Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-07-15
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCER
FROM OUR EUROPEAN coRREsPoMDENr

FROM OUR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT
49, sR LONDON JUNE %, lS4s.
The British Parliament has now before it, and
course of debate at least three subjects Of parar
mount importance and upon which decisive action must
10 taken These the navigation laws, the West India
ief bill, and Mr. Hume's motion for Parliamentary reform
Although the bill to repeal the navigation laws passed into
committee by overwhelming majority its fate is very
tain not in the Commons for, although il will be fought
nch by inch in its progress through that body will probably
carried uiumphany. But it win have 70 pass its fiery
ordeal in the Lords where there very likely at this moment
lis majority determined vote against il, long cores
pondence between Mr. PoaTER Of the Board Of Trade and
Lord George BrxrrscH, has been published in which the
former the latter great unfainess in bis representa-
pn Of some returns made BY the former in his official capa
|cy to Parliament in relation the operation and effect Of
The navigation laws Mr.. PoRrER clearly proves that his
lordshp reckless in his application Of other peoples sta
cs be careless in respect to the correctness Of his owh
The erpose Of the whole matter will have important bear
ing upon the question: with all those who are not determined
either by prejudice imagined sefnerest to close their ears
against all argument and all facts No doubt yon and your
readers least quite well acquainted with the subject
Fin all its bearings am and therefore will not further
dlste upon it. As Ito the question of West India protection
and relief the debate the House Of Commons grows hotter
colonies could stand by themselves after the relief which they
now ask for was granted them, there might be policy
and justice extending towards lhem But this is not the
case The four millions sterling asked for annually for
six years and the relief prayed for would be very little
less would the end Of the six years. leave the sugar
growers of the British West India islands off than they
are present They would then be less able compete
with the foreign sugargrower than they Expert
has shown that long sugargrowers are pro-
teced, they will believe that protection be with
drawn and will not make any exeron to enable them to get
on without it.. Lord JoHN RussELLs plan Of compromising
the question: by uspendg the declining scale at the present
aae years longer not avoaby received by either
the proleconists freeaders judged inefficient by the
former, and by the latter it is called empirical amperng
with the ee-trade policy, and departure from system OF
liberal commercial dealing The difficulty of the question
certainly renders it extremely unlikely that Great Britain
WILL the present moment add to the inrcaces of her
colonial affairs by attempting to add Cuba her posses
sions, in revenge for Spains treatment Of Sir H. BuL-
wER This would be Furnishing herself with vengeance
Depend upon it, the whole of her West India possessions
could up for themselves, and support themselves
dependent republic or monarchy, independent any
thing she would gladly bid them God speed and help them
their way. She might be glad Cuba independent
of Span but she does her appendageto her
dominion. Your politicians need trouble their heads
load their speeches with arguments upon the desire of Great
Britain for OF territory, either in Cuba the
Spanish Main and, TO the oyerweening ambition and
grasp after power which England is sometimes charged with,
certain parties who occasionally make the charge your Con-
gess might find quite applicable subject for their remarks
little bone But would be good policy TO abandon
all subjects of elimination and ecrmnaton between the two
nations neither perfect neither always follows perfectly
liberal enlightened policy, probably 10th be
raj and enlightened in their Than any other nations
in existence. Their consists in the cuva
ton Of every friendly relation and the continuation Of their
friendship apparently secured by the fact that there is
any essentially necessary point of rivalry opposition of in
teress which arise between them, if each and both be
determined to abide by the dictates Of sound policy and the
decisions Of national honor and justice.
Now, TO the question OF Parliamentary REFORM
just now IN media res Mr. HumT brought forward his mo-
ton Tuesday last (20th instant and advocated bouse
hold suffrage by ballot tiennal Parlaments and
equal appoionmen of representation. His speech full
of interesting and important statistical Details and have
been the result Of great industry and abo things which the
honorable member is by means stranger but he did not
urge any thing favor Of REFORM unless the ex
treme and peculiar popiey Of Of the kind be-
ing undertaken the present moment when the people Of
England the other nations Of Europe obtaining many
and such large extensions OF their political rights The
patience Of the people, said he, becoming exhausted by
repeated delays and jenas The necessity for reform
to have been adued by the opponents of Mr. Hume
notion Mr. HKsRr DRuNnoSp, member for Perthshirc,
said "Reonn subject which they should all have to
discuss at their next elections, il subject which he
who would not argue bigot, and he who could
was fool" Lord JoHs RussELL complained Of hav ing
been mispesented having sad in bis speech,
that the people wished for REFORM The words he use
be said, "My belief is that the middle and working
classes desire that there should be gradual progress Of
form, that this House should give it's attention to the ques
tons before T. and that peace and tranquility depend
their interests Lord JoHs said that he did not believe
majority Of the people in favor Of the charter" Of
90 Mr. Humes pisn," but Mat they desired gradual pro-
'gess 10 reform and using that term he excluded no
'sPeces Of reform, neither parliamentary nor fiscal any
other kind Of reform which it might be useful to adopt"
His ordshp earnestly deprecated "the going into vague
and indefinite proposals Of reform the present moment
when il was necessary continue exhibit the object VI
admiration to the world which England was then exhibit
ing "The stability you have shown said Lord JoHs
n the storms amid which kingdoms and nations have been
overhrown, has only excited the sdmng as,onishmen
Of oil who desire the preservation Of tranquility but has
brought you the respect Of those whose respect is an OBJ
.ject Of ambition to enjoy"
Lord JouSs speech excellent od capianda speech
TO the house, but certainly will prove the people
The old plea is brought forward ha, the present not the
g. porb. "A