The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1852-11-30 00:00:00

THE FREE TRADE RESOLUTION&

The adjourned debate was resumed by Mr. Grssoisr,
who said it was a pity that a simple affirmation of the
principle of free trade could not be discussed without
having mixed up with it strong party considerations.
Mr. S. HERBERT paid no attention to the threat of
resignation on the part of the Government, but he had no
hesitation in giving his preference to the resolution of
Lord Palmerston over that of Mr. Villiers.
Mr. H. DRUMMOND said, as regarded the resolutions,
the debate appeared to be one between tweedle-dum and
tweedle-dee—a question as to whether twice three made'
six, or three times two made six. So much of the time
of the house was occupied in quoting on either side of the
house what had formerly been said upon the other, that
he could not help heartily wishing that Bansard had been
at the bottom of the sea. The only wise, just, and bene-
ficent system of commerce was that of unrestrained com-
petition, and the only compensation he thought the
farmers entitled to was the compensation arising from the
diminished cost of the means of production.
Mr. MUNTZ said he believed the country to be in a
state of prosperity, but it was by no means so prosperous
as in 1833, 34, and 35, and again in 1844-45. He was in
favour of a free trade in corn, but he did not believe that
the prosperity of the country was attributable to the act
of 1846. He thought it much more likely that it was at-
tributable to the waggon-loads of gold which were being
constantly imported.
The Marquis of GRANBY was willing to admit that the
condition of the labouring classes was improved, yet he
denied that that improvement was owing to the act of
1846. Much more of it was attributable to emigration
and to the importation of gold than the Free-traders were
willing to allow; but, under any circumstances, that im-
provement was, in his opinion, neither so great nor so
universal as was asserted: He would vote against both

the original resolutions and the

endment

After some flint:

discussion, Sir J. GRAHAM sought
• ' ' ncy on Sir J. Elkin2ton.

to fasten a charge of i

who was prepared to suf
Palmerston, although ass

rting ti

were entirely unchanged

Mr. Villi(

that both sets of resolutions
cn. and Rnneared to him to be

he would have just the same difficulty in voting again
it. The Chancellor of the Exchequer had most ingen
ously endeavoured to show that, for s.ix years after th
Act of 1846, ho had not attempted to reverse the free'
trade policy of the country. The only thing against the
nreument was that it was wanting in truth. While
a Protectionist the right hon. gentleman was faithless to
protection, and, now that he avowed himself a Free-
trader, it behoved the house to take care that he should
not be equally faithless to free trade.
Mr. WALPOLE contended that the circumstances
attending the passing the Act of 1846, by no means
justified the application of the words, "just, wise, and
beneficient." It could scarcely be said to be just, and
few people would say that it was not very sudden and
precipitate. With respect to the observations of the
noble lord on the subject of compensation, he would say,
without wishing to anticipate the secrets of the budget,
that the apprehensions of the noble ►ord would be found
to be altogether groundless.
Mn. COBDEN, in reviewing the circumstances attending
the various resolutions which had been submitted to the
house, said that if the result of the debate should be un-
favourable to free trade, all the i esponsibility must rest
with Lord Palmerston, who, by his resolution, had
opened the door to the mooting of the question of com-
pensation.
Mr. GLADSTONE defended the friends of the late Sir
R. Peel from being found in the same lobby as the Pro-
tectionists o❑ a question of free trade, by saying that they
were governed entirely by a sense of justice. There was
no longer any danger to the system of free trade, and the
principle of compensation really formed no part of the
question upon which they were to give their votes.
After a few observations from Mr. NEWDEGATE,
Mr. VILLIERS replied, and said it was the last time he
should appear before them in that character, as the re-
presentative of parties, who, it appeared, were not
agreed amongst themselves. The resolutions were not his,
though he took all the responsibility of them. Many
persons had been consulted upon them, and he must say
that Lord Palmerston, Mr. Gladstone, and other mem-
bers, who had condemned the resolutions as ungenerous,
insulting, and ungentlemanly, were all of them parties to
the framing of them.
The house divided at two o'clock on Saturday morning,
and the numbers were—
For Mr. Villiers' motion .. 258

Against it

Majority for Government .. 80
Immediately afterwards the house divided on
Palmerston's amendment, adopted by Government.
The numbers were—
For Lord Palmerston's amendment 470
Against it .. 55

Majority for Government

THE LIVERPOOL PETITION

--0---

The following is a copy of the petition, presented on
Thursday, against the return of Messrs. Mackenzie and
Turner, for Liverpool, on the ground of " bribery and
corruption."
A petition of the undersigned William Rathbone, the
younger, of Liverpool, in the county of Lancaster, mer-
chant, and Robert Wilson Ronald, of Liverpool aforesaid,
wool-broker, was delivered in and read ; setting forth,
net in the last election to serve in Parliament for the
borough of Liverpool, the petitioners were registered
electors of the said borough, and had a tight to vote, and
did vote, at the said election. That Edward Cardwell,
Joseph Christopher Ewart, Charier Turner, and William
Forbes Mackenzie, esquires, were candidates at the said
election ; and that a poll was demanded and taken ; and
the said Charles Turner, and William Forbes Mackenzie,
esquires, were, at the close thereof, declared, by the re-
turning officer of the said borough, to have the majority
of votes, and to be elected and returned to serve as mem-
bers in Pa.liament for the borough of Liverpool ; that
before and during the said election, the said Charles
Turner aid William Forbes Mackenzie were and each of
respectvely was by himself, his agents, friends, end
managers, guilty of bribery and corruption, and did re-
spectively by gifts, presents, money, and rewards, and by
promises, agreements, and securities for gifts, presents,
money, and rewards, and by other illegal practices, cor-
rupt and procure divers persons, being registered electors
of the said borough, and entitled to vote at the said elec-
tion, to give their votes in favour of the said Charles
Turner and William Forbes Mackenzie, and to forbear to
give them in favour of the said other candidates, or one of
them ; that before, during, and after the said election, the
said Charles Turner and William Forbes Mackenzie, and
each of them respectively, did by themselves, their agents,
friends, and partizans, by divers ways and means, either
partly or wholly at their charge, and on their behalf,
directly and indirectly give, provide, present, and allow,
and cause and knowingly permit to be given, provided,
presented, and allowed to registered electors of the said
borough, and persons having a right to vote at the said
election, money, meat, drink, entertainment, provision,
and reward, and made promises, agreements, and engage
merits to give money, meat, drink. entertainments, pro-
visions, and reward to and for such registered electors and
persons having a right to vote as aforesaid, in order that
the said Charles Turner and William Forties Mackenzie
might have and receive the votes of the said registered
electors and persons entitled to vote at the said election
and might thereby be elected members to servein parliament,
for the said borough of Liverpool; that gross, notorious,
extensive, and systematic bribery, treating, and corrup-
tion, were practised and carried on at the said election, by
divers agents, friends, managers, and partizans of the said
Charles Turner and William Forbes Mackenzie, and by
others employed and sanctioned by them, with a view to
the election of the said Charles Turner and William Forbes
Mackenzie, and the election and return of the said Charles
Turner and William Forbes Mackenzie were procured by
means of such bribery, treating, and corruption ; that by
reason of such corrupt, illegal practices, the said Charles
Turner and William Forbes Mackenzie were, and are,
and each of them was and is, wholly incapacitated and in-
eligible to sit in the present Parliament, for the said bo-
rough ; and the election and return of the said Charles
Turner and William Forbes Mackenzie were and are wholly
null and void ; that by the various illegal and corrupt
practices aforesaid, and by coercion, intimidation, and
other illegal and irregular proceedings, the said Charles
Turner and. William Forbes Mackenzie obtained a colour-
able majority of votes over the said Edward Cardwell and
Joseph Christopher Ewart, and the return of the said
Charles Turner and William Forbes Mackenzie is illegal
and ought to be declared wholly null and void ; and pray-
ing that the House will take the premises into considera-
tion, and declare that the said Charles Turner and William
Forbes Mackenzie were not duly elected and returned,
and that the return of the said Chad, s Turner and William
Forbes Mackenzie was and is wholly null and void, and
that the House will give the petitioners such further and
other relief as to the House may seem fit.

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