§ On the motion for the House to resolve itself into a Committee on the Cotton Wool Duty Bill,
Sir Robert Peelopposed it on the ground of the impolicy of imposing a tax upon the raw material, especially at a time when: the cotton manufacturers were starving. There was hardly an instance in which a tax had been laid on the raw material. He hoped this tax would not be persevered in, and inquired of the hon. gent. opposite, one of the members for the county of Lancaster, whether any application had been made to him on the subject.
Colonel Stanleyobserved, that he had made a communication on the subject to his constituents in Lancashire, whose interests were so nearly concerned, and he was anxious that the further proceedings upon it should be postponed for a few days, to give him an opportunity of receiving their sentiments.
Mr. Rosedeclared, that if he thought the manufacturers would sustain so serious an injury as that supposed by the hon. baronet, he would be the last man in the House to press the adoption of the measure; but when it was considered that the duty 275 was only a penny a pound on an article selling at the price at which cotton did, he was persuaded that the apprehensions of the hon. baronet were groundless. Besides, it must be recollected, that the duty was not imposed on all cotton wool imported, but only on that which came from America.
Mr. Baringopposed the Bill as pregnant with danger and mischief to the country. When gentlemen had screwed up their courage to bring forward the Budget, it was pleasant, no doubt, to be informed that the dreaded new taxes had already been imposed. But there was this inconvenience in departing from the old mode of proposing the taxes, if any new taxes were to be imposed at the time of bringing forward the Budget, that those concerned had not sufficient notice of these Bills. The consequence was, that most pernicious plans of taxation might be carried into effect, while those chiefly interested were ignorant that any such plans were in contemplation. He admitted that taxes had, unfortunately, at times been imposed on raw materials; but these were comparatively harmless, because the amount was trifling. Here, however, the tax amounted to about 33 per cent. If the state of Europe had not been very much changed, ministers would never have ventured to impose a tax on the raw material, as the manufactures of Germany, &c. would have, in that case, driven ours out of the market. But he reminded them that the cotton manufactory was a very growing one in the United States; that a great number of cotton mills had been established in the neighbourhood of Boston; and that the United States already exported a large quantity of cotton twist. The whole quantity of cotton wool imported was 1,449,000 bags, and of this only 40,000 were imported from our own colonies. The United States preferred our manufactures, which was not the case with the inhabitants of Brazil. He was fully aware that America was at present commercially hostile to us, and all he wished to impress was, the danger to ourselves of adopting measures which we could not afterwards counteract. The branch of manufactures affected by this tax was one of the very first importance, and if it should be injured, the subsequent lowering of the duty would not avail to remedy the evil. He thought the raw material a very injudicious object of taxation, and more particularly as it was di- 276 rected against our best customers. Sheep's wool, in his opinion, was a much fitter article, whatever might be at first the prejudices of the country gentlemen against any imposts upon it. Our cotton manufactures might be undersold or excluded, but our woollens could not be rivalled. Under all these circumstances he hoped the right hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer would consent to postpone the motion for a few days.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerexpressed much surprise at the exaggerated statements of the hon. gentleman. He contended that the duties had not hitherto depressed the manufacture, and that the price of cotton wool, which had varied from 12d. to 2s. 6d. a pound clearly showed that an additional tax of 1d. could have no prejudicial influence. In the last year we have imported 136,000,000 pounds, while the average of the preceding six years was but 70,000,000 pounds. From America last year we received only 55,000,000, about one third of the whole quantity. He was aware that the East India cotton wool was inferior to that of America, but that of America was also inferior to that of Brazil. But when the House reflected on the state of the relations between this country and America, they would see the policy of persevering in the present measure. If, instead of increasing the duty as it regarded America, for the purpose of encouraging our own shipping, we were to take off the existing duties, the effect would not be to introduce a single yard more of our manufactures into the American States. The question was, whether in the situation in which we were placed, we should not give encouragement to trade in British cottons rather than in foreign cottons.
§ Mr. Whitbreadcensured government for not having taken the opinion of the hon. baronet and others who were qualified to judge on the subject, before they introduced the present measure. There was a Petition on the table from the cotton manufacturers, declaring that they were in a state of starvation. To these petitioners this new duty on the raw material was a direct affront. He reprobated the mode in which such taxes had been for five and twenty years introduced, from time to time, by the right hon. gent. opposite. (Mr. Rose), under the specious name of regulations. These regulations, however, always failed of success, although the commercial regulations of the enemy com- 277 pletely succeeded. The emperor of France undertook to lock up the continent against our trade. By the Resolutions of that House it appeared that he had succeeded. We undertook to unlock the continent. By our own Resolutions it appeared that we had completely failed. Before the end of the session he would move for the recent correspondence between the British and American governments, and till that period he would delay entering upon the subject. If any thing could rouse the public attention, it would be the permanently injurious effects on the revenue of this country, which the perseverance in commercial hostility of Great Britain and America towards each other, must necessarily produce. He thought that, on consideration, the right hon. gent. would see the propriety of waiting till the hon. member for Lancashire had received the instructions of his constituents on the subject.
The Chancellor of the Exchequerrepeated that the new duty was not such as could possibly operate injuriously on the manufacturer. If the whole duty on the raw materials were taken off, he was persuaded that not an additional yard of our manufacture would be imported into any part of the world. He had no objection, however, to postpone the Committee on the Bill until tomorrow.
§ Mr. Whitbreadrepresented the childishness of any delay which would be insufficient for the attainment of the wished for object. The right hon. gent., after speaking in such high terms, the other day, of the trade and revenues of the country, now confessed that America and the ports of the continent were so hermetically sealed against our trade, that even were all the duties taken off cotton wool, not a yard more would be sold than at present. Things could not continue long thus. Some convulsion must soon happen, whether triumphant to this country or to the enemy he would not anticipate; but if all the ports of the continent were open to British manufactures, still it would be found that, owing to our injudicious measures, America was able to supply herself.
Mr. Rosecontended that he had given sufficient notice of the introduction of this measure. America had over and over again imposed duties on British manufactures. This country had shown great forbearance in that respect; and the present 278 measure was for the purpose of encouraging our own shipping.
After a few words from Mr. Baring, the Committee on the Bill was postponed to Friday, and the Bill was ordered to be printed.