Star. — London, England, 1824-03-06 00:00:00

4. 7PARLi:4IIIENtARY PROCEEDINGS. HOUSE OF LORDS, MARCH S. nag Weft the Loots Dereoreat for the furtherance of Ap- Peaks when "'Davison to Lockwood" was beard out. Adjourned at three o'clock, and soon afterwards the LORD CDAW• cameo took the Woolsack. At about a quarter to four o'clock the Loan Cuarnets.oa i the Earl of Suaremagrar, and Lord RlCfranatio sat tubed, as Lords Cinnlnisli•oerss for giving his Blajent's Assent to certain Mills, agreed open by both Houses of Parliament; when the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod was directed to require the attendance of the Commons Melds House. &mum, who was accompanied by eight Members, shortly appeared at the bar; and the Commission being read, dated this day, the Royal Assent was notified and declared, with the usual forms, to the Transfer of Aids Bill, the Exchequer Bills (15.000,0000 Bill, the Reciprocity of Duties Bill, the Ireland Law Courts Regu lation Bill, and the House in Lombard-street Bill. Earl FITZWILLIAM presented a Petition from the Inhabit ants of the Town of Doncaster, in the County of York, who prayed for' an amelioration of the condition of the Slave Population in our Collides, to which the Petitioners were willing to contribute by every means. The venerable Peer added his own earnest recom mendation in favour of the Pefition; which was accordingly read, and then laid on the table. The Earl of ItOSEBERRY presented a similar Petition from the Town of Spalding, in the County of Lincoln, which was re ceived, read, and laid upon the table. Mr. Booming and others brought up the Revenue Commission Inquiry Bill, and also the Anstriau Loan Convention Bill; the for mer of which was thereupon read a first time. Upon the motion for the second reading of the Austrian Loan Convention Bill— Lord HOLLAND took occasion to remark, that after casting his eye ova: it, there appeared to him some irregularity and incon gruity in the Bill, as their Lordships were likely to enact a non se tuner clause. Ile therefore should move that the Bill be printed, which was ordered. • Here their Lordships at the desire of the Opposition Peers, waited a gleaner of an hour for the presence of the Earl of Livia toot., who however did not enter the House. The Marquis of LA NS DO W N now gave notice, that he should, upon Monday se'rmight, move an Address from their Lordships to his Majesty for the immediate recognition, on the partsof this country; of the independent States of South America. lie also moved that their Lordships should be summoned for that day, which was agreed to. The same Noble Marquis said that he intended, if he had seen the Noble Earl at the head of his Majesty's Government in his place, to have asked one or two questions with regard to the com munications relative to the Spanish American Provinces laid upon the table last night. It was his intention to have moved for the answer, if any, to the last Dispatch from Mr. Secretary Canning to Sir William A'Court, and also for another whiih left an hiatus in the Correspondence not explained. Bet as it appeared that the Noble Earl was not likely to attend, and as their Lordships had waited the understood time of Indulgence for the coming of an ab sent Lord, be must postpone the questions to another time.—Ad. jousted till Monday. ' HOUSE OF COMMONS. The House was summoned by Commission in the usual form, to hear the Royal Aseut given to several Bills, for the titles of Which see the Lords Report. Several Accounts were presented from the Treasury, and ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. 11. SU 3I NER presented a Petition, praying for leave to bring in a Bill for establishing a Company for Lighting several Parishes with Gas, in the neighbourhood of the Metropolis, in the Counties of Surrey and Kent. After a few words in its support from Mr. Alderman Maurice, Sir J. Gaanast, and Mr. Alderman IVoon, the Petition was laid on the table, and ordered to be printed. Lord STANLEY presented a Petition from the Inhabitants of Bolton, in Lancashire, in favour of the Bill for the more easy reco very of Small Debts..--Ordered to he printed. Mr. W. Y. PEEL presented a Petition from the Licensed Vic-' ttlallers of Tantworth, in Staffordshire, praying that the War Tax on Excise Licenses might be talteu off.—Ordered to be laid on the table, and to be printed. A similar Petition was presented by Mr. Rosaers, from Maid stone, in Kent. Mr. WEBBpreseined a similar Petition from the Innkeepers of the City of Gloucester. A similar Petition was presented by Mr. T. Wicsow, from the Licensed Victuallers of Farringdon-Without. Mr. TtAItING complained of the absence of Ministers when so many Petitions were presented. Mr. RA MSDEN presented a similar Petition front the Inn keepers of Tewkesbury. A similar Petition was presented by Mr. Alderman Woo*, from the Licensed Victualler:of Broad-street. All of which were ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. DA WhON presented a Petition from an Agricultural So ciety feinted in the North of Ireland, praying that a Parliamentary grant might he given them in aid of their Institution. The SPEAK Elt said the Petition praying for a grant could not be received without the consent of the Crown. The Petition was accordingly withdrawn for the present. Mr. CU RTEIS moved for certain returns en Hop Duties; also for Returns on the Tonnage Duties of Veatch ; but after a few words from Sir 0. Crest, Sir M. W. Mown, and Mr. ROSEEIT. • son, the motion was withdrawn. Mr. WF.IHI presented a Petitiop from Bridport, in Dorset, against the Coal Duties, Mr. Alderman THOMPSON moved for certain Returns on the Duties and Drawback of raw and spun Silk.—Ordered. Mr. SYKES moved for Returns of the names of persons con victed for offences against the Excise Laws, on the Soap Duties.— Ordered. The same Hon. Member presented a Petition from the Tallow.' chandhrs of Glasgow against the Duties on Candles.—Ordered to be laid on the table and to be printed. Mr. 3. BEN ETT presented s Petition from the Inhabitants of Warminster, in the County of Wilts, praying fox the abolition of Negro Slavery. A similar Petition was presented by Mr. RAMSDZX. Mr. S. WORTLEY presented a Petition from the Wool Dealers and slanufacturers of Skipton, against the alteration of the Firs to prevent the Exportation of ritish Wool. The same Honourable Member presented similar Petitions from other places in the West Riding of Yorkshire. After a few words from Mr. Careens, the Petitions were brobght up and laid on the table. Mr. KENNEDY presented a Petition from the Inhabitants of Edinburgh relating to Salmon Fisheries.—Ordered to be laid on the table. Mr. Id ABERIY presented a Petition from Thomas Hazard, a azisoolmastet, praying that the House would take bis cave into their serious consideration ' he stated that he was arrested for high treason about the time the Cato-street conspirators were detected; that Goias of the conspirators went to his house, but without his korner ledge ; and that he was afterwards taken into custody, but was not tried; however, he bad lost his character, and was now in the deepest distant: The Honourable Member said he did not know the Petitioner, but feeling that every individual had a right to Pe titian that House, when he considered himself entitled to relief, he (Dlr. Mabcrly) had undertaken to present it. The Petition, he said, was co ueSed in respectful terms.—The Petition was then laid on the table, and ordered to be printed. '3lr. MABERLY presented a Petition from the Inhabitants of the Borough of Moetrose, praying for a repeal of the Assessed Taxes. 'Mr. HOME said, he had stated on a fortiter occasion what he would now repeat, that all the Assessed Taxes might be taken of and leave sufficient Revenue for the service of the State. —The Pe tition was then brought up and ordered to be printed. Load STANLEY presented a Petition from the Proprietors of a Silk lianufactory in Lancashire, praying that the Duties on Foreign Silks might be gradually taken off. The Noble Lerd said he took the opportunity of presenting the Petition when the Chancellor of the Exchequer was present; and he hoped the suggestion which was thrown out by the Petitionen, and which was what he himself intended to propose, would be considered by Governnwnt.—The Peti4on was laid on the table and ordered to he printed. Sir 3. NEWPOIa said he held in his hand a Petition from se veral Protestant families in the County of Fermanagh, praying that a, Church might be built. The Petitiopers, he said, bad frequently applied to the Biabop, Rectors. and Curates, for their support to erect a Church, but without effect. There was some landed pro perty.in the parish which had been in litigation several years; an appeal was now lodged in the House of Lords respecting it, and until that was decided, no steps were to be taken to build a church. There were about forty heads of Protestant families who had been about west years without having a place of worship to attend.— 'What aggravated the case - still more was, that a Gentleman, aM a pother, who had en estate in the imisediale nrillbbinlrhood, Offered a school-bean be:loosing to him for the purpose of having service reformed in it, but this' offer was refused.—The Petition was then bOuOt up and ordered to be rioted. Sir J. NEWPORT laid be held is his bad award Petitions from . ' , • . , different parishes in Ireland praying far relief: but atfiltered somewhat in their prayers. be would take the liberty of statiotooe or two. The Petitioners of one of she parishes stated that their church bad gone to decay. and all Hat they knew of the hector now was through the Tytbe Proctor.—The Petitions were then brought up. • Mr. OOULBURN said that he should be wanting in respect to Dr. Woodward. the Clergyman alluded to, if be did not say that be never knew a more respectable character, not one who was more scrupulous in the discharge of hi parochial duties. As to the other facts stated in the Petitions, be begged the House to suspend its judgment upon them until he had set on foot the requisite inquiries. 51r. DAWSON thought that the Honourable Baronet would have been the last person to bring forward Petitions without being certified of the facts contained in than. No Clergyman bore a -------- -- -- more amiable character than Dr. Woodward, and one who was -- - - more beloved by his parishioners. He was an English Gentleman and possessed a large estate in this country, the revenue of which, along with his stipend, he spent in the parish. Sir J. NEW PORT said that the facts were communicated to him by a Noble Peer of Parliament, and if he bad not brought them forward with such a 'catcher, he Would have been guilty of a dereliction of duty—(llear.)— T he Petition was then read and ordered to be printed. Sir T. ACKLAND presented a Petition (root the inhabitants of a parish in Devonshire, praying for the repeal of the Duty on Coals tarried coastwise. Mr. TREMA YN 1. hoped that the Right Hon. Gentleman op.. posite would see the propriety of a total repeal of this duty. Mr. Ill.:AT) moved for an account of the Returns on Grain, Meal, and Flour, to January, 1824. Mr. DUMB, seeing the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his place, thought it proper to mention, that the bounties which the Hight Honourable Gentleman proposed to take awiy from the par.icular branch of the Linen Trade would be attended with the most disastrous effects to the Manufacturers of Scotland, and par ticularly to those of the place which he had the honour , to repre sent (Montrose). Ile should recommend that the bounties should be taken off every kind of Linen. The CHANCELLOR of the EXCIIF.QTIER said, that it was ' his intention to depart so far from the view which he stated the other night, as that the reduction of the bounties should affect every branch of the Linen Trade. Mr. BROUG /IA AI presented a Petition from the Borough of Newry, in Irelan I, praying for the Consolidation of the Laws re lating to the Police of Ireland. The lions:potable Gentleman stated, that the principal object of the Petition, which was signed by 613 householders, was to prevent a Bill from passing the House, which they believed to be in progress; for watching, cleansing, and lighting the town of Newry. He thought it proper to mention that a requisitiort, signed by 429 householders, had been presented to the Seneschal or Chief Officer of the place, to call a Public Meeting on the subject of the Petition. 'Dist Gentleman, how ever, refused his consent,. The Honourable Member commented on several statutetwbich had passed from the commencement of the reign of George 11. to the end of the last reign, relative to the Police of Ireland, which be said were contradictory of each other, and quite inoperative for the purposes for which they bad been passed. After a few words from Mr. Banwartow, Sir J. Nrwrost, and Mr. ASZSCAOMSY, the Petition was ordered to be printed. Mr. ViESTEIIN presented a Petition from certain inhabitants of the town of Billericay in Eases, praying Toe the Abolition of Negro Slavery.—Ordered to lie on the table. Mr. G. BENNET presented a Petithn from the Journeymen Hatters against the Combination Laws.—Ordered to be printed. IfORILIGN SILK. Mr. BARING presented a Petition from Tannton, praying that the prohibitory Doty on Foreign Silk might not be repealed. The Hon. Member stated that the Pe tition was unanimously signed by the great body of ma nufacturers, with the exception of one individual, who objected to some of the phrases in the Petition. Not only the dealers in the raw material, but the manufac• turers of silk, and those who vended the manufactured articles, concurred in stating that the measure, if per sisted in, would be their utter ruin. Wrrat the petitioners dwelt upon, and what must appear obvious to every one, was, that the free trade, as to this article, would be attended with benefit only if the laws of both countries produced an equalizationof labour for unless this could be done, it was in vain to tell the petitioners that the principles of free competition could be fairly tried. They could be able to shew that the thirty per cent. duty could be of no avail. The fact was, that it was not the Custom-house officers who prevented the im portation of these articles, but it was the power which the laws gave of seeing them in the country. This trade was dependent upon fashion. As long as the opinion prevailed that the French patterns were batter than those of England, all reasoning on general principles of competition weft for nothing. The French silk shops would carry off all the custom. This superiority of France was owing to the superior dye which was used,' to the better application of chemistry, and to the start which the French obtained over this country. Besides this regulation gave no reciprocity from France—no in terchange of the commodity of this country; and there fore it must, on that account, be attended with loss. He (Mr. Baring) hoped his Majesty's Ministers would en tirely abandon the plan of interfering with the Silk Trade. The Right llonourahle Gentlemen opposite had ? in his (Mr. Baring's) opinion, treated the subject very lightly, by not asking the opinion of persons conversant in the Silk Trade before they ventured to submit the measure to the House. The Right Honourable Gentle men seemed to intimate that they had asked the opinion of these persons upon the subject; but he undertook to say, that if they had taken any opinion, they must have asked the only individual in the trade in. London who was of opinion that the consequence of the measure would not be the ruin of the trade. , He should conclude by expressing a hope that the determination of Minis ters to follow up this measure was not immutable, or that they would at least not subMit the measure to the House until they could lay before the House the result of a minute inquiry in support of the measure. • ' 1 Mr. Secretary CANNING said, he did not rise to op 'pas!) the bringing up of the Petition, because no man was more willing to admit, that in every legislative enactment, be it political or be it commercial, the fullest l inquiry should be instituted ; and on an alteration such as that which his Right Honourable Friend had pro-_ posed to be made in the silk trade, the fullest discussion ought to take place ;but he rose became the Honourable Gentleman had in his speecb gone into general consi derations of a wider nature than. any alluded to in .thd Petition which he was about to present, and had sag= Bested alterations upon which the Petition was silent. He (Mr• Canning) begged the House and the country to consider the situation of a Government desirous of illustrating practically those principles of commerce which had been so frequently urged upon them for their adoption from all sides of the House—(Hear, hear) — and by no person more strenuously than by the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat down—(Hear). .Yet, when the Government proposed to illustrate practically, and not by declamation, the benefits of these principles to commerce, they were to be turned round upon by the former advocates of the general application of these measures, and told this article or the other must be ex empted. The Honourable Gentleman had laid down two propositions which were contradictory, and which never could be acted opon together, and which would put an end to any relief being afforded to the silk trade, or to any other branch of commerce-which now laboured under any restrictions, The Honourable Member ad mitted that the principle ought to be applied gene rally and widely, and that it would be a great act of injustice if any branch were left untouched; and - in il lustration of this proposition, he alluded to .the Corn Laws. He proposed to Government to take another job, , 'as if they bail not already sufficient on their hand.— (Hear). And he then contended that this particular trade ought to be exempt , from the operation of that 'principle. He would with to know Why the silk manu licturer, the grower of coin, orof wool, should be ex empt front the operation of a principle, the general ap plication of which was admitted by the Honourable Member, and urged over and over again by the Gen tlemen opposite without any reference to the silk trade? —(Hear, hear.) He denied that even if the result of inquiry should be as stated in that Petition, that the silk trade would be injured ; the House ought therefore to stop short in pursuit of the general principle. Ile denied that any rule of exemption for the silk trade could be made, because the restrictions upon the corn trade were not removed. , He believed the Hon. Gentleman was as well aware of the truth of these assertions as he (Mr. Canning) was. He was satisfied that the House was right in the application of the general principle, and the Honourable Gentleman might preach to all eternity about a simultaneous application of that_principle ; but if it could not be applied to any one branch of com merce until such a state of things should arise as to ren der it practicable to apply it at the same time to all branches of commerce, there was pot the slightest 'chance of having it, ever applied—( Haar). Mr. DENMAN agreed with the Right Honourable Gentleman upon the general principles, and no man would be more ready than he was to give them full ef fect when an opportunity should offer. .lle did not think we ought to wait until the principle could be ap plied to all branches generally, neither was his Honour able Friend (Mr. Baring) of that opinion, as he was re presented to be by the Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Canning); but the question here to be considered was in what branch might an alteration be made with the, least inconvenience or suffering of • any body of the people ?* It was clear the duty on silk could not betaken off without producing great alarm and distress. If the question were to lay on any fresh duty,'he (Mr. Denman) as the advocate of a free trade, would oppose such a duty, but he thought he could spew other taxes which might be taken off without producing •alarm and distress. There were many taxes, the repeal of which would not meet a dissentient voice in the empire; the Duty on Probates, Legacies, Conveyancing, and the ad valorem duties, for instance. Why not repeal the Window Tax ? Would the repeal of that tax be objected to by any persons ex cept the Government ? The question was not here free trade or no free trade, but what taxes might be taken off to afford the greatest relief to the Public ; and be was of opinion that the tax now proposed to be repealed was not that tax. • Mr. HUSKISSON—He felt convinced when the Ho nourable and Learned Gentleman rose that he did so for the purpose -of adverting to the only part of the speech of the Honourable Member for Taunton which was left untouched by his Right Honourable Friend (Mr. Canning). lie was satisfied that the Honourable and Learned Gentleman would have expressed his plea sure at the repeal of what that Honourable and Learned Gentleman was in the habit of terming unconstitutional restraints—(Hear, hear.) He alluded to the repeal of the prohibition, the repeal of that enormous power of the Excise officer, who was at libeity to search the house of any person whom he might suspect of having any foreign silk : nay, lie might even take the piece of silk out of the hands of the purchaser to ascertain the ma nufacture-of it. The only question between his Right Honouralne Friend and the ,Member for Taunton was, was this odious prohibition, as it had been often termed by the Gentlemen opposite, to be continued or not ?— The Honourable Member stated as a reason for conti nuing this prohibition, that the price of labour was higher in this country, than in any other country inEu rope. Was not the piice of labour in the manufacture of every ether article as high as the price of labour in the manufacture of silk ? It the price of labour was. iuffi, cient to justify a prohibition, it would be sufficient to justify a prohibition in every other branch of our corn inerce—(Hear, hear). It was astonishing that the acute mind of the Honourable Member had discovered now, for the first time, that the price of labour was higher in this country than in France—(Hear). The Honourible Member had said. that if the prohibition were taken off, the difference in the price of labour would give such an advantage to the French manufacturer as would cause the ruin of the silk-manufacturer in England. He could state, upon the authority of a French writer, who had access to the necessary documents, that the annual ex port of silks from this country exceeded the export of France. It the English manufacturer could meet the French in a foreign market on even terms, would it be contended that the English manufacturer, with •a pro tecting duty of 30 per cent. could not meet the French manufacturer in the home market ? The Honourable Member had said that the Government had not made the proper inquiry, and that this measure had not the sanction of the trade, with the exception of one indivi dual. He did not know to what individual lie alluded; but he would say that the Goveinment of this country would not, in his opinion, have done their duty if they had not taken the earliest opportunity of removing (in deference to the opinion of the Gentlemen opposite) the shackles upon commerce. With regard to inquiry, he would ask the Honourable Member,. did he never hear of the inquiry which took place in the other House of Put liament ? Did the Hon. Member never hear of the report of the other House? In that report it was stated ao be the ()pinion of the principal si'lk•manu facturers, that the whole system impeded the growth and the progress of the silk trade; and that it pre vented capital from having the same chance in that as in other trades. It Was upon that Report thatsthe Government came td the r evolution of proposing an alteration in the old system ;.but he must protest against the statement that the Government, in making that proposition, had taken either the silk trade or the House by surprise. Whatever objections miglit exist now in the minds of the silk-manufacturers, he would venture to say, that if the restrictions should be removed, they would be the first to rejoice. Mr. DAVENPORT would oppose any alteration in the present system of conducting the silk trade; and he did so from a firm conviction that any alteration would not only injure that trade, but would put an extinguisher upon it altogether. Mr. ELLICE—The Right Honourable Gentleman bad asked where were Ministers to begin? To that he would reply, begin upon that article in which your rival. has not the best chance of competition. The silk trade was not that in which our. rival had not the best chance of competition. because the silk trade was not an Wu trade bete, whilst the French had always excelled us in that manufacture. The cotton trade was our owe, and our machinery gave us an advantage uver any foreigi, rival. He agreed with the Right Honourable Gentle. man that all restrictions which impeded the free cur rency of trade ought Lobe taken off ; and he was grate- -7 ' t;r4. ‘ ful to his Majesty's Ministers for tilling that view .of cite subject ; but he must say, that they ought to have begun where the experiment would not be so dangerous as in this .instance. He must now *cleat to the Coin Laws, Hew could this country rival France, when the price of bread was twice as much in this country as in France? This high price was not produced by natural causes, but by restrictions which the Right Honourable Gentleman would not consent to remove, perhaps be. cause he would find it more difficult to remove them than any other restrictions.- •• He-knew the-situation of the country was a bar to our making such experiment; as might "be made if the burthens of the country we're lesS ; but when he found the assessed taxes unrepealed, and the taxes upon every article of the pour man's comfort unrepealed, he must admit that some tirol must elapse before the manufacturers of this courerr could be placed on a level with the foreign matrufac. Curers. He might be asked, what then is the cause of the commercial and manufacturing prosperity of am country for the last few years? Ile would answer, the low- price of provisiiins during that period. If the Corn Laws went on, he was afraid that this country was on the eve of that situation in which Holland was, ellen the interest of -money was at two per cent. and the i rice of labour and taxes so high, as to drive the capiraii.ts and artisans from that dountry to this. where *they a er n cherished, and rose to the highest pitch of prosper it, .• The House could not place the British manufacturer 1.1 the same situation with the foreign manufacturer, with ilut taking off the very heavy taxes upon. labour. If Ministers could say to the labourer, bread is as cheap in this country as in Frauce, then they might say to th e manufacturer, we have put you on st level with the fo reigner, and we will take off the restrictions. He would then support Ministers in opposition to the wishes of h..: own constituents. He thought Ministers ought steadily to pursue the general principle of free trade, but h would suggest to them,-at the same time, the taking ctf of such taxes as might be tsktot off without risk c.r danger to any essential interests. It was of no avail to talk of a protecting duty of thirty per cent. when smug glers could introduce the article- into this country at ten per cent. and therefore the duty of tint ty per cent: could never be said to be a protecting duty, as it never would be paid to the revenue, while the article caul I he procured in another way at ten per cent. It was well known that the price of the labotir necessary to manu facture most articles, was equal to Ss. 4d. and on some articles ss. 6d of the-price of the manufactured article. 'Now, when the price of the labour was double in one country to what it was in another, it was impossible to open the trade without giving an advantage to the foreigner. He thought Ministers began at a wrong time. When the manufacturer complained of the price of labour, and the labourer complained of the inade quacy of the price of his labour to his support ; when he told the House that the average wages of the work. ing,silk weavers in Coventry did not exceed six shillings a week—they would agree with him .that the master manufacturer was not inclined to procure labour at an expensive rate. - Mr. Secretary PEEL would candidly ask the Ho noutable Member who had just sat down, if he would support the prayer of the Petition if he were not argu ing as the Member for Coventry ? He would wish to know what connexion there was between the admissions and the arguments of the Honourable Member. The Honourable Gentleman had admitted the propriety of the general principle, but he disapproved of the appli. cation of it in the present instance. Nr;w he would ask the Honourable Gentleman to state upon what other ara ticle of commerce, except silk, did an aete4 prohibition exist ?(Hear, hear.)—The Honour Ic Gentleman had said that Ministers were beginning! the system at the wrong end. To that he would answer, Ministers, so far ' from having a system to commence, shad- a system to conclude; and let them apply the same principle tosilk as was applied to all other branches of commerce, and the Silk Trade would then make its ground with a pro , grecs equal to any other branch of our commerce. The second argument of the Honourable Gentleman was— lhat in the manufacture of silk the English menufac. curer was htferior to the French manufacturer. Did not that statement lead to the conclusion that this inferiot itv arose from the prohibition, which checked the scope of English exertion, and the application of English -capi tal ? He would then say, remove '.at prohibition, le galize the importation of silk, give a protecting duty to the English manufacturer, and then English machinery and English capital would come into play, and the Eng.' lish manufacturer would be able to meet the foreign manufacturer. But it was said the manufacture of silk was not a native manufacture; and therefore the pint. ciple couldnot be applied to it with as much safety aster other manufactures. •He did not know what was the Hon. Gentleman's meaning of a native manufacture: silk was as much a native manufacture as cotton, cutlet y; and other manufactures which could be named (Hear). Ile supposed the HonourableGentleman meant to draw' a distinction between the silk sand the woollen manufac tures, and there certainly a distinction existed, but be tween silk and cotton manufactures no such distinction existed. The Ilonourable Member (Mr. Baring) had asked, who was the sponsor of this measure? To that he would answer, no o.as peison was thesponsor of it, the sponsor of the measure was the principles which had been so hequently advocated by the . Gentle Men opposite, principles which would be deemed higher au‘ thority than the• opinion of any one person, however high might be his station. He asked of-the House when they established a principle, and when Ministers, disre garding popularity, proposed the application of that principle, in a way which must ultimately turn out more beneficial to the country, to have the courage to go on -steadily and without looking to any local interests. If ' the House should shrink from thus applying the prin ciple, they could never expect credit for sincerity. Those principles wo red be brought into disrepute by declaiwe ing on them and admitting their justness, and then , blinded by local interests, opposing the application of diem—(icar, hear). Mr. PHILLIPS.—There could be no doubt that the alteration now proposed would introduce some &S -culty at first, and such difficulty was one of the bad effects of a bad system. It was, said that the present state of the Corn Laws was such as to preclude the Bri tish manufacturer from any chance of competition. lie would admit that the Corn Laws were injurious to the manufacturer, but be could not, en the other hand, overlook the advantages possessed by the English over the French manufacturer sri the skill and steady appli cation of the English workmen, an application which, added to their skill, was so valuable that it procured for those in mans who had emigrated from this 'country higher wages than were .given to the native wotkmen. His decided opinion wa's, that Government could 'A f t select a measure which would Le productive of greater idvantagos, and he trusted they would persevere. If ... I _IL b. ` .~aC.YI . ,