The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-10-30 00:00:00

•„_ Punric MEETING
OF THE 'WORKING CLASSES AT MANCHESTSR,
ON THE CORN LAWS, TAXATION, &c.

On 'Thursday evening last, pursuant to advertisement, a PO:lie
Meeting took pine In the Manor Court Room, in fligh.stree, of
the Working Classes and others of this town, " To consider the
propriety of petithming'Parliament, for a total and immediate Re.
peal of the Corn Laws—for a prompt and very great reduetien of
the present enormluts amount of Taxation—and for such a Reform
in the Commons' 'louse of Parliament as will secure to the peope
a proper and constitutional control over its Members, especially as
regards the managementof the public money, and to prevent a re.,
currence of that bankruptcy and ruin which are now devastating the
country, and which threaten to reduce Fmetend--our once free and
happy England—to the condition of the poorest and must despotic
country in Europe."
The Chair was annotinced to be taken et lialf-past seven o'clock.
but long before that time the avenues leading to the Courtroom
were filled whh a dense multittide of the labouring arises, and
when the doors were opened, the rush was like the breaking of some
river from its embankment. The room was tilled almost in an
instant, and hundred., enable to effect an entrance, crowded upon
the stairs, and at theouter door.
The time arriving at which the Chair should have been taken,
and the ineetirg manifesting some impatience.
Ur. Honed xs—*, the man in the fustian jacket"—get upon the
platform, and neid, that owing to certain circumstances the business
of the meeting could not commewce for live or six minutes. " I
hope, therefore," said he, " you'll wait patiently, and then we'll
get on rapidly, you'll see." (Applause.)
Ina few minutes afterwards he propoied to the meeting that Mr.
Eddie should take the chair.
" Is he a working meal and a townsman ?" cried out an indivi-
dual in the doted.
" Ay," said another, "he is; and he's. a good rm."
Mr. EDDIE was then voted to the Chair, which on taking, he
said._" Gentlemen, you'll excuse me. I feel that lam incompe-
tent to fulfil the office in which your favour has placed me. flow.
ever, I .am herr, and I'll do my best; no man can do more."
(Applause.) He then with a loud and dear voice read the adver-
tisement which had convened the meeting, and said ee" Gentlemen,
a string of liesoluions, founded on this advertisement, will be
submitted by others who are to come after me, for your approval or
rejection. If any gentleman who hears them read, and wishes
either to make an objection to them, or to amend them, let him
come forward to the hustings, like a man, and then and there state
his objection ; and not disturb the meeting by calling nut, • I ob.
ject to that motion,' and so on, followed by another ; then there
may come cries of silence,' until the harmony of the flleetingbe.
come completely disturbed. I hope, too, that in any observations
that may be made, all offensive expressions may be avoided, and
that no one will indulge in anything personal, or tending to the in.
jury of azwther's reputation, but that every thing w.II be conducted
manfully, peaceably, and orderly (Cries of Bravo); and that
those who act to the contrary may be turned out of the room ; and
I hope they who come to disturb the Meeting may he sent back
to their employers with a message, that we can do without them.'
(Great applause.) I shall now leave the business of the Meeting
to those who ate better able to address you."
A person in the crowd here begged that he might be allowed to
make a few observations before any resolution was propoeed.
(Cries of " Turn him out," and " Come forward.") The cry ef
" Come forward" prevailing, the man mounted the platform. On
being asked his name, he said it was Clark.
Mr. CLARK then said, I don't rise for the purpose of opposing
the motives that brought you here, for callous and cold must he be
who would not raise his voice against the execrable Corn Laws
(great applause), laws which disgrace the statute hook of this coon.
try. It possible they are mere oppressive than the laws of Draco,
which were so cruet that they were said to be written in blood..
There has been of late a great cry out about blasphemy, but those
who raised the cry are more blasphemous than they upon when it
was raised. God in his goodness has blessed earth with abundance,
and bid us enjoy it, but the Corn Laws step between God and his
creatures and say you shan't enjoy it.. Now I take this to be the
foulest of blasphemy. (Applause.) I assure you lam anxious for
the repeal of the Corti Laws, and that anxiety brought tie hither ;
but I really don't think it meeting held in a room by candle light is
calculated to gain your object. (Token, of dins probation, with
cries of " Go on.") I mean that a meeting held at the open air,
and in the open lice of day, would have a tar greater effect.
It was here submitted that as them was no motion before the
meeting the speaker was irregular.
Mr. CLARK wits desired to submit a motion if he had one to sub.
mit, but he declined doing no, and as he descended from the plat.
form he said, " I'll not submit a motion to tiny meeting that is not
held in ,tbe day time, in the. open air, and in such a plate as Pe-
terloo." _

Ms. Mutual' rose to propose the first Resolution. lam sorry,
said he, that any interruption should have taken place, for I be.
lieve we bare all met for one object, and that one cause has brought
us here. With respect to the time and the place of meeting to
which the last speaker objected, I have to observe that 1, like you,
am one of the working classes. If the Meeting had been celled jp,
the open day-light,. I, for one, could not have attended,
because my day time is devoted to the service of my ear-
. Moyer, obi all of you have duties to perform la the day
time, which to neglect for the purpose of attending any fleeting,
would subject you and me to the appellation of bed sarvants.—
Now our object is not to make bad servants, but to endeavour to
redress those:gri. vances, occasioned by mis-government, that really
tend to make bad servants, for how can man with empty bell es
make good servants ? (Great applause, with cries of hear.) Tue
propriety of the resolution I am about to move for your adoptior,
nerds not the fofce of logic nor the strength at' argamcot to prats.
The proposition it contains is self-evidentit brings convich n
with it. The Gazette, for the last nine monilis, has proved the
truth of it, and proclaimed to the whole world the precarious situ.
anion of our manufacturers, many of whom, from affluent circum-
stances, have been brought almost to a level with their starring
work-p.mle. An instance of this I can prove in the fate of one of
my late employers, whose capital of 30.000 t. has been swept away
through the direful effects of Corn Laws rind taxation. (Applause.)
Need we, I say; need we, who contpose that useful class of society
call. d " the labouring classes," suffer all the misery and privation
hidi this resolution has pointed out ? Whr, there is pot a street,
there is not a lane, there is not an alley, in the town of Manchester,
that does not bear evidence of the truth of the resolution 1 have
proposed. As I said before, it requires no force of logic is r strength
of argument, to prove ir speaks for itself. When I looked
over its lines, it reminded me of a certain philosopher and astrolo-
ger, who denied the existence of motion, and also of a person who
took it into his head to convince him that such a thing did exist,
by making a man rise up and walk before him, which
simple circumstance convinced him that there was such a thing as
mutton. Now the distress under which we labour is as clear a
the sun at nom day, and those who deny it require as little to
convince them of it, existence, as it requited to convince the Hos
gopher and as raloger of the existence of motion. (Loud applause.)
There is not an individual, from one caner of the empire to
the other, but what is aware of it. llas not the King upon the
throne subscribed his thousands towards its relief ? (Applause.)
I have no doubt that many of you here are living proofs of the fact,
and whose empty stomachs bear leethoony to its truth. Jl any of
you, I em certain, have not tasted the bread of life from the rising
of the sun down to its setting this day. (Cries of It's true—it's
true.") !lad it not been for the bounty of benevolent individuals,
during the late trying times, many thousands of the working classes
of Manchester would have been swept away by the ruthless hand of
Famine into eternity. (Applause.) Have not many of the higher
classes, though themselves undergoing daily losses, come forward
with their twenties, fifties, and hundreds ; not to keep us from
went—bat from the grave ? (Great appiause.) Our 'toff:rings
have muds us politicians, and induced us to study political
economy, in order that we might find out the real cause of them.
The individuals to whom the remaining resolutions are committed,
will point out the causes of our present suffering—for thipe is
no effect ever takes place without a cause. Suffering will not only
teach the labouring classes to be politicians and political economist:,
but philosophers. lie then read the first resolution' which,
with the others that were passed at this meeting, will be found
below. The resolution, being -put front the chide, was carried
unanimously.
Mr. Berm es said they were sgain :net to consider the old ones-
doss of the Cern Laws, the merits of which bad been frequently
diseusaed, and which were now well known. What they wanted
was cheaper bread, and they knew that they could no: have this
without a repeal of the Corn Law", and a free importation of foreign
grain. We could thea export to other countries out rnaaufactur.d
goads, and import in exchange for them their corn. This we are
denied in order to enrich the landholders, who, whih packetimf the
moths of our labour, will state in our starving faces, and call us
" poor devils." We should be " pour devils," indeed, if we allowed
them to enjoy their monopoly without raising out votes against it.
We have a host of strength arrayed against us, and against it all that
we can do is by petitions and remonstrances. Hare we are, honest
mechanics, met to petition for our rights ; all we want is the wages
of our labour. The country has been kept from ruin 1,,r the lust
forty years by the genius and industry of her mechanics. lie re-
collected seeing in a London Paper, during the late distress, an ad-
vertisement of a boxing match for the benefit of the starving ma-
nufacturing population of Manchester. A part of the mechanics,
who for the last forty pears had kept this country from ruin, were
to be benefited by people whom they would be asoamcd to be seen
in company with in the public street ; they ought not to have
need of such a benefit, nor should they if the mechanics came for-
ward, not its a altilly-slially way, but boldly, and sign pajama fur
their rights. They might be told by some that their petitions pro.
ducal no effect ; they were laid on the table—he might as wall say
the she—or perhaps they, were cut up by the tailor to take the
fashion of a new coat. It was an injury to an Englishman to
throw out his petition., but still he ought to persevere. Some would
my, let thesystem alone, and,it will fall of itself; but unfortutimely
it would fall., as it did in France, amidst the horrors and bloodshed
of the revolutitm. (Great applause and approbation.) Was there
present any lather whmwithout feelings of approbation.)
contemplate
such a fate for his children Be trusted not but that all present
would calf for a repeil of bad laws to prevent such a result. Some
would tell them to mind their work, and let the landowners mind
metre ; this the working people must do, otherwise, to use a coca.
mon phrase, their mouths must be sawed up. Others say, go to
other countries, who would be glad to get
you, and who say, " as
the English will not take our corn in eachLige for their manufac.
tures, therefore we mu-t manufacture for ourselves." The Corn
Laws have been upheld thus:—My Lord so and so has three sons;
he says, 1 would like, if I could, give each of my sons the income
nuisiug from my hundred acres. I will raise any rents, and the
Corn Bill will prtnect tiny tenants ; and if they quit the farms, others
• Will take them. This as Whit the landholder kid, as the Wont

created
we

gave him what be imbed for hie bead; but they twee now coming
round under the instruction of Henry Hunt, our friend, whohee
never deserted OR. (Greet applause.) He conies forward boldly\
and shows the farmer that they are hot benefited by the Corte
Laws, and overturns the resolotama of their su7,rnnters no has
told them that the manufattbreta do het wish to take their living froth
them : no wonder that they never before saw this, for they cotild
not see beyond their noses. If the manufacturers and farmers came
forward hand in hand, and successfully permed this tax on Weed,
all others would follow; if they cut down this root, all the breathe*
would fell t 00...
• Mr. WmEELu thought any one might tee in the eountemmarg
rf the met limier' of this country the effects of this bread tax. He
reminded them of the Weei er. in which di% law was passed ; the
military were to be men in almost every •dtmer, and the artillery.t
men slept at their eannotui. He would sall if it was to be repes'ol
in the same manner; or fetid they carmly.stand by and me tteie
famishing children deprived of their bread ? Ile, et one time, bad
understood, that when he had paid fora loaf it was his own; but
he had now teemed that this was not the case. Ile, when hi
France, *here they Could buy bread at a penny per pound, while
here they have to wty twopence, thought he might no well being
some cheep bread with him. Knowing that they wo AI not allow
him to bring more than one toe, he got oat hiked, an large, that it
could scarcely be, got into the oven. He landed at Portsmouth, anti
was making thchest of his way along the street with hi. loaf. when
Mr. Motley, of the Excise, tapped him. and said, " Where got yen
that bread ? That is not English bread ; it belongs to me • '
laugh) cud so he took it ; although (said Mr. Wheeler) I thnught
I had the best right to it, for I paid the brass for it. Taking tbt
bread tom under my arm was the next thing to taking the bread
out 6f toy mouth. (A laugh.) This was in consequence of tbe In.
finial Corn Laws. -
Mr. HODotNs then presented himself, and was received Vide
load and gefteratepplause. He mid he could not try If ft wee
fortunate or unforternme that the motion he was to propose had
been put into his hand. It was, however, on a abject that weeld
cheer them all whenever he named it—taxation. (A laugh.) The
working classes were in an awkwaid predicament. By one petty
they were called en to petition. By another it wee argued that if
they did not petition, it was it clear and densooetrative proof that
they were quite satisfied with thirgs as they were; and a third
port, held that it was sheer Impudence if they opens/ their
mouths at ell. The latter wished to inculcate on them the doe•
trine of passive obedience. and non-resistance; and if they did
not choose to acknowledge the doctrine, they hero held as vile
Radicals, and ought at once to be put down. Mr. Hodgins then
read some extracts from the Manchester Herald. who might, he
said, be called *e Field Marshal of the Corn Texas. Though
this paper told them they could do nothing to alter the Opinion of
the Ministry, who had already nude up their minds what to do,
he could remind • him of emelt°, s on which they had made up
their minds as positively, and yet had altered their intention's/hen
the voice of the people was heerd. When a Bill of pains and penal.
ties was brought against an oppressed, an injured, and brokers..
hearted female (great applause.). Lord Liverpool said, "be just,
and fear not;" and yet the Noble Lord threw up the Bill. The
people's voice was hear.d, and Eldon shed t ens; he would not call
tfem crocodile tears, but team he shed (e laugh); and Castlereagh
did one just act, aid we know• of no other just act of his but one,
which was his last. That Bill was abandoned in consequence of
the people's opposition to it. and its fate ought to give them en.
couragment. (Applause.) Mr. Hodgins then proceeded to con.
went on the iferald, who, bid ns he was, had, however, given the
!herdic), one palpable hit; for if manufacturers were to be pro.
tested by du i.s, why should not the landholders tie protected also?
He was not for repealing the Corn Laws without hailing them a
moticrine protecting duty. If we wish, said he, to secure our own
rights we mum pay deference to the rights of others. Even their
beat friend, William ( obbett, allowed the* if the taxes contiraetl
to be demanded in full, and the Cloth Laws taken away, the land-
lords would get no rents. Taxation was the great evil. It was a
general practice to draw off attention by a side wind, when the
people we'e determined to gain a point; and when a remedy was
prannse I, if nos fault could be found with it, fault would be found
with him who proposed it. Should they reject a remedy suggested
by Cobb tt be rinse he began his career try driving rooks from the
corn del la ? Shield they reject a remedy suggested by Hunr,
because he came to Manchester anti frightened one pawnbroker and
one rfng rh eMl.baker into fits? (I:atwitter, and very great ap.
placse) No! even if Lord Eldon himself were to suggest a re-
medy. it should be examined ott its own merits, without r:ferenee
to the m n who braught it forward. In this respect he (Mr.
linclg•nst was not lilt: 31r. Cobbelt. elm said that any body who
looked at Lord John Russell would at once say, " I shall pit no
regard millet he suggests." When starvation stared them in the
face, they ought to listen to every one, and select that remedy which
was most likely to remove or alleviate their distress. As illustrative
of the evils of the present system, which threw wealth into great
masses, Mr. Hadgins related, with affecting pathos. a story whith
he had read of a poor weaver and his wife expiring of hunger. This
story was told in the Manglester Gazette, anti close upon it was a
par nymph descriptive of the grandeur of the Dithe of Devenshirel
embassy to Russia. Was it posiible for any one, having the feel.
into Pad
a man, town from the scene, where two kind partners,
who bad striven together through all the evils of life, and had sunk,
elution!) starvation at last, into one grave, to the magnificence and
the splendor of that embassy, and not be convinced that so much
wealth, and so much poverty, existing together, indicate a bad
system ? (Applause.) The people, in their distress, were also in-
sulted by the building of splendid palaces ; and while starvation
was stalking round the land, Ministers were laying out two hun.
dyed and fifty thousand pounds in building houses for the King.
(Cries of " Shame, shame. ') None, but Englishmen, having the
sound of millions constantly in their ears, could believe that such
an'enormous sum was to he laid out, in this way in the midst of ge.
nerd distress. A great writer, sixty years ago, had said that the
character of an Administration might be known by observing the
condition of the people. If this was applied now, what would he
the cmclusien ? The people must not be satisfied wth calling
for a repeal of the Corn !JAWS, which caused but a part ot the min
under which they groaned. They must call elso for a reduction of
taxation• which had increased until it was unbearable. In the
reign of Queen Anne, when England really was •• the envy anti
admiration of surrounding nations," the taxes amounted to only
five millions, and now they were more than eleven times five. Of
this enormous amount, the greater pert were collected in an lat.
rest way—in a way that people did not know how they were got,
and it was this indirection that blinded them all. Beer was taxed
to the amount of 3,200,8001. ; but the great folks who brewed their
own escaped. 440,0001. was paid on candles—" Ay," said he,
-' this very candle in my hind is taxed, and we pay for the '
light it gives us." 1,600,000/. was paid on printed calico),
paid by their wives and daughters, who wore taxed gowns
and 4,200.0001. was paid on ten. Thee stuns were all'
gathered indirectly. A dealer buys five pounds' worth of tea,
and pays 51. more of tax; then comes his profit upon the tea, and .
upon the tax, so that the poor woman, for her sixpence, gets no
more than two pennyworth of tea. I wish, said he, that those who
live on the taxes would come and collect them themselves. I should
like to go and see them set about it. I should like to see them go in
upon the old women when they are drinking their two pennyworth
of tea, and say, " Come. give me fourpcnce." I should like to
see hon th • fire.irons, and the pokers, and the stools, wculd then '
fly. Great laughter.) I should like to spare adoy from toy Picric,
to go r and with the tax-cater. anti see hint receive his wages in
the way he ought to receive them. (Applause.) Mi. Hodgins then
commen.e.l, with much humour, on Mr. Canning's flail to Paris,
which. he said, was not likely to produce any good, flw the Hour.
bone, for whim lie had spent so much blood and treasure, had, in •
spite of hh carried their usurpanon to the gates of altutrid, anti
were not likely to make its any concessions (Hear, hear, anti loud
applause.) Alluding to the system which in our own country 31r.
Canning Ad t worked so well, he said that he also had seen it work
well, but hors did it work pow ? While the paper money was
afloat ell seemed prosper,ty—while they were borrowing and spend.
ing all seemed prosperity t but the day of reckoning had co:-oe, anti
how was it now ? They borrowed. and there was great faith in the
lender ; but it was a faith that would lead them to repentance. It
was like the faith of John Taylor anti his wife. An old man, a
man after Cobbett's own heart. who had boarded a few guineas,
went to lire with his relations, who were very kind to him whilst
the gold lasted. When it was none, ite found that he was no longet
wticome. A reverend divine met him one day on the inad, and
asked him. " Where are you plodding to, al man ?" " Why,"
said he, " I am goinn to 'where they dunna want me, anti I am
come coin where they can do salt enough without me." " Indeed
well, where are you goring?" "To the workhouse," said the old
man, " And where do you come from ?" " From my relations,
who hire found nut that my money is done." '• YOU are a enter
fellow," said the divine; " what 'faith arc you of ?" " Why,"
said the old chat) " lam of the same faith as John Taylor and
his wife." " The same faith as John Taylor and his wile what
faith is that ?" " Why, Sir, you seen that they keep a shop, and
I have run in their debt six or seven ;fronds, and they begin to
think that 111 ne'er pay them, and 1 begin to think so too."
(Great laughter.) Now, gentlemen, said Mr. llodgins, the Funds
holders, I suspect, begin to think they'll ne'er be paid, anti I begin
to think so too; (great applause) although 1 am of opinion that
our bargain with them should he held as sacred as a bargain between
any two individuals. Mr. Hodgins concluded by urging them to
mend forward and petition, and give the Members of the New Par.
)lament an opportunity of showing if they have any regard for the
welfare of the country. Their enemies were already in the field,
with Sir Thomas Lethbridge at their head, and they ought to make
a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether, and make the
beam kick up, and pitch Sir Thomas and his troops on the other
std:. ((treat applause.)
rep3rlennr. Gt:NETT (of the Manchester Mercury) rose, and said a
few words in defence of that paper, which had been somewhat mil..
It did not advocate an importation of Corn free ot
duty, while duty was imposed on the importation of other coin.
modities, but had said it would be but justice if a moderato duty
was paid.
DETROSIER Said- +ll`-'
happiness anti --- -
the •

viduallY i
'flunky, it
this country,

maintenance
churches ;-

. , .....
qt. DETROSIER said, that the end of all Government was the
oldness and comfort of the goverord. When it so far forgot
purpose for which it was imutured as to set up an interest indi-
malty its own, and different from that of the majority of the corn-
mity, it was no longer worthy of support. The Government of
s country, for many years past, had been in this state; they had
erred for themselves sinecure places and pensions. Where should
appeal against' those unjust acts? To the Government! it
a they who thus shackled us, for the purpose of aggrandising
unaelves and their friends. Aware of the power which superiti,
n had over the minds of ener., the Government had faltered a
arch established by law, to which it had greeted sums for it's
tintenance greater than the income tii( all the other Christian
arches in Europe; and through the medium of the legislative
war it had so fat prevailed that it weadringerous form individual
open his mouth against its usurpation. To misinanagethent
**ziand oft,' her present diskreeo 1 nor would she Seer recover MI