The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-03-10 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMO NS.-FRIDAY.

In the House of Commons public business commenced
by the House resolving itself into a committee to consider
the Customs and Corn Importation Acts.
Mr. W. 40 STANLEY said that he concurred with Lord
J. Russell, in thinking that the interests of the country
were deeply involved in the immediate, complete, and tran-
quil settlement of the Corn-law question. The proposition
of Government was neither an immediate, nor a complete.
nor a tranquil settlement of it. He then proposed, as an
amendment to Sir R. Peel's plan, that " in lieu of the
duties now payable on the importation of corn, grain,
meal, or flour, the product of foreign countries, there
shall be paid a fixed duty of ss. per quarter upon wheat ;
2s. Gd. on barley ; and 2s. ou oats ; meal and flour in
proportion.
Colonel Woon. of Brecon, observed that the agri-
cultural interest was now suff,ring most severely owing to
the delay in adopting the proposition of Government The
corn trade was completely paralyzed by it. He was op-
posed to the amendment now proposed, for he was con-
scientiously of opinion that the time had at last arrived
when the Corn-laws ought to be entirely and immediately
repealed.
Mr. S. O'BRIEN denied that there had been any repre-
hensible delay in the discussion of this question. It would
have been possible for a powerful minority t' have clogged
the notice book with amendments on the Government
plan, and yet not one notice had been given by any
member of that minority. It was better that an im-
portant change of this nature should be doggedly and
pertinaciously discussed rather than be passed rashiy
without inquiry. He should not vote at all upon this
amendment.
After a conversational debate, in which Lord John
Russell, Mr. Collett, Sir J. Tyrell, and others, took
part, the amendment was negatived without a division.
Mr. M. MILNES then moved the omission of all words
in the resolution respecting the importation of corn, refer-
ring to the cessation or alteration of duties to be paid in
the year 1849. He did not expect to obtain much support
to his amendment ; but he was so convinced that, by giv-
ing up all duties on foreign corn we were placing in the
hands of foreigners a large amount of revenue which we
had hitherto enjoyed, that he could not refrain from put-
ting his opinions on this subject on record.
Mr. AGLIONBY urged upon the notice of government
the case,of a class of small proprietors in Cumberland and
Westmoreland, who had not capital to improve their land,
and who, being chiefly copyholders, would have, in case
of such improvement being made, heavier tines levied
upon them. He thought it would be a boon to such per-
sons if their copyholds could be enfranchised.
Sir R. PEEL thought the subject could be considered
by the committee sitting upon agricultural burthens.
Mr. MILES, remarking that he could not concur in any
of the amendments then on the paper, was replied to by
Sir ROBERT PEEL, who observed that the resolutions
then being passel were proforma', and no member would
be compromised by allowing them to pass without a
division.
After some remarks from a number of members, Mr.
Miles withdrew his amendment.
Mr. P. HOWARD and Sir W. JourrE spoke against
the bill, after which
Lord G. BENTINCR enquired of Sir R. Peel what he
expected would be the price of wheat under the new sys-
tem, and what effect that price would have upon the tithe
and the tithe-owner.
Sir R. PEEL was not prepared to answer the question,
although reminded that he felt no difficulty in 1842.
Mr. FINCH asked the question of Mr. Cobden, and re-
ceived an evasive reply from Mr. Villiers.
Colonel SII3THORPE again asked Sir R. Peel when he
intended to fill up the vacancies in the Government of-
fices, and also when certain Cabinet Ministers were likely
to take their seats in that house ; and was told by Sir Ro-
t bert that the office o f Chief Commissioner of Woods and
Forests was now held by Lord Canning, and that if he
himself would vacate Lincoln the Earl of Lincoln should

contest it with him. Colonel Sibthorpe demurred to this
course; but if Sir Robert• Peel would dissolve Parliament
and appear himself as a candidate, he would meet him.
After a few words from Mr. D'lsraeli, the resolution
was agreed to, as were those respecting barley, oats, and
flour.

On the resolution relative to the reduction of the duties
on buck wheat, maize, and rice,
Mr. MILES objected to proceeding with this resolution
at present.
Mr. O'CoNtronn implored the committee, on account
of the famine impending over Ireland, to discharge these
articles of duty as soon as possible.
Mr. MILES expressed his readiness, if Sir R. Peel
would introduce a short bill for the introduction of these
articles into Ireland free of duty, to support it. But he
must object to this resolution, if it were attempted to
hurry it that evening through the house.
A long conversation then took place on the question
whether the debate on this question should take place now,
or on the report being produced on Monday next.
Sir R. Peel, Mr. 'Bright, Mr. Miles, Lord G. Bentinck,
Lord J. Ru,sell, the Earl of March, and Mr. D'lsraeli
took part in that discussion, which, after some angry ap-
pearances at one period of it, was terminated by Mr. Miles
agreeing to withdraw his opposition to the resolution to-
night, and to .renew it on Monday night on the presenta-
tion of the report. In the course of the conversation,
Sir It. PEEL informed the committee that the govern-
ment had already expended £lOO,OOO in the purchase of
maize and rice for the relief of the people of Ireland.
The resolutions were then agreed to, and were ordered
to be reported to the house. The committee was then
proceeding to consider the articles in the tariff, when an
objection to that course was taken by Mr. P. Miles and
Lord G. Bentinck. Sir R. Peel gave way to their objec-
tion amid ironical cheers from the opposition benches,
which induced him to say to them with great warmth, " I
wish you had to conduct public business." The chairman
then reported progress. The house resumed. Report to
be received on Monday next.
The Joint-Stock Banks (Scotland and Ireland) Bill
was then read a second time, and ordered to be committed
this day fortnight.
The other orders of the day were then disposed of, and
the house adjourned.

'CIE LIVERPOOL STANDARD