The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-06 00:00:00

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(From the Morning kti,' - ,7„eir
We insert a letter from the idefitetertifiCelbe:%.o/14
Corn-law League at Manchester, nswcr to POMO
strictures passed by us on Saturday last on the conduct
of a deputation from that body at Walsall. The Secre-
tary assumes that the various constituencies which rotten
Representatives in this 'country are in a condition to act
cn their oan independent convictions, which every man at
all acquainted with England knows is very far from being
the case. We do not quarrel with the fundamental
object of the League—" the total and immediate repeal
of the Corn and Provision-laws,"'and we go further ; we
say that the League ought to use their utmost exertions
to obtain, whet ever they can, a pledge from candilatts
that they will advocate in Parliament " the total rupc•al of
the Corn and Provision-laws. But the question"is one for
constituencies rather than candidstes. If tne constituencies.
meaning by constituencies the majorities, are thoroughly
converted to this fundamental object, and are in a condition to
act on their convictions, there can be no difficulty alsou7 the
matter. The candidate must either pledge himself, or
withdraw. But if the constituencies are not convefted,
but, on the (mitt are, either ignorant or sari if-rent, or
subject to corrupt influences—and if a deputation floe, the
Anli-Corn-law League cannot influence a majority of the
electors, but by its interference merely deprives the Libe-
ral candidate of the chance of bring returned, and thereby
sec urea the return to an advocate of the Corn-laws, we
hold the interference to be decidedly improper, and even
at variance with the true object of the L, ague itself. It is
not enowgh to say, that the interest of the community de-
mands the total and immediate repeal of the Coin and
Provision-laws. We advise, nay, we urge you to exert
yourselves to the utmost to make the community sensible
of their interest, and to dispose the people to act on their
convictions. Work as extensively, as you can upon con-
stituencies; but, if the constituencies have been neglect d,
o 7 if circumstances preclude the possibility or their exer-
cising an independent suffrage, do not, step forward, and
assume what is not the fact, and drive from the fivid a
man who may not be all that you could wish, but who i,,
notwithstanding, better than any man whom you can hope
to carry.
We say nothing of the proceedings at Wahsll. If the
electors return Mr. J. B. Smith, why then we say the jus-
tification of the Anti-Corn-law League is complete. 'f-ho
more decided the opinions of the candidate for the repre-
sentation of Walsall, the more he is to our taste ; but then
these decided opinions must be acceptable to the etectors.
Mr. Acland, a member of the deputation, whose letter wo
elsewhere insert, speaks strongly of the honest enthusiasm
of the people in the cause of the League. We wish from
the bottom of our hearts that this enthusiasm may gain Or
Mr. J. B. Smith his election. We go farther—if we have
any influence with the electors of Walsall or with any to
whom any portion of the electors of Walsall look up we en
treat them to look only to the great point of throwing out
a Tory. A time will come when, fur the sake of avoiding
a repetition of dangerous mi takes, it may be necessary to
overhaul the proceedings front the commencement of the
Walsall election. But we sire sure the present is not that
time. Let every Liberal, whatever his shade, think only
now of a common exertion to return the Liberal candidate
Mr. J. B. Smith. There may be something on all sides
to forget and forgive. But at present the question which,
every Liberal ought to ask himself is, how can I best ac-
cuse the return of Mr. J. B. Smith ? Every man must his shoulder to the wheel. The constituency
Walsall must not disgrace themselves by returning Mr.
Mor.f
'...;latistor.e.

T 3 THE ErITOR OF TILE MORNING CHRONICLE.

Sta,—The Council of the National Anti-Corn-law
League feel called upon, by the respect they owe to public
opinion, and by a sense of duty to a more numerous and
influential body of eonstitueats than was probably ever pos.
sesFed by any representative body out of Nrliament, to
cffer a few words in reply io the remarks contained in your
inflaemial journal of Saturday last upon the subject of the
League.

They beg, primarily, to express their satisfaction at find-
ing that their past labours should have merited your appro-
bation. Their success, if any have at'ended their efforts,
has ticcn owing to the indisputable justice of their cause,
arid not to any merits of those who have been unworthily
selected to advocate it. They perceive with regret your
strictures Orion the course which they have lately thought
it their duty to pursu,ll but the Council would not have
felt called 'upon to reply to them, were it not that they
observe some, doubless unintentional, misrepresentation
as to the character :Ind olijects of the League.
They fiiid it asserted that e‘ in the present state of the
representation of this country, it is the height of absurdity
to demand that all Other popular questions should be sacri-
ficed to
,the one objeCt of the Anti-Corn-law League;"
th that " e friends of liberal opinions, the opponents of
monopoly will naturally shrink from associating with
narrow minded bigots," and that " the attempts to mono-
polise public opinion in favour of ono question only, to the
exclusion of every other, if persisted in, must be injurious
even to that question ; while it inevitably leads to the
sacrifice of all other subjects of public interest and national
importance.*

The Council feel assured that the above remarks were
penned under the strongest misapprehensiim of the consti-
tution of the League, which, so far from exacting a bigoted
or even 'exclusive devotion to its objects, has adopted a
fundamental rule for excluding discussion on all extraneous
or party gut stions, fer the'very purpose of securing the so-
operation of individuals of every sect and party ; all of
whom arc perfectly free in their individual capacities to
further their fespective.views upon every other subject.
Tbs will probably sfee to exonerate the League from
"the elt,rge of bigotry and of being composed of " gentle-
men of one idea," as well as that of attempting " to mores.
polise public opinion in favour of one question."
Again,' it is alleged ,that the Anti-Corn-law League
wish to sacrifice all other popular questions to its one sole
object. Instead of entertaining any such 'desire, the
Council have never omitted-, an opportunity of promul-
gating their conviction, that the advocacy of the abolition
of the focd monopoly will net interfere in the prosecution
of other righteous. objects, but that, on the contrary, they
must necessarily aiticiand strengthen .one another. What
are the great objs cts which good men of all parties alike
aim at.? Take the highest of all—religion. Can it bo
doubted that in insufficiency of food deteriorates both our
spiritual and corporeal nature; that it excites malignant
passions, and dries up the very sources of charity ? klenco
the Divine Author of our faith has taught m to suppli-
cate for a supply of daily bread before soliciting spiritual
graces.

- Take the next object most dear to all—the proper eau-
cation of the people. How often has it been proved that
poverty is the handmaid of ignorance ; that where the
body is insufficiently nourished, not only must the means of
education be wanting, but the mind loses even its aptitude
for study.
If, to adduce the three greatest questions in which the
wise and good of all parties concur, the subject of peace,
be added—peace abroad, and within our own borders—
what so likely to secure the latter as content and comfort
in the mas of the people, and what so certain to insure
the former as the dependence between different countries
for the firht neces,,aries of life?

It needs but apply this test to all political questions, and
it w,ll be seen that if they be founded in justice they will
be compatible, and even co-operative with the objects of
the Anti Corn-law League. The wisdom of Divine Pro-
vidence has insured the perfect harmony of all truth.
A referen,:e has, moreover, been made to the extreme
course pursued in putting the test of immediate abolition
to Lyttelton ; in doing which, the Council but ful-
rilied i;s duty, in carrying into effect the unanimous reso-
lution of the delegates, three times reiterated in London
and in Manchester, and adopted as the fundamental ob.
ject of the League. You will at once perceive that when
a large body of men co-operate for a common purpose,
that purpose must be defined, and there is no other mode
of doing this than by submitting the questions to the
universally recognised test of truth and justices. The
fond monopoly, which sacrifices the comforts of millions to
enrich the tew, was considered obviously unjust, and it was
decided that it ought to be abolished, and as any delay was
considered a denial of justice, it was decided that it ought
to be immediately abolished. These were the considera-
tions which led the first meeting of deputies to adept, and
the subsequant one to confirm the principle adopted as the
fundamental object of the League—the total and immediate
repeal of the corn and provision laws.
" Thrice is he arm'd that hath his quarrel just."
Thus armed, our lecturers went forth nearly two years
ago ; the success with which their labours have been in-
variably crowned (and the good results of which you am
pleased to admit), they attribute entirely to the righteous-
ness of the principle which they were deputed to advocate.
[lad any other principle been adopted a bond of union
would have been wanting, the League could no•t have been
formed, and the lecturers must have been routia in the
the
poi discussion. You do not question the w!sdouil,orowb..
e is,
char
porey of the course hitherto pursued;
d when the Council are called upon
ever, arrive
object of the Leitgues
ter
out practically at the hustings the
to which ir„
test
and you take exception to the extremAenti.cona-law
Lyttelton has been subjected by
theforbiel that theparty
at Consistency arid truth . _ League
the time
she circular and the lee-
should advocate one principle in
hustins 'W
lure rooms and another at the g . henever the
interfere •
Anti-Corn-law party, ns a party,
of lll
"Zletctir
with the view of promoting t
-e
o the immediate abolition of the food-
monopoly.niust be pledged t
time when, and the
The place There, such
made must ho determined, has been
done shalt be
..ees
lsall, afterdue consideration of the cireum-
clone at Wa
stances of each case.
In conclusion, the Council will continue in the same
course which they have hitherto followed with suelis satis-
factory results. They are not unconsciosta of the difficul•
tics of the task they have undertaken. They know the
formidable power opposed to them; but they know like-
wise that no power can withstand the sword of truth in
the hands of its persevering and determined champions.
They have conlidtnee in the electoral body of the king-
dom, in whom the absolute authority over the Legislature
abides, and tliough it may now slumber, it reyeires only
that they be awakened to a sense of their religious reapou-
'll3llitY, to abolish at once, and for ever,
,the most hiueous
monopoly than was ever endured by n great nation.
By order of the Couccil,
JOHN 13ALLANTYNE, Sec.
Anti-Corn-lain League, Manchester, Jan. 4.

STEAM-BOAT CoLLlsioNs.—On Monday af-
ternoon the Duke of Sussex steam-vessel came up the
Circe from Southend and Sheerness, with her head knocked
oil; and appareutly much damaged, and it was reported
that the steamer had been struck by lightning on Sunday
morl-I;iig, arid damaged, but on inquiry it turned out that
I she came into collision with her ;Majesty's steamer Light-
ning. The collision took place at eleven o'clock on Sun-
dayot
h morning
t ' below Woolwich. Tho
e injury by the collision.
Both plmut. their course, and
Lightning,
a 11 alsoe,s in
w Halfway-reach,
sustainedarlefw.ea
enabled
a -
br el
some
mh t 0
her landed
h:\tew
the Duke of Sussex arrived at Sheerness the same after-
noon, Itaubnprs, none of whom received
the ie aas
days since the Planet,. Graves-
end steamer, was run foul of by a bit, which drove in her.
sternP'tt and did other damage to a considerable amount,
least injury.
inidr),
besides driving the Planet into a schooner coming up,
which also sustained much injury by the shock.
. ..,