The Sun.
London, England, 1835-07-20 00:00:00

TH.E SCI.N2 ;LONDON, MONDAY, JULY 20, 1835.

mesons and important class will continue to be deprived of
tnat knowledge of passing events, without which none can
properly diseharge the sinties of eititens s and that a mere re-
duction of the itarhp duty is id be deprecated as a half mea-
sure, which, by ,lightening the bnrden; would only fix it the
more firmly bripn the
,Shodld'eri of the ppople, without realiz-
ing tht3 Benents tnat would necessai by arite froth a total
repeal." He felt much pride in having been called upon to
move such a Resolution. He had a strong aversion to half
measures in general, and to the instance then in hand in par-
ticular. It waS net cf edit§cVetied tliat newspapers
should Intik eticapti the iiiettlttre
be carried out at once. Of what use would it be
for on to a Staryi:g Man; WIIQ bad only 2d. in his
pocket, " ;NI), good man, I pity your case, and I will reduce
the price or tills ithir fled I!.;ptti-..,e le rotirpt;ad; t fit positively
no farther." He recollected very well a story of former days
—a man was promised a guinea for every mile he walked
North, and the same sum for every mile he walked'East. The
conseqUente tvah, that he might be walking North East to
this moment, but yet without earning a single shilling.._
(Laughter.) So it would be with the Government, if they
attempted to take a North East course upon the present ques-
tion. It was such a subject as could not be compromised—
the moment it was touched, it was sure to become of so much
importance that it would yield to none even the most vital of
the eternal interests of man. The present system of stamp
laws was bad, because its effect was to throw the whole trade
in the hands of a few—to make it a monopoly—and he was a
decided enemy to monopolies of all kinds. They might, by
legislation, attempt to put a curb upon the mighty steam en.
gine, by the means of which some hundreds of thousands of
people were enabled to disport themselves on the river—they
might stop the means for healthful recreation, but they could
never by any possibility stop the march of opinion and of
knowledge.—(Cheers.) Could they even do that, they
would make the people merely be a better clothed set
of savages—a better fed set of savages than their fore-
fathers.—( Hear.) While these taxes were continued no
man could go into the trade without some thousands of pounds
of capital; the effect of which was, that the man of a mighty
and gigantic mind was made the mere agent of some tronopo-
lizing Cheers)—and was obliged to blow his trum-
pet through the means of the capitalist, who gave his own tone
to it.—[General Evans here ascended the platform, and was
received with cheers.] These odious Taxes were detrimental
to the interests of the literary man, and he (Mr. F.) was most
sincerely anxious to see them abolished, because he was one of
those who thought the pen a much more powerful as well as a
more honourable instrument than the sword.—( Loud cheers.)
They had been for three centuries learning the use of that
mighty machine—the Press : it had hitherto been clogged,
but he trusted the day had nosy come when the drag would be
removed, and then it would start forth with an all-powerful
impetus, and no one could calculate the mighty good it would do
for the country. Hitherto it had been confined to the almost
mere teaching of words to the people : let its fetters be broken—
let the people demand that its bonds be loosened, and then the
press would become a blessing to the country, and would
gladen the heart of every patriot and freeman.---( Cheers.)
They might hear the name of a hero put forth to fill the situa-
tion fit only for the profound Statesman—( Loud cheers)—they
might then see such a farce without fear, for under the stan-
dard of a free and enlightened press, such as had been exhibited
to the meeting by the worthy Member for the County, the
people would march on to a good and moral victory.
Dr. BOWRING rose to second the resolution. He was glad
to see the people so determined to rid themselves of this ob-
noxious impost ; for when thus resolved, they would not be
disappointed. These taxes were originally imposed under the
pretext of fiscal considerations : but the real object was to create
an atmosphere of moral darkness, that deeds of darkness might
be committed without detection. There had been heard com-
plaints of taxes on property, but these were taxes on the pro-
perty of the mind ; there had been taxes on light, but these
were taxes on the light of the mind ; there had been, and were
taxes on food, but these were taxes on the food of the soul ;
there were complaints against taxes on industry, but here was a
tax on industry in its best and highest and noblest shape, for
it was doing the most good to mankind in creating wiser and
better men, and preparing for future generations something
more exalted than those which have passed and gone.—
( Cheers.) He had never heard a shadow of an argument in
favour of this tax, by which a hetacomb of the national intel-
lect was daily offered up at the shrine of tyranny and avarice,
but which, if allowed to continue, would reflect eternal shame
upon his countrymen. He should be ashamed of them, if
they did not display moral courage and virtue enough to re-
dress that grieyous wrong.---(Cheers.) A report had got
abroad, that a portion of this tax was to be surrendered to the
opinion of the people ; but it was no account to be settled by
halves.—( Hear, hear.) A long debt was due to the people,
and they would have it paid to the uttermost farthing.—
(Hear, hear.) The people would not consent to dwell any
longer in twilight. It was true, as a speaker had already ob-
served, that a great battle was coming, and he trusted that
the people would not want leaders.—(Cheers.) By that
mighty instrument which the Noble Lord had so frequently
referred to, and so often used in the interests of the people—
(Cheers)—by that instrument, the guide of which was the
mind, they must prevail • and need not care anything for bru-
tal force, or oppressive laws, or courtly menaces.—(Cheers.)
The great interests of truth, knowledge, and freedom, had
always been triumphant when in the keeping of enlighten-
ed men, and to secure that object was the intention of this
meeting.—( Cheers.)
The resolution was then put and carried unanimonsly.
A person on the platform here claimed to be heard, as he
had been " a vender and victim of unstamped papers."
The CHAIRMAN said that at present there was no question
before the meeting, and therefore for the sake of regularity,
the gentleman had better reserve his observations until the
next resolution had been moved and seconded, vriSen be
should have a hearing.
Mr. D. WAKEFIELD, in proposing the third resolution,
hoped he was not preventing any other individual from ad-
dressing the meeting who had claims upon their suympathy,
and who had been the victim of these most oppressive laws.
He should detain the meeting, however, but a very few mo-
ments, and it could not for a moment be supposed that he
whose duty it had frequently been to advocate the cause of
those who bad been fastened upon by the harpies of the
law, for breaches of the Newspaper Stamp Act, would in-
terfere to prevent a victim from being heard.—( Hear.) It
was absurd in any Government to attempt to chain down the
minds of men by persevering in this iniquitous tax. The people
knew their own strength, and the value of the informa-
tion that was withheld from them, and they would
demand the free and unshackled diffusion of knowledge
in a voice that could not be mistaken, and with a una-
nimity which would make them irresistible. He was surprised
that any enlightened Government could persist in the imposi-
tion of these iniquitous restrictions, for the sole purpose of
dragging a miserable amount of taxation out of the pockets of
the people ; and he trusted that one effect of their meeting
that day would be to show the Legislature the utter impossi-
bility of continuing the present system much longer. They
had heard many eloquent addresses that day, and there were
many more to be delivered by some of the most eloquent and
distinguished men that this country had ever produced.—
( Hear, hear.) It would, therefore, be unpardonable in him
to trespass at any further length on their time. He should
conclude by reading the Resolution to them, the purport of
which was to put forward the sentiments of that meeting, and
address them where information was, he feared, much wanted,
the Houses of Lords and Commons.—(Hear, and a laugh.)
Mr. Wakefield then read the Resolution, which was to the ef-
fect that petitions be presented to the two Houses of Parlia-
ment, praying for the immediate repeal of the stamp duty on
newspapers, and at the earliest possible period every other tax
affecting the diffusion of knowledge.—(Cheers.)
Mr. GROTE, M. P., had the greatest satisfaction in seconding
the resolution, and he could assure the meeting, that of all
the thousand petitions daily presented to the Legislature, not
one aimed at higher or nobler objects than that which they
had met at present.—( Cheering.) He would venture to say,
when he considered the numbers, intelligence, and respecta-
bility of the meeting, that the present petition would not be
disregarded by the Imperial l'arliament.—( Hear.) Since he
(Mr. Grote) had first been able to form an opinion, it had
been his wish to see the people exercising a wholesome con-
trout over the Legislature ; but this he did not desire until
he saw that the people were worthy of it ; and the only way,
in his opinion, to render the people worthy of exercising that
legitimate controul, was to make them enlightened and intel-
ligent, by removing all restrictions upon the diffusion of useful
knowledge. Formerly, it had been the fashion to advocate
the restriction of knowledge to the higher classes—such
had been the system universally acted upon a hundred
years ago; but he ( Mr. Grote) would be glad to see any per-
son who would now stand forward to advocate the policy of
keeping the great mass of the people in ignorance and
brutality. The desire for information was daily gaining
ground among the people, and it would be impossible for any
Government who wished to preserve the goodwill and support
of the public to persevere much longer in restricting its general
diffusion among all classes. Knowing, as he did, that many
obstacles opposed themselves in a thousand quarters to a wise,
and good, and economical Legislation, he scarce knew whom
to trust for that peaceful moral declaration of decided and
confirmed opinion, without which such improvement could not
be brought about. Knowing, he repeated, as he did, the
many obstacles that opposed themselves, he knew not where to
look, except among a people universally instructed and educated
—a people aware of their rights and anxious to fulfil their
duties, and embodying the sentiments of those he saw around
hire.___( Cheers. )

The vender and victim of unstamped newspapers here stood
forward, and announced himself as Joseph Foster, adding,
that he was one of those who had suffered under the Six
Acts of Castlereagh. He had endured imprisonment ►.nder
a Whig Government--( Laughter)—for selling unstamped
publications, and he would now beg to read to the meeting a
petition which he had sent for presentation to their Chairman,
but of which " my Lord Brougham" refused to take charge.
—( Loud cries of " Oh, oh," cheers, and confusion.) Mr.
Foster, as soon as silence was obtained, read the petition,
to which he alluded. It stated that he had been sentenced to
two months' confinement by Mr. Chambers, the magistrate,
for selling unstamped newspapers, on the evidence of two per-
sons who were unworthy of credence, and urged the injustice
of inflictidg so heavy a punishment for that which ought not
to be considered an offence. lie had also solicited Mr. Roe-
buck and Mr. Wakley to present his petition, but those gen-
men refused, and it was now in the hands of Sir Samuel
Whalley, and had been for two months.—(Hear, and oh.)
He wished to know from the Hon. Member for London (Mr.
Grote) whether he would present it to the House of Com-
mons? lie was an independent man, and therefore did not
like to see
.his complaint " Burked."—(Laughter.) He
had applied to the Duke of Richmond and Lord Wharn-
cliffe, as well as to Lord Brougham to lay his petition on the
cable of the House of Lords, but, of course, being Tories,
those noblemen gave his application the go-by.