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

SUN,

ANTI-COPN-1 A. IV MEETING AT LEEDS.

On Thursday night a very crowded meeting was held
in the cepalous Circus, Leeds, lately eree,ted fee, and.
occupied by M. Fraticoni and his troupe of equestrians,'
to consider the present political crisis, the reesmal,9f..
the Anti Corn-law League, and the propriety of memoee
tialieing her Majesty in favour of the maintenance of free
t -rde."
Mr. Coblen was the only Member of Parliament pre-
sent, and it is only true to state that many person: at-
tended the meeting solely to h 'ar-hia speech. It a esti-
mated that from 3,000 to 4.000 persons .wfre
prevent,
and a gtut many were unaele to get in, the building
being crowded in every part. Tne appearance of 'Mir.
Cobden--who came into the Circus accornpa-nied by Sir
G. Goodmen (she mayor of Leeds), Sir J. P4xtoi, Mr.
Carbul, Mr. Baines, and other leading Free-traders—
was hailed with lOnd and tang continued applause.
Sir G. GOODMAN was called to the chair„ lie said
the importance of the meeting was very clearly maei-
festeti by the presence of persons in such large numbers,
assembled to a moment, at the opening of their preceed-
ings. Nothing could more clearly evince the warmth
which was felt towards the measures that '':had been
passed, and their firm determination alit they should
not be broken in uport.—(Cheers.) The result of the
great meeting which had been held at Winchester, and
the one which was held there that night, would be such
as to impress any ,Minister, however • bold--and they
had a bold one in their present Premier-e-but he believed
that even he would quail before the power of such assem-
blies as these,_-(Cheers.) Such manifestations of the
opinions of the people, which were fixed and defiinite,
would soon convince the present Government that any
attempt to re-enact the obnoxious corn, laws must be
impotent and irain..----(Lend cheers.) Ministers now'
professed not to be disposed to .act in the manner
which they had, he thought, always threatened to do.
But he could tell thi m that they must be up and
doing, and nut leave them the power of 'doing so. The
late Administration had gone out because they could
not command a majurity:and were unable to carry out'
any great measure. But what did they say to the pre-
sent Government? They knew that they had a minority,
and that if any such measure was brought forward it
must drive them out.—(Cheers.). Let them, then, 'with,
out loss of time, at once show the new Ministry what
were their opinions on these grand subjects. Let :there
express their dtcleled opinions on all of them, whbther
it was for promoting the re-enactment of the. corn-laws

in a modified form or in any other form whatever, or
any other great question which might agitate the future
Parliament or the country. Let them say whether they
considered they had got to the end of reform, or that
was again to be their watchword. Let them declare
their conviction on the matter, and say whether the
people who could assemble in such large numbers and
testify by their order and good conduct that they were
possessed of those virtues that entitled them to ,be
voters, should be still shut out from their privileges or
not.—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. CAariurr said they were not assembled there to
listen either to slim or any other of their fellow-towns-
men; their great attraction that evening was his friend
Mr. Cobden, who bad come to develope to them the

views ho entertained in reference to the present state of
affairs.—(Hear, hear.) He should hesitate altogether
from addressing them that evening, but having, during
the long and arduous struggle which they formerly
waged against the corn-laws, under the banner of the
great Anti-Corn-law League, fought by the side of Mr.
Cobden and his illustrious companions—having never
ceased his efforts to bring about so desired a consumma-.
tion until tatty accomplished the triumph of free trade,
and having witnessed the national rejoicings which took
place on the completion of their victory, it would be
strange, indeed, if he (Mr. Carbutt) did not make his
appearance among them that evening to take counsel
with them as to their future proceedings, and to tell
them he was ready to enrol himself once more in the
ranks of that League which broke the shackles which-
lettered the nation's liberty, and gave it the power to
rise to its present height.—(Cheers.) The resolution he
had to move he would now read. (It declared that the Leeds
branch of the Anti-Corn-law League should be and was
thereby re-established.) He would turn their attention
for a moment to that class of the community which was
ever crying out that they were starving for want of pro-
tection, and who, ever siec' corn was 803. a quarter, at
every drop in the price told ti e public they were ruined.
—(Hear, hear) If they looked to that class of the'
community, ant it they took the trouble to travel from
John o'Groat's house to the Land's-end, what did they
see ? Did they see land 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. Whe:re.
ever they went there was happiness and comfort, and
there never was a time when the, land was better culti--
rated or when more corn was produced.—(Hear, hear.)
England was being from year to year better cultivated,
there was more labour employed, more skill, more capital,
and science applied to the cultivation of the soil in the pre
sent day than was ever before known. Be then proceeded
to argue that however small might be the duty which
the Protectionists sought to impose under the delusion
that it was only for revenue, would pro Canto be A duty
imposed for protection. If they admitted of even a Is.
duty on corn—(No, no, and cries of " We'll have none")
—it they admitted this, away. went the whole system a,
once.—(Hear, hear.) And there was no argument for
the duty on corn which would not apply to every other
article produced in this country or the colonies. After
some further remarks, Mr. Carbutt concluded by moving
the resolution he had before read:—
" That, in the judgment of this meeting, the forma.
tion of a Ministry of which the chief members are the
accredited leaders of a party resolutely bent on restoring
protection, clearly indicates the near approach of an effort
to renew the corn and navigation-laws, and therefore
renders imperative the re-organza ion of the Free-traders
not merely to defeat that effort, but to make the defeat
so signal and decisive as to render utterly hopeless any
further attempt to revoke the great principle of tree
trade expounded by the League, and embodied in the
measures of that distinguished, statesman, Sir Robert
Peel."

The resolution was seconded by Mr. J. C. BARRETT,
flax-spinner.
Mr. CoBDEN. on rising, was received with vociferous
cheers, again and again repeated. When silence had been
restored the Hon. Member said—Mr. Mayor and gentle-
men, it bas been my privilege toatteud malty public meet-
ings in Leeds, but I never saw an assembly in any room
in this borough before numbering one-halt, or I should
say one quarter, of this meeting. And this meeting has
been called within little more than twsilty-four hours'
notice, and I observed on entering the doors that the
streets outside are crowded by those unable to gain ad-
mittance.—(Hear, hear, and a 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 in-
terest in the question of free trade —(Loud laughter.)
I am very glad, for the character of Yorkshiremen, that
at all times you have shown teat you know what ere
your interests, and what are your rights in this ini-
portent matter. Why, gentlemen, this meeting settles
the question of the West Riling election upon this
matter.—(Loud, reiterated, and vehement cheering.)
And here, gentlemen, 1. may as well at once refer to a
subject which would not appear to have immediate re-
ference to the motion 1 have to support ; but which,
under the circumstances, has a material reference to
the object of our meeting. I :peek of the represienta-
tien of the West Riding.—(Hear, bear, end applause.)
I speak in the presence of some of our trusted friends
and leaders, who will bear me out, that frem
the mOment of my return from the Continent, when
I found that the unexpected and unexampled honour had
been conferred upon me in my absence 'of returning me,
unsolicited, at a Member for this vast constituency—
that from the moment of my return to the very latest
period, I have uniformly held but one language, that
although I was proud of the honour which has been
thus conferred upon me, yet, seeing that the free-trade
question was settled. I did not see that there was any
advantage, while I thought there was some inconvenience,
in my contemplating continuing longer the representa-
tive of this county. And I will explain frankly to you
and to your brother electore what were, and still are, my
feelings upon this snbject. Gentlemen, as a public man,
having taken prominently a part in great public
questions, I have at all times in the House of Com-
mons borne my fair share of the duties of the Legislature,
apart from any eleims which may be made on me in
the way of private business. We know that to sit
as member of a constituency of this vast magni-
tude. and importance involves a vastly increased
correspondence and a much larger amount
1 private business in the House than falls to the lot of
share i
the Member for an ordinary borough.—(Hear.) 'I felt,
uthpeorneez; that in addition to the load whice always falls
Lament— that there great Pau btlhie
1 Li)tuhiic committees and the debates of Par-
was no necessity, unless some
upon myself the responsibility
were involved, why I should take
to the private business
and labour of attending
therefore intimated of
so
vast
a constituency.
I
tion I should retir to
ro my friends that at another °lee-
when I took leave of yniou the,West Riding, and that
friends in Stockport would hid hop, that my old
lowing you to force me with' vac
strong hand from
forgiven me for al-
them, and that I might again represent
Legislature. Not a month ago j
sawee them in the
friends in reference to this suject, and .some of our
final answer, that unless something gave them
a arose to make
this free-trade question the prominent and deciding
question, I should adhere to that determination which
1 have already to -right li6
- elit expressed, that,
whilst I
e the confidence. placed i
deeply seknOwledg in me by
this
al rent community, and which I shall ever trea-
sureg
l ray lift:, I should make my bow to the West
Riding of Yorkshire as its representative in Parlia-
ment.—(Laud,,No ne.-') Well, gentlemvn
shouts of i 9 ,
within a fortnight of that time I found a Protectionist 1
Government in power. That has greatly changed the
state of things, and altered the whole aspect of affairs
under which I spoke when I explained my intentions to
your friends in London.--(Loui cheers.) I then said,
that as we had men in power pleded to monopoly in
yen trade, I would, it would allow we the privilege-1
would come to the West Riding, throw down my gaunt-
let here, and challeng.i the monopolists of the kingdom
to put forth all their strength.— Vehement cheering.)
ge For, ntleman,
„having been promigently connected Wi,h
et
the cause tree trade, I fel, that this,
being the largest
constituency—the largest county in extent--the meat va-
ried in its interests—the melt tt,fla- , lin its .harocter
—and one of the most intlii-ntial Zer 1 t • the
kingdom—l ft It this wee the proper- wealthy in
for rue—(Bear, hear, and cheers)._
ihit3t ding ground.
: tr if I had Hit the
support of the electors of the county York this was
the spot of all others where I shoul'i't
—(Cheers.) There is, undoubtedly, a er tos meet them.
as the exponent and impersonation of 4" 5 in selecting
great principle
an individual who has been prominently connected and
identified with
.the advevioy of th t
a ,Witieiple, In

LONDON,

Yorkshire, in bygone times, you selected a Wilberforce
to demonetente tee the world your hatred of slavery—.
(Hear, hear)—you chose a Brougham as a means of
gigieg the stroegest demonstration of your adhesion to
reeasm—(Hear, hear)—and, though it would be vanity
in me to elese- myself -with those -illustrious names
("No, no," end applause) yet, .so long ns there is the
principle, and so long as there is a pelitical arena in this
aituity upon which to fight the' question with which my
name has been so long and so prominently connected—
that of free tracle—L place myself unreservedly at the
dieposal of tbe largest constituency in this kingdom, in
order that they may, through my representations, give
what I conceive to he a fitting expression to.that opinion.
--(Cheers.) Gentlemen, I said that this evening has
settled the question, end that, I shall net have the op-
portunity ot beating anybody in the riding, for nobody
will have the courage in this riding to come forward and
stand up upon the principle of Protection.—(Hears
hear.) I should like to see somebody canvassing the
West Riding in the interest of the. Corn-law
(Laughter.) I should like to hear their arguments with
you.. women and children down bere,—(Renewed
laughter.) But it would be bombastic in me to talk
big- of the efforts we Would make to beat our opponents,
when nobody will -come- to be beaten.—(Continued
laughter.) Well, gentlemen, I am here speaking to a
motion which refers to, and advises the restoration of,
the Anti-Coy n- le w League.—(Cheers.) Now lam
sure, whatever else iseay be said against us, it cannot
be asserted that we hive sanght prematurely to recom-
mence that organization.—(llear.) We laid down our
arms five and a half years ago. The Protectionists have
organized themselvese they have had their meetings in
Drury lane and Covent-gerden, a.Puke in the chair;
they have, stood for counties and poeket-boreughs in the
interest of Protection;- they have advocated dearth and
monopoly in Parliament; and yet we took no notice, and
did not even whisper of resuscitating the League. But
when we find a body of men taking possession of the
reins of power, we expect that they will drive in the di-
rection in which they have always professed to be tend-
ing.—(Hear, hear.) What is the party in power? The
Protectionist party—Protectionists they call themselves:
we call them mouopoiists.—(Cheers.) Protectionists—
or at least they heve been'known as Protectionists up td
his time; and. will they change their, character, and
alter their tone, immediately they get into office and
power? Their organs tell us we must not believe those
gentlemen—that all they have told us for five years past
are fibs—(Laughter)--that they never meant to do what
they have talked about so long; and if we will give
hem time they will show how dexterously they can
throw over those who believed them in earneet.—(Hear,
hear.) I tell you. as I told them at Manchester, Ido
not believe anything so base as this of them; I believe,
iron) all they have been telling us, they will reimpose
the corn-law if they can. It is the object of the League
to prevent them.—(Chiers.)' We want very little or-
ganizetion in Yorkshire, but we do iu some other places,
end teeling perfectly confident,- afer this meeting, that
lam quite safe, I think that I may profitably employ
my time in trying to enlighten the men and women
'living in other parts of the country.—(Cheers, and a
Voice—" Oh, we're all right bere," laughter, and re-
newed cheers.). Yes, we are all right here.—(Loud
cheers.) Something has been said by a gentleman who
preceded me about confining ourselves to one question.
That does not depend upon us—l mean those ot us who
take a prominent part in this question—it does not
depend upon us what question shall take a prominent
and leading part at the next election. You have de-
cided that.—(hear, hear.) What other question but
this question of 'the corn-laws would have brought this
large meeting together in 24 hours?—(Hear, hear, and
loud cheers.) There was a remark which fell from one
efthe greatest men who has visited our land, I mean the

great Hungarian leader—(Greatcheering)—eome time

ago, in which
I fully agree. He made this remark,
" that the instinct of the million is wiser than the wis-
dom of the wisest."—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) And it
is an instinct which renders all reason and argument
supetfluous, the instinct which has brought this mass of
the people together on this question of the corn-laws.
You feel, as all will feel now, that this is the critical
time of this question.—(Hear, hear.) Other questions
are not so ripe as this. You feel that this must be set-
tled now and for ever, and therefore you come forward

in all your strength, in order that you may put the
finishing stroke upon it.—(Hear, hear, and loud cheers,)
Alit it is not merely the corn-law question which is in-
volved in what we are now doing. It you settle the
corn question now, once and for ever, it leaves the field
clear for other questions.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.")
And you have the advantage now in dealing with this
question of protection, that the Protectionists themselves
itive told you, it you beat them this once they will never
mine to, be beaten 'again. Well, now then, let us beat
flaem to . their heart's content.—(Laughter and loud
cheers.) You see what odds are in our favour. If
we beat them once, why they say they will submit to it
tor ever. But we don't say so, for if by any possibility
.they happen to beat us now, they will have to beat us
again and again—(Loud cheers, and cries of " That's it
—they will")—while the Protectionists have told us that
if they are not successful now they will in future cease
to advocate these principles of restriction.—(Hear.) I
observe for lust:Mee, that Mr. Booker, the Member for
Herefordshire, one of the latest champions of Protection
who came into Parliament to settle off Free-traders, and
to settle the question by his statistics, has put out an ad-
dress to the electors of Herefordshire, and in that ad-
dress he tells them that the coming general election will
decide finally the question of free trade; and it is to be
a verdict once and for ever upon it. Well, then, I
say,
let us take care that that verdict is conclusive, that it is
as nearly unanimous as possible in this part of the king-
dom.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) I have said it is not
uecessary -• that I should enter into any argu-
ment on,• this, question. But I mentioned a
fact in Manchester,- on Tuesday, and I Should
like to mention into you here-that since the Anti-Corn-
law .Lea.gue closed.its:labours we nave imported into
this country upwards of 50,000000 quarters of grain.—
(Hear, hear, and much cheering.) Well, gentlemen,
.hat grain has been all:consumed, and, as has been well
observed by Mr. Carbutt, I don't find that our own
land, has been thrown out of cultivation, or that our far-
mers have given up their land. This vast amount of
subsiatence has been brought into consumption,
in addi-
tion to what would only have been available if otir ports
had not been thrown open for the influx of foreign grain.
But isho,has eaten this vast amount of corn?—(Hear,
bear, and cheers.) I have not eaten one ounce more
than I should have eaten if there had not been any im-
portationwhateier; and most of the gentlemen around
me here had abundant larders before, and have not
consumed any more since.—(Cheers.) Who, then, has
had the benefit of this large importation? Why, the
poorest portion of the community:—(Hear, hear, and
much cheering.) They have eaten it instead of po-
tatoes, and very often instead of having short com-
mons. All this vast amount of 'food has gone to increase
the comfort, the health, snd.-strength of the poorest por-
tion of the community.—(Renewed and reiterated
cheering.) Why, gentlemen, I don't think it was ever
the fate of any body of men who ever took a prominent
part in the advecacy-of a great change in any public po-
hey to have the privilege of living to see, in so short a
time, so much tangible fruit of their labours.—(gear,
hear.) And I congratulate all here who took such an
active part in. obtaining a repeal of the corn-laws. I
congratulate you that you have lived to see so large and
beneficial a result of the labours in which you were en-
gaged. Lis something more than charity, for charity
debases while it succours; but you, by this, have placed
it in the power of the great masa of the people of this
country to render•themselves more happy and comfort-
able by means of their own independent labour.—
(Much and prolonged cheering.) And, gentlemen, I
teel most anxious, in anything that vet has to be done in
reference to this great question,--I feel most anxious

:hat no class of people Should in this country claim any
peculiar merit in the result of this agitation. I want all
classes of the people, I want the w,,rking classes, to feel
that they themselves have contributed during this last
struggle; and Lknow they have contributed their full
quota to the issue of this contest. I don't like to see a
London newspaper saying we have nut the working
classes with us on this question, because it is a great
libel on the working classes to say so.—(hear, hear.)
And another thing, too; it is trying to discredit the
working classes with those who have at present political
power, in order that, by and by, it may be turned
against them, and enable them to say they did not by
(heir petitions contribute to the repeal of the corn-laws.
Now, when the corn-law was laid on in its most unmiti-
gated severity in 1815, the loudest protests against it
were made by the working classes.—(Bear.) The
working men of London made the loudest protest against
it, though rather rudely I admit, for they tore the Mem-
bers' coats from their backs—(Cries of " They did
right")--e-they pulled them out of their carriages; sol-
diers had to be called up to protect the Members of Par-
liament, and the Houses of Parliament were surrounded
by infantry and cavalry to enable them to pass this infa-
mous corn-law.—(Elear, hear.) The middle classes and
the working classes then thoroughly co-operated in op-
. ptioesaiinpgotwheisr laowe;nbtuhteythheamveiddulee,wc,.l_ass(eisiehaard, nhoetart.h; pTo
hlie-
and cheers.)
door
it
tanggaipee.Lp(leshdoidottshoefir,idvintey
wthielin,,waenwd.ilii,b,ope they will
well said, "We aro safe," but Ise . , .
I hope they will do it not only in lolrelrt:h....i_7l,isevahrerheeiatr.i;
I know that the labourers in the agricultural districts,
their wives and their children, have received more benefit
and whose wages are more spent in the purenese of bread
mfroemanarhroepseeawl
hoofsethec:icrl7ineg-lsasavrsetthraonmaBlms.etsot 191isi.ypoetrher.
week,
I
than anything else. It is in such families as these that
the greatest advantage has beet' felt.—(Hear.) The effect
of the vast influx of corn from foreign countries into 3 our
pp,on.rttisonoftLo London Liverpool, Liverpool, Hull, and elsewhere, is, that
while th_ietiiclml,e.pdortatien has furnished an additional supply
to the working classes in the metropolis, and to the manU-
. factoring portion of this countr • it has' left a largo pro-
portion
thrayd. +
Hcoenars,u”mead
and cheers.)
those' in the rural districts
the html and reaped the harvest in this
forward, when we eons 11
forward to the demonstrationsetohcahveeearsg.e)nelm'hl
the
classes in
that rnral districts as one of the
proofsill effects
the working
noo thertion of the community
I lookioo look
ot themade by
aremos ignorant significant
on their own interests as labourer system of monopoly
I believe in this WWII your arca:—(flear, hear.) Now,
eminent statesman—now, preparing to erect to tile
unhappily, no ,none—to
we are indebted for the freedom we enjoy whom
com-
mercial 83stem—(ilear, hear)—l never could in our
we should have carried the rep al of theeru se: how
. the time we did, unless it was by !he self-sacrificel- of wsthatat
great statesman—(flesr, hear)—well, you are
eiectat bronze statue .01, him in this borough. It hay to
al-
ready been cast. 'lsle, pedest il, I believe, almost nwit
s it. liut I ceunsel our friends, the Free-traders of Lees:
not to erect that statue upon its foundation until we have
I settled, once for elr, that the great work of his legisla-
-1 tion is-not to be in-4(ione.—( Hear, hear, and loud cheers.)
'j first thing we have to do is, to show that we are
worthy of the sacrifices he made for his felloW-country-
i men; if we cannot now retaiu what we have of the