The Sun.
London, England, 1833-07-25 00:00:00

the future. Indeed the trade was already leaving our I
shores. He knew a highly respectable man, a constructor
of machinery, and who was ready, if necessary, to give his
evidence at the bar. He had been commissioned to fit up
two refineries for Amsterdam, and others for the Banks
of the Rhine; and it was his unequivocal opinion that
the carrying on of the manufacture of refined sugar in the
places in question depended entirely on the success of the
present motion ; that if the House granted relief, it would
not be carried on ; but that if the House refused to grant
relief, he should be immediately ordered to export the ma-
chinery. At this moment extensive orders had been given for
the improved machine for refining, to be executed contin-
gently. He had hitherto stated only the injury that would
fall on this most important branch of manufacture if no
relief were afforded to it. But the injury that would be
inflicted upon the people of England was no less entitled
to the consideration of the House. The first effect of the
existing monopoly was, that the people of England were
paying from seven to nine shillings a cwt. more for their
sugar than if the raw material were permitted to be im-
ported. In other words, they were paying a tax to the
West India colonial proprietors of 1,500,000/. a year.
After stating the quantity of refined sugar made from a
cwt. of the raw material, which was about 611b5., and of
bastard sugar about 18lbs., the Hon. Member entered into
a calculation with respect to the drawbacks and bounties,
the result of which was, that in his opinion the bounty
could not he less than se. a cwt. At the present moment
the manufacturers, reluctant to abandon a trade in which
they had involved so large a capital, not only gave up all
thoughts of profit, but were actually losing two or
three shillings a cwt. Upon the whole, therefore, he
had no hesitation to say that the continuance of the
restriction inflicted on all sugar consumers in this
country a tax of Is. 6d. a cwt., or, in other words,
an annual tax of 1,500,000/. paid to the West India
proprietors. But was this the only injury inflicted on the
people at home ? There were other and still greater evils.
By having no market here for foreign sugars, the shipping
that went out to foreign ports with our manufactures had
not the means of bringing any returns. A petition on
this subject had been presented from the merchants and
shipowners of Liverpool, not one allegation of which bad
ever been contradicted. In that petition it was stated,
that in consequence of the monopoly enjoyed by the West
India proprietors, for 5,000,000/. in value of our manu•
factures exported to foreign ports, we received only
1,000,0001. in value of foreign produce in return. The
shipowners were thus deprived of a great share of employ-
ment. It was also stated on good authority, as an in-
stance of the working of this monopoly, that whereas four
vessels went monthly from Liverpot I to the Brazils last
year, not one returned freighted with foreign produce.
All this testimony proved, that inasmuch as foreigners
found no market here for their produce, there was so much
the leas demand for our manufactures. It was so clear
that this restriction was contrary to the sound principles of
commercial policy, as established by the admission of all
parties in that House, that be would not waste the time of
the House in insisting on what was an axiom, but he
would call their attention to this important circumstance
—that when the Orders in Council issued, it was with an
express recognition, that they were intended not merely to
revive the trade at that moment, but also to protect
it for the future. With this understanding, new re-
fineries were built, and old ones enlarged, and then a
mortal and wanton injury was inflicted on the parties con-
cerned, by depriving them of that benefit, on the assur-
ance of the continuance of which they had previously been
induced to act. He had received letters from all parts of
the country, stating that machinery was in preparation for
foreign countries, where the regulations were less absurd.
Foreign Governments were, in fact, encouraging the re-
fining trade. But whatever they might do, be confidently
believed that, if the British sugar refiners were left un-
shackled, they would render their trade flourishing, in
spite of all opposition. Let them have the means of free
exertions, and he was satisfied that their capital and en-
terprise, whatever might be the restrictive regulations of
foreign Governments, would soon enable them to find a
market for their manufacture in foreign countries. If the
regular trader were unable to do so, the free trader or the
smugger would come in, and defeat the vicious laws of
foreign Governments, by assisting in the diffusion of those
blessings so essential to the comfort of society. He could
not anticipate any answer to the case which he bad sub-
mitted to the House, that could be founded on the ground
of justice or necessity. The only answer which could be
attempted was, that the present was an inconvenient
time. The same argument would probably be urged as
had been advanced when he presented a petition for the
repeal of the restriction, namely—that at the moment when
they were about to make so great a change in their com-
mercial policy, it would not be wise further to alarm the
colonial proprietors by a measure from which they antici-
pated great injury. He could not admit that that argu-
bleak was well founded. He could not think that the
UreS`t India proprietors ought to receive an advantage at
the expense of so large a class of other persons. And,
besides, the advantage to the West India proprietors was
little more than ideal, while the injury to the sugar re-
finers was real and severe. It was generally understood
that, at any rate, the required relief could not be delayed
beyond next year. Now, he would ask, if there teas any
validity in the argument for delay, and whether the know-
ledge on the part of the West India proprietors that the step
most..be taken next year, would not have as great an effect
upon them as if the step were taken at once ? The best
time to effect this desirable object was the present. The
time when this country was showing unexampled libe-
rality to the West India colonies, was the best time to
conclude a bargain on the subject under discussion. He
begged to call to the recollection of the Noble Lord that
the present proposition was only what his Majesty's Go-
vernment attempted to carry into effect towards the close
of the session of 1831. They were then defeated, to the
Noble Lord's re,!ret ; but it was generally understood
that his M ijesty'l Government was pledged at that time
to bring forward a measure of relief early in the coming
session. He knew not what might be the understanding
between his Majesty's Government and the West India
Proprietors ; but when he saw the circumstances which
had attended the contract between those parties—when he
saw that a loan of fifteen millions had been changed into
a gift of twenty millions, he thought it was not too much
to expect that if any pledge had existed on the subject,
under such different circumstances it might well be with-
drawn. They had made most serious and important
changes in the constitution of the East India Company—
changes which he admitted were right as far as the whole
nation was concerned, but which had spread ruin over
many parishes in the district with which he was con-
nected. He called upon the House to be consistent and
act up to free trade principles in every branch of national
industry if they chose to do it in one.—(Hear, hear.) He
called upon them in the name of justice, humanity, and
common sense, to extend some relief to the sufferings of
this industrious and meritorious portion of the community.
He should leave the resolution in the bands of the House,
in the full confidence that they would deal properly by it.
He knew too well lie had not done justice to the subject,
but this happily was of no great moment, for the case
was such a clear one—the sufferings endured under the
pre-ent system were so apparent, that the most common-
place observer must observe them. He bad worded his
motion in general terms, as, if agreed to, a portion of re-
venue being involved, he thought the arrangements should
be left to the proper department of the Government. The
Hon. Member concluded amidst cheers, by moving a reso-
lution to the effect, that it was expedient foreign sugar
should be admitted into this country for refining for
exportation.
Lord ALTHORP was understood to admit the expe-
diency of the proposition, but the great difficulty attend-
ing it was to ascertain the manner of effecting the change
without interfering with the revenue, and putting into the
pockets of the refiners a considerable bounty.
Mr. CLAY said " the West Indies."
Lord ALTHORP saw no reason that because they gave
to one a bounty they should also give it to another—be-
cause the country suffered an injustice from one class they
should submit to an injustice from another. The Hon.
Member, in the course of his observations, had given a
history of the progress of various measures for refining
sugar, and in the course of it had alluded to the Act which
expired in 1831, and to his (Lord Althorp's) efforts to
get it renewed. He had certainly used his endeavours to
effect that renewal. At that time, most Hon. Members
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enable
persons to refine the sugar now in bond, and so export the
whole amount without ever paying the duty, and con-
sequeutly, without there being any drawback. By this
arrangement no unfair advantage would accrue to any
party. In the commencement of the session he had com-
munication with the Nest India body, and he bad
certainly promised that if, to the measure now proposed
by him, they had any reasonable objection, he would not
sanction it. He did not think, however, that the West
Indians would have. In respect to the motion itself, there
was only one word from which he differed, and that was
" immediately." If the Hon. Member would consent to
the withdrawal of that word, or confine his motion to
simply refining the sugar which was in bond, he should
not at all object to it. The difficulty which the Govern-
ment experienced was in ascertaining what amount of