Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/96

On Monday, May 10, the fifth night's debate was opened by Mr W. 0. Stanley, who supported Mr. Villiers' motion in a short speech. Dr. Bowring followed. He said that Sir Robert Peel must soon make his final choice whether he would stand by the producers or the consumers; he could not long go on vibrating between the two interests. He lamented the bad example England was setting to all other nations by the maintenance of the Corn Laws. He had heard it urged that their maintenance was rendered necessary by the weight of our public burdens, but he could not understand how these were to be alleviated by adding to them this other burden heavier than all. Mr. Ewart dilated upon the inadequacy of the ministerial measures of free trade, and the futility of hopes held out by government that affairs would improve. The people were growing wise upon this subject, thanks to the League. The country gentlemen, who used to be silent from contempt, were now silent from apprehension, as the inferior creatures recognize in dumb amazement the approach of a storm, Mr. Childers, in advocating a free importation of foreign corn, contended that such a measure would not lower the price in England so much as was commonly supposed, or as he himself desired. Captain Layard said that a total repeal of the Corn Laws would not be so injurious as the present state of uncertainty. He himself was friendly to a small fixed duty; but, seeing no chance of that, he would vote for this larger proposal. Mr. E. Buller could not go the length of a total abolition; but he would vote for the committee because he could not approve the existing law. The tax imposed, if imposed for revenue, was too heavy. The peculiar burdens on land were no doubt a reason for protection; but then we ought to have been told what those burdens were; we ought to have had that committee upon them which the house had refused. It was not true that tithes were a burden on the land, except when paid in kind; neither was the land-tax, which