The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-02-21

hear.l say then, that the proposed Increase in
the estimates may be entirely justified on purely
defensive grounds, and that her Msjesty's govern
ment have fell il their duty to propose AN increase
q the estimates for naval, military, and ordnance
establishments without reference TO the dispute with
the United States.
NEW COMMERCIAL POLICY OF ENGLAND
HoUss OF CosIMOEs, January 27.--on Tuesday
evening, before a crowded house, Sir Robert Peel
entered on his great financial scheme.
The right honorable baronet, after some remarks
on agriculture proposed that the duty on all kinds
Of seeds for agricultural purposes should not eS.
coed S. per ewt. He then went on TO propose the
admission Of marie Indian corn, for faltening of
cattle, duty free, and proceeded Maize is general
y used in the United States, believe, partly for hu.
man food; and believe that, though il is very
much disregarded in this country, on part Of the
continent il is made into excellent food, and in parts
Of the United States il is even preferred TO articles
OF food which we In this country use. do believe
that the free importation of maize SO far from do
ing any disseryice to agriculture, will, by pro-
noting the feeding Of cattle, hs an Advantage
rather than !. derime1L Iiest, hear pro-
po.>%, also, that The article Of buekwheat shall
be subject to the same rule; that maize and
| buckwheat and the -four Of maize and buck
wheat, shall be admitted duty freei | propose
to admit the meal equally with the grain itself.
Hear, hesr.l After showing the advantage of In.
dian wheat In Me fattening Of cattle, over linseed
cake, and the high price Of the latter, he to
the reduction Of the duty on articles which constr
tute the food Of man. | am not about to propose
the Immediate repeal Of the duties which arb i'm.
posed upon grain.
am induced 70 propose, us an earnest Of the prin-
clp.e upon which shall act, the immediate reduc-
ton Of the duty on many articles of primary i'm
portance which constitute the food man. | shall pro-
pose that the reductions shall be immediate; but
wi first uke those articles of consGphpti6n h ro-
spect TO which propose Immediate and total .,res
propose 10 take al extensive rsyiew of all srti.
Giles included In the te.S which enter into the con
SUMPTION Of me people. ! propose, on the part OF
20 Msjestys government, that the duty should be
Immediately reduced upon butter from s0s TO los.
per ewt upon cheese, from los TO Sc per cwt; upon
hops. from 81 los. 10 fs S.; upon cured fsh, from
Is, TO II. percWt Now take the articles OF .rrri.
cultural produce upon which prop0se an immedi-
date rpea. propose an immediate repeal Of the
duty en- al those articles which constitute meat
as distinguished from grain; that the duty on
! fresh beef, on sailed beef, on what are called
unenunernted articles, salt pork and fresh pork
on potatoes, on vegetables Of all kinds, shall
be repealed. Cheers | propose that all tina,
enters into the vegetable, anything that con-
stitutes animal food shall be admitted duty free.
ICheersl
believe theagricuturists need fear no alarm from
all this. ! tell them, as told the manufacturers
that hs,s given them increased facilities for meet.
log foreiga competition, by admitting the i'm porta.
ton Of many articles for feeding Of cattle. Tire.
mendous ;heering.l Horses, and all animals incud-
ed in the Arf, To be admitted duty free. will now
state, with the permission Of the House, the pro-
posa which mean 10 make on the subject Of grain
tiear.l | propose that, from the passing Of the
act some articles shall be admitted duty free. On
the one hand, do not propose the immediate repea
of the com laws, but in the hope Of hnal arrange.
men, ofPreyenting undue approximations, and Civ.
ing time for the adjustment Of agriculture to the new
state of circumstances, though | propose a tempo.
rary continuance OF protection, propose il on the
distinct understanding that, after the lapse Of Ger.
tain time, foreign grain shall be i'm ported into thi.
country duty free. tCheers.l | am deeply con.
WINGED that any intermediate proposal will be Of no
avail. Cheers from the opposition benches.l II
would have been entirely out Of my mower TO hav,
explained, or to have suggested any modification OF
the corn law, with guarantee that it should be con-
tinued. The choice, think, is either between the
maintenance intact Of the existing Of proec
ton in every particular, or laying the foundation fo
an ultimate settlement by means Of ultimate free
dom. (Cheers.
propose, therefore, a considerable reduction in
the existing amount Of duties, and propose thai
the continuance Of duty reduced shall be for a
period OF three years-lgrea cheering that it sha
then continue till that period Of the year when
believe there will be least inconvenience in the ter
mination Of the protection. Hear | propose that
in oil those restrictions which apply TO the i'm.
port of meal, the produce of grain shall be removed
| ! presume they established for the protection
Of The mers in this country, and that il is now un-
necessary they should be continued. | therefore
see no reason why they should remain on barley or
any other articles. Hear.
propose that on and after the LIST of February,
lS49, oats, barley, and wheat shall be subject only
to that nominal rate Of duty which ! have proposed
to apply to maize and buckwheat. | propose that,
Immediately from the passing Of this act all corn
ba nfR ritish nj -
Europe, shall be admitted at a nominal duty.
| Cheers
Now, on the one hand, offer to those who in
sist on the immediate removal Of these laws, the
unrestricted importation, at nominal duty, at
least the importation Of all kinds of corn, and all
kinds Of meal the produce of corn from British
colonial possessions out Of Europe duty free; and
to the agricuurist offer other articles, The produce
of the United States, and article, to the free ex-
port Of which the United States gives the utmost
nnportance-that of maize. This is the provision
with respect to other descriptions of grain which we
propose to endure during that period when foreign
grain il to Be subjected to duty.
We intend to meet some Of the objections that have
been made. At the same time to fix on duty that
would be considered valuable, would not answer the
purpose am desirous of attaining, that of making
an immediate reduction on account Of temporary
circumstances. tHear.] We propose, therefore,
that the enactment to endure for three years shall
be to this effect That in lieu OF the duties now pay
able on the importation Of corn, grain meal -four
there shall be paid until the LIST day Of February,
ls49, the following duties, viz: If imported from
any foreign country.
WHEAT.-W henever the average price of wheat,
made up and published in the manner required by
law, shall be for every quarter
Under 48s the duty shall be for every quarter los
10 do 49s ditto ditto 9s
80 do Sos ditto ditto Is
so do Sis ditto ditto 7s
81 do SOS ditto ditto IS
SO do 53s ditto ditto 5s
So and upwards ditto ditto SIS
With respect to all other restrictions, ! shall fol-
ow the scale that Affects wheat
To read these would not be interesting to the
House, and therefore refer them, for the particu
lars to the printed statement that shall afterwards
be put into their hands. 1t may be sufficient for
present purposes 70 say that general rule shall be