In
the third and last part of his memorandum the Premier comes to the
really delicate and dangerous question--the repeal of the Corn Laws. He
thinks the potato blight and the measures he proposes to meet its
probable consequences would necessitate the calling of Parliament before
Christmas--a very important step, as "it compels," he says, "an
immediate decision on these questions--'Shall we maintain
unaltered--shall we modify--shall we suspend--the operation of the Corn
Laws?'" The first vote the Cabinet proposes, say a vote of L100,000, to
be placed at the disposal of the Lord Lieutenant for the supply of food,
opens the whole question. Can the Government, then, vote public money
for the sustenance of the people and maintain existing restrictions on
the free importation of grain? He thinks not, and he goes on to give the
example of other countries threatened with scarcity, which are opening
their ports for foreign grain, and prohibiting their own to be exported,
thereby closing some of our ordinary sources of supply. If, he asks, the
Corn Laws are suspended, is it to be done by an act of prerogative, or
by legislation at the instance of the Government?
Such were the leading points placed before his Cabinet by Sir Robert
Peel in his memorandum of the 1st of November.
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