The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-05 00:00:00

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-943 mv-44
E_EBRITARY 51 1846,
4t41
tui

PRICE 5D

making objections to the wages assigned to him who bad
worked from the drat. And, although f do not think large
self-c9ntituted bodies, whether you call them leagues, or
associations, are desirable modes of, or machinery for, work-
ing out legislative measures and changes; yet there are ob-
jects of such importance as to necessitate eveti objectionable
modes of overcoming the obstinacy of the resistance with
which they are opposed. Knowing, then, how powerful and
:multiplied arc. the interests comtlined---I may say leagued—
against a repeal of the corn-laws—feeling this, and viewing
the corn dam', as we all do, toppling to their fall, I could not
—such were the sentiments in my bosom—l could not with.
hold that without which good wishes are but hypc,crisr, and
t of phaorungal.
.l
what Sir John Tyrrell—(Laughter)—would " humbug "
—my acknowledged and avowed support.—(Cheers.) Next
in order came, all the Ministerial changes and the changing
and crashing of Cabinets. The:, gentlemen, has now be-
come rather an old story, with which we have not much
acutntcheer e Youad of willi
urge ajrememberori t telsl a
it:
bothir Robert
Houses Pe
ment, felt it his duty to resign the GovTannent, and Lord
John Russell was honoured by a commission to form an Ad-
ministration in its stead. Now, all with which I have to
concern myself is this—l consented to accept office in a
Government every member of which had unanimously
agreed to the proposition for a total and immediate repeal of
the corn laws.—(lmmense applause.) Well, that endeavour
—that glory-giving endeavour even—was net made. It was
interrupted by causes wholly independent of that question.
They do not' concern us now, and I will not enter on their
consideration, though I have a strong opinion about them;
and I never will conceal my wish that my pure and Ligh-
minded friend, Lord John Russell—the statesman who had
proposed the abolition of the Col poration and Tests Act—the
statesman who had introduced into Parliament the Reform
Bill—should also have been the person to have proposed to •
the Legislature of his country the final abolition of the corn•
laws.—(Enthusiastic applause.) However, I certainly my-
self should feel, and I am sure that he would feel, any
individual or any party disappointment as compensated,
and more than compensated, if it should turn out that
this great question itself.--a question of free-trade—had
mere chance of being brought to a satisfactory and trium-
weivant-iemewittetim GtYverninent 4ft-the hands of Six-13a-

would, I flatter myself, be comiipetreated by the demand for the
different kinds of produce, and for the food which is pro-
duced en our native soil, and it would be compensated
further by the Withdrawal of the superfluous hands from
the old rural districts late the new and improving fiehls of
manufacturing industry.—(Cheers.) What I am tempted to
look forward to as the result of an entire repeal of the corn-
laws would be much the same in effect as a perpetual suc•
cession of good harvests, There would be more to eat In
the land, and when there is that, vou may depend upon it
there will be plenty of mouths to take it.—(Loud and long-
continued applause,) I cannot but suspect the motives, or,
rather, I will say catitiot but object to the ream-wig which
shrinks from abundance.—(Cheers.) The blessing of hea-
ven cannot be the bane of mae.—(Cheers.) It is not so
much to me the absolute diminution of the price of
corn which I look to rte the result of an alteration in the
law, but it is to the un:ntextupted steadiness of trade—to
increased supply following increased demand—more to do
and more to eat.—(Cheers.) Such are the unblest con-
sequences of the corn-laws. Why, supposing, as a mere
matter of fancy, that some foreigners were to be so violently
smitten with love for tte, as to send over every year large
cargoes of provisions gratis, its a mere token of their re-
spectful regard and consideration for the British people, are
we to say, " Oh no, not byany means ; we arc much obliged,
but really we have plenty, we would rather be ezeused ?"
`pry, as I have tried to prove, this extravagant supposi-
tion is net much more in favour of the British corn-growef
than the present state of things. Of coutten foreign
corn-growers will have money's worth. They fleet
he paid in manufactures, and more manufactures will
produce a demand for more home and foreign grown
food. And now let me ask you, gentlemen, whether these
are all crude and unsupported theories—will they stand the
test of facts ? Why, our more recent experience sufficiently
shows, that in saying what I have said I am only speaking
the words of truth and soberness. We Lave recently
had periods of dear and cheap years. This point was very
fully stated in the House of Commons by Sir James Graham
—it has been demonstrated also by Sir Robert Peel, and no-
where more fully or more ably than in our excellent weekly
instructor, .the Leeds Mercury.—(Cheers.) Well, if you re-
member, there were two periods of . qemtnerce ;
-boine tritcle,sdiniiniihed wages, dimirilihed revenue, with an
increased amount of poor-rates, turbulence, and crime;
while the cheap years have as uniformly and regularly ex-
hibited an increase in wages and employment in everybranch
of industry; they have recruited the public revenue, and,
comparatively speaking, set open the doors of the workhouse
' and the prison.—(Loud cheers.) In the summer of 1842,
which closed the last period of dear years, who does not re-
member the state of affairs ? Every manufacturing town In-
vaded, every mill barricaded ; while last summer, which for
the present. but I hope not ultimately, has closed the period of
cheap years, what spectacle did it . exhibit ?—(Hear,
hear.) Why, every man, from the Premier to
the navvy, turning up the sod for new railways
(Cheers and laughter)—while the great difficulty to be en-
countered was, that of preserving people from throwing away
their good money too fast.—(Cheers.) Now, I wish to ob-
serve that we have been charged with reckless, almost with
revolutionary conduct in suddenly proposing to subvert
long-established protection, and to upset deeply-rooted habits
of industry. Well, with respect to the suddenness of the
proceeding, I think that the events of last autumn will suf-
ficiently acquit us. I have told you of the rise in the aver-
ages of wheat, and in fact the prices of wheat have varied
in the same market from :365. to 725. For a practical view
of the results of such variations let me refer to an agricul-
tural paper, the .111:zrk-lane Express. That journal stated
last autumn that " the very inferior quality of a large propor-
tion of the wheat of this year's growth has hitherto prevented
the duty from receding more than a step or two; and from
present appearances it is questionable whether tho article will
be for sonic time admissible below 12s. a quarter." And
again, "Had the quality of the new produce been only tolera-
bly good, the duty would undoubtedly, ere now, have fallen
to 10s. per quarter, or even lower, in the regular course"
of things, the finer sorts of red having been tor some time
selling at 70s. and upwards, while choice samples of white
have realised as much as 80s. per quarter at several of the
principal consuming markets. It may be conceived, there-
fore, how bad must be the quality of the common runs to
have kept the general average below 60s. per quarter: such,
however, has been the case, the last weekly return for
the kingdom being only 595. 2d. per quarter.—(Hear, hear.)
So you see the rates of duty founded on the averages are
no indications of the real quality of wheat in the market.—
(Hear, hear.) Then we had the failure of the potato crop,
respecting which I may as well read one of the resolutions of
the Mansion-house committee, which sat in Dublin to in-
vestigate into this melancholy subject:—" We are, unfortu-
nately, able to proclaim to the inhabitants of the empire,
and in the
.presence of an all-seeing Providence, that in
Ireland famine of a most hideous description must be im-
mediate and pressing, and that pestilence of the most
frightful kind is certain and not remote, unless imme-
diately prevent ecl."—( Hear, hear.) Now, however Pro-
tectionist Societies may declaim and protest, I appeal to
you whether a Prime Minister could lay his head on
his pillow, had he not first taken every means in his
power to augment the stock of the nation's food, without
the risk of being awakened from his sleep by the sharp cry
of a nation's famine?—(Hear, hear.) With respect to the
more prominent and general charge, that there is anything
revolutionary in our proceedings, I say, that whilst there
are many timings in the constitution of this country, in the
modes of thought and habits of feeling interwoven with the
framework of society, which I should wish to be enduring
and eternal, yet there is one feature, one painful and per-
vading feature of our - condition, which any one who, like
myself, has visited the younger world across the waters—at
the same time that he saw many things which he might not
wish to copy, would earnestly desire to see removed—an
abiding plague spot which he would be ready almost to give
ap.the wealth of both nations to wipe away.--;(pear, hear.)
• . • .• •l •

Bert Peel 'rather than in his own.—(Loud cheers.) And
more, gentlemen, I etinle that the dispersion of the Whig
leaders would have merited still graver reprehension. I
think their hesitation would have degenerated into cowardice,
and their caution into treason, if they had not felt that they
had reason to believe that a Gevernment, of which Sir Robert
Peel was at the head, was prepared to do great things for free
trade.—(Laud cheers.) That expectation has been borne
out.—(Cheers.) I think none of us will deny that in the re-
cent proposals submitted to Parliament Sir Robert Peel has
done great things for free trade.—(Cheers.) I reserve for
myself the consideration of the precise details ; but I may say
that I cordially approve of the great feature of that measure.
I rejoice in the instant admission free of all duty of colonial
corn, of Indian corn, of meat salt and fresh, and live cattle.
I am not sure, though I know that therein I differ from many
of my friends, and from many ardent free traders in general.
I am not sure, I say, that I shall feel myself called upon to
dissent from the differences which he still wishes to retain
between the admission of slave grown and free-grown sugar.
—(Cheers.) My doubt is, whether he can in practice realise
that difference. But if ie can, great as are the lengths I
would always go in behalf of free trade, I must ever
disconnect from all fellowship with that glorious cause the
blood-red flag of the slave-trade.—(Loud cheers.) But, with
respect to his measures. I wish above all to avoid the three
years' delay before we arrive at the totally free admission of
corn.—(Cheers.) I object to it as much with reference to agri-
culture as to any other interest, I am not sure whether it
would not in the end tell more prejudicially on them than
any other class of the community, and in any amendment or
motion which may be brought forward, I shall be ready to
vote that that which he wishes to take place three years
hence shall be immediate and at once.—(Loud and protracted
cheering.) Gentlemen, if you send me to Parliament, I shall
then, as I have explained, be on the whole prepared to give
my cordial assent to the measures just submitted to the
Legislature.—(Applause.) And in this state of things,
whilst this great proposal has been just launched into the
House of Commons, whilst the whole mind of the country is
intent on the reception it is there to meet with, it happens I
that by the will of Providence, and by the sudden and
unexpected death of Lord Wharncliffe, to whom and to
whose race I have been ever opposed during my whole
public career, but to whom no one of his most deter-
mined opponents could refuse the just praise of being an
upright, high-minded, and most useful public servant—
it happens that by the vacancy occasioned by his death, the
consideration of the proposal of the Prime Minister is just at
this important and critical moment submitted to this consti-
tuency, which is not only the largest in the kingdom, but
which, in company perhaps with one other, has a greater in-
terest in having it solved than any other in the realm.--
(Loud cheers.) Yes, gentlemen, the West Riding of York-
shire, comprising Leeds with its woollens, and Bradford with
its worsteds, and Huddersfield with its fancy goods,
and Halifax with its piece goods, and Sheffield
with its cutlery, and Rotherham with its iron, and
Barnsley with its linens, besides the far and fair domain of
agricultural enterprise—this riding has reason to say " aye "
Or " no," shall there be a total repeal of the corn-laws—
(Loud and enthusiastic applause)—for that, gentlemen, is
the banner which we have planted in our van and which we
engage to support against all assailants.—(Cheers.) I cannot
be sorry, though free-traders, as such recognise no party, and
though they are glad to enlist supporters from every party
in the State, yet I cannot be sorry to see before me so pre-
vailing a complexion of our own old colour.—(Cheers.) I re-
member in one of our former contests having christened it
the" sun's own colour."—(Cheers.) To-day we will call it the
e colour of the golden wheatsheaf," which the same sun is now
ripening on a thousand shores, but which the legislation of
man has hitherto kept from our ports and markets.—(y
fcrous applane.) They may talk of a black cloud in thO'
west, but the harvest sun has a ray warm enough to scatter betweenthetwo extremes or socieu 'di"— •
it.—(Renewed and enthusiastic cheering.) I know that on and the extreme of poverty.—(Hear, hear.)--- -Do not
the other side of the Atlantic they are uttering big words mistake me, I am not declaiming against wealth; wealth
about Oregon, and we hear that the inhabitants of the western we must have to find our millions; neither am I trying to
stir up your minds to repine against povcriy. While
states of the American republic talk particularly loud on that such numbers continue to cover such space, poverty we
subject, and that they are anxious to have a brush with us;
must have. But I confess I should not much lament any
whilst it seems that the inhabitants of the eastern states are change which would have a tendency to reduce the
more pacific in their disposition. Why is this, gentlemen ?
Iris not in the natural order of things that men should extreme inequality of the balance. For what is it I see among
gow more warlike as they live further west. No—it is my countrymen—what is it I see among the inhabitants of
because the inhabitants of the eastern states have a long
ecmomptnloyunmietynt
at, a r el
ler,veryg e
?_
_art
it
e andar,
the West Riding, who, in the wonderful multiplicity of their
ciojemarp.lletewrephrye,selntsaeteioiondoofstthrye
sea-bound coast, large manufacturing towns, and ships,
and harbours, and commerce. They do not like to risk those without limit and without parallel—lining the valleys,
things, and therefore they say, naturally and very lauda-
bly, they are inclined for peace.—(Hear, hear.) But it is
t swarmingheros rbdr
different with the western states. In the first place, they
boiling,
tiitillfewindt railways—an theeysoP—wea earmnul h
extenti 1 I s—
andlying
varietyo i the rivers,of
activec h o chocking even
production
warm,diswarming,
hot
mechlgougtrrhci eigsttomhmaars
semr
so,.f
lifet %t
and
nf
hednaedtni
energy
rhig
yet
thatwa hl
oonil
nee
cannot be very easily got at; in the next place, they pro-
duce nothing but agriculturalr produce, and they know that,
if besides living 0,000 or 6,000 miles away from us, the weatholi
seems wanting ? Why, more to eat—(Cheers)—a large loaf,
quarter of wheat, which they might be inclined to send over
a fuller meal.—(Cheers again.) Why, I sometimes feel
shall have to pay a duty of 20s. when it arrives, they would
that the very strength of our case constitutes my weakness.
not be able to get rid of a single bushel of it, and therefore
.—(Loud cheers.) But give I sometimes feel I could willingly shrink from putting it in
they fling up their caps for war
its full outline before you.—(Hear, hear.) I almost wish I
them the same motives for peace which the inhabitants of
eastern states have, and being sprung from the same had made a mistake in reckoning the extent of the injury
the
as their brethren of Boston and New York and Phil- which I conceive has been brought about by restrictive and
stock
adelphia, being the sons of Puritans and broadbrims them- exclusive laws.—(Hear, hear.) But is it not so ? Taking
selves, they will be actuated by the same motives as their our whole population together, can it be said that we have all
more sedate and sober fellow-citizens, and instead of wishing of us enough to live on ?—(Cries of " No") And is there, then,
not reason to believe that by the removal of restriction, by the
themselves to go a thousand miles further, where they would
admission of foreign corn—by the downfal of monopoly—we
meet more new tribes of Red Indians to contend against than
can get much more to live on ?—( Loud cries of " Yes," and
draughts of water by the way ; and when they arrived there
cheers.) I know that it always bears the appearance of in-
to go to war with us for a number of uninhabited pine
vidiousness to quote or rely on any religious grounds as the
swamps, they might think it were desirable to bestow a little means of enforcing a political question, and I quite agree that
more skill on their own rich clay cottons, if yon would only
it is most invidious and objectionable if we assume that we
give them the means of takingyour cotton, your woollens, your
are more guided br conscientious and religious motives than
worsted,.your hardware in exchange for whet they can send us,
our opponents.— (Hear, hear.) But still I think the person
whether it be wheat or Indian corn—a food hitherto but little
known amongst us, but which, from experience, I can who discards all the religious considerations which can be
safely recommend to you whenever you can get hold of it. brought in favour of our view of this question of free-trade,
You will find that some of their cakes, which they call shows himself strangely wanting in his estimate of the real
Johnny cakes, go hard to rival some of our far-famed York- importance and urgency of the healing measure which we
shire cakes.—( Cheers.) What I have said of the present
any such grounds, I cannot, before closing these remarks, re-
would propose. And, though I will not dwell or insist on
state of America applies still more strongly to those parts of
the American republic which have more intercourse with us, fram from asking why, in the face of such evils as we have
and in the face of such advantages as we may
and still more to the countries of Europe in proportion to experienced,
hope to realise—why may not human legislators sometimes
their proximity ; and I rejoice to think that in extending
an national church repeats d encouraging universal commerce, we take the best means endeavour to act in the spiritevery of thatChstms blessingmorning which the
of extending and encouraging universal peace.—(Loud on —. i
will bless , her victuals with increase, and will satisfy
cheers), I was much struck, a year or two ago, on conversing
with a nelgthonring farmer of ours over in an adjacent her poor with bread ?"—(Loud cheers.). And if lam
asked whether the chosen people of old, in reference geferltiancase toot,
county, as to the peespects of agriculture, and he said to me,
whom these words are used, were confined
" Ay, there never was a I-L.end to the farmer like —." Now
like whom do you suppose? L.
ike the Duke of Richmond, or their own rock and b
reference to the foreign supplies
whichmight be poured in
the Duke of Duckinisham or Mr. iLdson, the railway king? shall b •
barren Judea, I would quote again,ffl in
upon them—" The kings of Tarshish and the isles ring
-,naparte."—(
~ i'Lere never was," said
No ; but like Napoleon Bonaparte.
he, " such a friend to the farmers as old ea.
lose but un-
A Thenresents
saltlhhoo binge s ofof
cArabiaoro
on andthe
earth,Saba
hbigrihngong
iftlits.e
laugh.) I thought I had never heard put in such t.'_
of
hills."—(Cheers.) I may be told that those words refer to a
solos --
conscious connexion the genius of monopoly and the ,;*en
war.—(Cheers.) What was the state of the world then, the highest and most sacred ministry of faith and of pro-
still higher fulfilment. They may so; but I contend that
with wheat at 1365. a quarter, as it was in Isl 2, the quarto t 1 nhec may be faithfully copied and adopted in every act of
loaf ls. 64d. ; war all over the world, and at home nothing . :,-• .. t 3: d benevolence,- exercise of 1
,;in interested . inevery
but Orders in Council, as our Saddleworth friends will well "
sive Charity, in the cup of cold water, and in the crust of
remember.—(Loud cheers.) Give me then, I say, the come dry breed to the meanest disciple.—(Loud cheers.) I will
metes—not the conquest of the world—overflowing garners, not venture to recommend the great cause we have in hand
and not an empty laurel—open ports, and free produce, not ato aey meaner consideration; I will not let my argument
decrease of intercourse and the substitution of an embargo— stoop
comm e n d this
, wholeotfr
adli question—theeradfoe
ordm)
wmiesahldeedlit
to
oot onaask
fwreheee°thrner'hiofs
a dependence—l will even use that obnoxious word—a de- stoop from the height to which it nay fairlyt. bet. raised ; but
pendence on foreign countries, instead of independence and
free food, and of
for limiting the hours of
the reason, to
an isolation from them.—(Cheers.) Dependence on foe the feeling, and tor the consciences of mankind.— nd.---(The Noble
re
eopung persons between
reigners ! Why, that is the favourite bugbear with which the Lord sat down amidst fbe most overwhelming applause.)
sleek, soft-tongued monopolist tries to bamboozle his gaping
crowd of rustic auditors.—(Loud cheers.) Why, I ask him, "r;SV. WAIidAER support the measure
how he would do himself without dependence on foreigners? Lordship would
to
ten in a day c
years of age? .or
l-tslorird Monrierll said —I think theell
I need not ask him whether his wife and daughters do not
rustle along in the silks of France, the velvets of Italy, and the
lace of Florence; but I would ask himself whether lie does
willgive ansal of the corn-laws
not prOcure his tea from China, and his coffee from Brazil— 1 for
factory 3 21
opportunity for a fresh consideration, and, I
whether he does not wear the fleeces of Saxony, aye, and ()Peiof_ satisfactory adjustment of the question of the
perhaps smoke the cigars of Havannah.—(Loud cheers.) hours
_labour. 1 ardently wish that the question could
And if he does that, ask him in your turn why you may not be settled by agreement and adjustment between the em-
have wheat from the Elbe and bacon from the Ohio ?—(Loud elseloers and the employed.—(Cheers, and a voice, "No one
cheers.) I believe that it is not in diminishing, but in in- has ought to do we it.") I consider that in the vote
that we shall best I shall give
creasing our dependence on foreigners, ort the subject I may very likely go against
fellow out the laws of nature and the will of Providence, and the opinion of Setae of the masters—against some of the
eser into the strongest recognisances for the harmony, men •; but I will leave myself at liberty to act with respect
thus el.. • • • •
• eivilisation, and the prosperity of the world.— to both as I think
the circumstances of the time and the real
the peace, the , .
eneput it to you, what is the •
case with interests of both shall at the time require.—(Loud cheers,
(Cheers.) For, let - _
of hi h the mistaken friends of the and cries of "We'll trust you with it.")
those manufacturers
v,- -c
-eresent us with so unreasonable Mr. WALKER having thanked the Noble Lord for the
landed interest sometimes , .„
ee s r.) What arc all the courtesy of his reply,
and unfounded a jealousy ? (~_ '
'°lel3, cotton, worsted, The UNDER-SHERIFF came forward, and said—Has any
manufactures turned out, whether ee:
to -"here there is work other elector any other candidate to propose ?If there be
or eilk, but so much work sell? 7. :
ds there must any such elector, let him come forward, and he shall be
there must be hands, and where there are hal_
be mouths, and those mouths are filled with the beef and heard.—(Cheers.)
11104012 Mid beer and bread which are raised from tile soil No other candidate having been proposed, •
by the landlords and farmers of England. But they say, .1
The UNDER-SHERIFF sal been
freeholders and other
electors who are in favour of the election of Lord Morpeth
want to trarlefet that supply from the native to
.the heLd up their hands.
foreign grower; and I leave just talked of wheat from
In aie instant a dense forest of hands were exultingly dia.
the Elbe and bacon Brett! the Ohio—well, but the
foreigner will not give his' breed and bacon for no- Played.
The INDSR.-SIIERIFF continued—Those freeholders and
thing. fie may have a very gool opinion of the
other electors who are against the election of Lord Morpeth,
Of Yorkshire and of England gene-
manufacture
~ their
let them hold up hands.
rally—he may have a better opinion of you than
We could only distinguish seven hands held up against the
Mr. Busfeild Ferrand has •—(AS ifttsgh, and a voice "He
i But Noble Lord.
has as, good an opinion of Linz as we .Igte o' him."). l The NDEN- HERM then said—The electors present
U S
still, though he may think them very filV.4 fellows, he wit . in favour of the election of Lord Morpeth,
being unanimously
.le
ilolyar.,
coin.
not be likely to supply them gratis. He will asfr 3 fair, and
what he considers a remunerative price for. his oorn ; ~'eeause Ide
ideclalrlejlitithiGdeTvlsechWitlliaiThrFerteiclleriiockdoly, (I
elected to
if he does not get that he will not send his corn, and there is
Trise°rTilaYincaParliament for the WestP offding of Yorkshire.
an end to all the alarm about the transfer of supply. put I
Vociferous applause and waving hats and . haneddlciaerje
hope he will send a large quantity, and that lie will receive a chiefs. The example was set by those in the e
minu ) by
ly taken
ti t
fair price for it,which he must receive either directly in your ;cinity of the hustings, and was immediatelength of Wood-street.
ree .
manufactures, or else in money for which you will previously -
'‘h s‘-ast crowd, extending the whole 1
prevailed rendered
have exchanged your work.—(Cheers.) Well, to turn out the • ,usiasm and unanimity whic i
fresh work you must have fresh hands. Fresh hands, again, In
the scenee sti4kinglY imP°sing.' ) d I may now again
tlemen—an
bring fresh mouths, and the fresh corn which the foreigner. _ sad_Gen
Lord nfeerre )—not for the first time—(A voice,
sends over will be available for additional food, additionalaelieve .t Sotsnte—(llr indeed like
hold
the additional hands will pretty nearly absorb th add cons t” _
s this is .W ci times. This scene
food ; consequently, the demand on our native rural s "Nor
many striking esegodes. e aye, gentlemen, M I
be very nearly the risme as at prevent, Suld any fell pie roe