Indiana State sentinel., 1846-07-02
Repeal of the British Corn-Laws.

people Of Britain themselves. Give us now but Just
modification of our tariff, and long vista of
prosperity opens to view, unsurpassed in the an
mails of the world. All other nations must follow in
the wake of Britain and America and with an unre-
sricted commerce, all the world will participate in
the blessings certain to grow out of free and un-
shacklcd intercourse. To the people of Indiana in
particular, this event is of especial interest. No
State in the Union is more interested in the success
of free trade, for by that alone people hope
for general prosperity.
But the repeal of the Corn laws is matter for ex-
ultaton because it is measure of political 'pro-
gress," as well as of commercial freedom In this
aspect, it must afford great qualification of
liberal sentiments every where The success of the
measure, after so short struggle, though strenuous
y and bitterly opposed by the aristocracy, is guar
anty of further reform. The people of England seeing
that they have been strong enough 10 overthrow the
darling protective" system of the Landed Nobility,
will be very apt to demand the abrogation of other
abuses, until they enjoy share of the rights
which naturally common to all mankind.
We subjoin some Of the incidents of the passage of
the repeal bill through the Lords, which we gather
from the London correspondence of the N Y. CON-
mercial and Journal of Commerce.
The repeal bill read second time in the House
Of Lords on the morning of Friday, May 90, at a
quarter before five o'clock. The debate was commenced
by Earl Grey, who argued that the effect of the Corn
law TO enhance the price of food and the same
time to diminish the means of consumers at large to-
purchase it. He also showed that, as general rule,
when food was dear, wages were low, and rice Versa
Lord Ashburton opposed the bill, usng among other
arguments of great force, the somewhat strange
one that The effect would he injurious to the clergy by
reducing the value of their tithes Other speakers
were the Earl of Essex, the Earl of DaIhousie and
the Duke of Wellington for the bl-the Earl of Eg-
lintoun, Lord Beaumont and the Duke of Beaufort
against The speeches on the occasion were those of
Lords Stanley and Brougham. Although the protec-
tonists cried "On, Stanley ~ and Stanley thrust
manfuly forward to the charge, he has been beaten
completely out of the field Lord Brougham replied
to Staney'in mastery speech, less studded with
centrcites than any Grafton recently delivered by the
erratic but able ex-Lord Chancellor. Brougham con-
cluded his speech with the following well-deserved
l paaegyric on the premier.
"He (Sir Robert PeeD bas cast away all selfish
private and personal considerations; he has disre-
garded his interests every step and stage of
the progress of this BILL He has given up what to
Minister is of all positions most to be envied-cam
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exposed himself to the most tempestuous and troubled
sea the political world exhibited he has given
up what to an ambitious man is much-the security
of his power he has given up what to a calculating
i man is much-his influence and authority with his
party; he has given up what to an amiabe man is
much-private friendships and party connexions. All
these he has sacrificed for what he deems great pub
lie good. in these circumstances he can scorn the
sordd attacks and ribaldry with which he has been
assaed because he knows that he has entitled himself
to the gratitude of his country and left his name to
admirng posterity of the greatest ministers
who ever ruled this country"
The Duke of Wellington in the course of brief,
but most manly speech, made touching alluson to
his advanced age (seventyseven,) and to the poss-
bty of its being the last tine that he should
venture to address any advice to the house again. He
felt therefore, that il requisite for him to give
'.bem sage and wholesome counsel, and though they
murmured and laughed at the same, that impressive
language can never be forgotten. The Duke said
at was painful to him to have to force this mea-
sure upon the consideration of the House in opposi-
tion to the feelings of those with whom he had been
so long, and with such satisfaction himself united
in ties of friendship The he had taken, how
ever he would be ready to take again tomorrow if
called upon by what he conceived to be his duty TO the
Crown. His own conscience satisfied, and he
could only regret il if others did net take the same
4
reign"
He told them boldly that the Queen in favor of
free trade and that the people, uniting with her,
dered them nobodies Listen to this mighty person.
age, and let his words of fire be recorded
Separately from the Crown and the House of Com
mons, you can do nothing and if you break your
connexion with the Commons and the Crown you will
ther put an end to the functions of the House of
Lords"
This is the language which ought to have been held
long since to their Iordships. but the difficulty was to
get any one tell them so. Even the Iron Duke was
greeted with murmurs and laughter, from the monop-
olsts.
i The vote of the Lords-211 to 164-is received
with despairng bitterness by the protectionst news
! papers. For instance, the London Herald commences
a long diatrbe as follows
''The House of Lords has made second great
Il plunge 1t will have need, and it will probably
have no opportunity, to make third The majority
would do well to .'put their house in order''-we
mean the House of Lords (or few of the majority
joce in the possession Of private mansons,) for the
end is not distant The pauper peers by whose votes
the industrious classes of Englishmen TO be
ed have, it is true little nothing to lose, but they
have thrown away that little or nothing"
In the course of the same article the Herald says
\ 1.-The American Senate has set to our House of
Lords noble example of the way in which House
of Lords in this country ought to act Neither Pre-
sdent Polk, the whole rabble of loco ocos though
sanctioned in their violence by vote of an over
whelmng majority of ihe representative body, has
been able to shake the brave equanimty of these ars
tocracy of nature.
"Let us suppose that for that respectable assembly
at present under the command of ''F. nj. the Duke
Of .Wellington'-we had body disciplined, if dis