The Sun.
London, England, 1825-04-12 00:00:00

AT LIVERPOOL.

bn Frialy, at 12 o'clock, in consPqnence of a
reciaisi:len to the Mayor of Liverpool, a Meeting was held at
the Town Hall, which, at the time appointed, was crowded to
excess hi the most respectable ;Merchants resident in that
town. beir object was to petition the Legislature, praying
ins a revision of the Corn Duties.
The MAYOR (J. B. Hollinshead, Esq.), on taking the Chair,
-aid, he was gratified at being so numerously surrounded, and
entreated, as the question was one of vital importance to the
country at large, that,. every Gentleman who chose to deliver
A's sentiments might !vivre a patient hearing, which was the only
way to enable the iSleetiig to arriyc at any solid conclusion.
The Requisition having been read by 3lr. Topham, the
t 'tells,
Abe cußeerie rose and said, he had been requested to move
The Pass RCOOIUtiOTI,Ie TaiOUS to doing-which he begged to say a
0
few words. We hap now arrived at a time of profound peace,
whets As • minds the people were settled, and their hearts
warm, and ready to feel for the distresses of each other, and,
consequently, as far as in them lay, to redress all grievances.
It Was evident to most persons, and there had been for some
?nue past a growing conviction, that the Corn Laws required
c eisideraLle revision. All classes were united in this convic-
tion, and it was to be hoped that the result of this discussion
would be ultimately beneficial in obtaining some remedy. In
tisiftsevision it did not become him to say what quantum of re-
lief should be afforded, that was a measure to be resolved on by
Parliament; but certain it is that it would do away with some
very crying evils, particularly the odious and abortive system
of avesages, which was proved to be ineffectual, and easily
evaded, besides being the fertile source of fraud and perjury—
(Applause.}—lt was the duty of Parliament—the duty of every
honest man, to wipe off such things as tended to encourage the
violation of the sanctity of an oath—(Applause.)—There -wax
heather objectby the proposed measure,—that whatever change
shoald take place, it would do away with that unctrtainty of
due); which was very injurious to mercantile men. He again
repeated, that: the object of. the Meeting was to leave the al.
terarion to the discretion of the Legislature, and expressed his
hope that the present Corn Laws would not be suffered to
exist. They were like the night-mare, pressing on a large
portion of the popnlation.- Ile was_not inagediately interested
in the question; but he hoped that he was net acting obtrusive-
ly, for he considered every link knocked off the fetters of com-
merce was so much in favour of the prosperity of the naticn.
Air. Currie then moved a Resolution, expressing the satisfac-
tion of the Meeting, at the general views adopted by his Ma-
jesty's Government, in the commercial policy of the country ;
which aillr secooded'by— -
Vs. leuercyrox, and carried unanimously.

2ft. EwAß'r moved the secondeßesolutitn.
31r. Lormetowished to know on what grounds the poor
*wild be -benefited by the proposedoeduction. He contended.
lb: poor would not be at all benefited. If, by a prohibition of
foreign corn, tris advance of twenty shillings per quarter took
place, that-would make a difference to a poor man, with a wife
and three children, of Is. 2cl: per-week, but that would be made
up to him by an increase in the wageso the farmer alone would
employ him ; but in case the importation of corn be allowed
it will take so much labour from our own Agriculturists, and
consequently many a poor man will have no employ, and ail
or them less wages. Suppose we- should import two millions
of quarters, at an amount, at first cost, of three millions, the
poor are deprived of labour to the amount of 1,200,0;01. ;
whereas, if three millions of manufactured goods be exported,
arida comparative return be made,' taking a reasonable profit
on both, soy five per cent., a profit to the manufacturers of
only 300,0001. will accrue; this latter sum -will benefit a few
individuals only, while the whole agricultural population will
lose 1,21)0,0901. The Speaker addede that 'he was satisfied tha
when the price of Corn was high, the poor man could always
-get a remunerating price for his labour. He begged to move
s
that the last Resohition do riot pass.
Mr- Edi VAN said, he -considered the agricultural interest
asonow only beginning to revive, after many years of depres-
sfeaO,Andhe thought that the present system was the best de-
wised oneel and. wooldhenefit both farmers and manufacturers.
'-o-ft. was true, that.duoing the jest 5 years there had been some
fickle seasons, and The average price of wheat had not exceeded
in that time 545. 4d. per quarter. ffe was confident that we
could produce tioffierent corn Tor- our wants,- and the quantity
caused by an inereatep-ofhpshatolry:hod evaporated all ideas of
scarcity. • It fras at the' hpetlW- of the ports when our own
agriculture will feel a depresaien.-in proportion as that in foreign
.countries will flourish,. and' it will even
_yet require many. years
ttoreeoyer the losses which the agriculturists have experienced
ley the low prices. Look atolreland o any benefits which are
expected.. tis rise from the lsystem}, ted„-ao regarding that
CAgglPie- would btos4olorid:tooperatiOte in& ineffectual by the
fiesopstroduCtitut 'of foreign corn Oliete, while foreign countries
Setotki be:the &beta. The corasection_ was so closely drawn,
the ,any injury done to the eine was, as a matter of course, be-
pefiCial to.theothere Politicaleconomy was very good, but it
might be 'pushed too 'far.
air. BRYANT seconded the Amendment.
• The Amendment and Resolution being put, the latter was
carried.
.frtr. Sierrn said it had been argtied, that a certain amount 1
Tiis cam imported into thiocoillitro caused the same amount of '
.loateto thelabourer, much toore than if the poor man paid
is/ 2d. per week More for lit 4 bread. This was undoubtedly an
, error, for this corn would he paid. With our manufactures ; the
• foreigners must come for articles of our skill and industry; we
would not attempt tapay them in gold. Suppose in this country
a man labours on sterile ground' (and a great deal was not ste-
rile), and is employed inprodueing, for example, ten bushels of
and suppose the same labourer to be employed in menu-
factares, which, by balite; exPorted, exchange for thirty bushels
of wheat, does not that produce greater wealth to the coun-
try ?—(Applause).--The gentleman who said that 20s. a-year
was about Is. 2d. a-week to the poor man with a wife and
Is Wily of three children, was wrong ; it was not the high price
of corn,-thnt---,it was the high price of shoes, clothes, and every
other commodity which is in use—(Applause).—lf the same
loboar employed. in agriculterc be employed in manufac-
tures,. we should be • great gainers-in corn. It did not follow,
however, we should have nothing but corn. Corn was the re-
presentative of national wealth generally, and an open and li-
beral system of policy would do more, to cheer the poor man's
obeart, and to increase the riches- ofthe-rich.—(Great applause.)
It was the interest of countries to exchange their productions.
It would be absurd in us to attempt to raise the vine or the tea,
which would coat us much more labour than the manufacture
of a watch, or a bale of calicoes, which we exchange for those
goods. We were told that we were groaning under the pres-
sure of the. National Debt; why, would an embarrassed man
shut up one half of his shop, andhly a tax on his articles to rid
himself of his difficulties ? Then • throw open the ports, and
snow theimportation Of corn. Therich man would he as well
off, and the land as fruitful as now. Corn in the United States
and is Poland was the Moriey of thooe countries ; aril if we do
notetake their come they will not take our manufactures; so
diet by the proposed oleos-are we should be extending our own
%trade. If a man has his meat cheap, end in consequence of the
increase in trade he eats More meat, there is a greater demand
for'grazing land., and all thelands not now in cultivation will
be called into requisition, and used as grazing land ; besides
which, all land now used for agOicultural purposes would still
be used, if not, new manufactories-would be wanted, and they
could be erected on the land, which would also cause fresh de-
mands for the farmers, who would be surrounded with a happy
population.—(Appiause.:)
Mr. LAPONE replied, and said that he was still confident
that the corn imported would not be sufficient to repay the sur-
plus labour. "dive hut the poor man employment, and he re-
gards not the extra price he may pay for corn. Raopeeting
graeiers, he had within the last three years ,seen calves which
coo td not fetch half a crown each, and now they will obtain as
much as 30s. If the proposed plan be adopted, who will reap
-the • bebefit of it.? why a.pareel of sturdy beggars, for such he
(Mr. L.) would call them, of-whoin Naples alone contains up-
words of 70,000. Why should we support foreigners ? We are
-doing well enough, arrd let them find resources for themselves.
Kr. Soerrer, in proposingethe next Resolution, swirl, if the
trade with other countries ••were:opened, it did not follow that
we' should take corn to oblige them, but to oblige ourselves,
.nria, give a fresh impetus to trade in general ; iron and other
articles would he in greater demand, and new mines would be
sought after. Industry *mild be in continued exertion, and
--would it be supposed that the farmers could not get remu-
nerating prices ? It wits said' that- calves were some time ago
2s. 6d. each, and were nowtOs. Why were they so- low as
2s. Od. ? Were there no' mouths wanting meat, who could
have eaten up all the. calves in the country—(Appliose) ?—lt
was because the path- could not afford to fourebaseohent. Since
then- trade has increased, Ministers have adopted a wise policy,
and-now the padv; who before.iivedon the poorest food,_ could
afford to -purchase meat. Let us:then extend the system. If
there-6e a bad harieest_ in one country. '-there may: not be in
Another, and by that.measure we shall have a continual supply
of corn, by which the prices will be-steady. -Rent will also be
lower, and not, as has been the case, hitimes of scarcity; low,
said, in' Oates of plenfyoiskiedingly thigh. Another come-
-VIVI= of this open tradenaill•be, the.more- firmly -cementing
the, lioadsof amity between this and other nations, and the less
frequenqi of war, from 'the' fear of losing a vast proportion of
trodeo.fer tbeiffect of, piing 4o war-with one country will in- '
ague the. ,trade of 4Motlzer.; If we must settle. a commercial
iaSefUoursf, with 9415; .4xpArAtriea, let its di it in a friendly man-
ner" for war *plea ittithillg.h.-(Applanse.)—A new era has
unived,"-stear prindples4re: developed,. Ministers are exerting
themselves. Theitiamblier tithileard—Mr. Canning says it was,
sit Mr. BroUgham's " -AroSe sinells as sweet under

any other name," and whosesoever thunder it was, it has done
g.ood—it will finally clear the atmosphere of those restrictive
fogs which have hitherto prevented a free:intercourse with other
nations.—(Great applause.)—Mr. Smith-then proposed a reso-
lution, declaring that the present restrictions on corn are incon-
sistent with the national-policy; and highly injurious to the
best interests of the people.
Mr. BRYAN T again rose to express his opinion, that the me-
thod proposed was no protection. He proposed an amended
resolution, expressive of satisfaction at the Corn Laws as they
at present exert.
Alderman CASE said, it appeared that some Gentlemen
thought the Committee intended recommending a particular
measure. This was incorrect ; it was merely to request Par-
liament to inquire into the subject. Government had brought
the subject forward, and he thought the inhabitants of Liver-
pool ought to feel highly indebted, and indeed gratified, at hav-
ing elected to represent them a man (Mr. Huskisson), so
capable to favour the interests of the town in particular, as
well as the kingdom at large.—(Great applause.)--That Gen-
tleman had stated, that all restrictions from commerce ought to
be removed ; and the system could not be perfect without the
accomplishment of the object this day discussed. It was not
.true that the alteration would interfere with the comforts of
the poor. The rapid change in the Corn Laws has had the
effect of oppressing the poor; the yeomanry of the country
had been greatly injured ; many farmers were ruined, owing to
rapid alterations, and the landlords were not benefitted. In
most instances, where there had been an increase in emolu-
ment, there had also been an increase in luxuries, which was
the natural consequence when men suddenly got large profits
-they did not look forward to a future day, and the consequence
was, that on the first reverse of fortune they were ruined. It
Was not necessary to s ake off all restrictions, but to leave a
small protecting duty, the regulation of which would be left to
Parliament, who were the best judges.--( A pplause.)
Mr. SkITH said that there was now a large quantity of Corn
in warehouses, and if some measure were not adopted it would
fly off in living insects on the bosom of the air. " Uod's bounty,
(said Mr. S.) is locked up under bars and bolts, while the prices
of grain are rising higher and higher, to the great cost of the
poor man."
The original Resolution was then carried.
MT. ADAM WATSON, in moving the fourth Resolution,con-
gratulaXed the Meeting on the sound principles adopted by the
speakers. He could not, however, avoid saying, that he dis-
agreed with one gentleman, who said political economy might
be carried too far. If the principles of political economy were
false, then do not proceed ; but if they were true, they could not
be carried too far. This gentleman moved a Resolution declar-
ing that the prohibitory duty on Corn restricted the use of 13ri-
tish capital, which might be used to great advantage in our
exports with reign countries.
Mr. Alderman CAsE moved the fifth Resolution, which was
carried.
Mr. MOSELEY said, that from the evidence taken before the
Committee of the House of Commons, it appeared that the ave-
rage price of corn at Dantzic, from 1770 to 11119, was 455. 4d. ex-
clusive of freight ; in France, from 11100 to 11119, it was 455. eal.;
at Odessa, about 305., and 225. 6d. freight, making 525. 6d.;
at Canada, 405., and 14s. freight. In the United States, about
455., and 12s. or 14s. freight. It had since been said in the
House-of Commons, by a Member who was formerly opposed
to the free trade (Mr. Curwen), that 555. to 60s. were remu-
nerating prices to agriculturists in this country. Where, then,
was the cause of alarm, if there was a fair and protecting duty
laid on imported corn, to bring it to something more than it
can be grown for in this country ? The tariff laws in the United
Stoves never would have passed if it had not been for the re-
strictive laws on corn imported into this country. It was there
said, " why should we permit England to bring her manufac-
tured goods here, when she will not take eur corn for them ?"
The tariff laws were only restrictions on us for not allowing.
their corn to be imported. What was the cause of the quarrels
between masters and workmen ? It was the uncertain price of
the necessaries of life. A mechanic requires only support for
himself and family; and it was such fluctuations as the Corn
Laws cause, that are the source of all these dissensions and
combinations.
Mr. RATHBONE said, the new Tariff in the United States
passed by only a majority of five, and therefore there was no
doubt but it was in consequence of our restrictive.system.
Our cotton goods were prevented going to France for die same
reason.
A Resolution was moved and carried, for inserting the
Resolutions in the Liverpool newspapers, and four London
papers.
Mr. BUN NIL, in a neat speech, moved a Petition to Parlia-
ment founded on the Resouluons, which was seconded by Mr.
E. RUSHTON, and carried amidst great applause.
Thanks having been voted to the Mayor, the Meeting ad-
journed.

JAMAICA PAPERS.