The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-20

thies OF all classes-i0r those VINO have thriyen
well as those who have suffered by the previous
policy.
This course Of action describes in a few words,
tho secret and the success Of Sir Robert Pses min.
iSoral career IL has been alleged against him that
he never antcipates--always bgs behind public
opinion. IL is true, he Is essentially practical
man. and never leopard success by experiment
tai triekery, The body polIue' IKE our physical
frame was formed for sObleT uses. TIE dissection
Of dead body, for the purpose of scientific re,
search is all very we'll in its wayj but the living,
sensitive flesh shnnks with horror from the ap.
plicalion Of the knife in the hands Of bold and
ruthless auaekery. The characteristic features OF
the English mind are reflected in the career of the
plebeian premier He has tact, judgment, and a
thorough appreciation of character Once in action,
his indomtable energy braves all dangers, bears
down all opposition. Keen, cautious, searching,
and self-relyng, the minister who now sways the
destnes of England would in private capacity,
had he been born 10 it-say a. merchant or a
manufacturer--haye speedily attained greatness
amongst the merchant princes OF his day. but, play
ing an infinitely more important part on the great
stage Of lfe with nation for his audiences, he ellie
its Overwhelming plaudits from the spectators; all
are elaied at his mastery performance, save a few
purturbed spirits in the dress boxes--a handful Of
dukes, lordlings, and BOBBY squires TO whom the
humanirng influence of the denouement is most
unpalatable.
But these preliminary remarks are keeping US
from the object at which we desire TO arriye-to
point out TO our readeTs the most striking features
in the plan for the fiscal regeneration OF the country,
which Sir Robert Peel, in four hours speech, in
uoduced TO the House Of Commons on the 9th
instant In that speech he took an elaborate re-
view of the fiscal condition Of the country, and an
nouneed the reduction Of duty on number Of ar
ueles which press upon the commercial and agu-
cultural interests. He Impressed upon the manu-
faeiurers the necessity OF preparing for the advent
Of free trade, by giving up whatever limited amount
Of protection they now enjoy from foreign compe-
ttion in the shape Of prohibitory duties; and the
duties so imposed he announced his intention of re-
ducing to a nominal amount But this appeal to
the manufacturers is useless; they have long since
publicly repudaled the benefits Of all protecting du.
es have declared thai they seek for no aid beyond
free scope for the exercise OF their talents IN the
open markets Of the world and have often said in
substance to the agrieuturist "do thou likewise. "
The timber duties are to undergo revision but into
the details Of the change he dad not enter reservlns
Il for another day.
For the reductions on talow, on paper-hangings,
soap and candles, on boots and shoes on foreign
spirits, clover and other seeds, on provisions,
fresh and salted) on vegetables, foreign made
carriages, we must refer TO our ample report Of the
speech ITSELF in another column. We can do lit
tie more than indicate in this place, euTTtnts
eaiano, the primary heads of the scheme. Su-
gar-that great article Of colonial produce, which,
next TO the cornlawS, has been most ylrulently as
sailed on account Of the tenacity to which the min.
lister has chung in screening il from competitions
still be more less protected Slave-grown sugar
he still regarded Rbomlnalon; but the duty on
foreign free-labor sugar il 10 be reduced 3s Cd per
cwt. The corn-aws he proposes to abolish totally
and Internationally on the first Of February, l6i9;
and in the mean time modified sliding Is to be
substituted for the at present in existence. For
instance, when the price Of corn is under 3Ss, the
duty will be los; when above 3Ss and under 40s.,
o., and on, the duty declining Is, with rise in
the price Of Is, until the price reaches S3s, when
permanent duty OF 4s is to take place. In order to
proptate the landlord class, sums Of money are to
be advanced by government for the improvement Of
agriculture. The law OF settlement is to be altered
so that after servtude or residence Of FIVE years in
a manufacturing district, the peasant who has left
the plough for the factory must receive parochal
aid il he requires it, from the place Of his adoption,
not the place Of his natiyity-the with regard
to his children and his widow. Moreover, the high
way rates are TO be remodeed on plan which Is
to tug at the agricultural purse; and various
other charges hitherto paid out ofthe county rates
such the expenses Of convicted prisoners Of pros
ecutions at sessions, the education Of work house
children, &c.-are TO be paid in future by the
state.
In a word, the new scheme is as near an mp
Proclamation to the principles OF free trade, be
safely consistent with the policy Of country which
has its credit TO support and the interest Of
whelming national debt to pay. Sir Robert Peel
has acknowledged the principle that duties ought to
be levied for revenue, and not for protection, and
his future policy il is cIelr, will se directed to that
end. But 1t would be too much to assume that he
can carry out the new course OF action which he
has entered without struggle, and despe-
rate struggle too, with the powerful interests
which believe themselves to be jeoparded. The
proections,s are boiling with fury, and the Ian
guage recently held in the House of Lords by the
Dukes of Richmond and buckingham, indicate the
fierce passions which sway the breasts Of British
landlords towards the most elear-headed, practical
statesman of his age.
Agriculture, they say, cannot exist without pro-
lection; but Peel says it must exist without it at the
end of three years. He has pi,ted against him the
arstocracyat least the nsovent portion of it, who
live from hand to mouth by their rents, and cannot
submit to any dminution, however slight, even
with permanent profit in prospective. This is not
slight or contemptible opposition, but worse re-
mains behind. The ultra free traders insist upon
the the repeal of the corn.laws being immediate.
They treat with scorn the three years grace to the
landlords, and maintain that justice can only be
propated by instant concession. They talk
about the pluader Of the past as amongst the rea.
sons why they cannot tolerate robbery for the flu
ture.
Thus arrayed, the hostile forces face each other
with scowling front, and in the centre stands Peel,
looking gravey on preserving placid dignity in
the midst Of the onslaught from either party. In
the House of Commons he is omnipotent, and how
furiously the war may rage out of DOORS it is
believed that he will be enabled to carry his tariff by
majority Of eighty-certainly by more than fifty.
When matters come to crisis and the frce.traders
in the popular branch of the legislature have to de-
eide between sacrificing Peel and his plans, they
will become, it is believed, less crotchcty and more
practical.
PROFESSIONALLY the present advanced position Of
the freetrade principle is the result of their energy
and enterprise They have encountered great drudg-
cry, spent enormous sums in, as they term it, edu-
eating the national mind; and now that they have
advanced to the gates Of monopoly--now that their
former antagonist is on his knees repeating the ORR
sons he has learned from them--they may be par
doned, perhaps, for the indulgence of the vanity that
waits upon success. But after all, disguise 1t as
they may, Peel is their man---and they know it,
Public opinion is with him; he is the minister of the
commercial world, the favorie Of the capitalists and
supported moreover by tho middle classes. He
Yields a moral power which the peers dare not
brave.
Dismiss Peel; repudate his measures; and who
is to succeed him1 Lord John Russell Would
free-traders advance or retrogrsde in his keeping
powerleaa mo pat he moi hurde ed