Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-24
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER.
THE UNITED STATES AND GREAT BRITAIN

by the Hibernia, including the productions of the
Conservative. the Wing, and the Neutral presses.
We have seen also various private letters from gen.
tlemen of character and intelligence, in the political
and commercial world, to their American friends.
The information, derived from these sources, is of
the highest importance to the People OF the United
States at the present moment; but having alrea-
dy given 10 our readers copious extracts from the
papers, we content ourselves, at present. with sug-
costing the reflections which occur to us, as being,
on the whole, the fair general result.
From opinions heretofore expressed by US, it
would be inferred, without the repetition of those
opinions, that we deem the restoration return of
Sir ROBERT PEEL to power favorable to the peace
of the two countries.
This opinion was founded, in great part, on the
character of Lord PALMERsToN, who, ii was most
natural to suppose, would come into Office with Lord
JOHN RUSSELL, as Secretary of State for Foreign
Affairs 1t would seem that on this very question,
viz. the putting the seals of the Foreign Office into
the hands of Lord PALMERsToN, Lord JoHN's at
tempt to form an Administration failed. Lord GREY
refused to join Administration in which Lord
PALMERsToN should fill that post and we think he
acted wisely and for the peace of the world in that
decision Lord GREY (beuer known as Lord
HowIcK) is person of decided character and vi
gorous talent. He is himself sufficiently fond of
political controversy, and when he took his seat in
the House Of Lords, on the death of the venerable
Earl his father, many sharp passage at arms was
expected to occur between him and Lord BRouoHAM,
and perhaps between him and Lord STANLEY. 1t
IS somewhat remarkable, perhaps, and shows the
case to be strong one, that person of warm
and rather controversial not to say pugnacious)
temper, like himself, should object to Lord Pal
hERsToN on account of his imprudent, rash, and
fiery temper.
There are differences of opinion in well-informed
circles in England of the stability and duration of
The restored government of Sir ROBERT PEEL.
These doubts and differences grow out of the pre-
sent condition of the Corn Law question In regard
to this question Sir ROBERT had kept his own coun-
sells, and letter of January Sd --latest date) says:
: The Public are entirely ignorant of the measures
: IN the contemplation of Sir ROBERT PEEL be-
'lleve that he will come strongly for the prn-
'cples OF free-trade; but that is only guess
The landed interest is evidently in great alarm"
Other letters express belief that the corn-laws are
destined to immediate and total repeal and that
Sir ROBERT, not being ready for such measure,
viii not long remain at the head of affairs. Our
own Judgment is Of little value, and fit perhaps to
be no ones guide on this question; but since it is
as we think, a question on which the peace of the
United States may more less depend, we have
endeavored to weigh probabilities well as we can,
and our conclusion is that Sir ROBERT PEEL is
likely TO retain the favor Of the Crown and the sup
port of Parliament.
We found this opinion, of course, principally upon
the acknowledged prudence and wisdom of his
character, and the great hold which he evidently
has on the mass of the community. He may
not be able to satisfy entirely, the landed interest
but if that interest abandon Sir ROBERT into whose
hands will 1t fall Besides, the commercial and
manufacturing interests are to be considered, as
well as the great interest of land owners and land
occupiers, which latter by the way is quite as i'm
portant as the former. And, on the whole, unless
some compromise adjustment can be effected, by
the counsels OF Sir ROBERT PEEL, we do not see
how the Government of England is to escape the |
danger Of the most violent contests, between one
interest and another, and one branch of business
and another
Supposing it to be most likely, then, that Sir
ROBERT PEEL viii maintain his position, with
Lord ABERDEEN near him, and most of his recent
colleagues around him, the question interesting to
the people Of the United States is Will the English
Government be disposed to settle the Oregon
question, and on what terms
We have often, and recently, expressed our con-
viction that Sir Robert Peel's administration does
not wish for with the United States. On the
contrary, we doubt not it is truly anxious TO avoid
1t. At the same time it would be great mistake
TO suppose that clustering, defamation, and prestige
can produce any effect its determination. Sir
ROBERT PEEL dare not, if he would, concede any
thing to mere pretence or submit to any thing which
would imply dishonor to his country. Lord JOHN
RUSSELL has declared within the last FIVE andtwen-
ty days, that " no Minister Of the Crown could
meet the House Of Commons, having offered 10 the
United, States more favorable terms than those
heretofore offered"
We do not believe this We believe that there
may be notifications of all the propositions hereto
fore made by both Governments, and that the re-
suit OF such notifications may be the establishment
OF line OF boundary consistent with the honor and
substantial interests Of both countries. But it must
DC evident % all that Sir ROBERT PEEL's position,
his ;,,Jc - l.