The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-02-06
Foreign News.


since our last--the packe, ship Liberty. hing
ing dates from London to the l]ih Dec, and che
steamship Hibernia, with London dates 10 Jan.
9th. The news j. " the utmost importance. II
Is no less than the resignation OF sir Roher,
Peel and the whole tory ministry, the a,,mp'
and failure of Sir John Russell 10 form new
cabinet, aud the re.lssuU plion by Sir Robert
Peei OF the reins ot government. The causes
which led TO these strange events may be briefly
sAeiched as follows, 1t is necessary To premise
that since the ia'lure of the crops in England,
and the CONSEQUENT scarcity aud dearth Of bread.
s'uIis, The aii-coru-law feeling was rapidly on
The incre' Sc, until ii could no longer be doubted
that majority OF the English people were in Ia
'or Of total repeal OF the curn-aws. SIR Robert
Peel had no disposition to resist the popular will,
and determined at the neat meeting OF parliament,
(Which had been prorogued 10 The 10 h Cf De-
cembcr,) TO submit, the total repeal ol the corn
laws as a ministerial measure. \ series Of cabin
ct meetings on the subject took place, aud Sir
Robert had gained over to his views all his co..
leagues except three or four. with whose cu-oper-
alton, 1t is said, he might well have Dispensed.
lie had just gained the reluctant assent OF the
Duke Of " ellington, and it Vas settled TO submit
the measure To parliament early IN January. Sub
scquently, however, the Duke withdrew bis'as-
sent and joined the minority. The premier then
felt that it was not in his power to carry the
measure, and rniorme, the queen OF the difficult.
ties in which he found himself aud rendered bis
resignation. The queen expressed desire to
retain his services, but Sir Robert could suggest
no alternative, and she accepted his resignation
which was followed by that Of all the other
members of the cabinet. Lord John Russell vas
Immediately called to the queens councils, and
foil authority was given him to form new ca.
binct. Ia this attempt, however be lallel'
through disagreement among hic personal friends.
Lord Grey, IN particular, peremptorlly refused to
enter the cabinet if Lord PaImerslon was To be
secretary OF foreign affairs. Lord John Russell
IN consequence threw W his cards, and there
was no alternative but To send for Peel, who
evinced no more apparent hesitation in resuming
his office than he had in throwing 1t up. The
old cabinet were again all rcinstate d, with but
three or four unmpouaht changes. and parla-
ment was further prorogued TO the Goth of Dee.
The beauty Of the Iuncturc now is, says The
London Examiner that nobody knows what Sir
Robert Peel is going to do, though every mao is
satisfied that he is just the man To DO HoJOgy
kaors 'chGt Many rumours are a1oa,. Some
assert that the reconstruction of his cabinet it,
yoved a compromise, and that instead of total
repeal OF the coH-laws, Sur Robert is 10 propose
fixed duty Of rs. or g.. per quarter, 10 be De.
creased by shilling or two Per year until it ex.
pires. Others soy tia; b pcrmanen, duty Of IS.
per quarter is to be the new policy. But all tbs
appears to be purely oonjeciural.
The message of President Polk was received at
Liverpool on the .3l Dee. by the packet ship |
Sea, and was thence conveyed by express 10 Lon.
don in hours. 1t was looked for with much in.
tcres,, and was regarded, on the whole as pacific,
and treated in some of the leading Journals, with
much fairness. We subjoin lew Paragraphs
from the European Times, which will give some
idea VI how the messoge is regarded 10y the Brit. /.
ish press
We have given elsewhere the spirit oflhe En-. /
gIlsh press on this important document. oar
transatlantic readers Will be struck 10y the alb
sence OF all irritation IN the remarks Of the Great
organs oil opinion IN this country relative u the
message; and this reluctance To give offence
arises altogether IRON the praise worthy desire
TO heal rather than to iomsn, the cause of diff
ference between Us aud the United States respec.
ting the Oregon.-Some Of the articles we have
given are able and comprehensive Views of the
question at Issue, argued OF course with an allow.
able amount OF national feeling aud prejudice.
but presenting, on the whole, lust aud geneI.
Gus standard of reason and logic.
One cause, perhaps, why the message has
agreeably disappointed expectations here Is, the
weli-umed observations IN which ii INDUCES re-
speeding liberal turii. II the Oregon is the
bane, the proposed reduction OF the tariff is the
ia the new PRESIDENTS message 10 con.
gress. The style U! The document has elected
praise; and although Mr.. Polk has been snub.
bed by European pubcists as HnuueUtomme,
he has gwen proof IN this much criticised docu.
ment, OF the possession OF literary powers tina,
command respect, 1t they do not always force
conviction.
Upon the whole, then. if the message has no,
given all the satisfaction in England which the
friends and well-wshers Of America desire it has
It's favorable point, that Of Tree trade and the
pending triumph OF free trade principles will, in
all probability, he accompanied by satisfactory
adjustment OF that bone of conference.-the Ore.