The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-09 00:00:00

EVENING SUN

mers. The cause of this was plain
of his farm,ugh.Every,
farmer, whatever might be the extent
the farm from time
what number of labourers were
Hea
employed upon
immemo
em-
ployed a given number of labourers, and that.nlumber habedenfarmer in Essex the other day were
required for the management and tillage of a farm of one hun-
dred acres. He replied that five men would be sufficient.
Suppose these men had five sons, what, he asked, woule
become of them ? " Why," was the reply, " they must look
out for employment elsewhere."—( Hear, hear.) These per-
sons had all those local attachments which were common ti,
human nature, and, doubtless, would prefer to remain in the
neighbourhood where they were born; if they went to an-
other, it would be from dire necessity. It was not to be sup-
The London Anti-Cm n-Law Conference held their second
posed that the farmer, more than any other class of men
meeting this morning, in the great room at the Crown and
would raise the wages of his labourer unless he were corn-
pelted to do so; that, whilst he could obtain labour at s
Anchor Tavern, Strand, at eleven o'clock. The Delegates
began to assembe as early as half-past ten, and by cheaper rate, he would say his
tolabourers, " Because of you:
yen indigence and distress, I will advance your wages one or two
.he time the
proceedings commenced, the room was nearly filledt
Duncan Maclaren, Esq., took the chair at half-past eleven
shillings a week." It was not to be credited; and even if it
o'clock. were likely to be the case, the labouring man ought not to
depend upon such commiseration.—(Hear,. hear.) He shook
The CHAIRMAN said that he had yesterday announced to
receive his. wages because his services were indispensable, and
the Conference, that on the day prevmus a letter n
I
because he was able to say," You shall have m
written by Mr. Brooks, the Chairman of the Executive
ling
at such a price ; ard if you are not wit).
Committee, to Sir R. Peel, requesting permission for a depu-
eine to pay that sum, I will go elsewhere for em-
in from the Conference to wait on him before he should
bring forward his motion on the
.subject of the Corn-laws,
in the House of Commons this evening. An answer had yes_ ployment."—(Hear, hear.) That was the position in which
terday been received from Sir Robert Peel, after a lapse of every labouring man should be placed. But the Corn lees
twenty-four hours—( Hear, hear)—stating that he was sorry utterly prevented him from occupying that position. By the
he could not receive the deputation.—(Hear, hear.)
Be excess. of labour in the agricultural districts, he was driven to
would read the letter and the answer.—( The Chairman
the commercial
mpe in such a manner as first to diminish the meansmercial districts to seek employment ; and if the Corn
then read the letter of Mr. Brooks, stating, that as
Chairman of a preliminary meeting of deputies from of support, and secondly, the demand for labour, how could the
various Anti-Corn-law Associations throughout the country, agricultural labourers, find employment in the manufacturing
of ministers of different congregations—he requested an inter-
districts, except by competing
,with the labourers, who were
view in their behalf, from Sir Robert Peel, previous to his there already, and reducing their wages ?—( Hear, hear.) So
bringing forward his motion in support of the Corn-laws.) that, in fact, the operation of the Corn-laws was to redue.
That letter was dated Feb. 7, and was delivered at half- wages to the most miserable pittance imaginable. The land-
past-two o'clock on Monday. Yesterday, at half-past
two, lords held out the delusion that if bread were dear, wages must
Just twenty-four hours after the letter had been despatched, necessarily he high ;but if that reasoning were correct, it was
the following answer had been received.—( The Chairman evident that it, in a manufacturing country bread was
then read a letter signed W. H. Stephenson, iu which the writer dear, wages must be proportionately enhanced.—( Hear,
stated that he had been directed from Sir Robert Peel to ac- hear.) And, for the same reason, when bread was
knowledge the receipt of Mr. Brooks's letter, requesting an cheap, wages must be reduced. Where, then, was the
interview with Sir R. Peel, on behalf of the Deputies from various humanity of those legislators who adopted such a law as the
Anti-Corn-law Associations and religious coneregations, in order Corn-law ? The sole object of the law was to secure sordid
that they might state their views to S r H. Peel respecting gain to one class. There was a distinction between the different
kinds of grain. It was a holy, sanctified gain, when the buyer
the Corn and Provision-laws, previous to the announcement of
the intentions of the Government on the subject on Wednesday an seller were both benefited ; but it was unholy and un-
next, and also to express Sir Robert Peel's
regret at his inabi-
sanctified gain when one man extracted from the pocket
of
en-
tity to comply with Mr. Brooks's request, as he was pre-
ri another by violence, what would be supposed to
ch himself. Those who held the reins of power made this
vented f, om doing so by various pre-engagements.
The reading of this letter seemed to excite a strong law to benefit one particular class ; he denied that they had
any such right. The legitimate power of the Legislature was
feeling of surprise,' not unmixed with disgust.) Thus, the
apowereo irepose rases for the pecuniary exigencies of the
object for which their presence had been required at
..State ; they had.t.noreght to impose a tax uporeone portion of
eleven o'clock this day, bad not been accomplished. The let-
tne c •mmu, ni y for the benefit. of another.—(Hear, hear, and
ter had been under the consideration of the Executive Com-
cheers.) They had no right to vote away the property of the
mittee, which had met two hours ago, and he could take upsn
himself to say, that every gentlemen present upon that Comit-
people, except for the use of the State.—( Hear, hear.) It
tee had felt deep regret, and no small degree of astonishment was to prevent such abuse, that by the Constitution of this
—( Hear, hear)—that the interview should not be granted, country neither the Crown nor the aristocracy were permitted
There was a general feeling among the members of the Exe- to impose taxes.—( Hear, hear.) They were called upon, then,
cutive Committee, that as the repeal of the Corn-laws as a body, to denounce the Corn and Provision-laws which so
was the great measure before Parliament, and that deeply afflicted the country, and to make every effort in their
as the subject was to be brought before the House power to secure the abolition of those wicked and pernicious
of Commons, this evening, any other engagement might laws. If not repealed, the result would, in the end, be as fear •
with propriety have been set aside—(Cheering)—in order ful to the aristocracy and the landed proprietors themselves, as
it had been to the poor man, from whose house it had swept
to enable the Prime Minister of this coentry to become ac-
quainted with the opinion of the Delegates before isitroducing every veitige of comfort.—(Hear, hear.) It was evident that
his measure to the House this evening.—(Cheers.) Of such must be the case. It was manufactures and commerce
course now they could not. help themselves. The Corn-
which had given such immense value to the large
mittee had not come to any resolution on the subject as
estates of the country. If, therefore, through the operation of
to the propriety of renewing their application ; but he these laws, the working people were driven to other countries,
might state that it was the unanimous opinion of the members the landlords would suffer equally with the other classes of so.
of that Committee that the answer to this request ought to metv.—( Hear.) The labourer and the capitalist would seek
have been different.—( Cheers.) He would also state that the in America those advantages which were denied to them in
Executive Committee recommended that the several England; and the result would be that the landlords would be
Delegates should individually wait upon any Members eaten up by the paupers who remained, and were inca-
of Parliament with whom they might be acquainted, pable of gaining a sustenance.—(Hear, hear.) Let them all
to impre,s upon them the importance of supporting lend their energies to prevent such a disaster. Let them
Mr. 'Villiers's mote n for the total and immediate endeavour to gain access to the minds of the Members of Pan repeal of the Corn and Provision-laws.—(Load cheers.) The liament, by publications, by speeches, and by every available
Executive Committee had not thought it expeeient to come means of producing conviction.—( Cheers.) As patriots they
to any formal resolution to that effect, but they earnestly re- could have no more glorious object than that of coming for-
commended that each Delegate should wait upon any Members ward to repudiate and assist in abolishing a system of mono-
of Parliament to whom he could gain access, to impress upon Poly—monopoly which, in its own nature, and stripped of all
them the importance of supporting the motion, and to info, m delusion, was the power of one man to plunder and ruin his
them of the state of the various districts with which they were con- fellow man.— ( Hear.) As England had already declared
meted. It had beenagreed yesterday that anygentleman capable of of slavery, so let her now declare of monopoly—
giving statistical information to the Conference should do so at that it should exist no longer.—(Cheers.) As we were
as early a period as possible. A Committee had been appointed amongst the most prominent nations of the earth, we should
for the purpose of receiving and arranging such information. show that we had our eyes open to the delusion of obtaining
That Committee would meet at two o'clock, and would be money by sinister means, of becoming rich by nefarious legisla-
happy to receive any information with which gentlemen might tion. 'I hen would that day arrive, whom all who believed in
be inclined to furnish them. The Secretary would now state prophecy expected to arrive, when the promise would
some other matters to the Conference before proceeding to the he consummated that all nations should be linked to
business of the day. gether by bonds of mutual interest and mutual ad-
Mr. S. Semen (the Secretary) called the attention of the vantage, so that war should no longer exist. He viewed
Conference to the recommendation of the Executive Corn- the present as an occasion of the utmost importance,
mittee yesterday, that those-gentlemen intending to address and not important to themselves alone, but to the interest of
•
the Conference should previously inscribe their names, and the whole family of man.—(Cheers.) He should therefore
that they should each be called on by the Chairman in the most cordially and zealously propose the following resolution :
order in which their names were inscribed. He had —" That this meeting is of opinion that a resolution ought
now to state that a clerk was in waiting in an ad- to be submitted to the-House of Commons, to the effect
joining room to take down the names of those gen- that the Corn and Provision•laws should be totally
tlemen who were desirous of addressing the Conference, and immediately abolished ; and that the meeting re-
He would also state that some inconvenience had been felt
oices that Mr. Villiers has given notice of his intention
.i
with regard to the arrangements to be made between the va- to take the sense of the House upon the subject, and they re-
,
rious London Anti-Corn-law Associations, who were desirous quest him to persevere in the course he has taken and to
of receiving the deputies to the Conference from the various divide the House, upon all occasions, on the question of the
country associations and the deputies from the country. In or- total and immediate abolition of these laws."
der to prevent this it was desirable that the names of the various The following Gentlemen were then appointed to wait upon
London Associations, desirous of receiving the country deputies, Mr. Villiers, on the subject:—The Chairman, the Mover and
should be inscribed, and also the places in which their meet. Seconder of the resolution, the Rev. Mr. Burden, of Stroud,
ings are held, and that such deputies as might feel inclined to and the Rev. Mr. Bailey, of Sheffield.
address the various London Associations should also inscribe The Rev. Mr. Caleees, of Paisley, in rising to second the
their names, and be begged to state that a clerk was in attend- resolution said, that the resolution passed at yesterday's Con-
*nee for that purpose. ference gave a decided opinion upon the Provision' and Corn-
The CHAIRMAN announced that Mr. Dixon, of Carlisle, laws. Those laws had been denounced as unjust in principle,
wished to explain a portion of the proceedings of yesterday. and cruel in operation ;as opposite to Divine benevolence,
Mr. DIXON explained, that in stating yesterday the and to the bounty of Providence ; as injurious to morality 1
number of signatures to the petition from the city which he and religion : as fertile sources of disease and distress ; and as
represented, he had not stated that the petition tad been signed causes of discontent throughout the eommunity.—(Heatehear.)
by 5,000 individuals, constituting a majority of the inhabitants The Conference also resolved to persevere in the course they
of that ancient anti 'loyal city, but by a preponderating majority had taken, andnot to retire from the contest till those infamous
of the nialnadult population of Carlisle. He would also state statutes were abolished.—( Cheers.) Almighty God had given
that he was not the. only Deputy from Carlisle, for so strong fertility to the soil of the earth, year by year he had crowned
was the :feeling, against those laws in Carlisle, that, five or six the world with plenty, he had rained fertility from heaven
other gentleneme feed , been' appointed, , Deputies to the Confer- that their hearts might be filled with gladness and with food,
rence.-e(Clmeni.). , • , . ~ „ , and these things show that his design was the intercourse of
Dle. 11 e e ssee 10a said noehing could exceed in point of national his creatures—(Cheers)—and not that monopolists, with
importanee=n ky, even in a moral point of view, as a subject daring effrontery, and recklessness, and selfish conduct, should
affecting the interests of the whole human race—nothing stop in with a veto upon his bountiful intent, and fill their
could exceed in importance the carrying out the princi- coffers by despoiling the homes and habitations of their fellow
p'e of free and' unrestricted commerce.—Loud cheering.) men, of everything deserving the name of comfort. —( Cheers. )
He felt how important was the motion which had been in- It was right that the meeting, representing as it did a large
trusted to hint to propose. It was, that it-was most desirable portion of the inhabitants of the country, should be known to
that in the House of Commons sonic Member should come the Members of the House of Commons.—(Hear.) Those
forward immediately and move for the total and immediate re- Members, at least the greater part of them, very little re-
peal of the Coro and Provision-laws.—(Loud cheers.) It was garded the opinions of any others than their own. It was a
must difficult to discover the exact character of those laws. perfect mockery to call the present a House repre-
-( Hear, hear ) By one set of men they were described senting the feelings of the people.—(Hear, and cheers.)
as a tax imposed for the purpose of revenue, and they ostensibly represented the opinions of the people, but the
by another as no such thing, but simply as a protections for the moment they entered the House they were their own masters,
agricultural interest, meaning thereby the landlords.- -( Cheere. ) and held their own opinions. —( Cheers. ) Was that state of
It remin ed him of the old fable of the bat, who was a bird or things to continue ?—( No, no.) It ought not—the people
an animal as it suited his purpose.—( Hear, hear, and a ought to be mere respected than they were, and they soon
laugh.) Was it a tax for revenue or was it simply an would be if they were true to themselves.— (Cheers.) Let the
impost imposing a penalty upon all the inhabitants of the coon- people speak honestly and decidedly on every subject bearing
try, by raising the price of corn to the starving people of this on their interests, and then what Ministry would dare to trifle
country above its price in the general market of the world ? with them ?—( Cheers.) Let the working men, and those im-
Was it a tax imposed for the purposes of revenue ? No?— mediately above them—and let the ministers of religion, stand
(Cheers.) Such a tax would be abhorrent even in the forward with them in their proper character, as friends of the
eyes of every arbitrary and aristocratical Tory in the coon- people, to advocate every measure tending to their good, and
try.—(Loud cheers.) Every one would rise against a tax soon,verysoon,thecircumstancesoftheceuntrywouldbechanged,
which pressed so hardly on the necessities of the people. The resolution which he was to second alluded to Mr. Villiers,
To endeavour to raise the finances by such means, he was cure and he must say he had laid the country under a deep debt of
would excite universal abhorrence throughout the whole coin- obligation to him, which it could not well repay.--( Hear,
munity. In order to impose such a me, it would be necessary hear.) And while they rejoiced that he was again to bring
not only to levy a duty on the importation of corn from other forward his motion for a total repeal of the Corn-law, they
countries, but to levy it also on every grain of corn grown should not be satisfied with that, but should persevere, and let
in this country ; then it would be a regular tax. for the sake of the House of Commons know what they thought, and what
supplying the revenue and the exigencies of the State. But he support their representatives might expect when they came
thought that every one would at once feel an abhorrence to again to solicit their votes.—( Cheers. ) He felt he stood
such a system of taxation. There was, therefore, no such tax, in a very important position as the Delegate of Paisley.
but the duty was merely laid on the importation of (Hear, hear.) He was not alone the representative of his
corn from foreign countries, simply, as Lord Stanley had the own congregation, but of six others, the ministers of which
candour to confess, to raise the rent of the landowners. This would, have been there, in the it own persons, if the unfortunate
was the precise TIM they must take of it ; and unless they circumstances of that town had not kept them back._( Cheers )
simplified it hi this manner, all discussion of the subject would He might be permitted to say that Paisley was once a .
pros-
be contused, and rot understood by any body. Having porous and happy pla.ce,
.and was remarkable over the whole
resolves it into this principle, he should
what
to country for theinety of its inhabitants, and for their enlightened
treat it as unjust aril unrighteous, for
ceul,l there be in a portion of
etcommunity—the came. —( Cheers.) But what a melancholy change had come
landlords—wishing to levy a tax on the they being
. over that town ! Since Midsummer, two-thirds of the mem
rich and the rest poor ? Surely it requited ntro. gsrh'eatvorahtorical chants and manufacturers had become ins•dvent ; shops had
power, no mighty powers of eloquence,
been closed in every direction, and those still open were justice of of such an abominable scheme. —(hear.) e inlf this tax were raised in this manner for) the iln7g, litstledemoeroedethdanoothea expensecaia bwlfegas-lilht.fovlntlieteeinvfrewshire,
purpose of supplying the wants of the State and the necessity In the town of Paisley alone, accordisnuPtoythe report ws•Ellirlite*
of the public, and were a just mode of remunerating any part held in his hand, there were 14,777 persons in a destitute con-
of the community who were serviceable to the State, surely dition, to whom, during the last week, 497 had been added,
there ought to be some systematic mode of calculating what arid who were supported by the private fund which was col-
amount such a tax would produce. Some mode ought also to lotted for their support, as well as by the public fund. His
be proposed of showing how much each individual who had done brother ministers exerted themselves is the most exemplary
service to the State ought to receive, from the highest officer to manner in the circumstances in which they were placed. They
the lowest subaltern. For instance when the Minister of State went from house to house collecting funds for the support of
brings forward his Budget, he makes his particular estimates this poor suffering people.—( Hear, hear.) He should also
for the army or navy, and states what amount make mention of the conduct of the Magistrates there, who
he expects from a certain fax, what portion exerted themselves in the most praiseworthy manner, and among
of the revenue the entity and navy will require, these the Provost was particularly conspicuous for his humane
and apportit ns the amount whit ii every officer, of all grades in conduct—agentleman known to be of the most liberal sentiments,
both services, is to receive, from the highest grade to the low- and who earned for himself on this occasion greater fame than
est ; all have their specific amounts allotted to them. Now, if he ever procured by his g conduct before. —(Chers. )
the Corn-tax is meant foe the support of the aristocracy, let He and
his brother ministersenerfelt deeply interested in thee state
the same principle be observed; let the people know what of the suffering people in the midst of whom they were placed.
is the amount .to be received in the whole, what amount He and his Reverend Brethren knew counected with
is to be appropriated to each landowner, from the greatest to their churches who would not toyscorme.forward. cur the dcgra-
the smartest,. in the agricultural interest, even down to the elation of asking or receiving re ief in a public manner. Anxious
labourer. "et hey would then know what each receisl•etintiptiroo-g. Is.ausie theirt feelings, he and his brother ministers appealed by
portion to the station he mightsoccupy .in society.
variousb religious denominations of the land;
would then be done in a- business-like mariner ; they should anti hearstoook thisropportunitykiudofmost gratefully acknow-
ltehe e
know what was received by Lord This or Lord That, or Mr. lede'n the assistancel:e Christiansesh had. given them.
So-and-So, from the landlord down to the plough-boy ; they (Cheers.)lg The Episcopalians,'the Presbyterians,
would know what was contributed to each individual, and what lists, in short all the various ligious Yclassestertanoset thee M etho-
the people had to pay. But at premise they never knew the hail sent relief to Paisley, and were still sending it, .a
coodumntorp
precise amount they had to pay the landowners ; in this way he feared would be still required to get the people through thee
the people deceived themselves, and the landowners themselves period of distress ; for in addition to the 14,771 persons who
were under a great deception.—( Hear, hear.) When they were publicly supplied with relief, he was within the mark in
looked at the operation of this law, they at once per- stating that they had 1,500 persons also who were supplied
eeived that the effects it produced were of the most in the private manner he had just stated. There were
milignant character—effects that denounced at once the 2,000 persons and 500 or 600 young persons, who
wickedness of the enactment, that brought on the destitution were receiving a course of education to keep them from the
and misery he saw around him. - How did the tax operate ? ways of evil and ruin. They had endeavoured during the
The effects of the duty, or he would call it the penalty, on whole of this disastrous period to lay out the funds entrusted to
the importation of corn from abroad, was to raise the value of them in the most economical manner ; and lie hoped that the
rr arrtr coat
in exact Orolmetfen as the penalty adds to the blessings of God would rain in abundance on those Christian
ow of the article brought from abroad. The consequence churches and on those kind friends who had thus liberally sup-
is that it '
, raises the price of bread in this country in a time of plied his poor fellow-townemen.—( Hear, hear.) He trusted
scarcity (for it has no effect at other times) to -
he was justified in making these observations, as he came:
an enormous extent. Thus if a family consume every from a district which had suffered more than any
day a quantity of bread, at the price' itought
t when
t.o be when wheat other under the present system.—( Hear, hear.) But
was cheep, to the amount of ed. 1
hefty on the i
-mlinrtation of ...c ay, a duty or pe- he was aware that severe distress prevailed throtsgh the
corn le laid on, such as that at whole land. Why should this be ? Had not God I '
presera existing, it raises the I .slessed us
ee to somethin s like Is • that in , many respects? From our insular situation, our internal
was 4d. a-day differrwe t+r
di *
a-day er,
earl,
lari,ily
wttouiettaf,labouring family', and 44. resources, from our art, our science, our skill, our ingenuity,
arnottnt in the aggregate frein the facility of. our production, arid the industry of our
to upwa•ds of thirty millions
the whole of that amount was,
per annum- (Hear hear—and operatives, there might not be a happier land under the broad
laws, withdrawn from the numbasi the operation of the )Coin- expanse et heaven. But what were the facts? While our national
sequence of the decrease in the daeetrn
earuidng- market. IMO con- re-ourees scene so immensely great as to excite the was an an increase of ex P°. t', much of in the home market tints of the world, he questioned if there were any other people
consignment to foreign agents; and he itati orcn 'peculation, and so familiar with suffering as the ingenious and noble minded
commercial experience that when bread wastem,,arked Sri his own oeratives of our native land.—( Hear, hear.) Let any por-
ed in England tots look over our country, and he would see our commercial
the consignments to agents abroad decreased ,'
became dear, it ditnintshed the home tlemaiid: a:iii,t. when bread and trading districts an almost universal scene of distress, our
these gluts in the lnreign market tsitijoi 1„I to I
tterca,,,,taal.t-rit rise to operatives, even when they could- obtain employment, toiling at
tasks far more severe and
• tfe stavage of mills, and the misery orthe : hank- exhausting- than those which used
ruptmee, • - f
orkin ' toextracted be the heartless - ,
easses. The evil had been ascribed to over-production, brit be , most sla% eholuer of the colonies
from the bones and muscles which were his due property; hut the
this eas a fallacy. There was not an over-production,' btit
operative was often deprived of the privilege of this mersterous la-
an under-consumption.—(hear, hear.) The distress was not boor; in the dwellings of the operative the spectator would behold
artial, but general. It was not confined to Manchester or tire most appalling destitution. Let one further think of the
aisley, hut was spread over every town and village in the '
thousands on thousands of parents suffering acutelp
kingdom, and was shared by the agricultural labourer himself,yet who
would endure this if they suffered alone ; but their hearts were
who was miserably aff.cted by the Cone laws, for this clay
agonized, as from day to day they saw their helpless little ones
of men were now receiving not more on an average than rising 0 •
from seven shillings to eight shillings a week. —( Hoar, hear.) state
of preparation ra and s ,
tarvation uneducated, but in a
to come forward rather a pest than
He defied the agriculturists to show him that the wages had a useful
cc accession to society.—( Hear, hear.) As a mi..
advanced under these circumstances. It was not to Le expected nister
t the Gospel some mieht blame him
that they would
,because the farmer had always a surplus quan- Lakin, a part '- ' ' e • w N , for
tiny
is the present proceeding o, no. ')
of Labourers at his command. In all agricultural districts Now
his answer es
there
that
as, whatever odium or reproach might
"'AA ' necessarily be la- attach to
hooters whooms . . a great number of . him and his brethre -icound him and throughout the
Lwow seeking employment from the far- ' country on this acco t '
un. .
p heny were ready to bear it all in such
. ' •

THE GREAT
ANTI-CORN-LAW
CONFERENCE.

(THIS DAY.)