The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-16 00:00:00

COMMONS SUMMARY.

The SPEAKER took the Chair at Four o'clock.
Mr. FINCH took the oaths and his seat for Rutland-
shire in the room of the Hon. Mr. DAWNAY.
Several Railway Bills were read a second time, and
ordered to be committed.
A discussion took place upon the motion of Mr.
GREENE, "That it be an instruction to the Committee on
Petitions for Private Bills not to hear parties on any
petition hereafter to be referred to them, which should
not be prepared and signed in strict conformity with
the rules and orders of the House."
Mr. ENTWISLE moved, as an amendment to the
motion, to leave out the word " hereafter;" which, upon
a division, was lost by a majority of 42.
The original motion was agreed to.
Mr. T. DuscomnE gave notice of his intention, to-
morrow week, to bring forward the petition on behalf
of Frost, Williams, and Jones.
Lord DUNCAN postponed his motion for the repeal of
the window duties to the 26th of February.
In answer to a question from Sir R. Limas,
Lord JOCELYN said that the Government had received
no information with respect to the war in India, further
than that which had appeared in the public papers. He bad
no doubt that in a few days the Government would be
in possession of information which would show that the
aggressions that had taken place had been properly and
fully resented.
Sir R. PEEL, in answer to a question from Mr. S
CRAWFORD, said he was in hopes the Government
would be enabled, during the present session, to intro-
duce a Bill relative to the law of lanllord and tenant in

Ireland.
Mr. O'CONNELL, in answer to a question, said it was
his intention, if he possibly could tomorrow, to bring
forward the motion of which he had given notice, rela-
tive to the disease and famine existing in Ireland.
Several petitions were presented for and against pro-
tection to agriculture and native industry.
Lord WonsLEY presented petitions from Lincoln-
shire, praying that the House would not place any
confidence in her MAJESTY'S Ministers.
Lord J. RUSSELL presented petitions in favour of the
total repeal of the cora-laws.
Sir R. PEEL presented a petition from Tamworth,
signed by the Mayor, Corporation, Town Council, and
a great portion of the inhabitants, in favour of the Go-
vernment measure for the removal of restrictive duties.
The Right Honourable Baronet presented several other
petitions to the same effect.
The Earl of MARCH resumed the debate on
the Customs and Corn Importation Measure.
He considered that the debate on this mea-
sure had been entirely on one side. He be-
lieved that the taking. away of protection to native in-
dustry in England would ultimately tend to the
ruin of the country. He maintained that protection
was necessary both to agriculture and manufactures.
The feelings of the country were opposed to the mea-
sures of the Government, and as a proof of that he
thought he might refer to what was taking place at the
elections for some of the counties. He thought the
interests of the manufacturer and the agriculturist
were united, and that one could not be injured or bene-
fited without injuring or benefiting the other.
le believed this measure would injure all classes, and
,herefore he gave it his determined opposition.
Mr. M. GIBsoN agreed with the Noble Lord that if

protection was not given to the growth of corn, none
should be given to manufactures. Those with whom
he was acting had always, advocated the abolition of
protection of every kind. The question now was,
whether the corn-laws should be abolished or not. The
parties who advocated protection in that House had
led the tenant-farmers to believe that protection
would be peimanently adhered to. For those
misstatements they were now reaping the fruits
of the agitation of this question. The Protectionists
had called on the Right Honourable Baronet, instead of
the Noble Lord, to prescribe for them, and they were
now suffering under the severe dose he had administered
to them. The Right Honourable Baronet, in leaving a.
protective duty of Is. on foreign wheat, gave to the
agriculturists more than an equivalent for the bur-
dens which they bore. The price of bread of
We had increased, and could it therefore be said
that the repeal of the corn-laws was likely to reduce
its value. In Suffolk not less than sixty-three
farmer; had renewed their leases, and not ask for any
decrease of rent. What, then, could be thought of
those who wished to retain protection, who thought the
aristocracy of the country were determined to support
their own interests without any consideration to those of
the community. The landed gentry monopolised all the
places in society, and it was only a short time since that
one of their body said they could make and unmake
Ministers. He did not see, if the corn-laws were to be
repealed why that repeal should not take place now, and
not be delayed for three years ? He believed the agri-
cultural interest would be more benefitted by the im-
mediate than by the delayed repeal of the corn-laws.
He urged upon the Government to consider the neces-
sity of making the repeal of the corn-laws immediate ;
believing that nothir.g would settle the different questions
that were under agitation in the country but the
adoption of that course. lie felt convinced that those
with whom he acted were so strongly of the same opi-
nion as nimself, thrt they would not be induced by any
consideration to forego usking the sense of the House
upon the question. The protectionists might ask for a
dissolution if they would, but it would be only a post-
ponement of the measure. lie entreated of lion. Mem-
bers to put a stop to their futile opposition.
Mr. HALSEY opposed the Government proposition.
He asserted that the proceedings of the League were
neitber honest or constitutional, and if they were legal
he trusted the Government would adopt such measures
as would soon put a stop to their legality. He advocated
equal protection to agriculture and commerce,
Mr. DICKENSON supported the Ministerial plan, be-
lieving the best course to pursue to peevent scarcity of
food in this country would be to give every facility to
it§ adDlAgon inp England from foreign countries,
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