The Sun.
London, England, 1852-07-15 00:00:00

the tenant farmer to the labourer, involving within its !
brieflyral,)alii;
Yterrible and fearful consequences every man, woman, and 1
child whose interests are identified with agriculture.—
(Cheers.) I think I shall be able to satisfy you—if
your own painful experience has not already satisfied
you—that the teffect of this. unchecked compe-
tition
between the producers of grain in this country
and the cultivators of the soil in other countries
+(here there is little or no taxation at all, must
be to bring an influx of corn into this country, which
renders it utterly impossible for you to obtain the
price which alone will enable every one of you, of what-
ever class. or conditiontoliveand to pay your debts at the
end of every year of your life. When 3ou ceneid-r that
these consequences have fallen on all of you, I think I
may confidently ask your support for that Government
which is pledged and. determined to withstand the fur-
ther progress of that fatal system of legislation to
which you and your families, and your important class,
have been.made the victima • Before I quit this subject
I must be permitted to ask—and •1 appeal with confi-
dence even to those who differ from me—whether in the
face of actual returns. to Parliament, towhich I will now
call-your attention, it can he'said—whatever may
case with some few limited classes of the coin-
-that the whole mass of the people have been
really
tthe
and -substantiatly benefited by free trade? I here
repeat, without dread of contradiction, what I have
over and over again eflirtned in a heigebouring county,
and in many places in this.cmnty, that (he effect or the
tree-trade legislation in 1846, and the great influx of corn
into this country frocci'abroad, was not to put one addi-
tional pound of bread 'per annum into the mouths of
the people of this country.--(01,.. oh,
and laugtiter.)
I will prove it. Thiiitatein'ent has been often denied
and of,en'S.iontroverted, but never disproved—never re-
futed; and I undertake, if there be truth in the returns
to
you satisfy
tthhaet I mostrtier t h
doubting
and vehusatlillueded,
ng am
under-
stated tnan overstated the truth, when I affirmed that
üb:in
fact on the occasion to which I have referred. It has
been said that upwards of 3,000,000 quarters of wheat
more were imported in 1850 and 1851 than in 1845 and
1846, before the repeal of the corn -laws took place. A
similar or a proportionate increase in other grains—
such as barley, oats, and other agricultural produce—has
no doubt taken place; and it has thence been inferred
that all this additional corn and grain, and the bread
that was made from it, went to increase the food of the
various classes of this country, and, Oherefore, the com-
forts and enjoyments of the people. While I admitted,
as I do now, the truth of the fast that there was this
increase in the importation, I venture to assert that the
food, the comforts and enjoyments of . the people, have
been in no wise increased; have not, taking them as a
Lese*, been increased at all; for if 3,000,000 more quar-
ters have been imported, 3,000,000 quarters less nave
been produced in this country.—(Cheers.) The effect,
therefore, is this, that while there • is no increase to
the comforts, to the food, or to the enjoyments ofthe
people,
people, there is the sale at a profit, the producing at a
remunerating price, of upwards of 3,000,000 quarters
of wheat in favour of foreigners, to the prejudice
and loss of the British producer.—(Hear, hear.) Now,
let me trouble you with the very driest of all subjects,
with what we call " statistics" when, we meet in another
place. I will call your attention to a Statement founded
on returns made to Parliament, of
.which, mind, I ern
not the author—the author is a gentleman of repute,
Mr. Ilussack, of the Temple. It is a statement founded
on returns made to Parliament of the quantities of wheat
grown in this country and in Scotland and Ireland du-
ring several years before and including the year 1846;
and in the several years since 1846, terminating with,
but including 18' Jl. Now, bear in mind that the in-
creased importation, which is said to be so much in-
crease in the food of the people, amounts to something
more than 3,000,000 quarters of wheat. That is the
difference between 1850 or 1851, and 1846 or 1845.
Now, what is the quantity of wheat produced and sold
is this country? •In 1844, there were 5,456.307 quarters
of wheat produced in England; in 1845, 6,666,240 quar-
ters; and in 1846, 5,958,962 quarters. The fair average
of that production, taking the three years, was somewhere
about 6,000,000 quarters of wheat produced in England by
the farmers and the cultivators of the soil. Now, let us see
the years that succeeded. In 1849—for the returns
pass over the intermediate years before free trade had
had a fair trial—in 1849, when the Act of Parliament
, had first a complete effect, the production was 4,459,983
quarters; in 1850, 4,688,274 quarters; and in 1851,
4,487.041 quarters. Taking the fair average and
speaking in round numbers, that would be a production
iu England of about 4,500,000 quarters per annum since
1 the repeal of the corn-laws. 'Then what is the diffe-
r rence? That while in the three years before the re-
, peal of the corn•laws the British cultivators of the soil
produce! and made a.profit on 6,000',000 quarters of
wheat, in the three Sears succeeding the repeal that
I important class had fallen off its their production to
4,500,000 quarters. Here is an annual loss and dimi-
nution in the production of wheat in this country of
1,500,000 quarters per annum. I shall not weary you
by going into detail figure by.figure, with respect to
the diminution in Scotland and Ireland, but I pledge
myself it will be found on reference to these returns
that the diminution is greater in Ireland, and some-
. what less in proportion in Scotland. The result of the
whole is that nearly 3,500,000 quarters of wheat less
were produced in England, Scotland, and Ireland
1 during the three years after free trade had
had a fair trial, than in the three years be-
fore the passing of the Act. Now, with regard to oats,
in 1845 and in 1846 there were about 2,000,000 quarters
of oats produced ih each year in this country. In 1850
and 1851 the production of oats in this country was
under 1,000,000 quarters; so that while you find the
falling-off in the production of wheat in this country
amounts to one•fourth of the whole quantity, you find
that in oats the production is reduced from 2,000,000 to
less than 1,000,000 of quarters. And this is the sys•
tom of free trade which some of my friends, the worthy
electors on that side of the market-place, bold out as so
strikingly beneficial to the people of this country. Two
of the best tests of the prosperity of the great body of
the people are found in the amount of the poor-rates le-
vied throughout England and Wales for the relief of the
poor, and in the amount of money deposited in savings
taanks by that class of the community whose prosperity
we seek to promote. Let us look at the question of the
poor-r,
ates because I have read in a newspaper, and even
on the high authority of a Right lion. Baronet, with
whom I had the honour of serving under her Majesty—l
mean Sir James Graham, who has recently been re.curls 'd for Carlisle on free-trade principles.—(Great
,
Thee
ring from the Liberal party in the crowd.) Oh,
you may applaud him, for he is a man of transcendent
ability;
but before yo'z make him your Member hero
ask him some questioas with regard to the agriculture of
the country, and the measures by which he would sup-
est. But it has been said by Sir James
sup-
port pe.,b abate' that inter
and by others, that the amount levied by poor-
rates'3l'- is a
fair criterion of the general prosperity of the
conhtr
• and it has been asserted that the amount of ,
Y
3 has been far less mince the repeal of the corn-
laws
poor-rate
the three years before 1846. But
than during ,
the facts? There was in 1845—(" Aye, that's
what are
brief," and laughter)-- yes, bat it is a true brief,
your.,
will listen you will learn something from it.
and it you
r cheers.) In 1845 there was raised for the
,(counter
poor in England and Wales 6,791,006/.
relief of the
How, much had the peon out of it?") I hope they
(" ,t,whole of it. This I know, that paid it -
we
had the
In 1846
the sum raised for the relief of the poor was
,
1847, 6 964 895/ •
23/ •in . , - .; in 1848, 7 817 410/ •
6800,6 ''
•-' 674,146/ ; is 18'0 ' ' ' " 1849, 1, ' s , 7,270,4934; and
in
1851, 6,778,9141.: making, therefore, in round
in 1851,
the fair average amount levied for the relief
h„ Peer in England and. Wales nearly, if not ex-
of t 0004 sterling a Sear Y. - more than before
ceeding, 1,000,
were
taws
lirepealed. Lis easy for manufac-
turer,, corn-
and for those we paid labourers who have not
felt the direful effects of this fearful course of
yot i
i., to point to themselves, and laud and rejoice
legislation, ed prosperity of the country; but, remem-
ber, the increased taking such town
I sin not taking
any s as Manchester, Liver-
pool,Stockport, more than the counties of Suf-
folk or Eis4 • _
nd, SO far from your
g the entire kingdom '
system of free trade
together ; a
ed the general pros •
having increas, perity of the country,
million a year has more than a before the s been required to support
. _ee than entire system of free trade
the poor sin'''
t its completion•—,
had arrived a
of the working classes before me, who doubtless
several i able advantages •
feel the ineßt-c°
their condition or station in society. They'
ever may be . tnt 1 , Hyper a-c ass, for on their labour de-
are the most ll n .
merely the we . p,„
-•-g but the very existence
de-
pends, not he '
of the rest of t , . ,community; and it is well to see
great tegtsiatiee changes, they are so far
whether, after
nenefitted as
to be able, on behalf of themselves and
•
their families, t 4). 1 Ineres3e their investments in
savings banks.
Now, End in 1844 the amount
•
deposited in savings hanks was 29,504 861/ ; in 1845,
30,748,868/
tend in 1846, 31,743,2501. Here we advance
to the dividing It". ; In 1846 was passed the measure
to which I arts nc"v beseeching your cool and calm
attention. From 1846 that Act began to operate upon
that numerous and important class of the community
who contributed. to the deposits in savings banks; and
now let us see the amount of deposits from the close of
that year. In 1847 the amount fell from 31,743,250/. to
30,207,180/ ; in 1848 it fell to 28,114,136/.; in 1849 to
28,537,010 i; and in 1850—the last year to which we
have an accurate return—to 27,108,5631.—(11030 In
the last year before this unlimited system of freo trade,
based on the repeal of the corn-laws, began to operate,
the labouring classes of this country contributed no less
than 31,7432504 to :Wins banks; but in 1850, when
the repeal of the corn laws had taken fail effect, this
same class
was only able to contribute 27,198,5631. in
that way_a falling off in the profits and savings, and
therefore in the comforts, peace, and happiness of this
important class of the community to the amount of
1,500,000/, inconsequence, as I believe in my conscience,
of this change in the corn-laws, with which we are now
dealing as a question for the consideration of the country.
I amreminded e that I have understated rather than over-
:Mated this .
„ e, amount, and that the diminution, coin-
paring
a"ng 1846 with 1-'BSU, is nearer 4,000,000/. than
1,500,0001• If, '
therefore, we find that, whatever may
be the 'ease with certain classes of the people of this
evounktra y, whatever may be the ease with the well-paid
,E,0t,,1 f.l ,en in large mniif:c:uring towns, who have not
-'t the effect 00 this course' of legislation—if we
kind, when -' of.
it is
adversity together,
and los•, and not gain and prosperity,
which this Change " if we
the law has produced; and
find, when weer in
into the de-
ook a little more minutely. _
teas of the cobat great
ciatis of the n
s
equences of
this legislation to t
Edmund
Community with respect to
whom
it was ttn.-
Burke, the that
wise wisest of statesmen, declared farmers
with the
Groatand dangerous
of Britui experiments
us to try _ _
_,f
we find, taking
1:1—(A derisive laugh) --if
reposed. that they
the three classes of which they are co
i dlerd are 1:01-
are reduced to this'
condition,that the ole -
,s_eveti
title to obtain '
in their roots—(Laughter A to make—
alter the deductionscompelled , . ~ ,
they are
and toiling rrom that the tenant • working
'ono end of the farmer, aft
other, wed expending the i
ki Rest of his bro7.yeeasro tartf.' fromt ' gaining, has sustained all