CHAPTER II

Sir Robert Peel explains his great Scheme of propensed Veorra fir Sie Relaxation of Duties on the 27th of January-Es wie od zmprehensive Speech on that occasion-Reception of an Schiene, må comments of various Members upon it—Strong ignorzan s tes by some of the usual Supporters of the Gternet-Futur cussion is adjourned to the 9th of February—Mr. P. Mia mora Amendment that the House go into ComN SIZE M JE Months, which is seconded by Sir W. Endesa—Die carried on by repeated Adjournments for Ixer Via Members speak in favour of Free Traie, and FAH Protection-Speeches of Lord Sandon, Leri Za

Inglis, Mr. Sidney Herbert. Mr. Safiri & Bar. Yo Suen Crawford, the Marquis of Granby. Letnin

I

Graham, Mr. Thomas Baring, Viscount Moroá II Fo
Mr. Roebuck, Sir Howard Defas. Mr. 3. Hin. Siz Boner Zá
Lord John Manners, Mr. Eright. Mr. Part. I.
Thomas Duncombe, Sir Thomas Ažení. So Garte
Beckett Denison, Mr. Villiers, Mr. Cohár, mi Lori Farie Bo
tinck-On a Division the Motion of Sir Eshers Feed
Amendment of Mr. P. Miles being rejected by

The

N the 27th of January, Sir wise pärs-dc prin in

ne te curely and a price

make the sacrifice, if it were one, of their protection to the common good. Of late years, the whole tariff had been submitted to the review of the House. In 1842 he had proposed, and in 1845 he had carried out, to a very large extent, a plan for remitting the duties on the raw materials constituting the elements of manufacture. There was, at this moment, scarcely a duty on the raw material imported from foreign countries which we had not abandoned. He had, therefore, a right to call on the manufacturer to relinquish the protection of which he was now in possession. The only two articles of raw material now subject to duty were tallow and timber. He intended to reduce the duty on tallow from 3s. 2d. to 1s. 6d. a cwt., and to make a gradual reduction on timber till it reached a point at which it would remain fixed, and which he would definitely describe on a future day. Having given the manufacturers free access to every raw material of manufacture, he called upon such of them as were engaged in making up the three articles, wool, linen, and cotton, which formed the clothing of the country, to give a proof of the sincerity of their con victions by relinquishing the protection which was a now given to the articles of their manufacture. He made this call upon them the more confidently, because it was the manufacturing, and not the agricultural interest, which first called on the Government for protecting duties. He then stated that he intended to relinquish all duties upon the importation of the coarser articles of manufactures in wool, linen, and cotton, and to reduce the duties on linen and woollen goods of a finer quality from 20 to 10 per cent. At present there

population. In advising the continued application of those principles, which had produced such salutary results, and which had already been sanctioned by the House, he was not inclined to disregard the necessity of maintaining public credit unimpaired; and he was therefore prepared to act with forbearance, in order that he might not prejudice in any respect the permanent interests of the country. It was possible that, owing to the numerous and various interests which his present proposition would affect, an impression might arise that his scheme was a rash one, and ought to be discouraged. If such should be the opinion of the partisans of protection, nothing would be more easy for them than to meet him on an early night with a resolution that protection to domestic industry was in itself a good, and that the principle of it ought to be sanctioned by the House. It might, on the other hand, be the conclusion of the House-considering all the difficulties of this question, and the nature of the contest which had long existed, and would long continue to exist, if there were not a satisfactory adjustment of itthat his proposition, extensive as it was, ought to be accepted as whole, though there might be objections in detail to parts of it. If that should be the conclusion of the House, he should have confidence in his ultimate success; but, if not, the sooner its disapprobation was expressed, the better for all parties. The great principle of the relaxation of protective duties he was not going to apply to any one particular interest; on the contrary, he asked all the interests of the country-manufacturing, commercial, and agricultural-to

was a duty on silk, which was from earn, he proposed an imme
called 30 per cent., but which was diste repeal of duty. Every kind
often higher. He proposed to of vegetable and animal food would
adopt a new principle in the levy- be admitted at cure free of duex.
ing of that duty, which was now All animals from foreign countries
an encouragement to the smuggler, would also be introduced on the
and not to the British manufac- same terms. He then proceeded
turer, and to impose a duty of 15 to describe the nature of hus pro-
per cent., instead of 30, for every posal with respect to the importa
1007. value of silk. The right ho- tion of foreign eten: he had al-
nourable Baronet then described at ready stated that he tended to
great length the reduction of duties exempt some articles now included
which he intended to make upon in the Corn Laws, as mine, from
the importation of paper-bangings, duty altogether. It might, there
manufactured metals, dressed hides, fore, be as well for him to inform
boots, shoes, hats, straw-plat, car- the House at once, that though be
riages, candles, soap, brandy, ge- did not intend to propose the im-
neva, sugar, and various other mediate repeal of the Carn Laws,
articles; and then proceeded to yet, in the hope of making a final
review the articles connected with adjustment of the question, and
agriculture on which import du- for the sake of giving time for ad-
ties were levied. He proposed justment to the agricultural in-
to reduce the duty on all seeds terest, he did intend to propose
to 5s. per ewt. Indian corn or that their continuance should only
maize, which was of such im- be temporary. The bill which he
portance in the fattening of cattle, should, therefore, introduce on this
he proposed in future to introduce subject would contain an enset-
duty free. In removing that duty ment that, after a certain date, grain
he was not depriving agriculture of of all kinds should come in duty
any protection, but absolutely con- free. He proposed, however, that
ferring a benefit upon it. He a considerable reduction should be
also proposed that buckwheat, and made at once in the existing amount
maize, and buckwheat flour, should of duty, and that the duty so re-
be admitted duty free. If any duced should be limited in its can-
gentleman would ascertain the price tinuance to three years. His bill
which had been recently paid by would contain a provision that at
farmers for linseed-cake and rape- that period, when the change would
eake, they would agree with him be least felt-namely, on the 1st
that the removal of the duty on of February, 1849-oats, barley,
maize was not a disservice to the rye, and wheat, should be only
agricultural interest. The right liable to that mere nominal duty
honourable Baronet then described which he intended to apply to
the reduction of duty which he in- maize, for the purpose of procuring
tended to propose on the importa- statistical returns of the quantity
tion of foreign butter, cheese, bops, imported. The main question, then,
and cured fish, stating that in each for the House to consider was this
ease the duty would be reduced to what is to be the intermediate
half its present amount. On all state of the law? He proposed
articles of agricultural produce that there should be an enactment

which constituted food as distinct for three years to this effect, that

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