The Sun.
London, England, 1852-02-04 00:00:00

LONDON -
WRD NE S D'A .7P-7 -1- CE.; N 1%1
_
PERA U A It; V 4, 1852.

sympathy which he has done on more than one occasion ;
but having established that salutary precedent, I think the
Noble Lord is bound to inform us what are the reasons that
this
.omission has occurred, as well as the omission of any
notice of the Ecclesiastical Titles Bill.--(Hear, hear.) Not-
withstanding some petty and mitigatory circumstances, I be-
lieve there is still the same strain upon the energies, and
the same drain upon the capital of the cultivators of the soil.
-(hear, hear, from the Protectionist Members.) That has
been occasioned by our legislation, and as we have occasioned
At by our legislation, we are bound to consider whether_ by
our legislation we cannot remove it. (Hear, hear.) I am
told there is a slight rise in prices-an extreme Free-trader
told me with great exultation that wheat is rising. Now, I
never connected this subject with price.-(Hear.) 1 think
that is a question with which 'we have nothing to say.
You have chosen by your law to place the country and
its soil in competition with the cultivator of the soil
of other countries. We bow to your decision. You place
the British cultivator in illimitable competition with other
cultivators, but take care that you place him in. com-
petition with them on equal terms.-(Hear, hear.) If there
be an inequality, take care it-is not produced by your legis-
iatien.-(flear, hear.) I observe to-day a new edition of a
treatise upon taxation, written by one of our most eminent
writers and unmitigated Free-traders; Mr. M'Culloch
having examined our isolated system of free trade in grain,
consummated in 1849-having done so with all the ability
which distinguishes him, and with as much impartiality as
an unqualified Free-trader can on such a subject command
-expresses, in the year 1852, his opinion that the Culti-
vator of the soil is subjected to unjust taxation. which no
other class of the community shares, and to restrictions on his
industry which are peculiar only to him.-(Hear, hear.)
Taking into consideration our past and artificial system of
finance, he says it ,is almost impossible to adjust the
'taxation with any degree of equality that will free the
cultivator from those restrictions with any due consideration
to our revenue. He gives it as his deliberate opinion that
the proper, just, and scientific means by which a fair adjust-
ment can be arrived at; are countervailing duties; but at
the *same time he says, though those are just, still the oppor.
tunity is lest, and the cultivator of the soil, in the present
state of the country, must submit to the grieVance under
which he groans.-(Hear.) That is the political morality of
a political economist.-(Hear, hear, and laughter.) If the
data of Mr. M'Cnlloch be correct, I say the consequence that
he draws from them is an immoral coneequence.-(Hear,
hear.) I say that the legislation that is founded upon
them is an immoral legislation.-4 Hear, hear.) If it be
the conviction of Parliament that any class of producers
is subject to unjust taxation, and that they are to con-
tinue subject to it that another class of the community
May be benefited by that taxation, they act immorally
in upholding that system.- (Hear, hear.) It is confisca-
tion in another guise-it is robbery under the formulary
of 'political economy. - (Hear, hear.) And who are the
parties thus treated ? They are the most important and the
most numerous portion of the middle classes.-(.Hear.) The
farmers of the United Kingdom are the greatest employers
of labour that we have.-(Hear, hear.) If there be any class
more than another' entitled to consideration in the adjust-
ment of taxation, it is those very cultivators of the soil.-
(Hear.) And yet those are the people whose claims you
have neglected.-(Hear.)_ With the power and prosperity
of the middle 'classes the greatness of England is inseparably
united. Not only in this country but elsewhere, the legiti-
mate position of that class is one that must be looked upon
with-interest by all those who look forward to the progressive
freedom and civilization of man.-(Hear, hear.) Let me re-
mind you that of that middle class the cultivators of the.soil
form a considerable portion.-(Hear, hear.) Gentlemen on
the opposite side of the House should not arrogate to them-
selves all the influence and authority of the middle classes.
-7(1-leer, hear.) There are as many gentlemen on this side
of the House who owe their position to the middle classes as
upon the other.-( Hear.) I owe my seat to the middle
classes-the farmers of England sent me here, and therefore
I protest against those sneers that have been too long directed
against them.-(Hear, hear.) I ask again, are you prepared
to go on with this system of injustice, to strain illegitimately
the energies, and to drain unlawfully the resources of this
most important producing class of the community ?.--( Hear.)
If it be true that you have put ' unjust restrictions on their
industry, and inflicted upon them injustice that no other
class experiences, is it not your duty to come forward and
investigate the subject? And if you cannot relieve them
from restrictions they find so injurious, and from taxes you
acknowledge to be so unjust, you shOuld, in the construction
of your financial system, give them that countervailing pro-
tection that is their due, on a fair consideration of the sub-
ject. Last year we were told that the country generally was
flourishing, that our foreign commerce was vastly improved,
and that the imports and exports of the country had been in-
creased by our legislation; but, it is a very remarkable cir-,
cumstance that in the Queen's Speech this year we have no
paragraph congratulating the House of Commons, on the
general prosperity of the country.-(llear, hear.) If the
present system be carried on, by failures amongst the com-
mercial body that have riot been equalled since ,the year
1047, you must remember this, that you are at the same time
diminishing the commercial capital of the country as well as
the agricultural.-(Hear, hear.) If it be,true that in Liver-
pool alone, the merchants have loSt of their capital
nearly 7,000,0001. sterling, it follows that if commercial, and
agricultural capital are both in, this situation, the employ-
ment of labour must be diininished,
.and the loss must
ultimately fall- on the *tilting' classessL.( Hear, hear.) Is
this asthma to 'encourage in the country the war of class
against class?-(Bear, hear.) lam not gOing to enter into
any of those high discussione. of policy which the Noble
Lord iti his first speech this' evening' so lavishly indulged
in.-(Hear, hear.) I am perfectly willing to believe
that no possible danger can occur, and that the
~world is
governed by the principles of peace, though
.we are going to
increase our armament-(Hear, hear)-but no one can deny
that not only in this "country, but throughout Europe, there
is a feeling of apprehension, which I trust may not be Susti-
fied.--( Hear, hear:) Who are to sustain us if we are exposed
to war and peril'? We are told 'by a national poet that so .
long as England is true to herielf she has no need of, appres.
hension ; but is England true to herself, when, ,under the
plea of passing class leglslition, an unjust war is waged upon
one of th'e most important classes of her Majesty's subjects ?
Is England true to herself when .she reminds one body of the
producers of the country that they are to look upon another
body of the producers AO enemies ? I see the cultivators of
the Soil, year after year, after all the exertion of energy
and the sacrifice of Capital, growing poorer and poorer.
I. see the list of bankrupt merchants,and I see secret societies
amalgamated with mechanics: I see every class placed
against each other'; and what are we to do if our condition
becomes one of perilous isolation ?.."(lltiar; hear.) If we see
arrayed against us, whether on political grounds or, as the
Noble Lord told us, from religious sentiment, all the nation-
alities of Europe, where is 'there the appearance of that
united England that was'the boast of our forefathers and the
bulwark of the country ?-(Hear, hear.) No political system
can be-sound which has resulted in circumstances so menac-
ing and ruinous.-(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord is about
to reconstruct our, Constitution. May he be more fortunate
• • - . years of reform' have
left' his country in circumstances which no statesman can
,Noble Lord will be a greater statesman than I give him cre-
meaeure which will terminate that opposition of interests
11idnriisvteryn,
frtohme
them id
cod 1
didThhee Noble
blerinLgorsdo,mi:
l
thy
e
ar
nnhodfrae tecahnhhe:e_ep:roesouf. p: proposeilineor.gvej a
n'T,t hh :e
r nowddt hfii
hetsasnri fet°llg7'fai noaPbrrts zmfibeilnrefastt°antw:nneerenteieruhntrteaiernip9rhi enterprise.
6.chw)(ffi fel
Mr. GRATTAN was sorry that he could not offer his con-
h
trTreheatwn:shrfte,
nnc interests'tl
hear,
ogya snosthe
se and a total want
e
ces hada on
no ,ts
sense,
butl
Ireland
ande g ebdenr
ooebtncia.
required
:Rut: lerteteotlo
be
gvioit
gratulations to the Noble Lord at the head of the ern-
had been carried on tinder his Administration.
t fivehe or
peoples ix
oyfelarreslaonf dahlaVdh beenig
untry, and
phoavbeitratynthsaasd sparz,ssitnshr.ousghowal,l
why did
blinding to three counties in Ireland, had stigmatised the hi-
pdrenoocfeoifnth,suaptilcqhrzogfeb?is
suc-
ceeded in showing the exceedingly ill manner in which. the
country was governed. The- Protestant Church of Ireland
aoyfteerinY proselytisme go-
verned bboyli
iimhaxedt.iirnantst,lwotfahcaeolncoamis:
,Was made worse by the system
was a great amid crying injustice, and ought, to be immedi-
different classes at war with°4llo9nlisee• another.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that there had been three' points
-mentioned in the course of the debate, upon which the House
might allow him to afford some brief, explanation. The
first matter *high he wished, to noiice was, a
.statement of
the Noble Lord the Member for Tiverton. Thcsicoble 'Lord
had told Lord Norma* that the conversation , to .which
"al-
lusion was Made Was, not to be considered as an official con-
versatiOn ; but it.woild appear by the .Noble Lord's 'state-
ment as if he (LOrd John Russell) ,had also eXpressed a st-
milar oPinion to hitt Own. (He (Lord S. Russell) had asked
M. Walewski if he could remember what had passed' on the
occasion referred to, and, the answer he had received from
that gentlemanen three several timett was that' heceuld not
recollect any expression that had' been used to the effect
stated. So that it 'appeared the Ncible,LOrd spoke only from,
a vague recollection of the phraie used by him (Lord J.. ,Itu:s7
still). An ;Hon: and Learned Member had asked Why. the
GevernMent 'dicf not proceed at once to introduce measures
founded oh the 'failure of the Special' 'Commission in Ire-
land ? ins- answer to that question was very simple-
namely, that, that Kommi'ssion was not yet concluded;
and.when it was, they.'should certainly take such ".mea-
sures as the faihire of that 'COminission might render
necessary ; but' they shoUld be wanting in %their duty, if
they were to 'latiOduee . any measure upon the subject,
at, present, until theysaW before them' the reitult of ,the
trials,' and heard the "opinions of the judges. He'
not, therefere,•
_think that,- Without some greater, neceem
city than the Government hid now before them, 41:4' Bill
was called'for in the present State .of the law.. For his own
part he looked with confidence' to the constabulary and Mili-
tary as an effircacions means of preventing those offencee.
The Honourable Meinber for Buckinghamshire bad spoken.
at some length with rept& to the:Ecclesiastical Titles Bill
of last year. His (Lord J. Russell's) opinion Was that that
measure was sufficient for the.oecasion. that it was aimed at
the mischief which it sought to, remedy, and that it Would be
unwiseto extend that remedy..' When the Hou. Gentleman
asked what 'that Act had Ono, hia (Lord(Jolin Eussell'S),
reply was; that it had dode what' it was intended In do, 'be,
cause 'it had prevented the offence; 'Which' it sought to,nnt
down. It Was to' be remembered 'that the Offence Was,aqt
that some person called another the'Arehbishon of Diiblin or
an:tains bOt it consisted in certain persons taking upon
themselves thOie titles who had net'a right in,laW to assume
_
than. He (,Lord J. Russell) heard an, instance WOO
those • biShOps• having 'sighed name,!illr:
name to 'a letter addressed to a Dublihscirl.BPpqrsissT
0., the': appearance of the. paper °Woo
he found ' that the , printer • had, appended ;
to, his • Mine.' • 'lie , (Lord John • Rusiell),,
the appeirinees of "theAct,l47.ilieepee: • •
an, .16oititig
sary to have recourse to ' farther leg
fvothreiasubmittedteviolated
werefallacious.'t t
tdiati
:patient Of
he did to the hopeful circumstance of the greaten
,or Ireland
the most intelligent of the' Roman; Catho
w., g
in their
adopting the syStern'ot mixed 110
tpart,Orthe king.
greet
dse. ihaf' that was the
t _daid and' said 1?),
dom. Although it had been' frequebtlymil _
sons to attend
"e cled portiOn of the
the lion. Member for 'Bncks;
'injustice;thatth
the Moneirable
Member had never, persiaded the 9
1;1 ail in ithity which. Mr.
case. " With regard to the •counvt.earymr.
community were suffering
Culloch wag no
M'Cullbeh 'said they ought ha,
id twit the time for a fixed
duty perfectly right When sab
and it was certainly a
odforeig.n corn had koileri
1-841 Lord Stanley' treated
most remarkable thing that
land scorn the proposition of a
with the greatest contempt
which he said was an insult to
duty of Bs. a qiiarterOn 'co ,
of country; "and yet, in 1850
the agricultural interest
and 'other places, the Noble Lord
at Merehant..TailOrs' Hal!,'
hichlanded int
statedthat the great Object w
f little -more-than half ;est had
at heart Wes a•exed Otto
with so Mitch 'contempt.- what he
(Cheers )
had preiiouslyitreated.e!
from
the' lion. and Learned
Mem-
With regard vtliat.f 11
ite.o of the
her for Sheffield. as: t sGovernment, the state.
that the H
t vias ce House' could •
of the Govhritifien, „ -at any
time; if theyiiishW;witn wra _ _ eir-contrdencii Nat the pre.;.
sent Minister of :'Crowni
,aik! if there were others more
entitled "to • their': "confidence, •and whoin • they theught
• • calculated' to carry on the Governinent-;. more' decide, the
if the House
,on Government would be
ready to' 'hew' to that, decision.'They sdught Only to do
their' duty; with respect to the SeVeralisubjeete 'which they
' brought before ParlittMent:'. After the time 'they hid' held
°Met th6P*l46
;_., JE B"°1 t 44" A T., 9-
: the,qtaien.4l64gus it *UM (:)t
De