The Sun.
London, England, 1842-12-31 00:00:00

exerti ; but it is this relying on a law that can be
repealed at any time which prevents us from improv-
ing our land in the manner we ought ; and this is the
cause why so much of the land is in the state de-
scribed—wanting cu:tivation." They knew they
could have as much money for a small as for a large
crop under the present system, and therefore no
improvements were attempted ; but when they saw
they had an interest in having abundant crops great
improvements would be made in agriculture, as great
improvements had been made in manufactures. It

was manifest, then, that the law must be repealed. He
knew that a great struggle would be made to have a
fixed duty, but this, while it would relieve the com-
mercial interests, would operate very injuriously to
the labouring classes. He knew that the manufac-
turing population were just, that they wished not to
do any injustice to the landed interest, but he durst
say that many had felt rather cool in advocating the
cause, believing that the total repeal would operate
injuriously to the labouring classes. So far, however,
from this being the case, it was clear to demonstra-
tion that it must be a great benefit to the labouring
classes, because cheapness and plenty of food must
always be a great blessing to all classes. Some had
said that, if we imported large quantities of corn from
foreign countries, land in England would thereby be
thrown out of cultivation ; but, if 1,000,000 of acres
should happen to be thrown out of cultivation, a tax of
4d. a quarter would pay all the labourers employed
on that 1,000,000 of acres ; and yet a tax of Bs. had
been sought as a source of proteetion, when 4d.
a quarter would pay all the labourers employed on
1,000,000 of acres.—(Loud cheers.) Many were
also saying that the League wanted too much, for-
getting that the law was unjust, that the tax ought
never to have been imposed, and that it could not he
unjust to take it off. The farmers were saying, "If
it is to be removed, remove it at once, and don't let
it be done by degrees." He had heard of one farmer
being asked whether he would have a total or gradual
repeal, to which he (the farmer) replied, " Look at
that sheep ; if you intend to cut off that sheep's tail,
don't cut it off an inch at a time, but cut it all off at
once."—(Laughter and cheers.) Others were argu-
ing that it could not be taken off all at once, forget-
ting that it had been put on all at once.—(Hear,
hear.) It was plain, then, that all the arguments in
favour of the law were futile, and that they had been
repeatedly refuted. It only required that the people
should be earnest, that they should come forward
unitedly, and endeavour to impress on the Legisla-
ture the importance of repealing the law, which was
unsettled at present, and the sooner it was repealed
the better. Great calamity had been brought on the
country by the injustice of such a law, but when it
should be repealed all other monopolies would speed-
ily be removed.—(Cheers.)
Mr. D. AINSWORTH seconded the motion of thanks,
which was carried.

The meeting then adjourned until Thursday next,
when it was announced that Mr. Villiers, M.P., would
deliver an address.

THE NATIONAL UOMPLET
SUFFRAGE CONFERENCES,
BIRMINGHAM, FRIDAY EVENING..-The Complete
Suffrage section of the Conference "went into Com-
mittee last night, upon the "People's Bill." To
save time, in the course of the proceedings it was
suggested by the chairman, that it would be best that
the Secretary, Mr. Morgan, should read the marginal
index to the provisions of the Bill, and that any mem-
ber having any amendment or amendments to propose,
should state so when the provision which was wished
to be amended was read. This was agreed to, and
they went at once to consider the various details of
the proposed Bill.
The Chartists being absent, and engaged at the
Mechanics' Institution in amending and perfecting the
Charter, the discussion in the Sturgeite department of
the Conference appertained chiefly to mere matters of
detail.

One portion only of the discussion is .worthy of
notice. A delegate introduced a clause in "the
People's Bill," in which it was proposed to render any
gentleman in "holy orders" ineligible to sit in Par-
liament.
The Rev. Dr. RITCHIE strongly objected to the
clause. As for holy orders, he knew nothing about
them; and as for "stripping off gowns," he could only
say he never, in the whole course of his life, wore one
upon his shoulder. The only gown he knew much of
was worn by his wife—(Loud laughter)—while at
the same time he (Dr. Ritchie) would answer for it
that he at all times and upon all occasions when at
home, wore the breeches.—(Roars of laughter.)
The clerical party succeeded in their objections, and
" the Conference " then proceeded to discuss the re-
maining provisions. The whole discussion went off
very smoothly.
The meeting adjourned until four e' 4. this after-
noon, when, the Bill being settled, , proposed to
make arrangements with a view to ate; ~c the country,
by public meetings, in support of the People's Bill of
Rights.
The Chartists equally " purpose " to counteract this
" Suffrage" agitation, by an agitation, in support of
the People's Charter.
The Chartist delegates, having spent last night in
going through "in Committee several clauses of
the People's Chartf4," met again this morning in the
Mechanics' Institution. In accordance with a reso-
lution of the Executive Committee, strangers 'were
admitted to witness the proceedings in the space below
the bar.
Before the regular business of the day commenced,
Mr. ROBERTS, of Bath, rose for the purpose of sub-
mitting a motion relative to the course pursued by
the Members of the Complete Suffrage Union, in
withdrawing themselves from the National Conference,
when they were defeated in the attempt to foist their
Bill on the Chartists. Mr. Roberts considered this
secession as an unworthy desertion by the Sturgeites
of their duty to their country, and he was probably
the more induced to bring forward the present motion
against them, which is equivalent to a vote of censure,
on account of the desire evinced by Mr. Vines, at
the meeting of the Complete Suffrage Union, to
arrogate to the Sturge section exclusively the
title of the National Convention. Mr. Roberts pre -
faced his motion by stating that the Complete
Suffrage Union had been guilty of a breach of faith.
The members of that union invited the people to
" elect representatives to hold a National Conference
at Birmingham on Tuesday, the 27th of December,
1842, for the purpose of preparing a Bill to be sub-
mitted to Parliament for securing the just represen-
tation of the whole people; and for determining on
such peaceful, legal, and, constitutional means, as may
cause it to become the law of these realms ;" and yet
when the people's representatives assembled together
they were called upon not to prepare a Bill them-
selves, but to receive a Bill already prepared by others.
—(Cheers.) For his part he would never have con-
sented to sacrifice the money of his constituents if he
had been told that,he must submit to such a degrada-
tion as that.—(Hear.) He concluded by proposing a
long resolution, giving an account of the proceedings
of the Chartist and Sturge parties at the Conference,
and terminating by declaring that the Complete Suf-
frage Union had, in the course they pursued, "evinced
a want of good faith and honest purpose."
Mr. F. O'CoNNoa. seconded the resolution.
Mr. LOVETT wished the resolution had not been
proposed, as it was calculated to produce irritation and
hostility between the two parties—results which he
deprecated. He thought it was understood that the
Chartists and the Complete Suffrage Union were
working for the same object ; if not together, at least,
as had been observed by one of that body, " in parallel
lines ;" and he reminded the Conference that they had
already given an unanimous vote of thanks to Mr.
Sturge.—(Hear, hear.) He moved that the words
" want of good faith and honest purpose" be omitted
from the resolution.
Dr. WADE regretted the division which had taken
place, and would do nothing to increase it. The
Chartists and the Complete Suffrage Union might
move towards the same point by different roads.
A delegate near the bar cried out that the Sturge
party had left the Conference in a, sneaking way.
Mr. F. O'CoNNoR said, with respect to the vote of
thanks to Mr. Sturge, he supported it, being ready to
acknowledge his services as Chairman, but reserving
the right to discuss his conduct in seceding.—
the Chartist delegates had
b(CeeheendresltedSP,uapnrigtnhen had left the Conference,
would they not have been stigmatised as factious
(Hear, hear.) Was not the course pursued by the
party a gross violation of good
faith
?—(Hear, Complete
hear.)e
Their object was to get the
control of all the proceedings of the Conference, not
for the purpose of pushing forward principles, but for
the purpose of pushing the leaders of the people out of
their present position.—(Cheers.) After the country
had spent 2,0001. in sending them there, they could
not separate without expressing an opinion on these
points.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. PATRICK O'HIGGINS (the chairman) regretted
that the resolution had been proposed. File did not
wish to rip up old grievances. As a proof of the li-
berality of the views of the seceding party, he men-
tioned that a motion proposed with the view of
disfranchising paupers for three months after receiving
relief met with no support there ; while in that hall
the division had been nearly equal on a similar question.
At the request of Mr. LOVETT,
Mr. ROBERTS consented, but with much reluctance,
to omit from his resolution the words " want of good
faith and honest purpose," and to substitute " want of
good taste." He said he felt great repugnance to
concede to Mr. Lovett, for " he didn't like to be frivo-
lised away to nothing in that manner."
Mr. LOVETT said he could now agree to the resolu-
tion as a statement of facts.
The resolution thus amended was carried unani-
mously, and the rest of the morning was consumed in
considering the People's Charter" in Committee.

UNANSWERABLE.--Why should a teetotaller never
have a wife ? Because he cannot sup porter.