The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-23 00:00:00

THE CoRN-LAWS.

The Earl of DALHOUSIE said that he had al-
ways risen with great diffidence in making a reply
in that House, but he' never felt less &faculty than
at the prsent moment, for he firmly believed th ,t a better case
c uld not be made out than that which had been
submitted to their Lordships. Now t bad been stated
that the qtpntities of corn now under bond was 1,500,1'00
quarters, while in fact the whole quantity was only
9,i,(10 quarters. He conceived that those facts sufficiently
sit wed that -here ought to be a pr..tectiou fur native industry.
There ought at any rate to be son e security, an' if this
security were given there was little doubt about the question ;
but whether be question were settled this way or than he con-
ceived that some sufficient security sh,,uld be given Ur the oh-
set vance of the compact. In the southein parts the scarcity
was owing to the alarming drought ; from one end of Europe to
the otner the same sad e arc, was felt. Any N..ble Lord Mho
was in the habit of reading the newspapers might see that in
Poland, Russia, and oilier corn producing countries, the people
were not in a state at deficiency, but they might
almost say in a state of starvat;ou and death. It
wit! also notorious that in the south of Europe, Natolia
and other provinces, the people are actually dying by the road
side. He would. thereiore, repeat the phrase, that nature, in
h. r vat ions elements, was arraying herself in a eon:piracy agains•
them. The Noble Lord had stated that an immense quantity of
corn would be forced into the market, aush as had never been
heard of. He quoted the returns for the year, 1844, 1845, and
1846. Why he did not quote the returns of the preceding years
he (Lord Dalhousie) did not know. He supposed it was nhnscro
soncto, a sacred number. He would call toe attention 01 the
House to the fact. that the sear before, in 1843, there were
840,000 quarters of wheat imported. being more than double
the quantity imported in the year 1844 He could inform their
Lordships, that during four weeks in the year 1842. .under the
existing law, there was admitted 2,100 t.iae quarters of wheat.
Lcrd ASH fillltlON At what amount of duty ?
Earl of DALHuUSIE—The average price was from 645.
to 61s. 10d.. and the average duty was, he believed, firm Bs.
to Its. per quarter. - There was alto admitted 2.017.0 0 quar-
ters. And this qurntity of wheat, be it remembered, had been
admitted at the same amou:.t of duty as that uroposed by seve-
ral Lords themselves in the course of the late debi.e..
While hits Noble Friend told them that they should not pro-
ceed hastily, but should do something to let that large quan-
tity of corn out of bond, he would tell them that her Ala-
jetty's Government had adopted such measures. They were
well aware that, on the passing of any resolution affecting any
particular duty, a Treasury (infer was issued for the admission
of the at ticle to the intended reduced price, bond being given
that in case of the measure not passing into a law, the duty
should be repaid to the Treasury. He felt it necessary to
oppose the motion of his Noble Friend, for it was calculated
to do more mischief to the holders of corn than it did good to
them. The resolution, if passed in its present shapes rouu'd
.
refuse to admit cord which had been a long time in bli.n", tge
less certain conditions were complied with, while
' altogether.
corn which arrived the week afterthe passing
of
the resolution wood escape the resoluetro
inasmuch as
He would repeat that if their Lordships adopted this resolution
they would commit a most unjust act,ot because.
their existing law of 1842. did b his Noble
it Coe to be im-
ported until it reached a certeain
60s.p
per quarter. His Noble
Friend's resolution, must b
although he
Friend admitted that in the course of his speec,h,.
tintotharet
possibly did not mean to have that admission.—( Hear,
were
pleasswehdo, were re would
e n agmagoeu,
hear ) If this resolution
absolute pri.hibition. The_ people
corn trade had net expected such a course as that pro posed
phi
b
his Noble Friend, and he (Lord Dalhousie) again conteed d
it it were passed, those individuals would be most
jured. His Noble Friend had said, take time. Why,
seriously in.
e.
been discussing this question of the corn 1 they had
mon hs.—( Hear, hear.) Time, therefore, aws for the last live
in the consideration question. The individuals of this was not an element
con-
cerned had kept their • grain In band, burdened by all the ex-
pense of so luring during the
whole
of the last five months• whilst
they had been di
th, speeches in the Howe Commons the corn question. During
they bad not heard a
word whispered in support of the course
resolution of his Noble Friend, norhad a
recommended by the
word been whispered
err
to that effect in th • Lordships'
House during the whole of
these discussions,and
and asked their Lordships to pass an ex post facto law. And
this w s not all, for if this resolution were adopted by their
LorrlThips, he submitted to their Lordships that they would be
crs.nple ely d .luded in their intention• to serve the interest of
the parr. s to- whom the Nob... Lind bad shown so much
coma is,eration. Thee would even injure toe Loiders of grain
in the moat serious manner.—(Hear, hear,) His Noble
hind bad adverted to the cam of 1620, bot tit WO WU 119

aerriblance betwee+ the two case.. Grain in :8 0 waa.

witted because of the scarcity which then existed, and there•
tore there was something like a plausible reason for the
course which was adopted in the year 1826.e5•
(Hear.) But he re eated, that for the last five mouths
they had been d,,cusssing the question of the repeal of the _
present corn-laws, and that the unfavourable effects, if there
were any, had been produced long since.—( Hear, hear.) MI
transactions with re.pect to corn in bond. external as well as
internal, were now finished. Ha firmly beliesed that what*
ever would be the effect of the Csrn Bill now pending, the -
Interests of the cultivators of corn would be best served bt as
speedy a settlement if the question as po.s.ble.—( Cheers, and
ironical cheers.) He well understood the cl e'r of the Noble
Duke on the cross benches. and of the Noble Earl oppositei
but he would repeat that expression of his ..pinion. He must,
however. admit that the conduct of the Government in pro•
posing by their Bill a delay of three years, Bas wise and just.
—( Hear, hear. ) He was certain that the worst thing that
coned happen to those opposed to the corn question. would
be to postpone the pas lug of the mix ore. There had been a
large importation rif silk expected. anti it was thought that
that supply would lower the price of that article; but suck
was not the fact, for since the supply that had been .eceived.
the pace bad materially advanced.—(Hear, beer ) Hell°
believed that the same would be the case with corn.
trusted their Lordships would not give their support to the
Lble Lord's resolte tun.
Lout N AIRD sa'd that what he stated on a former
evening was that he did not believe there could he great quan-
ti!i. s of corn imported at much less pi ices than it could be sold
for in this c,untry. Indeed he was sure that the asipply would
be most deficient from abroad, and as a proof of it he had
had a conversation with a g.ntleruan from Holland, oho in-
formed him that the supply of corn in hat country was very
small, and that he had come to England to nu: chase a large
quantity. He held in his hand the report from Mat k-lane of
that day ; it stated that corn had advanced la., oats the seiner
and that the supply was very short ; nu panic was expected.
Earl GREY trusted that the House would not agree to the
motion 01 the Noble Lord, without at least something was
po,nted out as the result of it. The Noble Lent (Dalhousie)
had shown the injury wr,ich the resolution would do with re-
spect to the corn in bond. Was this reso uttun a roundabout
way of throwing out the Bill which stood for a third reading
on Tuesday?
Lord ASHBURTON—No.
Earl GREY—The Nob e Lord said, no. If he did not
mean to throw it out, why bring in such a resolution? It was
shown that such a resolution would have the contrary 4.'44 to
tie.t intended, If :t really was an intention to defeat the ra,a;
sure, why not make an amendment to the third reading? It
it was not to throi it out, but to give time for a new measure
to be formed, why not have moved that the third reading be
postponed for a fortnight, so as to give time fora measure to be
prepared ? He looked upon this motion as an indirect attempt
to throw out the Bill, and he hoped their Lordships would not
sanction it. _ _ _

Lord HEDESDALE said the Noble Lord who spoke last
had misunderstood the intention of the Noble Lord who had
moved th►s resolution. It was said that the resolution would
do great injury to the importer of corn, but was the injury
wh►ch would result to the grower by the passing of the Bill
not to be taken into account? He would support the reso-
lution. _ _ .

Lord ELLENBOROUGH agreed with the President
of the Board of Trade, that the effect would be contrary
to that intended by .the resolution. He trusted that they
would not delay the measure by passing this' resolution. but
that they•would at once sett .e their minds upon the subjecte,
and ease the anxiety of the public, who looked torward to th
passing of the measure.
The Earl of WICKLOW said he would support the reso-
lution, not with the view of throwing out the Government
measure, as was stated by the Noble Loa (Grey), but becarse
he thought it one which, it carrie‘s, would have a most beneficial
effect.
Lord ASIIBURTON replied. He did not wish to take. up
their time at any length, bu', as a measure of justice to the
agricultural interest; he had telt a his duty to picipme the re-
solution. He had, after the expression of their Lordships'
opinion on he Corn Bill, no desire to keep back that measure
by anything he could say or do ; still t here being great_ danger
likely to arise from the sudden intrn•uction of 'such' a .arge
quantity of grain, he considered it was incumbent on them to
guard against tny evil that might arise. He felt strongly en
the punt, as he thought the danger was fiery great. It was
for them to take it ire° their grave consirleration a:AI decide
according!), ant he wou d now leave it in their hands.
Their Lordships then di, ided on the resolution—
,
unient ••• 47
Not content.
Majority against tt•e re•ulutton
. 0•:• GUS r 0 DIMES BILL
Oti the motion that the House resolve itseif into Committee
on this Bill,
'rue Duke of RICHMOND rose to present a petition from
a number of Mace,estield silk weavers, agamst those portions
the branch of trade iti which th y
h
petithn, which the Noble Unite r. ad at
iao,rf
ne
nit,gte e
.na rested.a tax l
slid commented affecting'inmented on as he went along, was to the
effect hat if he exis ing protection was withdrawn
• from the branch of trade in witch tl-.ey were en-
gaged, it would be ruined. He also pr.ssented
petition from the Spi!sields 'severs, praying to be heard by
couosei at the bar ot the House, against the tepee! of the duty
on toreigh silks. The Noble Duke said he had given up the
conviction that the Corn WI would not pa,s—still, though be
believed that Bill would now pass, Slough it might be, only for
a temporary period, yet t.iat was no reason why he should give
up the case ut protection. He still adhered to that principle.
arid wculd take every opportunity of standi g up in defence of
native industry. He would sumer t the prayer of the petition.
He thought they ought to be allowed to be heard by counsel
that was all they required; and surely their Lordships would
taut deny th it which had been slowed to the corporations of
England, nd other parties whose rights were about to be in-
vaoed. The Spitaltie.ds weavers had suffered much, but they
had been ever loyal to the Sovereigit, and their case, therefore,
was tote that claimed their es, ecial onsideration. All they
asked was, merely to be listened to fur a short time by the
counrol which they had instruete4 to appear in their behalf.
He would conclude by moving that the petitioners be heard by
co.nsei at the bar of the House.

The k arl of DALHOUssIE must, however ungracious the
task, oppose the motion that had been mute. He admitted
that in many cases counsel had been heard in -
regard to particular measures, but these cases
were tufferent to the one of the present petitioners.
In the totmer the ea-e* were when particular trades
or interests were to b,-; affected by some special measure,
whereas this was a general measure, only incidentally affecting
the pe it oners as well as a great number of other individuals.
The Noble Loris here cited the cases in question, and
against them referred to several circumstances in which the
House had ruled that measures of general policy could not be
appealed against by any special interest. It the Spitaltields
weavers were heard against the present measure, how could
they refuse other trades that would be affected by the Bill, who
mi,,ht pray for a similar privilege! —( Hear, hear.) The public
business of the country he was persuaded could not go on if
such a precedent were a lowed.
Lord BROUGHAM considered that there was a great
amount of difficulty and intricacy in the silk trade, with
which their Lordships could not be made converran
unless they were to hear some person specially in-
structed. .• The Node Duke on the cross-benches had
made c- rtain statements with reference to the ansount
~f protection._ The petitioners had stated, that if they were
allowed to be heard at the bar they could prove that Vae real
amount of the protection was reduced at least 50 peer cent.
He (Lord Brougham) had nothing to say in opposition to the
principle of the Bill, but he should be sorry to exclude any in-
formation from their Lordships. He had every confidence in
the integrity of the petitioners and he cud not think that it
was tor any purposes of delay that they proposed to he heard at
the lar of their Lordship? House. He did not think that it
was ans answer to the petitioners to say that they were not the
only sufferers by the proposed measure. He should most cer-
ta.nly wish to have the pa-ties heard. He did not
know how his Noble Friend on the Treasury benches
could make the statement that there was 110 precedent
for the measure. In the year IEOB, he (Lord Brougham)
had himself bees heard as counsel at the bar
of the Hone., and had been allowed to examine forty or fifty
wit n,sses on the subject. He had made speeches on the sub•-
ject . A short-hand note of the proceedings was taken by Mr.
tilanchard, which was printed it.r the use of their Lordships.
The original might no doubt be obtained from the executors
and a-signees ut that gentleman. In the ye...t. 1812, it trirnedl
out that. they were right in the conclusions to which 11.,e) ay.
rived. Ceunsel were also heard against the Alunicipit Corpoa
rations Act. He though; that ash- n their Lords'nips were
Passing any great measure, thn y should not hsirry it for-
ward without knowing he bearings and details of the case. He
considers d the Spitalfields weavers were a most deserving body
of men, and that they deserved the kindest attention of their Lord-
ships. They vvt re a numerous, ingenious. and incluse nous clans
of people. He bad known them in prosperity, and he had se in
them in their accumulation of distress. He had seen them at
tae time when the zitafieids' rioters held out Brea- expectatiocs
t., them—, nose riots which ended in ne execution of the
sailor Cashman. 1 hey baloly and manfully bole up under their
di, apptioted expectations. He would certainly vote ill
taut ur of the motion if i. was pressed to a division.
Lord ELL isN BOROUGH was always sorry to differ with,
his Noble and Learned Friend. He thought he was ttshea
with the recollection of his early victories. Hy, th. ught
such a proposition would tend to the destruction 'of all public
bet-mess. The Noble Lord had stated as a reaste , for hearing
eouteel at the bar, that their Lordships were 'not sufficiently
versed in the mysteries of the si k trade. 'Their Lordships
might obtain more information from the ev;dlence before the
House than from any counsel who might be supposed to in-
struct th it Lordships. It tne petitioner's were ellowed to be
heard on behalf of the silk trade, why should they not be
heard on the linen, the cotton trade, an'd the timber trade? . If
their Lordships allowed counsel to tee heard at the bar on
behalf of the Spitalfields weavers against the Bill, it would be
their duty likewise to hear speeches from counsel representing
all the trades that would be affected by this Bill. The Noble
but he had
gtre:cienrgLfro°rmdsh Lordships
Duke took upon himself to say that
et
shouldif
tic oeupni(setedhlgee
Earl should
lararl.
el_voi
of
allowed to speak against the Bill,
speeches.
that they would not make long speeches.
for lawyers,
Ellenborough) had the greatest
respecter of mainl I
also a particular respect for t
—( Laughter.)
similar cou'rseptinaossnicneg; their
interminable length Lie
oaftnithiifs that
Bili
long speeches sinceH
Fbrgrespect e to add evidence He
he
had h
a:l:pub:lb:eel
..rerhie'ne:isa
done with to the silk trades
branch of trade which the
%,NobleHouse., t o a
be
:IT
Lo t
rh
no
es
do .
why should
Practically
their Lordships nlpermit a sihm
-6, pursued with
respect to et,ery,
Phrat would,
might affect?.
.. in fact, amount to
in the
further legislation during the ssr
miWofoerrnieobfe tehrraon;
an obstruction
session on this sub-
to „ . .
~ „ y esent
itwould be so. He
• .t —o...ries oi No, no. )
jet. •
ever credit for
gave the Noble Duke on the cross-benches
Litton Bill, but he did contend that way
riot having thrown obstacles
of the Corn-law A.bo.
this proposition, thmeynscould not restrain the operation of the
them mischief
of the hwihcholeitmeasure was involve.stibmir
if their Lordships admitted
hitetedwlot sot
theimportant
consideration
of Parliament at the
They had heard something about precedents, but if they sanc-
tioned the court
adept a most dangerous
e proposed, he concluded that they would
course. If their Lordships agreed to
this part
proposition they would establish a principle fatal in maul
cases to the process of legislation in the most ' important mat..
ters. He consider ed the unnecessary delay that this course
must occasion. He begged of their Lordships to reject, the
motion, and they would remove all obstructions from the rasa'
ing of a measure which would cause great relaxations, which
he believed would be most beneficial to many important
branches of manufacture.—( Hear, hear.)
Lord BROUGHAM—AIy Lords, I beg to assure your 144:wd-
ships that you need not tear any petitions from any ether
body.—(Dissent.) We can shut the door against these.-•
(Cries of " Oh, t h.") We have a right to say .. why did
net you petition before ?"—( Cries of " Divide, divide.") •
The Duke of WELLINGTON—My Lords, before your
Lordships decide upon this point I wish to remind you what
the question is. It is that counsel should be heard in 'Ale
Committee upon this Bill in favour of the petition el the
Spitalfields weavers. Now, my Lords, I beg your Lordships
to recollect that in the Committee on this Bill, *ill be cow,
sidered the details of the Bill. Your Lordal-• s will examine
the details of the Bill, and you will find th:.et there are certsis
duties there to be levied upon silk and silk goods, of which the
details are to be given in the sche'aile. Now, my Lord"
I beg to recal to your Lordships' I-eolitlection that yen cannot'
consistently with the common praeS'ice upon Bills of Customs
and Bills of Supply, make any alterations in the Committee no
these details without an infraet',on of the rules of prsollsediet
si toil* tat nitivb Inv, VA' 'toot LW sbni Age rut w