The Sun.
London, England, 1846-03-07 00:00:00

DEBATE.

The House then went into Committee on the Customs and
Corn Importation Acts.
Mr. W. 0. STANLEY rose to propose the following
amendment to the propositions of the Government :—" That
in lieu of the duties now payable on the importation of corn,
grain, meal, or flour, the product of foreign countries, there
shall be paid a fixed duty of ss. per quarter upon wheat, 2s. Gd.
on barley, and 2s. on oats ; meal and flour in proportion."
He said, although he represented a purely agricultural county
(Anglesey) he had not yet thought proper to trespass on the
attention of the House ; and in now etatieg the grounds on
which he had thought proper to propose this amendment, he
should not occupy much time. Before he did so he had paid
the utmost attention to the observations which had fallen from
Hen. Members on both sides of the HotEe, but their ob-
servations had not in the least shaken the opinions
which he had always maintained. In his estimation the
propositions of the Government were just, and would con-
fer great benefit on the country. He would say, in the words
with which the Noble Lord the Member for the city of Lon-
don concluded his last address to the House—" I think the
interests of the country deeply involved in the immediate, com-
plete, and tranquil settlement of this question." He cordially
agreed in these sentiments. It was most important to the best
interests of the country, that the question of the corn-
laws should be set at rest, and that it should he
effected immediately, completely, and in a tranquil manner.
No person could say that the proposition of the Right Hon.
Baronet if passed into a law would be a tranquil settlement of
the question ; and with reference to an immediate settlement
of the question the recorded votes of that House had declared
that it should not be immediate. Neither is it a complete ext-
,le.iii,", eod ee a eeeef that it is not a tranquil settlement ;he
would refer the House to we., Isea bee., stated he several
Hon. Members in the course of the debate. Tee H.,
Alember tor Durham ( Mr. ',aright) and the Hon. Membee.
for Wolverhampton ( Mr. Villiers) said they would agitate the
question, year after year, so long as the duty remained on
foreign corn. He would recal to the recollection of the House
the speeches of Hon. Members on the Opposition benches.
The Noble Lord the Member for Lynn (Lord G. Bentinck)
said that he would vote for the proposition of the Right Hon.
Baronet, because in the course of three years there must be a
general election, and that period would give them an
opportunity of re-organising their forces, and of raising
such a cry in the country as would compel the
Government to rescind those measures if they should
he passed. No one, then, could think the present
a tranquil settlement; he therefore proposed an alteration in
the proposition of Government, which he thought would be a
complete settlement of the question. He felt assured that the
country would be satisfied with a moderate fixed duty ; a duty
of that kind would improve the revenue and would not injure
the interests of the consumer. He had the authority of the
Noble Lord, the Member for the city of London, who had
stated that a fixed duty of five shillings would not raise the
rice of foreign corn to the consumer more than one shilling.
fhe Right Honourable Baronet at the head of the Govern-
ment had stated in his first proposition to the House, that the
principle which he recommended he was not about to confine
to any particular class or interest. Now, upon many other
important articles of manufacture, such as cotton, linen,
leather, and cheese, the Right Honourable Gentleman de-
clared it was his intention to reduce the duty ten
per cent. On that principle he (Mr. Stanley)
proposed that a moderate duty of 51. or. wheat, 2s. Gd. on barley,
and 2s. on oats, per quarter, should be laid on these ar-
ticles. Another reason he had for proposing the duty was,
that, while it would not hurt the consumer, it would be of
great advantage to the agriculturist. He appealed to the Right
Hon. Gentleman, and begged to as him why, in the face of all
he had stated, and with the power he possessed of juicing of the
state of the country, as First Minister, he felt justified in pro-
posing in the present instance a 4s. duty to be levied on home
consumption, while after the lapse of three years foreign corn
would be admitted free. It would be but justice to the agri-
culturists that when the duty on manufactured articles should
cease the duty on agriculture should cease also. That was the
reason he felt it his duty, though he calculated on very little
support, to introduce the present measure to the House, and call
upon lion. Members to deal with it as it might be deemed wor-
thy. The lion. Members on the other side of the House deceived
themselves, arid they should pause before they ventured en
such a step as to throw the country into a state of tumult and
agitation by a general election. They would have to array
their forces against the League, and such an operation would
be attended with some difficulty, for if their proposition
were carried out it would disarm their friends. He had no
wish to go into the comparative merits of a fixed duty on the
sliding-scale, it would be quite sufficient for him to submit his
present proposition to the House. If he did so, he must ne-
' cessarily go over ground that hail often been traversed before,
and he certainly did think that it was for the interest of the
country that there should be a complete and final settlement of
this question.
The SPEAKER having put the question,
Colonel WOOD said that he, like the Hon. Gentleman op-
posite, had not as yet taken any part in this debate, and he
would therefore now trespass on the attention of the House for
a very short time.—(Hear, hear.) He would venture to say
that the delay in the settlement of this question had caused
most serious results to the poorer clams and the country at
large. He was acquainted with a certain extensive miller
who now, in consequence tof the delay of the settlement
of the Right llonourable Baronet's measure, did not
purchase one farthing-worth corn more than what would juat
keep his twill going. All parties connected with the agricul-
tural interest were also suffering most:seriously from this delay.
The small tenant farmers, about whom Hon. Members pro-
fessed to take so much interest, suffered the most seriously ;

and the large farmers next. Lady-day was fast approaching,
and the small tenant farmers naust prepare for the payment of
their rent on that day, by the disposal of the little
wheat which yet remained to them ; and he had
no hesitation in saying that they were now losing
three to four shillings upon every quarter of wheat, by reason
of the present suspension of trade, and his firm belief was,
that upon the settlement of this question the price of
corn would either rise or fail to an awful ex-
tent. The present suspense in the corn trade was
productive of the most serious results to the small tenant-
farmers. And now fur the large tenant-farmers. He believed
that in consequence of the present ministerial proposal the
duty on the importation of foreign corn had risen, and was up
to the present day 18s. per quarter.
ship loads of corn were arriving at every sea-port, and their
contents were immediately warehoused, and the consequence
tx add be that after this measure was disposed of, there would be
a larger accumulation of foreign corn in the warehouses. But
there was another class of society, who did not seem to have
been regarded in this debate by any Hon. Member except the
Hon. Member far Finsbury. The House would be aware that
the measure had been brought forward lately to abolish the pre-
sent cruel law of removal to their natives parishes, and he
hoped that whilst this House manifested its anxiety to pass the
present measure, they would also have regard to the interest of
the lower classes, by assisting to their utmost in carrying out
the measure to which he had alluded. Let both measures go
hand in hand together, and whilst they toook care of themselves,
let then take care of their poorer neighbours into the bargain,
by relieving them from the operation of the cruel law under
which they were now suffering. For his part he was totally
opposed to the motion of the Hon. Gentleman who had just sat
down, for in his opinion the time was arrived when a total
repeal of the corn-laws ought to take place. He had no hr ci-
tation in saying that he had voted for every Act that had for
its object the regulation, and the reduction of the import duties
on corn. He remembered when the Secretary of War stated in
the year 1815, that it was absolutely necessary then to vote
for that Act, but he (Cal. Wood) had no hesitation in saying
that the present Act of Parliament might have the effect of
causing a calamity, over which, at present, they could have no
control. The Act passed in 1315, and in the year 1816 the
most calamitous harvest which he hal ever remembered the
people of England had to contend with—when a little kiln-
dried corn would be most useful, but the then regulation of the
averages prevented its introduction. The ports opened on the
16th of November, and they remained open until the 18th of
August, during whic/ period the prices eernaia:d much the

same, in consequence of the averages preventing the purchase •
of corn Et a reduced price ; but alter that, when the harvest at
home was made mailable, the averages fell, end forciln corn
came in when it wee riot required Ile would be glad to meet
an) lion. Gentleman who was ready to defend the corn-laws,
and he would undertake to prove that every one of them, ac-
cording to the confessions of their supporters themselves, had
been failures. He should vote fur no amendment against the
proposition of the measure of her Majesty's Government—
(lronical cheering)—because he was anxious that the measure
,hould pa.s the Houses of P.-trliamcnt. Ile was quite sure that
a fixed duty wou!d do more harm than good, and he vo'ed for
this meaure because he thought the Right flon. Baronet at
the head of the Government best knew what T.-as likely to
pass. He thought the other branch of the Legislature ought
to have a fair field upon which to (TO some good. Do not let.
the House of Commons take all the credit. What he would
.

advise the House of Loids to do would be, to amend the Bill

by proposing total repeal.—(Cheers. ) He was satisfied that
if they adopted that course they would consult their own inte-
rest, and the country would then say. thank God, we have a
House of Lords. He, therefore, sincerely hoped that the
House of Lords would adopt that measure.
Air. S. O'BRIEN said, his Gallant Friend had commenced
by deploring the delay which had taken place in passing this
measure ; and yet, in the course of his speech, he threw out a
challenge to discuss, during the progress of this measure, all
the corn-laws which had been passed since the year 1515
Now, there was as great a discrepancy in that as in the two
statements the Hon. Gentleman had made respecting the
price. In the first place, he stated that this measure would
raise the price 3s. or 45., and in the latter part of his speech he
said it would make no difference at all. The Right Hon.
Gentleman at the head of the Government had stated that the

price would be raised Is. or 25., but the Hon. and Gallant.
Gentleman had improved upon that. The lion. Gentleman
had referred to the law of settlement, hut that equld have no
reference to the famine in I eland. If the present measure

raised the price of corn, it was obvious that, as far as Ireland
Has concerned, it would he better to delay the passing of the
measure, for that would be beneficial to the poor.
Granting all th,se provisions were correct, and that the
great change that the Right Hon. Baronet had thought it his
duty to show was not to be looked upon merely as a change on
the importation duty on fliur, but rather as a great charge in
the commercial policy of the country ; it seems that there was
this great diversity of opinion bosh in this House and out of
doors ; it seems still further that there was this evi,ent deter-
mination to continue this discussion through all the diff •rent
stages of Parliamentary usage ; seeing, als3, that it was as-
. .

serted that the uncertainty 'occasioned by what may arise in
this House, or elsewhere, he did think that the It ght Hon.
Raronet could not do less than grant the means of indulgence
to the Hon. and Gallant supporter behind him, and to allow
the di cussien on the law of settlement to precede the debate
n., the alteration of the corn-law 3. Now he thought he was
bound to remind the House that, seeing they were in a Brea
minority, and that it was impossible to prevent thoin from
protracting this debate to almost an interminable length, and
occupying the time of that branch of the Legislature by a
a cold discussion, he thol,ght he was entitled to show the
House and the country that he and his Noble Friends near
were free from any blame on that point. They might have
clogged the notice-book with intimations of motions, which
would have had that effect, but they had not taken that
course. When the other night the Right Hon. Baronet had
expressed a wish that the debate should proceed, the Hon.
Member for Athlone (Mr. Collett) had refused to accede,
and referred to several Members. _ _

Mr. COLLETT said his reference was made to the Peers.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN—Yes, but he did not blame the HMI.
Member, for he had not made his reference discourteously, but
he lad raised a discussion which he bad even a right to do ;
the same circumstance had occurred with respect to the Hon.
Member for Liskeard (Mr. Buller.) When the Honourable
Baronet had moved for going into Committee, that Hon. Mem-
ber had moved an amendment which also brought on a di:
cession. He did not blame those Honourable Members,' btr
he wished to show that he and his friends were free from all
blame on this point. The only Member of those with whom
he acted who had put a notice on the book, was the Hon.
Member for Warwickshire, but it had immediately been set
aside. He would repeat, he did not blame those Members, for
he thought that in such an entire breaking up of a party as this
question had proved, and in the important change which was
likely to take place, that the measure which introduced it
ought to be closely and doggedly discussed, and that it. ought
to have the most mature deliberation in all parts of the House;
but he must at the same time remind the House that, however
severe might be the famine suffered by the people, and how-
ever high the price of provisions, or however great
the disease amongst the potatoes. that he and
his friends near him were free from all culpability.
They were not responsilie for the non-opening of the ports,
and the only reason he saw against such a measure was the
fact that the Noble Lord had proposed it.—( Hear.) They
were not responsible for the non- introduction of a temporary
Bill for Ireland. Thee were net responsible for Parliament
not having been summoned on the 22,1 of January ; and if
the lion. Baronet chose to introduce measures of such vast
importance, it was unfair to charge them with offering them
a factious oppositton, because they were anxious they should
be fully discussed. Now he was determined, whenever that
charge was repeated, to protract the discussion. lie should
not, however, interfere with the progress of the amendment.
Strangers were then ordered to withdraw, but on our re-
turn to the gallery, we found that no division had taken place,
and that
Lord G. BEN TINCK was in possession of the House. The
Hon. Gentleman states! that he considered that nothing could
he more inconsistent than the speech of the lion. and Gallant
Member when compared with the course he pursued. On the
division which took place on the motion of the Member fo:
Wolverhampton ; and his lion, and Gallant Friend (Colonel
Wood) who formerly supported the opinions entertained by the
protectionist party, now turned his back upon them and sup-
ported the propositions of the Government, though he was
elected to support the sentiments which he (Lord George
Bentieck) and those around him entertained. lie was sur-
prised, entertaining the opinions which he did wills respect to
the poor laws, that he did not advise the Government to; defer
the further consideration of the measures which they had
proposed until the treatment of the poor (40 were
being carted about from place to place, and who were sub-
jected to the greatest hardships) had been amended and re-
medial measures adopted. lie (Lord G. Bentinck) had never
refused his support to any measure which hod for its object the
admission of foreign corn to feed the poor of this country,
daring years of scarcity and famine, and he had also supported
the slialineer-scale introchwpd by the Right lion. Baronet, be.
cause he believed that the corn-laws of 1815 required modifi-
cation, and that a graduated scale should be adopted. But
even under the law of 1815, the price of corn in England in
1816 was cheaper than on the Continent, as he found that
whilst corn in England was at 112 s. a quarter, it had reached
116. at Vienna; and that in 1817 whilst it was 112 s. in Eng-
land it was at 1375., at Vienna, 140 s. in France.—(Hear,
hear.) He did not, however, wish to say anything
in favour of the law of 1815, but whilst he approved of the
sliding-scale of 1842, whirls the Government seemed to think
was a great failure, he could net forbear saying that the corn-
law of 1815 had prevented foreign corn from being introduced
into this country at famine prices, and consequently from
materially injuring the agricultural and commercial interests
of the country.
After a few words from Colonel Woon anti Lord Joliet
RUSSELL, (which were inaudible in the gallery,)
Mr. COLLE"II stated that he did net wish to embarrass
the present question, or unnecessarily delay its progress, but
he must say, in answer to the charge of the Hon. Member
for Northampton (Mr. O'Brien), that any word he had
said with reference to the four Noble Dukes in the other
House he helived to be perfectly true, and would again repeat
the charges if necessary.
Sir JOHN TYRRELL was surprised to hear the lion.
111(mber for Brecon ( Colonel Wood) state that he would vote
in favour of the Government measure. lie (Sir J. Tyrrell)
had always loeked upon the Hon. and Gallant Member as the
Nestor of protection Ile was surprised at the general state of
ignorance, with reference to the feelings and opinions of the
constituency of the Hon. Member. He believed that there
was a requisition in a considerable state of progress, by the
members of the Gallant Colonel's constituency, wI o. knowing
hiogreat honour, and the great hor.our which had always distin-
guished Its actions, had no doubt that he would meet the
terms of that requisition in a perfectly manly and honourable
manner.—(Laughter.) The requisition was, he believed,
signed by a considerable number of gentlemen, and those per-
sons to whom allusion had so often been made in the coarse
of the late monster debate. lie alluded to tenant-farmers,
and he (Sir J. Tyrrell) was given to understand that in con-
sequence of the late mania for farming companies, this class
had started " an Amalgamated Small 'Tenant-farmers' Asso-
ciation." What number of shares the Gallant Colonel thought
it right to hold in that speculation he would not pretend to
to say. —( Cheers and liughter.) While, however, he was on
the subject of ignorance, he might be permitted to say that
there was one measure which he would propose, and which,
no doubt, would give satisfaction to the country—( Hear)--
one which would not interrupt unnecessarily the progress of the
business of the House. lion. Members on his side of the
House, who had accused the. Government of treachery, in
not taking the sense of the country upon the subject of their
treachery, they would be satisfied if the Members of the Go-
vernment would let them carry on unnecessary business of the
country, namely railways; and when they came back to their
places, after having an opportunity afforded them of appealing
to their constituents, they would be satisfied with them, and
in the interim would carry on all the necessary business of the
country, railways, for they are the only matters of any im-
portance to the country. The Hon. Baronet concluded by
saying, that they ought to rally round and support the corn-
laws as much as they would the Crown.
Lord WOReLEY, although he agreed in full with the Hon.
Gentleman's proposition, yet he did not see what he could gain
by pressing it on for division.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. CUR TEIS wished to correct an observation made a few
evenings since by the Hon. Member for Sunderland.—( Cries
of " Order," and " Chair.") It had been stated in an agricul-
tural speech.—( Renewed cries of " Order.") Well, then, he
would nut refer to what had been said, but state plainly that ho
was prepared to show that the wages paid the agricultural
labourers in Sussex were not ds. per week, but 12e., and in
some instances 13s. per
awneleikh—e (cileladr.s)taftlee (tAhlart.eCveurrytelini
)anwains
a considerable farmer,
his employment was paid at the rate of 12s. per week,
He (Mr. Curtsies) was its favour of a 6s. or 4s. duty, or no
corn-law at all ; anti he thought the Hon. Gentleman would
get credit for much more discretion by not pushing his propo-
sition to a division. The farmers complained that they had
not been treated fairly by the Right lion. Baronet at the head
of the Government ; and many of them were ready to give up
the corn-laws, provided the duty on hops and other imports
were abolished, so that they could then do as they liked with
their own.—( Hear, hear.) For himself, he could say that he
was perfectly ready to give up the corn-laws, and that the
agricultural portion of his constituents were ready to do the
same. But he did think that whilst they were about to give
cheap food to the people, they should accede to the wishes of
the hop-growers, by repealing the malt-duty. He should con-
tinue to agitate upon that question until it was settled—( Hear,
hear.) With regard to the question now before the House, he
would express his belief that the attempt to impede the progress
of Free-trade, was labour in vain, anti he therefore hoped that
the amendment would not be persisted in—( Hear, hear.) But
he would never restsatisfied until the duty on malt was repealed
—(Hear, hear, and laughter)—arid this brought him to the
point of he hop-duties.—(Cries of " Oh ! oh !" and laughter.)
lie begged to state to the Right lion. Baronet, that he
should feel it his duty to press upon the House that
an amount, equal in proportion to half the excise duties,
should he taken off the protective duties. The Right
Hon. Baronet was going to take a'. ss. of protection
off, and half the excise duty would therefore be about 10s. He
really thought that if the Right Hon. Baronet would
teuldoriltoywca7d.,
con-
sider this question, he would see that it was only b
fair
e
the hop-growers, that an equal proportion should taken off
t,r at
ewea,se soeno
his laesg
sw—as( protection.
andn A,n,
Divide ")—ho
het
he believed
op.
rhoawt
ear
sv very
considerable
elike toe nthaast,caosma farmer,ingover
changeon
Sussex, whatever mighd
desired him to say that rather than have their
constituents had the the fate of those in Khth,ieunettp.arnesyleinait
all.—( st
eirytiwieoruelcodrbeeowmint
duties on malt should be repealed by way of compensation.
present.
In conclusion he entirely agreed with the Noble Lord ( Wors-
ley ) that this amendment should be withdrawn.
Mr. HUDSON begged to state, in reply to what had fallen
from the Hon. Gentleman oppodte, that he had never,
either in that House or in airy other place, made any state-
ments at all bearing upon the question of agricultural
labourers' wages in Sussex. He had certainly, during the dis-
c:L.:tin on the coin-laws, svken of the agti:culttual wave

paid in Wiltshire, in reply to the statements of the 11s°4 1
Gentleman the Secretary at War. But he had neveranie't,
the most d'stant reference to Sussex —( Hear.) He w
much aratified indeed to bear from the lion. Gen r,
labuiduretf,
opposite of the amount of wages paid to agricultural
in Sussex, and he had no doubt that the House w3(l)i,_seresrso
equally gratilied.—( Hear, hear.) Her Majestys
must also feel pleasure when they heard that labourers we'
liberally treated in the county alluded to. —( Hear, hear:, x),ier
Mr. CU RTEIS begged to apologise to the Hon. e But
if he ha-.l misrepresented his statements.—( Hear, hear; )dicale,
he was quite sure—( Loud cries of " Ostler, order, anueoial
divide," in the midst of which the Hen. Grantleman re'n't
his scat.)
Lord DUNCAN having made a few observations, which did
nut reach us,
0
Mr. W. . STANLEY then withdrew his amend Teftiar,
Mr. M. MILNES then rose and said, that in brieltiohf
ward his present motion he begged arid implored th
_s‘titasce
lion. Bat onet to take hits consideration the great iairirias
of compromising he present question, and thereby N-007}"to
the agitation which was at present so much felt in
t,idcerstai°
to a happy termination, He had come to that co - es
from no citing time spent in examining the quertiot.
tora
would now shortly state the reasons why he brought °rabid)
!nielepire,optoiesend, andvas
fare m consideredore eff ectthuealpresent
arrangingrate o r !elle c.jos
the hit (jlt'
than the measure of the Right Hon. Baronet ; and sad
\Lines') scale of duty was simple and extremely froueir-oeslif 't
ranged over a small amount of prices. In le4:?, he tfittr,;ol
his duty to declare in that flou,e that the scale of aver a. 1.00
complicated, and much too high, and nothing had occurr:°.ch
to alter his opinion. No scale of protection, of
that the farmers had under the present IPc ioef,
at all sufficient to enable them to compete with the feit:;eti,
He considered that the formidable combination of t. a their
corn-law League would not be less zealous in prosecuotToiing
designs. They could not obtain immediate pea" b](! it°
the present measure, nor did he think they would desciei4upes
proposing a scheme of prospective legislation, dePenweyel
something that must happen at the expiration of t"t he Ifs
It was the boast of the Right Hon. Baronet thantheorl;
founded his measure, not upon a'prior evidence, not ereiesce
but upon true inductive principles. Upon his °Pia be 010
:he last three years— what experience, however, cott tole,
had of the three years to coma ? Suppose that in jaedd,
1849 corn should be the same price as it was in 'dabaar
think that, with corn in England at 375. a quarter, 'ivies, ici;
.rote of corn ready to come in from foreign
htfaf as sir
:ling would be the consequence of the frigrierdij stet.
the tenant-farmers and producers of the country ? ves.l"ol
think it wise to depart from those precautionary 00:
which had regulated the trade of this country fg
years. The Right Hon. Baronet possessed great port 0010
the country, but let him use it rightly—let hirn sterstal e
anything so rash, or so hazardous as the prospective a, for
in the corn-laws at the end of three years. It 045 el‘lo saes
Minister of a country to give a great victor% Fe
tart y over another, and if this measure by
in its present state, it would be regardee oat
class as a most triumphant victory es'edreerre'io
class—a victory which would not fail to leave a ;opo.oloo
malice in the heart of society, and which it would te 'rcatsio
to eradicate. If he might be allowed to say a fe°,WhCey lisjrte
protectionist party, he would say that he thought 'ars is ill
acted so wisely or energetically on the present occaiSre 0110,
fusing all compromise on the present question. , foef toe
they should not refuse to vote with the Hon. IN' 'he rocs ,0
moved the last amendment. Whatever might be yoono
of the population of this country, he considered ;ieetieriss
them to resist any alteration of the law of 1842• reat'',at
conceive how any person, regarding the enormous itic,og Vol
population, could regard the corn-law of 1842 as anYelopictd,a
than a temporary measure, for the purpose of paved of
industrial resources of the country. When he 100. ge aloe
map of the world, and saw the small amount of acriteela be,o4
country compared w:th the rest of the world, and 't*, collet
sider.ei also that England was the only wheat-o,6°' PIO
the world, he really could sot conceive how ri,„°lhe. taro'
could wish to preserve the law of 1842 intact. tle,„ this bi
Right Hon. Baronet to act with his usual prudene%-orc',otl
ter, and he would not fail to reap an abundant r
knew the difficult position in which the Right
iFieue,eotteoe
was placed, in endeavouring to sustain in hartnon'd and srfri
the institutions of an ancient monarchy, a digni6e verfr,,ers
able aristocracy, and a free people. lie hoped linwtehi6tepto
Right Lion Baronet would not, by persisting i° bet.eeostsl
hold up to the world the spectacle of a confltet.ta to eel
middle classes and the aristocracy. He begged pot
to the expression of public opinion, He µ'ou to 111'bios'
doing compromise his eharaeter, but would sheor the coo
!hat he is the ',Minister nut of one class but 0 es'°
e el‘rigr e
As oGf
Et
,hieop,Ne onp‘l yet" Os
obstr osli
*did not with to place any weee,fogfle
the progress of the present Bill. He would, h° •oae {cat'
attention of the Right Hon. Baronet to the situat'd, eth'oe
nninber of persons resident in the North of Englia eetoes'
considered connected with the corn-laws. Ile ,aat rse
any person cou'd predicate the results of the Prent'aclehipP;
He found from the speeches which hid been t reo,,f
Members on both sides of the 'louse that differensice %off.
been predicted. His conviction was that the Pro asesl,4
-.could be reduced by it. It had been said that attfitaiegoals%
farmer would be abte to compete with this gate ei cateooo4
increase of capital and skill, but in some part' of
ho
there are very few large estates and they are in to so.,
class of persons called statesmen, a term analagl: 511011'P,
yeoman. They have no capital, their farals oitur";
cultivated for the most part by members of diet' aerfc,,ths
They may no doubt apply themselves to chensica, relies
this House coald not give them capital, but 40°1" Thel fhe'f.,
from the difficulties under which they laboureTteaurela sbe
present under the remnant of a system of feuchilahiect a is,
farms were all held by copyhold. They are s 41,
years' fine on change of proprietorship•ea sof 00',
death of the Lord of the Manor they "'to e o0;10 r
ject to a two years' fine upon ever/
staiareetitio t": 04
He did not wish to be understood by this Car ,f •dit,
was opposing the present Bill. He was in f',,sar sad fe rids
sure, but he wanted to do that which was I.'
which might result to the benefit of the cos these 10,,
dered that the House had power to enfranchise odeffe ors'"o
and thus render the farmers and their faaliii",,,,reseet tee of re,
the results w high must follow the passing the,r
rotpt,e, tess4s
The Hon. Member refereed to a report of a !--'o,,yhweitti;li
House. appoints-et to inquire bito the law 0. n--. 06, 1.9,4
presented to that 11
'—'"`" on the 13th of August, ,ber; tePdr.
the Right Hon. Baronet (fir R. Peel) "'" rtiffit Set);
the opinion of that Committee, that the ab,„o iotry,
tPr'old
of this nature would be profitable to the .°,ll oleo
s4jeto
Aglionby) would nut presslthe question at We ',oleo aro,
but at some future stage of the proceeding', nter
dfl
have a full discussion, and would be able to ea f 0004
the details, he would bring it under thene't °or
Sir R. PEEL hoped that the Hon. Merne'rf roof"
(Mr. M. Milnes) would not think him guittl ef his sits),
he disclaimed entering into the consideration ehale,oo $
Ile could not do so without dividing theaw 001 ewer
*hen he proposed his measure, he stated t,'`,3 for '.1,i!4,0,
had induced him to believe that it was desiraw t of 'ash ill
that a time had arrived for the final settlerneiresal,asioati,
tion. He could not he felt enter into the teesofif",
Hon. Member, without optening the whole Vele. p co.. es
must therefore, state that he dissented frolnti',Perefet'isie'l ip;
the Hon. Member, and he could not it,ie of 0/4
to the re-opening of the question, the pr,''%re, co'D:taecice,'
been decided by a large majority of that 1-I°u•derellhar
great measure of lion. Members who On') 00 t Oi°
I had tc','o.eY
immediate repeal preferable, but woo ,Dief•oo-04')
voted in favour of the measures of her at se biesoil.,
The Hon. Gentleman says it would be a greclafg,*ctioteir
he seemed to forget that there was another foililierf4
object to it. The present law gave the sareesoitt taichdlso
it would be very desirable, he admitted, t°. tiees
felt
of transferring property, and the inconvenfe felt 1111,114
times occurred. The greatest disadvaritsget
who had to purchase small propertieV;lhayiogDatistist
more than by thole who had the power 0' 000004 f
the expense was not so much a matter 0'
tit: fOril St AI/
inconvenience felt by delay. The impedin'ebet
of property were, lie admitted, very great; . t 1 Oro;
it would be very unwi c discuss that elnestlsoet
same tone he had no objection that the( hrieVieie.4
should reserve to himself the full power " , eee'osatif.o„,
the consideration of the House on some futur-hesi sit die)fl,it
Mr. MILES said that the question was te'od Lb' tb,eair't
a great question of principle. Ile undert°
have full and ample debates, and he cou'"
.pos' the hof
that the feelings of tee Members who were °out I, I,aft.),
principles which would be known through selsfe,sei"aq
\Vhen they arrived at that election' 00 rere ,;!
lieved was not far eft then it would ben °,flat v'jyr,rooi.
opinions or those of the Right Hot. 13,5,‘ alo°' oral
agreeable ; and he would a-sure the Rign",,,,,rd. „affie;
until then, it was not his wish to saY °tie haolote to 'oil' 1
impediment in his way, more than was a ponoetoree?,
Alt lie would say was, that with all the al`,lool 0 010 sfi'
lie entirely disagreed, and he would ensiled o,ol‘ft
law which the Right lion. Baronet seei.herate'cio,o:o
abolish. All he wished was full, de coo for Ai s'
„. eor
discussion of the question, in order that_tceoar, tier O,
country may be arrive at. It wa, 0/
know 17,ty our statements that there would boat W°refr,lfs:s'
agriculturul produce. He considered tams to hited asSO).l
s ble for the present holders of far,ateol,l3 rv'e'srair
or to maintain their position, if the c, ,00n,e
were carried into effect.— Hear, hear./ obithe iorly
to say a few words on the chan.'o',,ja
to have taken place in his opinion resPel of taas 004
repeal in preference to the distant rel'eat it of 03
The Right lion. Baronet conceived tharoesie'i'feje!arrA
Miles's) opinion that he should prefer theof her
o'aelotpott
Lord the member for London to that'
that beh Otfr, offil;
vernment. Now, what he stated pa's 0f bc't (' re
decided opposition to the proposition rod, eapi;
time, as tar as the farmers were con
~r the t thal'esel
stated that he believed they would ereiti3asonedar or.
Noble Lord to that of the Right Haar I\le'-eoe aost
her Majesty's Government. The "e.nh.at be,reersorret.e'te
chester bears me out in the statement faro- I,eo ell ico •
he; similar to that which he made on haying
t'easte,ats4";
hoped and trusted, a great discussion at. thuojedert
another would not then be introduce_d_; the "titisfa
was ready to go on with it if it were dioiou ass, lt!Asofr,
do so.—(No, no.) lie wished it
otnoh,teona to ,
that though they allowed those res t they tee fsi
opposed to every one of them, and ,m it ?t, oftio,l4')
proceed proforma, in order to opp%, 4,
third reading, and finally come to a alirototto foa
to the country that they opposed the 'as`•o"
t 1C I'4'
ward by the Rightßaronet. „ae mei tae
Sir noBERT PEEL said it woulocctd,d too
that, becauso the lion. Gentleman a. !it c ini;tases
he was not to oppose the Ineasur': tic, suer tat all,
never further from ins intention ther,
1110°1 0101 lir, 1
Gentleman would not oppose the refiositi'cal, $ le 1
declared that he would prefer the.P_rerd rep are.) ffaidr,,
Lord the Member for London to deteS-riear,hrsaebls, tee ila
preferred the existing law to either-".tt. If the
_OOl,l
art 14, ,
Gentleman (Mr. Miles) stated, t°
to, he him thij eras
Member for London stood to his ga el to "ha ssooffidt
suppo:t him.—( A laugh.) It a.l4Pentr when ti the
Gentleman was somewhat inconst!t:_. Whe.,tioe,
.there was no difference between t.r1.7. the gee-o,re ',"„r
t
tlernan states he would not enter to ssY
same time it was hardly fair of
aia.nntito
great downfall of prices, Without
lira, (sir oocessi:his/
arguments to support him. V, he au'eorriler (gr'or
a removal of prohibitory
duties
°l('ieritleman (.. 000
introduction of cattle, the flon• esfitoestgo i
begged for a reduction of the dutyc, t
Pwoosueldofbe Haar'
el)did „aset,';
titr)
such were done ; but he (Sro ••• hear. t
feedingan t.nm.tinh
enormous
dtleepri
ens:.
ihoins
rti s',tiraiocte ye part'
/I
reification of that propliecy.—(Het!,,r'tride tle..,„„relYect ssj,
Mr. 1)1ILES said, that whet'lie ass rhe did fe"oFf
not his own individual opinion. ii,,),..,anove sfo'ololll
door opinion—(Cries of " t", , and gleatlY‘e 00
that foreign cattle would accumula °watch evi,,,,seeffsl.oote,
reason for the increase of price*. i2r0,,,,tidn..,3
.0.0(J,
d had net r ‘i,c 'ea
take place. He hope et saes tst
rio
would be
easretandey Ratigahtfuruoren. a,rticeetoht!
c4L)rpei;
cere;
that the , twat
convincing arguments
_f ,rain
a Cr
must fall by the introduction o t' oef' f"
0010 n to
a free-trade measure.
iii jar
032",,Y: y cbryd
the "—n-incluf aver $a li"
gof on e sve fol
were invariably complain had, up nor
and
and tv pal
they were r•ubjected,
f nd that the iste
11
vevors of the distr.cts, ou .5 /kill' tts
holAsitriarßmUerßsßwOerNeVsSuffee°riunigdnrm the
Ai°ll
ree'
subjected to many charges. her her Ilaje"Yd 0$(18
Mr. HUNIE would advise
the advice of the ecramittge 131-'

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