The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-22 00:00:00

COLONIAL DIFFERENTIAL DUTIES.

Mr. LABQUCHERE seeing, the. Right Hon. Gentle-
man, the Vice-President of the Board of Trade, in his
place,, wished to ask hitn a question on a subject which
had out of doors created considerable anxiety. In the
measure which he (Mr. Labouchere).had introduced last
year for. regulating the commercial relations of the
colonies, he had proposed that there should be a protect-
ing duty of 7s. per cwt. in favour of British manufac-
tures. He was desirotts that in all other respects the
Colonial Legislature should be allowed to form thir
own , fiscal 'regulations, but be thought it was the
duty of the British Legislature to secure a protec-
tion of 7s. per cwt. for British manufactures. He hoped
that the Right Hon. Gentleman intended to legislate
upon the same principle ; but the resolution was ambi-
guously worded, and great anxiety existed out of doors
on the subject. He wished to know, whether it was the
intention of the Government, in their proposed measure
on this subject, to secure a protection of 7 per Cent. on
British manufacturers.

Mr. GLADSTONE was much obliged to the Right
Hon. Gentleman for giving human opportunity of allaying,
any anxiety which might prevail out of doors on the sub-
ject, although he was not aware of the existence of any
such impression. Nothing could be further from the in-
tention of the Government than to leave the differentiae.
duties impotod f,t•ci,,-,n commodities imported into the
colonies, liable to 13 neutralized by the Colonial Legis-
latures. It was the intention of the Government
that the protection of 7 per cent., or whatever
.other protection might be given, should be a bona
fide. and real protection for British goods. That
was the principle on which the Government pro-
posed to legislate, and he had no doubt or hesitation in
stating that it was Iris intention to carry that principle
into effect. The language which had been. used by the
Fight Hon. Gentleman last year had been altered, not
for the purpose of narrowing the principle, but ,for the
purpose, of,increasing its effect. . There were certain
cases in which the Colonial Legislatures had themselves
imposed differential duties on foreign articles, and the
Government did not propose to interfere with the pro-
tection which the colonial legislatures might be dispoSed
to give, in the shape of differental duties. They merely
intended to give to the colonial legislatures the power of
• continuing any differential duties . they might think
proper, in addition to the protection of 7 per cent.,
which , by an act of the British Legislature, it was in-
, tended to give to British manuf.cture; in all the colonies
For this reason, instead of the words of the resolutions
of the Right Hon. Gentleman, he (Mr. G.) had intro-
duCed a separate clause, which would have the effect of
securing independently of colonial enactments, pre-
ference to articles of British `produce or manufac-
tures, and in case the colonies themselves should lay on,
Or wish to lay on any further differential duties on ar-
ticles of foreign manufactures or produce, under parti-
cular circumstances, the Bill which the Government.
meant to introduce would not interfere with such a course.
SPAIN AND THE GREAT POWERS.
Mr. HINDLEY begged to ask the Right Hon. Baro-
net, at the head of her Majesty's Government, whether
this country' had made any efforts to induce Russia,
Austria. and Prussia, te'recognise the present constitu-
tion and Government of Spain„ and whether the Right
Hon. Baronet could say when such a recognition was
likely to take place ?
Sir R. PEEL.—It is not easy to give a simple and
brief ansWer• to questions of this nature. The Hon.
Gentleman asks, as I understand, whether any communi-
cations have taken place between her Majesty's Govern-
ment and the Great Northern Powers respecting the
recognition of the • present Government of Spain, and
whether there was any prospect of such recognition
taking place ? I wish to take this opportunity of stating in
answering the question that our policy respecting Spain
has been perfectly simple and opcn,and without any reserve.
Our anxious wish has been to see Spain a prosperous,
a powerful, and an independent nation.—(Cheers
from both sides of the House.) Our wish is to see
Spain independent of all foreign protection, and
that no power which she can possess for her
own just defence, should be an object of jealousy
to any other power.—(Cheers.) It has been our desire,
certainly, to give strength and stability, as far as is
possible, by our councils and by exerting our influence,
to the present Government of Spain ; for we thought
we saw under that Government growing 'indications of
advance of civilisation and prosperity; and certainly we
have exercised our influence as far as could be done-with
propriety to induce the Gevernments of the Continent of
Europe—to induce the three Great Powers to recognize
the Government of Spain.—(Cheers.) We have thought
that such exertions on our part would give effect
to - the advancing civilization of that country
and stability of the Government which, in the
pusresthe interests Spain of ' seemed
coun-
try. Gentleman's
einiedto
bestent
calculatedgeieral tocolnidroitrhioonte of
the desired recognitions
are likely to take place. Al-
question to the period
can answer is, that our
It is impossible to answer the Hon.
exertions have been made in
to the Spanish Government
way, to give that stability an amicable and friendly
G
Is Ithink
serve, that one of
Sir, we have no interest to
the tranquillity of
the greatest 'objects in promoting - that country should be re-
IN Inch we thought would result from such measures.
Europe is that the state
re-
stored to prosperity and
she used to
should hold the place which fill amongst the
States—(Dear, hear)--and no exere
independence, and that Spain
family of European States
to bring that .about.
tions on our part shall be
`Wantingl' I.CKETS. •
WEST INDIA
frot.n, Capt. PLUMRIDGE,
eerrytoinadisqtuineetly s
wholn laVanss'NY'
said, that in theprinted
Mr. SIDNEY HERBER
Admiralty regulation of the West
papers relating to the
Iword. Liverpool was, by a
India packet stations, t
Falmouth.
printer's error, substituted for
Beard,.
re!

Chancellor o“h.e Exchequer whether it
COMPTROELEII
begged to ask the Right Hon.
OF THE EXCHEQUER.
.6
eCnot
ll
eomn eal
oStIbBeTI il'
Was his intention to submit any. measure, to the House
for regulating the man
and the .other duties of the Comptroller and the Deputy
dayne r,o
to l
lia ssy übiteig tor Exchequer
illie orus Be
all
ills
Comptroller of the Exchequer. • , . • .
TbeCl-01 itkolN
anCEle.4aLrly tnt of the EXCHEQUER hoped
to he at)l
that he proposed to do respecting the issue of Exche-
quer Bills. The subject was a. matter of serious consi-
deration to the Government, as well as to the CoMp-
troller-General of-the Exchequer, and some proposition
in relation to it would shortly, be made to Parliament ;
G
but beyond that he was. not able to make any statement
at present. In. respect to the latter part of the Hen.
Member's question, he should say that there was at all
of:nvteennttsionnooilniteanntieoanriyclay to take the sense of the House
abolishing the office ofComptroller-
eneral.
Colonel SIBTHORP then gave notice that it was his
on the subject of both the offices of Comptroller and
Depitty-Comptroller.—(Hear, and laughter.)
INTERMENT 1N TOWNS.
!‘fr. MACKINNON gave notice that he would to-

morrow move for leave to bring in a bill on the subject of
interment' of the dead in towns.
PUBLIC WORKS. •
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER gave
notice that on Friday next, in a Committee of the whole
House, lie would call the attention of the House to the
Acts which regulate the advances for public Works.
'.CITE CORN-LAWS—THE WAGES 01? LABOUII.
Mr. COBDEN. gave notice that on the first opportu-
nity he would move, that inasmuch as that House had
repeatedly declared by its votes and by the Reports of its
Committees, that it was beyond the power, of the House
to regulate the wageS,of labour, it would be manifestly
unjust to pass any law raising the price of food without
previously considering and determining what the opera-
tion of such law would be upon the rate of wages in this
country.—(Hear, hear.)
Leave of absence was granted to several Hon. Members
until
.aftei Easter or for shorter periods.
Mr. JERVIS moved that leave of absence should be
.
given to Mr. Grainger to go on eircult.—(Loud crics Of
" No, no.")

Leave of absence was granted to Sir Hesketh Fleet-
wood on account-of ill health. "
Mr. C.' BUIIER wished to call the attention of the
House to the exceeding hardship of refusing leave of ab-
sence to Mr. Grainger.—(Cries of "Question.") It ap-
peared to him that it should be the object of that House
to make attendance upon their duties as convenent to
lawyers as they possibly could.—(Laughter.) He meant
as convenient to them as to other Members, consistently
with the proper discharge of their duties. When this
question arose last session, •it was suggested that as
it was in the power of the General Committee Elections
to place different Members on the several Committees as
they chose, the best course would be to place those hon.
members who had to go the circuits upon those lists in
which they is ould not be called upon during the period
whilst -the circuit lasted. Surely tha was ."-a course
which could not be attended with inconvenience to the
public business. What was the state of things at pre-
sent ? The. Northern Circuit commenced on Wednes-
day, and Gentlemen were obliged tn go down imme-
diately, if they intended to attend the circuit, without
knowing in what list .their name would be placed.
If the suggestion to which he had referred were adopted
all difficulty would be removed.
Mr. JERVIS could not. see what possible inconve-
nience would arise from granting leave of absence to
Mr. Grainger. Of course the tine would allow but one
.panel to sit before. Easter. A barrister could not be
excus id from being placed upon a particular piteel ; but
the Cqnunitte had now the power. ifleave of absence were
granted, to substiiute another for the absent member.
Supposing that, a certain number of gentlemen of
the legal profession were appointed •to act as Chair-
men, it was manifest that no Committee could sit
before Easter, except one ; and therefore there could
be no practical inconvenience arising if the indul-
gence sought for were extended by the House ;
deed, if it was the ebject of "professional gentlemen
to be dispensed with, or 'to escape the duties of attending:
on committees altogether, he (Mr. Jervis) would agree
with the House that they should be obliged to. perform ,
those duties, but it was not so, all they sought for was
to be exempted from those duties during the circuits, he,
therefore, hoPed the House would reconsider their deter-
mination, and that Hon. Gentlemen would not be carried
away by any feeling, that lawyers had any intention'
or anxtety to shrink from the:performance 'of the. ar-
duous and responsible duties of acting on Committees as
well as other Hon. Memberson the entire, he submit-
ted that indulgence' should be extended to professional
Gentlemen during their absence on circuits.
Sir GEORGE GRRY agreed with his Honour-
able Friend in saying, that if Honourable Gen-:
tlemen Were. bona fide practising Barristers, they should'
be exempted from being on Committees during the
circuits, and their names reserved for those counties
where they could attend and perfOrm their duties con-
veniently and efficiently :
Mr. MURPHY observed that the subject was of first
importance to the profession ; if they sought the relaxa-
tion alluded to for the purpose of escaping attendance
altogether, he would say it was unreasonable.—(Hear.)He thought it a very hard case' that they should
be denied the 'indulgence which they sought, it
being simply, not that they should escape any
duty, but that they might be allowed to deter
it. He trusted be should be excused for making-
his first appearance before the HOuse in a mutter of a
personal consideration, but he thought it best openly and
at once to state his views on the subject, as be should
consider it a great hardship if he were not allowed that
privilege which he now sought to obtain for another.
Lord . MAHON thought-the application belore the
House was quite just and reasonable. The indulgence
claimed was not for the benefit of barristers only, but
the interests of the clients also might suffer much. He
did think the indulgence sought was one which the
House might in justice to confer.
Lord G. SOMERSET said it would not be convenient
at present to make an examination into the panels. Ho
should suggest, if that were the desire of the House to
giant any indulgence, that it should not be done till after
the appointment of the Chairman's panel and the general
panels. He would press it on the House, that leave of absence
should not be granted till the expiration of that period
which would be some time about the middle of next week:
As lie had said before, to.release the various Mem-
bers of the legal profession from their duties in this
post, would throw impediments in the way of their ex-
ercising their discretion in conducting the business of
Election Committees.

Lord JOHN RUSSELL said he was inclined,
on general grounds, to join with the noes on the
motion for granting leave of absence to _Honourable
Members under ordinary circumstances. But
it was frequently of the utmost importance to a member
i)f the legal profession, and might, in fact, determine
the whole career of a lawyer, his being able to
attend, or being debarred from attending a circuit.
In, such a case, it was better that the mode of carrying
it into effect should be cOnsidered by the
Members of the General ComMittee. The most
convenient mode would be to grant the
leave of absence, and then so to arrage the panels that
the Members should not be called on duty during their
absence. The members of the legal profession might
rest assured that the House was not unwilling to treat
them with fair consideration.

Mr. E. BULLER asked the Right Hon. Baronet
whether in the event of the Mouse coming to a decision
to-night, he would proceed with his own plan imme
diately ?