The Sun.
London, England, 1842-01-14 00:00:00

~/Z~~

n~,oJ!_/

PRICE 5d

EDINB URG h ANTI-CORN-LA W
CONFERENCE.
This important CoUference commenced its sittings on
Tuesday forenoon, - at :eleven o'clock, in South College-
street Church. The number of members present
amounted to upwards of' 700. John \Vigilant, jun., Esq.,
was unanimously- called to the Chair, .and the meeting
was opened with prayer by the Rev. Dr. Peddle.
The CHAIRMAN said—lt was intended that my friend,
• Duncan M`Laren, should have been President, at this
first sederunt, but the death of a near relation has de-
prived this meeting of the presence of one of our most
talented citizens. To Duncan M`Laren the friends of
free trade and justice to all are indebted chiefly for the
constitution and arrangements connected with this meet-
ing, and not less to the labour he has bestowed in carry-
ing them, so far, into effect. The following gentlemen
had been invited to attend the sittings of this meeting:—
Charles •P. Villiers, Esq., M.P., Hobert Wallace, Esq.,
M.P., William Ewart, Esq., M.l'., R. Cobden, Esq., M.P.,
J. Hume, Esq., Joseph Sturge. Esq., G. ThompSon, Esq.
These gentlemen are all well known to entertain de•
tided sentiments in favour of free trade in general, and
opposed to all restrictions on the importation of corn in
particular. While I regret three of these gentlemen
have not been able to be present, from causes that will be
explained, yet it is cheering to Lind four of them are, or
intend to be present.—(Cheers.) Gentlemen, I have,
from the year 1815, when the first of these Corn-laws
was passed, felt that they were oppressing the poor,
and it has been truly heart-rending to think how the
hand-loom weavers and other operatives have been
ground down by them, being obliged to make goods at
prices, to compete with other countries, in all the mar-
kets of the world, while they are obliged to pay more
than one-third higher for their food. It is evident, also,
how much these laws stand in the way of a free exchange
of the various countries' productj, thus rendering em-
ployment scarce. Every year has witnessed increased
oppression from these laws, and matters" appear to
be drawing to a crisis—all parties begin to feel
that something must be done.—(Hear, hear.) Even
the robbers—of which I am one to a small ex-
tent—seem to be alarmed, probably under the idea,
:hat, if they do not change their course, the time will
conic when there will be few persons left to eat their
taxed food. Gentlemen, it appears to me that these
laws are nothing short of legalised robbery; they are
~onsolpiently immoral and sinful.—(Applause.) I am
sick of sliding scales and all scales. There is a man of
the name of Smith has been robbin' the country of bills
to the amount of some 300,000/. in the course of five
years—would you receive a proposition from him to the
effect that, as the way he has been accustomed to live is
expensive, you must not think of reducing his income all
at once—that he will be satisfied with a fixed income at
the rate of 100,0001. in five years, for the future?—
(Cheers and laughter.) If these laws are what I have
described them to be—as honest men—as Christians, we
can enter into no compromise. We- demand complete
justice—we can give our consent to nothing short of this.
We_ may not obtain this from the present Parliament,
but, no one knows how soon there may be a dissolution ;
let us, I implore you then, in the meantime, propagate
sound views among our neighbours, and thus prepare
them to make a general and firm stand at all points and
on every occasion
" For justice—equal justice to all."—(Cheer -.)
Mr. JAMES PEDDIE, W.S., moved the appointment of
a large Standing Committee, and said—Whatever credit
was due to their conduct, he felt it but justice to say,
• that it belonged entirely to Mr. Duncan M`Laren.
The motion was unanimously agreed to.
Letters from Mr. Cobden, M.P., Joseph Sturge, Esq.,
and the Rev. Dr. Wardlaw, were read, regretting their
unavoidable absence, and expressing the most cordial
wishes for the success of the Conference.
The Rev. Mr. MARSHALL, Coupar-Angus, rose to
move the first resolution :—"'That this meeting, com-
posed of persons belonging to different Dissenting deno-
minations, from all parts of Scotland, not attending as
the office-bearers or representatives of churches, but yet
truly representing the sentiments and feidngs of their
brethren in the quarters from which they come—are
of opinion that the Corn and Provision-laws are • op-
posed to the benevolent designs of our merciful Creator,
as manifested in those principles of our nature, which
prompt men to engage in traffic—in those laws of
social economies, which render of advantage a
division of labour,—and in that varied distribution of the
bounties of his Providence, arising from the diversity of
elitnatc, soil, and other timings, which enable one nation
to supply what is wanted by another, as well as opposed
to the just and perfect -precepts of his revealed Word,
'd tlAre wl, - • shall br tk

are thus an offence to _MI, who rci. _.. uo a film-shin:4 pop, its own ,eltish l'a. ,S Can 11.2!
pieces the oppressors,' and who bath said, Whoso most effectually sectured.—(Chers.) My resolution
Abutted' his ears at the cry of the poor, himself also shall speaks, sir, .4' oppression in g(neral ; and if there be a
cry, but shall not be heard.' " We do not attend here us book 'in earth which inure copiously and unequivocally
the office-bearers or representatives of churches. But than another denounces oppression, it is the Bible. Let
neither do we attend simply in the character. of citizens. its voice be heard, let its principles be imbibed, and the
We appear as Christian men and Christian ministers to oppressor will oppress no more—the tyrAnt will east his
;onsider chiefly the moral and religious bearings of the rod away, an learn to do justly and love mercy, we
question which has brought us together. A crisis in the are strong in the strength or these principles, awl they
history of the country has arrived to which the prudential must prevail.--(Applause.)
maxims that ordinarily guide us as Christian men and The Rev. Mr. LowE•of Forl'ar, moved the second
Christian ministers will not apply. The exigencies of the solution, That th:s meeling, composed as it is, consider
times have constrained us to depart from these maxims, it both their right and their duty to express their opinion
and, indeed, appear to us to pour contempt on all the of the injustice, impolicy, and immoral tendency, Of the
logic and casuistry by which adherents to them is sought Corn and Prevision-laws : ILIA< in a free State the laws
tribe enforced. The state of the country is most critical ought to be male for the equal advantage of all classes of
and alarming. Every branch of her manufactures and the community, and that it is alike unjust and impolitic
commerce has suffered unexampled depression ; depres- to legislate for thi benefit of the few to the detriment of
sion which it has baffled the wisest State -physician who the many : That this fundamental principle o legish"
has yet been "called in"—(A laugh)—to trace to tent- tion has been glaringly violated in these laws, wlri.,ll are
porary causes. Many houses in what used to be our the more unjust and oppressive, as-they were imposed,
most busy anti crowaed villages and towns are already and are continue 1, for the exclusive benefit of ti small
without inhabitants. Thousands upon thousands of our body of land owners, who are iidebted manly t o the ma-
population unrivalled for skill and industry, are nufactures and commerce of the country for the p.•osre-
thrown out of employment—are famishing for bread, city of agriculture, and thegreatly enbneed vane of
Their numbers -are their lamps ; and that these laws have not even the
and are subsisting on charity.
increasing from the ranks of those who are strug- apology that they are required for the Protection, or
gling hard, but in vain, to maintain an honourable, benefit, or the farmers, or agricultural potatlation ;" and
however poor an independence. Trade is fast leav- made similar statements as to the couditi in of the 1),(11,,
ing our country for more hospitable shores. Ruin, in to those which the Rev. Gentleman usage at Dunde,,, and
short, threatens us in our commercial and manufaetur- which appeared in The Sun on Wednesday 1 .st.
ing, and need I therefore say, in all our interests. Bailie Altus, of Greewtek ; Counsellor Bareder, of
Such is the posture of affairs, and I submit, that if ever Glasgow ; and Mr. Dawson, Editor of the Kaso
there was a time when the law of my adage Sales popu'i Chronicle, spoke in support of the resolution. The •
.mine into operation in all supremacy and force, the latter gentleman, in along and eloquent speech, quoted a.
present is that time. • On every one, be his station or number lit* instances Ordiminished trade and daety on
profession what it may, our country has now paramount the Borders, and in time ',rely agricultural de t. icts,
claims for all the influence he can constitutionally exert Mr. Wit. asi 1 loeE, farmer, East I...o:hian.—As
to save it—claims which the maxims that may properly grower of ;grain, a feeder of sheep an I oxen, I wish to
enough guide him in ordinary times would he a poor ex• proclaim to the public that I have no fear 11. r the ruin
cuse for resisting. We find that justice is findly violated ; of my order from the pale •taced work;ng vlasses of our
we find that the violation amounts to an absolute perver- mainif,tur:ng towns being permitted their just rights,
sion of the design of' Government ; we find that the in_ to exchange the produce of their industry for food raised
stitution of Govermnent, which is meant for the equal in foreign lands. B.it even if it could be proved that we
advantage of all classes of the community, is made the should at first sutler from the change, lam certain that
instrtunent of oppressing and peeling the many for the in the cad this case, as in all others, would still prove
benefit of the few.—(llear, and loud cheers.) Justice the truth of the old proverb, " Ihmesty is the best po-
says, " Let every man have his due." " No," licy."—(Cheers.) And I have yet to learn that it is
says the British Statute-book. " No," say British land- in harmony with that blessed volume, the source of
owners, who have too long had all but a monopoly of our happiness here and our hopes for tai hereafter,
13ritish legislation, as well as of some other things.— or in unison with any rational interpretation of those
(Hear, hear.) But what do the Corn and Provision-laws precepts of our Ileavenly Master where we are
do ? They trample on the dictates of Justice.—(lleac.) told it is 0111 duty to feed the hungry and to clothe
They say to the millions of our countrymen—" Invent the naked, still sternly to forbid the exchange it may be
and toil as you may, you shall go to no market with of the broad cloth of the 'merry manufacturer for the
your industry and enterprise, except what the landlords wheat grown by the skin clad .slivering Pole. And for
think it expedient for themselves to leave open to you ; what is this manifest injuatiee perpetrated ? Only to
and farther, that be the produce of your industry and add an additional dish or bottle to the already overloaded
enterprise what it may, you shall not eat, ay, you shall table of the landowner, that he, and those connected
not give a morsel to a starving neighbour, till a share of with him, may fare more sumptuously ; however much
the produce has been filched from you in the shape of a they mayaver that it is not so much for the landlord as
tax upon your bread to swell the landlords' rent-rolls." fur their tenants and labourers, that the system is kept
—(Cheers.) We have met to denounce a heinous up. But, Sir, how stands the case ? Does the foreigner
national. sin ; according to resolution first, and indeed really possess such a fertile land and genial clinic, as to
according to the spirit and tenour of all the resolutions, be able to undersell the British farmer in his own market,
by the Corn and Provision-laws we are as a nation fight- notwithst aniline. all his skill and science and boasted cu-
ing against God. We are counteracting his benevolent pital:: Ffoni all dint ever I could learn, die crops on the
and mereifUl designs. as these are variously intimated to Continent fit' Europe generally are seldom more than half
us. We are offendiwr him by the transgression—the those rais.td in this country. But that they can mist: more
legalised transgression—of the just and perfect precept than is absolutely ne!vessziry tor thew own wants is cer-
of his Word. Whitt these laws establish is iniquity in his tan', while we, on the vontrary; are unable to supply with
sight iniquity the it wanton, oppressive, cruel. food our rapidly increasing population—a population,
The most wanton, for if there be one class who have less which contains a largo proportion of individuals engaged
shadow of claim than another to a monopoly in their in Manufacturing goods for the foreign markets ; 'but
favour at the expense of all other classes, they are cer- our legislators in their wisdom have decreed that we
tainly the lords of the soil—(hear, hear)—iniquity the shall not receive for these goods the article most of all
most oppressive and cruel, as the wailing, and want, amid wanted, food for starving people, while it so happens
woe, with which it has at present filled the land, sadly that that food is almost the only thing they have to
testify. We have met to denounce this sin, to expose its offer us in exchange for the warm clothing which
heinousness, to express our own sense of it, and to do they so much require ; still the exchange is forbid.
all we can to call the nation's attention to it, and to per- Our continental brethren are coolly told to warm them-
suade it to rise and wash it away.—(llear and cheers.) selves as they best may from the biting odds of their
We have met to plead the cause of the poor. We severe winter, for British broad-cloths they shall
deeply sympathise with them. We fervently pray for have no e, nor shall we admit a bushel of their
them. As God has prospered us, "we deal our bread wheat into the kingdom until the famine shall be
to the hungry, clothe the naked, and hide not ourselves sore in .the laud—ay, until the landowing legislators,
from our own flesh." Our Christianity demands this; like Joseph of old, might compel the manufaCturers,
and I presume that all who are Christian—all who
.like the Egyptians of old, to sell themselves to them
are humane thus far approve and applaud us. for a mess of pottage, if personally they could he turned
Were we, as Christian men, Christian ministers, to he -to profit.--(great applause.) Butt leaving to others
silent ; nay, were we to decline active, energetic efforts more 34,4 e than I :tam to show how permanently lower
in such a cause and for such an object, it were a scandal prices tier grain would affect the different classes of so-
at. once upon our Christian and ministerial profession. I eiety, I will pnweed to show that it would have no effect
say active and energetic effort—for, slightly to alter die in throwing out of cultivation large tracts of land. thus
just or eloquent words of another upon this point, " to bringing ruin by depriving of employment both farmers
pr ay for the flunishing poor and not to act against the and ploughtnen, us has often been asserted by the advo-
monopoly which fitmishes them, is to serve _heaven in sates of the present law. Now, of all the arguments I
word and to insult in deed. On the ministers of reli- ever heard urged against the repeal of the bread-tax
};ion it devolved to vindicate the name from this prole- this lets always appeared to me the most futile. I ask,
nity." I consider the peace of the country and the safety is there danger of any of the Jinni running- away ?
of our institutions to be in peril—in imminent peril—and Surely not. And if at present the produce is sufficient
that the worst of all rebellions—as my Lord Bae,m to give tioal for the labourer, and leave a surplus to the
termed it —" a rebellion in the belly" (Laugh- landlord, what is to prevent it doing so;
oven if tho
ter)—if not soon and happily quelled—(Renewed laugh- nominal money value of the produce should be louvered ?
ter)—will inevitably lead to civil convulsion.—(Heer, In the county of East L ithian, where I reside and film,
hear.) And I ask, is it not humane, is it not Chris- I a great deal of the land is tally puce grass in
tian, is it not the part of Christian patriotism—does it , six yeai.,, and this is a rotation requirin., a larger
es-
not become us—does it not devolve upon us, asChris- penditure in money tend labour than if the grass were
tian men, and Christian ministers, to seek to have allowed to remain for more than one year. What do
such equitable and necessary changes constitutionally you think may be the actual outlay per acre in money
effected as, in the mercy of God, may avert the hor- nt carrying on the necessary operations of an average
rors of such at prospect ?—(Cheers.) farm, irrespective of the price of grain ? 111,y, not half-
The Rev. .jAs. li,. 11,1,GAIIN of Dundee, seconded the a-guinea per imperial acre. All ether charges and ex -
motion. We quote only the following brief extract 'tenses being regulated entirely and immediately by the
from his speech:—We cannot create tuxes, or extend the prices of grain. The landlord is paid his rent generally
surface of our island-home, or hid the' seasons smile; but i in wheat. The labourers receiva the bulk it their wages
we can exchange the benefits of art, for the bounties of 'in the produce of the farm, grass . for their eOws and
nature—we can lighten the load of human labour by the o specified quantities of the different kinds of grain. And
progress of mechanical discovery—we can multiply the it can make no difference to the farmer Mutt may he
comforts of mankind by the diffusion of our manufae- the nominal value of the hay and oafs raised by him.,
his horses and cattle. 1
tiwes—ave desire thus to relieve the wants of other lands self, and consumed by 'There are,
while we enrich our own. And who is the man that it is true, the tolls and expenses in taking form produce
would forbid this mighty enterprise, or command these to market, some money-wages to labourers, the
ate-
mighty pulsations of our community to cease? He must counts of the smith, the i wri6iit, and the saddler, besides

• -
EVENING SUN, 7

be reckless of consequences who would dare unduly:AO
compress ; n explosive principle like this. The spirit 0 —.'
..
‘.
commercial enterprise that has become the' oistress' ~ '.:,:ee
natural law and is summoning the elements • ..;:eitti • ~..,. .
to her pu poses, it is not likely to be drivel . , - „,,,,
A,.
'caudal frwns, er foolish enough to forge fetters for' her
own destruction.—(Cheers.) Her voice is lifting through;
out our land, and there is an insolentuess in her wiles
that will take no refusal, and a righteousness in her plea
that will accept no compromise, when she demands to
walk abroad in the liberty of her activity, and to prove
herself to oe• he benetactor of the species.—(Applause.)
But there is a higher view of this question, and a loftier
authority to decide it. If it had been a more subject
of fiscal regulation and commercial codes, it W0111(1 net
have seduced so many of us from our homes, and we
would have been content to leave it to the conflicts of
faction, or the decision of enlightened discussion.—( Hear.
hear.) But it is a question of truth—of justice—a f
humanity—of religion ; and God, the Sovereign Judge
of nations, makes himself a party to its settlement. Ii is
%Void speaks decisively upon it. Why are rn it i tit tales of
our country not forward in this movement, but because
they have overgrown it ? They have I e.,;tin to search
deeper than their grievances, to their cause ; they have
learnel Leib is of sell-reliance, and are sternly applying
the ineasula.-line ofjustice to all our institutions, so that
they look scornfully at secondary appliances, aid breathe
ta.eepluinrgpos.oe of extensive
fthesei eli
nonwellt.tngies. appreciate
leekilauw the
tteth ethl,lbalbeits and
virtue
and piety of many of them; I deeply sympathise with
their suilWegs and their wrongs. I see their 'maws every
year stripping of comfort, and themselves sinking from
society into abasement and shame—(Cries of " Hear,
hear")—and I have shuddered at the horrid truth, as I
have heard them say, " We have struggled with po-
verty until hope has died within us, and we have learned
to form friendship with despair. Starvation is scaring
all religious sentiments within, us. It is curdling tle
flame even of natural affection in our bosoms ; and chil-
dren are born to us with regret, and we bury them with
a feeling of relief.—(llear, hear.) What care we for the
land of our fathers, when it w:ll not pi-evict! bread for
our
.industry, nor allow us even to purchase a tomb in
it ?" But, I ask, is a country sae which contains
smouldering elements like these ? Let opp:es?ors be-
ware. They may trifle for awhile with hinnan rights
and feeliegs ; they may find it their interest ta litiVii
demagogues wile ,shall van off the attention of the
multitudes figs a moment from their more urgent op-
pressions ; but shall this tampering long c.nt tine ? 1
read, but once that the blinded met bondazed Sampson
was called in to make sport for the Lards o:' the Philis•
tines, but history can tell what was the frightful issue of
these lordly oppressors.—(Load and long-continued
applause.) The cause of righteousness must triumph
there may be a temporary recoil in th,,, wave of the ad-
vancing tide, but we rest confident in his promise, "ve
shall eat and be satisfied, and praise the name of the
Lord."—(Loud applause.)
The Rev. JOHN KENNEDY of Aberdeen said, amongst
other things—One of the first lessons which children re-
ceive in geography is, that there are certain divi: ioas of
the globe which are called zones, the torrid, the tem-
Perate, the frozen. They soon learn that each zone pos-
sesses its characteristic productions—offers of its own to
iittisiltittetetitiloi,e,t,litisseirt,tisinit,ititle.
latitudelildrra edaskst:i
stti hi oil
have
thus
at
lii theirs
else
theirisbt:-s in
distinctivereturn. Evenso ls . eaont ,an tprri
oe s.
lreesas(iingms,er
adliprivations.
.. It
lands, spring
from the. same origin, pressed wi.h the .acne gt neeill
wants, su iceptible of the same comforts, and subject to
the same Govermnent. They are one family, thou. h
divided and scattered ; and it is the ' obvious
design of. their Great Father, not that each member
should be limited to the products of his Own location,
bat that, so far as the freest interchange can effect it,
they should have all things common. We find, in addi'..
awl to this, that the Creator has bestowed an immense
variety of gifts and dispositions on men, to enable them
to elicit the elually various means of support and enjoy-
ment with which his works are stored. And when the
treasures of creation have been opened, we find the
means of transferring them front land to landd at our
door. We real in prophecy of golden days to come—
and what are their characteristics ? Swords shall be
convened into ploughshares, and spears into pruning,
11,4)6 —the implements of war into the imp'ements of
peace—war at an end, because the unit* passions.
from which it flews shall be dried up. But does the
same destruction away maim factures and ce anmeree ?
Are they, too, doomed ? And shall men everywhere
return to the simple labours of the field ? Far from
it. The characteristic employments an 1 resources of
every land, tli . most various and the most dis.-
btt, shall be converted to the serikce of the
Church. The abundance of the sea, the forces
Of the Gentiles, time dro:redaries of Alidian and
Ephall—yea, and the ships I4* TarSiiiSh thenve:ves, shall
all oniniso r to a renovated world.—(Cheers.) And
in this certain prospect we have the proof of their le‘i-
aimiwy, their protection from the assaults of misguided
men. Alv resolution, Sir, describes the Corn-laws- as
opposed to the precepts of Revelatien. And we con-
ceive that our Core-laws, the fruit of unequal and selfish
legislation, are as distinctly ino' uled beneath this bun as
'lO conduct 4)1 the man who will not open his warehouses
f-- ' ib' ,ff ~,,lc, till I,' -Itisl7 1.

-