The Sun.
London, England, 1839-03-14 00:00:00

rative statement of the exports of cottons and
cotton yarns in 1818 and 1838, showing a
large increase in the export of the latter article. I
In 1832 the aggregate value of linen yarn exported was
only 8,7051. ; in 1833 it was 72,0001. ; in 18:34, A
136,000/. ; in 1835, 216,0001. ; in 1836, 318,000/.
in 1837, 479,0001. ; in 1838, 65.5,000/. Almost the
whole of this article had been sent to France, and every
person was aware bow impossible it was to compete with
that country in the finer articles—cambrics, for instance.
These facts will fully confirm the statement he had I
made, as to the great increase that had taken place in
the export of those articles of manufacture which
had merely gone through the incipient state, as corn-
pared with those which had reached their final state.
He was confirmed by the amouut of the exports
during the last twenty years, although it would
also appear that a great fall had taken place in the
price, in almost all the articles of our tnanufacturin,g
industry. There were no returns later than the
year 1837, but it appeared that the number of yards
of cotton goods, exported in the years 1815, 1810,
1817, and 1818, was on an average for four years 230'
millions, and the number of pounds of cotton yarn ex- I
ported was on the average of these four years thirteen I
millions. In' the years 1825, 1826, 1827, and 1828,
the average number of yards of cotton goods exported
was 332 millions, and the number of pounds of cotton
yarn was 42 millions. The average number of yards of
cotton goods exported in the years 1834, 1835, 1836,
and 1837, was 570 millions, and the number of pounds
of cotton yarn was 87 millions. A similar increase had
taken place in the quantity of hardware, iron, and steel
exported. The number of yards of linen goods exported
in the first of that series of four years, was thirty-
two millions ; in the second series of four years, it was
fifty-one millions, and in the last four years. endine
1837, the number of yards was seventy-one millions.
From 1818 to 1837 the increase in the quantity of
cotton goods exported was 147 per cent., while of cot-
ton yarn it was 569 per cent., or four times as great.
Since 1818 the fall in the price of cotton goods had
been 59 per cent., in cotton yarn 61 per cent.
These calculations were founded on the supposition
that. the average quality of each description had been
nearly the same in the two periods. From the period
ending with 1828 the fall in the prices of cotton goods had
been 31 per cent., in cotton yarn 15 per cent. ; the
increase in the quantity of exports of the former hav-
ing been 71 per cent., and of the latter 105. The
same fiefs might be observed with regard to hard-
ware and iron. The value of woollen manufactures ,
exported was less than it was twenty years ago. At
the same time there bad been an increase in the quantity
of piece goods of no less than 45 per cent., with a fall
in -their prices of probably about 40 per cent. From
1828 to 1837 the increase in the quantity of exports
of woollen manufactures had been 11 per cent. ;
of woollen yarn, 929 ; of wool, 524. During
that interval in woollen goods the prices had
risen 31 per cent., woollen yarn had fallen 14 per
cent., and in wool had risen 69 per cent.
In consequence of the existence of the Corn-laws in
this country, the inhabitants of the north of Europe
were deprived of the only mains they possessed of pur-
chasing our manufactures ; consequently they were
forced to adopt one of two alternatives, either to do
without manufactured goods, or to have recourse
to manufacturing for themselves. They had adopted
the latter a!ternative, and notwithstanding all the
disadvantages under which they laboured, the low ink°
of labour in those countries had enabled them to manu-
facture the finer fabrics, in which the greatest amount of
labour was required, sei as to be able to comrete
succi.,ss[Cilly with the manufacturers of this couttry.
The effects produced in consequence of these lews must
lower the profits of the manufacturers, and it was impos-
sible that profits should fall in one branch of industry, and
not fall in every other trade. Another effect of the
Corn-laws n as, that in consequence of the inci ease of
the populetlon, and the consequent increased demand
for corn, inferior soils were forced into cultivation—soils
which did not produce as great a quantity of corn,
in proportion to the amount of labour and capital
beston ed on them, as the richer soils, conse-
quently the profits upon the cultivation of those
sods would be less, the amount to be divided
between the labourer and the capitalist would be
less also, and wages would consequently be lowered.
The evils of competition had been greatly aggravated
by the Corn-laws, and such restrictions on the freedom
of trade. Wages depended on the relation between the
supply and demand—that is, between the number ofitt-
bourers and the means of productive employment. Now,
the Corn-laws, and all similar restrictions, diminished the
means of employing labour, and also the profits td
labour ; consequently, capital did not tend" to in-
crease so fast as it would if the Corn-laws did nut exist.
The hope of better investment for capital caused
a constant exportation of capital, and the capital ex-
ported was not employed in the manner most benefi-
cial to this country.—(Hear, hear.) The Corn-laws
prevented the means of employing capital productively,
Some persons said there would he such an increase
labour and manufacture if the Corn-laws were repealed
that there would be a great reduction of wages, but he
contended that there would be no fall of money wages
for labour in that respect. What would be tfie effect
of the repeal of the Corn-laws on the land ?—( Hear.) ,
By the removal of all restrictions on trade such an im-
pulse would be given to industry that the population
and wealth of the country would increase very
greatly. There would be a great demand for land, and
the price of it in the vicinity of all towns would be con-
siderably augmented. He knew that some persons ob-
jected to the repeal of the Corn-laws, on the ground
that holders of land here who gresy corn considerably
would bo much injured ; but all he could say its
answer to that was that the most beneficial
changes could not be effected without injury
ome
individuals, and it did not become the Legislaturetos
oft .the
sacrifice the interests of the mass for the benefit
few.—( Hear; hear.) After taking a careful examina-
tion of the average prices of corn for the last fi%x'years,
he was satisfied that the price of it after a repeal of the
Corn-laws, would be much less than many persons
imagined, and that even a moderate fixed duty
operate most prejudicially. It bad invariably beep
found that in reference to all trades that had been
thrown open to foreign markets, that circumstance had
stimulated to invention, and caused discoveries by
which the home producer had been enabled to com-
pete with his foreign rival, and he contended that this
would be the case with respect to the corn trade,
because if they looked at the proceedings which
had takea place before. the Agricultural Coin-
mitten, and compared the details of evidence that`,
came from Scotland with what came from English
counties, they would be astonished at the superior
knowledge, spirit, and ingenuity of the Scotch fanners
over the English, and in all probability if there was a
free trade, the inert spirit of the agriculturist here would
be roused, and a great deal more corn produced than
was at present produced, and at a less price. He s,; as
far from admitting that the happiness of a count:fy de-
pended upon its agricultural prosperity, be-eause the
agricultural part of the country might be in, a very flou- ,
rishing state, while its citizens were in %.• very depressed'
state. Corn-owners in this country possessed en:A-moos
facilities over any foreign rival, IKleause in the first place
they bad the very best markets to go to immediately ; I
and, in the next place, they could obtain a very large
amount of capital at a very low rate, to improve their
land. It was not his intention to trespass on the pa-
tience of the House, by tracing the moral consequences
of the present Corn-laws. He desired an entire removal
of all restrictions on the trade, because by that removal, in
his judgment, more extensive markets would be opened,
the means of employment would be augmented, the
, sources of enjoyment increased, and a more equal,
distribution of property brought about. He desired
this for the sake of those who subsisted on the
wages of their labour, who ought to he first
thought of, in order that they might enjoy greater
comforts, and be enabled to devote u portion of
their time to mental cultivation.—(Hear, hear.) He
desired this removal of restriction on behalf of those in
any trade or profession who were severely affected by
the present system, and he desired the removal of all
commercial restrictions for the sake even of the land-
lord. His reasons, therefore, for desiring a repeal of
the Corn-laws were the advantages that would almost
instantaneously result frogs that repeal to
in every. perso.tt
and if this, the greatest commercial and manutacturtng
part of Europe, were to declare itselffin, favour of un-
restricted trade, he believed every civilized nation would
soon follow its example, and there would be an each to
many of its interruptions to social intercourse with
other parts of the world, and many, even of its causes of
war, would be swept away.
An immense number of Members rose, which caused
an universal laugh throughout the House ; but
Mr. CHRISTOPHER was declared to have first
caught Mr. Speaker's eye. He trusted he should re-
ceive the indulgence of the House whilst he stated in
as few
words as posiible the reasons that inducedheitiivietro_ 11
oppose the motion of the Hon. Member for u
hampton. He could assure the House that, were it not
for the circumstance of his being the representative of I
a very large agricultural district, and also from
the circumstance that ho felt very strongly the ,
injustice and irnpolicy of the motion of the
Hon. Gentleman ; suffering as he did from a severe,
cold, he should not have intruded on the House. HQ
rejoiced that the Hon. Member had'at last brought for-
ward this question fully and fairly before the House ;,
though he had so framed his motion as to
secure
the votes of all those persons who held conflicting
opinions on the subject of the Corn-laws—lie said con- 1
dieting opinions, so as to secure the votes of the Hon.
Gentleman who spoke last, and also the Right Hon.
the President of the Board of Trade. He did
n
complain of the conduct of that Gentleman for that,
course course of proceeding, because after this division
question would be decided, not as to eibeti, the
the
•, "lease was in favour of a total and entire. repeal of
st
the Corn-law, or whether the House. ryas in favour of a
modem en
! c fixed duty in preference to the
ngrad uated
sanction scale, but whether the House would
laws.4yHeiotear:
ration whatever in the present Corn-
hear.) He opposed all alteration whatsoever, because
in ills opinion, the present Cora-laws had acted
bett
for the community at large, than any measure, in his