The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-12 00:00:00

FEBRUARY 12, 1851.

Sir Rot,eet Peel sail taken int,.
el the reeee I of ineee la s the COUltiltz-
tation of tithes.—(Hear, bear.) Wheat was then at
58s. Bd. a quarter. Sir Robert Peel said that he had
not, for he did not expect that any change would be
made in the price of corn.—(Hear, bear.) Yet within
less than seven years it was ascertained that such was
the working of the Act for reducing the corn-laws
that it was not now more than 455. a quarter, and he left
it to the judgment of the gentlemen on either side of
the House to say whether it was, under present circum-
stances, likely to be higher. Sir Robert Peel had
emphatically expressed it as his opinion that the repeal
of the corn-laws would make no alteration, or at least
not any material alteration, in the price of wheat. And
yet you have seen the results of Imperial legislation on
the important class whose interest I am advocating.
Sir Robert Peel had plainly expressed his opinion upon
this point, and the Hon. Gentlemen opposite were not
without their share of responsibility, for the Right
Honourable Gentleman the Secretary at War had
openly and explicitly expressed similar opinions.
That Right Hon. Gentleman informed the House that
the Scotch farmers had not the slightest fear of compe-
tition with the foreigner; and he alluded to a case
which had recently occurred of a farm in the county of
East Lothian, called East Barnes, which had been let at
an increased rent, but observed that it had
been let to a person of energy and enterprise. Now,
I happened to look over a Scotch Liberal paper lately,
and there I found it stated that the rent of this man of
energy and enterprise had been reduced by no less a
sum than 6501. (Hear, hear) showing that
even a Scotch farmer may be liable to error
as well as an English farmer. That Minis-
ter, whose opinions on such a subject would
naturally have considerable influence on the House, had
always shown the least reserve on the subject; and he
was sure if sanguine statements and cheering calcul e-
tions from the Chancellor of the Exchequer could com-
pensate even for the absence of protection, they had not
been spared, but indeed expended on the soil with an
exuberant generosity which could not be excelled. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer was not only hopeful, but
announced that the consequences which he did not fore-
see were only occasioned by what he called exceptional
circumstances—now the harvest is short, now it is ex-
uberant, but whether plentiful or sterile, unfortunately
for the owners and occupiers of the soil, whose
difficulties are now recognized graciously by the Sove-
reign, unfortunately for this important class of
her Majesty's subjects, the result was always
the same, whether there was peace or whether there was
war, whether the continent was in convulsions ur in a
state of tranquillity, the same effect was always pro-
duced in Mark-lane.--(Hear.) In 1848 the Chancellor
of the Exchequer favoured the • House with a most
successful expression ot his economical opinion, and
cleared awes all the difficulties which beset the question.
He did this on a motion in which I first etideavoured to place
before the House that long-perverted question of local
burdens.—(Hear, hear.) 't he Chancellor ot the Ex-
chequer, in his speech on that cccesion, in which,
haveig dispatched the question of local nut dens, which he
treated with ell his facility aed ability, he gave us his
matured seutiment eud the matured eplinen 01 the
Cabinet on what he called agricultural distress.
The Cabinet acknowledged that agricultural distress
existed in 1849; but then they said it was principally
mot vexatious to the south of Englend, though that it
prevailed to a certain extent in all parts was
not denied But the Cabinet, by the mouth
of u Financial Minister accounted for that distress:—'. He
(the Chancellor of the Exchequer) was inclined to think
that the present depreciation in the price of agricultural
produce was very much occasioned by alarm."—
(Laughter.) The sympathy of his supporters excited
him to a still stronger expression of opinion, and in
the next five minutes he said, "he thought there was
aounclant reason to believe that the present prices were
unduly lowered by the language used at recent agricultural
meetings."—(Laughter.) I believe he even intimated that
the principal cause of depression of agricutural prices was
some speeches which were made by my Hon. Friend the
Member for Staaford.—([fear, hear.) But the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer said there were other things
to be considered besides the price of grain.
But what was the average of 1848, from which I sup-
pose the Cabinet drew their calculations in 1849
that this was merely a temporary depression,
which would last only for a short time? 11 have the
averages of 1848 as quoted by the Right Hon. Gentle-
man, and I have the averages of 1850; let us compare the
two, and see whether there was aey good reason for
him to tell us that that depression was only temporary.
In 1848 the average price of beef was 4s. sid., in 1850
it was 3s. Bd.; so that, after two years of only temporary
depression, we are now in a worse condition than we were
then. The average price for mutton in 1848 was ss. 2d.,
while in 1850 it was only 4s. 2d. My only object in
referring to the opinion of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, is to show that Right Hon. Gentlemen
that it may be possible to arrive at erroneous opinions
upon that important subject, and then, therefore: when
great men on both sides have formed erroneous opinions, it
is more the duty of this House to say whether they
cannot discover the cause of this depression and pene-
trate the reasons of this anomaly.—(Hear, hear.)
Unfortunately the Right Honourable Gentleman was
not in his place when the subject was discussed last
year; but the Lard President of the Council, a
statesman second to none in judgment, and, from
his position in the country, and connexion
with the landed interest, the object of respect and
affection to a large class, that Noble Lord, before an
august assembly, told the House that the depres-
sion had been caused only by exceptional causes.
which would not last many weeks. That eminent states-
' man informed the House this time:last year that the idea
of the continuance of imports into this country was quite
absurd.—(Cheers.) Well, Sir, when we have men
of such high position in the country, who give
all their attention to these subjects, and act
under a sense of the great responsibility attached
to everything which may fall from their lips—
when we have Ministers of the Crown deceived
in like manner as their predecessors, it is an additional
reason why the House of Commons should endeavour to
fulfil their duty, and arrive at a more sound and cautious
conclusion than those who are our models and leaders.---
(Hear, hear.) I do not for a moment accuse the
present Government of not having given great attention
to this subject. It is not merely that we have the recorded
opinions of the Secretary at War upon Scotch
farming, nor that the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer and the Marquis of Lansdowne have applied
themselves to this important question, but there are
members of the Government not occupying positions so
eminent, nor fulfilling functions so responsible, who have
devoted their intelligence to the investigation of ibis
subject, and favoured the House with their conclusions
ou ie I mean the Member for Westbury; he is a
member of the Administration, justly dis-
tinguished for statistical acqua ements and economical
information, and I may say this sincerely, that I know
no man who has mote successfully demonstrated that
that which has happened ought not to have occurred.—
( Shouts of laughter.) The Honourable Gentleman, the
Member for Westbury, proved, last year, that all the im-
importations had ruined the importers (A laugh) and no
gentleman has done more to prove . that France could not
send us a quarter, and that the greedy millions of the
United States were ready to devour all the grain that
could be produced in the Mississippi valley.- (Hear, hear.)
But, Sir, notwithstanding all these assertions and predic-
tions, the difficulties of that importaut class, the owners and
occupiers of the soil, do still continue.--(Hear, hear.) The
mention of the United States recall also to my mind that
there are other parties to statements like these—and men,
too, whose opinions have influenced legislation. There is in
this House a country Member—a gentleman representing an
agricultural constituency, but who is intimately acquainted
with all the interests of commerce—one of the merchants in
the world, the Member for South Lancashire (Mr. W.
Brown). I well remember that Hon. Gentleman telling us
that the English producer had no reason to apprehend danger
from foreign importations, inasmuch as he would have a
natural protection in the article of freight. The Member
for South Lancashire says that freights, with reference to
any danger to be apprehended by importations from the
United States, are equivalent to a protection of lls. per
quarter. But, Sir, how does that turn out? Is the fact so?
On the contrary, an eleventh part of those eleven shillings
would more accurately describe the result.—(Cheers.) And
then, as regards the Continent of Europe, and places more
contiguous to our own country, we have arrived at this re-
sult, that freight is no protection whatever—(Hear, hear)---
and that the expense of the transport from the Continent to
England is not greater than from port to port in this country.
—(Hear, hear.) Now, Sir, Ido not say this with a view
to build upon it an argument in favour of retracing our steps.
That is not the argument I am going to introduce. The
legislation which you have adopted may be beneficial; but
still—politic as may have been your course, and beneficial
as may have been its consequences—you cannot deny
that all your estimates have been wrong, and all
your calculations erroneous. (Cheers and laughter )
After five years experience, I cannot resist the conclusion
that, in those great controversies which led to this legisla-
' tion, great injustice was done to the character and conduct of
the British farmer.— (Hear, hear.) In all those discussions,
and in the preliminary agitation out of doors, representa-
tions were made to this excited community which, unfor-
tunately, but unjustly, conveyed the impression that the
farmer was an unskilful and slothful man.—(Hear, hear.)
It could not be denied, that under the abrogated system,
whose virtues I am not now eulogising, and whose policy I
am not now vindicating, there were some great facts which
none could gainsay, though few would listen to. It could not
be denied that the British farmer however stigmatised, had
succeeded in raising from the soil a greater amount of pro-
duce than any other cultivator in any part of the world—
(Hear, hear)—and it could not be denied that the acre which
at the time of the American war yielded twenty bushels of
wheat, yielded, at the time the corn-laws were repealed,
thirty-two bushels.—(Hear, hear.) It could not be denied
that, within the apace of a quarter of a century—from 18c1
to 1845 the population of this country had increased at the
rate of 82 per cent., and the produce of wheat at the rate of
64 per cent. - (Cheers.) It could not be denied that these
men, who we were daily and nightly told were so deficient
in energy and enterprise, had themselves, in 1845—at a time
when not one of them dreamed that their protection would
be withdrawn—imported from the remote coasts of the Pa-
cific a curious, novel, and valuable manure, to the amount
of 4,000,000 cwt.—(Hear, hear.) Let us, after five years,
do justice to the characters of these men. They were told
that their compensation was to be increased production from
the soil. I remember when the eminent Minister who pro-
duced that change remarked no doubt under the convic-
tion
of some great inevitable necessity, but, doubtless,
also with some pangs for the cies, that had been. accustomed
to look up to him as their defender,—l remember when he
said, that it was in the increased production of the soil that
the British farmer would find his compensatian ; and that
he had such confidence in the progress of science, and in
their energy, as to feel that they would be able to battle
with and to keep down all the difficulties with which they
might have to contend. Yes, Sir, 1 remember Sir Robert
Peel saying, that no man could have failed to see drat the
power of production of the soil was but half developed.
But it is notorious that the theory of mineral manures that
was to be the source of compensation for the cultivators
of our own soils—it is notorious that that theory of
mineral manures has broken down—(Hear, hear)—that it
is not succeeded by any other, and that it is recognised to
have been founded on a great fallacy, and utterly un-
productive of the results that were looked for from its ap-
plication. I remember that, when this great coatroyersy

!,)rs•ierr.

t7.nn ,frt,et

THE FRANCHISE.
Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEY wished to ask Lord John
Russell whether it was the intention of her Majesty's
klinisters to take any steps, during the present session,
to extend the right of voting for Members of this
House to other portions of the adult male population of
these realms than those now in possession of the elec-
tive franchise under the provisions of the Reform Act;
or whether there was any intention to amend the defi-
ciencies of the Reform Act of 1832?
Lord JOHN RUSSELL—Sir, in answer to the two
questions of the Hon. Gentleman, I can say, in the
tirst place, that it is not the intention of her Majesty's
Ministers to take any steps in the present session to
extend the right of voting for Members to sit in this
House.—(oh, oh.) With regard to the second questien,
whether there is Ether intention to amend the deficiencies
of the Reform Act of 1832, I have on a pre-
vious occasion expressed my opinion to the
House that there were certain amendments to the Re-
form Bill which I thought it was desirous to make,
with a view to the extension of the franchise.—(Hear,
hear.) I still retain that opinion, and I shall certainly
carry it out when I think the proper time has arrived
for doing so.—(ob, oh: and laughter.)
DESTRUCTION OF WORKHOUSES IN
SUFFOLK.
Mr. GRANTLEY BERKELEY wished to ask the
Right Honourable Baronet the Secretary of State
for the Home Department, whether Government
had received any intelligence relative to a rather
remarkable riot which was said to have taken
place in Suffolk. It was reported that a workhouse
had been destroyed by the paupers, and the military
were called out to quell the riot.
Sir G. GREY—I have received no information
whatever.
Mr. BANKES would be glad to know of the Right
Hon. Gentleman the president of the Poor-law Board
whether he had received any information of this serious
affair. Was it possible that a riot of this nature could
take place without either the Secretary of State for the
Home Department, or the president of the Poor-law
Board receiving any information about it.
Mr. BAINES saw the paragraph in the newspapers
at nine o'clock this morning, and he had made inquiry
about it, but no information had been received.
EAST INDIA COMPANY.
Mr. ANSTEY gave notice of his intention, on a
future day, to move an address to the Crown on the
subject of the East India Company and the government
of their territories, and praying her Majesty to send out
a Commission to inquire into the subject in India, and
report their opinion to Parliament.
COURT OF CHANCERY.
Mr. STUART gave notice that on early day he should
ask the First Minister whether it was the intention
of Government to introduce without delay a Bill for the
appointment of a Vice-Chancellor in the room
of the late Vice-Chancellor Wigram. and whether
he was aware of the expense and in-
convenience suitors in the Court of Chancery
were put to in consequence of the want of a competent
judge to diecherge the judicial duties theft were lately
discharged by Vice-Chancellor Wigram.—(Hear.)
AGRICULTURAL DISTRESS.
Mr. DISRAELI said—Sir, I beg leave to move that the
conclusion of that part of her Majesty's most gracious
Speech, which refers,to the condition of the country,
be read by the Clerk at the table. (This having been
done, the Honourable Gentleman continued)—A condi-
tion of general prosperity in the country, concurrent
with a continued depression of a moat important
class of her Majesty's subjects, appears to be a
conjuncture which should make the Minister reflect.—
(Hear.) But, Sir, if such a combination of circumstance.;
be brought about by legislation, which has at the same
time produced the general prosperity and continued de-
pression, I think the subject is one which merits not
only the consideration of the Minister, but also the de-
liberation of Parliament.—(Hear, hear.) Sir, these
remarks, I think, apply to the present condi-
tion of the owners and occupiers of land in the
United Kingdom.—(Hear, hear.) It was, Sir, once
my intention to have offered to the House evi-
dence, which is in my possession, as to the
present condition of the owners and occupiers of land,
and I would have offered to the House such evidence as
could be tendered by men in various parts of the kingdom,
who are regularly and largely employed in the cultivation
of the soil—men, in their class, of the highest skill
and respectability, many of them well known to Members
sitting on both sides of the House—in Scotland and
Ireland as well as in England.—(Hear, hear.) Sir, I
feel, generally speaking, the objections to which
such evidence, however strong, and even
though certified by the names of those who respectfully
offer their testimony.—(Hear, hear.) I feel generally
the objection which such evidence is open to in
a Parliamentary discussion like this.—(Hear, hear.)
It is, Sir, in respect to that evidence that I now call the
attention of the House, and I call upon them not to
trust in their preconceived notions, or in any thoughts
which may have induced them to act, whether it be on
this side of the House or on the other; but I call upon
theta as Members of Parliament to discuss in a calm and
dispassionate spirit a matter which largely affects the
interests of the whole nation.—(Hear.) The high cha-
racter which the House ought to sustain in the country
calls for this.—(Hear, hear.) At least such is the notion
which many have willingly or unwillingly chosen to en-
tertain.—(Hear, hear.) Bat that is no sufficient answer
to the complaint which I have to make, and no answer
to the petitions of those who have suffered from the
grievous mistakes which have been made upon this sub-
ject.—(Hear, hear.) The best answer which we can,
obtain is to be derived from the effects which free trade
has produced. It is a strange thing that while the
whole of the rest of the community are enjoy-
ing, it is said, unexampled prosperity, the agri-
cultural class are suffering unexampled depres-
sion. This opinion is not confined to this side of the
House, or to the other. lam prevented, as I have said,
from the necessity of trespassing
upon your atten-
tion on this matter, fur nay observations are cur-
tailed by the admission in her Majesty's Speech
that this depression is univerval and confined to no par-
ticular class of the owners or occupiers of
land. The opinions of all were
agreed, at last, upon
the fact itself.
The very thing prima fasie carries its
own assurance that the agricultural class are severely
and constantly oppressed.--(Hear, hear.)
If that he the
case, and the complaints come not from one side alone,
Vivre is an adeitional reason why a new investigation
should be entered upon.—(Hoar,hear.) There is
ti et a third reasen why this investigation should
lie entered upon. I remember that when a Noble. Lord,
wilose pusitioti I most unworthily
occupy, had expressed
is great fear of the consequenees of the Bill which was
then about to be iutroauced into the House, and had
asked the great Minister of the day whether ho haei duly
considered the consequences of the legislation on which he
was about to enter, he aas told that little fear need
he entertained on that point.—(Hear, beer.) And this
opinion was entertained not only by gAitleaneti on this
side of the douse, but also,
if any faith were to be put
in their expressions, equally by those on the other side.
I remember that, five years ago, when the question for
the repeal of the corn-laws was mooted in this House,
Lord George Bentinek—(Hear, bear, and cheers)—had
asked a question of the great Mtniste,r of the
day as to the purport of the views which he had pro-
mulgated, and had inquired whether he was prepared to
bring in any measures to obviate the evils which must
necessarily arise from the repeal of the corn-laws.—
(Hear, hear.) Lord George Bentinak staked whether

, , bmeene,
corninence3 in thie Hoeee, r-,' the 2 trnt,tl it 2, r. cartrer'e eeee •te 77-•,t,7- ♦-I• ,!! --••,-- :1,, 7,, :•hjec., ,=l,•'''''' • _ as
question; and it was thrown into our ieetn be our eaver- as I. trust toe discussion of last eessiou is yet freeti,utur
Ito
caries that it was not a farmer's, but a landlord's question. I 1 memory of the House. At any rate, since c...
find that it is still believed that rent is looked upon as a sort debate, the truth of this question has greatly advanced:eer,
of ancient exaction-a kind of feudal tallagium, the reward (Hear.) Originally, I had to discuss the abstract
squ,:tj:d
of conquest; and that, when we talk of the difficulties and of the justice of making everybody pay to the poor.r
se
_fit
distress of owners and occupiers, if the owners of the soil it was then a matter of dispute whether or not the Isla
were prepared to sacrifice what is called rent, those of the poor was a general obligation. Since last ye evi. ,
difficulties would vanish and disappear.-( dear, and laughter.) question has greatly advanced. I have before me the gr
I should think that a majority of gentlemen on either side deuce taken by a Committee of the House of Lords
t.se is •
of this House will agree with me that in an old country where pointed to consider the question of local assessmen._•_ 1131„
there is a great breadth of land, and where cultivation is the case of the Goverpment, as represented by the as
has
carried on to so great an extent, rent is an economical Member for Herefordshire (Mr. Cornwall Lewis), '4
"tbotight•
result as certain and inevitable as harvest is a natural result brought to this question all those powers of dzenand
that
following seed-time.-(Hear.) The only way by which you which have distinguished him in all his pursuits, .he0t.,...
can terminate rent is, to throw every soil out of cultivation talent for investigation for which he is Pre'emble Sofa but the very best-( Hear)-and the only way by which you (Cheers.) And what is the acknowledgment of t
whole
can prevent the very best from paying rent is, by loading it Member for Herefordshire? He has given 3p the,. _veal •
with such imposts as that, after production, nothing is left question. - (Loud cheers.) [The Hon. Member reacot" it
that"'
for the average return of the capital employed.-(Hear.) extracts from the evidence ot Mr. Lewis, to the effect
b°4111..
Now, if that is a thing which science sanctions, I want to was neither just nor equitable to make taxes which Ana eattet '
know what becomes of that barbarous outcry against rent national character locally chargeable, the practice ene" tore
from persons who are great authorities on such questions as of collection being the only formidable obstacle to %wore
these-(Hear) -and if it is not a vulgar error we are circu- equitable practice.] The Hon. Member, viewing tA! talent
lating among that community whom we ought to lead and to tent subject ot local taxation with that ability at,l,
at, the
enlighten, when we hold out to masses of the people that for which he is always distinguished, has arrive"! agO!,.
any endeavour to seek redress for the difficulties of the very truth which was scarcely tolerated two years
gree't°
owners and occupiers of the soil is only an attempt to (Loud cheers.) I have now to recur in a certain doe_ he. _
maintain the rents of the landlords?-(Loud cheers.) I local burdens, but it will be to some which I have n ',with
think that the whole tendency of our laws is to tofore dwelt upon-burdens on the land not mixecleubileetel
pluck out a class from the agricultural hierarchy, local revenue. I could go at great length into the "view of
and to bring our agricultural community again to two tithe, but time will only permit me to sketch yonee.aestioll .•
classes-the proprietor and the peasant.-(Hear, hear.) its bearings. I have already referred to the conflm_',":ses in
Sir, I have thought this House would excuse me if I yen- made to the first Minister of the Crown on the' euind the
, tured to make these somewhat preliminary observations be- 1-4 o by Lord George Bentinek. I need not rem then
fore calling attention to the subject I wish so sincerely to House that the fall in agricultural produce is greater,
ele
the t:riee of
adhere to in the subsequent discussion, my object being to was then assumed by that eminent statesman as
bring this House to this point-on both sides to forget the result in the change of the law, as described by
.theoce too
past, and not to allow the feeling of controversies that have a quarter of wheat being 455. Now it is little,_,ll in price
now endured for more than five sessions to affect the clear- 375.-( Hear.) What is the consequence of a fall
„charge
ness of their mental vision, but in a temperate and impartial upon the tithe commutation burden? The tithe rep:be 1001 '
spirit to endeavour to recognize the causes of the distress appointed for the year 1851 is 961. Ils. sd. for, 12 lido
that afflicts a suffering portion of the community, and if pos- But the farmer only receives, at present prices, 73‘,4:1001.;
sib's, to find a remedy for it.-( Hear.) And, Sir, that there the difference at this moment being 231. Ss. 6d. '
ont Well
may be no mistake as to what ms- object is in this motion, I and in order to realise that difference he has to sellrese-
beg to state what that object really is.-(Hear.) In the quarters of wheat.-(Loud cheers.) According to Poor
first place, it is not, as we have been recently told, a debate prices, then, under the law of tithe commutation the t of
on the condition of the people. I find the condition of the has to pay on every 100/. a forfeit of twelve clunerotej ine
People described in those paragraphs of the Speech wheat. That is the effect of tithe commutation. P,..f dare
from the Throne that have, at my request, been read at the not going to dwell on that point ; for the
table. I accept that condition of the people. It is one of commutation, though a grievous, is but a transient ;lel•
tiee
general prosperity,coucurrent with the suffering of a parti- wish rather to point out the action of tithe, irreif and
cular class. Do , not tet me, then, be met to-night with re- of commutation, on the cultivation of the 50 ii JO
ports of PoorelaW Commissioners or of Registrar-Generals.- on the owners as well as the occupiers. '
the°.
(Hear, hear.) I trust that no Gentleman will rise to-night, been held by the greatest political economists, that
rteere)
and say that this motion is a direct or indirect attack on amounts to a rate of not less than 5 per cent.---('hy SP
the new commercial system.-(Hear, hear.) It is in cone I will react a few extracts from a work on taxatien'ereeer""
sequence of your commercial system--(Hear, hear) - that I el`Culloch, bearing on this suleject. He is a Nei- dews°
have made this motion, to adapt, if I can, the posi- he Was a free-trader before many Honourable Gen_ witit
tion of the owners and occupiers of the soil to that in this House were free-traders. He has writteso tee
commercial system. Nor let any Gentleman support me great ability on the subject, and he is particularinh2iPeas 6
to-night, under the idea that this is an attempt to bring the talent with which he sums up evidence. He an
back protection in disguise.-(Hear, hear.) Nothing of pupil of Ricardo, a great and original thinker, and .tine iii
the kiud. I adhere to what I said last year on that subject, ornament ot this House. • Mr. M'Culloch was ,v 7 carte
effect u_,l. /
severely, strictly, religiously.-(Cheers.) I said that I 1845, previous, be it remembered, to the repeal of ireero
could not, in this Parliament. make any attempt to bring laws, and speaking of the effect of tithes upon the ela tile
back the abrogated system of protection; and I gave and occupiers of land, and in so doing, he restored °lege)
my reasons !or that opinion at the time. I deeply principles of that great man, Mr. Ricardo -(ll,ear'es, the, deplored the circumstances under which that change took [The Hon. Member quoted at length several paw e; place, and that a Minister and a Government that were purport of which was, that, under a system of"
tfrcolild Al
pledged to uphold that abrogated system should have abro- the incidents of tithe were completely changed; - sere,le-
gated it. I think that on that subject there was a clear longer raise prices or rents, and it would, therrut die -
cause of quarrel between the then Parliament and the con- wholly upon the owners and occupiers of land; :not by -
stituencies. But I cannot forget that, immediately after that could not bring about a great national imp pabli,e4
change had taken place, there followed a general election- removing a burden which ought to be borne by de'
(Hear, hear)-and that an opportunity was afforeed to the and ; lacing it upon any particular class. This Wht to e'
constituencies, even if betrayed, to recal the abrogated system flagrant injustice, and, therefore, foreign corn eligtishe.l"
they had deplored.-(Hear.) I for one cannot consent that subjected to a duty which would countervail the .0 1845.
the laws that ought to regulate a great nation should be (Cheers.) That was the opinion of Mr. ArCullenhjesith of
made the shuttlecock of party strife.-(Hear, hear.) Nay, but, in leso, he published a new edition of the" L'at wOrk,,
if I thought that by any chance majority I could bring back Nations," by Dr. Smith, and in the appendix to re
steer a°
protection I would shrink from attempting it.-(Cheers he again republishes his" Treatise on Tithes." But
rear
from the Ministerial side.) That, Sir, must be done the advantage of five years' experience, with all hislioer
out of the House-(Cheers) -and by no chance ceptious and prejudices in favour of emancipated aye,. seco
nd
majority, but by, if not a unanimous, at least a prepon- with particular feelings on the subject of the corn •4,5, ewe7lor es
derating expression of public opinion.-(Hear, hear.) with similar views to those entertained by the Chan repro'
Why is it that the cultivator of the soil, whorl we all re- the Exchequer, who always expects prices to risen, jdo PI
cognise as a man of energy and enterprise, cannot compete nuances his former opinion. He says, in 1850,
.atolls:,
with the foreign producer? Sir, I believe that the reason think there will be realised those unfavourable satiet bet if
why the cultivator of the soil in the United Kingdom is at anticipations, that is, of present tearyprices-(Cheers)-.le
this moment embarked in a helpless contest with the culti- they should, the commutation may be reduced or adiu; lest
cheers._ ogle
vators of foreign soils, is to be found in the weight of taxa- a countervailing duty laid on foreign corn."--4
tion to which the cultivator of the soil in England is ex- is not my proposition.-(lronical cheers.) I have at ere
posed.-(Hear, hear.) The taxation of this country, gene- any proposition at present. What I wish to do at %train
rally speaking, though time has mitigated it, and circum- sent moment is to show to you-to prove my case „nose is,
stances stronger than time-is universally acknowledged to only way to account for the present agricultural surs'ei.o.-•
be over that in most other countries. Unfortunately, the agri- that the agriculturist is overweighted-(Loud n___°`lo,ped
cultural classes bear their fair proportion, and more.-(Hear, that his energies are exhausted and his resources n. dos
hear.) What I wish to do this night is, to ask you impar- by an enormous mass of taxation, to which no other old,
tially to survey your financial system-if impar- of producers is liable.-(Loud cheers.) But it is %log if,
tiality is possible in finance. Let us suppose that and may be said to-night, "that there is solne,thee Dal'
some distinguished foreigner - one of those, for instance, what you say cannot be denied-it may be true , evicting
about shortly to visit this country-one interested the customs duties are obtained by prohibiting or rierof the
in economic pursuits-let us suppose such a man, struck agricultural produce-it may be true that two-third" one
with the wealth, and energy, and industry of England, inland revenue are raised by an enormous impost 11_3ga?
desirous of forming some general idea of the way in which agricultural product -we cannot deny that seem eel:
the taxation of England is raised. Of the great mass of our of the local taxation are directly contributed from 'Moos.
taxation, I will take three items, together forming an cultural purse-but then the land enjoys many exetn,P, net a°
amount of nearly fifty millions sterling. Those fifty millions -(Hear, hear.) I am going to meet that staternen:oisala
are produced; first, by external imposts; secondly, by what the advocate of the agricultural interest, but as one 'l• ite tbe,
is termed inland revenue ; and, thirdly, by local contributions. only for truth, one whose sole object is to terinl,Pc epit
By customs, excise, and local burdens, you raise nearly fifty bitter controversy which is injuring the Pubieeriegq, millions. Now, what, at the first glance is the character of of this country.-(Loud and long continued nude, seD.,,
this great sum? This distinguished and inquiring foreigner lam going to see with what justice this reply is tea i All
will learn that nearly one-half of your external revenue is if there be great exemptions enjoyed by. the land, thenis OW
raised by your not permitting the cultivators of your soil to place before public opinion my impartial decision,° A 0 not
produce a particular article.-(Hear, hear.) If he go to point. I will not attempt to state anything which e
nud are
your inland revenue, he will observe that more than two- sincerely believe. My whole ease depends on facts• CO!
thirds of it is raised by means of a colonial impost on this guments; and it is open to gentlemen opposite, u Let. OP
class of the community.-(Cheers.) And if he take the to prove any statements erroneous, or to demonstrate eser
third portion of your taxation-the local contribution-he my conclusions are fallacious.- (Loud cheers.)
consider
will find that seven millions, or more, of the twelve of which tion of agricultural exemptions bring me to the consl""the re,
it consists, are paid by the agriculturists-(Hear) -- and the of another branch of our system of revenue, namely e error
whole of it levied from a very limited class of the comma- venue derived from stamps.-(Cheers.) A very great or
nity. These are the principal features which the foreign in- exists with respect to the operation of the legacy and se
vestigator would observe in looking into our financial ar- bate duties, and if Hon. Gentlemen will investigate the e
rangements. Let us examine this system now in detail. I of the case, they will, I think, arrive at conclusions catr te •
take, first, your customs; and I find that a fourth of them to the opinions which they may now hold with batreferen
almost is produced by a law which prevents the British this description of taxation. lam prepared to show yo,ti 001
cultivator from producing a crop of tobacco.- ( Hear, hear.) at this moment, of the 1,200,0001., which is paid per irfijeale
And then I may be told, in extenuation of this extraordi- for probate duty, 500,0001. is paid by the land--1.010 nary law, that the land of England is not favourable for hear)-for though Mr. Pitt did not carry his Bilig -land
that production.---( Hear, hear.) That is an obvious sugges- real. property liable to this 'tax, he made niettr_.,-)
tion for a finance Minister; but the ingenious and distin- sold under, wills subject to the tax.-(lleserefseceiv,eu
guished foreigner will remember that nearly every country I will show you that five-twelfths of the legacy de,„'Jber Ow
in Europe does produce tobacco, and some of them very is paid directly by the land-(Hear) - but reni tenitreS:
good tobacco-nay, that in Holland such good tobacco is also, that leasehold property, and all ecclesiastical red that grown that it is exported to Havannab for the purpose of contribute to the legacy duty. When it is remember il; being made into those cigars which are smoked iii Eng- these taxes also are burdens upon land-that all o_,(4•a: an.
land.-(Hear, hear.) But I might tell him that there are trade of the farmers pays legacy and probate u" iit seM
some soils, in the sister island especially, that have great when we add to these the stamps upon conveyances,
ed from
capabilities for the cultivation of tobacco.-(Elear, hear.) not be found that the agricultural classes are exeltaer 0e
I think, in days like the present, when a Minister rises from their share of taxation. I well remember, upon a lest be bad
his seat on the first evening when Parliament meets, and casion, that the Hon. Member for Orkney thong °f f isnot
solemnly warns the farmers of England over the table, made a great point against the owners and occupier° °ad the
that the time is come when they can no longer depend when he reminded the House that the windoW° But are
on the wheat crop, it was eminently inconsistent and horses of the farmer were untaxed.-(Hear, hear.) ..„007,
unjust to support. laws which at the same time prevent not the windows of the man who keeps a shop also e-hiaet7
him from producing another crop.-(Cheers.) And here I from taxation?-(Hear, hear.) And is not the mac her6e
must ask the Noble Lord some explanation of a remarkable of the menufacturer untaxed ; and why should not theo
expression of opinion on his part, the other night, but of be free, which is the machinery of the farmer!--(.g ce,.•
which I was our quick enough to take notice at the time. hear.) Tnese are little points, but they The Noble Lord said that he deplored the rapid transition (Hear, hear.) When Hon. Gentlemen rise in the li?llse th° '
which had occurred with reference to the condition talk of exem 'taxation,admit `list -i9
ptions from they must a efivo of the owners and occupiers of the soil.-(llear, hear.) lately made with respect to the stamp " all re
The Noble Lard expressed his regret at the rapid transition very arrangementmuch in favour of the manufacturers. Let us ado'
from the old to the new system. Ido not understand what member, in discussing this question, that there is a cOII-t -ef - •
is meant precisely by a "state of transition." We have able burden of the public revenue, to the amp-gistb
not new only just arrived at it- the state of transition is ac- 2,000,0 ,0/. per annum, which has been raised for t 900
complished--(Cheers.) But I sin surprised that the Noble c ,ntur y and a-half from the land, and the land gaol/B;We'
Lord should be the Minister to deplore the rapid mode in that is the land tax-- ( Hear, hear)-a tax, by the bye' ji te
1 00 ...),
which the transition has been accomplished, because I re- was not intended by the original projectors to alen-Yn yen,
member this, when the late Government, by a sagacious and the land,-(Hear, hear.) I have now throug'" sr •
gone
Oar fill he ,
prudent law, tried to prolong that state of transition. .almost require no, oa,
one exception, every important feature of fte the Noble Lord found great fault with Sir Robert cial system, and I have reviewed the taxation ea, the
Peel en account of his attempt to prolong that state o country generally with reference to its bearing tlPneeten° •
transition, the brevity of which, the Noble Lord now says, owners- and occupiers of the land-upon that lln. r-dit:6# , •
is the chief source of agricultural depression.-(Cheers.) Tlie class of her Mpajesty's subjects who are suffering oto Noble Lord even wished to form an administration which culties, depression, and distress, and who conti,,elitied
.ehre' '
should not give the farmers even the transient benefit of suffer them in a country where, as we are inter's- te'
the law of Sir Hobert Peel,
the Sovereign and by the Ministry, all classes olbear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL-I supported- Sir Robert Peel. community are in a prosperous condition.-(Bear'astie°'
Mr. DISRAELI-I happen tu recollect that there was a
lan' not surprised, when I see all this burden of ta; the
own proposition, I have nothing more to s.-( L 65 ia
t to
division-( Hear)-and if the Noble Lord voted against his that the owners and occupiers of land find theinse
difficulties, in the present stsee of the law with resPeed,stret v. '
a
and long continued cheering.) I will not
dwell longer on importation of foreign corn, and are suffering great _sane it
On the contrary, I am obliged to consider by what 7ries,a)
the subject of tobacco, or even touch upon the effect pro-
is that the present system has been carried en•-•• enin°ll
duced by foreign sugar upon theproduce of this country;
ing to 1
but I will come to another branch of the revenue, amount- lam obliged to consider what is that wonderful niasto of
by which the financial system, which was the crest b 9
-',000,00)/., more than two thirds of which' is raised
by a colossal impost upon one croof the British agricul- protection, and which protection alone upheld, still 01,4 prir
able to work in a country when that entire systernbuser,")
turiat. Who can deny that the tax upon the barley crop
tection has been swept away.-(Loud cries of" Hears jai, ,
forms more than two-thirds of our excise?-(Cheers.)
Was it not monstrous for the farmer to be told that he We. may, to se extent, account for it by tue.....egebre' .
hear.)
which have beetle made upon accumulated capital. ionriee
must no longer depend upon the wheat crop, while the laws
It is very possible that some classes may elso
of the country loaded with this enormous tax the next crop
where they
are living upon the capital of one partien.le.rie ean •
to which lie would have recourse?-(Cheers.) Remember a
."-(Hear, hear.) This is a result which I do not trill" what this crop is. That the farmer is to be prevented from
De wondered at.-(Hear.) But the great financial 'roe by
_
depending upon his wheat crop may be grounded' in some de-
which has occupied my attention cannot be accouateiolettei, •
gree in wisdom. It may be said that there is better wheat
this sad hypothesis; because I see before me the 'gerers e'
in the world than British wheat, good as it. is; but no one
machinery by which we have been carried througbis,;3 Sal'
will pretend that any barley is better than British barley.-
restricted industry, undiminished taxation, and eo ecial ill"
(Cheers.) So we may no longer produce wheat, while we main.
ports. (hear, hear.) We know that a great final's onir
tarn laws to restrict the growth of barley. We are counselled
any, r strument was brought into the House by an eminelesn3. jt:
not to produce a crop in which we have scarcely
ter, whose pride it was to introduce this new sy°l' es of 1
rivals, and at the same time we are prevented from produc-
ing a crop in which we have no rivals whatever. This is virtues lam not here to challenge, but the advantle poi° , '
the effect, with free trade, of a financial system framed with to owners and occupiers of land I wish to enjoy. "vise the
what this wonderful financial instrument was. It. gobe"
reference only to a protective policy. But I may be told,
that if we dare to rid ourselves of this impost, we must lose property and income-tax. " Remember (said Sir , ihe°
or'
r the monopoly of the malt market. Really, fir, in this age,
Peel to the gentlemen of the Manchester school), the' at
after what we have gone through, what we are enduring der that you should have your cotton free, the land con s e O_
and what we must be prepared for, it is too much to Lokl to the imposition of the property tax."-(Hear, hear.)l.o
out as a consolation this miserable rag of monopoly-the nerous and confiding inan.-( Hear.) And by that PO Or '
Why, if instrument this remarkable system has been carried ._, it 9 re
monopoly of the salt market.-(Laud cheers.)
ration, conducted in its course, and has accomplished foreign barley will not bear a voyage, malt will bear it worse.
have still less fear of foreign malt; and sults. And what is the result of this financial law?-7,t,, met
-(Cheers.) If we are not afraid of the foreign importation hear.) Was it the manufacturers and merchants Toripe
r'ovoefinoafythis is, that we never get good beer ex- I together and said to the .nielinister, "We will s',•cianciel
iiihfeb barley, we
5,000,0004 a year, and we will keep up the old
ei." e base
cept in England.-(A laugh.) How is it that we have a I
great export trade in beer, if foreign malt is of so superior I system." Hactthey done this it would neverthe •.! they .
a quality?-(Cheers.) We obtain on our malt, it been a b,.d bargain fir the owners of land; but tlruale au'
I might have said, subscribe what you will, but if we °I bear')
is true, a drawback, but an imperfect one ; but i
send out our beer, and it is the best beer . foreign . restricted imports we ought to be exempt. "(liedar''rtCollie:
we
But when I look to the returns of the property and Ifinen°,-
market. -(Cheers.) It does appear to me, Sir, that the '
tax-this mighty and mystical sun, under whose IlLesisea y. .
case of the land, as far as the barley crop is concerned, is '
the system has gone on-I find that a moiety ie 'o`.,,merrh ~
one of the most complete cases,
-and to abstract justice we are forced by your leeislation-
if we look to abstract justice 1
i from the owners and occupiers of land; from the. re Avhff •
1 whose rents have been reduced, and from the occupiers
_,
( Cheers) - ever submitted to the consideration of Parliament.
make no profits.-(Loud cheers from the country laaerYs the'
I have shown, that of our external revenue nearly one-half ,
, you ask me what are my remedies, and what
tt'eh. erono
is produced by prohibiting in a great degree, and restricting
the owners and occupiers of land require? I will, CO
in another degree, the cultivation of the soil, while at the
same time the British farmer is exposed to the competition as the representative of an undivided English
to t'".
the industry of whose inhabitants is II! an, •an
of the whole world.-
' the cultivation of the soil, and as the argue'
(Hear.) I have shown also that two-
thirds of the inland revenue is produced by an inermous tax
humble and inefficient one I know, of those ge_ require . v
on one single crop of the Britiell cultivator of the soil.- '
: who share my opiniens in this House-that wewill eesta
(Cheers.) 1 ifhw come to the third division of the amount
of revenue of which I spoke, namely, tai it produced by our 1 justice.--(Lotul cheers ) We ask you that you easing.)
local burdens. I last vear- asked the House whether it . was prohibit or restrict our industr.--(Renewed -et' burl ,• ,
not a favourable opportunity to treat: the whole queetion of We ask you that, you will not levy upon us direct,eshere
theee burdens, the injustice of which was acknowledged ; but for public purposes, to which few, if any of ' the non It "
the ineonventence resultin from relieving the land from classes are subjsct. We ask you not to. throw ni-uetrY
them was equally obvious. g(Cieers-) I asked the House according to your own account, the only class in the or yoi?r
whether, when we hail a surplus revenue, and when the
ill a state of transitionary distress, the burdens .;kht is.
'
agricultural interest was the only suffering iuteresie it was financial and commercial system.-(Hear, hear.) pro'
has been.. „• is
not a favourable opportunity to perform an act of public '`hat we ask. We think that your eyetern
us
°r 8
justice to the land, and show the hind that we really ! ductive of difficulty and uistrees, and if you asekeu
d for t.. 11
did sympathise with i's distresses.--(Loud cheers.) That : our rem-dy-speaking for my constituents, Will"; - '
motion, I may say without vanity, was temperately con- , constituencies whose property and interests areenorow....ti
and perilled -I tell you at once to remove,
ceivrti, beano ;e inreceived the approbation Of a large party in the
the W
knot • V I
pressure, and let us be fairly weighted in this House - (Cheers)-although it WA,• not carried. I Alen We shrin
(Loud cheers front the country party.)
you baps_
showed the enormous injustice of making the lad pay
from enterinn into the competition which ),,t ester
.. ,
7,C,00 ,0(10i. out of )2,000,000/. of taxation, raised solely for
thought fit to (en to our energies, but let us)av et
Howe' of
public purposes, and which ought to have been paid out of
into the struggle manacled .-( Loud cheers.
.g..nibers . -
the public exchequer; but to-ninlit I wish the House to :ee
dear the interests of our constituents are, we are etewThteene V
our case of injustice in an infinitely stronger light.-(Cheers.)
e Parliament besides being Me b • I c"5- fly
“rs for particu.ar ..feet., •
I have now shown, that out of manly 50,0(0,000/. of in- ' mt I have no hesitatio-nmi ' ' that la, pe.
ow,
eollie. nearly one-half of the external revenue is 'raked by prepared, impartially arid tealenras
taeylingto enter into ar or
P rohibiting or restricting the produce of land ; that two-
el ir • tion of those measureswhich y,
I.d to allevis ..,„ .
,I
. . may tend
but I soot , ~,
thirds of the inland revenue is derived from an enormous -`lra
remove thedistress of which we complained;
disci' impost on one production of the land; and that seven- l
nrotest against its be' ing supposed, if I enter into your
twelfths of our local revenue is raised -by direct contriba- '.. •le •him H
stole fair y wit t e ouse, that lam asking any tilv
tion from the land.-(Cheers.) It is not necessary for me i