Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1841-11-25

EDWARD L. PEGRAM, Ch'mn.
! J. w. GILLIAN, See'ry.
| FNsrI fAs Nah5za! Ga<Sffs
FRENCH SKETCH OF SIR ROBERT PEEL
Our readers may not be sorry TO see the opinion,
entertained by one of the abest OF the French ne
rNodlea $ the RtpUs Ges Dger .yoniss OF the sr,a
Conservative leader IN the House of Commons
SIR Rooert Peel. The Sketch written by Duyer.
oeral views, YET marked by general fairness ant
d.Ser!mInaUoI:-tB Britannia.
SIR ROBERT PEEL.
Sir Robert Pee, the son OF a rich manufacturer
does not from his birth belong TO the English arts
'oeraey; but destined from early youth TO a poit
cal life, ne entered Par lament Immediately AFTER At.
tanning ms majority, and IN lSl2. when twenty.
four years OF rye, was Secretary OF State tor Ire
land. In ISIS from reasons more of a personal
than pnIuca. character, he quilted lhis important
post, without, however, Withdrawing his support
from the Tory Ministry, ami, IN 1921, he succeeded
Lord Sldmouih as Minister of the Interior. IL
lS22, when Mr. Canning succeeded Logd Cast
ereash, Sir Z. Pee. remsined IN the Ministry.
Two distinct tendencies were then remarked N h,m
In everything which regarded either home or for.
eisn policy Sir K. Pee. showed himse, faithful 10
tbs old Tory traditions and decided enemy TO al
reform. In everything connected with the criminal
and administrative Laws OF the country, he gave
proof Of an Enlightened ind even bold mind Thus
tie was seen, on the one hand, warmly supporting
the Alien Bill, opposing Catholic emancipation
pTaIsIns the holy alliance and on the other ha nd
! lessenns punIshments reforming the Jury, and
limung the poSers Of justices ofthe peace. Thanks
10 this double character SIR Robert possessed the
tSotold advantage Of preserving the favour Of the
old Tories, and, 10 Certain extent gaining that of
the References.
Towards the end of $780, however and under
the impartial presidency OF Lord Liverpool there in
reality existed two parIie. IN the Ministry, that Of
! Lord Eden and Lord weslmoreland, and that of
VIZ. Canning and MIR. Robinson afterwards LORD
GoderIch, and now Ear OF RIpon,) the first refus.
ing TO the spIrI OF the age the slightest concession
| particularly IN anything connected with the Church.
and the latter considering that the old system Of
policy had had It's day. Between Ihese two plrues
SIR Robert PEEL had the prudence To preserve strict
neu'ralty. Ii 1877, however. on the death OF Lord
Liverpool, tbs neutrality became no longer posi-
bic. A. this time u may be remembered Mir Can.
nns, the PRIME Minister, formed an alliance with
tue Wings, and called into his cabinet the Duke of
Osvonshi'e, Lord Lansdo~ne, Lord Carlisle, and
even The honourabe chief OF the Opposition party
Mr. GIerney, Lord ( don and Lord Northumberland
quilted the Ministry, and the public were a little
surprised to Sir Robert Peel follow their exam
pie. For some time he took his seat on the neutral
benches and affected 10 proclaim himse The friend
Of Nc. Ginning; but his friendship soon became
bitter and offensive, and after "a sharp proyoca,ion
from Mr.. Canning, he went and took hls seat in
the place which had Just been Lett by Mir. Brous.
ham. From this day he became the leader OF the
Tory Opposition.
"ln 1928, after the death OF MIR Canning and the
failure OF the GoderIch Ministry, Sir Robert Pee
became The principal man 10 the Welnston MIN
isiryl particularly after the friends Of MIR Canning
DIR Huskisson, Lo.d Dudley, Mr. Grant, and Lord
Pd.merston-had separated from il. 10 this emf
nent situation he obtained favour and honour with
the Liberals, without compromising himself IN the
eyes OF the Torres, by fresh judicial and admins
uauye reforms In 1929, a great measure, that Of
emancipation, h..cJ his 20 IIca lie, which had been
calm az. serene, with agitation and troubles. In
a single day, the IDOL OF the Torres became the OBJ
jeci OF their eXeCrltOn and the epilhcts OF traitor
aPosaIc, monster, aud even Phpls' we're not spared
even 10y his best friends. The University OF OK.
ord, OF which he was the fhvouule Representative
discarded him, and elected Sir Robert IngIs as his
successor. We must do Sir Robert Peel the Jus.
ilce say that, from bending beneath the storm
his character became more firm and unOendrng
| DE accepted with as much resolution Of mind as
greatness OF soul the dshInce which was hurled II
/ him, and his talents acquired IN the struggle a
| ylgOJT ana an elevation which he was not known
70 possess. Wounded 70 the heart, the ultra Tories
were slow 70 pardon him, and for eighteen months
the Duke Of Wellington IN the House Of Lords, ami
Sir ROJeu Peel 10 the House Of Commons, had to
sustain the shock Of an opposition, IN which were
| united Lord Grey and Lord Eden, Lord Holland
Z and Lord WIncAIIsea, Mr. Brougham and SIR Ed.
ward hGlichbuli, Sir Robert Wilson and Sir Rob.
eri lngiIs without taking into the personal
| friends Of Nj Canning-Mr Huskison, Mr. Grant,
and Lord Pamcs.on. At the death Of George ~
on the accession Of his successor this new coalition
/ had almost acq GIred a majority, and there WIS a
! great chance Of their carrying 1t when the rsvOiu
] ton OF July interviewed ami changed the face Of
things, and placed parties on quite d new ground.
a isw months afterwards, overpowerCd by the
/ popular movement, Wellington and Peel rendered
their resignation, and Lord Grey came TO the head
Of affairs.
"From this period the life Of Sir Robert Peel j.,
| sufficiently known.
| when IN 1882, the Reform Bill vas introduced,
| two.thirds Of his party were discouraged, and
would have sought last consolation in acts of VIC.
cncc. quite as FIRM, and more moderate than ever,
Sir Robert Pee. unhosilaungly accepted les fats
| accOmplis, and only 5Oughi 70 make thom servicea-
bic 20 the triumph OF hs opinions. IL was then he
WIS seen, prohilng by The reaction which naturally
iOiOas every great pOIItica event, 70 hold out
hand on the one side TO those who began 10 be
alarmed by the progress Of IDEAS Of reform, and 70
hold with the other the trembling remains Of the
old Tory party and thus to lay the foundation OF a
great party, who, under new name, should recog-
Mise him us Its chief No one can, besides, be *.
nOpnt Of what an admirable struggle he sustained
In 1885, when, suddenly recalled from Italy by
royal caprice, hC attempted, and without hope o
success, premature enterprise, and which dorangeC
al. his combinations. No one Is ignorant Of tht
hrmHcss he displayed 10 1889, when, charged by
the Queen TO form new Cabinet, he endeavOro,
20 eEorclso even DO the Royal palace the rights Of
| Prime Minister and preferred renOuRcing power .
take Il ~ an incomplete and mutiIated state. NJ
perseverance, he succeeded, in the midst Of man
r obstacles, IN overcoming the maJouty-at first q
Q Parliament and then m the country, without III
c sacrifice Of one Of his opinions, and without max
= ing 70 the passions and impotence Of bis friends
n 8 nge concession which he had Afterwards cause
il regret II is remarked, with reason, that as CHI
l. Of the Conservative party, Sir Robert Peel new
:. loses opportunity 70 call 10 mind the principle
ir which placed tho house Of Hanover the thfon
G, and TO procitim the pTepOnJorance Of the House
e Commons; for there IS IN this pre- smInence 81 Pa
c amenary over monnrchcal principle, aud Of u
lower over the upper House, nothing but what
re pleasing to the son Of the manufacturer Of Tar
| worth.
ss, at the oge Of hity.three, Sir Robert Peel
us without DOUBT Of the most consummato State
ch men thal England ever possessed, and one Of 4
most worthy TO coRduct the airs Of great cOu
ss Try. lie IS not first orator, and hs speech
a. in general have little chance Of being handod dos
on 70 pOsterty as models Of classic eloquenccj but
has clear straightforward, me,hodicil way Of G
m pressing HIMSELF which produces great effect wit
S. out aiming at H. lie also possesses q merit Win
he as chief Of the cabinet or OF the opposition, Is
I'VE great value-vlz; that Of ueatns ell subjects "
rue equal facility. General policy, political econon
hnanoes, civil or criminal legislation, or war, oil
lau equally within the knowledge Of Sir Robert ~
,c, and on oil matters he shows himself possessed