The Sun.
London, England, 1849-07-07 00:00:00

i the county of Bedford, what is the number of persons re-
ceiving in-door relief, and what is the expense of out-
-1 door relief. In the midsummer quarter of 1848 the
number of persons receiving in-door relief in those
six unions was 1,007, whilst in the corresponding
quarter of 1849 it was 901. The expense of out-
door relief for the same quarter in IS4B was 5821., and in
1849, 54a1, so that, so far from the state of the country
having become worse, as the Hon. Gentleman supposes, it
has, according to the latest official returns that we have
received, been improved.—(Hear, hear.) Now, 1 do
not mean by this to say that there is not very
considerable distress in some agricultural counties.—
(Hear, hear.) I do not deny that that is the
fact ; but I think those who heard the speech of the
Hon. Gentleman, and whose memories carry them back to
that period, will:remember that in the year 1836, to which
he refers. and in various other years, we have been asked
to appoint agricultural Committees.—(Hear, hear)—in con-
sequence of the number of petitions relating to agricultural
distress; and that those petitions were constantly founded
upon the very low prices of corn, and the statement that,
with those prices fur corn, it was utterly impossible for the
farmer to remunerate himself for his outlay. So that it
cannot be said that the present distress is the consequence
of the introduction of free trade by the abolition of the
corn-law.—( Hear, hear.) But, Sir, I can easily understand
that there may be a period at which it is advisable to im-
pose a moderate duty upon foreign corn.—(Hear, hear,
from the Opposition benches.) And, Bir, I have no hesi-
tation in saying that I think that, proved as the principles
of free trade—undoubted as are the principles laid down by
Alam Smith—yet that when a nation has been for some
time living under laws which induce men to expect a
higher price than articles will naturally fetch, it may then
be wise to make a change gradually, to depart from
your high and excessive protection, and to give a
moderate fixed duty upon corn, as a means of at once
enabling the people of this country to obtain their
corn cheaper, and at the same time making the
transition less abrupt for the agricultural interest than it
would otherwise be.— (Hear, hear, from the Opposition.)
But was no such proposition ever made ?—(Cheers from
the Ministerial benches.) Is the proposal of a moderate
fixed duty thought of by the Right Hon. Gentleman the
Member for Stantturd for the first time?—( Hear, hear.) And
in what way was that proposition received ?—(Hear, hear.)
Why, when it would have been a wise proposition—when
the people of this country were asking for a change in the
corn-law, and would have conceded a fixed duty generously
and spontaneously—when it would at once have lowered the
price of food, generally, to the people of this country, and
would have enabled the agriculturists to prepare for those
further charges which the laws of economicaliti, science would
finally have required—l say, when t hatrieenbeen, and,
as I believe, would have been a wise cTia'gn
violent, the most clamorous, and the ngtoes't the
most
pertinaciouswenthe
opposition was raised.—(Hear, hear.) But nosv
corn-laws have been utterly abolished—when the people of
this country have the satisfaction of knowing that no law in-
terposes in the way of their obtaining the articles of their sus-
tenance at the cheapest price at which commerce, and trade,
and agriculture can produce them—when they are contented
with the Legislature, because the Legislature has conferred
upon them that benefit, and removed all the trammels to
that trade—when it would be utterly unwise—when it would
be almost madness to attempt the imposition of a duty upon
corn—(Cheers from the Ministerial benches)— that is the
time at which the Right Hon. Gentleman brings forward a
proposition which was treated with scorn at a former period.
(Hear, hear.) But I think it is a singular thing that,
having asked the two great interests, the agricultural inte-
rest and the West Indian colonial interest, to agree to a
duty of Bs. upon corn and 12s. upon foreign sugar, and that
proposal not having been accepted on the part of those who
pride themselves on being Protectionists in this House, who
wish to restore protection, I do think it singular that I should
have heard in the year 1843 a proposition for a temporary
duty of 10s. per cwt. upon sugar, and in the year 1849 have
seen a petition presented, and a notice given of a motion for
a moderate fixed duty upon corn.—(Cheers.) Although they
have adopted propositions very much resembling those
which I made in former days, in my opinion they have not
exactly suited those propositions to the circumstances of
the case.—(Hear, hear.) They knew perfectly well that at
the former period these propositions would have been re-
ceived and carried into effect if they had consented to them,
by a great majority, nay, almost unanimously. But nothing
would induce them then to listen to those propositions. Now,
I must say I think there is scarcely a chance of their suc-
cess. And when their success would, as I believe, be far
more fatal to their political influence than the utter rejection
of their proposition, that is the time and that is the period
in which they think it wise and statesmanlike to make this
proposition to the House.—(Hear, hear.) Sir, I have stated
that, with regard to the agricultural interest, and especially-
with regard to that return on which the Hon. Gentleman
relies, there are well-founded reasons, supported by returns of
a later date, for believing that better prospects are opening
for the labouring classes. Now, with respect to the manu-
facturing interests. The Hon. Gentletnan quoted some
returns for the first five months of the year. Since that
time there have been presented to the blouse an account
of the exports for the five months ending in June of the
present year, including the cotton manufactures, the linen
manufactures, the silk manufactures, and the woollen manu-
factures; and these are the results :—The export of cotton
manufactuns and yarn for the first five months of 1848
amounted, in round numbers, to 8,766,000/.; in 1849, to
10,113,0001.—(hear, hear.) The export of linen manufac-
tures and yarn, in 1848, amounted to 1,373,0001., and in
1849, to 1,583,0001. The export of silk manufactures, in
1848, was 184,00/., and in 1849, notwithstanding the cir-
cumstances which have been adverted to, it amounted to
232,000/. The export of woollen manufactures and yarn,
which, in 1848, was 2,274,000/., in the year 1819 was
2,695,000/. ; showing a very considerable increase in each of
those great articles of our manufactures.—(Loud cheers.)
The Noble Lord opposite accounts for any increase that may
have taken place by stating that the demand at home has
fallen off so much that the manufactures have nothing to
do but to send their goods abroad.—(Laughter.) Certainly,
the explanation is convenient. But 1 think it would hardly
be just, year after year, to be lamenting over the increase of
our export of manufactures, and saying "Here is an increase
of 3,000,000/. or 4,000,00)1. ; how dreadfully bad the home
market must be I"—(Loughter.) If there is a considerable
increase in the export of our manufactures it shows that
those manufactures are in a better state than they were in at
the commencement of the year 1848, and that some progress
has been made towards a more flourishing condition; and
that improvement, as I believe, is confirmed by all private
accounts received from the various parts of the country, and
by the official letters of the various persons employed in the
different branches of the administration in the chief seats of
our manufactures•—( (lean) It appears, then, with regard
to the agricultural interest—although certain portions of that
interest are depressed—that a reduction has taken place in
the number of persons seeking relief from the poor-rates;
and the accounts relative to the manufacturing interest
show a considerable revival of demand, and an increased
activity in the main branches of that manufacture.—( Hear,
hear.) So that I think we are not justified in holding that
desponding tone in which the Honourable Gentleman
thought proper to indulge on this most important subject.—
( Hear, hear.) Sir, there is another point to which I wish to
call the attention of the House (although at this late hour I
do not wish to go into detail), and that is the very great
increase of consumption that has taken place in some of the
main articles used by the people of this country. Between
the years 1842 and 1848 there was an increase in the con-
sumption of coffee of 30 per cent., of sugar 60 per cent., of
tea 24 per cent., of cocoa 30 per cent., of currants 93 per
cent., of raisins 22 per cent., and of cotton 35 per cent. So
that we have a consumption of those articles which are in
general use among all classes of the people of this country far
exceeding any increase in the amount of population,—( Hear.)
Sir, there is another point to which I wish to direct attention,
because I think it applies not only to the motion of the lion.
G ntleman who takes such a gloomy view of affairs, but like-
wise to the language of the Hon. Member for Montrose, which
would lead to the conclusion that the condition of the people
is continually becoming worse, and that the necessaries of
life are more and more difficult to attain. The point to
which I allude has reference to the great change which has
taken place in the price of various articles of consumption.
In the year 1818 the price of wheat was 935., in 1828 it was
60e., in 1838 it was 645. 7d., and in 1848 it was 50s. 63. I
will now mention the prices of some of those colonial articles
to which I have just averted, of course taking into account the
diminution of duty which has been applied to many of those
articles. Its the year 1818 the price of coffee wasl2/. ; in 1828,
8!. as. ; in 1838, 71. 6s. ; in 1848, 5/. 17s. In 1818 the price
of tea was 6s. ; in 1828, 55. ; in 1838, 4s. 3d. ; and in 1818,
3s. I%cl. In 1818 the price of rice was 53.. •, in 1828, 365. ;
in 1838, 345. ;in 1848, 16s. I will now take the raw ma-
terials of our manufactures. The price of cotton wool in
1811 was is. 63. ; in 1828, 7d. ; in 1839, 7d. ; and in 1848,
414 d. Flax, 70s. to 325., and Spanish wool from 6s. 63. to
le. 103. Similar reductions had taken place of late years in
the price of leather. It will hardly be said that there could
be these great reductions in the price of the chief articles of
consumption without there being an increase in the comforts
of the people.—, Hear.) And when the Hon. Gentleman and
others say that there is a smaller amount in taxation, I, for
one, consider that that which the House would naturally
look look to would be whether the people had the enjoyment of
articles of general consumption in greartteirclequasanLitgar,,f.ot,
they had before. Now, taking such an to the same
may find that th.eiritityt:tliioans not been;but if you find the people can
degree after its d
30) ow tons of sugar fur the same sum which
tehbet}e'infornmewerly paid' for 200,000 tons, then that is a proof that
they have greater means of enjoyment. The revenue in such
a case may suffer, but the people would have greater means
of enjoyment. After the speech of my Right Honourable
Friend, I do not like, especially at this late hour, to go into
details. There were, however, one or two questions referred
to by the Hon. Gentleman opposite upon which my Right
lion. Friend did not touch, and which did not come within
the scope of his observations. Generally speaking, with re-
gard to the Ministry of which I am the head, I may say that
whatever faults may be found with our way of meeting the
difficulties we have had to encounter, that these difficulties
have been very great, and that we have not flinched from
meeting them with the best remedies which we cauld apply.
With regard to some of them it has been acknowledged that
we were not mistaken in our remedies. Take,
for instance, the year 1847—a year of great commercial
convulsions, and when great doubts were entertained
whether our currency would stand the shock to which it was
then exposed. We took measures on our own responsibility
which were almost unanimously approved of, and which were
not attens'•ed with the evil consequences predicted by the
Right Hon. Gentleman opposite. I remember the Right Hen.
Gentleman accompanying a deputation to me on the subject,
and, when I mentioned to him as a matter of consolation
that gold was coming into the bank, rebuking me for my
presumption, and telling me that if I imagined the gold
would remain in the bank, I was mistaken, for that it would
all go out of the country in a few days. We, nevertheless,
adhered to our measure; and I am happy to say that the
measure was successful ; and that, too, without any dangert the
to the currency, and in a period of great ditlnicou y
oft London
commercial classes. I remember some mferctlinao
1 despondency
were rather surprised when I told them I
in the crisis—that I had no grounds at
I believed et
h e t itmh
aete itthheerto
feel or express any despondency.
en-
terprise and capital of the
carry them through. We applied
ppliedthe measures we thought
lc
3 erae,
r
best—we saw no reasonfoessipronindetnhceycourse
of adset l a.d
we had none.—(Hear.) eyain !
shortly after the convulsions on the Continente, we thought
it necessary to take means of, preserving peace of the
rnetropo •etenet,
li threatened asit was bs some evil-disposed men
incited by hopes of plunder. Vre did so, relying on the
,
great body of the inhabitants of the metropolis. We believed
them firmly attached to the Constitution under which we live
and to the Sovereign whose subjects they are.—(Hear, hear.)
We were not deceived in that confidence, and it will always
be a matter of pride to me that I was one of the Government
on that occasion.--jlear, hear.) Another subject to which
the Hon. Gentleman adverted was the domestic famine in
Ireland. lam far from saying that the treasures we took
stopped or averted the famine. 1 believe it would have been
impossible to do so, and that any system of public workssuch
as that suggested would have been utterly unavailing.
But I do not think it is a just reproach on the Government for
natives of Ireland, or representatives of the people of Ireland,
to accuse them of having been lavish in their exhortations
to this House to exert its energies and to grant its means to
alleviate the disasters of their country.—([fear, hear.) With
respect to the other dangers in Ireland, they were met by
the Lord•Livuttuant, whoa. emu saved Ireland from a