The Sun.
London, England, 1844-06-18 00:00:00

creased protection to West India sugar.—(oot
cheers.) No.vv my opinion on the sugar nuest.
and the effect of duty on sugar,
little. 1t can only be formed from general remade;
as to the effect of prospective duties on the sugarli oft
it can only be a speculation by me foundslica:
experience with regard to other duties ; but
receissed by the post of this morning, froai
practical atithority, strong confirmation of the 'Teo
which I have expressed in this respect, that wand
is danger in a prospective reduction of the datP,ing
that there is no sufficient ground for a discrimiaseeol
duty in favour of white clayed sugar, the Predtleisea
is worth
our colonies. The gentleman from whom I rector
n
this letter states that he has been engaged in theie.op
trade for 20 years, that he turned over near a lae the
money per annum, and was most desirous to seiosial
'duty on foreign sugar, and more particularly on c° de
sugar, reduced as much as possible; but he wasigiots
certain if Mr. Miles's proposition was carried all
effect as it stood, it would be most disastrouspo
parties interested, as well as to the revenue; f°'o,o
person would engage extensively in the trade, l':°so.
ing that the duty would be much lower in off,
umber, when the 4s. duty would be taken
He would likewise strongly recommend them to Pi'
of
the same extra duty of 4s. on the better class3t it
foreign colonial sugar, as Mr. Miles proposed to Pa,f,
on what he called white clayed free-labours
It was well known that extensive refineries had
i,oes
recently erected near Calcutta, and in other pool
for the purpose of making a fine strong-gr3ory
sugar. This fine kind of sugar had of late gnt _
much into use, and bade fair to supersede the Tes(
o,
refined or lump sugar; so much so, that scarce])
other was used. This fine crystallised glb:so
was likewise made in Demerara, and „oile
now selling at 705., while brown Mase;nisi
sugar was selling at 565. Now, observe (c3°liiiis'
the Right Honourable Baronet), the brown ii
covado sugar which sells at full price for 513',.;5t
exposed to a competition with sugar theproduce °los;
own colonies, which is worth 705.; and it is exPtits
to competition with it at exactly the sonetetss
of duty ; there is no discrimination w'lla'f
These processes of manufacture, the result °flee
application of great capital, are bringing int° dr
best market, in competition with the ordinary.
rot
duce of the West India colonies, great quantitfyed
fine sugar, at the same amount of duty.
rjo.
t
propose to make no distinction between those
vies, but to admit sugar from all at the Name to
but 3rou do propose, in respect to foreign sugars
establish a discrimination which you do not PrFrfos
to apply to your own. If this foreign sugar, Whsic
worth 705., as compared with other sugars at bosit be
admitted at the same duty, why should you lot
able, supposing there be white sugar coming, so
Java or Manilla, to compete with the sugar 01utios
precisely in the same way, as the coarsest descrl_its
of sugar, worth 565., will come into competitiongor,
the coarse description of foreign sugar 0
?--,( set
hear.) Those, then, are the grounds upon wincitot
Majesty's Government do not think it would he'l
to vote for the discriminating duty in favour of end's
nial sugar which is proposed by my Hon. filly
resolution, which gives a protecting duty °I the
(Hear, hear.) We cannot, therefore, assent :Jeri'
proposal of my Hon. Friend, because, after 01151 oso
tion, we entertain a decided preference for Of hicli
plan. We do not think what he proposes is one iw it 0
ought to receive the assent of this House, an'orits
not, therefore, in our power to vote for it on its 111'o 0
Differing from my Hon. Friend on the merits, to
purely commercial point of view, I do not hesitntepo,
admit, on the part of the Government, that, IW°. lisists
litical grounds, I cannot undertake to adopt hl Theo
My Hon. Friend, in supporting his motion, said rot
was no very material difference between the re
posal of her Majesty's Government and his °roses
that he proposed, in respect to both ties
of sugar the same amount of protecting dutl;t
that therefore we might without difficulty ad°P r of
amendment of my Hon. Friend. If it be a matte It
no importance we are disinclined to adopt it'rallf
was carried by a combination of those who gene ,)0,
support us, by a combination with our political °Ps;cji
nents. If the measure be unimportant, and 3 ii
combinations take place in support of it, lhear)
surely significant of a want of confidence.—(ll"l:'s see
If you cannot effect an important public object, " te'
be no great difference in the two proposals, in c opts
quence of the concurrence between political oPrrie%e•
that surely bears strongly on our condition as
of cutive Government, and diminishes our means 0, the
our duty. Ido not believe that the concurrence in de'
vote was a casual concurrence, growing out of the joe
bate. Circumstances—l may be wrong—but 10,
pression is that it was a preconcerted arraneerne9pd
(Loud cries of " No, no," in which Mr. Miles ..1°.0,0
heartily.) When my Honourable Friend tells roe, ,tio
that is not not so lam bound to believe him, ba',ol'
we inferred there had been a preconcerted unders'l no
ing.—(Cries of " No, no.") Understand Inc, I a°,,igfil
complaining—(Cries of " Oh, oh ")—but I have 1.1111, of
to state it.—(Hear, hear.) Ido not deny the ,00
Hon. Gentlemen to enter into combinations, but
I Jr,
a right to consider what bearing that has upon tiles tA
salon of the Government when it may determine.flisis
whether it will accede to an unimportant proposibise
I cannot doubt the right of the two parties to cow bat
if they please to carry an unimportant proposition,
foilY
[must claim for myself the right and manner of deter pee,
ing what the effect of my position would be in consegae, 1)0
When my lion. Friend originally gave notice
amendment, it was to this effect—that he should Pico
pose a reduction of duty upon British colonial sugd dia
the amount of 20s.—(Hear, hear.) My Hon Frier' the
not indicate any intention at that time of reduciag,,of
duties in the form and manner which he subset:Pap,
submitted. His original proposition was, that a ITtsaf
tion should be made upon British colonial sugar, ba,oele
there should be no reduction upon foreign. Vie Itioo
Lord opposite (Lord John Russell) had made a 93-doll
which proposed that there should be a protective shift
upon all sugars intended to be admitted of ten 00
lings ; and my Hon. Friend (Mr. Miles), at a subsiii, la
period, amended his motion, and shaped it in the fo. ova
which it was ultimately brought before the Hosetae
us
fearing that the West India party, who had e ova
givings, might hereafter have their opinion.
jcile tot
against him, he accounted for his conduct by Sad king 1
the forms of the House did not admit of his stir visa
his original proposition. Now, in that my IP' e ees
was quite wrong, for nothing could have been Inerci
of
of
if it had suited the views of my Hon. Friend need
his supporters—(Hear, hear, and laughter)--tidtl
IT
him to have adhered to his original proposition, ge
in perfect conformity with the orders of the 'ust,'onia''
without calling forth, Sir, your vigilance, or of r tbial‘
that risk which some of the West India pa% cool
he has incurred by giving effect to a 'l.l
measure. It must be recollected that wbe 0104
Honourable Friend (Mr. Miles) was
whether he would make any relaxation in that duty
of his amendment which referred to the Ili'her .$5 v°white clayed sugar, that his answer was he rittlefii
prepared to do so.—(Hear, hear.) Now, I am as .1,0 vi;
dined to be mortified,or to complain of any langni7evec„e3
in the course of debate as any man. I cannot
altogether forget the terms in which my 11°0' p (31
(Mr. Miles), as the mover, and the Hon. Gentlen4 pet.;
(Bailie), as the seconder of his resolution, iatr,?velte'a
this subject. I have no desire to exhibit the ii'lerre
feeling of, temper on this occasion. Indeed, I 'di, ob;
reeling of the sort, but I cannot but alluie Geoid tats'
serlvations which were made by the llon.
who Supported the motion. My lion. Friend :s-t-essst.'".
the Government were sacrificing the colonial
and the first proof which he gave of that propootliLs sa,t
the reduction of the duty on foreign w°ld o!it
although he admitted that that reduction vc°l,"et ft
materially interfere with the home productions)ters,i;
he said that it was a blow to the Australian „,,,liesdt".,
Now I hope I shall be able to satisfy my lion. - rf AI"(
that point. There has been a considerable sale ° tea
tralian wool since that reduction,
days since I was assured by an Hon. Gentlen3o,'Alliee„
on the other side of the House, that there never '1;0 pis'',
a more brisk sale of Australian wool ; that a ris;'„obtreie
had followed the reduction, and that the price ° i!oro ti
Tian wool was higher now than it had been becbeer:,
reduction of the duty on foreign wool. ---(0,3
and tlinx "srltainfl
Therefore my Hon. Friend cannot quote aealasetive:,,,
reduction of the duty on foreign wool as desitrgtear ,)
the Australian wool. My Hon. Friend ssi" heeri%
had better throw off the mask.—(Loud ins o!'01
My Hon. Friend having naturally a fellow-fceL,
the agricultural interest, calls upon them to 1100111
him. It is but natural and legitimate that lie' to
to
so ; but my Hon. Friend makes a direct "P/tll birs:
Noble Lord, and to those opposite who `act, "v,heta -(v)
and states that he is prepared to combine wit° teat a'j
the purpose of rescuing the colonies. He wado,bie f,OO
peal to the Noble Lord knowing that the S' bet'vece
was prepared to establish no distinction whatever°
nosiind „ce
sugar, the produce of free labour, and sirar,
of slave labour.—(Hear, hear.) My 'Ten. r .
Member for Inverness, who seconded the In°t 1
li/esr).o
that our course was vacillating and tortuousllene 150
and that the West Indian interest had no on
the intentions of her Majesty's Governinenet:r
surpow
appealed to Hon. Gentlemen opposite for th 1 t eelPhleit
which was willingly granted.ca beet frily
ferring from the speeches of my Hon. Friendsa °
supporters, that in their opinion it is not des'', ire,grace
traduce any distinction of duty between si-a 0,1 sad,
sugar and free labour- sugar.—(Hear, bear.) ss,.o
an occasion as this it is right that I should,sr' be tts
cpoe
nr rseeCqt u
eunnereess e
Nryriel
a, t t andh
ey state
n 1a3t,1,1e reasons Wn_);/,',lnctier
abide by the proposition v% hich :e'efirasrternadcletursaeohte:iiiaie
ing and counter cheering.) My lion. Frientuionsur de,
certificates of origin are no security. If aVi, be 1113 or
Friend was justified in the observations wh.:_ sne2r,
he must concede the admission of all forell7ruiell
maintain the present system. My Hon• rity agVos,
0'
opinion that aeertificate of origin was no semi
the introduction of foreign sugar, and I do o°t,,snecel;i_°!fie
holding that opinion, he can escape from the 4ql,
that all foreign sugar ought to be admitted2,(o,lll,"o,
of duties remain as they are. The Hon. 110..1 Jeri
~0
seconded the motion expressed in still nin_cinit,g,:,io
terms his opinion of the impolicy of mei I.,ef
distinction between free and slave-'1"" Preiros,
Honourable Member admitted that 6 he
as duty sf.
a duty of 15s. on all foreign sugars to (.-,,.u..i'aidee/e5
applied by the Government to some perPeu.,riecifier
There was a material difference between tne, Yd. et
Frien
of the Government and those of his Lion. ca a •
be the authors of such a proposition. L
'erne- poia
Majesty's Government have determined th_readtetrhetYbestel,;,;.
cuinstances, the course her Majesty's Gol , op
poses to pursue is this :—The Noble Lyra