The Sun.
London, England, 1839-12-21 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION.

room who could answer the question—whether we ha
lost, and were not continually losing, our continental!
trade in manufactured goods?—(Hear, hear.) And
he wished to know what security we had if we were
losing our trade in piece goods, that we should not lose
our trade in cotton twist also?—(Hear, hear.) To
him, at least, there appeared to be little hope of any-
thing else, unless these laws were repealed.—(Cheers.)
He would, therefore, seriously appeal to the landed in-
terest on this important question. He would ask them
what was to become of the great manufacturing popu-
lation of this country if the means of subsistence were
to be withdrawn from them merely because they (the
landowners) wished to uphold a monopoly in which
they alone were interested ?—(Cheers.) Did they
think that, under such circumstances, the land could
escape taxation for the maintenance of those who
had not otherwise the means of existence ? It must
come to this in the end ; and he feared—he really
feared—that this change was taking place much
more rapidly than many people were aware of.—(Hear,
hear.) Our position, then, was exactly this :—They
saw how rapidly inventions were spreading in America
some of the most splendid inventions in the improve-
ment of machinery. Those improvements were taken •
to the Continent, and were There called into operation ;
and in Switzerland, Germany, and the Tyrol they were
vigorously entering into competition with us in a two-
fold manner—first, they were supplying their own coun-
try with their own manufactures, and then, being en-
abled to produce for themselves at home goods cheaper
than we could sell them, they would go to foreign mar-
kets and destroy the remnant of trade which we
had left.—(Hear, hear.) Was not this already
the case ? Certainly it was, for he had proof of it
every day.—( Cheers.) They would meet with the pro- 1
duce of the United States in China. They there ri-
valled us, and could sell in the same market against us,
-even Gl4•ery market of the Brazils, and all along the
eastern and western coasts, and round Cape Rona—
( Hear, hear.) He had at all times felt it his duty in
the House of Commons, when this subject was brought
forward, to give his support to those motions which had
been instituted with a view to the total repeal
.of these
laws. They might not all agree as to the mode in
which this change should he effected. Some of them
might advocate a fixed duty ; others, like himself; would
say " let us have a perfectly free and unrestricted
trade."—( Cheers.) But they must all agree to take some
step.—('• Oh," and cheers.) They must advance, and
therefore lie would observe that it was desirable they
should advance together.—(Cheers) With respect to
the present condition of the country, they were all
aware that we were suffering, and suffering deeply and
intensely, from the failure of the two last harvests. All
he wished for, then, was to provide against the periodical
recurrence of such evils as these; and if the working
classes of this country knew their interests they would
not he led aside from this great question, which was the
question of all questions with them, but would steadily
pursue the object, and he would guarantee to them the
most cordial co-operation of the middle classes, who
were at this moment suffering from the same cause as
intensely as themselves.—(Cheers.) He felt that a
deep and imperative duty devolved upon him to allow
no opportunity to pass by, and particularly such a one
as the present, without raising his voice against those
laws which were hurrying the trade and commerce of
this country into certain and inevitable ruin.—(Very
loud cheers.) He saw as he was coming to this
meeting a placard, calling the attention of individuals
likely to attend there to witness the proceedings, to
the important fact of the great increase of our popu-
lation. That placard stated that the population of our
country seas increasing at the rate of half a million annu-
ally, or one thousand individuals per day! He would
just observe that haif that amount would furnish him
with an argument, sufficiently strong in his opinion to
point out the necessity of a prompt and immediate
change.—(Cheer.;.) Something had been said about
the hours of labour. He would ask whether there was
any one thing that more distinctly bore upon the hours
of labour than the toil they were obliged to submit to
to meet the foreign markets? Without an alteration in
these laws this must continue. Somebody asked him
whether lie was not going to pack up his tools and
march himself to the Continent. He certainly was aware
that many hundreds had already been obliged to do so,
and though he was not going to follow them at present,
God only knew how soon he might be compelled to do
so.—(Hear.) He would not say more than that, as ho
had often said he was deeply convinced of the necessity
of an alteration in these laws, and he therefore nest
cordially gave his support to the resolution which he
held in his hand, for the truth of the statements which
it contained lie thought it was impossible for any body
to deny. The resolution spoke for itself.
After the resolution, the Honourable
againGcp rendingropose
proposed it for the adoption of the mectini_s
and sat down amidst the most enthusiastic cheering.
nilhn" ar i
HOLLAND HOOLE, Esq. (a Tory), rose to second the
resolution. He said he most cordially seconded the re-
solution which had been moved by Mr. Phillias.—
(Cheers.) His own personal experience during past
years had fully convinced him, and had confirmed and
struegthened that opinion upon the operation of the
Corn-laws, which he had expressed upon a former ()en-
sion.—(Cheers.) He fully concurred in the remarks
of Mr. Philips, with respect to our decaying trade ; amid
although. there were other causes at work, and they
'sere well aware of it—( Hear, hear,. from Mr. Road)
—yet these laws appeared to be the leading cause of all
causes—(Cheers)---and he could not believe that we
should ever recover that position, in reference to our
foreign trade, which we once enjoyed, until we have a
very great alteration, to say the least of it—an extensive
alteration in the system of the Corn-laws.--(Cheers.)
Now, he was aware of a very fallacious opinion which
interested parties were endeavouring to circulate among
the labouring population of this country, with respect to
the operation of these laws. He contended that if instead
of theorising they would go to the facts of the case, they
were directly in the teeth of the impression which those
parties would make.—( Hear, hear.) In 18.35, when
the price of bread was sd. for the 41b. loaf; our wages
were at the same point they are at now—(Nee, no! yes,
yes! and cheers)—when the 41b. boat is t-la. or 9d., but
with this very important difference, that the people can-
not be kept in employment, and that there is, in point of
fact, and from this very cause, a quadruple pressure upon
the operative. The time for working is limited in many
cases to three days a week. Now be would let men,
theorise as they pleased, but facts like those spoke
volumes —( Hear, hear.) He would add, moreover, that,
from his own knowledge ant; experience, there was an
extensive increase not merely of manufactures, but of
cotton spinning, on the Continent. That i:!crease was
perceived by the Continental governments, and thoeo go-
vernments were wise enough to see, that if we bad not
the sense to keep our business, they would avail them-
selves of it. They were in, the right, and we were in
the wrong. We were, surrounded by restrictions im-
posed upon us, of which they were fully aware, and it
was no longer a matter of doubt to them that we would
nut he able to maintain our trade.—(Hear, hear.) He
called himself a working man. For thirty years past
he had had to do with business, and he knew what it.
was to provide for a large family.—( Hear, hear.) He
most heartily pitied the poor ; they were in a most de-
plorable state, and his astonishment was that they were
so good, and quiet, and orderly, as they were at present,
—(Loud cheers.) He hoped that when Mr. Ph',.tips
returned to Parliament he would adduce this. us an
additional argument of the increasing intelVegenee of
the working classes.—(Hear, hear.) They
what object they were aiming at, and 'tie felt convinced
that, united as they were, they saw clearly
c"ad not fail to achieve
that object.—(Deafening ehTeers.) He seconded the
resolution with the greater; cordiality.
H. H. 131nr.Ev. Esq.. then rose for the purpose of
proposing an amendment for a moderate fixed duty. He
was recesered with the most hideous groaning and yelling
ever heard, mingled with cries of " Bloody Tory,"
" The Hero of Peterloo," and a variety of other equally
opprobrious epithets. The business of the meeting was
interrupted for a considerable time by the expressiona
of disapprobation, and the evident disinclination on
the part of the assembly to hear Mr. Birley. At )'ength
The CHAIRMAN said he wished, as chairman., to have
the order of that meeting, and he humbly entreated all
his friends, of whatever side of the question they might
be, to give to all an opportunity for fair discussion on
this subject.—(Hear, hear.) lie anxiously hoped for
their assistance in preser ging order in that meeting.
Mr. BIRLEY apse stepped forward, and was received
with cheers, winicl4 were completely overwhelmed by
shouts of ,':isapprobation, and cries of " Peterloo, Peter-
loo," ". Off, off," and " Turn him out.") I will, with,
your leave, read the resolution, that you may know my
sentiments.—(Great uproar.) Mr. Birley then read as
follows, amid the greatest possible uproar :—" That, in
the opinion of this meeting, the existing law affecting
the importation of foreign corn is attended with many
and obvious evils, which can only lee substituted by mo-
derate fixed duties. But that, inasmuch as her Majes.
ty's present Ministers do not possess the confidence of
a large majority of her subjects, it is inexpedient for the
inhabitants of Manchester to petition Parliament on the
subject, without embodying in the petition the expres-
sion of their decided conviction that her Majesty's pre-
sent Ministers are utterly incapable of effecting a settle-
ment of this important and difficult question."—(Much
laughter, L'eroarting and cheering.) By this time Mr.
Birley had occupied the attention of the meeting about
thirty
minutes without being able to obtain anything
like a 'beeline, and it 'vas not until Mr. Schofield had
addressed a few words to the meeting that a hearing
could be obtained.

Mr, BIRLEY than proceeded to say that he held it to
Iquestion when they had no means
point, and he would appeal to Mr.
of
gainingu n wis e
a t o
single
Phillips as to what had been the effoet of the agitation
of the question during the last Session of Parliament?
Had not the agitation thrown the question immeasur-
ably back ?—( Loud cries of t‘ No, no," and cheers.)
He was sure it had. It had alarmed many who were
opposed to them, and had caused moderate men to
keep aloof. It bad been said that politics ought not
to be mixed up with this question ; in that sentiment
he ful,y agreed—(Uproar)—but they (the Tories)
could not help it.—(Laughter.) It was not their
will —(Cheers and laughter, and " Yes it is," and