The Sun.
London, England, 1841-03-18 00:00:00

SALFORD TOWN'S MEETING.

IMFORT_DUTIES.

A requisition to the Boroughrceve anti Conitablts of
Salford, steel by nearly forty of the p:i'tcipal rate-pay-
ers, manufacturing and commercial houses connected with
Salford, was laSt week presented to those authorities, re-
questing them to convene a public meeting, "to take into
consideration the Rethamentary Report upon the Import
Duties of the United Kingdom, with the-it prejudicial effect
upon the industry of tlt.o. country, and to pcthion the Le-
gislature for their rev/start and repeal." En compliance
with this requisition the Borougloreeve and Constables
appointed a public meeting of the inhabitants of Salford,
on Monday lest, in tl-:e large room of the Town Hall,
Chapel-street.
Amongst the gentlemen present we observed Messrs
William Garnett, Holland Hoole, Thomas Bazeley, Charles
Tysoe, and John Kay, Constables; E. Connell, T. Bur-
gess, G. P. Livingston, J. B. Wanklyn, Samuel Eve.
leigh, Sainucl .Satterthwaite, S. P. Robinson, Robert
Gardner, Rupert Ingleby, James Looming, William Har-
vey, and other gentlemen. On the motion of Mr. Gar-
nett, seconded by Mr. T. Bazley, G. H, Hall, Feesi , the
Boroughra eve, was called to the chair. The parties pre.
sent were highly respectable commercial men, of all shades
of peliiienl opinion and of local politic,.
Thy CHAIRMAN, in opening the twee redings, read the
requisition and .advertisement conveni,g the nyeAr.g, aed
soil, be regarded the subject which had esseraled them
as cf the greatest irnoortancF, riot merely in the'borough,
Litt throughout the United Kingdom, Those -gentlemen,
who were connected te*h the expott trade, and were lo-
cally denominated " shippers," probably possessed a more
intimate knowledge of the subject than many other in-
habitants ; and seven'
of these gentlemen, whom he was
glad t see present, would. explain tht i, views on this im-
portant question. Cert it war-, that not a man in these
realms but would be benefite I by the revision of these
la ws.—( Applauee. ) The veluminous Rem: rt of the Com-
mittee of the Howe of Commons contained a mass of evi.
dence so conclusive on this question, that he hope 1 every
one, who had not read that Report, would do so
It was about t 9 be printed in a cheap form, so
so that even the poor might have an opportunity of study-
ing it, and applying its disclosures personally to thetn-
selree—( Applause. )
Mr. J. B. WANKLYN, in moving the Stet resolution,
said he considered this to be one cf the most important
subjects that could occupy the rttention palliest con-
nected with commerce. He would, therefore, offer a few
remarks which had occurred to him in tile course if some
years' practical knowledge cf the subject in the carec'ty of
a British merchant—whose object niu,t he to obtain the
greatest facil ty to the import of foreign -products in re-
turn for the manufactures of this country. ( Hear, and ap-
plause.) Hence he thought it self-evi.fent, that a British
merchant -must be in principle and practice a strong sup-
porter of the principles of free trade.—( Hear.) Those
principle; could not be better put than by supposing that
an individual averting to get rid ef a surplus product, takes
it to a foreign market, an-1 wihhes to bring back from thence
the produce of teat country, to bis own, er elsewhere, ache
rney think best. But the principles of fee t-ede, greueded
on a basis of this ki id, it was impossiel ie the pre-
sent state of society throughout the world, to carry nut
in their pet f.ct integrity. Many vest and confictiag ir-
terests had grown up, in the course of years, to I itvent
the perfect ptiaciples of free trade ; nod he would
merely allude to those whic'a had sprung up during the
long wars in which we were e;;aget with the Co view.
That war entailed upon us an enormous eleht, which,
thanks to th r energies of this country, we were enabled to
bear.-..and, he was satisfied, we nlwnys should be; and
the expenses of that war had led t our present system of
taxer, which had been enlarged from time to time es the
debt increased. Coniequantly, after a pe,ce for the last
twenty-five year-, we had a seal • of cast ma duties, of the
most incongruous character, upon I e:ween 1,100 ar.d1,200
a-ticks ; aid of the gross amount of revenue they pro-
duced, about 23 mill ens stetting, 11 arsie'c.s out of the
1,152 produced no less an amount than 21,500 000/ , and
the reanainieg 1,141 produced only one million and a half..
He ir, hear.) It was self evident, therefore, that the
duties on this great number of articles, which produced
so little to the revenue, ought at once t> be saept
away, as the celleeti ni cf revenue thereon must cost
more than the net amount coliected.—( Hear, hear.) He
found that our population, which we were toll was over-
burthened with taxation, paid as duty for luxuries, as h,
considered spirits, wine, and tobacco, no less than eight
millions sterling ser annum. He admitted that a great
number dour working men did not possess the comforts
we Wished them to have ; but reduction of the duties
on a number ef these articles, and the general revision of
our tariff, would enable us to give the working chases full
e eploymeet, and to get Irreiga produce at a reasonable
rat-.—(Applause.) He would merely ret du sw h a duty
as would pay the rat male, and ensure tie safety of the
Sta.e ; while, on the other hand, ho would introduce such
an amount of foreign products as would enable the poor
man to get a full reward far his labour. Ile believed one
great barrier to amy alteration in our customs dutiea, had
been created on the one hand, by the colonial interests, on
t.e other by what were celled the interests of humanity
and philanthropy in this country. Tee colonial or West
India interests were so jealous, that they had usel every
means in their power to prevent the iegelature adrehting
any articles which the West Indies [reduce, from other
countries, except at ershibitory duties. The attention of
the legislature pal b"en drawn to this matter, and, last
w. ek, Mr. Labouchere had made a mieien with a seew to
remove many of the obstacles existing i i the way of a re
vision of our customs dui ice, viz.—to allow the init,b'tlnts
if the West Indies t a impor: salt fish, staves, and other
articles required fir the produc, and exit a, t of sugar and
colic-, from the he,t and cheape-t markets in the world,
The West IneLans, having uttained this prisilege, surely
could not refuse us a simper one—chit of going for our
sugar and coffee to the 'cheapest markets.—(Hear.) A
circumstance mentioned by Mr Labouche,e showed the
recessity of [Teel(' getting enlarged ideas on these sub-
jects. In 1732, our commercial policy was so narrowed,
that we would not allow any country, not even
a portion of our own colonies (and Ireland was then •
called a colony of England), to have any commercial
intercourse with the West Indies. Bat it pleased the
Legislature of that day, finding that Ireland could send
salted provisions cheap to the West ludic=, to allow ves-
sels with such cargoes to clear out in Ireland, direct for
the West Indies. This frightened the people of England
so much, that petitions were got up and very numerously
signed, praying that this indulgence should not be allowed
if
to Ireland; adding, thatit were, the port of Liverpool
wool ! again be reduced to its pristine insignificance—
( Hear) Ireland was allowed to export to the West In-
eiea, and what was the state of Livt rpool now ? He had
no doubt that, so far from a revision of the ta,iff militating
against our colonial interests, the West Indians would., in
a few years, thank us for extentli g our commerce. As
to the philanthropic interest, who were determined, as
far as their influence went, to oppose the import or
consumption, in this country, of the produce of slave
labour, while their principles were to be admired, we
A
should not lose sight of the practic effects of these
purtitricctiiopnleoef
thTehemrcesoto India and the philaetrophic :ice was, that by the con-
jinte-
rests, the English labourer v.a 3 prevented obtaining his
coffee, angle, &e., at the prices et which to could get
them, if allowed to go to the cheapest market..—( Heir.)
Why, se had allowed the slave-grown cotton of the
i
United States to come nto this country, in competition
" We won't use American
producemil of slave labour." Yet
to :11.3 Island of
with that from the East Indies,. Brazil, and the Mediter-
ger Etc:,
cotton, bee
yet
luensseo
further, oi
tn ars eter
Cubs, and there,
though there was al overwlelrreug quantity of sugar and
Coffe-, we were told that those articles must not be
uractherofnaet,hcoacsrldni ht as well say to us,
brought to England, because. they were the produce of
had h
ties pita; e-i ia our
tsil,aevie ohuer., r NsVola yt.n
mills, of the injuries inflicted on those who work in them,
that our rnanufactorLs were Juggernauts which swept away
our population, destroying their constitutions, and that tic-.
body could live in a cotton mill; and that, therefore, on ac-
count of these horriale atrocities, our yarns and manufac-
tured goods should not be introduced into other countries.
But, leaving that part of the subject, he would conic to
the consumption of sugar in this cornier:. Ti it article
stood at Ilia head of our customs duties, producing, in
1840, a dv.ty of 4,800,0001 Ile would show how a reduc-
tion of the duty would increase, as :t had increased, the cor-
aurription of sugar. Taking the average from 1814 to 1525,
the annual consumption of sugar in this country had In e i
somethi g less than 160,000 tons. From 1826 to 1831,
the consumption had increased to 207,000 tons per era-
num ; and, since 1831, in conseque•ace of this I urge cou-
sumption overtaking the production of:the West ladies, it
bad reached its maximum; we had never exceeded an
import of 207,000 tons, though our popubei ,n had gicatly
increased, and our capaci:y and inclination to uce sugar
had correspondingly increased. Iu 1840, the consume.
tiara of sugar was only 170,000 tors—offering a striking
contrast to the consumption of cotton, which had gone
on increasing, and, he t listed, would soil finer ase.
The pries of sugar r ise as the supply from the West
Indies became Linked, and then the consumpi an
eked:dial:ed. If sugar could be brought here from the
cheapest markets, the consumption could probably he
near `.;00,000 tons at this moment,; while this it:creased
demand would open markets t a an increased consumption
of our manufactures might he told
manufactures.__( Applause.) ) H.,interests
of Government was not sufficiently ails eto the intereata
of the people, or they would never have allowed the con.
sumption to retrograde front 000,000 to 170,000 tons ;
but we knew that the confuting irate' eats to which
he had alluded, prevented Government doing whet
they would—prevented them from taking up and dis-
posing of these questions on their own merits.—( Hear.)
Some well.meankg people might say this snowed that
the country was overburthened with taxes ; but he
said it showed no such thing, and be should like to
see any other country using as sugar (notwith-
standing her taxation) as England. In France, where
people were said to live so cheap and to have every
luxury, and wit% a population far larger than ours, the
annual consumption of sugar was only 100,000 tons, or
just half the amount consume] in Englund. - Ihe whole
consumption of Eurcpo aas no more than 375,000 tons
of sugar; so that, out of 600,000 tons of sugar consumed,
we tee.l 200,000 tons. This was rho proof of our being
from
1801 with taxation. Then, as to ccif:c.
1801 to• 1820, he believed the duty on that•of West Ind"
growth was la. 6d. per lb. We were then sery smelt,
consumers ; coffee was regarded as a luxury, and the coe-
sumption was considered great. -when it reached 1,?00
tons. About 1821 the duty was reduced to ls.. perb.,
which had the effect of increasing the consumptionfrom
1,000 to between 2,000 and 3,000 tons. It went on at
7t
that duty. till the annual consumption was about
reduced
tons, in 1825. In that year the duty wes again d
to 6d, a lb., or one-half the former amount, and be wished
that Government would take that as a guide by which'b
to reduco the duties on other articles. The consump-
tion of coffee then gradually increased from
_3.,. to
to 10,000 or 11,000 tons, and it had now reached i.tsmaatis
mum, as the West Indies could not produce morn ;
.an
had raised
tlis increased demand aro! limited stipple'
tles price e,.ern50~.t060,, the cwt, to about. lefos,,
so aneaues were the people of this country to have cc ce,
The West Indies could not produc •
e enough, and we had
gone to the East Indies for it; and Government as beeu

' obliged to admit of an absurd mode or evading the law,
by sending slav,e-griewh tette round the Cape of Good
Elora to purify it, and then it came into this country well
washed and cleansed from all the stain of slave labour.
Mr. Garnett suggested to him to elucidate. the subject by
his own knowledge of its efreets in di6erent parts of the
werld with which tea was connected as a merchant; but he
thought such a plan was not prudent : he should he told
be was seeking, like the West India planter?, to protect
iris own interests ; instead of which, his object was to
promote the ieterest of the country at laree, by following
out the true pciaciples of free trade in all their integrity.
—( Applause.) We were told, with a degree of emphasis
which did make its impression, that the increased manufac-
timee of the Continent showed the dangerous state into
which the Government had allowed this country to be
plunged. NOW, he thought i. showed no auch.thing : it only
showed, that Continental nations being at peace, and increat-
ing their populadon, and naturally seeltiog for the means of
employing them, commenced manufacturing, and he
wished them joy of it. The ineretse of manufactures on
the Continent afforded no proof of the retrograding of
manufactures here, bit only showed that countries at
peace must find the means of employment for their po-
pulation. He conclutit dby moving the first resolution.
Mr. WILLIAM ATKINSON, in seconding it, sail, l'e
bad received a letter that morning from a cerrespen-
dent in London, on the subject of the sugar duties, from
which he reed the following extract:—
" You will observe that the disces,i on in the House
of Commons last night did not take the turn we ex-
pected. But there is much une ,sisess on t!,e part of
the British Colonial intcretts. Some of the principal
Bengal merchants have been to Government to repro_
seat the injury to be eraduced in that country by any
practical admission of fore'gn sugars for consumption
here; to which we hear the answer was—t• Show us that
such injury - will arise, and we ei I pay due attention to
your communicatien.' Agair, the West India interest are
getting up strong memorials, and, I believe, intend to
show that a reduction to 20v. on Colonial, and 30e. for
all other sugars, as recommended before the Commit'ee
on Import Dutiee, wou'd not extend the consumption so
far as to•protect the revenue, much less to lea ease it.
Our own teief still is, if Ministers should have to make
tee proensal, they could not carry it against the combiea-
Sion of East and West India interests, and the. Anti-sla-
very Seidel."
If Government listened to particular or individual into-
reds, th would do what was very wrong; fee thought
the Leeidature ought to look to the gencrw welfare of the
country, and be appeared there because the subject was
deeply important to the interests of the working classes.
A friend ef h.s at P,rnambuco, a short time ago, made
him a present of a email b mrel of sugar; and when he
(Mr. Atkinson) came to see. 'ha cost of it, he found that,
aqhough a present, it cost him 81. per lb.—( Hear, bear)
_whei els if he bad lean a Dutchman, German, or Bel-
gian, it would rot have cost him more than 3d. per lb. He
mentiore f this to show, that our libouring classes might
gs:t sugar for 3 '. for nhifit they were paying 9j. rer lb.--
(Hear, hear.) This as a s,reat evil ; and if we could re-
ceive the produce of any c onstry in return for our manu-
factures, it would benefit us al t a great extent. He felt
se strongly on the subjet t, that he felt it to be the duty of
every one connected with tl is large manufacturing dis-
trict, to use his utmost exertions to induce the Legisla-
ture to alter our t stiff; and he should be gl:d to sec the
clergy of all denominations petitioning for this on the
ground and score of humanity alone.__( Applause.)
Mr. War. GARNETT,. although he had heel sepera'ed
from the int reentle tram amiens of this neighbourhood for
some years, yet as one who had, bees actively and exten-
sively engaged in the commerce of this country for a period
of teirty years, he hot e 1 be should not intrude by offer-
ing some observati :us upon the resolutions and the pro--
ceediegs of the day.—(Arplaus-.) He thought a more
important subject could !welly come before the whole corn
me cial community cf the country. He believed that pro.
viously to the investigations of the Parliamentary Corr-,
mitten, it was not generally known what was the rial and
true condition of Lust system of tariff duties which had
now been ia force for some years, and how injuriously
ti ey were affecting fse industry and commerce of the-
cauntiy. Ilsvmg read an extract from the first-part of
tte Committee's Repo-t, which, be said, was now pub-
lished in a cheap form, Mr. Garrett said that in 1815 a
most unnatural and unjust system of legislation with refer-
ence to the commerce of this country s,as introduced, the
avowed object of which was to promo c and advance the
interests cf the prods': ers of food, without reference
to the consumers. —(Great applause.) The effects of
that system were predicted at the time by the most distin-
guished statesmen of the day ; but such predictions, though
since fuTaled, were derided by those for whose advantage
this send :m of in was introduced. And when,
after a long war, pease succee led, he recollected that we
did exper:ence a per itd of great prosperity, anti were re-
minded that the fesrs which had led te these predictions
were altogether unfounded ; and it was sai J, that the ef-
fect if prose !anti would be most beneficial to the country.
But this prosperity was during the time that manufactures
wet e being established in other countries, and it was in the
very nature of things diet at first manufactures were slow
in tseir progress. It wae net that the mischief hal not been
engendered, but because the evil effects had not been ex-
perienced to that extent who made it injurious to the corn-
merc.al iuterests, that we seemed then to enjoy prosperity
unae- this system. The Mancleater Chamber of Commerce
from tme to time petitioned against the exclusion of food;
other parts of the country petitiouol, and the effect was
to substitute for prohibition a permission to import ;
hut thst permisti ra WA& so clogged with restrictions and
duties, that it was tittle less obnoxious than total prohibi-
tion, and this system continued up to this hour, ottea-
sional'y, from time to time, causing great derangements
in our monwary system, and introducing incalculable evils
into the country.—(Applaute. ) He would not touch
farther on this qua:sill), which had so much agitated the.
country ; he die not wish to create agitation upon any
subject, but to come to a unanimous vote, and show the
I Legislature we were fully sensible of the injury He Sus-
tained under the present system of tariffduties, and to press
upon the Legislature the necessity of calmly deliberating
how far alterations might be carried out, to the benefit
of all classes of her Majesty's subjects.—( Applause ) The
time a as arrived when we should apply ourselves zealously
and dot redly to this quesilons always bearing
in mint golden rule, to do unto others as we
would they- should do unto us. If that principle were
adhered to, we might row he receiving the produce of
other countries in exchange for our manufactures,
without detriment to any existing interests in thin country,
which he contended ought to have a fair and reasonable
protection. What, then, was our course ? To retrace
our steps in legislation, and have more regard to the
consumers, ev,iiing exclusive legislition for any particu-
Isr party.—(Applause.) After adverting to the emigre-
tiers of skilted artisans from this cowry, the cause of
which, he said, it was the duty if the Legislature to inves-
tigate, Mr. Garnett next asksd—Why do we see the phy-
sica'-'osee men up and down the country ready to break
out into open rebellion, but because the evil has come to
the home of every mart; Lecause it was no longer to be
disguised that other countries had become mantOacturers,
more be would say from necessizy than choise, because we
would not take iheir produce? 113 felt satisfied that,
under a bet'er system, every healthy honest man, willing
to work, might support his wife and family in comfortable
subsistence; and, if this could be accomplished, was it
not the best means of geting (pit t.f the Guardians cf
the. Poor-law, and of reducing Poor rates? tinder a
batter system we should, in a great measure, destroy the
necessity of Poor-laws altogether," and give our attention
to those who were at all times objects of distress, the
aged, impotent, infirm, and those who really could not
maintain themselves. If that chaege could he brought
about by a cliff:treat system of legislation, we should hear
no complaining in our streets, but see the people uniecd
and happy, and our Gracious Queen feigning over a
united, loyal, and happy people.—( Applause.)
CAMPIIELL, the Chartist, then came forward, and asked
the Boroughreeve to tell him why the meeting was called
for the morning, whoa the working classes could act at-
tend it

The BOROUGIIREEVE said, it was considered better to
call is is the morning. Every gentleman present had,
doubtless, engagements elsewhere ; but the morning was
found the most convenient time ; and asl.3ng as he had the
hen ,ur cf being I3,roughreevo, he should call every public
meeting is the morning.—( Applause.)
CAMPBELL ra;d, that the ss-orkicg classes might now
perceive Oat there wag no sympathy whatever fir them
amongst the middle and upper classes.—.(No, no.) He
then entered into a ~tatcrnent of the exports of cotton
goods, and etc prices for weaving in cLfferent years; con-
tending th:lt, as the exports increased, the conditi in of the
working classes got worse. lie said that the operatives
were not free to get employmont, but were d‘4enciert
upon the caprice, tyranny, insolence, and villainy of the
employers.
The CHAIRMAN said, he would not permit any one to
use such langusge.
CANtreELL then withdrew, after protesting against the
proceedings in tic name of the working classes, and the
motion passed with one er two aliseentient hands.

Mr. HOLLAND Hoona said, if he had consulted his per-
sonal feelings, the serious indisposition of one of his
children would have prevented his appearing at the
I meeting; but he could not allow a meeting of this im-
portance to Salford to pass over, without coming for-
ward es one who had a great interest and stake in thP..
town, to express his very strong opinion upon the sub-
ject which had brought them together. It was about
four years since that we began to experience a tcrrihle
decline in our trade, and that pressure had continued, be-
yond all precedent, to the present time. He spoke as a
producer, a class which often suffered, while the merchant
obtained remuneration for his capital and labour. All
that Mr. Huskisson Leld so truthfully prognosticated had
come to pass ; and, although the vast resources of our
wealth had protracted the time, the crisis was now arrived
when we must have an alterati-m, or our commerce would
I e for ever ruined. He had on many occasions sp-oken
' strongly against the present Cern-laws, nor was he ashamed
of anytning he said ; but he had not said anything
half so strong as Mr. J D. Hume, who happened to Co
a Tory.---( Hear, hear.) 11.• was glad Mr. Garnott had
taken up this question, which was not thoroughly under-
stood even in Salford yet. He did not blame the Le-
gisla'ute or the Gout:crime:it for the present sta-c of our
commercial I:gislation; if wr, trio commercial and
manufactutirg interests., It t the thing sleep from year to
jelr, we could not justly blame them for neglect.
The treaty with Brazil would expire in about two years,
and we must then either c,..msent to take their sugar and
coffee, or they would lsy prohibitory duties upon our
goods.—( He Ir.) They were our best customers for cot-
ton manufactures sent to Brazil by our rneecha:tt, who re-
ceived sugar and coffee in return, but who were com-
pelled, instead of bringing these articles to us, who want
them, to send them to the Continent to be sold. A
Liverpool gentleman, in his evidence before the Parlia-
mentary Committee, said, that, instead of sending coffee
to the Cape of Good Hope, he would recommend Go-
vernment to allow it to be sent three times round Ireland.
—(Laughter.) A gentleman in the Manchester Chamber
of Commerce, other day, had made a declaration
wi:ieb he (Mr. 1Lole). lass. to be true, that mill pro-
petty now tv4s not worth ha'f what it was it few years ego.
If his ( Mr. floole's) mill was ready. to start, be greatly
feared that it "void still be for his interest to suspend its

operations rather than reeommenee,—(Hear.) These
were appalling facts, and ought to be taken up by the pub-
:ic at large ; for every individual in the realm was deeply
interested.--(Applause.) In conclusion he tweed the
Mr. T. &man, a past floroughrceve of Salford, said,
with a very few calm, dispassionate observations, he de-
sired to second the motion. In the Parliamentary Report
upon Import Duties it was very pithily stated, that the
tariff of the United Kingdom presented neither unity nor
congruity of purpose__a declaration which, in his of Wee,
ought to be inscribed and worn as a phylactery upon every
man's front, till these discriminating inconsistencies were
entirely removed from our commercial statutes.—( Hear.)
While in arms, in science, and in the arts of peaceful in-
dustry, we had earned numerous splendid trophies and car-
ried out great improvements, if we looked at our civil poii-
than, at our commercial legislation, there reproach awaited
us; there self-interest and ignorance had prevailed, and
thence had sprung those wrongs that we now sought to
have redressed. Our colonies had very greatly ember-
ressed the course of commercial legislation. The protec-
tions, restrictions, and prohibitions with which they had
surrounded us, had led. he feared, to a rivalry of which we
should long feel the effects. By erotecting our colonies,
we had done injustice to others, and driven them to be-
come our manufacturing rivals. But how far were our
colonies customers for our manufactures? They had pro-
tections on their produce front 50 to 500 per cent. The
West Indians were a body of individuals about a million
in number ; and, during the last year, we had paid them
an excess cf price, beyond w} at we could have purchased
the same articles for elsewhere, of not less than four mil-
lions sterling—( Hear, hear)—twenty-four millions of
people had paid to one million four millions
sterling snore than they need have paid, if our ports
were free for article to come in from other parts of the
world.— (Hear, brae.) Yet our colonists only tool
from us one-fourth of our whole exports. If ere looked
at the produce of taxation arising out of the foreign
trade of the country, we should sea that nearly half the
revenue proceeds from the customs duties, and that our
manufacturing industry alone supplies the whole amount
of exports by which this very sum of half the re-
venue was brought into the country. The cotton manu-
factures formed one-half of all our exports ; and hence
it was clear, that our cotton manufactures con-
teieuted one-fourth to ell the esigeneies of the State.—
( Hear.) There were employe 1 is the cotton manufac-
tures about two millions of the people, who were, therefore
d'rectly b:isging into the customs revenue something
like ten millions sterling, yet they were subject to the
bread tax, and every other home tax, and he would say,
that, if the rest of the people of the United Kingdom at
large contributed to the revenue in the same ratio, our ia-
venue would not be less than 100 millions sterling per an-
num.—( Ilea-.) Let the industry of the country, then,
fee, ly bring hete whatever they can get in exchange for
their labour, and let fiscal regulations only, not protection
and favouritism, determine the amount of duty to be ex-
acted.—( Hear.) As to the operation of these restrictive
dunes upon the colonies themaelve-, he might mention that
fc reien rice was subject to a duty of about lid. per lb, or
15e par cast., while colonial rice paid only is. per cwt. ;
and i i a period of searc'ty, tha colonists, whose chief sup-
port was rice, had actually to be brought ietoa starting con-
dition before it became the interest of our merchants to
take rice there from other markets. As to the
oneretian of our duties upon raw materials, mahogany was
taxed 200 to 300 per cent., while manufactured articles
of mahogany m'ght be imported from the Continent of
Europe at this time, at a duty of 20 per cent. There
were waiele uses at Hull filled with continental furniture
of superb make, wh:ch cauld be bought at a cheaper rate
than in M ,nchtster.—( Hear.) Was not this absurd that
our artisaus here could not produce articles as cheap as
those bought from the Continent of Europe? He had
shown that we pay the West Indies an excess of four mil-
lions sterling a year; yet our exports of manufactures to
the West In: its were only four millions sterling annu-
ally ' • so that v rtually we make them a present of all the
goods we send them.— ( Hear, h: a•.) Yet we saw the de-
mand for _our manufacturing industry diminishing day by
day. We came here to ask for the renand of our Indus-
try; he trusted the. demand for it would re:erberree
.throughout the land; and that we should never cease
calmly delis rately, and peacefully, but strenuously, to de-
mand justice ti:l are obtain it.--(Applause.) Connected
with humanity, he believed the commercial policy of the
country had had a right-handed tendency to increase
el very, while the law was intended in a left-handed man-
ner to suppress it He trusted tha', in traohraeiag the
principles of free trade, we were promoting the general
princi, des of freedom to mankind, and unshackling the
slave in evey part of the world. He would say--
" Free as the waters of the ocean,
Ile man is every clime and nation
Free as the light and winds of heaven,
To man be all earth's bounties given."--( Applause.)
Mr. ROBERT GARDNER, in supporting the resolution,
said it was most outrageous and inconsistent that, whi!e
we Icaird only 243. duty upon .colonial sugar, we
should levy 665. upon foreign sugar, which amounted
to a prohibi ion. He (Ms. Gardner) was a manufac-
turer and shipper; he manufactured cloth, and shipped
t to Brazil, getting sugar in return. Suppose he
called to him the man who had woven the cloth,
showed him the sugar, and said, " Here is what I have
g 4 in return fir your labour (by which jou don't live, but
'just contrive to keep alive); tlii; auger has cost lid. a
lb." Perhaps he would say, " Oh, master, let me have
some of that." He ( Mr. Gardner) might reply, " No,
this is not for you, tins is fur the [lacks in the West Ic-
dies. This must he refiaed in bond, sal then he shipped
for the West Indies; and the blacks there are absolutely
usieg alteg. ther the slave-grown sugar c.f Bfazil and
other countri •s, which is supplied to them at 41,1. to el.
per lb. "—s. Head ) In consequeece of our restrictive sys-
tem, the West Indian Links can get our double-refined
white sugar at less per lb. than they can sell us their
commonest brown sugar—so coarse that you could hardly
say whether it was molasses or sugar.—( Hear, hear.)
n his opinion we never could entirely suppress slavery so
long as we grant any protection to cur West Indian cole-
lasts.— (Hear, hear.) Referring to Gun ey's " Winter
Jam:ica," Mr. Gardner quoted a statement of Mr. Na-
thaniel Gilbert, to the effect that, since emancipation, the
molasses on his estate alone sal paid -the whole of his
wages and expenses; and his estate was now worth more
money without the negroes than before it was with them.
lie showed that land in that island had increased in value
acme double, some two-thirds, and some two-thirds and
three-quarters ; so that by and bye the very high prices of
land would be quoted against us, as a reason or excuse for
protection.—( Hear.) It appeared to-him, that our Go-
vernment would rather levy 61. a lb. out of one pound of
sugar than let the poor man have 31b. where he now got
one, and still receive the same amount of revenue. He
was not for an unconditional repeal of the Corn-laws, be-
cause certain interests had arisen; but, if a modified scale
could he agreed to, it would tend greatly to increase our
consumption of food, would benefit the condition of the
working classes, and would be beneficial also to the landed
interest.=( Hear, from Mr. Garnett.) Mr. Gardner con-
cluded by reading an extract from the Report of the Man-
chester Chamber t f Commerce on imoort duties, to the
fleet, that we were paying seven miltiona per annum to
the West Indies for the privilege of salting them products
to the value of th ee millions.
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution, wl ich passed
unanimously.

Mr. JAMES HALL, junior (3 past Borcughreeve
sf Selfo-d 1, moved the next resolution, and expressed his
gretification at havieg witnessed two meetings within a
wse!t, at which gentlemen of widely-ditrering politics,
principle:. and interests, combined for the common, ge-
neral, and beneficial interest of rll.—( Applause.) He
• regre:ted very much the operation of the Corn-lews on
tee working eassee., whose condition he should like to
ee much mere. alleviated ; and he did hope, crc long, to
ace something {lone to this end.—( Applause.)
Mr. R. P. LIVINGSTON said the subject of the Corn-
laws (in the resolution) seas one of so much importance,
and the cruelty and oppression resulting from them bad
been so gre at, that he dared not trust himself to (Nei on
:he subject, lest hia feelings should overcome his judg-
ment ; and he would, therefore, merely second the rese-
In jar,. It passed unanimously.
Mr. WM. HARVEY, in moving the adoption of a pet'-
, den eetered into a review of the history of the Corn-
hws of 1815 and 1828. In 1515, when the average pric
• of wheat per quarter, on the Continent, did not exceed
28e er 295., the asistocracy, in order to get their high rents
from the farmers, made us pay 70s. per quarter.—( Hear,
heir.) Ile remembered a race!ing beiog held about that
time in the Manor Court room, where a petition was
as'mi tad, praying that the Biil might not pass. At that
time there was great apathy on the subject in the mi idle
classes; and the mass cf the labouring classes were al-
most the only movers; but now the case was vary diffe-
rent —the middle classes, perceiving tat t their property
was going out of their hands, had come forward, but the
lsbowiag classes were holding back (though admitting
'hat it Was right el get the Corn-laws repealed), because
they wanted Annual Parliaments, Utiversal Suffrage,'and
Vote by Ballot, as the grand panacea for all the evils
teat hez,e':, this country._(Heer, bear.) If they would
.only put their shoulders to the wheel, he believed, we
should get rid of the Corr-laws within twelve months. He
Was aware that the condition of the labouring classes had
been sinking lower and lower, a strong reason why they
sheen seek for a repeal of the Cern-laws, and a more
equitable adjustment of our import duties. He concluded
by moving the adoption of the petition, which he read, and
which was received with great applause.
Mr. SAMUEL EVELEIGII seconded the motion, expressing
his opinion that the commerce of this and every other
country should be as free as the air we be the.
Mr. R. J. RICHARDSON said, Mr. Hai vey had asked
why the working classes did not now join the middle
classes. It was because Mr. Greg had injudiciously let
slip, and it had flown like wild-fire throughout the coun-
try, that the object of getting the repeal of :ha Corn-laws
was to reduce wages that we might compete with foreign
manuracturers. That was the idea prevalent: he was not
going to justify the idea in any way ; but it was tie gene-
ral idea, that it was intended tr get c rn cheap, in order
that wages might he reduced, so as to erred ; cur manu-
facturers to compete with those ebsoad,
Mr. HARVEY wished to disabuse the mind of Mr. Hi.
chard en, who, with the Ch artists generally, was mud)
mistaken, if he thought the repent cf the Core-laws would
le:ye the effect of reducing the pries of labour. He would
refer Mr. Richardson to 1822, when provisions were per-
haps et their lowest psi e daring the last forty years, and
there was a period of great commercial prosperity; our
manu:actures were extending; the peeple generally
throughout this country acre in full employment, aid re-
ceiving wages far higher than what they now get. H:s firm
conviction a as, that, it the Corn-lava were repeal, d t
morrow, instead of wages lei g we should
have increased orders and increased demand for labour,
and consequently wages would rise as tat demand
increased.—(Applause.) \Vbocv r had said that wages
would be diminished by the repeal of the Corn-laws, said
what was not true. The effect c f their repeal would be,
that we should get corn from the Continent, and cause it to
rise in price there, so as to bring it to something. like an
eqeality with the price here. The Sae e. price almost
would be paid for food in Corres.ny and Po.aesi irk !11L
country, if we had a free import of cora without clutfj
The farmer would have protection eno gh by the &tier-