The Sun.
London, England, 1841-06-08 00:00:00

Mr. Ross said, there cannot be a dissentient voice as to the a
present state of the country, and the general and heart-rend-
-mg distress which prevails.' The merchant and manufaii-
turer, "as well as the poor workman, all suffer at the
present moment. This cannot be denied. Thet are
all labouring under embarrassments of the most pain-
ful character ; but the working classes are suffering
more acutely than the others. They have not sufficient,
after the bare necessaries of life are provided for, to sup')
themselves with the simplest comforts cf c. othing and other in-
dispensable matters, which to them are articles of luxury.—
'(Loud cheering, and cries of" Hear, hear.") The cau,c is a
permanent one, and will remain so till some such remedral
measures as the Government proposes be introduced, to correct
the suspended energies of trade.—( Hear.) Mr. Ross tken en-
tered into lengthened details on the effects of monopoly on va-
rious branches of trade ; and then, speaking of the Corn-lows,
said—l have heard three leading objections urged against
an alteration of the present system with great earnestness.
First, it has been said that the contemplated change would not
benefit the working classes; secondly, that it would entail
ruin on landowners and farmers ; 3rdly, that it would ex-
pose the population to the risk of being starved in time of
war. I shall try to answer these objections one by one.
As to the first, I confess I was once myself caught by what
I have for some time considered to be fallacious reasoning.
Why, it was asked, is the manufacturer 'so anxious to pro-
cure a reduction in the price of grain ? Is it nit because,
unable to compete with the foreigner, at the present rate of
wages, he naturally wishes to he enabled, by a low price of
food, to reduce them in proportion to the reduction in the price
of wheat? But let it be considered, Ist, that wages are not af-
fected solely by the price of food; other elements enter into
the ca culation. In order to arrive at a just conclusion on
that point, the demand and supply of labour must be taken
into account. High pricy of food may shut up manufac-
tories, or put their inmates on halfswork. Men on half-
work will be found to offer the rermin:ng half of their time
for less than the remaining half of toeir former wages ;
a poor man who may have earned say two shillings a day, when
reduced to half work and one shilling, will be apt to read in the
pressing looks of his wife and little ones an entreaty to give his
unoccupied time for 9d.; and thus high prices of bread and low
wages might be found to exist. 2dly—We must remember
th'tt increased production, stimulated by low wages hi the first
instance, will allow of small profits on capital employed, and
this production creates increased demand for labour. High
proportional wages will ultimately be insured by that de-
mand. I now come to the second objection against the pi o-
posed change in the Corn-lava. The ohjection is, that if we
adopt a Bill similar to the one proposed and thereby impose a
fixed duty, we ruin both the farmer and the landlord. The
landed interests should remember that they cannot ex-
pect high rents and a large return for the produce of the
land if they have not consumers.—( Hear, hea.. ) What is to
become of the agricultural produce if the manufacturer
cannot employ hands ?—( Hear, hear, hear.) When the wce k-
ing classes are thrown out of employment they have not where-
with to purchase corn, or potatoes, or beef, or pigs, or poultry,
while the farmer, if he succeeded in getting any sale for these
commodities, must sell them at a reduced and iinrernuneratin,il
price.—( Hear, hear.) Front Continental statements, it will
at once appear that there is no cause of fear if commerce be
maintained. The average price of wheat in Poland is 28s. 4d,
per quarter. The cost of its transit to port is 2s. Bd. The
freight to London, and insurance, amount to 7s. Utd, t port
dues, commission, &c., 7s. 10id., which comes to 465, Id.
Add to this the proposed fixed duty of Be., and we have the
Polish oats in this country at 545. Id, per quarter, which is
assumed to be the lowest price. These statements are wen thy
the attention of the agricultural interests. If now, on the
other hand, the intelligent farmer will look at the state of the
rents during the years 1834 and 1835, and compare them with
the prices of wheat during those years, he will find that,
although the prices were low, they were net ruinous. The
price of wheat in 1834 was 465. 2d. per quarter, and in 1835 it
was 395. 4d., making the average price of wheat, for the years
1834 and 1835, 425. 9d, per quarter,—( Hear.) By com-
paring this average with that of 545. Id., he will be enabled to
see his position more clearly, and judge how his interests will
stand when the propo.oel measures are brought into operation.
—(Hear, hear.) The third objection against the proposed
measures of the Government is, that in case of war the Conti-
nental ports would be closed against us. The cry is, " What
would you starve the country at such a crisis se that ?" It is
strange that the people themselves never argue this way, and
that all these apprehensions for their safety arise from a class
that are always interested in keeping up the price of corn.—
( Hear, hear, and cheers.) It is only this interested class that
show so much nervousness on this point. To that class I
would answer, that it was better for the people to run the risk
of starvation, than submit to actual starvation.—(Cheers,
lasted for seseral minutes.) Mr. Ross concluded by proposing
—" That, while we do not pledge ourselves to approve the
amount of duties which the Government propositions would
still retain on sugar, timber, and corn ; and whilst we reserve
oorselsee the full right of seeking for such further'modification
as the eireemetanoes of the public revenue may warrant, we
yet cordially approve those propositions, so far as they would
operate to reduce taxation, and to substitute steodiness of price
for uncertainty, and legitimate mercantile operations for spe-
culation ; and that we willingly receive them as pledges of the
disposition of tk. Gwen-I=a to pay attention to the relief of
the', present distress of large portions of her Majesty's people,
and to secure their permanent interests, by abolishing,
speedily as the circumstances of the country will admiOlalt those
systems of duties, through the means of whlch itijurious mo-
nopolies are sustained ; the co.rarneece and manufactures of the
country. crippled, an even tfireateried with destruction ; agri-
raltuye itsy,tt oitss really benefited ; and the great body of the
people taxed, not for the benefit of the State, but for the soil-
posed advantage of favoured classes." -
Mr. WM. SHARMAN CRAlyi•on fpss and said—l shall
petty much confine /a eiseseOetions—namely, to that of the
duty on •ktit heyeo then, in the first p ace, to inquire
stee (ttrioent of protect ioa agriculturists derived from the Corn.
;aoki, aria to which they allege they have a right,—(Hear..)
I -maintain, my Lord, that the agricultural interest would be
sufficiently protected by the expenses alone of importing foreign
prn this, ccnntey.. There is another matter to be consi-
MAswhich eta this—if there arose an extraordinary demand
or seoeten coPA, as is a season of scarcity, there would, of
course, bee met e:ee io the expense of importation, because,
to propertioo as the demand increased, the rate of freights
would be augmented. Thus, in 1838, when the duty came
down to Is. per quarter, the freights rose 100 per roeot, and
the prices of wheat on the Continent advaneed 50 per cent.—
( Hear, hear.) Recollect, peolomep, that every five quarters
of wheat require tone ten of shipping. This being so, if we
compute the annual consumption of wheat in England at
60,000,000 quarters, we shall find, that all the registered ship-
ping belonging to England could not import, in three years,
one year's supply, allowing each vessel to make two veysies an,
nually.—(Hear, hear.) Would it net he en abeord thing to
send foreign con to tittle countelee far sale, when it could
Welt ne profit whotever.—( Hear, hear.) Again, landlsrds
ever that they are entitled to extraordinary protection, " be-
, cause," say they, "we are liable to extraordinary taxation."
Mr. Crawford entered into long arithmetical details relative to
taxes to which landlords have been sube ted at various periods
tipsier the lesv of Engleed. If we con,ider the relief from the
were' tariatlen which they, as legi.lators, afford themselves, I
am of opinion that it would more than meet all the claims which
they have to any other relief.—(Hear, hear.) What position,
tion of the general taxation de they pay? T e general taxes
Ore 010 posterns, the enciee, the etallqe; direct taxes, and post-
office. If we look HI a l these items we find that a large pro-
portion is paid by manufacturers, almost every article in whose
branches of trade is subject to duty, paid either directly or iii-
directly. Let me now .draw your attention to the annual
amount of protection which the landlords claim. Its sole ob-
ject is to keep up one class et the expense of all other classes.
That is the principle to which I object.—( Hear, hear.) It is
alleged, that this serves the agricultural interest. What, let
me ask, does the agricultural interest consist of ? Is it ef
landlords alone?--(Cheers.) No; they fools; the very smallest
proportion, It is composed chiefly of three classes—namely,
rat, of farmers who do not labour ; secondly, of farmers who
de their own work; thirdly, of labourers. We will first
take the class of farmers who do not work. How does the
Corn-law serve their interest? It acts so as to enable the
landlords to charge enormous rents, while the land is let
qr. a fictitiotis principle, which affords no certain protection
to the farmer.—( Hear, hear.) By the law of 1815, it was
expected that the price of wheat would be kept up at an ave-
rage of 80s. ; yet in 1821 and 1822 it fell to 395.—( Hear,
hear.) Now, I contend that the farmer was actually
robbed when the value of wheat was reduced to this figure.
In the same way, by the law of 1828, it was anticipated that
an average of 625. per quarter would be attained; whereas,
in 1835 it went down to 29s.—(Hear, hear.) Would it
not be infinitely better for the farmer it the duties on corn
were established on a fixed and cortain basis, instead of
leaving him dependent for his rent and means of subsis-
tence on the fickle and fictitious support of Corn-laws ?
(Loud cheering.) With respect to those farmers who work
with their own hands, of what consequence are prices to
them ? They are principally consumers, and woold feel
content were their landlords to accept a relit in a tair pro-
portion of prices end product. I desire, my Lord,
totally to extirpate all monopolies. I would lay the axe to
the root of the tree, and I would apply it tilll left not one frag-
ment behind.—(Loud cheers.) '1 he father of all monopo-
lies is that which taxes the food of the people, Take that
away, and all the others will drop like rotten branches.
'lee resolution was then put, and passed unanimously.
Mr. J. CAMPBELL ALLEN next moved a resolution, which
Mr. R. M‘Doweee seconded.
'I he meeting soon after adjourned,
iS DINWER.

In the evening, the members of the Ulster Association and
their friends entertained the President, the Right Hqn, the
Earl of Charlemont, at a public dinner, in the alusic Hall.
'f he chair was occupied by William Sharman Crawford,
Esq. The other parts of the room were filled with all the
leading and influential Reformers in Belfast. •

BAPTIST MEETING.—ANTI•CORN.I4AW PETITION.—On
Tuesday and Wednesday last, the Midland Baptist Asso-
ciation held their annual sittings at Westbromwiil. This
Association has existed nearly 200 years; it represents reli-
gious societies containing upwards of ;5,000 members, awl
includes congregations amounting to 9,000 persons. They
dined together at the Cross Guns Inn, on Wednesday, when
about seventy were present. After the cloth was removed,
the Rev. W. Stokes, the Moderator, being in the chair, it was
moved by the Rev. T. Swan, of Birmingham, and seconded
by the Rev. W. Rogers, of Dudley, 4‘ That a petition to
the House of Commons be adopted by this meeting, praying
for the total repeal of the Corn-law." 1 he motion gave rise
to an animated discussion upon the question, and terminated
in this adoption of the petition, by the unanimous vote of the
meeting. It was ponstgned for presentation to the care of
J. Sohnlefield, Esq„ M.P. for Dirininghatn.
atoN-tiraN. r ice hundred inhabitants of this
town, headed by the High Bailiff, hare signed a petition against
the Corn-laws.

WEDNISBURY.—The petition from this town, for a total
repeal of the Corn-laws, has been signed by 2,163 inhabitants,
Ad was'forwardpd on Thursday evening to the Hun. Colonel
nson for presentation.

STATE OF THE COUNTY OF WEXFORD.-
Another murder has left its red mark upon the character of
Wexford. 'I he following barbarous atrocity we extract from
the last /Vcgerfora Mirror We regret to learn," *Lys ow
Contemporary, 'f that the County Wexford has been the scene
of another d• ed of violence and bloodshed, At two o'clock yes:.
terday morning, the house of a man named Patrick Neville;
at Clonmines, in the southern part of the 'County, *at
broken into by three men, whose faces were blackened.
The robbers made him get up, and took from him a small
sum, about 301. or 401„ which he had saved,. and, when
departing, one of them Ikeda pistol at him, the contents lodg-
ing in his breast, At our last accounts, a few hours after, the
man was still in life, but his recovery was looked upon as hope-
less. The clergy and police were at the house, , and measures
were being taken to search for the offenders. This outrage, so
immediately after the dreadful murder of Mr. Bryan, in a
county usually so peaceable, is calculated to cause a very great
Opgrep sen:ation. It would appear to be in no manner of an
Werian tnit tY7O or three acres, and
WOO little if at all above the rank of a labouring In
consequentd of the murder of IWr. Butler Bryan, the Lord
Lieutenant of the county—the Lord Carew, a thoroughgoing
Liberal—has convened a meeting of the magistrates of W..x_
ford, to be held to-morrow (Saturday) in the town of Ennis-
Opriider the state of the county and take such inn-
sures'for tne cV-eiikajobrent pFace, apd the secnrit‘, of life
and property, as may be deginc4 Oril•bie.!---431414 .hroing
Mail.

There was yesterday forenoon 4 numerous meet-
ing of Conscrvative Menibers at the.llouse of Sir E. Peel.