The Sun.
London, England, 1845-03-03 00:00:00

THE AMERICAN TARIFF.

The Earl of CLARENDON wished to ask a ques-
tion of the Noble Lord the Secretary for Foreign
Affairs, as to whether measures had been taken to procure
the abolition of a certain portion of the American tariff.
The portion to which he alluded pressed exceedingly on
the merchants of this country, and he thought the duties
imposed on them were in direct violation of an existing
treaty between this country and the United States of
America. The American tariff imposed a heavier duty on
goods imported into the United States from the East than
from the West ; and goods coming from China were
admitted at a lower rate of duty than goods coming
from England. Indeed, he believed in some some in-
stanees, the amount of duty varied' from 90 to 120 per
cent., whilst the goods from the West, were subject to a
much lower duty. Now, there could be no doubt that
this pressed heavy on the English merchant and was
in direct violation of a treaty existing between the two
countries, China shawls at a much lower rate of duty

than those sent from this country. The merchants, there-
fore, had a right to think that that was not only an inju-
dicious, but an unjust distinction onthe part of America. It
must be remembered too, that while they were praising
this tariff they were claiming a return of the duties
which had been paid on their rice imported into this coun-
try, in consequence of us having lowered the duties on the
same article imported from the East and West Indies.
The whole value of the rice received during the time of
the low duty, was not 300/.--(llear, hear.) He
thought that the United States suffered no hard-
ships ; and the whole case was very different
from their conduct towards us ; as they laid on
heavy duties on English goods, an reduced them upon
other goods. All he wished now to ask his Noble Friend
was, whether he reeognised the clnims of British sub-
jects, and what effect his representations had had upon
the American Government.—(Rear.)
The Earl of ABERDEEN said that his Noble
Friend had rightly stated the case which he
had brought under the notice of their Lord-
ships. The subject had engaged the attention
of the Government for some time ; but he thought the
experience of his Noble Friend might convince him that
it was possible to have a very good case without being
able at once to succeed. The Gentlemen who now re-
presented her Majesty's Government (Mr. Pakenham)
had represented the matter to the American Govern-
ment, but it had not yet received the attention which it
) Mr. Pakenham's last dis-
as dated the 3rd of Oc-
tober,
dtoiehimself
patcheesrre:ffe dna. p—innodu( taeohtameltuhhear.
tsubjectit mnwe
he proposed to put
with persons in New
York, who were principally interested in the case,
and he hoped to receive from them information
which would strengthen his means of applying
to the United States Government. But he (Lord Aber-
deen) would deceive his Noble Friend if he did not say
that the subject of our claims had been brought forward
very prominently in Congress.
CONSTABLES_ BILL (SCOTLAND).

On the motion of Lord DalhoUsie, the Constables and
other officers in Public Works Bill (Scotland) /A as read
a second time.
TIIE BISHOPRICS OF ST. [ASAPII AND
BANGOR.
The Earl of POWIS presented a number of petitions
from places is Wales, against the union of the Welsh
bishoprics.
THE NORTH WALES RAILWAY.

The same NOBLE LORD presented also a number of
petitions in favour of the North Wales Railway Bill.
Their Lordships then adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.

The SPEAKER took the Chair shortly before Four
o'Clock.
The Bridgewater Navigation and Railways Bill was
read a second time and ordered to be committed.
The Chester and Holyhead Railway Bill was read a
second time and ordered to be committed.

The Thames Navigation Debt Bill was read a second
time and ordered to be committed.
On the motion of Mr. BROTHERTON, the Man-
chester South Junction and Altrincham Railway Bill
was read a second time and ordered to be committed.
On the motion of Mr. 11. JOHNSTONE, the Cale-
donian Railway Bill was read a second time, and ordered
to be committed.
Lord EBRINGTON presented a petition in favour of
the Plymouth and Stonehouse Gas Bill. On the motion
of the Noble Lord the Bill was read a second time, and
ordered to be committed.
On the motion of Sir J. Y. BULLER, the Devonport
Gas Bill was read a second time, and ordered to be
committed.
On the motion of Mr. CHRISTOPHER, the Great
Grimsby and Sheffield Junction Railway Bill was read a
second time and ordered to be committed.
Mr. H. IIINDE brought in the Newcastle and Dar-
lington Branch Railway Bill, which was read a first and
ordered to be read a second time.

LONDON AND YORK RAILWAY.
Mr. ASTELL moved the second reading of the Lon-
don and York Railway Bill.
Mr. M. MILNES would not, as it was understood
that the second reading should take place pro forma,
and the discussion be taken in the Commit-
tee, offer any opposition at the present moment.
lle might as well, however, take that opportunity of
mentioning that there were rumours abroad of an agree-
ment having been made between this and a competing
line, calculated to injure the interests of private pro-
perty. The arrangement, as be understood, con-
sisted of these terms :—" You shall give up a
certain number of objections which you have made
to our Hue, and we will give up a similar number of ob-
jections which we have made to yours." Now there
could be no doubt such an arrangement as this was in-
jurious to private property, particularly as these under-
takings have tho advantage of possessing great
influence and immense capital. It behoved Par-
liament, therefore, to see that these abuses
were not tolerated, and it would be as well that
some step should be taken to give parties whose rights
would be injured by such an agreement, notice
that they had full power to bring all their claims before
the Committee on Standing Orders. If such a
course as this were adopted it would effectually
prevent the rights of private property being injured in
other instances by similar undertakings.
Sir J. YARDE BULLER knew nothing of the merits
of the Bill, but as chairman of the Committee on standing
orders, to which the petition on the Bill was referred,
ho could state that the standing orders had been strictly
complied with.—(Hear.) Whether such an arrange-

meat as that mentioned by the Hon. Member had been
come to out of doors was not for him to say—all that he
could state was, that no petition whatever alleging
any non-compliance of the standing orders was
brought before the Committee.—(Hear, hear.) With
any such arrangement, of course they had nothing to
do; but as far as ordinary care was concerned, he could
state, that the Committee used their exertions to arrive
at a proper conclusion. The line passed through from
200 to 300 parishes, and the general impression left upon
the minds of the :Committee was, that the case for
the Bill had been got up with a commendable degree of
care (Hear, hear.)
The Bill was then read a second time.
GREAT GRIMSBY AND SHEFFIELD JUNC-