The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-15 00:00:00

RICHARD HARRIS,

That these resolutions be communicated to the members of
this Borough by the Honorary Secretary, and be advertised in
the daily papers.
Proposed by Mr. EDWARD EVANS, Seconded by Mr. J. LEE

STEVENS.

That the thanks of this meeting be given to the Chairman,
for his constant assiduity and attention to the business of this
Association. JOHN LON GALORE, Chairman.

TO THE ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH OF
SOUTHWARK.

GENTLEMEN,
THE approaching Dissolution of Parliament is
an appeal t o the peop'e on a subject of the greatest im-
portance. The existing laws which regard corn, sugar, and
timber, by the excessive duties they impose on the produce of
any other country, restrict the consumption of these articles
to the produce of the United Kingdom and of our Colonic..
A% an example of the effect of these laws, the price of sugar
(exclusive of duty) is 100 per cent. higher in this country
than in any other, while cur warehouses are filled with the
produce of other lands which, prohibited from being sold in
England, is held there under a bond for re-exportation. This
is but one familiar instance of the effect of a system of duties
and restrictions on commerce, which deprives the British peo-
ple of a Market for their labour, imposes ;on them a higher
rate of taxation, and condemns them to pay for the necessaries
of life a higher price than is known to any other part of the
world.

Her Majesty's Ministers propose to remedy these evils by
allowing, at a fixed and moderate duty, the importation of the
produce of other countries, in exchange for the labour of our
own. This proposition, if carried, would have so increased the
consumption of the articles imported, as to restore the now
declining revenue, and prevent the necessity of new taxation
on a people already taxed per head beyond any other nation.
These measures seeming to me, in addition to the restoration
of the revenue to a healthy state, highly calculated to remove
the shackles on industry, and to enlarge the fields for its
exercise, finding employment for hands ready to work, and for
employment a sufficient reward, received my strenuous support,
and I shall do all in my power to promote them in whatever
situation I may be placed.
But the Ministry have been defeated by the present Parlia-
ment, which, through the confederation of the monopolists and
Tories, has decided that the landowners of the United King-
dom, the sugar growers of the East and West Indies, and the
timber hewers of British America shall, by protective privileges,
monopolize the supply of these necessary articles to our vastly
increased and increasing population, however inadequate that
supply may be to its wants, and however exorbitant may be the
price.

My opinions on all other points of policy have been so re-
cently declared to you, that I have confined myself to this,
which I deem to be the most important measure which hag
been submitted to the present Parliament, and without which I
see no possible means of relieving the country from its present
exigencies, and of preventing its difficulties from increasing
until they become insurmountable, and our country falls from its
'present high position to a state of impotency and insignificance.
In offering you the continuance of my humble but zealous
services, I refer yqu to my conduct during the time I have had
the honour of representing you,
I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
Your most obedient and faithful servant,
Southwark, June 14, 1841. BENJAMIN WOOD.