The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-02

The gentleman admits that England IN future
will require in average Of years about Ia 900 900
Of bushels. | think the amount will bc much
larger. The average for the last years presented
in the table il 10, l0l ,977; and IN future think tho
quantity which it will require will be larger, rather
than leas.'
In the first place, an increased supply will be re-
qulslte 10 meet the demands Of her Increasing popu-
latlon. Both Mr.. Western and DR.. Coquhoun--
whose calculation MIR. McCulloeh adopts in his
Commercial Dctionary--estinates the consumption
Of Great Britain IN 1917 and 1914 with population
of Is 900 900 at IS 900 600 OF quarters OF fraction
over IL bushels per head. This estimates includes
the entire amount consumed by man and beast
used in beer and spirits, and in various mahufac-
lures. The English population is Increasing at the
rate of about 400, 600 annually. At the rate c1-
mated by these gentlemen, this increase OF poru'L-
ton alone would cause increased consumption OF
| 6, 500, 900 bushels Of gram
In the second place, by the repesl OF the corr avs
the price Of bread and meat viii be less, and the
consumption will he greatly increased A very
large portion of the English cons mers are aborers
whose wages are scarcely sufficient for their support
and are divided in supplying then wants, between
house, fuel, raiment, &c and only portion is APP
propriated to food, and very rarely enough pro-
cure an ample supply. When food is cheaper,
more can be purchased with the same money, and
consumption will be increased. This has invariably
been found to be the case in England particularly
in articles of food This lately strikiugy exeni-
plihed IN the cass of sugar, where, in consequence
Of the reduction Of the duty, the price lowered
whereby the consumption was greatly increased; 80
much SO that, notwithstanding the great reduction
Of duty, the revenue derived was very little de-
creased Many other instances of the same sort arc
given in the very able pamphlet of w. Z Glad
stone, Ia member Of the British cabnet,) upon the
effect of the late commercial legislation in England
and also in the debates in the British Parliament.
But, says the gentleman from Massachusetts,
Mr.. HUDsoN, eff the price of wheat is reduced in
Great Britain, her dependence is mainly upon her
crops, it will tend to reduce the price of labor
and hence diminish the ability of the laborng class
es to purchase. This may operate to the full
amount of the reduction, and SO prevent any in
| creased consumption"
This is no new idea of the gentleman's; it was
propagated and exploded many years ago. The
idea that wages invariably rise and fall with the
price of food, nculcated by Norfolk Squires
as long ago as l795. But Burke, the most philo-
sophical of statesmen, exposed its fallacy in his
| Thoughts and Details on Scarcity" "Nay" said
Burke, sit is not so. allow it" the rate Of wages)
"has not fuctuated with that price, (of provisions
"nor ought it, and the squires of Norfolk had dined
when they gave it their opinion that it might
| ought to rise and fall with the market of provi-
| sons The rate Of wages in truth, has direct
| relation to that price. Labor is a commodity like
every other, and rises and falls according to The de-
mand."
| believe (said Mr. b. that the gentleman from
Massachusetts Mr. HunsoNl does NOT dine in the
sense in which Burke said the Norfolk squires had.
Mr.. GENTRY. He is a teetotalIer.
Mr.. BAYLY. | am aware of that, but then he
comes into this House and attempts to pass off upon
| us opinions which Burke could only account for
| when propounded by Norfolk squircs, upon the
supposition that they anything but teetotaers.
So far from cheap provisions causing low wages,
the tendency is the very reverse. The Of
| wages is regulated by the supply and the demand
| for labor. When the prices Of provisions are low
tbe cn1e hpo,r in, he nf
other articles, increased demand for which is Gre
| ated, and consequently for the labor to pro luce
| them and with that Increased demand an enhance
| ment Of the rate of wages Upon this subject, in
the debate in Parliament the 22l OF January last,
| Sir Robert Peel said:
First wages. who can deny the fact that during
the three that preceded the month Of October last
prices comparatively ow There was comparative
labor higher than during that period II you take the
three preceding years you win find high prices and
then have years. have during the first three years
high prices and low wages: have during the last three
conclusion tst wages 10 not vary with the price Of prov
sons They DO vary with the increase o capital with the
prosperity OF tho country, with the increased power
poy labor but there Is immediate relation betwcen
wages and provisionsorf there be relation !, in
| inverse ratio"
Tooke, in his history OF prices, produces many
facts and arguments to establish this proposition,
but il il clear enough without quoting them But,
says The gentleman from Massachusetts
Every man acquainted with English agriculture knows
that great Improvements are constantly taking place her
mode OF cultivation Boys and swaInps beng
ed barren hillsides teng convertGd fruitful fsd
and her waste places being made TO blossom like tn
Under these circumstances it 10 not prob tblo tbs Der
demand fot foreign grain W III materially Hor
own supply will Increase with her demand '
Now, SIR, have seen this ptopos lion often adj
vdnced before, and | desire IN examine Il, We al
know thai England from its first soruenl, has beer
an agricultural country. From that tune agricultural
pursuits have be ~ cons dored most onorabe, and,
as ,nsequenoe, have beenmost sought ForalenE
time The accumulation OF capital and the want az
| secure investment for il has been very great Land
has always been regarded there ss the most d,sra.
bile III investments. The possession Of land confer
/
Sir 3 Clerk as will be seen a subsc ucu mite es'i
mates the quantity at - ~ o0d Of bushels