The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-24 00:00:00

t onsh. It had been laid down bAlHon. Members that it was
the duty of Parliamentary reprenentatives to vote in unison
with the pledges they bad given at the hustings, notwithstand-
ing such a course would be contrary to their honest convictions.
But I.e trusted that the gentlemen of England would do their
duty fearlessly and independently of the remonstrances of their
constituents, and for the interest of their fellow-conntrymen.-
( Hear, hear.) lie would quote the advice of a great states-
man, and a great asserter of popular rights-he meant
• Mr. Burke, who cautioned members of the Legislature from an
abject obedience, iris all instances, to the caprice of their con-
stituents. His sincere advice to them was to consult the nate-
• rests of the. country at large rather than those of an isolated
party of men.-('Hear, hear.) They had had an example
during the prepent sesion of the unjust operation of the doc-
trine that had,been laid down as to the obstinate adherence to
pledgee given cat elections. If there was any other man who,
more than another, had a right to a place in that House it was
the Noble Lord, lately the Member for Doesetshire, and yet he
had been ejected from Parliament by the exercise of the op-
pressive doctrine that had been laid down by Hon. Members
who belonged to the protectionist party. Now there was a second
alrernative that had been proposed by the protectionist party,
or the removal of the present crisis. That remedy, if he
rightly understood the speeches of the Hon. Member for
Newark, and of other Hon. Members, at an early stage of this
debate, was, that there sheuld be a compromise of a fixed
duly. Ni, it as peered to him, that if there was one course
which more than any other would involve the greatest amount
of polintal dishonesty on the part of the Conservative party,
it was that very course of a fixed duty upon the importation of
foreign corn. When the sliding scale was brought forward, in
the year 181/, and it was proposed by the Whig party that in-
stead thereof there should be adopted a fixed duty, they were
met in the most clamorous manner by the present protec-
tion party, who declared that they would oppose any such pro-
posal, and they were prepared to stand by the sliding scale.
How, then, if they talked of political tergiversation, could the
scene protectionist party come forward now, and say that they
were prepared to accept a fixed duty.-(Hear, hear.) Wad
they now pledge themselves to support the proposal for such
a duty as had been proposed by the Hon. Member for Porn
fret ? lf they would, they would prove themselves to be guislhty
of the greatest political dishonesty upon the question of e
corn-laws.-( Hear, hear.) But no, they would pledge them-
selves do nothing.-( Hear, hear.) They would only clamour
for a disselfition of the present Parliament-( Hear, hear.. )-
because on the return of another, they anticipated a tr.u-
phant majority, pledged to a more indefinite amount of inde-
finite protection.-( Hear.) But such a Parliament as that
wind not exist for one single month. Even it another Parlia-
ment were returned, theyewould find themselves compelled to
propose and adopt they same measures as had been pro-
posed by the present Geernment.-(Hear, hear.) He would
now take a glance at the justice of relaxing the present restric-
tions upon the freedom of commerce. Looking at the mea-
sures that were introduced in 1842, and having seen the ad-
vantages which had been derived from the relaxation then intro-
duced and passed, he confessed that his views in favour of pro-
tection had been changed, and he would cordially support the
measures now proposed for the further relaxation of com-
merce.-( Hear, hear.) But he could not but believe that the
effects of the proposed changes had been greatly exag-
gerated by the protectionists on the one hand, and
by the friends of free-trade on the other. On the
one hand there would be an increased demand for food
by the 'people, who would have Increased employment, and
that increase in the demand would consequently lead to an
increase in the price of corn. He believed that no man
could fully estimate the effects likely to be produced by the
Ifresent measures in favour of the agricultural tenantry of this
country.-( Hear, hear.) Their feelings were estranged by '
the present law from the landowners of this country, It ap-
peared to bins that the strongest argument for a change in our
policy was the necessity of the social condition of the country.
He could not conceive that men who had at heart the improve-
ment of their fellow-countrymen would oppose these measures.
He could not but regret that in these days the science of poh-
tital economy was not studied for the purpose of developing
iheinipstry of the country. Far, according to a political au-
thority'ef the greatest weight, it was to that end that all politi-
cal Governments should direct their attention. A good law
must most assuredly produce a good effect upon the condition of
the labourer, and yet which of them would contend that that
condlifpn was a prosperous or a comfortable one at the present
momeint, as regarded the tillers of the soil? Why it was a
common execession now-a-days, tt It's a wonder how they live."
- (Hear, hear.) The case of the agricultural labourers of this
eountry was at the present moment similar to that of
the peasantry of France in 1789, and he would
ask whether it was patriotic, wise, or statesmanlike to
oppose measures which had for their object the alleviation
of their present sufferings? What was the elect of the
present restrictive laws upon the peasantry of England? In
the month of July, 1844, the then Bishop of Ely, in a letter
to Ilse clergymen of his diocese, stated that the agricultural
labourers of Suffolk had arrived to such a state of hatred to
their employers that they set fire to their corn-stacks and
dwelling-houses, and even the women and children jeered those
who attempted to save the wreck, and loudly cheered as the
burning roofs of their employers' houses fell to the earth.
Nothing but the great respect which he entertained for
the superior wisdom of the Right Hon. Gentleman at
the head of the Government could have induced him to give
his support to the present measure, for he believed him when
he said that they would have a tendency to put a stop to such a
ilAThtftsl4pirit amongst the labouring classes of this country.
That the present system of protection had not benefited the
farmers was acknowledged by the farmers themselves. He
would conclude by expressing his most earnest hope that when
these great measures had passed -and pass "lie trusted they
worski-( Hear, hear)-they would proceed to other measures,
having for tinntr object the improvement of the moral and in-
tellectual condition of the great betty of the people of this
country.- ( Hear, hear.) And he could not but think that the,
. vast sums of money, which it appeared had been raised by
the Anti-Corrolaw League, would be handed over to the mem-
bors of the Government fur that most laudable purpose.
There was a great fund belonging to the Anti-Corn-law
League, which he hoped would be applied to the raising of some
peaceful trophy for the benefit of the poor, and which he trusted
wonld net be employed in tarrying out a most questionable,
and for thCmselves a most perilous agitation. He would merely
state in eencluslun, that he would -give a most cordial and dis-
interested support to the measures of her Majesty's Govern-
ment, convinced that they would tend to promote the interests
of all classes, and that it would place the prosperity of the
country on a sure and proper basis, namely, on the loyal af-
fections of a united people.
Mr. PACKE observed that the League fund was raised
for the purposes of agitation, and for no other purposes would
it ever be applied. He did not consider that be had heard one
single argument from the Right Hon. Gentleman in the whole
course of the debate which would induce him to alter his
opinions. One reason which had been assigned was the
distress in Ireland, but in his mind the returns laid upon the
table would not bear out the statements which bad been made
respecting the scarcity existing in that country. Hon. Gentle-
men opposite seemed to imagine that corn was to be produced
in the same manner in which wool was woven, and that by the
application of some power at present unknown a greater
quantity than at present existed might be produced;
but he could tell them that farming might be pushed too far,
and that land may be so highly cultivated as to yield more
strew than at present, while the quantity of corn would be
greatly diminished. He hail attended a very influential meet-
ing of farmers and gentlemen in Nottingham, and one of the
resolutions adopted by them was in these terms-" That an
entire abolition of the corn.laws, in the teeth of. the most
powerful arguments made in their support by the Prime Minis-
ter and Sectary of State for the Home Department when
in opposition, would have the effect of diminishing the confi-
dence of the people in public men." Now he entirely agreed with
the seCetiments embodied in that resolution, and that the pre-
sent &induct of her Majesty's Ministers must for the future
diminish the confidence of people in any Government what-
soevec.—( Hear, hear.) He objected to this measure, because
he had heard no Bend of reason for its adoption-because
he believed it would inflict a lasting evil on
the ' best interests of the country .--- and, because
it was a breach of faith ; and, to adopt the words of a late
Noble Member of the Cabinet, " Because I cannot support the
Governmeut in it without a violation of consistency and of
honour."
Mr. F. MAULE said that he considered it right for Hon.
Members on his side of the House to state the grounds on
which they supported the proposition of her Majesty's
Government ; and he would, in the first place, state that that
proposition had nut his entire approbation, because it did not
go to the entire extent of his wishes, and because it
fell short of that which he considered the remedy
of the difficulties which then existed, but, nevertheless,
he, far one, would accept it with gratitude, and he
would endeavour to give it his most cordial support.
He felt it his duty to investigate what were the
feelings of the farmers in the country upon the measure,
and he had no hesitation in saying publicly, that there was no
panic among th landlords, nor amongst the farmers ; and, in
spite of all that bad been said, agricultural energy was proceed-
ing with an increased prosperity from day to day- ( Hear, hear)
--and notwithstanding the dissent expressed by gentlemen
below the gale, way. he could produce practical examples of
what he stated. When the pniposition was first made, there
was a document laid before the public, emanating from an Hon.
Member, and from the nature of the advice which he gave, and
th method in which he placed the question, he cen-
sreted the country owed, him a deep debt of gra-
. tit uste ; he meant the Member for Stockport.-( Hear, hear. )
Within ten slays after the pulnicati h of his letter, in which he ,
hacveloped the nature of this measure, the farmers in many
of tilts largest market-towns came to the conclusion that, in-
stead el being bsnefeed by the three years, their interests
mien' have le en best consulted by an immediate abolition.
. This was their conelusion, and such also his (Mr. F. Maule's)
eoneiusion. He looked with regret at the fact that the
reveal of these laws shoved be put off for three years. He
could not forg.•t that the Right Hon. Baronet at the head of
her Majesty s G atrnment had said, that so great was the
distress of lhe country as to incline him to open the ports in
lest November. lie (Mr. Fox Maule) ha 1 hepeil that before
the Laster ',crss this measure would have passed. But he mug
reewet t,at time wee another unentire cennected with Ireland,
which, keleing from the length of Irish debates in that Hou<e,
they w Hid be prevented front taking the third reading of the
Bill ~i latter the reerti, Ile beneven that the landlor tis ot his
country ''cold be es safe after the ta,tsir l' ,of the"
measure -s
they are now.—(ll, r, I,ear.) (lei was acquiain te:lvvith one
enehey nn,ere they Is ~i tatu•tt . hei • salmon !rem the Govern.•
talent and given it to a Noble Duke in the other llote.e, .. ho
here led the (wenn lon aga;nei thoi- me
ist,isure. lie k new t wo harms,
belongisg to that Noble Dike. n
au
had been let, since
the introduction of this measure, at n
and there was an especial agreement thatadthainsnere'etnrtenwtasoft9oob/.e,
paid in money. Now, this was a proof that
was anticipated tin the landed interest wouldoreutinelih injury as
Hear,
hear.) As to the exact increase of the other farm, m,
was not so well informed; but this he could he
say,
that it had materially advanced up en the old rcrsteaal:
e
From one and all of the farmers, he learned that, w
farm was to let, the rent had increased most materially. In - thea
county of Haddington, a meeting was called for the purpose of
opposing the measure brought in by her Majesty's Govern
ment, and for upholding the. protection to agriculture. A
friend el his, mho had taken a inading part at that meeting, had
not only asserted that no injury would accrue to the landed
interest by the measure, but he had since stated that he
tad gaineß an advanced rent for two leases, and it was said
by him that all leases of land were sought after with
avidity at a very high increase of rent..-(" Hear, hear,"
from Sir Hebert Peel.) A farm in Scotland which was to
let hid been taken at five guineas an acre, which had for-
merly been at a much lower recital. Many a sensible farmer
had complaireed to him of the bad spirit which had grown up
between them and the manufacturing districts. They re-
gretted that such an evil spirit prevailed, and expressed
their wish that the discussion on the eorielaws was at
an end. They said they could not make all
their sons farmers, and if the interests of the
country generally were not looked to they would not be able to
give their families the means of maintaining themselves.
-( Hear, hear.) He was sure, after the measure had passed,
the Honourable Gentlemen who had opposed it would, after
*le turmoil of this discussion had passed away, give her
'Majesty's Ministers credit fir the great advantages they had
conferred upon jhe country by the repeal of these laws.
looking at America, what was it that caused so friendly
a feeling in that country, and so great a desire to preserve
their friendly relations with us, but the advantages which
..„..,..they, in compeon with ourselves, would derive from the results
IS I oft 7.olllislptealWrnmercial question. He was of opinion that this
r,;;,;e•-narnsurenwbuld meet the exigencies of the country, and that
n........ f - It woulk support the full interest of the people generally, and
~,s., ,
_7' Othhiiis reasoshe would give it his most cordial support.
~,..:i.:. ~,,..,..,,„„„L. ONDELY would allude to a portion of tho
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