The Express.
London, England, 1849-04-24 00:00:00

maritime power, verrfairly give to Trinidad the trade, even though yeti .
hmasseeeittaraw:athilii ealarsaiheataihbeefeeoikaDti
it
iharatiwera a
priaaipleporicayi
but those told that we shall not again obtain fair sad equal term . I
of wersalaweifaiLtdoeitia be better able to conld receive so equivalent from other nations. But we am
wasafen7daird vote for the government o _ _ _ _
eh ought to Now the information which I derive from the papers when
guide this country
thatin feineemramegaecf°l - - and
vote kind. I conclude that with respect to a greet pert of the
d in its have been laid before parliament is of a totally &tenet
e.ehemaltielag."pgieuceenheni p-----p-- °--mention,
nws rolusteat satioas of the world we shell obtain Mir sad equal
protictltsist lassehml we era ready to give thou dress to them. There le
11°-
edvausriseal Theetmeneffealtionsaathdata:ritanboetaate° pPrepaarili•ad Rualaito live
-a----poople end- Ts healeating— he
believed
pesiiains ?deb° forced
late upon
from the time of navigation with thou countries, provided
~.., these equal terms are reduced to throe or four, Prudes,
semillseenes thee the whole argument in faro"' of the Spain and, reshape, one or two others. Let us pat the
elembeilme the house has been exhausted by the masterly owl, meet that this bin le
rejeeted
and
that
you
wait
for
dressiegieed item. litossiseBll"oat-11114:easIfutIownsifeel olan,litaillarlsesealalfrot that . '" ".
=ne Me right to
bent- the Imm_,ln_„_,hes ...____fmt D..*.e_a• some yeas before you tete any measures. What will be tbe
) I Mel Mat be went m° OlimP'er,'T "e""•04_ " "'"' cue then ? Preemie has told us, Ido not consider it a threat,
argeliMile, *Mahe touched Urn all Pans a‘ ""' e° ess..eiet I consider it a fair declaration--the says to you, I think
to you, and Mu yea the ease terms you give. I
these restrictions wise, I will keep your wade= with regard
libtlll:ny menner.
gmmteantatutledvrthheathathe
jhaettet
-that I
ail very great difficulty in addressing th
a mina see that there is anything oppressive in that
koala at all upon this subject. But still the deep sense
bees
down-(hear,
or that we have any reason to complain of suck
, which I have date impormes of this questioa 'aka Ine a declaration. Russia has already proelaimed the ems
feel that after a year of delay, after an inquiry by a commit- thing that as to other cations she will impose the restrict:fess
tee of the House of Commons, and a commit* of which theatres, on her shipping, but she will not do so to
the House of Lords, and attar the measure bee been England,
use she has a treaty with England. How long
twice me tied in the speech from the *cage' dose it last ? It expires in 1851, and from that time Rorie
it is time that our deliberations upon the 'subject
T. will be at liberty to impose these restrictions on Beg-
1.0 end in the settlement of de question. 1
„.•Dh_emmee,.....•l .I:: land. Is it wise to wait for these restrictions, sad
this feeling. I ally. which Mama* me "' """"'" -'" then endeavour to negotiate in order to take these yo.
house before we ousel to any decision. I was glad to hear
striations off? I remember that Mr. Buskfison held a
the ham gentleman who spoke last admit, in a somewhat __ry
different, and, e think, wiser doctrine, and I Lau
different spirit from the bon. and teamed gentleman the '''
___ hare the words that he used after speaking eg
member for Mistimes', that ell those 'restrictions of the what is sailed now the practice of Prussia, and the cash*
solver require defense; that there must be a strong cese
ha was likely to adopt. lie said, " the immediate less
roads out for them la order to justify them ; and that there- whichl derive from it is this, that it is pert of political win
fore the burden of proof ley& upon those.whe attempt to sot
t admit that iis dons, when danger Is foreseen, not supinely to wait for il
port them. Every one, I think. Ims' t • ° approach, but, as far as possible, to take familiar measures '•
Ira* to
enenelor apemen to Irish to bring wool from Aus
hi for is
prevention." That is the
course
we
me
new
wring.
Roglenel to sulinitlY our rft"UfartUren, .." a .../81T,D2.." sad!! We are told that there is no popular cry for this measure-
that
tore le no nerd guilt in attemp"ng. "• ••••-• - - that there is no demand for it on the part of pubic opinion;
to
from Holland ; that there is mileally no lin is attamorag but I think we are bound, if we see such dangers before us,
introduce American cotter from Havre. The wh • i crime if we have the information which enables as to judge,
then must consist in the violation of your prohibitory aeg
not to wait until the people of this country come to us come
and that prohib.tory law must require very stem: . PObW'n 'gaining sad saying, rut navigation is subject to your dire'.
of argument to defend it. Now this moo* has
.b .en lion; you knew it weuld be so, you might have prevented
treated by the hes. member in a speech or grelsaait.
it ; we chest you es our repreeentatives to measure this
ability as one to be considered he ara restion and foresee these dangers; you have allowed these
mere-the historical, the economteal, and the Danz .
I must wakes that Ido sot think that upon any of those to come upon us, you are to blame. (H• sr, brat.)
Ifaaraltais the case, I ask the house to agree to this bill and
roma there is a sufficient defence for the present Mato el 0
endeavour
to
weave
the
settlement
of
this
nation.
eke law. (Cheers.) lam aware that this law has been I am the mote impressed with the necelsity of
ebbed worshipped as the very safeguard and bulwark of this
, been arriving at the settlement that we propose, from
mustry, that moat of our MolimeitY in enn"n"e• "" the considerations which have been adverted to by
attributed to it, sad that it has been thought a sort of pro
the right hon. gentleman the member for Ripen. He has
thastion to attempt to alter it. (Hear, Mar.) But my
belied that that opinion was founded in error, and that at quoted the statement of a noble lord, that with respect to
protection, we ought to retrace our step. We know very
M time has it been cf essential 'advantage to the marine of
well thet this is not only a declaration of a person in bigh
Missellente7. Let us took at the originorigin el this law. Did it authority and in a commanding position, but we know that
arks from any view of commercial wisdom-from say of
in many parts of the country, from certain classes, a cry has
Her views of protection even which are now mid by gentle-
men on the other aide of the house to be so conducive to our been rased for eerenewal of protection, not upon any tedium
article, not upon soy imported goods, with regard
national prosperity ? It arose from the wish of the Pratte- ._
_e,_,.. _ v
th► great mese of the people of this
tor Cromwell, inspired upon that occasion by the enmity and to which
indignation of England against the Dutch, le fester, '" try are not Interested, but they lave 'eked at
once for a renewed duty upon the importation of fowl. New,
cripple, anti destroy the commercial marine of Holland.
I big hon. members of this house to consider what would be
And so little did it answer in any other view that
the probable eons quence of any attempt of that nature.
the right hoe. barenee„ the member for Ripon, has
(Hear, hear.) Let them weigh it well. Ism reminded of
y quoted the opinion of Roger Cooke, and
what the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Henries) said at the
other autbors who followed in the enures of the century,
___,_mee
of his
„mem, whoa he
said
that we
mere
making
showing that our commercial regulations and our navigatio:
~e-'"ie
agitator., and he called upon us not to promote sedation,
laws were most injurious to this country. (Hear.) -Wh and not to irritate the minds of men. The agitation and
that or not it was our interest to desSoy the caerying wade of
the irritation that has been produced by our pro.
Holland we need not now much consider; but what I do
posed renal of the navigation laws, is not vey
know et, that 40 years afterwards it was the chief object of
considerable or very alarming ace-rdisg to the opinions of
our policy to maintain the power of Holland. We were
some geoid...um, but if you declare that you are about again
united almost with the elms sovereign, and our alliance was
to impose a tax upon food; that your object is to make food
of the closest and most intimate character. Well, what is
dearer, that you are not satisfied with the low price of corn,
the next effect we find produced hietorieelly by our navi
es
there will be an agitation of a very different kind, (hear,
ties laws end the restrictions attending them ? I find thou
hear) and you oill have the great mass of the eel)].
mod:Sons and regulations provokine the subjects of the
who are new quiet and contented-(Cheep from
crown In America, the loyal and attached subjects of the ..._
opposition)
-I twain repeat it-now quiet and
British empire, to resistance to the vexatious slid intolerable e"
coutented-who silently rejoice that they sue en-
mature of those regulation'. What was the next effect of
abled with regard to articles both of necessary
regulations of a similar kind ? You prohibited Ireland from food food, and of those slight comforts which they are enabled to
trading with any of your colonies. You fetter,d her by th
purchase, to pun hue them at • lower rate than perhaps has
most severe end restricted regulations. You provoked re been the case during the memory of man in this muntey-
instance in Ireland, and it was only by abandoning those
during the memory of any one now living-them who are
cegulatimm that You succeeded In PacifYlag her' I say, reeding in that sate of th;rgs, if you proclaim that you are
therefore, that in an historical view the providons of the
about again to impose a tax upon the importation of corn,
navigation laws have been mischievous and not conducive to
you will have them agitated by the fear of the suffering they
our welfare. (Chen..? Well, then, sir, in an economical
may hays to endure from the scarcity which by your ',gists-
view I think there is most a confisojon on the part of the don you attempt to expose them to. And where, let
hon. gentleman who spoke last, and of tholot who defend
.„... me ask, would be the benefit? Many of the farmers and
the existing systess,thate economically maffamaeat thaw l"- agricultural interest are asking for a duty upon corn. If ft
must be iniurious-that them restrictions must tend vs dim'.
was a smell duty, mon corn, an advents e s 0 doubt would
Dish the wealth of the country, and that no other defence
be gained to the revenue' but protection, effective in the
can be toned for them but their tendency to promote our
opinion of the farmed would not be gained, and they would
naval power. I need not, therefore, go into the various not be so much &egad:fled as they now are ; but if it were
manners in which the present laws ere injurious. (Year, at all • high duty, does any one imagine you could im-
hear.) Those have been shown in evidence before the ems-
it, or if you impose It could maintain such a duty?
mittese-they have boon shown in various Wittiness to have
Does any one believe, in the preset state of this country,
delayed and obstructed the commerce of this country. But
that if such a bill were to pus this house with four to
then it is said that whateues °say he till injucY our am- one in its favour, and pass the House of Lords without a
mares may suffer, however unwise those restrictions may
dissentient voice, that such a law could be enforced?
be in • CODlOStftill point of view, they have tended
Then I ray, don't, by the rejection of this bill, give
to keep up the commercial marine from which the navy
strength a signal for fresh and renewed agitation upon tic subject.
of this country derive its resources and its
°llene"- I, like the right hon, gentleman the member for Ripon, re-
Now, sir, I flak that there ere many reasons for doubt•
joist in the tranquillity with which we pseud through a year
ing that assertion-and I cell it as " assertion," be
remarkable for its reydlutions and convulsions in almost
after all the arguments and all the evidence we hays heard
every cout.dy of Europe. I believe that three things cos-
from men of high naval authority, and from persons of great
tributed mainly to the confidence, the repose, and the loyalty
commercial authority, I have seen nothing at all like a proof
of our people. I believe the first cause of our tranquillity
of that assertion-I see nothing more than an assertion thata
was attache-out to the form of our ancient institutions. In
here ere regulations which tend to a monopoly, and there-
the next place, I believe that trancrillity was very much
fore that they must be beneficial tie the commercial marine t
owing to the
removal
of these
groat a
meee in
the
T.
presents.
this country. (Cheers.) Now, let us aces what on the other
tion of the people which existed when the Reform Act was
hand are the reasons for doubting the truth of that ass, rtion
_ro
d, under the administration of Lord Grey. I thick
In the first Instance, there is the ohmmeter of our P
people, that, if ;hetet bed emitted last year such flagrant abuses as
eminently attached to meal pursuits, readily embracing the
Oaten and Old serum, them would have boon a call for rt.
marine as a profusion, distinguished among the nations of
form which would have swelled into a cry for revolution.
the world as a navel people. 1 own I was utonishedto hear
(Hear, hear.) I believe the third reason why the people
the hon. gentleman who spoke last, complain that if we
were so tranquil dining the imitations of the put year was,
passed this bill we obliged the abipowsen of this countryto
that the grievance which they had beforo felt of the high
employ inferior workmen. Bat I ask him why lotuses.
price of fond, caused by legislation, hail eased to exist, the
workmen ? I am told that a great portion of the comae relit
set of 1848 having removed all impedimenta to the procuring
marine of the United States, of which many are so jealous,
of food by'the penile uclisaply as it could be obtained from
consists of those very British Eamon whom you now call
a.. foreign nations. To these errs tircionstances you are, ia
inferior workmen. (Hear, hear.)
er Vfhapi iseenl\thee„ee,l4 the:et:4Z my opinion, mainly indebted for the position in which you
made the masters and "amen - our ------ --- stood-a position gratifying to every native of this country;
medals in any way inferior ? What is it that has tended to
a position which made this country conspicuous to all the
cripple their energies or diminish their skill ? What can it
nations of the world. 1 ask you now to maintain thatposition,
be but the mutest invariable effect of your protective laws,
by the same means as you acquired in. I ask you not to re-
which say: "Don't Mist to your energies; don't rely
ae feu a return which is pointed "out by reason, which is the
up your "a Powell because' l° default of result of inquiry, and wbich is in conformity with a prin-
dustry, in default of skill, we will tine you a law
ye 1 eiple which parliameat has already deliberately adi pled. I
which shall protect you against everything?" (
the Chrille-e' tell you that if, on the other hand, yon are abut to pursue
And yet we know, despite all that, that in year --e' the course of reaction-if you induce men to think that you
236,000 belonged to the commercial marine of England, and
doubt the soundness of those principles which you hays
we must know that that is not a number that could be pre already adopted, and that the shipping interest is not to be
deiced amongst a nation that was not essentially a nation fol-
left the sole protected interest, but other interests are Shave
lowing the marine as a pretssion, and eminent among the
protection restored to them-you will, in that case, be giving
nation in that line. But what is the next ? We were told,
the signal f ir an egitation, which you maybe proud of having
I mesember, about the year 1824 and 1828, that Mr. Hue
commenced, bat of which you will not see the end without
limos had istroduced a measure which would totally ruin ~,_ e______
_____„_ (Hoar, ,
_..‘
the commercial marine of the country ; that the shipping
Mr.the deepest :aciedearthereneseweree
may
two.
eansideratiaaa
must be utterly destroyed ; that the state of clatters was .
something which had scarcely ever been paralleled, and that which hada d him to take the liberty of addressing the
it was owing to his measures. that" the fervent desire of the house
Now these measures did house at hour-namely,
in a very great degree, introduce competition with other that this debate should terminate (cheers), aid the remern
natioss ; they gave reciprocity in some Instances ; they did mice, onhispart, braace, own that he should trouble the house
away with restrictions without reciprocity in others ; and
but for a few minutes. He bad on another occasion, en-
what has been the consequence? I have here the tonnage tired most fully into the discussion of this great question,
before the division was
of the British empire as it stood in the year 1823, in the and he should now take the liberty,feel.
year 184 e, and in the year 1849. I will take thee* numbers, called, .of venturing to express the general
i with which he should give his vote on this
elthnueth there are many other rearm to the same effect. MI . _
In 1823, the tonnage was 2,506,760 ;ha 1840, it was 3,127,684; occasion. The right bon. gentleman the member
for It' had told them that he considered the
la 1949 it was 4,052,160. That is the mode in which the 'Pon house me
capital
which
min to be
=suttee before the to be
Wane"
of
the
British
ample
has
Increased,
this
placed on the column which they had bun so long raising.
system of modified competition; and in the same pen
seamen employed have risen from 165,000 to 236,000 If the column which they had raised were one which, in the
its outline and the general beauty of its design,
men. I say this is a reason for believing that we symmetry of . ... _ .
tat.om-ii mei found
lean stand competition, and that we may go further in that
, maim The hon. member for Midhurst admit•ed that the that when raised itdid
not realise the expectations of their
' plea el Mr. Huskimon was successful, and that there had creative fancy, ey might perhaps, hesitater before they
Ibsen a great increase in the amount of tonnage and the num- went to the additional expense of raising a costly capital
her of men, but he said, as you have bees so successful stand upon what might of ill fashioned design.
be a column very
where you are, you have succeeded, you ere going on well, (Hear. •
bear •) The rhetorical illustrations of the right hon.
and therefore be contented with the position you have gentlemen, Placed the ease in its true light before the house.
attained. That is not my mode of considering a question of (Hese, bees', great e Thi s measure was brought forward to
this kind. (Hear, hear.) I consider that if you have made realise led to deal with &meet
a theory. They wanes l upon
an experiment in one direction, if that experiment has beennot by any popular Morale
*retail: interest ;
moonstul, and at the same time ham been a cautious e :psi. any general me but
complaint of great national incoavem ,
meat, that is a rearm for going further in the some aired because the repeal ofthe navigation . laws of England was
does; it is a reason for greater program, to be attended necessary tocomplete But the time
a great experiment..
as, to that evening hadh in a
I trust, with still greeter sum's. But, sir, I have men- which had been appealed.ear ,
tioned two grounds for unfidemi that our commended groat measure t .
sated the experiment. (Hear, •!
the, house nominated a tom'
marine will not be injimd by the proposed repeal of the Upon a foregone conchal= -(1,
navigation laws. Igo to mother ground to which Ido not mittee of inquiry, a committee which, he might be pectins:lr
am that there can be any answer. It is not only that this is to say, did not coaduct is investigations in the _ manner
the amount of to and this the number of men employed which het
sohighly raised the general character of
r had this committee
In %Intends of the United Kingdom, but the greeter portion mittees of that home. But no alone
to
of it is employed in the carrying trade to Russia, in the been appointed, no sooner had members gone about .
adopted than it
oiled
carrying trade to Trieeta, and the ports of Austria, where evidence to justify a decision already . . .,...
sw
we meet other nations of the glebe, and whether they found that the case was not sufficiently e stabtimee by t!..
be Swedes or Ameelmme they do not drive us out of the isoonveniesces which it was alleged the commerce of Fs:
field. I de not see what answer there can be to these country wee suffering. lt bereame accessary, there fare, toeve
figures. How is it that somesay that the Swede' navigate another colour to the proposed changes. 'Ultimately thetas
so cheaply, and are paid such low wages that they must which was to justify the measure is the epee& prea .ctisal men
carry away the trade. Some gentlemen stey that the rested on three points: commercial inconvenience,
Americans receive very high wages, and their ships are discontent, and foreign menace. (Hear, hear.) Twelve
mugged so well that they must carry away the trade. I months had now elapsed. the subject had been very deeply
believe on the contrary that with the energies of this and carefully investigated, and they were now much MOTS
How
sountry left completely free, you have not to dread the cm- competent than they were two years ago. . . r the
, _.,
petition of any nation on the globe. I believe, and by no case of the propoun of th measure ? Theo theeo y_ntlirs
means regret, that foreign shipping will increase blown up-their case broken down. (Laughter.) Te
as it ha increased in past years, but I believe first allegation u regarded commercial inconvenience was the
mer
British e• ippiog will increase in a commensurate, high freights which were pad by the Eoplisti coast 12
•
ter probably greater proportion, and the whole result will consequence of restrictions on foreign shipping. The Ist, ,_
be a general increase in the commerce of this country. Sir, thesis of a member of the government, who was supposed 5_
we are told that the manner in which we hem proposed this some gentlemen to be a great authority on thew sulosteet la_e
bill is a conclusive argument against our proceeding • but bon. member for Westbury (Mr. J. Wilson), was that then
the hon. genteemau who spoke laet, who, no doubt, with restric ions hid really not reached freights at all, et . 7
his experience has considered the matter in all its details, came to the case of colonial discontent. Though he
.o.2ll_!_•_
fatly concurred in the opinion which we entertained that a tened with much attention to the debate he could not discover
bill formed on strict grounds of reciprocity, a bill declaring tt at the instaneen adduce,' under tbat heed during oney_o eft
that yea must follow other nations in every particular, much enriched the factitious eue of the government
among
eOs
would lead to inextricable diffiellty. If that be the ease, denied that there had been more or lea diffused
.the
of the navigation
what other course could we take than that of proposing English colonists a feeling that the repeal . „,..
their favour. La.
the total repeal of these laws, leaving it to the laws might operate some advantage an _ „_. 5
Queen and council, to• exnute a power, if the shall so noble lord had refaced to a memorial from Auseafesee ito
think fit, of impretirg upon other nations restrictions which memorial which hod, he believed, never
been
prfoeer hetetelf.
they impose upon us. Now, in retaining that power, which the house. That document was not a new one,
____
we have by our present haw, 1 quite agree with the right Disraeli) alluded to it last year. It so happenedthat,
eity:delfereomee
hose gentleman the member for Ripon ; that I think in or- sequeneeof the preparation of that memorial he
of the world a
misty cues that when you attempt to impose a restriction the harbourmasters of the ports of that part o
committee of the
I bessame a reelection is imposed upon you, you are injuring statement, snore verified upon oath before a
~ _
reel that between tee
1 yourself more than obtaining any b neat by the restrie- House of Lords, trim which it spree _
don ,• but there are cases where the restrictions may' be put Ist of January, 1846, and the 30th of June 1, 61 MO
'on from national 'irate' and national animosity, cleared from London for Sydney, of which 18%
lo'del eseres
. .
41110111 it which in form t instances we have •
sue- home, while the rmainiog 43 proceeded to other places ef
Mired by rutting on a similar restriction on search of freight*. W ithin the gime period 25 ships el
.eredf7d
the other notion, and therefore I think the crown should London for Punt Pr iflip, of which 12 10ad,4 cargoes be?. ter
not be deprived of that power; but in many cases, such as the 13 went in search o' freights; 27ships cleared fro:atone=
Imam rvlened to el Trinidad, I believe that you might Hobart Town, of which 13 loaded cargoes home and 14 weal