Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 370, August 1846Various
History
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 370, August 1846
Various
England -- Periodicals; Scotland -- Periodicals
In such a state of things, it is quite natural that each particular
interest should be desirous to shift the burden from itself. This may not
be right nor proper, but it is natural; and the desire is greatly fostered
by the frequent changes which have of late been made in the financial
department, and by the alteration and adjustment of duties. The attack of
the League upon the agriculturists is a specimen of this, though upon the
largest scale; and the Whigs were quite ready to have lent it their
support, without any further consideration. That they were really and
sincerely converts to the new doctrine, we do not believe--but, if so, it
is little creditable to their understanding. The repeal of the corn-laws,
as a solitary and isolated measure, is, we maintain, an act of gross
injustice and impolicy--as part of a great financial reform, or rather
remodelment of our whole system, it may bear a different character. The
Whigs, however, in adopting it, gave no promise of an altered system. The
creed and articles of the League were ready made, and sufficient for them,
nor did they think it necessary to enlarge the sphere of their financial
relief; and so, towards the end of last year, they presented themselves in
the quality of aspirants for office.
It is to us matter of great and lasting regret, that this move was not met
by Sir Robert Peel and his cabinet with a front of determined resistance.
Whatever may be the opinions of the late premier, of Lords Aberdeen and
Lincoln, or any other members of that cabinet, on the abstract advantages
of free-trade, we still hold that they were bound, in justice to the great
body of gentlemen whose suffrages in the House of Commons had carried them
into power, to have pursued a very different course. It is in vain for
them to take shelter under their privileges or their duties as ministers
of the crown. Their official dignity by no means relieved them from the
pledges, direct or implied, in virtue of which alone they were elevated to
that position. The understanding of the country at large was broad and
clear upon the point, that the agricultural interest should not suffer
from the acts of the late administration; and it was their duty, as well
as their true interest, to have kept that confidence inviolate.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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