The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-21

wards France and will assume, for the increase in
question, any degree Of responsibility, present OF
retrospective, which can fairly attach to him."
Loud cheers)
Sir X. Peel went on to say, that be the conse-
quences what they might TO himself. his party would
not rob him of the conviction that the advices
which he had given TO his sovereign and the Para-
ment during these late transactions was consistent
with all the duty which he owed TO that party, He
next alluded 10 the state of Ireland and read docu-
ments giving the most appalling description OF the
scarcity Of the potatoes in Ireland One-eghth OF
the crop was always wanted for seed, and il that
quantity was not saved from consumption as food
the people would have to struggle with famine in
the next year also; the government had therefore
proposed to get the seed potatoes into its keeping
by giving other food in exchange for them.
Sir Robert Peel reminded the House that in No
vember last he had advised, and three of his col
leagues had supported, the suspension Of the exist
ing duties on corn by an order in council. There
was day in his political life Of which he was
more proud than that which he had recommend
cd that suspension of the law. But the law was not
suspended. Parliament was now assembled and IL
pend duties by an order in council whilst Para-
ment was sitting. There were necessity for sus-
pending the corn duties in November, that neces-
sity was aggravated now; and the House must come
to one or other Of these two alternatiyes-it must
either maintain the existing law, or propose some
facilities for the importation Of foreign corn. If,
then all former precedent justified the suspension Of
the corn-aws in emergencies similar 20 the present.
LEI the House consider the laws to be suspended,
and what the cause would be then. His conviction
was strong that IL would be utterly impructicable,
after suspending the corn-laws for six months, 10
bring them again into operation. Il was an utter
Misrepresentation Of the state Of public opinion TO
suppose that any government, AFTER the country
had tasted six months the sweetness Of free i'm
poration, would be enabled TO re-enact the existing
corn-laws, in all their provisions Would any
sane man advise this government to give guarantee,
in case Of its suspending the eorn-laws for six
months that II would renew them at the expiration
Of the suspension He then proceeded to notice the
arguments which had been offered against his plan
by the different speakers in the debate. >"
After abiding TO these arguments at great length,
Sir Robert Peel said that the real question before
the House was, "Is this measure rightp' lit be,
vote for it, II il be wrong vote against it, and with
hold your confidence from the men who proposed il.
He then entered upon dissection Of the speeches
of Mr. Miles and Mr.. s. o'Brien, controverting the
statistical returns Of the former, and turning into
ridicule the pathetic coloquies of the latter with
the tenant farmers Of his district. Both those
gentlemen--and, indeed every speaker on their
side--had treated this question as a corn-law
question: but, in point Of fact, il was not
corn-aw, but great national and commercial ques-
lion. That portion of his measure which related to
the corn-lawS might be rejected, and the other por.
ton accepted, or rice psrsa. He wishedit however,
to be considered whole, and rejected or accept
ed such. IL was, Also the intention of the gov
eminent to adhere to Its own proposal. He stated
this, however, distinctly to the House-that il the
agricultural body should be Of opinion that imme-
date was preferable TO deferred repesl, and if, by
uniting with the ant-cornlaw league, they placed
him in a minority, he should only consider what
course he ought to take, to give effect to the law
amended al their instance. He would do all he
could to carry the proposition Of the government.
He preferred 1t. He did not pretend to say, now,
what effect success in the House of Commons might
produce elsewhere; but his opinion that it was
cessary to procure final adjustment Of this ques-
ton so strong, that he should prefer immediate
repeal carried against him. TO the chance Of throw
ing the country into confusion, by postponng, for
Blk months, the settlement Of question which was
now paramount to all others. The great question
was, "Shall we advance in the relaxation Of protec-
ton, and in the removal of prohibtory duties, or
shall we stand stilln' .a# b. -.7 #.sr.
Sir Robert Peel then entered into an eloquent de-
fence of his past, and into lucid explunaton of his
present relaxations in the tariff. After showing
that, in every case, the removal Of prohibition had
contributed not only to the welfare Of the consumer
but also to that of the producer he called upon them
calmly to reflect on what was the policy best suited
to great commercial empire like Great Britain.
Let them look at the moral, social, physical, and
geographical advantages which God and Nature had
given to the country; let them also look at their
quired advantages let them reflect on their cspita
their Skill their free press, their inimitabe constu
ton, and then let them say whether England was
the country which ought to dread competition.
Other countries watching their example.
There was no reasen for expecting that everywhere
they would be met with hostile tariff. Sardinia
and Naples had both adopted liberal systems. Prus-
STA was already shaken. The most sound and SEN
sibe thinkers in France were bearing on willing
government, which was DESTROYS to follow that
of England, and to reciprocate advantages with
it. They were giving encouragement, in the Uni
ted States, to the party which was seeking to pro-
cure more liberal tariff. Even if that party was
unsuccessful, he advised the House not to punish
itself, by seeking to be revenged on others. His
earnest advice to the gentlemen of England, found
ed, not on the experience Of three years merely,
but on the experience Of every previous relaxation
of restriction, was to persevere in the course upon
which they had entered. "By passing these meas
sures, they would take another guarantee for the
content and love, and willing obedience of the pop
ulation; and, If calamitous time should come,
when they must offer exhortations to bear their des
tiny with fortitude, it would be consolation for
to reflect that we had relieved ourselves from the
necessity of regulating the supply Of food in time
of famine; and that, in period free from clamor
and excitement, we had anticipated difficulty, and
removed every mpedment to the free circulation of
commerce" The right honorable baronet resumed
his seat amid loud cheering. ..." '.... ... d ...
On the motion of Lord J. Manners, the debate
was then adjourned. g..t tGa q A.n lg--a.
FAMINE AND DISEASE IN IRELANp.--Feb II, Mr..
O'Connell brought forward his motion for an inqu-
ry into the state of famine and disease in Ireland
The existence Of a calamity was indisputable; the
only question was to its extent He was in pos
session Of information which would show that the
calamity was more general, pressing, and awful,
than the House had any idea OLA calamity not
caused by any deficiency in the fertility Of the soil
or the industry Of the people, but which from
one of those dispensations Of Providence which
were beyond the control Of man. Illustrating his
subject by the citation OF mass of statistical and
other documents, he showed the state Of permanent
depression in which the Irish people babitualy live
potatoes their only staple food--water their only
drink and then went copiously into details, exhib-
ting the alarming condition of the country under
the present calamity. Famine in Ireland was invs.
riably accompanied by typhus fever; and this fact,
with population of Ave millions always on the
verge of starvation, was Of itself appalling.
Mr.. O'Connel recommended an income-tax on
the rents of Irish andlords-thiry forty per cent
on absentees ten per cent residents; for the ten
ant must perish If the landlord did not contribute.
He slipgesed other expedienta that OF the gov