The Sun.
London, England, 1849-05-09 00:00:00

power of making up their assorted cargo by various j prosperity and contentment in our American colonies;
articles of Paris taste, the trade which the American on the other hand, that when they attempted to enforce
steamers carried on was a very material advantage to them, they were met with the most determined resist-
the
country, He could pint cut to their Lordships that ante, which resulted in the separation o a large part of
in many other cases the law as it now stood was a pro- the empire. With these lessons before their eyes, were
tection, not to the British shirowner, but to foreign in- they to rush blindfold into the same short-sighted policy?
terests. In the course of a vary short time, by the Act If the decision should unfortunately' be the reverse of
of Parliament now in force, the duties upon sugar from what he hoped arid expected it would be—he would,
all parts of the world to this country would be indeed, be a bold man who would venture to make him.
equal. The moment that took place Jamaica would self responsible for the consequences—and for the adini-
have no more interest in importing sugar here nistration of the colonial affairs of this country in the
than other parts of the world. The moment that took face of the dangers and the difficulties which that deer.
place it would be of great advantage to the Jamaica sion would entail.—(Hear.) Great stress had been laid
planter, when his sugar was in London, that he should on the petitions which had been presented against the Bill.
go to any port that was the best—llacebuegh or else- Bat they knew very well the machinery by which peti-
where—to receive a better price, but he would not be tions were now too frequently got up—a machinery
allowed to do so. He trusted he had succeeded in show- which he regretted to say went far to destroy the benefit
ing their Lordships that as far as the home trade was of the right of petition.—(llear, hear.) In no case,
concerned, the restrictions on the statute-book were no perhaps, had that machinery been more vigorously exer-
real protection to British ships. He would now come to cited than in the present. Now, with regard to the pe-
what he considered to be the strongest part of the case tition from Liverpool. From a town, containing 200,000
is favour of the Bill before their Lordships, he meant its inhabitants, they were told a petition had emanated,
bearing upon the colonial interest; and, in the first place, signed by no less than 47,000 persons.—(Hear, bean)
let him mention that the law as regarded the colonies He believed it would not be denied that there was much
was different from the old navigation-law. Foreign ships division in Liverpool on this subject, and that there were
could not carry goods from one colony to another, or many free traders there. Yet here they had a petition
from one of the colonies to England. In certain cases purporting to be signed by no lets than three-fourths of
foreign countries were not allowed to trade in their own the whole adult male population, including paupers,
ships to British colonies, and in other cases only in British police, beggars, and all other persons from the highest
ships. These were the main provisions of the existing law. to the lowest.—(Hear, hear.) Besides this they ha I
Now he must point out the evils which the law entailed, petitions from other places—presented as against the re-
and, in so doing, however, lie was so anxious to peal of the navigation laws—as petitions from the clergy
avoid trespassing longer than was necessary, that ho landowners, and others of Mayfield, Hastings, and other
should confine his attention almost exclusively to one agricultural districts.
case, and that was the case of Canada. And he most A None.*.: PEELS—And maritime places also.
earnestly entreated their Lordships to consider what Earl GREY—Yes, there were petitions from Tewkes-
that case really was. Their Lordships were aware that bury and Melton Mowbray. Were these maritime
the most important articles of the produce of Canada places ?—(Hear, hear, and a laugh.) But did any of
were now exposed to free competition in the markets of their Lordships believe that it was merely the preven-
this country; they knew that the main articles which tion of any alteration in the navigation-laws these peti-
she was capable of supplying, corn and flour, coin- tioners bad in view ?—(Hear, hear.) Lie would take
peted principally with the United States. Canada one—a petition from Ashby-de-la-2ouch. Ho found
possessed one out of three great lines of internal that the petitioners complained that the depressed con-
navigation, communicating with the interior of the dition of agriculture threatened ruin to the farmer,
American continent. Canada had within the last year, landowner, and all the industrial classes dependent on,
at very heavy expense, improved the natural line of water them for support, and praying
.for such an
amount of
communication by the St. Lawrence to the great western protection to British agriculture, and to the colonial,
lakes. Those works were now completed; shins and yes- commercial, and manufacturing interests, as should shift.
cols of very considerable size could go from Quebec to a the burden of taxation from'the home to the foreign
pro
point on the great western lakes without transmitting ducer.—(Hear, hear.) He asked their Lordships
their cargoes, and in a very short space of time. It was to pause before they determined to oppose the
a question whether the produce not only of Canada, but repeal of the navigation. laws. He advised them to con-
of the western states of America, should be sent by this skier well the effects which might result. He was not
line to Europe, or by the Erie Canal. Their Lordships afraid of their success, even should they try, as they
would find from the papers on the table that freight from seemed inclined to do, to repeal the corn-laws. lie had
England to Quebec was 60 cents fur a barrel of flour, and not) the slightest apprehension that they could succeed
to New York it was 101 cents; that the time taken from in re-establishing the corn laws.—(Cheers.) They
England to Quebec was six days, to New York sixteen might mistake the present apparent apathy in public
days. What was it raised the freights of the St. Law- opinion; but they should recollect that a step in the
rence, and practically destroyed the advantages which free-trade direction was never retraced; that the steady
Canada otherwise enjoyed? What raised those freights tide of human improvements was progressing, and that
were the restrictions imposed by the Act of Parliament when that which was admitted to be sound was once
which he now called on their Lordships to repeal. established in a free country and became embodied in
If those restrictions were not reserved for the pur- their statute-hook, there was no retreat. The corn-laws
pose of enhancing the freights, what were they were settled for ever. He °egged of their Lordships to
reserved for ? He contended that the depression consider well' whether ie,was not full of danger again to
of Canada was occasioned, not by the removal of re-open the agitation on that subject. Let them remember
protection, but by the capriciousness of our Legisla- all the machinery of agitation, and how, if re. opened, it
ture since. They were bound now, having removed would effect the interest of land. If they began a real
protection, to give the Canadians compensation for agitation for the restoration of protection—if, for in-
any advantages it afforded by opening to them the cue- stance, they said that a return to protection was neces-
petition of every nation for the carriage of their goods. sary for the carrying on of their business, they would de-
Noble Lords opposite would not venture to propose the press the value of landed property. That property was
restoration of protection.—(Protectionist cheers.) No, suffering at the present moment, and yet there was
whatever might be said outside to delude the farmers, nothing in the present crisis to justify a panic.—(Laugh-
the Noble Lord opposite would not make any proposi- ter from the Protectionists.) The average price of wheat
tion in that House for its restoration. Well, if they now was 45e.; the average price under the system of pro-
were not prepared to do this, and no one attempted to tectiun had been 355.; and therefore there was nothing
move a finger for the purpose, they were bound to give to justify the panic. But there was not a landlord now
the Canadians every relief in their power by passing the who was not suffering from the depressed value of land;
Present Bill. He thought he had shown their Lordships ants in the present state of Europe was there no danger to
that the claim of Canada was strong in justice; he be- be apprehended from setting class against class—from
lieved he could also show them that they were strong in again calling into existence the machinery of agitation
policy and prudence.—(Cheers.) Their Lordships had upon anti-corn-law and upon pro-corn-law, and upon that
no doubt read the papers which had been laid on the most exciting subject:ot the food of the people, raising a
table by command of her Majesty, and could cry for protection?—(Cheers.) Were their Lordships so
not have failed to perceive the strong evidence blind as not to know that among those who were osten-
they contained of the feeling existing in Ca- sibly prosecuting the repeal of the corn-laws, there were
nada. The Canadians were fully aware of the claim many who telt regret at the success of that measure—
they had en Parliament; they knew it was net a claim that there were too many who were anxious to keep up
upon favour, but a claim founded on the strictest the agitation for ulterior, and, as he (Earl Grey)
justice. The whole province was united as one man thought, dangerous objects ?—(Hear, hear.) Were
upon that subject.—(Hear, hear.) He had already they going to let such parties as these recommence agi-
mentioned a letter signed by the most eminent house in tation for these more dangerous purposes ? He trusted
Montreal, addressed to the Board of Trade. The Council not. He warned them to beware lest the tenantry of this
of the Board had asked for the restoration of protection, country should turn upon them and say that it was not
but these gentlemen, in this most remarkable document, protection but something else they wanted—that they
asked for entire free trade. They argued, with an required not a gentry to dictate to them, but that they
ability which did them the highest credit, against any would set up for themselves, and adopt a most dangerous
attempt to restore protection. But this was not all. Ile cry?—(Hear, hear.) Were their Lordships prepared
begged to refer the House to what was a most authentic by their vote that night to produce a general election, in
expression of the feeling of Canada. At the commence- which dangerous and most exciting topics might be
ment of the colonial session, both Houses of Parliament raised? Were they prepared to run incalculable risks?
agree to address her Majesty for a repeal of the naviga- —(Hear, hear.) True, a Noble Lord had told the House
tion laws.—(Hear, hear.) It was true that an amend- the night before to anticipate no danger, but to look at
ment was moved—not an amendment to leave out any the measure before them, and to threw it out without
portion of the address ; not striking out the repeal of fear or scruple; but if that Noble Lord would bravo the
the navigation laws, but asking, in addition, for the re- storm, he (Earl Grey) trusted their Lordships were not
storation of protection.—(Protectionist cheers.) Yes, but prepared to follow his example, but that they would
that amendment was decided in the negative by a consider the bearings of the present question upon the
large majority. Their assembly would not include in general interests of the country, and it they regarded the
the address any prayer for the restoration of protection. management of public affairs as imposing upon them
—(Hear.) The amendment having been thus disposed the highest and most solemn responsibility, he had no
of, the address, as originally framed, was adopted by the fear of the result of that night's division.—(Cheers.)
Assembly without a division.—(Hear, hear.) He would Lord STANLEY said he had no intention of going
only trouble their Lordships with one more document as back to the remote times to which the Noble Marquis
to the state of feeling in Canada. It was a paper which had alluded in introducing the Bill, or to those of which
had been laid on the table during the previous session, the Noble Earl who had just addressed their Lordships
and dated the 15th of June, from Canada. The writer had spoken. Neither should he enter into any of those
stated that the approaching repeal of the navigation-laws speculations with which the Noble Earl had concluded
had been hailed with acclamation in the colonies, but his speech. The great question to which he would een-
subsequently a fear had arisen that the measure would ture to draw their Lordships' attention was simply this—
be lost in its passage through Parliament_ This had Was it, by all considerations of domestic, foreign, and
preassoese e most painful feeling in the colony, as the colonial policy, advisable, by adopting this Bill, to de-
Canadian farmer felt that he was entitled to this mea- stroy altogether a system of law, which for the last 200
sure not as a matter of favour but of justice. lie did years, to say the least of it, had been relied upon as the
not hesitate to declare it to be his firm opinion that, if' base of their national greatness, and the foundation of
their Lordships decided upon rejecting the present mea- their civil strength?—(Hear, hear.) In considering
sure, their decision would be attended with the most this question, he did not propose to follow the Noble
serious effects in Canada. They all knew that the con- Earl through the colonial part of the question. He
nexion of Great Britain with that colony could not be thought the simple question was—would they wholly
maintained on other than terms of the most perfect repeal their navigation-laws? In the proposition now be-
commercial equality. But if that connexion was fore them, they were forced into a particular channel of
sacrificed, it was not only Canada that would be lost inquiry. The question was not, whether they would
to England, but the great naval arsenal of adapt those laws to the circumstances of the times in
Halifax also; and, when some of their Lord- which they lived; but it went directly to the entire re-
ships were talking of the importance of the peal of the navigation-laws. Oa that account it was that
naval position of the United Kiegdom, he must he did deprecate the hasty, precipitate, ill-considered
beg leave to remind them that the loss of Halifax was a step which the Government were advising them to take
matter worthy of some consideration in that point of —a step which amounted to nothing short of destroying
view. The Canada, must be held by ties of friendship utterly the navigation-law of this country. The Noble
add mutual interest or they must be relinquished, for it Earl had designated these navigation-laws as the bar-
was by obtaining a hold on the cordial affections of barous relic of a barbarous age, inconsistent with the
those colonists that England could alone hope to pre- refined and enlightened policy of a civilized nation, and
serve them. He could not too earnestly impress upon unworthy of being retained in the statute-book. He
their Lordships' minds that the terms which he had (Lord Stanley) could recollect a time when the Noble
stated were those alone upon which the connexion of Earl did not hold the opinion that these were the charac-
England with the Canadas could be kept up. He begged teristics of the navigation. laws—(hear)—when, at a
to remind their Lordships also that the Earl of Elgin meeting of shipowners, at North Shields, he said it was
had correctly stated in his dispatches that the Canadians wrong to expose the British shipowner to competition,
notwithstanding all their disputes, had with common and still subject him to restriction. It was represented,
accord—the French joining with the English portion of too, that Mr. Huskisson had approved of those views of
the population—cordially expressed their desire to re- the Noble Earl, expressed at that time, which no doubt
main attached to the British Crown. If their Lord- he did. Adam Smith, on the other hand, said that these
ships threw out the Bill, they parted with the best laws, dictated as they were in the first instance by na-
security which England possessed for the maintenance tional unimosity, had been produced by the utmost poli-
ot her Canadian colonies. But whatever might be the tical wisdom. He would remind the House that when
decision of their Lordships that night, he entertained no this last relic of a barbarous age existed, Mr. Huskisson
doubt whatever that the restrictions imposed by the na- was bound to say that it was based upon the highest
vigation-laws could net long be maintained. But if ground of national necessity—that of providing for their
their Lordships threw away th present opportupity for defences, and of affording, security to their colonial pos-
, repealing with a good grace the obnoxious and injurious sessions. Adammith, then, thought that these laws,
restrictions which pressed upon the commerce and in- commenced in feelingS of national animosity, were the
dustry of the Canadians, they might depend upon have result of the utmost wisdom of their statesmen; Mr.
ing to offer concessions when it would be too late. The Huskisson justified their policy, on the ground of high
great author of the navigation-laws, that most sagacious political necessity; and Earl Grey considered them the
man and able ruler, Cromwell, allowed the rising cote- relic of a barbarous age. Between those conflicting
nies to enjoy a practical exemption from their operation; authorities their Lordships were called upon to decide.
and they were permitted to keep this in the midst of the —(Cheers and laughter.) He would now venture to re•
wars wherein England was involved during the Protec- mind their Lordships of the extent of the interests upon
torate. But Charles 11. tried to make the navigation- which they were required to legislate. He did not
laws applicable in the colonies. This odious law believe that the tonnage of this country was so large as
of navigation and trade could not be enforced the Noble Marquis had stated it at, viz., 4,000,000 tons,
and he (Lord Grey) would refer their Lord- or that the number of seamen was so large as 232,000;
ships to a scarce book, called " The Lives of the Re- but of this there was no doubt, that in that trade there
markable Men" of that day, for some account of Edward was embarked an amount of capital from 54,000,000/.
Randolph, who, in the year 1679, was appointed Col- to 60,000,0001., that it employed, beyond the seamen en-
lector or Boston, in the United States, for the express gaged in it, eighty thousand artificers, which artificers
purpose of enforcing the trade and navigation-laws, but divided amongst them at least 5,000,0004 in wages, and
who signally failed in so doing. The Noble Earl hero the total freight earned by these vessels was 28,600,000/,
read au extract from the work to which he drew atten- Those were merely the pecuniary considerations of
tion, but in so inaudible a tune as to prevent his state- the question before their Lordships ; but there was
ment from reaching the reporters' gallery. The power another far above them. It was the consideration
of the Government of Charles If. an his successors was of their national defences and independence, and on that
rot strong enough to enforce these injurious and odious question they were, he thought, nearly all agreed. That
laws, and though they remained on the statute book their their maritime superiority, so essential to their national
operation was practically suspended as far as the colonies greatness, was dependent almost entirely on
were concerned for a long series of years. Other sub- their commercial marine could not be denied,—
sequent attempts were made to enforce them, (Hear, bear.) Their Lordships were now called upon
but those attempts were always met with the most by the Government to put these elements of their
determined resistance.—(Hear, hear.) Then they came greatness in jeopardy, and to be satisfied with the argu-
to the only period of the reign of George 111., when ments of the Noble Earl and his colleagues, that they
a renewed attempt was made to enforce these laws. might with advantage sweep from the statute-book the
That attempt, like the others, was at once resisted, last vestige of these laws. He would warn their Lord-
and the Government determining to persevere in it, ships most earnestly to be careful not to act hastily upon
the result was the separation of the American colonies any such recommendations. He was astonished at the
from the mother country. He was aware that it was boldness of the Ministry, who would incur such
generally believed that the American war of indepen- great consequence upon the hazard of a die. The
deuce originated in a mere question of taxation. But Noble Earl, who respected popular opinion, com-
there could be no doubt in the minds of those who exa- mented upon the petitions presented upon this question
mined the matter that it was not that alone, but that the from tenant-farmers, who, although injured themselves,
question turned principally on our navigation-laws, and had sympathy for others, but if these petitionersthwaetrae
that the attempt to enforce those odious laws was the not exactly what the Noble Earl might value,
main cause of the resistance of our American colonies reason he should disregard the petitionshfor
iporsetasennewet sdasftrhoamt
and their ultimate separation. Mr. Savage gave it as great commercial communities,ustus
Liverpool 00l was not the
his opinion, " that had the attempt been enforced in presented from Liverpool? B
Petitions; no such
1766 the separation would have then ensued as certainly only commercial towldn tahsakt
presentedhad any commercial town
as it did in 1776. Never was there a period when the thing. But hewou
of it? Not one.—(Hear, hear.)
colonies submitted quietly to these laws, or at all, ex- petitioned in
Earl favouracted as if the commercial and ship-
nothingcept under compulsion;" and he also added, " that The Noble
interests knew nothing of this subject.—
theiftkteheyd e brokestruc
in his judgment could be clearer than that owninghiear
hear.) Now, he found that all the naval
British navigation-laws for regulating trade
were most injurious to her colonies."—(flear, hear
That was the opinion also of a distinguished Minister of dm(oewnn 'itnhestene laws, countryit declared
would
tion of the naval supremacy of this country. The
the United States, and a lawyer, who was now the Minlid-
Noble Earl then adverted to the machinery got up for
stet of the United States in England, and who could
show letters from the French Minister previous to the the presentation of petitions, and yet he could say that
never was any expression of opinion more spontaneous
separation (1770), stating that the attempt to f
ent however,t o
make r rather t
thisher inconsistent
insinuation,
we
opraer part
eo.f
these odious restrictions would certainly lead tp, the., re-
.than that which took place with reference tothissub-
suit which six years later ensued—and agai
jest.
Government was,rnl
in another letter the same opinion was
of Mr,
expressed.n'inl' 716 n, jt
acridly understood to have used such ext •
confirmation of this he would read a short letterextraordinary
Mr. Bancroft s a ' means to • •
procure a majority in that House this Bancroft's—believing, as he did, that upon
that
Lordships with question. It was said that ' • would he received by their
opinion
for it. lie said—" John loot understand these ' •
respect which lie entertainednavigation-laws. There was, how-
Adams, President of the United States, ever, one thing
the second certain, that they did not know that these
Minister to the Court of laws were injurious to
and the first Americanthem. It was certainly very
London, in speaking of the independence of that strange that these parties should not find out in the
originated
ted the struggle course of the'
country, stated that it. obusiness that these laws were inconve-
which had commenced in 1761 against - silent or
injurious
to their interests. With regard to
that, during a century and
laws." They found, then,_ the case of Canada, with reference to the effect of these
a half, when those laws were in abeyance, there was laws, that was, as that colony was now placed, an ex-