The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-06-02 00:00:00

HOUSE OF LORDS.-TUESDAY

The adjourned debate on the corn bill was resumed by
The Earl of WILTON, who stated that he had for many
years supported the principles which bad actuated her
Majesty's Government, and be deeply regretted the pain-
ful necessity which now compelled him to oppose the pre-
sent measure. He would endeavour to confine his obser-
vations -to two points—the operation of the bill of 1842,
and tbe•grounds which bad induced her Majesty's Minis-
ters to depait from the principles on which it was founded.
He did 'not object to the principles of free trade, so far as
they were compatible with the institutions and condition
of the country, but relaxation must have its limits.—
(Hear, bear.) He believed that no bill had ever so com-
pletely carried out the intention of its enactor as the bill
of 1842. Under it an equalisation of prices had taken
place, and commerce, trade, manufactures, and agriculture
had flourished. Why, then, quarrel with that prosperity,
and run the risk of new and dangerous prosperity ? The
vork of the proposed change was the scarcity of
.ne potato crop in Ireland, but he did not think that a
statesmanlike reaso!n for making such an extensive change.

ground

(Henr, bear.) He E.
bill would lower p

same proportion as the
hod. (Hear, hear.)
I he had al

Duke of CAmBRII

ys acted on

to in opposition to the mea-
and when he felt he
ire, he had not voted

Pd by the Sovere.i4n,

cuuld not fully concur in any me
gt all. Ile eras too old now 1.0

:e his sentimens,

and wihed now to state that he did not mean to give a
vote on the question. (Cheers.) He felt himself placed
in a painful position, but considered his character et stake,
and must decline giving a vote on the present occasion.
Lord GRANVILLE said the sacrifice which had been
made by the Government in the adoption of the principles
of free-trade gave great weight to the arguments which had
always been brought forward by its promoters. A great
deal had been said about the unanimity of the farmers,
but some parties said it existed more at the west end of
the town than in the rural districts. (A. laugh.) How-
ever that might be, he thought -it almost impossible for
them-as a body to take a correct view of the laws which
ought to regulate the distribution of the national wealth.
He'believed the alarm which existed amongst the ag:icul-
turists to be altogether unfounded, and trusted, if their
Lordships did feel any alarm, it would be -at the prospect
of the confusion into which the country would be thrown
by the rejection of this bill. (Hear, hear.)
The Marquis of NORMANBY thought the beneficial ad-
vantages likely to flow from this measure had been greatly
exaggerated, but he was, notwithstanding, of opinion that
the balance of advantages was in its favour, and should
therefore support it.
The. Earl of CARDIGAN denounced the extraordinary
change in the whole policy of the Government, in which
he could no longer place confidence, and he would, there-
fore, oppose the bill.
The Earl of WINCHELSEA was equally strenuous in
opposing a measure which he believed was alike opposed
to the feelings as to the interests of the tenantry of Eng-
land.

The Earl of CLARENDON strongly advocated the prin-
ciples of free trade, ridiculing the apprehensions enter-
tained by some parties, that the British farmer would be
ruined, if this bill passed, by an overwhelming importation
of foreign grain.
The Earl of CAERNARVON was free to admit that the
principles of free trade in the abstract might be true, but
yet contended that they were wholly inapplicable to a
country like this. The noble lord further contended that
.Sir R. Peel had no right to change his policy without giv-
ing an opportunity to the constituency of the country of
saying whether their feelings.coincided with the change
which had obviously taken place in the sentiments of the
,Government. _ _

The Earl of HADDINGTON repudiated the idea that the
Government was called upon to appeal to the people be•
fore adopting the pr;nciples of free trade in corn. A great
emergency had arisen, and the Ministry had no other
course open than that which they had adopted.
The Earl of HARDWICKE regretted to be obliged to
oppose those whom he had long followed and supported.
The Earl of WICKLOW moved the adjuurument of the
debate until Thursday.