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

ettrix Xbition

SUN OFFICE, Seven o'Clock.

OPENING THE PORTS.
MEETING OF THE WARD OF FARRINGDON
WITHOUT..--(THIS DAY.)
Mr. IV,siatEß (in continuation from our Afternoon Edition)
said, it was not in consequence of the present state of the
country alone that he had been induced to come forward on
that occasion. Without regarding this question, as con-
nected with the produce of the year's harvest, their
duly was still the same. They ought to have been
actively anxious to have had them removed long
before. They should have been impressed with the convic-
tion that the prosperity and well-being of the country and of
the industrious classes demanded their removal, and it was
oa this broad ground, ifnd not on the mere exigencies of the
time, that he took his stand, Why should they be considered
through the distorted medium of political considerations or
party feelings ?—(Hear, hear.) He trusted that a better
time was coming, and that the sympathies of all classes
would be aroused; that their patriotism would be
called into action, and that they would consider what were
the most effectual means of promoting the welfare of the
rising, as well as futons generations.—(Hear, hear.) Their
cause would be successful, for it was based upon sound reason,
and was not influenced by crooked or party policy ; they
rose in dignity, with the consciousness that they only asked
that justice which should be the foundation of all their laws,
and they were anxious to see that the improvements which
so eminently marked the period should be extended to their
legislative enactments. By the removal of these laws an
impetus would be given to the industry of the masses:
the thought which inspired, the wisdom directed, and the
interest which secured, would each be brought into play, adding
not only to individual property, but to the efficiency of every
department and institution of the country.—(Hear, hear.)
And if these advantages could be secured them by the
abolition of these laws, would they, he asked, cease their ex-
ertions until they were fully done away with ?—(Hear, hear.)
In asking the repeal of these corn-laws they did not wish to
depress others; all they wanted was to elevate themselves,
and they felt that in thus elevating themselves they were
benefiting all classes of the community.—(Hear.) With these
views, he would impress upon the meeting the propriety of
assisting those who had formed themselves into an union
for the purpose of relieving the people from the trammels
which had been thrown around them ; of assisting those who
wished to break the last link of the chain which had been
placed upon their necks by the corn-laws.—(Hear, hear.)
He knew that there were many gentlemen present with more
talents than he could boast of, who could do greater justice
to this important subject, and he trusted that they would
come forward then and do so. They could do themselves no
higher honour than in being instrumental in effecting the
consummation they all so anxiously desired. He would but
add for himself that he had no personal object apart
from that of his fellow-citizens to serve in this matter.
He had come forward as an independent man, anxious to pro-
mote an independent object.—(Great cheering.) It was the
duty of every Englishman to do his best to get these laws
repealed, no matter what his station in society might be.
Ile did not despair of their ultimate triumph ; nay, more, he
hoped to see the day when civil and religious liberty would
be freely extended over the world.—(Cheers.) They were
anxious that their views should be fully understood; they
were not of a destructive t r injurious tendency; but, while
they sought not to inflict injury on others, they were
equally determined to have jettice for themselves.—(Loud
cheers.) They were anxious to have good laws, and to
improve to the utmost the advantages of their present posi-
tion in society.—(Hear, hear.) The speaker then read and
proposed the resolution.
Mr. CARPENTER said that he had been requested to
second the resolution Rhich had just been proposed by Mr.
Walker, and he did so from exactly the same motives and
feelings which had prompted that gentleman to move it.
He felt that that was a time which rendered it imperative on
all men to discharge a public as well as their private
duties, especially in a case of great emergency like that
which bad brought them together—(Hear, bear)—and no
mart, however humble his station or contracted his talents,
shou'd shrink from the duties which society imposed on him.
—(Cheers.) The resolution which had first been read had
reference to the prospective state of the industrious classes of
the community, and their anticipation that in consequence of
the disease of the'potato crop and the scarcity of the wheaten
harvest tl a d.pressed conditk.n of those classes would
be ence4dingly increased. Whatever men's opinions
might be in reference to the corn-laws—whether
in the eyes of one party they were unjust and
not so in the eyes of another, was of no consequence.
_Neither of the parties who divided the country would, for a
moment Warne Sir Robert Peel for a calamity which was
21314 V attrib tat is to the seasons under Divine Providence ; at
the same time it was right to look beyond the immediate
emus ,s of the present'pressure, and to ascertain what course
should be adopted in this comparative dearth of the
ordinary productions of the country.—(Hear, hear.) And
they had a right also, if they believed that these laws were
calculated to aggravate the distresses of the people ; if they
bereved that, in the present extraordinary state of things,
their removal would mitigate those evils by rendering the
importation of fcod comparatively easy, in those circum-
stances, and with this belief they had a perfect right to have
these laws abrogated.—(Cheers.) It had been even an
axiom in politics that when capital was in great
abundance there was an increased demand for
labour, and that when there was a great demand
for labour the wages of the productive classes were corm-
s stiflingly high. It has also been admitted that for the last
ea or five years, while profits have been high, wages have
been low, and this because there was too great an inequality
between the two classes of society. What was the state of
thongs at present? They found capital in great abundance—
in such abundance, indeed, that theydid not know how to dispose
of it, and the wildest projects, therefore, had been brought before
the public. and such was the superabundance of capital, that
men rushed, with open hands and pockets, into the arms of
these who propos •sl the wildest schemes to them. Fhey had
licelscl that before the railway speculation ..commenced of
ba. !kers in London, who had lying in the coffers one million.
er it might be two millions, of money, which they were
v. ing to 1-nd at two per cent., and yet were unable
Is find persons to borrow it from them.—(Hear, hear.)
a'i.l what had been the tendency of this accumulation of
enpical T—was it to increase the wages of the working
classes din the one hand, and to enhance the profits of the
ii ding classes on the other? They found that there had
Sten, during the last fourteen or fifteen years, a gradual
t:ecienaion in the wages of the labouring classes, and a
gradual reduction in the profits of the trading classes. Now
was not this state 'of things calculated to excite the sympathy
of all reflecting and right- thinking men ? Let them put this
state of things before those who entertained a different view
of the eorn-laws from what they did, and let them be asked
to e ,plaln the contradiction. Let them be asked to
account for an increased capital and diminished wages and
profits. They would find that the corn-laws were in part the
C Luse of this anomaly, because their tendency was to
fetter and restrict the industry of the workmen.
It was gratifying now to find that men of all parties were be-
ginning to see their injurious tendency, and to acknow-
ledge that they pressed most unjustly on the humbler
classes of the population.. It was lamentable to find that
is consequence of them the distinceion wag gone between
the poorer classes and the industrious classes—in-,
dustry and poverty were synonimous terms, as were riches
and idleness.—(Hear.) But they were glad to find that the
causes of this anomJy were being investigated, and he hoped,
sincerely hoped, that with increased knowledge, they would
do away with the causes which had resulted in these evils.
We were told that the question was settled. It was nearly
ten years ago that a letter was published from one of the two
great leaders of one of the two great political parties in this
country. He alluded to Lord John Russell, who, after
twenty,years' experience, had been converted to sound politi-
sal economy. He reminded him of Rip Van Winkle, who,
after twenty years sleep, awoke. Lord John Russell had
been asleep for twenty years, and now suddenly woke up,
and came torward to aid in the work which so much inte-
rested them all. He had found out, after twenty years, that
corn does not form an exception to political economy, and
had contributed his influence to do good and realise the
important aid they were seeking. It had since then
been announced in a sort of demi-official way that
the Premier (who ought to be called the great
Corn-law Silence) had been impressed with the ne-
cessity of doing something to relieve the country from
the oppression of these laws, which had so long disgraced
it. Me was not one of those who would judge the motives
of statesmen. It would be unfair to decide upon them by
the same principles that were usual to men in the ordinary
walks of life. They appeared to him to be governed by
principles of which the generality of people had very little
ides, and to which most men were strangers, and they would
be in error who attempted to fathom their reasons when they
were actuated by so many particular circumstances. It was
enough for them; to know that if that announcement was
founded in truth, the two great leaders of the two
great parties had at length found it necessary to sub-
mit themselves to the decision of the public will,
and to express their readiness to do what was
required. He had heard it mentioned after the announcement
of the decision of the last Cabinet Council, that this meet-
ing was not to be held to-day. He was delighted to find
that. it was held, and that the expectations of some persons
in that ward were disappointed, because it was certain that,
whether else announcement of the Cabinet Council was true
or untrue, there was the same necessity for the very same
course of proceeding on the part of the public. If it was
true, Sir R. Peel would require all the support which the
Public could give, as it would give a great blow to the aris •
tocratical power of this aristocratic country; and if the
public mind decided that he did not intend to do any-
thing, there would be the same necessity for coming
forward to help themselves, as the landed interest
would *lse advantage of any indecision. They would fight
time battle to the last step, and would not give up their last
great hold on the finances of this country.—( Loud applause.)
And if the public were not alive to support a ;Minister who
was thrust into the battle against his will, they would not
exceed in their endeavours, and would be foiled in their
fttempts on all sides.. He felt that he had already occupied
the time of the meeting longer than he should do—(Cries of
"No, no,"„“ Go on")—and he would conclude by begging to
second the resolution so ably proposed by his friend Mr.
Walker.—(The speaker then sat down amidst thunders of
applause.)
Sir Jeans DerxE then put the resolution to the meeting,
and it was carried unanimously.
Mr- C. WOOD then said that he had been called on to pro-
pose the second resolution. He would begin by calling to
their attention the resolution : " That Sir R. Peel, by not ad-
vising her Majesty immediately to assemble Parliament to
consider the necessity of repealing the corn-laws had been
guilty of a neglect of duty, and had rendered himself re-
sponsible to the Country for the present deficiency,
in corn," In support of the resolution he would call
their attention to the feeling of the public mind some
live or six weeks ago, previous to the assembling of the
Cabinet Council. It was then the universal feeling that an
Order in Council on the more important measure of assembling
Parliament, would, be necessary, in order to open the ports,
Sir Robert Peel Was in a situation to open them, but he
required the support of the people. It was an act which, as
the chief member of the Cabinet Council, he was enabled
to perform, and on him lay the responsibility if he neglected
this unportant duty. It was seen that there was a difference
of °piston in the Cabinet Council, as nothing resulted from
their deliberations. The corn market welt up in conse-
quence, as many persons suspected from the evident
difference of opinion that the ports would not be opened.
The inferior sort of corn now in the market was at from
Ws. to 545. per quarter, and it was of such a bad quality that,
in order to use it, it was mixed with a better
theunlit of
of
corn. That better quality was at 745. per quarter, and
duty was so high that the good corn, necessary to mix
with the inferior stuff they had already, could not be im-
ported. The duty at present amounted to 14s. per quarter.
,was told that the report, that the ports could not be
opened Ind; closed the hands of all who held bonded corn,
and it was now worth from 4s. to ss. mole than it was at
-:bat time. An objection might be made to the second reso-
link% ou the ground that it placed Sir Robert Peel in an
improper noeition—(Hear, hear)—and he would defend it on
that point, gss Sit Robert Peel had taken no measures to as-
semble Parliament. Supposing_ in the Cabinet Council
the Duke of Wellington, Istord Wharncliffe, and the Earl of
pon should hinder him truce 44 that which he con-