The Sun.
London, England, 1841-05-26 00:00:00

r GRhAT ANTI-CORN-LAW MEET-
ING IN THE STAFFORDSHIRE POTTERIES.
-DEFEAT OF THE CHARTISTS.

The Potteries on Monday last, the 24th instant, followed the
example of other populous manufacturing distr'cts in pressing
the subjects of the Corn-laws and Import Duties on the at-
tention of Government. The popular excitement on these
subjects is becoming stronger ever] day. Information and
reflection have done their work with the people. Early in the
morning the various townships were in motion, and loaves of
bread were paraded through the streets, showing the difference
between the American untaxed loaf and the Englishman's Corn-
law bread.
Bands of music, and numerous banners with appropriate in-
scriptions, were carried by the multitudes of repealers to the
place of meeting, where the Chartists had already assembled
with all thelorce which the Tories and their new allies could
bring together. A waggon was furnished them by the agent
of Squire Sneyd. A Tory lawyer, the whipper-in of his party
for the rural parts of the borough, and some of the partisans
of Alderman Copeland, also laboured in gathering all the col-
liers, boatmen, and Chartists from the neighbouring country.
This wretched mass of ignorance and folly never amounted
to more than about two hundred, but being supplied with
drink they were able to fulfil the object for which they were
gatKored, and in a meeting of many thousands to prevent any-
thing but their own bellowings from being heard. They were
led on by a cobbler, assisted by several orators brought by the
Tories from Derby and Manchester, one of whom was imme-
diately recognised as:a well-known thimble-rigger on the Pot-
tery race course.
At the hour of meeting many thousand persons assembled
in Hanley Market-place, and the
Chief Bailiff, E. J. RIDGWAY, Esq., was voted to the
Chair, and commenced the proceedings by reading the most
respectable and numerously signed requisition ever got up in
the Potteries, addressed to him as Chief Bailiff of Hanley and
Shelton, and observed, that in pursuance of that requisition,
and in concurrence with similar requisitions that had been pre-
sented to his brother Chief Bailiffs in the borough, the meeting
had been called. The meeting, he said was requested by men
of variouspolitical °pillions, to take into,consideration"the pro-
priety of petitioning Parliament for the repeal of the Corn-
laws and the reform of the Import Duties, and there-
fore could not be called a party meeting.—(Hear.)
He considered therefore that all subjects not applying to those
specific objects were inadmissible. Also that it being a
borough meeting, the inhabitants of the borough only were
competent to take a part in its proceedings ; and in conclu-
sion, requested as a favour that the meeting would grant to
every speaker an impartial hearing, and endeavour to preserve
order and good temper during.the proceedings.
R. E. HEATHCOTE, Esq., late M.P. for the borough, rose,
amid great confusion, to propose the first resolution. He ob-
served that he had never witnessed so much disorder at public
meetings in the Potteries, and but for that he should have
risen with more than usual satisfaction, never having seen
under any circumstances so numerous and respectable an as-
semblage in the borough. He considered that it was the de-
sign of a gracious Providence that its bounties and blessings
should be freely enjoyed by all the human family, and that
every part of the world, however secluded, and seemingly un-
blessed, had advantages to give for the produce of other parts,
and so by mutual exchange, and unrestricted commerce, the
well-being of all would be secured. But the impolitic re-
strictions had diverted the bounteous streams of the beni-
ficent 'designs of Providence, and want and sorrow had
usurpedg She place where • happiness +tand-; cententment
,might abo‘und. Mr. Heathcote proceeded te.notiee Jhe miser-
able COnarlion of the operatives, and of many agricultural' la-
bourers as the result of the bad policy of our Legislators, in
passing restrictive laws, which, should the Peels and Stanley*
come into power, would still govern the nation, and went on
to show that monopoly, with its curses, or free trade, with its
blessings, was offered by the Government, and that the old fac-
tion which had ever opposed the public good, had again raised
the banner of resistance, though he (Mr. Heathcote) did not
charge the gentlemen en his right, alluding to the Chartists,
with belonging to that faction.—( Laughter. ) The people, he
said, were engaged in a struggle of more importance to them-
selves than any that had preceded. He remembered the meet-
ings in that place on the subject of the Reform Bill. Sharp
was the struggle, and well the people did their duty ; and he
trusted that, as they would soon have to give a casting vote,
and, as he believed, the present House of Commons did not
represent the voice of the people, he entreated them to do their
duty, and tell the monopolists that they were determined to
have free trade. Mr. Heathcote was cheered by his friends,
and hissed by the little knot of Chartists.
F. WEDGWOOD, Esq.,grandson of the celebrated Wedgwood,
seconded the resolution.

The CHAIRMAN rose to read the resolution, but the con-
fusion and noise prevented his being heard, and during the
noise a cobbler who was in the Chartist waggon, rose to propose
an amendment, which was the signal for a scene that beggars
description, hooting, hissing, groaning, Ike. At length he
was permitted to proceed, and he stated that the Corn-laws
were put on at the point of the bayonet, and would never be
taken off but in a similar way. He then spoke of the money
laws, and declared that but for the Anti-Corn-law League not
one of the 450 Chartists would have been imprisoned, and
Frost, Williams, and Jones, would then be at their homes.
He spoke during the greatest confusion, and concluded by
moving an amendment deprecating the Corn-laws, but consi-
dering the only paniker for the sufferings of the people was
the Charter. A Chartist, named Capper, seconded the amend-
ment. The resolution WR3 however carried by a large ma-
jority,—its friends cheering, and the Chartists groaning and
hissing.
JOHN ASHFORD Wisr, Esq., one of the Magistrates of
the county, moved the second resolution. He felt greatly in-
terested in the welfare of the Potteries, and considered that if
the object of the meeting was attained, it would be for the good
of the people, though he must say that in his opinion the Corn-
laws would not be fully repealed until there was an extension
of the Suffrage, and he would therefore gladly take an instal-
ment. He was himself a landowner, and derived every shil-
ling of his:income from rents, which he admitted were at present
too high:

111r.flustrY, of Tunstall, seconded the resolution in an
appropriate speech.
A Chartist, named Robinson, next addressed the meeting,
and the noise and confusion which had been great during the
delivery of the former speeches, was greatly increased ; he
however persisted in speaking about anything but the subject,
before the meeting, which he said was but to petition for the
repeal of a small and paltry tax on corn.
As it was now quite evident that the object of the Chartists
was toscause confusion and interruption, the Chairman inquired
if they had an amendment to move, and as none was forthcom.
ing, he put the resolution to the meeting, which was carried
amid confusion twice confounded—the hissing►, hooting,
whistling, bellowing, from the Chartists, exceeded all that we
have before seen.

The remaining resolutions were moved, during the continued
noise and confusion, by C. J. Mason, Esq., L. J. Abington,
Esq., John Ridgway, Esq., Elijah Jones, Esq., and Thomas
Green, Esq., and seconded by operatives ; and after thanks
had been voted to the chair, and three times three cheers were
given for Repeal of the Corn-laws,, the meeting dissolved,
leaving the Chartists on the ground to amuse themselves with
their own clap-trap misrepresentations and sophisms.
The meeting has been productive of much damage to the
name of Chartism in the Potteries ; its unprincipled alliance
with Toryism in opposition to the immediate interests of the
people, and the brutal tyranny by which it seeks to trample
down the rights of all men, to accomplish its designs, has con-
firmed many waverers in their resistance to its demands,
swelled the ranks of the Liberals, and disgusted even the fac-
sion which employed the Chartists in their dirty work.

GREAT ANTI-MONOPOLY MEET-

ING AT CHORLEY.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)
The most numerous and respectable meeting ever held in
this town took place last evening, convened by the Overseers
and Churchwardens, in consequence of a requisition they re-
ceived. Not less than four thousand persons were present,
several bands of music, banners, &c. At six o'clock, the hour ap-
pointed, the new market-place presented an animated scene,
hundreds approaching in every direction, anxious to record
their sentiments against monopoly. Throughout the proceed-
ings, although some difference existed about the means, all
were perfectly agreed that the end ought to be the abolition
of all monopolies.
On the motion of RICHARD &MTH uRsT, Esq.,:seeonded by
PETER RIGBY' a Chartist leader, Thomas Watt, Esq. was
called to the chair, and stated that the meeting was of the ut-
most importance, as it remained for the country to say whe-
ther they approved of the conduct of those representatives who
had lately rejected a measure calculated to increase the com-
forts, commerce, and employment of the United Kingdom, viz.,
a revision of the sugar duties. A measure that not one of its oppo-
nents denied the benefits that would arise from its adoption ; but,
forsooth, it was the produce of slave labour. Now this from
the men who had defended slavery to the very last, and only
relinquished their unholy grasp for a large consideration was,
to say the least of it, ridiculous.

RICHARD SMETHURST, Esq., moved the first resolution, and
stated that the import of slave-grown sugar was not the only
question, as the prohibitory duty equally excluded free labour
sugar, and thus crippled commerce, placed the public on short
allowance, and injured the revenue. The speaker here paid a
compliment to Lord John Russell.
The Rev. 0. Halmort seconded the resolution, and, said—
It was usual for Ministers of the Gospel to state why they took
in such demonstrations as the present. It was also usual to
hear taunts thrown out against them for so doing, but he was
careless whether they came from one quarter or another, as he
was not conscious of giving any man offence, and had yet to
learn that in becoming a Minister of the Gospel he had ceased
to be a man or a citizen.—(Loud cheers.) He rejoiced the
time had arrived when something was proposed to be done to
relieve our suffering community. Had not monopoly lasted
sufficiently long? He had given the question much attention,
and the more he considered it the more he was convinced it
was opposed to justice. All trade should be left free, unfettered
by protecting duties. The Reverend Gentleman happily ex-
posed the wages fallacy, and declared if he for a moment
thought the measure would injure the working man, he would
rather the factories were burned, and the ashes scattered to
the winds of heaven than support it ; but all experience showed
the contrary. He concluded by seconding the resolution.
Mr. PETER RIGBY came forward to propose as an amend-
ment, a want of confidence in Ministers, and stated that his
objection was to a bread-tax, and called on the parties to take
down the flag that had no bread-tax inscribed upon it, as in
supporting the proposal of Ministers they were supporting a
duty of Bs. a quarter, which was monstrous and unjust. He
would support the Anti-Corn-law League in total repeal; he
.had supported Mr. Livesey at Preston on the subject; but
now he perceived they had deserted principle.—( Loud cries of
" No.")
Mr. Dotranas seconded the amendment.
The Rev. HENRY CLARKE stated, in support of the original
resolution, that nine-tenths of what Mr. Rigby had said had
no reference to the subject.
Mr. JOHN Minimal, addressed the meeting on the necessity
of coolly and calmly considering the question, and, if it was just,
to support it, firmly and deliberately expressing his conviction
that total repeal only was lull justice.
Mr. HYLAND moved the next resolution.
The Rev. H. CLARKE seconded the resolution, but the
pressure on the platform became so great that it was utterly
impossible that what followed could be more than glanced at.
',llr. Rigby introduced the Charter, the chairman declined
political discussion. Mr. Evans of the National Anti-Corn-
law League indignantly denied that they had abated one iota
of their demand for full justice, an unrestricted trade in the
article of human food, unfettered by taxation either for revenue
or protection, and was loudly cheered. The Itev. Mr. Lang
addressed them at some length, and was much applauded.
At the termination a vote of thanks to the chairman was
moved by IL
Smethurst, Esq., seconded by Mr. T. Rigby,
and carried unanimously. proving that his conduct had given
satisfaction to all parties.