The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-10 00:00:00

THE CORN-LAWS.

MINISTERIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.
Sir ROBERT PEEL then rose and said, Sir, I beg
leave to move that the paragragh in her Majesty's gracious
Speech at the opening of Parliament, relating to the
Corn-laws, be now read.

The Clerk (Mr. Ley) then read the part of her Ma-
jesty's Speech, in which her Majesty recommended to
the consideration of the House, the state of the laws
affecting the importation of corn and other articles, the
produce of foreign countries.
Sir R. PEEL—Sir, I now rise to move that the House
do resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House to
consider the laws relating to the importation of foreign
Corn.

Thellouse having resolved itself into a Committee, and
Mr. GREENE having taken the chair.

Sir ROBERT PEEL rose and said, Mr. Greene, I
rise in pursuance of the notice which I have given, to sub •
mit to the House the views of her Majesty's Government
with respect to the modification of, and the amendment of,
those laws which relate to the importation of
foreign corn. I should consider it a reflection on
the House, if I attempted to excuse myself from
entering into details. Whatever may be the demands
I have to prefer, and however unqualified I may be to re-
lieve a subject necessarily of details, necessarily abstruse,
by any illustrations of fancy, yet I am convinced that
the paramount importance of this subject will induce
the House to grant me that patient attention which, under
other circumstances, I should have deemed it unnecessary
to prefer a claim to. I am aware of the difficulty that '
encompasses the subject I am about to bring under
consideration. A matter with respect to which
such adverse opinions prevail, it is difficult to dis-
cuss, without making statements or admissions which
will be seized upon by those who entertain opposite
opinions. Still the best course that I can pursue
is to submit _ to the House the considerations that
have influenced the judgment of her Majesty's Govern-
ment, and leave this to be decided upon by the reason,
moderation, and opinions of Parliament. I am confident
the course Government has pursued in bringing forward
this measure, whatever the difference of opinion as to the
nature of the measure may be—l am convinced that that
course, at least, will meet with general approbation. If
her Majesty's Government deemed it right to submit a
measure of this importance to the consideration of
Parliament, it was due to the importance of the subject
that the attention of Parliament should be called
to it in the Speech from the Throne.—(Hear, hear.)
is as due also to the importunes) of the subject, that hat

Majesty's Government should undertake, upon the re-
sponsibility of a Government, to propose a measure—
(Hear)—for the adjustment of that question, and that
no interval, which could be avoided, should elars:
between the recommendation from the Throne and the
proposal of the measure to the House.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir, the only object at which I shall aim, in bringing the
subject under the consideration of the House, is to
state as clearly and as' intelligibly as I can the
considerations which have influenced her Majesty's
Government, and the nature of the measure which they
intend to propose. One other object I shall aim at,
namely, to discuss this question, affecting such mighty
interests, in the temper and spirit which is • due to its
great importance ; bearing in mind how easy it is
on each side to raise exaggerated apprehensions, and
to find topics of inflammation by which feelings and
passions may be easily excited.—(Hear, hear,) Sir, her
Majesty's Government have thought it to be their
duty to consider the Corn-laws, with a view to their
modification and amendment.—(Hear, hear.) They
undertake the consideration of that question at a pe-
riod when there is great commercial distress—(Hear,
hear, hear) when there are great sufferings and
privations connected with that distress. But I consider it
to be my duty, in the first place, to declare, that, after
having given to This subject the fullest consideration
which I can, I cannot recommend the proposal
which I have to make by exciting a hope that it
will tend immediately or materially to the mitigation of
that commercial distress under which we are suffer-
ing.—(Hear, hear.) My belief is, while I admit
the commercial distress—while I. deplore the suf-
ferings of, and sympathize with those who are
distressed, yet I feel bound to admit that I cannot
attribute that distress in any degree in which it
has been supposed attributable to the operation
of those laws.—(Cheers from the Ministerial benches.)
I do not view, with those feelings of despair in which
some persons are inclined to indulge, the commercial
prospects of this country. Ido not believe that the re-
sources of our commercial and manufacturing prosperity
are drained; but I do see the operation of causes acting
concurrently and simultaneously, sufficient, in my opinion,
to account, in a great degree, for the depression which has
unfortunately affected our manufacturing and commer-
cial districts ; and I have that confidence in the natural
resources of this country—(Hear, hear)—l have had
such frequent opportunities of seeing periods of depres-
sion as great followed by periods of revival of prosperity
as sudden, that I confidently indulge the hope and belief
that we may still recover by the operation of' natural
causes, and again witness a revival of our com-
mercial prosperity.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) Sir, it
is impossible to take a review of the causes which
have affected the manufacturing and commercial
prosperity of this country, without perceiving that
there have been in operation during the course of the last
four or five years several causes, the effect of each of
which taken.separately would be but little, which, acting
concurrently, have produced an effect sufficient to ac-
count for the present state of deprfssion.—(Hear.) If you
look at the stimulus given, partly through the extreme
facility of credit to great undertakings during the years
1837 and 1838, to the connexion which existed between the
Companies and Directors of Joint Stock Banks, and the
manufacturing establishments—if you look to the im-
mense efforts that were then made for the increase of our
manufactures, to the numerous buildings that were
then erected for the reception of the labourers in our
manufactories, to the emigration of labourers from the
rural districts into the manufacturing districts, to the im-
mense increase which took place in the mechanical power
of our manufactures, the consequence of the stimulus given
to manufactures in 1837 and 1838—you can hardly
be surprised that those con sequences should
have followed those exertions which have so fre-
quently followed similar exertions at former periods.—
(Hear.) The same causes which were in operation here
were in operation in the United States, at the same time;
and the same consequences to the commercial interests
there, in a greater degree, have been the result,
while the derangement in the monetary affairs of the
United States has acted most powerfully on the
demand for our manufactures in that country.
Concurrently with that excitement and stimulus, and
with the depression that followed from them, had
been the effect of the same causes in the
United States, diminishing the demand for our
Manufactures. There has been at the same time
in interruption in our amicable relations with that
country, causing a considerable deficiency in the
export of manufactured goods at a-recent period,
as compared with a former period of our inter-
course with that country. There have been also,
during a considerable portion of a later period
of that time, the elements of war in Europe, and
the necessary stagnation of commerce, which is in some
degree inseparable from such a state of things.
The united effect of these causes will, in my opinion,
go far to account for the depression in our prosperity.
Sir, I am admitting the extent of the depres-
sion. I am equally disposed to admit the ex-
tent of the privation and suffering which have
been the consequence of it. But here, again, 1
am bound to say that I cannot recommend
the measures which I am about to propose, by the hope
that any alteration in the Corn-laws will be a remedy for
some of the evils which, in a great manufacturing
country like this, seem to be inseparable from
society. Extend your foreign commerce as you may,
depend upon it it is not a necessary consequence
that the means of employment for manual labour
will be proportionate to the demand. Speaking
of particular districts, whatever may be the ex-
tent of your commercial prosperity—whatever
may be the demand for your manufactures, it is
impossible not to feel that, coincident with the general
prosperity, there must be the severest partial dis-
tress. These have been so at periods of the
greatest manufacturing and commercial prosperity,
The necessary consequence of the 'sudden improvement
in machinery, and the consequent diminishing of the de-
mand for manual labour, must be to expose in cer-
tain districts of the country those who are depen-
dent for their support on manual labour to great privations,
Sir, we find hundreds of persons occupied in great manu-
facturing districts entirely relying for subsistence on their
labour in some particular department. By the ex-
ercise of ingenuity some improvement in machinery
is suddenly devised, is copied by others, which
has the effect of depriving those who so relied on
their manual labour for subsistence of the means of em-
ployment, as was the case with the hand-loom
weavers—(Hear, hear)—and with many parties engaged
in other branches of manufacture.—(Hear, helm) It is
a hard condition, inseparable from a manufacturing
country, that there must be such revulsions in the de-
mand for manual labour. It is impossible, therefore, in
any commercial system that great privation and
suffering should not frequently exist—(Hear, hear)—
although it is not to be supposed that I deprecate the
exercise of industry and skill.—(Hear, hear.) It would
be madness to interfere with them—(Hear, hear)—
and it would be folly to deny that in the aggregate
this country has derived the greatest source of its
strength from such improvements in manufactures.—
(Hear, hear.) To attempt to obstruct it would
be merely to encourage competition and rivalry
already too formidable.—(Hear, hear.) Inseparably
necessary as distress appears to be from such
development of skill, and such improvement of ma-
chinery, I do not state this for the purpose of
impressing you against the importance of improvement,
but for the purpose of disclaiming the sanguine hope
that any extent of legislative enactments can exempt
you from the liability to such fluctuations and distress.
In proportion to the manufacturing excitement—in
proportion to the stimuli to which I have re-
ferred, to the stimuli of speculation, to the facility
of undertaking,
,by undue advandes; the pursuits of wealth,
just in that proportion must you expect that in certain dis-
tricts of the country these privations will occur. But looking
at the general state of the country,' I can neither see
grounds for that despondency in which some are
apt to view it, nor can I see any grounds for im-
puting to the operation of the Corn-laws, as some
impute to them, any material share in the evils which
we are uow suffering.—(Hear, hear, from the Tory
benches.) I think we are too apt to assume that there
must be a constant and rapid increase in the amount of
our exports to other countries. We are too apt to de-
spond when we find any occasional check in the amount
of those exports. The extent of our commerce during
the last year, if found to be less, when compared to the
year immediately preceding it, we imagine from time
to time 'that the resources of our prosperity are being
dried up. Now, Sir, at all periods of the commercial
,history of this country, these alternations of prosperity
and adversity have prevailed. If you will examine, you
cannot deny that at the last period to which the
returns are fully made up—a period which includes
the year 1841—on comparing the state of trade in
1840, with the state of trade of preceding years,
I see no grounds for the inference which is sometimes
drawn, that the Corn-laws have been the cause of our
misfortunes, and that the repeal of those laws would supply
an immediate remedy. On referring to this paper, I
find that in the year 1840 the exports of British produce
and manufactures—l speak of their declared value—
the value of British produce exported in 1840 to
all parts of the world, exceeded the exports of
1837 by 9,355,0001. ; it exceeded that of 1838 by
1,345,0001. ; and fell short of the exports of 1839 by

MORNING SUN__ --

1,827,000 L—a falling off, sufficient, no doubt, to
create great anxiety and apprehension. But there_
were causes amply sufficient to account for that failing on
If you refer to the state of our commercial transactions
with the United States at that period—with that country
with whose prosperity our own is so intimately inter-
woven—you will find that, during that period, there 'l3
were operating causes connected with monetary derange", i
ment,which accounted for the temporary cessation of tratw, l' ,
I stated that in the year 1839, as compared with theist:
year 1840, there was a deficit of 1,827,0001. in tillq
declared value of the export of British Pr(41.111,-,,
and manufactures. But in the year 1839 thel°'','.;
was an export to the United States amountint;:,,:
to 8,839,0001., whereas, in the year 1840 the total-.,,'
amount was only 5,283,0001., leaving a deficit in 11144 i II
value of our exports to the United States in 1840, as coral:
pared with the year 1839, to the amount'of 3,556,13°°
Now that fact is sufficient to account for -t,
falling off in the general amount of our eaP'
in the year 1840, as compared with the year 1639" ,
The falling off, however, was greatly less than the in" :
crease in other parts ; and consequently the differ-
ence was made up by the extension of our commerce
with other countries.—(Hear, hear.) Sir, it is refii
satisfactory to view the progress of our colonial
trade. In the year 1837 the whole of our exports to al
Colonies amounted to 11,280,0001.; inlB3B, to 12,025,0°°;
1839, t 014,363, 0001.; and in 1840 to 15,497,0001.-01°n'
Now let us look at our commercial transactions with these
countries in Europe which are the chief sources of our OP'
ply of food. Let us look to the state of our export tragic
with Germany, Holland, and Belgium. In 1837 the v -
of our exports to those three countries, the chief searace,
s
of our supply of food, amounted to 8,742,0001. ; ill lto,
to 9,606,000/. ; in 1839, to 9,660,000/. ; and in l',i;
to 9,70.4,0001.—(Hear, hear, hear.) So that even 1" f
respect to those countries which are the ehi6ii
sources of our supply of corn when we stAlib e
in need of any, and which are supposed to
such formidable competitors of our manufacturers,
and with which the sale of our productions is sup;
posed to be so rapidly declining on account of °lle
exclusion of their eorn,—even with respect to tile.
--
countries, there has been upon the whole an increase in,.
export of our manufactured articles.(Hear, be%
Sir, I cannot, therefore, infer that the operation °r :ci,e
Corn-laws is to be charged with the depression via lot
unfortunately prevails in the country at the Preset.,.
moment.— (Hear, hear.) Ido see other causes in ope nt
tiou which are sufficient in a great degree to see°ll.)
for those evils which we all deplore.—(Hear, 110:0
Sir, in considering any modification of the Cortrisr
which it may be desirable to propose, it is le3bees
tant to review the several proposals which have 09
already made with respect to them. Various opinions are
entertained with respect to the Corn-laws. ,there os
sone who would admit of no moditic3'to
whatever in respect to them, but would adhere War
existing state of the law, without admitting any 4ittbii
tion or modification. 'lt is my firm belief that
try,
party are exceedingly limited in number in this el. 5,
I believe that, amongst the agriculturists theals°,:
celle
it is the prevailing opinion that the Corn-lawi all!' $0
altered with advantage.--(Hear, hear.) So far as have
collect from the various communications that
stirsit
been made to me by that body, I am ia.., tile
in saying that the general impression is
s '
general feeling—amongst the agriculturists is
os
favour of a modification in some respects. Ther%s,
also others who entertain a decidedly opposite oril-boi
who would consent to no modification, „sl
would insist on the immediate and absolute rertbot
of the Corn-laws. Sir, it is impossible not toeel of
those who advocate a repeal of every imposition °net!
kind of subsistence for the people, are enabled to ilireor
So topics which give them a great advantage t 1 0 '
hear, hear, and cheers.) To urge that tbereeo 1
a law which taxes bread—an obstacle to the subsito•
of the community—an impost on the food of the r4..e)
lation—to urge that this a tax maintained for OWi
tection and advantage of a separate class--(llaar'4pir
—to urge arguments of this kind gives the__Aii
rents' of such a system the power of 7:04
a considerable impression on those who listen to 001
(Hear.) A comparison is made between the dearne,
food in this country, and the cheapness of food lila,
other countries, and the inference is immediately
outlil t
that the people of this country ought to be placed OO
' same footing with respect to articles of subsistenetsel;
that their condition would be materially benefitedl 0 et
were permitted to avail themselves of the labetibot)
the agriculturists of other countries.—(Hour' A ipo°
Sir, it appears to me that any conclusion fourirle"ition
such a position would be altogether g-r, oundless•-;(14 arid
hear.) 'The question is, can you infer the cool'°-. for
ase of a people, from the price which they 13940er
,food ? Reference is made to the price of food in
sir
.nany, and to the facilities which the low Price °I. rseS'
sistence gives for the establishment of manufactut cle
and the inference is hastily and unwisely drawn tbBlace`t,
people of this country must necessarily be P,Ten
'upon a superior footing to what they are if the l'''a V
food could undergo a corresponding reduction, '4111,0J
equal with the price of other countries. I allerefetl'
_ the true question is not what is the price °' 1,
but what is the command which the labouringicioti
have over it.—(Loud cheers from both sides of the ' o'4
rho question is, whether luxuries or the neeessa-,"
life are easily accessible to the people, and 10111;,,,1
nand the labouring classes have over the cai°' ft
of the products of the country. Under the operatlehil;ris'i
Corn-laws let us compare the condition of the hi' sriS't
classes of this country with the condition of the labs , ~e e,
classes in those countries in which I admit the P.l
provisions is greatly less. There is nothing iitc'hi pri:
the cultivation of corn in the Prussian States. -'—:votr','
)f corn there is much less than it is in this c-liti°.
but can it be from hence inferred that the e° of tY
of the Prussian people is preferable to that :,"y"
ppreiocpeleooffvtahriisocuosunatrrtyic?le—s,(L;rdticcruileasrloyf "ini:er' ilpe.9ol:o/11;
or that the consequence of the immense reducti°lrlice of
food, must necessarily be a great increase in...t.:.(liesf,.f
'forts and enjoyments of the labouring classes? ben6l:t
Sir, there are means, from sources I liPPrii-cibitile'j
unquestionable authority, of forming a
J 1 fart ,it
as to the comparative degrees of °el') foreir
the people in both the countries alluded to; and ilves.4
le termine that a low price of privisions is necess'irl:rallii°io
;
tialtornandacturing industry, to the general coin-copy', II
or to the comforts or enjoyments of the P, willcii,
would be well to weigh the materisls clOie t
you possess before you draw such a 6'll. h °
lne the
Sir, in the Report of the Committee `v o 0 lie
on the Import Duties, there is evideneesian tiel
point—evidence given by the Hon. Gentle jirecd
Merdber for Bolton, whose attention has beell,tes, ,'
to this subject, and who, before that Conon'Tiestrio.
in the Report which he made on the Prussia°, 1,00/..;
on the state Of, our commercial relations Wil' LOPI
so r the
has given information as to the comparative e°°.oat os
of the people of this country, and the consuines y; eip
inhabitants of the Prussian States. -7C°:' ,e, 1)Aefoo
take the great articles of consumption ; unrcr: 0 vdete'
by admitting that meat is dear, and that ch—e stiti eV
the great articles which constitute t-ts ' -fist
nance of the people, and administer of 10 as
comforts. I admit that they are gel: 09ot
in Prussia than they are here.—(Hear') KW,' fie
I said before, it appears to me that the traeth© , Ott,
by comparative lowness of price, but
tomtit
mand the people have over that which, :,°seftli
a
their comforts., Now I began with meat, " - per;(oo3
of that, I shall take my information frog' :jeers,' je'
unsuspicious source. It is from one wil(11 wila is:0)
me as to the operation of the Corn-laws, aniketar, )20ept
tided advocate for their repeal. -- ( d to
.Ariea;
Dr. Bowring's calculation with regahre joli;01,
is given in 1840. It is the report en tali, cellArtf
he was speaking of a state of things ju .00 for "-ten'
where the Corn-laws had been in oPeratz their ‘ll/
years, and must have effected, if that Iveivrebo 0104
dency, the comforts of the people. But Geetlell34 ie
Report made by the Right Honourable
says, Potoof
NONV, with respect to meat, Dr. Bowri 011 botst
Prussia he calculates that 14,000,000 of Persons.., of 0_,,,,
485,000,000 pounds of meat ; that is at the the iiiiivtri
35 pounds annually for each person. put coL, he
ourable Gentleman says, that in 9ollsl'/000
25,000,000 of persons consume 501 b. of meld it bin will
says that it cannot be less than 50 lb:" ;ow-9.
sippes4°
estimated at double that *moult • twos
pen
take it at the lowest calculation, and fron: Lilt 35
that the inhabitants of Prussia consum " „a, is
polo' sur
yearly, whereas in this country fs!lowfi take
~,tio
sumed annually.—(Hear, hear.) I'',
ot were el:;festli
Observe I am not at all denying t" I feel rooseio
prevails in many parts of the country.
distress:P d°
convinced that in parts of the country , certainly
s,res.
ntoot gsraeyat
Qeottro.)ptr:sociir
stlignobrd: :$.010,i
in Paisley consume so much lye'
argue trat 0141/
am
evaenryt o
at all ; but it is impossible to
encelif liU 61
thate xte
the 17,
ject without drawing general infer in an-
roof
look at the whole amount, and,..., the left'
must not be taunted "•7' na_stoc shos
you
Paisley a Pot e;
of " Can you say, that at
,bing. 1 g 11,. g
such is the amount ? I" say no sue!' ''. in arawi:;loo,
there is no such consumption
to ;?ue`i,,atiou ):`,0,01
neral conclusions with respect to
%IT:coral
~.‘ertii-jo,
no other alternative than to deal
_‘,17_;09 to sig
andcomprebensive results, and_by th t,"