The Sun.
London, England, 1838-11-05 00:00:00

BLACKWOOD ON THE CORN LAWS.

WAGES--CULTIVATION.
After having read the laboured article in Blackwood in
'indication of the Corn-laws, we feel disposed to leave the
'majority of its fallacies to the victorious arm of Colonel
Tompson, by whom, in due season, we have no doubt they
l be annihilated. We propose for ourselves only to say
'the4 something on the effects of repealing the Corn-laws on
Wages of labour, and on the stimulus which those laws
with ltia!mach earnestness both by Blackwood, and by the
jority of the defenders of those laws.
All these writers seem to adopt Mr. Ricardo's definition
of the wages of labour, and from that to conclude that the
condition of the labourer never can be permanently im-
proved. " The natural price of labour," says that gentle-
"is that price which is necessary to enable the la-
_ urers, one with another, to subsist, and to perpetuate
their race, without either increase or diminution.' Coup-
nng that with Mr. Malthus's doctrine of population, it is
att once concluded that the condition of the labourer is one
of hopeless poverty and destitution ; and that whatever
alterations may be made in the Corn-laws, or other
la
ws affecting trade and subsistence, the power
In the capitalists and of the landlords, on one
nand, and the competition of the labourers under
the influence of the principle of population on the other,
will always keep the labourer at that point at which he can
barely subsist. We cannot agree in Mr. Ricardo's defi-
Ilitien, and reject the one-sided, partial, and hopeless view
of the
principle of population taken by Mr. Malthus. We
have better hopes for the human race than Mr. Malthus,
and claim for the labourer a much higher reward than is
assigned to him by Mr. Ricardo. But whatever theory we
may adopt, the general principle is certain—that man is
better taught by example than precept—that the labourer
ncensequently is more likely to have a strong desire perma-
ebendy to better his condition, by tasting the advantage of
niporary improvements, than by never raising himself from
e lowest condition. It is in fact generally admitted and
Renerally stated that the labourers always struggle against
lnking ; that when wages begin to fall, they will increase
:itheir exertions, if possible, to obtain their accustomed com-
forts and enjoyments ; and if not able to overcome degrada-
ti°n, they at least resist it to the utmost of their power.
tvery person who has examined the condition of the Irish
Peasantry, accustomed to one dead level of destitution, and
compared it to the varying condition of the English
Peasantry, is, we believe, thoroughly convinced that
there is more reason to hope for the permanent
improvement of the latter than of the former. Thus,
we conclude, that one of the surest means to effect a per-
manent improvement in the condition of any body of La-
bourers, is to let them taste, for ever so short a period,
Whenever possible, the advantages of higher wages and
greater prosperity.
Now, we find Blackwood, who labours at great length
to prove "that the abolition of the Corn-laws would deterio-
rate the condition of the labourer," conceding " that the abo-
lition of the Corn-laws would occasion a 'considerable fall
in the price of grain, because it would bring into competi-
tion with the British farmer an extensive class of producers,
who
raise their farm produce on richer soils, under finer
climates, or with cheaper laboiir." He also states " that the
co-existence of reduced prices and an overflowing supply
may ensue, and often does ensue, for a time, " but such a
state of things never has been
and 'never an be lasting."
He admits, therefore, that the abolition of the Corn-laws
Would give us reduced prices, and an overflowing supply for
season- He does not limit the time during which the
blessing may last, but he seems to think ten years would
ee it at an end. It is then only to be destroyed, with cer-
tainty' by the "great impulse given to population, and con-
seqnent multiplication of labourers under the influence of
stndiminished money wages, and augmented ease of cir-
and an i durale fall in the rice o
IF°
ti of
necessaries of life "r
He, d thereforb pe, admits that the abo-
f
the Corn-laws would for a while raise the real
Zages of labour, and also admits that they would only be
„e„1), t down with certainty by the great impulse given to po-
r,`"ation. He admits, therefore, that the consequence of
Ine Corn-laws is to keep the number of labourers from aug-
menting, and as the augmentation of their numbers is the
eat sign of their prosperity, as the checking of population
Corr "laws inflict on the labourers some of the most
vgrievous social evils. He also admits that ease
1,-*$ circumstances would for a time be the labourer's
""/ and we should like to know what better means
Ipan be found to make that ease of circumstances permanent
T' to bestow it for a season on the labourers by the abo-
°N
"4," of the Corn-laws ?If it were to last ten years, or
aY five years, or only two years, they and the commu-
pwould not be worse off at the end than at present ;
‘,d let us, therefore, have the two, or the five, or the tea
Je'll's blessing of increasing population, low prices, and
iterliowing supplies, though at the end-of that time the la-
-1)111.er should not have acquired a taste for better things,
nod they should be again landed in their present hopeless
state of penury and privation.
The gloomy picture which Blackwood draws of land
going out of cultivation, from a fall in price, is a trick of
his own fancy. There would not be an acre sowed the
less this year. At present the landlords, because the
prices are high, are to make no abatements in rent,
end next year they are to increase it. But if the Gam-
laws were abolished, and prices were to fall—though it is
very doubtful if they would now fall much, such is the
general scarcity of corn—the landlords, next Mi-
ohael was aye, and the tithe-lords too, would
make an abatement ; and the year after they
uld lower their rents, and tithes must be lowered.
thLandlords and tithe-lords would see that between
is and getting no rent at all and no tithes, there would be
alternative, and rather than drive the farmer to despair,
tined allow their land to go out of cultivation, they would
Thecontent with what he could afford to give them.
bnfarmer would not sacrifice his capital ; he would hold
eand struggle on, and very likely—for such has generally
case—he would endeavour, by en extended culti-
dutln the
.n, to compensate by an increased quantity for the re-
ar ti°ll of price. That land which has by the labour of
heats been made fertile, will all at once be given up to
tTlztatb
hor brambles and thorns, is one of the idlest chimeras
ueit te brain ever coined. The farmers would immedi-
Lfind
.a considerable reduction in wages—and they pay
Proportion more wages than any other capitalist for they
av
-"lnparatively few machines—they would find a reduc-
of In the price of seed-corn, of stock, of rates, of the price
thstbeyeryttiox they have to buy, including all ' their
teat lag ; and these reductions, with the reduction of
land and tithes, would enable them to cultivate the
fallio with more success than ever. There would be no
lie lig off, we believe in the cultivation, but there would
tor th great increase in tie supply of food. The funds
e maintenance of labour would be greatly augmented,
real
the lat. wages of labour increased, and the condition of
litov' impulse
° os
tueer much improved, till such time, at least, as the
!la to e timer
given to population brought the number of labourers
supply of food, and till then society would en-
all th the Showing of Blackwood, all the advantages and
denied efase of an improving condition, Why is this benefit
and the °l' ever so short a period? Because the landlords
Ares, tithe-lords would lose a considerable portion of their
Waal"; revenue. That is raised by a tax on bread, which
eriticaine abolished. Few as they are in numbers, hypo-
little 0 .4
Pretences, unjust and cruel in conduct, and of
eon • or
no use to society, their losses are not worthy of
ev-eNeer lion,a and society would suffer nothing, even if the
indu-stue3 of both these classes of idle, useless, despoilers of
leo°, were annihilated. We agree on one point with Black-
-1) a o' ti,
yhat the subject is involved in obscurity—as what can
ig a ue. wise which branches so far into futurity ? But that
allooltdta why the Legislature, which cannot fathom it,
siste,„ un right, and trust in God, instead of ordaining a,
N'" of plunder, and defying Him-
-144°! to say a few words-on the stimulus which the Corn-
rai':ve to cultivation. What are those laws ? A plan
Which the price of corn by limiting the supply to that
ot
is 5..13 grown in our own dominions. That rise of price,
k,to,".l)Posed, induces the farmers to grow more corn than
40,1 th_se. But the majority of farmers hire their land,
ofll ah: competition amongst them and other capitalists
profit Prevent them getting more `wan the average rate
Inky he'''. As long as their leases last such a rise in price
!heir advantageous to those who hire land, but the instant
bold „eta-B,e. are out, and year by year, where the tenants
talent
t"11.1, the rent of the lag;' will be raised fully equi-
od
all
t(l:_ue rise in the rim, of corn caused by the law,
wutitt to oui:iadvantage of ;:nat will go, not to the cultivator,
the i:onl°wnera It is only, therefore, in those cases
;'allent "..oer also cultivates his own land that any
iqraltiles • -vantage can be gained by the farmers, or any
th° droo given by the Corn-lan•s to extend cultivation.
rent for one moment, we believe, that to augment
of
lie monthor the out of the year, or of the Duke of Devon-
"r
all the rest of the great Nobility, who more
loa ". all
at. go frequently out of the kingdom, can give the
'c'enueirnalus to cultivation? The same amount of
land isba: sane of them receives, if divided amongst a thou-
of,, it to buy home-grown food, while he devotes a large part
nooks, foreign wines, and foreign pictures, and foreign
w `;(1, Pay foreigners for their music and their singing,..
to &c., w 0
encourage cultivation much more than giving it
from „' Every sixpence, therefore, which is abstracted
and funds for the ament of labour by the bread tax,
,„_ h
increases the rent of the landlords, lessens the
ent.' us ,
UrOd, cultivation, by decreasing the demand for
tutainfd increasing the demand for foreign luxuries.
tent jod it be supposed that to increase the landlord's
derabi aces him to improve agriculture, there are a consi-
else
;J number of landowners who never think of any thing
ig. te
ge ung air mach as -thoy can for their lamb