The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-14 00:00:00

THE SIT

saved from the_
"_consequence of_. his . own legisla- admitted- fend and raiment, they might-gain some hundreds of
ture by the Right Honourable Baronet at the head l income for the present ; but in the end their fields would
of the Government ? They found at last that their only re- remain entitled. And he would tell the House that the woollen
meily was to throw themselves into the arms of that monster trade of France came into direct competition with their own
" Free-trade," arid the consequence has been that the price of . manufacture, and that in their own market, opposing itself to
English wool has continued to increase up to this period. all the manufacturing energies •of the country. Look to
Now, why cannot we apply this principle to corn? The ; Russia—if they could force their free-trade notions on
Hon. Member for Northamptonshire (Mr. S. O'Brien) says 1 that vast empire, it would have the effect of giving employment
that we should destroy the tenant-farmers of the country to millions, to such an extent that they would deluge the
if we removed protection from them. He would assure his British markets with every kind of manufactured
How Friend that the tenant-farmers of this country enter- articles. At the very present moment, in the menu-
tained very different views of the matter. They had no fear facture of cotton, they almost compete with you
of the contingencies which would follow on the relaxation of in the foreign markets.—( Hear, hear.) And was it likely,
protection, provided their landlords met them in a fair spirit. strictly prohibitory as their system was, they would approve of
They say we can do nothing till this question is settled— this free-trade scheme now proposed 1 It was stated by
( Hear)—settled it must be—and settled it can only be in one an Honourable Member that agriculture was in its infancy ;
way. Continue the protection, if you please, for a few months, now it must be apparent to every one that in the last few years
or only a few years—you Must come to the settlement of this the improvement had been most extroordinary ; they had
question—that settlement which consists in the total abrogation brought capital and science to bear upon the soil, and the increase
of restrictive duties.—( Hear.) The landlerds must expunge of the crops kept pace with the increase of competition. But
feone their leases those obsolete forms and exploded notions. if Russia still maintains her prohibitory duties and takes ad.-
( Hear, hear.) They roust not force upon the farmer the vantage of your measures , what will be the result? The Rus-
support of the game of the landlords. —(Cries of " Hear, sian serfs, at present in the most abject condition, doing nothing
hear.") If they are thus met in a fair and manly spirit, to promote the internal resources of his country, will be ready
they may be enabled to bear that shock which doubtless, for a . to apply their energies, and to come to your markets
short period, we shall all have to encounter.—',Hear, hear, and flood it with their productions, enriching themselves
from the protectionists.) Hon. Members on the other side of ' just in the same proportion that they impoverish you:se.
the House say, Hear, hear, but has the agricultural interests e Loud cheering.) There will be an exchange to be sure, but
no difficulties to encounter in the times of protection. He (Mr. it e ill not be an enchange that will be equally beneficial. It
Ward) had known in the year 1835, that the price of corn was is urged, however, that you will be enabled to compete with
355., and that under a law which promised 80s. to the tenant. f rewn ;south,. In neutral mat kets, what was the case? He would
in the year 1815. He asked Han. Members if they would i quote trout memory a statement made by an Hon. Member,
legislate upon this principle with any other business? Would namely, that in neutral markets the cotton of Switzerland,eetno
they grant protection to the shopkeeper, if, upon the principle the hardware of Alsace, and the hosiery of Saxony, meet
of the Hon. Member for Northampton, they were to request it, t quel terms . ith our manufacturers. Even Mr. M•Gregor
on the ground that they did not wish to leave the shop that states tbat Saxon hosiery, paying a duty of twenty
'they had occupied for some time. He considered that a great part per cent., successfully competes with you in
of the land of this country was badly cultivated in consequence your own markets? Now, what would be the case when
of the want of capital, or from the tenant occupying larger they took of that protective duty ? He would ask the manufac-
farms than they could properly cultivate ; and in this manner turer how they would answer that argument? He would tell
numbers of farmers are compelled to struggle against diffi- him the only way he could meet it would be by the improve-
eulties which, if they had taken smaller farms, they would not ment of machinery.—(Hear, hear.) Yes that would be the
have had to contend with. They should not hold what only method, and what would be the consequence? Why
they could not do justice with. If the farmer, :n they would throw an immense quantity of manual labour
this condition, were to take a smaller farm, he would into the market, and at the end of a year Saxony would import
then be able to extricate himself from the difficulties which their machinery, and there would be and of it. He defied any
have arisen from his undertaking, without sufficient capital, the Member to deny the inference. How wouldthe employer meet
management of so large a concern. Reduce the man who such ruinous competition ? He could only do it by lowering
holds four hundred acres to two hundred, and do not cheat him the wages of the operative. The result would he a
by the belief that anything this House could do would enable number of such strikes as they might frequently
him to continue the perilous struggle, and do not have read of, for they would not tamely submit to it.
allow yourself, upon any principle of what I must call (Loud cheering.) He would now direct the attention of the
false humanity, to be warped from the performance House to the statements made by the Right Hon. Baronet
of your plan. Your duty is not to look at one class, but to with regard to the exports of the last year. He considered
look upon all. You have to look especially npon that class that if they took a different method of calculation from
whose interest depend so much upon the price of provisions— that adopted by the Honourable Baronet, they would
that class to which the Honourable Member for the sweat arrive as a ins umeiete. sweeten.-- it wee, ...see e -ewe es.
Riding ofYorkshire (Lord Morpeth) so forcibly alluded upon twelve years instead of three, they would find that the price
the last night of this debate—he alluded to the labour- of corn bad nothing whatever to do with their exports.
ing classes ; it is npon them you have to look, and your —( Hear, hear.) If they compared one year with another,
duty, is to see they suffer no injustice at your hands.—(Hear, as the Right Honourable Baronet had done, they could
hear.) And can any man have heard the statement of the never arrive at a fair and legitimate conclusion.
Right Hon. Member (S. Herbert), to the effect that upon his Now, with the leave of the House, he would go into those
own estate he had known the prices of corn vary from 755. triennial calculations. He would begin at the year 1834 for
to 405., without being convinced that the labouring that purpose. He found that in that. year the average price of
classes are the party who suffer most by this wheat was 465., while the average amount of exportation was
system of protection. He advised Hon. Members on the 41,000,000. In the year 1835 the average price of
opposite side to endeavour to retrace their steps— ( Hear)— wheat was 485., while the exportation was 47,000,000. In
to look to the great developement of the industrial resources of the year 1836, the average price of wheat was 38s. 9d., the
the country, and the consequent increase of employment and amount of exportation was 47 millions, so that for that period
the improved situation of all classes of the population; and when the average price of wheat was 41s. Bd., and the average quan-
they had ascertained the right course to pursue, at once to city of exportation was 45 millions. In the years 1837, 1838,
follow it without any regard to selfish motives. He hoped that and 1839, the following would be found to be the respective
feeling would have influence on the great body of English gen- proportions :—ln the year 1837 the average price of
tlemen now arrayed against the measures proposed by her Ma- wheat was 455. 9d., and the amount of exportations
jesty's Government. He thought there never was a body of 53 millions. In-the year 1838, the average price was 655. ld.,
gentlemen, who stood higher in the estimation of their country- while the average amount of expenditure was forty-two
than Hon. Members opposite ;he would be grieved to see them millions. In the year 1839 the average price was 755. 5d.,
forfeit that opinion; but when a class, however powerful or while the average amount of exportation was fifty millions.
opulent, arrayed itself against the interests of the com- This period showed the average price of wheat to be 635. 9d.,
munity it could not long retain its proud position—( Hear, and the average amount of exportation forty-eight millions.
hear,)—especially when it stood opposed to principles In the years 1841, 1842. and 1843, the following ap-
which involve the great interest of a community. He felt peered to be the result :—ln 1841 the average price of wheat
convinced that light was already dawning upon some members was 665. 3d., and the amount of exportation fifty-threemillions.
of that body. Many, he knew, were taking a part in opposing in 1842, 645. 3d., and the amount of exportation 51 millions;
these measures rather on the ground of character than a genuine and in the year 1843, the average price was 575. 3d., and the
feeling of confidence in the cause. One Noble Lord average amount of exportation 47 millions. This period,
(Lord John Manners) he knew heel stated that he had therefore, showed the average price of wheat to be 6es. 7d., and
intended to vote in favour of the Bill, though his the average amount of exportation to be 50 millions. The last
own convictions were opposed to it. Can a contest, period embraced the years 1844, 1845, and 1846, and as stated
then, be long continued which thus oposes itself to the first by the Right Hon. Baronet, showed the following results :
prineipies of justice—a principle which cannot be worked out In the year 1844, the average price of wheatwas 50s. Id., and
in detail, and which is at variance with the intelligence and the average amount of expoi tation 52 millions. In the year
just demands of the country. Be did not believe it could.— 1845 it was 51s. 3d., and the amount of exportation was fifty-
( Hear, hear.) An Honourable Member on a former occasion eight millions. The average for 1846 had not been made up,
had spoken of compromise. They had talked of some but taking them at the amounts which appeared for the
ministry which was to be formed of old exploded portion of it that had elapsed, the average price was 525.,
theories. They wished for S sort of modified and the average exportation fifty-eight millions. So that this
protection. They would take the sliding scale of last period presented an average price of .51s. for wheat, and
the Right Hon. Baronet without that redeeming part, its fixed the average amount of;exportation at fifty-six millions. It would
1
termination. So far as the sense of the country can be known appear, therefore, that by this calculation the price of corn
the general opinion is, that so far from considering the Govern- presented no relative affinity whatever with the amount of
ment measure as going too far, they do not consider it suffi- exports.—( Hear, hear.) That price entirely depended on de-
ciently carried out in the principles of free trade.— mend and supply.—( Hear, hear.) The cause of their recent
( Hear, hear, and cheers.) There is no reason, for prosperity bad been alluded to by the Right Hon. Baronet and
instance, why the duties on cheese and butter the Hon. Member for Oxfordshire. If the Right Honourable
should be 'reduced one-half, while the duty on corn is Baronet had made his speech, in which he made that allusion,
to be taken off altogether. He hoped to see the day when that on the second night of the session, the country would have b: en
scheme would be carried to the fullest extent of the principle at no loss to know what was re cause of that prosperity.
which we should adopt in adopting that measure; and as to He (the Right Hon. Baronet) then alluded to the immense
compromise, he could assure the Hen. Member that the at- amount of capital which had been embarked in railroads. It
tempt would only serve to protract a struggle already too much would appear from this statement that no less a sum than
protracted, and to prevent an arrangement which might now twenty-three millions of capital were directly thrown into the
be made with satisfaction to both the landlord and tenant, and labour market during the last three years.—(Cries of
also prevent any injury to the interests of agriculture which Hear, hear.) He would ask, therefore, in the face of these
might be caused by admitting foreign corn. statements, whether it was not this immense flow of capital thus
Mr. MILES did not consider, in the discussion of such mot into the labour market, to which must be attributed
a question as the present, it was possible to go too far a-field, the extraordinary prosperity which existed in the country.—
The injury which this measure will produce will affect not (Hear, hear.) But his Right Hot,. Friend had also alluded
only the colonial producer, but also all dependencies now subject to the extraordinary impetus which the trade of the country
to this country.—(Hear, hear.) It was not an agricultural had recently received. The other day a document had been
debate, although he must say that a great deal of agriculture placed in his hand, which showed a relative statement of this
had been mixed up in it.—( Hear.) The present is a scheme prosperity, from the year 1832 to the present time.
involving questions important to the whole population of the He found that in the iron trade in the year 1832,
country. There is no one interest left untouched, nothing to common bars were sold from 41. 10s. to Si. ; in
be left in its present position. The measures which the Right the year 1835, the price ranged from 9/. to 101., and
Hon. Baronet proposed in 1842. although he agreed with some in the year 1842, the proportional increase was still greater.—
of the propositions, to othersof them he gave his most strenuous ( Hear, hear.) That would at once show the nature of the
opposition.—(Hear, hear.) He quite agreed with the prosperity to which he alluded, for he understood that 7-Bths
Honourable Member that protection should be with- of the iron trade came directly into the British market, where
drawn, or equally extended to all. Compromise had been it found a ready consumption.—( IL ar, hear.) He
talked of, but for his part he must say that he was no friend to hoped and trusted, therefore, that what he had said
compromise. We must either stand as we are at present, admit would be sufficient to show the nature of the impetus
the measure proposed by Government, or receive those pro- which the manufacturers of the country had received, and the
posed by the party represented by the Hon. Member for Stock- influence which the capital thus embarked had upon the trade
port (Mr. Cobden). The measures now introduced are in op- of the whole country.—( Hear, hear.) He should like to know
position to the experience of centuries, and he had yet to learn that whether the foreign market presented similar results ? He
the experience of three years should be taken as an argument for should like to know whether China was not at present over-
the withdrawal which for centuries had been to agriculture, glutted with their manufactures ? ( Hear, hear.) He
and which had raised this country to the highest pitch of re- should like to know whether the Indian market was not
nown.— (Hear, hi ar.) He considered the measure of 1842 in the same state ? And if they went on in the same way
was merely a preliminary step towards the present commercial for another cycle of years, and proceeded to manufacture in
policy of the Government; and that measure had not been met the same unlimited extent, a season of adversity would come,
in a kindred spirit by other countries. Seven or eight countries and the country would be precipitated into a state of the most
had adopted tariffs in opposition to/ours, and had increased the indescribable misery.—(Hear, hear.) From the way that corn-
duties which they before levied on the introduction.—( Hear.) petition was carried on, it would be perfectly impossible, not..
Look at the present state of the public funds, the state of the withstanding the scientific improvements which had
labour market and the manufactures. The price of the public been made in machinery. to avert this calamity.—
fends sufficiently indicate the prosperity of the country. In ( Cries of " Hear, hear.") He trusted the House would for-
the labour market there is a great difficulty to obtain labour for give him for alluding to these details. That, however, was a great
the purpose of condecting the necessary improvements of the question—( Hear, bear)—and though he had entered very im-
country ;at the same time an immense capital flowing into those perfectly into these details, his object was to show, as well as
great undertakings of the country, are circumstances which he could, however feebly, the grounds on which he had formed
tend to show the present prosperity of the nation, and give us bis opinions. He addressed himself not to the agricultural
warning not to tamper with our commercial policy, and bid us part of the question, but to the commercial. He would now,
be satisfied with the prosperity showered on the country.— however, with the permission of the House, say a few words on
It appeared to him, from information which he had received the subject, as far as agriculture was concerned. In glancing at
from twenty-air societies in different parts of the country, that the corn-law of 1842, he had to say that he heard-the Right Hon.
the failure of the potato crop had been greatly exaggerated. Baronet then utter the most extraordinary things, as con-
He hoped that the House would bear with him while he gave trasted with the opinions which he now held.—( Hear, hear,
some evidence of the crops of this country, which would prove and cheers.) He ( Mr. Miles) then supported the Right Hon.
that the fears of a coming scarcity were without founda- Gentleman because he considered that that law was better than
tion, and the reports of the failure in the potato crop the one of 1828. He recollected also that the Hon. Member for
got up for pat ty purposes —( Hear, hear, and cheers.) Dublin had then stated that the consumption of corn had been
tie only that morning met a friend from the country, a large very much increased in the country, and that they would not be
and extereive agriculturist, who had a considerable quantity able to grow as much as would be sufficient for the demands of
of potatoes to sell. That friend informed him (Mr. the country. Now what he (Mr. NI.) would ask was, the cause
Miles) that he went to - a salesman in the city of that increased consumption ? He would tell them. The
to sell him his . potatoes ; that salesman refused cause of that apparent consumption was the addition which had
to purchase ?in the grounds that potatoes now been made to the number of towns from which the averages
were decreasing in value, and that the. next month or the Were made up. 180 towns had been added to this number, anti
month after he would' be enabled to purchase them much that was the cause why a greater quantity of corn appeared to
cheaper, and advised him (the farmer) to send up his potatoes be consumed.—(Cheer,.) A return had been also moved for
immediately. lie .(Mr. Miles) considered that statement about that time, as to the relative prices of bread
very valuable, in the present state of the country, as it went and corn and wheat. This return showed that there was r.•
to prove that those fears which are entertained of a scarcity approximation between the price of wheat and flour. The
were without foundation.—(Hear, hear.) He would detain blame, however, was not to be thrown upria the farmer, but
the House with as few details as possible, but he felt it in- tipon the. baker and miller. The relative price of
cumbent on him to give voice proofs of the state of the bread and flour in the Parisian market was more
crops, and the increased quantity of provisions which Healey allied than the relative prices in the London market.
were produced in the last above the preceding year.— Jr wa4 in foreign markets 625., and at that time the price of
( Chee s.) These returns extend over one million two hundred bread was more approximate than it was in this country under
and ninety-five thousand acres, and their accuracy he had no the same circumstances. He could assure the House. that
reaso i whatever to doubt.—( Cheers.) The House would when the Trice of foreign wheat in this country averaged tits.,
observe that the great fears of distress arose from allowing a fair profit to the farmer, the miller
the state of the potato crop. This was the and the baker, the price of bread ought to be 7d. instead of
universal cry whenever any opposition was raised to a repeal of at the price it was now selling —( Hear, hear. ) It was well
the corn eatve.—( Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Miles) could known what were the priers of 1842, and the result of that
prove (and it was not denied, for he believed all parties con- measure. He trusted that the Right Hen. Baronet, at the
curred in it) that though the crop was diseased, yet that it close of the debate, when he came to speak, would state what
was very large, and a greater quantity of ground than was to be the result of 1849 and 1850. He should like to know
usual was last year under cultivation.—(Cries of " Hesr,") what will be the prices of bread in those years? The law, as
and cries of " No, no," from the Opposition.) There was proposed by the Right Hon. Baronet, after' three years
also a considerable increase in the wheat crop above that of would be the same as a shilling rise and a shilling fall. Much
former years, taking an average of that given in the entire as he was opposed to taking off protection, he would acknow-
coumry. Oats were also above the average, and so ledge that he preferred the principles of the Noble Lord
were turnips. But in looking at this question he (Fussell) to the measere of the Right Hon. Baronet. 1-e ,
(Mr. Miles) would not follow the Right Honour would not sacrifice his principles by supporeng such a tam-
able Baronet through all his arguments. He would only sure as the present. If the Noble Lord were to pro-
allude
to some of the remarks of the Right Hon. Baronet pose a repeal of the corn-laws, he would of the two
He stated that since the protection was withdrawn from flax rather support it than the proposition of the Bight
hemp, wool, and lard, the price.s of those articles had greatly Honourable Baronet; and he would say,. that of the
aevaneed. Now he (Mr. Miles) would take the article two the Noble Lord's plan was the better one.
Of flax, which was greatly cultivated in the county which But he was grieved to have heard the speech of the Right
he had the honour to represent (Somersetshire). Since Hon. Gentleman, the Secretary at War. He would ask him
the repeal of the duty on that article had taken place, the , from what source had they even a chance of the supply he had
cultivation of it became limited, anti in a short time it would le.i.the Reuse to expect. America could not send it, because
entirely go out of cultivation in the county of Somerset.— why n that country was thinly populated they could produce
( Cheerte)• They had the price of flax so reduced in Ireland, iin more than was. necessary fur their own eansumEtion • and
that its 'grew.' se is not now considered profitable, although, as lis,W : i!,at it had increased,soalso should increase tee demand'
in Sorneraetshire, the reward for labour is small,_( Cheers.) for fetid ; and if they had an overplus of produce, and an over-
He would nowrt7tlo the House the amount of labour used in plus teemueteeiy they would have to an enormous amount, so
the cultivation
mediately acquai ax in four parishes with which he was im- sere as the eurn-laws of this country should be repealed,
which would show the loss sustained by America would throw in such a mass of grain upon it
those places in consequence
t
the
lisof the reduction that had already as would entirely destroy the British markets. There
taken place. [Here Gentleman read a statistical was one point in the speech of the Secretary of War to which
return, which shewed that dlthaerxi,ng7.lhoe times of protectior there he wished particularly to allude. The Hon. Gentleman had
were under cultivation, in
parinacres, while now there said that the time had come when the alarmists should lay aside
were only 46.] The expense of pre
their cry. Now when he (Mr. Miles) should read the extract
parishes and there was alt
ogether. egx an
acred of flax was live
their. four he held ir, his hands, showing the vast increase of American
pin the cultivation of flax, e seer onr tdsoioni
places.—(Loud
which, by produce, he thought he would convince the House that this cry
this free-trade measure, would be lost to those
,h-,—;4lcoud of alarm had not been raised without a just cause, and that they
cheets. ) It was perfectly true,,,for the returns
•the afforded a triumphant answer to the arguments of the Secre-
great increase which had taken place in the sale of cattle in tary at War. Passing by all the corn that came by Liverpool
S.nithfielti market for the last six months—those
~returns from other: ports
rts of America, rica, he would turn his attention to
showed the number to be for the last six months im ethe quantity of corn conveyed by New Orleans, all of which
less titan twenty-five thonwind, although there was a defitiancy was the produce of the nine great States which sur-
en the preceding year of 16 000. This showed the prosperity rounded the Mississippi, which comprised an almost
of then co
untry,
anti he (Mr. Miles) considered wh
o
le they ; illimitable territory. The whole area of Great Britain,
were in state of prosperity thee ought to leave ts wee • including Scotland and Ireland, did not exceed 19.000
Isr at any of the rette ns, square miles
a it;
dwwhhericehasplehnereawdrhetaihoheitrtpherodnuireee ginretoatNSetwateos
Orleans'
large alone."-4 Cheese.) Let them
and they would find in the article of ore there was riot near so m('n tmentioned,
ed
'
000 square miles, and a
large a quantity imported this year a, there was in the year before.market, contained an area of over 250,
The natural consequence s.f these fac s was that it should be population of 5,500,000• facts alone, he contended,
the duty of the Minister not to run risks by these constant were sufficient to fill the 'peciplee of thinsoctotauffnetreyt with
pre judailcairamlly.
The Secretary at War had also Notwithstanding the prosperity of the last threespoken of the' produce of the
a'sn'ant lieomusbetor
West of Russia as being suc as could
years, was it not a feeling in many a man's mind, that the next
markets of this country. ( Here the
.1-1
year may bring about other important changes ? even , the
of more magnitude than those of year 1842 ?—( Loud 11 read the extracts,__ and then proceeded.)
cheering.) Now, what was the Right Honourable / lay before the House a statement of the extract of the different
Baronet doing but lending himself to the manufacturers of this ' corn -producing provinces of Russia He held in his hand tables,
country, and throwing overboard the other industrious classes Iby which he would show that this country had more to contend
of the nation ?—( Loud cheers.) Now while the manufacturers against in the article of corn apprehend,tnhoatntatkheeyasneyemofedthteoiranufa,
were in the highest state of prosperity, the skill and energies of j while Russia would certainly
'tjeasagrecultural poetion of the community were left unprotected. j tures. In order to make this matter plain, he would read thos'e-
e---1-e%Pt th'eltiit'Aelnltesit to what had been the commercial policy i returns as short as he :possibly could, though he felt that in
°a- e, odlii e did not think he could do better than doing so he would be trespassing considerably on the patience
Ilntlrclu.. Sa hook- hich had been laid before them, the of the House.—( Hear, hear.) And here let him say that he
.:
buceillieeil. tcooblaissureibook-S4
"nerend T4iff.r!' hich the Hon. Member for Bolton cen- felt dee I grateful for the kind attention with which lie had
Hononne. but free-traders ever looked into, I alreadyypbeyen heard.--[ The Hon. Member then unfolded a large
w- 1 anff derived inloitita • ' ent e.inan that he had studied it, bundle of papers, from which he took several large sheets con-
- ew found it
great. ~ . tion from its pages.—(Hear, hear.) taming figures set forth in tabular form, and detailing very
%, ..-.Ha found it ..to beestaled, hi a report from- the Committee of minutely the area of the different provinces of Russia
\z......r ade adopted by. the Chamber of Deputies*
lea ,the quantity
_that if they and Poland, which were remarkable for