The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-05 00:00:00

OrgNING OF THE PORTS.

MEETING IN SOUTHWARK.
The CHAIRIIIAN (in continuation from our After-
Edition of yesterday) said—For the evils re-
- .dtier; from the potato failure, the Ministry were
responsible, for they had arisen under the operation
of the corn-law they had devised. Under that law
they had been promised that wheat should be had at an
average of from 545. to 565. the quarter, whereas the
price at present was 745. They were on the verge of a
famine, while the Government were neglecting the in-
terests of the people, and while the grain which should
have been applied to meet the impending danger, was
being imported to Belgium and other places, because the
importers could not pay a duty of 14s. on the original cost.
We are a manufacturing and a commercial country, and
we have not the means of raining sufficient produce for
our own consumption ; the seasons are very uncertain,
but that which we cannot raise ourselves we can send to
other countries for, as they can raise what we require.
With regard to the United States, there was a bad feel-
ing-existing between that country and this, which feel-
ing might be reduced by a commercial relation. If the
Americans felt that they had a good customer for their
produce, their feeling against us might be reduced.
We were disputing with thereabout a territory that was
worth nothing to either of us, and that dispute engen-
dered a warlike feeling, which existed chiefly in the
valley of the Mississippi. Even supposing that there
was a war, would not the Americans be glad to come to
terms with the consumers of their produce? as when
people traded together a kindly feeling was al-
ways engendered. lie would conclude by proposing
the following resolution .—" That the failure of the
I:atato crop in the United Kingdom generally, and
particularly in Ireland, added to the great injury
II me to the wheat crop before the completion of the late
harvest, excite in us the most serious alarm of approach-
Lag famine, and that in our opinion her Majesty's Minis-
ters are to be held responsible for the awful cense-
luences, first, because they were the authors of the pre-
?-nt restrictive laws against the introduction of food, and
secondly. because they have failed to adopt the necessary
measures to avert so fearful a calamity."
Mr. JOHN BOUSELEY said, that they bad heard Mr.
Cooper and the resolution he had proposed. The corn
question was one of great interest, and had been so freely
discussed, that all the well-informed persons of the com-
munity were familiar with it. There was no second
opinion about it. Ile had lived a long time in the bo-
rough of Southwark, and had many friends who dif-
differed with him in opinion, but they all agreed with
him on one subject, viz., the repeal of the corn duties. He
hoped the time was not far distant when the Conserva-
tive interest would listen to the wants of the millions,
and take those measures that would alleviate them.
Mr. WiLwears, a working man, said that the question
before them was a very important one, and the reason
that the repeal of the corn-laws had been agitated was
because it would make bread cheap and increase manual
labour and wages. lie did not know which he had
most to complain of, the increase of prices of provisions
or the decrease of wages. The question was whether
the opening of the ports would not reduce the prices of
raw materials. If so, that reduction would improve the
condition of the working-man. Would it not also take
the reins of government out of the hands of the landed
proprietors, and place it in the hands of the manufactur-
ing class, who were better qualified to hold it?—(A Voice
from the end of the room, " Yes, to be sure it
would.") Ile begged that gentleman would not make a
ise, there was plenty of talent in that room to put him
drown, or correct him, if he was wrong.—(Hear, hear.)
One gentleman who had spoken had said that the duty
was a 14s. duty ; and it was necessary to know what
reduction of prices the removal of that duty, by the
opening of the ports, would cause. It would take
lid. from the price of the four-pound loaf.—
(I-lear, hear.) That was an object, but the
question would arise, whether, when the corn came into
the hands of a grasping manufacturer, he would not
swailow up that lid. With regard to manual labour,
had wo not enough of it ? Did we not see petitions daily
coming from the matiufactufing districts praying that
the women might be exempted from work, and allowed
toremain at home ? But the manufacturers preferred
female labour, and would not do so. The working classes
were oppressed.—(A Voice, " Look at Lord Ashley and
the butcher boy.") He did not care for Lord Ashley.
lie did not pay him to speak there.—(Loud laughter.)
He was a working man, who worked 18 hours per day,
who had seven mouths to feed, and ho spoke for his own
interest and the interests of his fellow-workmen, as they
were inseparable. lie would like to see how the opening
of the ports would benefit him. Provisions were being
daily taken out of the country, and sold to supply the
wants of foreign powers. lie would recommend that,
instead of opening the ports, they should shut them, and
keep in what food they had left.—(A tremendous storm
of ytlls and hisses followed this remark, and it was some
time before order was restored.)
The CHAIRMAN hoped that they would allow the
eaealser to proceed, or else put him down by fair argu-
.,e,nt, not by noise.
Mr. WILLIAMS proceeded. At every meeting of this
;,,nd be had observed an attempt made to stifle inquiry.
'E.tey called out for fair treatment for themselves, and
Net put down those who would propose the means of
doing it. They cried out for liberty to express their
ss ants, and yet would not allow them to be expressed.—
(Cries of " Question, question.")
The CHAIRMAN again interfered for silence.
Mr. WILLIAMS again proceeded—We have to com-
:ain of the high price of food, and the low
price of labour ; but the price of food was not so
bad as the price of labour. The reason of that decrease
was, because every man who had a little money and could
buy the raw material cheap, sets up as master manufactu-
rer,got their wives and children to work for them, and then,
not finding a sale for the goods, they hawked them about
and undersold them to their own loss and the injury of
their trade. He knew a gentleman connected with the
League, whose men were earning from 7s. to Bs. per
day, but he slid that he could not give that : he intro-
duced a number of boys, and when, in consequence of
their refusal to work, they were brought before a ma-
gistrate, he said, that the competition allowed would
not enable him to pay high wages. He hoped the work-
ing classes would see their own interests, and exercise
their own discretion. The speaker was then pro-
ceeding to make some statement against Lord
Londonderry, but was put down by loud cries
Lord Londonderry has given a largo amount of money
to the League.—(Cries of " Sit down.') Is this the
way to arrive at the truth of this great question ?
Amidst hisses and roars the speaker went on to say,
that the aristocracy, of whom he was not a paid sup-
porter in seeking their own interest, benefited the in-
terest of the working classes, but with merchants, whose
god was their gold, these classes need not look to par-
ticipate in the good. Another burst of disapprobation
called the chairman to his feet, who said that the speaker
was certainly keeping pertinently to the point, but he
ought to consider that after speaking so long, there
were others in the meeting who wished to address them.
A few more remarks on the illiberality of the working
men at public meetings concluded what he had to say.
Mr. TOWNSEND, a shoemaker, wished to make a few
remarks in reply to the last speaker, who was a working
man like himself. He thought working men at public
meetings, the only opportunities they have of expressing
their opinions, ought to know how to conduct them-
selves. It had been said that there would be a reduction
of five farthings on the 41b loaf, this certainly
would be acceptable to every working man in Britain.—
(From the former speaker, "It will go into the hands of
the manufacturers.") On that subject he had invariably
found, that when prices rose, the English manufacturers
had increased the workmen's wages—in the case of
shoes a penny a pair more. Free trade between America
and Britain would increase labour; there would be 15,000
pairs instead of 5,000, and surely that state of affairs is
much to be desired. Free trade is progressing. Lord
John Russell had given in his adherence to the
system, and just to-day he had beard that Lord Lon-
donderry-shad renounced his former policy in favour
of ii.—(Laughter.) Ile saw in to-day's Times that the
ports were to be opened in January; by that time he
trusted they would have more experience of Dr. Buck-
land's maxim—
Pease pudding hot,
Pease pudding cold,
Pease pudding in the pot,
Nine days old.

--(Laughter.)
Mr. FAIRCHILD, a working man, than addressed the
I_2eeting. He said there was every prognostication of a
r: mine ; and whom are they to blame ? The Minis-
t-r? No. The working men ? No. It is the will
Providence ; and this meeting was held to
,nsider by what means they could avert the
c 'ming danger. The ports ought to be opened. He
11,ad never found that when food was cheap wages were
I ,w. The contrary, according to his experience, had in-
: ariably been the true state of things. Let there be an
outlet for the manufactures of the country by the repeal
of the corn-laws, and the working-classes then may have
corn to what quantity they wish, and besides the inter-
course would convert enemies, and those who threaten to
become so, into friends. Is it not according to
common sense that if there be but twenty men
to do sixty men's work, they surely may have what
price they choose for their labour? All here are in fear
of famine. Why should it be so ? There are twenty
millions of acres in the Mississippi uncultivated. He
should rather say that, if there be demand, thirty mil-
lions may be brought under cultivation. The aristocracy
have scouted and sneered at the working-classes. What
have they denied them ? Political education—they have
denied that. They must rouse themselves, and show
the aristocracy there is knowledge and intellect among
them—that they know their duty and their interest, and
now is a time specially calling for energy.
MT. APSLEY PELLAT said he would not throw the
apple of discord among them on the present occasion,
•
but raise his voice, with those with whom he might differ
on other questions, against the further continuance of
the taxes on food. Ile was for the fullest and most
would
therefore, ad-
ex-
tensive freedom in the interchange of commodities, espe-
cially in the article of food. Some of the speakers had
spoken of bakers and blacksmiths, and he
e
dress them as a glassblower. He at'mitte
that his, as well as other trades, might temporarily
suffer from the importation of articles from foreign coun-
tries, but what would be the result ? It would stimu-
late the people of this country to greater exertions, and he
had such confidence in the energy and skill ofif tool wor
fair
k-
ing men of England, that they were able, y
play were given them, to compete successfully with the
labourers of any portion of the globe. The Hon. Gen-
tleman, after referring to the condition of Jersey and
Guernsey, as ,En illustration of the benefits arising from
the absence of-the protective system, concluded by quot-
ing from a book, which the speaker said he highly re-
'lined. It was from the book of Proverbs, and was as
follows :—" He that withholds corn the people shall
curse him ; but a blessing shall be on the head of him
that shall sell it."—(Loud cheers.)
-Joint ROBERTS, a working man, next addressed the
meeting, and said that while he fully agreed in the
necessity of repealing the corn-laws, still he cautioned