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

hold, there Was 8 law to which the Hon. Member could apply
for a remedy.

SUGAR DUTIES.
In reply to an Hose Maxima who inquired when the Goa
vensment proposed to bring on the sugar duties.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said he was
about to rise to address the House on the subject, in order to
state some circumstances in connexion with those duties, when
the Hon.,Gentleman rose. On Thursday last, after a full con-
sideration of the subjects he stated to the House that it was his
intention, In order that deliberate consideration might be given
to thesubiect, to move that the sager duties should be renewed
for one month only. He stated this to the House en Thurs-
day last, in order that if any Honourable Member had
any propositien to make on the subject he
might have an opportunity of doing so. In order that
the House might be fully informed on the subject, he had to
state that at seven o'clock last evening he received a notice
from the Noble Lord, the Member for Lynn (Lord George
Bentinck) that it was his intention to move, on the House re-
solving itself into a Committee on these duties, that " the
House is of opinion that the renewal of the sugar duties for one
month is calculated injuriously to affect the commercial inte-
rests of the country, and that it was the duty of Ler Majesty's
Ministers to have brought forward their measures on the sub-
ject earlier in the session." He thought on a question of that
importance, so much relating to commerce and affecting the ,
policy of Government, it would have been advisable to have
given sufficient notice that it was intended to bring for-
ward a question of that kind. At the same time,
he did not mean to interpose between the discussion of such a
question, always assuming, however, that the sugar duties
were levied. He had spoken to the Noble Lord, and advised
the bringing of it on after the discussion on the Coercion Bill
to-night.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) He argued that the
introduction of this resolution would have the effect of inter-
fering with the first step on the Sugar Duties Bill, but the
discussion on that Bill, if the first step were interrupted, could
not be postponed till next day; and if it were postponed till
the following Friday, there would occur an interval when no
sugar duties would be levied, which would be injurious in com-
mercial affairs. He hoped the Noble Lord would not pernstan
his motion. If the Noble Lord wished the sugar duties should
continue till the sth of August, or longer, there was nothing
inconsistent with that in the Government motion ; for the effect
of it was merely to continue the present duties till that time.
At all events, the Noble Lord must see that it was a question
on which both the Government and the House ought to have
had sufficient notice.
Lord G. BENTINCK could assure the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman that not one individual of the party with which be was
connected would allow the proposed alteration in the sugar
duty to take place on the 6th of July next. If the Right Hon.
Gentleman would propose a Bill for the usual period of one
year, the Hon. Gentlemen around him would support the
Bal. They blamed her Majesty's Ministers for putting the
revenue in peril by delaying to so late a period of the session so
important a measure as the sugar Bill If it were carried,
40,000 tons of sugar would come in without paying any duty
at all. For those reasons they would not be doing their duty
to sit in silence without passing their censure on her Ma-
jesty's Ministers for their neglect. They were asked now to
pass a sugar duties' Bill for a month. Why, it was more than
probable that next week the present Right Hon. Minister
would no longer be at the head of the Government. The ob-
ject of the friends around him was to let the public know what
they intended to do. He thought that the great interests of the
public would be best _attencleteto if the present Sugar Duties
Bill was renewed for a year, and not for a month. The party
by whom he was surrounded were not disposed to offer any
captious opposition to the measure, but they wished to legislate
for the best interests of the country.
Mr. HUME saw no reason why the present Bel should be
postponed for a twelvemonth. He did hoof. that whatever
Government might be in power, they would be informed poe-
tively how the differential duties were to be arranged. Every
means ought to be adopted to promote the outlay of capital in
manufacturing sugar, as there certain y was a defiaieney for.
supplying the lower classes. 's
Mr. MILNER GIBSON preferred the proposed new duty
to the present duties. He had received a letter from a large
firm who had purchased a thousand tons of sugar. -This sugar
would have to remain in bond for a month, and he thought
that it would be unfair to these parties if free labour sugar for
the ensuing month was not to be admitted at the duty of
19s. 10d. The Noble Lord had censured the Government for
delaying so long to bring on the Sugar Duties Bill, hut he
would ask, why did he not adopt the advice of the Hon. Mem-
ber for Finsbury, and move an address to her Majesty, that
the House had no confidence in the present elinistry.—( Hear,
hear.) He felt saesfied that the Noble Lord would not main-
tain his character of being the poor man's friend, if he stood
up so obstinately for the maintenance of a high duty on sugar.
He really did not understand the principles on which the Noble
Lord and his friends were acting. He called upon the Noble
Lord not to interrupt the progress of public business by those
paltry amendments. Let him come forward and boldly move
an address to her Majesty of want of confidence in the
Ministry.---(Cheers.)
Mr. BAN KES did not thank the Hon. Member for his pro-
position.—(A laugh). He would tell him, however, that they
(the protectionists) still preserved the good opinion of the
British farmer. He concurred entirely in the statements of his
Noble Friend as to the course which they intended to pursue
on the present occasion. The Corn Bill was no excuse for
them to -be told, when the revenue of the country was neg-
lected, that it bad prevented the attention to public business.
Under the peculiar circumstances which were connected with
the Bill, when one Government were going out, and another
Government were coming in, a positive negative ought to be
put to the further progress of the Bill, which was to come into
operation only for a month.
Mr. BERNAL wished to remind the House that they were
playing with great interests-4 Hear)—and in interfering they
should be careful not to inflict a material injury to promote a
temporary benefit. He saw a great many practical and tech-
nical difficulties to proceeding with the Bill, as it must come
into operation on the 6th of July.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER observed that
he had stated before that the motion of the Noble Lord might
just as well, and as effectively, be made at a later period as at
present. He did not wish to proceed with his motion in oppo-
sition to the wishes of the House,or to infringe in the smallest
degree on the orders of the day.
Lord JOHN RUS:eELL thought whatever case the Noble
Lord might make out, he did not think that there were
any parties in the House who would object to the continuance
ofthe sugar duties fora month if they were now proceeded with.
Under the prevent circumstances he thought the consideration
of the measure should be proceeded with forthwith.
Mr. BARCLAY hoped that the whole question might be
fairly discussed by her Majesty'. Government.
Mr. JAMES observed that the greatest injury which the
We•t Indian interest suffered from was the uncertainty in
which their affairs were always enveloped. Such a state of
things was the greatest possible bane to the circuletion of ewe
tal. The colonies ought not ice be made the bone of conten-
tion between rival politicians for the ussetting of a Govern-
ment, to the great detriment of numerous private individuals
and families.
Sir ROBERT INGLIS rose to ask the Right Hon. Gen-
tleman the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether, after the
encouragement he had received, he should go on with his
motion?
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, if there
was to be no opposition, and it the House were prepared by
common consent to wren with the motion; he should be very
willing to move it. • • .
Lord GEO AGE BENTINCK- said it was not his inten-
tion to interpose any motion of the kind of which he had given
notice, but he should take some future opportunity of pressing
on, of a similar nature.
The House then resolved itself into a Committee of Ways
and Means.
The resolutions were moved and agreed to pro forma, and
the report was ordered to he brought up to-morrow.
ADJOURNED DEBATE.
The House having resumed, the order of the day for the
second reading of the Protection of Life (IrelanJ) Bill was
proceeded with.
Mr. S. CR AWFORD said that the people of Ireland
wanted to see fair play. They opposed any Bill which should
have for its object the harsh treatment of any portion of their
countrymen. He was not one of those who would oppose
measures for the repression of crime in Ireland, but he thought
that the present measure was not calculated to effect its object.
He was opposed to the tyrannical provisions in the Bill for
Compelling persons to be in their houses at a certain hour, as
it would be almost impossible for the people in the proclaimed
districts to comply with the regulations. It would always ex-
pose innocent individuals to unjust accusations and announce,
from the powers which were placed in the hands of the magi-
strate, and the facilities that would be afforded to the spy sys-
tem.
Looking at the varied political and religious opinions of
the magistracy of Ireland, was it safe or just to put an irre-
sponsible power in their hands? Would they place the power
of transporting men, on an information, in the hands of
English gentlemen ? No. Why, then, should they pro-
pose to invest Irish magistrates with such a power ?
Again, this Bill would have no operation or effect upon many
parties who really were a pest to Ireland, while it would inflict
great injury upon large masses of peaceful industrious people.—
(Hear, hear.) He was sure had there been no precedent for it
Government never would have proposed such a measure as the
Coercion Bill, but the House must bear in mind what the prin-
ciples of thine precedents were.--( Hear, hear.) The Bill of
18.31 certainly sanctioned domiciliary viets, but it was not so
severe as the present Bill. Since that Bill was passed by a
Liberal administration, the example in some way mitigated
the sonduct of the present Government in bringing forward
'ales He must remind them, however, that it had been
's 'e elle :tested.
against as a measure, pernicious in its
Ia
was a titans. tatetional in its principles.—( Hear, hear. )
which bad to thing to live to see the change of opinion
It argued well =lx at
.House with regard to Ireland.
rising up in this eiresse see sympathy that was rapidly
now entertained hopes of sister kingdom, and he
the moral, -the-7 seeing. the day when
-the social,
, condition of the people
.of easare*tt and physical
would undergo an extensive change toetnative country
~ In his opinion, the great evil under whin, —{Hear. )
and
of her large lauded I....laboured
he for one * • let's for
was the non-responsibility
as an advocate
:the condition of their tenantry,
eeseee peer-law of Engem)* -led
fee extending the well eteea ) But why, let him ask.
Scotland to Ireland.—( Hear,
should there be a poor-law for SZalhrrinclheahnedvenaonnye
efoxrisltreedla.ndlet
He saw no reason for this, nor did he believe
would prove as effective, nay, he would go so far astosaymtohree
effective in Ireland than Scotland ; and he entreated
Government to follow up the admirable measures they bad just
passed, for giving work and employment to the industrious
elespes.of Ireland, with a Bill for applying the poor-law to that
While he said this much he was bound
to mite an effective system of police must accompany
anyleineeial measures for Ireland, but he -could not consent
tepee the police force in Ireland SO much power and authority
as this Bill would place in their hands.—( Hear, hear.) For.
Lis own part, if he were asked what measures he would suggest
,nor the relief of Ireland, he would go back to the good old
inseitutions of Alfred, and propose that all disturbed districts
ghouls: be divided into so many divisions, suitable and con-
venient for the establishment of a police station; at each
station there should be an efficient argil well organised body of
police, selected from the people themselves, who should be
empowered to act with rigour, but not with extreme harshness,
if a plan like this were adopted the people would gradually be
removed from the state of barbarism into which they
bad been reduced by a long series of misrule to a
state of comparative happiness and civilisation. Besides
the police, he would establish ag icultural and to her
schools in each parish, which- hail, be believed, been recom-
..mended by the Poor-law Coramissinnelas. It was true there
.existed a school in every parish now which was under the
eoetrol of the Board of Education; but in his opinion a
school for each parish was not s ifficient. There ought to -be
Inassee—(Hear, hear.) He wattle call on the British Members
of the House to act with regard to the present Bill on the
great winciple which should be the rule ef Christian morality,
"To -do to others as we would wish to be done by." He put
it to the English Members, would the pass such a Bib for
Englaed? They could have had, if esey desired, a plea to
41stify it, when the riots were going on, but no such thing had
eseat ever preposcd; sr, therefore, he would call on them to do
ste Ireland as they would do to England, and not to pass the
~13H1. What Ireland required were beneficial and not coercive
- ,Ineasnres. It was riot his wish to take a part in this discussion,
e&,*,4 there as a supporter of any party, but from a
Asia& A' anions, and under all Governments, to support
s high he tim.ght most beneficial to the country.
-t he last Spring assizes in Ireland, speaking on
magistrates and the grand juries appointed
ion, for carrying the provisions of an Act
benefit of the people, and who had re.

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