The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-09 00:00:00

thing must be done to put a stop to their miseries.
Having thanked the House for the patience with which they
heard I im, he would conclude by saying that he would give
the measure his most decided opposition in every stage.
Mr. ROEBUCK would not have spoken, had it not, been
for an observation made by the Gentleman who had just sat
down. The Hon. Gentleman had taunted the supporters of
the present measure as being a motley crew, For his part he
believed that this variety of political opinion—this new com-
bination of forces would never have taken place but from strong
and urgent reasons.—( Hear, hear.) He had also accused
them of being influenced by selfish motives, but he (Mr. Roe-
buck) would retort the charge, and would ask what were the
principles which influenced them ? The real principle was
self-interest. For what did they assemble night after night to
make interminable speeches? For what did they meet there
to obstruct the universally expressed demands of the
public? He would say, fearless of contradiction, that it
was their self-interest, and their self-interest alone,
which spurred them on. First of all, they rested their
case upon the tenant farmers, but now they fell
back upon the labourers. He would only say in reference to
the latter, let them ( the protectionists) give them the means
of deciding the question, and he would not fear the result. But
before that, let them give them the right of stating their
opinions to that House, not only on the corn-la'as, but on all
other questions.—( Hear, hear.) The time was now come
when statistics were resorted to, and the Hon. Member for
Shrewsbury had brought political economy into requisition for
the purpose of propping up their case. In doing so, however,
he had not left his cause to the strength of the facts and argu-
ments which he employed, but appeared to think that
his observations, however rapid, or however shallow,
if seasoned with a little personality, would be piquant and ir-
resistible. From the manner in which the Honourable
Gentleman used quotations, it was very easy for him to acquire
a reputation for learning at a very small expense. He quoted
a work from a friend of his ( Mr. Roebuck) of great respecta-
.

bility, and so great a respect did he entertain for him, tliat he
was sorry to see his views wrested to the purposes of the Hon.
Member for Shrewsbury. That Hon. Gentleman quoted, a
few evenings ago, the opinions of Mr. John Mills, on the laws of
interchange in support of those opinions which he
had with so much zeal, but with so little
judgement, endeavoured to impress upon the House.
The Honourable Member (Mr. Disraeli) mistook his part.
He began his life by a mistake; he began as a Radical ; he
came nut in tragedy, but he had since slided into genteel
comedy.—(Great laughter.) He came out as the friend of
the Honourable and Learned Member for Cork; but he was
now against him, and the principles he then entertained_ It
was well for the Hon. Gentleman tochange one set of principles
and take to himself another—it was well to throw up one
party and join► another for the purpose of gaining something by
becoming the leader of a party, who might make it worth the
change of principle He could then turn round and attack the
Right Hon. Gentleman at the head of her Majesty's Ministers
for changing his principles upon this question; but the Right.
lion. Baronet could afford to laugh at the impotent insolence
of those who chose thus to assail him. Now, as to the book
by Mr. John Mills, which the Hon. Gentleman had dipped
into—(Laughter)—he would read an extract or two. (The
Hon. Member then read at length from this work, to show
that protection did not apply to the necessaries of
life, nor to that which would interfere with our exportations. )
He hoped the Hon. Member, when next quoting works to
support his arguments in favour of these laws, would select
something better than Mr. Mills's authority in support of his
principles. The Hon. Member again quoted, after which he
said that this was the argument which was selected to prove
that they could not combat hostile tariffs by free trade. After
having said so much on this subject, he would not longer
trouble the House.—(Cries of " Oh, oh, oh.") He had no
doubt the Hon. Members who cried in this way judged of
speeches by their length, but his intention was not to make a
long speech, but simply to deal with the points before the
House.

Mr. MILLS and Mr. DISRAELI ro3e together, but the former
gave way, when

Mr. DISRAELI said he was extremely sorry that he felt
obliged to solicit the attention of the House for a short time, so
as to reply to that part of the Hon. and Learned Member's
speecn, which personally reflected upon him (Mr. Disraeli).—
( Hear, hear.) It was a long time since that they had the
honour of hearing the Hon. Member, and as for himself he
was very glad to see him there once more, and to hear him
speak in his usual characteristic manner.—(Laughter.) He
had been very personal towards him in what he was pleased to
call his speech upon this question, but he did not care for that.
—( Hear, hear, from the protection benches.) He was used to
it from him, though he did not always think it necessary to
reply to such attacks—it was true he had done so once—he was
compelled to do so then—it was thrust upon him by
the charges of the Hon. Member, which amounted to
what he (Mr. Disraeli) believed to be language most
unparliamentary. The Honourable and Learned Member had
thought proper to speak upon his political conduct—he spoke,
indeed, on a question which he knew nothing at all about.
He hoped he would not be charged with anything like egotism
when he now attempted to defend himself, and to show that he
was not chargeable with what the Hon. and Learned Member
imputed to him. He was charged with following the Hon. and
Learned Member for Kilkenny, or it may be the Hon. and
Learned Member for Dublin, for he did not remember what
county that Hon. and Learned Gentleman represented at pre-
sent. 'Well, be was charged with having followed the principles
of that Hon. and Learned Member, but surely there was
nothing extraordinary in that—there was nothing so extraordi-
nary in his having done so, when it was remembered that the
Prime Minister of England had also done so.—(Cries
of Hear, hear," and great cheering and counter. cheering. )
He denied having changed his principles—he had the same
principles now as he had then. He had nothing to change,
he had no hereditary name to support, no high-born nobility
to please. It may have been that when a young man he had
not adopted the best mode of carrying out those principles, but
he denied having changed them, for they were not formed
upon light grounds, but they were principles adopted after a
careful reading ; they were not hastily formed, but were the
result of deep study, and were such as he could not change,
though he was charged to have done so by the Hon. and
Learned Member in his well-arranged impromptu.—(Cheers
and laughter.) The principles which he held at the time
alluded to by the Hon. and Learned Member deprecated the
policy which regulated the legislation for Ireland, and those
principles he still held, for he did maintain that
Ireland had suffered by a factious legislation. And
he did believe that the great mistake made in governing
Ireland was attempting to govern her by a faction—( Hear)—
and that the real mode of Government that should be adopted
towards that country should have been that adopted by certain
great kings in former times.—( Hear, hear.) What, then,
was it because he sympathised with a man who had borne
a great name as the advocate of the cause of his country, in
the feelings he entertained towards that country, that he was
to be thus assailed ?—( Hear, hear.) Those were the opinions
he had always expressed upon this subject, and to these
opinions he still adhered.—( Hear, hear.) The Hon. and
Learned Member had said that he (Mr. Disraeli) had had
4 quarrel with a party, and entered into some statement about
it. It was unfortunate that he had ; it occurred at an election
when he was a very young man, and when he stood in oppo-
sition to the son of a Whig Prime Minister. But he did not

think that these were matters which justified the Honourable
Member in making those charges ; and with those observations,
he (Mr. Disraeli) begged to say, he would never al-
lude to them again. As to what the Hon. Member had said
about his having gone over to the enemy's camp, why, he
(Mr. Disraeli) did not know that he ever had a camp.
—(Laughter). And now let him ask who were those who
sympathised with the sentiments of the lion. and Learned
Member opposite ?—(Loud cheers.) What sentiments did he
represent ?—( Renewed cheers.) The Hon. Member bad
stated that there was no greater enemy to democracy than
modern liberalism—( Hear, hear)—and that liberal principles
were never more in danger than when advocated by po-
litical economists.—( Hear, hear.) But now, let him (Mr.
Disraeli) ask bad he ever spoken in terms of dis-
respect of the Hon. and Learned Member for Cork ?
( Hear, hear.) The Hon. Member then referred to the book
from which the Hon. Member for Bath read some passages,
and read an extract, in which the author expressed his opinions
upon the operations of the corn-laws, and concluded by saying,
he thought he had now shown the House that never had his
misrepresentations been more apparent, or his attacks more
causeless, than the present upon his literary criticisms.—
( Hear, hear.) Of all the abortions he had ever heard of, tl.is
was he greatest-4 Hear, hear)—and never was there a senator
struck with stronger oratorical paralysis, and certainly never
was any attack mor malignant, or more perfectly futile.
Mr. S. HERBERT said, in rising to address a few ob-
servation to the Howe upon this subject, he could assure it
that he would avoid all expressions of a personal nature, or
any e those sarcasms which the House had been listening to
for the last few minutes, but he would endeavour to avoid
all personalities. ( Hear, hear.) With respect to the
discussions which had taken place upon the doctrines of this
Bill, he doubted that the Honourable Member opposite had
shown that Mr. Mills had convinced any one by his argu-
ments. He did not mean to go into the question now, as the
House very well understood the cause of the effiuxion of
money that had been so often alluded to. But some allusion
had been made to expressions he had used during this debate.
The Honourable Member for Oxfordshire had spoken of the
labouring population in the Southern counties last year, and
that crime had increased beyond the population. Now he
( Mr. Sydney Herbert) begged to say that there had been a
marked diminution in crime in this country within the last three
or four years. The Honourable Member had also said that
there was a great deal of suffering in the part of the
country that he (Mr. Sydney Herbert) lived in, and
that wages were low there. Now no person could
regret more than he did the lowness of wages; but it would not
be useful to give higher wages in a certain part of the country,
than was given in the market. The greatest possible alarm
existed formerly with respect to the importation of foreign
cattle, and many gentlemen in that House had stated that it
would be ruinous to the farmer ; but on the contrary it was
afterwards found that the farmer was benefited by it.—( Oh,
oh.) He could assure Hon. Gentlemen that a great deal of
the farmer's difficulties were owing to the high price of stock in
England, and it might be very well for Hoe. Members to say
that that line of argument was disposed of—it was still the fact.
r of
fktehn
place had only servede
agriculturists to the change The farmer objected to the repeal of the corn-laws, and yet he
said that he could not cultivate his farm, in consequence of the
high price of stock.
vAllrtheraaageihtattoionthat had
theh hitherto
conciliateheminds
to
Member for Lynn was a master of
the science of agitation—( e,H ar hear)—and had applied the
ey
was aware that the Hon. which was about to take place. He
it was a period
Hon. Members for a similar par-
always taken advantage of by .
in the most
Public meetings had been summoned
Easter recess to the purposes of agitation, as
had
pose.
e eated. It was stated that
been made before Easter we,)rses.r
ap
quarter, and though every
interested parts of the country, and the statements which
corn would be imported at
and shrewd race
much more reasonable
for the farmers were a
described. If they would credit the
one heard the assertion, it did not excite any very great alarm ;
of men than they were.
politics
would find that many more
in that House, they .
they could, by an
in ascertaining whether
statement of a gentleman not mixed up with party
men were engaged
core wheat they
thought
thought would be brought into the foreign market than
this Bill. His Hon. Friend,
increased exertion of skill, with the foreign
were intent on the passing of _
ure, such as
o the state of
the Member for Dorsetshire, had alluded to the question
which hod been put, as to whether any meas
those proposed by Government, were applicable t
state
in in Ireland ? And the lion. Member was answered
very explicitly by the Noble Lord, with respect to the
in which he found Ireland. His Hon. Friend, who had lived
in that country, admitted that the Noble Lord had given an
account of the state of Ireland, and one which could neither
be doubted nor impugned and that account surely urged the
necessity of making some measures for the purpose of better-
ing and ameliorating the state of that country. The Hon.
Member (Lord G. Bentinck) said that they would apply a
permanent remedy for a temporary evil. Were they doing
so? The Hon. Gentleman said that this was a temporary
evil ; if that were true, they were founding a permanent re-
medywthheyy
d saidtial
theyprevent t
that
a eto n t
theshee n
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eevilt repeal
e iaatlse f
t f/
fromp theor: rcyo rbecomingn-suspensionla s pm
wearsonfaonterhenemt f
law.edyl ,
The Noble Lord ( George Bentinck) was not a believer in
Irish distress. He did not admit the existence of the potato
disease. He was satisfied that nothing was wrong with them ;
but he was satisfied, he said, should the people of Ireland
think the measure nes.,essary for their welfare, and calculated
to meet their present exigencies, that there should be a suspen-
sion of the corn-laws. He would give Isis unction to this sus-
pension, though he was persuaded the measure would be an
injury, instead of a benefit, to the people of Irelanti.—( Hear.)
Such was the policy of the Noble Lord. He admitted the ex-
istence of distress in Ireland, though he disputed the 'Moot of