The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-21 00:00:00

PROTECTIONIST MEETINGS.

COUNTY MEETING AT . .
EXTRAORD I NARY SGENI OF 1
BOUT OF THB PROTECTIONISTS.
A aneeting wed
ixt semis off a ristrid-
ligememeeeted se the /IN* SheeNf ( by wagef •
paned, lit Tam, DWI.penesdeni to Berat
ctaredLas boil at the Bides Wigwam en
Mhos the boar laid when the chair was to be
Wee, it bed bees privately Intimated to such as were
blame to be *loudly to the " boded interest," as It is
pihneed, that the remedials would take plus ia the crow.
Man of the County-hall. This Is • small and somewhat
lassanaleat room, with galleries; but in all probability not
mere thee a thentsaad persona easkibe secommodated within
It, about halt-past 11 o'clock this place had bosom
Without the court, in the great bell, were some
thanaind or fifteen hundred ethers vainly striving to gala
At IS o'clock the chair was takes by the Hon. W. Cons.
War (the High Sheriff, Mr. John Dent, being absent I. sea-
-1 essmenes indisposidon.) There were present the Hon.
ffien. Dyson, M P., Mr. Bpooser, M.P., Mr. Knight, M.P. ;
Kr. Best, M.P., Mr. B. Holland, late M.P. fur West War-
lissesretire, de. The promedings of the meeting Meng
been formally opened,
Mr. JAMES TAYLOR, of Moseley, a protectionist, pro-
ceeded to move the first resolution. He said—l could not
hesitate for one Resent to move the resolution, the object
of which is to bring before this meeting the pre•ent state
of the country in respect of the changes which have taken
place in our legialiesoa, sad their operation on trade gene-
ral/. When I said trade generally, I did so because the
duties on manufactured goods have been reduced, and the
duties on foreign oars have beim abolished altogether. Before
I proceed further I ought perhaps to diode tone wording of
that resolution, which is to prey her Majesty to dissolve
parliament. Before I sanctioned that resolution I desired
to know whether its object was to diseolve parliament,
before the object which we are now met to promote had been
considered by the present parliament ; and I received in ex-
*Banos am amaranse that the resolution wasoaly desired to
be emend out in the event of the two houses of parliament
reusing to carry out the object of our petition. (Hear.)
I Wien that the object for which we are Met regards the
interests of all, for that is so closely connected that there
Lno idea of treaties It as a polifisal question. (Hear.)
I believe, too, that the similes rencered to the country by
the present g.verament have beset sash that few meet
would wish a change of ministry at she present time. No
one, indeed, I believe. would wish that they should be re-
moved tron office, it they would attend to the prayers of the
people of Ingland. (Cheers) We must all feel deeply
indebted to Lord Joke Russell for the ability with which he
has governed this eicontry, so as to preserve it In the late
disturbed times from the revelations which have convulsed
the tranquillity of the eminent. (Cheers.) lam further
hopetal, that, having been an advocate for a fixed duty on
corn, his lordship will now attend to the earnest prayer of
the people. (Hear, bear.) We are mat for the purpose of
considering what has been the effect of free trade, and to
compare the situation of the country at the present time
witu that whisk existed previous to the passing of the free
trade acts. I ask are we a more flourishing matey now
than before? (" Yes," " No," end uproar.) Is agriculture
more flourishing? ("Yee," and laughter.) Are the la-
bouring classes better er worse off than they were ?
(" Better," " No," and mach uproar.) Individual classes,
goalie/inn, may be b tter off; but Englishmen do not look
at individual prosperity, they look to the general welfare. Mr.
Taylor concluded by moving the first resolution, and saying
that he was certain that no agriculnuist desired that those
duties retained for manufactures should be discontinued ;
all they desired was that labour should be protected ; that
every man should earn sufficient for his family ; and they
believed that that could never be secured unless they
adopted a just, fair, sad equal protection for manufactures
and agriculture. (Cheers.)
Mr. T. G. CURTLER, the deputy chairman of Quarter
Session., seeseded the resolution. He said—l perfectly
agree with my boo. tread (Mr. Taylor) when he says that
we have no desire whatever that there should be any
change in the government of this country, or that Lord
John Rosen should be prevented from presiding as be
has done with great ability over the ministry of this coun-
try, provided that ministry will listen to the prayers of a
Matinee' people—prayers which have been presented from
evercorner of this kingdom—England, Ireland, Scotland,
and Wales—and all united in demanding a return to pro-
WINS °intl. men, it ma, be that one class said be
sacrificed before another—that while one clan is prospering,
another will be decayng ; but the end will necessarily be
the utter rain of all parties. (erne of " no," " Provo
it.") It will, if we allow our ships, our colonies, and oar
commerce to pare into the hands of our enemies. (" Who
are our enemies?" "We have none.") Let them get our
markets, and they'il soon let you know whether they are
friends or enemies. (Laughter and cheers.) We are not
met here to-day for the purpose of advancing any dm or
particular interest at the expense of ethers, but loudly to po-
led against and to cmplain of the treachery of which we
bale bees made the victims. (Cheers and ironical laughter.)
We are met to raise our voice spinet that treachery.
Mel we are met to inquire whether the landed interest
to be given over to the caprice and rapacity of the corn
Lam League of Manchester. (Cheers.) Sr Robert Peel's
arse, I think, tepee these occasions, ought always to
he brought prominently forward—his sets and inconsis
sidings* end treachery ought to be made the subject of our
execration— (Inters uptios, cheers, and greens, aid trio from
the gallery of "three, cheers for Sir Robert," which was
heartily responded to) his inconsistaucier, I say, ought to
bring epos him the reproaches which such coo Illet ought
ever to beer. In 1541 Lord John Russell proposed that a
fixed duty of 84. a quarter should bt imposed. (Cries of
" You wouldn't have it," and other interruption, which Mr
Baldwin, of Birmingham, the gentleman who led the oppo-
sition at the former meeting, endeavoured to quill, begging
" the friends of free trade" to give a patient hearing to all
parties.) if your think this interruption will answer
the purpose of these who come here to oppose
us you will be deceived. I've got plenty of time.
(Laughter, loud cheers, and groans.) Ia 1541 Lord
John Russell, knowing perfectly well that it would
not do for the welfare of this great country to take
away all protection from the favouring interest. (More
interruption.) Knowing this I say, he proposed a fixed
duty of Se. a quarter upon corn. (" Why didn't you take
it ?") Sir Robert Peel then representing every clue, and
every interest, said, " eight shillings fixed duty will set as
—it will not sufficiently protect this large and premeds.
rating interest •, we must not have a fixed duty of 51., we
must have a sliding coals." The parliament believed kr
Robert Pool when he said this—the country was spiraled le
—sad that said also that Sir Robert Peel was right and
Lord John Russell was wrong. He was consequently tuned
out of office, and the former was appealed to to ropoee new
measures. He did propose a sliding male, which was to
have the effect of steeping wheat up to 66e. a quarter, be-
cause he said the fanner ought to be able to commad that
price. But he also proposed something else. He add—l
find the Exchequer empty and I want an income tax, and
the prAection I have granted you will enable you to pay
that income tax ; but do you believe that if titers had
been the slightest idea to remove protection, that the in-
come tax would ever have bees wrung from the pockets of
the people ?
[The interruptions, which had been increasing throughout
Mr. Curtler's harangue, had now become so considerable,
that it was impossible to hear a word he uttered : the free-
traders in the outer hall urged on such of their friends as
were within the court to press for an adjournment to the
ball. This they did by shouting out most lustily, and
uttering every species of discordant sound, so that the pro-
ceedings were completely stopped, and for upwards
of a quarter of an hour the meeting was in die
order, not a sentence being listened to either on
one side or the other. Mr. Baldwin, Mr. Laden,
and other free-traders endeavoured to allay the storm,
but they were met with the cry of " Adjourn "—" the hall,"
&e. The chairman said that they could not adjourn to the
hall, inasmuch as there was no room for the reporters. The
" dodge " was by this enervation made more apparent, in-
deed nobody could mistake its insincerity, and the row was
renewed with increased vigour, and with unmistakable evi-
dence that the objectors did not intend to give In. In fact,
the remarks about thenwims, de, was a mere rum, inas-
much as there was in tM hall a gallery large enough to
accommodate both those gentlemen and the speakers. The
free-traders saw clearly that the pupae was to make the
meeting a snugly packed affair, end they were manitestly as
determined to frustrate it. The hooting, and the bellowing
and hedge was kept up for a long time, Mr. Curtler still
eadeavouring to obtain a hearing, and ia the midst of the
excitement, Mr. W. Dent (brother of the high sheriff)
jumped up, apparently in a great porno, sad told the dis-
turbed that they cught to be ashamed of them-
selves. This observation was received with a shout oi
derisive laughter; the speaker continued moving his lips
and gesticulating violently for several minutes but no other
sentence was beard, when Mr. Dent sat down again. The
chairman rose and made a sort of appeal to the meeting
" What tree (mid the hon. gentleman) is it going to the
outer hall ; it is halt" This remark only seemed to inmate
the clamour; but it was literally tree—the outer hall was
now crammed with the free traders. It had become gaits
evident by this time that no more rpoeches would be listened
to la that pima, sad Mr. Gorilla quietly putting his notes in
hie !NW,
_NW " I second the reecilutim, ' and sat down.]
It was es fellows:—
"That the rash experiments mods on the interests mad
happiness of the British people by the general abandonment
of the principle of protection, and more especially hythe
repeal of the corn and navigation laws, have signally hAlelle
and have involved large classes of her Majesty's subjects in
the manufacturing as well se the agricultural districts in
distress and ruin ; and that no permanent relief from the
existing and increasing suffering and distress can be expected
until a system of just protection to domestic Ladish, spied
unrestricted foreign competition be substituted fee the yew
seat tree Wu policy."
Mr. BALDWIN, a tenant farmer, at Singaporean, sal •
large papermaker toss and add then he had comeplagatad
with various statistics to show Irma mediate that the
operation of the free trade system was productive of a very
trifling pecuniary ices to the farmer; and that this night be
easily removed by a proper errangemeet with the landlord,
by an improved system of cultivation, sad by the tenant
farmer exhibiting that Increased enterprise, AM. and 'a-
dmen which was is ameonenes with the spirit of the age;
bat Kr. Baldwin said, I oreseider It unfair that I 'bead
be listened to, as the ether slide have not had &Muhl, (dyes
them. Unless you hear the other side I will not speak.
This was followed by • renewal of the cry to adjourn to
the heft, tad, In the midst of the tumult, Mr. Coen, a book-
seller of Penguin, in host of the large gallery, reed ea
amesdmeat, all in dumb show, which we were afterwards
told was a denouncement of the attempt to reimpose a tax
spas bread--a• declaration that the di&em of the farmers

EXPRESS, MONDAY

fte KIN be the relation aft their hafted., sad that ft
tat ~we ammo that the people theedi have easAeut
mai ow ft Ogee of mob= yealimear.
wee leeiaied b 7 K. Idaftbes takieKauter Woronter,
whe bad Rade Wadi very eftepiseime ea the door of the
wart, sad it woe dui to the diabase, bat ao farther
modes wee takes of It. _

TM CBAIBYAN tMs attampasd W - w resolatiss
bat sot a word be said was bawl, awl s swabs/ at loads.
bevies beta held up la said it was sareisd ; and the two
and sesolatiess wort MlNved, put, sad dasiered to be tar-
ried la s similar hallow • bet a tea* d vats from dm
thairotan sot a seaman amid bohaardt

----
Mr. JOHN BEST, Ike sow 111. P. At MildiamineWr,
tried a speak, he shouted eat " Where %Wane le bike,
'W filly to ho wise ;' he get as farther—the and
uproar was
appeaainrenewed,
MIA the has. gentleman sat
down I. do .
An was now made to the chairman by Mr. Taos.
Warne, the Clerk of the Posse el the elty. He asked
that la filmes the meeting might be adjourned to the hell.
County mostingehri beenleM there badere, and they would
he pertained le mask if they went them. To take a rote
under the ssent thinmetaaces of the meeting wsa a faros.
He was Da to meek, but
The C MILAN said—l don't esa why you should be
beard any film than the others.
Mr. WAT2III—I expect the chairman to act hapertisity.
I—[oat here the original uproar. swelled now by the groan-
ing of the farmers oho, put an effectual stop to his &spot
more ]
The Hon. W. W. Q. Tumor moved, and F. HOLLAND,
Req., seconded, the fourth resolution, to the following
effect :

"That, trusting that parliament is beginning to gyms*.
thise with the general feeling entertained by the nation at
large on the subject of free trade, petition fa accordance
with the rinolutinis adopted be presented to parliament, and
be seat through the county for sigaathre • that Earl Bear
asap be requested to present the 'tan to the Hone ei
Lords, and Oencral Lygon to the Commeae ; and that the
other county, sad also the borough members, be requited
to support it."
The resolutions, after having und • this room, ware
handed over to Mr. Baldwin by the ehairawa, in order that
he might make any reply to them h. wished. •
The CHAIRMAN then vacated his seat, and
General LYOON rows amidst great sheering from the body
of the meeting. The noise, however, did not subside. He
said—l shall say nothing that will offend anybody. (Tumult.)
Now that you have bad your game, I hop* that you'll go'
home and have your dinners. I beg to propose a vote of
thanks to the Hoe. W. Coventry for his conduct in the chair,
and I'm sorry I can't compliment you upon your conduct.
(More none.) With respect to the object of this meeting, I
think that the home producers ought to have the preference.
(Cheers. hires, and uproar.)
Mr. F. WOODWARD seconded the vote of thanks to the
chairman, and said ho was sorry he bad had such an unruly
set of fellows to deal with.
The Hon. W. COVENTRY briefly acknowledged the
compliment, and declared the menial; dissolved. It was some
minutes, however, beton any one stirred; the uproar con.
tiaued, and the people at tee hinder part of the gallery. sus-
pecting • ruse,
.begto to set up the tune of " We won't go
home till morning
Next a person in the body of the court, who said he was
both a farmer and a Birmingham manufacturer, attempted
to addrne the meeting. The noise and confusion were tee
great to permit any one to hear his observations, but he was
understood to be advocating an extension of the suffrage, and
reforms in oar national expenditure. He denied that the
manufacturers of Birmingham were suffering from the opera-
tion of free trade, and asked what the farmers could do with-
out a market for their produce. He was proceeding to re-
late a conversation which had taken plan between himself
and the rector of his parish, when a disturbance took plan
in the gallery between two men, who appeared very much
inclintd to fight, and this put a stop to his speech. After
the peace had been restored in the gallery by the int -
linnet Mr. J. Wright, of Park Atwood, some person again
called upon Mr. Laalett to speak; but he 'skied, on the
ground that it would he unfair to do so, when the persons
who called the meeting bed not been allowed to express thcr
sentiments freely. He added that if they would allow these
individuals to proceed, he would afterwards speak in behalf
of both the farmers and the people.
A man in the gallery here proposed that Mr. Lsslett, •
large landowner and a free trader, should take the chair;
and another voice from the nine quarter seconded this Tao-
tion,and called for a show of hands. About one-half of the

people
in the Hall complied, amidst much groaning and
'slighter.
Mr. LASLETT, who spiv and rather amused at this
incident, enquired whether they would have him act in en
usgentlemaniy manner ? A lure of voices replied " No."
" Well, then," he replied, " here are a number of gentle
men who have called • meeting "—but before he could
advance any further his voice was drowned in cries of—
" Out of the hall !" When he bad another opportunity of
making himself heard be aid—" You have got a good many
friends here among the farmers and landowners—why don't
you let the parties who called the meeting speak ?—your
Mends would then have • chance of a hearing in their turn.
I cannot think I OM in the best company in the world when
I find persons acting in each a manner u this. You are
only depriving your friends of the liberty of uttering their
opinions. I attended here specially to testify my dissent
from the principles of protection, end you will not allow me
to give my reasons far dissenting. If you will not hear what
both sides have to say, bow is the true lice to be drawn?
(l to cries for en adjournment here became as loud as ever,
and one man with very powerful lunge bellowed out—" It is
no nee ro do it in a packed meeting "
The Rev. J. PEARSON then addressed Mr. Laslett, and
told him that se the meeting had been legally called sad
legally dissolved, no other could be held in the hall ;
Lulu% thereupon desisted from rearoniog with the free
traders, and this put an end to the proceedings.
Upwards of an hour elapsed, however, before either the
protectionists or their opponents qoftted the ball. The place
was crammed full, and both parties sat in mute array. Mr.
Cutler and the Rev. John Pearson, of Suckley, kept telling
the people that " it was all over," and that " the court had
broken up," but u the gentry still lingered about the plea
themselves, the free traders maniferly suspected some trick.
At length the protectionist leaden took their departure,
and then the meeting quietly broke up, having previously
given three hearty cheers for "free trade," three fur " Mr.
Cobden," three fur " Sir Robert Peel," and three groans for
" the protectionists."