Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-18
british Corn Laws,

British Corn Laws,
The most interesting Intelligence received by
the Great Western, is the certainty of the con-
currence of the House Of Lords in the repeal of
the Corn Laws-a measure vitality important to
the people Of Great Britain, but which will exert
much less influence upon the price of American
bread .siufs, Tin which it chiefly concerns us, than
has been generally supposed. The immediate effect
will unquestionably be rather prejudcial in that
respect to than otherwise, is apparent by the
whole tenor Of the commercial accounts. let
ter from London Of May 20, for example, after
announcing the certainty of the passage of the
Corn Law Bill, in the course of very few weeks,
adds: shut yet the corn markets for bonded flour
and grain have sustained further material de-
cline :" and this decline will doubtless be still
greater when the large stocks of grain and flour
which have accumulated in bond shall be thrown
upon the market. Whether this effect will be
permanent can only be determined certainly by
actual results. If il be true-and we incline,
from the examination we have been enabled TO
make of the facts bearing upon the question: that
il is-that Great Britain can procure her wheat
from tho European and Asiatic granaries cheaper
than from the United States, we cannot perceive
that our farmers have any direct interest in this
"great measure of commercial REFORM" which
nevertheless constitutes one Of the most popular
arguments in favor of the modification Of our
own tariff.
We have the pleasure of laying before our
readers the subjoined interesting extracts from a
letter to the Editors of the Wing, received by
the last steamer, written by an intelligent Yir-
ginian now in London. His closing suggestions
on this subject are worthy of consideration.
Extract Of letter 10 the Editors Of the Richmond Wig
"LOndon, May 2sth, ls46.
The long agony is over" Last night, rather this
morning at o'clock the bill for the repeal OF the Corn
Laws passed second reading the House of Lords
The considered test and therefore the
sure may be regarded adopted by the assembled wisdom
of the British Empire. The Queen by recommending has
already sgnihed her approval The People demanded, the
Commons sanctioned their demsnd-and tho
renee Of the Lords gives the finishing stroke The stru
gle been fierce and acrmonious-and whatever may be
the effects Of the upon the public prosperity, the
bitter feelings engendered by the strife by the rupture
old party ties and friendships, will pass away
Their effects will be felt IN Parliament and out for years
come.
For the last four nights the storm OF debate has been
tenng 10 the spoken wisdom Of the august
baee in the world" With the exception Of two or three
speeches. heard nothing that impressed with
Of the superior ability Of these Hereditary awgiven-
Lord Stanley would pass for fine speaker any where
at any time but all the sukngy defective in
and Of delivery. In this respect Lee
gsature would compare ayorably with them The speech
es as reported in the Tmes-which send you-beine
stripped Of the stammerngs, the hens and haws and
VIII he
the spoken speeches. Last nght-it being under
stood that the decisive had Arryed-the House Of
Lords crowded at carly hour. Earl Grey opened
the debate long speech which possessed very great
beauties. He followed by Lord Ashburton in long,
dull and tedious harangue which weared every body-at
least those who ssnding-o the last point Of endu
When he concluded Lord Lansdowne, plain
square built farmer looking gentleman. got the floor He
is of the respected of the Wing arstocracy but
he has OF the graces Of the Orator though his
be highly animated. When ne cuded, great rush was
made for the floor and for minutes quite rs much
tumult and confusion prevailed you would with in
the House Of Representatives at might session. This
confusion renewed each succeeding effort to get the
floor and time dignfed Lords seen shak
ing their hands f sts) another in angry and
oxced manner thought from this specimen OF deeen-
ey, the "sugust body" has but little right to eproach our
Legislative assemblies the Of dignity. The Duke
Of Wellington closed the debate brief and Ito the gal
Isries) naudibls speech.
The staple Of Of the long speeches was bitter in
vsctTc against the eSchey of Sir Robert Peel Whether
the Right Hon. Baronet merits these reprosehes not
and they hesped upon him with lavish hand-it is
certain that he has led his party the Caudino
Forks They have been given their enomies-and
many years eapse before the Tories will again be
able rally and control the government Of the county
As the motives Of Peel, difficult define them His
assnlans impute him mbiuous he
had all he could have desred-absoute sway and sub.
nssivc Psrliament-al Of which he has forfeited without
the probability OF recovery AZ to the charge Of
weakness and Of moral courage which most harped
Hpoa. there be plausbity although Lord
Brougham and others Of his has by his course
exhibited moral courage and dsntercs,edness which will
challenge the admiration Of posteh But be this as it may
to be conceded all hands his minste-
rial is drawing to close. The Duke Of Yelling
ton ia his speech, ntimaIod that dissolution Of the Cab.
met - at hand. The newspapers ali allude it, mat.
ter beyond doubt The only question Is, WAC sue
eeedi Lord Stanley and the uua-Tores have made de.
recently OF willingness TO undertake the
Government But failure would be inevtabe-s least with
che present House Of Commons-and in Of dsso-
luton, they could probably carry the elections. Lord
John Russell and the Wings are the other compottos-but
abe difficulty with them manage the House Of Lords
except by coalition with the present minst-an to that
there are many obstacles. In the first place, the Wing
Lords want all the offices themselves they could not
ooaiesce without suuenderng VI the faes, the
Pfosom neumbon,s. And ~ tho second n they we're to
roalesce there are many points u difference between
them, after che settlement OF the corr laws that they would
NOT probably bold together year And yet should not be
surprised u coalition ministry the result Of the pending
crisis.
Asto the effect Of the repeal Of tho Corn Lave upon our
country lsppreheud impossible to iOretsI II, with any
thing Ike accuracy The greatest diversity Of opinion
prevailed 10 Parliament to the effect Of repeal tbs
price Of corn here. Some who supported the BILL thought
itwoud have very little efoct-whilo opponents thought
At would reduce the price haf-but these did not think
that tho United States would furnish much corn the
continent Wodld. Lord Stanley looked TO Hungary and
ihs Eutno o. the future gana Of Engsnd Those coun-