Page:History of the Radical Party in Parliament.djvu/334

 320 History of the Radical Party in Parliament. [1841- The debate lasted over three nights, and on a division there were for Russell's amendment, 226 votes ; against it, 349, giving a majority of 123 for Government. Then came the turn of the Radical proposal, the total abolition of all duties on corn, and this was submitted to the House by Mr. Villiers on the i8th of February, the Friday following the close of the former debate. Five nights' further discussion took place on this motion, which in the end was rejected by 393 votes to 90. Comparing the numbers in these divisions with those on the vote which changed the Ministry, we find that practically the Tories polled ttfeir whole strength for the maintenance of a high sliding scale. The Liberals, on the contrary, were divided the Whigs, supporting a fixed, moderate, but still protective duty, obtained, by the aid of some Radicals who preferred repeal, but went for the Whig scheme as an alternative to the Tory proposals, 226 votes out of 269 given in August, 1841 ; whilst the Radicals, voting for their own plan of total repeal, counted ninety members, being thus about one-third of the Liberals. The chief of the party of resistance, the Premier himself was, however, about to take a course which would form a preparation for the repeal which he now strenuously opposed. He had already, by the act of opening the question at all, done something to encourage reformers and alarm staunch friends of protection like the Duke of Buckingham. But the whole of his scheme of financial and commercial improvement which he commenced this year, and which forms his great claim to the remembrance and gratitude of his country, was, unintentionally perhaps, but irresistibly, preparing the way for the great measure which was to complete the edifice. In March, 1834, in a discussion on the corn laws raised by a petition from Liverpool, Peel had objected to free trade in corn as unjust to the landed interest, in view of the protection given to manufactures. He now proceeded to remove that objection by his reforms of the tariff, by which year after year he continued to astonish and delight the country. The account of the development of this policy forms the most interesting chapter in the history of the Peel Administration, and its