New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-06


mer however. were ready 10 abolish certain
duties on foreign timber and sugar and to agree
to low fixed duty on foreign corn. They were
defeated on all these attempts and finally retired
in ls4l
Sir Robert Pee's Cabinet succeeded and was
formed on protection principles. He had an an
doubted majority in the Commons, almost the en-
tire Of the Lords and the whole landed arist0crtcy
at his back His first care was to devote himself
TO the study Of the commercial system OF the coan'
try and the laws by which it was regulated. The
result was a new tariff in which minute changes
Of ininitismal duties on many articles OF inferior
imr ortauce 10 the revenue Of the country were
made. The attempt was abortive and contempt
iblei but propitious harvest and improving COM
merce rescued the country from financial difficulty.
Then Unexpectedly and seemingly while the coun-
Try was without difficulty, the astounding fact
trapspired that Sir Robert Peel, adopting the ma
kim that the two interests Of every country com
mercisly speaking, consisted in buying in the
cheapest and selling in the dearest market had
determined to use bis power TO abolish the corn
laws and other restrictions on foreign commerce;
and thus second time to carry into even fuller ef
feet than they had ever intended, the very prln
ciples for the maintenance OF which he drove his
adyenaries from office. The Duke Of Wellington,
true to him in every change, triumphed with
him once more over their own pledged principles
ard the faith and confidence Of = too conddinS
party
New combinations were instantly formed and he
was denounced with the iercest intensity. Ona
TraIa and hia old nd foeG
united for the sole purpose Of bis overthrow. He
made little resistance, and though the composition
Of the majority was OF character 70 justify him
in setting it at defiance he retired; thus ending "a
long public life in foed attempt to plant sting
the more in the bosom Of that country which he
commenced bis career by insulting, goading and
expressing
Since then he seems to have abandoned all hope
Of ever again reconstructing his party or leading
any other. He saw formed, without or above
him, formidable though small phalanx, the germ
Of whose vitality and principle Of cohesion were
hatred to, and adherence Of, him. Whatever con.
sciousness Of rectitude he may have brought with
him into comparative retirement, it could scarcely
compensate him for the deep and dark estrange
ment of his personal political friends, and the con-
vction that in the minds where most cherished his
name now stood detested and accused. II sacr
fce could hsllow ransgresson, his, If such it were
might be said to change into a virtue. And so
strongly has that sacrifice Influenced the estimste
of bs position and character as TO soften the
mercifll Justice Of the sentence his country would
have otherwise pronounced. There may be sources
of Information, which time will evoke, calculated
to decide what is now painful controversy. Bat
Of one thing no further proof is needed, namely,
that the humiliation OF bis position was complete.
he made open avowal OF 1t in the speech he las.
delivered but did not apprehend would be his last.
Being accused of having engaged in a conspiracy
10 defeat the Ministry, he exclaimed 81 did not
hear nything of the resolution OF censure until |
saw it in the newspapers.' No the separation
between him and his party was sncere-death has
made it immortal
In estimating the qualities that made up the sum
of bis renown, his eloquence and statesmanship
arc .--~i- a. --hact nf controversy as his mo-
lives and bis ambition. By some both are ranked
rs OF the highest ORDER by others the sentence Of
condemnation is equally sweeping, severe, and per-
hsIs unjust They rely on these facts as to his
ustesmauship. If he were gifted with long fore
he could lot fail to discover that intolerance was
rot immortal and he would have provided for him
self platform wherein he could stand hand in
hand with some unerring aud recognised truth
where expediency made changes inevitable. And
if he did discover and refused to act on il. he was
hypocrite, whereas il he did not, be was shallow
and superficial. With respect to his eloquence,
they said that compared to the great Saxon stand
ards it is wanting in enthusiasm, in compass Of
thought in earnesness and sincerity. For these
are substituted rounded periods, high sounding
words ornate dictop, and pompous com Ion place.
Without pronouncing any definite opinion, the
present writer whohad often heard him in the same
debate, with ell the leading men Of bis time, al
WAYS felt that be aimed too much at effect. He
had higher advantages than any living elocutionist
the finest voice, a good person. perfection in the
art, and the greatest self confidence. With these
bis position guaranteed him most respectful at.
teption. In all external attributes bis oratory was
fautless; vet 60 much did he seem alive to effect
that when a remark elected loud approval he never
failed TO repeat it in more elaborate and more i'm
posing language This often led to redundancy,
which was the crying fault Of his eoquenee. The
elaborateness Of his diction, and perhaps in some
degree too, the want Of inspiration so apparent in
bisspeeches were owing to the fact that he began
nubc life in Office, and that the effort to elevate
bis style to the dignity Of official responsibility
nodded the productions Of his after life. It ap-
pears at least to me perfectly clear that on COM
pairing bis ablest efforts with those Of his great OPP
ponent, Lord John Russell, though nothing could be
more dissmiar, the latter were as far superior to
his in all the enduring elements Of oratory, as bis
were to the latter in all its external attributes
Lord John never used high sounding word, bat he
MAYOR uttered narrow maxim Of policy, or an i'm