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

monopoly. The necessity for such a combination could not be doubted.
It Win a fact; that, in the neighbourhood of this city, a man had
died of starvation, and that when the body was opened at the Coro_
ner's inquest grass, yes, grass of the field, was found in his stomach,
Hundreds were dying of hunger, and hundreds more were daily at,
plying to the Magistrates to commit them to prison in order to ob-
tain the prison allowance of food. There was another fact, which
was equally startling. The husband of a poor woman had declared
that his wife's milk was mixed with her blood because she had not
sufficient sustenance. These were some of the results of
the Corn.laws.—(Loud cries of " Down with them.")__
The aristocracy would permit the people to commit suicide, murder,
or any other crime. What cared they, provided they had high
rents.—(Cheers.) They would rob the working men of their
breakfasts. The God of religion and mercy called on them to put
an end to such a state of things, and the minister of religion, like
the prophet of old, was bound to " cry aloud, and'., spare not, and
to denounce oppression in the highways." Their D., ire Master, in
his sermon on the Mount, told the poor and the me. k and the
mourner, to be comforted, " that His Father who was in
heaven, might see their good works and glorify Him."—(Cheers.)
The good work of Christian ministers is net alone to preach, but to
put their hands to the plough and work themselves.—(Cheers.)
This he would say was the duty of the ministers of the Church of
England, and a fine opportunity was now offered to the bishops of
their church to exhibit their feeling for the poor.—(Cheers.) It
appeared that in 1840 only three bishops had voted, and two paired
off in favour of Earl Fitzwilliam's motion. Let the bishops stand
forward, now the Church was: distracted internally and exter-
nally.— (Hear, hear.) She was standing on quiver, quiver, quiver,
to consolidate the people and engage them in their belief. They
boasted of its being the Church of the poor man, now lot them
prove it by standing forward on that occasion—(Cheers)—and the
people would believe it—(Cheers)--for of course he gave credence
to it himself. He would sit down by supporting the resolution,
and trusted in God that they may go on and prosper under the di-
rection of Divine Providence—(Cheers.)
Mr. B•WSON, of Manchester, said it was not his intention to de.
tain the meeting further than by stating a few statistical facts re-
ferring to the midland counties. The sale and proceeds of 120
dozen of cotton drawers, shipped from Great Britain to the United
States, was as follows, in returns made in flour. The net returns
in barrels of flour were 82 barrels, divided thus—material 41 bar-
rels, profit more than 6, labour more than 34. On the contrary,
in America the returns for the same number of cotton drawers were
of material 70 barrels, profit more than 8, labour more than 139,
exhibiting a balance in favour of America of 134 barrels.—( Hear,
hear.) These facts were capable of being as clearly demonstrated
as any proposition in Euclid. Thirty-two barrels was the duty in
America, 42i in Liverpool ; 31 the expense of selling goods in
New York, 8 the expense of the commissioc, of buying flour, ..nd
20} the expense of selling flour in Liverpool, making a total of
134 barrels. All those who came there should advocate a total re-
peal, and sanction a fixed duty as little as a sliding scale.—
(Loud cheers.) The fixed duty of Bs, had taken away from
ti,e working men 134 barrels out of 216.—(Loud cheering, )
It was not desirable tl at he should enter at any greater length into
the subject. But on another occasion he would make statistic.,
statements that would let none of them sleep quiet in their beds
till the mischief was entirely removed.—(Cheers.)
The Rev. Mr. Massie called the notice of the Conference to the
fact, that the Gentleman who had just addressed them (Mr. Rawson)
consulting with his family how he could best serve the present cause,
had resolved, together with his wife and daughters, to give up time
luxury of a carriage and horses.—( Enthusiastic cheers.)
Mr BARIET WADDEN next addressed the Conference. He
said, that since the commencement of the present C.onferense, he
had each day listened with the greatest attention and anxiety to
the statements of the various gentlemen who had addressed
them, and who had brought before them a mass of evidence
of the appalling character of the sufferings of the people at the
present time—a time which the Prime Minister had been compelled
to confess was one of awful importance. There was no man, ex-
cept perhaps his (Mr. W.'s) friend (Mr. O'Connell) who had kept
a more watchful eye on Sir R. Peel for the last twenty-nine years
than he did. Ile knew him well; he knew his mode of proceeding,
his public actions—nay, the very time in yr hich he performed
those actions.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Was it not a little
extraordinary that the Minister should introduce his Starvation
Bill into the House of Commons on the first day of Lent ?—( Hear,
hear.),That very fact brought him to another which he did not know
was a fact, but he deduced it from a fact; it was this :—Sir Robert
Peel had not been at Church on Ash-Wednesday. If he
had, he would not have dared in the presence of the people
nay, in the presence of his God—to have brought in such
a Bill. Why did he ( Mr. Wadden) say so ? Since
he had token his place among them as a delegate, he
had heard various Clergymen of the Established Church call alters.
tion to the denunciations in the sacred writings against the man
who withheld food from the people. Hiss the people shall curse.
In the Prayer-book of the Church of England what was inserted
among the prayers for the first day of Lent ? Certain denun.
ciations ; and those denunciations were appointed to be
read aloud by the Minister. (Hear, hear.) They were
as follows :—" Accursed is he that perverteth the judgment of the
stranger, the fatherless, and the widow; accursed is the unmerciful
extortioner." Was it possible that if Sir It. Peel heard those denun.
ciations read he would have dared to bring in his Bill on such a day ?
The number of petitions to the House of Commons had increased to
17,000, which was a proof, he supposed, of the sufferings of the people
under the Corn. laws. But since the petitions were now presented
in bundles, DO speech being allowed to be made on them, and Sir
Robert Peel had refused to receiving the deputation from the
working classes; it was time to declare that the House of Com.
mons did not represent the people of England, and that the Go_
vernment was no longer a paternal Government.—(Loud cheers.)
The Poor-law Commissioners hail sent out 1,716 circulars
to the country, to ask whether agricultural capital had
increased or decreased. There came 1,710 answers, stating that
agricultural capital had decreased,—decreased uncter the law of
which the declared object was to promote the interest of landed
proprietors, farmers, and labourers.—(Cheers.) The Hon. Gen-
tleman then referred with great effect to the famous protest
against the principle of a bread_tax recorded in the Journals of time
House of Lords, and signed by the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of
Gloucester, Lords Granville, Wellesley, Essex, Torrington, Douglas,
the Duke of Buckingham and Chandos, the father of the present
Duke—(Groans)—Montford, King, and Carlisle. Next he re-
ferred to the well-known and most honourable declaration of the
late Sir Robert Peel, that the interests of manufactures and
agriculture must go hand in hand, but that to impose a
tax on what a man eats was most iniquitous—(Cheers)—
so that the late Sir Robert Peel put upon the Statute-bock of the
country a solemn protest against the passing of the Act which
his son wishes to perpetuate.—(Cheers Sir Robert seemed
to depend upon the patience of the people; but that may be strained
too far. The aristocracy of the country had been laying out their
gold and silver to entertain a foreign King, while the people of
England we re dying of want.—(Great cheering.)
The CRAIEMAN then said Gentlemen, it now devolves
upon me, as your Chairman, to close the Conference. As I men-
tioned at the commencement, although the work of the Delegates
within these walls closes to-day, yet their greatest work and most
arduous duties will soon begin ors their return to their constitu.
ents and their own neighbourhood.—(Hear, hear, hear.)
I have to recommend to the Deputies to send up
from their districts memoranda to their respective
representatives in the House of Commons to be at their posts, and
consent to no compromise.—(Cheers.) This is in harmony
with one of the resolutions. You have passed a roso•
lution which will be more effectual in frightening your opponents
than any resolution you have passed—a resolution which at former
meetings at Manchester and elsewhere, has been proposed again
and again, but which was opposed, the representatives of the A nti-
Corn -law League fearing that by passing a resolution
so strong they might injure their own cause.—(Hear.)
I allude to a Nobleman who was the candidate for Yorkshire, with
whom they had parted—and they would part with any one—and I
feel satisfied that the greatness of the sacrifice wan an argument for
its being made, because it would have a strong effect on the publle
mind.— (Cheers.) All who have attended this meeting, from its
commencement, must have experienced great pleasure in witness-
ing the unanimity which has prevailed, and the acclamation which
has accompanied the passing of every resolution. They were not mere
speculative resolutions, wishing that something might be done;
but they were resolutions so strong and substantive, that I am sure
they will have a great influence on the country—they will do their
work—they will have their effect ; or if they do not, wait for a
short time, when stronger, more determined, and most undoubt-
edly more effectual resolutions will be passed, which no Govern-
ment, no Ministry, no House of Commons, no landed aristocracy,
however powerful, can or dare resist,—(lmmense cheering.) I
pronounce this Conference to be now closed.—( Cheers.
On the motion of the Rev. Mr. Massie, Mr. Taylor then re-
tired from the chair, and W. J. P. Wilkinson, Esq., late Mayer
of Exter, was unanimously voted to his place.
The Rev. Mr. Massie then, came forward. He said there had
been repeated cries for Mr. Roebuck in the room. He (Mr. Mas-
sie) should have been proud if Mr. Roebuck had been there, but
he was not, and the call was therefore rendered useless.
He (Mr. Massie) rose with the greatest pleasure to pro-
pose tbat the thanks of the Conference be presented
most cordially to P. A. Taylor, Esq., for his patient
and unwearied attention during Thursday, Friday, and Saturday,
and up to this hour —(Cheers.) It must have been a matter
gratification to those who had come from the country as Delegates
on this occasion, to know that a gentleman so well known, and of
such influence in the City of London as Mr. Taylor should have
consented to identify himself with their cause by presiding over their'.
The Rev. Gentleman concluded by saying that he wished to take
that opportunity of stating that the Executive Committee would
meet again as usual at the close of the Conference.
Mr. Asirwoirrn came forward to second the motion of a vote of
thanks to their late Chairman. In doing so, he wished to congra-
tulate the meeting on the improved character they had acquired
since three years ago.—(Hear.) It would be remembered,
that three years ago the present movement had been commenced
by certain manufacturers and merchants who saw the very
great evils which the Corn-laws were entailing on the country.
They saw the Dukes arrayed against the millions, but they saw at
the same time, not only the manufacturing classes, but the ministers
of religion and the women of England, and when they saw
the women of England combining for the amelioration
of the condition of the poor, how could they despair of
ultimale success. In conclusion, he should congratulate the
meeting on having taken up its position upon such high grounds
as to render it imps. Bible that the cause which they advocated
should ultimately prevail.
The CHAIIMAIV said, before putting the motion from the Chair,
he should make a few observations. He came from Exeter,
and other places, but lie never witnessed a meeting where such una-
nimity and enthusiasm prevailed. He thought the Delegates were
deeply indebted to their late respected Chairman for the order and
propriety with which he conducted the meeting.
Mr. TAYLOR sand he feared the meeting received his name with
too much partiality. He could not claim that high influence in
the:City which a late Speaker attributed to hint upon other
grounds 'than those which arose from his untiring exertions
in advocating the repeal of the Corn-laws. His friend Colonel
Thompson could bear him out in the assertion, that
some eleven years ago they were able to muster but a
few persons at their meetings in the City, but this present assem-
blage now
presented a happy contrast to those scenes. In conclu-
sion, he begged leave, with all sincerity, to thank the meeting for
the manner in which the vote of thanks was passed.
The CIi•IRMAN then submitted to the meeting the following do-
cument :
ADDRESS OF THE FINANCE: COMMITTEE OF ANTI-
CCOR N-DA W DELEGATES ASSEMBLED AT THE
R
OWN
to the financial affairs DAYS. AND ANCHOR, FEB. 8, AND SUCCEEDING
in connec
The above Committee, in the faithful discharge of their
duty, have given
rsth eon; t h
edeliberate l earnestAnti-Corn-law
_ia
League, attention
cause, that a contest and thewith the present position of the question,
tent, is at hand ;
the League. It immediate and prospective claims npon the wilds of
call for renewed be Yobvious to all friends of the great
of unexampled interest importance, and ex-
the work of Universal
the moral power of all
and redoubled
that there is at this moment an imperative
ersariedoubled efforts to carry on and complete
of dull;
ties upon the foot! of the nlightenment, and of the consolidation of
o stand opposed to the restrictions and ilin-
bexeltieenvte thisentnevbere, a''cornPleildl7
of the Kingdom, and especiallygualified
byrhrihsegerernatploeynrnd
employment,
Ctoom..ungnrleiatttccer
which there are already persons to Lecture in all parts
in the Agricultural Districts, from
applications for at least ten in-
dividuals where only one can caon
held afforded. The Committee
are of opinion that, at n
conjuncture of events could
more labourers be sent into the
cess, or under
strongly
with a better prospect of suc.
eff.rt
hd
ae
smbaenedni ling
at
dh
ee i
by
ymtohs
et streAnunooubsiee,xbeertnleovnosi.circumstances more
benevolent,
and patriotic
Anti-Corn-law women of the country,
that their example will be immediately followed b and the Committee trust
De-
puties now in town, and their y the
the kingdom. They therefore respectfully, but most Associates throughout
earnestly, recommend that every
Deputy
League to the utmost extent of his should assist the
taL e steps on his return to his constituents ability,
and that he should
congrega-
tional collections and individual subscriptions obtain, by
nations made in London may be handed to;heTreasurer of the
pecuniary aid. Do.
Leis3ue, now in attendance; and hereafter to Ex
of the National Anti-Corn.law League in manchesteecrutive Council