The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-25 00:00:00

MORNING SUN

The people wanted to know what the leading principles of the
Bight Hon. Bart. would be ;they wonted to know whether the
abstinence of the Right Hon. Baronet was an abstinence with
a view to a change in the principles of the Corn-laws, or whe-
ther it was to be a change not in the principle but in some of
the details, leaving them still to have their injurious effects.
The present was no subject for joking; and he was sure that
whatever levity might now be felt, it would not be felt much
longer.
Mr. VILLIERS said, as he was one of those who com-
plained of the course the Government were determined to
pursue, he could not help before the close of the debate making
citer to the House what the point was between those who com-
plaiued and the intentions of the Right Hon. Baronet. It was
on behalf of them alleged that they had been comp'aining of
certain restraints imposed on the commerce of the country ;
that they occasioned fluctuations in their condition injurious in
every point of view; and they believed their condition so
deteriorated was entirely owing to those restrictions.
They did not state this upon light authority, but
they said that when these laws were brought forward those evils
were predicted, and they called upon that House, in more in-
temperate language than before, to inquire into those reslric-
tions. Since 1838 the condition of the manufacturing classes
had been declining. The Noble Lord the Member for North
Lancashire admitted that the purpose of the Corn-law was
to raise the price of corn to an artificial level in order to keep
op the price of land. Since 18,38 the people hal been demand-
ing loudly that some inquiry should be instituted into the
how
of their distress, and the working of these laws—but
cow were they met? The Right lion. Baronet was backed by
Majorities in both Houses of Parliament; it was, therefore,
his duty to tell the starving peorie what steps he proposed to
take for the amelioration of their condition. The Government
had esive'oped a little of their plan—what he complained
of was, that having said so much, lie did not say
morn.—.( Hear, hear.) 'I he country had been informed by
prObably the most confidential of the friends of the Right Hon.
Baronet that the Corn-laws were to continue as they now
stood; and he denied that any of the distress, which he admitted
to exist, arose from the operation of these laws. The pre-
sumption therefore was, that he did not intend to interfere
with. the Corn-laws ; but in such a case had not the country a
right to know what other plan he had to propose for the re_
lief of the people? The people complained of deep distress, and
offered to prove its existence, but inquiry was refused, while
the distress was almost denied.—(Cries of o No, no.") It
might almost be presumed, because the Right Honourable
Baronet came down, and in answer to the assertion that
it was gre •t, produced a report from the Savings'
Banks, in order toseprove the progressive improvement
of the • country that the deposits had increased
during thelast three months, which was no symptom of dis-
tress.—(No, no.) He ought to have referred to the returns
since 1835 upwards, and then see where the progressive im-
provement would be. But the Right Hon. Baronet said he
declined to state his plans before the dissolution ; he was
brought into power upon the principle of saying nothing, and
therefore he would say nothing. But considering the men
from whom the complaints came—men who were not disposed to
offer any factious opposition to any Government—men who at
all times brought forward the complaints and grievances of the
people—he thought they and the country had reason for com.
plaint at the course which had been pursued.
Mr. COBDEN rose amidst cries of " Oh, eh." He could
readily understand the impatience of Hon. Gentlemen opposite,
and the taunt which had been thrown out against them for
bringing on the discussion again, after, as was said, it
had been settled by a division. But had not cir-
cumstances altered since that ? Had not Manchester
Leeds, London, Glasgow, and every manufacturing town.
met and remonstrated against the plan of the Government in
breaking up the Session without an attempt to relieve their
distress? Now, might they not have been justified in thinking
that her Majesty's Government might have reconsidered their
opinion. But no. Probably they might be of opinion, along
with one of their number, that town's meetings were farces;
but, if so, they would be taught better. The answer made to
the remonstrances of the manufacturers, three years ago, by
the Right Hon. Baronet, was a quotation of the exports and
imports, in order to prove the increasing trade of the country.
But now I.e came down with a report, for three months, of the
deposits of the Saving,' Banks, in order to show the progress-
log improvement of the country. The people, however,
would not be content with that; they would look hack to
former reports, and contrast them with the present one. The
Right Hon. Baronet had alluded to a report issued by
the Chamber of Commerce of Manchester in 1839, and he
said that body attributed all the distress then existing to the
sxeessive issues of Joint-stock Banks. He had acted
RIO t unfairly in quoting only part of that docu-
ment.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Had he looked carefully
through it, he would have found that they attributed
the distress to the fluctuations caused by the sliding scale and
nothing else. He quoted the report, but he made no mention
of that moat important fact. But it was not a question of
Savings' Banks, or of exports and imports—it was a question
whether thefpeople were to be fed. The people wanted bread,
and it was the duty of the House to minister to their wants.
r•I he landlords hast insisted upon being commissaries for feeding
the manufacturing population, but the people would insist upon
the return of their icalienalle right to feed themselves—to ex-
change the products of their industry for food wherever they could
obtain it. —( Cheers.) If that just and reasonable demand were
refused them, the whole of the distress and suffering would be
chargeab e upon the landed aristocracy.—( Cheers.) He told
lion•Gentlernen that the capitalists would feed the pcople if they
would let them ; but if they passed laws prohibiting them from
eXchanging their commodities for the food which other nations
were anxious to part with for those commodities, on them rest
the awful resp .nsilslity. They acted the part of the dog in the
Manger ; they would not feed the peop'e themselves, and they
took care that no one else should.—(Cheers.) But some of
str Majesty'. Government affected to doubt whether it was pos-
sible for the manufacturers to feed the people. The Noble
Lord, the Member for North Lancashire, told his constituents
that the people of America had no corn to spare for the wants
of this country. The Noble Lord ought to have known better,
for he had been there, and must know that along the Ohio,
in Alichig: n, and in Illinois there were no less than 180
MMillions of acres of excellent wheat lands, which the Arne-
l'alettli were most anxious to put into immediate cultivation,
arid England might thence be abundantly supplied for 100
Thos with bread and beef and all else that was necessary.
people of America had sent over a missionary to this
hoer prices,
order to tell us that they wanted our goods, not at
clower prices, they thought our wages were too low ; but they old take them at our own prices if we would only take their
Work the thousands in the potteries in Sheffield and all the
manufacturing districts.—( Cheer s. ) Suppose that instead of
its being across the Atlantic it was only across the Thames—
PPpose on one side was a body of starving artisans with their
bales of goods of ali kinds anxious to exchange them for food ;
and suppose on the other side there were a body of agricul-
turists ill clothed but with :abundance of corn, anxious
to exchange it for merchandise; suppose them about
to accommodate their mutual wants, when up starts
a demon in the middle of the river.—( Laughter.) Yea, a
demon with an Act of Parliament in his hand—(Laughter)
--and say You shall nut supply each other."—(Cheers. )
But, further, the demon might smile, and with a demoniac leer
tell his victims that all he did was for their own protection.
Where was the difference between the two eases, for the
winds and the waves could bring us corn as well as cotton,
or any other article of produce ? Such laws were contrary to
the law of nature and of God. The best of every thing from
abroad was saved for the London market, in order to feed the
luxury of the brea3 taxers. But let them go into Polan
and see the pigs sent amongst the luxuriant corn, because of
the want of a market. Let them ask why there was such waste,
and they would immedi itely be told of the sliding scale
being applied to it, because it was the food of the poor.
What was it that was sent abroad to pay fur those luxuries—
it was the produce of the horny hands of the operative—the
labour of his hands went abroad, but the bread-taxers passed
a law, saying that nothing:should be brought back but those
things which would minister to the gorged luxury of their
own class.—( Hear and cheers.) Again, he would ask were
such lass s cons.steritiwith the laws of nature ? Could they
• hope the ptoele would be content—could they expees any-
thing but agitaticn or convulsion in the country until they
were repealed? When he saw the frequent verdicts of "Died
by Starvation" which had of late been returned, he could call
them nothing but Legislative murder.—(Hear, hear.) The
Noble Lord (Stanley) said the Corn-laws were intended to
meise prices unnaturally. How could that be done unless
they made ccen scarce, and therefore dear ? It mattered not
to th.m that the price was 20Cs. they would always get plenty;
but to tile poor—that portion of society the least
able to bear it—it produced starvation. (Hear, hear. )
lie (Mr. Cobden) would not do less than protest against the
course adopted by the Government upon principle. He could
not look upon the matter as a party question, lie protested
against the subject ever being put on the footing of a party
question between a Noble Baronet on one side and a Noble
Lord on the other. lie called on them to consider the ques-
tion as it affected. the poor. The Hon. Baronet the Member
for North; Warwickshire (Sir E. Wilmott) was a great friend
to the negro. Another Hon. Baronet ( Sir R. Inglis) was a
great friend to Church .xtension. He heard that lion. Ba•
ronet compliment a Noble Lord for his humanity—for being
the friend of the unprotected factory children. —( Hear,
hear.) He:(111r. C.) was glad of that humanity existing amongst
them, but he told them it would give more force, more grace
to those professions of humanity, if it was not confined to the
negro or to Church extension. Whilst they kept up the
bread-tax, which raised the price of bread, their professions
of kindness and benevolence were inconsistent—whilst by
their legislation they kept provisions dear, their benevolence
would be but a mockery and a bye-word.
C rptain CARNEGIE could not help expressing his sur-
prise at the manner in which the Hon. Members for Stock-
port and Bolton treated this subject. They did not act
consistently with common sense in speaking thus so frequently
Cll a subject without their having the remotest prospect of car-
rYing their measures with respect to it.—(Hear, hear, from the
Opposition Benches.) lie (Captain C.) was willing to give
the Right Hen. Baronet time, because he considered it was in-
dispensable, and he could not in the present positton of affairs
but remember the line of
" They also •-erve who only stand and wait."
,hon. Member* said why did they not go on—why did they not
I"eislate but he thought they should consider before they went
°li• He (Capt. C.) would give his vote to the Right lion. Ba-
tong because I.e ha 1 confidence in his abilities and integrity,
whichl; wouldjustify him in that course. lie ba Ino hesitation
p~biieving that under the Right lion. Baronet's administration
~Y would ses England placed at a higher pitch of
at. city than she had ever yet attained. If hi, (Capt. C.'s)
ee,Nsations wire. not realised—if the Right Hun. Baronet
not as or: the Government with satisfaction to himself
Le. the country, he had already stated the course he should
suer • Hoivever much he (Captain Carnegie) should regret
tees a turn of events, i.e would neverthelr as e leeavour to aid
tuenet,who might be called to the administration of tee Govern-
to carry any necessaries which would be a greatest benefit
tee ;igreetest number. If her Majesty should please to call
treliettien- Members for Bolton and Stockport to the Adminis-
inteetin °f Affairs, he should not ask them what were their
failed ra• He should say to them, "We have tried and
cornsAlr you and try."
vioey tettIORNELY thought that nothing was more ob-
geeen the injurious effect on trade and commerce and the
ing
tlnterests of the country which then attended the work-
from
_rile sliding scale. The Hon. Member read two letters
opieirn,sons extensively engaged in trade in support of his
lilt. B
countsy se neatTON said that the present state of the
faneue.
_ass deplorable. Thousands and tens of thousands of
• was ne;e7ere in a destitute state for want of employment. It
a•condiei,2r_3:_the House should be made acquainted with such
e°nairionw"tt -affairs. The other night he had referred to the
nnimoriza of the borough of Salford.—( Hear.) By a
rState it Pre"stet"d on the subject to the Secretary
Mr. ilitd that things were worse in that town than
!s5OO %nee heron) had stated them to be. Instead of
telereater 11;e unoccupied, it appeared there were 2,030.
Us:l/at !Pt"- tome ',tat° of matters was equally bad. During t
.heorueied of 10 000 families' were relieved ip that that somethin- °it that '•
ever wee the be aersount they were eatmestly desirous
to find it oauutse of the
done to alleviate the distress. What-
yourd'ste it e• A da-
elation of and remedy its, was their -toy to en e
informing Pr Phi perty, he
re H With regard to the depre-
Offered for nlsaleof mills e d=ived
a letter that morning,
and when put They he% machinery being lately
Property had, in fup to auction Originally cost 50,000/.,
per cent, even act, been depreciat only brought 4,500/.
the greatest with regard to d depreciate to the amount of 40 or
the distress existed
o "sea
' • They would see that
Y would consider the state
,0 the
About four
or or five those dist • nets a few years ago.
Retnrns made by years they we • a gentleman wh re entered tate of prosperity.
°heel • •
Intoecalculations