The Express.
London, England, 1852-03-06 00:00:00

GREAT FREE-TRADE MEETING AT
LEEI►S.

On Thursday night Leeds was the scene of the
mast extraordinary free trade demonstration ever held in
that town. Though the inhabitants were convened tope
ther on a notice of only a fair hours to assemble in the
Circus to hear Mr. Cobden. and decide upon mea-
sures to be taken in the present crisis, the rush to be pre-
sent at the proceedings was quite unprecedented. The
Circus, long before the hour announced, was occupied by
at least 5,000 persons, jammed together almost to suffoca.
ties, while thousands were left unaccornrnodated outside.
But not only was the demonstration a decided one as re-
gards numbers, but it was perhaps the most spirited and
enthusiaetie ever witnessed in Yorkshire.
The Mayon (Sir George Goodman) took the chair, and
was surrounded by the leading free-traders of the district,
and several leading gentlemen from a datum., including
Richard Cobden, Rsq., M.P.; Sir Isaac Morley, of Don-
caster; Sir Joseph Paxton, of Chatsworth; Mr. P.. Hutch-
inson, of Leicester; Wm. 11. Barlow, Esq., of Derby.
Sir GEORGE 0001.)11.SN, in opening the meeting,
said the result of the great ins...time which had been held at
Manchester, and the one which was held there that night,
would be such thet • minister, however bold—and they had
a bold one in their present premier—but he believed that
even he would quail before the power of such assemblies as
these. (" Hear, hear," and loud applause.) Such mani-
festations of the opinions of the people, which were fixed and
definite, would soon convince the present goveninsent that
any attempt to re-enact the obnoxious corn-laws must be
impotent and vain. (Loud applause.) They had heard
from Lord Derby that at the fitting and proper time it was
his intention to dissolve parliament. Ile was in hopes that
by thus deferring the prosecution of his intentuits he would
obtain a House of Commons more eoneoilial to his taste and
views. It was for them to say whether they would allow
his lordship to continue to keep the country in such a state
of distrust and apprehension, or call upon him to pat an
cod to it by such meetings as these, and show him that
they were determined that they would have no corn-laws.
(Cheers.)
Mr. Alderman CARBUTT said— Was there ever a time
when the people of this country were more fully or better
employed )—(" no, no ")—when pauperism was at • lower
ebb ?—(hear, hear)—when crime was non diminishing?
And was not the contentment of the people .0 great, and
were they not revelling in that happiness and comfort
which a repeal of the corn laws had given them to such en
extent, that you could scarcely excite them to the considera-
tion of any political question ? (lieu, hear.) Nothing
short of the Pope and Cardinal Wiseman could rouse this
country last year. (" Hear, hear," cheer., and laughter.)
And, he did not know of any subject which could arouse
them now, if it were not this question of vest and stirring
interest which had called them together that night.
(" Hear, bear," and loud assents and cheers.) Ile
would turn their atteutioo for • moment to that elms
of the community which was ever crying out that they
were starving for want of protection ; who, ever since corn
was 60s. a quarter, at every drop in the price told the public
they were ruined. (Rear, hear) If they looked to that
class of the community, and if they took the trouble to
travel from John o' throat's house to the Land's End, what
did they see ) Did they see laud going out of cultivation,
farm-houses and buildings dilapidated, tenants leaving their
farms, and landlords leaving the luxuries of a court and
coming down from London into the country to farm their
own land ? Nothing of the sort. Wherever they went there
was happiness and comfort, and there never was • time when
the land was better cultivated, or when more corn was pro-
duced. (Hear, hear.) England was being from year to
year better cultivated, there was more labour employed,
owe skill, more capital, and science applied in the cults*.
Mend the soil in the present day than was ever before known ;
1/14awas becoming ary padise of y beau, and
llreat onwards in ave rightfulra courseearthl would provtye to be
the envy and admiration of the world. Should they then
Ise eine mencent permit an admiaietration to continue in
ease tare geinciples would lead them to upset this system
of tree lode legislation which had given them so
mesh canlientment and lippinem (Cheers, and them of
" Never, sees.'.") Mesa they safer them to take their
ewe =Bllll slam disk owe unity fur bringing
Wet spin beams the pepN of England ? (Shouts
of "Me, no.") Their response said, No. lie hoped they
mould keep to that word No, and never desert the ranks of
MM 'AVM until they had put down all further efforts
lamest, to re-impose protection. et Hear, hear," and
ale* of applause.) Mr. Cuban emselsded by moving
the resolution he had before Need in these words:—
" That in the judgment of this wasties. the Ihrmatins of
• ministry of which the chief members see the weredited
leaden of a party resolutely bent es veseseleg preleedes,
clearly indicates the near approach of an arena nem the
corn and navigation laws; and thiseedbms readers impels-
tin the re-organisation of the free balers, not merely to
defeat that effort, but to make the derhat so signal and de-
risive, sets romile;, herder say further attempt to
revoke the pent et free trade, expounded by the
Lessee, eadl embodied the usesuree of that distinguished
ellnesentaa, Itte /Meet Pei"
Ns. J. C. Baikal? esetemled the resolution, and did
SO
become awe sew was a Vow when energies of the
esemehry were awe easol epee to put • stop to any public
MINNS OM OM Mew were required to oppose and fens-
Mallit—ages pegs-dad by the gentlemen who now formed
as goverment et Ms Ithegifees. They had put forth a
yesgreetneohe veep bet time of which was enough to
Min all the meseglee 11M 00•1tri—to roues every con-
sumer of bread, end ponlealarly of the poorer classes, that
live widen these realms. (Applause.) No matter who
was the minister, the breed of the people and the food of the
people should never be rind. (Loud cheers.)
I - The Mavoa then called upon one of the representatives
of the riding, the apostle of free trade, Mr. Rickard Cobden.
(Great cheering.)
Mr. COBDEN, M.P., as rising, was received with voci-
ferous cheers. When silence had been restored, the hon.
member said. Mr. Mayor and gentlemen,—lt has been m
privilege to attend many public meetings in Leeds, but I
never saw an assembly in any room in this borough before
numbering one half, or I should say one quarter, of this
meeting. And this meeting has been called within little
men than 21 hours' notice : and I observed on entering the
doors that the streets outside are crowded by those unable
te pin admittance. (" Her, hear," and • cry of "That's
true.") Now, gentlemen, I saw it stated in a London
paper, the organ of the protectionist party, last night,
that the great mass of the people of this country take
no
interest in the question of free trade. (Loud
laughter.) I am very glad for the character of
Yorkehiremen that at all times you have shown that
yea know what are your interest., and what are your
rights in this important matter. Why, gentlemen, this
meeting settles the question of the Wesalliding election
upon this molter. (Loud, reiterated, and vehement chew-
ing.) And here, gentlemen, I may as well at once refer to
a subject which would not appear to have immediate refe.
recce to the motion I have to support; but which, under
the circumstances, has a material reference to the object of
our meeting—l speak of the representation of the West
Ridiag. (" Hear, hear," and applause.) I speak in the
presence of some of our trusted friends and leaders, who
will bear me out, that from the moment of my return from
the Continent, when I found that the unexpected and us-'
exampled honour had been roarrru4 epos me in my
absence, of returning use, unsolicited, as a mem-
ber for this vast constituency—that from the moment
of my return to the 'rely latest period, I have
uniformly held but one language, that although I
was proud of the honour which has been the
conferred upon rise, yet, seeing that the free trade
question was settled, I did not sir that there was any ad-
vantage, whilst I thought there was some inconvenience, in
contemplating continuing longer the representative of
this county. And I will explain frankly to you and to your
brother electors what were, and dill are, my feelings upon
this subject. Gentlemen, as a public man, having taken
prominently a part in great public questions, I have at all
times in the House of COOIIIIOO4 my fair share of the duties
of the legislature, apart from any claims which may be
made on one in the way of private basilica% We know
that to sit as member of a constituency of this net map