The Sun.
London, England, 1842-10-15 00:00:00

LORD ABINGER and MR. COBDEN.
(From the Times.)
Maaaiti EsrEa, Moroi ta'n
a crowded meeting of the•Anii-Ccirn=lew' League as-
sembled at their new rooms in Newhall's-buildings.
Mr. G. WILSON, Chairman of the Council presided.
Mr. R. COBDEN, 111.1)., who was received with very
great cheering, said—Ladies and Gentlemen,
.it was
not my intention to have trespassed on your attention
this evening, for we have good friends present from a
distance whom .you will be anxious to listen to.—
(" No, no, go on")—but I. am anxious., to say a few
words with a view of calling the attention of the'
meeting to certain observations reported-to have fallen
from a•Learned Judge at Liverpool during the pre-
sent Special Commission.—(Hear, and applause.) In
doing so I should be sorry for a moment to be
thought to be wanting in that respect which is due to
the office—which is due to the distinguished office
which that Noble and Learned Lord fills. If there is
anything which as an Englishman I feel that I can
be proud of; and that I have a right to be proud of; it
is the dignity, the learning, and the unsullied purity
that have adorned the English bench.—(Applause.)
But it is reported that in delivering his charge it Liver-
pool Lord Abinger said—" But it is certain, from the
information to which I have referred, that the disaf-
fection of the labouring classes does not seem to origi-
nate in any voluntary f2eling (if I may so express
myself) of their own respecting their privations or the
high price of provisions. They all seemed to be sen-
sible that the rate of wages must depend on the price
of provisions, and I think it is evident that-they saw
that those who promised them an increase of wages
by a diminution of the price of corn were not persons
to be trusted." Now, referring to the first pa- tof
the passage I have read, which says that. the disaffec-
tion of the working classes does not arise from any
feeling respecting their privations or the high price
of provisions, 'I should like to
.have the opportunity -of
appealing to the Noble and Learned Lord, whether,
during the last session-of Parliament, there wee not
nearly 2,000,000 petitioners for the repeal 'of the Corn-
laws—(Hear, hear)—and all expressing the privation
to which they were subject, and, theit"suffering for
want of hread?—(Applause.) And I. would,also put
it to the Noble and learned Lot-el whether there, werenot upwards of 3,000,000 petitioners..PraYing for the
Charte;, in whose petitions there were the strongest
allegations of extreme privation, want of,einployarent,
'and the ennsequentabsence of the means -of subsist-
ence ?—(Hear, hear.) Now, these Pre filets mbiOthe
Noble Lordknew, or which as a public man he ought
to been acquainted With -; and, if he "knew these
facts, he ouglit.,not_tohave alleged that the
,working
classes hive not complained to the Legislature Of their
suffering.—(Hear, hear.) But in the second part of
this quotation from the observations of the-Noble and
Learned Lord, he has thought proper to cast an im-
putation upon this body. I take it for granted that
this body—the Anti-Corn-law Leagoe—as a body, is
legally and constitutionally established.. This is a
body he has gone out of his way to Papa, and of
whom he has stated that we are not " persons to be
trustecr—(Laughter.) We have promised to ..the
working men, thrt, by •-'ie repeal of the Corn-laws,
they would get their wages raised end their employ-
ment increased.—(Applause.) know of no other
means—l know of no other human means—by which
both an increase of employment and an increase of
food can be obtained for the people of this country,
but by -a repeal .of the Col a -laws.—(Renewed ap-
.pliuse.) The Noble and Leau'ed Lord asserts; ac-
cording to the reports, that the rate of .wages rises
and falls with the price of bread. .-Now, there was not
a poor unhappy man stood at the bar before that Noble
and Learned Lord that could not have told him,'
:faom_ his own experience, that not only was he
not. stating 'the fact, but :that he was stating the
very opposite ,of *hat his own expel ienee had
proved,,, to he the facta—(Loild applause.) Any'
man accustomed ,to the trade of this district will bear
me out that -both wa?„-es .atKl e.mployment-, have in-'
variably diminished with an ,increase in the price of
food,. and risen again with the .low price of food.—
.(Hear.) ' Ttis -deeply to be deplored that the .Noble
and Learned Lord should -.so far forget . the proper
fundions of hiS"-of&e.::—(Hear.) I say it is deeply
_to be deplored' that the Noble and-E,earaed Lord
should so far forget the pi•oper functions Of his office
as to be attempting, to lay down the law which go-'
verns wages, when his only duty, as, I understand it,
is to lay- down the law:of the land.--(Hear.) At all
events, if he undertake', this supererogatory duty, he
should make, himself a !;ttle .better acquainted with
the-laws of political eeonomy before he meddiee with
the science.—(Laughter and applause.) .I.do . not
know whether it is proper here to allude to another
.extraordinary passage in one of the charges" Of 'that
and Learned Lord since he has entered upon
the Special Commission, brit I see it 'is stated very
broadly, that the parties who' are engaged in seeking
the. Extension of the Snffrage—who are endeavouring
to obtain the rights of citizenship—l See he has alleged
broadly that they aim •at the destruction Of the aristo-
cracy, the overthrow of monarchy„.and that they medi-
tate the violation -ofproperty. Now these are very, bold
assertions to be made from the British bench.—(Hear,
hear.) To charge the great body of the working
classes of this Country with felonious and treasonable
designs, when they seek constitutionally and legally
to obtain the right of the suffrage, is a novel doctrine
b in
toe laid downthese days by :a:Noble and Learned
Lord presiding over a 'Court of Justice. Why, there
.is another Lord, in the annals , of our cprilitiyahas
laid it down that it is the right of every man paying
taxes to the State to have a vote in the representatipn
of the country. —(Hear, hear.) Blackstone has laid
it down that it is the constitutional and fundamental
law of the country that every man pang taxes has a
right to be represented when they are levied, and
that unlesS he
,be represented, you cannot legally call
upon him to pay, even if the taxes be for the defence
of the State itself.—(Hear.) 'Well, I am trespassing
upon your time probably more than I
ought—(" No .no ") ;—for my • object is not
so 'much-- to lay down to you, who understand
this matter as well as I do 4. my opinion upon this
subject, as to show, should these few humble remarks
reach his Lprdship through the press, that he has
undertaken and done what is not only not in strictly
good taste,. but what is not constitutional law.—
(Hear, hear.) I ask, dO not , the 'great body-nf the
people pay taxes? Why, what, de we read in' the
newspapers ?- There is a great falling off in the re-
venue. And hoW is it accounted for ? The -news
papers 'tell 'us it -is that a very large portion, of the
industrious elesseS had ceased to labour, and that
in consequence they had ceased to contribute taxes.
This statement may be exaggerated, but -it goes to
show that it is understood that the working classes do
pay a portion, and a very considerable portion, of the
taxes. I think that the language of the Noble and
Learned Lord is indefensible in good taste, in sound
judgment, as well as upon constitutional principles.—
(Hear.) I confess the charge of the Noble and Learned
Lord, in which he implicates the great body of the
working classes in these felonious and treasonable
designs—l confess that I think that charge has been
so calculated to prejudice the cause of those who have
been tried at these Special Commissions, that if a;
motion was made in the House of Commons for an
Address to her Majesty, to, remit the sentences of
those men convicted, pursuant to the charge of the
Noble and Learned Lord—l say if the repOrts be true
—if the words of the Learned Judge be correctly re-
ported, as at present advised—l should' vote in favour
of such a- motion.—(Loud' cheers.) Now, Gentlemen,
I'll tell you what, in my opinion, is the proper duty
of a JUdge upon circuit. His duty is simply and
s9lely, to administer and expound the law of the land
—(Hear, hear)—and the first requisite a Judge ought
to possess, to retain to himself that influence and
moral weight I should always wish to pertain, to the
British Judge, is a due control over his own. passions,
prejudices, and predilections.—(Cheers.) As the re-
presentative .of the Crown, in its executive capacity,
the Judge, whilst administering justice, ought to knoY
nothing of 'polities.
Several other speakers . afterwards addresSed the
meeting, and were rewarded by. a vote of thanks, after
acknowledging Which the party broke up.'