The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-14 00:00:00

FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 14, 1851.

(Loud cheers.) That he considered to be a most satis-
factory proof of the general result of their policy.—
( Hear, hear.) Besides this, the same return stated that
during the past year the number of British ships entering
the port of New York with full cargoes, including those
just mentioned, was 691 ships, with a tonnage of 252,000
tons. One more instance of the satisfactory working of this
measure. After the settlement of California was founded
by the United States, there was a great demand for articles
of British manufacture by the settlers, and, consequently,
a great many British ships visited the settlement. For
some time the Americans did not bring their navigation-laws
into operation as regarded that settlement, but allowed ships
of all nations to trade with it. After a time, however, in-
structions came from Washington to pat the American navi-
gation-laws into operation, and the greatest confusion was
the result, every British ship, except from a port of the
United Kingdom, and all French ships, being prevented from
entering. In the course of a few days another order
came from Washington, to the effect that as the British
Government had altered their navigation-laws, that the
restriction should be abandoned, so far as regarded all
British vessels, and the trade of the settlement open
to them. Those ships were accordingly admitted while
the French vessels were kept out, and he mentioned
the circumstance merely to show the advantages
which were flowing; and would continue to flow from
the releasing their shipping from the trammels of those laws
which had so long curtailed their enterprise. There was one
other branch of the subject which he could not help making
a short allusion to. It was often said when they were ad-
vocating the repeal of those laws, that were they to do st,,
the ship-building interest would be ruined ; but he affirmed,
without fear of contradiction, that so far from that being
the case, there never was a time when their principal
building yards were better employed, and when there was a
greater number of good ships building.—(Hear, hear.) The
result of the change had been that encouragement had been
given for the building of better ships than heretofore; and
it was the fact, that vessels were now building in this coun-
try, which in every particular would compete with the best
ships in the world.--( Loud cheers.) That was the most dis-
tinct and satisfactory proof of the success of the commer-
cial navy, because no one could suppose that those ships
would be built unless there was a clear prospect of having
them well employed.—(Hear, hear.) He did not hesitate to
admit that there might be a class of ships not so well
employed as before—he meant the small class of coasting-
vessels—but that was a necessary consequence of the change;
bt,t certainly they were not called upon to refrain from
taking this step in advance because those inferior class of
vessels might for a time suffer from it. He had got a return
of the number of vessels built in England during the last
year, and comparing it with the number built during the
three previous years, the result was most satisfactory. In
1847, the number of vessels built in England was 922, the
tonnage being 145,000. The number built in 1848 was 847,
of 122,000 tons. In 1849, 730 were built, of 120,017 tonnage.
While in 1850, only 689 were built, but the tonnage had in-
creased to 133,000 tons. Now by that return it would be
seen, that while last year the number of ships built had
decreased as compared with former years, the amount of
tonnage had considerably increased, and showed clearly
that the class of vessels built were of a far superior de-
scription to those built in previous years. The House would
no doubt recollect that Mr. Wigram, a partner of a well-
known and extensive ship-building firm in this country,
while giving his evidence before a Committee of the House of
Lords, stated that, so convinced was ~he that were the laws
repealed ruin would overtake the ship-building interest,
and that they could not build ships in competition with the
Americans, he would establish a branch of his business at
New York, and place his son in charge of it, in order to
enable him to, in some degree, alleviate the evils which
would be inflicted upon him. In the course of his inquiries
into this matter he had, however, received a return from
Southampton, and it was there stated that the number of
ships building there was larger than usual ; that they were
ships of a more extensive build; and that much of this ac-
tivity was caused by the enterprise of Messrs. Wigram and
Co., who had a steamer in the course of building of 2,250
tons burden, and two sailing vessels, the one of 500 tons re-
gister and the other of 450.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.)
That, therefore, showed that the evils so much dreaded by
one of the members of that firm had not visited it. So much
then he bad thought it necessary to say as regarded the na-
vigation-laws. He would not further enter upon the general
question, but would rest the case entirely upon the able
statements of the Right Hon. Baronet the Member for
Ripon and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, considering, as
he did, that the arguments adduced by them were a full and
ample reply to the motion.—(Cheers. )
u(bH uredaer,ns hea on
hear.)
land.—(Hear,
lvd.as—( it H
their
h aeri,r hear.)
f aul
Mr. CAYLEY could not see what the question of the na-
vigation-laws had to do with the matter before the House.
The question they had to consider was not the navigation-
laawss ,
i butjustice.—(Hear, the What
justice was
w
the thing desired ? Why, what the Hon. Member for Buck-
inghamshire desired, and what be seconded him in desiring,
thatt
and protection were convertible terms ?—(Hear, hear.) The
Right Hon. Baronet had alluded to France, as showing
that
when there was a system of protection, the' land wout of cultivation, and agriculture was in a deplorabilsetgoanitg
but notwithstanding all the revolutions they had had
in
i
France of late, and the great evils which they had
given rise to, yet the bullion in the Bank of France was
at present twenty millions, while in the Bank of England
the bullion was but fourteen millions, and at the same
time was on the decrease. Besides the revenue of France
had within the last three years considerably increased,
while if they took the real revenue of teis country, arising
from ordinary sources, there had in the course of that period
been a considerable decrease. It was said that since 1847, when
so much disaster was abroad, there had been an increase;
but he denied that the revenue since that time had risen
quicker, or even so quick, as it had risen-upon any occasion
of a similar nature since 1820. After the colapse in 1822
there was an increase in the revenue, and notwithstanding
that, from that to 1825 upwards of 4,000,000/. taxes had
been repealed, the revenue had increased to the amount of
9,988,0001. Again, from 1834 to 1836 upwards of 3,000,0001.
taxes bad been repealed, and vet the revenue had increased
by 7,247,0001. Then again during 1844, 1843, and 1846,
four millions of taxes had. been repealed, and yet there was
an increase in the revenue of upwards of five millions.
That, however, was not the case now, for, in reality, their
income did not meet their expenditure. Then as to the
poor-law. it was said the poor-rate had been diminished
within the last three years; but the fact was, that while
during the years 1844, 1845, and 1846, the average of the
poor-rate was 4,989,000/, during the last three years it was
5,750,0001. So that there was a considerable increase in the
poor-rate of the country. He supposed the Right Hon.
Gentleman (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) would ad-
mit that the price of the raw material had something to
do with the value of the manufactured article? Let
them look at the article of cotton, one-fourth of which
was said to be kept at home for consumption. The
price of the raw material was in 1845 but 4d. a lb.;
last year it was Bd. This gave a difference on the
0,000,(X)0/. of exports of 14,00,000/. Then, if three-
fourths of the cotton were sent abroad, must not the
8,000,000/. er 9,000,000/. of the increased price be deducted
from the export., so there would be only 56,000,0)0/. of
exports instead of 65,000,000/. At all periods of recovery
from collapses, which were the effect of bad legislation, and
which might be avoided were it not for their judicial blind-
ness—(Hear, hear)—the same thing had happened—the
same increase in exports had taken place. There was great
distress in 1821, was great prosperity in 1824, and the in-
crease in the exports that year over the previous years be bad
mentioned was 1,777,000/. There was distress in 1834 ; 1836
was a prosperous year, and there was a difference in the
exports of 4.150,000/. Again, in the year 1842, the exports
were then 47,000,000/, and in 1845 they were 60,000,000/.
Then what became of the boast of free-traders if their poor.
rate had increased, if their revenue had fallen off, and
their exports diminished ? Let them depend upon it a
monetary pressure was at hand, and if he could place
confidence on some mercantile authorities it was even
now looming in the distance. If that monetary
pressure came, and their exports were checked, then they
would have to complain more bitterly than ever of the want
of protection. It was not denied that the agricultural
interest was in distress. Who had got the money but the
foreigner? His objection to the present system of legisla-
tion was that they did not allow the farmer to recover the
taxes he advanced to the revenue.—(Hear, hear.) The
grocer advanced the duties on sugar, but he was repaid
by the sale of the article. And now let them look to the
way in which booksellers were treated. It was impossible
to over-estimate the advantages of knowledge, but sup-
pose, after taxing the bookseller for his paper they would
admit foreign books duty free, would that not be deemed
an injustice to the booksellers? They dare not do this.
They allowed a return to the booksellers as well as to
the grocers for the taxes they advanced, but they did not
thus treat the owners and occupiers of land. —(Hear,
hear.) For the last 30 years they had been legislating
to bring the prices within the gripe of taxation. Conceiv-
ing that their system of legislation was fatal to the best
interests of the country, because they were draining the
resources of the farmer, on which the prosperity of the
labourer materially depended, he should support the motion
of the Honourable Gentleman the Member for Buckingham-
shire.—( Hear, hear.)
Mr. CARDWELL thought the Hon. Gentleman who had
just sat down had most ably come to the support of an army
labouring under all the pressure of a change of frontage.—
(Hear, hear, and laughter.) The question of free trade had
been consigned by the Hon. Gentleman, who had in a most
workmanlike speech introduced this motion, to convenient
oblivion, but the Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Cayley) had broken
with a masterly force the opposite lines. In the Hon. Gen-
tleman's speech every sentence was an attack on that legis-
lation by which the pressure of extraordinary high prices had
been mitigated, and by which the peace, loyalty, and safety
of the country had been secured in times of no ordinary diffi-
culty.—(Hear.) He was not suprised tohear the Hon. Gen-
tleman say that "figures were troopsso strangely marshalled
he almost began to doubt them altogether," for never
was he so surprised as in listening to the Hon. Gentle-
man's own array of figures, adduced to prove that under
years of protection the revenue had increased, that the
exports had increased, and the profits and advantages of the
working classes had been multiplied. IN could, however,
find no instance in which, under the banner of protection,
seven millions and a half of taxation had been taken, and
the Government left the revenue larger than they had found
it. (Cheers.) In 1841 the revenue was 48,000,000/. At
the end of 1844 the Government had taken off 2,000,000/. of
taxes, and having on coming into office found deficiency,
had on the sth of April a large balance in the Exchequer.
The effect of their legislation was, that they had reduced
taxation by 7,500,0001., while the ordinary revenue of the
last financial year exceeded the revenue for which the Go-
vernment were bound to provide, of any year preceding
their taking office. The Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Cayley) was
living in Arcadian retirement, where the removal of the
duties en brick and sugar never entered his mind, and yet
, he expected to find the revenue larger than ever.—(Hear.)
The Honourable Gentleman had said, that in the days of
protection he had got some record of an increase of
11,000,000/. on exports. There was one such case, and he
would now refer to, it. Before free-trade measures came
into operation, the greatest exports in any year was in 1841,
when they were 53,000,000/. During the year which lister
just expired, they had increased to 70,000,0001. Now let
him ask the Hon. Gentleman, who had the profit on the
goods so manufactured and exported? Let him ask him,
how many houses had been gladdened? Let them look at
the imports of articles of consumption among the wo; king-
classes, comparing the years 1841 and 1850. In 1841, there
were imported 4,000,000 cwts. of sugar; in 1850, there were
6,000,000; of cocoa in 1841, there were imported 1,930,000
cwt.; in 1850 they had increased to 3,220,000. He would
omit coffee, for every one knew the imports of this article
had greatly increased. The brandy imported in 1841 was
1,165,000 gallons, in 1850 it had increased to 2,1a7,000
The tea imported in 1841 was 36,681,0001b5., in 1850 it was
50,000,0001b5. The next article was toba,r_o_!..
sl.
which there was imported in 1841, 22.30-,
and in 1850, 27.68 4001bs.— (Hear, hear.) How
the pockets
had the profits on these articles gone inttothe
profits on
of the foreigner? If it were contended tha
it must he
exports went into the pockets of the foreigner,
into our own
admitted that the profits on imports
went
that the maou-
pockets. The export of 70,0000
foreignoo!. provedprices. It was com-
faeturer must sell his goods
_a.t.ntuiecompelled them to seil
Pulsory on him to do so, t
aT('` ,intlemen who des,rect protection,
.she Ip. he woul.l ask bsts ?—(Hear, hear.) lie
at what' prices they ;nos
enthusiasts,
that when corn-
; would ask them-were they such
Pelled to oell cliespih they vr
Quid onteral for the priyilege