The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-06-03

The complete and radical change (says the New York
Evening PosD which has taken place in the minds OF
many OF the advocates of protective system in Eng
land of those rare instances of the quick influence
of true principles the minds of of men, which
prove the nobeness of In this case, the prn
cpes OF protection had been advocated for years They
had been regarded established truths in the conduct OF
national affairs. The Lives of many OF these men had
been prominently devoted to sustaining them.
In no individual however, does the conversion to the
principles of free trade appear TO be entire and COM
pete in Sir Robert Peel Not only did he publicly
avow these sentiments in Parliamen-not only did he
risk his political existence by their adoption but we find
him in private writing letters asserting the truth OF the
principles OF free trade and the blessings that mankind
may anticipate by their benign operation.
In one of the papers received by the last steamer,
find letter of his addressed to the most prominent advo
cate OF protection in Germany. We have annexed the
letter, not so much containing anything particularly
new, but being interesting evidence of the sincere
confidence Of its author in the truth OF his newly adopted
principles appears that DIR List, of Germany address
ed communications Lord Palmerston and Sir Robert
Peel for the purpose of procuring their concurrence in his
views in favor of protection and this letter, though
written many months since, first appears in the Ger
man papers:
''DRAYToN MANOR, August %, 1916.
SIR beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of the let
ter which you have addressed TO me- and OF the memo
randum which accompanied 1t.
81 thank you Tor this communication, and nave gwen
1t an attentive perusal.
"The sentiments which it expresses favor of the pol
icy and reciprocal advantage of an intimate union be.
tween this country and Germany, have my cordial con-
currencea concurrence complete and unqualified as is
my dissent from your views to the mode by which that
intimate union can be most eilectually promoted.
You of opinion that England ought cheerfully to
acquiesce in the maintenance OF high duties on the import
into Germany of the products of English industry, for the
purpose OF bene6tng the people of Germany Of conci
ating their good will towards Eng land and of thus en-
| hau Tho f,vnr pfrtnG
81, on the contrary, of opinion that the people OF
Germany will be benefited by reer access to the products
of English industry, in exchange for their own that the
good will to be purchased by denying that access will be
the good will of the people OF Germany but of CON-
paravey very small portion OF that people, either inter
ested in the manufactures with which English industry
would compete, or aborIng under erroneous Impressions
TO the principles which ought to govern the CONNER,
cia relations of two great countries and that we shall
be laying the best foundation for reciprocal amy and Tor
an intimate union between Great Britain and Germany
by relaxing the restraints commercial intercourse,
and BY the dmnuton and not the increase or the mane
nance, OF the present protective duties.
You observe that views in favor OF protection are at
present uppermost in the minds of the German public
that il does not matter with regard to the object of your
memoir, whether such views are true or not matters
only whether they do exist or not
II must be permitted with all due respect for your
thority to doubt the allegation that such views sup-
permost in the minds OF the people of Gemany but if
they totally dissent from your position, that 1t mat
tiers not whether such views are or are not correct
If they prevail and if they 7are not correct they
ought to be combatted by those who as statesmen con-
duct the public councils in Germany, and, let me add,
by those also who writers political economy and
the commercial policy of nations, undertake to enghten
the public mind, and to form and direct the public opin-
ion OF their fellow-countrymen
81 for one believe those views to be completely erro-
neous to be injurious TO Germany, injurious to England
and impediments to that intimate union which wish to
see established and confirmed between two powerful ma
tons whose political interests nearly identical
am bound therefore, frankly to inform you that | can
advise that acquescence in them the part OF the
ruling authorities in this country, which it is the object
of your memorandum to inculcate.
81 have the honor to be, sir,
"Your obedent servant,
"ROBERT PEEL.
stNJ I Srcp