The New York herald., 1846-03-20

to relieve ourselves from the odium OF stpulating
for these restrictions in such momentof pressure
(Repeated cheers.) Parliament would have taunt-
ed him with the example OF Holland and Belgium,
where, though the pressure was less severe, mea-
sures OF precaution had been adopted. Under SINH
lar circumstances to the present, what had been the
course taken by English Parllaments deeply intc-
rested in the welfare Of agriculture There have
been times before when there has been the appre-
hension OF scarcity IN this country what has been
the remedy that the heart OF every man suggested
dom took Why, In every cas-, without exception,
the removal for time OF the duties upon corn.
Cheers and counter cheersl "a member-"What
at the end OF the time !'1 will come to that inn
mediately. l rejoice in the cheer which met from
that quarter-(ookjng TO the Protection benches)-
what IS II but an assent, apparently an unanimous
ASSENT" Ne !)-at any rate, very general as
sent that at period Of impending famine, the pro-
per precaution TO be taken Is to encourage the tree
Importation OF food. l. have right TO INFER, that 1t
that had been the PROPOSAL namely, that existing dn.
ties upon corn and other articles OF provision should
be suspended, that proposal would haze met with
general assent. (Cheers.) Then, If that be so. /
ask you to expedite the passing Of this bli-Qaugh-
ter and cheers)-or to move as an amendment, that
the duties upon all ARTICLES OF provision shal! forth
ponents Of the government plans seemed TO say that
they would consent to suspension of the law till
next harvest and he was glad OF the admis-
sion thereby implied. that il would not be
or maize should be admitted, and that the duty on
wheat should be maintained at lis. Sir Robert
Peel quoted some OF the instances in which the ports
had been opened-in sl756, 1867, 1871, l79S. 1885,
1876. 1893. Had the ports been opened in Novem-
ber last, the supplies might have been more ample
but there was still the command of six months
Parliament must now make Its choice: II must ell
ther maintain the existing law, or make some pro-
posal for facilitating the introduction OF foreign
food. Then came the further queltion, After the
suspension OF the existing law and the admission OF
foreign importation tor period Of eight months,
what do you propose to do with the existing corn
laws! That is, OF course, the question which any
man would have to consider who advised the sus-
pension Of the corn-laws2 Well, my conviction Is
so strong that it would be utterly impossible, after
establishing perfect freedom of trade for period
OF eight months, to permit the existing corn-aw to
come into operation at the end OF tiny conviction
is 80 strong that it would be mpracticable and i'm
polite, that could not entertain such an idea" 1t
the end Of that suspension we will have the corn
laws as they arc now;" but any such notion was
founded on total misapprehenson OF pub
lie opinion. What! would they revive the
they, for instance, refuse the admission of maize
II was proposed, last session, to admit maize tree
OF duty. The price Of barley was falling the duty
on barley was increasing and, without the slight
the duty ON maize was increasing ALSO Then,
might not the law be altered in that respect r
Yes. But remember this, that in the course Q!
last session notice was given that maize should
BILE to have maize Tor food Do you think 1t possible
in devising new corn-law, to devise one, the lead
ing principle Of which should be, that maize should
6s s q Of
might feed his cattle and pigs with 1t; but that
there certain other articles used for consumption
by human beings, and in respect to them the law
shall be maintained in all its force Do you advise
that very fact OF suspension would constitute new
element in the consideration OF things, and would
give tenfold stimulus to the agitation that previ-
ously existed! p1 you invite us tc fight that battle
subject? Do YOU invite us to suspend the law with
a guaranty Of its revival2" In reference to the
changes Of opinion which had been nvowed BY
membe ers Of the House, and as to which an attempt
had been made to attach suspicion, Sir Robert asked
If some OF the most honorable men that ever sat on
the ministerial benches had not given conclusive
proofs Of sincerity. Did Lord Ashley, Mr.. Stuart,
Mr.. w. Patten, Mr. Egerton, Lord Henniker, Mr..
Charteris, or Mr.. Dawnay, vacate their seats from
interested or corrupt motives! Passing from these
considerations. Sir Robert invited attention to the
course which the debate had taken, and to the ad-
missions and expressions OF opinion OF those who
had been loudest in their condemnation OF the Go
vemmen.. The first he would notice was the men,
Der for Huntingdon, MIR. Thomas Barring -" The
hon. member thinks It 10 Just the time Tor making
compromise on the subject-for new Corn-law =
Why, if ever there was an unfortunate moments tor
a compromise, il IL the present. What Is the mean
ing OF a compromise I Is 1t new Corn-law Well,
what is the security for the maintenance OF that y
Uronical cheers from the Protection ben :hes The
member for Roxburghshre, (Mr Francis Scott,)
was the loudest advocate for protection, and had
curious notion Of the relation between country
and Its Minister. Mr. Scott had likcned Sir
Robert Peel to a hired advocate, and said he had
thrown up his brief. Perhaps Mr.. Scott was not
aware that a Minister OF Stale took an oath
to unreservedly and freely deliver his opinion
science. Sir Robert apprehended that an OBJ;
legation OF that klna constituted material
difference between the position OF minister OF state
and the office OF retained counsel But Mr. Scott,
when insisting that he was bound by every censld-
Grafton Of CONSISTENCY and honor, 10 maintain the
Corn-laws of 1872, had admitted that within the
last three years, N his own country, there had been
such Improvements In roads, such introduction OF
science into agriculture, such facilities tor jnlfoduc-
ing cheap corn, that IN his opinion the time was
come when the present Corn-laws must be altered
"And when | asked the honorable gentleman,
whom are you counsel tor p-meaning, that II any
law Of 1872, could not quite understand why the
honorable gentleman could so readily abandon it
the honorable gentleman was perfectly indignant at
being supposed to be counsel. Claiming the func-
tions Of Anacharsis Cloots who said he was attorney
general for the human race, tho honorabls gentleman
said. counsel THAT is an imputation on my hon.
or am counsel for the agrlculturists-I am coun-
sci tor the commercial interests am counsel Tor
the whole country-I am counsel for the interests
Of humanity" (Laughter.) Sir Robert Peel did
not, himself aim after functions so comprehensive
The next was the member for Newcastle under.
that hereafter and for ever he withdrew his conf
dence from him. But if ever there was man who
had less reason than another to censure Minister
tor not establishing "a great Princlple, i was mr..
Coquhoun himself why, ne has voted with the
honorable member for Northampton and he has
voted against him. Laughter) He 10 an advo.
cate for fixed duty, but he has done all he could
to maintain sliding scale. do not know whether
the honorable gentleman has shared in my misfor-
tune, and read the pamphlet Of John Campbell Col.
quhoun, Esquire, Of Kllermont. Laughter) /
stand il, advocates repeal OF the Corn laws. IT. then,
the honorable gentleman has voted with the honor
able member for Wolverhampton, and has voted
against him-if he is q determined supporter OF a
fxed duty, and vet ever since 1912 has done all In
his power TO maintain the sliding scale, and il my
construction Of his pamphlet be correct and he is
an advocate OF repeal, wonder how should have
Jared with him il had laid down "a great principle
/ wonder what the honorable gentleman would have
said, IT, after having carried suspension, should