The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-03-14

lects, compared with another consequence
the emancipation ofthe agricultural popula-
ton from the bondage of tealty in voting for
their landlords. The golden bond ola COM
mon-class interest which has so long held
that aristocracy together, will be sundered-
they will be broken up, as political phalunX,
and their influence will be absorbed by the
swelling power of those they have hitherto
looked down upon MS their interiors.
These things will occur, slowly, perhaps
but certainly. The tide has been turning for
several years, but now the new current has
! fnirly set In; and do not say but the Church
itself will he made to feel its force 1t is like
ly to share the fortunes of the class with
whose mammon-interests il has been so long
and so heartlessly identified. The move
ment-nppears insignificant in itself-yet these
are among its certain consequences.
1t is probable that the country will become
much more strong in regard to other powers,
by tins removal of aristocratic humors, and
this infusion ofvulgar blood into the veins of
the government. The nation is, at this mo-
ment III the crisis of the change, and is evil
IDENTITY in no disposition to go to war with us,
II 1t can be avoided. War ntthis time would
be lucky incident to the landed interest,
and great encouragement TO the free ira
ders. Besides, the approaching scarcity of
food would be much more aggravated by hos
tile collision with any foreign power, espe-
cially America. There is no appearance of
want here in London, aud these people seem
to care little whether il any where else
Yet it occupies deeply the minds ofthose who
are appointed to do the official thinking for
the multitude-wi.ness Sir Robert Peers
speech. By-the-by, is there not something
exceedingly ludicrous, as well as melancholy
in Witnessing the Lord Mayors of London
and Dublin, with all the train and parapher-
MALTA of their office on one side, and the
Queen, with all the solemn parade of Royal
ty on the othcr,-both putting on their best
"bb and tucker" in order TO have CONVEX
sation about "potatoes" o how vulgar it
was! And yet Majesty itself must stoop TO
consider on it. The Duke of Cambridge is
reported to have said in public speech, thar
'potatoes, His Royal Highncss thought that
was the name ofthe root, and ifhe was in cr-
ror the meeting would correct him,) mixed
with sea-weed; or even grass, was very
substantial and nutritious food for the peo-
pie" Iquote from memory but you may
have seen the passage. Her Majesty, in the
speech from the Throne, was better trained.
She made the topic genteel by referring to
the "potato-crop" in one place, and "the
plant" in another-as if she were speaking
of some delicate exotic that people knew
nothing about. These are all the conven-
tionalites. or, let me say il in republican Inn
grage, the stage-tricks, Ivy which the mon
arch and the minion would hide from public
gaze the impotency of gre Gus Queen, n
powerful Government, and n worldwide
empire, 10 contend against the damp
t6nd the mildew! The condition of the
potato is enough TO bring them down to the
confession of their substantial nothingness--
and this is only brought out the more by the
poetical terms and circumlocutions which
they employ to conceal If.
The simple fact is, that a large portion other
Maiesty's subjects in these Kingdoms live on
potatoes, &many ofthem,on almost nothing
beside 1t is probable that more than one half
ofthe potatoes ofthis years growth will have
been destroyed by rot, which has not been,&
apparently cannot be accounted tor-and
that partial famine is reasonably apprehended.
This, like most other imperial calamities, will
fall most heavily on Ireland. In that country
it is sure to be attended or followed by pes
tilence-and except the discussion of the
Corn Laws, there is not any known evidence
ofthe Governments having made provision
for the catastrophe. Indeed it is said that
strong measures will be adopted authorizing
the military pacifcation of lreland--and
some are wicked enough TO say that it is thus
Sir r. Peel will compensate the wounded
feelings of this country, for the damage done
to the incomes of its landed proprietOrs. 1t
| j
principles and policy, that at the end of the
present session, if the aristocracy reproach
him with having repealed the Corn Laws,he
may turn round and say in reply, eyes, but
did not pass n coercion bill for Ireland?'--
'Will YOU give me no credit for that?"
Mutiny in Ireland there unquestionably will
be. 1t will commence in the empty stomach
, ofthe starving people; but where it will end
is not quite so clear. Iftroops can keep down
famine, Ireland ought to have troops by all
means. On the other hand, ifthe object be
to put pown the people, an excellent method
, will be to place starvation in that country
under the protection of marshal law.
Besides the evidence furnished by passing
public events in this land i have other grounds
for entertaining the clear conviction that
England has no wish to go to war, at this time
land / rejoice it is so. Many of the political
braves and DULLES among ourselves who clam
or for war, unless their notions be attended tC
, in the councils of the State, would be the firs
+ to show the ''white feather" ifthey only knew
bu experience what they are talking about
But regard it as a Dispensation ofmercy tc
both lands, that whilst we, at least some of
us, in America, are so rash and ready TO pre-
, cipitate- matters with a country that has sell
J dom refused to take up the gauntlet thrown
: down to her Indeed has seldom waited fol
: it) the internal affairs ofthat country are sc
, interviewer with thread of iron destiny, thai
in the present instance she cannot take il up
, Besides all the reasons j have mentioned
o there are one or two others more or less con
: nected with them. Suppose war, com
merce with America is gone, and endanger
q ed every where. Without commerce, wha
i becomes of manufactures? What become,
f of free trade? Already multitudes are expos
y Il r. L1r- IL.