The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LOND/)N, WEDNESI)AY MORNING, JANUAII‘ 28 18-16.

and should, on that account, be abolished. He was convinced,
in his own mind, from something which the Right Hon.
Baronet had thrown out as to the oppressiveness of the malt-
tax, that its repeal would have been one of the boons to be
held out to the working population ; and not to them alone
but to the whole agricultural interest.—( Hear.) He con-
fessed he was deeply disappointed that the Right Hon. Baronet
had not proposed a repeal of the malt-tax, because, when he
heard the Right. Hon. Gentleman professing to do all that
lay in his power to relieve the labouring population,
ll* expected that he would lave repealed that tax as on• of the
boons to the labouring classes. They were as much worthy
of the attention of her Majesty's Government as any other class
in the community. He knew the country from long experi-
ence, and knew that wages invariably followed the price of
provisions._

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eluded in his schedule of reductions the article on Indian
one measure more likely to promote the interests of both the
farmer and agricultural labourer than the free importation of
that article of food.
Mr. \VAKLEY said, it was utterly impossible for Hon.
Members to have heard the scheme of the Right Hon. Ba.
ronet without feelings of the strongest approbation and ap-
proval. They could not have heard the whole plan as he
(the Right Hon. Baronet) had laid it down, without in the
main agreeing that the scheme was a good one, and one to
which they should give their support. There might be some
points of disagreement, of difference of sentiments, which might
call forth considerable discussion in their future debates on the
question, but when they reflected that at the end of the next
three years there was to be a total repeal of the corn-laws, and
also a considerable and immediate reduction in the other ar-
ticles which constituted the food of the country, they must
feel and express the strongest approval of the scheme as a
whole.--(Hear, hear.) Now the Hon. Member for Wilt-
shire (Mr. Bennett) had expressed his astonishment that the
Right Hon. Baronet had not proposed a repeal of the malt tax,
and he had expressly stated that the working classes of the
country would, by his (the Right Hon. Baronet) silence
on that head, be deprived of those benefits to wt ich they were
entitled. But be that as it might, he (Mr. Wakley) was per-
suaded that the scheme which the Right Hon. Baronet had
proposed would be for the benefit of the millions of this coun-
try.—(Hear, hear.) It would be for the benefit of trade;
and it would likewise be the basis of the peace of the world ; it
would advance the social condition of millions, and also create
for them markets for their labour.—( Hear, hear.) For his
own part he represented nearly 3e0,000 of the inhabitants of
the Northern part of the metropolis—( Hear), and he would
venture to say that his constituents would express their entire
approval of the Right Hon. Baronet's proposal.--( Hear, hear.)
He firmly believed that no proposal had ever been made to Par-
liament as a whole, which would be more conducive to the
happiness of the people of this country than the schemes of the
Right Hon. Baronet. Did the Hon. Gentleman the Member
for Wiltshire conceive that the scheme was not calculated to im-
prove the condition of the working classes ? Why did it not at
once go for the reduction of the price of bread and meat of
every family in the kingdom ?—( Hear, hear.) If a proposal
had been made for the repeal of the malt-tax, what would have
been the conduct of the Honourable Member for Wiltshire
with reference to the other branches of the proposal ?—( Hear. )
His (Mr. Wakley's) firm conviction was that it would have
met with his decided opposition. He (Mr. Wakley) clearly
saw that the next fortnight would be expended in agitation—
(Hear, bear), and they might depend upon it that it would not
be very peaceful agitation.—( Hear.) He could see clearly
enough that an appeal would be made during that
period to the passions of the electors of this country, and
in carrying on that agitation the Hon. Gentleman on the
opposite side of the House ought to bear in mind under what
circumstances it would be made. He would wish them to
recollect one little fact in reference to it. Let them bear in
mind that if they did excite the passions of the electors in the
electoral districts, and if their agitation should extend, not
only throughout the most remote parts of the kingdom, but
also into the cities, there were hundreds of thousands peo-
ple in the country who were the consumers of food, and not
the sellers, and who had no votes at elections. He would wish
to ask Hon. Gentlemen opposite if they were prepared to meet
the cries of those consumers at every hustings in the king-
dom? He would beg of them to bear in mind that they were
about to make an appeal which, in his opinion, would be one
of the most dangerous kind. The consumers of food, who had
no votes, would say to themselves, '° Those gentlemen who are
merely the sellers of food, have votes, whilst we, the con-
sumers, have none." They would immediately set about pull-
ing down the system of class legislation, because they have
no voice in making the laws which they were called upon to
obey. They would say that they were the victims of
class legislation.—( Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Wakley) merely
threw out this intimation now, because he was convinced that
if the appeal to which he had alluded should be made ; and
if the considerable excitement which he anticipated would be
made to maintain the principle of protection, the results would
be most injurious to the country.—( Hear.) If Hon. Gentle-
men were sincere with reference to what they said, and if they
believed that the scheme proposed that evening by the Right
Hon. Baronet, which really interest the public to the extent
which they represented, he would ask them, were they pre-
pared to extend the power of voting to the consumers of food?
He would advise them to be cautious, if they were not pre-
pared to answer that question in the affirmative. They should
beware how they excited the feelings and indignation of the
millions of the manufacturing inhabitants of this country
Believing as he did, that the scheme of the Right Hon. Baro-
net had beer, propounded in sincere discretion, and for the
benefit of the nation at large, without reference to any parti-
cular class of individuals—( Hear, hear)—believing that it was
one of a just character—believing, in fact, that there was no-
thing of injustice connected with it, he should give it his most
cordial support in every stage of the proceedings; and he was
sure that if the Right Hon. Baronet persevered in the course
which he had proposed, he would be supported by the millions
of the people.—( Cheers.)
Mr. BENNETT said that he came to that House fettered
by no busting pledges, and he would have the Hon. Gentle-
man who had just sat down to understand that he intended
voting on this and all other questions as his conscience
guided him. —( Hear, hear.) Agitation had been spoken
of, but he wished to know whether, if there had
been no agitation through the country on the other
side of the question ?—( Loud cries of " Hear, hear.") The
Anti-Corn-law League had sent its agents into every town and
village of the county which he represented ; but he had much
pleasure in saying that the public papers would bear him out in
saying that they had met with the unanimous indignation of the
farmer s and their labourers, and that, in fact, their attempts at
" anti-corn-law demonstrations" had been complete failures.—
( Hear, hear.) At one of those meetings which had been
called in his own village, there were scarcely 300 present.
He would wish to inform the Hon. Gontleman who had
last addressed the House, and also all others, holding the
same opinion, that the gentleman connected with the agricul-
ture of the country had deep rooted dislike of all agitation of
the kind alluded to. They would, however, on this question,
use all the constitutional exertions within their power, and they
would take care, in their agitation, to do nothing which might
prove detrimental to the interests of any class in the country.
If they should become agitators, they would not be agita-
tors in the cause of mischief.--(Cries of " Hear, hear.")
Mr. GISBORNE stated he wished to make a remark upon
an epithet which fell from the Hon. Member for Finsbury.
He stated that the friends of the Anti-Corn-law League re-
ceived the announcement of the Premier with " stubborn
silence." He stated that he had no authority to speak on
behalf of the League. He, in common with others, left the
House under the impression that the House did not intend to
raise a debate upon the question, and it was only by accident
that he heard of this debate. He hoped, therefore, that the
silence connected with the League would not be
i construed into " stubborn silence." Mr. Newdegate
said that he should connect himself with the one
question which he had proposed in the former part of the
evening to the Hon. Baronet at the head of her Majesty's Go-
vernment. He would, however, just make one remark upon
an opinion of Mr. Wakley. Why did he deprecate ag,itation ?
Had he ever known gentlemen on this side of the House en-
gaged in exciting those feelings ? He would also call the at-
tention of the First Minister of the Crown to the circumstenco
that, perchance, with the best intentions, but with no distinct
view, as the Hon. Baronet had himself admitted, of the conse-
quences of his measure as to the agricultural interests, they
might find themselves placed in the position that the yeomanry
of England, who now contributed to the preservation of the
peace of the country, would, when danger threatened them, be
not so ready to afford their wonted assistance. Did the Hon.
Member for Finsbury consider that the agricultural interest
did not understand their interest,or that they should not appeal
to their constituencies? He considered that they had reason to
demand time for full inquiry into the matter.
Mr. WAKLEY stated that he never attended but one meet-
ing of the Anti-Corn-law League, and that a parish one. He
considered that that body had been of great service to the
country, and deserved its gratitude. He did not intend that
any expressions which fell from him should be hurtful to the
feelings of Hon. Members on that side of the House.
Mr. NEWDEG ATE rose to explain.
Colonel WOOD said he did rot intend to express his opi-
nions on the details of the measure before the House. He con-
sidered the proposition of the Right Hog. Baronet had a ten-
dency to settle that question which now divided the two great
interests of the country—and he hoped that his endeavours
would prove successful in the settlement of that great question
an I he would give his most cordial and hearty support to the
measures of the Right Hon. Baronet. He believed him to be
actuated by a patriotic spirit, and he would give him his sup-
port in consequence.
Lord NEWPORT said he could not agree with the senti-
ments of the last speaker. He thought the supporters of the
Right Hon. Gentleman adopted a new policy, contrary to their
own convictions and the pledge they gave to their constituents.
He considered they ought to appeal to the country.
Mr. AGLIONBY said he had sat for many hours in that
House, and heard the opinions stated out of doors repeated
within. He felt that few Members in that House had any in-
terest in the agricultural classes, who opposed the measures pro-
posed be the Right Hon. Baronet the First Lord of the Trea-
sury. From the time when this measure was first proposed,
he saw many Members in that House who were not connected
directly or indirectly with commerce or manufactures, conscien-
tiou,ly advocating the abolition of the corn-laws. A great
change had come over those, and he believed a great change
had come over their constituencies also.—( Hear.) He believed
that the gentlemen of the Anti-Corn-law League had, by their
arguments, made very many converts to their cause—a cause
which he believed to be a good one, and at present too much a
class question. He was of opinion those were wrong who had
adopted it as a class question. It was a great step in the cause
which he believed to be essential to the free trade of this
express a hope that before long
of the labouring classes
hchoecuaarrn:tiy, and he would, :and did, tender him his cordial and
comfort; he alluded
of this country, which was essential for their Eland
see a n
tthhHearne
tkwasxo
ufroledrp
ealt heed pfroor pot
hsea soa
kf
es uc h a measure.h—e (wHoeualrd,
sedofor ningferi m
or farmers,
which they were now unable to do.—( Hear, hear.) On
thjse grounds he hoped before
to
utlhdeb et ax
enabledup on
he would see the malt tax
on,
repealed. Further than this he could not go now, than to say
Right Hon. Barone , and tendered him his thanks for that
t
to malt.make Inro malt
tanoyf
injured
great step.
Mr. IsANKES said he was of opinion that this measure
that he cordially approved of the measures propounded by the
ought to be decided by the country, and was not introduced in
con-
cluded his speech said he was glad
that the country was ob-
a legitimate manner. The Hon. Member who had just
taining such a measure of relief, and that it ought to con-
vince all that the scheme included the interests of
the agriculturists; but with that opinion he did not agree.
The compensation the farmers were to get was a relief from
highway rates, and the payment of medical officers, but he con-
tended this was no relief, and read a document to show what a
farm in his county paid for highway rates. The great land-
owners would receive no injury at all by this measure, as it would
only affect the smaller classes of farmers. —( Hear.) There
were three rents paid, it was a well-known fact ; the rent for
the landowner, the rent for the tenant, and the rent for county
charges. He was sure the Right Hon. Baronet's measure
would sweep away the small classes of farmers from this country.
They did not desire any compensation if they were not allowed
to maintain their right to the existence of those protective
duties; as a national right they would repudiate the idea, for they
considered if they were not so entitled, they were not entitled
at all. The ground of their opposition was founded on no class
right, nor was it by reason of their peculiar burdens that they
claimed a continuance of protective duties. They considered
that the estimates voted for the army and navy were not
so much to defend their corn-fields as to pro-
tect Oregon, and the sources of their commercial
preeperity in which they were so deeply interested. Those