The Sun.
London, England, 1844-12-12 00:00:00

44°
oft'

this •
11 Is a very great mistake. I hold in my ► have already stated shows what a vast field there is in
'nd a list of thirty-three boroughs, which I Middlesex still uncultivated. Now, the League pro-
will not now read to b t Itake
you, n will from poses to clear off all these incumbrances before the
the list a few extracts, for the purpose of show- 31st of January.—(Great cheering.) We might have
B'B' what are the consequences of the change; which been petitioning the House of Commons to repeal the
corn-laws ; but we have changed our ground ; we
are constantly taking place, and which never ap- are determined no longer to appeal to those who are
Pear in the registration courts, and which never elected by an undue constituency; but we will appeal
can be tested except at an election. Prom these to those who are the makers, or who ought to be, of
ekcenunts it appears that in all these boroughs a the House of Commons—(Great cheering)—and you
may depend upon it, that the League will make the
Lia ge takes place annually in the constituency, in next House for itself.—(Continued cheering.) We
none less than 10 per cent., and in some instances as will send no more deputations to men who are indif-
high as 15 per cent., so that if the constituency were ferent to the cries of distress—(Great cheering)—we
nierely affected by the overseers' returns we should will send no more petitions to the House of Parlia-
hey, an entirely new constituency in 10 years, or in 12 ment, but we will apply ourselves to men who know
nits, $t the furthest, through the changes which are
,1/401 tantly the constituency of the country, and through whose
exertions we will overthrow the monopoly of the corn-
taking place in the registration of every laws,
a rough and of all such monopolies.—(The lion. Gentle-
throughout the country. Let us take one man sat down amidst tremendous cheering.)
borougha, for instance—a borough in a manufacturing , The Hon. C. P. VILLIERS, M.P., then came forward
:estrict—the borough of Ashton-under-Lyne. The to address the meeting, and was received with the
_uat..her of old voters—that is to say of voters who were most enthusiastic applause, which lasted for some
ou.nthelist 0f1843, in the year 1844 was 621 ; the number minutes. He said—Ladies and Gentlemen, if this
pep voters added to the list in 1844 was 142, meeting is to be taken as the result of what we have
Shuowing a change of 20 to 30 per cent. in the consti- heard so much of late—namely, the death of the
t
ts:,v
°eY• This great change is taking place within League—(Cheers)—l think, if our opponents were
e months, and without the cognisance of the among us, they would have considered whether it
registration courts. Now suppose we take a rural would not have been as well to have allowed us to
arirgli—a borough in an agricultural district. We live—(Tremendous cheering)—for if this meeting
r:alie the borough of Boston, in Lincolnshire. is really considered the ghost of the League, it seems
1873,
oare 907 voters, old voters of the registry
saotters. to bid fair to trouble them far more than the departed
n_t___he register for 1844, and there are 129 new body.—(Enthusiastic ,
The monopolist candidate obtained a majo- 3*—(Enthusiastic cheering.) But it may perhaps
14at the last election. Now, if we only gained do what the other could not, but which some ghosts,
tit "' of 11 of the new voters, we shall have a majo- it has been said, have accomplished—namely, make
takY_ at the next election.—(Cheers.) We will now bad men repent in time.—(Great cheering and
e of the large boroughs—we will take the laughter.) This great assemblage was a sign that as
vote_u_genoof Liverpool. There are 12,823 registered long as monopoly was sustained against the public,
ht
the borough of Liverpool for the present
the League would be with them, and would allow the
theta' Of these, 3,135 are new voters. In Brighton
are 2,162 old voters, and 461 new voters. I monopAeraolists no rest. Ido not say that it would
vptioe these things to show you the great changes not be better that more time should be given
eh are taking place in the constituencies gene.. for the consideration of this subject, but this
that:, Prom the list of the 33 boroughs it appears Ido say, that the present agitation of the Anti-Corn-
gi,i_mere are 7,648 new voters and 45,839 old voters, law League is far better than that such an enor-
e„aeugtx)au entire majority in these boroughs to the mous wrong should be allowed any longer to exist.
a_u_. lists of 1,145. These changes produced no
t;;3leterable gain, but I mention the fact to show Can any one doubt that this tax, upon the
no borough is in so hopeless a state—no borough greatest necessary of life, is a grievous wrong inflicted
froln such a state of fixed stability—as to prevent us upon the population of England, and one that must
Rhin
o. hoping for gain if we only exert ourselves.— be put an end to, if not by Parliament, by the exer-
Hei cheers.) Who are these new voters ? They tions of the people themselves ? No one can, in corn-
the then men on whom public opinion generally acts. mon candour, believe that those who have passed this
is the class of men on whose support we calcu-
latelaw will be over scrupulous in retaining it.—(Cheers.)
hued
the next general election. They are not im-
History cannot.; afford a single instance or example
tkova with the prejudices of their parents and of old
tension
generally. We may suppose that their of justice being afforded to the population of a nation
eilution has been awakened by the various but by the assistance of such associations as the pre.
34°,
of
which have taken place on the sub- sent, and it is for this reason that lam always ready,
th:t f free trade, and on these voters it is important and always will be ready, to co-operate with the great
t, we should make an impression, in order
list obtain a majority in Parliament ; and the exertions of the. League.—(Cheers.) lam satisfied
s"°ws that the *•
d action of League • oei„ continue
chi
eequisite to make a change in the entire consti- of our cause—the best intention of our views—and
chaacY of the country. I now come to the additional will convince the public that, ere long, the object we
eeges which have been made in the borough consti- have in view must be accomplished ; and the people
And fle!. during the course of the present registrations, will be convinced that nothing is more likely than the
return their results. In four boroughs, which now
adoption of free trade to remove that which is not only a
en eight monopolists from local causes, if an elec-
misfortune and an evil, but which is a disgrace to a
aeti'l Were to take place to-morrow, we should return
..1,,r ,free traders and four monopolists. In six bo- country like England—(Cheers)--I mean, that some
bails, which at the last election returned seven free of the subjects of this country should be writhing
eetiaers and seven monopolists, in which the represen- under poverty and distress, while some are rolling in
e 411 was equally divided, we should, in the event of extravagance and wealth.—(Cheers.) I have come
klew election, return seven free traders instead of here to-night for the purpose of hearing what have
tett: monopolists ; and fourteen boroughs which now been the proceedings of our Chairman and this great
bean twenty-one representatives, monopolists, have Society, and what are the objects that he intends in
(Lou-rifled during this revision to the free traders— future to pursue, and I must confess that lam ex.
cheers)—showing an entire of thirty-two tremely satisfied, and not only extremely satisfied and
eie7ers gained from the monopolists, which, on a gratified at what has been done, but lam delighted
fren.°4 in the House of Commons, would give sixty- at what he has promised is the intention of the League
thee votes in favour of Mr. motion.—(Loud to do.—(Cheers.) I like his plan to enfranchise the
lad roes
This has been done during a single year ; people of this country.—(Cheers.) I like his plan of
fiea.r°tn the information which is being every day bearding the lion in his den.—(Great cheering.)
still 'ished
Us, we hope we shall be able to show you These are qualities that will gain the great point the
eet further
gains from those boroughs from which no League has in view. I have seen some doubts thrown
fro,„ arras have yet been made_, but the returns out in the public press as to the constitutional cha-
eei't which will be laid before you at our raster of the proceedings proposed to be taken
ternetTeeting.—(Loud cheers.) We have likewise by the League ; but I cannot but remember
only ' our attention some little to the counties. We that they were the very means that were adopted by
8104 topk one county fully in hand at the last revi- the Prime Minister of the present day.—(Great cheer-
taat' and that was South Lancashire. You all know ing.) When Sir Robert Peel was in Opposition, and
bro:' the last election for South Lancashire Mr. desired to be in power, he told the people to register
was defeated by a majority of 578 by Mr. in order that Members of his own way of thinking
tricte?„e- There are 40 townships or polling dis- might be elected, and thereby he would obtain that
are le„ South Lancashire, in each of which there eminence which he so much coveted. They did as
cult ur voters or upwards ; and 152 rural or agri- he bid them, and the result was that he got into the
Ia ta4„t2wnships in which there are fewer voters. situation that' he at present fills. Well, now the
Which-i,:*° townships in the commercial districts, in League have done the same thing—(Cheers)—but
rasjerite"e" were 11,800 voters, Mr. Brown had a the difference between them and Sir Robert Peel is
ruralY of 500 votes, whilst in the 142 smaller this—that the League do not wish any special power,
lord s townships in which the influence of the land- but that those who have the power should do justice
he
W a were stronger, and brought more easily to bear, to the people.—(Cheers.) I do not think that Sir
rity beat. by a majority of two to one, the majo- Robert Peel should say, "Go forth and register to put
kedir, Inst him being upwards of 1,000. We im- me in power, but do not put men in Parliament who
hst)d e'Y determined to take the registry in will tell me to act wisely."—(Loud cheers.)
tajne4 arid as all honest men ought, we deter- The League is now trying to do something
our in the first place, to fortify and strengthen new, and the Chairman has said that it is likely
tuld friends. We asked them to re-claim, to succeed.—(Cheers.) It is most rejoicing to
halite give a more accurate description of their hear what he has stated with respect to one county
reineation. There were 3,000 alterations in claims which was in the hands of the monopolists, and would
thee„, in favour of our friends. We then objected to have remained so but for the exertions of the League.
fev;;eonopolists, and out of 7,571 who had voted in I believe that the Tories—the monopolists—have now
th,„°. of Mr. Entwistle, we struck off 878, whilst given up that county.—(Cheers.) Ido not see why
in J struck off only 422 of our friends, showing a gain that which has happened in Lancashire should not
11i:4:favour a majority of two to one on the objections. happen also in Yorkshire and Middlesex. I see that
regist With regard to the claims, we placed on the it is stated that it is idle for the League to attempt
registry 2,821 new claims, whilst they placed on the this, because the soil belongs to the landed proprie.-
leajo ry only 1,357, giving us, on the new claims, a tors. I believe, that if it was announced that the soil
totailltY of 1,464, and on the objections 456, being a belonged to the landed proprietors, many persons
tricorn of 1,920 on the registry, giving us a clear would be extremely annoyed, because it must be re-
41A',ItrtY Upon that revision over the monopolists of collected that there were certain persons who pos-
°tice :what€l" of I,7oo.—(Loud cheers.) This shows at sessed sueh things as mortgages.—(Great cheering.)
set aC may be done when the work of revision is It is absurd to suppose that because these persons
skee
dont in earnest, and with a determination to possess nominally the soil, that therefore they are to
Nsrte---(Loud cheers.) When the registration have their own way, and to inflict the greatest bur-
eleat were closed we discovered that new dens on the people.—(Cheers.) If our friends only
might be introduced by which counties persevered, depend upon it we shall be far better satis-
/ve leoir Won from the monopolists easily. When tied with the result than Sir Robert Peel and his
Ni to South Lancashire, we find that in the art (Cheers.) I think the League have chosen
eight thereial districts the county voters are as one to well their time for action. I believe that the free
the j,ot. the population, whilst in the rural districts trade party now is large and strong, and that the
1.11 tars are as one to twenty-three. In Manchester time is now come forputting their strength to the test.
Liverpool the county voters are only as one to It is also clear that it is their time for action, from
14/ said
and twenty whilst in the rural districts, the state in which their friends, the Protection Society,
this ,A-41Q before,_ they ;re as one to twenty-three ; and are at present.—(Great cheering.) I think that no
Parh,r°Portion holds good throughout the kingdom. one can doubt that this agitation has had more effect
Ner—s3r° Populous and commercial a county is, the upon them than upon the free trader.—(Cheers.) I
tlibil,tirtlethe voters in proportion to the Population ; think, also, that when the protection societies asserted
v the more rural and less populated districts, that the League was no more, that the " wish was
ale °ters •
ire t, are in greater number. In Buckingham- father to the thought ;" their only desire was that
Ikatti.",re is one voter for every twenty-five of the it should be so.—(Cheers.) I think, also, that the
e s'e'l°n, whilst in Middlesex there is only one small disaster of the premature demise they have
-sketv-ri hundred and fifteen of the population. In attributed to the League has fallen upon themselves.
eurrey there is one voter for seventy- —(Great laughter.) The British farmer and the
teee,,`Lc the population, whilst in West Surrey labourer are not romantic characters; it is not to
°alda is one for every twenty-six. This rule be supposed that they would be very well inclined to
fai g°l:id throughout the country, and it proves that support high rents, political influence, and the strict
s-I)elolists and landlords have qualified and en- preservation of vermin.—(Great laughter.) At the
fttlL" to the full extent of their Power, whilst the present moment the labourer and the farmer were oc-
te; 130
Let
Obtaining the qualification has never been not yet been answered—" What advantage was there
j de 1
erhela ve oped. We propose to set to work to en- to them from this
lastsystem of protection;?"—(Cheers.)
lice 04e these districts, and we shall endeavour to in- Now, I stated year that these protection societies
km Or friends throughout the kingdom to qualify would not endure long—that they would very soon
Make register themselves as voters for counties. We disagree, and then disappear, and I think the result
tzieta e"° secret of it. We have no secrets from the has proved that I was right. I see that at the last
ep
Wel,en (Cheers.) We gave them due notice of what general meeting, a Member for the country, who spoke,
T's in; t about to do. We give them notice of what did not entertain a very hopeful opinion of the exist-
ild exist-
s ae , and what we shall do.—(Loud cheers.) We ence of protection, for he said, in reference to the
41st °f 'to qualify for South Lancashire, before the society, if they sunk, they must sink with the union
Ne leok ,T„ uary, 1,000 new voters.—(Loud cheers.) jack—(A laugh)—that was, in other words, that the
oeth across the brook which separates us from gentry were united against free trade ; but the gentry
'ICIO a Cheshire ; we see that there was a majority of are not and cannot be considered the agricultural in-
eletvgainst the Liberal candidate at the last general terest.—(Cheere.) There is no more connexion be-
k • 'll
Re% and there would have been that majority tween the landlord and the farmer than there is be-
vote st a 4.
s t,,,.ree trade candidate. Now what are 500 tween the shipowner and the sailor.—(Cheers.) I
have t-hs' be obtained for parties who are determined to allude to these things for the purpose of showing that
etupatiemsehne? We set to work, and nearly 500 qualifi- the present is the proper moment for the League to
" aye already been put down for that county. go onward in its great work, and that there should
Oa, than, We look to the West Riding of Yorkshire not be any slowness or supineness in its pr0,"341,
,"341, en Place
greatest county. Now, what do we find ceedings. There is another reason why the friends
Am. en Place there ? Why, since 1841, notwith- of free trade should be encouraged. Our opponents
fr rag th
ee trae e contest
in the registration courts, the have told us that the League will be frustrated, on
Nre 4ers have obtained 400 voters.—(Cheers.) We account of those who oppose it being connected with
In toldhat e
vvt her county I think it will be acknowledged that of those who are its supporters are connected with
e show that something more could be done.— the commerce of the country ; and it is certainly true,
toe
the') Mr. Cobden and Mr. Bright sallied forth that at this moment there is in this country a pause
st'e eon tresult of
t l'btaire '
n y and the
Kalif'ng of 400 voters to our cause ; they went from the stagnation of trade ; and it is as certainly
„tuu ye; s`z and to Huddersfield, and there they got true that the present occasion is a good one for test-
t'illeey.L;a`eereseraoreto qualify ; and from a. letter which ing the sincerity of those who have given their coun-
har received the other day, it is stated that tenance and paid some attention to the progress and
am;Cione it. The League then asked, "Do you proceedings of the League. One most gratifying
-a-e4tance in Yorkshire ?" " No," they said. circumstance for any independent advocate of this
`,l( es ie -11 accept our assistance ?" was te rejoinder. cause is to observe, that wherever any interest has been
ibewas the reply, and the result is, that in York- manifested in its favour, that interest has remained
I,'.°tlso(c.nurnber of qualified is what I have stated ; unshaken and unabated.—(Hear, hear.) I have been
Lancashire.—(Cheers.) Then we come told that wherever my Hon. Friends have lately been
;'°9sight. e?lex. You will hear, ladies and gentlemen, in the country, wherever the subject has been dis-
ttiont2,,W to win Middlesex. You have a Ponue cussed, the same interest and the same excitement
t,!adhenokriuderliddlesex equal to twelve counties in Eng- have been manifested]as before—the same interest as
j°ll have a larger population in Middlesex was shown before, at a time when there was greater
al; whole of those twelve counties ; and yet occasion for it. And if any doubt existed on this
ereaee counties returned no less than twenty-four subject, I know nothing so well calculated to confirm
-onety Foolith a population less than Middlesex, that one in the opinion of this interest being unabated
Y returned two.—(Great cheering.) In than this most numerous, respectable, and striking
t,4 ersinith 19
Ise Popuiat: votes only were registered, while assemblage, brought together to-night within this
than 2 Inale:on consisted of 1,942 adult males, and building, at such an inclement season, and under the
e 17,0,7 not adult, while there was also no less peculiar circumstances of the country.—(Cheers.)
t° re
avul houses in the parish. If in South Lan- The fact is, if this had been one of those ephemeral
l'egisterarge manufacturing constituency were movements, springing out of occasional distress or
smaller dist the same ratio as some of the political contention, what was expected to take place
tatrs, the riots, instead of having only 11,000 might have occurred. But I believe this agitation is
sarne
oouy
rwould have 21,000; and in Middlesex, if connected with a deep conviction in the public mind
L'ers oni they was Pursued, instead of having 13,000 that it rests upon a principle intimately connected
e tney would have nearly 30,000. —•(Great with the future well-being of the people of this
•roricire.m...) y. Middlesex was in- the same position country.—(Hear, hear) There have been so
it would have 20,000 voters. What I :natty revuLions in trader so much commercial em-

barrassment, so much distress of late years, and so ;
many periodical returns of depression, that they
have led men of sense and business in this country
seriously to reflect upon the cause of them ; and I do
believe that thousands and tens of thousands have
come to the conclusion that, so long as there is this
constant legislative interference with those princi-
ples of trade which, if not meddled with, would be
wisely acted upon by the community itself, there can
be neither steadiness nor stability in commercial
affairs. —(Hear, hear.) I believe that most people
who have given their attention to this subject, are
satisfied that as long as the people of this country are
made to depend on their own soil for their supply of
food, and for the necessaries of life—so long as they
are made dependent on the instrumentality of an Act
of Parliament which protects the owners of the soil
from competition—so long will the whole economy of
the nation be made dependent on the accident of the
seasons. For these reasons, I believe a very large
party in this country, composed of all classes—of all
those classes to whom my Hon. Friend the Chairman
has alluded—not of this or that class, but of all—
now identify the success of this great Association
with the promotion of the best interests of every class
in this country. The people of this country do not
take up ideas or opinions lightly, but when they do
see a great truth and embrace it, then one of their
most striking characteristics is the perseverance and
determination with which they carry it through.—
(Cheers.) And I hope my Hon. Friends the Member
for Stockport—(Loud cheers)—and the Member
for Durham—(Loud cheers)—to whom this coun-
try is so much indebted (Renewed cheer-
ing) —do feel themselves encouraged by the
impression which it is obvious their abilities and
talents have made upon the country. The present is,
in my opinion, a moment when to free traders—those
who advocate those principles we hare met to discuss—
there is something"very gratifying in the confirmation
of the justice of their views which the present state of
the country now affords. I think I may venture to
say that I am some little authority on what have been
the difficulties to the discussion and argument of our
cause which have been offered us, having so often
brought this matter before the House of Commons,
having often attended those discussions, I have cer-
tainly been able to collect what have been the points
which our opponents have made with the most effect.
Questions have been raised in connexion with this
subject, that, in my opinion, ought not to decide the
matter, but which have been actively raised by
those who wished to prevent the discussion
of the principle itself.—(Hear, and cheers.)
In my opinion the question, whether the corn-law
ought to exist, should be decided on principle. No
man has a right to have his fortune increased at the
expense of the community, unless he can show.some
public advantage resulting from it. No one has a
right to prevent any man from exchanging his labour
freely with those who may wish to purchase his in-
dustry, unless some public good can be shown as
likely to follow the restriction. The question of the
corn-laws, then, is one of principle, and ought to be
decided upon that alone ; but the aristocracy and the
monopolists in general have artfully raised the ques-
tion as: to the effects that they allege will be produced
by the repeal of the corn-laws. Knowing that the
people of this country are cautious of making changes,
they have started various notions, fancying they could
alarm some, and cajole the community into
supporting these laws, by working on the
fears they could excite in their minds. The same
things have been reiterated on every occasion; they
have addressed themselves to the fears of the people
of this country ; they have addressed the weak, the in-
terested, and the timid, by alleging the results they
said would follow from a change in these laws. But
there are three things which they have always
especially named. There has never been any discus-
sion without these things being repeated; they are
to be found in all the organs of monopoly, in every-
thing that has been written, printed, or said by them
on the subject. They have asserted over and over
again that three things would follow the repeal of the
corn•laws. It would lower the price of provisions,
and from that would follow a reduction of wages, an
injury to the home trade, and the decline of
the public revenue. Over and over again have
these things been repeated ; to the poor man they
said, be careful how you suffer these laws to be re-
pealed ; these laws raise the price of provisions, but
with them your wages also. Look at the men who
are anxious to repeal these laws. They are your
masters—your employers ; their purpose is to lower
your wages when they seek to lower the price of pro-
visions. To the tradesman they have said, maintain
us in all our splendour, allow us to have great esta-
blishments ; leave us all our wealth, our high rents,
our fortunes, which come from the corn-laws, and we
will he your customers—you shall supply us with the
articles we consume. To the timid, to those who
perhaps live on the dividends received by the public
creditor, they have said, remember, it is the national
debt that makes it necessary to maintain this system ;
it is, we admit, bad in itself, but is rendered neces-
sary by the unfortunate incumbrance of the debt;
you cannot collect the revenues necessary to pay the
interest of that debt if you do away with the corn-
laws. They are bad ; but remember the wages of
the labourer, the profits of the tradesman ; remember
the credit of the country, and the necessity of main-
taining faith with the public creditor ! These things
were said on every occasion, and I do not deny that
they were said with very great success. I have seen
this with great sorrow and regret, for the want of in-
telligence and independence on the part of those who
have been influenced by them. These assertions have
had great success ; there is no possibility of denying
it ; and when I have heard them, I have turned to
many friends whom I could quote, and have said,
" 'Well, if men will be influenced by such arguments
as these, we cannot succeed at present ; we must
wait till some happy combination of circum-
stances, when those effects shall be pro-
duced without a repeal of the corn-laws
which we assert would follow, if they did not exist ;1
there may come abundant seasons, there may be great
importations of food ; such circumstances may arise,
that the price of provisions may fall, and food be as
abundant as if trade were free ; we shall then be able
to put to the test what worth there is in the assertions
that have been thus urged." Now, the advantage of
the present moment is, that the time has arrived when
these things have occurred, and we have a right to
claim all the advantage in the discussion we can de-
rive from having these facts before us, by which we
can test the truth or falsehood of what has been so
often reiterated. By the blessing of Heaven we have
had two abundant seasons—the last especially so—
and we have had a large importation of corn, which
is at the expense of the importers who gamble in this
trade, owing to the operation of the law.—(Hear.)
We have had abundance of food brought
into the market, and the price of corn has
fallen below that which those who have given their
attention to this subject ever fixed for it if the trade
were free. Now let them tell us what is the value of
all these things the people have been deluded to be-
lieve ? It is not necessary for me to go into particu-
lars that are notorious; but I ask any man if it has not
become a familiar fact-that wages have risen through-
out the manufacturing districts ?—(Loud cheers.)
I ask any man if he has not seen with joy and satis-
faction that there have been efforts made by the
people in almost every department of industry to
raise their wages, and in almost every business they
have succeded ; nay, I am happy to see that, only two
weeks ago, even the men on the sea succeeded in doing
so—even the fishermen have had a strike for wages,
and have succeeded.—(Loud cheers.) But now,
what becomes of all that the people hare
been cheated into believing ? A fall in the price of
provisions has occurred, and there has been a rise in
wages at the same time; every branch of the home
trade and internal traffic of the country has improved,
and all since the time provisions have fallen in price.
Why, it is labouring to prove that two and two make
four, to show that if a man had more money in his
pocket after purchasing his supply of food, he was able
to spend it with the manufacturer; but if he exhausts
his wages in buying food, there would be nothing left
for the manufacturer. But the revenue, it was said,
that would decline, if the price of provisions fell and
high rents were not paid. the 6th of January,
which is quarter-day, is near at hand, and when it
comes, remember what was said at this meet-
ing. There is no mystery about the public
revenue ; there are official documents to
refer to. Just compare the state of the revenue on
the next 6th of January. lam speaking now of
what is to occur. Compare the revenue on the 6th
of January, 1845, with what it was in 1842, and see
what is the effect of the price of provisions at the two
periods. lam now speaking in all confidence of facts
that can test this matter. In 1842 the price of wheat
was 675. a quarter ; in 1845 wheat is 475. a quarter,
or even less than that ; and now do not only compare
the gross revenue, including the property and income-
tax, but take those portions of the revenue which in-
dicate the condition of the people. See then whether
the income of the State does not vary with the con-
dition of the people—see whether, when that con-
dition iinproves, the revenue does not rise—then ask
yourselves whether the public creditor is not
better off when the labourer is well paid
and every man's condition improved, than when the
people are obliged to exhaust their money in paying
for food, and when trade is bad ?—(Cheers.) And re •
member another thing—a most important observation
to make at this moment, when there is more abun-
dance of food, and provisions are cheaper, is, whether
there is not less misery, less crime, less pauperism,
less mortality, and less disease—less of those conse-
quences which we have always pointed out as the re-
sults of scarcity of food, and the difficulty the people
have in procuring it ? We have always said that when
prices fall, and provisions are abundant, there is less
of human calamity than at other times ; and
now watch this year, and observe if these
misfortunes are not diminished.—(Hear, hear.)
There is no difficulty in Ascertaining this—there sire