The Express.
London, England, 1852-04-05 00:00:00

GREAT FREE TRADE MEETING 1N

—oi.iisb—oiv.

In acnordance with it numeroualy signed requisi-
tion, which had been presented to the chief magistrate, •
great public meeting of the inhabitants was held in the
Trades' Hall on Friday afternoon, for the purpose of consi-
dering " the present position of free trade." Long before
the hour fixed for the muting, the doom of the hall were
besieged by • numerous sasemblage, and when the proceed-
ings commenced, the spacious apartment was crowded to
excess by • large number of most respectable and in-
fluential chinos. The platform was occupied by the
leading members of the local Anti-Corn-Law League.
The Hon. the Loan Paovost (who wee unenintously
called upon to preside), having stated the object of the
meeting, contended that the corn laws could never more be
re-imposed, and although the agitation of the question
might temporarily uneettle trade and commerce, the policy
of this country.would never be retrogressive. (Rear.)
WALTEN BCCHANAN, Esq., then proposed the first reso-
lution, which is as follows That this meeting recognise
in the extension of our import and export trade, in the con-
tinued increase of the national revenue, and in the general
prosperity and comfort of all classes of the community, the
most conclusive evidence of the sound principle and benefi-
cial operation of a free trade poliey, and view with alarm
the accession to office of a ministry whose avowed policy is
to restore the unjust and impolitic system of protecting the
owner of land by imposing a tax on the food of the people.
That ' compensation to the owner of land,' whether by re •
adjustment of taxation, or by any other means, is alike im-
politic and unjust, and liable to the same objections as direct
protection duties; end such compensation, being avowedly
an equivalent for protection, involves the same unjust prin-
ciple, that the general community may be taxed for the
special benefit of a privileged clans."
8. 11100INBOTNAN, Eaq., seconded the resolution, which,
like all the others, was passed by acclamation.
A. GRAHAM, Esq., seconded in an able speech by W. P.
PATON, Esq., moved—" That commercial reciprocity, and
the adoption of • free-trsde policy by other nations, can
only be brought about by friendly negotiation, and by the
liberal example set by this country ; that a policy of retalia-
tion is most injurious to the country pursuing it; and that
no greater impediment can be thrown in the way of com-
mercial reciprocity with other countries than by delaying to
assure the world that free trade is the settled and irrever-
sible policy of Great Britain."
Bailie UOILILLAT, seconded by JABTJ SCOTT, ESQ.,
moved the third resolution, " That the doubt and un-
certainty which the accession of a protectionist ministry to
office has thrown over this question are most injurious to
' every branch of trade, and that the continuance in office of
&ministry pledged to restore or to give compensation for
protection would endanger the peace and good order of
I society; and this meeting, therefore, resolve to oppose, by
' every constitutional means, any attempt which may be
made to re-impose a duty on foreign cornror to throw a
greater proportion of taxation on other classes of the com-
munity on pretence of relieving the owners and occupiers of
land. And further resolve that they will not support any
• parliamentary candidate or the representation of Glasgow
t who will not maintain, and endeavour to extend, the appli-
cation of the principles of free trade."
Councillor Mott (who spoke from the body of the hall)
r proposed uan addition to the motion " That in the opi-
nion of the meeting, the continued security of free trade
I demanded at the earliest possible period a great increase in
the constituencies, and a great enlargement of the electoral
franchise ;" but on being assured by the chairman that if
I • requisition were presented to biro, he would call and pre-
' side over a meeting for the extension of the suffrage, Mr.
Moir did not preen his amendment, and the original motion
was carried nem. nos.
A vote of thanks to the Lord Provost fur presiding termi-
nated the proceedings, and the meeting thereafter separated.

POLICY.

(Fran the Daly Neu..)
Two accusations were advanced against Lord
DEBBY almost at the same instant of time : one of

attempting to retract or evade a plidge, by an Mime-
diate ffissdution of parliament, to ascertain the sense
of the country on the character and policy of his go-
vernment ; the other of having on a former occasion
betrayed a tyrannical disposition and contempt of the.
rights of electors. The latter charge was mode and
commented on by only one member of parliament (Mr.
Corier), and by one newspaper (the Daily News).
The former was made in the first instance by
two noble lords (the Duke of NEWCASTLE and Lord
MINTO) between whom no political concert exists ;
taken up subsequently by Lord AWN Itessre.n;
indignantly commented on by the whole liberal
press; and spoken of with shame and humiliation
by the greater part of the conservatives. The in-
correctly reported anti-ballot speech of Lord STANLEY
was by most people regarded as of the past; by too
many with little serious condemnation ; the attempt
to wriggle out of hie promise of an early dissolution,
was regarded and denounced by liberals as ominous
of a grave violation of the constitution, and by con-
servatives as discreditable to their party. DERBY
immediately and loudly vindicated his historical
reputation ; he has not yet said one word to exonerate .
himself of the imputation of bad faith, or to allay the
prevailing fear that lie contemplates a violation
of the constitution. This eagerness to raise a
controversyon a question of more remote interest,
and to a guarded silence on one
of immediate practical importance looks suspiciously
hie an attempt to divert attention from the latter,
and such an attempt necessarily implies that he
finds it difficult, if not impossible, to repel the
charg Onthe 20th of March Lord DERBY led the House
of Lords to believe that the business of the present
session would be wound up, the present parliament
dissolved, and a new one elected ; and the new par-
liament assembled to declare whether his uii tt istry
possess or do not possess its confidence "before the
autumn should have passed." Lord Denny pleaded
constitutional forms and etiquette as a reason for not
being more explicit as to time. He said he would
not say that the new election would take place in
April, May, or June; lending men by the voluntary
and uncalled-for specification of these months to be-
lieve that the dissolution would take place in one or
other of them. On the 30th of March Lord MINTO,
while addressing a question to Lord LYNDHURST,
incidentally remarked that Lord DEBBY had led
them to expect an early dissolution and a short ses-
sion immediately after the general election. These
expressions were certainly warranted by the pro-
mises of the 20th of March ; but they elicited from
Lord DERBY a hasty, peremptory denial that he had
led any person to expect an early dissolution and a
short autumnal session. When the Duke of New-
CASTLE came to the aid of Lord MINT°, Lord Defier
attempted to qualify his retractation by arguing that
ho had not specified any month for the dissolution
—(nobody said he had)—and by declining that
he did not contemplate a prorogation atter the
autumnal session—(nobody cared about this merely
formal question). These minor specialties are
utterly unworthy of notice ; the gist of the charge
against Lord DERBY is, that having pledged himself
to an early dissolution and a general election; and
having by this pledge prevailed upon the House
of Commons to pass the Mutiny Bill and voto
the greater part of the estimates, le—as soon as
these votes have been procured—seeks to wriggle out
of the promise which obtained them, and maintains
that he is entitled to spin out the present session as
long as he may deem convenient for himself, and
throws doubts on the time when the next session is
to be held, and the course he is to pursue on it.
The only interpretation that can be put on such
language is that Lord DERBY, having his mind at
rest on the subject of the supplies, determined to
spin out the present session as long as he can ; to
gain time, in the hope that by some piece of partia-
-1 mentary or electioneering finesse he may strengthen
his hold of office ;—to keep all parties in Ignorance of
his intentions, in order that he may adopt any
policy, however crooked, that promises to be
subservient to his interests. Conduct like this
naturally provokes indignant remonstrance from
his political opponents, angry shame in every
honourable mind of his own party. But
Lord DERBY, the most sensitive of men, pa-
tiently endures this obloquy. Ho hears himself
accused on all aides of breach of faith, and remains
silent. He delegates to Mr. DISRAELI the task of
explaining or apologising for the inconsistency of
the language he held on the 30th of March, with that
which he held on the 20th of the same month. And
what, after all, says Mr. DISRAELI? " All we can
say is, that at a period when such business as wit
deem indispensable shall hare Leen transucteJ, we
shall humbly recommend her MAJESTY to dissolre this
parliament. Who knows or can guess what busi-
seas Mr. DISRAELI and his colleagues may please to
deem, or affect to deem, indispensable ?
The truth is that ministers have contrived to
evade any distinct and explicit promise to ab-
stain from any but the most indispensable business
in the present parliament, or to take the sense of
the country by an early general election; and
by mystifying parliament with vague and unmean-
ing promises—with phrases uttered one day and re-
tracted or modified the next—they have contrived
to persuade the House of Commons, by voting tho
greater part of the supplies, to emancipate them-
selves in a great measure from their control. If the
opposition do not bestir itself more peremptorily, and
with more of earnest purpose than it has yet evinced,
the DERBY ministry will laugh it to se mm, and ride
rough-shod over every constitutional form that op-
poses their lawless intentions.
Ministers have made up their mind to postpone as
long as they can the evil day of prorogation and dis-
solution. They reserve a right to bring forward any
ameaware they may pretend to think indispensable.
They have introduced a militia bill which could wait
dll next year. They have asked for and obtained a
committee of the Lords upon India, which, if it is to
be of any use, must sit for months. The HOME
liseaerear has given notice of a bill to introduce a
new electoral qualification. They are cutting out
parliamentary business for an unusually long see-
-11106.
The remaining money votes are the only means by
which opposition can prevent the Ministry of tho
Minority from persevenng in this unconstitutional
course. Mr. DISRAELI, inspired with confidence by
his success in deluding them hitherto, now openly
laughs in their faces. He has told them that he will
rrocced with the committee of supply on Monday
this evening), and that he will tell them on Tuesday
to-morrow) what arrangements government propose
to make for carrying on the public business. If the Op-
position have any regard for their own characters as
men of common sense and average firmness—if they
have any regard for the constitutional rights of tho
people, and the dignity and utility of the Ilouse of Com-
mons—they will insist upon the intimation of the
arrangements for carrying on the public business
contemplated by government being made before
another farthing of the public money is voted. They
have to do with men less tied by any sense of ho-
nesty and shame than any Lrnglish ministry on
record. They have allowed themselves to be
wheedled out of money on pretexts so shallow, so
transparently insincere, the the CHANCELLOR of the
EXCHEQUER flouts them even when asking a favour
of them. Ministers can only bo arrested in their
reckless career by being made to feel that unless
they stop they will be placed in minorities on all tho
yet I:nvoted items of Supply, and on the Appropria-
tion Act.

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