The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1846-02-03 00:00:00

The Duke of IticiimoND, in presenting pi
your of the corn laws, expressed his hope tb

would not make any alte

without a❑ appeal

ion with respJ

made to the people

convinced thii;: lordships would not be intim.

hired emissaries of

law Lea

noble duke then, in pusuance of notice, asked the Dui
Wellington the causes that had led to the late resi
in the ministry, and their reasons for accepting o
pledged to carry out the same
their resignations -

The Duke of WELLINGTON said that he had received
hat had occurred. He
however, to know whether the noble duke had any

h had c

her Majesty
wished,

further question to ask ?
The Duke of RICHMOND was anxious to know tbi
grounds which had led to the late rebignations.
The Duke of \YELLIN GTON said, in consequence of thi
accounts received from Ireland, and diff-rent parts o
Great Britain, in the course of the autumn, his rigbt bon
_ .

friend at the head of the government deemed it necessary
to call the government together, and to submit the reports
which had reached him to their consideration, and to pro-
pose the adoption of certain measures. Oneofthe measures
suggested was an order in Councilto suspend theoperation of
the existing corn laws, so as to open the ports for the ad-
mission of corn duty free. He (the Duke of Wellington)
did not think the measure was at that time absolutely ne-
cessary. At the same time measures were taken to afford
employment for the people and to procure them food. It
was said that the suspension of the corn-law might ren-
der the renewal of it difficult, and that an essential altera-
tion might be necessary. Every one admitted that some
alteration was necessary. (Hear, hear.) He (the Duke
of Wellington) was opposed to the adoption of any
essential alteration in the corn-laws, but considered una-
nimity in the Cabinet to be essential to the safety of the
government itself ; and having served the Crown for 50
years in high public stations, he did everything in his power
to reconcile the differences of opinion which existed among
his colleagues, and to preserve a government which en-
joyed the confidence of the Sovereign, the people, and
bath houses of parliament. He, however, failed in so doing.
The question was then discussed whether his tight hon.
friend should call parliament together to propose the
alteration which he thought necessary, having a divided
Cabinet, or whether he should resign the situation which
he held. The latter course was determined upon. Lord
John Russell having failed in forming a Cabinet, his right
hon. friend was again sent for, and determined if he stood
alone, be would enable her Majesty, as a minister, to
meet parliament. He (the Duke of Wellington) ap-
plauded the determination of his right hon. friend, and
was resolved to stand by him. He was delighted with the
course taken by his right bon. friend, and would have ta-
ken the same course under the same circumstances. He
was well aware at the time of the situation in which his
right hon. friend stood with respect to the corn-laws. Ilow
could his right hon. friend go into parliament and defend the
corn-law when it was known that his opinion was in rayon
of an alteration. In supportit— • '-ht hon. friend he kne
that he must be a part
corn-law. Although
teration of the corn

factory to the country
landed interest, as the'

0151
y to a material alt ration of tt
e purport involved a material a

ielieved it would b

and give such advantages to the
had a right to expect on the gene•

ral arrangement of the affairs- of the country. (Hear,
hear.) But whatever the measure might he, he (the Duke
of Wellington) could not refuse to aid his Sovereign in
meeting Parliament in such an emergency. Dear, hear.)

The Duke of BUCKINGHAM did not believe the measure
would he satisfactory, and would therefore join his noble
friend (the Duke of Richmond) in endeavouring to defeat
every attempt that might be made by the Government.
(A laugh.) The noble duke thought their lordships ought
to know why those who had been called upon to form a
free-trade governMent had failed in their task.
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE replied, that the matters
connected with the late changes had been so fully stated,
that he did not think it necessary to go into any further
detail. When it was impracticable to bring a fixed duty
before the consideration of parliament with any chance of
success, he felt that a repeal of the corn-laws was abso-
lutely necessary, with a determination to alleviate, as far
as was consistent with the principle of justice, every bur-
den upon the landed interest, and upon the occupiers of
land in this country. (Hear, hear.)
The Duke of WELLINGTON said that upon being asked
whether he would form a government upon the principle
of maintaining the corn-laws as they at present existed, he
declined doing so, believing it impossible. He trusted the
House would wait till they had heard what the measures
of his right hon. friend were, and not attempt to conjec-
ture them.

After some farther observations from several noble
peers, the subject dropped, and the house adjourned.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-NIONDAr

The SPEAKER communicated her Majesty's answer to
the Address, which was presented on Saturday.
Sir R. PEEL called the attention of the house to the
number of railway plans likely to be brought before the
house, which required the arloptim of some mode of
dealing with the vast amount of business of this descrip-
tion likely to be bro;ight under consideration. There
was no less than 815 railway plans deposited with the
Board of Trade, pri,posing to construct 20,687 new
miles of railway, at a proposed expenditure of capi-
tal to the extent of £330,000,000 sterling. This was an
amount of capital, that they might well doubt the pru-
dence of its being at once applied to one description of
speculation. Even for the benefit of railway enterprise
itself, he thought it right that some principle should be
laid down for the government of their construction. The
right hon. hart. concluded by moving for a select com-
mittee to consider the mode in which the house shall deal
with railway bills proposed to be submitted to the house
during the present session.
Mr. GISBORNE said, before giving their sanction to
such a motion, they ought to have a more comprehensive
statement before them than the very meagre one which
they had just heard from the right hon. gentleman. He
wished to know if the proceedings before the Standing
Orders Committee were to be suspended during the dis-
cussions of the committee?

Sir It PEEL replied in the negative. He had purposely
been less explicit in his statement than if he had to propose
his plan to the house itself.
_

Sir G. GREY thought it would be better to enable par-
ties to save the expense of going before the Standing
Orders' Committee, if they were to be liable, notwith-
standing having incurred such expenses, to be defeated by
the report of the Select Committee. He was of opinion
it would be better to transfer a portion of the jurisdiction
of the house in these matters to a competent tribunal in
which both Houses of Parliament might be disposed to
place confidence.
Sir It. INGLIS said it was physically impossible for the
House to attend properly to this branch of business, and
suggested a sort of ambulatory commission as likely to be
more satisfactory, and to save the parties three-fourths of
the expense.
Mr. C. BULLER also thought it would be better to
refer the taking of evidence, &c., to a commission com-
posed of competent persons out of that house.
Mr. HUDSON thought that the house ought to know in
the first instance bow many of these railways had obtain-
ed the requisite deposits, and whether they were likely to
pass the Standing Orders' Committee, for he was con-
vinced a great number would fail in these particulars. He
was not alarmed by the amount of money required for
these schemes. The money was tuft going out of the
country. One-fifth of it would go to the landlords, a large
portion would go to the iron merchants, and a still greater
portion to the labourer. Nothing could tend more to the
relief of the distress in Ireland, than encouraging this
kind of enterprise. He could not conceive in what way
they would limit the amount of money to be spent in rail-
ways, and bad no doubt but enough of means could be
found for all useful objects, unless, indeed, the money
was sent out of the country in loans to South American
stairs, or to buy foreign corn to import into this country.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the right bon. baronet
should, on the responsibility of the Government, have
proposed his plan to the House, and then mo‘r&l its refer-
ence to a select committee.

After some discussion,
The EARL of LINCOLN said the two questions for the
consideration of the committee were—First, whether it
was not desirable that some limitation of capital should be
adopted ; and, secondly, whether the promoters of rail-
ways should go on before the Standing Orders' Commit-
tee. These points had been carefully considered by the
Government, and would not be thrown loose upon the
committee.

A lengthened discussion followed, which terminated in
the adoption of the resolution proposed by Sir R. Peel,
and the committee was forthwith appointed.
Sir T. FREEMANTLE obtained leave to bring in a bill
to amend the Drainage Acts in Ireland, the object of
which was to carry to a still further extent the provisions
of the bill of last session.

HOUSE OF LORDS..--•TIIKSDAY

The Earl of MINTO presented several petitions, praying
for a repeal of the corn-laws.
The Duke of RICHMOND presented petitions praying
that the protection of agriculture might be maintained.
He would take that opportunity of stating that a gentle-
man, named Feargus O'Connor, had stated at some pub-
lic meeting, that a proposal had been made to him by him
(the noble duke), to induce him to desert his present
principles, for the purpose of advocating protection. He
could assure their lordships that he had never had any
communication, direct or indirect, with that gentleman;
nor had he ever made any attempt to induce any one to
de§ert his principles, because he thought that any man
who would take money fur such a purpose was not to be
trusted.
Lord CLANCARTY gave notice that on Thursday, the
bth of February, he would move for the appointment of a
select committee to inquire into the operation of the laws
Diving relief to the poor of Ireland.

HOUSE OF COMMONS.—TCESDAY.
Sir R. PEEL, said, that in pursuance of the recommen-
dation of the speech from the throne, he was about to call
upon the house to review the duties which applied to se-
veral articles the produce and manufacture-of other coun-
tries. lie should proceed on the assumption contained in
her Majesty's speech, that the repeal of prohibitory and
the relaxation of protective duties was in itself a wise po-
licy—that protective duties abstractedly and in principle
were open to objection—and that, though the policy of
them might in some cases be defended, it must always be
on some special grounds of national interest, or of justice
towards individuals. Ile was also about to act on the pre-
sumption, that during the last three years there had been
increased productiveness in the revenue, notwithstanding
a large remis,ion of taxation ; that there had been an in-
creased demand for labour; that there had also been in-
comfort, contentment, and peace,
creased competence,

among the population. In advising the continued appli-
cation of those principles, which had produced such salu-
`ary results, and which had already been sanctioned by the
ouse, he was not inclined to disregard the necessity of
laintaining public credit unimpaired, and he was, there.
prepared to act with forbearance, in order tbat he
ny respect the permanent interests
ossible that. owing to the numer.-
,ts which his present proposition
ion might arise that his scheme
e discouraged. If such be the opi-
notection, nothing would be more
n'than to meet him on an early night with a

not prejudic

country. It c

y for t

tion that protection to domestic industry was in it-

self a good, and that the principle of it ought to be sanc-
tioned by the house. It might, on the other hand, be the
conclusion of the house, considering all the difficulties of
this question, and the nature of the contest which had

b existed, abd would long continue to exist if there
were not a satisfactory adjustment of it—that his proposi-
tion, extensive as it was, ought to be accepted as a whole,
though there might be objections in details to parts of it.
If that should be the conclusion of the house, he should
have confidence in his ultimate success ; but if not, the
sooner its disapprobation was expressed, the better for all
parties. The great principle of the relaxation of protec-
tive duties he was not going to apply to any one particular
interest : on the contrary, he asked all the interests of the
country, manufacturing, commercial, and agricultural, to
make the sacrifice, if it were one, of their protection, to
the common good. Of late years the whole tariff bad been
submitted to the review of the house. In 1842 he had
proposed, and in 1845 he had carried out to a very large
extent, a plan for remitting the duty on the raw materials
constituting the elements of manufacture. There was at
this moment scarcely a duty on the raw material imported
from foreign countries which we had not abandoned. He
had, therefore, a right to call on the manufacturer to re-
linquish the protection of which he was now in posses-
sion. The onl; two articles of raw material now subject
to duty were tallow and timber. He intended to reduce
the duty on tallow from 3s. 2d. to ls. 6d. per cwt., and to
make a gradual reduction on timber till it reached a point
at which it would remain fixed, and which be would defi-
nitely describe on a future day.- Having given the manu-
facturers free access to every raw material of manufacture,
be called upon stch of them as were engaged in making
the three articles, wool, linen, and cotton, which formed
the clothing of the country, to give a proof of the sincerity
of their convictions by relinquishing the protection which
was now given to the articles of their manufacture. He
made this call upon them the more confidently, because it
was the rnanufacturidg, and not the agricultural interest,
which first called on the government for protecting duties.
He then stated that he intended to relinquish all duties
upon the importation of the coarser articles of manufac-
tures in wool, linen, and cotton, and to reduce the duties
on linen and woollen goods of a finer quality from 20 to
10 per cent. At present there was a duty on silk, which
was called 30 per cent., but which was often higher. He
proposed to adopt a new principle in the levying of that
duty, which was now an encouragement to the smuggler.
and not to the British manufacturer, and to impose a duty
of 15 qer cent., instead of 30, for every £lOO value of silk.
ght hon. baronet then described at great length the

reduction of duties which he intended to make upon the
importation of paper hangings, manufactured metals,
dressed hides, boots, shoes, hats, straw plat, carriages,
- brandy, geneva, sugar, and various other
:nders to our ta-
,en proceeded to review the aricles connected

3 we must refer our r