The Sun.
London, England, 1839-02-13 00:00:00

ENDING

CORN-LAWS.

Upon the SECRETARY calling on Mr. O'Brien to move
on the notice which he had given for this day with respect
to the Corn-laws,

Mr. SALT said that Colonel Thompson had called at
that House this morning, for the purpose of ascertaining
whether the Convention would give him an opportunity
of delivering an address, to induce them to come to some
arrangement with regard to that question. It would
be prudent to give him or any other person who
may be deputed from the Corn-law Delegates an op-
portunity of expressing their sentiments in this as-
sembly, for whatever chance there might be of
dragging those gentlemen to espouse their cause there,
was no fear that those persons would drag them into an
advocacy of the Corn-laws.
Two or three resolutiens and amendments relating to the
communication of Colonel Thompson, which gave rise to
a long conversation between Mr. F. O'Connor, Dr. Tay-
lor, Mr. Whittle, Mr. Douglas, Dr. M'Dowall, Mr.
Barnes, &c., when a resolution, to the effect that the Se-
cretary be allowed to write to Colonel Thompson, and to
say, if he has any communication to make, the Conven-
tion will be happy to receive it, was carried by a majority
of four, against an amendment proposed in favour of the
previous question.

Mr. O'BRIEN, on this business being disposed of, came
forward to move on the notice he had given. It was a
resolution that went to bind the Convention, not to support
the Corn-law agitation, and that they should confine them.
selves solely to the great object of the People's Charter, until
its fate should be decided by the Legislature. The people
were fully aware that the Corn-law clamour was got up
not for their benefit, but to turn aside the expression
of their exertions in another cause. Was it got up
until the Corn-laws was a nullity ? Was it got up
until wheat advanced to 80s. per quarter? The tyranny
and absurdity of the Corn-laws were not discovered until
their enactments became a dead loiter, cr more until our
movement became evident. It is not discussed with com-
mon honesty. What would not be the evil consequence of
the sudden repeal of these bad laws if, as Mr. Cobbett said,
they were not accompanied by other measures to smooth
down . the difficulties to which they would reduce a
large number of the people ? None of the advo-
cates of the repeal give us an idea of these argu-
ments. Does not every person know, who takes the
trouble to know, that unless the currency is expanded
the repeal of these laws will increase the Na-
tional Debt one-third ? Would it not to give,the fundholder
three bushels of wheat in plap of two ? Would it not also
increase the private debts of individuals already swelled
beyound calculation ? Yes ; to no less a sum than 4,000
as Mr Douglas just tells me.—( Hear, hear.)
Were not the salaries of all augmented in 1797 to
meet the increased dearness of food occuring at that time ?
Would this not all be reduced in proportion if this change
was effected without its attendant safeguards ? Not all, for
he supposed the gentlemen who receive these salaries at
Downing-street would not suffer—all must suffer from
their repeal, if they were not accompanied by Reform of
Parliament, expansion of the currency, and an adjustment
of property.—( Hear, hear.)
On the authority of Mr. Greg, it was stated that the
wages on the Continent were lower than they are here, in
proportion to the price of food. Now they were told that
the object or the repeal was to produce a reduction of
wages to enable them to compete with the foreign manu-
facturer. He doubted this result; the foreign manufacturer
would protect himself by the imposition of import duties.
Those who contended that they ought to get cheap food,
should take care that with cheap food they did not get
cheap labour. It had been said that the manufacturers
who are so loudly demanding the repeal of the Corn-laws
were wealthy enough to pay off the National Debt. He
would venture to say that it the debts of the working
men were paid, they would not on an average be
worth thirty shillings each. In Hampshire they learnt
that women were employed in making shirts for sailors at
the rate of ten shillings a-dozen. He would ask how the
Corn -laws would benefit them ? He wanted his m tion to
be put, in order that those impostors, the Corn-law agita-
tors might know what the Convention thought about
them ; and in another, that the people might see the part
they ought to take in that great question. He had received
letters stating that the people wanted to know what steps the
Convention were taking. He hoped that the interest would
not subside ; that it would increase every day. If, as the re-
presentatives of two or three millions of the people, that reso-
lution went forth into the world, he thought it would have
the effect of breaking the neck of the Corn law agitation.
It was not his business to foist any of his views on the
Convention. They were met for one great purpose—not
to consider any particular or favourite branch of Radicalism,
but to carry forward the People's Charter. In passing
that Resolution, they would do in a body what hitherto
they had done individually. Ebenezer Elliot had said
last week at Sheffield, " I am for the Charter, but
I do not yvant to see the people starve in the
meantime; the repeal of the Corn-lawn is a question
of food." He (the speaker) considered this a desperate
delusion ; the repeal of the Corn laws would not give the
people food. He feared Mr. Elliot was labouring under
a poetic delusion—they knew poets were fond of fiction.—
The question of Universal Suffrage was a question
of food ; the other, a question of public robbery.
He would tell them the character they had. There was
no shame in having a bad character; the shame consisted
in deserving it. It had been said that Universal Suffrage
meant, with Mr. Feargus O'Connor, a general scramble—
with Mr. O'Brien an Agrarian law. On what was this
opinion founded? Why was it supposed that Mr. O'Con-
nor desired a scramble ? It would be well for the opposers
of Universal Suffrage if they were all as comfortably off
as that gentleman. Mr. O'Connor was an athle-
tic man ; they probably thought he must desire a
scramble, as likely to obtain the largest share.—
( Great laughter.) He thought it a proper place to
suggest an alteration in the terms of the motion. It said
to the " exclusion of all other laws." It would be better
expressed " to the exclusion of all other, not subsidiary to
the objects of the convention."
Mr. Knox rose to second the resolution. He observed
that the intentions of the Corn-law agitators were insin-
cere. Their avowed object was to lower the price of
food, but they aimed chiefly at the reduction of
wages. He would ask how the poor man would be be-
nefited if his wages were lowered as his food became
cheaper?
Mr. SALT Said that he objected to the legislature, be-
cause it legislated for classes. He would lay down this
principle if the land left no rent, the National Debt should
leave no interest. The object of the Corn-law agitators
was not to enlarge the market for English labour, but to
increase their own for their own fortunes. It would
not open foreign markets for British manufactures,
but it would open them for the money of the capitalists.
The Corn.law agitators spoke only of the interests of one
class ; no question was made of the interests of the labourer.
One of those gentlemen had said that the trade of Prussia
had destroyed 100 looms. The dear looms were la-
mented, but there was no mention of the workmen
thrown out of employment. He mentioned this
to show that the system of class legislation• was
supported and sought after by these men. The labourer
had competed with machinery as long as they had a large
market throughout the world ; but machinery had become
an article of exportation; the market was restricted and
the labourer must suffer. There had never been a ques-
tion of doing justice to the labourer. The Convention was
the ark in which ha must shelter against the flood which
was sweeping away all his profits.
Here Mr. O'Connor spoke at some length, on the mo-
tion of Mr. O'Brien. He opposed the wording of the re-
solution. After a short discussion it was modified by
O'Connormeeting.
Severalapologized fo for havingof
f ttj
eMeer.upOie'aßritchtee wtimheen
of the theDelegates spoke on the motion, it was then put
to the meeting and catried unanimously—
A resolution, which went to order the publishing of Mr.

O'Brien's resolution on the Corn-laws in the newspapers
of the day, was negatived by a majority of one, and in its
stead a resolution was passed making it imperative on the
members to forward the resolution to their constituencies,
in the way which would be most effective towards carrying
out its intention.

_ .
Mr. DOUGLAS brought forward his motion, That Commit-
tees meet on Friday in place of Saturday, as was formerly
agreed to. In order that they may have one day exclusive
of the Sabbath. Mr. Douglas said that he was certain
those whom they represented would be just enough to see
the necessity of a little relaxation.
Mr. FEARGUS O'CONNOR seconded the resolution in a
few words.

After a few observations from Mr. NEESOM, who ob-
served that the experience which he had of the great
labours which they had to undergo, was of so unpleasant a
nature to himself that it confirmed in the opinion which the
resolution embraced; from the constant attention to his
duties in Convention, and in Committee, he had not time
to write to his constituents any Report of the proceedings,
which was a duty he held to be necessary, and which they
(his constituents) would exact the performance of the re-
solution passed.
Mr. TIGHT withdrew his resolution, which went to
allow that body of the people called Socialists to
explain these doctrines to the members of the Convention,
in order that they may co-operate with the Convention to-
wards the promoting of those principles which are neces-
sary for the purpose of attaining the greatest happiness
of the greatest numbers. Before the meeting dissolved,
the Alderman moved, That two reporters be engaged for
the purpose of reporting tomorrow's important discussion,
seconded by Mr. Richardson.
Mr. HADLEY said, that, although they were taken no-
tice of by some of the newspapers, yet that notice was
not sufficient, for however willing newspaper people were
to give correct reports, yet it could not be expected that
they would be of that correct description that would give
to their friends a just idea of their proceedings. After
some discussion on the question, it was carried by a majo-
rity of three.
The resolutions having been then called over, the meet-
ing dissolved at four o'clock.

FROM LAST NIGHT'S GAZETTE.

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, FEB. 4, 1839.
Notice is hereby given, that Her Majesty will hold Levees,
at St. James's-Palace, on Wednesday the 20th instant, and on
Wednesday the 6th day of March next, at two o'clock.

REGULATIONS TO ME OBSERVED AT THE QUEEN'S LEVEES,

AT ST JAMES'S PALACE.

The noblemen and gentlemen who propose to attend her
Majesty's Levees at St. J imes's Palace, are requested to bring
with them two cards with their names thereon written, one to
be left with the Queen's Page in attendance in the Presence
Chamber, and the other to be delivered to the Lord in Wait-
ing, who will announce the name to her Majesty. And those
Gentlemen whe are to be presented are hereby informed, it is
absolutely necessary that their names, with the name of the
Gentleman who is to present them (not the Lord in Waiting),
should be sent to the Lord Chamberlain's Office, before twelve
o'clock on Monday the I Sth, for those who will attend the
Levee on the 26:11 of February, and before twelve o'clock
on Monday the 4th, for those who will attend the Le-
vee on the Gth of March, and before twelve o'clock ou the
day but one previous to each succeeding Levee, in order that
they may be submitted for the, Queen's approbation; it being
her Majesty's command, that no preselit.ition shall hereafter be
made at the Levees, but in conformity with the above regula-
tions ; and further, that no person shall be admitted, on any
pretence whatever, who has not been so presented.
it is particularly requested, that Gentlemen who are to be
presented at the Levees will have their names distinctly written
upon the card to be delivered to the Lord in Waiting, in order
that there may be no mistake in announcing them to the
Queen.
The state apartments will not he open for the reception of
company coming to Court, until half-past one o'clock,

LORD CHAMBERLAIN'S OFFICE, FEB. 4.

BY COMMAND or HEIL MAJESTY.

Notice is hereby given, that all persons having Petitions or
Addresses to present to her Majesty at the Levee, are to write
on two cards, with their names, a st•teinent of the object of
such Petitions or Addresses, and of the persons from whom
they come; one card to be delivered to the Page in the Anse-
Room, and the other to the Lord in Wafting, who will read
its contents, at the time of presentation, to her Majest) ; and
that, on these occasions, no other statement is to be addressed
to her Majesty.