The GLIO Site

The report of the banquet at Petersfield, which appears in an adjoining column, is of more than mere local importance, from the fact of the declaration by Sir WILLIAM JOLLIFFE that till the agricultural members can get something like a pledge from Sir ROBERT PEEL that time should be given for making a fair trial of the tariff, his power must diminish! We agree with one of the speakers, Mr. COOKE, that so far from talking in a manner which would imply a lukewarm support, or desire for diminishing the power of Sir ROBERT PEEL, the agricultural members should at this period especially be united and firm like the bundle of sticks in the fable, and they would then form a band not to be conquered, but ALWAYS CONQUERING. Sir WILLIAM says in the early part of his speech that there had lately sprung up, as they were all aware, a society whose measures were fraught with injury to the agricultural interests, and whose constant and untiring energies were put forth for the total ruin and subversion of that important branch of national industry. He was happy to say "there were no symptoms in the government, or in the highest person in the room, of any approval of the measures adopted by the society, but quite the contrary! And is this a time, then, to talk of withholding support from the Minister? at the very period when he requires the most powerful demonstrations of hearty, undivided, and unflinching support from the agriculturists. Were such expressions as those Sir WILLIAM JOLLIFFE has given utterance to propounded by many other members, great indeed would be the rejoicing of the League! What care they about wire-drawn distinctions as to the measure of support to be afforded or withheld—the Duke's maxim is that of all real statesman—he that is not FOR me is AGAINST me! And the Cobdens are wise enough in their generation not to throw into the teeth of the minister, his lukewarm friends as real enemies. "But," says Sir WILLIAM, "I voted for the Tariff as a permanent measure!" And who says the Tariff is not permanent, or that it is not even a "final measure?" Not Sir ROBERT PEEL. Mr. COBDEN says it shall not be final, but then he must hope to extort from the minister that which, while supported by the agriculturists, Sir WILLIAM says neither the Government nor the Queen approve. After all, where has resulted any, even the least possible harm to the agriculturist, from the tariff? There was a panic—a terror lest the beeves from Corunna and Hamburgh should supersede our Devons and Herefords—but that the time has gone by—it has been discovered that all the foreign beef received under the tariff would not furnish one hearty dinner for the population of the South of England—and as for the other prophesied luxuries from the Steppes of Russia, the Pampas of South America, or the Backwoods of the States, as we have not yet tasted them, we very much doubt their becoming more plentiful than Spanish bullocks—not one of which can be picked up at any price. But it is idle to pursue the subject. Sir ROBERT PEEL is not so Quixotic as to serve people in spite of themselves. If to weaken his power be to produce any effect at all, it is to damage the Conservative ministry, and to destroy protection. Is that wished for? Not even by the sour Radicals themselves, as a body. In a fortnight's time there will be a meeting held at Fareham—in a shorter period one at Winchester—for taking similar measures to those now extensively adopting in the country for opposing the anti-Corn Law League—and a number of Liberals in many places are to be found as requisitionists for holding such meetings. And are Conservatives to stultify themselves and revoke their own principles from some pique as to what may happen! What right has any section of a body to demand a bargain or pledge in the name of the whole? But we labor the point. We feel sure that on reflection Sir WILLIAM will be the last to yield only that luke-warm support to a Minister, upon his wisdom, firmness, and decision depends the safety or the destruction of the STAPLE INTEREST of the country.

     The suggestion of the honourable baronet to petition is a most valuable one; it is one that ought to be universally adopted. At every agricultural meeting now about to take place, the resolution should be to PETITION—PETITION—PETITION!