The Sun.
London, England, 1840-03-19 00:00:00

brought forward. He did not rely on the statements 0 was one that was peculiarly applicable to the land—
given in Macculloch's Dictionary, but had been at great namely, the property tax. That tax was reduced. Then
pains by correspondence and other means, to ascertain what was the condition of the country in reference to
the fact ; and he found that the consumption could not grain in the interval ? The price of grain (beginning
be less than 220,000 quarters annually, not of inferior ten years before 1811), for ten years before 1831, was at
flour, but of the best, for that answered the purpose least 15 or 20 per cent. increased in the latter period.
best. In 1835, wheat was 395. 4d. the quarter ; it They had, therefore, not only the advantage of a
was now 70s. ; the difference being 30s. Bd. left an an- diminished expense in producing, and also the advan-
nual loss of 336,600/. One manufacturer had showed tage of diminished taxation, but they bad further
him by his hooks that he was losing 700/. a-year in the the advantage of a greater increase in the money
price of flour ; a great many houses consumed from price of their produce. But the matter did not rest
1,500/. to 2,0001. worth of flour in a year. The total even there, so far as the agriculturists were concerned.
amount of yarn manufactured for home consumption What was the price of all the commodities which the
in 1839, was 8,750,721/. ; adding to this 20 per cent. agriculturist had to consume, except that which he
for the better quality of the home goods (Macculloch's produced himself? He spoke in the presence of those
proportion of 30 per cent. being too much), gave a who were much better acquainted with those things
total of 10,502,0641. for the home trade. At least one- than he was ; but he believed that with regard to all
third of these were consumed by their own people ; and manufactures—and he believed there was not one single
the protection which was so much talked of, the 10 per exception—there was a difference of at least 20, 30,
cent. on cotton goods, was only on two-thirds of this 40, 50, 60, or 70 per cent., putting the landowner in
amount. What was this tax, of which the landowners this position, that he can now buy with 50 or 60
complained so much, when placed beside the enormous bushels of wheat—produce that he obtains cheaper than
corn tax?—(Applause.) in 1811—he can now do as much with 50 or 60 bushels
Mr. G. SANDARS was sorry that he could not go of wheat as required the expenditure of 100 bushels at
along with this petition. Though he objected mainly that time. This then was a peculiar advantage to the
to the petition from the sweeping nature of the change, agriculturist. There was one other allusion which he
from its doing away with all protection to agriculture, would make, and that was in reference to the figure of a
and sweeping away the corn trade at once, there were wedge. Their opponents were, they might depend upon
several other portions of the petition in which he would it, a body that would require not a small wedge to split.
not agree. It had been ettempted to show that they or drive away, but a body that would require a large
had fallen off mainly in those articles into which labour wedge indeed ; and that would be driven home—as he
most largely entered. Now, he found that, for the trusted the country would drive it home, with all the
year ending sth January, 1839, the total amount of ex- might, and force, and energy, which was founded upon
ports was 43,344,631/. ; for the year ending sth Ja- a claim for justice as well as a claim for food.—(Loud
nuary, 1840, it was 45,281,2541., showing an increase applause.)
of nearly two millions. Referring to cotton manufac- Mr. W. NIELD for one thought there ought to be a
tures, he found that the exports in 1839 were repeal of the Corn-laws ; but there was one word in
16,715,857/. ; and in 1840, 17,694,3031., being nearly an that petition with which he could not coincide—and it
increase of a million. Of yarn, in which the Chamber was that one word, and that alone, which prevented
had been given to understand there was a great compa- him from joining the gentlemen who were engaged in
ritive increase, the exports were, in 1839, 7,431,8691. ; this important question—and that was the word " forth-
in 1840, 6,857,8261. ; showing a falling off, instead of an with."—( Hear, hear.) Now, having had for all those
increase of something like 600,000/. Take the next, years these Corn-laws, and people having become some-
earthenware : exports, 1839, 651,344/w 1840,768,496/., what used to their effects, he thought it was rather too
showing an increase of 100,000/. ; hardware and cutlery, hard to compel the advocates of these laws to give up
1839, 1,498,000/. ; 1840, 1,819,0001., being upwards of all their opinions respecting them at a moment's notice,
300,000/. increase in that branch of our industry, on and submit to an immediate repeal. He could not,
which all would admit a great deal of labour was be- therefore, as a question of justice, and in obedience to
stowed ; linen, 1839, 2,730,000/. ; 1840, 3,422,0001., the conviction of his own mind from that which he be-
showing another remarkable increase in that branch of lieved to be right—he could not adopt that word
industry ; linen yarn, another article where little labour " forthwith," and for that reason he could not hold up
was bestowed, 1839, 836,163/. ; 1840, 814,607/., show- his hand for the petition in its present shape—a docu:
ing a small decrease ; silk manufacturers, 1839, ment which, under other circumstances, he should have
777,280/. ; 1840, 865,768/. ; sheep's wool and lamb's been glad to have supported with his vote.—(Hear.)
wool, 1839, 434,000/. ; 1840, 361,0001., another raw Mr. COBDEN—They had heard opinions differing
production in which there was a falling off ; woollen as widely as possible on this subject ; and it was not
manufactures, 1839, 5,795,000/. ; 1840, 6,278,009/., less remarkable that the parties who were most deeply
being an increase of about half a million ; and making interested, differed just as much as they (the mer-
altogether an increase of about two millions. But when chants) did who had one common interest. On the
they also took into calculation the depreciation in the one hand there was Earl Fitzwilliam, who urged that
value of these articles, the increase in amount must have if we had to bring our corn from the Continent, it
been very considerable when the increase in value could not be produced for a number of years in suffi-
amounted to so much. He objected to another asser- cient quantity to serve this country at all. On the
tion in the petition, which attributed all their evils to other hand, they had the evidence of many practical
the Corn-laws. He did not stand there as an advocate men, who told us that in three years, or even two
of the Corn-laws ;he had all along stated that there Years, we should be completely mutilated with corn.
were great evils in them, and he was as anxious as any Now, what did all this prove ? Why, simply that we
member of the Chamber to see them rectified—(Hear, wanted this question placed upon a totally different
hear). But when it was stated that the evils under footing to that of mere conjecture, and he begged leave
which all admitted they were labouring, were owing to to call their attention to the aspect of the question
them, he must entirely protest against it. Were he to as a matter of right and justice. He thought that
give an opinion as to the evils under which the commer- if they went upon that principle alone—the principle
cial and manufacturing interests were suffering, he of what was right and wrong, their moral in-
should state it to be a cause over which human power stincts would he certain to carry them right.
had no control—the elements, unpropitious seasons, and —(Hear, hear, hear.) Would they have bread taxed in
defective harvests. It had deranged the foreign a country where property was untaxed ? He asked
exchanges ; it had deranged all the money trans- them again as a question of justice, and he hoped that
actions of the country—( Hear, hear, hear.) He hail upon that alone they would give an answer—he asked
another objection to the petition ; it seemed to speak them whether their consciences did not tell them that to
very slightly of our being dependent upon foreigners tax bread, where property was untaxed, and where the
for a supply of food. He rather coincided with the land paid only a nominal tax levied 150 years ago, was
opinima of M. Van Buren, the American president, a thing founded in the greatest injustice ?—(Hear, hear.)
who said—" Nothing can compensate a nation for If it were so, the only fair way to levy their taxes was
making itself dependent upon foreigners for a supply of to put an excise uraon bread. Let every miller be a re-
the food they cat ;" he might have added, " for it un- gistered trader ; let our bakers be put under an excise
poverishes that country, but it enriches its neighbours." surveillance, and let the proceeds of the tax go to the
Mr. Pearson had stated that the transit of foreign corn exigencies of the State.—( Hear, hear.) Mr. Sanders
would be about 103. per quarter. One fact was worth had told them that 10s. per quarter would only be
a dozen assertions : he himself had imported wheat about one penny per quartern loaf. What should we
from the Continental ports to Hull at a rate of freight think if Government ware to levy a poll tax of 30s. per
varying to 3s. or 4s. per quarter, which was, in fact, head in every family, to which this duty would be
less than the cost of conveying grain from the east to about equal ?—(Hear, hear.) The average of families
the west coast, and the freights from Ireland to Lona in this country was between four and five persons, but
don were greater than the cost of conveyance from the he would take it at four. They consumed the same
continental ports. He concluded by denouncing the quantity of bread ; and supposing this 10s. to be levied
repeal of the Corn-laws as one of the wildest, and mad- as an excise tax, it would be equal to 30s. upon the
dest schemes that ever entered the mind of man.— head of every family in the kingdom, making a poll tax
(Applause.) withoew regard to family or to circumstances. He asked
Mr. CHADWICK had it strongly fixed in his mind that them again if they would consider that as a just tax?
it certain duty was necessary to place the agriculturists —( He ar, hear.) Now we had the Corn-laws, which
of this country in the same position as the manutactu- atter all was a tax of greater magnitude than be had
rers. How could they go and ask Parliament to repeal supposed ; and what had become of this tax ? It was
this law, while they asked them for high protecting du- paid ; and although we imported only a smell num-
ties ? (Hear, hear, and " No, no, no," and "We ber of quarters of wheat, the tax was paid upon the
don't ask them for high protecting duties.") But we wheat grown at home ; for after we had eaten all our
enjoy protecting duties ; we both enjoy them and need - corn which had been grown at home, it was then and
ed them—(Hear, hear) ; and could they with any pro- then only that the landlord would make any conces-
prtety ask the legislature to take away all protection alone ; and now what became of this tax levied upon
from agriculture. it could not be done. The anti- corn? The revenue got this ten shillings per quarter
ales upon which we now enjoyed a great protection were upon the six or seven thousand quarters of wheat
those of French manufacture, and a variety of others, brought from abroad ; hut who got the tax which was
laces, silks, ribbons, and en endless variety. levied at home ? Not the farmer, certainly. There
He thought that before that petition was allowed to go svas no agreement made with the steward when there
before Parliament, they should take into their serious was an arrear of rent, and so much allowed for the Corn-
consideration whether they should not couple with it law. But who got the tax ? The labourer certainly got
some recommendation to Parliament to give us that no advantage from the Corn-law ; nay, the very contrary
stability in the currency that we could depend upon.— of that, for they all knew that the labourer was not so
(Hear, hear.) The Bank of England could not, at well paid in the agricultural districts as the manufactur-
present, pay above half-a-crown per pound in gold, and ing, the wages in the manufacturing districts amounting
when she was at her best she could not pay more than to about fourteen shillings per week, while the average
six shillings and eightpence ; and such being the fact, of those in the agricultural districts was not more than
he considered the present paper currency a decidedly eight shillings ; and therefore all this extra profit was
bnd one.—( Hear.) paid to the landowner, and the landowner became meta-
Mr. SHUTTLEWORTH said there was one striking fea- morphosed all at once into the agriculturist in order that
ture in the whole of this discussion, not merely as re- under that name he might have a better claim to pro-
garded that Chamber but elsewhere, and it was this--- tection. Why the landowner was no more the agri-
that those who were advocates for the continuance of culturist, on whose behalf they heard such earnest
the Corn-law in some shape or other, either as they pleadings, than the shipowner was a sailor. The land-
now are or in some modified form, took it for granted owner was living in splendour at Paris, or tinting in
—for hitherto they had not heard one single statement luxury at home, while the farmers or agriculturists were
to show that the assumption on which alone their ar- only the parties requisite to cultivate the soil. The
guments in favour of the Corn-laws were founded, had landlord then derived the whole profit which was
any existence at all as a fact—there had not been one realised from this tax upon corn. We paid two-thirds
single argument to show that the agriculturist needed of all the extra price of wheat in diverting capital to the
protection. The pro Corn-law advocates had now cultivation of rabbit-warrens, spreading soil for the
abandoned any detailed arguments to show that the purpose of growing wheat upon the chalk hills that
English agriculturists upon any plea of justice had any would be valuable and profitable as sheep tracks ; but
claim to protection. According to the very highest that was not the way to make it profitable, to spread it
agricultural authority, he alluded to Lord Western— over with soil at the amount it must cost.—( Hear.)
we produce corn in this country cheaper than it is pro- Then, admitting that a tax upon bread was unjust, it
duced in any other country of Europe ; and conse- could not be defended. It never had been in any
quently we must, out of the price of our coon—say country ; and, for this reason, that had a bread tax
70s. per quarter, be making a most enormous rental ever been directly levied, the natural, and instinctive, as
to the landowners. He believed that in England we could well as moral powers. would have rebelled against
grow corn cheaper than in any other country in it ; and, therefore, there never had been an ex-
the world.—(Hear, hear.) If we had land here vise put upon bread. But they had here an
for nothing, with our skill, our science, and our excise, under a fictitious name, under the spe-
industry and capital, we could produce more corn cious disguise of protection to the agriculturists.
at the same cost per acre than could be produced in —(Hear, hear.) Some people argued that if the
any other country in the world. Let them look at our Corn-laws were repealed, it would ruin the landowners,
draining, and all the means by which our agricultural He (Mr. Cobden) did not ask whether it would ruin the
produce is increased, and he would say that in no coun- landowners or not. If we left it to our moral instincts,
try in the world, save a small portion of the Nether- they would determine that an unrighteous tax ought not
lands, was there such an appearance of complete and to exist—and then came the question, not what the con-
productive husbandry. Although he was disposed to sequences would be to the landowner, but whether it
look with great jealousy upon statistics, yet looking at ought to be totally and immediately repealed—(Hear,
all the statements that bad yet been made, he main- hear, and applause)—or whether it should be partially
tained that the proposition was as clear as anything repealed—whether it should be done now or twenty years
could be, that in the agricultural districts the condi- hence? And now he would only refer to the instincts
tion of the labourer and his family was entirely dis- we all have in reference to an unjust impost, and he
regarded, both with respect to his physical and moral would call upon those gentlemen to admit that it was an
condition, compared with what it was in the manufac- unjust tax ; that if it was an unjust tax it was wrong
turing districts. There could therefore be no peculiar that it should exist ; that, therefore, it should be re-
claim on the part of any one class to say that, on ac- pealed ; and if it were right that it should be repealed, it
count of the existence of the Poor-laws, they would de- was right, also, that it should be totally and imrne-
mend a protection—(Hear, hear)—they would have diately repealed—(Loud applause)—because, if they
something or other that would indemnity there against could show a good reason for continuing it for a week,
this charge. And from whom had they even this? they might show an equally good reason for continu-
They took it from the poor themselves.—(Hear.) They ing it for twenty years—(Hear)—and therefore, re-
took it from the labourer, because the labourer, from krring this question to justice,humanity,and religion, they
his position in society, was always the weakest and the all made out a clear case for the repeal of these laws.—
feeblest, and possessed the least influence.—a Hear.) (Cheers.) Although he was far a total and immediate
They had the least power to protect themselves. Other repeal of the Corn-laws, he did not expect to obtain it this
classes did protect themselves ; but the agriculturist Session. Nevertheless, he must protest against the doc-
must, forsooth, be protected against the Poor-laws, and trine with which Mr. Sanders set out, that because the
against every other impost.—(Hear, hear.) Now the House of Commons had refused to grant it last session,
foreign corn grower paid one-fourth of the produce of we should not ask for it this, and that we had clone
the land as a direct tax, besides paying his full propor- wrong in asking for what was but justice. No ;he
tion of all indirect tax stion.—( Hear, hear.) Go to any hoped they would go again for the very same thing.
country in the world where there exists a government They had already converted many who were opposed to
excepting this, and the land is considered the almost them, and why? Because the conviction of their injus-
only legitimate object of taxation. His decided opinion Lice was irresistible i and, therefore, many who before
was, that all such protection of that kind was the pro- had opposed them were now with them. But he did not
tection which the vulture gave to the lamb—it was de- think the House of Commons wouh3 be ready to givethe
struction and not protection. He believed that in no repeal of these laws this session. He (Mr. C.) did not
instance whatever could protection be given, but so far expect it this year—nor next year ; but he thought if he
as it was given it would be a public injury. In addition were to expend what leisure time he could afford from
to being unjust to some party, it diverted capital from his business for five, or ten, years, in getting this mea-
its natural, and therefore its most profitable employ- sure repealed, and was successful, he should have done
ment. And still he contended that there was no basis well. He contended that, under such circumstances,
for this protection on the part of the agriculturist. neither that Chamber, nor the Anti-Corn-law League,
By the population returns of :811 they would see nor any other party opposed to such an unrighteous
that the agricultural population, as compared with the principle could be held responsible ; but the responsibi-
total population of the country, was 31 per cer.t. At lity must be laid at the doors of those who had an inte-
the last census the agricultural population, notwithstand- rest in resisting, as well as the power to resist, their ap-
ing the most amazing increase of agriculture throughout peals for justice.—( Loud applause.)
the country, was reduced to 28 per cent., showing, beyond The petition was carried, Mr. Sanders and Mr. Wil-
all question, that which he had before stated, that in this Liam Nicol only voting against it.
country the application of skill and science and capital Mr. Tuomessow rose to move a vote of thanks to
had economised the production of wheat and all other the Chairman, for his services on the occasion. lie
growth of a similar kind ; for this reduction showed that would just suggest that, in his opinion the Chamber
they had learned a more economical mode of applying ought to take some steps to bring before the public the
the necessary labour, skill, and capital to the produce. state of the manufacturing districts. There was a gen-
A greater breadth of soil was cultivated ; and to supply tlernan present, from Stockport, which, be believed,
the consumption of a greatly-increased population the was in a worse condition than even Bolton, and, in his
agricultural labourers throughout the kingdom were opinion, if a detailed account of the condition of the
diminished. Well, then, what is the difference in the labouring population of that district were published, it
price of grain between the two periods? The produce of would excite some attention, and it was essentially re-
grain for 1831 was about equal to the produce of 1811, quisite that this should he done before Mr. Villiers's
and yet what was the difference of the agriculturists with I motion came on, because the distress of the manufactur-
regard to their circumstances? From 1811 to 1831 taxa- I ing districts was in souse cases &Teited ei , min others it
,
tuns had been reducad something Ilk,: ttoin 20 to ..:. ;!.!- -,,..ks r.,1 iy-,),vn.
lions, .and one of the taxes existing at the former as,:oe ". Mr, SkiIiTTLLWORTH seconded :lie rioting.