On this page
- Departments (1)
-
Text (4)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Sm^ttrtal S^ arltatntnt.
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
HOUSE OF LORDS . —Feidat , Feb 4 . Petitions wtra presented from Scarborough and © Iher places in fayour of the total repeal of the Cora laws . ¦ - " Oa the motion of the Marquis of Nosiunby , the Buildic ^ s' Regulation Bill and the Boroughs' Improvement Bili passed through committee , and wereordered to be read a third time on Monday . On the motion of the Duke of Wellixgtox , the Appropriation Acts * Amendment Bill passed through camzn ' iii ^ e , and was ordered to be read a third time en Monday .
Lord Mo'TEagle , . pursuant to notice , moved for the production of certain papers relative to the appointment of 3 Ir . Eden and Mr . Percival to- the Exchtquer Biii- ^ Sce , and fcr other papers relative t > the late transacrions . The Noble Lord said that his object was to afford information as to the "working of the office , and to bring the "Whole business of it distinctly before the country . —Ordered . Lord BROtGHAii said that he was anxious not to make Li 3 motion for pipers relative to the se : z'ire of the Creole in the absence of hisNoble and Learned Friend , the Lord Chief Justice of the Quests Bench , and . as his Noble and Learned Friend was unable to attend to it that day , he -would , -with their lordships ' J > erarisiion , postpone his motion until Monday . Thuir Lordships then adjourned to Monday . Monday , Teh . 24 . Tt « Lord Chancellor toot his seat on the wool--saci A dye o ' clock . Af ' . rrr some petitions in favour ol a repeal of the Com Xaws had been presented , TLe > Iaiqais of NormaNBY presented a petition from : ' * $ Mayor and Town Council cf Birmingham , pravi ^ c that the carrying out the provisions of the ReguLi-on of Buildings' Bill might be confided to the Tofrn Council , instead of to certain Commissioners , r . s had Kirn proposed in theBiiL The petition rs prayed to be hra ? d by counsel on the subject , at the bar cf their Lordships' House . Ths Bill was then rcad a third time and passed .
Its Marquis of Nokmaxbt wished to impress upon the Noble Duke opposite the necessity of drawing the attention of bis colleagues in the Government to the propriety of introducing a BiH for the drainage of tovrcs into the other House . The Through Improvements' Bili "was read a third time , and passed . - Oa - . he motion of the Dake of Wellington the Approprjrio ? . Acts * Amendment Bill was read 3 third time and passed . Lor ; BaorGHJOi moved f--r the production of the correspondence rel idn ? to the American ship Creole ; but after a short debate , the motion wa 3 -withdrawn , and the House adjourned .
Untitled Article
HOUSE OF COMilONS . —Friday , Feb . II . ilr . Arkwright took the oaths and- his seat for Leominster . On the motion cf Sir G- Clerk , the following Members wtre nominated the Select Committee on Petitions for Prit ate Bills . — Mr . S : rutt , Mr . Robert Clive , Mr . Rica , Mr . Yiliiers Stnart , Mr . Wrighison , ilr . G Cavendish , Mr . Compton , Jlr . Brotherton , Mr . Pukington , Mr . Forbes Mr . TTm . Utckett , Mr . Bramston , Mr . "Walker , Mr . George Piilk , s , Mr . Bell , Mr . Gi ' ssoa Craig , the O'Uinnor Don , Mr . M'Kenzie , Mr . Horsman , Mr . Eliot Yorke , Hr . Kjmble , Mr . A « lionby , Sir John Yarde Buller , Captiin Jones , Mr . Thornely , Mr . B . irneby , Mr . Chalmers . Mr . Tatton Egerton , Mr . Stansfield , Lo ; d Worsl « y , Mr . Henry Baiilie , Mr . Edward Buller , Sir \ Ym . Heathcite , Mr . Hope Johnstone , Mr . Morgan John O'ContHil , Mr . Packe , Mr . George Win . Wood , Mr . Evans , Mr . Home Drnmmond , Mr . Parker , Mr . M-rshali . ; ind Sir CharlesDonilas .
Petuiuus were presen : ed in great numbers , praying for tils toial repeal of the Corn laws . Sir C Napiek asked thn Right Hon . Bironet ( Sir R . Peeb whether he had any objection ti lay before the House a copy of the instructions given by Sir R Stanford to General Mitchell , General Jackson , and Cipt Stewart , after the submission of Mehemct AH ; also the instructions given by Lord Ponsonby to General Jackson and Mr . Wood ; likewise , if any correspondence feas liken place between the British and Turkish Governments , relative to ths amelioration of the inha . titan's of Lebanon , as was promised by tee allied p ; wtrs .
Sir Robert Peel said that the instructions bad betn searched fur but could not be found . He did not think that ths prodnction of the correspondence relating to the amelioration of Syria would further the Gallant Admiral's object , if produced , aniJ he ( Sir Sobcrt Peel ) must , therefore , exercise his discretion in withholding it ; but he would assure the Hon . and Gallant Admiral , that every effort on the part of the present government -would be made to Cause the Porte to fulfil its engagements with respect to the amelioration of the condition of its subjects , and in granting tie papers moved for would be but defeating the object ¦ which the gallant officer had in view . —The subject then dropped .
ilr . MAB . K . PHILIPS intimated to tee House that he bLoul'J for ttie present "witlidraTr his motion for & " Copy of the letter from Mr . A ; nory to L-jrd Palmerston , da : ed August 2 Sth , 1841 , together with ita accompanying papers , and of the correspondence -which followed thereon between Lord Aberdeen , Lord Canning , Mr . Amory , and Mr . Kinder . " * The Honourable -Member said that whenever it should be hia intention again to bring the matter before the House , be would give full notice of the same . He assured the House that when be gave notica last night he was cot it all aware that the Noble Lord to whom it related ( Lsrd Ashbuitsnj had sailed—ihear , hear . ) Mr . Fox Mit'LE moved a return of the number of jury cases in the first division o * the Court of Session , from the 1 st day of January , 1 S 32 , till the 31 st day of July , 1841 ; specifying those in which the late Lord President of the Court of Session presided , and those in -which any other and what Judge presided . "
Sir J . Graham resisted the motion , ani Eaid he trasted that the debate ot last night would no : be repeated . Sir . Fox Macle consented to withdraw it Mr . Wakley expressed his surprise at the readiness ^ rith which the Hon . Gentleman consented to withdraw bis motion , and said it was calculated to impress the public minS -with the conviction that the side of the House to which he belonged * a 3 in error , and that the other ride possessed all the truth—( hear , htar . ) He hoped tha right Hon . Gentleman would persist in his notion . After a few words from Mr . Roebnck .
Sir R . Peel said the grounds on which the house had refused tha motion were , that in departing from the usual coarse a reflection -would be cast on the conduct and character of two judges . The motion of to-night contained the same reflection as that of last night , and the Hon . Gentleman feeling' that , liad consented to withdraw it Mr . O'Connell thought it was a little to ;> vad to refuse the returns saught , when the Hon . GiirUeman hid removed from this motion that -which was otjecied to in that of last night Mr . Hope Johnsox defended the character of the Lord President , and said that whenever he was absent from his post , it was from illness , or causes that might affect any man in a similar position . The House divided . The numbers trere—For the motion 113 ; Against it , 130 ; Majority against the motion . 26 .
Mr . Milses c * Ued the attention of the House to the ease of thosa persons committed to tha House of Correction at Salford , for non-attendance on some pi : ce -jf religions worship . This conviction , be said , was harsh and unjust in the extreme , and was founded on an old act of James , which was altogether , opposed to the spirit of the present time . He therefore would call upon the Right Hon . Baronet to exert his legislative ability t- » repeal or amend bo nnjast an act As it was necessary that he should conclude with a motion , he "Would move that a humble address be presented to her Majestj , praying that she would be graciously pleased to ordfr a copy of the commitment of W . D-ard ^ nto the New Biiley , Manchester , "by Clement Kogcn , and James Royda , at Rochdale , for non-attendance at church during divine servrcs on the Lord's dsy . The question having been put from the chair ,
Sii James Graham said he was the . last person to vindicate the pract ce of magistrates -who , whrn a party was brought before them charged with cne offence , proceeded to convict him for another , upon some enactment almost fallen into desuetude— ( hear , hear ) Such a practice was altogether unja s :, and ought to bs put an end to- Neither did he stand there \ o say that the exacUoH of such penalties as tfcesa was in accordance With tha spirit of the aga . He did not think that tern poral penalties were proper maans to enforce the performance of spiritual and personal duties .- His Hun . Friend had called attention to ibe existing penalty un-. icr the Uniformity Act , but it must be remembered that , ty the Act of Toleration , th « se dissen ^ re from th * Church of England who t > ok the oaths of allegiance and supremacy were exempted from their penalties . To persons not dissenters , however , the Toleration Act gave no protection , and they were consequently still
liable to the penalties of the Act of Uniformity ; so that be really believed that on Wednesday last all Hon . Members of the Hou 3 o who were members ot the Ciiurch of England , and all Hon . Members who were disinters from the Church , on failing to shew that tboy hid taken these oaths would have been legally liable , and might have been convicted in penalties far nou-auendance at chord *—( hear , hear . ) He thought that ' aucii a state of the law ought not to continue ; but he feit , nevertheless , that to touch the Acts of Uniformity and Toleration would requir e from the Govern . nei : t very great caution , and be w& 3 not disposed to state without deliberation what was the best course to tw pursued . However , he would not shrink freui stating that , if JheSovfmment should be abie to find a suitable remedy , they wooHfeelit their duty to apply it , vrh . ateY * r it B&lghVbe . , * 23 » H « ae then adjourned .
Untitled Article
Monday , February 14 . The Speaker teek the caaii a little before four o ' clock . A great number of petitions both against the Corn Liws generally , and against the Ministerial measure respecting them , were presented by different Member ? . Captain Boldero presented the Ordnance estimate ? . On the motion of Sir T . Freemantle a new writ was ordered for the Southern Division of tbe County of Salep , in the room of the Earl of Darlington , now Duke of Cleveland . D .-. Bowrixg postponed his motion with respect to the quarantine laws to Thursday next . Mt . YEB . SO 5 Smith gave notice of his intention to call the attention of the House to-morrow on the subject of emigration . Mr . I > 'Israelt gave notice of his intention shortly to move the blending of diplomatic bodies .
On the motion of Mr . Shaw returns were ordered cf the mortality of infants in the North Union Workhouse of Dublin . Sir D Roche begged to ask the Right Hon . Gentleaan for the satisfaction of the large holders of bonded corn and cattle—Igreat laughter)—when it was intrnded to apply the new dutief , sheuld bis measure ever pass the Htu 3 &— ( laughter )—to provisions now in bond . Sir R . Peel understoed the question to be—supposing tbe measure should pass—in what time was it
preposed to apply the new duties to corn bonded in this country?—thea * , bear , from Sir D . Roche . ) He cwuld not sea why the new duties should not come immediately into operation on the passing of the Act ^ s to cattle , he was not aw . ire of there being any in bond—( laughter )—but perhaps the Hon . Bart , was referring to a former statement of his ( Sir R . Peel ' s . ) What he meant was , in reference to other articles of provision besides cura ; it waa . his opinion , and that of bis colleagues , that the prohibition ought not to exist —( hear . )
Mr . Labouchere wished to put a question to the Right Hon . Gentleman the Yice-Presidens of the Board of Trade , respecting the regulating duties of the Colonies , which he was bringing before the consideration of ? be House . It wa relative to the importation of corn from America into Canada . The House was aware that at present the importation of corn and flour from America into Canada was duty free , and the question he wished to ask wa ? , whether he -was to understand the tflvct of the schedule of duties laid on the table of the HuU 5 e , to be to put a duty of 3 s . a quarter on American flour imported from America into Canada . Mr . Gladstone said that the resolution which had been announced to tbe House was unquestionably one which would raise the question of placiDg a duty of 3 s . on cjrn imported from America . The question would be raised , and he mu ! d then state the intention of the Government .
Mr . Labovchere wished to ask the Right Honourable Bironet ( Sir R . P * tl ) whether it was the invention of Government to allow the importation of fljur in bond . Sir R . Peel was aware that Irish Members took great interest in this subject , and remembered the opposition they gave last Session to the proposition in volved in the p . eseut question ; but he was bound to say , that in case of a change of the Corn and Provision Laws , he could adopt no special legislation ; for though it was a provision exporting country , no exception could be made in her favour—( bear . ) Mr . Roebvck gave notice to the effect that when tbe question of the importation of provisions from the Colonies came before the House , he would take the sense of the House on the question , whether or not it -was competent for the House to tax the Colonies . I Hear )
THE CORN LAWS . —ADJOURNED DEBATE . Sir R . Peel now moved that the House resolve itsa f into a Committee of the whole House , and reiume the debate on the duties affeeting the impoit of foreign corn . Mr . Greene having taken the Chair , Lord JOHJT RUSSELL said , S : r , I believe I should in no -Ray diminish the difficulties of the task I have undertaken , or obtain greater power for my arguments , if I were to commence my address t » the House by preface or introduction . Therefore , I shall at once call the attention of the House to the position in which they now stand . The question of tbe Corn Laws has been submitted to us by the First Minister of the Crown . In proposing the scale he has laid before us , he has not only acted upon the authority of the Government over ¦ which he presides ; but he has also informed us that having collected the opinions of those most interested
in agriculture , he found there were but very few of that class who were not in favour of some modification of the existing corn law . We , therefore , now stand in the situation of considering tbe Corn Laws with a view to alteration by almost general coasent—( bear , hear . ) The cry is no longer that cf surrender—icheera ) The question i \ as to the terms of the continuation —( hear , hear . ) Sir , if that be the case ; we are prepared to condemn the present Corn Laws as unfit to be longer continued on ibe statute book as inapt for the purpose for which they have been enacted , of regulating the trade in corn ; I say then , without fear of contradiction , that it is of the utmost importance that you should make that change upon sound principles : that you should endeavour to make it give as much as po&sible of general satisfaction ; especially to that distressed portion of the community , of whose condition -we have heard such lamentable accounts from both
sides of the House ; and laitly , that it should be such a law that it would not be liable to cause an immediate fresh agitation of the qnestion , but that all who are to live under that law , all who have transactions , in that nioit imp&rtant of all articles of food , which comprehends , in ita various class £ S , the whole community , that they should be aware of the state of law under which they are to live ; and be prepared to state that for a time at least , it should net be disturbed —( hear . ) Sir , 1 think it necessary , however I may be obliged to trespass on the indulgence cf the House in giving you my reason * for opposing , in this early stage , the measure bi the Government , to stats as briefly as 1 can the general principle * which should guide our legislation upon this iuVjtcs . I do so , because although in one poitit I
should agree with the principles laid down by the first Minister of the Crown , there are other points on which I entirely differ from him . I suppose it will be agreed that with respect to corn , as with respect to everything else , the general principle i * one cf not legislating at all upon the subject —( hear , hear . ) The general principle with regard to all commodities ia , that the producer or the seller endeavours to produce and to bring to market that which is most likely to find a ready and immediate purchaser ; and the purchaser , on hi 3 side , goes to market to obtain the goods of which he is most in need , ¦ the best in their quality , and the cheapest in their price , therefore legislators have no place on the subject . The community themselves are fir batter jadge * than the
¦ wisest Senate on the matter . The community themselves , in their several capacities , choose which are the aiticJes of which they stand in need—they choose from whom they purchase them , and those articles which afford profit . The producers themselves are the best jidge 3 of tbe aiticles they shall produce , and of the luark ^ ts to which they shall briDg their productions . I therefore think your legislation ia unwise , and the efft-ct of this legislation of yeurs has been to cause the occupation of certain lands , and the employment of many labourers upon them . You should endeavour U > protect the labourers in ycur own country from an excess of taxation . But , Sir , I come then to agree to su much of protection as might be aaked under these twe heads . If it should be found in Committee—if it
should be found , in discussing this matter in Committee , that there are undue preferences in tee country 1 mention , I think they should be removed . If , howtvfcr , it should be proved that there are no such preferences , if there be encouragement given to agriculture by this Jaw , that should likewise be taken into consideration , but tbe Government in proposing the plan now before the House , take a wider range ; they laid their principle far more wide ; they laid down the principle adopted by Maithus , which principle was acted upon by the Legislature of this country on a former occasion . Yon enght to make yourselves independent of foreign nations—( cheers . ) Now that is tbe principle npon which the present law is framed—that is the principle upon wbicb the proposition of the Right Hon . Baronet
is iraaied , and which tends to prevent by prohibition other nations from sending food into this country . 1 confess , therefore , although this proposition may be excellent to some remote and sequestered state—although « might suit a state In Mexico , I cannot conceive r . ow it ean be applicable to a great commercial country Supposing it were desirable , in what manner would you esUbiiEb it in practice ? You must recollect it is not merely with respect to corn . The Right Hon . Baronet siated tte other night that they had bad for four years an importation of 4 , 300 , 060 quarters ,: so that it migbt be s , vd that the people of the country were dependant upuTi foreign countrits for upwards of one million of quait-i'rs a year . With respect to the other commodities the employment of tbe people engaged in manufac
tures as much depends upsn the supply of the raw material a 3 food . If the supply of cotton from America were stopped , or the supply of foreign silk , the -i . wunld be not less than five millions of people deprived of employment There would be seven millions of your people , if you go on this principle , who wcru dependent upon foreign nations for their food , and who cannot but continue to be so dependent—( hear , bear)—so that it is evident that any attempt which you have made to make this country independent of foreign countries has failed , and every such attempt must necessarily fail —( hear . ) Tas oz . lj way in which I conceive this object of tbo La < r to bs wished tor at all is in tbe cas « of war with
foreign nations . I cannot conceive greater time of war than when tkis country was ' struggling against Napoleon —i hear , hear . ) But , during the time of that war , two niUUoa quarters of corn were imported in one single year—( bear . ) That importation was greatly diminished m subsequent years ; but still at that time this country was admitting foreign corn , there being no law to prevc-ai the importation , and tbe people were living partly on tew produce of other nations . Bat is there any Lliance or probability that you will hava a greater war taan that to contend with ? But if thera was , still I siy that resting as you are upon commerce and manufacture , the supply of food wonld be in danger ; but it would not be in tbe danger that is apprehended —( hear , hear . ) Therefore , the remedy should be the very
Untitled Article
reverse of that which is proposed to the House—( cheers . The remedy proposed to the House as taken from the Right Hon . Gentleman ' s argument , is to endeavour as much a 3 possible to protect our native productions , and to make such a law as never to have any supply except from tbe northern parts of Europe . The Right Hon Gsnlleman in that argument said that the countries with which we bare our commerce are nearly in tbe some latitude as this country is , and that consequently , their seasons were nearly tbe same as ours . In other words , the Right Hob . Baronet endeavoured to maintain that as a necessary consequence , when those countries had abundance of provisions , so would this country have abundance , and when those countries bad a scarcity bo also we
weuld have a scarcity — ( loud cheering from the Opposition Benches . ) A 1 that argument went upon the supposition that we should have a law such as that which exists at present , which confines the supplies of this country— ( hear ,, bear . ) A real remedy could not be had in that way—our supplies should not be restricted or confined to those countries alone , but instead of having our supplies in those countries , and in the North of Europe exclusively , we should be supplied by the North of Europe— by the countries adjacent to the Black Sea , and by every other country all over the world . 0 ur commerce should be extended all over the whole world for the purpose of giving us that supply of food of which we so greatly stand in need —( hear , and cheers . ) Sir , the proposal now made to the House by
the resolution proposed by the Right Hon . Baronet opposite , maintains the principle of a sliding scale , and it maintains the principle of a high duty—( loud cheers from the Opposition Benches , and counter cheerp . ) In objection to that sliding scale , the first objection I take to it is , that a high and prohibitory duty , I sho « ld say , always forms part of that scale —( bear , bear , and louij cheers . ) I can understand a scale not exceeding 10 s . or 12 * ., and going down to 4 ? . or 2 s ., or la ., but I find that whenever Honourable Gentlemen speak of a sliding Bcale , it always contains a high and a prohibitory duty . What is the flr 3 t duty in this proposed measure ? The first duty is 20 ? . upon all foreign wheat —( cries of bear , hear . ) I wish now to show first , that that is a prohibitory duty
— ( cheers . ) I have looked at the papers which contain ths-latest information the Home has bad upon the subject . I have looked at those papers which were presented to the House by the Right Hon . Gentleman , the Vice President of the Board of Trade , and also J have looked at the papers which were presented to Parliament , last year , by a gentleman who was expressly sent to the North of Europe for the purpose of ascertaining the precise state of trade thera—a gentleman who bad communications there not only with official persons , but also with merchants and persons in trade there . I was surprised at first that tho Right Hon . Gentleman ( Sir Robert Peel ) in tbe course cf bis speech , having collected O 3 be did , his ir > f / rmation from that Gentleman's pap 2 rs , should havo made an attack upon that
Gentleman ; but when I looked at these papers my surprise cea sed , for I discovered that it was merely another proof of the discretion of the Right Hon . Gentleman- — ( laughter and cheering . ) I find that tbe price of wheat in Dantzic is 353 . ; that the charges which they say must necessarily be incurred , and of which I need not go into details , would be 4 s . Gd . to 53 ., making in ail 10 s . 6 d . to be added to the original price ; that as the original price at Dantzic , when brought from the interior of thecountry , would bo 35 s ., they say , with the addition of 10 s . 6 d ., it would be sold in England , making the price of 45 s . Cd . What have we to add to that?—( cries cf " bear , bear" )—20 s—making 65 s . 6 ii ., when the price here ia 503 . ; being cf course a prohibitory duty —( cheers ) And in tbe same way , at
Odessa , it ia stated in the return , that the price will be 26 s ., and freight 103 . ; of course , we must add to that some charges which we cannot take at less than 5 a , there would be Sis ., without the profit of the merchant . Therefore , with respect to these lower sums , you see there shall be a prohibitory duty of 20 s ., and that when corn is 55 s ., there shall be a duty of 18 s . ; yet in all these instances it would be shown that tho duty would be prohibitory . That when the price of grain is 55 s . and 56 s . —the _ price at which the Right Hon . Gentleman says it ought to be—when that favourite and choaen price is the one , and nobody can tell why that should be the price—( hear , from the Opposition benchw)—there would then be a prohibitory duty on foreign corn ; true , the Right Hon . Gentleman
says , and he says most truly , "I think 20 s . is quite sufficient ; " and no doubt he is perfectly right—( hear . ) I think those duties of 45 s . and 47 s ., as we had in one year when corn was 393 ., are odious , and ought not to be endured . I agree with , the Right Hi n . Gentleman , and I think that in 1821 , if they said 28 s . will exclude foreign corn , we don ' t want a door stronger than to keep the corn out . If tbe door be itself strong enough , we have no occasion to put on iron plates and locks ; therefore , we wil . be satisfied with a duty of 20 j . ' — ( hear , hear . ) But I must and do hope that we bave arrived at a period in this question when we have a greater claim than what is entertained in tbe plan proposed by the Right Hou . Gentleman opposite , which , though it makes the old system appear rather less
odious to the country , in reality is nothing but a mockery—( hear , hear . ) I bave mentioned the price of corn at Dantzic and Odessa , and if we reckon the average price of corn at 45 s ., the duty of 20 s . raises it to G 5 s . ; therefore , with raspecfc to all foreign countries , I maintain that this duty of 20 s . is prohibitory ; it !• no * , possible for me to say , though I have endeavoured to ascertain it , at what price duty ceases to be prohibitory . As tbe price increases , aufl the merchant gets ft better price , the duty falls . I should think , according to the statement I have made , that it could be imported at the present price , which is 6 s , but it appears to me that corn brought from Dan ! zic will be 45 s . 6 d ., which , with the pruflti it requires , could hardiy be -sold at the present price of corn , namely , sixty-one
shillings . Up to this point you have a prohibitory duty . Now , Sir , I need not say that a prohibitory duty strikes at all the principles of trade . I do not mean to say every trade of the country , but at all the principles of trade . It is thin that ba& caused so much mischief in the Corn Laws as they at present stand . The merchant buys an article in foreign countries , it may be at an advantageous price , or not according to the market ; and after incurring great expense , and aft-r making himself liabls to a large sum of money in order to bring articles from foreign countries , he finds , on bringing them to this country , a prohibitory duty staring him in the face , offering an insuperable obstacle to bis trade by this impediment thrown in its way . ( Hear , hear , hear , and loud cheers . )
Thus is the sliding scale in its nature inimical to trade . Now , what has been the consequence during the last year of some of these duties ? It is stated very well in two pamphlets written on this subject , the one by Mr . Hubbard , and the other by Mr . Greg . In one it is shewn that , in June lait—nay , 1 think on the 5 th of July , that tbe price of Dantz ' c Wheat was 48 s . a quarter , and you might have obtained it out of-bond at 54 s . or 50 s . a quarter . It was not admitted on the 5 th of August , when corn had risen t ) 60 s . ; yet still it was not admitted the speculator had reason to believe that be could obtain a bttter price for it In the beginning of September , only two months after the time when it might have been sold at 48 * ., it was sold for 70 s ., thus being an addition of 22 s . per quarter— ( bear ,
bear , and cheers ) Was tb&t a benefit to the English farmer—( loud cbeera )—or was it a benefit to the landowners of this country ?—( cheers . ) No , it was given to the foreign speculator or holder of corn , thus benefitting them alone , without any benefit whatever to tbe consumer—( loud cheers . ) The corn was admitted at an enormous price without any benefit to the revenue or tbe consumer . Mr . Greg states—bnt I think it is an over calculation that be baa made—but be states that the money paid to the holders of corn , and to tbe growers in foreign countries , was not Jess than £ 6 , 000 , 000 . As I eaid , I think that is over the sum , but I should think not less than £ 3 , 000 , 000 or £ 4 . , 000 have necessarily been paid in order to obtain the benefits of this sliding
scale—( loud cheers . ) It was a tribute paid to the sliding scale , but a loss to tbe country—( loud cheers . ) Sir , I have another statement which I bave received to-day , which shows another evil of the sliding scale . You say that you will take tbe duty according to those averages .. Tbe Right Hon . Bart did not say how he would settle the averages . He said they shall not be altered , they shall be taken much in tbe same wu ? ns heretofore . Now , take the averages as you may , there is one effect inherent , they do not tell the quality of the corn—( hear . ) During the present year , as has happened in one of tbe former years , a great portion of the Corn was very much damaged ; some persons , well acquainted with agriculture , say not less than a fifth of the whole crop of England . The consequence has been
a very great lowering of tbe price of corn in the market Bat do tbe people get their bread at all cheaper ?•—( cries of hear , bear . ) You have a duty now-of 26 s ., perhaps instead of some lower sum , biciuse it has come to that degree ot cheapness ; but that degree of cheapness is not cheapness to the consumer of bread , because he is paj ing as much as when the average was much higher . How , a gentleman who has written on this subject says , that in the beginning of 1841 ,: in the month of January , the average price of Wheat was 613 2 d ., that in January 1842 , the average price was also 61 s 2 d You would , therefore , suppose the price being the same , tbe averages being tbe same , the duties being the same , that the people could obtain their bread at the same price . Is that the case ? far from it . The price of the best town flour at Mark-lane in the first four months of
1841 , was 55 s . a sack , and in 1842 it was 61 s . a sack , making a difference of ne less than 6 s . in tbe sack of flour , in that sack of flour , from which the bread is admitted to be made , while the averages and the doty which you impose , have not altered a single shilling . Now that is a fault—that is a defect , which you conld not get rid of even if you were to change your system of averages twenty times , and to introduce 150 towns more tfi an' now proposed to be Introduced —( laughter from tbe opposition . ) It is & fault by which you are
charging tbe people with improper duty , by which you are making tbe poor labourer of this country pay a high price for bis corn , find at the same time are excluding foreign corn from this country—( bear . ) Sir , another defect which is likewise manifest in tbis scale , or in any scale , is that you require foreign corn at particular t ' uies , when you are unable to obtain it by that exchange of articles which accompanies a regular trade . You have prohibition for two or three years . You then find that a large supply will be required . Tbe price rises enormously—as I have shown you the price rises 22 s . in the course of two months . You bare
Untitled Article
many millions topay , and you have no means of meeting the demand by sending our goods . You bave not a regular trade . You are obliged to sendout part of your stock of bullion t ) pay for that com . The Bank of England naturally and inevitably contracts its issue ; and that contraction takes place whilst the whole commercial world is in a state of ^ embarrassment— ( hear , bear , )—when your manufacturers are unable to give employment to their artisans , and when those artisans are paying increased prices for the articles of sustenance . There must , no deubt , be seasons in which corn will be much higher titan at othera . I admit that ; and I do not think you can have a regular low price , or a perfectly steady price , at alL But this I do say—this 1 do assert , that if thererare difficulties placed by nature
in the way of such steadiness of price , you have by your bad legislation aggravated those difficulties—( Cheers from the Opposition . ) You have heaped embarrassment upon embarrassment , and piled difliculty upon difficulties— ( hear . ) A steadiness of price should be the object of your legislation , and that is totally incompatible witix a prohibition at one moment , and a free admission at another—( hear , bean ) Then with respect to frauds ; I wish to say a few words upon that subject . I cannot think , however , with the Right Hon . Gentleman , that while there are now very serious frauds , there will not also be very serious frauds under his scheme ; because , jut it as you may , the raising of the price is in every instance to be accompanied with a lowering of the duty , and to tbe extent of
the reduction ycu necessarily bold out a temptation to fraud . In the year 1830 , I think , a Committee of the House sat and investigated and exposed a great number of frauds that had been committed with respect to the averages , and they advised what they considered a remedy for those frauds . You had , however , in the last year—you had , in the years 1838 and 1839 frauds existing which were notorious--you bad the markets raised 9 s . a quarter in a single week , all for the purpose and with tho contrivance , of obtaining a reduction of the duty . That at least is a bad system of legislation which gives encouragement to fraud and gambling speculations , when you ought to have an honest ard wholesome trade . But there ia another and most serious effect of the sliding scale which I have touched upon
before , namely that it confines your supplies to countries in the North of Europe —( hear ,, bear ;) You have a deficient harvest , a scarcity in this conntrv , and a rise in prices- —you then send immediately orders and ships ltd Dantzic , and to all the ports which communicate with ua ia the Baltic , for cargoes of wheat , in order to take advantage of our low duty . That corn comes in , and you are to remain satisfied with that supply , But , Buppose any merchant should say , «' the prices of corn from the Baltic are too high . I know there is a market for British goods in North America . I know that if their corn could be sent here in exchange for our goods I could dispose of it , arid that . tbe .- ' transaction would be profitable in both ways . ( Hear , hear . ) But if he were to send an order to America , the duty
may have risen by the time that the carao has arrived , and then your prohibitions stand in his way ; then your prices may have fallen , y « ur duty may be high , and he will find that for two or three years that cargo is left upon his hands , and he is a loaer by the whole transaction . What a defect must that bo in the law , whieh does notpettuit you to go at all to the most fivoura ^ le market , which does nofc permit you to go ta the United States for your supply —; hear ; hear . ) Indeed , with respect to our commerce with foreign nations , there seems to be nothing more desirable than that we should endeavour to retain and to improve our trade with America ; and 1 should say to you . most emphatically , "Preserve the markets of the United States , and of the Bnia-Is . '' Great quanlitiesof goods manufactured by
U 3 have been imported to' these countries . By adopting common rules , and by . adhering to common sense ; you would retain , improve , and enlarge almost indefinitely , those markets—( hear , and cheers . ) But no , yoa eay " the present laws won't do , we must alter them , and make a new contrivance , by which we may shut the door against the United States , arid refuse to admit their produce to our markets . I havo here a statement which I have taken from Buckingham ' s work on America—an important extract—on the extent and means of production of the state of New York alone , as regards the growth of wheat , and which I shall take the liberty of reading to tUe House . [ The Noble Lord read the extract in a low v » ice ; but the substance of the quotation was , that this fortile territory extended
from the Lakes in the North to Ohio in the South , embracing an area of 280 , 000 square miles , being twice as large as the kingdom of France , and six times the siz ) of England . It contained 188 , 000 , 000 acres of land , ^ and was irrigated by , or branching oti the Ohio , the Wisconsin , and the Mississippi . Within twenty-: one years its population has increased to the number of 3 , 000 ; 000 , and it was calculated that by the ; year 1850 it would have swelled to the aggregate of 6 , 000 , 000 . ] Now , proceeded the Noble Lord , this great population , this vast extent of fertile and arable land is removed from this country tu such a distance , that on the authority of Mr . Curtis wheat could not be exported from those districts to our ports for less than from 43 s . to 47 s . a quarter ; so that the American could not
be considered a competitor by the English farmer , at least while there would be ho j ust grounds to regard the American farmer as such , the people of that country would be great consumers of your manufactures—( hear . ) I do believe that 6 , 000 , 000 of people inhabiting so fertile a country would naturally prefer the pursuit of agriculture to manufactures —( cheers ) . I believe that they ( Would be glad to receive your manufactures in exchange for their food and export *—( cheerB ) - ^ for however ttie manufacturers of the Unit id States may be advancing , they cannot yet give the bulk of the people sufficient occupation , and it is probable that they will not doso for a long time—( hear . ) You have it in your power to establish a commerce of an extensive and useful kind— - of : giving food to the people and employment to the
poor and in future years of enabling them to avoid that horrible distress which has prevailed of late—of bestowing comfort on tbe inhabitants of this kingdom while they consume the products of distant countriesr ^ - ( hear , hear . ) But , instead of this , you say "We have tbe power of regulation in our hands and we will use it to stop this great trade . We bave the power in our hands to atop t'uis accumulation of human comfort and prosperity , and because We have the power , we undertake to place a barrier against it" —( loud cheers . ) Sir , such would be the tffect of your continuance of the sliding scale . The objection was , that they could iiot avoid dearness in certain years , ei ther , by a fixed d uty or by any other fixed plan . We have a rigbt . Sir , to reject the plan at present
proposed for one moro consonant with tbe maxims of trade—more consonant with the deductions of science —and , above all , more consonant with the petitions of our suffering population—( loud ; eheerk ) , Opposed then , as I am , Sir , to the plan of a sliding scale , and thinking that any plan founded on that basis ought to berejectedVl shall , if that plan be also presented , be ready to discuss the subject with those who oppose the laying on of any duty at all . I ikiitk that a moderate fixed duty itiigltibe proposedwith propriety ; but what I propose , in the present instance , is the rejection of the plan proposed by her Majesty ' s Ministers—( hear , bear . ) If it should be found that there are no exclusive burdenB on agriculture —( hear , )—rl should then say , make auch a provision of a duty , as shall prevent
a sudden change , and prevent the falHiig into distress of great masses of agricultural labour . But if there should be , aa I believe there are , peculiar burdens on agriculture , then impose a duty as moderate as you possibly can , in consideration of those burdenr . Do not let us raise a single sbilling ^ not a single farthing above What is absolutely necessary . If there is , as the Right Hon . Gsntlemaa states that there is , an advantage in submitting to restrictions for the sake of the general interest , this argument , to be unconquerable , must be supported by good : and sensible reasjns —( hear , hear . ) Now , Sir , for a fixed duty we have , for a sliding scale it is not possible to have , such reasonr . It may be said in favour of a fixed duty that it has been recommended at different times by persons of great
authority—( hear , hear . ) The first recommendation is from ' Mr . Maithus , who , in 1815 , proposed , after a certain time , that the duty should become fixed at 10 s . His proposal for a duty on foreign corn was that it should be flrst 20 s ., and fall Is ., year by year , till it come to 10 ? ., whore it should remain . Mr . M'Cullock , another advocate for a fixed duty , stated that , instead of the burdens of agriculture being equivalent to a fixed duty of 10 a ., that a duty of 5 i would be a full protection—( hear . ) The Committee of 1821 , which comprised many persons eminent in agriculture , among others , the Hon . Gentleman the Paymaster of the Forces , Sir T . Gooch , and many persons of alt classes and all opinions , also recommended a fixed duty . Sir Robert Peel expressed his dissent .
Lord John Russell—Does the Right Hon . Gentleman dispute that ? The report begins by expressing a doubt whether there can be any solid foundation for agricultural prosperity expected by abstaining as far as possible from legislative interference with agriculture , either by protection or prohibition of importation—( loud cheers . ) The report then goes on to state that agriculture bad flourished most when a free importation of corn bad been allowed : ( The Noble Lord proceeded to read various extracts from the report of the Committee alluded to ; from which it appeared that the Committee recommended a modification of the existing law , which produoed much inconvenience from tbe sudden manner in which the ports were opened under its enactments , and the consequent sudden influx of corn into the market , and suggested a remedy that , whenever tbe potts were open , corn sheuld be admitted at a fixed duty . The reading of this extract was followed by loud cheering and counter cheering . )
Permit me to observe , that although the Committee recommends a fixed duty , I cannot but think that the person who drew up the report , and who so well explained and understood the principles of free trade , and ao anxiously advised an adoption of tbose principles , must when he recommended it , have considered the adoption of a fixed duty as a temporary measure , as the beat probably which he could obtain at the time—( h « ar , bear)—bat mast have looked forward tJ tbe ultimate adoption of the great principle which he had bo distinctly laid down in the commencement of tbe Report , and bave considered that the time would at length arrive when all protect ^ m and all prohibition should cease . ( Cheers . ) One cf the objections to a plan of a fixed duty is , that it would , in times of scarcity , prevent an adequate supply from coming Int > the market . When I bad the honour to propose a plan for a fixed duty to the House , I at jtod my belief that the imposition of a fixed duty would in a great measure pretest
Untitled Article
the occurrence of scarcity by securing a constint and regular supply . ; but , at the same time , I stated there might be various methods of preventing a fixed duty acting in Buch a manner in times of scarcity ; and one of the remedies vcm to give to the Government the power of entering the ports under certain circumstances I think that may be better than the view taken by the Committee of 1821 . It may , perhaps , be better that at a certain point , 73 s . or 74 e . there should bo : no doty . ( Great cheering from the Ministerial side of the House . ) I say that ia matter of consideration / I proposed before that in case of scarcity thsre should be a discretionary power allowed to the crown , and I now say ; as an alternative , that it should be considered whether in the cose of high prices , the duty should not cease .
( Hear , ; hear . ) The Right Hon . Qentleaian stated tbe othernight , that it would be necessary for the purpose of the Tithe Commutation Act , that the system of average should be kept up —( loud cheers . ) Bat wbat bo stated more particularly was , that if you had corn very cheap , there would be such abundance from foreign countries , that then the English agriculturalists would be ruined by the competition ; and he stated if you have corn very dear , then the keeping up of a fixed duty would be an evil and a grievance . With respect to the former of these objections , I think the protection to the farmer is the cheapness—( cheers)—of- the abundant year . Then with respect to dear years , I am ready , and always was ready to say , that I think a jrreater advantage would be given by it to tbe foreign
merchant than to the English agriculturist . There is another part of the . subject upon which I have hot said a word , and which the Sight Honourable Gentleman dismissed at the commencement of the address to the House— I meau the distress that prevails in the country . That that distress exista to a great extentthat it exists in Leeds , Manchester , a great part of the catton district , and part of Scotland , is now by no person denied . It was stated in the strongest terius by the Hon . Gentleman who seconded the Address ( Mr . Beckett . ) The Rigbt Hon . Baronet states that he does not propose his present corn bill a 3 any remedy for that distress—( hear , bear ) -r-nor does ho think the Corn Laws , as they at present exist , are at all ariswerable for that distress . Now , Sir , I should not eay they . were
the cause of the whole of this distress , but they tended very considerably to aggravate it ; and I think that a great relaxation of your Cora Laws would tend greatly , though not , perhaps , immediately , to mitigate that distress —( hear , hear , ' hear , and cheers . ) What has been said by persons conversant with the cotton trado in Manchester , in a circular which they addressed to the wholesale' houses in Londou , that while the sale of cotton exported , profitably or riot , has increased during the last ye ^ r , the sale of these goods for domestic uses had decreased at the rate of 3 . bales per week . They therefore conclude—and the conclusion is a natural one , and borne out by all the other evidence on the subject—that the want of means in the labouring classes to purchase clothing and other articles
as well as food , his been the cause of the diminished consumption—that so muoh greater part of the earn- ; ings of the labouring classes than hitherto have during the lost two or three years gone in the purcuase of bread . Now ; this tt itement is supported by all those who have communicated with the labouring portions of the community , and by their own statements in various parts of the country . I myself presented a petition tojiight , from persons who , though sometimes able to procure some bread , were unable to contuuie sugar at all ; and , with respect ti other articles , that the consumption of them waa greatly diminished . Well , then , if you bail afreo admission of foreign corn , one of tbe consequences would be that the numerous classes able to purchase food at a cheaper rate would be
enabled to consume manufactures ; and another consequence would be that the manufacturers would find a batter market for their goods , and that they would send these goods in exchanae for the goods sent to this country , therefore , whilst I do not say that the whole ti the distress is caused by the Com Laws , Or would be tctilly removed by the repeal of those laws , I do say tact they tend to aorgravate the'distress , and that you would mitigat 3 that distress by a relaxation of those laws—( hear , and cheers . ) The Right Hon . Gentlem . in supposes us to be in a position similar to what has occurred at other times in manufacturing districts when distress was as be thinks , occasioned partly by over-production , and partly by other causes . TheRight Hon . Gentleman supposes that
over-production , the operation of joint stock oauksj and some other causes contributed in different degrees , and that all the remedy is in the reduction cf the excess , and a retarn to the former state of things , and the former amottiit of pioduction . Now that is not the view which I fcike of the prc 3 ent state of things . Although it may be that the productipn of goods , has been somewhat in excess , ytt if that bad been the cause of the distress , tbe distress would have passed away , and the evil would have cured iteelf— ( hear , hear . ) The Right Hon . Baronet thinks that part of the evil is in the excessive building of bouses in the manufacturing towns , and the consequent increase of the population ; and that another part ia in the improvement of machinery . Sir , I cannot say whether the first may be in some port a cause of distress ; but I say that with regard to machinery , the whole history of our
manufactures directly contradicts bis opinion—ihear . ) Whereever improvements have taken place ia machinery , and means have been formed ef lessening . the amount of human labour necessary to produce an article , new markets have bren created or increased —( hear , hear ) - —and thus the whole number of persons employed bos been increased at the same time and not diminished —( hear , heat . ) Arid what is the case of those great towns , such as Manchester , Leeds , Macclesficld , and Blrmiugham ?— ( hear , bear . ) They increase year aftar year , as the ingenuity of ourcountry menfrom time to time adds improvement 'to machinery—r ( hear , bear , hear . ) If the improvement ef ^ machinery decreased empioynient , the case would have been the other way , and population would have decreastd in those townfr Sir R . Peel made some observations which were not heardin the gallery .
Lord John Russell—Sir , I certainly did think the Right Hon . Baronet gave in , in some degree , to the opinion that machinery decreases employment It is an opinion which has been stated by several who support his views of this queation , and I think it is very dangerous . ( Loud cries of " Hear , hear . ") I thought that he mentioned the improvement of machinery as amongst the causes of the distress . But I believe that machinery would increase still more , and goon increasing , if you did but encourage freedom instead of imposing new restrictions . A great portion of the people think that some relief may be obtained by repealing those laws . If you cannot repeal them totally , as tho great m&jority of the petitioners to this House againni the Corn Laws demand , I do advise you to make some
mater ial advance— - 'tear , hear )—and shew that you are willing to meet their wishes , as far as is consistent with other interesUr- ( hear , hean ) I advise you to make some material advance that will shew you have sympathy with the sufferings of the people —( hear , hear . ) I agree . Sir , that it is perfectly impossible to hope that any good , or that any alleviation whatever of thergeheral distress which prevails in the country , can arise from that measure , which is only made to look a little better than the old measure— ( cheers )—a measure which perpetuates the - vicious principles already existing—forbids any imprcvemeLt ^ encourages speculation , and prevents your commerce with the north of Europe , the Black Sea , and the United States . Such a measure . Sir . will do nothing to relieve the distress
of this country . Whatever you do , I advise you not to asree to such a measure as that . If you think taat tbe Corn Laws are founded on Bound principles—that they tend to promote the interests of tbo country , do not mind the sinister evils they may cause , but if you do make a change , do so for some purpose ; do not innovate without you innovate tor soine good purpose —( cheers . ) Lord Bacon said that the froward retention of custom was sometimes as bod as innovation—but Lord Bacon never dreamed that there might be a measure of ibis kind proposed—a measure which wbuid have all tbe evils of " froward ; retention of custom , " and yet contains witbiu it all the mischiefs or evils of innovation—( hear , hear . ) A measure whicb does not improve your commerce ; and , therefore ,
cat not alleviate tbe existing state of distress—a measure which confines your trade , and which waa proposed by tbe Government having first excited hopes fur a long period—hopes , which when apparently oa the point of being attained , a meaaure is proposed in reality standing upon the very same principles and producing similar results as those of the present law— thear , hear . ) Such a measure , Sir , I consider is thai now proposed . I cannot think you will legislate on tbis question to any purpose , unless you in the first place reject the measure now proposed —( hear , hear , and loud cheers . ) If you reject that , you may hereafter consider to what extent you may set free your trade in matters 1 of food . You may hereafter consider how far you will concede to the wishes of the
people—it will be open to you to take every view that : may be propoBed to you to consider . You may consider the agricultural interests and the quantity of land brought into cultivation . You may also consider the burthens whicb affect agriculture ; And I wish to say here , Sir , that if there be any odium in advocating the imposition of a duty—from that odium I do not wish in the slightest degree to shrink—( hear , bear . ) If yoa adopt the system now proposed , though I do not believe that in the present civilised state of the people of EDgland , you will not bave such tumults and outrages as have taken place in former centuries ; yet I apprehend that yon will produce growing discontent in the public mind . Act ; therefore , so that it shall be said that yoa have legislated on well considered views , and for the benefit of the whole community . But I desire now to impress the fact upon you , that all commercial
men and all indifferent spectators have unanimously condemned the sllding-scale as the worst basis of legis lation with respect to provisions , and that it Is perfectly well known to tho community at large tlat thta principle : baa been thus generally condemned .: : How can you believe that the public cart : be persuaded after such denunciations tLat the proprietors of laud alone can take impartial views on this subject ; that they who are chiefly interested should , contrary to the experience of all mankind , take clear and diainterested yievaron tbe present ^ occasion?— ( hear , hear . ) The people will not so reason . They will , I apprehend , attribute , however unjustly , that you have beeu biassed in favour of those interests with which you are connected , and in favour of a system under which some members of the Government are said to have increafed their iacomaftof late . ( Laughter and bear , heac . )
Untitled Article
hmIk ' ~ — ^^^^™^ hm ^ - ^^^^ i—11 ¦ ' > M | *^—< fc ^ ¦ Anyv tting would be better than legislation of this kind . Be itt rror » i { y ° wili enact laws whicb may savour of the Jgjio' ™ 1106 of the 15 th and 16 th centuries on matters of trade , and you may sustain the odium arising in consequence ; But ifypu allow it to be said that the Par . liament of t * - ' ^ . country—that the House of Commom bave decldedU he 4 ae 8 tioninwnic ^ the foo d of the wh ole community is ia voIve < i ° n a partial basis , and to main , tain your own adv ^ tiges ,-it will be impossible but th ai the Legislature sk U suffer in :- . th <> estimation of thei ? eountry—( cheers . ) It , u *« Su "» »» ing the views I take ia the present crisis , ft ' * My hope that yon may come to that decision onthis qnev- i ( m wWch will show that yoa have large and enlightene \ * intentions with respect to the future state of trade anc ! con » ne « je —( cheers )—that ' ' ' *•* ' ' _ . ' ' ' ' ¦ 3 M ^^^ 1 ' 1 „ ' ¦ , ' ¦
you have considered agricultm . > ss well as ' all other in . terests , and that having so coa ^ dered , you will pass a law , whic \ when it is passed , m « n 'will look on 88 ( blessing to the country , and will fau'ank you with gratitude and fervpar in their hearts as « . 'be . and beneficient legislators—( cheers . ) That suchmay be yourdecisipa I mosr : cordially wish , but 1 cannot think that you can legislate thus unless you proceed upon principles entirely different from those submitted to yon on Wednesday nieht I therefora beg to move " that tbis House , cou 8 idering the evils which have been caused by the present Corn Laws , and especially . 'by the fluctuations of the graduated or sliding scale , is not prepared to adopt the measure of her Majesty ' s Government which is founded upon the same principle , and is likely to be attended by similar results . " ;
Mr . Gladstone said , the real question was , not which side of the House could collect the greatest array of prejudice , and passion in it 3 snpport ; but whether , looking to what is practically best , the House ought , under ail the considerations involved in the subj ect , to accept the proposal of his Right . Hon . Friend ( Sir R . Peel , ) or adopt that proposed last year by the Noble Lord . Now he was prepared to contend that the evils attributed to the existing Corn Law were to be attributed to that law only in a limited degree , and ho should further contend that the evils themselves were very much ex lggerated . He further contended that the advantages of a fixed duty were grossly exaggerated , and that the objections which attached to such a duty on its own merits were perfectly insuperable . The
sliding scale -was said to have been chargeable with tb « evil of leading to serve fluctuations in price , but similar fluctuations had taken place in countries where no such law prevailed . The Hon . Gentleman qnoted the prices of rye in Prussia at different periods , in order to support this view of the case i rye being in Prusssia used as the general food of the people in about the same proportion aa wheat was used in England . This , he said , proved that the fluctuations : were to be attributed to the difficulty of adjusting the supply to the demand ; rather than to any inherent evil . in the law . The Hop . Gentleman then went on to show that at 64 ? . the Noble Lord and Sir R ^ Petl would , like great planetSi be in conjunction as far as respected duty , but as the Noble Lord would not reduce his 8 ? . duty to Is . until it reached 73 s . or ' 74 s .,- surely his plan held out far more temptations than that of bis Right Hon . Friend to tamper with the averages ; for his Right Hoc . Friend ' s proposal was to reduce gradually and not
suddenly , bke that of the . Noble Lord . As to considering the 20 s . duty a prohibitory one , he bad to remind the House that that duty was only levied when the price at home indicated an abundant supply in the heme rnarketfij at which time any material supply of foreign com would be prejudicial ^ and if -this were to be considered a prohibitory duty , he must eay that he sincerely hoped that we should be always blest with such 3 one . Since the year 1704 , there had always been a maximum duty of 20 s . on the importation of foreigD corn , and in the course of that time there was a period of thirty yeata which was triumphantly referred to by the advocates of a repeal of the Corn Laws as one during the whole of which a free trade in corn practically prevailed . It ¦ was true , that a free trade practically : did prevail ' during that period , but nevertheless the maximum duty of 20 s . was also in force the whole time . It was said that if we took the corn of other countries they would take our manufactures in return . Of this he
would not have Hon . Gentleman to be too certain . How stood the case with Russia ? Was it because we would not take Russian produce that Russia would not .: take our manufactures ? The fact was tHis- ^ -we exported to Russia to the value of two millions ^ per annuei , " and we imported from that country over six miliions in value . In addition to this Russia had recently published a new tariff , by which additional restrictionH were placed upon the importation into that country : of British produce , which shewed that other countries were much more favourable to an imitation of us in our former restrictive system , than likely to follow usin our modern system of relaxing those restrictions . The Hon . Gentleman concluded by vindicating tihe ofeasure of the Government as a great improvement of the present Corn Law , and , therefore , gave to it his Jieirty and conscientious support —( hear , hear . ) „
Mr . C . Wood Baid , it was out of the question to pretend to say that we should not be depesdent on foreign natioiis for corn , when , for the last : ten year * the produce of the country was insuflicient to supply ; its populatibi , atid when it was evident that the evil ; must intrease with every future year . We must tb ^ r ? - ¦ fore be deptsndent in a great measure upon foreign sup- \ - ply , and the only question was as to the way in whictl ^ that supply could be obtained with the least " possiK ^/ injury to any class of the community . The Hon . Gear tleman then' entered into a lengthened argument , interspersed with several calculations , in order to show that a flxed duty was preferable to a sliding scale . Mr . LiDBELL said as far as his experience went be believed the measure proposed by the Government would gratify not only the agriculturists ,, but also a great portion of the manufacturing . and . commercial intereBte . It had never been aasertsd on tbe Ministerial side of the House that this country could b «
maintained wholly independent of foreign supply ; but it bad been held that in a good average barvcat'tlie country could nearly supply itself with fobdi £ nd when 'i | could not do bo > the system of averages . enabled them to obtain a sufficient supply without risking the prosperity of the agricultural classes of society . ^ - They knew from experience that they bad little to expect from concession . When Catholic emancipation ; was granted in the most liberal manner , it was said that the reason of granting so liberal a measure was that . it might gfre the fullest satisfaction . It gave satisfaction , however , but for a short time . Again , in the case of the Refoiin Bill , it was said in defence of the extent to which it went , that the people would not be satisfied with less . What was the result ? The Noble Lord who brought it forward bad BubBequently more trouble to defend bis ' . ' finality" than he ever had to upset the rotten boreughs . For the sake of conciliation , therefore , they should not depart from that which was sound ia princip le . . ¦ ¦ .. - . ¦'¦ ¦ ¦' . ¦• . ' . ' . : ¦¦ .:: / .. ¦ ' ' .. '¦¦ ' - ' -.. ' ¦' :-
Lfr . BoWKiNG said that the inferences drawn from his accounts of the consumption of the necessaries of life in Prussia , by the Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir B . Peel ) were erroneous ; but even , if true , and if there was a greater consumption per head in England , that was no reason why it should be reduced . The fact was , however , that the condition of the people of Englanii was , year after year , becoming worse , while in Prussia the condition of the inhabitants was progressively improving . He would prefer the scale fiug- . '•; gested by Mr . Christopher to that proposed by the Government , for under the latter plan we could never have corn admitted in any quantity except under very : rare circumstances , and concluded by a warning to the landed interests not to deal too harshly by the people , who paid more in proportion to their means than the landed proprietors to the support of tbe expences of the state . : ' .. . ¦ , ¦ :.- .. ' - '"; -- : . :- •¦ . - . ¦' : ¦ ' ¦ '• .
Mr . FeRRand ( amid loud cries of " divide , divide ") said that in rising to address the House he felt that he had awful responsibility to discharge , and under which he was placed . He had been " requested by the working classes of the north of England to come down to this House and defend them from the perse- * ; cation of their oppressors . In tbe last session of Parliament he bad ris > n in his place here oabehalf of tha working classes of this country , and he had been . granted a > patient hearing . . He hoped be should re- ceive tbe same treatment &t their bands to-night , and he would not only , on the part of himself , but also tbat of the working classes , feel very grateful to them- ^ ( hear , hear . ) It was his lot , fromhis youth , to reside in the middle of a manufacturing district ; and one of
the proudest acts of his life was to respond to the call which they bad made upon him to stand forth in their behalf , and endeavour to burst asunder the bonds of their oppressors—( hear , hear . ) The manufactures with wkora be had the honour of being acquainted denied the allegations which were contained in the petitions which were placed upon the table—( hear , bear , and cheers . ) The working elasses of the north of England assert that they had never been applied to , in the mass , to agree to those petitions . They say that these petition * were an absolute fraud upon them , as well as a decided insult to the good sense of this House—( cheers . ) They assert that the signatures to those petitions we » obtained by the foulest means possible—they were obtained I y making a mere mockery of '¦ religio 1 ? :
- ^( hear , bear , and cheers . ) And tbe anti-Corn Law League manufacturers have exacted the signature * of the working people with such threatenings , and such oppression , as are an outrage upon the liberty of the subject —( cheers and laughter . ) Before he crand the notice of this House ; be would allude to the Noble Lord , the Member for the city of London , who bad asserted within the walls of this House , that this wa * a question whicb it was the duty of the country to decide , and not the ^ Legislature . He ( Mr . Ferrand ) thought that tbe Noble Lord had himself appealed to the country ; and here was bis answer—( great cheering . ) Ho ( the Noble Lord ) had appealed to the country i £ the fixed duty project , and the Right Hon . Baronet
( Sir R . Peel ) bad appealed to the country upon »• sliding scaieT-jcbeers . ) It waa true tbat the Nooie Lord bad taken his seat backed by a majority of nine and these , it wa » eaid , were dead men— ( laughterh but the Right Hen . Baronet had taken his seat in the House backed by » majority of ninety-one living representatites of the people —( oheera and laughtsr . ) Perhaps the NobJe Lord , boiling with rage under theignominy of his defeat , might assert tbat that majority wa » obtained by fifty different false statement * But wiat said Lord Morpetb when he started in Leeds ? In tbat place , lest tbere sbonld be any mistake between her Majesty ' s Gavemment then and the Right Hon . Baronet , the First Lord of the Treasury , Lord MorpfiUi ( Continued to * m seventh pace , )
Sm^Ttrtal S^ Arltatntnt.
Sm ^ ttrtal S ^ arltatntnt .
Untitled Article
6 ¦ ' ¦ . " ' THE" MRTHfRps ^ - '¦ ...... : .: V ; '¦ ¦ ¦ : '¦'¦ ' . v :- -vV ; : -: ^ . . ¦ ¦ ¦ " - - ¦• ' . ¦¦"¦ ..-, ¦ .. ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ : ¦ . : __ ^ _ 1 ^ , ' . ' ' ' 1 ¦ 11 1- ii ' iwii 1 1—¦~ ' ~ - ~ -r ~ ii—r ~***~ - " - " ^ - . n
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 19, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct418/page/6/
-