Star.
London, England, 1826-04-15 00:00:00

CORN LAWS.

Lord KING presented a Petition from the anonll
of Preston, praying for a repeal of the Corn Laws. He
said that the district in which the Petitioners reside suf-
fered Much from the dead weight. He called the Pe.
tition a Petition against pauperism and famine; as by'
law established, whenever corn was above seventy
shillings the quartern it would have arrived at a fa-
mine price, and there was no saying that in the course
of the year it may not amount to that famine price.—
This was a question in which on the one side there was
the landlords, and on the other the general interests of
the country. It was power against reason and justice,
and he was confident the latter would triumph in the
end. It would certainly triumph, if the Noble Karl (Liverpool)
was not controuled and counteracted by those who had other views
besides the public good. If the system was persevered io, by what ,
magic could we prevent our manufactures from being transferred to
other countries, where the necessaries of life were se much more
moderate, and the profit on capital as great; and if this communi-
cation should arise, hew could the misery which must arise be an-
swered for ?
The Mstquis of SALISBURY wondered why the
No'ile Lord (King) did not bting forward a specific
motion fur the Iltpeal of the Corn Laws. The course he was now
pursuing had no other effect but to stir up the manufacturers against
their best friends—against those persons to whom they were prin-

cipally indebted for their present prosperity. The manufacturers,
be contended, depended principally on the landholders. (Hear).
Lord.KING said he could not bring forward the Bill he would
wish to bring forward. He 'wished to bring forward a Bill with
duties, which he underetOod could not originate in that House. If
be could bring forward such a Bill, he would do su to-morrow.

The Earl of LAUDERDALE thought it would be
much more manly it the Noble L std brought forward
a rpecific motion; but he believed that would not suit
his purpose. The Noble Lord knew nothing of the
merits of the question. if he thought that those who,
opposed a free trade in corn wished the pour to have
dear bread. In the reign of Charles 11. corn should
have risen to 81 of the present money belore it could be
imported, and at all pesiods it was proved that a rea-
sonablf protecting du'couti not have the effect of
raising the price of breast. Did the Noble Lord mean
to say that the priest labour Mid any connection with
the price of grain? Some thought the price. of labout

dependei upon the price of grain, others That it was
regulamitiy the currency. In his (Lore Lauderdale's)
opinion,_ it depended entirely u7osstbe proportion of the supply to
the demand. It was fppisd, too, that in a cheap year labour rose,
and in a dear year labour fell. The Noble Lord could neither have
attendockto facts nor results' or, she he could never come forward
in the nTanner he did, night after night, aspersing a body of men
remarkable for their generosity. The landed interest of England
was remarkable above that of any other country, for its regard for
the poor, and be believed there was no other man could be found to
stignsatise it but the Noble Lord.
Lord KING said the Noble Earl charged him with
us;ng no other weapons but squibs, he could retort and
say the .Noble Lord's weapons were paradoxes and
crotchets. The Noble Lord went back to the reign of Charles IL
bat did not reflect how different the state of the country was then
and at present. Then much good land was uncultivated, now
much inferior land was forced into cukiaation by the Corn Laws.
As to the price of labour, that he contended must depend on the
price of corn for a series of years.
The Earl of M ALMESBURY congratulated the
House upon hsving ascertained the N,,ble Lord's
(K;og's) sentiments. He now understood that the
Noble Laid did not advocate a free trade io corn, but protecting
ditties. He had really thought hitherto that the Noble Lord was
the champion of a free trade in corn, whether it came from Odessa,
Danizic, or any other part of the world. The Noble Lord's attacks
upon the landed interest were spoken with such a good humoured
face that he (Lord Malmesbury) could not feel angry with trim.