The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-24 00:00:00

8 10
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,I b

1 1
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17

14 6

16 6

LEAGUE FUND, £lOO,OOO.
Dr. (B)
January 1. To amount of receipts as per
statement rendered
December 6. To amount of subscriptions and
bazaar receipts from January Ito this date 35,678 8 10
December 8. To discount and interest re-
ceived this year

Z 122,508 1 0
Cr.
December 6. To balance in hand
Jan
-itarY 1. By amount of expenditure, as
per statement
December 6. By amount of expenditure to
this date as per statement
Balance

£122,508 1 0

WILLIAM BICKHAM,I Members of the Finance
SAMUEL LEES, Committee.
were" WILLIAM RAWSON, Treasurer.
Axamined and found to be correct,
The
WILLIAM EVANS, Member of the Council.
iu""le report was received with loud applause.
'14% Alderman CALLENDER moved that the accounts
sereteen satisfactory, and be approved.—(Cheers.) He had
ta.n connected with the League from its commence-
, `ltt• There was not a single farthing, except petty
expended without a vote of the Committee. There
Its not a farthing expended without full value received.
"Y were now in sight of the accomplishment of the
14rh:Itt measure which they wished to see repealed,
.and
t° forward
was no measure which to such an extent promised
the
'c'nivard holiness, godliness, and homely comfort to
People of this country.—(Cheers.)
inI'4IJRENCE HEYWORTH, Esq., of Liverpool, in second-
w! the motion, said that he was one of fifty gentlemen
Shia guaranteed 1,0001. each two years ago. He had
More than a thousand pounds. Would it become
en, now that they were in sight of their much-to-be-
ured object, to be silent ? No ; it would ill-be-
eta Englishmen. They must not only get that, hut
b:Y must also give the franchise to the bulk of the
These things could not be done without funds,
the meeting must come forward liberally. The
14b3eraey even would be enriched by free trade. Had
lot trade been unprecedentedly profitable during the
I,7twelve months, in consequence of the cheapness of
)1141? He appealed to every gentleman present to say
piper that was not the fact.
dal
Chairman put the motion, which passed unani-
-vul y.
thltr, • Alderman NEILD moved a resolution to the effect
04:‘ the meeting, composed of the merchants, traders, and
Itr manufacturers of Manchester, repeated their so-
rse
protest against the laws which prohibit the free ini-
tolt4tion of grain and other provisions, believing them
the opposed to the interests not only of the people of
ibttll'aeufacturing classes, but also of the agricultural
to rest, and pledging itself not to relax in its exertions
tkriPport the League. He considered that they bad
elenett a great moral victory upon this question. Had
of corn-laws been abolished by a mere numerical vote
kthe House of Commons in six or twelve months, the
"urY would not have been so great. After an earnest
if tat to the meeting to support the League, he said that
knoe corri.laws were once repealed, every man must
opr? that they were abolished for ever. He called
the meeting to show that the men of Manchester
n earnest upon this momentous question.
4.' il. R. ASHTON, of Hyde, seconded the resolution,
4e passed amidst great cheering.
pre, r; AsuwoßTH, of Bolton, moved a resolution, ex-
the*sing the greatful sense in which the meeting viewed
the exertions of the National Anti-Corn-law League in
the
cause of freedom of trade ; and, in order to enable
tut council to make renewed and increased exertions, a
sh:eription of 250,0001., be entered into.—(Loud
ehtivrl) He had seen a subscription of twelve millions
dizlt'ed into for the purpose of saving an hour in the
boo nee between London and Manchester, and. he called
ti bi; the meeting to come forward with their subscrip-
th°,-- towards the funds of the League. He dwelt upon
the necessity of the League turning their attention to
Jui..l.,egistration courts. No man had suffered any in-
oeVrnEn the purchase of a freehold, for he could get
km,'" interest from his investment than he could get
op,":, the savings' banks. They had once seen the ports
tse-not to let in grain, but to let it out. The Govern-
s, not to repeal the corn-laws,
thi:see whether they could convert rottenness into
ti
•
1,111,,41,1era1a1l KERSHAW seconded the motion, observing
th,l'ae had known the League when it was no bigger
kill a man's hand, and he could truly say that no insti-
ket ao much deserved public support. He rejoiced to
thethe importance of the meeting duly appreciated by
as tqle of Manchester, who had met once more, and,
di, understood, once for all, to express their
thr at and disapproval of the laws which affected
industry of the people.—(Loud cheers.) He
*Zed this would be the last time that the League
1404" appeal to the people, and he never subscribt d
146.! with so much, pleasure as to the fund of the
he for he considered it the best investment which
make.—(Cheers.) They must back their
110„73 who had to meet a band of monopolists in the
titto-„°,of Commons. They must attend to the registra-
tett."' Counties, and the fate of those laws was sealed for
C-
„.(Loud cheers.)
, lii'ation for a subscription was then agreed to.
4ittis:IPHAIMIAN said he would set the example. For
(Tre„,' and brothers he would subscribe 1,000/
110.-lendous cheers.) Last time they gave 5001. He
eanie ‘"od that twenty-five gentlemen would do the
The
applause.)
Lle following subscriptions were then an-
aneed
1. Chadwick, of Eales 1,000
;,.'atirence •Heyworth ••• • • 500
i'4omas Thomasson, of Bolton 1,000
rshaw and Co. • • • • • • 1,000
▪ Omar Hoyle and Sons ••• • • • • 1,000
1141 r. COBDEN said that he had been commissioned by
chr• Brooks to say, that he would not be " second
%Ijr
D" to any one, and if any one gave a larger subscrip-
than 1,0001., his name must be put alongside of it.
must Le at present 1,000
W. Ashton, of Hyde • . ..1,000
14;bielaYles and Brothers, of Staleybridge ... 1,000
ho et Platt, of Staleybridge .. 1,000
J•vr, Lees and Son, Dukenfield 1,000
n, ittaker and Sons 1,000
gabsright and Brothers .. 1,000
vittel Ashton and Brother... .. 1.000
ka ZnaB Ashton and Sons, Hyde ... 1,000
ves King and Son, of Rochdale .. 1,000
kt.!sra• Booth and Hoyle, of Rochdale ... 1,000
14,:lbixon and Sons, Carlisle ... 1,000
k' Joseph Eccles, Mill-hill, near Blackburn 1,000
1/eeas Shorrocks, and Co., Darwen ... 1,000
Piel,iitirY and Ed. Ashworth, of Turton .. 1,000
aton, Brothers, of Blackburn .. 1,000
rneßuckley, John Buckley, and Brothers,
nuckley and Sons 1,000
:ad S. Henry and Co. .. ... 1,500
ki i"'s. Mather and Family, of Liverpool .. 700
4 ,red Reyner and Brothers, of Ashton 1,000
4,1•114'• Smith, Manchester .. ... 500
161, Cheetham, Staleybridge ••• • • 500
hard Matley .•• ... 500
4:l`-lner and Bazley'... ... 500
Nin Ashton, of Hyde • • ••• • • 500
4. 'ender, Beckham, and Co. 500
•10114,twood, Acresfield . . 500
It' -Fenton, of Crimble .. 500
401‘1•Onnel and anchester 500
„" and Thomas Co.,'Potter ... 500
h Ala
cnnermar. and Sons ... .. 500
;gall Cobden—(Loud cheers) .. .. 500
Hants AN—lt goes against my conscience to take
(Cheers.)
bent
and Sons 500
Faert Johnston, Manchester _ 500
4 Steiner (of Church) .. ... 500
Ito
PY/nous, per J. Bright .. .. 500
n-efetcher, Son, and Co. ... ... 500
4441AtitstAie—I receive this with the greater plea-
Zt for it is the first time they have come forward.
to,••,eaa always a matter of regret to me that they did
come forward, and join us in all our engage-
%,,i)ta•-•-(Cheers.)
Ar"rga Foster, of Sabden • •
443kni•Ross ••• • • •••
•••
Munns.. • • ••• ••• • •
•tt'e, Sons, and Sowerby, Dukenfield
\V„°,tn, Pson, Brothers, and Son • • • •
r.k.'s, Cooke, and Potter ... ... • •
14V.:Itala.°wrrsiosn, and Hall••a•nd Rawson : .•
,Mason and Co. ••• . • ••. •••
ja* 4.• Thicknesse, Wigan . . . •
til,aa Carlton (new subscription) .. •••
I.4iend ••• • • • • • • •••
vir• ~..--,argreave, of Grange ... •••
-caylor, Wigan ... ••• ••• •'
It "ars. Murray ••• • • • . ••
tin.bert Stuart ••• ••• • • . •
and Sutcliffe • • •••
11 ~ri.stie and Son ••• • • • •
Viitehe ad and Brothers
..
Ursad J. M'Call ... • • •
.• •
••
t:• and Miss M'Call ••• •• • •
a
na and Nicholson •
••• • .
11,;2Paon, Thomson, and Co. • • • •
--;,4°11s and Hunter ••• •••
WMeattie and Co., Rochdale •••
a. Itt• Alkard, Warrington ... • •
and J. Allen, Warrington • • • •
• and P• Schofield, Littleborough
•Brewer . • •
Robert
rewer and Co. .•
Crewdson
h
Tines,
Dean, and Co.••• . • •••
Ar..°!. Mason and Sons, Ashton
AsO and Brothers, • • ••• •.•
• I.,,:iveedale, Rochdal
ir...rossfield, Liverpool • . • • •••
••• • • •
ttowarth, Rochdale •••
• •
Chao
Howard Hyde • • •
••
""l• Luc '
admirer of Sir Robert Peel (Laughter) ...
George Wilson (Chairman of the Council) ..
Smith and Sons • • ••
Henrytr; Curtis, and Co.• Henry
nson, jun. ••• •• • •
-•-fL Bagley
• •• • • • • • • • ••
,4:1„, Merry, Liverpool ... • • • •
i'-„1„.1011. Harvey, Liverpool • •••
,v• B. NVatkins (Mayor of Manchester) ...
kl• P. Robinson ••• ••• •••
Thornely, a Godb
James Knott and Bony Ashton

500
500

Heald and Wilson ... ••• ... ... 2C
Stanley and Hardwich, Ashton ... ... IC
James Ogden, Dukenfield ... .. ... 1C
Thos. llunter .. .. .. .. ... 1C
Benj. Nicholl 1C
••• ••• • . •••
Curry Powder, per J. Wilson—(Laughter).. IC
W. Edwards .. • • ••• • • IC
Charles Potter, Darwen ... .. ••• IC
H. Potter, Darwen ... .. • • • • 1C
Edward totter, Darwen ... .. .. 1C
Henry Lee, of Glossop
F. R. Atkinson .. , . • . ... 10
E. Potter and Co. ... ... ... ... 10
R. Holroyd and Co. ... ... .. .. 10
Nicholson and Evans .. ... • • .. 20
A. Walker, M.P., Bury ••• ••• ••• 25
J. Grundy, ditto
R. Ashton, ditto ••• ••• ••• .. 25
T. and J. Wrigley, ditto .. • • . • 25
J. and E. Grundy, ditto .. ••• ••• 25
T. A. and J. Grundy, ditto ... ..• ... 15
Walker, Smith, and Co., ditto .. .. 30
J. Walker, ditto .. ... ... .. 10
Edward Grundy, of Park-hill, ditto .. ... 10
J. Wrigley, ditto .. .. ... ••• 5
L. and R. Openshaw .. .•• ... ... 10,
Forth and Howarth, Todmorden •.• ... 251
W. Hallawell, ditto ... ••• •• ... 251
A. Ormerod and Brothers, ditto ••• ... 251
J. and A. Stansfield, ditto .. ... .. 101
J. and W. Barker, ditto ... .. ... let
R. Hibbert and Sons, Godley ... ... 20(
R. Clarke and Sons ... ••• ••• ••• 10(
Procter and Co., Rochdale ... • . ... 10(
I'. Chadwick, ditto ... ••• • • .. 10(
S. Taylor, ditto 10(
J. Chadwick, ditto .•• ••• ••• ••• 10(
Henry Kelsall, ditto ... • • .. ... 10C
R. Kelsall, ditto ••• ••• ••• ••• 10C
Robert Heap, ditto ... ••• ... ... PT
Robert Schofield, ditto ... ... ... JOC
George Howarth, ditto ... ... .. 100
Joseph Crook, Bolton ... ... ... 250
P. R. Arrowsmith, ditto • • .. ... 260
Joseph Whitworth and Co. .. • • ••• 150
Henry Walmsly, Fulsworth ... ••• ... 100
J. Barrett and Sons ... . • ... ... 100
E. and J. Jackson, Manchester .. _ 100
J. Midgley, Rochdale .. ... ... .. 100
Jacob Tweedale and Sons, ditto ... ... 200
Joseph Fenton, ditto ... . • ... ... 200
Thomas Shaw, ditto ... ••• • • .. 50
B. Heap, ditto ••• ••• ••• 50
Ogden and Co. ••• . .. .. 50
J. and J. Bancroft, Ashton ••• 50
John Turner, of Godley (new subscriber) ... 50
Prentice and Cotterell .. • • ••• 50
Petty, Ernest, and Co. ••• ••• .. 50
Edwin Moorhouse, a working man, from
Ashton ••• ••• • • ••• ••• 25
J. and J. Platt, Oldham ... ••• • • 100
Harvey, Tysoe, and Co. .. ••• • • 200
J. Heginbottom, Ashton ... • • • • 100
IV. Richardson and Co., Stand ••• ••• 200
J. C. Dyer ...
..
.. ••• ... 50
Thos. Roberts ... ... ••• • • • • 100
J. Gatley and Brothers •
• . • • 100
•
F. Schwann, of Huddersfield •
••• ••• 400
Mr. Bright said, Huddersfield will send at least 5,000
Crossfield and Co., St. Helen's ... ••• 50
0. Ormerod, Rochdale .. ••• • • 50
J. Howard •• • • 20
• .. •.• •••
Sugden 5 •••
••• ••• • •
JR..
cTraoyplpo,r
C. Littlewood
.. ••• 25
• • 25
A Friend • • 50
Ryland .. 50
Mullmeux
• • ••• ••• •.•
.. 25 of London ••••• .•:•• ••••••• .. 20
.
•• ••• • •
R. Wray ••• 25
Wigan
Jos. Acton,— •• .. •.••
... 100
Johnson andCo.,ditto •...
•••
100
..
••• ••• •••
JD. Fernley, Stockport • • ••• 100
W. Johnson
... ••
• • _ 100
J. Evans, Wigan •••
•••
• •
W. Riley, ditto
J. Aspinall, ditto ••• ***
••• ••• 803/. 15s. 6d.
J. Acton, ditto
. • ••••
J. Aspinall, ditto
• • L ••
. Parker and Co., ditto
.•.
R. Rawson and Co.
... ••• • • 21
H. Wood's workpeople, and others .. ••• 40
J. B. Pearson ... ...
••• •• .. ••• 50
..
W. White, London .. 50
J. Chadwick ... . ... • • ••• 5()
J. Hampson, Stockport ••• ••• ••• 50
Dixon and Galloway •... ••• ••• ••• Vi.
D. Morris ... ... ... ••• • •
Ken worthy Booth ... •• ••• • • 250
J. Yates 20
R. Owen . • ••• ••• ••• 20
Professor Newman .. • . • • 30
Mr. COBDEN announced Lord Dude's name for __ _

1001., and to be doubled if necessary • •
E. Walmsley, Stockport .. • •
Silas Leigh, Worsley ••• ••• •••
Evan Leigh, Ashton ... ••• ••• •••
Jos. Brotherton, M.P.—(Cheers) .. •••
W.. . Sagan ... ••• ••• •••
Clarke Brothers •••
... ••• •••
J. and W. Fielden ... ... ••• •••
T. Bottcmley .. ••• ••• ... •••
J. Mason ... ••• ... ... •••
J. R. Barnes and Sons ••• •• •••
W. C. Chambers • . • • •• • • •
, .
J. Nuttall • • .. • • • •
L. Wilson .. .. • • ••• •••
J. Stanfield ... ••• ... ••• •.•
E. Whittaker ... ••• ••• ••• •••
Three others ... ... ••• ••• •••
C. J. Darbashire .. • • • • • •
E. Royle ••• .. • • •• •.•
J. Standing ... ... ••• .. ••
T. Harvey, Liverpool ... .•• •••
T. Simpson .. .. ••• • • .••
T. Leigh ... ••• ... ••• •••
P. Walker, Eccles .. .. .. • •
Gaskell .. .. • • ... •••
Two others .. ••• ••• • • •••
From Todmorden • • ••• .. • •
Small sums from ditto .. .. ..
J. Branson .. ... • • .. •••
J. Mallenson and Sons ••• • • •••
J. Pollock, Esq. • • ... .. • •
J. Chadwick and Brothers, Eccles .. •••
J. Marshall, Horsforth, near Leeds .. •••
H. Stanfield, of Leeds, says their subscription
will be doubled
R. Romney ... ••• ••• ••• ...
W. Wilson, Stockport ••• ••• •••
G. and E. aters, Manchester • • •••
Ellis Cunliffe, ditto .. ••• ••• •••

B. Whitworth, ditto

W. Al‘Certney, ditto .. ... ...
Thomas Johnson ••• 4, • .•
E. West .. .. ••• •••
John Kay, Huddersfield .. • •
Crossfield, ditto .. ... •••
Edw. Heaps, ditto .. .•• •••
Foster Shaw, ditto .. ••• •••
R. Welsh .•• ••• ••• • •
CO 11. Jones .. •.• ••• • •
G. Cooke and Sons, Ashton ... ••
R. Dewhurst, Huddersfield .. .••

Mr. COBDEN, who was received with the most deafen-
,ng plaudits, which lasted several minutes, addressed
the meeting as follows :—Two years ago, when we held
a meeting in the small room adjoining, and when 14,0001
was subscribed to the great League fund, an influential
London paper designated us, in its own graphic mode,
" a great fact." Now, Gentlemen, I believe to-day our
subscription already amounts to upwards of 50,0004 and
that, I suppose, may be designated a still greater fact.—
(Cheers.) Without the slightest exaggeration (we are
apt, in addressing public meetings, sometimes to ex-
aggerate a little), I believe I may say that this meeting,
in the middle of the day, on a market-day, in Manchester,
is unprecedented in its numbers and the influential cha-
racter of the individuals who compose it.—(Cheers.)
I take it, no one will dispute that the amount subscribed
in this room to-day far surpasses any subscription ever
entered into in one room for any public object whatever.
—(Cheers.) lam glad to witness altogether the tone of
this meeting. There has not been the slightest reference
made to the changes that have been going on at Govern-
ment head-quarters almost as rapidly as the entrances and
exits of pantomime on the stage. We have not lost our
time by speculating on what this or that Administration
is going to do for us ; we have resorted to a much safer
mode of defending ourselves.—(Cheers.) This meeting
will afford to any Administration the best possible sup-
port in carrying out our principles. If Sir Robert Peel
has an intelligible and straightforward course to pursue
—if he will promulgate plainly and candidly that he
purposes fully to carry out the principles of free-trade—
if he will only avow his determination to practise what
lie preaches, he will see there is strength enough in the
country to support him ; and I am sure I should not be
speaking the voice of this great meeting did I not say
that if he will take that straightforward and honest
course he will have the support of the League as fully
and as cordially as any other Prime Minister her Ma-
jesty could appoint.—(Loud cheers.) This subscription
has been entered into by all present without a full ex-
planation of what mode we intend to adopt in collecting
it, or how we intend to apply it, and I am glad the money
has been put down without that explanation, inasmuch
as it shows that you are determined, at all events, what-
ever comes, that funds shall not be wanting to fight the
battle. But, as what passes here will be read by our
friends throughout the country, and with interest through-
out the world, it is quite right that we should explain
the plan we have in view in calling for this large sum.
We are not bankrupts—as you have heard, we have a
sum of money in hand ; but we who take a prominent
part in the executive department of the League wished
to have the assurance that, however much this battle
may be prolonged, however obstinate the resistance
that may be offered to our just demands, there is a de-
termination in the country to back our exertions with
adequate funds,—(Cheers.) I knew, Gentlemen, we
should have your support ; I never doubted it. I would
not have given 1 per cent. to any one to guarantee me
the full amount of the quarter of a milhott when we
`called for iti—(Cheers.) The plan Ibis hag been Fro-

_.~ ti.~y

D posel is this :—To call for an instalment of 20 per cent
D on this subscription at once, and the rest when neces-
D sary. You areas well able to judge as lam whether it
be likely that the contest will be prolonged beyond ano-
ther session. For soy own part, I think that our oppo-
nents (with any sense of prudence or policy—l inear
3 with regard to their own interests) cannot carry it on
3 beyond the next session. I don't believe they will find
CI men of intellect sufficient to lead them and undertake the
departments of the Government to maintain this system.
—(Cheers.) It is quite clear that the Queen has been
wanting servants simply because nonc could be found
) worthy to serve her Majesty, and willing to do the work
of the Duke of Richmond.—(Cheers.) We are go-
) yarned in this country not by enlightened men like
Lord John Russell, or Sir Robert Peel, or Sir James
Graham, fit to take office and serve the Queen and the
) country—we are governed by the ignorance of the coun-
) try—we have an inert mass of landlord political power to
) deal with, impervious to reason, inaccessible to argument,
) and unconscious of defeat in argument, or they would not
) have resisted us so long as they have done. Tice
) monopolist landlords of this country recognise but one
) power—the power of force. They will yield to nothing
)1 but power, and that power you have armed us with by
) the subscriptions of this day .—(Cheers.) I have said I
think it would be wise in them to yield next session ;
but let us tell them what we are prepared to do if thay
do not yield honestly.— (Cheers.) Allusion has been
made to day instinctively, by all toe speakers almost, to
the necessity of increasing our exertions in the county
/ registrations. The county qualification is the leverage
by which we can wholly overturn the ignorant authority
of these monopolist landlords—(Cheers)—by which one
can transfer the power from the Duke of Richmond, and
the Duke of Norfolk, and their peers, to the intelligent,
middle, and industrious classes of the towns of this
country.—(Cheers.) I have no hesitation in telling
them, and I think they will now believe what I say, when
backed by such a demonstration as this, that if they
resist the settlement of this question—if the next session
does not bring this question to a just settlement, we will
plant our registration agents in every county in the
kingdom—(Cheers)—and I pledge myself, from a long
study of the subject and a wide investigation of it, that
in less than three years from this time, armed with the
funds you have placed at our disposal, I can unseat 100
monopolist county members, and place in their stead
men who will vote in accordance with the interests of
the great body of the people, instead of the interests of an
ignorant class.—(Cheers.) They know what I am telling
them to be true ; they have felt it already ; and I have
no hesitation in saying that the speedy settlement of this
question will be brought about (more by the demonstra-
tion we have already made in the counties, and the suc-
cess which has attended our efforts in four or five of the
most important of them, than by ,nything else we have
ever done or attempted to do.—(Loud cheers.) Gentle-
men, as we are here speaking to our friends all over the
country, I should wish just to add a remark upon the
mode in which this subscription must be raised. Many
of our friends elsewhere may probably expect that Mr.
Bright and I might be in a position to pay them a suc-
cession of visits, as we did two years ago, and hold
public meetings throughout the country, and assist them
in making their subscriptions ; but that is, unfortunately,
impossible. Mr. Bright and myself can be nowhere
so serviceable for the next six months as in the House
of Commons, and as it is not in our power to visit our
friends elsewhere, I hope, and feel confident, when they
see how Manchester, at one meeting, has subscribed a
quarter of the whole sum required, they will, in other
places, by their own spontaneous exertions, make up the
remainder.—(Cheers.) I may add, that I have not can-
vassed a single individual for one farthing of this sub-
scription ; therefore, so far as I am concerned, gentlemen
have come forward in this noble manner without any
personal trouble to myself. I mention this that others
may mark the spirit which has prevailed here, and
act themselves accordingly.—(Cheers.) There is another
point to which, in all frankness, I must allude. It is the
opinion of many sanguine minds that this question must
now be settled within the next two or three months ; I
am not so sanguine, although I don't see how the mono-
polists can tide over another session ; but we must be
prepared for all accidents. These sanguine friends, how-
ever, may ask, " Shall we be liable to pay all this money
we have put down our names for if tile corn-laws are
abolished in the meanwhile ?" It is quite fair that the
most explicit understanding should be had on that
point. Our object in associating together was to procure
the abolition of the corn and provision laws, and of this
we believe there is but one fair and candid interpreta-
tion—we meant corn, we meant beef, butter, cheese—in
short, we meant the primary elements of human subsist-
ence grown on our own soil.—(Cheers.) We said, " We
don't want a league to put down the sugar or coffee mo-
nopoly," feeling assured that the landowners themselves,
stimulated by a sense of their own interests, would do
all that for us, when once we deprived them of their
own monopoly.—(Loud cheers.) The total abrogation
of the corn and provision laws would at once dissolve
this League, and altogether exonerate every gentleman
from any further claim to contribute to its funds.—
(Loud cheers.) I think it may be useful to some of our
most candid opponents that they should know that
now. It has been reported that this is a body seeking
anarchical objects ; that we want to do away with
primogeniture; that we want to root up the Church;
that we are opposed to all law and constituted authority
in the country; bat I defy our opponents to find in the
House of Lords itself a body of men so interested in
public order, so identified with the maintenance of our
institutions, as the body of capitalists I see before me it:
this room.—(Cheers.) We have no such objects. Our
object is bond fide. We are united far one object; we
are a rope of sand on any other question. Mr. Bright,
Mr. Wilson, and myself, differing on a zen other ques-
tions, are united for this only, and therefore I tell the
monopolist landlords, who are afraid of what we are
doing in the counties, if they think this may go on to
more than corn—if they think the qualification we are
now procuring may be good for other questions as well
as corn, they may now stop and dissolve us by the aboli-
tion of the corn laws.—(Loud cheers) But if they want
to keep alive this association—if they want to give some
of those gentlemen among ns who have ulterior objects,
and I don't know but there may be some who have—if
they want to give them the power of keeping our bond of
union intact, then they must keep up some wretched rag
of their system of monopoly.—(Cheers.) If Sir Robert
Peel wants to root out his friends in the counties more
than they are, let him come down to the House
of Commons with some new " dodge" at the opening
of the session.—(Loud cheers.) We say distinctly we
will have no conditions.—(Long continued cheering.)
If they ask us to pay for the abolition of the corn-laws
by a grant of money, by transferring their taxes to our
shoulders, if they can find any they pay exclusively, we
say, " You have been challenged to show your peculiar
burdens, and uniformly ran away. We ask you to show
us one tax you pay which we do not, and we in return
will undertake to shisw five taxes we pay from which you
have exempted ,yourselves."—(Cheers.) They have
abolished the duty on your yarn. By far the largest
industry of all your manufacturing processes is the spin-
ning of cotton yarn. The 10 per cent, duty on that
article was abolished last year ; as if Sir R. Peel
wanted to furnish a strong argument against the corn-
laws, he did away with the 10 per cent. which some might
have considered a protection to you, in order that we
might say we -hall not allow the agriculturists to have
protection at our expense.—(Cheers.) We say, then, we
will have no conditions, no qualifications.—(Cheers.)
Let this matter be settled fairly and justly,without terms
or compromise, and the League is abolished.—(Cheers.)
Bear in mind, if we talk of compromise or concession, we
will admit that the corn-laws have been a benefit
to those who have maintained them ; that I
altogether deny.—(Loud cheers.) I challenged their
advocates twice ha the House of Commons, but
they dared not go into committee, for I could
have prove.' from the mouths of the best agriculturists
they have never been a benefit to either farmer
or landlord.—(Cheers.) We do not proceed on the nar-
row basis that this question is one merely affecting our
interests, We say that the land of this country main-
tains a value only in proportion to our wealth, and the
prosperity of manufactures and commerce ; and.to ad-
mit that the corn-law had been beneficial to its upholders,
to come to any terms of compromise, would be to give
up our whole case.—(Cheers.) I cannot say how
proudly I feel in being surrounded here by a body of
men prepared to make such magnanimous sacrifices to
the cause of free-trade.—(Cheers.) You have been
complimentary to us for the exertions we have made ;
but we should have been nothing without the magnificent
sepport you have given us.—(Cheers.) I cannot help
feeling gratification at this movement, which has taught
the leading men in this country—the most useful and
important in the kingdom—the power they possess ; and
I hope they will use it to elevate themselves in the social
scale.—(Cheers.) You, Gentlemen, are not promotiug
any narrow interest—you are promoting the cause of
the whole kingdom, of the whole world—(Cheers)—and
in carrying out your principles Manchester will hereafter
be recognised as the birthplace, the cradle of free-trade.
As Jerusalem is identified with the origin of our faith,
as Mecca is with that of the Mahomedan, so in history
will Manchester be recognised as the birthplace and spring
of that great movement, the greatest since the invention
of printing, which will have the greatest effect in the
world's history of any struggle that ever took place in the
annals of civilization —(Loud and vehement cheering.)
surroundedthieny bare mna
.
Mr. BRIGHT, M.P., then said—l am at a loss for words
to express the delight which I feel at the event which
takes
Bornetown.kesplagceenthtliesmmeonrwnihnoghianvethaisttended
I
meetings
chester for the last thirty or forty years, and
never met in their experience any circumstance of a
public character in this town at all to be compared with
that which we have all here witnessed. No man here-
after can say there was anything unsubstantial or insin-
cere in the character of the great movement with which
we are connected. Past meetings have demonstrated that
we are in earnest, and, if confirmation were necessary,
we have now read that confirmation in the fact of • these
subscriptions, It is a fact which will tell most power-
fully
.on public opinion, and most powerfully also on the
decision at which the now-forming Cabinet must spee-
dily arrive.—(Hear, hear.) We have told the world that
trade in this district is resolved no longer to work in
fetters ; that we are determined to emancipate our in-
dustry and ourselves. We are held to be valuable as
creators of wealth, and held specially valuable by the
most powerful class in the kingdom so long as we will
create wealth for that class to enjoy ; but the moment
we raise ourselves and look up from the circumstances of
suffering and oppression in which we are placed, then
that class and its organs in the press heap slander and
obloquy upon every person connected with manufactures
in this part of the country. I have in my hand two
extracts, which I am desirous of reading to the meeting,
to show what is the feeling with which we are regarded
by that class with whom we are now coming into serious
collision. On the 16th of this month a morning paper
—supposed to be, assuming to be to some extent, the
organ of the late Ministry, and hoping also, I presume,
to be the organ of the present Government--the Morn-
ing Herald—(Hisses)—published the following para-
. graph:—" It may be, however, that Sir R. Peel contem-
plates the accomilaniment of a modification of the