The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-03 00:00:00

CORN-LA WS.

Yesterday evening a numerous and most respec►able meeting
if the inhabitants of the borough of Lambeth, Was held at the
Horns Tavern, Kennington-common, for the purpose of con-
sidering the present alarming state of the country and the un-
principled conduct of her Majesty's Ministers in opposing the
just demands of the people for the repeal of the Corn-laws.
Mr. Casa (a Member of the Society of Friends) took the
Chair at six o'clock, amidst loud acclamations, and sa d that
although there might be some points submitted to the meeting
this evening, upon which he hail not made up his mind, and
some opinions propounded from which he dissented, yet be felt
bound to obey the unanimous call of the meeting, and he
trusted he would receive its support in his endeavours to fulfill
his duties as Chairman.
air. RICIIARCSON rose to propose the first resolution, as fol-
lows:—" That this meeting has seen pith indignation the propbsi-
lion of her Majesty's Ministers, for an alteration in the Corn-
laws, by which all the evils of the old system are perpetuated,
whilst the prayer of the multitudes fur cheap bread has been
scornfully rejected. 1 hat this meeting is of opinion that the
total repeal of the Corn-laws is called for by every feeling of
religion, Justice, and humanity, and will never rest satisfied
until every vestige of the present iniquitous laws are swept
away. '1 hat having no confidence in the Government, or the
House of Commons, as at present constituted, and desiring
not only the repeal of bad laws at present existing, but also
a guarantee fur good Government for the future, and feeling
convinced that no efficient remedies will be applied without a
full, fair, and free representation of the people; this meeting is
of opinion that the elective franchise ought to be forthwith
extended to every man arrived at the age of twenty-one years,
of sane mind and unconvicted of crime, together with the Vote
by Ballot, and such other matters of detail, as may be found
necessary to the honest and practical working of the system."
Experience had taught him that but little hope could be en-
tertained of an amelioration in the condition of the people
from the House of Commons, as it was at present consti-
tuted ; and therefore he was a strenuous advocate for Univer-
sal Suffrage and Vote by Ballot. The meeting was called
for the purpose of denouncing the measure proposed by Sir
Robert Peel, and to memorialise her Majesty to dismiss her
present Ministers, for, so long as they remained in power, there
was no hope that the condition of the people would be bettered.
If he had no helms of the eventual repeal of the Corn-laws, he
would have left this country long since, fur he was sure that,
between their operation and the taxation now pressing upon
the people, this great country would, ere long, become an in-
significant island, dependent upon some neighbonring
Power; because he was sure, if the Devil were to devise a
scheme to effect the ruin of the commerce of this country, he could
not hit upon a better one than the system of taxation
and class legislation adopted in this country. It had been
stated that it was impossible for the landed interest of this
country to compete with that of Denmark, because the tax
imposed upon the land there was much less than what it was
here. This was a most Jesuitical and Peel-like argument, for
the wealth of the landlords of this country exceeded that of
Denmark, or of any other nation in the world. The Whigs
and the Tories knew full, well the advantages of free trade,
but, influenced by self interest, they held out against it as long
as they could. As he said before, he knew well they had no
hope from the Legislature as at present constituted, and he was
sure there was not the slightest use in petitioning against it, or
in passing resolutions, without they united hear and hand with
the working classes.—( Hear, hear, and cheers.) If the middle
and the working classes united cordially, they would wring from
the aristocracy by fear what had been before asked humbly.
He would not inflict upon the meeting unnecessary statistical
details, but he who 'chose to inform himself on the subject
might refer to " Marshall'sStatisties," where he would find

the amount of land-tax paid in France, Holland, Belgium, and
other continental States. In Holland the people could live one-
third cheaper than in this camtry, because, although the taxes
were heavier there then here, yet they fell upon the wealthy
instead of upon the poor man. There the tax was upon pro-
perty, and not upon labour, and, unless a similar system were
speedily adopted here, this country would be a dependent and
insignificant island; He would say to the Chartists, of
whom he understood a number were in the room,
that it was often very difficult to do away with long
held prejudices, if they found the middle classes willing
to go with them in • all the points of Chartism, except
two, and those two points of detail, upon which they them-
selves were not quite agreed, they would not be acting wisely
if they refused at the present crisis the right hand of amity and
fellowship that was held out to them by the middle classes.—.
(Hear,.hear, and loud cheers)—and he would therefore ear-
nestly beseech those who he was told were about to move an
amendment committing the meeting to all the principles of the
Charter, to pause ere they did so, as, if they carried it, it would
be an additional feather in Peel's cap.—(Hear, hear, hear.)
There were many of the gentlemen present who ac:cdas dele-
gates at the Anti-Corn-law League, and concurred in the spirit
of the resolution now before the meeting; and if the Corn-laws
' were not repealed before another twelve months, they would find
not only them, but thousands of others, jlining the ranks of the
Chartists.—( hear, hear.)
The Rev. Mr. Maaams, in seconding the resolution, said
he regretted that sonic person more competent to do justice to
a resolution so important had not come forward. There could
be no difference of opinion amongst them as to the first part of
it, for it was replete with all the evils of the old system, with-
out even a chance of alleviating the misery and privations the
people were now suffering. They were not anxious to be in-
dependent of foreign nations, but even if they were the example
should be set by those who preach the necessity of such inde-
pendence, yet, nevertheless, chiefly consume the products of
foreign countries in pampered luxury. They were all agreed
that both justice and humanity demanded that the Corn-laws
should be at once and for ever eradicated from the Statute.
book, and therefore there could be no doubt as to their unani-
mous want of confidence in her Majesty's present Ministers.
Ile fully concurred in the sentiments expressed by the Gentle-
man who preceded him, that nothing was to be hoped for from
the House of Commons as at present constituted. It was not
the House of the people ; it was the House of those who bought
their seats. Something like two millions of money had been
paid by the aristocracy, for the purpose of keeping themselves
and the people in their present relative positions of maters and
slaves.—( Loud cheers.) But they should not forget that
there was blame to be attached to those who sent persons, not
representing their opinions, to Parliament, but those who paid
them most. All those who desired the welfare of the country
should forget all petty differences, and stand shoulder to
shoulder, in order that they might battle with and conquer the
aristocracy. The question was, were they to have an union
of the Reformers in the borough of Lambeth ? They came
prepared to join with those &signaling themselves as Chartists,
and there many amongst the middle cla‘ses who had made con-
cessions, for upon some points in the Charter they were not fully
decided. The Rev. Gentleman then entered at some length
upon the details of the Charter, in the leading points of which
he expressed his concurrence, and concluded by entreating
the Chartists present not to allow themselves to bi led away
by pas,ion, but to recollect that the question was whether
there should be unanimity of action and purpose amongst
the Reformers of the great metropolitan borough of Lambeth.
• The CIIAIILMAN having put the resolution to the meeting,
Mr. ltnowN said he did not think lie uuuld be doing his
duty to the great cause he advocated, nor to the Chartists
who formed so large a majority of the meeting, if he did not
rise to propose an amendment to the resolution just read.
No man could say but the principle contained in the People's
Charter, was founded upon Christianity and justice.
The Corn-laws could not be repealed without their means,
and they found they other night, that both Whigs and Tories
united against Mr. Villiers' motion. After cemmentiag, at
great length, upon the five points In the People's Charter,
he 'concluded by movinv an amendment to the following
effect That it was the deliberate opinion of the meeting
that corrupt legislation was the grand cause of all the evils
which afflicted the country ; that the Corn-laws were bad in
their operation, but arose from class legislation; and the House
of Commons, being composed of persons who are opposed to the
rights and liberties of the people, and the sons or relatives of
the lords of the soil, sitting in what was railed the house of
Lords, the meeting believed the only remedy was to be found
in what was called the People's Charter. '1 he meeting, there-
fore, pledged itsel; by all lawful means, to struggle for its ac-
complishment."
Mr. HUGGIT seconded the amendment.

Mr. M. P. HAYNES supported the original motion, in a very
able and talented speech.
Several Chartists having addressed the meeting,
The CHAIRMAN put the motion and amendment, and upon
show of hands, declared the amendment is as carried by a small
majority.
The meeting soon afterwards separated.

SOUTHWARK SACRED IJARMO
MC SOCIETY.

A
om
di
Solomon,lowumss sie.l:rsfutltriZiflrders oratorios, h
eSaatnn
tastoenu ras
notfi the Southwark Literary institution, consisting
of about eighty
vocal and instrumental performers, before a respe ,tabl
e
testified audi-
ence, win, to the number of three hundred;
their gra.
tification by applause.
Notwithstanding the commendable style of ringing and exe.
maim] on the occasion, a reason of a more remote nature en.
hances exhibitions such as- these, arising out of the gratification
which cannot fail to visit the reflective mind at beholding a cote.
pany of men and women, composed of the middle and lower
classes, listening with attention and delight to such elevated
comrositions as were performed last night. When the compara-
tively uneducated of our land open unbidden the doors of their
hearts and understandings, therein to admit Milton with his
high warblings, and Handel with his harmonies, and their
spirits evince unsophisticated tokens of the pleasure and
pressions created by these, it may be safely argued that a
salutary and regenerative process is working to some effect in
ordinary minds, and that if such means do not prove instru-
mental in kindling the superior virtues, they will, nevertheless,
have the effect of humanizing and softening the minds upon
which they are fortunate enough to operate, rendering their
possessors better members of society, and creating in them new
and more amiable capacities fur enjoying domestic and social life.
The various recitatives; airs, and choruses were for the moat
part very creditably executed, and the two leading trebles,
Mrs. Fentum and Miss Cubitt, who we believe, are professed
singers, were encored. A more smoothly melodious voice than
the former lady's, is perhaps, seldom to be heard, and in her
invitation song, " Men of Gaza," to come forth on the festival,
her voice was winning and volubly sweet. Miss Cubitt's is na-
turally pitched in a higher key, and had much of the clear ring-
ing of a lute. Of ,ma le voices, composing the -*choir itself,
it
may bewell to o "
. ye that some few should with advantage
DC more moderately telopered—straining after effect is always
bad, and it should be kept in mind, that the true mastery of
art lies in the concealment of art, so that, while the power of
the singer is felt and acknowledged, all study and exertion are
to'ally kept out of view. The performance altogether of these
two difficult oratorios and their accompaniments, however, as
performed by this• Society, avenlitreflect- credit on much more
practised musicians. Mr.. Pringle led, and Mr. F. S. Davis
conducted the movements with