LORD MORPETH'S SPEECH.
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may have done, or to withhold my sympathy for the struggle which you, may late constituents of the West Riding, are so gallantly, and, as we hare just had a proof, so munificently carrying on, to promote the cause in which you conceive—and justly conceive—(immense applause)— your vital interests are deeply involved. But, gentlemen, though I feel that I might safely wrap myself up in vague generalities, and steer clear of using any expression which should run counter to the feelings even of him who feels the strongest and goes the farthest among you; yet in your own presence, gentlemen, and in the presence of your distinguished guests- although I am aware that I may be somewhat checking those plaudits which have even now rung around me, and may be damping the warmth which seems to glow in your welcome of me—I do not scruple to avow that, as now advised, I am not prepared to debar myself, at any time hereafter—either if I should think that the necessary or best understood interests of the public revenue absolutely required it, or if I should see no other way of effecting a better settlement of the whole question than that which now prevails, or if I thought I was making a great advance in a right direction—in these or in such like cases, I do not debar myself from the power of acquiescing in a fixed duty of low amount. (Loud cries of "No, no, that won't do,' and expressions of dissent.) I was prepared for the expression of some dissent to the liberty which I nevertheless must reserve to myself. I know that in so doing I should not, as Mr. Bright thought of the West Riding formerly, come quite up to the mark, or as my friends the Americans say, with more expressiveness than refinement, I should not quite "toe the mark." But when I have said this, which I have thought it right as an honest man to do (cheers), not foreseeing what combination of circumstances might arise, I at once frankly oud, that I am by no means bigoted to this measure of a fixed duty. (Cheers.) Indeed, when it is thus limited to a small amount, I am not inclined to attach to it the same importance, on one side the other, which is sometimes done upon both. At all events, I demur to any intolerance with respect to this proposition, and sure I am, at least of this, that I would infinitely prefer a repeal, a total and immediate repeal, to a year's continuance of the law as it now subsists. (Immense applause.) And even if in the present year, a total and immediate repeal could be carried—I suspect it would be, gentlemen, if the ultimate decision rested with you (cheers)—I should not be inconsolable, or long in making up my mind to the result. (Cheers.) His lordship then proceeded to remark, that he had shared in the satisfaction of the audience in the accounts of the progressive advances of free trade and free industry: and, having dwelt upon some general topics, trusted he would be excused for adding more in the way of preface to the toast—
