The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-15 00:00:00

THE POLICY OF THE GOVERNMENT.

Lord BEAUMONT, in presenting a petition complain-
ing of the injury inflicted on the country by the uncer-
tainty which exists as to the intentions of the Govern-
ment respecting the law regarding the importation of
foreign corn, availed himself of the opportunity to put
a question to her Majesty's Government—whether it is
or is not their intention to recommend to Parliament an
alteration of the present policy with respect to the
importation of corn as soon as ,a new Parliament
could be assent bied?—(lear, hear.) He stated,
as a reason for asking this question, the great uncers
tainty under which the country laboured, and especially
the trading classes, as to what were the intentions of
her Majesty's Ministers in reference to the existing
policy of free trade in corn. Having briefly adverted
to the sentiments recently expressed by the Noble Earl,
the Fiert Lord of the Treasury, in this House on the
question of protection on taking office, the Noble
Lord (Lord Beaumont) complimented Lord Derby
on the consistency with which he had advo-
cated the question of protection to agriculture
whilst in opposition. He complained, however, of the
Noble Lord at the head of the Government having
merely contented himself on that occasion with stating
that this question might be referred to the decision of
the country at some indefinite time, instead of having
taken the mere manly and etraightiorward course of
propounding frankly what the feelings of the Govern-
ment were on this all-important subject, and in
the event of an adverse majority in the House of
Commons of making a direct and immediate appeal to
the country. Had the Noble Lord taken that course, be
(Lord Beaumont) would never have thought it his duty
to take the step he was now taking. He charged the
Noble Lord with an attempt to call upon the country to
agitate this question with the view of founding some
ulterior measure on that agitation. That was not the
conduct which a true statesman would have pursued,
but was rather that of an agitator out of doors.
The only construction he (Lord Beaumont) could put
upon that conduct was that the Noble Lord wished to
raise u quarrel out of doors, in order that he might stand
quietly by and look on. Was not this creating an agi-
tation out of doors, without there being any prospect of
a settlement of the questien in Parliament? There was
the greatest possible confusion and difference on this
matter in the sentiments expressed by the members of
the Noble Lord's Government ou their recent re-elec-
tions. The address of the Chancellor of the Exchequer
to the constituency et Buckingham was especially mys-
tical. A " countervailing duty" was frequently referred
to in that R;glit Hue. Geetleinan's speech, but whether
it was to be a. ss. er a 7 e duty that he wanted, nobody
ktiew.—(A iaugh.) Now, he (Lord Beaumont) con-
tended that the country wiei!entitied to know distinctly,
whether or not it eves the intention of the Government
to propose a fixed duty :he importation or
foreign corn. When a man entered two hors-s
for a race he generally knew which was to
win.—(A laugh.) Acting on that • principle,
he (Load Beaumont) thought the Noble Lord
at the head of the C avernment should state to the
country whether he meant to win with a ss. or 7s. duty.
—(Laughter.) The labouring classes throughout the
country were never in a Detter position than they were
at the present moment. Looking therefore at the
whole interests of tr e country, the activity
in the manufacturing districts, and the advan-
tages now enjoyed by the people, whatever were
his opinions in the aberrant in regard to the burdens
upon land he was decidedly against all reversal of our
commercial policy, for in such a reversal he saw
great dangers ; he saw violent passions raised up, class
set against class; and that animosity revived which
long slumbered and died away. He considered that if
the Noble Earl at the head of the Government did not
give a distinct reply to his inquiries he would inflict
great injury upon the country. Lord Beaumont con-
cluded by presenting the petition ci which he had given
notice.

The Earl of DERBY said he was not prepared to give
the Noble Earl so complete and categorical an answer
to his question as he seined to expect, but he was rt•ady
to give such explanation as was consistent with his duty.
With regard to the course intended to be pursued
by the Government, as was loft in the slightest
degree of obscurity in the course of the obser-
vations which he (Earl Derby) made a fortnight
ago. It was not hi intention to enter into a fruit-
less and unnecessary discussion on the corn-laws.
In point of number, the petitioners who signed the peti-
tion presented by the Noble Earl, were not exceedingly
extensive.

(LEFT SPE A KING. )

lIOUSE OF COMMONS
The SPEAABR took the Chair shortly before Four
o'clock.

APPEARANCE OF THE HOUSE.

There was a very large attendance of Members Si
four o'clock, and by half-past the benches on both sides
of the Haase were nearly filled. The Strangers' and
Speaker's Galleries were also very much crowded. 'rho
Government benches were occupied by the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, Mr. Secretary Walpole, Mr. Christo•
pher, and Sir Frederick Thesiger. The prominent
Members on the Opposition benches were Lord John
Russell, Sir Charles Wood, Mr.lFox Maule, Sir Francis
Baring, Sir George Grey, and M r. Labouchere.