The Sun.
London, England, 1825-04-29 00:00:00

consideration. The country was quiet and calm, resigned from
one end to the other of it. If they left the-matter unsettled
until the next Session, how would the landed interest be Placed ?
They had no certain means of knowing what the value of their
leases was, or what the value of their property.—(Hear !)—lt
was impossible to reconcile such a state of things with the'
well-being of society. He candidly confessed that from. the
speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman he was not able ascer-
tain what it was his intention to propose next year. If that
were the case with Honourable Members who had heard in
what a state of ignorance must those be who had had not that
opportunity ? Many petitions had been presented on the subject.
When the petitioners asked their Representatives, " what do
Ministers intend doingabout the Corn Laws," what answer, he
would ask the House, could Members give ?—( Hear, hear!)—
The Honourable Member, after some further remarks, said,
.that when the amount of the protecting duties came before the
House, there was one reasen which he would add to the many,
why the protection should not be withdrawn at once ; it was be.
cause the landed interest enjoyed it so long ; they therefore
should not he let down in a single moment.—(Hear, hear !)
When the Right Honourable Gentleman (Mr. Huskisson) said
that in France provisions were twice as high as in this Country,
he thought he was right in admitting that the artificial industry
which enabled us to compete with them, whenever that ex-
tended over this country declined, the whole mass of artisans,
in millions of paupers, would be thrown on the landed interest.
—( Hear, hear !)—These two classes had one common interest ;
if the manufacturing interest. was depressed, the agriculturist
must suffer. For his own part, and lie candidly declared, lie
was inclined to protect the latter, if for no other reason, but
because they had hitherto enjoyed it. It was under that pro-
tection all leases had been made; all incumbrance had
been imposed;—(Hear, hear !)—A principal reason alledged
by the Right Hon. Gent. for not then going into the question
Of the Corn Laws,-was the accumulation of corn in foreign ports.
Ile (Mr. Baring)'could see no force in that argument unless it
could be shewn that the accumulation was not to be so great next
Year as now. Suppose the price of corn to be in Dantzic 285.,
:then that corn would be in the market, at the present moment,
worth 80s. on an average ; and supposing them to sell it here
even at 525., the persons holding' these 400,000 qrs.-of wheat
would realise near a million of money. Before, therefore. this
wheat should he let out upon the market by any project of the
Right Hon. Gentleman, the profit it would produce should, at
the same time, carry something into the Exchequr. The price he
would be inclined to fix would he about 60s. a quarter ; lower
than that he would not be inclined to go; indeed he would
withstand below that any attempt to withdraw from the landed
interest the protection they had hitherto enjoyed, without much
stronger reasons than had been yet produced for the change
Contemplated. The Right Hon. Gentleman had expressed his
intention of postponing any measures upon this question until
next Session, but he (Mr. Baring) hoped his Majesty's
Dli-
miters would be compelled to settle it that night. It was
quite true that, strictly speaking, they were all equal in that
House, but every one knew what effect the declaration of a Cabi-
nat Minister had upon the country—how different any expres-
sions of such a person were to the skirmishing of others ; and
tven if they understood that Right Honourable Gentleman,
which he (Mr. Baring) confessed he did not, still he knew,
from having passed a great deal of his time in the country,
Low much every interest would suffer from the question being
left in that state of uncertainty which the Right Honourable
Gentleman proposed. If, too, there should be a dissolution
of Parliament—a think which he did not venture to predict—
but if it should happen so, what confusion, anxiety, and un-
certainty, would be produced between the candidate anti con-
stituent by leaving the question in its present state. He knew
there was disposition in the Members of that House to consider
every thing at present with good humour and good feeling.
He thought, therefore, that there was no time when they would
be more likely to an amicable conclusion ; and he trusted his
Right Hon. Friend would see the necessity of re-considering
his declaration, and hastening a settlement. —(Heer !)
Mr.-HtisKissoN and Mr. Gooch severally explained.
Mr. PHILLIPS rose, but was unable to proceed against
loud cries of Question," and Adjourn."
Colonel WOOD pointed out the fallacy of attributing the
present system to the Act of 1815, or the report of 1821, for it
really arose out of the report of 1822, which imposed the duty
of lie. a quarter on the importation price of between 735. and
80s. He thought the basis of thiS arrangement was sotnal—
out that he would object to the opening of the ports at a lower
at all events, he thought that Parliament ought not to
b_Zak up without amending the existing system of averages,
required great revision. If the averages were corrected,
el,e ports might be opened at 655. or 705., with a 17s. ditty, to
iiia4e wholly 'when the price rose to 85s. That would, he
'aght, be a sound system.
r Lord A LTHORP concurred in the complaints against the
e'ostponement of this question. The Government had given no
ree.sen for not submitting a motion upon it during the present
az,zon. True. the Right Hon. Gentleman had said, that it
whier•cal3able' to call upon Ministers to explain measures of
it was for theyhad not given any notice ; but equally unreasonable
the Government to admit that they contemplated a
great and radical change in an important
t. question, and yet to
be wholly silent on the means by thich he-
y intended to effectit.
He approved of the course taken by oheHon. Member who
1 ad introduced this reotion,.because he it calculated to
correct the existing fluctuation in the market, which was pro-
,ductive of injury and inconvenience.
Mr. STUART WORTLEY concurred in the view taken by
the Hon. Mover, who should have his vote if he pressed the
question to a division. At the same time he hoped the Hon.
Gentleman would not press the motion so far, after what had
Passed in the courie of the debate. He entreated the G overn-
luau to pledge themselves to an early consideration of the whole
question at the beginning of next session ; for until that took
Place, there would be no comfort for the landed interests.
Mr. WODEHOUSE had been always, and continued to be,
an advocate for averages, which, however, lie apprehended was
a system that admitted of various frauds, and was susceptible
of considerable iniprovement 'There was a chance of great
delusion being created on this most vitally important subject.
In considering averages, a proper distinction should be taken
between a country at a time of war and a country at a time of
Peace. In the former instance forage for cavalry rations, &c.,
-greatly increased the price; this consideration did not inter-
Pose in time of peace, and a due attention should be paid to
it :by the house in disposing of the present question.
Mr. CA LCRAFT rose amidst cries of question." He was
not desirous of moving for an adjournment, but he was equally
unwilling to permit the present motion to pass over without,
delivering an opinion upon it -He had in the first instance re-
gretted that the Hon. Gentleman had at all brought forward the
present question at this inoment—(Hear!)—but since the mo-
tion had been made lhe was determined to 'support it; and lie
was the more induced to do so, as the speech of the Right Hon.
Gentleman was calculated to circulate alarm throughout the
-country, and froin its uncertainty and unsatiafactoriness to en.
force the propriety of supporting the present motion. From
the present feeling that pervaded the country on this question,
it was idle to say that the present period of the Session was.too
late for entertaining it. If by the recommendation of the Hon.
Hover not to divide,- it was intended that the subject would be
undertaken by his Majesty's Government this Session, lie would
',ecommend him also not to divide upon the subject; hut if
Tim, he would recommend a division, for he had known the
.44nnse long and-well enough not to be affected by Members on
tdivision for he was satisfied that if supported by reason, and
y the general feeling of the country, the cause would advance,
It,ld finally succeed. As to the price of corn, he thought a ins-
. e flint between 60s. and 80s., foi instance 725., would and ought
to be a fair medium price. The price, however, must be a%
,waYs subject to fluctuation, for it was impossible for the country
`o,anticipater prevent the recurrence of seasons, and those
Other events, own ich created fluctuation of price. lie would
support the motion of the Hon. Mover, at the same time he
regretted the speech of the Right Hon. Gentleman, for, as far
nit Was intelligible, it was only calculated to create uncer-
'ntY and dissatisfaction throughout the country. For the
rinoti,t part he thought it was unintelligible, and he begged to
st.stiairn any intention from undertakino the task of replying
Lit- The Right Hon. Gentleman, who occupied the station
a Cabinet Minister, ought to weigh well his opinions and
exitilressions, in consequence of the weig to ht which was attached,
and Very properly, he (Mr. Cakraft) admitted, the opinions
of a Gentleman in his responsible situation. He would sup-
Poet- the present motion, and hoped the Hon. Mover would
Press it to a division. - •
it The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER insisted that
,a! the Hon. Gentlemen oppoSite who were to blame, and
oft nis Right Hon. Friend, if uneasiness followed the agitation
into question which they had themselves prematurely forced
lead iscussion, although the Hem. Member who had last spoken
admitted that the existing syistem had worked well the
tact
he '(.l."..ryears. • Had the Government taken up the question of
vere Jri Laws in the present Session, they would, from the
nature of the subject, and its probable operation upon other
dis-
abled mutters connected with the affairs of the country, have been
i tom introducing and perfecting those other measures
nciait.._were universally acknowledged to be of the most bene-
,ende
!ley to all classes of the people. This was, he thought,
that , answer to that branch of the argument. Ile acknowledged
Lad
_ne bad been a party to the Corn Bill of 1810 which he
"PPosed in 1815. The reasons ' were, that the
calculated;interven-
hagaie roduced results upon which .no wisdom could
and he had disccreered, with many others, that
lta,wtile eof events was beyond Parliamentary controul. He
Proved .1:i no difficulty in retracting opinions which experience
(lay_ till
ent was have been founded in error. He could not allow that
rtuer_in now to blame, or that it was bound to take this
jup, because that against its inclination it had been
tlenV to discussion. And as to the rebuke of the Hon.
low Warehani, certainly Government would have more
Y Ineri.ted and more surely have incurred his ridicule, by