The Sun.
London, England, 1852-11-24 00:00:00

is the attempt ungenerous, but it fails in the accoraPii%
ment of its purpose ; and the only result is, that we dePr';
ourselves of that full authority which the unanimous,v%
of this house would give. Perhaps it might still be
able to have dissentients—to have some evidence o.ftt.
existence of Protectionists, if only by way of contrast . -170
I think it is ungenerous, and impolitic, and unwise, to
what is now being attempted to be done. I would pr 7
a middle course. Certainly, as there are already twVroo
lutions before the house, I do not presume to lay p,
thi it
the table. But at the same time, if the house will Pc_ir.eo
me, I will just read that form of words which, if I of
encouraged by any manifestation of opinion on the pal;
any great body of gentlemen in the house, I should Ivor sg
to tender for their acceptance. This form of words re
I think, on the one hand, fully the doctrine of free
and the permanent establishment of that system, lvt'itiaso
the other, it is not liable to the objection of requirin,
who might agree to much to recant opinions whieilZ{
may honestly in former periods have entertained.. sto
should propose is this—it would almost be like a lilc‘gl antis
of my hon. and learned friend if it were to be too the
—(laaghter)—" That it is the opinion of this house th 7 tho
improved condition of the country, and especial-1Y g .
industrious classes, is mainly the result of recent leg,
tion, which has established the principle of unrestria;
competition, has abolished taxes, imposed for the puiris.
of protection, and has thereby diminished the costan fooa
creased the abundance of the principal articles of th&nily
of the people
andh it is of opinion that this PnlicY,l,
maintained prudently extended, will best ens__", 0411
industry of the country to bear its burdens, actLeiit
thereby most surely promote the welfare and contenrio
of the people ; that this house will be ready to
consideration any measures consistent with this Pllll.lOl
which in pursuance of her Majesty's gracious 5Pe,e'0,43,1
recommendation may be laid before them." Pli.u.''swollhi
cheers.) Now, continued the noble lord, I rea".,
submit that these words contain everything white the
hon. and learned friend has proposed in regal' contain
present, and in regard to the future, while theY'u
'IP
nothing which any hon. member who has Yielde-sect
opinions to the irresistible force of events can, with nut
satisfaction to himself, subscribe to. (Hear, hear'' •tong
now I shall be told that this form of words, by 013110eir
a word, just leaves a door open for the question of nor.)
sation, and that I take to be the real point. (11e3r,„,,' set
But I say that the insertion of the word "just" """t for
shut the door at all. It would be equally corapetci'r solo
the Chancellor of the Exchequer or any other inewbe,,ooo
chose to make the proposal in the financial arraug'e
of the year, to propose a change of taxation forth is to
pose of giving what they may call relief, which 0
compensation, to the agricultural classes, and I ".°Ait
should not stand in any degree worse—we who
disposed to resist the resolution because the word un
was not in the resolution. I think there is nothing 50
not
desirable as mixing up together questions which 31'600
connected, and which are essentially different. VW' oft
these two questions are quite distinct—the one 111Ae the
whether our commercial policy should be maintaill'-da,
other a question whether, in consequence of that Inelieti
claim for what they may call compensation all". co 0'
should be allowed. You may affirm the maintens°„, of
the principle of free trade, and yet may entertain ?4"er
the two opinions with regard to compensation. It ', ,
181,f
featly competent for any man to think that the priccia'
unrestricted competition ought to be maintained, 511 tios;
its maintenance does not bntitle any one to compells';'•,1011
or that he may entertain the opinion that it is a bards ship
a certain class, and that this class have an equitable n
for compensation. My own opinion is, that the ccgiretll'
tion to the agricultural class is to be found in thoce
stances which were so well adverted to by the hen'
Of the
her for Manchester—in the improved condition °NO
country, in the cheapness of everything which they to be
to buy out of what I must admit, in many cases' 0;
their diminished rents, in the contentment of the Irsbei
in the cordiality of feeling which has been esta%ffe,r
between the upper and lower classes, in the love allu,qiotli
tion of all around them, in the absence of all that icl'4.ol,lli
jealousy, which before the lower classes were 113" 101
led to feel towards their superiors; feeling that the rd•
were calcr!ated to put money into the pockts of the of
lords at the expense of the great mass of the peopiciPtbi4
country. I say that this is the compensation which 'flireil;
the landed interest are entitled to, and that is the cera,
sation they have already obtained. That is my oPi,n4ererl'
do not quarrel with any man who may entertain 0, u't 011
opinion ; but when these questions come before us, is tie
come distinctly, and we shall not be the less able to eve
tive any proposal we may disapprove of because loos°
united on this resolution. What is the calculation t
who insist on these words. I presume they Ornigli;
be in a majority. Well, if they are in a majority f'o„-
,
ee
in inserting the word "just," with a view to 13{,-et On
compensation, cannot they make the same intirs,4oi.
any future occasion, when any motion is brought I°'
to grant compensation ? They would be just as able: door
would say they would be better able, to shut tilt bi
when the proposal came, than they would be to-nig 6;oe
an indirect expression, by a side wind, to shut ellt.ha;9 net
which they do not distinctly negative, and whic,:',4ll'"
distinctly brought before the consideration of Parai,til the
I have only to say that I deplore the condition whiff
the
hout:e is about to find itself. I do not think it '5 aCr
credit of Parliament, that when a great question, -0 the
mestic policy has been put to the country, and olie,tiollt
house is called upon to make an answer to that (111,e,;41e,
that we should turn it at once into a mere party 8f O'S
—that those who get up on one side say they mean„ 13."
18012"
censure upon the Government, when they ought to int 004
only as the affirmation of a principle. It is eviden tjoit
debate cannot end to-night, and I should only We' ais'
hon. gentlemen will well consider between this tilll et of
that when the debate will be resumed ; that a seftl
conciliation may be found to animate both sides i'to gat
house ; that on the one hand those who are disposea
up compensation would be dispoced to take such ari-
ment as I have read, and, on the other hand, my hen: fnll
ba
who sit on this side may be content with somethlil'aim,
what I have proposed, free from those expressions ;4,4v
hurt the feelings of hon. gentlemen ; and that the s.:,;o1"
may be that we shall all unite in what would be gun-ofiti°
whelming affirmation of a great principle of atrflo
policy, affirming which world be not only satisfac7i 'vet'
nine hundred and ninety-nine out of every thousall"t'ol
sons in the country, but which would be of the utnif,t,rt/
portance in our relations with foreign countries. ("P-'
Mr. M. GIBSON and Sir E. BULWER LYTTON the-nob(10
rose, and both or ono of the hon. rnemb.,, (we colifiptet
ascertain which) moved the adjournment of the ae
which was at once and carried, and
The house then pad j ourned at ten minutes past
o'clock. -00.4