In reply, Mr. Huskisson said, that he
had no intention of acting harshly towards the operative mechanics: the
object of the bill was to protect the weak against the strong; to
afford to the man who chose to give his labour for a certain value that
protection against the combination of large bodies to which every man
was entitled. Upon a division the clause objected to was carried by a
large majority; the members rightly conceiving that man is free to act
upon his own responsibility, and that he should not suffer from the
control of others. If a man chooses to give his labour for a certain
rate of wages he should be at liberty to do so without intimidation or
molestation. And he is the more entitled to act thus independently of
his fellow-workmen's interference, because no man will throw away his
labour. Self-interest is, in fact, the best protection from oppression.
A skilful mechanic with a good character can always obtain the true
value of his labour without the aid of his fellow-operatives. He can act
as a man; can ask, and obtain his just wages.
FREE-TRADE SYSTEM.
Many petitions had been presented in the course of this session for and
against the existing system of the corn-laws. On the 25th of April
Mr. Whitmore was induced to move for a committee of the whole house to
consider of these laws; but his motion was rejected. Previous to this,
however, Mr. Huskisson, in pursuance of the scheme of commercial policy
which he had adopted, brought forward three important subjects: first,
"The system of our commercial policy in respect to our colonies;"
secondly, "The expediency of revising many of the duties payable
upon the import of the raw materials used in our manufactures, and of
relaxing the prohibitory duties which, under the name of 'protection,'
were enforced against the manufactured productions of other countries;"
and, thirdly, "The means of affording some further degree of relief
and assistance to the interests of our shipping and navigation.
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