The Sun.
London, England, 1839-01-31 00:00:00

thought it was very desirable to petition, for it was impossible
for the House of Commons to neglect the people when in a.
state of effervesence. The House was under the dominion of
the people, and when they were agitated, as they were upon
this question, they must pay attention to their petitions and.
prayers. If the House of Commons shrunk from its duty—if.
it refused to hear evidence at its bar, then he should go with
Dr. Wade, that the remedy must be a reform in the represen-
tation. Still they ought to try the experiment—a few months
would give them the result if it was against them ; then let
them go in a mass for a change in the representation.
Mi. TROTT had always thought an Extension of the Suffrage
of great importance, as he had proved by his close attendance
in the Registration Courts; but still he did not think it fair to
meet the original resolution by such an amendment. It was:
admitted by both the proposer and seconder of the amendment
that the abolition of the Corn-laws was necessary for the sake
of the working classes—why then interfere to prevent the
Society from taking steps to get the abolition of so great a
grievance?
General EVANS hoped he might be allowed to say a few
words. After eulogising the Report of the Society for the
pest year, he said he had heard with great respect the obser-
vir.ions of Dr. Wade, and he had not the least doubt they
en re sincere ; but he regretted that the worthy Doctor enter-
tained such opinions at the present moment, as from his ine
fleet:cc lie would prevent many from joining the ranks of the
Corn-law repealers. The subject was a most important one,
but according to the amendment the people were to be deprived
of their right of petitioning until Parliament bad reformed itself.
L. they waited till Parliament purified itself, he was afraid
none of them would see it ; it would be a long time indeed
before Parliament would do anything of itself. It was only
by petitioning the people could get anything. Parliament
must be purified and obliged to do good for the people either
by moral or physical means. Did the Rev. Doctor support
the latter?
Dr. WADE (emphatically)—No.
General EVANS was very glad to hear the emphatic dis-
claimer of the Doctor; but how were the changes to be ef-
fected which he so much desired? According to the amend-
ment they were to be deprived of the moral means--:the right
of petitioning—and he was quite sure the country generally
were against the use of physical force. He hoped the worthy
Doctor would employ his influence, and swell the ranks of
those who were desirous of seeing those laws repealed. He
would indeed be sorry if the amendment were carried, as it
would afferd the enemies of all improvement—the Tories—
another reason for saying how unfit the people were to have
more power, as they were so blind to their own interest. - He
trusted all would put their shoulders cordially to the wheel,
and get all they could, even if it were only a
modification of the laws it would bo better than
as at present. That could not be called a
theoretical improvement; they had now brought forward a
st ictly practical grievance, and by perseverance they would
get it removed. Even politically the abolition of the Corn-
-I,ws was necessary, for they only augmented the wealth of
the higher classes, and reduced the poorer classes still lower.
They were a tax given not to the nation, but to the wealthy
class who least wanted it, and it was taken from the class who
could least afford it.
Dr. WADE, in reply, said be was glad the Gallant General
had named physical force, as it gave him the means of de-
claring, that nothing was worth taking that required physical
force, and that be would belong to no society which advo-
cated it. The moral force lie meant, was the awful and im-
posing silence of a whole people—the silence of utter hope-
lessness of good from Parliament, as at present constituted.
The people, again, should take care at elections to send men .
into the House who would tell it the reason of the silence of
his constituents, and that they were determined not to petition
till they were placed in their proper position. He still con-
sidered that the agitation was got up for the purpose of di-
verting attention from the earnest demand the masses were
making for their rights. He would press his amendment.
General EVANS said the worthy Doctor's argument went to
tlis—That a man who was hungry should not accept a dinner
to day unless be was promised one to-morrow and all the next
week ; or, if a man was in want of a whole suit of clothes,
and he was offered a coat, he must refuse it unless it was ac-
companied by vest and trowsers.
The amendment was then put, but no other hands were held
up but those of the mover and seconder. The original mo-
tion was then put and passed unanimously,
of the two above-named. with the exception
A petition for the total and immediate repeal of the ob-
noxious tax was then agreed to, and the meeting broke up.