The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-03-13

Peel. (Hear, hear.) 1 entirely approved OF the
revision Of our customs duty which ut that time he
and entirely approved Of the principles
which understood him then to announce, namely,
ofimposingd ues upon the principal articles OF i'm
port for the purpose OF raising rcvenre but not for
the purpose Of raising revenue simply but for the
purpose oflevying the duties in given proportion to
the extent to which the articles the subject of the
duty should be Afterwards adopted or not adopted
for the purposes Of British manufactures. (Hear,
hcar.) / understood the principle to be laid down,
and fully agreed TO the principle, of the freest pos
sble admission of all raw materials which form the
basis Of our native manufactures. (Hear, hear.)
My lords, different system to certain extent has
been adopted since that period, and / cannot but
think that If VIC look to the whole Of our financial
system there is ground for believing that it is opcn
in point Of principle and practice, to considerable
and useful amendment (Hear) Your lordships
will forgive mo for a single moment if ! contrast q
shall not do in dtaiD the system that preuals Nth
regard to the customs duties Of this country ,ch the
tariff (srhich Ihare heard atsded free trade par)
of The United States. (Hear, hear.) The tariff Of
the United States evies upon almost oil imports du
ties more or less extensive-dutes in some respects
of very great and oppressive extent; but in almost
every instance they levy those duties principally and
ayowedly upon those articles which plainly enter
into competition with the produce Of their own soil
and industry (Hear, hear.) Ny lords, we appear
to have proceeded recently O. different principle,
for while we admit with entire freedom many Of
those articles which do so enter into competition
with the produce Of our soil and industry, VIC load
with an inordinate amount Of taxation certain
small number Of articles of immense and extensive
consumption, and coming directly into the necessary
consumption Of the mass Of the community. (1ear,
hear) And beg of your lordships not to lose sight
Of this fact, that when the whole supply of any art
Gle is furnished from foreign country, the whole
amount of duty upon it falls necessarily the
sumner in the shape OF an English tax but if you
impose duty on an article, portion of which is
supplied at home, and q portion supplied from
abroad, then the amount Of the duty is not the
measure of price, but increases the price in pro-
portion to the amount Of foreign produce that
may be excluded, by any duty whatever, thereby
enhancing the price. (Hear, hear) Bct,cvcn the
t,ro principles, 1t appears to me the american prici-
pie is the one easier defended, and It IS the principle
trhich tcM be found tie less brdensone IN practice.
from expressing again, rs have expressed OH former
occasions, and repeating in Office as l did out of
Office, that in my individual opinion see no ground
why, if there be general system of imposing duties
should be made solitary exception. (Hear, hear
state this as my opinion, but at the same time |
have always said, and repeat again, that think
that is question which only be solved by refer
ence to the well understood and clearly expressed
opinions Of the intelligent portion of the community.
(Hear, hear.) Including the range not only of the
duties upon foreign imports-the customs duties
but also the incidence and the pressure of domestic
and local taxaton-I say, my lords, that any scheme
so large and extensive requires to be dealt by
government strong in the confidence, not only Of the
country, but of Parliament also; who would then be
enabled to carry, with the concurrence Of Parlia-
mcnt and of the country, measures adopted and
framed with that degree Of elaboration, and Of care
and foresight which it is impossible that any adj
ministration could give to such subject when
called to deal suddenly with public affairs Mt the
commencement of the parliamentary session. /
know that in the other house are in undoubted
minority know not whether we may be enabled
to command majority in favor of our views even
in the house which have the honor to
address; but / say that the same motives which
induced me to sacrifice all other considerations to
avoid the responsibility of leaving the country with
out government, weigh upon my mind with equal
force to induce to think that the public interest
would not be consulted at this period of the year,
and under the present circumstances of the world,
by unnecessarily nterrupting for a consde rable
period the sittings of the other house of Parlia-
ment, for the purpose of making and carrying out
lift be to be carried outthe policy which consider
to be advantageous for the interests of the country
While, then, state frankly and freely what that
policy, and what my opinions upon that subject,
] confess that situated us we are, we have a much
humber, but at the same time not less difficult
task to perform | avow that we cannot command
Parliamentary majority. | ayow that, in
the face of that condition of affairs, have felt it
to be my duty not to decline the weight of re-
sponsibility which has been thrown upon me.
know that in conducting the affairs of the country
under such circumstances, her Majestys government
will have to appeal to the forbcarancc OF the oppon
cnts and in cases. to the patient Indulgence of
their friends in the other house But have conf
dcnce in the good sense and Judgment of the House
of Commons, that they will not unnecessarily intro
duce subjects of controversial and party character
for the mere purpose Of interrupting the course Of
sound and useful legislation, and of driving the 60
vsrnment out of that moderate and temperate
which it has presented to itself. There are subjects
enough, without dealing with these large and comp
Gated questions to attract the attention of this and
the other house of Parliament. believe that if,
avoiding all necessarily party questions, We apply
ourselves to those great measures for which this
country has long called-measures Of legal reform,
simplifying and improving the administration Of
justice, and measures of social reform, improving
the condition and adding to the comfort of the
people, believe that, even as minority in the
House of Commons, we shall not uselessly dis
honOrably conduct the business of the country; and
must say that, if interrupted in such course by
merely factious opposition, ! have so much conf
dcnce in the good sense of the country, that be-
lieve that factious opposition will, at no distant
period, recoil on its authors and promoters.
Amongst the measures, however, of social improve
ment to which have referred, i do not include one
to which her Majesty's late government have
thought it necessary to call the attention Of Parlia
ment. 1t was ANNOUNCED by her Majcstys late
government that they intended to introduce, and |
believe did introduce, into the other house of Par
Lament three measures in some degree connected
togethcr-he first for the disfranchsement of a bo
rough in which course of notorious corruption has
been proved the second for facilitating the means
of examining into and correcting and controlling
such corruption in other boroughs for the future;
and the third measure comprising somewhat
miscellaneous assortment ftopics, but comprising
its leading feature, large alteration in the elective
system and in the electoral districts Of this country
With regard to the first measure, without dealing
with individual questions, avOw that no man is
ready TO 60 further and am sure that in this
speak the sentiments of my colleagues also in check
ing by every possible means, that gross and dis
graceful system of bribery, which am afraid has in
creased to considerable extent in the course of the
last twenty years, and which, in the intensity Of the
evils it has created, has thrown far into the shade
the evils which IL superseded, arising from the
tent of the local influence by which constituencies
were previously controlled No man shall go fur
her than her Majcsty's government, in seeking to
heck that system, SO far as it can be checked by
legislation, and also in seeking to visit it with con-
dign punishment, after full and fair investigation
has proved its extent and enormity. Nor do
pretend to say that the system of representation
established in 1892 perfect SYSTEM one in
capable Of amendment. think that it may have had
faults think there may have arisen, and will arise
in the Of time, abuses requiring change, and
demanding reform; but say that before you proceed