The Sun.
London, England, 1846-02-10 00:00:00

,Liv,,:ti:,,,i„H.• ,i,t, ~„,,;::i.ni,,, i,—, .
„
ion. Barom t at the coannericement of the sessien, Le
elphald net but agree in the expression of the Noble Lord
Le
late Secretary for the Colonies,and he a• a lieved the exprma n of a large majority of the
}light Roe. Baronet's colleagues, that there was re,
peouliar necessity for the rucasure. There was a'
Undou
, hted failure in the potato crop in Ireland. a
. . a;'4lllitY Which CO one mere sincerely deplored than
f.'ntn,elf, yet there was its, real greand te ~phi ele nd e
bee; in that country, for every report stated that tie,
'Arley crop was a large One. Looking at the return
Which had lately been Presentei to that Hou:,e, he found
: that between the sth July, 1845, and the sth Jan., 184 a,
above a million quarters of grain, and more than a
~,,11ndrel weight of beans, had been imported into this
there This did not look much like a famine: That
til'ere ,the no ground for an apprehension of a famine he
"ght y had ample proof in the fact, that et the time when the Right Hon. Baronet wished
ell',), °Pea the ports, the price of wheat, iu this
-"trY was 565. ad a price which the Right Hon.
8 ~
Bar himself considered in 1842 to be a fair pr,ce.
"OW, he trusted, the House would not consider that he
ilnidervalued the responsibility of a Prime Minister; fir
ill.'"'n it, he was fully alive to th anxiety whic a ;.'1!-
,ter must feel at a time whene a scarcity wash antici-
pated, and he was fully aware that at such a time, and
Mar such circumstances, a Lord Lieutenant would be
mere than usually anxious to supply the Minister with‘
lerilfa°4"tion upon a subject of a deficient. potato
had
Pai often and as frequently as possible. lie
h ,no doubt that the alarming paragraphs which
t-'
alight Hoe Baronet read to them on a former vete-
. hl°ellratle a g.reat impression ou.his mind ; but when
h 'tight lion. Baronet was considering the, quessttion,
r•fe' (:).401t tot have taken into his consideration the ate
- tne markets in this couatry.
40 ~ • . He believed there were
rarttes who watched the progress of the nation more
el° ,
i'eta, and who knew as well the probable chances of
41,-- aoandance or scarcity in the country, as the corn trier-
s Had it been the unanimous opinion of all parties
t.: 'Be subject that a famine might be anticipated, tie was
"fe the tenant farmers and landlords of the country 1
aettld havejoined with him in asking the Government
ta
atadrnit all the produce or grain Which they could pos-
t get to drive away the famine, be the consequences
;N, the act what they might; but he thought they had
heile proof in the price of wheat that there was no such
to be anticipated, and without wishing to impute,
I.e_could not help thinking, that the cause of pro-
hadl long been damned in his mind.—(Cheers.)
eY had been called upon to leak upon this question
as a
Make hole, and he was quite prepared to take up the
c„,ate, Let as a thing of detail, but as a portion of. a
tripreh,nsi the , ye policy He was quite prepared to view
he sub
in this light, and in doing so
that' °ll4
id ask whether the gentlemen sitting on
tithanrn
at-t-eer
in°lthetwheay House were ready to aban-
the nieverYthing like protection, and looking upon
in which it had been put before
them, he Would ask the tlernbers of that House whether
wo'tilawere ready to assert that in operation this measure
alt.), , Prove fair and just to every class in the comnau
•
ny 1° Plating this inquiry he had no reference to
all)articular interest, for he was equally engaged
hOti Ile knew with • what ability the Rialit
4114 cfrarable Baronet at the head of the Government
Preteeejnently urged the existence and preservation of
Ilrit' jai 'e duties. He knew what an immense amount
ight "„rtnation, after thirty years' experience, that
k 'lon. Gentleman must have attained.—(Cheers.)
j4tighttw at the same time with what readiness that
,eet, '' 4.,0ra Baronet could change, his views of a sub-
la that with With what talent he was ready to advocate 1
thett;' douse the opinions he now entertained.—(Loud 1
11%1.) He should wish to know whether the
Ikea thernhers of that House, who were now so ready to
Lliev,„" Right Hen Baronet at the head of the
1 the tnent as his Hen.
proceedings, had•been moved '4 th`,t interest or their convictions to the. present lit
re
th ,n 1 9
ett He would wish t) know how many of them
tee
month
ht ,iat. ago were prepared to abandon pro-
-oss t duties,
and to agree with so much readi-
S°' f €.e"() vote the doctrines and practice
it atl.c„44,'• Re really thought the answer would
~e.a..(La.sa.,rtous contrast between profession and prac-
Ole% ""a cneers.) He wished to know how many
aoto, at that time were prepared to vote with the
41%4 eeloer for Wolverhampton—(:Mr. Villiers)?—how
that"
01 the for
had at that time opposed the measures of
lin S(itati"aarl and of the Honourable Member
ill'ang--"-Port (sh
Cobden)?—(Loud cheers.) A
Nell •ehange had. craneover the views of these gen-
.
,tph__ Withiathe
thraeat,
ea last three years, for there were nogreater
14 who", the views of the-e Hon. Gentlemen thin
laNht, for now their most efficient supporters. ale
it' eortra r 'llB own part, that if any such great change
,t.'iorad bias their minds, as they now represented that
tillttlitiA ave been their duty to appeal to their can
41,14te 'ista'ud imitate the example of the Noble Lord,
~,t hav enl her for Dorsetshire. They would. then a
th't,".l(ll4:Placed themselves in a. right position—they.
Tails on,,,,ajiven an opportunity for the termination of
~..."Ine-t'',Liaelits, and in the succeeding session of
11,`°011 of 'OY woald have stood before the country
oalteuld a,c'itn"r, principle, and truth. But what, now
t 4„ 'lneE, „ ,was the position of Parliament? What
114,7c4b1y ? old be placed in the proceedings of a public
sad tergi ''or his own part, lie thought that when
tll.o%44vinthefeeeti:tohl:::stritai°,:::
IT
hhiis, IV:i.3 piactisetl, there was
_an
%vire h_ P.uhlie eeinmenee it; public men. The
question the mitre he was
the
th,„,., Pl'oposittons which had emanated
hater Pa.rlia.,.,llZ-",t ought not to be allowed to pass
htlitry
Was t'Vit fore the deliberate opinion of the
Pp,e°llld not agree with respect to them.—(Cheers.)
tlik:sed snot
a "g,l•o° itl the opinion which had been ex-
tih.:' tha Prose le Right Hon. Baronet (Sir Robert Peel)
t1:101y o,,,erlAY they had recently enjoyed was
8141 time
,"t9; Jo the measures he bad brought forward
cit:tiffsirs Loof tune._
(Hear, hear.) Look at the state of
11l (Lem j. this country when the Noble Lord oppo-
%pit ti • Russell) retired from office, and when the
4'4 he heliouraule
Baronet was called to fill the
141:550t.1i0 ehi.d. At his accession great confidence was
ill trade "oints ; he had a large majority in that House;
tilkiii4 State e the country was in a critical state
kttree of wh,ox the greatest depression, the real conse-
wlii„l,ted to le,h was; in his (Mr. Miler's) opinion, to be
Deri'„"., hitd ~..elad harvests, and to the immense trade
i‘'' th' tj4),"4 Place for vears before. It was at this
4ti„,"as‘te"„"e,lo-I'.ge a,mount of capital invested in rail-
t4!;(., " to what to answer. They had seen since that
0 er,,iatL ektent speculation in railways had gone.
6S keg el'a-va foreseen the gr,at increase which
e lake grease in railways—no ore mull have fore-
'4o. Luottrn-„,tit,emPloyment which they have given to
14 '1°0; tt; -riteT-sses.—(ll,-ar.) So great was the demand
~,kc„_ '4 ~-: in connexion with these great works,
tsar my
counties in England none could be !N th. the ordinary purposes of
'tl had the
l'
4t
• 'Y
must look to the great in-
brielr - u - iron trade. The price of 3,:e1l More than doubled within the last two
1 1'44 4's, and • • 'Ake ays
_,, . it he might judge from the number
slattt4 datin v'tnich would receive the assent of the
',1.1t or the present session, a relapse in that de-
,‘gbktihglile t° de could not be apprehended at least for
• ta- which- c"nie• Let them look at the increased
\ztht Zithoi this in. crease in the iron trade would have
iN'* cos e trade of the country. In this trade
t,"%hth°,t. those engaged in it had been trebled.
~,44;ithty-j,,t"Y took these things into consideration,
'''ll,„-"Vilv,-"W the periodical fluctuation of prices which
Itil'.l'lll4l,-11 taken -place—when they saw the increased
11,7ttLas '„- Which must result from the great activity
.4
-°,4 ..q1 as i ther trades and which was quite
ktlslttr - 4 of t n," • A la 1 ,he Right Hon. Baronet's measures—that
85,,,, at., cdma 1,
u_sq h -w„ ead terminated—that trade had been
'e IR "'at they had had a succescion of
116 Niqh Nltg ..
ttj-I,') aid-g, Since the Right Honourable Baronet's.
i 4 -..Q.4;,°,,,, Llee—wheti he knew all this
Otik"latilzioetteve that all these advantages were
WT,!'laPtior, „: 44 the Right Hon. Baronet stated, to
4.41 mhoad -` the measures which he had brought
14 th,Ny or
tol.arried through the House.—(Cheers.)
Oft tibl gese advantages would h.nve taken place
, ~,ee.--.41. L rd
PI") -ert.i.4oarclN oPposite (Lord J. Lassen) hind been
aa,Detatba expolft Yeitlic-r could he believe that large,
e,;:t."ata'• r Th:l,llelkna were evidences of the country s
ll'otht?4 44- Itkviii, "441 seen foreign markets—the
ke;,l r Qu•otber T:4l of China—glutted with the
Il't' ill e ' -11.0 8 "% CIS. of this country, which i
geld Which WehTgidt_eringijltith9 time to be got rid of !
ItIt) 41sar he telt e details of this measure, the firstli
la te ka, e the il bound to notice was corn. e
oolies ~`401.1.s ,i,
•ttli -oar -0, the be that it was not his intention to
tailkt ileeasrlli acle oa eeight [lon. Baronet which he had
41),,,t11ei, tt sleney , at question, so as to charge hint I
aye44oh„eoer w" tilitt subject —(Hear.) He knew
Vititii.r 11 would have no weight with the tlou,,e
lart'llttebtlll his Principles had told them that he lead
'/:t' ',il,' -I' which' es, and that he now proposed to
kit''''"t Ho- he himself lead passed in 1842.
11ij414 '1444 11.
liaronet
1 ta, hi,t b, Ists of th coniadered that ess
ta vir et- atria, a: "e coUntry, he (Mr. Miles) for one
h qr l'irtri4, 11.'41, but he . 1
rti 84, is 0ni,.., coa el not consent ,
..
to follow
\(,, I'lls to h4' he bAy'",l so suddenly.—(Cheers.) The
liti, orr 40 Ivo - ''r!, had been admitted by all
th,a, ak) It !iced well as fa the corn-laws went.
D '4,..}1!1d, a had eon, ras
!tati'.t it 3 far ~. ULU-T(1 to great steadiness of katctitaa, had an 3,4,7 'Hunan calculation could go, he
ba, kt k 1111der ti';red the Right Hon. Baronet's ex-
al
leil a, Mee -at law the Itie-ht on. Baronet had
41 i ii%/.„44 he ( Not 1 565. a' b • 6 air•' f the
!- t-4 ...r, mil • s emg a i price or .
1-c 4t4 e'er iet What ~., es) would like to ask the Right
Lill hAtiee ,Ow,...._(aice he Considered a fair price for
fVett soap-le aim, , eers.) He would he glad to know
'4l 'Ll.der , at under a repeal of that law ?
Ile n'' to that this
1/441,, lies the f measure profered such great
Nkl4 •or 15, farmer as to compensate him for the
ai'Posita
~'• a quarter for corn, which Hon. Gni-
rce (fir 04411 t;ttlePP?sed ? But the Hon. Gentleman
Zaell,,P. Q 1 Would pie he did not consider that the
ttir,,,,,,4liiattn„..4sleia)
a.,kqetherediu,.cresd by_ this measure. Might
a,atia;Aet.,4‘v ? gild „.",i,t3ht_.llon. Baronet why he
Oil) lit (4 ...g00(1, to ht
tne Bight Hon. Baronet's ar-
?l4 1,, tion. , ignt he ask what became of the
ttl)ttilitt4ll ? Th"eenitim,en opposite with respect to the
tti 4tki b,1,1"e StOr '
git Honourable Gentleman
. att ilk ta,a, Y, and Honourable Gentlemen
lika, tltt Phrti, "' another. Was he not justified, then,
ll ' V kid •4 t° livsit ,
u-fore they a,ked for that
la aa 'ldea - ate
‘'I)P-"lt.' *as u'lng the co of his conviction.
Pr ant •ed t, no „e,es
.. untry
51 ~4 oat
th - stty fur the Proposed change ?
tie4l4, 444 ,Preducerre was avast difference between
the ~, _. ,-• b.- ...._ 0,,
~,1,4t.. hi.,,,.. tilt ina_ 7 gt,? a harvests and cheapness
i' a,„, ant
andea.ta,,at ion of corn. He was afraid
iii
'l,, Baronet had been misled in his
ft4l'clitt Which 'tad over-estimated the pros
• k.:,, 1,, , utimait„this country had been peced
ruetal`4r. j'et, 1, -, on this snbject an authority
edt:4'''d e meant N
ita Is ti. Produc ~ . Ir. Huskissol,—had said,
til '"° eu by i ort-
'lT a ion of corn train
a4raipph,
,sure f
, 1,,, ~ :orerun
ail , SIR, ,_„.. - tile or 1 nrr of scarcity, but a steady
tt4 a,
tiyateesa, „ '•Y safe fouladati f .
Wth gOIAht il''' ( Ntihierhseck Miles)shouwiinobf:tgrhiaavtetenC:ll3ln iat, Fe,
et ''''._ that:,
corn "
1 Country, fur hero con-

~__

,__

'internment wee one that affected the merchant, the eeived no state so critical as that of being de-
• • s hour ee see h eroe) i. eelent up. n Foreieners for a supply of corn. What-
eser tee reselt ; e etereseees eeeht he, reeee
no man count' feretel. Dis own opinion was, that it
would lead to a greater fluctuation in prices than lied
ever been known--(Hear)—and that before long Hen.
Members night expo er, to see the Right Hon. Baronet
at the head of the Government coming down to the
House to propose some measures to regulate trade.—
(Hear, hear.) He believed that if the proposal of the
Right Hon. Baronet were passed into a law it wonlii
have tee eff,ct of reducing the capital of the traders os
this country ; and, consequently, the amount of English
speculation and enterprise ; and thrther, that the scheme
would be found to be of far greeter advantage to the
foreign than to our own manufacturers.— (Hear,
hear.) He could not pretend to say that he had
never been of a contrary opinion, but his belief at the
present time was that it would lead to agricultural dis-
tress ; that it would also tend to lower wages in this
country—e(llear)—and that the working classes would
find themselves injured before the higher orders. If
the proposal of the Right Hon. Baronet passed the House
they might henceforth consider free trade to be the ruling
principle of her Majesty's Government—(Opposition
cheers)—and that sooner or later every interest must
how before it.—(Hear, hear.) When they had removed
erstecAon from agricultural produce he could not see
with what justice the House could continue :protection
upen any other.—(Hear, hear.) He felt convinced that
the shipping interest and all other interests must give up
all claim to protection.—(Hear.) Of what use would their
navigation laws then be ? The get atest interests in the
country must be neglected if this removal of agricultural
could
not
foresee, iiad be protection should take place. Where the sweeping
ir)t)(r6rkeerlit
down,wa h
s t o een d
,for one
when theoubarriers
lie felt convinced
thaat if justice were .to
be done to all parties,
no protection should
continue in the event of the present Government
scheme being carried into effect.—(Hear, hear.) If they
took the case of the Noble Lord opposite (Lord J. Rus-
sell)—if he were to come into power again, he (Mr.
Miles) felt confident that the Noble Lord must outbid
the Right Honourable Baronet—(Hear, hear)—or
if he did not intend to do that, he (Mr. Miles)
would be glad to hear from him what were his opinions
upon the subject. Let him (Mr. Miles) take the case of
the Anti-Corn-law League. Would they dissolve ?
Would they retire into private life ?—(Loud laughter.)
Would the lion. Member for Stockport—would the Hon.
Member for Durham—cease to agitate ? Was he (Mr.
Miles) not to suppose that others would rise up in their
places to agitate some other question ?—(Hear.) He
thought that if those opinions were once sanctioned by
the Legislature, others of a similar nature would quickly
meet with determined advocates.—(Hear, hear.) He
thought that the Right Hon. Baronet would find that
he had only fanned the flame whilst he fancied he
was extinguishing it.—(Hear, hear.) But when we
had got this free trade, as proposed by the Right Hon.
Baronet, (which he would certainly call a one-sided
free trade.)—(Hear, hear)—if he rightly understood the
Right Hon. Baronet he meant this, that every Euro-
pean, every foreign, nation should be allowed to import
their goods into this country free of duty without any
corresponding advantage in return—he thought that the
manufacturers of this country would find it exceed-
ingly difficult to compete with foreign nations un-
less they reduced the wages of their labourere—
(Hear, hear)—for already we were successfully com-
peted with by the foreign markets—by those of Ger-
many, Switzerland, and France, in cotton goods, in
hosiery, and in silks—(Hear, hear)—and unless this;
country had some additional advantage over foreign
countries, it would be impossible for the manufacturers
of this country successfully to compete with them.
We have heard, also, from the Right Hon. Baronet at
the head of her Majesty's Government that the price el
food does not affect the rate of wages—(Hear, hear)—
and he considered it not at all unlikely that agricultural
sabourers would be employed upon railways, and other
works,' at a far higher rate of wages than was now paid
to them. The manufacturer possessed great advantages
over the agriculturist. He had an establishment much
better adapted for the purposes of supervision, and he
could look upon all his workmen at one glance—each
has his appointed place, and each his allotted task. What
cares the manufacturer what weather takes place? What
is it to him if the sun shines or the rain pours down?
But, Sir, can we say so of the farmer? Can he look
with one glance upon his farm and his workmen? Is
he subject to no vicissitudes of weather? Is lie sure of
reaping what he has sown? Does he alwae s
obtain his twelve hours' work from his la
bourers, as these manufacturers do ? Can
he limit their labour and sternly demand of them
their twelve hours' toil ?—(Hear, hear.) Or do they
sternly refuse to allow a reduction of two hours in their
daily labour as these manufacturers do ?—(Hear,
hear.) Much might be said to show that there was
between the agricultural and the manufacturing interest
those differences which would not admit of their being
governed by the same laws and the same principles.—
(Hear, hear.) It would task the energies of the labourers
to the utmost if protection were to be taken from
them. Again, what advantagoehave the manufacturers over
the agriculturist with reference to the burdens they
both had to bean? He held in his hand a return from
oe'e of the largest manufacturers of cotton in the country.
In that return he found that the amount of the work
turned out in one year amounted to a trifle more than
700,0001., that the wages paid during that wes 30,000/.,
and the whole amount of the burdens amounted to the
small sum of 550/., a sum scarcely worth noticing.—
(Hear, hear) When he looked at the compensation
offered to the landed interest for this protection
which they were called upon now to give up,
the consolidation of highways, the payment of medical
officers, making together a trifling sum of some three
or four hundred thousand pounds, spread over the whole
kingdom in such a manner as scarcely to be felt, he
considered they would have been more pleased •if the
Right lion. Baronet had offered them nothing at all.
They were told by her Majesty's Goverhment that in
the West India colonies tree labour had done much for
that part of the world.—(Cheers from the Opposition.)
He would not detain the House with contrary proofs.
They would be told that in the next year, or before
the year forty-eight, that the West India colonies would
derive benefit from free trade.—(Hear, hear.) But, Sir,
if they were to get free trade he would ask what use were
the colonies?—(Hear.) He had no objection to extend the
principle of free trade, but the Government did not
propose to extend the principle of free trade to the
colonies. If they did, why did they not propose to take
off the duty on their corn, their maize, and their other
commodities, which they could send into this country in
abundance ?—(Hear.) Why did they not give greater
advantages to the colonies than they now propose.
of 31 total repeal of protective duties were advantageous
to the country ?=(Loud cheers.) They gave the traders,
merchants, and manufacturers of this country a decided
preference over the colonies.—(Hear, hear.) If they
were to have free. trade they should in justice extend it
to the colonies also. They should no longer-allow the
manufacturers of this country to have a monopoly.
They must enable their colonies to form a connexion
independent of this country.—(Hear and cheers from the
Opposition.) They had heard the system characterised
as a system of fair play, and they were told that
the colonies were treated fairly, and that the pros-
perity of the country depended on the meesure
of the Right Honourable Baronet.—(lronical cheers.)
He feared that the manufacturers of this country were
too much stimulated, and that it was not safe to extend
the enterprise of individuals; and he was sure the pro-
gress of trade would prove his fears were not unfounded.
He felt and begged to emphatically
state, that
he believed he was advocating the best in-
terest of this country, both the manufacturers
and the agriculturists, and every class of British sub-
jecls, by their advocating protective duties.—(Cheers.)
He begged to move the amendment of which he bad
already giving notice.
Sir WILLIAM lIEATHCOTE would ask per-
mission to second the amendment moved by the
Honourable- Member who had just sat down.
He considered the measure of the Minister insufficient
when taken separately, and destructive of each other
when combined. They overlooked the evil of shak-
ing the settlement of that very House of Parlia-
ment upon the question which was now before them.
He believed that the Minister, in proposing these mea-
sures, had the best interests of the country in view; but
he intended to oppose them, as ho believed them pre-
judicial to those very interests. He did not consider
the measures of the Minister a large, or liberal, or im-
partial scheme for carrying out the principles of free
trade, for he was forced to remember that pro-
tective duties were removed from some articles, whilst
on others a very inadequite reduction had been made.
But, if he did consider them impartial, he would be disposed
to object to them, as he believed they would be a step in
the downward course. He believed that the legislation
for the last twenty years had been productive of evils
far beyond what were generally observed—the poison
had been concealed, but it was not the less dangerous.
But it was not impartial —it was anything but, so. It
was not so in appearance, and it was less so in
reality. It was not in appearance, because it did
not profess to take an adequate ratio in the removal
of protective impositions. If the different branches
of industry were to have protection in proportion to the
amount of manual labour employed in them, then that
department in which most manual labour wits ex-
pended had least protection. Those branches of labour
where machinery was employed did not require any
—(Hear)—and by the measure contemplated to be
brought in by the Government agriculture was left
without any protection at all. The measure co-Amu-
plated was based on a misunderstanding of the whole
enbject.—(Hear, hear.) The farmer, in comparison with
other persons engaged in industrial occupations in his
own country, and with foreign agriculturists, was not
in the same advantageous position. He will be found
exposed to a very unequal pressure cf taxation. He
was obliged to submit to a large amount of local expen
diture, which in foreign countries was defrayed at the
general charge.— (Hear.) At that moment also he was
under the pressure of the income-tax--under the stamp
laws ; he will also be found under a weight of heavy
indirect taxation in the Customs and Excise.
It will be found, . too, that while the manu-
facturers are able to have quick returns for the
capital they have embarked, the agriculturist has to watt
a long time before he receives any return.—(Hear.)
He (Sir. W. H.) referred to those details for the purpese o
considering the great question of compensation. —( hear.)
He could us.t agree with that view which would place
the country at the mercy of the foreign growers of
corn. He could not forget that the farmers of this
country had for the last fifty years met the wants of the
consumers of corn produce according to the protection
which had been afforded them. He had supported
Ministers in their Canadian policy, but he could not
support them in a measure which would work to the dis-
advantage of the interest of the country generally.
Her Majesty's Ministers were now about to
part with all those commercial advantages which
Napoleon, in the plenitude of his power,
would have considered cheap if purchased by half the