The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-17
FOREIGN NEWS.
EXTRACTS FROM PAPERS RECEIVED BY
LATE FOREIGN ARRIVALS,
From the London Sunday Times. Feb g.


The debate on Sir Robert Peels free-tade proPo-
sitons tomorrow, IL is needless TO say, will be one
ofthe most interesting that has taken place for many
wears in the British House Of Commons. The at
IGNITION Of the whole country is directed to the I'M
porcAnee Of the question involved, and TO the great
ness OF the struggle. The interval that has elapsed
since this ministerial measure was hrst propounded
has given time 10 all parties to weigh well It's merits,
and 10 calculate It's results The monoposts do not
now present the same front and united phalsnx as
they did some short time since. IL is true, that
small portion Of them still determined TO hight the
battle out though 1t be apparent even To themselves
that their ultimate defeat is inevitable. Others OF
them have begun TO admit glimmenng orlight into
their hitherto darkened understandings. Like the
premier himself they see the error Of their ways,
and are now ready to admit, and by their votes 10
give effect 10 the admission, that free trade Is not
only good in theory, but that the circumstances Of
the country render il necessary that II should now
he reduced to practice. The important question to
be asked then is, what will be the result Of next
weeks debate or debates'-for IL il not likely the
matter will be decided in a single night Ii has
been calculated by some that Sir Robert Peel will
have majority Of fifty. This we consider to be
extremely i'm probable. Even supposng that all the
free-tradsrs should vote for hIm-an event which,
after the recent declarations Of the League in favor
Of total and immediate abolition 10 not quite so GER
tain-a majority Of fifty could hardly be calculated
on. That there will be majority, no one doubts;
but we are inclined TO suspect that that majority
will approach much nearer twenty than fifty. This,
however, for legitimate purposes, will be sufficient.
What then will the lords doI In the upper house,
the monopolists, undoubtedly, the strongest
party. Into that house, surrounded as 1t is with so
much stubborn obstnacy and so many almost
impenerable preudices, the principles Of truth are
much slower in making their way than into the
lower house. IL is less acted upon by popular
feelings, and is less amenable to the eventually
alleonquerng influence Of public opinion. The
history Of the country proves that the
lords never yet have yielded until they
found it dangerous any longer to resist When
they found that the tide really too strong for
them then but not till then to avoid being the mselves
swept away, they have stopped and let il pass. Great
as has been the agitation, and universal the excite.
ment in reference to free-trade, the question can
hardly be said yet to have arrived at such crisis
as that. Therefore we may look upon it almost as
certain that the lords will throw out the measure.
The Richmonds or the Buckhnghams, and the
SANKEY'S, will enjoy their triumph for a time. 10
riumphe! The country will ring with sounds Of graft
uation and the monopolists, thus galvanized, it
WERE into q sort Of temporary spasmodic existence,
will be ringing far and wide the praises Of their fan
cied deiverers. A dissolution of Parliament
will then, sure, be the result This step the
ministry cannot avoid taking. Having pledged
themselves to free-trade, they bound TO take
every constitutional means TO carry their opin-
ions into effect In the present state Of public
feeling on the subject of the corn-laws, il requires
not much sagaoity to foresee that in new House
Of Commons, the majority in favor Of free-trade
would be considerably more than doubled And
then comes the second appeal to the lords. Cool
calculating, and foreseeng, when their own interests
are at stake, the lords will hardly attempt to resist
second time, when they see that the country is
resolutely bent on abolishing the obnoxious corn
laws; as on all such occasions they have done be-
fore, they will submssively give way TO the voice
nf Dnhr and the nue nj he cnrn- la vi
will be settled forever. This little peep into the
future, we apprehend, will be found to steer near
the truth. There is other contingency which is
Just probable, namely, that before the meeting
Of the new Parliament the present ministry may
be reconstructed. We confess, that under ,eX-
listing Circumstances, we should like to see coai
ton ministry. 1t is true that coalition ministries
never have been popular in this country, and never
have done any good. The present crisis, however
is peculiar one, and one which would fully Justify
a perfect fusion or emalgamation of parties
Whatever opinion may be entertained Of Sir Rob
er Peels other qualities, this much is certain, thai
by all sound thinking men he is considered to be
the statesman who, above all others, better under
stands the commercial interests of this country. A
Peel-Russell government would, undoubtedly, be
the strongest government that welded the des
TIMES of the British empire.
FRANCE.
His royal highness the Count of Monternon has
Just been operated upon for the cataract at Bourges
The operation succeeded without any accident.
The five per cents underwent con siderable deprcs
sion on the Paris Bourse Thursday, owing tt
the certainty that the conversion Of the stock woult
be moved in the Chambers. The three per cent,
are fiat, and shares which rose at one moment some
what considerably, became feeble towards the enc
Of the market.
The three per cents closed at S3f Csc: the new
loan at 83f Soc; the five per CENTS 1885, Sc; tn,
Orleans railroad shares, ,2o3f 75c; Rouen, ,0O7f
Soc; Havre, $3.50; Avignon, ys5f; Verzon, 697f
Soc; Bordeaux, 645f; Bouogne, 5i0f; Troyes AM
Montereau, 450c Basic, 256f. Csc; Great Northern
762E Csc; Fampoux, 500E
SPAIN
The funds were more firm.
There was a rather animated discussion in tn
Spanish Chamber of Deputies on the 3lst ult. o.
the subject of the recent prosecutions Of the publ
press in Madrid. M. Orense and M. Calderon Col
lantes complained Of the course which had bee
adopted by the government in issuing decree 70
the regulation of the press and bringing the person
offending against it before exclusive tribunal Q
Judges under the influence Of the crown, instead @
proposing law to the Cortes.
BELGIUM
The Hanover Gazette of the 3lst ut publishe
the treaty of extradtion concluded with Belgium
Il is similar in all important points the treaties 10
the extradtion of criminals which have, within tn
last few years, been entered into by the difTercn
states Of Europe.
... AUSTRIA.
An important legal reform has Just been effected
by the Austrian government, in the substitution o
summary process for debts not exceeding 90
forms, for the tedious and expensive proceeding
which have hitherto been necessary
GERMANY.
The floods in Germany have caused considerable
injury already, and the rivers still continue to rise
threatening worse disasters. The Elbe oyerhowe
its banks on the 18th uL and the lower quarters
the town of Nielsen were under water and cause
great distress to the poorer inhabitants The Dan
ube has broke its bounds in many parts, washin
away the soil with the seeds in it, and depositins
its place sand and gravel Most Of the roads ar
rendered impossible. The Weser has done grea
damage, particularly at Munden, niHanoyer, wher
more than half the town is inundated. The lin
in Saxony, has attained an unusual height, AM
causes great apprehensonsj and most of the field
near Kenel, in Baden, have been submerged 70
more than week by the Kelsig. .......
RUSSIA.
The Journal de BruxelIes publishes a long az
count Of prosecutions inflicted by the Russian Al
n thnrtea D., Cafhotih F1rihatho0d. mn