The Sun.
London, England, 1842-11-23 00:00:00

less, that the people had to give for food, the more they
could give in the payment of taxes and the purchase of
clothing ; and these benefits would act reciprocally.
—(Applause.) Sir R. Peel had said he was not pre-
pared to adopt all the views of Mr. J. D. Hume—let
him,be asked wherein Mr. Hume was wrong.—(Hear,
hear.) It was lamentable that the Prime Minister of
England could not give a candid statement of what
his views really were ; it appeared inconsistent with
sound morality. Sir Robert- Peel was very
measured in his language, and he did not say he was
not prepared to approve, but was not prepared to
adopt all the views of Mr. Hume. Sir Robert had made
some progress, and his further progress depended on
the voice of the people. He had done much, more
than might have have been in the power of any other
man at this moment; and the fault lay at their own
doors, if he did not adopt all the views of Mr. J. D.
Hume.—(Applause.) It was most mysterious that
such blindness had been permitted to fall on the rulers
of the nation, and such apathy on the people. The
eclipse that had been long foretold, had begun to
come over the prosperity of this country. Unin-
structed people had imagined, on seeing the moon
eclipsed, that a monster had run away with the lumi-
nary, and what was a fallacy in their case was a
fearful reality in ours—for the monster monopoly
threatened to destroy the very vitals of the country.
Let them be encouraged by what had passed ; their
shouts had broken the gloom ; he hoped they would
continue to raise them till the obscurity entirely
vanished, and the prosperity of Britain shone forth in
all its former splendour; and they should never for-
get that it remained with themselves to do that.—
(Cheers.) The axiom " knowledge is power," was
never proved more sound than on this occasion. It
was impossible for the community to be acquainted
with the real state of the case, and not provide a
remedy ; and the object of the League and of that
meeting was to make them so acquainted. This
could not be accomplished without means, they could
not instruct a whole nation, but at considerable ex-
pense, but the result would be worth any labour or
expense they could be called upon to bestow.—(Loud
cheering.) In the confident expectation that these
evils would be removed,. and that it was the design of
God to make this nation the instrument in his hand
for spreading the knowledge of truth throughout all
the globe—our merchants being the handmaids of
religion—(Applause)—let them be most unremitting
in their exertions until the object was accomplished.
—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. T. ASHTON, of Hyde, Le conded the motion,
which was carried with applause.
Mr. E. GRUNDY, of Bury, moved " That this meet-
ing hereby expresses its sense of the invalable services
which the National A nti- Corn-law League has ren-
dered to the cause of free trade, and is anxious to give
to the League its best co-operation, until the great
object it has in view be achieved ; and in order to
enable the League to make renewed and increased
exertions, a subscription in aid of the League Fund
be now commenced, and that the following gentlemen
be appointed a Committee to canvas Manchester and
the surrounding districts."—(Here followed a list of
about 50 names.)
Mr. R. Mumv, of Bacup, seconded the resolution,
and said, as he wanted to encourage the League, he
would tell them what he meant to give. He would
give 2501. for himself; and he would state that his
reason for doing it was a fear lest he should lose all
the rest of his property if trade were not relieved.
Sir T. POTTER addressed the meeting, and an-
nounced his intention to contribute to the fund,
though he should be unable, from age, to canvas for
subscriptions.—(The resolution was carried with ap-
plause.)
The CHAIRMAN said those were all the resolutions.
He thought some gentlemen of the League ought to
return thanks for the very handsome manner in which
the gentlemen around him had come forward.—
(Cries of "Cobden, Cobden.")
Mr. COBDEN, who was received with loud acclama-
tions, said he felt very happy in having deputed to
him the honour of returning thanks to the meeting,
and to Mr. Munn in particular, for their vote of
thanks to the Anti-Corn-law League, and for the
munificent donation which the seconder of the reso-
lution had given. Nothing could be a greater tri-
bute to the body of men composing the Anti-Corn-
law League, and its council, than to find their con-
duct approved by such a meeting as that, comprising,
as it did, more of the wealth and intelligence of the
district than any he had seen assembled on such an
occasion before.—(Applause.) He saw before him in
that room the sinews of Lancashire, and the very hope
and mainstay of the country.—(Cheers.) The Anti-
Corn-law League was eminently their league—it was
grounded four years ago, at a meeting similar to that
held at the York Hotel, when subscriptions were en-
tered into amounting to about 6,0001., for the
purpose of carrying on the agitation to effect
the repeal of the Corn-laws.—(Cheers.) He con-
gratulated them upon the good return they had re-
ceived for that investment.—(Applause.) Everybody
would agree that, tested by the progress-of public
opinion—and that was the only way in which they
would look for success in their efforts—this great
question of the Corn-laws and free trade in
general, had made greater progress during the last
four years since they had embarked their capital and
exertions in the cause, than it had done in any twenty
years previously.—(Applause.) That agitation had
spread ; it had become not merely Manchester or
Lancashire, but a national agitation; it had not be-
come merely the agitation of the day ; it had become
embedded as it were in the national proceedings of
our country ' • it had become historical.—(Applause.)
It was now before the world, and the sound of its
voice was ringing through the Press, from,one end of
the civilised world to the other.—(Applause.)
They stood committed, therefore, by their power,
efforts, and their present pledges, to the
good fight, with the world's eye upon them, and his-
tory waiting to record the efforts they might make,
and the result of their exertions ; 'and he thought he
knew enough of his fellow-countrymen, and Lan-
cashire men in particular, to be assured that having
once embarked in such a strife, knowing the object to
be good, and feeling that they had the approbation of
the wise and good in all parts of the world, they would
not turn back, but would go on to victory.—(Hear.)
Their agitation had enlarged the basis on which they
had founded their arguments, and their appeals had
enlarged still more. They had commenced on a nar-
row ground ; they began the agitation for the repeal
of the Corn-laws, because they saw rivals springing
up in neighbouring countries, threatening to injure
them in their own immediate pursuits. They had
enlarged the object of their agitation greatly since
then. Every succeeding discussion had opened out new
fields to encourage them to proceed, not merely as
manufacturers, but as citizens of the world, and as
philanthropists.—(Applause.) The question of the
Corn-laws had grown to be, not only a manufactur-
er's, trader's, or merchant's question, but one affecting
the welfare and interest of every industrious class in
the community. It was recognised as not merely
affecting the material or physical wants of the people,
but was bound up with their religious and moral well-
being.—(Applause.) Fortunately they had outgrown
the charge made against them, that they were com-
bating for their own special interests against other
great interests. They were now recognised by those
who had studied the question the best, and as being
opposed to no just interests.—(Loud cheers.) They
advocated not merely their own rights and interests,
but those of the agriculturists as well.—(Applause.)
Members of the agricultural community were cham-
pions of their cause, and took as deep an interest in
the question as any one in that room. He would men-
tion such men as Lord Radnor, Lord Kildare,
Lord Ducie, Lord Clanricarde, Earl Fitzwilliam,
and their worthy Chairman, who was also a landlord.
—(Loud cheers.) On the ground, therefore, of the
agricultural, as well as the manufacturing interest,
they claimed support. They were now, as it were,
beginning the agricultural view of the question, as
there had hitherto been but little discussion on the
bearing of free trade on agriculture ; and he ven-
tured to predict, that before another twelvemonth
passed over, the very strongest ground for advocating
free trade would be its overpowering benefits to the
agricultural interest themselves.—(Loud applause.)
Such being their position, he asked the assembly to
renew their pecuniary contributions in the cause of
free trade. They had given the League their confi-
dence, he hoped they had deserved it.—(Applause.)
They did not ask for approbation of every individual
step that had been taken by the Council of the League.
He could not ask them to approve every indi-
vidual act of his personal existence, much
less the individual act of an aggregate
body such as the Anti-Corn-law League. In all
agitations of that kind mistakes would be made ; and

every candid person must make up his mind to set
aside a certain quantity of errors and mistakes of
judgment that might occur • but he hoped 'sincerely
that the general scope of their efforts and means by
which the Anti-Corn-law League sought to accom-
plish their object was such that they might fairly lay
claim to the approbation of every candid and generous
mind.—(Cheers.) The means they had pursued,
improved by experience, chastened, he would admit,
by the admonitions and censures of their enemies,
were the means they should still pursue.—(Cheers.)
They hoped to carry the repeal of the Corn-laws by
enlightening the great body of the people, by appeal.
ing to that portion of the community which held the
destinies of the empire in its hand—the electoral boav
of the kingdom. If they had had means they should
have done this long ago ; but they now proposed to pay
a direct and personal visit to every elector in the Bri-
tish empire, to place in his hands the truths and evi-
dences which all had at their disposal in Manchester,
showing the injurious effects of the Corn-laws upon
every interest in the community. The munitions were
ready ; they lay imbedded in our Magazine and Par-
liamentary reports, and other sources; and they only
wanted the money to give condensations and abstracts
of them to every elector in the kingdom ; and with
aid, that should be done
their aid, send the nation's

within the next six months.—(Applause.) Let no one,.
suppose that this was a remote and tedious process of
arriving at their end, and that it would require years
in order to effect a change in their present representa-
tion, and carry the repeal of the Corn-laws. No
Prime MiniSter in this country dared hold the reins
of power n moment longer than the electoral body
were kn4vri, to entertain decided views on any
question, no:, matter what their views might
have been three years ago, the same as be.
professed.—(Loud cheers.) With our complex 'el?cl
somewhat unmanageable system of representation in
this country, we had' always this adage at heart, that
we must have a Prime Minister who has a character
at stake in the history of his country, and whose
talents and moral weight are essential to enable him
to fill such an office ; and we had this guarantee, that
from the moment the public opinion had decided in
favour of any measure, it was not the mere aumerical
strength he might court in votes in the House, not
by having a majority of supporters sent up from
small boroughs or packed counties, that would induce
him to risk his character and honour with posterity
by maintaining such a position. From the moment
Sir Robert Peel knew that the Government COn.
stituencies, the influential classes, were with them
for the repeal of the Corn-laws and the establishment
of free trade he would be with them also.— (Cheer!)
He would only add, without wishing to disparage the
efforts of other districts, that to Manchester and to.
Lancashire generally, would be due the honour 0!
primarily carrying on the agitation which should lad
them to victory; and now, when the nation at lard's
were sending in their contributions, and crowding .
enrol themselves in the muster-roll of the League, he
called on those present to maintain the position which
their former exertions had acquired for them, and i
to
n
give that aid which would enable them, he Sincere.e
1Y
hoped, to strike a death-blow at monopoly within .11
next twelve months.—(Hear, hear.) And then, vattub:
out wishing to disparage other portions of the cou
try, he should say that the honour of this victory
_
would primarily rest with Manchester and its iron'
diate neighbourhood.—(Loud,applause.)
The CHAIRMAN said he believed there was no °theor
resolution to be proposed, but if any gentleman lisd be
to say a few words no doubt the meeting would
glad to hear him.—(Loud calls of " Bright")f.
prd
Mr. JOHN BRIGHT, of Rochdale, camie cr:rip-
amidst great cheering, and gave an animated de-
tion of the spirit with which this great rn";aTfor•
under the auspices of the League, was now g. every
ward. He said meetings were getting 01)!TI e•ci. of
town in the kingdom to raise subscriptions in al
ncii
the Great League Fund. On the books of the Cou
day
there were at this time meetings down for every
in the month, and nearly every day brought in :•",_a;
ments that others were being appointed, th t
parties were being got up, or requesting that lest
Urr
might be sent. Their letters gave an account
spirit of enthusiasm which was manifesting
kindtse!_
every direction—exceeding everything of the the )
they had heard of in Manchester before.--(APP.lausn
If the Corn-laws were not realed it was their ow r 5
faults. He wrote a letter tot he Manchester kaPet,
three years ago stating so, and telling the mer°"°oo
and manufacturers that the gentlemen meetingrty
Props the Manchester Exchange, whose trade and pro.,
were at stake, that if they chose they could oarrib,
repeal of these laws against all the powers in Ar
kingdom which could be arrayed against them.--4003,
notq e question," ieo n
raised,
plause.) It had been justly said that "it was ill
'alidonif
look for it.—(Hear, hear.) It was folly then t? ~,04
tmhaotneEyxcwhearnegew,anting, it 11., CO'
on 'Change and pull long faces, and complain `w,
trade was bad. He repeated that it was in their own
power to remove at once every shackle 'that beulll
their trade, and one of the best ways to do that wri
to subscribe to the League Fund. The League
At ask to lead them ; it only wanted their ce-°Pedraii
tion and aid in the exertions they were making, 21,1,i,0
they cared one farthing for the prosperity and weliad,.
of the district in which they resided, or for the tra ir.
where might they
on which it depended, to come forward and give weof
assistance.—(Applause.) As to the distribution
the fund, and the application of it, he would 113;17,
them to bear in mind that every contributor of ft;
was, by its rules, a member of the Council, and
he thought was a sufficient guarantee of the di'lflo-
terestedness of the League as to the expenditure f,t
the money, and of their wish to apply it in the h.es
possible manner.—(Applause.) As to
tion now going forward, he might mention that it
the intention of the Committee to canvass every ware"
house and works in the neighbourhood during tre
week for subscriptions. They would proba:bj`-iits ~,,,re
aware that all throughout the country Pajt,
out, or would soon be out canvassing. .1-te .1-ty he
Accrington on the preceding night (Mon'aity), which
found that arrangements had been made by vfluer
not a single house would be omitted.—(Hear, heal
and applause.) Similar arrangements were making„g
Rochdale, the same at Coventry. Coventry,
totbhhfl blessed
rsyssuaeifdmno
net.,
ruin
with
nhe
narnt
uponprotectiveand others
s"protectionens bt reeahyd
tneh,(i-•:et r
eb( Lei
teawntuwhigtleolhhiunteslegidir )bst
brims
o
tend their hands and help them from the dangerr,,
(Applause) In conclusion, Mr. Bright pointed
1""
attention of the manufacturers to the distressed '',
workmen, threatened with the same fate,,
dition of the people around them, and of their ow-,
and jai
plored them, as the only men who had the power, °
step between them and the ruin which must a°°ll-
inevitably crush them to the earth. His own
of the necessity of the repeal of the Corn4aws wasit
fws
rt
ear
eor
could
sg
give
tihohvet
ea tohhbheai elefchwt
or. would uualg(di
Alh
brought
thepa
aboutyi a ucsaen propertyd
withoutd ly ,uif e
theret hip
ote s
sthh oe s e
de:
714
7toni
necessity for a man to give half, or for one Toll
sgeirviehee.venHea
wcaosnshiadpepryablteo pstoartteiotnhaitf
faolrl
hwhvouseldif,natra.a.
hfauttheert,haenirdqburootthzrasntdhathtehehyeggewerde
tw.nilslainyg to ea-a-reit'
would now give 300/.—(Loud applause.) teat. "
Ana the.Y
amidst considerable applause, and
would give a further subscription if it was warn-,mrd
The MAYOR of Manchester next came forty he
was sure but a sense of deep seated wrong coulmorn,
called and kept them there so long on Tuesday ~in
ing.—(Hear, hear.) Their worthy Chairman hhaaut
troduced him as the Mayor of this borough ;
was not in that capacity, let it be understood, heliere
peared before them on this occasion. He Came tof
as an old inhabitant of the town—as a merchan big
Manchester--as an individual who had sPentod
whole life, and earned whet prosperity°sv doge
amongst them • and he came here as he 115,-;,,hin
before to enter 'his protest against those laws wn-theit
said_Nothingoe
his opinion were inflicting wrong and ruin ullaMed
common country.— (Cheers.) He might be .o.ht
for appearing there to-day.--(No, no, no.) ft Taigsibt
be said that he at least, on account of his office,
cup-
tt tion o
nb e silento
any ; but
municipal h had yetoffie
et o learnsoh
should pyrevthenet°c.stillioui7
from 'expressing his sincere and honest convictions,
—(Hear, hear, hear.) In favour of those couv'c
anc-
which he believed both humanity
either
tioned, justice s.,her
g his op
tioned, to shrink from expressin •
ioions dice--
now or at any other time would be e°‘var hear.)
to abandon them would be baseness.—(llear:, .
He did not appear before them for the first time
o' roe
had always lent what feeble efforts he could "'bfish-
mote the abolition of these laws and the estfer the
meat of entire freedom of commerce all °' for
world. It was because he was deeply concern could
the maintena4ce.pf peace and order, because iTsi and
not but deprecate:the annihilation of the e,aPot see
trade of this district,—because he could I" __and
our honest and industrious shopkeepers rain': f the
that he could not listen in apathy to the cry ocither
fatherless, the widow and the poor, who wereitution-
actually starving or sinking into a state of destd
those
and who had no helper save such as himself 311,into
around him, that he appeared before this me' iyjuch
express his decided disapprobation of these laws , v.-
lay at the foundation of the present distress.";k;
plause.) He had always endeavoured to exPre lowa
opinion upon all subjects with temperance; be
he should ever continue to do so ; because intemc;ei
ance and violence were not necessary to the adv
be the
of justice and humanity, and he never woul- bleb
man to join in any. declaration of sentiment :tow_
need to inflict pain upon the minds of his fenonv
countrymen. lie sincerely believed that not lY
the commercialist but the agriculturist Was 'eL'e'll,
concerned in this question, and it was as
wisher to both that he trusted Government
soon see the necessity of repealing these laws.
friend Mr. Elkanah Armitage had handed h',nl
scription which he would now hand to .Their
Chair-
man—(Applause)—alon with a su"Jscr;_ption for hi,"l,/,,
self and firm--(Renewedapplau;ie)—and he trust; ,
that every gentleman present woeild do all in
power to promote this great Cause in the same wal'ot
Mr. THOS. ASHTON, of Hyde, said he would 11he
say, like a certain Alde the
war, in London, during _,e
war, that they must apend their last guinea to sa'
t the
the remainder—(La,-aghter)—but believing tha
e,..,
time had come for the'expenditure of a part of tr.
to
property to save the rest, he should be very happy
put down his name for 200/.—(Cheers.)
Ald. Bnooics said it was not now a time to make
long speeches—it was the money that was wanting.---:
(Cheers and laughter.) He came with a litindre
pounds in his mind, but he had heard of one geni,•
man putting down his 2001., and another gentkina
3001., and he would put down his 3001. too.—{l,o.lla•
cheers.) He had heard Mr. Bright talking of the'
necessity of giving his 3001. towards saving his trades,
and if Mr. Bright thought his business va.4 w
3001. to save it, he (Mr. Brooks) thought his otitk
was worth an equal sum.—(Hear, hear, and applan
When any of them were ill, they at once sent -tor,..
the doctor to cure them. Our trade was
not send the doctor to that ?—(Hear, hear.) Ile d
not care what doctor they employed—whether ,f,
Tamworth doctor or any other—(Hear, hear)—intil.
fees were wanting, he would sooner give his 3,0,vy
or 5,000/. rather than the cure should be withbel°'