The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-14 00:00:00

THE GREAT
ANTI-CORN-LAW
CONFERENCE.
(SATURDAY.)

The Conference met to-day, pursuant to adjournment, at
Half-past Eleven o'Clock. At that time we noticed the follow-
ing Members of Parliament on the platform : —Mr.
_o
Ewart,o
111. P Mr. Scholefield, M.P., Dr. Boy/ring, M.P., Mr. -V
nistoun, M.P., Sir George Strickland,
M.P., Mr. Cobden,
M.P.
P. A. TAYLOR, Esq., on taking the Chair, said, that" those
whom the gods meant to destroy, they first deprived them of
their senses," that was the old observation of an old
Latin poet, and it seemed to him to be peculiarly
applicable at the present time. Notwithstanding all the
indications that had been expressed, notwithstanding all the
dissatisfaction which the measures of Sir Robert Peel had
created throughout the country, there were gentlemen
rthapabo n o
e people
olle
in-
fatuated, fatuated, from their position, as to be entirely
oi
judging of what was passing in the minds an
of this great country ; that, dissatisfied with the stringency of
Sir Robert Peel's measures, Mr. Christopher had actually
come forward to increase the duty, proposed by Sir Robert
Peel, ss. a quarter ; and Colonel Sihthorp had actually pro-
posed that the duty should be laid on corn on its coming into
the country, and not on its being soli, after its com-
- ing out of bond.—( Loud cries of " Shame.") That, he
thought, was evidence of the throes of the monopolists. Most of
the Delegates would leave London to-day, but although their
work in that room would be closed that morning their labours
svould commence elsewhere--( Cheers)—when they arrived
at their homes. He trusted the Delegates had imbibed in that
room a large amount of boldness and confidence—(Cheers)—
for he believed they would be both needed—( Cheers)—and
that they would transplant it among their constituents and
neighbours when they arrived at their own localities.—(Great
cheering.) He believed boldness would be wanting, for he could
not persuade himself that Sir R. Peel would have dared to intro-
duce such a measure into the country without being prepared to
impose it and carry it out by force and coercion. He had no
/doubt that Sir Robert Peel thought he would stifle public opi-
nion, and probably would denounce Anti. Corm law doctrines
as seditious.—( Cries of " Let him.") Sir Robert would no
doubt contemplate sue of two things ; either that he had
shown the Tories all he could do, and that he expected to be
.driven out of power, or that he would resort to means to coerce
the people into silence.— ( Cheers. ) He (the Chairman) little
understood what had taken place in that room, if Sir R. Peel
could crush down the feelings of indignation so often eppressed
in every part of the country. —(Cheers. ) Even if oppression
did come, they must look to the martyrs of old, and bear it
like them. Persecution, they might depend upon it, would
soon be its own antagonist. 1 hey must look further than the
present time of their disappointment; and if they did so, they
might be assured that more prosperous and hopeful days would
come. He thought it could be said with truth that agitation
of the Cern-laws did contain within itself the germ of other
admirable reforms.—( Hear, and cheering.) In the agitation
of the Corn-laws was the germ of reform on the franchise.—
(Cheers.) He had always felt it would be one of the most un-
wise things they (the Anti-Corn-law Association) could be guilty
of, to merge the:Associaton of the Corn-laws into the question
of the franchise.—( Cheers.) lie was satisfied that nothing
could be more pleasing to their opponents than to withdraw
them from the consideration of the Corn-laws and place them
upon generalities. Nothing would please them better—nothing
would more effectually damage the cause of progress and reform.
lint there was no reason why they should not go on pari passu,
why the one agitation should not be encouraged as well as the
other, and he thought it would be seen that much impress had
been given to the cause of the franchise reform by this movement.
—( Loud cheers.) He thought there was another reform wanted
—rather a mental reform than one which would lead to any-
thing snore substantial. One of the great evils of mental and
moral obligations in this country had been a servile kind of
reverence for aristocracy.—(Loud cheers.) A man no sooner
rises a little in trade above his fellow merchants, than he looks
over the place whence he sprung, and approaches with veneration
the purlieus of aristocracy ; the poor until lately had always
respected the rank, and tinsel. and power of great men. Had
not this received a great shock? He believed it had.--( Cheers.)
It was seen that the considerations of the aristocracy had al-
ways been based on sordid and selfish views ; this Conference
had tended to shake that prestige, and much gold might be
expected from that.—( Hear, hear.) The Church was not
likely to be reformed till the feeling of veneration for that insti-
tution was considerably increased. It had been pretty clearly
seen in the agitation of this question, that the high And honour-
able priesthood, the right reverend Fathers in God, and the
whole of the hierarchy, down to the humble curate, had taken
their stand against the suffrage—( Hear)—and when Sir Robert
Peel brought forward his motion for Church Extension in the
House, he would be met by the national cry of " Extend the
church over the affections of the people before you talk of
Church Extension." Agitation had its good if it had its evils--
the good of bringing man to man, and letting heart communicate
with heart—of the re-action of one's own thoughts with great
power and force on the heart of another. The work they were
engaged in to-day was for the good of future generations; they
were labouring for their sons. Their time for exertion would
come soon, and they would have their field of labour as well as
those who were now engaged in this praiseworthy cause. They
must fulfil their duty in their succeeding age, that duty for
which all men were sent into the world—to leave it better than
when they entered it.—( Cheers.) The Chairman then read
the following communications, which were met with loud and
continued cheering from the enthusiastic and very crowded
audience.:—