The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-28 00:00:00

PRIVATE BILLS.

Mr. HUME gave notice of his intention to call the atten-
tion of the House on Wednesday next to the adoption of means
by sthich the private business of the House might be lessened.

ADJOURNED DEBATE.-CORN-LAWS

On the question being put that the order of the day be now
read,

Mr. COBDEN rose to present a petition from 114 tenants
on the Right lion. Baronet's (the Secretary of State for
the Home Department) estate of Nethe: by, in Cum-
berland. The petitioners stated that they viewed
with satisfaction the measure of the Government, but they
would rather that the repeal had been total r.r.d immediate.--
( Hear, bear.) The petition was signed by twenty-seven
names, and he found that the rentals placed opposite these
names amounted in the aggregate to B,oooe He might
state, that on a former occasion, the Noble Lord, the Member
for Lynn, had presented a petition, which he said emanated
from 3,000 of the Netherby tenants. He (Mr. Cobden)
congratulated the Right Hon. Baronet on the fact, that some
of his tenantry entertained more rational opinions upon this
great question.
Sir JAMES GRAHAM then rose and said—l can assure
you, Sir, that I am very unwilling to prtstract to any fur-
ther length this debate, which the country generally, I be-
lieve, are as anxious to see brought to a termination
as I am by a decision in some way or other, be
that what it may.—( Hear, hear.) But not hav-
ing been able to secure an opportunity of addressing you
last evening until an hour so late that I could not then
think of trespassing upon the time of the House, while I was at
the same time extremely desirous that this discussion should
not terminate until I had made some reference to the discus.
sions and arguments that have been used by some Hon Members
on this side of the House, I will now take this opportunity of
addressing the House.—( Hear, hear.) And I can assure the
House that in respect to what has fallen from one Hon. Mem-
ber upon a subject somewhat personal to myself, that I was
not cognisant of the occurrence he has stated with regard to
my tenantry. I can, however, assure the Hon. Member and
the House, that I have never, either directly or indirectly, in-
terfered with the expression of the opinions of my
tenantry upon this question—( Hear, hear ) but on the
contrary, I have invariably left them to the full and free exer-
cise of their own opinions and judgment upon a question in
which I conceive they hal as deep an interest as myself.—
( Hear.) With thi •orief exp!anation upon this point, I shall
now proceed, wlth the permission of this House, to make s :me
allusion to the speech of the Noble Lord the Member
for Lynn. I shall first dispose of his peroration, and which I
must say was, like many of the other speeches delivered by
Hon. Members in opposition to her Majesty's Ministers from
this side the House, characterised almost entirely by a continual
outpouring of personal invective.—( Hear, hear.) I shall mot,
in the course of my observations, indulge in a like strain of
severity upon the language in which their opinions were, I
believe, sincerely and honestly made. Neither shall I say—
for I could not say so with truth—that I do not
appreciate the grounds upon which other lion. Members on
this side of the House differ from the Government, for amongst
them are several Hon. Members upon whom I have many
times relied, and sever relied in vain.---( Hear, hear.) In
considering the public necessity which I, as a Minister of the
Crown, conceived existed for this measure, I do say it was
with pain I felt that necessity urged upon the Government.
Sir, I was prepared, and I am prepared, on public grounds,
regardless of all taunts and obloquy that may be attempted to
be heaped on me--I repeat, I aria prepared, from a sense of
public duty, to meet the present emergency by the main-
tenance of this measure, which, in my conscience, I be-
lieve to be necessary.—(Cheers.) Although, Sir, I may
be taunted with inconsistency, yet steadily, firmly and fearlessly,
I hope to he able to discharge my duty ; and in persevering in
that course, I am consoled by this single reflection, that the
time is not far distant when the country gentlemen of
England will be satisfied that her Majesty's Minis-
ters now in office have not betrayed their interests,
but that, on the contrary, they e ill be reconciled to the fact,
that the interests of the great body of the community, whose
prosperity is more immediately the object of this measure, will
be materially benefited by this House diving its sanction to the
measure.—(Cheers.) I hope, Sir, to be allowed to advert to
some of the arguments of the Noble Lord the Member for Lynn.
The arguments adduced by the Noble Lord were the most
stringent and unanswerable of those urged by the opponents
of the sliding scale ; and I will, Sir, with the permission of
the House, advert to the first position taken upbyTothhie eNLod
obrle,
Lord. Speculating on the price of wheat, the
ofthtrhoeugphricaes
moof,twhoexa.t
with a view of forming an estimatoet
in this country and France, we
traordinary process of argument.—(Cries of " Hen., hear.'')
Now, Sir, it appears to me that tie great argument in favour

• f
of the free importation of corn is, that in the present etro
stances of this country it will supply a large number "i`vio
population, who would otherwise find a difficulty in (Nato
from the land an adequate supply, especially as their line6l
is increasing. The effect of the measure will be to 10"ecee
prim in this country, and to raise the price; on the
tinent of Europe ; and it will therefore equalise the .P
both here and abroad We shall then obtain the tiff
desirable ; for the people of England will have a re
ea
the uncertain and extravagant rise of prices, ...r.obe
commercial interest will not only have free trade• buodites
will have an opportunity of an interchange of cola° sisl
The prices of corn will rise in Europe, and the tato
of prices is no less an object to the reang4cos
than an increased price for his own Pro tee
The Noble Lord, on proceeding to argue with reference it;
steadiness of prices, produced a table, which illustrates
more clear maoner than any other table I have hithertoS
a fact ehisth the enemies of the sliding scale r7t:s
as inherent in our present system of 6)11.00
He has demosistrat d very clearly in the
totioe
which he has produced that the great tlectetet
of prices on the continent depended mainly on the oel
from England. He adduced the table of fluctuations
ate
shows that the rise or fall of prices on the continent is i° fed
proportion to the demand from England. It would aPPeagroor
that document that the places most affected by 111°g ases'
tions, are Hamburgh, Amsterdam, Danteic, and u
in fact. from those places from which we are accuse/Ord
draw most largely. The Noble Lord also declares teeell 00
trade from Bordeaux and from New York is inferior, uelef
the distance is con-iderable, and the parties toes
held corn were liable to serious interruptions in their osi
This had a material effect upon the foreign market; 11°,0
had we done? So far as our present experience goes, !tee
been, in fact, preventing the production of those croes;ei
which are necessary for the keeping up of a constant and el
supply ; and the effect is, that we are Leading t° of
vert these corn-growing countries not only into 00
mercial rivals, but into actual enemies. ' Mister) 1)4
but act in preventing our obtaining those supplies w"teerr.,
necessary to preserve an equality in the corn-market' eft
sequence of the uncertainty which prevails among the
turists abroad, they never know at what rate their core
sell in the British market, and the supplies therefore dl
certain and irregular. On the whole the conclusion is
that they can place no reliance whatever on the sliise
British market, and they therefore impese higher rates e.tetil
our manufactures in order to realise the advantages calysle
ought to reap from their corn trade, and thus desell'iof
ever obtaining the advantage to which I allude, lheyesla.i!
to measures which have the effect of depressioe, the "tielfi
terests of the country. This then is one of the reae,senbi
indicate the cause of those fluctuations to which the "'•° ;ell/
has alluded, and which have rendered the British n'griefri°
uncertain that the supplies have been irregular, and; gPito#,
other coesiderations, offers me one of the greatest reasg, es
the corn-laws should be altered. The Noble Lord tic; e 0
and has laid great stress upon the point, that there II! ieS
great evenness of ;'rice since the alteration of the law Inel4,
Why 1 have said repeatedly in this House, that I base.,
considered that evenness and steadiness of price neithey
nor less than a nuisance, wee so it is considered by theee
ers abroad. The Noble Lord considers that this evelie",,,
been a benefit, but what have been the real effects? It -tie
known, and I appeal to the oldest farmer for a
confirmati"Pe et!,
opinion that during the present year there has been " 9
effect created. I believe that during the present
price of the best wheat in the home !nark 10
varied from 58s. to 725. a quarter, and thasoo
state of things is a constant stress upon the
and a continued nuisance, and it is on accounte„ief
imperfection in a portion of the sliding-scale that l u'_ I !I'
ought to be altered. Then the Noble Lord has &note
jection which he says is occa'ioned by the imPreit,
of foreign corn, in foreign instead of British
Why, it is this very uncertainty of the sliding scaie eS"
0001
prevented the merchants and the foreign growers from erriel
what the condition of the market would be on the t
the cargo, and shat the price would bg_
moment of its import which lost to British ships theirec
age. The Noble Lord had stated that the corn trecf_ef,
lie rendered as certain as possible, in order that 01,1
importation does take place, the British shiPstteiele
bring the foreign corn. The circumstances
have stated are the very reasons why f°,7l,gu frost
t
obtain the cargoes, instead of British ships•—(l°-ilst e
But, Sir, the Noble Lord then proceeded to state
oteed
farmers Inked with dread and consternation at thiS Aler 4
The pete:on presented by the Hun. Gentleman the o,
for Stockport (Mr. Cobden) clearly shows that all tbeipeelr,
do not entertain such a dread. But the Hen. 3:leeiefa
Huntingdon said that if this protective law were relat',
great deal of land must be thrown out of cultivation, all. ler
Gentleman, the Member for Cambridgeshire, saidteet
stood, that the panic in Cambridgeshire is so erea'-
was su:pended, and that agricultural improvement bad
_gesi,
ceased. Now, Sir, I must beg to observe, that to tbefor-,
my knowledge, the panic to which the Hon. Memberoeflr,i
bridge has referred, prevails much more within lbe,g4csdP
amongst the farmers of this country. Sly
lead me to believe that either the landlords or the te". 1°:.0
r this v
are not ilexposed to the dangerous atmosphere 0. ,eieties
are affected by the panic to which those Hon. Gent,,-0
referred —( Hear, hear.) Now, I think that i'-eitte
Gentleman stated in the course of this uebbiste.)
a certain landlord in SoMersetshire had offered to of ti'
to release them from their engagements, and sig",eoitel
tenants had refused that offer. Now, Sir, lat orice.7,o:o
that refusal on the part of the tenants is no sure V' te/
they are satisfied with the present measure—( :sop] ite
cheers)—because the tenants having a large jecie:iiii
,°fti
barked in the land—( Hear, hear)--cannot solo, 01
draw that capital without an immense o°l os/
having made that admission, I must conten c•is
other hand, that at the present moment we have ee
sive evidence to show that the farmers generally. ato'stieterd
fled with this measure. Now, Sir, perhaps as thistestibof
great importance, and as I am sincerely of opinion f tee,"
• no ground for the alarm entertained by anY ° tit "W',
Gentlemen on this side of the House; ech° to ee,'
the gangway, the House will allow rat kneelp
some facts that have come within my own 0109
I allude, Sir, to the farmers of East Lothian, in S ine 0l
have a letter in my hands from a Noble Friend of fc!
Glenelg). The letter is dated February. 21. I°,beloo,
have had an opportauity of learning the opinions of 1_01.)
of East Lothian and Berwickshire to a considerable elther)S
of the factors to a large proprietor in this neign, top,
tells me that there is not a farm in the country ne bsel,til
but for which there are more and higher offers 'hod
been made, and that too by men of capital teeil
Joked them (he says) how they accounted for thacotei
stance. His answer was that the corn question is n°,,eersrif
to be settled, and that the prospects held out by ~„‘-'-e501,;i1
of getting their lands drained by a grant from the li.secesed
stead of having themselves to advance the money, b!„eetir,
general feelingof confidence throeghout the country. Aa..,,,101.)
who is a trucee of some property in the neighbourhooiebotei,
• informed rue that off, rs have been made for some 00,9,
ten per cent. above the prices for which they at Pate roe
These are he continues) facts which are sc,
than all the arguments r o
dduced in favour of de i
lion of the corn-laws, coming as they. part 01
one of the greatest corn growers in this je ts
tfie country." Now, Sir, allusion has been rcle oPehoe
county cf Gloucestershire. I will inform the 1",:s Ode,
ference to the prevailing opinion upon the subject got) ,f
laws, that Mr. Charteris has every chance of being an slterfo
Member for that county upon the principle of °
in the corn-laws. Then, Sir, I witl allue to the tb°
in Cambridgeshire. It has been saidd that f
laws are repealed, the land will be t;teitile
of cultivation, and the fens will revert to their Pr' yeti
ness. Now, Sir. I hold in my hand a letter from l °fel
propeietor of land in that county, dated the first wei;0001V
The letter scat. d that the writer had received a 0, kitegoifd
from his agent at the Isle of Ely,stating that he hatalirple esp`i
to two intelligtent men, a father and son, with
.estce
at an increased rent of 126/. per annum. Theilepserg
been entered into since the introduction of Sir -beg
sure, and he expres.ed his epinion, that facts 11°,e, tee, fe f
werth more than figures, Now, ;•••"ir, that relates 0111,9011 e ~et
of land, but what has been its effect on the te' proegsci;
of land. On the introduction of the measure °I, eee.eroSei
am told that several of the most eminent land's "elierreir,
opposed to the ahem ion, but they have siriceb; seer:.etro
opinion, and have expressed their surprise at thaa
effect the settlement of the corn question has e slie'teet
value of landed property. There is, for instaoci eetteef
in Essex. with which lam acquainted—and se ig'sele 14)„7eet
Noble Lord opposite—which has been offered for the pro
time past at thirty years' purchase. The rent t",' for frort
was 6301, but for three years no offer was 1•02,."e wale toele
perty— ( Hear,)—while in the last three wee°;ees °vilest,
offer had been made for the property which
had
00 .01'0
value. This showed the effect the measure ha° "-• eless
simple value of land, and yet it is said that the elosf'ofie,
have a tendency to throw land out of cultivation; oars to,"
respect to this alarm, are Honourable Alernber eiet(aege.,
desire which exists for inclosing land with,sfor:4l,r,,
future cultivation. Last year we gave fault 'e'er of Perisrof
closing of lands, and let me just read the MO; letsroottAe
tions which have been received for leave to Inc'?" silsos 0;h0
In the month of September applications •to 'ober rte
3,298 had been received. In October the nu O. dee
which were sought -extreme e enclosed was 0005
was under protection protection--ah 00°,0
I was no expectation in the public mind that the t 104 '‘ol
;etended to propose any alteration with scare it
( Hear, hear.) But in the month of November', orePt°,:to:e
known to ehe public that her Majesty's Minisropt (110:;
alteration of tense laws. The applications in Lrec,B4l."7,Pi,
Commissioners were 4,578; in November, teereo4,
hear, and loud cheers.) In December theYeeoaciere 00
in January, 5,600 ; and in reeruary, 3.595,-7,e theiicset:ol
tion cheers)—but in the first week in "•tset aßbe
1,500 applications; and within the last fortniert pled
have come in from Yorkshire, each by permist_° fel yoe°,;,
missioners, to inclose a common of inferior 10%w.) for Fii'¢
land—to the extent of 14,000 acres.—( near' hey.,)
014
application has also come in trom the sail' within/0114
mission to inclose 2,500 acres—that is to say the ise.'„ei
fortnight; two applications have come t°o,,eoneepa;e
Commissioners to inclose 16,520 acres Of ,1 tee at reelgisti
(Cheers.) Now, Sir, I must be permitted to catitiii for,o cesz
the House to a Bill now in progress. It is alto eerlitieg'iet
ing and inclosing land from the sea—to reels' at relief
of land which form part of the great estuartreo oft set.,
(Cheers and laughter.) This is not a eland, buseci`,l
lands—it is not a question of inclosing ss'ast,ee Detcb:lo
the question of following the example of tn us of tfiet
rying out the principle of scooping counties Csevinethic 1,04
—( Hear, hear)—a most laudable and peak of to of 004
taking. But what name is on the bell is tile ,ec,
The first name I find on the back of the P'
George Bentinck.—( Loud cheers, berg f" tole
name that of Mr. Bagg, one of the Mersa ee the st
This Palen originated in 1846, when the Planshesr.)setee
ment were well known to all parties.—(l4earees FA' el
Lord G. BEN TINCK—,No, no. It vra
td t°ollb
November. • Or it'; r
• invested is P ,'lVe,t
Sir J. GRAHAM—The capital inve boo°
1,500,0004 ; 200 0001. was proposed to 4,dig
_if CPpog
among the subscribers, the first name which 16
sfiletie
George Frederick Cavendish 13entinc _ fr,,A
and laughter) riot oe
rick Cavendish Bentinck," co _
te
tio
;11
the directors
etGeorgeorstheßentinck"—(Roars
:no,lcy
c William'ebtti• e r!`(jj-f-'et:erre“gl el
U;aetf;r,'
Bentinck." That measure was contempla d te
soCrroswon.f Parliament, relsi .ambt
negotiation en
lish
however. le iso
aiutnpsdocnlianiabinst
wutecoehnactehriottasweinapsirrtiethriheestic,eee teriboethri:Pelit;ii4l,
use
of Works, which neeotiation had not,
is
oCafr eae:vnaets:yaUi
remarkable4)n' admissionlut of the
itnthhdee Bid .
r s
It ibosef
tftLeet Growtihne tut;Trebo:ilept:ard:3loolol;
,tat Sir'
Crown ; thus, on the large outlay of 500,0) •' Nowt w!',011
of such an immense outlay one per cent. shoi 'as sta
Bill, at least 5,0001. will revert to the Crown• euestive. fee. /
House will, perhaps, permit me to venture.,a,..l7, 00
has been often put by the Noble Lord to niYoni,le; Lord 0.110.0 g
at the head of the Government. If the N ...bO4O
(mLea,uglhwt'
eilrl)—askinwthhaet
ei;enhtisofestthiemGatoelvsoef,r;treiliseer_noraPintrao'rettteeersrasjor,:poi,
passed ?—( Continued Laughter.)
chance that this speculation will repay its r
erhaPs' seSeittlel's
a matter of chance, the Noble Lord wil ; P rice of. , tee
me to ask him, what is his estimate of tne Ptakiegart
he has been induced to be a party to this under„rt's eFsotilit,l'
Sir, I will refer to the greater and 11301!„ at 0ne,,,ht,.,
Noble Lord's state ofd
the House, n'a`rd la thr
that I allude to the state of Ireland...lll'he 1010 Lord,
very great surprise, the o',Aten3ent

his opi
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no prey
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