The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-17 00:00:00

CORN-LAWS.

Earl STANHOPE presented a petition from the working
men of Birmingham against the repeal of the corn-laws. Tne
petitioners most solemnly objected to the passing of any mea-
sure affecting the general interests of the labourer, without first
consulting the opinions of the people upon the justice of
such a step. They stated that those measures would not be
attended with reciprocity on the part of any foreign Govern-
ment, but would inflict a most serious injury on the interests of
British enterprise. l'he prayer of the petitioners was that they
would oppose the passing of the Bill for a repeal of the corn-
laws, and also the tariff, unless accompanied with a Bill for a
repeal of the present poor-laws, a Bill to limit the hours of
labour to ten hours for the purpose of protecting the working
classes and their interests, and also a Bill for the total repeal of
the duties on coffee, sugar, soap, and tea, and on all articles
of necessary consumption. He would observe that the prayer
of this petition was echoed throughout the length and breadth
of the country.
THE MINISTERIAL MEASURES.
The same NOBLE EA RL said, that before going into Com-
mittee on the Bill before them, he wished, in pursuance of the
notice which he had given, to ask a question of the Noble Earl
the President of the Board of Trade. He wished to ask that
Noble Earl what, in his opinion, or in the opinion of her
Majesty's Ministers, would be the effect of the Bill now upon
their Lordship's table,—whether it would have the effect
of raising or depressing the price of corn ? It had been said
by his Noble and Learned Friend opposite that it was impos-
sible to say what would be the exact prices of corn after the
passing of this measure. He (Earl Stanhope) should be
quite satisfied if the Noble Earl could say what would be even
the general range in prices of corn under this law.
The Earl of RIPON said that the question which the Noble
Earl had put to him had already been answered by her
Majesty's Ministers in the course of this discussion. To the
answer which they had given he certainly adhered, and that
answer was to this effect:—That he believed it would not be
possible for the human mind to devise any mode of answering
such a question so as to give satisfaction to the Noble Lords of
those who held the same opinions, because the prices of corn
were subject to such variations from the seasons. On looking
back to the range of prices in corn in previous years, there had
been nothing but fluctuations. Every answer that had been
previously given as to the future prices of corn had been com-
pletely falsified. He, therefore, could not prophecy what
would be the exact prices of corn after the passing of this Bill.
Earl STANHOPE said he did not reqnire the Noble Earl to
say what would be the exact prices the next year after this
carne into operation. He wished to know what would be the
average prices for a number of years; whether they would be
tr
ha
in e
eta: r
s,
u e yhr eed aarr
withd —
tt an
ohae t x
utterp herose
higher or lower than at present ; but it was perfectly apparent
to their Lordships, and it ought to be known to the country
—(s
cli d
me
at
niNo
di
pa avowedjeer tl
ya'sl l hgl eni nboi res
atsent resien
oht
efardet
isptesr o‘o.
opf on
ts,3
hee
quences that would follow—(Cheers)—and with that igno-
country. ( Cheers )
The Earl of WINCHILSEA must say that the answer of
the Noble Earl (the Earl of Ripon) was most unsatisfactory.
The question was, what would be the general effect of this
measure upon the prices of corn? The Ministry were acting in
the same manner as a medical man, who might have attended
him for twenty years, and whose course of treatment had
always agreed with his constitution. He then came forward
and said, My dear friend, I have a new recipe for you, which
I think will do you good ; I don't know what effect it may
have upon your constitution, but I think it will do you good.
He would say to such a gentleman, " Oh, thank you, my
good friend, lam pretty well, thank u; I don't think that I
stand in need of any of your new treatment; I should like to know
what effect it would have upon my frame." He might answer
me, "Oh, I am sure I cannot say what effect it will have ;
there is a certain quack doctor
there who has recommended it,
and if you will take it, and itagrees with you. it will place me
at once at the head of the profession." " Much obliged to you,
my good friend, I have a
great objection to allow you to try
any experiment upon me—(cheers)—which may perhaps raise