The Sun.
London, England, 1846-04-08 00:00:00

only admitted duty free by an order from the Treasury.
It would greatly increase ,the confidence of those. per-
sons who were introducing or speculating in that article
in the United States, if they found that there was an Act of
Parliament authorising its admission free of duty. In the
present state there is still considerable uncertainty hanging
over the subject in the minds of those who could import large
quantities into that ;country. If this uncertainty were re •
moved, there would, no doubt, be a considerable increase in
the importation of, that article. Foreign wheat was also
very much required in England for the purpose of
mixing with some of our inferior wheat. That ar-
ticle was, however, now subject to the high duty
of 18s. per quarter, whereas if the proposed corn-law were
in operation that duty would now be but ls. A large quan-
tity of oatmeal could also be imported into this country at
the nominal duty of ls., if these measures were passed into a
law. Oatmeal was an article of great consumption in many
parts of Ireland. There was no Treasury order to admit
that article duty free, and lie hoped, therefore, that Hon.
Members connected with Ireland would read carefully those
returns which had been just laid upon the table of the House
by his Right Honourable Friend the Secretary of State.
They must, he was sure, know the extent of the distress in
that country. They must also know that the measure now
before the Parliament, if passed into law, would greatly in-
crease the importation of valuable and nutritious food into
that country. He hoped, therefore, that if they could re-
concile it with their sense of public duty, that they would
allow the first reading of the Protection of Life and Property
in Ireland Bill to be taken at the earliest possible period,
and with as little delay as possible; by so doing they will
enable the House to give a speedy effect to the measures pro-
posed by her Majesty's Government for the introduction of
foreign corn. _

MI. HAWES stated that great anxiety pervaded all
classes of the people with reference to a speedy settlement of
the Government measures. In many cases 'excessive rail-
way speculations had produced a fearful reaction upon the
people ; they had been compelled to curtail their expenditure,
and a large amount of surplus labour was thereby thrown
upon the market, producing, in some districts, an almost
complete stagnation of trade and commerce.— (Hear.)
He was opposed to all coercive measures. He thought they
had always proved failures. But he really hoped that Hon.
Gentlemen would look to the present commercial state of the
country, the great stagnation which existed, and the public
anxiety, and that they would, if they could do so consistently
with their sense of public duty, allow the first reading of the
Coercion Bill to be got over, which would be conferring a great
benefit on the country. He really hoped that they would,
as much as possible, curtail the debates upon the question.
Mr. P. BORTHWICK thought it was a politic and just
measure to introduce Indian corn into Ireland in order to re-
move the present exigencies of that country. He was sorry
however to see the present question mixed up with the
great question of the removal of protection to agriculture.
Sir R. PEEL said, he did not deny one single word upon
the general merits of the Corn Bill, he only wished to call
the attention of the House to the documents which had been
laid upon the table, in order to show that the impression
with respect to the decline in Irish distress had been ex-
tremely false—and he only expressed a hope that those who
were opposed to the first reading of the Irish Coercion Bill
would, in permitting the first reading to take place, facilitate
the progress of the Corn Bill, but lie had not said one word
as to the general principle of the measure, or attached the
slightest blame to_ those from whom it had received oppo-
sition.
M:. S. O'BRIEN said that it was in the power of the
Government to facilitate the reading of the Corn Bill, by
postponing the Coercion Bill, and he considered that the
Irish Members would not be disposed to waive their
privilege 'of discussing most minutely the principles and
provisions of that Bill. In the meantime he felt
himself bound to state that Indian meal had
been found most valuable in alleviating the existing dis-
tresses. He would take that opportunity of asking the Hon.

Baronet whether he would be disposed to lay on the table of
the House a return, showing the extent of aid sought for
under the Public Works and Companies Works Presentments
Bill. He understood that there was an indisposition to avail
themselves of the benefits which those Bills were supposed to
convey.

Sit JAMES GRAHAM was glad to say that applications
to the Board of Works were very numerous—glad, because
the relief offered was the most legitimate, and was not a gra-
tuity from Parliament. With regard to the county works
—he was sorry to say there was an indisposition on the part
of some of the grand juries to carry out the provisions of
the Bill.

Mr. FINCH wished to observe, that he did not under-
stand the. Hon. Baronet, the First Lord of the Treasury, as
casting any imputation or reflection upon those who had op-
posed the Corn Bill.
Mr. T. S. DUNCOMBE said that he did not consider
the Irish Members had been fairly treated by having these
appeals made to them, it was like an attempt on the part of
the Government to throw the onus of the delay of the Corn
Bill on the Irish Members, whereas it lay at their own doors.
But the public would attach the fault to the right quarter.
He was not aware that this House was indebted to the Lords
tor any great courtesy in matters of the same nature, and
therefore he could not conceive why public business should
be embarrassed in order to do an act of courtesy to the House
of Lords.—(Hear, hear.) Here was the House of
Commons called upon, on the one hand, to take up this
Irish Coercion Bill to please the House of Lords,
while upon the other hand this House was told that the
passing of the measure was to produce a great moral
effect. Now, he should say that so far as the moral effect
was concerned, there could scarcely be any hope of that, for the
great majority of the Irish people now saw that those Irish
Members in whom they had confidence were opposing this Bill,
and giving it every opposition in their power, and even the
first reading, which plainly proved that it was an opposition
to the principle of the Bill. Therefore, the fault lay entirely
with the Government that the passing of the Corn Bill
should be delayed ; and he would ask them, was it worth
their while to continue to press this Coercion Bill on, while
here was not the least chance of its passing this session, and
hug delay the Corn Bill?
(i.arr sirrixa.)

RA 'LW AY COMMITTEES
(THIS DAY.)

GROUP XIV.

SOUTH-EASTERN.

The Committee met to-day at twelve o'clock ; present Mr.
Protheroe (Chairman), Lord Emlyn, General Lygon, Mr. J.
O'Connell, and Mr. Grogan.
The CHAIRMAN said that the Committee were so strongly
of opinion that the business should be proceeded with at as
early a period as possible, that he would go into the House
to give notice that on Friday week, when the House of
Commons re-assembled, he should move for leave for the
Committee to sit on the Tuesday following, instead of ad -
journing to the 27th, as was originally intended. On his re-
turn the Chairman said that he had given notice of his in-
tention, but he had received an intimation from Sir George
Clerk that it would not be in his power to do so, unless the
shareholders gave a written notice that they were desirous
of proceeding at that time, and did not wish to wind up the
affairs of the Company by a mutual arrangement.