The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-16

ENGLAND.

Ga The evening of February ~, friday tn,
Eirl nf Derby, tue new Premier, developed hi
, intended policy The 1mes gives the follow
ing summary OF the evenings session
Ia the House of Lords last night the Earl o
Derby rose TO explain the motives which had In
duced him to aecep. office, ard after paying !
, graceful tribute of admiration to the public anc
private virtues displayed by the Marquis o.
Iansdowne during his long political career, pro
; ceeded to say that though the resignation Of the
late administration had taken him completely
by surprise, he had determined not to shrink
again from the responsibility Of forming gov
eminent.
With respect to our foreign policy, the course
he meant to pursue was that which he was con
WINGED was best calculated to secure the bles-
sings Of pence, and this could be best effected
by observing toward foreign powers calm and
temperate policy by adhering to the letter to
the obligations imposed on US by treaties, and
by. respecting in the of all nations, great or
small, the right to manage their own affairs On
this head he entirely concurred with the opin-
ions expressed on recent occasion by Lord
Granville, that nations should act toward one
another with dignity and forbearance, and that
no State, any more than any private individual,
should be ashamed to make reparation for inju-
ries. With regard to our power of repelling
in more perfect state, and that the efficiency OF
our military force, considering its number and
the arduous duties it had to perform, was matter
for admiration.
| If the country were threatened with invasion,
the people of England, Ireland and Scotland
would rise as one man but though he felt no
alarm on that subject, he thought that the pre-
sent moment, while we still enjoyed the bless
ings of peace, was favorable for SO organizing
the undiscipned valor of the country that they
might resist to the greatest advantage the trained
armies Of an invader The noble lord then
passed on after warning the exiles assembled
in this country that the government would not
tolerate any attempt on their part against for
eign powers, to the commercial policy which 1t
was his intention to pursue and expressed his
approval of the principle of the American tariff,
rather than OF the free trade system adopted by
the late Sir Robert Peel. But though this was
his opinion, he thought the question could only
be satisfactorily solved by reference to the
clearly expressed opinion of the intelligent por-
ton of the community.
Being, therefore, in minority, certainly in
one, and perhaps in both Houses, on the policy
of free trade, and not wishing to interrupt for
any length of time the deliberations of the legis-
ature ut this critical period, he should throw
himself on the forbearance Of his opponents and
| tile indulgence of his friends and, contenting
I himself with humber labors, such as measures
u legal and educational reform, he should re-
fIain from entering for the present on the ques
ton of duty on corn, unless driven to depart
| from the course he had prescribed for himself
! hy factous opposition. He would also seize
/ that opportunity to state that it was not his in
tention to adopt and carry out the measure of
franchise reform proposed by Lord John Russell,
which he characterized as an indefipite plan for
unsettng everything and settling nothing, and
which began by exciting the country, and finished
| by dissatisfyng it.
He had heard indeed that this scheme of fran
chise reform was to be combined with one for
enormously improving the education of the
country, though he could not quite see the con-
nexion between the two subjects and for this
reason he begged distinctly to state that by edu-
cation he did not mean the mere requirement of
temporal knowledge, or the Development of
| the intellectual faculties, but that education
which was built on the basis of AN knowledge
| the study of the Scriptures For the promo
ton of such education, he relied with conf
dence on the enlightened exertions of the par
oc!ial clergy of the established church.
TO uphold that church in its integrity was not
only the interest, but the duty of government.
which, while it tolerated the religious faith Of
other persua,ions, was bound to extend the in.
fuence Of the church of England, and TO lend
il every assistance in diffusing through the land
the knowledge of divine truth. The noble lord
then concluded his speech by declaring that he
had undertaken the task of governing the coun-
try trusting to the blessing and guidance of
Providence, and that he should have attained
the highest object of his ambition, if he ad-
vanced in the slightest degree the objects of
peace on earth, and good will among men"
and if he contributed to the safety, honor and
welfare of our sovereign and her domnions"
Earl Grey would not attempt to enter at
length on the various topics discussed by Lord |
Derby, but he could not help entering his pro.
test against the differences drawn by the noble
earl from comparison between the American
tariff and our system of free trade He must
also express his Consideration at hearing that
tax upon the food of the country was contem-
plated by the government
After some observations from Lord Derby, |
who explained that he had distinctly said tha
the question could only be solved by the intelli.
gent portion of the community. and that it was
not the intention of the government to make
any proposition on the subject at present
Earl Grey expressed himself greatly relieved
but implored the noble earl not to keep the
country any long time in suspense on matter
concerning which it had every right to have |
early information.
Earl Fitzwilliam regretted that Lord GREY, in.
stead of taking comprehensive view of Lord |
Derbys speech, had selected one particular top
c, and that the most exciting for discussion and |
combat. He differed altogether from Lord |
Grey in the view he had taken respecting the
effect of a moderate duty in raising the price of
corn in general, and declared that he had heard
almost the whole of Lord Derby's speech with
considerable satisfaction. He was especially
glad to find that the noble earl was prepared to
resist the invasion OF constitutional rights, for if
such lights were continually attacked he believed
a large portion Of the community would come
to the opinion that it would be better to live
under mild and Tranquil despotism
The Marquis Canrcarde defended Lord GREY,
and pressed Lord Derby for an early statement
to his protectionist measures.
The Earl of Aberdeen was anxious to take
the very first opportunity which presented itself /