The Express.
London, England, 1850-02-02 00:00:00

a„ rat,. all other istereets. Cheese.)
tmeser,eu,turaliste) knew their position ;( them
oiam,„ ,• otos of Ametha was to Mae in free,
the ea .1* a England esthralled. (Chiefs.) Come
it they plowed, and tell them that there
„, , of man they vrewld not Gunlitate—
":„ ;fly world not stimulate, =dune ha whisk they
t Messer, to mad forte to .vny sum.
get,, aft prod-Mime of foreign moustries, bat
marred that thle ernwary slould only be the
•.• wwin'acterere end michesies, and that wben
i aawspared every bream of industry, the lino,
.. • •nd ahroottoold numb their slave tau their victim.
midst lord (J. Russell) to spook out frankly
ce. D 3 sot let Ma @oppose that this was
at (Rear, hest.) There line nothing more
; t, , • tar a g ,rernmerst to pretend that Wee trade
• ~ .e.rt us danger, and that those whip were ember-
tor the smomnnt were ielldenced by personal
• tat„its. (Hear) The time had gone by for auk
. • pr: i nee., (Heat.) The question was tar too
L. e danger too imminent. Let the noble lord
ere,. a.l et 9144“ te the land, and Ms would gag
nap tad disinterested espy eters. ("
La• it the sable lord thought he was to ruin
Seen. of a lietemgeouna and unnatural
at a w,a to have a Jacobin free trader
side, awl a coueervative pr.ry can Woe on
_,;.7oLictiossist she. rs and cunt., cheers from the
would tai: the noble lord that he
• the ministry, but be would destroy the
,Il• pr...teCti.l3tet cheers.) This was not the
1.• boa attempted feebly to express these opi.
; et on of thus who honoured Elm
• t...,,pport. He told the noble lord last year that it
•••., onreili ttion that he sp Me. (Laughter,
. -Oh r't Yee* in the spirit nt eoneiLation.
...t cheers) Let them Co. aamise that it was
• of moralities that they (the Froteetioulate)
• , •re they 'Blahs take the opisertunaty of Phoning
• ,te act shard of thote tubas whom othnn
• •;ee esters Rom the ministerial end free
' ••• r, an . I ad emitter cheenng frma the
H, .oral tell hon. pall-gust opposite
• .1 ~art dad not use two ld g sum. He
to any In that hi.,. what he said
("Olt," end a laugh.) lie had that
.n th. Land of linelsed, that he mit
i t Tarr. d was justice. (Rear, hear.)
:ram. aid suillcient. (Hear, hear.) He had
;Ages which bad regulated the pros:rem:lop of
U • :IA never redretted fora monieut that Le had
•. • changer. fir more perilous, and, he believed,
• . char gre had never occurred. duck a distur-
rv, such a 'mak up of all the infiasaces that
-..1•ti0 LI life of this free country, such a
• t. e• nt at alms by which government wee
.n. or Os. more unnecessary, the history of this
• atr•rd. 1341, he had ever felt—he took that
• ,t , -.Mg his conviction—that there never
.• .;„, ••••. sr than that of supposing that the
• !:' at any time &pentad for it. :0r-
..., ..ny artliciel laws whatever. What the

•...icer was jostiee,—bni; hr aver fanni
..v.oci.ce petrified to come forward and
.t: Die Tremont any turtles which
the soil ww pointed out they (the
.omen) pret.mici that that applied only to a
. • c.e:o.r.ofe rakeraoss, forgetting that the
..::.oat sumereas, the sacs* thrifty, sad the
.....1:.4 ere fa the world were the proprietors
Thai .oneitrv, and forgetting those Liotolaell:re
hca Lis ilia. Mend the member for that
! • . te.ri,ht—forgetting the statesmen of the
, • or the south of Ragland. (Chem.)
..bit too pro.wbohiste had sow brought this
form. (Loud laughter hoz the
mull exclaim the smile of hoe.
• 1,. Bred the questios had bees put ea S
• :e to theta that they would had very
:ewe la withstanding the de.
• T: • pro.e.:iosists for justice. But U
e et the head of the government
r• sad s.id, which he would do,—
w • t;e jusliee of your claim, I admit you
: t. ^ • 91:')jrC: 14 a taxatioa others are Irmo from, 1
•:-. • 'our pr: part) ah.uld not be subject to res•
•c..- • other property is subject to, het the eon.
•he c in.try 7Ci.littl it," them he (Mr. Disraeli)
ace • Jr.:,lard taaitted, what he world admit—
• c cnuncut of countries the political principles
. .‘• the economical, and thou he
. toe Lowe lord either to do the protectionists
tc.l required, et to recosstrect the comic:lia
••that onstry es pi.eciple. faircur.b.i to the
•.7 c. Reiten.L (Loud and continued cheers

63. )

7.. 1.. ". 22, the hon. (mailman who las
. r.. ask:? us not to stioreproseat th. purpose
s ...I its trips... hays pat Bet, uowiiiiug as I
t Marepneent that pulp we, I own that to
. ,cr.ct ilea of that purpose la a thing to me anion
. • • . Lubin sad dawn from tria maniaterialists.)
-t. I..itzar. who moved the usendinest is a very
• : tail. scrotal-- near, bast)—tall us that his
• .• . 00. say plan. that we sheald raconsitla our retest
..ad I understood hits is a very parliameatary
r t... '• • . lofng the around of that nornsidenties,
—• . Mitt ass loatetfist,ly to adopt so altertu state of the
..r e .m. to any present psolatioa, hat to lay down for
• • rem.iteratin the recast legislation of this sountn is
•••• •tt to etrosmeeeial end agricultural policy. .7.Cothiag
m roe Lair. Nothing could be more aseigael the&
• purpose. Aid we, ber llsjusey's Moisten, being cast-
,- • :ed that that resent 16011411 cm was ana4—being row
ties we shosi4l sot be benefiting this ...A.hdal
tt the flelltit ivory. If we satintittetl that le
rerr s, es altered avoleseassidered—wese immediately per
• 4roo to oppose that amendment. (Hear, kw.) Bat toes
c.o. •ba Pah* lea. geatineas, the member kw
(Mr. Herrin) who °seaplane that there
t• to: nittimat sympathy *animal is the speech
urn •oe oistress of the landed istiseen. (Hear.)
r.. unties:an, the number for Lincolnshire, e.ya,
•'t pry sod irnspotby is sot what I ark, I ask for am
5.r.4.1,1•11•Ufg• woio.ll will snow that yea will give relief to
t'e croupy." Me ban had mean high inanity, is- i
221.1 it 0.1 nynati enytniag we have hand is this haus,
5.5.7 it sae any of a vista and pasepect of the future,
a..., taa• high satani•y we us told that the object is to
ctu.e Pekin putcoment, to appoint a new govern.
Vat is its sad the. to obtain a dissolution of
• precut .2202400 of Comm% and from the
sew Home of Conmosis to ask a restoratioa
• ; • t•eti.ds. Then we have an explicit &adoration, and I
our deans sad hesitations were all at an end, and
tit: •••• thoald ko.w what we were fighting about—either
t ••• r :,r4tec.s,n Or maintain the present state of am-
t.'' • ..ney. Ilat then the hon. gendarmes (Hr. Die-
n.. (nee *reward end asks as not to misrepresent
aud yet he involve. his purpose
!2 i..4%)2 sad ambiauity, in such tortuous
••: • • .sis—( bets)—and soch appeals to suss 441112
seat really it beg one again a matter of the utmost
ct...• to know wipt t!.as asseadasent anus. (" Hear,"
• c • Now, let its say to the hon. gentemaa and
• •14, tupport aim that thin are two courses with
.

•: t u.. 11:a adopted. The
not we, the niemben of parliament, do not pee
espremiens contained in this ad,lnas; we think
: part might he more warmly worded •we think
11 ,niter too moth satisfaction is expressed; that
ths prosperity in one place, and that
V; iiiitheiently sympathise with the exist-
• ttstr-n in another ; but these are general
su.d we mean to reserve ourselves for
itruincs, sad mean now to agree to a unanimous
•.9 ea am crown." That is one coarse of policy.
•tir equally parliamentary and constitational is to say
• ..r.• state of the er.intry u such, and the views of the
',meet of 14e day are • • erroneous, that we cannot
' Nag e day to pus ; we must empress ouosinion—
• art.etler in a m-jorivy or a minority, ' on the
•es e' mass to see whether a system, injurietu to the
• tr. • ken interests shall be persisted ia for
tr.i hoar." That is enothet souse. But the
gentleman km taken • third tonne—
it buying as unmeaning aneendinent (lend
• r -that of MTh', en emendmeat ambiguous end
its phrases —(" no, so," from the pretenteants)—
5.5. I my, is the result of the boa. gentleman's amend-
fteies of " read" from the poseee.onists.) 1 will
.e.ntlywhat they propose. Tits ham gentleman says
• • i ars not restoriiig preened= by this amendment, sad
"I are not caring to neaten the course of policy alias.
sow, sir, in referring to the amendment, 1 mast
Anne with regard to what has been celled the
to the agricultural interest offered by her Majeity's
in the speech. I can say that nothing was Myths/
Macaws, that we have heard with loam regret of
•.r. • which a various perm of the country exists, and
• • ~,g wooed give se greater pl,maisre than that
a,arts of relief we could propose that those
' 4, could be rut an end to. Now, the words
.re these: "Ear Majesty greatly lenient/ that any
..5 Isar subjects skou'.l be sulfating distren."
• rue-.:meet that is proposed says: "We regret, how-
compelled humbly to represent to your Majesty
• rot .7 parts of the United Kingdoms, end especially
'Be various classes of your Majesty's subject. 0:11-
v.% the cultivatioe of the soil are 'shouting under
!elms," l own I do tot use that in these words,
;11 regard to Ireland, there is any material
feu from the words we propose in the ad-
t•hear" and renewed cries of " Beau" from
.• ctioni•tl.) I will not read the words again. I
, • the words already, in which we have been accused
the agricultural interest. We say, "We gm;
her Majesty In lamenting the distress
tt .atendesent asys, " there are claws. sad
•". u/reload, suffering great distress." Bat
there Is snakes question of importance.
• to us, amok as we should have rejoiced in any
,• •). advising her Maj ?sty to declare the opinion
• • ~tertain With regard to the recent commercial
r that that exprenion of opinion should not fall
h., Itlek.sty It has appeared to us, in con-
-0104 re-va custom, that with regard to
I legislation, on which parliament may
• ,••,e as opiniia in the course of the S6OliOli, that
• reserve thoet qu stiona on the first night of the
rather to give an opinion as to the actual state
•""ur, than to attribute that state to acts of
L.' "LA dray seta that may have preceded. But
7*;4•1 et It, not take that course. The
! ./.,ee on to
isiagaittiat " the distress was mainly
, • • recent 'we enactments, the operation
• •
V.SrillrltO4 by the heavy premium of local taxa-
• 51, ' 41 that if I had thonght it right to &dyne
t'• rive an opinion with respect to recent legit-
we I have advised that it is a owes
R t.liation to her Majesty to winless
• -I.ti truoyeacnt which cheapness has Psednends

and I should have bees disposed to odd that that greatse
enjoymat et the comaisrb of life was in a great &gra •
owing to roast measures of Wilosiss. (Loud shun.)
But I did not think that reseotftaftemoris those who enter-
tained different opaeioas. • TM him. gentleman, however,
seem to entertein a different 'gigs& I will re-
lieve one of Ma apprehensions. He has spoken
of Ma heavy taxed.' of the raw material, meaning
the land of the country, and he seem to fear that my right
hoe. friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, la about to
pulothe as morocco of the land tax. I nth mare him that
we do not man to increase by a adagio penny tho present
land tas. riobably ha thought we mutt by a large anginess
tasks of tha land tax to obtain an enormous sinking fund.
I dui say he may on reftectios ham seen that It would be
emedingly isjurions. Now, sir, with regard to the enthral
state of the lauded lateens. We mast consider—at this late
hour of the night I will endures" not to do it at any great
length—bat we mast cannier a little, both what has pulsed,
what is now paining before us, and what is likely in the
hum to take place. Some ten yearn ago. consideriag the
great Wirers of oar population with the groat rivalry there
was in various braneties of essaufacture, the necessity
thee. was of employing the greatly insured popdattee, and
the danger we might some day or o her find trona the In-
, cr. see of population without a proporti 'nate therms of the
I means of disposing of the produce of their industry, I ems
to the sonclusioa that at was denrable to snake a unmans
of the questa& of the eorn laws and to attempt, while re-
dwing very much what was valid the rrotection thea
to do it at the tame time in such a minter as not to bear
hard upon the landed interest; and to get rid, not at once
hat by degrees, of a system which every one
who Ma csonidered the ineient at all most ad-
mit to be vicious. (Hear.) Teat proposition met with
some favour and it was openly said at public meetings that
that formidable body wh.eh pullemea °ppm 'C so much &s-
-liked, mutely, the Lan-cora-law League, would have been
dissolved if ihat proposition bed bean carried. However, it
was rejected. At the end of the year 1846 we came to the
confusion, and t'le government of the day came, about the
same time, to the conclusion that it was no longer possible
to make nay comier.thise on this question, bat that the corn
la vs ought to be altogether repealed, and that at no
distant time. And amut a pear ago that repeal sr-
tasliy tosk effect, sad we are now paying a
duty which brings in a considerable sum to the
revenue, but aid is not therms to the consumer, and the
people of this country have the hoc( fit of procuring food on
the cheapest term,. Now, air, that being the case, we hove
to consider—after a abort experience--after a year's:, ex.
petiissee—whst ia the present state of the country, with
that rosin freedom of trade in the article which Lithe mai a
subsistence of she people of this country. Why, if we look
to the great interest' of the country, if we look to the cond.-
non of the main body of the people, as represented in the
returns of the pour:an, we find that of able-bodied men
there is no less than a diminuti.n of 30,000 on t'• let of
Janu.ry as receiving relief, compared with last year. (Hear,
bear.) It we 10-k to the returns of our shipping we find
our shipping has much increased. If we look to the exports
we tiod that there is an increase of 10,000,000 in 149, over
the p ear 1848. If we look at the various other sources
of wealth WI find that as to many of them the
accounts are exceedingly satisfactory. If we look
with regard to the revenue, ar.d partinlarly to that
great broach of the revenue the exi.ise, which is supposed to
be an lades of the condom of the people. the
isereassd and shows em improved condition of the people.
I meet say, likewise, that I hear from all parties, from* per-
sons I au, sad by letters I receive, that the great body of he
Cna obtaining the advantages of cheapness ant plenty,
actre
they are now in a better condition than for many
years ; ast. (Chem.) WeU, if teat is the account of the state of
the countryl it a moment toe the gotten: mint ol the country
to my "We desire now to retrace unr steps ?" Sir, I must
my I always wandered, end that was my ream for origi-
nally wishing a compromise on this question, I considered
that we could tot pas the transition from a state of rest rie•
titan in the article of food to complete freedom without con-
siderable suffcritg an the part of the anthers and occupiers
of land. That suffering has come, but I mast say
it has not come la so aggnsated a shape as I
could have expecte& with regard to this,
look back to that extruiely Gamy period in
reterenee to this subject that las existed ever since your
mactment of 1816. What were the compthints of the agri-
cultural interest in ISL ? Did we not bear then of farms
being given up GE fanners being unable to live upon the
%thaw of their farms ? Then what eid we hear in 1836 ?
Daring 1836 the presto of corn had fallen, till in the end of
that year at fell :o 365. •qr. That price, Mit observed, is only
4s. 6aL a qr. under the present prior, with all the importation
that has taken plus. Well, but then gentlemen say, and it has
been repeated over and over again, that in 1835 there was no
foreign importation, and although the farmer got only
3fis. a quarter, yet that was for English wheat, and no
toreiga wheat was admitted. Now if we had had this Tear
a &Anent harvest I could maderstand the farmers sap in,
with a deficient harvest, and having only a small quoatity of
produce to dispose of it, was hard upon us baying only
36e. a quarter. Bat if the me is the contrary, and I be.
litre the harvest has been more resembling that of 1833 than
may preceding year, what does it miner to the farmer who
receives 40s. for a quarter of wheat, whether the person who
maim 40s. for mother quarter is a men from the next
farm, or the next perish, or the next kingdom' or even if he
has beoessltt his awn from the other side of the Atlantic /
What doss it ma:ter to the fermate if the 'produce is
equal to that which be °bulged before ? I have beard
Mo. autumns one after the other lamenting that we
have received MAO twelve millions of quarters of dif-
bust kinds of then in the course of the past year.
Bat then the whole of this is consumed, and the stock is
remarkably low. Why, I cannot oympathiee with that
complaint. (Cheers.) If the people of Ragland have had
her their onjoyms at a great command of this great ammary
of life—if wreaths men have been able to purchase thew
bread cheap, and have coosom-d a great quantity of it, and
if, after all this, the price is above that weieh the farmers
obtained is 1836, when- pro•scion existed, I cannot sympa-
thias with that complaint, bat oa the contrary I rejoice that
the means of consumption have been so great. (Che rs.)
Bat there le another ethailerstion, and It is ore which I
certainly will not go into at length, but I mast leave it for
hon. gentlemen to consider. Ido not believe there has been
ever an instance of a great trade being opeaed that bad been
previously restricted, that tier wse net immediately
a great rush upon that trade, that the abundant capital
of this couatry,lend the speculative spirit of this country,
ware not directed immediately towards that trade, and that
you did not fled, in the hat plate, that there was a great
abundance in the supply of that article, and that, in the
next place, many persons were disappointed in their 'apse.
tations, and that the trade went on afterwards in a reduced
manner. That wu the case on opening the markets of
South America—that was the cue with regard to the opening

of the China market when the Bast I adlsioosispany'imoiso-
poly was dose away with. That was the cam to a peat extent
with recard to the corn trade, bat, from all I bear, many of
the persons who have introduced corn into the country have
been losers rather than gainers. Whi, if that is the case I
think it probable, I will rot say it certainly take place
for I &opc like to be a prophet—but!whativer may be the
ease for the next five cr six months we shall certainly
have on the go a higher price of corn than
that which we have bad for the last year. Bet
there is another cdnsi,:eration with regard to all
these calculations that are made, and an hon. gentleman
opposite, the member for Lincolnshire, favoured us with one
to-night with respect to the balance of profit end lots. Why,
it le obvious every charge on the farm, toe fixed capital, the
live stock, the wages, haviug all bees calculated on the pre-
viAts price of cern, that that outlay will not be maintained by
the proluce of the form. Bat suppose a farmer to begin after
the change has permenehtly taken plac,, then all the articles
which he has to obtain he obtains at a lower rate, and he
has to make a new calculatioa—first, as to the expenses of
W farm, sad then as to the remuneration he is to obtain.
Now, that calculation I say bas not yet been made. All the
calculations the. we have heard go on the supposition that
the exiensee are to be calculated on the average prices of
the last ten years, but that the sale of the produce is to be
ealenlated cn the prize of the lost six mouths. So far, I
Oink all these calculations are deficient, and that, se, posing
*a Ow are to be permanently r.duced—

Mi. CHILISTOPiIEIt—I wade an allowance for that.

Lord J. it.76BlLlZihe boa. gentleman zaa1;;;;Flow.
Inc. with respect to some articles, but not with respect to
others; but, sir, I will now ask the house to consider—be-
cause that, after all, is the real question—whether we are
now to take the Hirst step to a return to protection ? We
have been told it is impoisibls this country should flourish
otherwise than by a return to protection, and that we Minn
sooner or It., return to that system. I do not believe that
the plans which have been mentioted for the relief of the
agricultural =West, by taking off taxes which effect them-
-1 do not believe that any hon. gentleman who made a pro-
positson of that kind, even it he were to carry
it oat to the utmost extent he squid wish that
it would materially benefit the farmer. The question
then is, whether you will return to protection ? Now, let
me observe to the house the position in which we now
stand. The question is not the keeping up a restriction
that exists; the question comes to this, should you by ants of
parliament procure a price for a certain article of produce
different
.from that which the producer would other.
wits obtain in the market? (Hear.) That is a ques.
ties with respect teen article of the utmost importance. If
my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer were
to say, " I want more revenue from silk," some might object
that that would he a protection to the manufactures of this
country; but thus would be no great body of persons who
would be seriously affected by that protection of the silk
manufactures of this country. But this is a question that does
not 00nCeZn, merely the owners and occupiers of land, or even
the fair labours', supposing them= have an interest identical
with the owners of land. It is a question that concuss
the whole body of the people—(chaers)—and I must say I
wonder to see the tours which has been taken by some of
those who attended public meetings which have taken place
on this subject I me that a noble lord la the county of
Dawn eomplained that he could not obtain a majority of the
meeting, because there were persons who had nu
stake in the county who had voted on the ques-
tion. Why, on this question, every an has • stake.
On this question every man has an interest. (Chews.) Not
a man, woman or child who has not an interest inlt
(Chem.) And if you were to put on a duty which you
would say would raise the prim of corn Is. Is. 6d., or 2s. •
bushel, every man would count the ls., la 6d., or 2s. a week
which he wad& have to pay for the support of his family in
addition to that *Wok he new pays. (Hear.) Now, are you
ready to feso *4qusetkm ? (Cheers.) Are you ready to
fate the diese•Mat yes would thereby *pestles ? (Hear.) '
And, &servo tai—that you would be issaidered responsible,
not only kr the Whet that year law might produce In
raising ihe prfee bat lisr say aceidsstal rise
which the mese et IMFmum, cw the Inadequacy of the
supply Ste Sseelthitenalrlee, might oseasios, even la the
present slats of Supposing that you leave this
law to Its °wades, peke of earn may rise from 40s. to '
455., Iron 15e. to 60. per quarter; hat no loan la the '

country would have 9 t4kt to complaint and I believe 1/0
man in the Pantry weak' eimplein. (Hear, hear.) They
would say: "Jambe boo leen SSW as; we have corn as
cheep as it eaa be puma; sad if the psis. et bread is
dear this week, we Mk IMMO ha WWI Mud; at lust,
we have no halt to lad with our log - far taking ft
dear." (Choreal But:lf you bed a idao kens 40e, to 435.,
and from 461, to 005., after yet hod prowl • sew law ergs.
lads* Use importation of food, depend tepee Is, the diatom-
tent would be deep and universal. (Cheers.) Does the
his. gentleman think that we sneer at the landed
tenant because they have made complaints? I perfectly
aohnouleelge their right to make complaint. I think, when
aay Bailie/man thinks he Is suffering a hardship, or has hulas
injestic! deem him, he does quite right to We his can
plaint, and to make it as loudly as he thinks proper, that he
may obtain redress for what he thinks an injustice. Is the
else I have supplied, you would have complaints, load
enough and frequent enough, saying that parliament had
Imposed an additional price on the cost of the daily food of
the people. (Hear, hear.) Do not conceal that from yew-
selves. No doubt you would be ready to face, and I believe
pia would be ready to overcame, aoy oomplaiat against the
fastitutions of the country,' any attacks on the Hoene of
Lords, or upon the church, as lastitetions not awful to the
country. I believe you would be able to overcome thus
attacks; bat is it not much wiser not to put these manors
in goestios—not to raise any discussion upon them ?
(Cheers.) Look at the sitsuition in which we have
stood during the past two years. Have our icetitutions
been assailed ? His there been anything beyond the lowest
murmur amongst the people in gentnl with respect to the
nature of our ii.stitutions ? (Bear, hear.) But put this
question of orotetnion again before the country—have it agi-
tated in parliament—and who can say what subjects way
not be mixed up with that discussion, and what imitations
you a., not be called upon to defend ? (Cheers.) Let me
tell you it is far wiser rot to Fut any of these matters in
question. Defend them you can ; defend them you will. I
would be happy to be associated with you in their &leases
(Cheers.) But this, I say, is the course of prudence, to
soutinue in a policy that you • have begat to pursue
not to raise • complaint among the people by favouring a
particular class of the community, and by causing a legisla-
, tive price to be put upon the ptomains of
life ; but to prove by your course of policy
that Ours is eysspattsy ia the legislature with
the great body cf the people. (Cheers.) If that be the
case, I beg you, and, through you, the occeupiere of land, to
cousider your present position. I do nut know any higher
or better p. anion than that of a gentleman in Kneen.]
(Hear, hear.) I think is is Mr. Obbon who sap that he
thanks God he was born an Englishmen.; but he thanks
God again he was born an English gentleman. (Hear,
tear.) An English gentleman, in the possession of an
estate in the country, looked up to by his tenants, able to
de acts of beneficence and generosity to those about him,
having enough tusiness to employ his time, having enough
of for recitation, if he wishes for it—called, If he is
ambitious, to a seat in the legislature, to take a part in the
most stirring political debates, and to irfluence the foriun_s
of his cou-sry—l say such a men, in such • position, is in-
sited fortunate. I say he would do most rashly if he
were to risk that pudtion for the purpose of giving
toe particular clus,:an advantage by legislation which other
classes do not seek, sad will not obtain. (Hear, hear.) I'
thut be so, then, 1 ink the house to be ooatented with the
present state of oar legislation. We have made a great step,
a great change, accompanied by distress among a portion of
the people of the United Kingdom. If anything which the
boa. gentlemen opposite, or any other persons, may suggest,
could bring relief to that distress, with fairness to all other
claw', let it be proposed, let it be considered, accepted if
useful, rejected if It would be disadvantageous. (Hear,
bear.) But do not attempt, now that the question of prates-
den has been decided by • parliament; now that those, who
is that parliament gave that vote for the destruction of
protection, have been again subs itted to the judgment of the
country, and have again been returns I to parliament; Co not
attempt by your fresh vote to eisturb that settlement,
and to make It • doubt whether your deliberations
bare that constancy, that firmness, and that regard to the
interests of all her Majesty's subjects which it is your
bounden duty to entertain. (Cheers.) Let nee add likewise,
that my belief it, that the course of policy began by the
legislature in 1812, by the right hon. gentlemen whom I
now see opposite, continued in suhlequent years, both by
his administration and that which has succeeded him, ts
to open a great course of honour and proiperity to this
oceustry and to the world. (Cheers.) I believe that, with
respect ts the set which we passed last session—the act for
the repeal of the navigation laws— that we have never suffi-
ciently known what are the benefits which that act may pro-
duce to us. (Hear, hear.) That the nations of the world
would be In haste to follow you, is what I never expected.
That in regard to that act in particular they should show a
disposition to follow as, :Is what I am happy to recognise.
(Hear, hear.) But if you say now that you doubt of
your own decision,—that you are about to qe back upon the
steps you have taken,—that you are :bout to resume that
ult.eh they thought you had discarded as erroneous in
theory and injurious in practicer—expect no more such
benefits to come from foreign nations,—expect them to be
confirmed in all their notions of the benefits of monopoly
and restrictions. (Cheers.) I say, them, by your decision
tonight, you will sot only have a great influence upon the
welfare of the people of this country, upon the fortunes of
the state, but you will likewise decide whether your example
shall be beneficial or injurious to mankind. (Lund cheers.)

Mr. COBDEN—Sir, I have not risen to mike • speech,
but to express my regret that there is not en occasion
arfoded for disclaims the question which I thought was to
be submitted to us on this occasion. I came into this house
fully convinced that before 48 hours had elapsed, an opportu-
tiny would be all ..rded those who are supporters of protection
and those who are advocates of free trade to discuss thous
two principles In this house. I must say that what has
paned in the country has convinced me of the necessity of
having that discussion instantly ; for I cannot shut my eyes
to the feat that a very large and influential body of the
community are under an impression that the question of
protection and free trade Is not settled in this house. (Rear,
hear.) Any ore who has had his eyes open for the last
three months will admit that there baa been an 'want of
agitation in the country sufficient to show that there Is a
very intense feeling on the part of the occupying tenants of
this country, • lags portion of the agricultural community
—that this house Ls fpraparei to reconsider the question of
the corn laws, and that an injustice has been done to a
portion of this community which this hone will remedy.
(Hear, bear.) It has been said that that movement has been
a movement, not of the landowners, but of the farmers. It
may be so ; but, at all events, the farmers recognise, as their
representatives and leaders in this house, the gentlemen
whom i see opposite; and I firmly believe that they are
under an impression that • very large body of hon. members
opposite have come to this home on the present Gannon
prepared to vindicate the principles which they believe to be
tut, and which they expect to see carried out in the legisla-
tion of the country. I must say that, so far as the govern-
ment has been concerned, there has been no disposition to
palter with this question, and not the slightest hesitation in
meeting it on its merits at the very opening of the session.
(lltar, hear.) For it has been very broadly stated by hon.
gentlemen opposite, and the hon. member for Buckingham-
shire has himself alluded to it in no very kindly terms,
that the hoe. member for Wolverhampton, formerly
a leading member of the Anti-Corn-Law League,
was put forward to move the address to the crown, thereby
I presume offering • distinct negative to the principles
which hon. 'gentlemen opposite espouse. I must also say
that ia au early part of this debate a considerable number of
hon. gentlemen opposite did take a fair and candid course
on this question. They have not Imitated to say what their
objects are ; they have not dealt in mystification ; they
have not attempted to lead us away from the question before
us ; they Lave been peculiarly abstinent in personalities or
attempts at samara. (Hear, beer.) They have broadly
stated that protection to native industry is desirable sad
necessary for the agriculturists of this country, and they
have fairly discussed the question. But what has fallen
from the hon. member for Buckinghamshire has altogether
changed the character of the debate; he has totally altered
the lame of our coming decision. For he has told us that
the question before us is sot the question of protection,
or free Made—thatl we are not on this *anion going to de-
cide whether the principle of protection to native industry
is or is not to be the principle of this house. He mays that
It may or may not be expedient, at some future time, to test
the opinion of this house ea the subject, bat that, to night,
so boa. ireatienas, who WOW commits himself at all upon
the question. I mast say that u a very sorry beginning,
after en loud a preparation as has been heard throughout
the country. (Cheers.) I do not know whether the
farmers are able to comprehend the position in which
they are placed by the movements of parties on the other
side. 11l found a body of gentlemen agreeing with their
leader, I should know exactly what course they were going
to take, what principle they adopted. When I find a
body of gentlemen disposed to take the course which
every man of common sense would think they all
intended to take from the terms of their amendment—and

when I find them followed by their leader, who distinctly
repudiates everything which his followers have said bolos..
him—(hear, hear)—then, I think, the farmers of this country
mast have as ucutsness which surpasses that of any one on
this side of the house ; at all events, U they can understand
what course their friends in this house mean to take. (Hear,
hear.) I most say this is a very inconvenient tints and mode
for the members of a party and their leader to make up ac-
counts together—the rank.and tile going one way, the leader
another; and it is left to their confiding partimns out of dices
to decide who is promoting their interest and who best re.
presents their principles. (Cheers.) The host. gentleman then
referred to what had fallen from /Ir. Disraeliont of the house.
The hon. gentleman held a meeting at Marlow. (Laughter.)
And he stated tit, re that It was not becoming tar one mem
bar of parliament to meet another at • public meeting to
diseuse the question—that the House of Commons was the
proper arena fer discussing the question of free trade or
protection. Now there he (Mr. Cobden) was, in the HMSO
of Commons, and not in Buckinghamshire; but he could
not get the hon. gentleman into a dismission with him, for
the hon. gentleman had talked of every conceivable
subject except that of protection to native industry. (Cheers.)
Now, whatever might be thought of free trade
r darotestime, every member of that house would
that it was most desirable that the questioa
should be settled as soon as possible. (Hear, hem.) There'
was not an honest man in the country who would not say
that It wee not advisable to have this question kept back
one moment longer than iromald be avoided. If there was
any party or gentleman In that house who wished to make
protection a stalking horse for 'power or notoriety, of tomPo•
eery prominence—if any individual could passably set
on such motives, and succeed for a while and
It could only be for a while —by practising
on the weak intellects of his beaus by mystifying the quo-
tiess, by playing with it, and pretending to *derail. FOtoo'
tic., whilst' be was afraid to enter upon its discussion-1f
seek • pads were to succeed but fora single year la kmp•
lag alive the dismission of this question, he was one of the
greatest Main that the tenant farmers ever had. (Load