The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-11 00:00:00

TRU Su , I ONDON, ViiTDAV. FIBEIRIYAM 184,1 c

.herit." They had, by means of the lawc converted the bounty
of Nature beyond ow sea zirt isle into a substantial mockery.
What was it to him, that there was corn in Poland, in Russia,
in France, in America, and on the plains of England, or the
shores of !he Pacific, if he was forbidden to taste it ? God had
sped the 1,1,u211 in an lands, but the operation of these laws
checked it with...ly in the furrow, and arrested the husbandman
and the farmer heir toil—those who would have cried aloud
bring your swords a . d make them into ploughshares, and your
spears and turn then into pruning hooks—( Loud cheers)--for
hear ye not the cry from multiptied millions from the shores of
Albion, saying, be ye our brothers, and give us bread.—(lm-
mense cheering.) But this wicked man, the law-maker, the
landed aristocrat, had iirtual!y' monopolised the universal
bounty of God, and we starve in consequence of it. We starve
in the mid-t of plenty. Did he stand here to abuse, the Char-
tists? He stood herS to admire and bless God for the patience
of the working classes They have passed by the stacks of
these men, they have met them in the roads, themselves
clammed and fainting, while the others were lolling in their
chariots, and thinking it condescension to cast the dust from
the wheels in the faces of the plebian and taunted passengers.
They have passed by the custom-houses, the
_flows of which

were groaning under the weight of whrat, which these laws
had arrested and put in prison. They had prowled about
their • streets, menaced by the police ; they had
shunned home because there there was a starving
wife and starving children; they have been among us, yet we
have slept in our beds safely ; our pantries have been safe, our
children have been safe ; we have come out and gone in, whe-
ther we were in Bolton, or Pai,ley, or Manchester, or Ashton,

or Forfar ; yet they had found their children, their servants,
and their food safe, while millions had been starving around
them. Publicly he declared that the patience of an outraged
people had been all but miraculous. Ile thanked them thus
pttlicly—in the name of this Conference he thanked them,

and exhorted them to persevere, for surely it must come
to this, that their forbearance and forgiveness, their sublime
fortitude, and unresisting submission to this most stupendous
robbery of their rights, would "plead trumpet-tongued" for
them with every man not deaf to reason, and not utterly insen..
sible to the claims of bleeding humanity. These men were the
glory and the strength, and the foundation of the country.
Should they perish, and that Coriuthian capital, with its deli-
cate tt acery, its beautiful strawberry leaves, and its polished
shaft, be preserved ? He would not touch those who were the
glory of the country, and its strength, and its founda-
tion !—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Rather let the column
fall !—(lmmense cheering.) He thought they were now just
where they ought to be, and ho would go where he ought to be,
and retire from their presence.—( Go on, and cheers.) Their
friend Mr. Greg had asked what they were to do, awl had not
answered the question very distinctly. They would do all that
might become honourable men. Those men in power were
weaker than a reed. He knew that they had impaired the
strength of the country. He knew that the Sampson of Bri-
tish commerce had been lying down in the lap of the Dalilah
of monopoly. He knew that he had been shorn of his strength ;
and to some extent they had put out his eyes, and he was now
brought forth to make sport for the Philistines. —( Hear, and
cheers.) But Sampson's God still lived —( Continued cheers. )
The might of his arm was omnipotence, the glance of his eye
was omniscience, his heart was love. Let Sampson call upon
his God. Let these proud men sit aloft ; let them look upon
this struggle; them marvel to see this man groping.
" Grope on, my friends," (continued Mr. Thompson,) "grope
on. ou have the pillar to-day, you have clasped it ; let it not
go. Call upon your God, who is a God of justice. Call upon
" Him" in the name of your country perishing for want
of bread, and. yet a little while, and that edifice which has
crushed with its weight so many millions of our countrymen shall
tumble at once and for ever to the ground."—( Vehement

cheering.) What, then, should they dO? Hold fast by their

„ .
r_. ,
declaration of the previous night, aria their declaration of that
day.—( Hear, hear.) The rock before them was the rock of
expediency. They were embarked on board of the vessel of
immediate, total, unconditional, unco:npensated—unless it

were compensation for the injured—uncompensated repeal of
the Corn-laws.—( Cheers.) But they were not upon the quarter.
deck ; there were other men upon the quarter-deck. Upon this
side of- it, and upon that, there was Sir Robert Peel with his
obsequious followers and proud supporters, who used him as
men used any instrument that was ready to theii. purpose.—
( Hear, hear. )' And there were men who called themselves
repealers, who were not repeaters. lie warned them of this.
There were those whom the Americans would call " men of
conspicuity" in the House of Commons—men of name and
family, and influence—who said " Yes, we attended many
meetings, and have responded to many toasts for the total re-
peal of the Corn-laws ; but we only meant the repeal of the
present laws, and the enacting of fresh ones." They should
beware of such men. They would pretend to represent them,
and by their fine speeches and sophistries endeavour to
cram their temporary notions of expediency down their throats.
—( Hear, hear.) Let them stand firm—let them regard that
man as worse than Sir Robert Peel, who consented to any
measure which violated the principle of their cause. Let them
do this and they were safe ; the battle would then go on out of
Parliament, and triumph was certain. What, then (continued
the Hon. Gentleman) are you to do? Be united; throw
yourselves upon the working classes of this country. Get the peo-
ple at your back. Do not be afraid of them—do not neglect them
—do not fear to look them right in the face. Take their hands,
stand by their order; listen to what they say, correct their
errors.—( Hear, hear.) Let me tell you that the other day,
in a distant city in the north of England, I had a five hours
and a half debate, in an immense meeting of working men.
I had to bide the pelting of the storm five hours. What came
then ? I showed, or endeavoured to show, that I was their
friend. The clock struck twelve, and instead of a tempest,
instead of violence and unreasonableness, -and animosity
and opposition, the sob and the tear, anal, by and by, a
tremendous burst of acclamation, demonstrated to me
that they were men with " organs, senses, dimensions,
passions like ourselves ;" with reasoa that you might appeal
to, with affections that any one might win ; and that they
would go with you when you demonstrated that you were their
friends, and gave them that which no man would withhold, a
pledge that they have a right to something more than bread ;
and that if they, with peaceful weapons, will help you to fight
this holy warfare for that charter which you find in the first-
page of the Bible, you will help them as far as your under-
standings and your consciences will permit you to go, you will
help them to obtain that power, without whiele if we repealed the
Corn-laws to-day, we should find ourselves unable, successfully,
through coming years, to contend with the monster whose jaws
had been forced to disgorge the prey which it had taken from
a starving people. Throw out, then, your grappling-irons, and
bring all these men home to you. You are going by and bye
to your respective neighbourhoods, and there you can do much.
You are the true Conservatives of this country—the other men
plot treason.—( Cheers.) I cheer them with violating the
Constitution of this country, and trampling upon' the sacred
injunction of the Decalogue, and flying in the face of our
national religion, which teaches us to pray seven times on the
sabbath : .‘ Give us this day our daily bread." I charge them
with these heinous offences, and 1 charge it upon you to link
yourselves with the people, to become one with them ; and,
while they take a course at once injurious to physical happiness,
the moral purity of the people, and the debility of the nation,
take you a course which vs ill preserve all that is worth pre-
serving, arid extirpate all that defaCes our beauty, diminishes
our strength, or makes us a reproach in the eyes of the world.
__.(Loud and long-continued cheering.) I shall not take
advantage of a Corn-law meeting to be more explicit
than this.—(Hear. ) A word to the wise. When the
time shall come that the people, the midule and the working
classes, shall be one, that moment the doom of the Corn-laws
shall be sealed. I thank you, Sir, for your atteetion, and
beg respectfully to wish you fa rewell.—(Mr. Thompson sat
down amidst vehement and reiterated applause.
The resolution was then passed by acclamation.
Mr. Me sse: of Manchester, moved—" That, whereas her
Majesty's prevent advisers have wholly dissatisfied the country
b.; refusing to bring in a measure for the immediate and total
abolition of the Corn and Provision-laws, a memorial from this
Conference be presented to the Queen—(Cheers)—expressing
an utter want of confidence in her present advisers, or in any
Ministers who will not propose to Parliament the total and im-
mediate abolition of these laws,
an their alarm at the, conse
quences likely to arise from the distress of the suffering people."
a -
The resolution was carried by acclamation.
Mr. COATES, Delegate from the Tower Hamlets, moved a
ree lotion to the effect that the Conference should adjourn
until six o'clock in the evening, to reassemble in the same
place, to receive the sentiments of such Delegates as might
wish to declare their opinions of the Conference and the
country, but recommending the speakers lobe brief, as a number
of gentlemen were anxious to address the meeting. Mr. Coates
then said he should best recommend brevity in the evening by
being brief himself in the morning. —( Hear and laughter.) Some
people had been weak enough to anticipate good things from
Sir Robert Peel, hut he (Mr. C.) was not one of them. On
the contrary, he endeavoured last night to correct their dein-
olic
ncgo meeting,congregation,
aettiioebnny: telling
ad ir..
the tihluel
n,metoiapnlgsettootrn,ye‘r‘e. about the late
Rev. Mr. Huntington, a well-known and most popular preacher
osvifiehdse at
to a i Calvinisticr)iubw
hear him as they were to hear Sir R. Peel last night iarsiatatoteenatH6':eoruhts'oe-
ons.
onia
an to disappoint.
ati,,
discourse,
Theylaiosstue, :o.o_ermaa(cnir'
,herariaut
ihhle;eitliktatriceaannicatetdhi expectingseciao)
rtyuo.
might have said if you came hither expecting r:laleeyB,
liberall)tnrlgtSirae nnp I aelote. :111'1:it:I theeeen Beloved
or Is ee trade, or even an approximation, however remote, to
however,L d
alternately, tang'
leu r ,
I,a;tltrh•reiegs
oosfdh eaairl,dhehaard.
freeJr:itb., I am the man that can disappoint you '—
t
)hat:lv.hesetsedriitallenol‘thflolilslotewr
-ante in cycles. Now, that was discovered b
a cleverish youth about 4,000 years ago.—( Cheers and laughter.)
But during the seven years of plenty he stored up against the
seven years of famine, so that he was able to supply Egypt,
anti also Palestine. While Sir Robert would n.n permit, a
supply to be laid in agairs4 years of latrine in years of abund.
ance, but at seasons of famine lie said you must eat bread
at the famine price. This was the whole substance
nf his political wisdom. It seemed to be a satisfaction to.the
Ps line Minister to state that the people of Prussia were worse
off than the people of England.—(llear, hoar, hoar.) Was
it to find out this that the King of Prussia was re-
ceived with such splendour and hospitality on our shores?
But lie had but !Ale knowledge of the people of this country
if be thought they would derive satisfaction from knowing
that the subjects of a despotic kingdom were in a more miserable
condition titan themselves. But still they were not without hope
that when they got more ground down—when the poor were
fool er still, and the hungry hungrier still—when the people
of England were brought down to the level of the most de-
graded nation—th. n the time might come N,si
would be • their political saviour.P,rci i
i Sir tl obPee
ssireßrtobertl
did not think that they were yet sufficient sinners to receive
his gown.—( Laughter.) Perhaps he would say in the words
of the well known hymn—
Come hungry, come thirsty,
Come ragged and bare ;
You can't come too dirty,
Come just as you are.
—(Shouts of laughter.) He, (Mr. Coates) had a better
opinion of the good sense and indomitable courage of the
people of England, to fear that the nation would be trampled on
by a faction.—(Cheers). Whatever might be done to reduce
the people to the condition of the lowest of the
low their spirit would revolt against it, and every
man in England would exclaim, " I'd rather be a dog, and
bay the moon, than such a Briton."—(Cheers.) The motion
which he rose to make was, that the Conference should ad-
journ to six o'clock in ais place. But he wished also to
inform them that there would be a meeting at Mile end at
eight o'clo k, for the purpose of promoting the same righteous
cause—( Hear, hear ) —and he had the plea ure to add, that
although they were in this district in the heart of the Char-
tists, and surrounded by a mass of the poorest
of the working classes in Bethnal-green and Spitaltields, there
never yet occurred a public meeting on the subject of the
Corn-laws in which face discussion was not allowed, or order
not maintained—nor one in which the resolutions were not
I carried almost unanimously.—(llear, hear.) At all those
meetings he had had the good fortune to receive a vote of
thanks for his impartiality, in which vote the Chartists pre-
ll
all
sent unanimously joined.—(Bear, hear.) The secret of his
success was short and simple, it was to give a fair hearing to
dett.htroeiuymm Ile eie
was
issa:esa set
cause
uq„ quite i toef o
oppo-
sition pu or investigatesure
and working classes were united, they
must look downwards,
themselves with the working
sallleilntasidigohne'tsoltonualnPiefovialatorl-ldppesor'eml sent of the aristocracy to the monopolists.—
(Cheers.) He concluded by moving the adjournment to six
o'clect,
The CHAIRMAN then, in terms of warm eulogesintroduceda
seconder of the motion, the gentleman well 1 noun as author of
the letters signed" Diogenes in a Morning Paper.—(Cheers.)
The Gentleman then came forward, and saidi that the kindness

with which he was received on the present occasion confirmed him
in the conviction he had ever had, that if a man would but con-
scientiausly and diligently exert himself in a good cause, he
would receive from Englishmen his reward, no matter from what
clime or country he came, or to what class he belonged. When
he first took up the question of the Corn.laws, it was fashionable
to declare them a bore. It was difficult to make any person listen
to any' argument on the subject. If he began to talk of reciprocity,
every one would say, that, if he supported the doctrine of reci-
procity, he should lose his cash. But he said, that if he went to a
baker, to purchase bread with tar instead of with cash, he would
be certain of not getting as good bread as if be had brought cash.
So much for the doctrine of reciprocity. Ile would be extremely
brief, and only observe, that he trusted he benefited the good
cause, whether he introduced Sir Robert Peel to his friend Hub.
bard, i►s the City, or to his own friends in Mark-lane--whether ha
showed him how his Jim Crow scale worked, or raised Lord Stanley
to the d:giiity of the Marquis of Tamboff. He would say no more,
but beg to support the resolution proposed.
The CHAIIIMA sr then put the question, which was agreed to ; and
it was intimated that the Conference should re-assemble at six
o'clock this evening.

Mr. SYDNEY SMtill then came forward, and addrossed a few
observations to the meetingg• He stated that 994 petitions had
been presented to the House of Commons, in favour of repeal of
the Corn-laws, sinew it had assembled • this session, whereas the
Prime Minister's sliding Seale was supported only by three
petitions.

The Conference then separated at a quarter to four o'c'ock.
Among the Delegates present we noticed—Sir William Low-
thorp, of Hull, -Mr. Boultbee, Col. Thompson, Mr. Greg, Mr.
Sturge, Mr. George Thompson, Hamer Stansfcld, El., of Leeds,
the R v. Dr. Campbell, the Rev. T. Binney, the Ray. James Car.
lisle, the Rev. Dr. Reid, &e,
Jiniong the Members of Parliament
presedt, we noticed Mr. O'Connell, Mr. Williams, of Coventry, Dr.
Bowrilig, and Mr. Ewart.

Copy of a resolution passed at a General Meeting of the Members
of the Manchester Anti-Corn-law Association, held on Tuesday,
January :15, 1842 :

" That the Deputation to London be instructed to press for a
taal and immediate repeal of the Corn and Provision laws, and
should any modification be offered, that they (the'Deputation) resist
and repudiate the attempt."

Nearly 100 Deputies arrived to-day.
ADJOURNED MEETING.

The Anti-Corn-law Conference again met, pursuant to adjourn-
ment at Six o'clock last evening, in the large room at the Crown
and Anchor, P. A. Taylor, Esq., in the Choir.

The CHAIRMAN congratulated the Delegates on the exceedingly
satisfactory meeting of the morning, and said, he had no doubt,
by continuing such a spirit of unanimity, enthusiasm, and &ter-
mination, they could not fail eventually to carry their object.—
(Cheers.) It was impossible, considering the great importance of
the business which was before them this morning, and the great
importance of that which would occupy their time to.morrow morn-
ing, which was to present a memorial to her Majesty for the dis.
missal of her Majesty's present Ministers—(lmrneuse clieers)—it
was impossible in the morning to give many Deputies who were
desirous of addressing the Conference an opportunity of laying
before the Conference au account of the statistics of the ♦arious
localities. They had met this evening, not to pass any resolu-

tion, but to give those Deputies, who were desirous of so doing, an
opportunity of laying an aecount of the statistics of the respective
distress before the Conference, and as as several gentlemen had re-
turned their names as being desirous to address the meeting, he
would impress upon them the importance of condensing their re-

marks into as short a space as possible.
Dr. PENNY, of Reading, said that the Conference had hitherto
heard, almost exclusively, of the state of the manufacturing dis.

tricts. He was a Deputy from Reading, which was in the heart

of the agricultural districts, and he could state that Reading had
never witnessed so exten_ive and such largely extended distress
_ _

since the Corn laws had tirst been enacted.—(Hear, hear.)
The farmers in that neighbourhood were not, generally,

very enlightened on the subject, aand those who Were so were
not at liberty to express their opinions, in consequence of the in-
fluence of the domineering landowner.—(Cheers.) Reading was

at the present mom.:nt virtually unrepresented its the House of
Commons, for such was the state of distress at the period of the
last election that the candidates felt that they had an opportunity
of exerting influences deleterious to the character and principles of
the electors to obtain their votes, which they could not obtain in
an honest way, and the consequence had been that two Tories had
been returned to represent a borough which, for years, had been
represented by Liberals ; and they had been petitioned against for
bribe, y and corruption, and consequently Reading might be said to
be unrepresented. He was no party man—he was a gin! ster of
the Gospel, representing his congregation, and he had the satisfac-
of stating that he had brought up with him a petition from that
congregation, to which 250 signatures were attached, praying
for a total and immediate repeal of the Corn-laws.—(Cheers.)
He had been sent as a deputy to Manchester, and in the Town
Hall of Reading had given ass account of his deputation. The
Hall was crowded to excess, and the utmost unanimity prevailed in
approving the progress of the Manchester Conference to have, not
a sliding scale—not a fixed duty—but no duty at all.—(Hear,
hear.) He had been present at a meeting last week, not in the
Town Hall, for the Tory Mayor had refused the use pf it—(Cries
of " Shame.")—but at that meeting, which was attended by
5,000 of the working classes, the most perfect unanimity pre.
vailed its favour of the abolition of the existing law. The cause
of Anti-Corn-law repeal had made immense progress in Reading
within the last few months. He was its favour of a further ex-
tension of the franchise.—(Loud cheers.) They had many Char.
tists its Reading, but they had never interfered with the efforts of
the Anti.Corn-iaw League.—(Cheers.) They had said, " We will
help you to repeal the Corn-law, and hope 'you will help us, as
far as you can go, to obtain an extension of the franehise."—
(Continued cheering.) It was high time that some one. should
arise who would administer such a purge toPoel as would compel
the Physician to heal himself.—(Cheers.) He had prescribed low
diet for his patient, but the prdper method of cure was to give the
patient plenty to eat, wholsome air, and exercise, and he would
soon be restored to a state of health and vigour. He hoped
that the time would speedily come when they would be able to
throw overboard all those who advocated either a sliding scale or a
fixed duty, whets they would see their ports thrown open to all the
world, and commerce free as the air that wafts the ship upon the
ocean.—(llear.) He (Mr. Penny) knew of an individual who lived
in the county of Berks for snore than sixty years, the son of a
respectable tradesman, who, owing to extreme depression, brought
on by the existing laws, had fallen from a state of comfort into ad-
versity. Some short time ago, that individual gave to him (Mr.
Penny) forty pawn-tickets, the sums marked on which were gene..
rally 4d., 6d., Is., and never exceeding 2s. Gil. The articles
were pawned for the purpose of enabling the poor
man to procure sustenance for himself and his wretched
grandchildren, and of those articles one was the little frock of his
perishing grandchild.— (Cries of " Hear, hear," and " Oh, oh.")
That was a state of circumstances existing in the centre of those
who advocated high aristocratic principles—in the neighbourhood
of the Doke of WelfingtorVs princely abode—in the midst of the
proud mansions of those who, because subjected to no sufferings
themselves, imagined, or seemed to imagine, that no degradation,
no distress was endured by the people. But there was a point
beyond which, the patience of the people could not be provoked.—
(Hear, hear.) He trusted that the principles of liberty, to which
expression bad been given in the course of this Conference, would
find an echo in every bosom, and then, and then only, they would
find that " Britons never would be slaves."—(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN next announced the Rev. 1)r. Bailie, of Sheffield.
The Rev. GEN CLEMAN then came forward, and said that he was
not a Doctor, but he thought that if he were one, after having
promised a recipe for a desperate case, he should at least have the
courtesy, when he delivered it to his patient, not to torture him
by saying that he had no confidence in its success. Sir R Peel, after his
long preparation for the present—after having sent to all corners of
the empire emissaries to collect information—after having told the
people of England to be patient, and that he would provide a re-
medy—after all that, the Prime Minister came forward last night
and told them, what ?—why, that in the remedy which he proposed
for the sufferings of the people he had no confidence whatever.—
(Hear, hear.) Sir Robert repudiated Isis own plan, and how, then,
could they avoid repudiating it also ? He (Mr. B.) was not dis.
posed to repeat all that had beets already said to prove how great a
nuisance the Corn-laws were ; he would only Say that hitherto he
had been in favour of a fixed duty, not because he thought it a de-
fensible measure, but because he thought it the only one attain-
able.—(Hear, hear.) But now he repudiated that measure which
he advocated before, and whatever power he had he should pledge
himself to exert it to procure the total, entire repeal of the Costs.
laws. Sir 11. Peel had last night proposed a new addition of the
sliding scale, and he (Mr. B.) trusted that the first use that
would be made of it would be to slide the Right
Hon. Baronet into the position of a private individual.—(Cheers
and laughter.) As a Minister of religion he felt hitnself bound to
advocate principles of justice. When John Knox was taunted by
some parties to abate somewhat of his claims. and concede
something to the severities of the time, he sternly replied that
his Divine Master was to him all, and that he world stand or
fall by the invincible justice of the everlasting God.—(Cheers.)
Let that be their motto—(Hear, bear)—and they were sure of
ultima'e success. The course of justice was a glorious one, and
would triumph in the end.—(Cheers.) Sir Robert Peel, and those
who advocate Isis measures, must remember that, little as these
meetings may appear to him, they contain no small voice of warn.
ing on several other subjects relating
to the great evils that are
passing in this country.—(llear. hear, hear.) He believed
that that slay a new war had commenced, and God only knew
what might be the issue. A question had been raised in a form
more than phantasmal, and it would be well if it slid not come with
terror. A little time ago the country would have beets content
with half the measure now demanded from the Government, for
tardy legislation on this subject will share the fate of tardy legisia.
Lion on all other occasions. Its 1828 the franchise was asked for a

few great towns; in 1630, it was demanded for the whole kingdom.
—(Cheers.) In 1633, Charles was asked to abate a few of the
national grievances, and refused; he was petitioned in 1639, and

refused ; and again he was petitioned in 1640, and again he
refused; and at the end of that year indignation had brimmed the
national cup, and struck down in quick succession all that sup_
potted that absolute Throne, and brought about the Common-
wealch.—(Ciicers.) Let those times and those hist ivies be present
to Sir Hobert Peel—for he might he assures! of this, that those
principles will be reacted; and if the aristocratic power is to set
at nought the claims of the people, the next step will be—how slid
the aristocracy come by its power P—(Cheers)--and by what

.
means can we recover this possession ? The next qtiestion
will be, ought the aristocracy and the power of the landed interest,
or the popular power, to be predominant in Parliament? When
the crisis came, when one of the two will have to be preferred, he
knew that the tardy justice which Sir Robert Peel was
have read
(our Colleges, it appeared,
so reluctant to give, will decide that the people shall have the
justice)—those who had
preponderance.—(Cheers.) This contention
ofw itohu:htenispeohwieevrouofs
than those of the Corn-
laws
read one page of this mss-legislation of their Governors—will turn
Parliamentw ere v erytlitlveals,lhaciges sfvtbioortht,
ierterlagdissoulelse political
far back, and read more ; and as they turned back they will find
legislation ' the
of people
w ill-educatedho l'a
d
the memorable trial of Lord Straffor,
upon when impeached be-
lore the House, and when he made such an eloquent
f l
defence upon every point o
lawyers who _aw, that he beat Pym,
and all the patriot opposed him. Pym
alone, in the spirit of patriotism, rose and said, 1. There are
Points at which the statute law dies, and where we must revert to
the eternal and unrepeatable laws of humanity, which are above
and before all Parliaments; and upon those laws, the laws of man,
it is that we impeach him."—(tLot ud eheero
, This was the
ground they must occupy, when ley found that they could not
obtain political justice from Parliament. If the National Church,
that placed its eminent teachers in the House of Lords, fails to
educate that House and the House of Commons, in the common
principles of Morality, then the people must educate those Houses
—(Cheers) —in those principles.—(Loud
Cheers.) It was not pre-
tended that a repeal of the Corn.l aws in the abstract was an loins.
tice, but Sir Robert Peel said, last !sight, that in the complicated
state of the country it would be an injustice. L it then come to
this ? Is it because ages of mischief have been growing up in
forest height, and to forest density, I hat the bright
beams of heaven are never to pierce through it ?—(Cheers.)
.No! if they wanted justice, what
Cheers.ever Other measures may be neces.
sary let them be had too.—( ) He had said that the pre-
sent struggle was big with ether events than the mere dispute upon
the Corn-laws; the great trial of monopoly was now to be met,
monopoly of all kinds, monopoly of religions, monopoly of Legisla.
tuns, monopoly in Parliament, monopoly of
the pension-list, mono-
poly of the Colonies, monoiNtly everywhere.—(Cheers.) They
were about to enter upon the great trial of monopoly, in the per-
sons of the starving thousands of the people and a titled and
gorgeous aristocracy—(Cheers)--and as to the issue, he was con-
fident beyond a doubt, and night and morn it should be his prayer
for the adient of the justice of the invincible God. Justice, like God
its author, was no man's enemy, and ought to be hated by no man.
Let the aristocracy bring on the trial, and let the people of England
look to their part in it, and remember that if Peel should carry
his measure by a triumphant majority, it would be a great calamity.
But Sir 11 Peel
might apply to himself a verse of Quarles, the
quaint author of the ~ Emblems." To a mass determined to avoid
justice, he s:.ys—
" The farther off you go,
Justice deals the weightier blow."
So with him ; the farther he travelled from.the high road of ins•
tice, so much the heavier would be the blow with which the people

of England would visit him. He considered that the communica-
tion that had been made to Parliament would raise a sensation
throughout the country, which' Sir Robert Peel was not prepared
to meet.

Mr. *DNEY SMITH said, as a member of the Conference, he was
anxious to impress upon the speakers the necessity of brevity, as
it was improbable the Conference would sit longer than Saturday,
and twenty-four Delegates being in attendance, it was necessary
that their constituents should know they had recorded those opinions
which they were sent there to express.
Mr. Asnnowst, a Delegate from the Sussex Anti-Corn-law Asso-
ciation, said he should profit by time hint just dropped, and be as
'concise as possib'e. He represented a county which had to struggle
with much difficulty and great discouragement in giving an open
and candid expression to its feeling. It was represented by ten
Tories in Parliament, and he thought ar least ten Delegates should
represent it in the present Conference- The town lie had the
honour of representing contained a population t f 14,000 personS,
and In that number there were only 130 electors ; and therefore it
was important that the representation of the Anti-Corn-law Assn.
elation of that district should express their opinions and feelings.
He could detail distress in his neighbourhood which would bring
contrition to the heart of any man save a Premier. A new Poor.
house had been built there, and yet since its erection it had been
debated whether it should be enlarged, or the overplus of the
paupers turned ottt.—( Hear.) In the month of November upwards
of t5O able-bodied labourers veiled for shelter and a meal's vie.
trials, while they were wandering the counry seeking for that work,
which. notwithstanding their anxiety to get it, was denied them;
and this in the county of Sussex, the hot-bed of monopoly.
and tithes and parsons.—(Hear, hear, and cheers.) He had been
deputed by one of the largest meetings held in the district which
he represented, to express their sympathy and cordial concurrence
in the object of this Conference; but he was desired, at the same
time, to state their firm conviction that it was useless to be peti-
tioning year after year—(Loud cheers)—merely to be made sport of
by State hacks and trading politicians.—(Hear, hear.) And he was
also desired to ask if they were prepared to carry out those measures
which would be of real and practical benefit to the people--if the
small shopkeepers, and those dependent upon the lords of the soil,
were to carry on the struggle until they were ultimately crushed ?
He wished the Conference to declare energetically that they would
no longer submit to those intolerable laws. There was a feeling
now amongst the working classes which required that some great ,
moral demonstration should be made to bring Sir Robert Peel to his
senses. He had heard of the sacrifices of thecitisens.of London
in the olden times—he had heard of the females selling their
jewellery and plate to procure the sinews of war, and he
trusted that myriads would uow come forward and make some
great movement. Ho apprehended that it was unnecessary to
enter upon statistical details—they had had misery until humanity
had sickened at it. In collecting signatures for a petition on the
subject about which they were now met, he had witnessed such
distress as he had considered impossible to exist without he had
witnessed it personally. Action was now what was wanted, and
not talking, and he hoped he would be able to tell his consti-
tuents upon his return that the Anti Corn-law Conference was
actuated by a firm and undaunted resolution to struggle to the last
for the repeal of the Corn-laws.
Mr. Sreargato said the greatest distress existed in all parts of
Scotland, fully equal to anything that could be found in this great
metropolis, or any of the manufacturing towns throughout the
country. They were told that if any one was in want and over-
come, and said to him " Be ye warm, or be ye clothed," yet gave
bins not that of which he stood in need, it profited nothing ; and
of what avail was it that the Government admitted that distress
existed, and professed to sympathise with the sufferers, whilst they
did nothing for their relief?—(Hear, hear.) Sir Robert
Peel admitted that the proposed alteration was not likely to
confer any material benefit upon the country. Was it
not then an insult to the nation to propose such a remedy ?
(Heer, hear.) But there was one admission in his (Sir Robert
Peel's) speech which was of very great importance. He said the
duty which he proposed would be au adequate protection to the
agriculturists. If the proposed duty were adequate, it followed
that the present duty was far more than adequate; and there-
fore; to the extent of the differeace, *upon his (Sir Robert Peel's)
own admisSion, the people had been robbed.—(Hear, hear, aed
cheers.) He (Mr. Sterling) did not think the efforts of Anti.
Corn-law Associations had as yet been unsuccessful ; it was to
them, at least, that the proposal of this measure was to be at-
tributed. They were charged with using inflammatory language.
Ile believed that they were the peacemakers who had stood in
the gap between the oligarchy, the selfish legislators, and the
suffering, the disinterested, and the almost maddened people
(Hear, hear)—who had stemmed the torrent of dissatisfaction and
prevented the outbreak of Chartism throughout the length and
breadth of the land.—(Hear, hear.) He had been deputed to at-
tend that Conference, not by his own congregation alone, but by
the whole population of the town, all of whom, with very few
exceptions, had signed a petition for the total and immediate
repeal of these Corn and Provision laws. Ile had been instructed
by his constituents to consent to netting less than their total repeal.
The Rev. Fruxcrs BISHOP, of Warringtou, next addressed the
meeting. He said he rejoiced at the firm tone taken by the Con-
ference; at the determination manifested to stand on the broad
ground of principle, to look at the great question before them in the
light of truth, to demand justice and nothing less.—(Cheers.) Ile
was deputed to that Conference by a large meeting held at War-
rington, on Monday evening, a meeting of both sexes, Ile was
proud to stand there to represent the feelings, wishes, and views,
with respect to the Corn-law question, not only of his fellow-towns.
men, but of the women of Warrington, 6,000 of whom had memo-
rialised their Queen, calling upon her to exert her influence as far
as it could be constitutionally given, on behalf of her oppressed and
suffering subjects.---(Cheers.) The cause had raised a mighty
moral influx since the junction to its ranks of their fair country-
women, whose influence, when exercised as it finally was, on behalf
of humanity and benevolence, was all potent and irresistible. As
lie was leaving the 'fleeting to which he had referred, he was
met on all hands by the injunction—" No surrender, no
comprosuise—no half measures—total,total repeal."—( Cheers.) Ile
rejoiced that he would be able to resider an account of his steward-
ship, without any misgivings in this particular. That tile Con-
ference had manifested a determination not to be driven from the
rock of principles by the wily professions, the puny promises, and
time dexterous sophistries of that man of words—Sir Robert Peel.
He had never anticipated any good from such a quarter- Ile had
borne in mind, on that occasion, the remark of Burke, " Blessed
are they who expect nothing, for they will not be disappointed."--
(Laughter.) Expecting nothing from the Government he had not
been deceived by their professions. He rejoiced, however, to find
such men as Wellington and Peel were even driven to pretend to
do something. They no longer insulted the people with the taunt
that every man in the land had it in his own power to
obtain a competence..—(Loud cheers.) It was satisfactory
that at last the prevalence of deep *distress was acknors.
ledged, although Sir R. Peel, with fitting consistency, whilst he
denied that the Corn.laws had anything to do with it, proposed
an alteration of those laws, if not as a remedy, at least as a paliia-
tive.—(Hear, hear.) But the people knew where the shoe pinched
—(A laugh)—they knew that the Corn-laws excluded than from
a market fur their labour, and accordingly they asked, why were
those unconstitutional laws to be continued?—(Hear, hear.) Ile
called them unconstitutional, because they were not intended for
any purpose for which the Legislature was constituted. They
were not found to extend the resources of the empire, but to main.
tain the predominance of one class, to take money out of the
pockets of the people to enrich a few who held the laud. Tim
monopolists asserted that all this was mere theory ; but the people
found out that it was all practice.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.")
They said that they were not theorists, but practical men.
—(Hear, and laughter.) •The Chinese having once tasted .the
flesh of a pig which was roasted in a burning house,
found out that want of pork was a good thing, but when they
wanted to get it their practical experience led them to the only
mode they knew of, they put a pig into a house and Masted it by
burning the house.—(Cheers and laughter.) It was tints the mo-
nopolists, having enjoyedtheir roast pork at the expense of the
ruin of others, go on in the course of their practical experience to
have their roast pork, heedless of the general ruin which their sys.
tent must inyolye.—(Chsers and laughter.) He looked with con-
siderable fear to the consequences of maintainlng the present sys-
tem. A spark of hope still lingered in the breasts of the
working classes, but he looked with dread to the time when that
should be extinct.—(Hear, hear.) Could it be expected that
men would lie down and starve in the midst of plenty ?—(Hear.)
Could it be expected that they should stand by quietly and
see their wives and children sinking into the grave through hunger
side by side with a pampered and over-gorged aristocracy?—(hear,)
It was not in human nature to endure these things with patience,
or to submit to oppression, to this extent without turning on the
oppressor.—(Hear, hear.) If the Monopolists did not listen to the
voice of justice they world be compelled to yield to the demands
of force.—(Year, hear.)
The Rev. Mr. STIIACIIAN, of Forfar, presented himself to the
meeting, and said it was a subject of rejoicing to him to fled, that in
the provinces the people were alive to their duty and their interest.
He had received a letter this day from a landowner and farmer in
Scotland, who assured him that the conviction was rapidly spread-
ing amongst the class to which he belonged, that a total repeal
of the Corn-laws was as desirable for them as for those engaged
in commercial pursuits.—(Loud cries of " Hear, hear," and chetas.)
He was glad to say that on this subject, even in the Established
Church of Scotland, there was d rustling amongst the dry banes.—
(A laugh.) In his own parish, the elders, sixteen in number, the
managers, twelve in number, and all the heads of families, liad
petitioned for the total repeal—(Cheers)—and the women, to the
number of hundreds, memorialized the.Queen.--(Renewed cheers.)
All class legislation was a sin—(Cheers)—and it was the duty of
every man to do all in his power to put down the legislation which
took away the peer man's loaf.—(Cheers.) Whilst those who sup-
posed that they nionopolized all the intelligence, as well as the
wealth of the country, were niggling like huxter wives about lid.,
the people outside were deliberating whether there should be any.
duty at all.—(Cheers ) Whilst Sir Robert Peel was discussing
the merits of the sliding scale, he was in fact taking the course by
which he and the monopolists must slide into thetomb of the Captilets.
Sir Robert Peel must be displaced.—(lmmense cheering ) It was
high time they should awake out of their sleep, and every good
man should be at his post, aiding the poor luau to recover his
cights—(Clieers)—and one of his first rights was the right of sup-
plying Iffinself and his family with sufficient clothing and food.—
The Corn-law was nothing but a inoutla.tax—(Cheers)—it was
a tax upon, the poor man's finances. It was a tax which said
to him that out of every loaf he made use of he should give one-
third to furnish sauce fir the rich isfan's plum-pudding.—(Rear,
hear.) In Scotland it was formerly the custom to make a whole
country-side thrall to souse particular mill, and time miller, who was
frequently a rascal, plundered the people of their meal. At
length they found it was more to their interest to pension oil this
miller, and pay him for doing nothing, and then they could go to
some honest miller. The aristocrats were thrall-men, and it would
be better to know what would really satisfy them, than to let theca
go on stealing their meal.—(Cheers and laughter,) When he
first went to Dundee lie saw a man being scourged through
the town, with this label on his back and suit his breast, " James
Cowie, convicted of theft." He thought it would be no great
harm, if a similar label were pinned upon the back and breast of
the Duke of Buckingham 1 for what was it but theft of the worst
description. to steal a portion of the poor mail's bread ?—(Loud
cheers.) In destitute districts, the poor were living below the
starvation point. That might seem at first to be impossible, but it
was easily explained. At the beginning of the year, a family might
be well clothed, and have plenty of furniture and bedding. They
earned during the year barely sufficient to supply them scantly
with the necessaries of life, their clothes were wearing out, and
they had no means of renewing them. Was not that being below
starvation point ? If a cabman spent every day the earnings of his
cab horse, it must be evident that when they were worn out, he
would be without the means of subsistence. There were thousands
sinking daily into this state of deplorable wretchedness. They
were told they were a discontented set—that they had slave eman-
cipation (they paid well for it, by the by)—Catholic emancipation—
the Reform Bill. This was good in part ; they were all good, but
why should the people cease to cry as long as they were deprived of
their rights, as long as they lacked food and were destitute of cloth-
ing and of education ? So long as that was the case, honest men
would do well to be discontented.—(Cheers) Sir Robert had been
groaning with heaviness for Live months. He called the nation to
witness his delivery, and he had brought forth nothing.—(Cheers.)
Peel's proposal was a mockery to a starving people. He would net
now cuter into a Scripture argument as to the iniquity of the Corn-
law ; but lie would call upon them to reject both a sliding scale and
a fixed duty, which afforded but a poor prospect, and to look to the
brawny arras and acute intelligence of those classes who were
anxious to restore the prosperity of the nation. Two doctors had
now tried to heal their galled backs, but they were both quacks.
They would heal their backs and feed their bellies if they would
feed on what those quacks would sell them. There was the rub.
Where was the man that would slide with Peel or fix with Johnny ?
As every doctor has his hobby,
It is even so with John and Bobby.—(Laughter )
The one prescribes a fixed birch,
The other boasts a sliding scourge,
Stand fast to Eight. Lord Russell cries,
Slide up to Twenty, Peel replies.
What Doctors giving stone for bread,
While half are starving, half are dead.
—(Cheers and much laughter.) Mr. S. went on to say, that he
trusted tlfey would not put themselves under the regimen of such
doctors ; that if they would trust to the intelligence of the country
and the firmness of the people ; that they would aid and assist in
every good work ; if they did so assuredly, when they were united,