The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-12 00:00:00

GREAT FREE TRADE MEETING
AT SUNDERLAND.
SUNDERLAND, SATURDAY, JAN. 10.—Last night
a large and influential meeting of the inhabitants of this
town was held in the Polytechnic Hall of the Athenmum,
" to take into consideration the propriety of petitioning
Parliament to open the ports throughout the United
Kingdom for the admission (free from duty) of all arti-
cles of food, and the abolition of every duty at present
imposed thereon." The meeting was convened by the
Mayor, pursuant to a requisition very numerously and
resesetably signed, and it was an important demonstra-
tioa kit' the sentiments of Sunderland on the all-absorbing
question of the cola-laws. Amongst the gentlemen pre-
sent we observed Colonel Beckwith, Alderman Dr.
Brown, Alderman Andrew White, Thomas Mounsey
Esq., A. J. Moore, Esq., John Mounsey, Esq., Alde4a.
men Cropton and Bowmaker, Messrs. Thomas Rotaon,
Mordey, John Hills, N. Reed, Thomas Thompsca, and
several other leading merchants, shipowners, of the
town. It is a fact worthy of notice, that Dr. Brown,
Mr. White, late M.P. for the borough, and, tither gentle-
men who took a part in the proceedings at this meet-
ing, did not vote for Colonel Thompson_ at the late elec-
tion. The Mayor (Mr. Robert Brov,vn) is one of the
largest shipowners in the port, itrya fills the office of
Secretary and Solicitor to the Sh;:powners' Society. He
is a gentleman of considerable t'alent, and made his maiden
speech this evening in supl";:ort of free trade.
On the motion of Mr. THOMAS Ronsos, the Mayor
was called to the chair.,
The MAYOR obser.ved, that whatever difference of opi-
nion might by possibility prevail among them as to the
question of the repeal of the corn-laws, there could be
only one opin'aon as to the propriety of that meeting
being held, Whether they considered the great politi-
cal imponance of the question, for it had already broken
up one Ministry and prevented the formation of another,
bad occasioned the early summoning the House of Com-
mons, and would doubtless usher in a stormy Februt-ry
—or whether they considered its local importance, or
the experience which the merchants and shipowners of
Sunderland had possessed in the application of the prin-
ciples of free trade, shipping 'daring been selected as the
first interest on which the 'experiment should be tried, it
was quite clear that the inhabitants of Sunderland ought
to be foremost in ginug expression to their sentiments,
and, by some distinct and deliberative act, to proclaim to
the nation the:r views as to the corn.laws, whether the
existirg duty on corn is a public benefit, or, as he was
dist:eased to think, a great national curse.—(Loud ap-
plrause.) Considering the number of gentlemen prepared
'to address the meeting, he would not detain them by any
lengthened observations; but it would be inconsistent in
him were he to sit down without expressing his convic-
tion that the principles of free trade are well calculated
to promote the shipping and local interests of this port,
and also the national weal.—(Applause.) Ilis Worship
then urged that it is contrary to the fundamental
principles of British law to tax one class of the com-
munity for the benefit of another, and that there is
nothing in the case of the corn-laws to make it an ex-
ception to the principles which he had stated. The ar-
guments now used to 'prove that the corn-laws were not
maintained for the advantage of a particular class; but
for the advantage of the nation at large, were precisely
those used by the shipowners whilst the Reciprocity
Act was under the consideration of the Legislature. The
petitions urging this view of the question sent by the
shipowners were unheeded by the landed aristocracy,
who, before the Reform Bill, ruled in the House of Com-
mons; and tbn consequence of their petitions being•
treated so unceremoniously was, that the shipowners of
Sunderland were almost to a man unflinching and un-
compromising Reformers.—(Applause.) It had been
said by a great philosopher and statesman, Franklin,
that when you have got a good principle, you must go
through with it ; and if it seemed to a casual observer
that the principls of free trade had not worked well for
the shipping interest, he would say they had not carried
the principle far enough—let it be carried throughout,
and British shipowners would be able to navigate their
vessels regardless of any foreign competition into which
they might be called upon to enter.—(Applause.) Only
let British shipping be freed from the thraldom of " pro-
tection," and there was no doubt its flag would speedily
wave triumphantly on every sea, and its superiority be
acknowledged by every nation—affording an exemplifi-
cation of the well-known aphorism, " Britannia rules the
waves."—(Renewed applause.)
J. BROWN, Esq., M.D., alderman and borough magis-
trate, on coming forward to move the first resolution,
was received with applause and faint expressions of dis-
approbation. The resolution stated that protection is
unjust, and would prove ultimately injurious to all
classes of the community ; he felt convinced these words
were true, and that it was not less injurious to the class
which considered itself benefited by it than to other parts
of the community.—(Applause.) It was his firm con-
viction that every branch of industry owes its best and
only protection to itself—to the skill, science, and energy
of those who are engaged, and that all protection
afforded by the state, so far from being a benefit, is a
positive injury to the classes who enjoy it. He had come
to this conclusion from observing that every protected
branch of industry languishes, and particularly agricul-
ture,
_for the advantage of which the corn-laws were de-
signed.—(Applause.) The Doctor remarked at some
length on this point, and then observed that both agri-
culturist and manufacturer must prepare themselves for
competition with the world. It was easy to discern from
the spirit which had gone abroad, from the changes of
administration which had recently taken place, that
there is a popular voice gone forth in favour of free trade
that will and must triumph.—(Applause.) Let only
England put forth her energy, unfettered by prohibitory
duties, and he had no doubt of its ultimate and complete
success against all foreign rivals, and instead of the vicis-
situdes of prosperity and distress which they had pre-
viously witnessed, employment and food will be found
for every Briton breathing.—(Loud applause.) The re-
solution was as follows :—" That all protecting duties
are unjust and impolitic, and ultimately injurious to all
classes of the community."
Mr. Councillor A. J. MOORE, on coming forward to
second the resolution, was received with the most enthu-
siastic cheering. He understood the monopolists in the
borough were not prepared to come to meet them that
evening; they had had the matter gravely discussed,
and had come to the conclusion, that as they did not
know the opinions of Sir Robert Peel, to whose faith
they have pinned their sleeves, they had better not com-
mit themselves and run the risk of running counter to
him; they thought it best not to show fight, because if
they had done so, he was quite sure they would have
been defeated.—(Applause.) The monopolists have
acted in this manner everywhere; they have had their
hole and corner meetings, the proceedings at which have
been published at great length by the monopolists, but
they had not dared to call a public county meeting, even
in the most agricultural counties, lest their retainers
should vote against them and condemn their proceedings.
—(Hear.) He was happy to say the men of Manchester
and Lancashire had come forward to purchase qualifica-
tions for North Durham, and he assured Lord London-
derry that whenever a dissolution shall take place
the free-traders will be provided with two good free-
traders to contest the northern division. The indepen-
dent freeholders of North Durham would never allow
the Noble Lord to dictate to them who should repre-
sent the county. And what right had Lord
Londonderry, a peer of the realm, to interfere in
elections ? He hoped some Hon. Member would move
for a committee of inquiry into the conduct of his Lord-
ship in thus violating the privileges of the House of
Commons.—(Loud applause.) Lord Londonderry had
also claimed one seat for Durham, as belonging to the
Wynyard family ; he trusted the electors of that city
would vindicate their own honour and credit, and refuse
to elect one of the Marquis's nominees. Mr. Moore
then adverted to the state of the representation of Sun-
derland. It was doubtful how Mr. Hudson would vote,
for he had promised to support Sir Robert Peel, and it
is now expected that Sir Robert will repeal the corn-
laws.—(Laughter.) It was their duty, however, to be
prepared with two good free-trade candidates, and on
another occasion, the scrip fever having subsided, they
would no doubt be successful. Mr. Hudson was already
at a considerable discount even in this town, for unfor-
tunately scrip has fallen very low.—(Laughter.) Mr.
Moore then made some humorous and satirical remarks
on the manner in which the scrip-hunters had been
bitten with the Eastern Counties and Cambridge and
Lincoln shares. He increased the free-traders on:another
occasion to be united ; let them forget the past, and
determine to elect two gentlemen who will fully de-
clare the views of the inhabitants of Sunderland in the
next Parliament.—(Shouts of " Colonel Thompson," and
applause.)
This resolution, and those which succeeded it, were
all carried unanimously.
Mr. Josuua WILSON, of the firm Wilson and Bro.
thers, merchants, moved the second resolution, which
was as follows : —" That from diligent inquiries which
have been made throughout the country, it appears to be
universally admitted that there is a failure in the pre-
sent year's crop of potatoes, which constitute a very
large proportion of the food of the poorer classes, and
that your petitioners have also reason to believe that the
(xlro harvest throughout the United Kingdom has been
unfavourable both as to quantity and quality." He ob-
served
that protection to native industry had been the
crywts the watchword opponents, but freedom to native industry
watchword of the free-traders.—(Applause.)
Native industry was as much promoted by the manu-
facture of iron
exported
in exchange for corn as in
the growth of corn, whilst it is known that all the
best land is occupied, and there are thousands of
our fellow-countrymen who
of
of food. In the course of have not a sufficiency
remarks he adverted to
the competition so much talkedwith Prussian ships,
observing that after twenty years of reciprocity ec the whole
of the commercial marine of that countryipr
was less than
the registered tonnage of the port of Sunderlon d. ll
gassed that the protection societies should be designed!sug-
for the protection of native idleness instead of native
industry, and showed that where good farming is
carried on, the farmers produced such greatly increased
crops that they were not in the least afraid of an
aboli-
tion of the torn-laws. Mr. Wilson then proved that
the condition of the agricultural labourers under the
protective system is anything but enviable; one of them
'
at the Goatacre meeting said I m forty years old;
I never had above 11b. of good beef from the butcher's;
I have bought a little mutton, but I have not had a
Pound yet." These men had the corn-laws for their
protection.—(Applause.) In Worcester one of the
Protectionists was foolish enough to threaten the pea-
try that if
wheel we they did not put their shoulders to the
should -havte corn down from 7s. to 45. per
bushel. They !la
good news to be tete_4have answered,
" That is too
other observations, M. arleghter.) After a variety
of
Mr. Barclay had declaredsaid he
was
glad to find
abolition of the corn-laws; his
iptfiintion to support the
against the sugar duties, perhaps he came out as fully
the Sunderland free-
traders might support him at the next election.—
• Applause.) Few people were aware o
theey paid to the monopolists in sugarduntideaosrn.ge
aFrom
the sugar which entered the port of Lo
last year, the West Indian planters pocketed, in differeonnce