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

SATURDAY EVENING,

freedom which he conferred upon us. don't let us mock
him and insult the world by erecting a monument or
statue to him in our great towns.—(Hear, hear.) Gen-
tleman, I helm told you of the advantage the poorer
classes have derived from the importation of this vast
amount of human subsistence. I have sometime* specu-
listed, in looking back, on what have been the mischiefs
which so long prevailed on the supply
and the misery inflicted on the people by the restric-
tionsof foot!.—(bear; hear.) of the articles
Now, I don't thick from 1815
down to 1848, during which you have had tumults,
conspiracies, rebellious mobs, machine breaking:, pike-
makings, drillings, and all those horrid symptoms of
almost incipient insurrection—l say, gentlemen, T don't
think there is an instance amongst these melancholy
events in modern history that I could not trace to the
operation of these corn-laws. The spy system—coer-
cion Bills, gagging Bills, Peterloo—all those horrid and
disgraceful scenes which we have had—all those black
Acts which deface our statute-books, that coerce the
people, after being
goaded almost into rebellion, have
sprung from this system. Look back to the history of
our country, and I believe every one of those transactions
can be traced to the operation of these laws.—(Hear.
hear.) And it is so because these laws keep up a sys
temattc scarcity of corn in this country. When a bad
harvest befel us, then, as we bad no store of food, and
nobody cultivatin
there are now millions in the
Mississippi valley, in the Ukraine, or on the fertile plains
of France,—as we had nobody preparing food for us, I
say, when scarcity came, even if cur ports were open
undtr the sliding scale, there was no provision, and
there was very little modification of famine.—(Hear,
hear.) And then I ask those who are seeking to
disturb this system of free trade, which gives
a more equal flow of the necessaries of life to
the people of this country,—which insurers them `from
those panics, and consequently
against that excitement
and those scenes of turbulence to which I have been.
alludieg,—l ask them to consider what has'been the
effect of .free trade in corn, which was accomplished by
the Anti-Corn-law League of
1846, upon the interests—
the political and social altercate, of this country daring
the late period of revolutions and excitements through-
out the continent of Europe! Why, how much of our
nthiscountrythe
evemin_,
'nay, be traced triumphtroeultheember,
in
February, 1848, while sitting
of the League in 1846?—(tlear,
in the House of Commons,
at tranquillity u isl iy i
o'clock in e
seven'
e n
when the news
reached us of the revolution in Paris, and the flight of
Louis Phillips and the Royal Family from that city. It
was one of those incidents so overwhelming in its influ-
ence that it had almost the effect or suspending the pro-
ceedings of the House. In a moment everybody was in
conversation with his neighbour es to the effect of this
extraordinary event. I was sitting by the side of Mr.
flume, and ho instantly rose, and, crossing over the
House, sat himself down by Sir
, R. Peel, and whispered
iu his ear the news that nal just
arrived. "This
comes," said Sir Robert, " of attempting
to govern
by a numerical majority in the legislative As-
sembly, regardless of the opinior, out of doors"—
(Hear, and applause)—and, pointing significantly
to the Protectionist party sitting on the benches just in
his rear, added, It is just whet these people wanted me
to do, but I would not. —(Renewed applause.) He
(Sir Robert) expressed himself in exulting terms as to
the beneficial effects of that policy which he had esta-
blished not two years before, sad I have not the least
doubt in the world that at that moment every Protec-
tionist—every monopolist who had a head upon his
shoulders to think at all, felt grateful,that wo (the Free-
tradtrs) were not still holding our great meetings in
Covent-garden and throughout the country. But these
men forget these things, and these silly eneu_(Laughter
and applause)—these silly men aro now talking of re-
sy they are sal
vivingthie question. I y men, because
file of the so-called the followers, the rank and Protec-
tionist party, are sincere—they
_.believe in what they are
attempting to do; hut what shall. we say to the leaders,
who have. been profiting by this delusion for the last four
or five years, and now that they have got into power,
want to throw overboard protection altogether? I say
we can have no kind of sympathy or commiseration
for them whatever. They would, if they could enable
their blind followers ,to accomplish their object—they
would lend themselves to a system, in Spite of their own
innate convictions, and lead the country back again to
that state of conflict to which I have referred, and that
train of evils from which we have so happily escaped
during these past few years.--(Applause.) Now, it will
be the business of this country to get rid of this question
for ever. I have said it is for the interest of the people
that this one thing should be done, though in saying this
I do not say it is to be carried on to the exclusion of
other important questi as reform in Parliament, or
ons—
what other movement may be before you—but I say you
will be better able to do those things when you have re-
ceived this charter of the bread of life. When you have
received abundance of food, with its chances of abun-
dant labour, you will be better able to enter upon that
new campaign you have conceded, well drilled, and
having beaten your opponents in one thing, you will find
it is just the same party you have to beat in the other;
for the monopolists in corn are, after all, the monopo-
lists in political power. We may have in our ranks
men who go various lengths in political reform and the
question of the suffrage, but, at all events, I scarcely
know anybody who voted in favour of the total repeal of
the corn-laws that is not willing to go onward also in
the path of reform—(Applause)—whilst, on the other
hand, they who would deprive you of the privilege of
eating an untaxed loaf, they are the very men who will
keep you out of the pale of the constitution, and who
will take advantage of their power: to tax you in other
things pretty roundly as well as the loaf.—(Hear, hoar.)
By settling this questioosand securing for the working
classes freedom for their industry, and the greatest abun-
dance, under the laws of nature, in the supplies of food,
we are placing them in the best p-Isible position to
fight any other battle.—(flear, hear.) I nave seen lately
in London, Lancashire, and elsewhere, facts to show that
the working classes are in a better position to fight their
battles—battles upon the wage question and other ques-
tions of that nature—than they ever were before. They
have " waxed fat and kicked."--(Laughter and cries of
" Hear, hear.") But lam not going to enter upon that
question now—there are faults on both sides—but
when you find the people a working in condition to
strike—whether it is for wages, regulations in trade
or set up and battle for a share in the re-
presentative System of this county (Laughter)—
y 7
I say, when I find them able to sustain a contest of
that kind, it is always a proof to my mind that they
are better off than they were before._( There-
fore, do not let any ithhold your
e persuade you to W
efforts, or put you back.this matter be
Go on. Let
settled. Lay it up in your hearts; talk of it at your
own homes and fireside circles, in your workshops e.nd
among your neighbours. Let
every man, woman, and
child be prepared to settle this question now, and,
having settled it, we shall have taken one more step in
the path of eternal truth and justice, and you will
have arrived nearer the attainment of other objtelF, is
whatever path you may choose to go next. (The Hon.
Gentleman resumed his seat amidst loud, enthusiastic,
and long-sustained cheering, having spo e k n for three-
quarters of an hour.)
The MAYOR then put the resolution, and it was car-
ried unanimously, and followed by loud cheers. He
then called for " the contrary," a
ca 11 which elicited the
response of a hearty laugh. -
Mr. E. BAINES then moved the following resolution,
which was seconded by Mr. J. D. LuccoCK, and unani-
mously agreed to:—

e‘ That, in furtherance of this object, this meetiog ur-
gently recommends to the election committees of the
borough of Leeds and the West R:ding of York to take
immediate measures to secure the return of free-trade
Members by their respective constituencies; and that,
in the present political cri4is on the
with a view to the n
cr°l23Pt expression of general opinion
fence at the existilT Policy of tree trade, this meeting
determines to revive the
Leeds Anti• Corn-law Associa-
tier." _ permanent de-

-
ihrlprair;.g Speech, proposed the fullow-
ingMinr.eTal.ol:inatiatr,;
EXCELLENT 31AJEsTY.
" TO TEE QUEEN'S 231'0",f :
" May it plaase your m B.l'
maie':: conscious of the earnest so-
loyal and devoted sahife„:',i'sty—We, your Majesty's
Y feels for tho weltare and
hliacritpuidneesNsvhoithpyrn'orurpeopie
sense of the danger whiel; and impressed with a deep
during the last four years now threatens the security
of those great measures of commercial policy which,
h
your Majesty's subjects, havelatentment of all classes of
00 °lc so greatly conduced to
the prosperity and social
chief members of which are theof a Government, the
alarm the accession to power seen with distrust and
e
accredited leaders of a
party resolutely bent on -
, WiTlterY of the country.
a estoti
restrictions on the trade and ind ng odious and unjust
" That your memorialists
on the food of the
lemn and emphatic protest against recording their so•
British people are, by every ar"
to reimpose, in whatever shape, any and every attempt
people, arc firmly persuaded that itxles
majority of the
al and domestic
to resist and defeat such s, constitutional,,,, means, pre-
trade and commerce, and the))
aggression on the rights of iedastrneY, as an unjust
Y, the freedom of
well-being of the great mass of oiri
" That your memorialists believe that
subjects.
certainty on this subject are calculatedat doubts and
jeopardise all all trading and indostriat to disturb and
alive a spirit of agitation and restless operations, to keep
entire nation, to foment false hopes Less throughout the
apprehensions, and that very sounacind foster injurious
policy demand an immediate and d reasons of state
of a question fraught with such eeibive settlement
disunion and disquietude to all classes manifest elements of
of
subjects. your Majesty's
" Your memorialists, therefore, w
respectfully beseech your Majesty net would loyally and
terests of your subjects to be postponed ° suffer the in-
of a temporising Administration, or a t° the exigencies
ties that may conflict with sound maximsl?Y party difficul-
tional policy; but that your Majesty, in the of constitu-
of your Royal prerogative, will cause
just exercise
now pending between the responsible 'lea
t,vti great issue
Crown and the people at largo to ,
ectisers of the
tinelly determined by a speedy di,;a°ol forthwith. and
ution of Par-
liament.
" And your memorialists will ever pay."
Mr. D. GREEN having seconded the
re:
memorial was unanimousy adopted by the resolution, the
Councillor KELSALL then moved-- meeting.
" 1 hat this meeting tenders its best thanks to Mr.
Cobden for his eminent and untiring exertions in the
cause of free trod., believe rejoices to believe that, in the
event of a dissolution of l'arli"neut, the fi •
rst cans'i-
tuency in the empire will be again honoured by t '
, ing him, the chief champion of commercial and indus-
reurn-
, trial freedom, as one of its representatives;
and would
further express its earnest hove that the ga stru l 0 on
which he Las now entered will shortly terminate
complete and final triumph of the great
principle i thethe
advocacy of which his whole political 1•1.
1 0 has been
devoted."
Councillor CARTER having seconded the resolution it
wars most heartr meetiy respondtd to by the '
ng, and
carried by acclamation.
14r. c()BDEN lien again caste forward, and Wu got