The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-23

t2 2s. ID And all this increase in price has been
concurrent with an immense increase in importa-
tons hear, hear. TIE prophecy was, IL | recol.
ect it, that there wouli be 3, SOC, 900 pigs intro
duced; but look at the salt pork rising from Is 5s
l0d. to k6 l2s. 4d., and think about 1000 swine
have been imported hear hear There was no ar
tlcle which touched last year that caused so much
apprehension as the article of lard (hear hear |
Last year the duty on lard was absolutely taken off
In 1910 there were only 81 cwt. Of foreign lard
brought INTO this country. In l542 the duty was
reduced by the tariff from 81 to Is. per cwt which
was great reduction. The following are the i'm &.
portafons since lS42:
ls43.. :".................. 4s2l2cwis
1874 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 76OOO ="
1919. ..................... SO,OOO
hear And what has been the price Of lard
In 1914 ''''.'..........' 4os per cwt.
1919. ...........,.... DIS.
Jan. 1886. ................ Cos.
Hear, hear And all this Notwithstanding the
enormous imPortations loud cheers There is
only one other article OF great importance which
has been seriously affected by the reduction to
which shall recur, and that Is the article Of wool
hear, hear. We proposed in 1914 that the duty
upon foreign wool ahould be altogether annihaated
that there should be no duty. 1t was certainly
more in Populations than in this house that any OBJ
lection was stTCnuously urged to the reduction; but
certainly there anticipatons of great loss to
the wool grower from the reduction of the duty on
foreign wool Here again there has been an enor-
nous increase in the imports. In l8i2 there were
IS, $4,000 lbs, of foreign wool brought into this
market in 1874, 65 1870 900 lbs; and in a. months
of the last year, | am bound to admit, there has
been no less than 65,2l6, 900 lbs. of foreign wool
brought in in consequence of the reduction of the
duty hear, hear. Now, what has been the reduc-
ton in price? In 1912, the price Of Southdown
wool, when there was duty upon foreign, was
Id, oflong wool l0d in ls43 the price Of South
down was I'D, Of long wool Id in l644. the
Drlce of Sou hloWn n ID and nj lnpo uynol
is. ID. also hear, hear. In December, lSi5,
eighteen months after the total reduction Of the
duty, the price Of Southdown wool rose from Id
the price in 1872 to Is. AID The average price
| in December, lS45, of Southdown, was Is. 4d.,
and Of long wool, Is. ID. hear, hear Such have
been the effects of this reduction, made in 1912,
so far as domestic agriculture concerned. [Cheers
think as far have had experience within the
last four years. have shown that, by the reno val
OF protection domestic industry and the great social
interests of the country have been promoted crime
has diminished, and morality has been improved.
can bring the most conclusive proof that the pub
lie health has been improved, yet the national trade
has been extending, our exports have increased;
and this--asd rejoice in it-has been effected not
only without serious injury to those interests from
which protection was Withdrawn, but | think have
shown that il has been concurrent with an increase
in the prices Of those articles. Cheers. 1t is right
| should state that, notwithstanding the convictions
which this experience has brought home to nv mind
my decided impression was, upon every ground
that the charge of reconsiderng the cornlaws ought
not to have devoved upon me. This | was firmly
resolved upon, that could not have met, in this SEES
sion, the motion of the honorable gentleman [Mr.
Viersl for the reconsideration of the corn laws
| say could not, with this conviction, have met
that motion with direct negative. Loud cheers.
Now sir, let me again repeat that claim no credit
whatever for these arguments. My conviction has
been brought about by observation and experience
and could not, with this conviction, have under
taken the defence of the n-laws, either upon the
public ground that this country being highly taxed
the continuance of protection was necessary, or up
the ground that it was for the interest of the la
boring classes that high prices should continue
guarantee of high wages; [hear, hearl and | could
not have undertaken 1t upon the ground that the in
reference with domestic industry must necessarily
paralyze commerce. Hear, hear, hear But this
! wish most ardenty: wish to have the opportuni-
ty of frankly stating to those gentlemen who have
honored me upon so many occasions with their
confidence, that continue this contest no long
er-that they must devove it upon other persons
however may respect their arguments. | doubt
whether it would not have been advantageous it, in
another Parliament, this question should have been
met; but it would have been my bounden duty to
have committed the defence-if a defence were I'M
dertaken-of protection to other hands more able to
maintain the conflict"
The remainder of this splendid speech, of which
extract, long is, constitutes but small por-
top is devoted to an exhibition of the evidences of
impending scarcity growing out Of the failure of the
potato crop, which forced upon the government the
prompt consideration of the taxes upon food.
In pursuance Of the views above laid down, Sir
Robert proceeded on the evening of the Goth, to lay
before Parliament his commercial projet in the fol-
lowing speech which we give entire. If any apollo
gy be needed for thus surrendering our columns it
may be found in the direct bearing of the policy
presented upon our own commercial relations. The
fit moment for reconstruction of our own tariff sys-
tenn has manfesty come. The supply of food to
the people of England surely, the preservation Of
the peace of the world, not mprobably, are in
volved in our maintenance Of the policy of unrc-
strIcted and liberal commerce.
"Sir Robert Peel then rose and said: Sir whatever
opinion may be ultimately formed with regard the
merits of the proposal which am about, on the part
of her Msjestys government to submit this night
to the Consideration Of the house, am convinced
that the extreme difficulty Of the task which devolves
upon me TO perform, and consideration Of the mag
nitude and extent of the interests involved in the
questions with which have to deal, will insure for
me from the house that patient and intelligent atten-
ton, without which il would be wholly out Of my
power, either with satisfaction TO myself or utility TO
inc public interests, to discharge my duty hear,
near am about, in pursuance Of the recommen-
dauon contained in her Majesty's speech, and which
recommendations were advised by her responsible
servants am about to review the duties which ap-
ply 10 many articles the produce and manufacture Of
other countries ] nm about to proceed on the as
sumption adopted in the speech from the throne
that The repeal Of prohibitory and the relaxation Of
protective duties is in itself wise course to be pur-
sued loud cries Of "hear hear from the opposition
oenches;l and am about to proceed upon the as
sumption that protective duties, abstractedly and in
principle are open to objection, hear hear; that the
policy Of maintaining them may be defended, but