The Sun.
London, England, 1826-05-18 00:00:00

of the thy for bringing up the Report of the Committee on the
Bill for the importation of Foreign Corn.
On the question being put by the SPEAKER,
Sir T. LETHBRIDGE said, that as this was the last oppor-
tunity he should have -of snaking any observations on the ruse-
sure before the House, he should even himself of it lbr the
purpose of staying a word or two. He felt that it was useless to
oppose the measure, and he should nut, therefore, interrupt it
by adopting any • course merely vexatious. Be was fully aware
of the very large and powerful majority his Majesty's Ministers
had commanded in this House, and he could not shut his eyes
either to the equally strong support it had received in another
place. Under these circumstances he should not press Ministers
to give any pledge (for in point of fact they had given one already)
-that nothing which had been done in regard to this measure should
hereafter prejudice the question of the Corn Laws. He would
haVe called on them to enter into the pledge at this moment, if
he had not understood all that had been said in the House and
elsewhere to mean that this measure was to answer a peculiar
exigency, and was not a sample of any future measures which
Ministers contemplated carrying into effect next Session, when
they stood pledged to make some alteration in the Corn Laws as
they at present stood. The duty now proposed (and which, not-
withstanding what might have been said to the contrary, he con-
tended was not equal to that of 1822, when it was 17s. it being
now only 125.) was proposed merely to afford relief to certain
districts, and they did not man it to prejudice the general ques-
tion. There had been efforts made in certain quarters to intimi-
date him from pursuing the course be had intended ; but these ef-
forts he despised. The opinion, he had presumed perhaps to ex-
press, he had troubled the House with, because he thought it'his
duty to do so, and no intimidations, however gross, personal, or
dangerous, could have induced bins to have teelected it. The
personality exhibited towards him, he would repeat, only excited •
Isis indignation and contempt. Having said this, he would not
take up the time of the House by going into the question at its
present stage ; he would only repeat that he protested against any
futnre proposition being grounded on the one now before the
House. He hoped Ministers would recollect that a pledge to this •
effect had been given both in the face of the House and the coun-
try, and they could not at any future period, in justice to the
House and their own characters, depart from it.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER had no hesitation
in.saying, with respect to the mode in which the proceedings of
this year had been effected, that Ministers had repeatedly given a
pledge that it was not to be considered the foundation for a course
to be pursued next year.—(Hear, hear.)—To violate such a
pledge would be the shabbiest departure front their engagements.
(Hear, hear.)—The measures they had proposed ought not and
could not prejudice the free discussion contemplated. With respect
to the intimidation referreslto by the Hon. Baronet, he (the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer) would say that it was quite consistent
with his character to treat it as he had.
Mr. H. SUMNER said, that though he much admired the ge-
neral conduct of Ministers, he still considered that in proposing
the measures now before the House, they did whet was neither
wise as a mode of relief, nor properly conducted if it were wise.
He wished to say a word to explain why he had divided the. House
the other evening, this course having having been considered as
vexatious. His object was to give time to his constituents to pe-
tition the House against going into a Committee on the Dill. A
meeting did take place for this purpose on Saturday, but it was
too late to effect what be desired.
Sir R. HERON made a few observations which wereinaudible
in the gallery. We understood him to say, that the Bill would
not do mischief, it would be inoperative. He was, however, so
opposed to it, that if he !net with any encouragement he would
now divide the House.
The Report was then brought up and read, and the Bill order-
ed to engrossed, and read a third titne to-morrow.