The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-20 00:00:00

REPEAL OF THE CORN-LAWS.
MEETING IN THE PARISH OF ST. PANCRAS.
The following is a more full report of Sir Benjamin
Hall's speech than our space would admit of yesterday:—
Sir BENJAMIN HALL, in answer to loud calls of the
meeting, came forward, and was received with much
applause. The Hon. Baronet spoke as follows :—Mr.
Chairman and Gentlemen, it was only this morning I
was made aware that a meeting was to take place this
evening for a repeal of the corn-laws, when I received a
letter announcing the fact, and I thought the best an-
swer to that letter which I could give was to appear here
this evening, and redeem the pledge I gave when I first
became your representative.—(Loud cheers.) That
pledge was, that whenever a crisis arrived I would be
prepared to take my share of responsibilty.—(Cheers.)
I am here this evening as your representative, to take
that share of that responsibility, and to say that what-
ever amount you may be pleased to place upon me, I
shall be prepared to carry out.—(Renewed cheers.) It
is not my intention, after the eloquent addresses
which you have heard, to enter into detail on the
subject of the corn-laws, but I remember in 1815 or
1816, when I was a Westminster schoolboy, that law
being imposed upon the country, and I re-
member well my feeling was, that a law im-
posed upon the country by force, and so dia-
uu opposed to the views of the people, could
not be of long duration.—(Hear, hear.) In what position
is the country placed by the secession of the late Go-
vernment ? I have no hesitation in saying, in a most
critical one.—(Hear.) I remember hearing Sir R. Peel,
in his place in the House of Commons, state he would
not put into the lottery of legislation for a repeal of the
corn-laws ; but when I reflected on the past career .of
that gentleman, I always considered he would do so, and
I think I am not far out in my calculation.—(Hear.) It
has been said that the repeal of the corn-laws will inju're
the landowner. Now, lam no inconsiderable landowner
myself, and Ido not believe it.— (Hear.) But even if it
should be the case, that our rents are to be kept up by
steeping our fellow-creatures in poverty, it is high time
that those rents should be lowered.—(Cheers.) We, the
landlords, must learn to be more provident, and live
upon less.—(Cheers.) But I do not believe that our
property will be at all injured. I believe that our rent
roll will rather be augmented, because a repeal of the
corn-laws will increase employment, and enable us to ex-
change our manufactures for those things we most re-
quire. If there is one thing that I like more than another,
it is principle ; and I am astonished, when Sir R. Peel
altered his views on the subject of the corn-laws, that he
did not exhibit the moral courage to carry them out.—
(Hear, hear.) The course which the Hon. Baronet has
pursued is, to use a sporting phrase, the most cocktail
proceeding I ever heard of.—(Cheers and laughter.)
Look at the difference in the conduct of Lord John Rus-
sell. '1 hat Noble Lord found by the constant meetings
sf the Cabinet that there was a screw loose somewhere,
and in order to fathom what it was he threw out his
trump card in the shape of an address, which ha, turned
the Peel Ministry out of office.—(Hear, hear.) If Sir
Robert Peel bad had the moral courage to have told the
Duke of Wellington or Lord Stanley that he was de-
termined to go on without them, the whole nation,
although they differed from him in general politics,
would have stood by him with respect to a repeal of
the corn-laws.—(Hear, hear.) I am not hypocrite
enough to tell you that I believe, as many do, that the
corn-laws are virtually abolished ; but I believe the
question rests with the electoral body, who, if they will
act with the same untiring energy as they did in 1831,
then we shall have a repeal, I believe we shall have a
hard fight, for I know that the agriculturists intend to
fight you to the death.—(Hear, hear.) We shall have
to contend with the aristocracy and the bigoted portion
of our fellow-countrymen, but I shall take my stand with
you, and I hope to a successful termination.—(Tremen-
dons chears.) lam now anxious to say a word or two
about myself and my position as regards the borough.
By a domestic affliction I was prevented, during the ses-
sion before last, attending my Parliamentary duties ; and
in the early part of last session I met with an accident
which, but for the interposition of Providence, might
have caused my death. It was my intention, consequent
on my inability to attend my duties, to have resigned
the representation of the borough into your hands.—
(Cries of " No, no.") But I consulted with some of
my friends, who advised me not to do so, but
to make a statement of the fact at the first
public meeting I attended. This meeting has af-
forded me that opportunity, and I mention the subject,
because there were already two or three parties in the
field, nibbling as it were at some of the electors to take
my place.—(Hear, hear.) If, howe►er, after my six
years' service, you consider me again worthy to be your
representative, I am prepared to stand.—(A loud and
general burst of cheering.) I mention this, as I believe
it will go forth through the medium of the press, and
perhaps cause the nibbling gentlemen I have alluded to
to desist from their attempt, and retire from the borough
altogether.—(Cheers and laughter.) After apologising
for the absence of his gallant colleague, Sir C. Napier,
whose hearty co-operation in support of the views of
the meeting he was assured of, the Hon. Baronet con- •
eluded by proposing a vote of thanks to the Chairman
amidst loud cheering.