The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1843-06-27 00:00:00

tual instruction on a scale

iation of Ireland.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER moved the order
of the day for the house resolving itself into committee on

the sugar duties.
as atoheambuenrddementi
the
resolution
to
to
the civil, military, and naval establishments of
supporting
EN
British colonies, it was not expedient that we should con-
theMerfieCct"tipm cmonosviedde'rmg ns o . coantry
the
eue to pay higher duties for colonial than for foreign pro-
lonial produce should be
11.
enumerated many of the expenses to w tis country
man
duce, and that therefore ailolnperoatewcatyiv%evittlhut.iesTilnieflaivoonu.rgeonf
tcloe:
was put in maintainingeisttsab lcolonies,established
u painndl stithied that.
seuvie,
it:
°tilts
ns
ge
coloniesil "still drew large sums from this country, instancing
principle
Zealand, the estimate of which for the present year was
£61,000, and South Australia, which, though only eight
hich were
years in existence, had drawn from this country over ..-fAcm,ooo.
Still more recently we had established a colony at Falkland
Islands, where they grew neither corn nor timber, and the
estimate for this colony, which consisted of only 78 Persons,
including the government officers, was £4,000. He was
aware there was a party in tlashouse, designating itself Young
',island, and whose ruling principle was, ships, colonies, and
se. Now he would tell that party that not one third
our exports went to the colonies, and the value of the
he ibde better
exceed er
se xxploor,toeodot,uroothem, euxr eel
oulsoi vnei
aof l
policythe Eastcould lnd
notiesb,
illustrated than by the example of a shopkeeper who made it
a principle to present half a sovereign to every customer who
d
dealt with him. Our colonial trade was of no more value
to us than our foreign trade, and taking a common-sense
view of our colonial policy, he had no hesitation in saying
that the affairs of the country were managed with less wis-
dom than was requisite for the management of a chandler's
shop. He could riot see why we should pay a double price
for our sugars. The hon. gentleman then contended that
the extent of our colonial trade was grossly exaggerated,
there being only 5,000,000.0 f people in all our colonies, ex-
clusive of the East Indies.
The SPEAKER decided that the amendment was informal,
and
Mr. COBDEN therefore withdrew it, saying that he would
take the discussion upon Mr. Ewart's amendment for the re-
duction of the duty on foreign sugar to the saute amount as
that on colonial in committee.
Mr. EWART moved his amendment.
The CHANCELLOR of "the EXCHEQUER said it would have
given him great pleasure to be able to propose a reduction of
the duty and thus increase the consumption of the article,
but the present state of the revenue forbade his attempting
any such experiment. It had been admitted by successive
parliaments, that our colonies were entitled to protection,
and even were the duty to be reduced, as was proposed by
Mr. Hawes, to 345, the increased consumption would be
small as there was a reasooable expectation that our own
colonies would be able to furnish an adequate supply. The
difference between the duty proposed by Mr. Hawes and that
now in existence would not create a difference of more than
2s in the price between foreign and colonial sugars, and small
as this would he to the home consumer, it would be very un-
important, as a burden on free labour and as a bounty to slave-
grown produce. Being ofsrpinion therefore that the govern-
ment proposition was, under all circumstances, most conduc-
ive to national interests, he would content himself with simply
moving the continuance of the sugar duties for another year.
Mr. EWART thought the Chancellor of the Exchequer had
great assurance to bring forward such a motion after he had
himself so frequently admitted the correctness of the princi-
ples of free trade. The hon. member contended that the
sugar monopoly raised the price of sugar to the poorer classses,
and by resisting the supply had actually caused a loss to the
revenue, estimated by one authority at no less than ten mil-
lions in the course of seven years. He regretted that a trade
with Brazil bad not been established, which it might have
been hail we reduced the dirty on foreign sugar, and contended
such a 'eduction, with a reduction- also of the duty on tea,
would be eminently beneficial to the country.
. Mr. JAMES said the house ought not to listen to the pro-
posal of reducing the duty on foreign sugar to the same level
as the duty on colonial. After paying £20,000.000 towards
time emancipation of slaves, it was astonishing that any nun
pretending to statesmanship should .make a proposition the
effect of which would be to increase all the horrors of slavery.
However true might be the principles of free trade abstractedly,
they were not applicable in the present case. His property
in the West Indies, which‘ormerly realised £3OOO per annum,
was now productive of absolute loss.
Mr. BERNAL said that time X 20,000,000 so magnificently
given by this country to put an end to slavery, was neverthe-
less no compensation to the West India Proprietors, for their
properties did not now yield them one.twentieth of their
former revenues. The emancipated slaves would not work
more than four days a week, which was sufficient to supply
their temperate mode of living, even though they worked but
a few hours of even those four days. For his own part he
he had been four years cultivating his properties in the West
Indies, and had not received one shilling of profit, even with-
out making any allowance for:interest on capital. His pro-
perties were good ones, wholly unencumbered and free from
debt, and if, under such favourable circumstances, he could
obtain no profit in four years, what must be the state of
those estates less favourably situated ? They were cultiva-
ted now at a loss, because the proprietors were reluctant to
abandon them ; bat make such a change as that proposed,
and all the smaller properties must be given up, and the
black population would become listless and indolent, They
should continue the protecting duties until they supplied the
West India proprietors with free labour. They had preven-
ted them from obtaining it from the west coast of Africa by
an outcry that they were about to establish a sort of second-
ary slavery, and the result was the blacks would not work,
and the proprietors could obtain labour no where else.
On a division, the amendment of Mr. Ewart was defeated
by a majority of 135 to 50,
Mr. HAWES then moved that the duty on foreign sugar
should be reduced to 345, which was opposed by
Mr. GLADSTONE, who admitted that be was far from con-
gratulating himself for the exclusion of sugar from the tariff
of lasts year ; lie did not therefore object on commercial
grounds to the principle of the hon. gentleman. As respected
the revenue, he did not think the proposition would have any
material effect. The question, therefore, was whether it
would have such an effect on prices would materially facili-
tate consumption—a question lie felt bound to answer in the
negative. But although it would not benefit the consumer,
it might materially prejudice the colonial producer. If the
duty were to be altered at all, it should be altered to such an
extent as would insure a largely increased consumption. Ile
adounsiiiitlted that
a the
commercial
re dpi on of this duty
oichtlitd,iew;hlit
t wouldstiltf boreead
ignvannattug
nations
s-
could not be so prejudiced as not to perceive that this was
one of the sacrifices which this country had made, and stir
was making, with a view to the abolition of slavery.
Mr. LABOUCIIERE supported.the motion of Mr. Hawes,
contending, that for the interests of the trade of the country,
for the interests of the consumer, for the interests of the co-
lonists themselves, the time had arrived when the monopoly
of sugar should be done away )vitli.
Sir R. PEEL said the government had submitted proposi-
tions to the Brazilian government for the purpose of placing
the commercial relations of the two countries upon a solid
basis. These propositions had reference to the free admis-
sion of sugar from the Brazils to this country, on the condi-
tiou that time -Brazils should take steps to ameliorate the con-
dition of slavery in that country as a first step to its ultimate
extinction. The Brazilian government required that the
agricultural produce of Brazil should be admitted into this
country at a differential duty in favour of our colonies of only
ten per cent. Under time impression that this was the ulti-
matum of the Brazilian government, the negotiations were
broken ofd', but there was still reason to expect, before the
expiration of the existing treaty, that an advantageous ar-
rangement might he concluded with that country. The right
honourable baronet contended that the practical effect of
opening the English market to Brazilian sugar would be to
give encouragement to slavery. In order to show the effect
of the abolition of slavery ou West India estates the right lion.
baronet read a return from one of them which returned
XlO,OOO a year before the abolition of slavery, £6400 during
the apprenticeship, but which, during the three years since
the expiration of the apprenticeship, haul lost £3OBO per an-
num—a proof that the £20,000,000 was not a sufficient com-
pensation for the loss they had already sustained.
The committee then divided, and Mr. ilawe's amendment
was defeated by a majority of 203 to 122.
The original motion to renew the annual sugar duties was
then agreed to, rind the bill passed through committee.
The other orders of the day were disposed of, and the house

HOULE OF LORDS.—FaipAy

The Princess Augusta's Annuity Bill was read a second
time, the committee ►vas negatived, and the bill was ordered
to he ►ead a third time on Monday.

Lord BEAUMONT inquirrd if there were any objection to
produce further information on the subject of Servia ?
The Earl of ABERDEEN said he had no objection to the
production of any information in possession of the Govern-
ment.

Lord DENMAN called attention to a measure which he un-
derstood to be contemplated by the Government for establish-
ing a winter circuit for England. He thought a measure of
such importance ought not to be adopted solely on the re-
sponsibility of a Government, but ought to be sanctioned by
the authority of Parliament. He suggested that it would be
better, instead of adopting a measure which would require
additional judges and impose much additional labour on
sheriffs, freeholders, tradesmen, &c., that power should be
given to her Majesty to issue a special commission into dif-
ferent districts as occasion might require. Ile vindicated
the judges from some retkctions which had been -cast upon
them for delaying their opinions on matters of importance
which had been submitted to them by Parliament. The de-
lay was solely attributable to the onerous duties of the judges,
which left them scarcely an hour's leisure from the beginning
of November until the end of August.
The Duke of RICHMOND thought that some measure
should be adopted to ensure the more speedy trial of offend-
ers, but thought that this alight be attained more effectually
by a special commission than by a third ass4e.
Lord CAMPBELL wished to
see an exchange of circuits
between the English and Irish judges.
Lord HATIMRTON called attention to the anomaly that
personal property, if it exceeded one million, was exempted
from probate duties, an exemption which he considered to be
unfair and unnecessary.

Lord NIONTEAGLv; said there was a further anomaly, for
if the property exceeded one :billion, but was scheduled in
two provinces, it was liable to be charged the full amount of
duty

..
Jord .Wit A n:slc LIFFE said that there could be no doubt but
that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would gladly listen to
any proposition for increasing the revenue : but in point of
fact, when the limitation was first made, it was . never sup-
posed that any person could possess such an amount as one
million
ofpersonal property.
The LORI) CHANCELLOR said, that the times having
changed, the law ought to change also.
Some bills on the table were forwarded a stage, and their
lordships adjourned.