The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-02-24 00:00:00

rtlik sTAgrkANiAfq.

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esppbrt and PrOleited: by abides: iUmtnet lamenting to a pro: • lift. IfUSKISSON said, the queitifla ivy k •
..---...raosragagair air. PIIOTHEROE said, that when this measure consideration on earth should induce him to
of UM community, end
ov., alerted originally, he was in to entertain it. He thought, however, that it was more likely to Mbition.
gsheoneoirdal
ninotterbeest
dteoc.adielllayses
o great
a jealousy that Government was inuit„ed to throw I produce an effect directly the contrary. lie had Mr. nottivr.it commenced a speech of great eta-
their preponderating weight into the scale of the listened taith great attention to all the arguments• (pence and ability •by paying a very 1 d i merely by reference to first
landed interest ; but the Right Ron. Gentleman who ' that *had been urged on the other side, and he had Aliment to the. !tight
tan some cons. principles. It was cOmplicoted with
lion. Mover of the Resolnof every subject
brought forward the measure had done kin so fair i pot foetid a single argument that appeared to him (ions—who, he observed, had treatedthe . potttical economy. With such a variety of in..
than
question in terests, apparently conflicting, yet oil the same, it
a manner, that he was inclined to countenance it so, warranted by the principle which ought to govern a much more statesmanlike
far as the lower prices might be thought fit to be : Mix case. We were told at one time, that by raising Gentlemen who had . maunder,bt. an any of the ,was impossible not to approach the subject with great
supported is propositions. : ditfideuce. He comptimented tha speech of
adopted by the House. the price of bread corn, we were oppressing the le. lie then adverted to some Mr.
of the fanciful theories
A Member, whose name we could not learn, spoke hearers. At another time we were told that we by which the Report Lords' t• ! 1 Panannby en the preceding night, and entered into a
of the ...emmittee way ; long detail, for the purpose of vindicating sherd?, on the questions but in so low a tone of would he increasing the price of labour. He could disfigured the tic-
-and proceeded to argue that the '
voice, that we could not venture to decide whether not see how it could produce both effects at the same soiling of the last speaker,whiche'' rea- I curacy of the Report of the Committee. He denied
_
he was in favour of or against it. time, or how raising the price of labour was oppress- necessity of restricting:
.went. to prove the ;the principle that bread would be rendered cheap by
Sir JOHN STEWART said, ire had given the ing the labourers. It was also said that cheap
bread cause different branches of
the importation of corn, be- t importation, and answered it by the of the
average
manufactures were thus j last 20 years, when the importation was greater than
raaret the most serious consideration, and was de- ,was necessary in order to lower the price of labour protected, though it mi • h
g t be a very good argument, .
~,traly in favour of the measure. He disclaimed, !of manufacturers. All those arguments appeared to ad hondnem was not fit to be ever. The average of the first ten years was 81s.aild
bosever, all idea of any preference being given to i him to be completely unfounded. He hoped that he House, ris a 'reason for • . addressed to that of the last ten it was 9fts. lie considered that ha.
belaud. All he wished was that the two countries I would he able to show, that those who wished for and, least of all, in a increasing those i
utnctr.east
of
this. restraints, b tual independence ought to be an object with the
should go hand in hand in such measures as were con. 1 restriction on importation, were as anxious as any (ant description. Takiens question
most impor- country, and that some present sacrifices ought to be
Taking the question on the made to attain this desirable ead. With these
netted intimately, as this was, with their most vital other Gentlemen, that capital should be left free to grounds on which • 1 it was put by the Right Hon. feelings,and from ' •
ofthe • lof
a conviction
interests. HP begged the House to look to the pre- t itself to the most profitable channels. The Gentleman ( Mr. Robinson), viz. that a necessity measure which had been introduced by his Bight Hon.
sent state of Europe, and seriously.to consider how opinion of many who were the most competent to should be made out for ad •
opting the measure, he de- Friend, he should give his vote in favour of the re"
Ely prone the present rniperors and Crowned , form a right judgment on this question, agreed with : dared, that, in his view of the case,
no necessity strictive price of /30s. ,
Beads on the_ Continent were to obtain the most his own, that it was necessary to impose some re-1 whatever had been
proved to exist. It was one H
of Mr. ROSE and Mr. USKISSON .
enormous extension of their several dominions.— striction on the importation of corn. He considered i the consequences of the high price of corn during the plaited.
mutually ex-
England geoid not do so, and therefore her great that the giving the corn growers of our own country ! war, that a spirit of speculation was excited *1 the i i Mr. BARING then stated, that it was not his
ant should be to extend her population, which what was most improperly called the monopoly of landholder, which could not be supported now. But intentions to divide the Committee oti his amendment. avoid only be done by the most assiduous protection the home market,would, in fact, be a means of keeping 'he would ask, was that any reason to justify a per- Ile wished to .vindicate himself, however, f
or agriculture, by which means they might in a few down the price of grain. What was generally and ! torment measure? lie would allow, that it -from some
i made not misrepresentations [Here the clamour, of Questiorl
pars add at least 10,000 tc• the populatiou of the properly called a monopoly, was when one or more a Leese which called for temporary relief, and
the part interrupted the Ton. Member.]
gantry. individuals had the power of raising the price of of the United Kingdom most to be pitied, 'was Ire- . Mr.
, Bearing's amendment " for st time to be li-
Mr. MORRIS said, it was impossible to discuss their commodities at their pleasure; but nobody : land, for it was there the inconvenience was most se- suited" was thew put, And negatived without a dint.
Clic question fairly, without referring to general could suppose it possible for all the corn growers of verely felt. The termination of the war had with-: sion.
principles. Perhaps the immediate effect of the mea. England ever to meet together, and agree what was the drawn the main spring that afforded an artificial sti. '
i The original question being then put,
sure being carried would tend to raise the price of price that they should fix on corn. He should now ; mules to her industry. It. was,in his
opinion, a i Sir M. W. RIDLEY rose and Moved as an
k amend_provviintis, and that would of course Increase the price give a short statement of the history of our corn certain proof of the advancement of Ireland that so I ment, the insertion of the words 4 . '.•
' Ttl shillings" in-
etkOeur, which every one declared was highly in. system. In the reign of King James I. the imports. : great improvement had taken place in her trade and stead of "80 shillings." r
jurioas to the country. In the mean time it must be (ion was unrestricted, and the following were the . agriculture, as to enable her to participate in the ado I Mr. F. LEWIS thought it was desirable to know
admitted, that while be assumed this, he was obliged prices, on the average of 1 vantages of a general peace. The disadvantage felt by what was to be done in the future calculation of
I
to confess that the above was not a certain effect. It 10 Years, eliding 1625 . . ,el 14 0 a rich country, on the sudden termination of hostili- averages ?
should also be recollected, that there were many Intro, ming 1645 . . 119 o ties, was always greater than that of a poor one.
Th 0 I A long conversation then ensued on the sub act of
Ditto, eadiug 1665 . . 2 4 4
countries where the price Of provisions were by no more numerous the channels in which capital was em. I the averages, in whitat it was allowed by the jCharl-
mans equal to that of labour, and yet it was well It appeared, then, that with an unlimited importation, PloYed, the greater the inconvenience of forcing that ' cellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Hoioisso„, and mi..
known, and had been clearly aaceroained, that there the prices kept regularly rising. In the year 1670, capital into different channels, when the artificial ones ' Robinson that the greatest difficulties existed, and
were no labourers more miserable than in those during the reign of Charles 11. Acts were passed for were removed; and this peace of 1814 was the one in 1 that it was almost impossible to find their way out
eountrios where provisions were most cheap. The the protection of the agriculture of this country. which Ireland, for the first time, felt that inconve- lof them.
manufleturers in this country were, in his opinion, From the time of passing those acts, the price of corn, nience. That a quantity of the lands lately taken 1 Mr, FRANK LAND LEWIS thought the business
much mi.takeit in the supposition, that the imports- which had been regularly rising for sixty years began into cultivation, and applied to the production of Ought to be settled before the Resolutions passed
tion of foreign corn was of that consequence that they regularly to decline, and the average of twenty years corn, could only be continued in that way by keep. in which he was supported by Mr. Baring, Mr.
ao:iched to it. The question now before the House ending 1764 (nearly 100 years after passing those lug up the high prices, he would admit ; that a ; Whitbread, Mr. Rose, Mr. Wm. Smith, and several
ass, whether they should abandon the measure pro- Acts) had fallen to 11. I Is. Bd. the quarter,which was loss of the capital expended for that purpose would! others. - ' • •
le-.•d in acquiescence to the clamours raised against some% hat lower than the price had been at the begin- be the consequence of the reduction of those prices, i Mr. BARING meted, that the Chairman retort
in, or persevere in a line of conduct which they could ning of the reign of James I. From the year 1764, he would grant to the advocates of the measure : progress, and ask' leave to sit again; on which the
fatly say, at least, had not impoverished the country; when this system of protection to our own corn but still, he contended, that the measure was no re. gallery was cleared, but no division took place.
but, on the contrary, has prevented us from depe,d- growers was overturned, the country, instead of an medy even for this, especially if, as en Honourable Strangers were not again admitted, bat we understood,
ing on foreign nations for the supply of our most exporting became en importing country. We became , Friend of his had contended, the operation of the after being excluded near an hour, that the "am
necessary wants. ; not only dependent on foreign supply, but from the measure would be to reduce the price of corn. One of adjournment was disposed of without a division*
Sir W. CURTIS thought that any one would be time we so became dependent on foreign nations, thethe
:of leading arguments in favour of it, was the and the debate continued on a new question, moved
led to suppose from theargnments of many Gentlemen, price of corn in our own markets regularly and rapid- ; necessity of making this country independent of by Sir M. W. Rtritzst, that instead of 80s. the price
that the Coro Trade had never before been under any ly encreased. lie could not conceive how two ' foreign countries for subsistence. That, he would or 765. should be inserted; in the course of which
restrictions. There was no greater proof that it was systems could have been more fairly tried by the test . allow, would be a very good reason, if it was well Mr. BAKING moved another amendment, that it
ale aysthe intention of the law to protect the farmers, of experience. For • a petiod of sixty years before founded. But what was the fact ?—The Member should be fixed at no.
than that the existing law protects them up to 635. the protecting Acts were Pused in the reign of King for Essex had stated, that the importation from A division then took place—
par quarter. As that Act was now in operation, and Charles 11., corn was regularly encreasing in price. I foreign countries could not be very great ; and be For the price of 80, . . 109
the ports were shut against importation, lie should Pei 100 years that elapsed after that period up to It was justified in concluding, that, though a small For that ofles.
• •
Alai. rty . 65
. ..--Is4
wish to try the effect of the rocistitig law before any the accession of his present Majesty, corn had regu. quantity might greatly affect the market on parti. The
mein , .
w..
tw then
weed
wow
the
if
at
rot) I
alterations were made on it. He thought it appeared lady decaeased in price; and when the protecting cubit days, it would have but an inconsiderable in. The
udjeareert.
on be pretty generally agreed that some price or other system was overtured in 1764, then corn immediately fluence On the average of the whole year. But be
mist be fixed as a remunerating price to the farmer. began to rise to a price that was never before known the importation ever so groat, the consequence would
That which was fixed in 1804, lie was convinced was in this country. It appeared to hint hard for any not be to render us dependent. If it was, he approved
not sufficient now. He conceived, however, that non that considered those circumstances, not to allow lof any course that could prevent it, not upon any
sOs. was too high a price to Sit, and that 729* would that the protecting system was not only the most be. ! narrow principle of commercial jealousy, but upon
be sufficient. neficial for the country, hut the best means of keeping ; one of fair political jealousy, and with a view to our
Sir EGERTON BRYDGES thought that many , corn at a price pertnatiently low. Much had been own defence. But was it the fact that France was a
Gentlemen who had spoken had dwelt entirely upon said of the mischiefs of forcing capital into channels I large export country in this respect ? If so, he would
what was only mie branch of the question. They
which were comparatively unproductive. Nobody i consider it a decisive proof of her impoverishment.
.
argued that if corn became cheap, every thing else could, however, say that capital being employed in a —Paradoxical as the position might appear, it was
would become cheap also, and that thiageueral cheap.: way that yielded little profit, rendered the articles on rich countries t that took the grain, and poor ones
'which it was employed dearer than they would other- that gave it. The Importation from' France lately
ness would re-act upon the expellee of growing corn.
It was certain that, in many instances, prices had 1 wise have been. Th. only consequence of it would i was merely the casual result of the extraordinary
fallen. It appeared to him, however, that much of : be, to diminish the wealth that might have been produce of the last year. We could bare a regular
this diminution of prices proceeded from the depres- ! acquired from it, if applied to more profitable objects. supply at all times from' the Baltic, from the•Neth . _ero
'inn of agriculture; which by diminishing the funds 'lt was a question, then, whether it was not worth the I lands, from Holland, and from America, and,, .
sacrifice of a little wealth in order to produce a therefore, mired not be afraid. The onaa_aw_ to,
, .
imagine .
ohich produced a demand, necessarily reduced the
If we were to consider any material inconvenience was by supposing
If agriculture, however, should recover its greater quantity of grain..
!,ices.
he effect of restricted importation out other things, what could not be denied to be a possible case, after
1 rusperity from any causes, the prices would again , t
instance iron. We had now a greater what had already taken place, a combination of the
..se. He considered that agriculture was of higher he should first
it portance to any country than manufactures. quantity of iron of our own production, than there whole world against us. Even in that cise, what did 1.1....._
.
Mr. LOCKHART observed, that many Gentle- . was in the country when we entirely depended on experience say? Why, that from 1810 to 1812 the —ad to
11 did nut know that attempt was made; and yet during that very period --aaa-ear..
men seemed to conceive, that the only consequence foreign supply. ..e ~ however,
it would be an loss to the county, if we had less we had the largest importation that erer was know°, ---:".t.:oitte..-
of not granting any protection to the corn grower, . 1 .
Ile was sup. not only from other countries, but from France it- -"" tlrrlaaiii;
- .....rer lands would be thrown ' manufactured goods, and mo:e gram.
_

CO.II,VON HALL.

Yesterday there was a Meeting of tfie trial soft
Citizens of London, held at Guildhall, to take int,
consideration the propriety of petitioning both
Houses of Parliament, upon the proposed alteration.
in the Corn Laws, now under consideration in the
House of Commons.—The Hall was crowded to.
excess.

At one o'clock the LORD MAYOR took the Chair,
amidst the loudest acclamations. His Lordship
proceeded to siddress the assembly. He said he
had conceived it to be his bounden duty to call to..
gether the Liverr and Corporation of London, for
the purpose of submitting to their consideration,
what was now' passing in Parliament, relative to
the Corn Laws of the Kingdom, lie viewed. with
I,felt uneasiness, the intended orohibitiee,.,a,
Till be adt .
tilfre Mould

;n wheat,

unless

corn sl

rd-not

ro ailterit

would be that the poorer lan_
out of cultivation. They d:d not, however, appear
to be aware, that it was impossible to withdraw ca-
pital once. embarked in land. The capital was ern-
Ithe land, and in leer'

. _
~ ~
ported in this opinion by the authority of a writer,
whom many gentlemen in that house looked up to as
a sort of oracle ; he meant Doctor Adam Smith.—
That writer had expressly laid down, " there were

self. Another ground of argument was, that it
would make the price of grain more steady. The
best, indeed the only effectual way of doing this, was
by pursuing a direct contrary coarse, by giving

ployed iu the amelioration of an, ping
it up in that state. A merchant or tradesman who
kad embarked in what he found to be a losing trade,
might, at a moderate loss, %ell out his stock in trade,
and recover at least part of his capital. That, how.
ever, was not the caw with men who sunk their ca-
pital in the amelioration of land. If the land upon
Mhich they had so expended their money were to be

two cases in which it was for the general advantage
to lay some burthens on foreign trade for the pro-
tection of the domestic commerce of the country.—
The first was, when, as in the Navigation Act, the
protection went directly to the defence of (he coun-
try." He should add to this first case, that when
the subsistence of the people was concerned, then it
order t, have

the corh-fictor to know, that wheneerlyve de:
mantled it we could have it from abroad. An attempt
was made to show how greatly the price had fluctu-
ated during the last seven years; but the fact was,
that it had fluctuated less than' in any other seven
years before or since the Revolution. So far it ap-
peared, that none of th.e objects proposed by the
likely to be )lished bn the

thrown out of cultivation, their whole capital was was right to sacrifice a little wealth in order to .
bread. He conceived that in this opinion he was
last. He would, however, wish to know what it
was that was meant by low land, that should he quite fortified by the aotholity of Adam Smith, who
thrown out of cultivation ? If all the light sandy allowed that for the defence of a country, such a
soils were to be ranked ender that description, he measure as the Navigation Act would be perfectly
believed that it would include a great part of the soil Proper. And yet the Navigation Act might be con-
of England. If they were all to be taken away from sidered as, in some degree, a sacrifice of national
agriculture, lie wished to know what was to re- wealth; for the Hon. Gentteman (Mr. Baring) could
Elaiii ? It corn was only to be raised upon the rich tell the House that freights might be somewhat
cheaper if we would employ foreign vessels. He
lauds, the price of it would increase to an enormous
amount. You would then see as the poet had de- agreed with an Hon. Gentleman (Mr. Whitbread) is
scribed it— . I not thinking that there was any great danger of be-
.
" A peniontry. lib! onstage! pride, • rag inundated with foreign corn ;he rather feared
Wilco on( e de,lenyed, esa never ie supplied." I that if we were absolutely to depend on foreign sup.
Lord COMPTON aropoited the Restolations. ' ply, we should at some time or another experience
Mr. .1. I'. GRANT laid", that before the question the most distressing scarcity. The second cause
was put, he felt very anxious to state his reasons for which appeared to Adam Smith to justify the laying
supporting the Resolutions. lie could not help con- on a tax on foreign manufacture, was when any
gratulating the Committee on two circumstances.— branch of our domestic industry required protection.
lit the first place, be had to congratulate them on the In order to show to what a degree our manufactures
support given to the measure by his Maty's Minis- were protected from foreign competition, he could-
ten; a support for which he thought that the cows• prove that, on an average, the ad valorem duty on
try was much indebted to them. In the next place, the productions of foreign industry was not less than
belied to congratulate them on the change of opinion 591 per rent. lie should now enumerate the duties
whirl' had taken place among many men whose opi- that were laid on the principal branches of foreign
nions were entitled to the highest consideration.— manufactures:—Woollen good, percent. ad valorem,
Among those men, he could not avoid alluding, with 10014 cotton ditto, 851. 101.; glass, 11.41.; brass
tilo greatest satisfactiou, to the Representative of the and copper, 591. 7s. ; earthenware. 791.; dressed
1 r-: -4 and most opulent manufacturing city in Scot. leather, 14`11.; silver plate, 801. ;*gilt ditto, 1001.—
(to f. conceive that ho Iwo alluded so Mr. Fin. lie would not enumerate many lesser articles, but
%' If he considered the effect of this meant* this was sufficient to show that almost every leading
" raise permanently the price a fain, no branch of our rusaufaottuat was abundantly Gnarled