HC Deb 28 April 1825 vol 13 cc250-2

After numerous petitions, both for and against a revision of the Corn Laws, had been presented to the House,

Mr. Brougham

took occasion to suggest, that in proportion as hon. gentlemen really wished well to that momentous question, so soon to be brought before them by his hon. friend, in exactly the same proportion would they do well to abstain from saying any thing on presenting their petitions, or anticipate the discussion of the evening. He had never failed to observe, that when petitions were to be presented in great number, on a subject appointed for debate on the same night, the observations which were usually made upon them, occurring over and over again with each separate petition, had the effect of anticipating much of what might be more conveniently reserved for the principal debate; so that when the debate at last came on, those observations were found to have completely stifled it; or, to use a common phrase, to have thrown a wet blanket upon it. This being the case, he should himself follow his own doctrine. A petition most numerously and respectably signed by the inhabitants of the county of Durham, praying that no alteration might take place in the existing Corn laws, had been forwarded to him, and the petitioners had done him the honour, certainly, to confide it to his charge; but for the reasons he had already stated, he did not intend to present it that night, but would bring it in to-morrow. In the mean time the petitioners had all the benefit of the declaration which he now made, that the whole population of Durham were decidedly averse to any alteration of the Corn laws.

Sir E. Knatchbull

remarked on the inconsistency of the hon. and learned gentleman, who deprecated other gentlemen's making comments on the subject of the petitions they might have to present, and yet had himself gone out of his way to remark on a petition that was not to be brought up until to-morrow.

Mr. W. Gordon,

in presenting the petions from Kincardineshire, said he could not help thinking, notwithstanding the hon. and learned gentleman's observations, that that was the very moment for such remarks as hon. gentlemen might desire to offer on the subject.

The Sheriffs of London appeared at the bar, and presented a petition from the lord mayor, aldermen, and commons of the city of London, praying for an alteration in the Corn laws.

Mr. Alderman Wood

said, it was not often the lot of the common council to re cord their approbation of the measures pursued by his majesty's government [a laugh.] On the present occasion, however, they expressed their admiration of the policy of ministers, in removing restrictions and establishing, in almost every direction, a free trade; but they added, that it was quite impossible, without some great alterations in the Corn laws, which should have the effect of lowering the price of grain, to stand up against the foreign manufacturer, whom we had now admitted into our own markets. The petitioners did not ask for any lower duty than what might be sufficient to protect the land-owner. But, under the present system of our Corn laws, many frauds were practised to keep up the price of grain to the consumer in this country; and the monopolist, and not the farmer, obtained all the advantage of those high prices from which the public suffered. He did hope that this trade would, for the future, be placed on a footing which would be most advantageous to the agriculturist and to the consumer generally.

Mr. T. Wilson

was happy to be able to concur in what had fallen from his worthy colleague; which it was by no means his good fortune to do every day.

Mr. C. Calvert

desired to call the attention of the House to the enormous expense which the country was put to for the printing of all these petitions. There were many of the less important kind that it would be quite sufficient merely to enter on the Journals, in such a manner, however, as to distinguish their prayer and object. Hon. gentlemen, in some cases, might content themselves with having them read, as an hon. friend of his, for example (Mr. W. Gordon), had just now presented about a dozen petitions on the same subject from the same county, the greater number of which were most likely verbatim et literatim the same.

Mr. Bright

thought that this objection ought not to have been taken just now, on so important a subject. His hon. friend had surely begun at the wrong end; seeing that the city of London was the chief city of our commerce, and, indeed, of the commerce of the world.

Mr. C. Calvert

said, he never meant to oppose the printing of a petition from the city of London, like that now before the House; which, of all others, it was most important should be printed. His observations applied to such cases as that which he had taken the liberty of pointing out.

Ordered to lie on the table.