The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-19 00:00:00

Mr. Cases moved the third resolution to the effect, that as ,
members of a commercial community, they felt the evils of the
present system, which chiefly affected the working classes, with
whom they sympathised, and whose interests they felt bound to
represent; they, therefore, pledged themselves to oppose the
sliding scale, and would only support a fixed duty, subject to a
gradual periodical extinction. The fixed duty would be but
an instalment, in the hope that it would secure free trade to the
working classes, who were obliged to pay for their food by the
sweat of their brow.—( Hear.) He wished to see a union of
the working with the middle and upper classes, of which he
did not despair when he beheld such men as the Earl Fitz-
the Duke of Devonshire, the Duke of Sutherland, and
Earl Radnor, ready and willing to ca operate with them.
Mr. flooLE seconded the resolution.
Mr. STURT supported it.

Mr. B. SMITH, as being on the corn-market, was enabled
to state that it was the op nion of the principal corn-dealers,
that a fixed duty was the best that could be adopted.—(Hear.)
Mr. Moirrox, merchant of Fore-street, was astonished that
the gentlemen compo,ing that meeting hal not further ad-
vanced. These resolutions, if all carried, will do nothing
towards furnishing bread to the starving millions of this
country. It was a waste of time to petition men who had not
the slightest regard for the sufferings of the masses. He had
just returned from Paisley, and could assure the meeting that
there were 17,000 persons in that place living upon I id. per
day, whilst the crimirals in the gaol were allowed 21(1. ; but
what cared Sir Robert Peel, or his majority, for this, so long
as it interfered not with their rent roll? What cared the
Members of the House of Commons for the destitution of the
people ? They represented land, and bricks, and mortar, and
legislated for themselves, and themselves only, while the many
and the productive classes have no power of protecting them-
selves. if that meeting was desirous of effecting anything for
the people, it should pass a resoluticn for giving them a voice
and proper influence in the Legislature; for until exclusive
power was taken from the factions that had so abused it, there
was no hope of justice for the working classes.
It having been moved and seconded that a petition, founded
on the resolutions, be presented by the Worthy Chairman to
the House of Commons,

Mr. STROUD said he thought it was an insult to the Chair-
man to ask him to do any such thing, whets they stated that it
was useless to petition them at all.- ( Loud cheers.) He for
one would certainly oppose it, and would move, as an amend-
ment, " That no petition be presented to the House of Com-
mons on the question of the Corn-laws from this meeting, as they
leave no hope of obtaining justice from them."
This, having been seconded, was carried unanimously.
Mr. SMITH timed, and Mr. CASH seconded, a vote of thanks
to the Chairman.

Sir M. WOOD said, in returning thanks, (hit during the
whole course of his life he had been opposed to the Corn-!aws,
and, although an invalid, he had waited in the House that
morning to record his vote against them—( Loud eheers)—and
should always do so on any tax which pressed'upon food.
A resolution having been passed, ordering the resolw ions to
to be published in the Morning Chronicle, Herald, and Adver-
tiser, the meeting broke up.