The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1845-12-22


sustain its posuon' In The face OF an opposition,
produced by the combination OF the wings the radi-
Gals, the anti corn-law league, the Irish and repeal
agltators, and without even the support OF those
moderate or pseudo-torles, who would still adhere
to Sir Robert Peel, snch cabinet would, in the
present state OF the country, stand no chance OF
maintaining itself Yet the party would hazard much
TO prevent, on the one hand, the reconstruction
OF wing ministry; or on the other coalition
OF the wings and moderate tories. To accomplish
this, they would even venture to plunge the ma
ton into a war; and It SO happens that occa-
sion OF accomplishing this, OF q peculiarly tempt
ing kind, now presents itself. The natural repug-
nancy which the people feel towards that party,
would be smohered in the fumes of its patriotic
enthusiasm; and the Oregon question presents
only TOO seduclng an opportunity for reaislng this
theory.
The English nation, when its sefove is touched,
would assuredsv, as Is commended, not recol from
war with the United States what might be pub.
hcly regarded in England as Just provo0atlOn. TINS
will be readily admitted by all who remember the
reception which was given by all parties, without
exception, IN the House of Commons, at the COM
mencement OF the present year, to the memorable
speech of Sir Robert Peel, in which he declared
that, 4 the just rights OF England las he considered
h-m) were dlsregarded, England would know how
to enforce respect for them The national vanity
was deeply wounded by the results Of the war of
1872 and by the recoectons of that war, constantly
revived by the American journals. Ever since,
those classes, who are most bitterly opposed to re-
Americans. Thus, such measure might be ex-
peced, ii introduced adrolty, TO meet with popular
welcome. Besides, 1t ID cOntended that the
tional pride OF England would urge her forward in
such course She considers that America has
implicitly admitted the existence of at least some
claims TO Oregon her part by thirty years of nego-
alton Yet now, after this thirty years OF fru,tltss
diplomacy, the actual President of the Union comes
forward and pushes aside with dlsdain every pre-
tension to a clam on the part of Observation-Disclosures
that he will hear OF no negotiatIon-thit diplomatic
measures III such case are all humbug-that he
will not see the Republic OF the West choused out Of
her own by the force OF the arbitration OF third
power-that 10 America. and 20 America only,
Oregon, and every inch of Oregon, has belonged,
does belong and shall belong and that he, as The
head and representative OF thus great confederation,
speech of Sir Robert Peel and the feeling evnced
by the English House OF Commons, it is very, very
nard TO see how England can avoid war, except by
the most bitter humiliation.
Such are the speculations and reasonings which
well-intormed persons and practical statesmen now
hold on this question. Meanwhile the English
press IL unanimous as 10 right, however divided as
TO the most advisable means OF asserting and enfor-
eng that right The principle OF JOINT occupation s
! conceded. Even those who contend that England
| had formerly right, according to the law OF ma
tons, over the whole territory, admit that deiea-
| sance of that right has been committed. But it is
maintained that even according TO recent admis-
SONS OF the most eminent American statesmen,
(Mr. Calhoun, for example) the principle of joint
| occupation Is rndisputable.
In my last letter, told you that the English corn
laws were in ertremis-in the last agonles-in the
death struggle. Their knel has since been rung by
the great wing aristocratlc eaders-Lord Johu Rus
sell and Lord Morpeth-one OF whom has joined the
League, and the other has shouted to the English
| people,
Awake arise, or be for ever fallen
The doom OF this national nuisance has been pro-
nounced, and the only point of doubt now is, who
will be Its execuoners The tories with Sir Robert
at their head, turned out the wings, led by Lord
John because the latter limited an intention of limit
ing the landlords monopoly 10 moderate fixed du-
| ~. Is regard for political consistency so utterly
| lost III these degenerate times In which we live,
that these same tories will have the baretdced and
shameless lmpndence now to propose the abolition
| of the entire duty! Will they do, they did in
| the case OF catholic cipatlon-stuluiy them
| selves and damage political morals, by promoting
| that to-day which yesterday they denounced as de-
/, s,ructivesu constituted rights or, will thew take
the more decent course OF retiring from office on the
| same question on which hey assumed ii!
! Il has been well observed by a contemporary,
that The letter or manifesto Of Lord John Russell is
4 shot between wind and wafer, most formidable to
| the strained and leaky tmbers OF the Peel admins
uaton 1t has the further merit OF being thrown in
critically at the right moment-not too soon, (Which
would have been great error) nor too late Lord
John has waited with that calmness which charac-
erzes his movements, TO see if ministers would b.
the last resolute in northumberland TO
die (snd let others die) and make no sign. A shot
| from such forbearlng adversary, sounds like the
crack Of doom, and how tells, will be speedily ap
parent. Lord Johns letter denounces, without the
slightest perlphrasc flourish, the last opportunity
Sir Robert Peel had, and missed, OF dealing
with the corn laws "Three weeks ago.
says Lord John, cit was generally expect
I'd that Parliament would be Immediately called
together. The announcement that ministers
were prepared at that time to advise the crown to
summon Parliament, and to propose, on their first
meeting a suspension of the import duties on corn,
! would n hp lpn n he
various ports of Europe and America for the pur-
chase and transmission OF grain for the consumption
| Of the united kingdom An order in council dis
pensing with the law, neither necessary nor de
| sirabe. No party in Parliament would have made
itself responsible Tor the obstruction OF measure 80
urgent and SO beneficial" Lord John Russells
view confirms the impression that an order in
Gil, suspending the laws for any sufficient Pc
rod, would not have been the decent or constltu-
tlona mode of dealing with the subject and would
have gone to supersede the function ofPariament at
thismoment most Importance. But what an enor-
| nous blunder has not that minister committed who
mas not resorted to Parliament tor the sanction OF a
measure of which statesman so calm and unlnl-
passioned as Lord John Russell, declares his con-
vlcton that no party IN Parliament would have made
itself responsible for the obstruction Why, here
would have been his damaged wares taken of mis-
hands at once, and questions asked! The telltae
metal popped in the crucibe of the crisis, and im ge
and superscription, melted down IL would have
been carrying magnanlmity quite too far the lead
of the opposition, who has helped the minister so
generousyin all he has done, now to help him in
doing nothing. 1t s enough, at this moment, to
have no government, without also having Parlla-
ment-Do constitutional organ OF Impeachment of
this gross negligence. Mr.. Escott said that it was
tor those IN power, if, indeed, we had a govern
ment at ALL to take steps to provide against the
growing calamity. Such is the honest out
cry of landed nomlnee--a conservative men,
| Der. The signal of distress, unheeded by
the ministry, is answered by the chief of the oppo-
ston. Sir Robert Peel has no other choice but to
sail in his wake, and to follow his lead, orro nail his
flag to the mast Of an odous mono poly, and rather
than strike, sink and drown. An ounce of public
spirit would stand him in better stead than hum
dred weight Of mere parliamentary tact. Make a
clean breast--make clean breast, good Sir Robert.
Confess your corn laws and obtain absolutien =
Take pattern from the manly frankness with which
Lord John penned the following paragraph FL
confess that on the general subject my views have,
in the Of twenty years, undergone great al
teration used to be OF opinion that corn was an
exception TO the general rules OF political economy.