The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-17 00:00:00

'ADDRESS OF THE NATIONAL ANTI-
CORN-LAW LEAGUE TO THE INHABI-
TANTS OF THE METROPOLIS.

FELLOW-COUNTRYMEN,—The Anti-Corn-law League has
awakened the practical attention of the Nation to the un-
happy condition of the middle and working classes engaged in
manufactures, commerce, and agriculture. The League has
declared the remedy to be THE ABOLITION OF THE CORN-
L A WS AND ALL OTHER MONOPOLIES.

The League gratefully appreciates the past exertions of the
Inhabitants of the Metropolis in aid of the common cause.
Your fellow-Citizens of the Common Council of London, al-
most unanimously, and in language too emphatic and impressive
to be misunderstood, have denounced the Corn-laws in the fol-
lowing resolution :
" HUMPHERY, MAYOR.
" A Common Council holden in the chamber of the Guild-
hall of the City of London, on Thursday, the Bth day of De-
cember, 1842:
" Resolved,—That the continued and increasing depression
of the manufacturing, commercial, and agricultural interests of
this country, and the wide-spreading distress of the working
classes, are most alarming ;—manufacturers without a market,
and, shipping without freight ; capital without investment,
trade without profit; and farmers struggling under a system of
high runts, with prices falling as the means of consumption by
the people fail ; a working population rapidly increasing, and a
daily decreasing demand fur its labour ; union houses over-
flowing as workshops are deserted; Corn laws to restrain im-
portation, and inducing a starving people to regard the laws of
their country with a deep sense of their injustice. 'these facts
call for the immediate application of adequate remedies.
" That this Court anxiously appeals to the first Minister of the
Crown to give practical effect to his declarations in favour of
Free-trade, by bringing forward at the earliest possible period
in the ensuing Session of Parliament, such measures for secur-
ing the unrestricted supply of food, and the employment of the
people, as may effectually remove a condition of depression and
distress too widely prevailing, and too rapidly increasing, to
consist with the safety of the community, and the preservation
cf our social and political institutions.
" MEREWETHER."

The Council of the National Anti-Corn-law League con-
curs in this faithful and humiliating description of the state of
our beloved country, and it also cordially and fully approves
the rightful course suggested for the restoration of our national
prosperity. The League earnestly seeks to become imme-
diately and ardently united with you in the NATIONAL contest
for the Repeal of the Bread-tax.
The League congratulates you on the adoption of the above
Metropolitan resolution, and recognises the same enlightened
object so forcibly advocated in a memorable petition of your
Citizens upon a like occasion in the year 1820. A quarter of a
century since, it was the proud distinction of the Merchant Ci-
tizens of London to lead the way in the path of FREE-TRADE.
We recal to your minds the following imperishable principles
of that Petition—the goodly seed which has since yielded in-
valuable frait

" That Foreign Commerce is eminently conducive to the
wealth and prosperity of a country, by enabling it to import the
commodities for the production of which the soil, climate,
capital, and industry of other countries are best calculated, and
to export in payment those articles for which its own situation
is better adapted.
" That the maxim of BITTING IN THE CHEAPEST MARKET
AND SELLING IN THE DEAREST, which regulates every mer-
chant in his individual dealings, is strictly applicable as the
best rule for the whole nation.
" That, unfortunately, a policy the very reverse of this, has
been, and is more or less adopted and acted upon by the Govern-
ment of this and of every other country, each trying to exclude
the productions of other countries, with the specious and well.
meant design of encouraging its own productions ; thus inflict-
ing on the bulk of its subjects, who are consumers, the neces-
sity of submitting to privations in the quantity or quality of
commodities, and thus rendering what ought to be the source
of mutual benefit and of harmony amongst States, a constantly
recurring occasion of jealousy and hostility.
" That an investigation of the effects of the restrictive system
at this time is peculiarly called for, as it may, in the opinion of
the petitioners, lead to a strong presumption that the distress
which now so generally prevails is considerably aggravated by
that system.
" That in declaring, as your petitioners do, their conviction
of the impolicy and injustice of the restrictive system, and in
desiring every practicable relaxation of it, they have in view only
such parts of it as are not connected, or are only subordinately
so, with the public revenue. It is against every restrictive
regulation of trade not essential to the revenue ; against all
duties merely protective from foreign competition ; and against
the excess of such duties as are partly for the purpose of re-
venue, and partly for that of protection, that the prayer of the
present petition is respectfully submitted to the wisdom of
Parliament."

Fellow-Countrymen!—This was your declaration in 18.20.
WE have only followed in the wake of your own prophetic
Memorial ;we are acting on its instruction. Aid us in our
labours to give full effect to its indisputable truths. If in
1820 the pressure on our population was deemed grievous, is it
not now almost intolerable ? The Council of the League de-
sires union with you. The League has already enlisted in the
common cause the great majority of their fellow-countrymen,
in almost every town, village, and hamlet of Great Britain.
The Provinces of England, Wales, and Scotland, have re-
sponded to our call ; they have united with the League for the
Abolition of ,the Corn-laws, and for the 'concurrent Abolition
of all Monopolies. The immediate efforts of the whole com-
munity are needed to rescue the People, our Institutions, and
our Country from impending calamities.
You will necessarily inquire of us, how is our great object
to be accomplished? Our answer is, by an appeal to the rea-
son of our fellow-countrymen, and by enlightening their minds
on their right to the privileges claimed in your own Petition
of 1820.

The National Anti-Corn-law League has undertaken to ob-
tain justice for the people. The League deemed it a necessary
duty to instruct their fellow-countrymen, by lectures and by
other means, and to place in the hands of every Parliamentary
Elector in the kingdom a library of knowledge on this vital
subject. This preliminary action on public opinion was indis-
pensable ; and to effect our ultimate success the sum of 50,0001.
is proposed to be raised, which is now in course of contribution.
The merchants and manufacturers of Manchester have given
effect to our appeal ; they have not only placed in our hands
munificent donations, but have also promised to increase their
subscriptions, if necessary. Liverpool, Bolton, Preston, Black-
burn, Rochdale, Bury, Stockport, Oldham, and all the large
communities of Lancashire ; the Midland Counties, the boroughs
of Leeds, Bradford, Halifax, Huddersfield, Sheffield, and the
ether towns of Yorkshire, have supplied large contributions.

The cities of Edinburgh and Glasgow bare already made ar-
rangements to 'promote, by public meetings, our righteous
Alliance.

Inhabitants and Citizens .f London, and Fellow-countrymen :
We address you collectively and individually. We are daily
gaining the co-operation of men of wealth, intelligence, and
influence, who are fast swelling our ranks ; men who have only
lately known the peril of their country and the justice of our cause
To the 31ETROPOLIS of Great Britain the country now looks.
Place yourself at the head of this movement. Union is power.
Organise ; assemble in public meetings ; subscribe, and aid us.
( Signed) G. WILSON,
Chairman of the Council of the National
13th Dec. 1842. Anti-Corn-Law League.