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

LONDON, T URSfi.AY EVENING,

the tenant fatener to the labourer, involving within. its 1
terrible feed knerful consequenees every man, wren,n, eel
child whose interests are idantinee with agriculture.—
(Cheers.) I • teiaa I shall be able to satisfy you—eif I
rap- own painful estnerienee has not already satiAed
you—the.; the effete; of this unchecked compee
tition between the producers of grain in this country
and the cultivators of the soil in other countries
where there -is little or no taxation at all, must
be to bring an influee 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 conditiontoliveaud to pay your debts at the
end of every year of your life. When you consider that
these consequences have Linen 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 thevictims. Before I quit this subject
I must be perinitted to ask—and I appeal with confi-
deuce even to those who differ from me—whether in the
face of actual returns to Parliament, towhich I will now•
briefly call your attention, it can be said—whatever may,
be the case with some few limited classes of the com-
munity-=that the whole mass of the people have been.
really and substantially benefited by free trade? I here •
repeat, without
.dread of contradiction, what I, have
over and ev,r again affirmed in a neignbouriez county, •
and in many places in this county, that the effect of tho
free-trade legislation in 1846, and the great influx of corn
into thia country from• abroad, was not to put one addi-•
tional pound of bread per annum into the mouths of
the people of this country.—(oh, oh, and laughter,).•
I sill prove it.. This statement has been often denied
and often controverted, but never disproved—never re
--
fated; and I undertake, if there be truth in the returns
to which- I have • alluded, to satisfy the most doubting
and the most hostile among you that I rather under,
stated than overstated the truth, when I affirmed that
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
similat' 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, therefore, the com-
forts and enjoyments of the people. While I admitted,'
as •I do now, the truth of the fact 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
mass, been increased at all; for if 3,000,000 more guar
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 of the
people, there is the sale at a profit, the producing at a 1
remunerating price, of upwards of 3,000,000 quarters
of wheat in favour of 'foreigners, to the prejudice
and. loss of the British producer.—(Rear, hear.) Now,
le: 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
ou returns• made to Parliament, of which, mind, lam
not the author—the author is a gentleman of repute,
Mr. llussack, 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 1851. Now, bear in mind that the in-
creased importation, which is said to be semuch 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 1645.
Now, what is the quantity of wheat produced ' and sold
in 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 thst production, takingthe three years, was somewhere
about e,000,0.00 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 e. 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,
4,487,941 quarters. Taking the fair average and
speaking in round numbers, that would be a production
in England of about 4,500,000 quarters per annum since
the repeal of the corn-laws. Then what is the diffe-
rence? That while in the three years before the re-
peal of the cornolaws the British cultivators of the soil
producee -and made a profit on 6,000,000 quarters-of
wheat, in' the three years succeeding the repeal that
important class 'bed fallen_ off in their produCtion 'to
4,500;000 qaarters, 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 witl'be found on 'reference to these returns
that the ditainutien is greater in Ireland, and eomiti-
' whatiess in 'proportion in Scotland. The result of the
wholels that nearly 3,500,000 quarters of wheat leSs
were produced in England, Scotland, and Ireland
during the three . years after free trade hied
had a lair . trial, than in the three years be-
b)re the passing of the Act. Now, with regard to oats,
in 1845 and iu 1846 there were about 2,000,000 quarteis
of oats produced in each' year' in this country. In 1830
and 1851 the production of oats in this country was
under 1,000,000 quarters; so that whits you find thle
falling-off in the production of wheat in this eouutry
',mounts to one-fourth of the whole quantity, you find
hat in oats the production is reduced from 2,000,000 to
less than 1,000,000 of quarters. And this is the syd-
teal of free trade which some of my friends, the worthy
-lectors on that side of the market-place, bold out as so
,trikingly beneficial to the people of this country. Twb
„f the best tests of the prosperity of the great body of
bthi
eedpteborpol
oe
gabroeuftoEu na dg
liane tdh
eenadmvto
yuenite
so ff 0 trh
the
pe oroerl
i-erfa
et
Is
the
Door, and in the amount of money deposited in savings
packs by that olass of the community whose prosperity
v
e seek to promote. Let us look at the question of the
Poor-rates, Q
or-rates, because I have read in a newspaper, and even
'm the high authority of a Right Hon. Baronet, with
venom
• I had the honour of serving under her Majesty—l
mean Sir James Graham, who has recently been re.
urned for Carlisle on free-trade principles.—(Great
peering from the Liberal party in the crowd.) Oh,
yarlnv applaud him, for he is a man of transcendent
disy; but before you make him your Member here
Lae. him some questioas with regard to the agriculture di
ese
the country, and the measures by which he would sup-
port '
i.t_it.erest..
.But it has been said by Sir James
and by others, that the amount levied by poor/
fair criterion of the general prosperity 'f the,
Y; and it has been asserted that the amount of
,
ee°olloar-tir-ates has been far less since the repeal of the corn- ,
lahat' taws than during the three years before 1846. : But
n, are the feast There was in 1845—(" Aye, that's
your brief," and laughter)—yesebut it is a true brief,
togethernavi p g
poor
since
net;
d if you will listen you will learn something fr4rn it._
In -
—(Coueer cheers.) In 1845 there was raised for the
n
relief of the poor in England and Wales 6,791,00a-0i
,fi ew much had the poor out of it?") I hope they
whole of it. This I know, that we paid it all.
(` d the .
had
1846 the sum raised fur the relief of the pent was
rG cs rt ea ab that
t iel 33
a
In
~ 623/4 -ill 1847,-0164,8254; in 1848, 7,817,4101.;
6,801,1,„4,, 7,674,146/4 in 1850, 7,270 4931.; and
to 18'51, h778,.9141. : making, therefore, in round I
ninitnibers,no:lrieielaiEr
eagvlearoadgeanadm
Walesoentlevoieeedrify7
ifthbeorteelime!
r the 1:1---
°' 1,000,0001 sterling a year more than before
ceedinoPn..
, r laws were repealed. It is easy for manatee-
the - and for those well-paid labourers who have not
curer:, t
e 1 the direful effects of this fearful course of
yet
legislation, -to point to themselves, and laud and rejoice
increased prosperity of the country; but, remora..
in the
.7 not taking such towns as Manchester, Liver-
pool, I "—steckport, any more than the counties of, San peel, or
B3SQX. I am taking the entire kingdom
win or
Now, I See
so far from sstem of free trade
than relladsed the general prosperity of the country,
thanill i on
before
fyeeraert
bhea has
entirebeen
aryesqtellimreodf t
for
ee supporttrad e
s working classes betore me, who doubtless
(•ho
arrived at its completion.—(Cheers.)
several 0, theinestimable advantages of independence, what-
feel the
itheir condition or station in society. They
ever may t important class, for on their labour de.
are the mt "erely the well-being, bat the very existence
pends, n°- h 3,. of the community; and it is well to see
:loam
of the res' rest legislative changes, they are so far
after g- -
whether. ea be able, on behalf of themselves and
oenefitted as to increase their investments in
their families,
g Now, I find in 1844 the amount
savings hsDk ;eings banks . was 29,504,861/ ; in 1845,
deposited in Bed in 1846,31,743,2501. Here we advance
30,748,8681.; a"
no. line. eln :1846 Ware passed the measure
attention,
to the di-ei now beseeching ,your cool - and calm
to 'which I li
From 1846 that
so l besta a
ofn to
tbe community
who con operate Upon
that numer
tribute,.ous „ sad important
to the deposits in savings banks; and
the amount of deposits from the close of
that year.. 111 L 1848 it fell to 28,114,1361.; in
now let us see t• 47 the amount fell from 31,743,25 W. to
30,207,1801 ;is • 1850 o—the last year to chewwh
198,563/.—(Heer.) In
ht2hBaev.sel3:73o,tolo/. ; and Iti
tTntici)m2i7t'ed system of free trade,
yaeacarti of the corn-laws, began to operate,
repeal
based on the
s of this country contributed no less
the labouring classes jugs banks; but in 1850, when
to say
than 31,743,2501.
n laws had taen full effect, this
the repeal of the corn able to contribute 27,198,5631. in
nly same class was °- nee in the profits and savings, and
that way—a falling
comforts, peace, and happiness of this
therefore in the
1.. s ofhe community to the amount of
important ci— consequence, as I believe in my conscience,
1,500,000/ , in _
laws with which we are now
the corn -laws,
dettling,as a gain he
have understated rather than over-
country,
I am reminded tbatn
a d that the diminution, cone-
paring feorree
thistur
etated this lIMOUIItt Ira, is nearer 4,000,000/, than
find that, whatever :may
paring 1846 with 18.,
yet • felt• the effect ofclasses of of the people of this
the case with the well-paid
-whatever maY eecturing towns, who have not
tails owfhtehe
workmen in large mann°
bells° the'°°c :ale wishlfl tcheerrt:fionfbece, t
h i of the community together,
find,
and not gain and prosperity,
this_ course of legislation—if we
it is adversit and loss,ti ut produced; and ir
' to whom Edmond
which this change in tn, °,'4.. has •nutel ,into th 'we
little more thi. , 3' . e de-
tails legislation to that great
respect
declared that it OD, was Un-
efi
Ina
dg :
owl
when
wcwooeoenmt
saiemkociaeuukntehinatecycwsweciotfh
Berke, the wisest of statesm
wise and dangerous to try experiments with the farmers
of Great Bitain— that '
11113 composed,"ey
the three class of hich they es tv that the landlords are nee
are reduced to' this condition,
r_ noiter and cheers)
able to obtain their rents—(4'l-P
--even
alter the' deduotions they are,
gilledoompto make—
and toiling from
that the tenant farmer, after working
and •
one end of the year to the other, , expending. the
aining• k 145 RI/Wiled a
(A derisive laugh)—if we find, taking
sweat of his- brow, eo far from g
' '