COUNT CAVOUR ON SIR R. PEEL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VIII, Issue 521, 31 October 1857, Page 4

COUNT CAVOUR ON SIR R. PEEL.

In the sitting of the Sardinian Senate of the 26th May, Count Cavour made some very just observations respecting the policy of the late Sir Robert Peel. The policy of England having bepn quoted as an example for the gra3ual introduction of free trade measures, Count Count Cavour said,—

"" Before concluding, I must reply to an observation made yesterday by M.M. Sclopis and Gallina. They quoted the example of England and the authority of Sir R. Peel. M. Sclopis expressed his astonishment that I had not followed the example of the illustrious statesman of whom I have often spoken with great respect, when I declared that I entertained the .Highest opinion of English institutions, of the example given to us by" English people in political and economical reform. In fact, I more than-once mentioned Sir Robert Peel as one of the greatest and most illustrious reformers 6f our eentuiy. I have no wish to retract the principles T have often professed before you; but,- while "I consider it advisable for statesmen of every country, especially for the statesmen of Piedmont, to study the institutions of England, it is because' I think they will learn much to profit by and also to avoid many errors committed by Englishmen. England was the first to advance in the path of economical reforms, and for that very reason she was obliged to advance cautiously. ""But, gentlemen, when the reform was accomplished do you think that those who opposed it declared that it was well to have advanced cautiously? No, gentlemen ; and Sir. Robert Peel himself when he said free trade had calmed the crisis of 1847, expressed his l'egret that he had not the courage to propose it twenty years earlier to prevent the crisis of 1824. 1 therefore,think that it would be a folly not only to follow the example of England in the reforms realised, but also in'theMnanner of accomplishing-.them. 'Let us learn by the experience of others; let us be warned'bythe errors -of other nations not to commit similar «rrors ourselves, and "when we behold those nations who have attained great prosperity. proclaim certain principles in an absolute manner, let us adopt them, and apply them to as full an extent as it is "in our power to do. Many of the reforms which -we have boldly adopted were only accomplished gradually in England. The Corn Law Bill only passed after a struggle of twent3'-five or thirty, years. The straggle commenced in 1816, ana-lasted till 1846, when Sir Robert Peel caused the bill -to pass. And here, while following in the steps of England, we have yet adopted free trade at once; we have «yen gone a-head of Eugland, for she main- i ■tains still a duty—slight, it is true—while we j liave abolished it altogether. And now I must reply to the quotation of Sir Robert Peel as an ■authority. I repeat it, I entertain the highest. admh'ation for that statesman ; I believe that i few men have rendered greater services to mankind than he has. Yet Ido no*"- believe that j Sir Robeit Peel was always infallible in his po- j litical career. It is my opinion that Sir Robert Peel would have left a much more illustrious name-behind him, if, instead of having been compelled by circumstances to introduce reforms he himself had originated them. I think, that Sir Robert Peel would have left behind him a fame unequalled in history if, instead of proposing the emancipation of the Catholics in 1829 he had proposed it in 1825 ; I think that his name would have eclipsed all those of ancient and modern statesmen if the reform of the corn-laws had been initiated in 1840—-a good harve&t year—instead of being passed in consequence of the famine which desolated Ireland, and instead of being in some measure a consequence of the potato disease. In fact, if Sir Robert Peel had been the originator of reforms, he-would, at his death, have left to his friends a political inheritance far different from that which " he' bequeathed to them. If Sir R. Peel had .-associated 'his name and his whole ■-career with successive reforms, there would be no need of repor&ing at the present time a strange fact which has taken place in England —namely, that a party consisting of eminent men, including the most eloquent speaker in pai'liament, and the most able'legislators, has teen" completely routed at the'late elections. And this, gentlemen, is the fate of parties who allow themselves to be led by public opinion and who wait till the last moment to carry out •reforms which they have not the courage to introduce. I trust that the Senate, convinced of tliis truth, will give its support to the present Government, winch, while following the example of Sir Robert Peel, nevertheless deviates from the course he adopted by making itself the originator of .reforcns, not wishing to grant them "fco any popular pressure, nor to the pressure of unforeseen circumstances."