The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1833-03-26 00:00:00

STAIE OP THE COUNTRY.

On the question that the Speaker do leave the chair,
Mr. T. Arrwoon rose, pursuant to the notice he had given,
to move for a select committee to inquire into the cause of
general distress amongst the industrious classes of the united
kingdom, and into the most effectual means of its relief. Dis-
tress had 4304 V, unfortunately,. become so general in the country
as not only to involve the rum of the most industrious classes
of the people, but even to endanger the safety of the throne
itself. What was a reformed Parliament for, if it were not to
apply some remedy to the distress which prevailed? Nothing
had yet been done —.-just nothing, and yet it was quite notorious
that there were millions in the country plunged in the deepest
state of suffering. Comparatively few of the people had peti-
tioned the house. They had hoped every thing from a reformed
Parliament. He had said to them, "Wait, and let the reformed
Parliament act for you." He was now sorry that he had so much
confidence in that Parliament. It had done nothing—yet dis-
tress, which was general, extreme,. and unnatural, was greater
than at almost any former period in our history. The distress
experienced in 1816, and 1817, and 1819, was ;light, compared
with what existed at present. Men were not even permitted to
have the penalty contained in the primeval curse on man—:that
of. eating his bread in the sweat of his brow. Labour was the
penalty of that curse—bread its reward; but the labour was de-
nied, and for the reward men were forced to beg, and to beg in
vain. He well recollected the distress of 1816, 1819, 1822, 1826,
and 1829. Petitions were sent into that house from all parts of
the country, containing millions of signatures, and what did the
house do? It threw the petitions under the table. What did the
people do? Disappointed, and almost in despair, they became
desirous of change. That desire became at length universal,
and the desire brought about that change. What was the con-

aped the 8411411411W11t havi

jr.iiveort whadisadvantageous
opthei niollilvagentleman
s made cir cunu hi
up
or
talon of the:people of this country at preset
,had more Mohr than they could bear, antis'
"-thing to dos and yet the labourer coaldpreee 441'
.than was required for the support-of liaise) :• y
e poke of agricultural labour; in mannfact •ing,, however, that the question.l
Of the produce was still greater. It could • 1
present moment the working men consune 1Y confident that that opinion, w
beef and mutton than during the war, hate would be borne out by
.any die
as it ought to he. He was prepared to pro' ei. The effect of discussion wou,
England, during the last 17 years, had beer establish a very different princip
proststetive payees than it hael•been during t ,tn. member; therefore, he was
a loss as great as if all the land north of tie to prevent discussion, and he I
thrown into the sea. This was owing to the 'went be, thought that the coin
meat. The condition of things was daily t, in the slightest degree, to effe
stead of better: labour was badly paid, !ar.) An hon. relation of the 1
carried on with scarcely any profit, and in itid given. notice of a motion on e
profits of the manufacturer were a diminT uesesay, and another hon. membs
Commerce declined in the same proper' I after the recess for a committ
shipping interest, it could be shown hi 44 the country. Here ample e
shipping in the Thames were under more 1 for discussing all the hon. gel
had been or would be foreclosed, as ,n, His object was obviously and p
worth the redemption. Look at the poor-: le state of the currency. He v
what they had been 17 years ago. It wt. ,gth the grounds on which he wou
minal amount, in money, they had not inei ~ -that 'tsa:-., o„,_ xistiug system, as lie should d(
quantity of value supplied they were doubleei;oieliAlcki ter occasion. The hon. member
saw,paid double the nuinber of bushels of %cheated as 51 ittls33B, that the act of 1819 was the cause
paid during the war; and if the poor were reilLevsbels,,,t ye' for the' He had not, however, stated wha
-as they had been in war time, the amount in uu iii wo,hstoplai, evils in our monetary system, of
would be quadrupled. The people were starvillghaeog 1
,as. ea „led. (Hear, hear.) Those who arE
Byre -if e;of ttl 'tee ,ecause it was very easy to declare
of plenty. Had we
_gained anything in foreign had, Vto7re, 4T, to take place, ought also to state
these-domestic sacrifices and sufferings ? If n, Poyes,"sr) i What sort of change it was that t
, bear them with something like conteutment. P 10. i
gained no such honour. On the contrary, we ;it.e. Ist v.tie elirrul the country-it was very easy to
cuffed and buffeted from the Euxine to the Bt.' 1,-e. I,lli4°' km elleY was the cause of that distress:
not look even the lowest of our enemies in the 1% a i 15,,,. oa „tt these assertions were ready to sl:
as .it had been said in that house" bound Ito
that Tao,
, the distress could be 1
£80J,000,000 to keep the peace; and it was not i ths ,7011, atiP knower
pecisely what they meant.
to have it said, as it once was by a statesman, lis feel" ,11 li fouw,`,.,ether hon. members, had several t
orteerrable state of 'distress than ever it
who thanked God for this bond, as it hincleourodlir Si's be, fault with his Majesty's ministers
to war. What a situation for a country! The I,rhe 1 41.1%4417u, the country had ad been descril
enriched by receiving 490 in gold for his £tA +he o°4 riii
ers, then, could not contribute to a war, and ',4.. to ''; to Dot tieleason why they did not state this v
would not, because it would reduce their 'i.:9° le'` rie ,Ase Vela
to
it to be the fact. (Hear, hear.)
from these causes it was, that as a nation, we west ill I;l,4ette ts 'eh a man could say produced a %
post to pillar by every blackguard and Was; for 00 e kohoir"re odium and obloquy, than to e
(Laughter.) After having been kept in suspei!_,..o t.,010‘,:'1 be, etr that he was more prosperous that
-in hope to-day, in despair to-morrow,-after ''',l, ';l.7aties,q4looget 4e was quite aware that great dist
time to time, "Wait, and things will get better.t.s of :oq„,i,ati Nielbe labouring classes of the country
Vas
the agricultural labourers broke out into aefor tia,,,h tf, .1.,,,te'-' on him to say that the labouring
Was it a matter of surprise? It was impossiblebo,r
le`',l
essay distress than ever they were bef
on, ground down as they were. The price of is
ore .041Ployla it. (Hear, hear.) He believed tha
lowered ag.ain, and these men would be once„ eclellet,N di 'neat, snore work, at the present time,
upon the ricks and the barns of their more wea" di scs'asatTat wi,s,isresa, than at many former periods
and ruin and destruction must folloya. We 11_3t there:Atlo--A,"" respect to a certain class considers
lately of the prevalence of crime in Ireland; hu,e re
_rAt 2ekstp alluded to the hand-loom weavers
as here, most of it grew out of the misery of l'-',, tbe,,,te '.144 of that distress was not to be traced
when the people ceased to find that protection ft:sae reistOas cii):: but to the increase of machiner;
which they were entitled they would cease to r tra IP', ,uses
hoTss, he admitted, but that distre,
'What had been stated about three months ag° ,3 1.13$ ,
,illisee„....enee t,„
6 do witlethe currency. It
nine delegates from parishes in the metropolis .t 001,, tl, s tiut`auses to the consideration ot whici
all trade was carried on without profit, and tht, toldbA 7 liea?' of that house to apply itself. (H
were living on their capital. Ministers might 4"ted; Oe4://sste,teember said that the people of Et
the ,teil tio.%,(s ha, possess himself of the property or wl
sycophants that these accounts were exagger'id dostaiesinthe„,"ed state that they were looking wit
were capable of proof, and could be placed ben_ 00,1, 4140._kiglit and wishing each other, dead, in ord
quirt' were granted. In many other parts of
et, el,to_, itute as themselves? But he looked
bodied men were working early and late toe aIT. 00,,-,0„,7h4,,rft behind him, he did not, he could
Bs., 75., 65., and often not more than 4s. a-wee'l obe(11 ee'tq_serteZtPossible that paupers, as they were (
expected that men thus circumstanced could 1; e
posit %ft'', as dest!'llY advanta from the destructior
jets? It was truly observed by Blackstone, that ava
could be expected where no protection was givells'os s'a
,h,nt „P l.', and,he believed he knew enough
be remembered, and acted upon, that protection._
0, ta, I,,;.(tstitit_r-aiglishinan-that no number of E
duty on the part of the government as allegian" Of t!ie'j, retZse)%7l4l,h or ever could indulge, in so horr
people. To the want of such protection inaVe tra4,lo, toed/Iced f e hon. member had asserted tha
which they had to deplore in Ireland could L',. latiebetil, team, our times as much as he consumes
change in the value of money had rendered thud At
~eltatkl the
„._ee the case where the labourer wa
able to meet the mortgages on their estates, anepre;',llisalatty lean round, and that had rarely bee
time obliged them to reduce their rents. They i!oicebes A'4l so oil tr!e• They had been told that trade
sides and they were obliged in turn to press on Lich" ors sevueeir capital, and that some of thei
and let it be remembered, that the name of the,r„ _''' 0010 ,ii a estosa 1.4 Years. Now, this assertion ref
was connected with a measure-the bill of 18-P-s don I et, Ives quite forced to live on their capital
of the currency. That measure was the cause °l;eitee'eaP,e ta,Wg4e clear that trade would soon be en'
rents on the poor, and they now saw the conseq oe cif )Itekk`i. ally ca Proppsition was made for a comm
not, therefore, the landlord who was to blarne..,,,i. , tetet:ts theuplaint of distress, every man oug
reduce, his rents without involving himself in 'ltie ei,, pre.heviat asarease, and to ask whether the appon
time that this great change was made in the vaa.cej woot,N,lllt i.,was not likely to increase that dist]
rency the burdens of the people had been re I'd cooo tei467 s weal` If, upon consideration, he the
tion, there would have been common sense,al tort tae to
hellos td be increased by granting a
tire; but to make the change without this reaw;rbe I oti. ;tat l'eftt,e°_, be told that he was destitute
an exterminating army through the land. ,r tell, 80 te etal,aole,,,ci to vote for that committee. Loot
must be relieved before they could relieee the',:ef tn„se, e, 4, 'IV' taken by the hon. member, and e
they relieved them without. obtaining such rs.o), ja 74, he felt ah.,`-ted.with that line of argument, whi
they must be involved in certain ruin. In It3;`,ss bielegisajtitsritited, might be inclined to take or
in 1829, a deluge of petitions was sent to that hate sail'itske4. NO ,winced, that so far from relieving t
ple; but the legislature refused to inquire into Isla 11,,Vii:l k% „gAtl,4 a committee would tend to iucre
produced the general distress complained of. 10 tof ovnoes-,t,14 ur,lbli,llt be the effect on every sort of cre
self examined before a committee on the subiee 0011'031Q it t 110! a committee were appoiuted, and
distress; but he was not allowed to state his viewto oe ftlt kto Nesbiti' the purpose of which would evid
The committee told him " we want to inquire t°
canto., yl eue lisd Retie; ,k depreciation of the currency
cept the immediate cause of the existing.distres°,, too ,k,tll4ljeatistaiha' question, as introduced by the
price of agricultural produce." He said ''' -1 1.31 ell?: e 1411 oh ~,tee,,ged from going into it, thinking ti
reason, and prove to a demonstration, if you wl of the) ' titaile, s'ae hi'ldislied by a protracted and multi
the distress is occasioned by the small quantity„ Inoi re hop mciloe;.e!sent occasion. The observation
currency which agricultural produce realize,s,• to inqjs ie,` itt,tlietebe% he thought it right to throw outs]
1822, in 1827, and in 1829, Parliament refuseu..eocy• te,i 11..". (Mite .„1. 8 /notion, and should only add, 0
the general state of the country and of the curt
itesseod: pre,ale4,..'c ins with his duty to COME
180 petitions, all complaining of distress,
. weltiisoilittit Qt:POSQPI sai
produced no effect; they were neglected, and
a et' cof ist,tes, to a d that if the hon. member for B
table. He had one from Birmingham, signe of the ha i ' Ilia': gliso;eilit a committee to inquire whe
sons, which called for all inquiry into the stat F..., 05, 0 t:yitto elotio,. be changed, he, for one, would
as the main cause of distress. Such an ingot s/he stV kttgeli ,the distr s but the hon. member only me
refused. Gentlemen in that house knew 1104distrelfet. 40' e-mo iasesjress of the country, and thinking
pinched. He believed that the whole of the lasi 14 V i ts3_44 flihl ;44':;gation would show that an altera
content which had existed in England for the.oo, 1,4, 5, t(1 Ql'4' 5e,414. to, instead of diminish, the distr
intimately connected with the currency queSt,the rse,ll,f, tillleart ati 'lllg to appoint the committee.
that by. an alteration in the currency system 4.'„dedad ati'l tl.t kt,) kro4c,,t of. gross injustice had been cm
tress might be relieved, without injury to anY.:O"-r, ao,bsted tips, t',_/lisair,e member for Birming:ham was
at the same time security to debtor and crecodiees V.O , , ?t,isuJett Qat nu' ee revised; it would be for the
us tato
satisfaction to all parties. He had no preiu, d ssasb s':l Jtg
~,011,4 by agreeinges : the house would not be i
lt, as, ,nist, te thought that a committee of inct
serve in thus stating his opinion ,• all he wisue oleo; ro, , I;,tist,D4tg to the appointment of a I
prevailing distress relieved. NVhether the, Ole sc,
cause, or the national debt was the cause, 0 if tlrl,loe, t't.:. Oeteb„4° the house and the country, and
~. II er
_divided taxation was the cause, mattered not to hito;,,, 0%, o.li ,i 044 , uo., ided the house, to vote with hi
thing which produced so much evil were throe a t' siii"t,l Sei,",',Ext was against the appointment
should be content. (Hear, hear.) They wQeria th,s, th r,' jciet sprees on promoted -by persons known to
change of the currency was effected hi 104-hat oq ccv 41.,. ts,(Y)..effee'ai the currency question, because I
cause only an altemtion of 4 per cent. But w d fe.;tioa ' la, shot the
e 4 °f such a committee would be tc
sroteetiteer.gies g,. classes, and stated that with the 4
Instead of 4 per cent., it caused an alteratiou(aaitli be, L,t,Rlilt24.lpl,L°.tlatry.
cent. The Whitefeet in Ireland, the prxdia.„se a „ fts ANtt eil'qiiriu " dwelt upon the distress of the c
and the political agitation in this country, rleg l',l,
ceur „ispciipOirg. '' g
ralihst it the h4re refused
to that cause. He saw political agitation gro ',tee d'ofitt ‘,,,, ~ (ii% could not make any profit in ti
time that the petitions of the people were o,etisar, inelle "e
1e diffleuei,r! and a laugh.) Gentlemen wl
the honour of being an agitator himself (` toe an,,,sarenre Nord to red to answer or refute him. The 1
laughter); but he had no idea, when he boat.. (I!„,,,,j.„llti,,,),43irmin`LZxtracts of-letters, showing the
injuring either the aristocracy or the ain, and the increase in the
(Here the hon. gentleman, in support of his r h V
keie 0.0. 0411% V kg
IiI)Or t ears. In conclusion, he exe
long extract from a declaration put forth bil3(
Political Union, on the 25th of January, 1 ii;:ilie t" 'PAN I'4l'l argued ,eitrnotion, and declarpd his oi
would lead to fearful conse
asserted that the measure of 1819 had affected
lit., .Ihe t.„0:, set4ree'tei,
1.. ' that there had been a brpe
as was represented, to the extent of 4 per ce, esist', 41%4sec' the
~,asil,.. subject of the currency. The
of the declaration complained that,
tulirocealioned a -difference of cent. per Len the ,•likie d`4,',lt tit d a'is litres in a depreciated currency,-
orsaa for wishing to return to it
tern, poverty was the reward of honest industbd ,let 500 ,S°4 Ifil,ll' '
under
to., 00tAit whiay
dial hi
riet%,, arbiters between debtor and en
were the reward of indolence and sloth; and l hailloss
ociB 1,,,,,,,,r arz,_.el'iAlto both. The country had not I
reform was necessary to produce a better an"usi ;pat: ,Or e'4,41 ao4t",tlti!ang distress and discontent affor
things. This (continued the hon. member) 11° J. . ile"' >' 4, Gar to v zruit4 committee of inquiry. He ho
ectegrid rd' th Y. ile C eth
animo of the society with which he was conn, b vc t., 4 o ~: oti 041
.e faults of their predecessors
like others, had originated in the distress whicoait! r 144 i°!ettr, NG ssaldaints of the people.
that distress had never existed those societies OTo dab` re 0 be-p.olitea as acquainted with the condi
been known. (Hear, hear.) The people of csiot.l. ise);10 e,!ese,Perie'eter thatueroughs, (the Tower Hamlets
hibited remarkable patience • a patience s° . Pot t.. 1.4 ti,te"takto whet, 11ever, during the last twenty
titled them to the consideration of that boaseyess, &elle ti 14 :441te felt
eie4,lstress had lieen so generally!
to pacify Ireland, let them give to the Irish rcal'e ill, lgs4esseettt be thiabouring classes-distress an
tection which would instil into his heart the real: ~'lipo bp 40, tkii,, t,.wholi eir employers. The shipping in
I
man. Let him cultivate his native soil. -1-1` scar'''oel-betto. it r4s, he Jaliffilse4Y.unproductive. The distress %
lands and bogs, and set the Irish peasant t°,„10.0, ~rd di .4 NI wa mtaitteri , all classes suffered, the labc
If they adopted-Inch ningtfte's as those, IrelSey P,1'1,044d Niil.B ji (late Pore especially; but he denie
But Whilst so much was said about IrelalAt , wortitis 're -at.,stZlie'asses:4„ia stating that distress was c
whatsoever with respect to England. 1"1°,10 f°,`,l be Pas'ltt If" tbe.ed. before 4 hie motion of the hon. memb
ministers as to what they were about to wow- own ria:11Ss,0111 tt, isas„s
o,,tne house as an abstract.p
He hoped, however, that some good fruits cat Ciiove et I kitr,N, ~ inqui .= the country; if it should in
:::i....afitShercjir.c
from the tree of reform;. if not, it should l'j of allA c d.,VO, ,3tureat, the borittes of the committee, that the s
into the fire. (Hear, hear.) The busilleie . aUrlat sevje., ci se,
..t° deal ~?ra of the distress, it would t
was to secure the happiness of the peltv'ef that
theol:tick',,:stat le; cii",th the subject as circumstan
that every honest man who felt the proprl' ,luirYthe egf ~,..,1)14 eiie: geritleiheit Was an extraordinary doe
was bound to support his motion. An ''',.,3oY,•„f 04;04 iii;l, At() tllpSAllPPOrtedilf peculiar opinions on ti
tion which he recommended would take Tel' re"7ol° see,le, SZLTlC,''streu c'ne motion, the house ough
discontent; and when that was done,, "-reel 'tbiegsot' it l‘o,in the-pP did t '0: the country.
the people would be happy, and the anstoed, if a ~,,„,i,ipt, tthat ab,)urinc„, state that distress was cot
lii: taalutetestion of 1.:.,,T1 was sorry to see th
If, however, his propositmn were reieeht„e lool'perc hi'„eig is'q lay erneloyeibselasses; he admitted that p
lowed to remain in their present state, "c,•ch "0,..-,, 0' sff t),m,
athat he wa:ere also suffering to som
apprehension to the evil consequences vlPulacd 1-vt of4`isel des forl(4 it had bee of opinion that the distret
low. The honourable gentleman conelneereslat i thclit'ap,Sp Li Es.l.te hated.,.
select committee, as stated in the coralue said, t,hich diqt,4%, k „,_ rrapagham listened with attention tc
Mr. GILLON, in seconding the motions ova 1:a De !tot fjleti4
not institute some inquiry similar motions
votlai 0 e.:',l'. 89A481‘c(iheur; in which he was sorry
with a gr
Wumrs.ottatenseleesyo)foi
avow rss 0t oil -,,,ieictili • IStres euo
member for Birmingham preposed, th' • ,s to war! oe& eitcebild.inreteeraesitzth,
creasing demand for a reduction of t • cola 'OEC Lee , ()win , 8 atnom, u. member as to the
it %%amid be impossible for ministers to
ew Woo tititer„ig a good de,., e the middling classes.
matter would end in the election of a .rig girl 2
that would not disdain to institute au 'll-4' 44(t felt bound- to say the
the present distress.

ant? OP° '3 liiit?ltigin
1 11 1.1 Mot
the other two% air
selfand ro;twil
ctUres the Pth thinde.l
be shaw°,bircihrstitsse , Elko
rove
all°:;eo;l3elacip%*%Letlittrureteear'irefite, t
en 00,6ftt.0A, itua 01
the wor;,t°, yitvolluby'utio e,
yh,,heebrauegliaraufieitcvotcegt:lff
4411,c1440::(.41iftleeainintillphottt:
n 4t he;
lotion
.na a 0 et
4r lieu
Ttei
rtion ..--.rto the
.kot:_
kat t;irnite( Le as
tgage,r cooOt f afrO re
o.
jot Via )rvia,rde d
lates, ecru ,(t-:ed at
was traej .te at
teng
the
ncreasea, khl. 14/0 ,ea e)

Natelitemmall— aye
, ()nob elthilgiaal -
f the,people of this country at present, ,_er 133 ,esehar motion and the amendment having been put
re labour than they could bear,
do; and yet the labourer could produce it'A ftylkst Rl' said, that the hon. gentleman had introduced
is reqeired for the support of himself u
a,nee p i . frota
.ader very disadvantageous circumstances. He
and the otfelir 07
ktylic:
If agricultural labour; in manufacture' ro tli, Ilise4ssni.akirig, however, that the question, should not be
roduce was still-greater. It could be shuneebio'4lelt p:pa‘,_ His own opinion was made up on the subject,
moment the working men consumed raea---h3ottetereueete con/Weise that that opinion, with reference
1 mutton than during the war, instead 0,
_t the he ea,eeY, would be borne out by
.any discussion that
;ht to he. He was .prepared to prove toeiiesl:kotl), a7.d on. The effect of discussion would be to elicit
d, daring the last 17 years, had been mi,e'r thi°,,le'e b7,1!.° establish, a very different principle from that
ive powers than it had-been during the v',4o,:bertyl'tle ertt`ege hon. member ; therefore, he was the last man
s great as if all the land north of the liuulect. 01 e 'lot for ataPt to prevent discussion, and he hoped that it
into the sea. This was owing to the nereioe fee" sea
,_.moment be thought that the course which he
The condition of things was daily bee"Tector`o-ei' (le ',„taut, in the slightest degree, to effect any sects
better: labour was badly paid, OM" of eeesie„it-ter, hear.) An hon. relation of the hon. member
on with scarcely any profit, and in inaiiYaf 01: (i)r%eutl,t
~had given. notice of a motion on our monetary
If the manufacturer were a diminution and 3:, I tk4f d tnoti 'CuesOuy, and another hon. member. had, given
rce declined in the same proportion, :_thirs, itt., (tittl on after the recess for a committee to inquire
interest, it could be shown that illtriotoihe 04,41 s Of the country. Here ample opportunities
in the Thames were under mortgaereug e7ir`forw,r;l.ed for discussing all the hon. gentleman. had
!le or would be foreclosed, as not Vicorietlp,'eted ai'' Ilis object was obviously and plainly aimed
Le redemption. Look at the poor-rates,
to ootityttste
at i the state of the currency. He would not go
ey had been 17 years ago. It was "'see, Vl° itite thieugth the grounds on svhich he would resist any
mount, in money, they had not inel ea,. oat ,04.1% op, e existiug system, as he should do on another
, of value supplied they were doubleseebeee:te,tei:Ortune Occasion. The hon. member had stated,
I double the number of bushels of wheat a; Leo Fa, io,s, that the act of 1819 was the cause of the. evils
itig the war; and if the poor were relientes eell,u_e fort He had not, however, stated what his remedy
had been in war time, the amount in bl-D to tektsosehie e evils in our monetary, system, of which. he so
quadrupled. The people were starviegboeool, e' e s'aated. (Hear, hear.) 'those who argued that an
r. Had we gained anything in foreigaeae, Veksere, aettle to take place, ought also to state what their
nestic sacrifices and sufferings ? If wf4t, eo;tiee'teie. `f, what sort of change it was that they desired
in with something like contentment. Pere l‘iceel of,',Xistje?ecause it was very easy to declare that great
o such honour. On the contrary, we f, - iese Oe carne the country—it was very easy to say that the
id buffeted from. the Euxine to the na,te. lAtit74 raa(f4eY was the cause of that distress; but unless
even the lowest of our enemies in the •"",- a itte.._ oa ~11 these assertions were ready to show how, by
A been said in that house, bound lee of, :,,lbard;ne currency, the distress could be remedied, it
1,000 to keep the peace; and it was not re ths_;, 87,11, aap know precisely what they meant. The hon.
t said, as it once was by a statesman, 05 fru'," Li% to other hon. members, had several times during
eked God for this bond, as it hindereetealbe 1%6 si,e,at4 fault with his Majesty's ministers because, in
.What a situation for a country I Tbe ji,be Id i,.te tierpicela, the country had not been described as being
1
by receiving £9O in gold for his £6o' tee fungi Oee°,rahle state of distress than ever it had before
, could not contribute to a war, and, eto 1, teeest eepson why they did not state this was, because
t, because it would reduce their £9O
wereeac eie e egietig 4eve it to be the fact. (Hear, hear.) He knew
ie causes it was, that as a nation, we nt io had'4t to ,e'ell a man could say produced a worse effect,
pillar by every blackguard and tyre Wee ►441100i-ere odium and obloquy, than to endeavour to
;r.) After having been kept in SUSPelteillg 1;0,1,, a° be, eir, that he was more prosperous than he fancied
to-day, in despair to-morrow,—after ~ ?tit ~,,,k),,,,,5t ,e was quite aware that great distress existed
me, "Wait, and things will get betten_ts of eeletee ten_ the labouring classes of the country • but if any
gricultural labourers broke out into betted is tlfokts4■l.(,,ittl on him to say that the labouring Classes were
matter of surprise ? It was impossible
).:0 rieth killett. ',,r distress than ever they were before, he was
id down as they were. The price Of %ore A IPl4ira". (Hear, hear.) He believed that there was
gain, and these men would be once eelpietvess di Ilt., more work, at the present time, and conic-
ricks and the barns of their more we"' el he Alt °lt eitess, than at many former periods. (Hear.)
and destruction must follow. We ha there, ett 4,e.e. respect to a certain class considerable distress
he prevalence of crime in Ireland; he the I,e, 0,,,,,e,, alluded to the hand-loom weavers. (Hear.)
lost of it grew out of the misery of teeee tlute
vi,ltreile of that distress was not to be traced to the state
people ceased to find that protection feeeect ledte as d-Yt, but to the increase of machinery. (Hear.)
y were entitled they would cease to retsra Ot it -it,4scl tlios,EsB, he admitted, but that distress, he con-
y been stated about three months age ,3 04, kloBeg.., "rig to do with.the currency. It arose from
rates from parishes in the metropoosia, teasel" ties euteyau s to the consideration of which it was, of
was carried on without profit, and tl et• tcd6bol!)cOe lion of that house to apply itself. (Hear, hear.)
gon their capital. Ministers might /red; bigek!!vretejt'eallier said that the people of England were
:s that these accounts were exa,reaa clootsitNruitlier,ged state that they were looking with evil eyes
ble of proof, and could be placed Gene 001,01116„tikio,t and wishing each other dead, in order that the
e granted. In many other parts of t a ei"si tise' heti re°,.ssess himself of the property or whatever his.
Lie were working early and late to earn Coo 0 tepid Wes it tt behind him, he did not, he could not, believe
;., and often not more than 4s. a-wee!• oeadVee‘ti eeliee.Possible that paupers, as they were described to
that men thus circumstanced could h',.t 00 oi,stqtt', 38 de:..ttny advantage from the destruction of persons
was truly observed by Blackstone, the .ad e
tile ?to
..etute as themselves? But he looked to the feel-
xpectecl where no protection was glven;,,as atilt
,tedat 11(r,!, and-he believed he knew enough of them to
bered, and acted upon, that protection 00 the " ieetteeeeglishman—that no number of Englishmen,
,e part of the government as allegiaa° of tb.ej, rkiZar,)n,l,, or ever could indulge, in so horrible a wish.
Co the want of such protection inaitY, tree, streteedeee hon. member had asserted that every la-
-1
yr had to deplore in Ireland could _ laste,,,, edge, eoto eour times as much as he consumed himself.—
etu of money had rendered the, iit e' Nee!! tee
„ue the case where the labourer was fully em-
the mortgages on their estates, anr"epreeci Ott }ear round, and that had rarely been the case
ad them to reduce their rents. They ,:i,ete be' .e so"? se tnei• They had been told that tradesmen were
they were obliged in turn to press on etetholl;,, 4teetr sevee'r capital, and that some of them had been
e remembered, that the name of the t; ,OV,i,
~itqessoe„eral Years. Now, this assertion refuted itself ;
cted with a measure—the bill of 181 you l 44, wee oumewese forced to live on their capital for several
ency. That measure was the eons thee'°licicettetWieentle Clear that trade would soon be entirely anni-
se poor, and they now saw thecl el Mee elle e a Peoeosition was made for a committee to in-
ere, the landlord who was to blarnee.,,io, , isiet.letete theemplaint of-distress, every man ought to apply
rents without involving himself in Teo of eleastiees,,o,,ease, and to ask whether the appointment of a
his great change was made in the voted ivo;)Vii4;2lig it was not likely to increase that uistress instead
surdens of the people had been red "d coo:Ai:N;(10'1 wt:,,, If, upon consideration,. he thought that
would have been common sense °Los filtettilot taut he increased by granting a committee,
3 make the change without this redueete 130 1f et ttrius, be told that he was destitute of feeling
tees, tt)titeesesi to vote for that committee. Looking to the
inating army through the land. t teo..
lieved before they could relieee the,eg eel's, t,f 44',1.E. taken by the hon. member, and considering
ed them. without obtaining such re,ll iv !t$ .he fey ahl-ted -with that line of argument, which a com-
ae involved in certain ruiu. In ls'tes bYe jeep qemted, might be inclined to take on this pies-
weit.s--
tatt.'inced, that so far from. relieving the distress,
eel_lluge of petitions was sent to that Ile cs°,,',o4;
islature refused to inquire int° 1621h;ricl'ii:1.4,4, ,qkt':‘n a committee would teud to iucrease it very
se general distress complained of. lei of oseet,ietClAiet`?!, be the effect on every sort of credit, private
led before a committee on the subi ofilletbekt it b t 111P11 ae a committee were appointed, and an inquiry
it he was not allowed to state his vie to e°o/0- Ito t4-e°'sibie. 3 the purpose of which would evidently be to
ttee told him "we want to inquire °,' atel,l el 5 had kee,',,,a depreciation of the currency? With re-
mediate cause of the existingdistre?e too,o .i4;4114 I, ostai:t question, as introduced by the hon. mem-
ecultural produce." He said `-` -tilla all° e, ea see aseomecl frdm going into it, thinking that no good
I prove to a demonstration, if you: ,if the j Ctßitle, the I,rnildished by i.l. protracted and multifarious dis-
cs occasioned by the small quantity„; 010 te,N °wev,esent occasion. The observations which he
hich agricultural produce realizes; to inset rod it' keeteer,, he thought it right to throw outin reference
!7, and in 1829, Parliament refuseueesy. ,d, it.a- tT;ite esil s motion, and should only add, that he con-
state of the country and of the cuer.resewael, h,.eoi`aeser.'ceoasistent with his duty to consent to that
s, all complaining of distress werettroleolc ,:rtlrN)o,:4l s__
effect ; they were neglected, and aby -cor taste to a said that if the hon. member for Birmingham
had one from Birmingham, sign' JO 110 theY ghutpti)oint a committee to inquire whether or not
called for an inquiry into the stet% wa'' el t etYi ilea aloe, be changed, he, for one, would have voted
cause of distress. Such an ineulreetece ate thtllhqie distress the hon. member only moved for an
entlemen in that house knew nmdetreeseee' p,4",y 1,,g0 tilvs.of the country, and thinking it probable
le believed that the whole of the t le; ' e‘tte f ale 41gation would show that an alteration in the
ch had existed in England for the.l; P`93, 5 'ft' th 4 reIVA. ta, instead of diminish, the distress, he saw
1
onnected with the currency quest:he pe,r,fi,4 'teiest,',t ail asel,lig to appoint the committee. It must be
Iteration in the currency system who'd so to at k, arid t:' °I. gross injustice had been committed in
be relieved, without injury to aloY.ter, AV,bate_eli tol!itt eeleee",e member for Birmingham was of opinion
time security to debtor and crecoeicea eto :,'Net`eat nee De revised; it would be for the committee
to allparties. He had no pithy 05, 0., ite.ow„ by ~,,uestion : the house would not be pledged on
s stating-his opinion,- all he wisee eleireeer estepast ei;teing to the appointment of a committee.
listress relieved. Whether the tbe Pe ac ltgoll, 'etiqi 0 thought that a committee of inquiry would
e national debt was the cause, or if tli 41,0 reek iblekh_lo the house and the country, and promised,
4ix;.,,,tujvir divided the house, to vote with him.
Ithe cause, mattered not to hini;ei oe:elie
produced so much evil were tee's' tolet it
.., t tj:.sei'„ce fee an was against the appointment of a com-
of,i,rx.oantry.
ntent. (Hear, hear.) They weeria d';,s th'fi %Ycl tltii"liS ~..U,U promoted by persons known to entertain
he currency was effected in l'v bat "ii cev It ,!Ic,,),',.ettee:tte currency question, because he thought
A alteration of 4 per cent. But ''' off u,,tio vtho-t the
e' et such a committee would be to shake the
per cent., it caused an alteratioa, eeil,i be
Whitefeet in Ireland, the prtediae,ht W f ~kiNtllt N'etturi, Li, dwelt upon the distress of the commercial
lkri,ol4letgiesgh classes, and stated that with the exertion of
ical agitation in this country, r°loio°' 'itt
. He saw political agitation gro ef:te ,/eseetss. 4ie (11.. e could not make any profit in trade at the
petitions of the people were o,efiear, leell;‘,tse,. difnetie,t, and a laugh.) Gentlemen who laughed
ele an ~e, to Pei to recta answer or refute him. The hon. mem- theing an agitator himself (`
ut he had no idea, when he beca;.
churcs
op irylli cll9 44 L"
(1141/14./i44tIONIIi rm in ~, tracts of-letters, showing the distressed
at the aristocracy or the v Nof late "17 and the increase in the amount of
in. gentleman, in support a his tee Peet lii,P• VPPport thYee In conclusion, he expressed his
from a declaration put forth 134 • e
, 1 lieffeii,et itfiet tke l`e tefused • Umrso.tion, and declared his opinion that
ion.neon the 2.5 th of January, I te;, ie t" 00 tAI ietoge, -, itmotion,
would lead to fearful consequences.
the measure of 1819 had aWected See e, At A. arqN argued
cent./ 11°..00?•PINt4 ° the sub' h
that there had been a breach of faith
sented, to the extent or 4 per „t, ~s ri„ ,14 8e dirties Ject of t e currency. They had con-
per cent ~h•-,ete,t It h.
;1 ie re °lee in a depreciated currency,—were they nred a difference of cent.
claration complained that, under
ti.,.
j0..,e,
oil it wirey. act kiliation for wishing to return to it ? Govern-
T,1t,1 arbiters between debtor and creditor, and
• 'was the reward of honest ,ustbe,„ier sot itQti toll.
ard of indolence and sloth; a pillior e‘' i,,or gr 47 ellt to both. The country had not been fairly
ecessary to produce a better andop Thatis,s I i'tq liot"itilil,ting distress and discontent afforded ample
(continued the hon. member) °,ted. fail `ere ieee to terai,4 committee of inquiry. He hoped minis-
societywith which he was conne:b frecieecelt;es e l'oeuee %el' the faults of their predecessors, and turn
id oriinated in the distress %Oleo-00,0e ebei,tel itetve,ee Npaints of the people.
tad never existed those societies og'ietel°,of,,' kl 4 beritae elven acquainted with the condition of one
(Hear, hear.) The people M eole:.ltee‘t "NehPerierief teatuoroughs, (the Tower Hamlets,) and de-
lable patience; a patience s° . l'eat 1.111; t.eil"t4te" when ever,lt during the last twenty years, was
I
the consideration of that honseesas,'ieel°,, ell ttAtte re°Pg tee4istress had been so generally diffused as
and, let them. give to the Irish pond`
the deleeeeele ee telebouring classes—distress arising from
would instil into his heart th,e,' ti its 14e:leityget.weell'eir employers. The shipping interest was
m cultivate his native soil. v` ea tea °co, . ' lets etriesetanproductive. The distress was widely
mg, and set the Irish peasant t °lle Oho el „at ablktil,was 'pitted 3 all classes suffered, the labouring po-
-711-strch lueligtfres as those, Ire,l3the," r",l sca'4) ',R014, Ptitia;Pore especially; but he denied that the
much was said about Irelauo,,, a ee des ~,,, 1.1 re, ~il„eiasses. .L„.il stating that distress was confined to
ith respect to England. ''Ono for, be Patti pAio the . before the motion of the hon. member for 8ir-
(144
to what they were about to watilo,oo,o
_IAA Noel
,idtstress the house as an abstract..proposition
wever, that some good fruit co.rovit;',lt,DkohB,T ioqt,b.t.g the country; if it should incidentally
of reform ; if not, it should le!ef ayee 00' tii;tl;`,ti:qture",, the boVee_s of the committee, that the state of the
(Hear, hear.) The busines; . all se cee tent re to deal
bat
of the distress, it would then be for
L the happiness of the peqte'of of thebolei Qi rt.4' lee; bat I.th the subject as circumstances mi,ght
11.4 e 14 gentl it W
lest man who felt the proer'aetuirYtea f:gf 5,, 4e.y s eele as an extraordinary doctrine that
support his motion. An 1 awaYref olbeD Itosi;'l, the (11111Portean of peculiar opinions on the subject
recommended would takehee re'l,.l" si, P, ty,1•11, istres,
~the motion, the house ought to refuse
unidtiwbheehnaptphyat,awndastidieonaer,iss;dro:li,:idetie(frso.cia,tect,,;t!t:ctetthtaeteritbotreinep.°ol,,,thtaetecotuhnattry
distress was confined ex-
lei proposition were reieeetee tookerie liici;*trilitay, et,T_Ploye; :vasses; he admitted that profits were
ails in their present state, oho, obit piebis ffi cl, eat aseet he was :per
also suffering to some extent;
to the evil consequences weeied lilt °CI OA le? t 40,1, 't. had beetZt Opinion that the distress was not
nourable gentleman cone
vecioe.hat I the,l4lt4„lli,l gin had ii
tee, as stated in the coralne said, Loieha d0i'01).41:!,43 questingham,
aostaened with attention to the hon.
s, in seconding them otion, oet I
1 id 7 Itot AP 4: patter "." of mat • was sorry to see that he had
some inquiry similar
thereto t 1 00_, , atiekeee eeueur, in \vetch he Importance with a great deal of
irmingham preposed, tio° t°:wi"; 'O9: 'l.
a,qk q2.le distressl.lll With the',(Sir J.' Wrottesley) could be no
ind for a reduction oft axa
new
e 0 0 -etkeewin amen,uon. member as to the existence
IP he
'possible for ministers to fv," 119_40 t 1141/.4 g a "00d d b the middling classes. trading had
in? eal of the
end in the election of a I!!iry IP eresta, au., felt
circumatances of the
t disdain to institute au i- " telt bound. -to say that the hon.
stress.

member had not exaggerated the state of the case as it applied to
them. It was impossible to deny the extraordinary effect of the
alteration in the standard in 1819; persons found their capital
gradually melting away from them. He was one of those who
thought that there should have been something like an equitable
adjustment in 1819. He relied on the noble Chancellor of the
Exchequer to reduce the expenditure and taxation as far as
practicable. With respect to reduction of taxation, lie wished
to put in a word for the working and lower classes. (Hear.)
The metropolitan members were doing their duty in pressing for
the reduction of the assessed taxes, which certainly fell heavily
on the inhabitants of large towns; but he suggested, that if cir-
cumstances permitted reduction, Parliament ought to begin
with relieving the humbler classes. (Hear.) If the tradesman
and shopkeeper could afterwards be relieved • from a portion of
their burdens, it would be well. £1,000,0(X) of taxes had been
taken off, including the taxes on beer, coals, candles, and printed
cottons. He thought the next reduction should be in the soap
duty,
.in order to. encourage cleanliness among the humbler
classes. In conclusion, the hon. baronet repeated his intention
of voting against the motion.
Mr. CLAY thought that the present was one of the wildest
endeavours to relieve national distress, by opening up numerous
and extensive fields of inquiry, that it was possible to conceive.
In his opinion, much of the distress under which the country
was labouring arose from causes which could not be cured by
legislation.
Mr. CAYLEY said that if the hon. member for Birmingham
persisted in pressing his motion to a division, he should vote
for it, because he was persuaded of the existence of distress, and
thought that the subject ought to be investigated, with a view to
the
_discovering of a remedy.
Mr. BARING thought it wrong to occupy the time of the house
with an imperfect discussion of a most important subject. Be-
sides, there was a potice of motion for a revision of our mo-
netary system by the hon. member for Whitehaven, and he
should prefer postponing the subject of the currency till the day
fixed for that motion. Such was the state of uncertainty in which
every thing was at present involved in consequence of the con-
duct of his majesty's ministers—such was the uncertainty that
existed with regard to the West India trade, the East India trade,
and the Canada trade, that no one would just now dare to risk
his capital in them. The noble lord must be aware that no one
would at present risk a sixpence iu the West India trade
until the West India question was settled; that no one would
embark his capital in the East India trade until it was deter-
mained whether it was still to be carried on by a monopoly, or
to be thrown open to mercantile speculation at large; and that
an equal disinclination existed to invest capital in the Canada
trade until the Canada question was settled. It was this state of
uncertainty, and the consequent present languishing condition
of trade and business, that mainly caused the distress that pre-
vailed throughout the country. When hon. gentlemen talked of
the increase of crime and of poverty in this metropolis, and in
the country at large, it would be well if they referred for a mo-
ment to what was the state of things in other countries. He
believed, according to the best of his recollection, that it would
appear from the statistical returns of Paris, that upwardi of one-
third of the population of that metropolis died in poor-houses
and hospitals; that out of 2/1,000,000 of deaths there were
8,000,000 of deaths in poor-houses and hospitals. It could not
be denied that that was a proof of the existence of great distress
in that capital. Then, with regard to the state of morals in Pa-
ris, there was this striking fact,—that out of 25,000 births there
were 15,000—n0, there were 10,000 illegitimate, and that about
one-half of those were foundlings. When hon. gentlemen talk-
ed of the increase of crime in this country, it would be well for
them to look abroad, and see what was the state of things there.
His objection to going into the committee moved for by the hon.
member for Birmingham was this—that the object of the hon.
member in getting them into such committee was to effect, if
he could, a depreciation in the currency. (Hear.) That would
be no doubt the remedy which the hon. member would propose
for the distress of the country, if he should obtain a committee,
and it was for that reason that he (Mr. Baring) would object to
the granting of such motion. He objected to it because he did
not, think that such a remedy would be attended by aught but
mischievous consequences—he objected to it because he could
never bring his mind to understand how, because money had been
Made the measure of commodities, an increase could be effected
in the wealth of the, country by altering the nature of that mea-
sure. But when the object of the hon. gentleman who moved
for the committee was to reduce the £1 in value to 155., he (Mr.
Baring) would object to such a committee. He hoped that upon
some tuture and more fitting occasion this question would be
deliberately discussed by the house (hear, hear), and he had to
apologise for taking up so much of its time upon a debate that
could lead to nothing.
Mr. M. ATTWOOD said that the house was called upon to
grant this committee. The noble lord had said that the distress
that prevailed in the country was in no respect owing to the
state of the currency, but that it was owing, amongst other
things, to the power-looms. Now, the power-loom was an in-
vention of more than thirty years standing; so that it could not
be fairly chargeable as one of the causes of the existing distress.
Now, he (Mr. Attwood) would say that nothing could be more
wild than for Parliament to refuse such an inquiry at the present
moment, when distress was so universally prevalent throughout
the kingdom.
Mr. PEASE said, that he would give his support to the mo-
tion upon the abstract principle that great distress existed in
the country. The hon. member proceeded to say that the cry
against former Parliaments was that they did not represent the
feelings, or act in unison with the sympathies of the country.
It was on that account that they had got a reformed Porno:
went, and was that Parliament going to justify all that had
been complained of against its unreformed predecessors ? If
they did refuse this motion, the country would feel, and he
thought justly feel, that they, were not disposed to listen to the
complaints of the people. He I! as rather glad, however, that
his Majesty's ministers had adopted the course they did. Delu-
sive expectations should not be held out to the people that could
not possibly be realized. He would have preferred this motion
if it had not been drawn up in so general a shape, he would be
still more glad if it should be withdrawn at present—(hear,
hear,)—and brought forward in a more specific shape at a fu-
ture opportunity. If, however, it should be pressed to a divi-
sion, he should feel it his duty to vote for it, knowing as he did
that the distress of the country was great, alarming, and, he
believed, overwhelming,
Mr. WARBURTON said, that the discussion in which they had
been that evening engaged, instead of being calculated to lead
to any practical good, was the most wasteful and desultory one
that he had ever known in that house. (Hear.) He had voted
.against a motion precisely similar to this when brought forward
during the administration of the right hon. baronet (Sir R.
Peel,) believing, as he did, that it could possibly lead to no
practical good, and it was upon the sure grounds—it was be-
cause he thought that this motion, if granted, instead of lead-
ing to practical good, would be productive of practical evil to
the country—that he was determined to vote against it.
Mr. O'CONNELL said, that as long as he conceived there was
a prospect of the house resolving itself into a committeee on
the Irish bill, he would not interfere with the discussion, but as
there appeared to be no chance of doing so that night, from the
lateness of the hour, he could not reconcile it with his sense
of duty to give a silent vote on the question before the house.
It was an admitted fact that a great deal too much distress was
to be found in England, while Ireland, it was certain, was over-
whelmed with it. A complete case for inquiry. had beeu made
out, and what was the ground for opposing the inquiry? That,
forsooth, it would be useless—that it was inexpedient—that it
would produce mischief. But why would inquiry produce mis-
chief? Because it would generate delusive hopes. Indeed !
But would the absence of inquiry tend to discourage the
growth of delusive hopes? Inquiry would surely rather have
a contrary tendency, and that would be to display the delusive
character of those expectations, and thus to destroy them.
When a case of pressing distress, of general and wide spread-
ing calamity arose, when desolation stalked through the land,
it was an act of duty, it would be also an act of conciliation, to
institute an inquiry into the causes of that calamity and deso-
lation. And when the wants and distresses of large classes in
the country were pointed out to their notice by those who were
the representatives of those classes, as in the case of the hon.
member for Oldham, who had so feelingly described the dis-
tresses of the class he represented, it surely ought to be an addi-
tional motive for the appointment of the committee of inquiry
that the house could avail itself of the local knowledge which
those members were able to impart. He should, for the reasons
he had stated, vote for the committee.
Mr. D. W. HARVEY said that, in opposing the motion for
the appointment to inqure into the distress of the country, he
did so with feelings of strong repugnance. But he submitted,
with all due deference to the hon mover, that such a motion
ought not to have been brought forward' at all, except under
circumstances the most favourable, and which would ensure the
fullest and most ample success. Ile would say that it was not
just, to place hon. members who were in the general advocates
for such a measure ir. an equivocal position with their consti-
tuents, because, under the circumstances in which the motion
was introduced, they felt themselves bound to oppose it. He
could not help thinking that the appointment of such a com-
mittee would be but one method of shifting the responsibility of
' the. distress of the country from the shoulders of the ministers.
Mr. RoerNsoN could not understand the ground on which
the motion was resisted, Whenever honourable members
brought the distress of the country under the notice of the
house they were immediately told that their resolution was
eithex too general br too particular. lie 'wished the noble lord