The Sun.
London, England, 1834-03-06 00:00:00

THE CORN LAWS.

Mr. JAMES OSWALD presented a petition from Glasgow,
signed by upwards of 59,000 persons, for the repeal of the
corn laws. It was got up at a public meeting at which the chief
magistrate'of that city presided, and it was again submitted to
another public meeting, at which the chief magistrate also pre-
sided. Amongst the signatures were those of all the magis-
trates of the city of Glasgow, excepting one : and it was signed
in the course of last week. The greatest enthusiasm was mani-
fested in signing it—the shopkeepers opened their shops for
that purpose, and it was carried without putting the public to
any expense. Whatever difference of opinion respecting
the corn laws there might be in other parts of the kingdom,
there did not exist a more general and determined opposition
to them anywhere than in the city of Glasgow—a city in
which education was more generally diffused than in almost
any other part. The petitioners stated that they received with
deep disappointment the resolution of ministers to resist any
measure that would tend to relieve the country, by repealing the
laws which prevented the free importation of grain. In these
sentiments he cordialy concurred, and he regretted the declara-
tion of the government that these laws should not be taken
into consideration. He was sorry that there appeared a feeling,
if of not going back, at least of standing still, in the matter of
reform. There appeared to be something as if they regretted
the carrying through of the great measure of reform, or other-
wise they would have permitted these corn laws to come under
consideration. He would not trouble the house with anything
upon the corn laws, because it was clear to him that there were
two qualities requisite in a member wishing to address
the house—that he should aflbrd information or relief.—
(Hear, hear.) He was not capable of one or the other, and he
would not trouble the house with any argument ; he would
merely state one important fact relating to the corn laws. In
1815, when these corn laws commenced, this country had a
very extensive trade with the United States of America. The
government of those states proposed that corn should be intro-
duced free from duty, at least upon the same footing as co-
lonial corn.—(Hear, hear.) The proposition was objected
to, and the corn laws were enforced, in consequence of
which the American tariff took place, and the Americans
now manufactured, annually, from 240,000 to 250,000 bags
of cotton—not one of which would hate been manufactured
there hut for the existence of those corn laws. If it were
essential for the happiness of this country that encouragement
should be given to manufactures, it was clear that those corn
laws lessened the value of manufactures by thus preventing a
large exportation. It was said that this was not a proper time
to discuss this question. It appeared to him to be the best of
all times ; the price of grain was at present low, and the ques-
tion might therefore be discussed under more favourable circum-
stances than at any time when the price of corn should be raised.
Mr. EWING bore testimony to the respectability of the pe-
tition, which, as his lion. colleague had stated, was signed by
nearly 60,000 persons. He agreed in much of the prayer of
the petition, but against that part of it which prayed for a total
repeal of the corn laws, he totally dissented, because he con-
ceived that some tax proportionate to the burdens of the state
should be placed upon the importation of foreign corn, for the
protection of the agriculturists of this country. He would con-
sent to the admission of foreign grain upon payment of a fixed
and moderate duty, but he would never consent to the total re-
peal of the corn laws.

Sir IL PARNELL had been requested to support the
prayer of the petition, and he did so most cordially.
Mr. ABERCROMBIE agreed with his honourable friend
the member for Glasgow, that a speedy settlement of this ques-
tion, if within their power—(Hear)—was most desirable, and the
sooner it was done the better.

Sir E. KNATCHBULL said if a lower rate than that at
present imposed upon grain was imposed, not only the agri.
cultural, but every other class of the community would he in-
volved in ruin.

Mr. COBBETT said that when the subject came to be
discur,sed that evening, he would undertake to show that the
persons who had signed the petition were totally ignorant of
the subject upon which they had petitioned the house.—(Hear.)

Mr. SINCLAIR was of opinion that the repeal of the corn
laws would lead to national bankruptcy.
An HoN. MEMBER said, that a great many difficulties at-
tended that subject. It was necessary to trace 400 years back
to arrive at a comparison between the comparative state of the
country when under the corn laws, and otherwise.
_ _ .

Mr. BAINES considered that the best argument for the re-
peal of the corn laws was the depression of the agricultural in-
terest, which did not exist before they operated.

Mr. MAXWELL said that the corn laws were not produc-
tive of benefit. He hoped that his Majesty's government would
appoint a committee to investigate the subject. He was not
for an immediate change, but was anxious that all the prin-
ciples of any expedient alteration should be well sifted.
• •

Mr. WALLACE held an opinion unfavourable to the corn
laws.

Mr. F. O'CONNOR begged to remind hon. gentlemen of the
error they committed in saying that agricultural distress was
solely attributable to the corn laws.

THE OBSERVANCE OF THE SABBATH.

Sir A. AGNEW presented a petition from Maldon, Essex,
and another place the name of which we did not hear for the
better observance of the sabbath.
An HoN. MEMBER presented a petition from the dissenters
of Ellsmere, Cheshire, praying for the removal of their disa-
bilities.