The Sun.
London, England, 1842-06-17 00:00:00

titz _Snit

LONDON!
FRIDAY MORNING, JUNE 17, 1842.

It is justly said, that all systems are best tried by
their practical results. The present distress of the
country cannot, as our opponents say, however, be
caused by free trade ; for that has, with only one excep-
tion, never existed in England. We have had free trade
between one part of the. island and another—between
Aberdeenshire and Middlesex, between Lancashire and
the county of Cork, between London (which has neither
walls, nor an ociroi, save on coals) and the country,
and the manner in which that free trade has unques-
tionably promoted the prosperity of the whole empire is

a sure indication that free trade with foreign countries
must be equally beneficial. But we have had no free
trade with foreign countries.
Such natural diversities of soil, climate, and geogra-
phical peculiarities as give birth to the trade between
Aberdeenshire and Middlesex, and make it advantage-
ous, are still greater between foreign countries ; and
though they have different Governments, that cannot
alter or influence those great natural relations on which
all trade depends. The trade founded on them,. which
is extremely beneficial, between the different counties
of the same kingdom, cannot he injurious to the different
kingdoms of the earth. Had free trade universally ex-
isted, it could no more have caused our present distress
than the free trade between Manchester and Liverpool ;
but it has not existed, and must, therefore, he wholly and
completely exonerated from the unfounded charge.

Nor can it be said that approximations towards free
trade with countries under different Uovernments
have caused distress any more than establishing
free trade between England a»d Ireland, since 1800, has
injured the two countries. The chief approximations
towards free trade were made i y Lord WALeAck; and
Mr. Ilxsaissos between 1819 and 1826, and between
the latter period and 1836 the Ivhole empire increased
rapidly in prosperity. The Whigs, in E'er, did little or
nothing to promote free trade with foreign countrks.
except With China, and that trade was much increased.
They reduced taxation, as well as the Tories, which was
a step towards freedom ; and while the influence of the
reduction lasted there was prosperity in the land. When
the influence of the beneficial alterations made by Mr.
IIeSEISSoN and of the reductions in taxation ceased, when
the Whigs began to levy more taxes, then the baneful
restrictions on importing, corn, and sugar, and wine met,
and stopped our commerce on every shore ; we could no
longer go ahead, and beggary, starvation, and discos-
ten t spread over the land with frightful rapidity.
At length the existence of almost unexampled dis-
tress is acknowledged on all hands. The Duke of WEL-
LINGTON admitted it last night ; the QUEEN'B letter tes-
tifies to it ; and the advance of public money leases
it unquestioned. It is not caused by tree trade ; nor
any natural calamity ; we have been visited by no
earthquake or pestilence ; our artisans have not lot t
tbeir cunning, nor is the skill of our agricul-
turists withered away. Prohibitions and restrictive
laws meet us at every turn. We want feed,
and are nut ellowed to import corn, sugar, meat, wine,,
brandy, butter, cheese, nor any of the staple articles
of human subsistence. .These laws are the plain, pal-
pable, and immediate barriers to our further progress,
They are the causes of our distress ; and as all parties
are now, with one accord, seeking for a remedy, we
know not why we should not again advert to the repeal
of those laws, as the sure and certain means of relieving
distress and lessening discontent.

Last night the subject was brought forward in the
House of Lords, and the repeal of the Coru-law, re-
cently passed, was referred to by the Duke of WEL-
LINGTON. Perhaps his Grace meant to be sarcastic, but
but we can assure hint that the only hope of the mul-
titude lies in that ; and precisely that, quixotic as it may
appear, is the object demanded by numerous bodies
or manufacturers. What then, let us ask, wouli be the
consequence of the total and immediate abolition of Sir
B. PEEL'S laws to keep out foreign corn and saga'. ?
us not blink the matter, but look at it in all its
Inaring,s.

If the Corn-laws were totally- abolished, and the duty
on foreign sugar reduced to the level of the duty on
colonial sugar, all the corn and tbreign sugar now in
bond would be instantly entered tbr home consumption.
Great quantities of it would be immediately sold; and
thwe Who now hold it, would immediately send abroad
for more. - There would be an instant demand for capi-
tal to a'great extent; there would be life in the money
market. Our merchants would be immediately sensible
tl:at they would be able to sell additional quantities of
woollens, and .eottons, and hardware, in the Brazils and
in the United States. Goods would be in demand, and
there would be hope and life in the markets of Leeds,
Mouchester, and Sheffield. Moze . work would be in-
stantly given out, mills would work full time ; wages
would cease to fall, and there would be again life and
hope in the labour market. More ships would be re-
quired ; there could be a stir in all oulP porter; and pro-