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HOUSE OF LORDS— Friday , Feb . 17 . The Date of Weliisgtoh Ma on the taWe one of the letters omitted In the collection of tie AiFshanisim documents ; ihe others touM not be found . Iiord'WHABSCLiFFBj in reply to Eirl FitHwiI ! iam , Bald that £ 75 , 000 had been collected in consequence of thfi Queen ' s letter , to Trtiich was added £ 25 . 000 collected fcy public subscription . This fcad been placed ia the Mnds of fire Manufactured" Relief Committee , -which had been constituted for the distribution of a fund collected fifteen years ago . The sum which had recently been collected had been extensively distributed in the distressed districts . Their Lordships then adjourned to Monday ,
Mo > -dat , Feb . 20 . The 3 ) = ^ ' nf Wellisgtos brought forward a motion f ? r . * vate of thanks to Lord Eilenborongii , the generals , officers , ana s ,. l < 2 iers , both Baropean and native , for their ssrrices in bringing to its successful result iha war in Afghanistan . The illustrious Duke , as in the case of the forces engaged in China , entered into a succinct det _ of the operations from the first outbreak of the insurrection , occasionally , but sparingly , interspersed ¦ with comment ; and , alter vindicating the daims of the Governor-General , and of each commanding efficer , to the gratitude of the -country , concluded by moving the resolution of "which he had given notice , and in ¦ which , as he wished thevoteto be unanimous , he bad taken care to avoid any topic which might provoke discussion .
The debate wa 3 participated in by Lord A ^ cklasd . the Marquis of Lasdsdowss , Lord FiizgeraLD and Txset , the Marquis of -Glxssicaiide , lord Brougham , the Bishops of Salisbukt and Chi-CHESTER , and the Earl of Mssto , after -which the resolution was put and carried unanimously . The House adjourned at nine o ' clock .
TUESDAY , Feb . 21 . The House met , aEd after some " talk ™ abyut the taw Houses , adjourned .
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HOUSE OF COMMONS , Fridat , Feb . 17 . Mr . T . Duscombb presented petitions praying for an inquiry into the conduct ef Lord Abinger at the proceedings under the late special commission , from certain inhabitants of the city of London , and from various places in and near the metropolis , the parish of St Anne , Sobo , Camberwell , Somera ' -fown , and Islington , frem a parish in Sonthwari , &c ; as also a petition to the Bme effect from Nottingham .
DISTRESS OF THE COUNTRY . The adjourned debate on Lord Howick ' s motion "was introduced by Sir A . L . Hat , who said , that so far from regarding fh" motion as an attack-on Ministers , he should have supposed , if he had not known the state of parties , that the Noble Mover -was -seme member of Government , proposing to iffsccuate the recommendations of Her Majesty ' s speech . At all events , it was-no answer to that motion to say thst it was brought forward for par ty purposes . The Minister ought not last year to have shaken the foundations of all things , if he -was unprepared to follo-w tp his own principles . 3 dr . Bashxsi « h cocid not help considering this as a party attack ; and having been sent by a large majority of a large constituency to support the present Government of this country , he Bhould oppoBe the motion .
Captain Latakb took a cursory Tiew of several of thB speeches on the Ministerial side in a ' vein of ridicule , -which , upon the hustings , la sometimes found not ineirecHve . Mr . Blac £ Sto ** 2 recommended it to Mr . Ferrand to ¦ withdraw his amendment , though he should be Willing to support the-onsets of it if brought forward in the ifaape of a stb 3 _ tiv ' e motion . He would oppose 1 _ motion of Lord Howir-k ; but not by reason of any eonfideace he placed in the Government , -whose measures he considered as having aggravated the evils of
the country . The declaration of Sir Robari Peel against further change in the Corn Laws had produced some benefit in quieting the apprehensions of the farmers ; "bnt the speech of Mr , Gladstone had been far from distinct or satisfactory ; and he apprehended danger from the coarse -which tLord Staiiley had announced respecting the admission of corn from the Canadis . He assured the -Government that the farmers , though a body slow to move , were alive to their own interests , and that unless they should see a disposition to do them jestiee , they would ere long be found in opposition to the present Ministry .
Mt 1 _ re Philips said he had received a-eommu-TiVation -which enabled him distinctly to refute several charges made by Mr . Ferrand imputing to certain manufacturers the inhuman treatment of their apprentices . This Mr . Philips proceeded to do somewhat in detail , and adde 4 other instances of misinfownatian givea to membars orvPaxliament , -which ought , in bis opinion , toserve them as a "warning against the * wo ready belief of all the tales they heard . He did not consider the present distress to have been prednced by the disturbing causes "which affected certain foreign markers there "wocld always be such ranees at ¦ w orkiu some quarter cf the world ; hut Ms owe belief ¦ was , that the distnss ^ arose from , the excessive prices ¦ which the present la-ws imposed upon food , particularly Trpon com and sugar . - -On the subject of the country ' s distress , he did not suffer himself to entertain xny . party feeling ; and from -whatever quarter any remedy -miitht "be offered , he should be-equally ready to give it his earnest attention .
Mr . Fi 2 BA > u begged , -in explanation , to assure the Hon . ' Gentleman -who hsfi just Bat down that he -was mistaken in snpposing him the other night to charge the manufactErers of Manchester , as a body , "with hairing introduced the system of apprenticeship in that neighbourhood . Several Hon . Members on the other Bids of the house feqnentiy spoke aa if they believed hire to have made such a charge ; -bet he must say , once ifor all , that he intended to make no such charge against the-manufacturers as a body . ; -on the contrary , he knew there -were among them some of the kindest and best man that ever lived . He also Pegged to be allowed to tell the Hon . < a-entleman that ie had adopted the plan ¦ which had been bo strongly recommended to hiic IBefore heiead the statement he had received , he took care to obtain feon different quarters such evidence as "to prodnce in its mind the most thoroneh conviction that his cerirespoadeut was a person in whom he could place the greatest
reliance-Mr . Philips had certainly understood the Hon . Member to make thexdiarge stated , aad Ms own impressions -were confira . d by the report he had seen in the newspapers of tke Hon . Gentle _ m " B speech—Jbear , hear ) . Mr . D _ bt could not see the Iniarenee which had been drawn from Sir Reiert Peel ' s speech , that if he ¦ was not prepsred to alter the Com Lav this session , be at least -would do so Bert session . He -would not support the Government if they had a mtctal reservation ¦ with respect to the alteration of the liw , nor if they pledged tbemselvcF irrevocably to mzmudn it The motion was decidedly a party move . The Anti-Corn-La-w League did not dare to call itself a Free-Trade League , for , as Mr . Hnskisson said , every free-trader stopped shert of the particular interest to which he belonged .
Lord Hakrt "Vase "was not prepared to go the length of removing all agricultural protection , and therefore reluctantly opposed the motion : Mr . Bb . otherto 5 said that his most recent information assured him that things -were ttill becoming "worse ; and so far from the distress being partial , it "was general . Tarions causes -were assigned , and amongst the proposed remedies -was the lunatic idea of taxing -machinery . How were our great national burdens to be supported if machinery -were restrained ?
Commercial prosperty -was the foundation of national prosperity ; and as to the over-production complained of , it had been calculated that our manufa cturers could not produce-annually more than three quarters of a yard of cloth for each inhabitant of this -world , -without going to the planet Jnpiter . The agricultural supporters of Sir Rober t Peel had threatened to desert him if he would act up to his principles ; bnt let him carry out his principles , and he "would receive bhd-JKJrt from men of principle on the opposition side of Hgussl
Mr . M . Att"wood thought that the Government "were treating the motion rather as a trial of political strength than as a question affecting . the condition of ths people . The increased deposits in the savings' banks of Lancashire had been pointed to as a Hgnof returning prosperity : bnt it -was a proof of precisely the reverse , for money "was deposited in these institutions because dealers in money found that there " » aa no better mode of profiable investment , But wbi'e admitting and deploring the national distress , he had bo confident in the promoters of the motion before the : rm ^ V . Iai £ ' W 0 Illa Dlt TOte for U - Free T ^ e * - * . a Borel doctrine , , it - ^ s first heard in Parliament in a * 2 Lm ^ e - preBent condition of the country was the ^ Srn T ^ *** of ita **** * « P «_ 7 BS 5 d
maSoSS ^!? Q ** *** motion ™^ BSK 4 BWOKi ^ tha it wa . Mr . Homer ' s-October or jSSy ' . ^ rT i ami at appeared that Mr . Gibson ' -was realinTfromtte I tile communityjfld not anticipate much from those i "" ** " « " «« ^ ofiations , " Trtuch wer ^ Sade ' apietexl for net altering the Corn-lairs . In foct . it ! * aa this couat ^ tbaVragbt to concede , instead of adt ' Iggconcessions , for -while the Braz as put 1 , 5 to 20 per 4 SG& . on -our-Hianufacturee , we put 400 per cent , on ' their sugars .- Ma cited the letter of the senior Mr ' ffiadstone , irhl ^ i * ppe » rrd in the Morning Post , as to ' file-faoV thai the .-western states of America were ' anxious t » exehaigs their com for onr manufacture * and TTaraed ti » House , that » long S 3 there -b- mo
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Corn-law , there Tvould beAnti-Com-law agitation . The preponderance of the landed interest was talked of , but the manufacturing and mercantile portion of the community "would not submit to be treated aa a secondary class . The landed interest created a vested interest for themselves , and then they pleaded that -seated interest as an excuse for upholding the Cora-law . He concluded with a defence of the Anti-Com-law L 9 ague from the imputation of having excited the disturbances n the manufacturing districts . Lord F . Egertos said at that lateliour of the night he should enfleavour to compress into the smallest possible space any observations he might deem it hiB fluty to make . He was satisfied , whatever the object of the Noble Lord might be in bringing forward this
motionfor there had been some dispute and difference of opinion as to that subject—that the Noble Lord himself would be the last to take advantage of his motion , and impute to any gentleman who differed from him en that jthe Conservative ) side of the Houss , that that difference arose from want of sympathy for the prevailing distress , which all acknowledged and lamented . They had been told , indeed , and by those who , he thonght , had stamped this motion with a very party character , that they were supporting a Government which had deranged everything and supported nothing . He thought , that reproach came not with a good grace from those of the late Government -who , whatever might have been the character of their policy , it must be admitted ( be did not presume to say frem want of ability
or public virtue ) . had left such an account to be settled a 3 it was rather hard to expect , after ! their having been ten years in office , that their successors , be they whom they might—the AngBl Gabriel , Sir Robert Peel , ot any other being , should Bettle— ( laughter &nd cheers ) . Weuld not the motion of the Nobie Lord be supported that night by the representatives of a body of men who were associated for no other purpose than to lead the public to this conclusion , —that nearly all the evils nnder "which the country was groaning were deducible from legislation for the agricultural interests ?—( hear ) . That was admitted . They ( the representatives of the Anti-Corn Law League ) said the only remedy for the distress was by the Temoval of agricultural protection . This was a point on which he humbly presumed to
differ from the organs of that body . He acknowl 6 igei with pain and sorrow that the distress was great—that the greater or less amount of it was not worth dispute—that it vsas great enough to " demand all their sympathy . If he thought by conceding to the motion of the Nob'e Lord he could advance one day or one hour the relief of that distress , he would not oppose it , but would vote for it with aB much z * al and readiness as he now opposed it . It seemed to kim that s ? me little imprudence of language haAjrbee-i used . He found that he and others stood charge'Vwith having promoted the offences of which he was partly an eyewitness last summer ; and he was told that that insurrection in the manufacturing districts began with the Conservative millowners . He had not seen any report furnished to
the -Government of the particular transactions of that unfortunate period , but he certainly had heard it universally reported that the origin of that outbreak was a certain Mr . Bailey—( hear)—and that that gentleman was a leading and ac tive member of the Anti-Co : n-Law League —( hear , bear ) . He did not himself bring forward the charge against Mr . Bailey , or against the Anti-Corn-Law League , of having originated these disturbances : he was perfectly aware that that body ^ ntained , as did most large associations , many gentlemen of great private worth , great property , and considerable ability—many gentlemen whom he should respect if he had the honour of their acquaintance ; bnt when he was told that it was impossible for a body of men acting together , not to be stimulated by public meetings on a
subject on which extreme excitement prevailed , to make speeches and to perfo ; m acts "which , might lead directly or indirectly to snch effects as he thought had followed in this case . He knew as well as the Hon . Member that machinery was in as great danger from these outbreaks as any other splits ef property . Ha lhonght it would be very ill judged to give further pnblMty to the speeches of the Anti-Corn Law League by quoting them there . He had no doubt the parties who made them were ashamed of them since . But they were ef ten to : d that it was a very just reproach upon many gentlemen who took an interest in such debates as these , that they talked a great deal without proposing any practical remedy —{ hear . ) Now he bad a remedy to propose —( loud cries of " hear , hear , from
tha Opposition beeches)—a partial , a slight , a temporary one , one to which he attached no weight ( a lauiih ) but one which he sincerely thought would not be without its effect . He thought that the period of the distress , if it wen to happen at all by any measure , would be rather by the volun&iy dissolution of the Anti-Com Law League^—( loud cries of " hear , hear , '' and general laughter . ) He left it to her Majesty ' s Government in all such cases to consider whether any active measures should be taken against the proceedings -of that Uody or not ; but be retained his opinions that a graceful and voluntary act of dissolution on the part of the Anti-Corn Law League would be the most iitejy measure te put a period to the distress . He did not « iv « this in the nature of advice , because he thought
his advice would not be followed ; but he stated it as his deliberate opinion—(* ' hear , hear , " and laughter . ) When talking about the distress of the country , one point was frequently overlooked by Hon . Gentlemen . Some 'Hon . Members on the other side of the House attributed that distress entirely , or almost entirely , to the existence and continuance of a legislative protection of corn . He was incch more disposed to attribute it to another cause , and to him this was a satisfactory view of the subjfct , because it did not involve any men , orrEan , or system , in censure and condemnation , as the contrary view taken by Hon . "Gentlemen opposite did . He -was inclined to think that the remote , if not the proximate , cause of the distress was one far more difficult to deal with than the Com Laws . Ic had not
originatedi £ n the protection given to the agricultural interest , bet in the protection and unnatural stimulus given to uaamfactures —( hear , heart . He btlieveU that protection was afforded in the shape cf causes and operations in which they were the blind and passive agents coexistent usith insecurity , disorder , and bloodshed in the rest of -the world . That unnatural stiinniua was one which it the nature of things , and under the ths pensations of * gracious Providence , could not continue ; and they were now feeling , and perhaps would f-el to a later moment , the tffects of that unnatural stimulus . The development of tbe powers of sttatn being accidently made attach a period , had more to do with the cause of the pseaent distress than the agricultural protection —( hear , bear ) .
Mr . COBDEK « aid his chief objection to this motion teas , that it did sot include agricultural as well as manufacturing dictr&s ? . The agricultural labourers were in a wretched state . They were no gainers by tbe Corn Law ; nee * were the farmers . With neither of&ese classes had the landlords any right to identify thecuelves . The landlord was no agriculturist ; he might live all his days in London or in Paris . He was no ntore an agriculturist tban a shipowner was a sailor . But the real agriculturists were beginning to get a glimmering cf light upon this question . The Member for DosetEhire , when the peasantry -were in a wrefcebsd state , had stocked the League ; bat tbe League had carried back the war into th-it county , and had tatea care that every one of its freeholders should
be supplied with a paeket containing about a dozen tracts , which would make them as well acquainted -win the subject as this Hcnse itself—{ hear , hear , hear . ) He next proceeded to a defence of the League , for the morality and good conduct cf whom the country had lately entered into bones to the amount of j £ 5 >> , o 0 O There had been an attempt , or an alleged attempt , io identify the measures of that body -with a most odious , most horrible , and he would say . almost maniacal transaction . { Hear , hear . ) There had been an attempt made i n another place , or attempted to be made , to prove that certain proceedings of Hon . Gentlemen were intimately connected with that most horrible transaction . ( Hear , hear . ) He did not believe the report of that allegation which he had seen in tbe newspapers .
He did not believe that the language , or even the spirit of the remarks of a learned and able individual , had been correctly described . All his predilections and recollections forbade him to believe that . If he could believe it , he should desire to designate it ts the ebullition of an ill-reguhted intellect—( ob , eh . ')—ratbt-. r tban as the offspring of a malicious spirit . If anything , indeed , could afld to his gratification » t being a member of the League , it was the pride he felt at the character of the men with whom he had the honour to be asio . dated in that assembly . ( Oh , oh . ' j Yes ; tested by their utility , tested by their public character and private worth , he unhesitatingly averred that they -wtru tit to be compared with * ny of the Members of that House , or of that other illustrious assen-bly which -wes
beyond its walls . ( Hear , bear , and a laui ; h . j iS tx £ he would inquire -why the present motion wan to be resitted by tbe government ? When Sir R Peel took the reins of government , he . took with them the responsibility of introducing the measures necessary for the country . Tbe ministers , some avowedly , others jmpliediy , -were advocates of free trade . Why did aot they carry it into effect ? Oh , they adopted it onlj in the abatract . But this House had nothing to do -with abstractions . Length of time was pleaded . He shou d like to know whether that would be a defence to the claim of a just plaintiff in a court of law ? It ceuld not now be said , as at the end of last stssion , that the period was unsuitable . The year lay before them , and there was no pressure of legislative business , public or private . What remained then ? Had they measures in contemplation , or bad they not ! If rot , he would tell them emphatically , that they were forfeiting their duty to their country—that they were neglecting their
duty to theirSovereign— if they continued to hold office one moment longer than they found themselves able to submit measures to remedy tbe natienai distress —( loud cheers ) . They might say that he was a prophet who would help to fulfil his own prophecies ; but , say -what they would , he would tell them this , as , indeed , he had told them last year —that worse things were in store ; that presently they would have things in a worse condition in the north of "England ; tbat the -disturbances would not be confined to the cotton districts alone , but that they would have the agricultural population rising upon them , as they had tbe manufacturing population last aatumn ; and the next time that they had to face a similar state of distress they might rely npon this , that the agricultural population woula find themselvef in precisely the same state that the manufacturing classes had for some time been in They had last year imposed a Corn Law nnpalateable to all classes of merjantile men . The law had givtn no
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extension to regnlar trade ; and it had ruined the speculators . The tariff had reduced the duty on 700 articles , and had omitted the only two which could have done anythingfor the people ^ com and sugar . The responsibility of all this he was entitled to throw upon the Right Hon . Baronet , the member for Tarn worth . He it was who succeeded in getting that bill passed , and he was to answer for the consequences . The reduction of the timber duty , good in Itself , came uselessly in point of time ; for there was no building in progress , either of factsrles or of shipping . Every ono saw clearly tkafc the IVght Hon . Baronet must adopt some change of plan , and it waa the duty of every independent member to throw ob him the individual and personal responsibility of the present state of affairs—a responsibility of
course arising from his position . He was not a party man in that House—( Derisive cheering on the Ministerial 8 i < £ e of the Housa ) The public knew that he was no party mas ; and be would tell the House that whether Whig or Tory was in office , he would not sit there one hour unless he had the cordial consent of his constituents to vote as he considered best for the welfare of the country . He would tell the Right Honourable Baronet that the whole responsibility of the present lamentable and dangerous state of the country - rested upon his shoulders . —( " Hear , hear , " from Sir R . Peel ) . There never has been violence or tumult in the north except when there was an excessive want of employment and a consequent want of food for the people . The Right Hon . Baronet had it in his hands to do as he pleased , or if not , as he once told the Noble Lord the late Secretary for Foreign Affairs
iLord PoimerstoD ) , he had the privilege of resigning effice—( loud cheering)—and if he had not the power of doiDg as he pleated it was his duty to take that eourse—( cheers ) it was his duty to resign office the moment be had not tbe power to earry those measures which he believed to be for the good of the country . Bat -whether the Right Hon . Baronet did so or not , he ( Mr . Cobden ) had faith in the middle classes—he had faith in the best informed portion of the working classes , and in the more honest portion of the aristocracy—( cries of " oh , oh , '")—he had faith that those classes joining together would force tbe Right Hon . Baronet ere long to the adoption of those priaciples which alone could Bave the country . The Right Hon . Baronet bad admitted these principles to be just , politic , and expedient , and he ( Mr . Cobden ) trusted that a union ef the classes to which be had alluded would force him to give them practical effect —( cheers )
There were loud cries of " Bankes , Bankea , " but Sir R . Peel rose , labouring under very considerable excitement , and in a tone of voir « which showed great agitation , said—Sir , the Hon . Gentleman has stated here very emphatically , and more than once at the conferences of the Anti-Corn Law League , that he held me individually —( loud cbeeisfrom the Ministerial benches ) —tbat he held me individually responsible for the distress and saffering of the country . He has said most emphatically that he holds me personally responsible—( loud cheering ) , and be tbe consequences of that
insinuation what they may —( cheers)—nevtr will I be Influenced by menaces like these —( loud ebeering from tbe Ministerial side of the House , re-echoed from tha Opposition side )—never will I be driven by menaces , either in this House or out of it , to adopt a course which I consider at variance —( the cheering was here renewed , so that the latter portion of the sentence was drowned . Tbe House was in a state of the utmost excitement , many members on tbe Opposition side of the House calling out " No , n ' o . " ) If 1 have misrepresented the Hon . Gentleman let him explain what he did say .
Mr . Cobden rose , amidst lond criea of " Chait , chair , '' " Order , order , " and cheeijj , la considerable agitation he said—I did not say I held the Bight Hon . Baronet personally responsible . ' ' -s ; Sir Robert Pe ^ l— \ fxom his eeatand with energy . ) —You did , you did—SbonU of " Yes , ^ ye 8 » " contiotipd for several momenta . amidst cries of " order , order , " and " chair ) . * . . 3 " ' - ¦ - "' r ' Mr . Cobden—I said I held the Bight Hon . Baronet responsible by virtoa ' -bf-his offide . —tFoud cries cf "No , no / ' and great confusion } , ' : That that waa my meaning the whole context of whaS I said explains— ( loud cries of" No , no ) . "
Sir R . Peel—The Hon . Gentleman did not say that he held her Majesty ' s Government responsible , but , addressing himself to me —( l * ud cheering)—in the most emph&tis manner said he held me individually responsible— { chewing ) . I will not overstate anything , therefore , I will not « ay tkat I am certain the Hon . Gentleman used the word "personally "—( cries of " he did , " ) —bDt that he twice repeated , that he held me individually responsible—( loud cheering}—I am perfectly certain . The Hon . Gentleman may do so , and he may induce others to hold me individually responsible—( loud ebee . s)—but it shall in no way influence me in tbe discbarge ot my public duty —( loud cheering ) . — With respect to the present motion , he would take no objection on any point of form . Tbat would be an
unworthy objection on a subject of such deep interest to a suffering peo ;« le . But what would be tbe effect of granting the motion ? It would put a stop to the whole business of tbe Executive Government While the committee should be discuHsing duties on tea , tobacco , sugar , wool , and so on , how could the government make any fiscal calculation , or negociate any treaty connected with commerce ? Or woal < 1 ibe noble lord , instead of dealing with particular duties , move a general rcBolulion for txtending the principle of last year's tariff ? It was impossible to imagine a proceeding which would so immediately and so generally give a check to commerce , d'ffn ^ e uncertainty , and shake confidence Ho did not iiecy the existence of the imputed distress ; but it ought not to be overstated ; it bad been error , for instance , to rely on an October report of Mr . Horner as sustaining an allegation that matters were progressively
worse , when there was a subsequent report of tils in January , by which that allegation waa r . iuproved Now , as to the censures wh ? ch hid been thrown upon the Government for not following out their own declaration . They had thought that In a general revision of our commercial code , tha principle of protection ought to be extended , that relaxation , rather tban restriction , ought to be the object ; but he himself had qualified those opinions by tbe most distinct reservations in favour of long-established interests . Mr . Huskinson hud stated similar qualifications . So had Dr . Adam Smith , a writer who had not , be thought , bveu surpassed by any of tbe modern commentators on his work * . He then recapitulated the improvements iotrodoced by the recent tariff—by that revision to ^ which so little value was attached in this debate . He defended the non-inclun : on of French winea and some
other articles of luxury from the reduced scale of duties , on tbe ground that the maintenance of tbe duties on toose articles was necessary for obtaining certain reciprocal concessions ftom the countries where those articles were produced ; and ho justified the omission of sugar by reference to the arguments connected with the slave trade , a : ; d the state of exieting slavery in She South American plantations . On the subject of timber much had been done ; the price t if timber bad accordingly been much reduced ; and tli ? ugh Mr . Cobden reckoned tbis reduction for nothing , necause no factories were jaBt now in progress , he hiLiself could not help thinking tnat the building of fp . ct ories was not the only important obj-t-t to -which tii uber waB applicable . Then
he came to food . He had atiked hia administration . up- > n the redaction of the du'ty on cattle . As to corn be had made certain alterati ons , and tbe price of corn had fallen materially ; perhaps that result would be attributed suleiy to tho ham « t- But , whatever was the cause , the reduction of price was the effect ; and , as * oon as the price had fallen , then came the cry that the pric % of provisions mattered little , and tbat the main | point was , by admitting foreign cc Tn , to get a foreign I market . He bad been asked , a few days ago , whether ! he intended to alter tbe Corn Law \ bis session ? He j had answtred no . Then it was said VO had confined | his negation to the present session . Why , he had | answered the question according to lbe animus ¦ of the questioner , anil not with any otber I reference or leservalion . He coiiti viplaled no
alteration of the corn laws ; but when b . .- wus afterwards asked whether he would pledge him < ^ f never io alter it , bis answer undoubtedly was , as tbe answer-of every SlinUter ought to be uj « n a"y matter of commercial regulation ( not a ma >' ter of principle , like the maintenance of the monarchy or of the union , ) tb&t he icou'd not give such a pledge . Ii' was said by the mover , ' Settle the question , " bul w . wUl the mover ' s own recipw of a fixed duty settle ^ ? Would not the Anti-Corn Law menxontinue to agitat ' H « next went into some of the geuer .-il , argument * aaainst fixed duty , and against total repeal ; and then addressed himself to Mr . Baring ' s speech of the previous evening , who had charged the present Government ; with having deranged everything and settled nothing , i
and spoke us follows :-He , the Chancellor of the Exchequer , who held office under Loid Melbourne how can he recoucile it to his high advocacy of principle to have held cfiice under a Minister who entertained opinions to which he was himself so decidedly opposed ? ( Cheers . ) But what were the measures which that Chancellor of the Exchequer proposed to relieve tbe commercial and fnanufacturing distress of the country when he was in cfiice ? I ask him to compare his proposed measures with what we have effected in the new tariff . The measnres which he then proposed went to increase the duty on almost all the articles of raw proliuce coming into our market to be manufactured . Was that the way to increase trade or give a stimulus to industry —( cheers)—to increase the dnty on raw produce and to add sixteen per cent to the assessed taxes for the purpose of meeting the deficiency in tbe reveune ? Let the Houso contrast the measures of 1840 and 1841 , and then let them judge of the means
adopted by the late Ministry for carrying out the principles for which they were now such ardent advocates , and stimulating the industry of the country . One of the propositions was to increase the dnty upon the raw elements of manufacture , and the proposi tion came from the very Chancellor of the Exchequer who now thinks proper to taunt me with unsettling everything and settling nothirg . The Right Hon . Gentleman told us that there -was nothing of party strife in the question , and that , therefore , the motion ought safely to be allowed to pass / He must know , that if permitted to pass , it not only . would paralyse tbe future proceedings of tbe Government , but that no Ministry , knowing what was due to themselves as public men , wcuW allow themselves to remain su * j ? ct to the odium of such an applied censure . It would De an implied censure . You have not allowed us the period we never denied to you , for maturirg and bringing forward the measures we deem necessary : but you Eeek to supersede us in the func-
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tions of the administration of the country at the commencement of the session , by calling on the House of Commons to take those functions out of oar hands . You ask us what we have done for the purpose of relieving the distresses of the country ? We have done otber things , or at least attempted to do other things , than the mere redaction of tbe Customs' duties . We have been in office about sixteen months , and I think -re have a right to look back upon what has been effected during that period without any sense of shame—( hear , hear , and cheers . ) We have succeeded in terminatimg tiro wars —( orlesof "Oh ! " responded to by cheera on tbe Ministerial side of the House ) . The Noble Lord' ( Palmerston ) seems to deny it But whenever the Noble Lord pleases to claim exclusive
credit to himself for terminating the Chinese war , I shall be perfectly prepared to meet him upon tbat point , and wilt voluntarily supply him with any information be may require—( great cheering ) . ; WJiether it may have been owing to tbe wisdom of our ; measures or not , the Noble Lord will not at least deny that we bave had tbe good fortune to bring to a successful termination two wars , which were necessarily absorbing the capital of this country in unproductive labour , which -were , as all wars must do , striking a double blow , by diverting our own resources and consuming the resources of those countries with which we are to carry on a commercial intercourse . We hope to effect a reduction in the estimates of the present year —( hear , hear ) . We trust that we shall be enabled in the present session to present
estimates on the three great branches of naval , military , and civil service , which will show a reduction of about £ 850 , 000—( hear ) . We have at least , then , again begun the process of reducing tbe estimates . For the last three or four years there has been , perhaps , necessarily and unavoi dably , a constantly progressive increase of expenditure and diminution in the revenue of tbe country . In the present session we shall commence -what , 1 hope , will be a continued series ( of diminished estimates —( cheers ) . We have been enabled to reduce tbe military force in Canada about 4 000 men , and we trust that peace has been established in that Colony . We are delighted with the prospect of establishing a perfect amity with France . We have diminished the duties upon colonial produce in every case where it entered into com .
petition with our own . and we have thus made some advance towards the system of treating our colonies as integral partu of the empire—( hear , hear ) . We have laboured to effect , and I trust successfully , an adjustment < f those differences with tbe United States which had continued for forty years , which have only been exasperated by delays , and which were the main causes for apprehending the disturbances of our peaceful relations with that country . W « tried to settle those differences without any compromise of British honour , and , on the other hand , without txciting such afee'ing of hostility towards tbis country as appears to exiBt in some portions of tbe French nation . For the origin of that hostility we ara not responsible . These two countries , however , now present a moat
remarkable spectacle to the civilized world . It is a remarkabla thins ? to see two men who hold the most conspicuous offices in the Government of their respective countries , —tbe most distinguished in each for tbeir military achievements and military character , —men who have learned tbe art and miseries of war on the fields of Toulouse and Waterloo , and who have been opposed to each other on the field of battle ; it is a remarkable thing to seo those two men exerting all their influence in each country , they being the best Judges of the sacrifices which war imposes , to inculcate the lessons of peace , —it is a glorious occupation for their declining years .. The life of each has been c ; mtinued beyond the ordinary period of human existence , and I sincerely hope that the life of each may long
continue , in order that they may be spared to exhort their Countrymen to lay aside thu'ir national jealousies , and to enter into tbe rivalry of honourable competition for increasing human happiness—icheers . ) When I compare the position , the example , and the ( ffjits of these men , -who bave seen the morning sun shine on the living manses of embattled hosta that were to be low in the grave before the sun was set—when I see them incut : eating those lessons of peace , and using their salutary influence respectively to discourage their countrymen Jfrom war , I do trust tbat npon each side those anonymous and irresponsible writers in journals , who are doiug all they can to exasperate the public mind —( long-continued cheering , )—to misrepresent every action between the two Governments , which are
desirous of cultivating peace , representing to France that the Minister of France is the tool of England , and representing to England that the Ministry of England are sacrificing the honour of England through fear of France , —I do trust that those persons will profit by the example of two such illustrious warriors , and that that example will neutralize the influence of efforts such as those to which I have referred—efforts not directed by zeal for the honour of thu country , but for the base purpose of encouraging national animosities or promoting some parly or personal interest—( loud cheering . ) Bat do I plead tbat a » any reason why I cannot believe this motion will contribute to diminish permanently the distress and relieve the difficulties of the country , or do I mainUin that any regard for what a Minister may have done shoul 1 be any obstruction to the success of tbis motion ? Not at all You may approve of our foreign policy , you may think that we have laid the foundation of peace in Canada , you
may bear with satisfaction tbat the public expenditure will ho diminished , you may hope , that although ail differences with tha United States may not be adjusted , yet , that those differences which were the principal cause of apprehension bave been satisfactorily and honourably arranged ; but if , while you feel disposed to acknowledge those services and approve of this conduct , you nevertheless believe that the adoption of this motion will have the effect of relieving the public distress , let no consideration , I say it with perfect sincerity to those who sit on this as well as the other side of tha house , —let no consideration of party interest , no attachment to party , no predilection to particular men , inter fere for an instant with your vote , or prevent you from supporting the motion , if you conscientiously believe that it is calculated to diminish tbe distress , to lessen privation , and lay the foundation of commercial prosperity , and the permanent welfare of the state—( lond and continued ebeering ) .
Lard J . Russell , after endeavouring to txplain the obnoxious expression of Mr . Cobden , proceeded to deal with the question in debate . He justified the form of the present motion , and tbe fitness of the time at which it was brought forward . Foreign nations were induced by the example of this country to restrict their own codes of commerce : and thus England , by excluding the great articles in which those nations dealt , precluded herself from all chance of getting favourable treaties from them . He could have understood the arguments for keeping up high duties upon articles of food if they
had come from the opponents of free trade ; but he could not understand them when they came from a Government by whom the principles of free trade were adopted and proclaimed . It might be that a fixed duty of 8 s . would not now satisfy the people . It would , he believed , have sati-fled them when it was first proposed ; but if statesmen allowed the time to go by when a moderate boon would suffice , a larger amount must be eventually conceded . Tbe ultimate repeal of the Ruman Catholic disabilities , without any of the securities originally proposed to accompany it , wns an illustration of this tendency in political affairs .
Mr . Cobden rose and said , tbat when the Right Hon . Baronet the Member for Tamworth , at the commencement of bis speech , had assumed that he ( Mr . Cobden ) had referred to him personally , he bad disavowed tbat he had intended to make use of tbe expression in a manner personally offensive to the Right Hon . Baronet After be ( Mr . Cobden ) had sat down , ho had heard from Hon . Gentlemen around him tbat an interpretation had been put upon the language of tbe Right Hon . Baronet which he should not particulariza : but the remarks since made by the Noble Lord the Member for the city of London ( for which he [ Mr . Cobden ] felt obliged , bud given such a definite form to the insinuation of tbe Right Hon . Baronet , that he rose not for the purpose of offering an explanation beyond what he bad before said —( Loud cries of " order , " " chair ) . " The Speaker—The Hon . Wember had no right now to address the House , except for the purpose of explanation .
Mr . Cobden had ho intention of offering any explanation until he had given the Right Hon . Baronet an opportunity of- ^ ( cries of " chair , chair ) . " The Speaker again interposed , and said he had already endeavoured to explain to the Hon . Member for Stock port tbat he could not , according to tbe rules of the House , offer any observations except , in the way of explanation . Mr . Cobden said , tbat since such was the rule of the , louse , be begged to say that in what he bad stated he hi " * 1 intended ( and he believed every body understood w ); % t he meant ) to throw on the Right Hon . Baronet j the ' espinsibility of his measures as the head of the q nmeot , and that in using the word " individual" ,
he baa ' done so jast as the Right Hon , Baronet made ' use of t ' le expression "I passed the tariff which you j agreed I *>• '' He bad treated tbe Right Hon . Gentleman , . is' ^ member of the Government , aB the \ Right Hon . Gentleman was in the habit of speaking of himself . Sir Robek T Peri , said , tbat the words " individnal responsibility" had struck him and others . He admitted at once- that he thought the words were per- ' sonal to himself , aud felt it might have an effect which i others had seemed * to anticipate —( cheers , and loud cties ! for Mr . Roebuck ) . : ' j !
Mr . Roebuck it > se amidst considerable confusion , and spoke as follow . " : —At this time of the night I am not about to make a t speech , but to ask an explanation on tbe part of a person not now present to a remarkable expression which fell fr " > m the Hon . Member for Stockport That Hon . MembiV in the coarse of bis speech to-night alluded to certai . i expressions which were used by a Noble and Lwarned Friend of mine in another place , and which the Hon . Member said he considered to ba the result of mania —( I'beers , and cries of " No . "i I beg pardon—the words were" " the result of maniacal
conduct . " Now , when I come to ask an explanation on tbis point , I am somewhat startled by the recollection of a remarkable circumstance which happened to myself previous to this debate . The Hon . Member fer Stockporc addressed me person . *!!? as the friend I of the No Wo and Learned Lord , and made ubb of the Bame expression , and I afterwards took the liberty of j applying to tbe Hon . Member to know it he was about to make in this House any remarks upon the observations made in another place , because if ha did I should be here to make the requisite answer , Tbe
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answer which the Hon . Member for Stockport gave me was this— Do not have anything to do with that affair—do not mix yourself up with it , for if yon do the Corn Law League will go down to Bath and turn you out "—( tremendous cheers ) . I have very little but contempt for tbat announcement , and but very little respect for the prudence ] which suggested the observation—( cheers ) . I think it my duty to make this explanation . I i am sorry it is forced on bib , but I wish to make it explicitly , so that it cannot be misunderstood . Being a long-tried and a distinguished friend of ( liberal opinions—among other things a friend to freedom' of trade , and having at heart Uie success of tbis measure , the noble and learned lord bad begged and entreated the friends of corn law reform to
separate themselves from those very imprudent persons who bad usad intemperate language . The noble and learned lord , in another place , had observed , that there had been made in tbe Anti-Corn Law League insinuations of a character , which late events had illustrated in a painful andjawful manner , and , in language more powerful tban I can use , had again entreated those who felt deeply interested in the success of the measure he had at heart at once to separate themselves from a class of men who could use and adopt such dangerous language . This wais the advice which has been described as the result of a disordered imagination . —( loud cheer 3 . ) On the I 7 th of July there was a meeting beld of the delegates of the Anti-Corn Law League . Their proceedings were reported the next morning in the Morning
Chronicle , and of course that report had been read by the > 3 e who had conducted the business of that meeting . But it ao happened that his noble and learned friend did not read tbi report in the Chronicle , but he had read the same i report taken from that paper in the Quarterly Review— not quite so ephemeral a production as a newspaper , ) and therefore more likely to be communicated frum one end of the country to the other . And now I think it my duty , and I never had a mo . e painful on < j cast upon me , to re ;* d , as the justification of my Noble Friend , tbe paragraphs from which he derived hia information . And it will be incumbent on the gentleman to WhoCi allusion was mado ( I must mention bis narae )| to explain away his meaning , or at once to justifyjbimself before mankind . The Rov . Mr .
Biiley , of Sheffield , said , amongat other things—speaking of the people of the town of Sneffiald having refused to communicate their distress to him whilst petitioning Parliament— " It was not words would move Parliament , but force ; this should have effect , if they did not change jtbeij system . He had beard of a gentleman who in ja private company said that if 100 persons cast lots [ amongst them , and the lot should fall upon bim , he would take the lot to deprive Sir Robert Peel cf life—( loud and indignant cries of "hear , hear . ") He felt convinced that no such attempt ought to be made upon any pretence whatever ; but was persuaded of this , that when Sir Robert P <; el went to his grave ,
there would be but few to shed one tear over him "—( loud and indignant cries of " hear ") . Now , Sir , it must be dear that the Hon . Member in the expression tbat be used to ! night woa misunderstood by the opposite side of the | Hou 8 e ; but I would ask of him now , if he does not see tbe danger of using such language—( heat , hear)—as this , when in an assembly like the present there can be a possibility of misconstruction , even npon wortls like his , so different from this ? How dangerous at such a meeting , aud at snch a time , to nee such terrible phrases as these , against which the . real warning , honest aud sincere , ef my Noble Friend was directed , when he givea vhat advice which has now been describtd as the offspring of madness—( loud cries
of " Hear" ) . Sir , passion sometimes does disturb the best of judgments , and I sincerely believe that if tbe Hon . Gentleman will retire to himself and weigh well the words he hus used tbis night respecting that Noble person , he wilt find that there may be error on his own part as well as on the part of those upon Whom he is so ready thus to least aspersion—( loud arid general cheering ) . llr . Cobden here rose In evident excitement , but was pulled down again by an Hon . Member near him , amidst loud cries for explanation .
Mr G . Bankes rose to explain . He supposed that those who had reported the miseries of tbe Dorsetshire peasantry were the same members of tbe Astx-Corn Law League who were ready to go to Bath to unseat the Hon . Member . He was not aware how long these emissaries of the Corn Law League bad been in bis neighbourhood ! and having been absent some weeks he could not say whether these emissaries of the Anti-Corn Law Lerigue had reduced it to the condition that had been described— { Oh !) with their tracts and pamphlets which' they spread about and thrust under doors , and tht ' ough the windows of the cottages . - He thought it sufficient to assert , with iespect to " that part of tiie country , that the statements of the Hon .
Membur were nof . warranted by ; the facts )—( Loud cries of " Hear . ") Tb ' e condition of the peasantry waa not what could be wished there , but he bad to lament that it bad been rendered worse than it was the year before by the alterations in the Corn Laws and in the tariff . The H . on . Member had been pleased to style him a decided enemy to the Anti-Corn Law League , and he was by no means disposed to quarrel with tbat designation ; but he would tell the Hon . Member for Stockport this , that no endeavours or speeches he ( Mr . Bankes ) might make agaiDSt that Association could ever have such an effect jin damaging the Anti-Corn Law League as his ( Mr . Cobden's ) speech that night had had—( Loud cries of Huir , hear . )
Mr . CohdeN . —I beg to be allowed to explain . I tell the hon . member for Bath be has totally misrepresented my words—( " Order ") I btg to remind hon . gentlemen , that with the permission of the chair , I wil have the opportunity of explaining fully , and completely , and quietly —( hear , hear ) . I have been misrepresented I did not describe the eminent individual to whom we have alluded as " a maniac . "—daughter ) . What I dii 4 say was , " that I would treat these remarks , ¦ if proved to me , as the ebullition of an ill-regulated intellect—( hear , hear ) , and not aa the offspring of a malignant spirit "— ( hear , hear ) . Now , when I used tbe word " maniac , " it was when I said * ' We console ourselves with the belief that M'Naughten was a maniac "—( loud cries of ; " Oh ! " ) Now , in reference ta what has
fallen from tbe bon . and learnea member as to what took place on this question in tbe library of the ' House of Commons , where I thought conversations were considered private and secret—( loud cries -of * ' Oh I '' " He ir , " and " Ah ! shew him up ")—I treated the conversation as pti vate . and should al way ahold aa private any conversation which took place between me and an hon . member in the library , and should never dream of m-. king that conversation public . I am not acquainted with the formsor rules ' of this House , and probably I may be wrong ; but with reference to what the Hon . and Learned Member said fell from me in the way of a threat —( "Order , " ) I consider it highly necessary that I should be allowed to explain —( hear ); for I should consider myself unworthy of a seat in this House —( a loud burst of
cheering from the Ministerial benches );—if I had ever uttered the words attributed to me by the Hon . and Learned Member in the menacing spirit he has described —( heir , hear ) . I will describe and explain most clearly to this bouse what passed on that occasion . I am not here to interfere with members and their seats—( hear ) . The Hon . and Learned Member asked me if I was going to allude to the eminent individual in question , as he wished , he said , to be present in that case , in order to take part in tbe debate , i asked him if he was goingto justify Lord Brougham , and he said he was . A conversation then passed as to what took place when the Hon . Member attacked tbe Sabbath Bill , and lost hia seat in consequence of his opposition t » that Bill—( loud cries of " Q lestion , " and " Time , time ") .
The Speaker rose and said , that if the Hon . Member would contiue himself to such matters as were strictly personal , in jorder to justify himself , he should certainly not fee ? it his duty to interrupt bim , and he was sure tha House would listen to him , but not to an unlimited explanation , or reply to what had fallen from the Honj . and Learned Member for Bath . Mr . Hume , amidst cries of " Order" and V Choir , " contended that the Hon . Member for Stockport , ( Mr . Cobden ) ought to be permitted to enter into a full explanation , after a private conversation had bean publicly relutedi— ( hear , hear , and fcrder ) . The Hon . Member ought to be allowed to justify himself by stating what j really did take place in order to remove any unfavourable impression produced by what had fallen from the Hon . and Learned Member for Bath—( hear , hear ) . ¦
Mr . Cobdex—I should not have alluded to the Sabbath Bill , but that it is essential to my explanation—( renewed cries of " Question , " and " Chair ) . " Captain MaKGLES appealed to the House for justice to tbe Hon . Member , who had been seriously accused . This was an occasion when they should show a little indulgence , and even go beyond the strict lioe of ordericries of " no . jno , ' an 1 " chair > . " Mr . Hume attempted to obtain a hearing , and was understood to move the adjournment of the debate . { Mr . Cobde ^ j again rose , and was met with loud cries of " Spoke , and chair ) . ' The Speaker interposed once more , and expressed himself as before .
Mr . Cobden . —I will confine myseif to what is strictly necessary to explain what passed between the Hon . and Learned Member and myself . When I alluded to tbe Sabbath Bill , I drew attention to the fact that in opposing tbat Bill the Hon . and Learned Member had drawn upon him the hostility of D . ssenting Members . I then said to ibim , " If you justify Lord Brougham in his attack upon tbe ministers who attended the anti-Corn Law League proceedings , you will get yourself into trouble at Bath . — ( Loud laughter . ) Yon will be considered aijthe opponent of the body , and you will have members of tbe League visiting Bath , and anti-Corn Law tea meetings there . "—( Shouts of laughter . ) Now I come to the head and front of my offending . — ( Here Mr . Roebuck held up bis band to call the
attention oc Members sitting on the Ministerial side to what the Hon . Member was saying , and throughout the explanation his gestures were rather remarkable . ) He says that ) I menaced him . I deny it . —I Cries of " Oh , oh I" ) I Tbe spirit of my remarks was tbat of strict friendship . —( Renewed cries of " Ob , oh ? ' and Laughter . ) I wish the House to understand that the hon . and learned gentleman threatened no attack upon me in the House . He was proposing to justify Lord Brougham , and to attack the Dissenting ministers ] not me —( laughter . ) In my remarks I had not the most distant idea of threatening bim ; and so far fi oiii desiring to see him out of Parliament , he is the last nun I sborild wieb to sse unseated —( laughter , and cries of ! Time .
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After a brief reply from Lord Howick Mr . Ferrand obtained the consent of the House ^ withdraw bis amendment w The House then divided . The numbers were—For the motion ; . jgj Against it ....... " 30 s Majority ___ 115 Sir J . Graham obtained leave to bring in a bill In amend the law for the registration of persons entitled to vote , and to define certain rights of voting and tn regulate certain proceedings in the election of ffiembant to serve in Parliament for England and Wales . The House adjourned at a quarter to four o ' clock . Monday , Feb . 20 . The House met at the usual hour , and after som « business of an unimportant natare .
Mr . C . Bruce presented several petitions from co ! lieries in the counties of Stirling and Fife ; ono siznerf by 506 persons , another by more than 100 females complaining of the Act passed last session for the rem ' Iation of mines and collieries , and the hardahipa to which , under some of iis provisions , they ara « posed ,- and also of the stain thipwn on the reputs " tion of females working in coal-pity which th « jy hoped the House would , by amending the act , remove . Mr . Forbes presented a similar petition . Mr . T . Duncombe presented a petition from tta
calico-printers of Staffordshire , Derbyshire , and Lan ! cashire , complaining of the privations they ware suffer ' Ing in consequence of the use of machinery , and pray ing that the House would place some restriction oj its employment , o * appoint a committee to inquire into tha effects of machinery on labour . The Hon . Member also presented a petition from the manufacturing labors of Houldsworth , in the West Riding of Yorkshire complaining that trade was rapidly declining , and ^ tress augmenting in that neighbourhood , aud p rayiat for a total repeal of the Corn Laws . 5
Mr . Ferband gave notice of a motion for the appointment of a committee to inquire into the effects of steam-power and machinery on the condition of too induatrious classes of the country . Mr . T . Duncombe gave notice , with reference to bis motion for an inquiry into the conduct of Lord Abinger when presiding as a Judge at the Special Commiarion issued in October lost , that , petititions having been presented complaining of bis conduct on { that occasion . in Cheshire and Lancashire , he should move that the House do summon witnesses to tbe Bar for tee purpose of ascertaining the language used by Lord Abinger in his charges to the Grand Petit Juries , and also in pasdng sente ' . ce on tbe prisoners convicted for rioting ' and palitical offences before that Commission .
DISTURBANCES IN THE MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS , Mr . Ferband wished to ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Government bad made any inquiry into the late outbreaks in tha manufacturing districts ; and , if so , whether they would lay the evidence before the Heuse ; and if they bad not caused any inquiry to be made , whether it was their intention to do ao ? Sir J . Graham said that part of the evidence obtained by the Government on the subject , had been already made use of against patties who were now suffering tbe punishment of the law . The other portions of the evidence still remained to be investigated . True bills have been found upon the evidence against parties who were to take their trial in the coarse of eight 01 ten days from the present time , and he ( Sir J . Qtaham ) was of opinion that all the circumstances of the case would be brought out on the trial with respect te who were really responsible for the cause of the disturbances .
THE INDIAN WAR . Sir R . Peel then rose and proposed tile following resolution : — "That the thanks of the House be given to the Governor-General of India for the ability and judgment with which the resources of the British empire in India have been applied in the support of tha military operations in Afghanistan ; and that . t& 8 thanks of the House b ° given to the general and otber officers of the army , both European and Native , for tha intrepidity , skill , and perseverance displayed by them in tbe military operations in Afghanistan , and for their indefatigable zeal and exertions throughout tbe late campaign ; and that the Houae approves and acknowledges tbe valour and patient perseverance displayed by the non-cainmisaioned officers and privates , both European and Native . ' , The Hon . Bart spoke at very great length , and -was followed by Lord John Russell , Mr . G . Bankes , Mr . Hutt , Sir H . HaRDIKGE , Sir T . Colebrooke , and Sir B . Inglis hi favour of the
motion . Mr . Hume proposed as an amendment , "That the consideration of the thanks if this House to the Right Honourable Lord Ellenborough , Governor-Ganeral of India , be deferred until all tbe documents , consisting of letters addressed to Major-General Nott , Major-General Pollock , to Major Oatram , and to the Gorernor of Bombay ; and of a memorandum for Major-General Sir C . Napier , alluded to in the latter of July 8 th , addressed to the secret committee of the Court of Directors , and which have been withheld , shall be Iaf 3 before this House , to enable the House to judge why , after repeated positive orders issHed by Lord Ellenborough to Sir Jasper Nic&olla and Ylajor-General Noit and M .-. j ir General Pollock to withdraw all their forces from Cabul towards the Company ' s possessions , those generals actually advanced their forces , and by their gallant conduct and brilliant successes , vindicated the character of the British arms in the scene of their
former disasters . " Mr . Williams seconded the amendment Mr . B . Baring , Mr . Hogg , Viscount EWington , Captain Mangles , Col . T . Wood , Captain Bernal , Capfc . Layard , Mr . C . Wood , and Mr . S . O'Brien , afterwards addressed the House , and the resolutions were put . The first was carried with the single dissentient of Mr . Hume , and on the others being put , Mr . Hume withdrew his amendment , and they wer e carried seriatim without a dis&e&tient voice . S > me other umimportan ) business was then gone through , after which
Mr . Ferrand moved , " That there be laid on the table of the House , correct , entire , and uumotUated copies of an original letter addrsssed to Mr . Edwin Cnadwiok , secretary to the Poor Law Cemmission , by Mr . Robert Hyde Gre « , dated Manchester , September 17 , 1334 , and of anoriginal letter to Mr . Edwin Cbadwiok , by Mr . HenTy Ash worth , dated Turton nearBolton , Lincashire , 2 d month . 13 h day , 1835 . Alsoacopyof the correspondence relating to , and a return of the number of persons who were removed from their parishes in the agricultural districts into tbe manufacturing districts , under the authority and sanction of the Poor Law Commissioners , with " the dates and mode ol their removal , the names of the parishes fromwmctt they were taken , and the names and residences of the
persons to whom they were assigned ; with a particular account of the numbers , sexes and ages ineach fanniy when they were removed ; and also of the number of deaths , by accident or otherwise , which have since taken place among them ; also an account of those wno have been maimed in their employment , and a atitement of the account of tbe wages agreed upon wnen consigned , with the actual wages they received ; ana also an account of their present iesidences , employment , and wages . " Those returns had been three times moved for in that House and as often refused . The . IMS occasion when their production was sought for by va Hon . Member for Oldhain he was importuned by thelaw Government not to persist hi the motion , and he believed that Hon . Gentleman had never to the present day forgiven himself for having gi * en way to tnose would
solicitations . The production of the papers prove to the country the shameful means which had t > eea resorted to by the emissaries of the Poor Law Comrni * sioners to induce the poor people in the south of ingland to em i grate to the north , in order to become tne slaves of the manufacturers there . The treatment 01 those who had been kidnapped by Dr . Kay and otner ^ , agents of the commissioners , was disgraceful ana cruei in the extreme . Instead of meeting the comforts anu receiving the wages which had been promised tnem , their wages were reduced one-half , and the poor peopw were crowded three or four families into every cot t age , and exposed to miseries and diseases of the most tngQ ^ ful description . SmaM-pox broke out among them ana they died by hundreds . Their relatives in tne soaw made inquiries after them , but no tidings could be nsu-Hi . q -nnlnnin flnnvin . Unn was . that those DOOT aelUttw
people had been sold into a land of slavery , tfie ° <> J ^ of the commissieners and the manufacturers Wiug reduce the rate of wages —( " No , no , " from * " " *; Gibson ) . That fact was obvioaB from an extra 5 l ^ one of those letters which had been already fnn ! "uZ to the House ; and if the papers he no" mown ¦ * were produced entire and unmutilated , the caar * ** ha < i made against the commissioners , who were re jw sible for the treatment of these poor people , woor fullv substantiated . Tbe Right Hon . Baronet me *> . cretary of State for the Home Department m ° i hia great honour , engaged that copies of tue p » y ? ebouM be laid before the House , so far as ^ possible to procure them ; and he bad ^ f ~^ a promise that justice would at length "L ^ j ^ to thia subjact by a Conservative Government also to move for a copy of the diet tableiin «»" , „„ Belpar Union Workhouse , and at the DerDy u Workhouse , on the 31 st day of January l ' " *; *??*^ it weuld appear that the guardians of that uwo , _^ ing under the instructions of the Poor Law w sioners , were treating tfee unfortunate in ^~* 1 workhouse in the most cruel and unmerciful " ¦ " *"" , The Hon . Member also moved for a copy « W ™ respondence which had taken place between & *¦ *?* Law Commissioners , the Board of CHiardia ns ^ oi w ci ,: ^ f ,. r , TTnj ^ n onH a fli-ni nf « ntton-si ) inners , carrj » " »
on business at the Low MiU , Adding bam , in tne «» Riding of Yorkshire , and trading under the jg " Seed and Co ., " respecting the sale of a « W » poor persoBs confined in the said Skipton WorWwnM to the said firm , for the pbrpose of being . JW * J * » their factory ; al . o a statement of *^^* 3 B a reed upon between the said ^^ . " ^^ tne of cripples handed over to tbe hUI am , m manner in which they were conveyed to We factory , and the reasons of their ^ - » « SKrf alBO a copy of the coavictt « n of the soitt nrw cotton-s ^ inners , upon the information <** £ ? $ & Baker , inspector of factories for ^ W ? f"Je s 3 mill hands on Friday , Saturday , ^ *^ J $ tod 24 th and 25 tb days of December tot , to TjgJ ^ the Factories' Act . The Hon . Member stated OK u . ( Continued in our Seventh page . )
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Untitled Article
g THE NORTHERN STAR . ^__ =============----
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 25, 1843, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct639/page/6/
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