The Sun.
London, England, 1844-05-11 00:00:00

was against Switzerland ; yet, despite that disadvantage,
Switzerland was able to maintain a successful competi-
tion with us. And why was it so ? Because Switzer-
land required to consume a certain amount of foreign
produce, and it was found that the cheapest way in
which she could pay for that was by her manufactures.
Though the disadvantages of her situation told greatly
against her, though she made on the whole scarce a fair
return for her industry, still she was able to carry on a
trade which supplied the wants of her population by
the
exchange of her manufactures for foreign goods. An"
why was that ? It was because she had not imposed re-
strictions on the freedom of commerce.—(Hear, hear.)
There was a still stronger case. The Right Hon. Baronet
had stated that the United States of America were
driving us out of many neutral markets. He (Lord H.)
believed that to be so. He believed that the manufac-
turers of the United Statei were successfully competing
with us in many of the third markets of the world.
How did they account for that on their principle that-
whatever rendered manufactures dearer rendered all
competition impossible ? It was notorious that the rate
of wages was higher in the United States than
in this country. But he denied that the
price of the raw material was dearer here than
it was in America, because a bale of cotton in
f
bond in Liverpool imported from New Orleans was,
anything, cheaper than a bale of cotton in bond at Mss'
sachusetts imported from the same place. The exPense,
of the conveyance from New Orleans to Liverpool Wn'
not greater—(Cries of " Less, less")—than from New
Orleans to Massachusetts. It was not, therefore, t°'
price of the raw produce which enabled the manufw
turers of the United States to maintain a competition
with us. Then, what was that that upon their priv
ciple of the impossibility of raising prices or wages wbent
there was foreign competition—what was that tha
enabled the North American manufacturer to successfully
compete with us ? He had seen a trade circular flit
China the other day, stating the great amount of Nort,„ g
American manufactures that was imported into t°,9_'A
country ; and he must say, that the trade circular state"
the reason of that fact to be, as he believed it, that in the
North American United States no duty at all was
upon tea, and, consequently, tea was very rapidly risl°g.
in consumption in that country, and the North Allier':
can manufacturer produced those goods for the purPe's.;
of paying for that tea which they required for Mc".
countrymen. If they calculated the expense of the Awe
rican manufacturer in money, and of the Manchester 10,°'
facturer in money, on the spot, it would be found, no dounti
that the Manchester manufacturer could produce ayard `'
cotton cheaper than the American, but yet that did n°s
enable him successfully to compete with the Ameries°'
because the latter had the advantage in the rettlr°
cargo. That supported his principle that their coenret;
tion with foreign countries was not a matter of sue
formidable danger. He was persuaded that, with re:
spect to China, they must put an end to eompetitwith America. If they received the corn of Amer','
into this country, it would be re cheaper mode for the
American to buy tea, to send corn here, and purellast
manufactures with the price thereof, and then send °°
those manufactures to China; but we, by our laws,
would not allow that to take place, and, con"
trary to what nature really intended, viz., that
fully peopled country should be a manufacturing
country, and that a half-settled country should be
agricultural country, we compelled the American Me.'"
chant to pay for the tea which he required for coneurnr;
tion, not by British but by American manufacture 4
He was perfectly sensible how imperfectly he bad bee
able to state those views to the House, but he knew 11°t(
.
difficult it was, upon what was, after all, rather a (I°,
tion of abstract political economy, to argue in an arse`-en
bly like that. But unfortunately it was those doctris
which were at the bottom of the question; and, there:,
fore, it was not in his power to avoid going into thew
„
The argument that foreign competition would ruin theo°s
trade was totally visionary, and equally visionary be
the great fall of wages which they anticipated woulkij
the imaginary ruin of their manufactures. Al t"
would really happen was that they would, to ef
certain degree, diminish the productive powers
this country—(Hear, hear)—and that the burden vele
be thrown not on one particular class, but 'upon of•
whole country. First, by the slightly increased eosyof
the manufactures required for the home market. 40
course if manufacturing labour was less productive to,
hitherto, there would be somewhat of a diminution Pti
the abundance of the supply for the home market, be
the cost would be thereby increased. But that wouloetts
only for a short extent of time, for they all knew, so giro
was the progress of improvement in machinery, that t,..ee
was no question ten hours' labour per day would prooL,
a larger amount of goods for home consumption Pit;j,
twelve hours would a few years previously. The in the
eats of the working classes were deeply involved in 01
question, and he would recommend the House to vio ole
that compromise of an Eleven Hours' Bill to whiel'.oo.
House had pledged itself on a former occas'
He owned that that did appear to him to be so hazard° ,
an experiment upon the temper and minds of the Fla
lation in the manufacturing districts, that even if be• ne,
on previous occasions voted against his Noble Frle_te,
he would hesitate much before he repeated that
he would shrink from being a party to altering the °L.'O,
sion to which they had already come. If injurious,'Lt
sequences followed, the exclusive responsibility would fed
with her Majesty's Government. He hoped and trusli;t
that the working classes would petition. They milted,
be certain that though what they desired was postpona
it was virtually carried.—(Hear, hear, from Mr. Ferra°,,ea
He said again it was virtually carried. Ite
'they would not find in the whole course of 140
ilamentary history, any question in which the gr,e
body of the people took so deep an interest—(Hear
which was not ultimately brought to a successful iss°4
—(Cheers.) He knew not how long the struggle migej
be prolonged, but of its ultimate issue he entertain 0
not the slightest doubt. He could not help asking eves
her Majesty's Government whether they themseleif
were not in their hearts persuaded that it could 0°1:4
terminate in one manner, and, if so, he asked them "
it well that the struggle should continue?—(Ch eers.)b at
- Mr. LIDDELL said he could not help thinking t
the Noble Lord had somewhat perplexed his own 01
ment by the manner in which he had treated the elool
of foreign trade.—(Hear, hear.) The Noble Lord r
diverged into the subject of protective duties. He Coto
ceived that the corn-laws did not necessarily enter
this question. If those laws were to be justified at
they were to be justified on grounds altogether lea
pendent of a Ten Hours' Bill. Never, since he lty
had a seat in Parliament, had he felt so much din'creftr-
in reconciling his feelings and his judgment as long
roue to that question. His feelings went entirely °roe
with the Noble Lord, whereas, after the most delibed
and careful consideration, he felt himself comPelreer.)
vote with her Majesty's Government.—(Hear' -f the
There was nothing novel, indeed, in the principle, °boa.
Noble Lord's proposal. In the case of agricultural 1° eneo
they bad practically ten hours' daily work. In 0°,4 of
of bricklayers, woodcutters, and others, the b°%—tbe
labour were from sunrise to sunset—from six 'pit°
morning till six in the evening, with two hours re` ere
from toil—(Hear, hear) and if ten hours gen
enough for them, with the fresh breath of ilelifor
blowing upon them, it was certainly ene.ing"h ,
be
those who were employed in factories. -0'?" gad
did not consider her Majesty's Government and
acted on that occasion with their usual discretion 0.0-
foresight.—(Hear, hear.) He must say that if thegned
vernment were prepared originally to take their come
on this great question, if they were determined to deer
to no compromise whatever, notwithstanding the,tnted
sion of that House, they ought at least to hare,;esie
their opinions, in order that their intentions wig' tbst
been evident to their supporters and friends ill 60'
House.—(Laughter.) By not having done so tijeeitP
vernment had been exposed to considerable perPjedgel
—(Great laughter.) He said, from his own kn,°,.`vit had
that there were many Hon. Gentlemen who, "selir
been known that such importance was aft pave
to the ten hours' clause, would not non • ii3g
voted with the Noble Lord without closely ex° a to °
all the arguments, and they might then have cola
different conclesion.—(Great laughter.) It wastwe
true that the reasoning which applied to this sub.i`l,oo(
not obvious on the surface. One feeling was °nn
but a little previous reflection, and more considerat fro
the subject, might have induced many to abstait
giving a vote which, when once given, it was veriot
cult to retract.— (Hear.) But though he did !loot
prove of the course pursued by the Right Hon. fost):
(Sir J. Graham), he gave him full credit fur " „tidy
and sincerity of purpose. The Noble Lord (Lord o°,er it
stated that this was not a question which, 110°4 tbe
might be decided, would call for the resignation ueensii
Government. Had the Noble Lord thoroughly ) Pl.
dered the provisions of this Bill ?—(Hear, 11'14;
he not know that it was a question allecoeikr'
vast deal of property, and vast masses of the come
rence
and that the Government had had previous e°" bear)
with the parties immediately concerned 2--Olearci'eere
The Right Hon. Baronet felt himself bound to a t ser
theprovisions of his own Bill ; and he was u°o,oo be,
prised, therefore, at his suggestion, that ratheridretir4
guilty of any dishonourable compromise he w°,ll, go°
into private life. He felt entire confidence in indnere
intentions of the Government. What possibloduee tilt
ment, except a sense of duty, could possibly ns ?
Government to take the course they had a°o one
could not be a wish to please the Crown ; for not its ill;
this country would so rejoice in the well-being
cCh. 0
„id Of
habitants as her most gracious Majesty. It only
be a desire to please their friends, for to
ositione,o
them they were placed in painful oPP by 00
(Hear.) Lastly, they could not be inlltlei!eetbat e°so
desire of truckling to their opponents ; for Innne o°,o
they would have pursued a different course. `,t.sne tr„t
alone could have induced the Government t 0 r a ,trit
course which they were then pursuing, nain,eel OOl
sense of duty, a thorough consciousness of tebelief test
bility which rested upon them, and a firm bee e gro.,
any compromise of this great question
w"
he Dilr
tt
detriment and injury to those classes whom ..,ouetr,sF;
intended to benefit. For these reasons he
port the measure of her Majesty's Governtur'et (Wei,
Mr. BERNAL said the Right Ron. mei ;
Graham) had charged the Noble Lord 1-,l3,tbueesasetbo
with changing his tactics on that occasion,
_of .00
had taken up the commercial v
of the Noble Lord's opponents
5_3
question. Now he contended thhaatdltuhnede.,,.2.o:nifotbe
manifest revolution.—(Hear, hear.) It was the jisee.s et.
• h had beeli to
of the Noble Lord's proposal which _ea 00
.
on former occasions by those who were oepnpue her
(Hear.) He appealed to Hon. Gentler]; A now
was not the case ; and whether thel_na_.(LleSrs
sorted the position which they then a priniuer tlebst,etea
He would be the last man to refer to , regreb.
.7 of rising ° red so
not having the opportunity
Crown cleave
eloquent
but he could not help
when the First Minister o the Croovne.
ed
an
very excellent sentiments, not only c
owl sensevtiing
ood taste, s
language, but marked by g of Pr° Tre
necessity f re.
right feeling, in reference to the _
means o
healthful me subjec
not merely education but
saying, that he
nna;:n
ocessitao„.
He would ask the Right Hon. Baronet, Isee
supported him in that view, how tIIOSQ Wore "
tion and amusement but
their poorer
anfelidowth-00 vigh;