will overlook the urgent nature of the.
difficulties under which these colonies are fast sinking
into ruin. Lord Stanley is deeply pledged to the suc-
cess of the measure of emancipation. He is well aware-
how vast are the interest which depend upon that suc-
cess ; and he cannot be blind to the fact that unless
an effort is made now, and that effbrt an effectual one,
to arrest a disaster which humanity shudders to con-
template, the great cause of negro emancipation, so far
as it can he affected by the issue of the experiment to
raise the products of the tropics by' means of free la-
hour, will be lost beyond the possibilify of redemp-
tion.

We shall return to this subject upon an early occa-
sion, in order to point out the kind of measure with
which the proprietors of the West Indies will be sa-

tisfied

The receipt in Manchester of the details of air Ro-
bert Peel's modification of the corn laws appears to
have driven the good people of that town to a state of
mind which calls more loudly for a prompt supply of
strait jackets than for the sympathy and respect of
their fellow-countrymen. Stark frenzy has seized upon
the cottonocracy, one and all; and, from Thursday
morning until the hour at which we write, denuncia-
tions the most violent and furious, against the govern-
ment and the aristocracy of the country, have unceas-
ingly disturbed the " air serene" of the land of spin-
ning and weaving. Meetings have been held and
speeches spoken ; last night the anti-corn-law ladies
danced destruction to the sliding scale ; this day a great
gathering, under the patronage of his worshipful the
mayor of Manchester, is to strike terror into the hearts
of monopolists and landlords ; and were it not that the
people—the working classes—are most provokingly
apathetic, and have a very low opinion of the disinte-
rested patriotism of the gentlemen who are enacting
this storm in a teacup, we should be led to anticipate
an insurrection, if not some more dreadful calamity.
Amongst the loudest of the agitators upon this oc-
casion is our friend the Manchester Guardian. He,
good man, is perfectly shocked, and " cannot read
without disgust the almost heartless allusions which
Sir Robert Peel, in his speech of Wednesday evening,
made to the patience, with which the great body of the'
people have endured the sufferings, to which the un-

(86. HNC iporant policy a our landed aristoor

have eo long subjected them." The Guardian evi-
dently wonders, if he does not even regret, that the
stones don't rise in the streets, that factories are not
burnt down, bread-shops gutted, and other enormities
committed, in order to give a colour to the fierce ra-
vings of his fellow-bawlers. It is painful, we admit,
to such people as the Guardian, to contemplate the
quiescence of the working classes amidst unparalleled
efforts to excite them and undoubtedly severe priva-
tion, and to listen to the well-deserved eulogy with
which their conduct is dwelt upon by Sir Robert Peel ;
but we apprehend that by far the most painful reflec-
tion to the mind of our contemporary. is the conclusion
which is deducible from that quiescence, that the
working classes have no confidence in, no sympathy
with, himself or his fellow-repealers, and are not in-
clined to be misled into •turbulence, however violently

some may endeavour, for the gratification of their own
selfish and factious purposes, to drive them from their