The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-22 00:00:00

THE ADDRESS,

The SPEAKER then read her Majesty's Speech
(for which see another column).
Lord FRANCIS EGERTON rose and said—l rise,
Sir, upon this occasion, for the purpose of pro-
posing an Address to her Majesty in return to the
Speech we have just heard. It ie my misfortune
that I cannot offer the ground for your indulgence which
Hon. Members that filled a similar situation have fre-
quently had it in their power to give. Precisely
twenty years have elapsed since under the
auspices of Mr. Canning, I acted in a
similar situation to that which I now occupy,
in the House; but I can truly say that since the lapse of
those twenty years I never rose to address an assembly
with less confidence in my own discretion, or reliance on
any power of mine, to deserve the indulgence or com-
mand the sympathies of this House. I hope, therefore,
that on other grounds—on the grounds of the import-
ance of the juncture which calls us together, and the
difficulty which even the most experienced in this House
feel in rising to address it under such circumstances—
I hope that the House will extend to me
that consideration and indulgence which, in 1826, per-
haps, I had the better claim to ask for.—(Applause.) I
think it will be most for the convenience of the House
that a brief review be made of the topics mentioned in
her Majesty's Speech, topics which I hope will meet
with the unanimous concurrence of the House.—(Hear.)
The observations of her Majesty respecting our re-
lations with France are matter of congratulation to my-
self, and must be equally so to 'gentlemen on either side
of the House, believing, as I do, that the peace and
happiness of Europe—and more than the peace
and happiness of Europe namely, the progress
of civilisation, and generally of good government in all
parts of the world, depends more upon the continuance
of amicable relations between the two countries than any
other measure which human sagacity could suggest.
Rejoicing, as I do, at this guarantee for the general
peace and happiness of the world, 7 cannot help
looking with proportionate distress and anxiety to another
part of her Majesty's address, which relates to our
connexion with another part of the world. I cannot
but look with the deepest regret to that part of the
Speech which refers to the probability of England being
called [upon to maintain her honour and her rights,
as well as to afford that protection which she
owes to some of her loyal subjects in one part of the
world, by a resort to other than friendly measures. I
most especially should regret it' any differences or diffi-
culties should render it necessary for us to termi-
nate our friendly relations with a community which
speaks the same language as ourselves, and who have
so many institutions in common with our own. But I
am sure that neither the present, nor any other Govern-
ment, will be justified in looking to our relations in
that part of the world to which I refer with any other feel-
ing than that of a cordial desire to maintain, by every
means consistent with honour and justice, the rights of
both nations, but, nevertheless, we shall still be able to
continue, upon cordial terms of friendship, our inter-
course and amity with that great and im-
portant confederacy, the United States of America.
Apart from all those considerations, and utterly inde-
pendent of them, I will say that there is t.o portion of
her Majesty's Speech which I consider of more impor-
tance than that part which refers to our national de-
fences. On this subject I will say no more than that if
it were left out it. would reflect little cr. dit on those who
had advised her Majesty. This question had deeply en •
gaged the public attention, and I trust that this subject
will be received by the House with the attention
which it deserves. I cannot dissemble from myself that
I am addressing the House on a topic of more than
ordinary interest—a topic which, as it may be productive
of more than ordinary advantages, is, in coesequence, of
more than ordinary interest—(Cheers)—a topic, I will
add, that is worthy of further consideration. This,
indication I cannot conceal from myself ; the
interest and bearing of that indication coming
in the train of political events, fresh in the
minds of all parties in this country--coming,
as I say, in the rear of these events, that indication to re-
consider the whole of those laws, laws which regulated
the whole importation of commodities into this country,
I am sure that this subject will meet with the attention
which it deserves. I concur in the propriety of this in
dication, and I could not indeed otherwise consistently un-
dertake the office which I have attempted to fill.—(Great
cheers.) That concurrence I willingly give; but I would
have been unable to stand in my present situation if my
opinions had been otherwise, and if my opinions had been
such that I could not undertake this task. Still, I would
hesitate before incurring the increased responsibility
by pronouncing my opinion, and saying that the subject
was unfit for the serious deliberation which the House
is called upon to give them.—(Cheers) I have heard
many speeches in this House, but have never heard
one which was more applicable to all that this House
had to consider. I hold this principle also with respect
to my own course of conduct, and consider that, as the
mover of this Address, I am not at all restricted or
fettered with regard to the future course which I may
pursue in relation to these subjects. Upon that principle
lam not called upon to go into details as to my own par-
ticular opinions, but I may take this opportunity of stating
that, with regard to those subjects which so particularly
engaged the attention of the country, and have been so
particnlarly brought under the notice of the House, my
opinions have undergone a eonsiderable:change.—(op-
position cheers.) lam aware that my opinions have net
that influence and authority which the opinions of others,
who justly enjoy a high reputation in this House, possess,
and that, therefore, it might be considered improper in
me to inflict on the House a leng explanation of the
reasons of that change ; still I feel that nothing but my
own insignificance could shelter me from the necessity of
answering that inquiry, which public opinion has a right
to institute into the causes of the alteration of opinions of
public men ; I say that, on this occasion, I shallnot shrink
from that investigation. This I will say, no defence of mine
shall rest on the example of others, cr be founded on the
changes or modifications of opinion of those who may be
looked up to as authorities. My changes of opinion
have been owing entirely to myself, and with regard
to any modification which my opinions may have under-
gone, I rest the defence of them solely on my observa-
tion of the course of events, and on my own considerations
of what was required, and the state and prospects of
the country.—(" Hear' hear," from the Opposi-
tion.) I have feared and hesitated hitherto to
interfere with that system of restriction on importa-
tion which I have found interwoven with the whole of
the relations of the country. I have hesitated for a long
time before I could consent to interfere with what might
be almost considered as one of the institutions of tne
country; but I have now arrived at the opinion
that the time has at length arrived when we
shall take the opportunity to seriously and deli-
berately reconsider the whale course of the law
regulating that importation, with a view ultimately of
departing from that principle which has hitherto been
observed, the principle of endeavouring by protection
or prohibition to continue the restriction of the importa-
tion of articles from foreign countries with a view of
increasing our home manufactures.—(Loud cheers.)
When I use the term " home manufacture," let me not
be misunderstood. I consider the products of the earth
as intended for the food of man, and I think they should
be considered as much a manufacture as any other.
(Hear, hear.) I consider the earth as a machine, and I
look upon the largest landowners in the country as
nothing else than manufacturers.—(Hear, hear.) Holding
these views, and considering their application to the
Government, and to all the public departments
of the country, I trust, and hope, and believe, that
without knowing what may be the nature of the
measures about to be proposed by the Government, I
say I entertain a hope that when those measures shall
come before the House I shall be able to support the
position I have taken, and to show that they are com-
patible with the broad principles I have laid down.
(Hear, hear.) I have no doubt that these measures
will be embraced and comprehended in a statesmanlike
manner, and, be grasped vigorously, the various sub-
jects that have come within the terms of my proposition.
—(Hear, hear.) A fixed duty on corn was a proposition
which came from the Noble Lord opposite. I have arrived
at the conclusion that restrictions on foreign commodities
shall no longer be upheld by the Legislature of this
country.—(Loud Opposition cheers.) When the Noble
Lord opposite brought forward his proposition for a
fixed duty, and then gave expression to the opinions
which I then maintained, namely, that if restric-
tions were imposed on foreign commodities, in order
to secure a certain standard of remuneration to the
cultivator of the soil, that would be the result of such a
measure. I entertained those opinions then, and I sup-
ported them ; but I have since seen reason to change
those opinions.—(Hear, hear.) lam not now about to
detain the House with any details. It is not to
intention to enter upon a statement of statistioal facts.
I shall not shrink from such an investigatied al would.
show the numerical relations of this subject, but it is
not at present a part of my plan, or within the scope
t
of the particular argument which I int( nd to use.
it has been my lot to reside in the neighbourhood of a
dense population, whose position and circumstances I
could not do otherwise than observe ; and in the
course of that observation I invariably found, that
the dearness or the cheapness of provisions had
an intimate connexion with the employment and the
happiness of the people.---(Loud cheers from the Oppo-
sition.) It was through no merit of my own, but through