The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-05-03

/ Foreign CorresPondenee efths Herald.
| Paris, April 8, 1875.
Oyegon-Corw Law-Cosrcion BM-Danger Of tie
| Peel Cabinet-Mxs and 1heatricals.
Extraordinary and even incredible as it may
seem to your readers, Isl nevertheless, true, that
neither the Oregon nor any other international
question affecting the relations of Great Britain
and the United States, engrosses at this moment
any considerable share Of attention in England, or
any other part Europe. We live in strange times,
and although the greater part of the civilsed world
is IN state Of profound peace yet interests so
momentous are ut this moment staked on political
and administrative measures, and the roar of the
cannon resounding from the opposite hemisphere
is so portentous, that vast may be those consc-
quences of the Washington negotiations, which
are concealed in the womb of time, they are utter
ly disregardcd, had almost said forgotten The
commercial revolution now in progress at the
other side of the Channel, the outline OF which
ioreshadowed to you in my correspondence of
last autumn, continues to engage all minds. If
the attention which it has commanded in Franco
be not universal rs in England, it is equally inn
posing, if not more so, when the order of minds
which are brought to bear on it is considered
The actual head OF the Cabinet the Tuillerics has
never ceased to regard the debates of the British
Parliament on this measure, with profound and in
telligcnt attention. Recently, M. Guizo has broken
silence on this important subject, and it has be-
come abundantly apparent to all who regard po-
litica affairs with attention. that the spirit of COM
mcrcial freedom will not limit its beneficial infiu-
ence to Great Britain, but will be rapidly dffused
to all parts OF the globe where liberal institutions
prevail, France, after England, taking the lead.
The announcement which venturcd to make
in my last of the approaching annexation of the
PunJaub to British India, was premature. Well
aware that the dispersion and rout of the Sikh ar
my was at hand, and that this section of India
must be placed Mt the mercy of the British author
,,es,i inferred, as now appears, rather harshly,
tllat us annexation must follow ms a matter of
course. England, however, has learned that an
nexation OF territory is not ALWAYS synonymous
with augmentation ofpower. The Governor Gen.
eral aims at interposng between the British terri
tory and those neghbors whose hostility may be
troublesome, the cushion of a friendly and depend
cnt power which must intercept and break the
shock OF any occasional collision On this princi-
pie, if it be possible to constitute any native GO
vernment in the Punjaub sufficiently strong to
maintain itself in internal peace, its establishment
will be encouraged, and its power strengthened
by the Ango-lndan forces. The present aspect
OF things, however, renders it very doubtful
whether such government can be constituted in
the Punjaub, and the great probability is that no
very long period will roll away before this terrific
~ VIII Dc luSeu mo Tie general mass Oh BRUSH.
India The same game has now been so often
played, and invariably with the same result, that
the ultimate issue cannot be very doubtful. 1t
viii be q question of time only. Be this it may,
the brilliant victories of the Anglo-Indian army
have dazzlcd the public and cxtorted the admir;-
ton OF every part OF Europe.
Troubles gather round the Peel ministry. At
the commencement of the session, when the Pre-
mier introduced his bill for the abolition of the
corn laws, and the establishment of free trade the
conservative party was split. One-third of it at
tacmng itseli to Peel, was joined by the wing
party and the free-traders and thus formed work.
ing majority of the House. The remaining two
thirds, with the addition of some eccentric wings
and individual nondescripts, formed an opposition
formidable by its numbers and conference, but
still more by ITS indomitable pluck, and a ris To-
qMendi that nothing could quel. Never did an OPP
position SO thoroughly understand and so unfiinch-
ingy practice the manGuvrc of talking against
time. by nftexible perseverance in these tactics,
they have managed TO spin out the debates on the
first and second readings Of the corn BILL from the
opening of the session in January to this first
week OF April, aperiod Of little less than three
months. Meanwhile, the Irish coercion bill having
passed the House of Lords, has made its omnous
appearance in the Commons, and ministers have
Judged II proper to propose its first reading with
out waiting for the final passing of the corn BILL
This has been great blunder in parliamentary
tactics The Irish party, determined to resist the
measure to the death, and obstruct it in every
shape, has raised a debate on the first reading, a
step which in ordinary cases is allowed to take
place pro famd and in silence, the discussion be-
ing always reserved for the second reading. The
indirectl consequence of this is to- throw over the
corn bill till after the Easter recess.
The division OF parties has, on this measure
assumed a new arrangement. The proposition
to cocrce Ireland, has restored to the nniste-
ralists the section Of the conservative party
which the corn bill had estrunged from them
while the great body of the liberals some adverse
to the coercivc measure, and others irritatcd at
the unnecessary delay of the corn bill, have
turned against them. In short, this state of un-
nrt,ttv ItnRd as
sensible manner the funds, and has even created
some uneasiness respecting the great measure of
free trade.
Delay is at present the object OF the protec-
tonists. Time, they hope, may show that famine
IN Ireland, is not so imminent as it has been rep
resented to be-and if that can be rendered APP
parent, they look forward to the possibility Of
sstramging free trade in the House Of Lords.
Well informed persons now expect a majority of
about twenty-five in favor of the cabinet measure
i'll that house; but TO secure this proxies ntis-
Pcnsablc.. Now there are certain stages Of the
bill in which proxies are inadmissbe, and in
these the murder of the measure is contemplated.
Do not, however, imagine that these manGuvres
can affect the ultimate fate of the measure; pub
lie opinion in England is too strong and too pro-
nounced for that They may, however, produce
delay. and temporary mutilation. A dissolution
may become necessary, and even a re-orgnniza-
ton Of the cabinet is not improbable.
All these are the questions which at present en-
gross the public mind, and withdraw all attention
from thcIOregon dispute. Some Civilizations, with
implied reference to Washington, broke forth,
however, on the publication Of the news of the
Indian victories. This" said certain organs,
"will be lesson to other parts of the world,
where the power of British arms may soon be i'm
voked, of the terrible consequences Of dcfying or
despisng them" There is no mistaking the
81 part Of the world" for which the lesson has
been intended An army Of $1,000 Americans,
it is insinuated would be as easily and effecually
dispersed and annihilated in the Western, AS the
like number of Sikhs have been in the Eastern
Continent.
A sad and humiliating spectacle of the debased
hommes de leffres has boon recently exhibited, in
a prosecution for murder in duel, which took
place before the Court of Assizes at Rouen. This
section Of the community is that which exercises