The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-10-12

! wings might have promoted reform, the Reiormers
IN the country expected that the Wings would have
promoted popular measures But the Wings did no
thlng-did not even attempt anything for which the
majority of their supporters in any way cared. The
Wings were unable, by the sturdy and compact
movement of the Tories to do any good for the PEG
pie; whilst, IN all the measures-and they were
many-brought forward by the Wings against popu-
lar rights the Tories joined them, and thus enabled
them to carry them into law, and to give additional
disgust to the Reiormers generally
In the year 1910, after the motion for a repeal OF
the Corn Laws, brought forward by Mr.. Vlliers had
been rejected by great ority, both of Wing and
Tory leaders, obtained select committee to inquire
into the state of the duties of customs ON imports into
the United Kingdom, and the effects of our tariff on
the revenue and commerce Of the country. There
was considerable opposition to grant me that COM
mttee by the Wing Ministers and | was obliged to
modify the terms of my motion, and to limit in
qury. In fact, may say that l obtained the sane
tIoa Of the House to the appointment Of the select
conmiltec almost false pretences and l was
obliged to limit my inquiry accordingly. The evil
dence taken before that committee from Mr.. D..
Hume, public servant in the Customs Department
for SO years from Mr. John McGregor, one of the
Secretaries of the Board of Trade from G. r. Por-
ter at the head of the Statistical Department Of the
Board of Trade; from DR.. John Bowring and other
intelligent men, laid before the country in the
almost simultaneous desire, in all the manufacturing
towns, to haze the monopoles Of corn, sugar, cbee, &c.,
&c., all modified removed Manchester, Liver
pool Glasgow, London, and almost every city in the
country came to resolutions approving of the Report Of
the Customs Import Duies, and of the remedies that
committee recommended.
As the meeting of Parliament, in February, lS4l,
approached, efforts made to induce the Wing
Ministers, then very unpopular in the country, to
bring forward measures to promote free trade. The
commerce of the nation was much depressed-the
artizans and laborers were without work in many
places and such of them obtained work, received
Wages-there was commencement of general dis
tress, and the call for free trade general
and loud But nothing would induce the Wing Minis
tiers to introduce into the Queens speech any intima
ton that they intended, in the of the session.
to take the condition Of the trade of the country or
the customs duties, into consideration. Not a line
was introduced in the speech, believe, for the
best OF reasons, that the Cabinet had not any
resolution to carry out in any extent, the recommen
dations of the Select Committee on Customs Imports
When the Wings, therefore, claim the merit of in
Producing free trade, you may judge of the extent
of that claim, by the fact that nothing intimaed
by them on that subject in the Queens speech, al.
though they knew well that it was the most popular
question at that time in the country and the friends
of the Ministers, who anxious to see them do
something that might please the Reformers generally
in the country, did all in their power to get free
trade movement commenced, although the strength of
the Tories, by this time was great to preclude
the possibility of carrying extensive measures of free
trade.
When found that the plan of revenue proposed
by the Wings in ls40, by which they expected to in
crease the revenue by two and quarter millions ster-
ling had completely failed and that the revenue for
the year, ended 5th of January, lS4l, was upwards
of 100000 less than the revenue of the year ended
5th of January, 1910, | determined to force the
Wings TO free trade measures, or TO resign. In l5lO
when the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Barring,
brought forward the budget, and proposed to make
good the deficiency of the revenue, (hen upwards of
two and a quarter millions serling,) by adding
per cent to the duties of excise and customs and 10
per cent. to the assessed taxes, opposed his plan
and stated the reduced rates of profits, the decrease
Of wages, SC, as my against his plan being
successful and proposed tax on real property by
descent Only 81 members voted with me but in
January 1871, the revenue returns proved that was
right in my opposition and that the budget had failed
called meeting Of liberal and free trade members,
all supporters Of the Wings, few days after the
meeting of Parliament We met in the Thatched
House Tavern in ST. Jamess street, on the Doth of
lSll and agreed to resolutions (of
which enclose a copy expressing our opinion that
The existing restrictions and prohibitions in the com
nercia code Of the British Empire, and the existing
arf Of import duties were serious obstacles to the
extension Of the trade Of the country. That the
port of the select committee Of the session of 1910
On import duties confirmed all our former opinions |
md proved that, besides the taxes paid by the people
or revenue PURPOSES they charged an enhanced
price upon many Of the necessary articles Of con- |
sumption, which enhanced price goes into the peck
It's Of individuals for their own profit at the expense
If the many. That it appeared that, notwithstand
ng the addition Of considerable per centage to the
Existing taxes in the course of last session. the reve-
ue had decreased whilst the public expenditure had
increased aud that a large deficiency in the
xised. That we considered it would be improper to
make up that deficiency in the revenue by and adj
tona taxes or by loan and that it was our decided
pinion that the financial difficulties of the country,
nd the wants of the consumer will best be
net by ageeral reuision and reduction Of The duties
IMPORTS. These resolutions were agreed TO by about
0 members of Parliament present at the meeting,
nd next day by as many more-all supporters of the
yhig Ministers and there % other members
elonging to the Ministry and in Office who agreed
18th the purport of the resolutions, but declined
ON fear of giving offence to the Ministers, to sign
solutions. None of the Tories would sign the
he resolutions, although several of them agreed TO
ler purport and object BY order of the meeting,
copy ofthesc resolutions to Viscount
lebourne the Prime Minister and he, as well as his
,lleagucs, were informed that the only chance they
L r Ia. Of tbo |