CORN IMPORTATION BILL. (Hansard, 23 May 1828)

§ Mr. Western

said, he had abstained from fatiguing the House with his opinions on the subject of the Corn-laws during the late discussions, because he found the unequivocal sense of the majority was against him. Having, however, directed his attention to this subject for a great many years, and often taken an active part in the discussions upon it, he was desirous, on the present occasion, to record the opinions which he had long formed and acted upon, in the shape of a string of resolutions upon the Journals of the House. As to the general state of agriculture, although the farmers had, in I most instances, recovered from the extreme depression into which they had been cast in the year 1822, he cautioned the House how they proceeded upon the notion, that the farming interests could bear tampering with. The subject was one of peril and difficulty, and he hoped they would pause before they pressed heavier on those who were the least able to bear that pressure. The hon. member concluded by moving the following Resolution, by way of amendment, viz.— That every legislative enactment affecting the agriculture of the country, or the commerce in grain, should have for its 901 sole object the attainment of the most secure, steady, and abundant, supply possible: That, in order to accomplish this object, means very different have at different times been suggested; on the one hand it has been maintained, that a free commercial intercourse with foreign countries should, for this purpose, be allowed; on the other, the exclusive encouragement of British agriculture has been deemed the more effective and the safer policy: That our laws have for near two hundred years been framed upon the principle of the latter system above-described: That the most abundant supply, with the least fluctuation of price, And with a surplus for exportation, has occurred in those years in which the most effective protection has been given to British agriculture: That the act of 1815, prohibiting the import of foreign corn till the price of wheat rises to 80s., has been followed by an average of 65s., calculated upon the twelve years that have since elapsed, and of 57s. upon the last eight years, and other grain has borne a proportionate low price: That, though this price, so much lower than the import prohibitory price, and the average price of the preceding twenty years is chiefly attributable to the increased value of the currency by the act of 1819, it affords ample proof that the producers of grain can no more uphold the price by means of the prohibition of foreign import, than the producers of any other article could save themselves from the depression which that act has occasioned in all the other products of industry: That the competition of the British growers of corn with each other has, in general, kept their profits below the profits of capital and industry devoted to other pursuits, and capital invested in land, in general returns a lower interest than when otherwise employed: That the cultivators of the United empire have, from its soil and climate, from their skill and industry, and the facility of conveyance, the means of rendering in our markets an abundant supply of grain with less labour, or, in other words, at a lower labour price, than most of the countries from whence a foreign supply would be drawn: 902 That for many years the money price of corn was at or below the continental price: That the present excess of price over the continental price is owing to artificial causes: That taxation adds to the cost of production, and the additional charge so created must be paid, or the production will be discontinued: That the burthen of taxation has been further increased in the ratio of the increase of the value of money, under the operation of the act of 1819: That, though the price of grain is thus forced beyond its natural level, and the level of the continent, the growth of the United Empire is adequate to the demand in ordinary years, and might be increased to an incalculable extent; and that, under these circumstances the introduction of foreign grain must eventually displace an equal quantity of home growth, adding therefore nothing to the aggregate supply, rendering a portion of it very precarious, annihilating the capital employed in the production of the corn so displaced, and depriving- of occupation such a number of husbandmen as the cultivation required: That the bill now upon the table, admitting foreign corn at all times upon payment of the duties therein provided, and into warehouse free of any duty till taken out for home consumption, must, in all probability, produce that effect: That the most fatal consequences would ensue from the operation of such a system; that the countries which shall hereafter supply us with grain in lieu of so much British displaced, would in our necessities raise a revenue by duties upon the export, which must be paid by us; they would increase their marine, by confining the corn trade to their own ships; and, finally, when our dependence upon men becomes further increased, they might in time of war force us to submit to any terms by closing their markets to our manufactures, and withdrawing from our unoccupied and famishing artizans that food which from them alone could then be supplied.