Sir J. Graham's speech as supplying powerful arguments in aid of Lord John Russell's proposition. Extended production, good seasons, enlarged supply, provisions cheaper, and wages higher, were all powerful encouragements to pursue a course of liberal and enlightened commercial policy. He urged on the government the necessity of availing themselves of the opportunity now afforded them of improving our commercial relations with foreign countries.
Sir J. Tyrell complained of the distressed state of the agricultural classes, and said he could no longer place any confidence in the present government. He feared that the agricultural interest would be in no better position if the noble lord opposite came into power.
Lord Pollington did not think there was any just ground for the alarm of the agricultural interest. He advocated an improved system of colonization rather than emigration, and thought a system of education without religion was worse than no education at all.
Mr. Villiers maintained that the government had given no answer whatever to the arguments of Lord J. Russell. On the contrary, the statements of Sir James Graham went to show that a more liberal system of commercial policy, and the low price of articles of general consumption, had materially benefited the working classes:—