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Leader (1850-1860), 29th January 1859, Edition 2 of 2, Page 17

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      Lord Derby's Foreign Policy. Lord Derby ...

      Kingdom mig ht be divided by the line of the Adi ^ e the Venetian half to be conferred in sovereignty on the : Archduke Maximilian , who is married to King Leopold ' s daughter , and who is thereby closely related to Prince Albert ; while the Milanese half might be conferred on the expectant husband of the Princess Clotilde , the cousin of Loute Napoleon , arid the . kinsman of . the Russian Czar . If one asks what Austria ' compensation is to be for such a surrender of territory , Wallachia is unhesitatingly named . It is ho secret that Lords P almerston and Clarendon formally proposed to hand over the Dauubian Principalities to Austria in 1856 but France and Russia had not then come to

      an understanding with each other , and Austria her . self ^ as no t prepared to mak e the exchange . We can readily believe , however , that among pur courtier politicians gambling for office little scruple will be shown about this or any other scheme for stifling with dynastic bribes the stern voice of justice to Italy . King Leopold is an old diplomatist , and , if we are not much mistaken , he has been actively engaged for some weeks past in the development of this precious plot . He is about the only crowned head in Europe that possesses the confidence of the Courts of St . Petersburg , Berlin , Vienna , and St . James ' s . He has the strongest motives of personal

      ambition to help forward the accomplishment of the design ; and it cannot be denied that to France the line presented is a tempting one . What Russia may be disposed to say to it we know not ; what the Porte would say to the loss of its suzerainty over Roumania matters little . But in the name of all that is just and free in our own country , in Italy , and in the unfortunate Principalities thus marked out for sale into bondage , we must enter our unqualified protest against each and every part of the proceeding . We utterly deny the right of the dynasts and . diplomatists of Europe to resettle secretly among them the destinies of countries and

      of populations . If the Lombards are worn out ' with . foreign oppression and rising in ¦ ¦ revolt , call in the aid of foreign arms , they dream not in doing so of fitting oil their necks a new collar of alien domination . For the establishment of a native Government , whether Royal or Republican , theyare said tobe ready to risk their all ; for the honour of being ruled by a subordinate Prince of the French Emperor not a man of them would raise a hand . To encourage them , therefore , to resist the mailed might of Austriaj with the furtive intent of consigning them to the custody of Prince Napoleon , would be a base and blood-stained fraud ; and yet everybody knows

      that to avow the purpose we have hinted at would for the present secure to Austria the undisturbed possession of her now turbulent province . Then as to Venelja ; there is not a co-patriot of the gallant Mania who would not rather remain a little longer passive and mute under the avowed thrall of Vienna , than be a party to establishing Austrian domination more firmly in reality than ever , xiuder the guise of a distinct Archducal Administration . Putting aside all theoretic dreams about the national unity of Italy , the Venetians well know how worthless and hollow have been the promises of liberty or good government made by the Archduke . Maximilian . They know that his fair speeches during the last two years were cither made without

      suilicient authority , or that they have been repudiated without scruple on the part of his brother , and without shame on tho port of himself . And , finally , as regards Wallachia , it is ouly necessary to say that since the accursed partition of Poland no more nefarious proposition has been made by any European Cabinet than that which would hand over tho freedom-loving Roumans to the hated gaolership of such a ppwer as Austria . Parliament is about to meet . Ministers will bo closely interrogated as to their foreign policy . Let us hope , for the honour of our country , that they will bo able to disclaim hand , act , or part- in any project for tho repartition of Europe by a Congress , "without tho public and incontestable assent of the populations proposed to bo dealt with .

      No. 462, January 29,1859,] The Reaper, U...

      No . 462 , January 29 , 1859 , ] THE REAPER , U 5 _

      Mr-Or^R ^ , R ≫ Ulliath , Blow To Orangeism In Ireland.

      thing so extravagant in the whole proposition as to make us , in England , almost believe that those , who originated it must have a better knowledge of Irish character , better information as to the state of the Country , than we possessed , and that they must , therefore , have data which we do not command . The result has proved , however , that the English estimate of Ireland is more just , than that of al . still surviving Orange bigots , or those mild and well-intentioned persons born in an Orange atmosphere , who thought to do the work of beneficence with the thunderbolts of Toryism in their hands .

      Thei meeting was not given up without a struggle , but the contest has only helped to bring out the real strength that there is in Ireland , by nature arid by recent education . Before the final break-down , the gentlemen who had enrolled themselves as a committee , determined to Curtail their operations . They arrived at this resolution in a preliminary and private meeting , which was attended by one of the protesters against the plan and objects of the movement , Mr . Levinge . He appears to have belonged to the Tory party , for he completely sympathised with the position of the party represented in Dublin Castle . At this meeting , lie reminded those

      around him that these were no times to hamper the Government on the eve of an important measure of Parliamentary Reform . He pointed out that Government stood pledged to adopt measures for the improvement of land-tenure in Ireland . He took his ground as a tenant farmer , and deprecated a civil conflict , which must injure the practical interests of his class . It does not appear that he obtained much attention at the meeting , although it does appear from the sequel , that he represented the opinion which prevails amongst every class of the Irish community . Prevails , we say ,

      that is , exercises the strongest influence and rules the movement of the class , as we shall see . Mr . Levinge , therefore , proposed an amendment acknowledging and regretting the still frequent occurrence of agrarian outrage , asking Government to investigate the cause of those outrages , reminding Government of its pledge with respect to land , and suggesting such an improvement as would enable owners to improve their - tenants farmhouses and offices . But while the . meeting objected that this amendment would raise a discussion on

      many respects influential , demonstration . . If they have mustered the skeleton of a regiment ; arrayed against them would be an ariny . The project had arrived at this critical stage , when Lord Dowrishire and his coadjutors conceived the idea of appealing to the Lord Lieutenant— -for what purpose is not stated . It is not uncharitable to suppose , however , wthat the real object was to obtain such a sanction from headquarters as would overrule any wavering members of the committeeany who agreed too much with Mr . Naper of Loughcrew , and would mark the question of coercion , in order to concentrate upon , improvement the interview to

      The committee itself reports have been of a most satisfactory nature ; and the objects of the contemplated meeting having been fully obtained , it was resolved not to meet , but to substitute an address to his Excellency . It does appear that Lord Eglintoun had announced a step which may be regarded as covering the retreat of the Tory members from the position to which they had committed themselves . The Lord Chancellor has issued a commission for inquiring into the state of the magistracy , in order to a general revision of all gentlemen who are on the commission of the peace . There are many specific reasons why a great number of persons who are now on the roll should be moved , in most

      instances , from some loss of . qualification . But it is evident that the Lord-Lieutenant gave no countenance whatever to a party demonstration—gave no promise of compliance with the demand for coercion . In fact , Lord Eglintoun has manifestly agreed with those tenant farmers , those landlords , those Liberals , and those Liberal Conservatives who scouted this attempt of the _ Orange gentlemen to enter into competition with the revivers of Ribbon outrages . The endeavours , therefore , to raise the Orange standard because a few poor fools have attempted to raise the standard of old Irish agitation , has resulted in obtaining from the Castle arid the whole country an utter condemnation of the one fact as much as the other .

      tenant-right , the majority present resolved not to adopt so conciliatory a course . The meeting appears to have assumed as an inevitable result that there would be a stormy meeting— " a row , " " an Irish row , " " a regular shindy . " Still , the opposition had some effect , and others evidently joined iii it .. The particular measures of coercion were struck out of the resolutions , and the meeting fell back upou a simple declaration , that further measures of repression were needed with the proposal of improving cottage property . Meanwhile , letters had been sent out inviting cooperation , and the committee publicly report that

      they have received huudreds of letters containing expressions of approval and support , from all parts of the country . What follows , renders this statement very curious as a piece of history ; and it is still more curious that while we have no insight into the actual ' tenure of these favourable letters , all the letters which have been published are of a diametrically contrary tendency . We mentioned last week several gentlemen who had been written to , and who replied by objecting to the movement altogether , or suggesting alterations in the plan . Lord Clanriearde received such a letter ; he answered

      it , exposing tho absurd nature of the movement and the wanton insult , which it ofl ' ered to the wholo of Ireland , its Government as well as people Sovcral gentlemen notified to the committee that they should move amendments , and . when tho promoters of tho agitation , obstinate in their own original purpose , endeavoured to set aside those rcpro * scutativos of a more impartial public- feeling , as in Die case of Mr . William Lovingo , tho oxcluded party appears to havo resolved upon getting a meeting of their own—another demonstration . It was quito obvious that Lord Downshiro aud his Menus would not bo able to hold tho field of Dublin

      . DEATH - BLOW TO ORANGEISM IN IRELAND . TnE meeting whioh did not take place in Dublin on the 27 th , has beoomp one of the most important events in Iriah history , and it will horoaftor bo pointed to by tho historian , ns marking tho distiiiot boundary between a dark era and a brighter period . la the best aspoot of tho affair , it was to have been a Qooroion bill based on a publio loan for tho improvement of cottage proporty . There was some-i

      alone against tho world . If thoy could keep amendments Trom their own private room , thoy could hardl y havo dono so from a publio mooting . ' But even if thoy could , they could not dofond themselves against a a rival meeting which would have been in it » olf a huge amendment , crushing their own original motion ; for if thqv had boon able to collect any , respectable show oi supporters , which had beebmo moro than doubtful , the opposite party would have made a far more multitudinous , and in

      Code Of Bankruptcy. Tne Opinion That Lor...

      CODE OF BANKRUPTCY . TnE opinion that Lord Brougham ' s code of Bankruptcy passed with a great flourish of trumpets when he was on the woolsack ; is a complete failure , is uow common to , lawyers and merchants ., but these classes differ as to the mode of improving it . They agree in recommending the most simple-proceedings possible , and in scouting the complication not long ago suggested , but now given up b y the present Chancellor . In considering this subject we must not , with the lawyers , dwell with extreme unction oil one or two cases of fraud , and conclude that the mercantile classes always aim at concealing some scampisluiess by private compromises and secret

      windings up . of bankrupt concerns . Nor must we , with the mercantile classes , single out exclusively for qomment the delay and the expense of law , and assume that lawyers have nothing in view in promoting a reform of the bankruptcy code , but to make a good job for the profession . We must look at principles rather than details , and remembering the bias of each party , must frame a law neither to conceal possible roguery nor provide emoluments for a class . Bankruptcy laws and bankruptcy lawyers exist only to serve the mercantile classes , and we ought not to ask . ourselves , like the French Chancellor , what is to become of the profession , if we could so reform the law as to settle all bankruptcy matters without its aid P

      All persons are now to a certain extent traders , aud speculation , is so much interwoven in private concerns aud personal expenses so often help morcautilo insolvency , that tho distinction between cxtravagauoe ana unavoidable misfortuno , the old reason for establishing a code of insolvency and a code of bankruptcy has praotically disappeared . It is accordingly proposed , aud wo think justly , ta establish one code and oue mode of procedure for nil insolvency , which will bo ono step towards simplifying the wholo business . It will recognise a common nriuoinlo of honesty for nil , and will equally

      enforce on all tho duty of punctually luUilung peouniary obligations . 'Whether small estates of less than 200 / . should bo administered in Portugal-street , and largo onos of a value above that sum in Basiughallstrcofc , is a question of detail that must bo settled ou very diftoront principles from those of mere eohvcmottbo in reference to existing professional habits aifd buildings . Tho groat principle on which all aro agroed is that a man hopelessly unable to pay his way should give up all his property to lua

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 29, 1859, page 17, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_29011859/page/17/