Page:Vindication of a fixed duty on corn.djvu/10

4 It is a sorrowful conviction of the prevalence of this morbid feeling with reference to the Corn-Laws, which impels me to disclaim any other motive for the expression of my opinions than an honest desire to see this important question settled in the way most beneficial to the country at large, and most consistent with justice towards every class of its inhabitants.

With the same desire I shall abstain from noticing the exaggerations and mis-statements which have been sent forth by either party, and shall confine myself to the vindication of a fixed duty from the objections to which it is thought liable by those in the professed aim of whose policy I generally concur. It has been my desire to consider these objections in their strongest light, and I have therefore selected and annexed hereto the most recent expression of their views upon this subject given by three distinguished members of the present ministry.

"Now let me ask you this question:—Suppose you had passed your law in the month of May last, fixing a duty of 8s. on corn, to take effect from the end of the session. Suppose the weather had continued unfavourable; that the present harvest had been a