The Sun.
London, England, 1826-08-19 00:00:00

prevent successful competition with foreign markets. Were it
not for the superior industry, skill, and- capital of this country,
the corn laws would have brought it to that state before now.
When they had no .corn law, though weighed upon heavily by
govern Mental taxation,, the country went on in its course rejoic
ing. did not despair of its recovery; but he felt quite sure
that it would not revive through the influence of that body which
siessnoW thriving while all the other interests were perishing.
" The smiling there, like light on graves,
Has rank cold hearts beneath it."
A recurrence to a free trade in corn was essential to our existence
and prosperity. It was useful in the view of a general trade, and
a useful employment of capital. From the number of our ships,
convenience pf our harbours, and our insular situation, this coun-
try would become the granary of Europe, and we should 'succeed
to a principal share in the carrying trade of that bulky and valua-
ble product. Opinions had undergone a favourable change as to
this subject. Suiting their policy to the selfishness and cupidity
of the corn7growers, who, its return, suited their votes to grants
of money for the most profligate expenditure ; Government had
-turned a deaf ear to all public remonstrance against the injustice
of those laws. The present Ministers viewed the question under
a different light,: and Mr. Huskisson, at the late Liverpool
election, had ' declared himself against them. • (Here he quoted
the passage in Mr. fluskisson's speech, which bore upon the
Corn Laws.) In support of the necessary and beneficent
purposes announced. by that Right Honourable Gentleman,
it was their ditty to aid Ministers with all their might, that they
(the Ministers) might he able to contend with some chance of suc-
cess against the almost overwhelming power of the landed interest.
Therefore, by all the motives which induced them to seek what
was good for themselves—by the readiness which they ought to
have its repelling open aggression upon their obvious rights—by
all the pride which should lead them to hope for the prosperity
and honour of their country—by all their better wishes that
through the mutual friendship of their country with foreign gates,
the blessings of that friendship should be communicated to the
human race ;—by all these motives and feelings they were called
upon to lend their assistance in breaking down that odious and
detestable system of laws. (Long and loud cheering.)
He concluded by moving the second Resolution.
2d. That, in the opinion of this meeting, the alarming distress in the
neighbouring districts cannot be etibetualty remedied without a change
In those laws which forbid the importation of foreign corn until corn of
home growth shall have attained a price which it is impossible for the
people of this country to pay ,: which Wit, therefore, amount to an ex.
elusion of that corn, and which exclusion operates to the injury of the
Manufacturing classes, and of the nation at large, in the four following
ways :—First, In enhancing prodigiously the joices of the prime never.
series of life. , Second, In shutting-out from British markets all those fo-
reigners of various nations, whose need of the goods which we make, is
surmised only by our need of the corn which they Witt' in exchange.
Third, In making it the interest of those nations to encourage, by all pos-
sible means, the progress of native manufactures, thus not only depriving
us of the trade of supplying their wants, but raising diem up against us into
most dangerous rivals in the trade of supplying the wants of those other
countries, the markets of which arc equally open to all. And Fourthly,
tnlntroduring the spirit and practice of hazarding speculation into the
formerly steady and regular business of all persons concerned in raising
Or selling the products of the land, making the prosperity even of the
farmer, stud the supply of the fruits of the earth, to depend, not upon the
industry of man, nor upon the bounty of the seasons, but upon a system
of averages, managed with so much falsehood and fraud, as to produce
the most deceptive and injurious results.
Mr. MARK PHILLIPS seconded it.
Other speeches for which it is not possible for us to make room,
and which were all equally well received by the assembly, were
those of Mr. Prentice, Mr. Croft, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Burgess, and
Mr. Benjamin Holbrooke. •
The remaining resolutions (to which one was added for carry-
ing an address to the King, and leaving it at certain places to re-
ceive signatures, and then tabs forwarded by deputation, or other-
wise, as the committee shall see fit) were as follow
M. That while ascribing so many evils to the operation of the cam-
bial this meeting cannot refrain, at a time like the present, front deciar.
ill (heir belief that much of the evil under which the whole British
people suffers, is to be traced to the enormous account of the taxes levied
in title kingdom ; an account which, to its present extent, this meeting
is strongly of opinion is unnecessary for the purpose of a Government
anxious only to promote the public welfare • seeing that, besides the
great sums applied in discharge of the interest of the national debt, a re-
venue several times as great as the whole revenue of England is ex-
pended'in the maintenance...-apparently designed to be perpetual-!-of an
immense standing army, in support of what the Ministers themselves
have denominated the " dead weight ;" in the payment of greatly die-
proportioned salaries to the officers of state; supplying, by pensions
and sinecures, the means of extravagance to great numbers of individuals
and families to whom the public was never indebted fbr'any the smallest
portion of service; and in various other charges, for which the most
prosperous condition any country ever knew, could furnish no excuse,
and which in this country, after the exhaustion of 25 years war, are as
unjustifiable in their principle as they are oppressive and destructive In
their effects.
4th. That the enormous pressure of the corn laws and the taxes has
been aggravated to an incalculable extent by the arbitrary changes that
have been made in the value of money by the operation of the measure
fur causing a return to cash payments : the abstract wisdom, anti meet,
sits of such measure, however injurious itt its immediate consequences,
this meeting does not in the least dispute ; but which measure being un-
amontstriled with any remission of taxes or any alteration 41 the corn
laws, has had the ether of lowering (in many cases to less than one-belt)
the prices of an descriptions of produce and or goods, except those which
' the corn laws and taxes have ininaturtilly kept up, and or lessening in
like proportion, the income, the profits, end wages, Of every mats not
dependent out the land and taxes.
!AO. That for all these manifold and siggravated evils, this meeting Is
firmly of opinion, nu adequate and lusting remedy can be applied, except
by a repeal- (as prompt and etlbctual as may be consistent with the regard
which is slue to those interests which have beets created by the present
artificial system, and whiciedepends• upon it) of every law which en.
lianas the price of bread, and obstructs die manufacturing and commer-
cial prosperity of the nation ; and also by an immediate abolition of
taxes, to an amount which this meeting does not presume to specify, but
Which, to produce the desired results, must be so great as to put an end
to all Goverment expenditure, beyond that which shall be suited to the
altered yglue of money, and directly conducive to the freedom and great-
ness of the idngdotri ,• that therefore an address and petition from this
meeting be presented to his Majesty, most earnestly said respectfully
'statiog those views which this 'Ducting has talon of the causes and re.
wellies of the dreadful condition to which these districts are redueett, and
most humbly beseeching him, that lie will be graciously pleased to as-
semble the Parliament tOrthwitls, and to recommend the immediate
adoption of those great measurer which, and which only, can, in the
opinion, of this meeting, prevent his suftring and loyal people front being
hurried into the perils and the crimes of some awful convulsion, sod
width only can restore permanent prosperity to all parts of his Majesty's
dominions.
Mr. Banes hiving quitted the chair, thanks were voted to
him, and, upon the unanimous assent being declared, three Cheers
of loudest vociferation were added, and the meetiug dispersed.
It must be admitted, that a Meeting so numerous and promis-
cuous in its congregation never displayed a more correct sense of
propriety its its proceedings.