The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-20 00:00:00

ANTI-CORN LA.W CONFERENCE.

. . . .
The Delegates re-assembied at Twelve o'clock yester-
day at: the King's Arms, Palace-yard. P. A. Taylor,
11loq., in the Chair.
'1 he COAIRMAN opened the proceedings by reading
the following address of the Loyal National Repeal
ASseciation of Ireland, to the members of the. Anti-
Corn-law Conference in London :
Committee-room, Corn Eiehange, Dublin,
July 15, 184'2.
Gentlemen—lt affords the Irish people no small satisfaction
to offer you the tribute of their approbation and praise, for the
energy with which you have sought for the repeal of the Corn-
laws—laws the most oppressive and monstrous that ever die.
graced any code, Christian or lnfidel—laws too bad even
for any class of unbelievers laws founded upon a
principle manifestly repugnant to, and directly contra-
dictory of, the most sacred doctrines of Christian charity.
It excites sorrow and indignation to find that in any
civilised country there should exist a law to tax the food of the
multitudinous poor, for the exclusive benefit of a small class of
landholders. It would be iniquitous policy to tax the food of the
lahonring classes by a taxation levied for the benefit of the en-
tire State ; but it is truly wicked that the food of the starving
prow should be enhanced in price without any benefit to the
state, and fur the sole profit of a comparatively small and very
avaricious class, composed of the monopolising aristocracy.
'f his we loudly proclaim to be an atrocious unpolicy, almost
unendurable, and imperatively demanding immediate legisla-
tive redress. In your struggles to obtain such re-
dress, we offer you the heartfelt sympathy and cordial
support and assistance of the petiole of Ireland—a
people tranquilly but fixedly devoted to tho carrying
out the great principle of liberty, religious, civil, and commer-
viol. But while we thus offer you our support atter assistance,
and duly appreciate your exertions for the repeal of the Corn-
laws, we cannot but anxiously deplore that you have not placed
your exertions for that repeal on a broader, • and we think, a
wiser basis of practical utility. We exceedingly regret that
you should confine your patriotic exertions to that subjeo; alone
—we doubly regret that you have not directed your views, a.;.!1
employed your great powers to promote also the extension of
the Parliamentary suffrage, so that every adult male, unde-
graded by fatuity, and unstained by crime, may have his just
right to vote for a Representative in Parliament, recog-
hised and enforced. We do not mean to say, or to insi-
nuate, that you ought] to relax, much less to give up
your exertions to obtain a repeal of the Corn-laws; but we do
say that you might easily, and, as matter of right judgment that
you ought, combine with your exertions for the repeal of the
Corn-laws, ahealthy agitation toobtainthat right of voting o hicks
is called by some " Complete Suffrage," and by others " Uni-
versal Suffrage." Recollect, we conjure you, that the present
Parliament consists of class legislators, t hey belong to one class,
the aristocracy of wealth ; and whether they have obtained their
seats, as many of them have certainly done, by coercion and
corruption in the agricultural districts, orby bribery, debauchery,
and perjury in many towns and cities, yet the result is, that
the Parliament instead of being the representatives of
all, is constituted as the representation. and in the
interests, of the landlord and wealthy classes exclusively. Until,
thereforo, you set about in earnest to seek for a broader
basis of Parliamentary representation, you never will be able
to coerce the present occupants of power into an abandonment
of their selfish and grovelling, but most oppressive monopoly.
Besides, you cannot expect that those who consider the exten-
aion of the suffrage a paramount object will consent to aid you
in looking for the repeal of the Corn-laws, until you, on your
part, consent to assist them in working out that extension.
We do not by any means laud the conduct of the Chartists,
who refuse to assist in seeking for cheap bread until
their political sights are obtained ; en the contrary,
we deem it entire In ly on their part so to refuse. But do not
they allege that the example of exclusive actisn is given by
you who struggle for that which should be the end—namely,
" cheap toed,' whilst you neglect the means of obtaining that
eroep tood, namely, the extension of the franchise to the la-
bour:rig classes? Will not many declare that there is a want
of preetical good sense upon both parts—we do not say
so, but others will proclaim it—a want of practicability
on yewr parts in refusing to look for political rights,
bintil you have got cheap food—a want of wisdom on the part of
the C harti.os in refusing to insist on cheap food until after they
stall have a, tanned ther political rights. We do therefore
conjure you to consider these suggestions maturely and deli-
berately ; they 4,...ime from ardent friends of your cause, from
supporters of the abolition of all taxation upon human food,
strong in their conmotions. of the iniquity of such taxation, and
ready •to juin the voice of millions • with yours to
destroy that robbery of this poor, which has for its object to
advance the interests of a sordid aristocracy. Anxious as we
are to combine all classes of those who seek for political ame-
lioration, we conjure you to meditate attentively upon the ad-
!ore: we respectfully offer you, and to assure you that you shall
always meet the entire sympathy and ardent and unrelaxing
support of the people of Ireland.
, ( Signed by order)
DANIEL O'CONNELL, M.P., Chairman,
T. M. RAY? Secretary.
To the Secretary of the Anti-Corn-law Conference, London.
'l.'he C -HAIRMAN then read the following letter, which
heti been prepared by the Executive Committee, us a
reply to that of the Repeal Association :
lore CONFERENCE CF DEPUTIES OF THE NATIONAL ANTI-
CoRN-LA w LEAGUE TO THE LOYAL NATIONAL REPEAL
%sSOCIATION OF IRP.LAND.
e lentlernete—We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your
eel& eis, and to assure you that the approbation you express of
our e liject and our exertions is exceedingly grateful to us.
We hive maturely and deliberately considered the purport of
your eet.lciress, and beg to effer the following remarks, which
are tendeced in that spirit of honesty and brotherly feeling by
which your communication-to us is distinguished.
'!'lie Anti-Corn-law League was organised for the accom-
plishment ofo NE object—the entire abolition of the Corn-law.
By its constitution and rules, it is absolutely prevented from
engaging its any other agitation. We believe that any departure
from this fee edamental principle would give occasion for great
rejoicing to .our opponents, and would annihilate the League,
::ridbe in too lity—as it would certainly be held to be—a victory
on the side o f the monopolists.
We believes the Corn-law may be repealed—nay, must be
repealed by this Parliament ; and that the ground of past failure
is no good re taste, why see should abandon our present course.
We have net failed. Our progress has been one of continued
sti,cess, and at. this moment the supporters of the famine-laws
are staggerin, o, anti their ranks are giving way. To say that,
because by fe se labours of four years we have not wholly de-
stroyed the C sire-lasts, we niust conclude that our present mode
of action is -.. usuffieient, appears to us a view which our ex-
perience but lead 114 to adopt. It is probable that no other
P • • does ' •
great agitation has ever made so much real progress in public,
.pining in so s Burt a time, and the instance of success its the
pursuit of tire in ible object of Catholic Emancipation, under the
guidance •of the' distinguished patriot who still presides over
you, stands forth to encourage us to proceed, and demonstrates
to us that our cow plete success can not be far distant.
We do not interfe re as a League with any other good object. We
do not oppose it in a toy:way, nor do we ostensibly forward it ; but
every man must pen ceive that to lay bare the iniquity of the
Corn-law is to furthe r the objects of Parliamentary Reformers,
and die public well lo low that many of ourewvarm friends are
anxiously assisting in the prosecution of every good and pa-
triotic undertaking.
We thank you for the . offer of your co-operation. 'We shall
rejoice to have it. We know how the Corn-law grinds
down the noble people. whom you represent, and we wish to
unite with them in determined efforts to procure its abolition.
We assure you that 'we sympathise with the objects of every
patriotic institution, and viith every re an who labours for his
country's good. We f tel that, with our cause is indissolubly
hound up our country's welfare, and we are resolved not to relax
;in our exertions until the inhuman Corn-laws be entirely
alitiiished. On be half of the Conference, -
P. A. TAYLOR, Chairman.
King's Arms, Palace- •yard, London, July 18, 1842.
.M..'. BRIGHT rose tea propose the adoption of the above
reply. Ile thought it would be easy to convince any
pe-eson who looked dis passionately at the question, that
the:dissolution of the Ai Ili-Corn-law League would neither
promote the cause of corn-law repeal nor the exten-
sion of the Suffrage. There appeared to him to be great
uniairness in the course • pursued by the Chartists and
others. They created a dissension anti then made that
dissension a ground for dissolving the League. The re-
peul of the Corn-law mig ht be obtained without a junc-
tion of parties having different objects, and it was not fair
to argue as though :I, ' junction of parties was ab-
solutely necessary to its: success.--(Hear, hear.) He
maintadued that the re?eal of the Corn-laws would
give_ tri the working clasne s a great inerease of power,
which they might exert in obtaining an extension of the
Suffrage, and in other ways to improve their condition.
Jr was well known to those who were acquainted with
;them that neatly all their political institutions were
}powerless Mr want of funds ; that their lecturers were
scarcely able to support themselves; that the sale of their
-publications was greatly diminished, and that their
. children were growing up iii a state of ignorance, which
would ret tder the Suffrage of little use to them, if at some
future time it was placed in their hands ; and they were
made thus .helpless by tic monopoly which the Anti-
Corn-law League were endeavouring to remove.—
(Hear, hear.) In all attaers it was desirable first to
bring their force to boar upon the weakest
•
part. 'The'cour.;e which they were advised.to take was
ono which would give the aristocracy the assistance of a
large portion of ti`ie middle classes.--(hear; hear.) The
progress which they had hithertt, made could not but, be
satisfactory to all the friends t f the cause, whilst, if
they dissolved, ire order to seek a change in the re-
presontation, a d ecHree of injury- would be inflicted on
the ministry before. that objecc, could be attained, which
no ater leerislation would be :able to repair. lie believed
os
that the Anti-Coaen-law League had been a pioneer in
the wed; of nations I regenera,don; that by removing the
Corn-laws they Would remove the obstacle to the attain-
ment of other political rights, and that they would pro-
mote the extension of title Suffrage itself by persevering
in the counie which they had pursued; and on these
grounds he begged to :move that this answer be sent
from the Conference to the Irish National Repeal
Association.
Mr. 'l'. WOOLIIT set •onded the motion, which was
adopted unanimously.
l'he CHAIRMAN wen . read the following letter from
Mr. Joseph Sturge :
To THE CHAIRMAN OP' THE MEETING OF' DEPUTIES IN
Loorena, FOR PROCOSII G THE AitoLiTloN of THE coaN
AND PROVISION-LAWN..
Though I have for sometime ceased to contribute any aid
in promotion of the objects of the Anti-Corn-law League, I
it to promote the appointment of
have received an urgent reqr Ss
Deputies from this place tot h' meeting in London, but, on in-
quiry of the Secretary oft be Anti-Corn-law Society here,
I find that no meeting is ate rto be called for this purpose.
With regard to myself indi itAially, 1 can assure the Deputies
that my aloe nee is not cau eel from any alteration in my
opihion of the enormous evil G f Obese laws, but lam persuaded
that there is tie prospect of e IL•Saining their obolition, except
thraaugh a full, fair, and free re !a-es,'sntation of the petiole, and
ger
uke.nt`li is for the attainment o I dfiis great object alone that a
and hearty co- operttion cv: the working clan es can be
obtained.
Shoup I the failure
I have lone of the prase rt efforts of those with whom
0,01.1,",
kataietthed in the Fovea' on of the abolition of the
fully apical to era to the same cc nelusion, I would respects
poi,
set
it,leieiyent.se,roiou sly to re eider whether they are not
callet u
orate lei
soak-
ing to prucuie a full, fas-a7lo tat freer
' h the exertions now mak-
wo thCicohm riniconha,:e a laovrt:-presentation in the blouse
exce oatio„a the present Members of
sanction of acts oh a far (tjaet.i.r'te4t, atitPtitria seats by commission or
n those which they enact
laws to punish. lam re; pectfullly,
1. OSEPH STURGE.
Birmingham, 7th month Atli,
Id the I 7.154-2.1,
,
Air. H. Rawsos move 4 ev. Mr. SHUTTLE-
Sincrg rectritte adoptio Tx of the %, ',plowing reply :
„.---. • 'To 'Ths :r STURGE, k sct ' 'NCIIAM
i' -,.", A i r. -'-i- iiii --e received your let ter, of qr.. inst.,. enclosing
tao • a re.:44tiol)-Of the same date, ag reed to by Olos Council of the
I --- National Complete Suffrage Uni on. After much consultation
~,'-es!' and a matures consideration of the whole eubjeot to which
.... your letter and the resolution ;tiers, I beg to oti^r to your
k..,
doLotice the fulluwhaucernarks.
\\,___
wai orgaed forsA‘stecomplisiT
.• --° :--Z-O:.?.
_,/ j'ZlnnsvpAl Anti-( 'orn-law League
Lo-cat object, the