sfy all parties. He would still exclude slave-labour sugar; but on
free-labour sugar, the differential duties would be reduced from lis.
8d. for clayed sugar, to 8s.; for Muscovado, from 9s. 4d. to 5s. 10d. He
next came to the articles connected with agriculture; first taking those
not immediately used as food for the people. On leek and onion seed, he
said, the duty was 20s. per cwt.: he proposed to reduce it to 5s. With
reference to maize, or Indian corn, he proposed that the duty upon it
should hereafter and immediately be nominal. By removing this duty he
did not conceive that he was depriving agriculture of any protection.
Maize was generally used in the United States, and partly for human
food: and he believed that, though it was disregarded in this country,
on parts of the Continent it was made into excellent food. His object
in providing for its free importation was the better feeding of
cattle, which would be an advantage rather than a detriment to the
agriculturist. Buck-wheat was to be subject to the same rule: maize and
buck-wheat, and the flour of these corns, were to be admitted duty free.
"Rice feed," as a substitute for the expensive article of linseed-cake
was also to be introduced, for the better feeding of cattle, duty free.
He now came to the food of man. He feared that his proposal would not
satisfy both sides--those who insisted on protection, and those who
insisted on its total abolition. He could assure both that his desire
was, without any favour or undue partiality, to suggest that which he
believed to be just, and calculated to terminate that conflict, the
continuance of which all must regret. He considered that it was for the
public advantage, at least, to lay the foundation of a final settlement
of this question; but he was not about to propose the immediate repeal
upon grain. But first he explained his course with reference to other
articles. Butter, the duty of which was 20s. per cwt., hops L4 10s.,
and cured fish 2s., were each to be reduced one half. On those articles
which constituted meat as distinguished from grain, namely, fresh or
salted beef, salt or fresh pork, potatoes, vegetables of all sorts,
and un-enumerated articles of the kind, he proposed a total repeal. The
duties on live animals also would be abolished. Some urged him to make
a distinction in the importation of lean or fatted cattle, as it was
unfair to levy an equal amount on both kinds: his proposal to admit
materials fo