might think that the stock at present in hand in this country was a terrible thing—might think that it might be sold for nothing, and that, by its invasion, they would receive no adequate price for their corn. But what had happened in the case of Fool? Had foreign competition reduced the price of wool to the producers of that article in this country? They were then the rash men who interposed to prevent the adoption of the proposition which emanated from that side of the House. (Hear, hear, hear.) The artificial system which was fostered and bolstered up, had brought us, in this country, back to the barbarous position in which this country was placed five or six hundred years ago, with this sole difference, that then, from the bad state of the roads, and the want of the means of facile communication, counties used to suffer from famine; whereas now they were setting at defiance all the lights of science, all the discoveries of modern times, and all the improvements founded upon these discoveries, and were bringing us into the same peril as a nation, as we formerly had to encounter only by counties. (Hear, hear.) He did not ask them to store up their granaries for years. They were reluctant to interfere; bat if they would not interfere, why then interfere to prevent others from storing up as capitalists? why prevent such a provision being thus made in the country as would guard against future famine? Was not this the time, of all others in which to do this? Why were they making these amazing strides in physical science, uniting nations together, as provinces had been united before? Why were they to have railways and steamboats? Why were they to go on, oniting nations together by all the discoveries of modern times, if legislation was to lag behind, and prevent them from availing themselves of those advantages which it was the interest and the birthright of the people to derive from these discoveries, and the consequences to which they led? (Hear, hear.) He would not allow the right honourable baronet, with his proverbial caution, to take from the honourable member for Wolverhampton what he considered his due. He was the man of cautious foresight; he was the man of prudence and forecast, who would make provision for future evils, and on the government and on those who led them, when they should lead their followers, on the government rested the responsibility of anything which might happen from the present absurd and anomalous state of our laws."
Mr. Bankes replied to the arguments of Mr. Villiers and Mr. Cobden, endeavouring to show that they had fallen into several historical errors, materially bearing on the question before the House.
Lord John Russell indulged in several pleasantries upon
