The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-02 00:00:00

ANTI-COEN-LAW iMEETINGS
TRIUMPH OF THE LEAGUE.

HEREFOIiD, THURSDAY, JAN. 1, 1846.—A PI
meeting was held at twelve o'clock yesterday, in the by
Town-hall, in the city of Hereford, convened by :4
Worship the Mayor (W. James, Esq.), in complia`L`
with a requisition which had been presented to h'":
numerously and respectably signed by citizens and res!
dents in the vicinity, The chair was taken IV 1111
Worship, and Mr. Falvey attended as a deputation ft°,
the League. There was a large attendance of respectri,
inhabitants and agriculturists of every shade of pelitic°,
,1,
His WORSHIP briefly stated the objects for which tu,
meeting had been convened—viz , respectfully to prat
her M tjesty to call to her councils only those men 101
would pledge themselves to an iihnohditional and tots
repeal of the corn-laws.
Letters were read from the city Members, Sir R ber.
Price and Mr. Pulsford, expressing their regret at their
inability to attend. Mr. Pulsford declared himself gri
advocate for the total abolition of all restrictive dude''
A letter was also read fr on Robert Bidduiph, Es+, w'
formerly represented this city.
Sir S. R. MEYRICA, K C.H., of Gooderich Court, rya
amid loud cheering to propose the first resolution. 11°
said it may not be uninteresting if I give you a brief se'
count of the origin and history of the corn-laws. -le
old enough to remember when Napoleon determined I`)
injure the commerce and prosperity of this col,
when he had the whole of Europe, except this 11l
island, under his command—he determined to lsl
all the ports of the Continent in such a positil
that no food could be exported. He proceede
to establish custom-houses at the various parts of lb;
Continent, the business of which was not to allow 10,
uproduce to come to England from any of those countriel,
nder his command. This was followed by the onset,
ment of what were known as the Milan and Berlin deereeP
and this country was reduced to its own soil to sunil
the provisions of li'e. The army and navy took
very large portion, and it was found that the stIPPg
was insufficient to meet the demand. It was Ii
'
this time that the quartern -loaf sold in London at 25.6°,
it +
The public submitted with patience, because they kfieid
well was a case of necessity. The Government NS'
not afford them any help. They expected that whe/1
peace came they should have its concomitant, plenty
(Cheers.) Well, peace did come, and what was
measure then passed ? Why Mr. Robinson,• better
known at that time 'as " Prosperity Robinson," after;
wards Lord Goderich, and now the Earl of Ripen, earn
to the House and said to the landed proprietors—for ir
qualification of land alone gives permission to sit in eitlie„
House of Parliament he said then to the proprietors
land, what will be the result, if plenty now takes place'
if there be not some provision made to secure those 0,
vantages which the people know we possess? But, fir
fore I go further, let me tell you the effect of the Mil°
and Berlin decrees in this country. In the first pia°
the farmers found the benefit—they got cent. per ceoi.
for their money. - But the landed proprietors, seeing tb
..!
state of affairs, thought they had a right to gel t'
much for their land as they possibly could, and therefo;
determined that when they had opportunities of grantil
fresh leases they would have larger sums—and reneelo
or other leases were subsequently granted only at $i
enormous rate. The farmers had believed their state
l 9„
prosperity would continue for ever, and therefere o°'
found the ill , ffects of the change. But the landed pr,°:,
prietors, not being warned by such an example, pick,/
mortgaged their land, and entered into various arrang,e,l
ments, as if the rentals they were then receiving wont'
always continue. Need I say, then, that they wee`
justly alarmed when peace came • and at the earneit
threats of Prosperity Robinson they determined to 11,
upon the people a most grievous tax—in plain Englisl;
they determined to put their hands into the people
pockets.—(Hear, and cheer:.) The landed proprietciel
assisted by the clergy, a ho ought to have been employ
in Icoking over that Book, the doctrines of which it
their duty to practise as well as to preach, deter 4
mined that twenty millions should be spongel
upon. When I say the clergy, I do ft
mean to car de= all, for there were some who saw the
Iniquity of the measure—amongst others, a wort
rector in this county. The measure was thus adoptf
by the Legislature, but it has not been found to tenser
though it has continued with various alterations efe
since. And now, g ntlemen, we are told, when thetne.:;.
sure does not succeed, when there is a probability t11_,„1
the law will be speedily abolished, that the landed pry!
prietors ought to have—what ? Why, an indemniqf
—(Laughter and cheers.) I should like to know Of
what reason they claim an indemnity.—(Cries
" Hear, hear.") If, gentlemen, any of you were to tie
a pick-pocket with his hands in your pocket, what wotl.ll
be your astonishment should you bear him say, " ole
not pick your pocket if' you will give tete so much money'
,—(llear, hear, and laughter.) But, there is, gentle:6,6j.;
you must be aware, a little diff-rence—the pickpocs;
robs you contrary to law, the other man takes from rot
according to law.—(Hear, hear.) It has been said 0,4
this case assimilates itself to that of the West roast
planter. Now, I cannot, myself see the slightoo
resemblance. Those men had a property ° ,
derived from the people of this country'
and if, therefore, the people of' this ce,unLl,
call upon them to give up that property'
they have a just right to ask for a remuneration?,
(Hear, hear.) The people, I reainta'n, have for thn
years been trampled on by the landed proprietors, alt
have during that time suffered to the fullest extent.
is the bounden duty of Government immediately to g/..„'
them that which has been so long withheld from them t
(Hear, hear.) And now let me say one word on accet
pot the League- have often heard It remarked ins
leagues of any kind are dangerous
In the firet instance the Legislature formed itl„
into a league, and then, upon the principle of self-0;
fence, the people had a just right to establish a Leagti
—(Hear, hear.) The Learned Knight, in conclusico,
,
proposed the first resolution, praying for an immecli,"
and unconditional repeal of the corn-laws,
Mr. JOHN BENBOW seconded tit4l resolution in a 004
but appropriate speech.
Mr. Joule Toluenes, of the Weir, id this countif
,i
farmer, ro'e to move an amendment to the reeo•uet
and addressed the meeting amidst considerable .1130-#
ruption. He preferred a fixed duty to the sliding-scat,,
He hated the sliding-scale, and was an advocate for fie
trade, but for free trade in everything—(Hear, hearrj
in every commodity and necessary of life. Why
they invade his particular rights ?—(Uproar.)
then
agriculturists filled their shops, arid purchased thelj
goods. Who, then, were the tradesmen of Herefer"
depending on?—who have you to look to if agrieultal:°,
does not prosper? He quite agreed with the principlri
of the League, so far as free trade went. 13%
he wanted free trade in everything, and not
the
corn alone. The League had done much to convincetP,
public that the principles of free trade were the principle/
of sound and common sense.—(Heave, hear.) What ell
the object of their assembling to ask her Majesty to call
tai her council those men only who will remove the ti,
strictive imports on the freedom of commerce? But di
they not forget that the men have been already calk
and what was the consequence ? Why, Lord Jell
whose great ability lie readily admitted, had sent fordie
his manifesto from Edinburgh a little bit too soon. 14
did accept office, and, after some days' deliberation,,P
found his position a very difficult one ; he knew 01
the measures he must propound would never be cavil
through the House of Commons.—(" Yes, yes,") Lot''
John knew perfectly well that the sense of the
country was against him.—(" No, no," and confasioc•it
Wht n free trade in corn arrived they also expecteo
free trade in sugar and other necessaries. If there wet
to be free trade in corn, unaccompanied by the abolitiol
of other import duties, three-fourths of the land would
he thrown out of cultivation.—(" No, no," and treniea:
dous uproar.) The farmer would not ien be able I'
carry oe.—(e Down with the rent, then.") What 'ves°,
to become of the large population of agricultural 'lt
tourers ?—(" 'hey are starving now upon six shillit
a week.")—He believed that the farm-labourers wed;
never better off than at the present time.—(Hisses"
The speaker continued, amidst indescribable uproar, to
assert his right to an impartial hearing, in which
was joined by Mr. Falvey and other gentlemen, who fr.'
some time in vain endeavoured to assauge the tuetull'
Amidst grew' confus;oa he proceeded to attack the pr°:
ceedings of the L ague anti of Mr. Cobden, and to are-
that the corn-laws had cor.ducci to the prosperity of th°
country in general and of the manufacturers in particular'
concluded by proposing an amendment to the effeer'
that a total ate; unconditietial repeal of the corn-lao,
without an io end complete revision of the finetre'
cial affairs of the country, would prove injurious to tit
landlord, the tenant, atei the tradesman. (The amen
went was rect: ivcd by three cheers from a small portii
of the meeting, which was answered by a call for thre9
groatts.)
The ausentimentwas seconded by Mr. G. TERRY.

Mr RICHARD DAVIS, corn-merchant, rose andssia;
4. am not going to entcr upon the question as to whetlivt
the city of Hereford is dependent on agriculture.
_4
look at the quesinvolvinginvolvin the interests of ere
individual in the kingdtm ;
law infl,ets injury upon the agriculturists, it will like'
fo prosperity and if the abolition of 01'
wise injure the manufacturing and commercial chisel
the o or I admit the principle of free trade in its 00
of the one is inseparably linked irlls
hcnsive gearing, but I contend that it cannot 12:
effectudly br tight into operation, because we are in giA
artifici :1 state 01 society. The speaker then proceeded
to contend, that with our national debt and our monetettli
system, the maiutenatice of the prikciple of protectio
was absolutely necessary to ensure our national ssfeti'd
Mr. FALVEY, a deputation from the League, rose areitio
enthusiastic cheering, and in a long and eloquent sped,„A
for which we regret that we cannot find room, addl.( s6e-
the meeting in support of the original resolution.
The original resolution ,proposed by Sir S. R. Meyriek'
was carried by a very ix",ge majority. A second resV
lotion, praying for free trade in every branch of cep.:
merce, was moved by Mr. Richard Nash, seconded 1),,,7
M. R. George, d carried. Thr, e cheers were give"
for Mr. Falvey, Siran Sarnutl Me)rick, Mr. Toinkins (6(1
the request of Mr. Falvey), and a vote of thanks carried c
to the Mayor; after which the meeting separated, al
advocates of free trade in high glee.

THE FIVE FRANC PIECES IN JERSEY.—OUF
Legislature have again kW themselves open to stricture "(
the resolution they adopted on Saturday last. Some fee
years since they passed a law making English money the
only legal coin litre. Now, in the very face of it, they 10
come to a resolution to receive French coin, by autborisift
their receivers to take five-franc pieces at a certain standar,
The price adopted by them has been 4s. 3d. old Jersey cur,
rency. In paying amounts of British sterling, a difficult}
will arise, for there exists a fractional difference Wire!
4s. 3d. Jersey and 3s I.ld. British, which, in heavy Pell;
mentor, will be a consideration. The tradesmen of the two
are paying and receiving them at 48:British, or one-fink
an English sovereign, as heretofore.—JerstylAdvertiser•
GREENWICH POOR-BOY.-The magistrates # the
Police-court have received 101. from the Goldsmiths'
,c;Tof
pany, and 5/. from one of the county magistrates 01 `
district, being an annual donatigii to this fund.