The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-08 00:00:00

SUGAR DUTIES.

Mr. W. GLADSTONE presented a petition from the
Island of St. Vincent against the proposed plan for with-
drawing protection from the West Indian Colonies.
Mr. 'F HORNE LY presented a petition from the mer-

chants of Liverpool trading with the Brazils. The peti-
tiOiers had heard with great satisfaction the proposal of
the C42ntellor of the Exchequer to reduce the duty on
foreign sug:tr.—( Ministerial cheers.)
Mr. A. CIiAPMAN presented a petition from the
shipowners of Lond9n, who viewed with great alarm the
measure fur the introduction of foreign sugar, which, in
their opinion, would be prejudicial to the interests of hu-
manity.—( Ironical cheers from the Ministerial benches,
followed by loud cheers from the opposite side of the
House.) They stated that every pound of sugar brought
in from foreign countries would displace the carrying of
one pound of sugar from their own Colonies.
Mr. LABOUCHE RE presented a petition from the
American Chamber of Commerce at Liverpool, in which
they expressed their highest gratification at the proposition
of the Government, which, if carried into effect would
tend greatly to lighten the burdens and increase the trade
of the country, and they prayed that the whole system of our
commercial code might undergo a thorough revision.
They expressed their opinion to be, that the reduction of
our imposts would be beneficial to the beat intersts and the
urgent necessities of the country.
Mr. LOCK HART presented a petition from the Cham-
ber of Commerce in Glasgow, against the proposal of the
Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. J. W. WOOD presented a petition from the Ma. I
gistrates, bankers, meretiants, and manufacturers of Ken-
dal, stating that they hailed the proposed measure of the
Government with the utmost satisfaction.

Mr. CR ESSW ELL presented a petition from the
West India merchants of Liverpool, objecting to the in-
troduction of foreign sugar, on the ground of humanity.—
(Laughter.) They stated that the late high price of
sugar had been caused by the late measure of eman-
cipation, and that the difference of the price had
merely gone through the medium of the planters into the
puekets of the emancipated negroes.—(A laugh.) They
states that the cost of the production of a hundred weight
of sugar in the Brazils was 10s. 6d., while in our West
India Colonies that suns' was paid to the negro for labour
alone. They further stated, that with the sugar which
would come front the East Indies, and the supply from our
West India Colonies', there would be importation enough
ta afford an adequate supply fur the people of England.
The petitioners also expressed the opinion that if the pro-
posed measures were adopted the immense capital invested
in the West India trade would be sacrificed, that cultiva-
tion would be abandoned, that the avidity of the slave-
dealers would be stimulated, and a fearful addition made
to the number of their victims. They, therefore, prayed for
a Committee of Inquiry on the subject.
Mr. C. LUSHING'f ON presented a petition, which
the Hon. Member said he believed was signed by every
(me of the firms engaged in the sugar trade in London,
and who were also connected with the interests of the re-
fined sugar trade throughout the country, stating that the
petitioners approved most highly of the proposed mea-
sure of Government with respect to the sugar trade, and
praying the House to reduce the duty on foreign sugar.
Captain MATHS W presented a petition from the Co-
lonial Society signed by 1,000 persons who were con-
nected with all the colonies of the British Empire, stating
that they had heard with dismay of the intention of the
Government to reduce the duty on foreign sugar, a mea-
sure which the petitioners said they believed would directly
tend to increase the evils of slavery, and the petitioners
therefore prayed the House not to sanction the pro.
posed reduction in the duty on foreign sugar.
Sir S. L US HINGTON presented a petiion from the
British and Foreign Anti-Silvery Society, which, he ssid,
was first signed by Thomas Cleitson—( Cheers)—stating
that they heard with deep ri.gret the propusition of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer tor the re;;luctionaotfhtahtethe
Sugar
1./Jtieg.—( Cheers.) 'I he I.etitionets thoos
is-
evitable effect of the reduction would bo to :ncrease the
horrors of the slave trade, to aggravate the sn,',..eries of
slavery. They prayed the House in mercy to those sv:'ose
interests were concerned, not to sanction the measure. ,

Lord STANLEY presented a petition against the pro•
posed alteration in the sugar dwies, from the merchants of
Glasgow trading with the West Indic. The petitioners
stated that the proposition of Ministers would confer no
adequate benefit upon any claw., but would materially
check the rapidly incicasing production of sugar in British
ludic.—( Hear, titan) Tney deprecated the measure on
the whole, as encouraging slavery in its worst forms.

51r. CRAWFORiS presented a petition from mer-
chants of the City of London against the proposed al-
teration of the Sugar Duties.
Lord PO WERSCOURT presented a petition from
Bath to the same effect.

, .
Mr. H U TT presented a similar Petition from Gateshead.
Mr. A GLIONB Y presented petitions from Wigan and
other places in Cumberland and Westmoreland, against
the present system of distinctive and restrictive duties.
Mr. BIZ 0 niERTON presentad a petition from the
inhabitants of Astitun-under-Lyne, complaining of the pre-
sent Commercial Tariff of this country as highly oppres-
site and ruinous to the working class, a, and p.a.)nig for a
revision and rednetion of the Import Duties.
Sir IZ. PEEL presented a petition from 403 West
India) planter:, on tire subject ot the proposed ait,ratruri
of the Sugar Duties. lie had thought he should best
consult the wishes of the House by extracting the sub-
stance of the petition. The petitioners stated that they
relied with entire confidence on the intentions of the Le-
gislatur,.., that the great national work of Slave Emanci-
pa; ion should have a full and fair trial,—th rt they had la-
boured to promote the object, in perfect good faith, and at
a sacrifice of much capital.—( Hear, hear, hear.) They
stated that their burdens had been increased by the
establishment of police and the augmentation of the eccle-
siastical expenditure to the amount of 200,0001. and up-
wards, and that the measure proposed involved a great
loss of capital anti obstructed tic progress of civilizrtiou
amorg the emancipated populution.—( Hear, hear.)
The petitioners stated, mat in their opinion
the measure was not justified by high price or Made•
quate supplies ; for that the importation of sugar from
the West Indian Colonies during the last few
years had been regular, and fur the last twenty-
one years had averaged 181,000 tons
annually,
The estimated imports fur the West Indies, East Indies,
and the Mauritius was 240,000 tons, and efforts
were now making to extend that amount.—( Hear.)
They stated that they cid not think the proposed measure
could be justified either by the present or by any prospec-
tive prices, the present price of sugar being 375. 7Ad.
per cat., being a fall of 12s. per ewt. in price
since the commencement of the present year.
That while the exports of British manufactures to the
British West Indies amounted to upwards of 4,000,0001.
in value annually, and the exports of British manufac-
to Mauritius and the East Indies amounted to 4,748,000/.
annually, the exports of British manufacture to the Bra-
ids and the foreign West Indira amounted in value only to
the annual value of 3,543,000/., and th it the commerce
with the East and West Indies and the Mauritius
gave employment to the Bri.iir shipowner an ad-
vantage which he did not enjoy I rorn the com-
merce with the foreign West Indies, and they therefore
prayed the House not to conieut to any measure for re-
ducing the amount of duty payable on the importation of
foreign sugar.—( Cheers.)
Mr. O'CONNE LL presented a petition, &gned by the
Lord Mayor of the city of Dublin as Chairman of a meeting
of a respeetAle body of West India prop: ietors, deprecating
any reduction in the duty on foreign sugar because, first,
it would interfere with the experiment now carrying on
for the substitution of frou labour fur slave labour in the
\yea ladies ; second, it would interfere with the experi-
ment now carrying on for the introduction of sugar from
the East Indies; and thirdly, it would tend to the aucnsen-
tation of slavery in foreign countries.

Mr. GOUL BURN presented 27 petitions against
any alteration in the sugar duties, twenty- six of which were
from the Island of Jamaica, and one from the Island of
Tobago. They were signed by all the proprietors on the
islands, and all prayed against any reduction in the duty
on foreign sugar. They stated that they believed it
would be impossible to make any distinction
between foreign sugar, the product of slave-labour, and
the product of free labour—that such reduction would in-
duce the Wands from their present high state of cultivs_
tion—that by it slavery would be encourAged, and negotia-
tions for the suppression drblavery with foreign slave-hold-
ing States would be rendered more dacult in consequence.
CORN-LAWS.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said—ln answer to the
question of the Hon. Gentlemari, with respect to the
duties on corn, which I mean to proncke on the House
going into Committee, I beg to sz.y, that on wheat 1 pro-
pose to lay a duty of Bs. per quarter, on rye tos., on
barley 4s. 6d., and on oats 3s. 41.
Lord DARLINGTON said—l suppose that the
inhabitants of this country are no longer enti.led
to any commercial protection ; however I am perfectly
ready to meet the Noble Lord upon the statement he has
made. It is not for me to say whether the Nob!e Lord
has taken this course at his own suggestion, or whether on
the other hand he may have adopted the advice of a very
sage counsellor, who is known in cases of emergency,
by a significant toss of his shoulder, to give strange
advice—(Cries of " Name")—or whether this course
is the consequence of the return to this House of an
Hon, Gentleman who had distinguished himself in the
cause of humanity, and whom the electors of Nottingham
have gained so much credit for themselves by elec -
ing.—(Cries of " Oh, oh.") Whether from one
or the other of these causes, or from all of them in con-
junction this course resulted he cared not, but this he ven-
tured to prophesy, that the Noble_Lord would not by any
trek of that sort affect the landed interest of the country.
—( Cris, of " Oh, oh,” ironical cheers-from the Mi-
nistcr:al benches, answered by counttr cheers from the
Opposition.)