The Sun.
London, England, 1847-01-15 00:00:00

Anglo-Saxon race that this in!' 7
eli t, • •riecndoten
menced and carried on. It tv .:iKa i eee .T V. are
fur two or three years before it f 0..• . au ..*, .
'era' ; but
upon the great continent of America, , . . " our biethrfn
there, the example has been followed ; and depend upon it,
that a system of commercial policy commenced by England,
and followed out by America, cannot long he withoat its
imitators in other countries.—(Cheers.) Rely upon it that
momentous consequences must follow from this reform ; and
whatever you may say with regard to other measures, 'what-
ever you may say with regard to organic changes, I believe
that upon this economical reform depends much of the hap-
piness you have been lately enjoying, and much which I hope
to see yet in store for you and for my fellow-countrymen.
A VOICE—Thr,e cheers for Sir Robert Peel.
Lord Ll:woe:sr—Now, gentlemen, if the consequences, as
regards the world at large, are likely, as I have said, to be
1
important and momentous, what have been the effects already
upon England herself ?—(Hear.) I know you are practical
men, and that you do not object to have books and figures
quoted upon such an occasion as this. Let me, then, from a
document, about which there can lie no mistake, tell you
what those results have been as regards England at the
prevent moment—(har, hear.) In the year 1842, when
ibis reform connie need, the public revenue was in deficiency
that year to the amount of very nearly four millions Of
money; but at the close of the year 1845, what was the ree
suit ? Why, a surplus in the same exchequer of very nearly
oafstihmeiletnatjmro.unt !—( Hear, hear.) A change in the finances
of eight millions a year, in the course of four
years !—(Applause) You will-perhaps observe that in
order to effect this object, to con,e.ert a deffiency of four
millions, in
184na 2.,sinii posed,tioasurplus of: four millions in 1845,
an income-tax
That is true; but what was,
.en '
the amount-of the income-tax?-tax?tax2 Five
milli ns a year. But,
at the same time, what has be tli
pressing upon the industrious
classeseaornt otuhnits ocfoutnhterytax,ebattiieohn
has been removed ? 1 have already d
. you that the
whole duty upon 500 articles, and a very material portion
of the duty
upon 720 articles, has been remitted in the
course of that time-1842-5; and what bas been the
mihililnilons of
amount ? Why, in all, very uearle, seven
money.—(Much applause.) Then, gentlemen, I
will admit that the consequences and
.the effects of thyen
economical reform, as regards this 'country, have al-
ready been most successful.—(Cheers, and crises of
" Hear. hear.") Now. let me turn to what has been
tie titee eieel the import and export trade of the
cenntry, a matter in whiell, of course. Alaine7hi,strr, is
leee7rially concerned. lit the :\ ~tr 1;4•4-1, the vain(' or the
imports into the United kicg,tlont (ot course 1 give you
round numbers) lea', t;i :pillions; in 1845 it had increased
up to S;) millious.—(Ciieers.) The value of the produce of
manufactures exported from the country was in the year
1841 upwards of 51 millions, whereas in 1845 it was upwards
of 60 millions.—(Renewed cheers.) Here, gentlemen, is
another fruit of this policy and of that progressive commer-
cial reform fur which those who are opposed to my election in
this town think the members of the late Government deserve
no credit whatever.—(Hear.) But lest it should be. sup-
posed that the benefits derived to this great community are
simply of a pecuniary character, do let me call your attention
to another most important fact, which; I am sure, among en-
lightened men, will not be disregarded. Up to the three
years antecedent to 1845, crime had been progressively in-
creasing in this land—increasing in a ratio which was per-
fectly frightful, during the years of comparative,y commer-
cial depression. Taking triennial periods from 1536 up to
1845, crime progressed, in the first three years from 1836, at
the rate of five per cent; in the following three years, at the
rate of ten per cent; and in the following three years, up to
1842, it increased to the frightful extent of more than 21 per
cent.—(Hear' hear.) But what was the effect of these
measures, as bearing upon the happiness and prosperity of
the country, and upon the consequent diminution of crime?
Why, that in the three years intervening between 1842
and 1845 crime diminished six per cent—the first period of
diminution, I believe, for a great many years preceding.—
(Ilear.) Now, gentlemen, I really think that I have some
right to claim credit to the Government which introduced a
reform of this nature, attended with beneficial consequences
of so great and vast a character, both pecuniary and moral.
(Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, if you ask me whether I con-
ceive that this policy has been fully carried out, I tell you I
do not.—(Long and loud applause.) I think that the great
and heavy part of the work has been already cut out; but 1
believe that something yet remains to be done.—(Cheers.)
I cannot doubt that the Government which now rules—the
Government which has succeeded that of which I was a mem-
ber—will follow ;out the same policy as regards commercial
legislation—(Hear)-1 feel confident that they will—(Hear)
—I most eareestly pray that they may.—(Loud cheers.)
And this I can assure you, whether any other practical dif-
ference may yet exist between us or not, that upon this great
and important question, as regards the extension of free trade
and the freedom of commerce from any restrictions which
may yet remain (of course duly considering the claims of the
revenue), such a course of policy shall have my earnest and
most zealous support.—(Loud and continued cheers.)
Now, gentlemen, I do assure you, that I always feel there is
something painful in a single individual being placed before
such an assembly of enlightened men, and being obliged to
speak of himself; but, at the same time, in our present rela-
tive position, this is necessary ; and if I detain you for a few
moments in matters of explanation, I am sure you will
pardon me.—(Hear.) Our excellent chairman has alluded
to the charges made with regard to my " sudden" conversion
to the doctrines of free trade. As regards my conversion to
the doctrines of free trade, I think I have already answered
that by what I have stated with regard to the whole course
of our policy in the period of the last five years ; but, as re-
gards a conversion to the principle of the repeal of the corn-
laws, I admit there may be some difference. If I had been,
as has been stated to you, a " sudden" convert, by some vast
effort of the mind, or of sonic other wonderful influence
which has been not very indistinctly alluded to—(A laugh)—
motives have been imputed to me which really, independent
of every other consideration, are of so ridiculous a nature
that it is not worth my while to allude to them—let me
call to your mind this circumstance, that even if it were
true, the question of the period of time is all that stands
between myself and almost every other person in the present
House of Commons. Has not every statesman's mind under-
gone the greatest changes with regard to the corn-laws?
Was not the very first and greatest tree-trader in the House
of Commons, Mr. Huskisson, an advocate for a system of
corn-laws? Was not the present Prime Minister himself so
fearful of any alteration in the corn-laws, that he maintained
up to, I forget the exact period, in opposition to the Govern-
-1 ment of Lord Liverpool, the prohibitory Act of 1818?
( Hear.) I say this in no spirit of taunt to Lord John Rus-
sell, but in order to prove that, on this subject, there is hardly
one public man who has not, at a more or less remote period,
and generally speaking not very remote, entertained opinions
favourable to the corn-laws. They have felt, and I believe
now erroneously, the question of the corn-laws BNi:id
upon a different position from other questions of com-
mercial relaxation. But, gentlemen, reverting again to the
point of changing, as it is more personal to myself, it
has been charged against me that my mind was uncbn-
verted upon the subject of the corn-laws until Sir Robert :
Peel announced to his Cabinet his opinions in November,
1845, and that one fine morning 1 suddenly awoke and
found myself a corn-law repealer.—(Laughter - and
some cheers). If I were simply to state to you that suet'
was not the case, I dare say you would think I was endea-
vouring to win your good graces by perhaps either stating
what was not the fact, or saving my own veracity' by a
little mystifying of the real truths.—(Hear.) BA geOtle-
men, unfortunately for me, about a year ago rhad to appear
before another constituency, whose opinions with regfitd to
the corn-laws greatly differed from yours. I then, certaln_ly,
had no object—no personal object—in representing myself
either as being more favourable to the repeat of the coin-
laws, or as having undergone, at any anterior date, This
change of mind. I certainly had, under these• circum-
stances, no object either in mis-stating that fact, or in adopt-
ing any mystification : and now, if you will bear with me, I
will venture to read to you a few words from the- address
which I published to the constituency of South Notting-
hamshire, when I vacated my seat, by accepting the office
of Secretary for Ireland, in February last. I hope' you will
permit me to detain you for a few moments by reading one
or two extracts from that document, a document written by
me a year ago, in order to show that the charges—l really
will not attempt to characterise them, for I think they are
extremely low—made against me are not substantiated by
the fact. A portion of the address to which I allude runs
thus:—
" I cannot, within the limits of an address, enter into the
details of so large and comprehensive a scheme of commer-
cial policy as that lately laid before the House of Commons.
This much, however, I am bound in candour, when address-
ing an agricultural constituency, to say, that on the question
of the corn-laws my opinions are changed. In" 1841,
honestly, and not from any party motive, I advocated mea-
sures for what is now called `protection to native industry.'
Mature reflection, constant and anxious consideration of the
subject—attention year of er year to the arguments brought
torwardin the House on one side and on the other—above all,
the e perience of the lust four years—have coavinced me
not that the corn-laws alone should be abolished, but that our
whole commercial system should be subjected to a great, a
bold, and comprehensive revision."

[Considerable uproar followed the reading of this passage,
caused by some person or other in the body of the meeting
having offensively interrupted the Noble Lord., May I
(continued his Lordship) betore I proceed to read the re-
maining short portion of this extract, venture to make one
request of you? It is this. Of course, in a great assembly
like this, there must be many who differ from me in opinion.
There may be many who greatly disapprove of my senti-
ments. there may be some—l do not believe there are any
who can be personally my enemies—who entertain dislike to
the political opinions I have advocated. But may I request
those who stand near these gentlemen not to interrupt them.
—(Hear.) I do assure you, if there are opponents of mine
here, 1 shall ba most anxious to answer any questions, when
I have done, that they may put—(Cheers)—and, provided
that those persons are nob incommoding or offensive to you,
may I entreat you not to disturb them upon any account.—
(Loud cheers.) Gentlemen, forgive me for continuing this
extract, because it is the more important point as ex-
emplifying the course which I have adopted:—
" This change has not come suddenly upon me. Threeas
years ;ago my confidence in the principles of dprotectjow
greatly shaken; last year I felt they had become
.n t shock to
indefen-
sible. Still, looking to the mischief of a
party attachment (not for the sake of leenled-rv,ruis°soceffptahrety,but
for the sake of public confidence), andees°ent rarnament was
pecu-
liar circumstances under iv! 1,11
elected, I felt anxious that, f potssihle, this great but inevit-
able change should be postponed till after the next dis.,,olu-
tieficof Parliament. This, however, I had firmly resolved—
that I would never again appear before you on the hustings,
without an express stipulation that I should be free to vote
for the repeal of the corn-laws."
I then proceeded to state the circumstances generally which
rendered any longer postponement of that event (the repeal,
again
of the corn-laws) perfectly impossible and improper. I
beg pardon for having trespassed upon your attention to
avow
sentiments from anything which I had myself written ; but I
thought, by quoting a document of a year's standing, I should
be more able to refute the charges made against me than by
anything I could state verbally to the present meeting.—
(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Now, gentlemen, there is a great
and important change in our commercial system strongly ad-
vocated at this moment. I believe it has already attracted
considerable attention, as naturally it should, in this commu-
nity, though not perhaps so great as in Glasgow and Liver-
pool, and in some other places. I allude to the reduction of
the tea duties. You are aware, also, that anxiety exists in
another quarter for another most important reduction of tax-
ation—l mean the repeal of the malt duty.—(Hear, hear.)
Now, to deal with the latter first. I apprehend those who
advocate this measure advocate not a reduction, but a
repeal; and, inasmuch as that tax brings into thel Ex-
chequer five millions annually, or thereabouts, it must, I
apprehend, be totally out of the power of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, at any rate at the present moment, to deal
with such a request. I have indeed read lately in some of
the newspapers, that one of the great organs and leaders of
the Protection party—l mean Sir John Tyrrell—has in-
formed a portion of his constituency, that that party which
now calls itself " the country party" (whether they assume
that title upon account of their supposed desire to attend
to the interests of the country at large, or whether they
intend, by that term, to show peculiar regard to the
country, as contradistinguished from the towns, I
know not), has in contemplation measures which will
enable the Chancellor of the Exchequer, be he who he
may, to repeal the malt. tax, without impo,ing any tax
upon the industrious classes of this community, and with-
out pressing upon them in any degree whatever.—(" Hear,"