The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-03-09 00:00:00

TIIE STATESMAN.

ma 5.......... .- , . .
loaded, no I ention was metde of rent ass( burden on to be not to reduce the price of bread, or even to tide° from Nencastle-opon-Tyne, signed by. 24,000
the termer. He would say that he had had coliversa- make It of a regular value, butsfill loiter to degrade persons, which bad been agreed on it a meeting
1
tions and be!d correspondence with farmers its dif- the labouring claw's, and compel them to submit to where the business had been transacted with the et-
ferent parts of the kingdom ; and they all discla;w- receive parochial relief. His Loialship contended most decorum and unanimity. He was sorry that he
ed that the pro..ent Bill was a cause of theirs.— that the existing system of the Poor Laws had ma- could not go the whole length of the Petition, which
[Hew., hear!]--He wished the House to consider terially changed the spirit and character of the Bri- stated that no legislative measure was necessary.
(this subject mare maturely, and not make such a re- ti'h peasant ; lie had lost that hardy, free, and in- Mr. METHUEN said, he should oppose the Bill
ap-rt:' le betty of men as the agriculturists of this dependent spirit for which he had been formed in at all events, whether the consequence was to lower
country odi ...s in the eyes of their fellow-citizens.— good old times. He. was of opinion that this Bill the price of rents •or not. Though the House should
It was the prayer of all of there not to precipitate a would produce the most grievous injury to all classes not be influenced by clamour, yet when the voice of
weapon.. of such great importance. of the community, land proprietors only excepted.. the people was so unanimously expressed in a constitu-
SheJetulasiiii 4441444A111-eaid he had not advised' Alt.., DOUGLAS completely acquiesced in the tional manner by Petitions, it should be attended to.
the it ithdrawing of land from cultivation ;he had principles of the Bill, though he thought the price of Mr. CALCRAFT said, that so many circumstances
merely said, that if land was cultivated at 18s. an 80s. too high : that point being fitly arranged, he had occurred since the Committee on the subject of
acre, the cultivator never could be repaid. He had I was convinced that it would promote materially the the Corn Laws had terminated their labours, that
not said teat the as.riculturist ought not to be pro.igeneral prosperity of the empire. It should be re. that circumstance alone would have induced him to
tected ; agriculture nod manufactures ought equally I collected that it had been two years under the con- press the necessity of further investigation. It was
to be protected ; but if a preference was necessary, it ! sideration of Parliament, although It had been much said, that the measure was not precipitated, because
ought to be given to agriculture, ask was productive I misrepresented by the incautious expressions of Mem- some change in the Corn Laws bad for three years
of more mural good. t bets that had considerable effect in exciting popular been agitated. But had it been discussed in three
Mr. METHUEN wished the House to bear i feeling. With respect to the exorbitant rents, it I years of peace? Had the price of labour been reduced
in mind that it bad been admitted by an Honours- should he remembered, that in what were called the ' for three years ? Had the property tax been re-
ble lat.eaher that the present Bill 'had already raised . good old times, the landlord was in the habit of re. moved during that period ? The country was now in
the prices. . ceiving rent to the amount of one-third of the pro- a total new state from that in which it was when the
14r. Alderman ATKINS hoped the number of sig. duce, but now all that he received was a 4th, and question was first brought forward. A great deal had
matures would weigh with the House. sometimes a sth. It was only by acting in a liberal been said on the subject of Ireland, and he thought it
Mr. SHAW LEIEVRE said wheat was now sell- spirit that our manufactures had flourished, and the proper, that consistently with moderate cheap prices
ing at 884. in Reading, and had been rising progress. ; agriculture of the country with the saute encourage- to the ceople of this country, Ireland should have the
lively during the last month. meat, without detriment to trade, would thrive in monopoly of the home market. But he had heard
Air. A LEXANDF,II, BARING hoped the inha. lan equal proportion. It was said that land-owners nothing to prove that so high a price as 80s. was ne-
bitants of all the Petitioning towns would receive: had derived great advantage from the events of war, cesury to protect the interacts cl: Ireland. There
such support as had been given by the Honourable but the liberal principles on which they had acted was nothing to prove that by agria•i• e t'•e protecting
M.•nlera for Carlisle to their Constituents. Tie ought not to be forgotten. It was impossible that price of 725. he had been a niggard as to .ito Irish in.
Hon. Baronet who was so well acquainted with the , the labouring agriculturists could subsist in England terests. As the wages of labour depended on the
country had told them, that if a Committee of im- ,as they did "sets in the most favoured countries of the price of bread, it was net possible to apply the same
partial and fair men were appointed, much less would Continent that he had recently visited, and where he prohibitions to the trade in wheat as to that in cottons
be found requisite than 80s. a quarter.—But he saw the peasants living upon peas, beans, and the or other articles of manufacturing produce. He
bard eiwer dratted from the partial Report itself, lowest fare, in order to supply wheat to the pea. agreed that rents must and ought to fall. Rents were
that the lie, .• ought to he much less. An Hottoura. , sentry of Great Britain. He allowed that the Peti- the effects and not the cause of prices. The land-
bit, Gentleman (Mr. IVortley), whose displeasure he i (ions upon the table were numerous, but the condi. lords had properly taken adventageof the high prices
bad formerly incurred, had even himself said that !don of the people and the means they possessed of to raise their rents, and they would, now the prices
somethin.; les- than tsos. would do. He had only to t forming an accurate judgment ought to be considered were low, reduce them, and would not be worse of
regret that those who thought 80s. too much, when:when their value was to be estimated. Those who with the lower than they had been with the higher
there was a gee ion for leaving out 80s. were gene- i were most deeply interested on the other side of the rents. The farmers were. aware that the object of
Tall,' in the .jority. iquestion had comparatively few opportunities of the measure was to clinch the present high rents, and
'• . 's ' • ATLEY thought something under 80s. a icoming before Parliament, end besides the arguments therefore were hostile to it. The first Wiect of the
milli a vreorn . e farmer, but 80s. is necessary i employed against the Bill were such as readily to , measure would be to throw the labourer on the
for his s. rarity. : alarm the prejudices and inflame the passions of the ' parish, from which necessity he had been just escape
Mr. FiiANKLAND LEWIS said the prices at lower orders of the community. i ng.—[flear,hear, hear !]—Such would be the effect
pres• I,: %ere so various that, by the last Gazelle, i Mr. PHILLIPS thought that lion. Gentlemen at least in England. Ili Ireland and Scotland wheat
whes : •.• is at 80s. in Gloucester, and 50s. in Pem- : who argued in favour of the Bill mistook the cause did not form the common food of the people. Much
brokesi,ire. ; for the effect; they thought that aviculture had sti- as he deplored all that had passed in the metropolis,
Mr. J. P. GRANT said that the price of the best mutated commerce, when the truth was, that coin- ' and however he should have been disposed, if the
wheat to-day in Mark-lane, was from 655. to 725. coerce had stimulated agriculture. Much had been I cause had been that of the rabble of the over-grown
and from 50s. to 61s. was the general price; a great' said regarding the prevention of fluctuation by this !metropolis, and not of all the people of the kingdom,
fall took place on Friday last. I Bill, but no Member had attempted to prove it, and to withdraw his support, he should not he induced to
Mr. PHILLIPS presented a Petition from a So. , the universal maxim was, that in proportion as the vote in favour of the Bill even by the disgraceful con-'
% ciety of Journeymen Taylors, meeting at the (louse market was limited, the price of the article sold was ' duct of the mob; and he hoped the House would not
of Call for Gentlemen of that profession, hi Clare- augmented. He did not charge landowners with draw inferences unfavourable to the Petitions which
market, against the Corn Bill. It was laid upon the haying improperly increased their rents, but he ob. had been presented to them from the conduct they',
table. jerked to their rendering those rents permanent which had witnessed.—[hear, hear 1
Mr. HURST laid upon the table a siotilar Petition ' bad been raised by a factitious state of things. He j Mr. C. LONG supported the Bill, and observed
from the luleibitants of the Borough of Horsham. I vindicated the manufactures of the country from the that the manufacturers would immediately suffer,
: at IGRATION. ; charge of being the destructive vortex of the popu- from the agricultural labourer, being thrown out at
Mr. HORNER begged to put a question to the , lotion, arguing that from thence the army and navy I employ, as there would be of course less demand.-,
Right Hon. Gant. over the way, which might be in were supplied, and not from the agricultural part of j The rents, he contended, were not in general elute
some degree connected with the Corn Bill- Much the population. It would, indeed, be unfortunate . bitant, as they appeared by the evidence to be only
had been said of the danger of emigration by our ar- for the commerce of this country if an impression in the proportion of one-fifth to the produce of the
titans and mechanics, and an advertisement has! been were to be created that agriculture alone was impor- I land, while formerly they were reckoned at on*.
put int . his hand, which, if correct, would imply tent, and that the manufactures by which we had so; third. If they were not florbitant, how then court
that M .le .s had been aiding in promoting the de- long maintained the struggle, were in fact of no I they be reduced. It had been said that 80s. would
partur of our manufacture's and others from this value, especially whets the new taxes bore so severe.. ha the minimum of pricer to this he should oppose
count i . This advertisement was from a man who ly upon every branch of trade. lie feared that the the well-known facts respecting the former restricting
sty led himself, in a Scotch newspaper, " Govern. Bill would be passed through the House, but such was prices, which had been established in the reign of
went Commissioner and General Agent in Scotland," not the mode to satisfy the public anxiety, or to allay King William. It should he recollected, even if that
and it stated that it was the intention of Ministers ' the popular ferment. was the case, that 80s. would not be the price which
to encourage settlers in the British provinces of 1 Mr. W. POLE, not having yet spoken upon this the farmer would receive, as there were the charges
North America, and that for that purpose ships measure, was anxious to take on opportunity of ox- of transport to pay. He should vote for the Bill,
were ready in the Clyde to take in passengers, &c. pressing his high approbation of the measure before because he thought that the protection should. be'
The Honourable Member wished to know whether the House, in all its parts. He wished it to be die- afforded to the producers of wheat, which wee a
Government had given any authority or instructions tinctly understood, that it was his decided opinion necessary of life, which had been afforded to -the
to the individual who had pat forth this advertise- : that a wiser measure could not have been brought manafacturers of most of the luxuries of life. - •
meat ? 1 forward; and he hoped that his Right Honourable Mr. MARJORIBANKS stated, that in the, part
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER Friend would not be induced to shrink from his duty, of Scotland which he was acquainted with, the rents
could not give any information with regard to the or to alter the measure in any respect, either as ape • had increased from 10s. or 15s. per acre, to 28s.
particular advertisement, but he did certainly know plied to the principle or to the execution. He I and theuce to 40s. This increase had arisen from
that it had been in the contemplation of the Secre- I thought 80s. was the price that ought to be fixed, to the increased industry and skill of the-farmers. The
Lary of State for the Colonial Department to take protect the grower of corn, and to enable him to leases were granted for 19 or 21 years, which gave
measures to prevent emigration to the United States, ' compete with foreign markets: it ought to be recol- the farn.ers confidence, so that on farms of 5001. a-
and for that purpose to promote it to our own settle. , lected that it was only a protecting price, and not a year, 20001. capital was frequently employed. The
metes it North America. I sum which the farmer would obtain for his wheat. He tenants would be very unjustly treated, if after hay-
... . .

Mr. HORN c,R gave notice that on an early day
he would bins the subject under the consideratiou of
the House.

was persuaded that no Bill could hare been intro-
duced that would at once so well consult the interest
of the grower and the consumer, the farmer, land.

ing expended large sums on their laud, they were ex-.
posed to foreign competition. ; The labourers at
present in Scotland lived much better than the te-

CORN LAWS.

!!r. Brogilen being at the bar with the Report
upon th • Corn Bill,
The '• er:AKER put the question, that it be
brooch( up.

' owner, and manufacturer. Was it politic and just to
reduce the rental of the whole kingdom one-fourth?
Would the Honourable Member for Wiltshire (Mr.
Methuen) support those who professedly wished to
reduce the rents in so great a proportion 2--The si-
tuating in which Ireland was, was an argumeut in
fa% our of the measure before the House. Ireland
was one of the great sources of our 'rapport, and
might, with proper encouragement, render us inde.
pendent of foreign aid. We obliged her to take our
manufactures, and in time of scarcity stopped the
distilleries, which were the great sources of her re-
venue, in order that we might derive supply from
them. And in our turn should we not give her the
preference over foreigners,?--it was necessary also,
by some legislative measure, to prevent the fluctua-
tion of prices. He should not, therefore, be in.
duced by any consideration to give up any part of
the Bill before the House. As to the charge of pre-
cipitation which had been brought against the sup.
porters of the Bill, it had been three years ago be-
fore the House, and three weeks under discussion,
and the debates had gone to a length before unexam-
pled. He gave doe weight to the Petitions ; but
when he had once made up his mind, no quantity of
Petitions heaped on the table, or of clamour out of
doors, should induce him to give his vote against his
judgment.
Sir M. W. RIDLEY said, he had list year opposed
a Bill similar to that before the House ; since that
time there had been two Reports, which had cou-
viuced him of the necessity of some measure to pro-
tea the farmer. The extent was another question.
He trusted that the well-known liberality of Eng.
lists landlords would lower their rests in the cases
where they were exorbitant, if• which he should be
very ready to join. He thought, therefore, that the
price of lks. was too high a protecting price, and he
should therefore vote for the Amendment of 0 a Ho.
pourable Baronet (Sir G. Ileathetne). He took the
opportunity of Matiog, that he had minted a Pe-

Si. GIEF HEATucarE called the atten-
tion the use to the immense number of Petitions
upon the .. rle against the Corn Bill, and to the
roes engine given to the people by not 'paying
dee attention to the general voice, which would
prow aaequivocally t!iat they were not fairly repre.
se.:! • fir: was recidedly of opinion that the price
of turn slnght to fix the amount of the rent, and not
that the t,:sount of the re,it should fix the price of
corn.—[lleur, hear l]—Tl,. Honourable Member
was proceeding to animadvert upon a speeds of Mr.
Yorke's, which he had read in one of the News.
pape when he wu called to order by the House.
He moved that the Report should be brought up on
this day six months.
Mr. YORKE and Sir G. lIEATIICOTE Seve-
rally explained.

i.ord.NUGENT seconded the motion of the Hon.
Baronet, maintaining that this great question had
been hurried to its present stage in a way little be-
coming the dignity of the House, the importance and
difficulty of the subject, or the rights and interests
of the people.—[llear, hear!]—The population of
this country had crowded the doors of Parliament;
he did not mean the riotous mob that was commit-
ting destruction through the town, but the whole
population of the manufacturing districts, and a
great portion of the rest of the inhabitants. Were
these Petitioners to be driven from the bar of the
House, their complaints unheard, and their grier.
antes unredressed ? There could be little doubt that
the I3ill before the house was caiculated to produce
the emigration of the greater part of the artizans and
manufacturers, who would shortly be unable to main-
tain themselves, while the agriculturists were amass-
ing fortunes. The inevitable consequence appeared

opou the opinion of the public to press the ni
asucu
with the precipitancy alluded to, but which he could
not believe to be seriously intended by the Getiti,,
on the other side, until the design was actually avn:l
ed by some authority. A measure of such impo,t
ance had certainly never been so hurried through
tfie
-House. Ott all former propositions with respect t
corn the public were allowed ample time to consid r
and underAand the subject before it was passed ital
a law. Ile hoped that a similar opportunity would
be afforded upon this occasion, lf,
hope were unfounded, and that it was the interr'll,
' of the promoters of this measure to push it foteird
!with such rapidity, he saw no refuge but to opposeit
In every stage.
Mr. FORBES said, that from all the information
which he had received, and especially from Scotland,
765. were deemed to be an amply sufficient pro,.
Lion for our agricultural interest ; therefore, if it
were intended to persist in fixing upon 801, he should.
think it his duty to vote for the Aniendrueut, •
Ou a division the numbers were—.
For the Amendment ' -
Against it -
Majority -
The Report was brought up.
Ott our re-admission to tie Oallery,
Mr. BARING was deprecating the haste with
which it was apparently intended to proceed with
Bill. When the Bill was about to be coireeiltettaAt
was said by its promoters that when it had gone
through the Committee, the country would be best
enabled to understand and judge of its merits; but
now that it had passed the Committee, it seemed the
resolution not to afford the country time to judge
upon the subject; nay, nor even due time to let tla
people at large become acquainted with it. He maid,
tained that no instance had ever occurred in which a
measure of importance had been so hurried, eves
where there was no such manifestation of public opi.
nion. .But the differences which existed among me
those who were essentially of the same opinion as to
the principle of the Bill, furnished a reason for far.
ther deliberation. Some differed upon the questing
of average—others upon the subject of assico, In
his opinion, as the House determined to grant what
was called a protection to agriculture, it would be
better to settle this matter by duties than by prohi..
bitione, because, by such an arrangement money
would be received by our own Exchequer, instead
of being put into the pockets of foreigners. For if
the import price were settled at 80s. it would be
absurd to expect that Corn could be had (rota
foreigners at less than that price. Indeed, such
corn could not be looked for at less than 82s. or
83s. and the difference would, of course, go to
foreigners, instead of being received, as he proposed,
by our own Treasury; but the plan would be still
more, productive if the scale of duties commenced
at 635. It seemed, however, that the advocates of
this ' measure objected to his proposition, however
..preferable for the public interest, lest the idea of a
duty 'upon corn should excite an outcry. These
Gentlemen were probably influenced in the choice of
'prohibition rather than duties, by a mere wish to
catch d a little popularity—[No, no! front several
voices]. Well, these Geittlemen possibly con.
temned popularity, although, God knows, they
wanted it. But his Majesty's Ministers might per.
baps think the public voice entitled is some regard,
and if so, they Must feelithe peopikety of consulting
the judgment of the country upon this important
question. That judgment, hciweeeerveouid not be
ascertained unless time was afforded. -4u every di.
rection the people were collecting lideepteis 'their
pinion. This day a meeting, was total* Place is
Wiltshire, in order to consider the question. All
was hurry and bustle to petition the House, for
every heart and head in the coyteltry was interested
upon, the subject. He should tie 0A: then, to
hear from Ministers any reason achy in decency such
a measitreahoold be precipitated.? According to the
language of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it
was truly unworthy of the dignity of the House to
lallow its decision to be affected by the petitions of
corporate bodies, or to'pay any deference to far.
gowns or gold chains, but be differed most mate-
rially from that Bight, Hon. Gentleman, and he
[thought the estreme iutereet and anxiety which the
public manifested upon this occasion was entitled to
the most deliberate Consideration. Surely Ministers

168

could not pretend to hnryy the meatere in conse-
quence of any of then riots, which were a disgrace
to our poliFt and really with such a measure as the

nants had lived formerly, and wheaten breedwas ! evidence of the 'Magistrates at the Bar described it,
substituted for oatmeal. The measure was there- would be -matter of purprise if the peace were not
fore as warmly supported by the lower as by the , disturbed. These riots be deplored and deprecated,
higher classes in his part of the country. I and the more so because such riots were always mine
Mr. CALCRAFT and Mr. MARJORIBANKS lated to iujure the object the rioters professed to re.
explained. Bard. Indeed if an artful contriver wished to promos.
A Member, whose name we could not learn; imp. measure of this nature, he could scarcely hit upon a
ported the Bill. I better expedient than a riot. He had; however, no
Mr. FINLAY .supported the amendment; he Suspicion of such en expedient on this occasion. for
stated that in the part of Scotland with which he was he was quite sure that the Right Ilotiourebie Glee
acquainted, the food of the common people was tleman (Mr.. Robinson) had- not contrived the
oatmeal and potatoes. ; fic.e of his own windows. Bolt ail these riots were
Mr. HUSKISSON suggested for the consideration , attributable solely to the gross neglect of the home
of his Hon. Friend who spoke last, that if the amend- • police, for If, it were not such neglect how cooed
pent were carried the Report could not be brought , Westminster Hall have become a scene for discussie
op et ail, and the measure would be set aside foe
_lpetween the Attorney-General and the mob. [lice",
the Session. hear!] There were, it was notorious, no tint in the
Mr. FINLAY thought and wished that another , City, the police of which was superior to that of
Silt might be brought forward. I Westminster. In the City, from which a petition '
Mr. TIERNEY said, that if he were satisfied It . numerously signed was laid on the tab:e of that
was meant upon bringing up the Report to take it House, the people proceeded with the utmost trate
into farther consideration, with any view to concille. ' quillity. In Manchester and Liverpool also, the
tion, be should not think the amendment necessary. I public peace was in no degree disturbed. But nor-.
But seeing that so many Gentlemen on the other side withstanding the public anxiety which prevailed in al'
declared their? determination not to give way, that' the populous towns from which Petitions had hen
indeed they would make no concession whatever to , presented, no disturbance had occurred. Indeed,
the opinion of the country, if this resolution were the public meetings upon this subject were generally
not relaxed, he should feel it-his duty to take every remarkable for a degree of order and decorum, whi.b
opportunity for opposing such a measure. If it were I might be held out as an example to much more es.
stated from any authority, that it was proposed in I alted assemblies, in which more order and regularity
any future stage to re-consider the Bill, in order to I was to be expected. Even at the 'Westminster Meet•
reconcile the public to its adoption, he should not ing yesterday, although an attempt (often repeated e
resist the original motion, but if the resoluti"n con- such meetings) was made to couple the measure with
united to press the measure in its present shape, and Parliamentary Reform, the public peace was in 110
with the rapidity that appeared the wish of some degree disturbed. But had a ferment even prevailed.
Gentlemen, he should feel himself bound to avail would any Gentleman state that as a meson fbr pro-
himself of every occasion that offered to oppose its eipitating the measure that produced the ferment!
progress and adoption. Could any man decently state such. a reason for
Mr. PRESTON spoke In faiour of. the measure enacting any • meas'ore without 'dile deliberntio.!
and deprecated delay. The hurry of this measure was in fact a great cease(l
Mr. BARING thought it would be an outrage the uneasiness out of doors indeed was