The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-05-23 00:00:00

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AIR. DVS; All. • . lOl/11.
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PRICE OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK
TWA Otto& •I India Stock
A pear Ct. Red
9 n.CLCots 1301 791- Ex.11111.2d. / tu 19, our".
34 per Cent. 9ll 10001. S
4 per Cents 971 90i -------6001. 16s 19. —e N.
New Fours .. 1001 991 --Small 17.901—tee pm
pern ... ....201 90 Lotteryliekets ..... —l. —l.
Imp. C.t.

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tittetintan,

FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 23, 1823.

DUTIES ON SUGAR.
A question of tbe first• importance to the public was
disposed of last night in the House of Commons on a
Motion brought forward by Mr. Whitmore. To save
our readers the trouble of drudging through the de-
bates we will state the question, cleared from the
•erbiage by which it was surronuded in the course of the
discussion.
As the law now stands, the sugar of the East, as well
as that of the Wear Indies may be imported into this
country. Both sugars are liable to certain duties on
importation; brit these duties are unequal in amount ;
are heavier, in nominal .amount on the East, than tl►ey
are on the West Indian Sugar, and are rendered still
more unequal by the increased expense of its con-
veyance from a greater distance. This unequal,
duty. it most be obvious, bas a tendency to en-
courage the West Indian Sugar Traders at the expense
of those of the East.—ln point of fact, it amounts al-
most to a prohibition on the importation of East Indian
Sugar; and, as a consequence, it gives a monopoly to
the West Indian Importer. It follows that if this un-
equal duty were taken off, and the Importers of each
country were placed upon an equal footing, there wou►d
be a competition between them in the market; and it is
almost unnecessary to add that the public would gain by
the Competition ; by the rivalry of the two sets of sugar
&niers.

This being the state of the case, Mr. Whitmore
brought forward a motion last night, in point of form,
for the appointment of a Committee of Inquiry ; but,
in substance, for the equalization of those Duties,
and for thus throwing open the Sugar Market.—
We wish Mr. Whitmore bad succeeded ; but we
shall take sprainl care to add, that our wish does not arise
from any regard to the East Indian cultivator, or any par-
2:calor dislike towards those of the West.—ln polut: of ho-
nesty and disinterestedness we believe they might, to use a
homely phrase, "be shaken in a bag together." We there-
fore Irish that Mr. Whitmore's motion had-
bean peed to;
s'mply because, as we before observed, it would be the
means of benefitting the public at the expends of the present
monopolists, the West Indian planters. Having that stated
She question, and our opinion of the persons interested in it,
our. readers, though they may regret the loss of the motion,
in common with ourselves, will be gratified by the knew..
ledge that it underwent the fullest and fairest discussion by
" the Representatives of the people;" and that the parity sod
liberality of motive In the speakers and voters on either side
cannot possibly be called in question.—Each liTernSer
looked at the subject as one of a public nature, and, (in the
latignaste of the prayers which are daily read to the House,)
" basing laid aside all private interests, prejudices and par-
" Valities," True, indeed, it happened that the " Honourable-
" Gentlemen" connected with the East Indies, thought the
duties ought to be equalized, and the monopoly broken up;
true, indeed, it fell out that "the Honourable Gentlemen"
connected with the West Indies, thought they onght not
o be taken off, and that the monopoly should be conti-
cuesf; true also it is, that a Mr. Money said " the Inter.
"Fat of the West Indians was paramount in that House:"
but still every fact was stated as fairly on one side, as on
tie other ; every argument on one side was as logical as
so the other; and each Member, whether on the Eastern
rs" the Western side of the question, was public-spirited
and disinten•sted. The Government however, through
Mr. Haski'snn, gave their support to the planters, and
the House divided; when there appeared, for Mr. Whit-
More's motion 34, and against it 161 ; leaving the plant-
ers in of their monopoly, and a majority of
Pl. How long they will enjoy the fruits of their mono-
poly it may not be very easy to guess ; but it is not a
bold conjecture that the time is fast approaching, when
such of them as reside in England, will find their way to
the poor-house, or, what perhaps to men of their minds
must be more mortifying, will be compelled to earn their
daily bread.