The New York herald., 1846-03-20
aK, FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 20, Is


we give below the brilliant speech of Sir Robert
Peel In favor of his new financial measures. He
spoke nearly three hours, but all the points will be
found preserved in our condensation. During the
twelve nights debate, there were l0S speakers, 4S
Nearly all the talent Of the house in favor ofthe
tree trade party, and foremost amongst the speakers
on that side were Lord John Russell, Sir James
Graham, Lord Morpeth, Mr.. Golden, Mr.. Bright,
MIR. Sydney Herbert. The most effective speaker
on the other side was Mr.. Disrae
Sir ROBERT PERL rose and said, two matters had
occupied the attention Of the House one, the man.
the measures by which the contingency Of great
public calamity should Be mitgatsd and the princ-
pies by which the commercial policy of great en-
pire should for the future be governed. On the first
point the greatest part Of the debate had turned he
did not undervalue its importance but surely was
subordlnats to the second. On the party question
once that the measures he had brought forward were
the very worst measures for party interest that could
have been brought forward by him. He considered
u unfortunate that the conduct OF the measure in 90
lar as the corn-aws were concerned, should have
fallen into his hands but that which prevented its
commual to other hands was the firm conviction
under which Ministers labored that part OF this
empire was threatened with great calamity He
there is impending over the country and that there
will come at no remote period, calamity that they
would all deplore. When he was compelled to aban-
don the hope OF averting the threatened DANGER and
of bringing the question 10 settlement, he took the
earliest opportunity he consistently could of tender
ing his resignation to the Queen ~ offered no
opinion as TO the choice Of successor. That 10 al
most the only act which is the personal act of the
Sovereign 1t Is for the Sovereign to determine in
whom her confidence ought to be placed 1t was my
duty to ascertain in consequence of the request Of
the Queen, whether those OF my colleagues who had
dissented from me were either themselves prepared
to form government, or to advise her Majesty, if
they themselves were not prepared, to submit to
other hands the formation Of government-mean.
n Ver fav tOt tho
maintenance OF the existing corn. law" Those who
differed from Sir Robert IN the views he entertain
ed did not think it advisable form government;
and her Majesty determined to call upon Lord John
Russell to undertake the task. "My firm belief
was, that the noble Lord woul have been enabled
to undertake that duty my firm persuasion was
flrm persuasion was, that he would have succeeded
II ne had undertaken It. must say, the noble Lord
did dlsaPpolnt me when he did not at once unoer-
take the formation of government on the principle
ties with which any man would have to contend
who undertook the conduct of the government. ]
knew there must be great disocation of parties. l
thought It unfair and dishonorable under the impress
sion that the noble Lord would be the Minister, not
to take these steps which thought would diminish
his embarrassments." In the former explanation OF
the Ministerial changes Lord John Russell had read
one letter, and stated that there other letters
OF which ne had no copies since OF these let
ters had been referred to as Of primary Importance
Sir Robert felt his duty to read that also On the
|
Office and after hearing that Lord John Russell was
tobe his successor he wrote, in bis privat capacl
". the following COMMUNICATION to the Queen:-
WHITEHALL, Dec. 8, 1915.
your Majesty; and, influenced by no other motive
than the desire to contribute, If possible to the
lief OF your Majesty from embarrassment, and to
the protection OF the public I'M erests from injury
communication explanatory of Sir Robert Pee's
position and Intentions with regard the great ques
tlon which 10 now agating the public mind.
"Your Msjesty can, If you think fit, make this
communication known to the Minister who, AZ sue
cessor to Sir Robert Peel, may be honored by your
Msjesty's confidence.
advised his colleagues, account OF the alarming
accounts from Ireland, and many districts In this
country to the failure of the potato crop from dis
ease, and for the purpose Of guarding against con-
| babie, humbly to recommend to your Majesty that
the duties on the import OF foreign grain should be
suspended for a limited period, either by order in
council or by Legislative enactment; Parliament in
either case being summoned without delay.
'Slr Robert Peel foresaw that this suspension,
fully justified by the tenor Of the report which
he has referred, would compel, during the inter
val OF suspension, the reconsideration Of the Corn
laws:
'sIf the opinions of his colleagues had then been
In concurrence with his own, he was fully prepared
to take the responsibility Of suspension; and Of the
necessary consequence Of suspensIon-a compre-
hensive review OF the laws imposing restrictions
on the import OF foreign grain and other artcIes Of
food, with view to their gradual dlminution and
''Sir Robert Peel is prepared to support, in pri-
vate capacity, measures which may be in general
conformity with those which he advised as a Mi
MISTER.
"Itworld be unbecomng in Sir Robert Peel to
make any reference to the deiails of such mea-
ures.
SIR Robert Peel that 1t is your intention to propose
to Lord John Russell to undertake the formation OF
1.-THE principle on which Sir Robert Peel was
prepared to recommend the reconsideration Of the
laws affecting OF the main articles OF food,
was In general accordance with that referred to in
the concluding paragraph Of Lord John Russeps
letter to the electors OF the city OF London.
"Slr Robert Peel wished to accompany the remo-
val Of restriction the admission OF such articles
with reief to the land from such charges
duly onerous and with such other provisions as in
the tefms OF Lord John Russell's letter, caution
and even scrupu0us forbcarance may suggest
~ "Slr Robert Peel will support measures found
ed on that general principle, and will exercise any
influence ne may possess to promote their success"
Anticipating that difficulty might be felt by
Lord John Russell en- being called upon to under.
take Office when an increased expenditure would be
required, thus exposing his financial position to an
uniavorable contrast with that Of his predecessor,
Sir Robert added the following assurance
"Sir Robert Peel feels it to be his duty to add,
that, should your Msjesty's future advisers, after
consideration OF the heavy demands made upon the
army oil the country tor colonial service, OF our re-
ations with the United States, and OF the bearing
which steam navigation may have upon maYatime
warfare and the defence OF the country deem il ad-
vlsable to propose addition to the army and in
Peel will support the proposals. will do Ill that he can
to prevent it from being considered indicative OF
hostile or altered feelings towards France; and will
assume for the increase in question any degree of
responsibility, present or prospective, which can
fairly attach 10 him."
"Now," continued Sir Robert, "when il is
charged on me that am robbing others Of the ere.
dit which s justly due to them, hope tnat the ex-
planation which have now given, OF the course |
pursued when was acting under the firmest per.
suasion that the adjustment Of this question would
be committed to others, may tend to prove that
was not aesrous Of 1ooolng DINERS oi ane credit OF
their course" (Much cheering) Other commu-
nications had passed during the ministerial negoti