The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-20


should they turn FESTIVE.
Some fears have been expressed that Lord Stan
ley would lead the prolectlonist forlom hope in the
House Of Peers. He 10 a Maynard, imprudent
man, with strong nerves, good deal Of snowy tai
ent, and very little judgment But il is understood
tina, even he quails Cobden's speech in the House,
on the night Of the division, was devoted less 10 a
consideration Of the question on its abstract merits
than TO an investigation Of the puf desperate con-
diton OF the obstrucliyes. He dearly showed that
an appeal 10 the country would only proerastinais
and embiiter the tight, without settling Il. He
proved that all the great towns in the nstion--the
seats OF trade, commerce, capital manufactures, and
mind-were supporters Of the government policy
and that the landlords must depend upon their rot
ten boroughs and nomination counties alone for sup
port. All laws which mar the onward progress OF
the age are transiIory. The peers know this. In
the present spirit Of the times the defects in the rep
resentation, should they take shelter behind them,
would be the commencement OF an agitation which
would not leave yestige remaining. Az Golden
demonstrated, there 10 sufficient amount Of public
opinion at present In favor Of free trade TO change
Il necessary, the very succession TO the Crown iIse'
Sul II is doubtful whether the repeal OF the corn
avs will be immediate. On Monday night, Mr..
yilliers moved in committee, for the Immediate re.
peal Of the duties on corn, instead OF the repeal
three years hence enforcing his position eleyeriy by
proof, that the present time was the best adapted
Tor the interest Of the agncultursI; that now he
could better compete with his foreign rival, when
wheat was scarce and dear in all parts Of the world
instead Of three years hence when Il might possibly
ve cheap and plentiful. The debate stood adjourn
Cd until the following night, and at the time We
Wrte--on the evening Of Tuesday-we are unae.
quainted with the result Ii Is Just possible, " the
morning papers are expressed to Liverpool to-day
IhaI the division may arrive here an hour or two
before the sailing OF the packet, and thus cross
the Atlantic with the European Times; but we
are not ubiquitous, and in the absence Of adj
vices from our London representative at this
ate hour we are IN the DIRK as 10 the result.
In all probability, however, the sense OF The
House will be against Mr.. Villiers, as Lord John
Russell and Sir Robert Peel think that it is mpol-
,Iic on the score Of success, TO depart from the
scheme as originally propounded. The minister
would be delighted TO be left IN minority; but the
landlords there Is eyeryreason TO apprehend, making
the best Of what they consider bad bargain, will
hold him TO this three years term and divide with
him against the immediate repealers. All depends
upon the landlords, for the free traders in the house
arc not numerically strong enough TO beat the min.
isteralists the wings, and the protectioniss. But
nothing in their previous tactics can lead US 10 hope
that the latter will exercise a generous and dignI-
fed llberality on this occasion.
The division on Saturday presents some curious
results. The house as our readers are probably
erals voted with the minister and ll2 tories-toal,
$780, against him, IL liberals and 23l tories-tota,
2i2 which makes the majority Of 81. There were
80 liberals absent and Is tories; IL liberal pairs
ID tory pairs; vacancies, and the speaker 6; ma
king up the full complement Of the house-656 Sir
Robert Peels supporters, it will thus be seen, only
number about irth Of the representation, and in
this estimate included n officials. IL 10 clear
then that without the aid Of the liberals he would
has haap De ihafs in NIL ord he
have been destroyed by those who made him.
As we have been the steady and consistent advo-
Gates Of free trade since first appearance before
the American public, we may be pardoned for the
expression Of our qualification at its present ovation
Industry, combined with an unrestricted exchange
Of commodities is the source Of all wealth, whether
of nations or Of individuals. The ploughshare and
the shuttle excellent preservatives Of the peace
Of nations-beper far than ball or bayonet An
Identity Of interest has emollient effect peoples
passions. No country in the world possesses Sc
many requisites for the attainment Of national wealth
in the free and enlightened spirit Of commercial re-
ciprocity, as the United States. The resources o.
the soil; the energy Of the citizens; the magnificent
and economic internal transit by rail and water;
splendid marine for carrying its products to the
ends Of the earth-all these great natural and &C
qured advantages point it out as reeminenty
fertile and exporting country. The capabilities Of
America are but half developed-the young giant j,
only in leading -strngs. These facts forced them.
selves upon when we traversed that great cont.
nent; and the conviction is streng thened we
glance, in "our minds eye" at the triumph of the
undeveloped future, as foreshadowed in the enght
ened fiscal policy Of Sir Robert Peel.
THE MONSTER DEBATE.
The great debate on Sir Robert Peel's financial
scheme which extended over three weeks, and af
forded food for twelve nights incessant oratory
was brought to a close on the morning of Saturday
last by division which gave the minister ma or
ty of ninety seven The eye of the hawk never
followed its prey with greater intensity than the
public, out floors, have turned to these debates IL
Parliament. Not that the speeches themselves were
cared for; they literally became bore. But day
after day people looked for the result down the end
less columns Of the daily prints in vain, until the in
terest deepened into anxiety, followed, the dreary
monotony of words proceeded, by absolute despair
Nor was this despair unnatural when 1t Is con
sdered how mighty are the interests now trembling
in the balance-hew great has been the expenditur,
of time and falkland how far the result is from
being yet contaminated. Every merchant, every
tradesman, every one in business, in short, expe
riences the painful-in some instances the ruinous
results Of this state Of transition. Parliament ha.
been sitting more than month"; ard nothing hal
been done-absouely nothing, for we arc as we
only entering on the threshold Of the investigation
The debate which closed on Saturday is the frs
skirmish--the precursor of the general engagement
The House, by this majority, has only pledged
itself to 60 into committee. All the mutfariou
parts Of the scheme have yet to be discussed, ant
affirmed or rejected before it reaches the House o
Lords there, the same time-consuming process j.
to be repeated, and probably the spring may be fa
advanced, or we may have got into the summe
solstice, ere legislative adjudication be complete
What prospect in the interim for the trade of thu
country!-for that trade which, irrespective of con
sequences, must still 60 on, however deranged-a
its stoppage like that of the functions Of the ANNA
body, would involve the very extinction Of vitallt,
itself!
But, as we intimated in our last publication, 81
Robert Peel has determined to proceed with tn
corn-law part Of his scheme first This scheme
our readers know, proposes the extinction Of tn
cofn-laws in three years from the present time
and the next great battle, well as the next "sol
emn TALK" will have reference to the immediate o
the postponed repeal. Sir Robert, since the frs
announcement of his plan, has stolen, in this re
spect, by his tactics, march on the enemy. Tn
three years grace was debatable ground; grea
difference Of opinion existed about its merits. ant
many Of those who opposed the scheme altogether
expressed preference for an instant instead Of
postponed repeal. Feeling that if he blindly ad
hered to his own pet scheme, junction might b
formed between those favorable to the immediat