The Sun.
London, England, 1826-11-15 00:00:00

LEEDS MEETING ON THE CORN-LAWS.

Last Saturday, at twelve o'clock, a very numerous and highly
respectable meeting of the inhabitants of Leeds was held in the
Court-house, to take into consideration the propriety of petition-
ing Parliament for a revision of the Corn-laws ; THOS. Hectare,
Esq., Mayor, in the Chair.
• The Criatitmax opened the business of the day by stating that
he had convened the present meeting in compliance with a requi-
sition received from a number of highly respectable inhabitants ;
and having read the requisition, with the names affixed to it, he
said he should leave the gentlemen by whom be was surrounded to
state the nature and objects of the measures to be brought under
discussion.
Mr. Rawson—The Corn Laws were enacted for 'the protec-
tion of the agricultural interests of this country. How far this
end has been attained, I need not decide. It is also now unne-
cessary to prove what is generally believed, that the agricultural
and commercial interests of the nation are one and the same : that
if the former flourish, the latter must partake of the prosperity ; and
that if the commercial interests of the country are sacrificed and
decline, the agriculttiral part must share in the general ruin. (Hear,
hear.) In advocating a revision of the Corn Laws, I have the
satisfactory persuasion, that I am as much the friend of the
farmer as of the manufacturer. The great good which I hope to
see accomplished by the revision of the corn laws is moderate
and steady prices, governed by the average prices of the conti-
nent of Europe. It appears to me that the result of a free trade
in corn, with a protecting duty, so long as necessary, will be to
make our prices a little lower at home, to raise them consider.
ably abroad, and above all to secure, at steady prices, an abun-
dant supply for our rapidly, increasing population. When the
prices which are paid for corn by our rivals in manufac-
ture on the continent of Europe approach nearer than they
now do to what is paid by our manufacturers at home, it
must be evident that we shall have an important advantage in
the power of competition. The establishment of a settled and
mutually advantageous intercourse with all the countries of
the world seems to be called fur by the commercial ener-
gies and capabilities of Great Britain. ' It appears to use
that the monopoly in corn must be destroyed before any
permanent revival can be affected for our manufactures.—
I think that the true interests of the land-owner will be promo-
ted by a revision of the corn laws. During the existence of these
laws, how often has he had to return to his tenants a considerable
portion of the rents he has received ? Will it not be much better
for him to receive rents that will require no reduction ; and nbw
that almost every article of consumption is reduced from 40 to b 0
per cent. cannot he have the same comforts with his reduoed in-
come which he formerly had with the largest? I wish the great
land-proprietors in our country would remember what Sir Matt.
Decker has written in his Essay on the Causes of the Decline of
Foreign Trade. He says, " That it is a fallacy and an ab-
surdity to think to keep up the value of lands by oppressions
on the people that cramp their trade; for, if trade declines,
the common people must come upon the parish, or fly for busi-
ness to our neighbours : in the first case, becoming a heavy
tax upon the rich, and, instead of buying the produce of their
lands, having it given to them ; and, in the second case, when
the consumers are gone, what price will the produce of the bind
bear?" The farmers' interest is still more deeply involved in
a change of this system. Under existing circumstances lie dare not
enter on a lease. His eyes are opened, and he sees the peril. to
which he is exposed.—(Cheers.)—If his Majesty's Ministers are
not overpowered by the landed interest of the nation, I am confi-
dent that such regulations will be adopted on this subject as will
greatly contribute to relieve us from our present difficulties. If the
Legislature now pause, and hesitate to finish the work they have
begun, we shall have just cause for complaint. • But I will not in-
dulge in any such apprehension. Mr. Huskissois and Mr. Ro-
binson will, I doubt not, be steady to their purpose, and support-
ed by enlightened statesmen, and the voice of two-thirds of the
population •of the country, our cause meet prevail.—(Applause.)
Mr. Alderman Doeson begged to second the resolution.
The resolutions were then put from the chair, and carried use-
nimously.
Mr. Barnes then rase, and said, a tax is imposed by the mono-
poly of corn upon the country equal to 20 millions sterling
year ; only one-fourth part of which comes into the pocket of the
landlord, in the shape of rent; the rest is absorbed and lost. This
is precisely the operation of Use Corn Laws : the bread-eaters pay
20 millions a year more for their food than they would have to
pay if this monopoly did not exist, and the receivers of the bread
tax (for such in effect it is) only put five millions of this sum into
their pockets. (Hear, hear.) This evil was the less felt when
we had au unlimited paper currency, because it had the effect of
lessening the value of money, or what passed for such, by increas-
ing its quantity ; but now that the currency is returning to a
sound state, when the value of money has greatly increased, it is
operating with a fearful force, and, if long continued, will either
reduce the labouring classes to the lowest degree of indigence and
wretchedness, or compel them to emigrate to some other
clime, where their interests will be better protected. (Hear,
hear.) [Here the proceedings of the Meeting were interrupted
for a Wort time, by a violent pressure at the outer door, ac-
companied by a cry of " Adjourn ! adjourn ! not half the people
can get in ;" but as the Court-house is one of the largest
public rooms ,in the town, the business was suffered to
proceed without . further interruption lifter a good deal of
close packing.) The remedy for these evils is to be found iu such
an effectual revision of the corn-laws as will place all the great
interests of the country on a safe and equal footing. There is no
real contrariety in the interests of the different classes, and my firm
conviction is, that the country can never be truly prosperous so
long as the undue elevation of one great national interest is sought
by the depression of another equally important..—(Hear, hear !)
I beg to move the second series of resolutions."
Mr. ALOADA seconded these resolutions, which, like the first,
being put from the chair seriatim, were carried unanimously, and
are both substantially comprehended in the petition.
Mr. CAWOOD--.-I beg leave to move the following petition be
adopted. A petition, praying for a gradual repeal of the corn
laws was then read.
Mr. JOHN CLAPHAM, jun. seconded the petition, which was
put froui the chair, end carried unanimously.
Mr. TZTBY moved that the petition now read be adopted, and
left for signature until Monday the 21st instant, when it shall be
sent to the Earl of Harewood, Lord Lieutenant of the Riding, and
to Lord Milton, to be by them presented to the two Houses of
Parliament, and that the other three members for this county be
requested to support the same with their votes and influence in
fromiAA LL wasEs l carried.
an
rosehu ousl
and
JOHN i%,
the, House of Commons.
Mr. JAMIS HOLDTOSTK seconded the motion, which ou being
put the
a chair,s
was received with
of the
will be my duty on all occasions to obey your instructions, and on
loud cheers. He said, " Mr. Mayor and gentlemen,---Having
the honour of being on
this occasion'l shall have much pleasure forwarding,
e! representatives for this county, it
as much
as lies in my power, the object of your petition to Parliament.—
(Cheers). Gentlemen, when you last met in this Court-house.
to petition.for the removal of the Corn Laws, you were in a
ferent state from what you are at present. The country was then
in a most prosperous condition ; the commercial and manufactu-
ring establishments were flourishing and extending in every direc-
tion ; we have since that felt a sad reverse; we have, witnessed dis-
tress, and in some degree eveu a privation of the necessaries of life,
amongst our neighbours and friends. It is, however, incumbent
upon us not to give an undue feeling to present circumstances, nor
attribute to the Corn Laws too great a share in causing the cala-
mities we have witnessed.—(Cheers.)—These ealunities came
upon us in a time of profound peace—in a time of apparently
unbounded prosperity—not preceded by
rather by a superabundance of all the products of agricultural
and manufacturing industry ; so that we are a failure of crops, but
the more at aloes to ae
count for this suildini transition from boundless wealth to cruel want.
(Cheers.)—I sin most happy to have this opportunity of attending
this meeting and witnessing the unanimous feeling of the great
eomniercial town of Leeds with respect to the Corn Laws. lam
sure that it will have a great effect on the opinions of the mercan-
tile interest generally, public, and I have
no
doubt, if you persevere, you will succeed.—( heere.)
being concluded, the Mayor
on
the
The business of the day
chair, which was taken by Mr. Alderman Dobson, on which it
John Marshall, Esq,, and mended by Thomas
was moved byas well as on the c
and impartial conduct in the chair," which
Mayor for hie 'able
acclamation.
Benyon, Esq., " That the than of this meeting are due to the
motion was carried by

the fortunate butcher, near the Lie-
_
possessed of an
estate in Devonshire, in a remarkable way, gave a fare-
well dinner at the Roainghain Arms, on Friday last,
phaiMitr.anKdinrasVe', who lately became
to about forty of his intimate friends and neighbours.
The dinner was excellent, the glass circulated fmely,
arid the evening was spent in the most convivial man-
ner. The hearty congratulations of his friends, and
the expressed regret of his neighbours, must have been
highly grateful to his feelings. The neighbourhood
(particularly the poor) will long have to lament the
departure of ,such a man.