The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-29 00:00:00

IMPLAL OF TILE CORN-LAWS.

ADDRESS FROM THE REFORMERS OF MA-
RYLEBONE TO TUE ELECTORS OF WAL-
SALL.
Yesterday a numerous meeting of the Electors of the
borough of Marylebone, Members of the Borough of
Marykebone Reform and Registration Association, took
'plate: at the Association Rooms, Warren-street, Fitz-
roy-agnate, pursuant to the following requisition, signed
by fifteen members of the Society :—" To the Seers-
?Ary of the Borough of Marylebone Reform and Re-
gisttation,Association, We , the undersigned members,
request you will convene a general meeting of the above
Association, to consider the propriety of forwarding an
address from this Association to the electors of Walsall,
to incite them to perseverance in the struggle they are
now making to return to Parliament a determiaed op-
ponent of the present iniquitous Corn-laws."
J. Baasasaw, Esq. (late M.P. for Sudbury), Presi-
&eat of tivs Association, occupied the chair ; and amongst
the !err: and influential body of the Reformers present
Were—
,Joseph Irving, Esq., Professor Key, J. B. Bacon,
Esq., the Rev. Mr. Kidd, George Houghton, Esq., J.
T. •Wilier Core, E,q., R. Nelms, Esq., Major Revell,
BeaVington, Esq., &c. &c.
r. ALLEN, the secretary, having read the requisi-
tion he had received to convene the meeting,
The CHAIRMAN observed that it was amatter of vast
importance to all grades of Reformers, the great battle
which was being fought in the borough of Walsall in
Staffordsfere. It was more especially so inasmuch as it
was the battle of the bread-tax.—( Hear.) It was true
that there were various opinions even amongst Re-
formers with respect to the continuance of the present
Corn-laws. Some were for a fixed duty, others for a
total repeal, but he believed there were few who were
not desirous that some alteration should take place.—
(Hear, hear.) The principle, however, upon which
the Corn-laws of this country were in future to be
based, was not the object they had met to discuss—that
was an after consideration. It was sufficient for thorn
to know that the present Corn-laws were not only cruel
but unjust, and that before an amendment in them
could, take place, they must first be repealed.—
(He'ar, hear.) It was therefore identified with
them as Reformers, that they should endeavour to se-
cure the return of such men as J. B. Smith, the candi-
date for Walsall, to the House of Commons, who was
pledged to that repeal. The Hon. Gentleman pro-
ceeded to shew the unfairness of the mode in which the
averages were taken, and which enabled the wealthy
holden of corn to keep back or dispose of that commo•
dity as he pleased, according to the rise and fall of the
market, wh:ch he could contrive at his own pleasure.
He concilided by urging the meeting to pursue any dis-
cussion which might arise upon the question, with tem-
perance and kind feeling.
Mr. HOUGHTON moved the first Resolution, to the
effect—" That the Association having, amongst other
objects, that of promoting the cause of ,general and local
IL:form, by all legal means, do present an Address
to the Electors of the Borough of Walsall, congratula-
ting them on tile noble efforts they are making to
return a Member pledged to a Repeal of the Corn
Laws." The present struggle at Walsall was a most
important one, aria he considered it not only within their
protince but to be the duty of every Reform Associa-
tion in Ragland to Ir;nd their aid to the people of Wal-
sall, in order to sectsre the return of a gentleman pledged
to a repeal of the Corn-laws,—(Hear.) He agreed
in the opinion of Mr. M'Gregor and other eminent
mea upon the subject, that if the Bread Tax were
repealed or modified the import duties of this country,
instead of being as at present 21 millions, would be:in-
creased to 32 millions sterling annually.—( Hear, hear.)
The effect would be that employment would be afforded
to every able-bodied man in the kingdom, and
workhouses and union houses would be known
merely as a name. A reduction of the import
duties in this country would have the most
beneftcial effect. As a commercial mm, he could state,
that from the last advices dated the 26th of Septem-
ber, Muscovado sugar was to be obtained at 10
guilder* the pecul, which was equal to 14s. per hun-
dre.d.weight. The freight for this would be 45.,
therefore, if the import duties were removed partially,
it might be received in England at 21d. per pound
instead of as at.present 7,1. or Bd.—( Hear, hear.) He
would contend that the contest at Walsall between Mr.
Smith and Mr. Gladstone was on the one hand
for the good of the country, and on the other for
the good of no one else than to maintain oppression and
his own purse.--( Hear, hear.)
Mr. STOCK in seconding the resolution, showed
that, no doubt, the struggle going on in Walsall
would be a hard fought battle, and if the effect of
an address from that Association would only have the
effect of gaining over one or two waverers to the right
side, much good world be effected, as such a circum-
stanee might, perchance turn the scale of the election.
Mr. Ctiamiseas moved an amendment. He did so
reluctantly, as, although a Reformer, he was not a
Corn-law Repealer ; and be had yet to learn that to be
a good Reformer he must identify himself with that
principle. He denied that the Corn-law was the only
abuse under which the poorer classes laboured. If they
whits that there should be a free trade in corn, why did
not they also desire to see a free trade in manufactures?
The agricultural pal t of the community was the
greatest. the wealthiest, and the most important part of
the community, and yet it was required that they should
be sacrificed for the lesser portion.—(Cries of " No,
no.") He would contend that the repeal of the
Corn-laws would be the utter ruin of the agri-
cultueal interest, and compel the farmer to sell
in the cheapest market anti buy in the dearest. With
regard to the two care dates for Walsall, in a political
point of view, he ..;nould not hesitate a moment in his
choice ; but tr,,on the other principle he had some
doubts as to ''shish way he should rote. He concluded
by moving an amendment, " That the Association did
not feel 'justified in forwarding an address to the elec-
tors of: any borough or county in support of any candi-
dat favourable to a repeal of the Corn-laws, unless such
candidate shall pledge himself to advocate in conjunc-
tion therewith the repeal of all laws imposing duties on
the import of weanufactured goods, and goods used for
manufacture, thereby evincing that such candidates are
sincere advocates for free trade in all commodities."
Professor 'KEY had not the slightest objection to the
latter porti on 'el-the. amendment, although he was op-
posed to the speech by which it was introduced, and would
second it, he Learned Gentleman proceeded to show
the ben,Acial effects of a reduction of import duties in
Austrie, and other countries, and denied that a repeal
of the Corn-laws would ruin the agricultural interest.
As a proof of this fact, he would call their attention to
the splendid example set by the Duke of Somerset,
Earl Fitzwilliam, Mr. Alcock, the present candidate
for Surrey, and the Member for that borough, Sir Bea-
jamin Hall—all large landed proprietors, and all in fa-
vour of repeal of the Corn-laws.—(Hear, hear.) The
Corn-laws diminished the franchise. In Marylebone,
instead of 11,000 or 12,000 electors, there ought to be
25,000, and all this was to be attributed to the cursed
Corn-laws.—(Hear, beer.)
Mr. BACON was opposed both to the resolution and
amendment, upon three grounds. In the first place, he
denied that the electors of Walsall deserved the praise
about tg. be bestowed upon them. Their conduct to
Mr. Lyttelton was anything but praiseworthy, and by
that, conduct they had stultified themselves in such a
runner as to render Mr. Gladstone the favourite can-
didate, and all the addresses in the world would not
hinder his being the Member for Walsall.—(" No, no,"
and cheers.) With regard to the question of a repeal
of the Corn-laws, he was of opinion that as at present
they were grossly unjust, but the middle course was
the true one ; he agreed with Mr. Chambers that
si total rep would be a total ruin to the agricultural
interest. ffe considered also that it was beyond the
province of that Association to interfere with the elec-
tors of Walsall.
The Rey. Mr. Kidd, Mr. Ivimey, and other gentle-
men, addressed the meeting in support of the original
motion, which, on being put, was carried with but four
di/iv:Lakin*, amidst peat applause.
Professor KEY then meved, and Mr. HOUGHTON
seconded, that the following address be presented to
the lilleotora of Walsall, and transmitted forthwith,
signed by the Chairman, to the Committee conducting
J. B. Smith's election :—=
" TO Tali' WORTHY 'ELECTORS OF THE BOROUGH Of
WALSALL.

" Gentlemen,—Feeling, in common with the Liberal
intarest of tke whole kingdom, a lively concern in the
result of the contest now going on for the representa-
tion of your independent borough, we cannot refrain
from congratulating you on the noble position you have
taken up, and your glorious determination to elect a
gentleman who is so well qualified to promote the best
interests of the country by his strenuous exertions, and
able advocacy of a Repeal of the Corn-laws. A law
destructive, in the first place, of the commercial and
manufacturing economy of the country, but infinitely
more disgusting for the inhumanity of its effects on the
labouring and industrious classes.
" Electors of Walsall, you are now called upon to
strife the first blow a4linst this unjust, this unholy tax,
by the election of Mr. J. B. Smith.
.s upon you all England has now fixed its eyes. Let
it be recorded in the history of this country that the
borough which by its example led to the repeal of the
bread-tax was Walsall."
The motion, on being put, was carried all but unani-
mously, and a distinct Anti-Corn-law Association hav-
ing been established, thanks were passed to the Chair,
tan, and the meeting separated.

MR. BPNNET'S LEGITURES.—Mr. G. Bennet
concluded a course of lectures at the Mechanics' Institu.
lion, ClYanoery-lane, on Wednesday evening to one of the
most trowded audiences we over recollect seeing within its
stafs. The subject be discoursed upon was the morality
Of Shaltspeate, and he certainly threw a very novel and
pleasing light upon a number of the characters created by
OUT immortal bard. His observations were directed by
Food taste and sound judgment, and were calculated to I
(improve, not only the minds, but the hearts of his auditors.
Ile was frequently interrupted by the strongest marks of I
apreobation.