The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-09 00:00:00

SUGAR DUTIES.

Lord JOHN RU - SELL gave notice, on behalf of his
Noble Friend Lord Palmerston, that when the question of the
sugar duties came befor the House, he would move an address
to the Crown, that Spanish sugars should be admitted to
those countries on the same terms as the most favoured nations.
Sir ROBERT PEEL said, that it was his intention to
bring the subject of the sugar duties before the Howe
at the earliest possible period. He could not state the
precise day, but he was not aware of any obstacle to
prevent the question from obtaining an early consideration.
CORN IMPORTATION BILL.

On the motion of the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER, the report of the Committee on this Bill
was brought up.
On the question that it be read a second time being put,
Sir C. BURRELL rose and said he must oppose the mo-
tion, because he was convinced that if this Bill passed a great
number of persons would be thrown out of employment in the
agricultural districts, while those who would be able to get em-
ployment would have to put up with very law and miserable
wages indeed. In his opinion, too, the famine in Ireland was
by no means a sufficient reason for the passing of this measure.
The Hon. Member then proceeded to read some documents
in support of his arguments, showing the relative
bearing of the prices of corn and labour at
various periods since the passing of the corn-laws.
He was quite certain that if the present law was car-
ried into effect, it would not be possible for the
labourers of this country to compete successfully
with those of Germany, and other continental nations
The Hon. Gentleman proceeded in his address to the House is
opposition to the Bill, bat in so low a tone of voice as to render
it perfectly impossible to hear one word.
Colonel VERNER begged to say a few words on this sub'
ject. He should have addressed the House on the previoue
stages of this Bill, had not so many Hon. Members pledged
themselves to do so. So much had been said with regard to
Ireland, that he felt it to be the duty of every Irish Member
to express his opinions upon this measure. He did not
rise with the presumptuous idea of entering upon the questiol
with regard to the effect which this measure would have Ws
the public at large. He rose, however, for the purpose of ex-.
pressing the alarm with which this measure was contemplated
in that part of Ireland in which he resided—a part of the coun-
try which was mainly dependent hitherto on its agricultural
produce for support. The effect which this measure would
produce upon the public at large had been fully and ably de-
tailed by Hon. Gentlemen on his side of the House over awl
over again, and it was unnecessary for him to follow in the wake
of those Honourable Gentlemen.—(Hear, hear). He would
merely detain the House for a few moments, for
the purpose of stating in whit manner the people of his country
would be injured if it were passed into a law. He believes!
that, during the progress of these debates, sufficient
attention had not been paid on the part of the Government to
the interests of the small farmers, the holders of ten and fifteen
acres.—( Hear, hear.) He should like to know who would
remunerate those men for the expense which they had been put
to in cultivating their land, and erecting houses thereon.--
( Hear, hear.) The small farmers in that part of Ireland
in which he resided wet e decidedly “pposed to this measure,
because they were convinced that it would tend to their ruin.
He agreed with the Hon. Members who had opposed this
motion, that the results of its passing into •
law would be to bring a national calamity ; and those
who had introduced the measure should look upon then!
selves as participators in that calamity. If the measure hall
been introduced by the Noble Lord the Member for London.
or by any other Hon. Member on that side of the House, oe
in fact by any Hon. Member but the Right Hon. Baronet.
he would not have been so much surprised.—( Hear, hear.
The Hon. Gentleman then detailed the experience which he
had of the Right Hon. Baronet's policy—he at one time had be-
lieved him; the person best fitted to lead the House
of Commons, but he was now under the sad ye'
cessity of changing all his long-cherished opinions-
( The Hon. and Gallant Gentleman then read several extract%
from the Newry and other Irish papers, which, as far as could
be gathered from the noise that prevailed, were to the effect.
that there was no scarcity of wheat, oats, and barley in Ireland.)
There had not been so good a harvest in Ireland for maul'
years as in the present year, and, therefore, it was altogether
unfounded to say, that there was such a scarcity to be appre-
hended in that country.
Sir W. JOLLIFFE said that it was with a most pain°
feeling he opposed a Government which he had supported
ir fc'e
so many years, but on the present occasion
could not help expressing his dissatisfaction at t"e
course which Government :vas pursuing with regard to this
measure, and he could not conceal from himself that for a con-
siderable time back the Right Hon. Baronet had been syst!:',
matically attacking the agricultural interest. He complat et^
that a return respecting the poor- law, which he bad moved for:
had not been presented to the House. That return would
have enabled him to have made out a strong case before the
House. He would, however, go into a few details with refer•
ence to the operation of the poor-law. In the Newberri
Union he found that there were in Jan. last 91 inmates less
than in the same month of 1845. Although the Right Hon.
Baronet had said that the growers of wheat in this country
were of so little importance that they were net worthy of much
consideration, yet in his ( Sir W. Jolliffe's) part of the countrf
alone they grew some 15,000,000 quarters per annum. 11°
was ever as ready as any other Hon. Gentleman in that House
to help forward a measure that was calculated to advance the
public good, but he felt himself bound to oppose a measure hkel
this, which sought the aggrandisement of one party at the el'
pense of another.—( Hear. hear. )
Mr. GEORGE BANKES fully concurred in the observe 6
tions of the Hon. Baronet who had just sat down. He rose
for the purpose of expressing his surprise that, after the speech
of the Hon. and Gallant Member who had preceded him, fr
specting the effect which this measure would have on tfer
small farmers of Ireland, the Noble Lord the SecretarY fo
Ireland had not risen to contradict the statements which
he
had made. And as that Noble Earl had not done so, the 807,
them.
eamndb er Gallanth instead
conclusion to which they could come was, that the statements o'
the Hen. and Gallant Member were perfectly true.—( Fle
seal
hear.) They now heard frpoime
connected with Ireland, that the disotress in that country
They were toted
too,
Now, if his Hon. and Gallant Friend wets
too, by the same Hon. a Gallant Hon.
hndmeasure of
not so great as it had been
alleviating this distress, t the Government would
in error, why did not the Noble Lord the Secretary 1„"d
Ireland, who had recently been in that country, get uP
increase it?
tell them so.— (Hear, hear.) But his Hon. and Galls
Friend's statements were quite correct, and he for one defied
the Noble Lord to get up and refute them.--( Cheers- ) Allis-
signs had been freely made, in the Ova
course of the debate o ;
subject, to the year 1822, and he was not s for it, for lbs
year was in some respects aall I with orry t ,r 0
pra e the resent, t
the
the distress and suffering in Ireland was concerned; ba„eris,
Government of that day did not to alleviate it by )
ficing one of the great • propose ars.
interests of the country.—(C
Ireland was, according • . 0010
to Lord Darnley, in a most met ,ded
state of suffering and distress in the ear 162‘) that exAcew" re
in extent the present c • but '"
kit' no measures of t
resorted to US remove it. No, it was removed by the sWie
taneous subscriptions of the people, aided by grants of li-thef
money from the Exchequer ; and this was boy/...-
ought to remove the distress and misery of the presentJo ses
( Hear, hear. ) He was not there to deny that there tell
want in Ireland. He wanted the Secretary for Ireland "'riht
him what was the real state of that country. He had as the
to assume that it was in a state of prosperity, especially .-The
Right Hon. Gentleman had kept silence on the subject' euld
Hon. Baronet was no doubt well read in history, and he ;oiled
be aware that Ireland was a subject which had aesl7ll•P
anxiety for years past. The first of the Tudors, Henry those
had directed his attention to that point, and the statatesoifordeds"
times were worth reading, from the information they the o/...„
The Hon. Gentleman then read an extract from one %le lava
statutes, which reprobated the custom of tnrning are jiminue
into pasture ; and the result of such a practice was theabantlois‘
Lion of the population in particular parts. From the of Eli's
ment of tillage, it came to the result that the poorela; oad not
zabeth was passed, and the people were paid by else
of Eli"
by labour. If it was necessary to enforce the poorstal" similes*
zabeth in Ireland, the same result, if a essuelli
plan was followed in England, would follow, i_ad never
the want of employment for the labourer. He
_eland, bet
confounded the question of the Corn Bill withir
that that
the Government had done so, and had asserted „weer,
measure would afford relief to Ireland. The had, once
t
not proved their case, and he called upon them to do so at
if it laid in their power. • d• positi°.°
ce of in is
Lord LINCOLN stated that in consequen
take part should
he had not been able at an earlier relied to
discussion, which had so long occupied the House. 1-,ev_rretary
hardly have thought it had been necessary for the 7 been
of Ireland to reply to the invitations to speak which. hasor
all
nsibie
showered upon him. He would hold himself respo
of IrelOu'
, that had been stated with respect to the condition
_ergo.
and was satisfied that those statements had not been
rated. The Hon. Member for Northamptonshire Cottle