The Sun.
London, England, 1845-12-03 00:00:00

" That this meeting participates in the feeling of deep re-
sponsibility which, under the alarming circumstances of the
country as to an inadequate supply of provisions, devolves
upon every member of the community to do all he can to re-
move, as speedily as possible, all restrictions upon the impor-
tation of food for the people ; and, considering that increas-
ing the number of voters was one of the most effective means
for the accomplishment of that important object, earnestly
recommends the Anti-Corn-law Association of the city of
Gloucester and its neighbourhood to attend to the qualifica-
tion of voters for the city, and the surrounding districts
within the eastern division of the county."
He said, lie moved the resolution with great pleasure, because
he considered taxes upon food to be the worst of all taxes.
They were taxes which pressed most heavily upon those who
were the least able to pay them: On examining his house-
hold expenses, he found that they amounted to only one-
fortieth part of his expenditure, while the hard-working
p-ForiTr74l`'-,thli country paid one-half or. more ut
their small pittance in the shape of such taxation. So
that they were, in fact, taxes upon the poor to fill the
pockets of the rich. It was on this ground that he had re-
fused to join in getting up a meeting to protest against
the income-tax, which, because it came near to a property-
tax, he would rather see levied than a bread-tax. He denied
that the repeal of the corn-laws would injure the agricultural
interest. As a proof of his sincerity in respect to that opinion,
he had recently laid out 3,000/. in land, and he had ex-
pended more money upon its cultivation than had been so
expended for many years bef6re. Argument upon this
question was pretty well given up in the House of Commons,
and their two friends, Cobdea and Bright, had it all their
own way.—(Cheers.) But there was a great force arrayed
against them—the power of influence and of the pocket.
The only way to meet that force was to purchase freeholds
and extend the elective franchise among the corn-law re-
peelers, so as to secure the return of men who would repre-
sent their opinions in Parliament.—(Hear, hear.)
Mr. T. M. STURGE (another " Friend"), in seconding the
resolution, declared it to be his opinion that the present
system of averages not only prevented the people from ob-
taining a proper supply of corn, but that it was also injurious
to the farmers themselves; and argued that the League
ought not to be censured for trying to increase the number
of corn-law repealers on the election registers, for they were
only taking a leaf out of the book of Sir R. Peel, who, at the
close of one of his speeches, emphatically exclaimed, " Re-
gister ! register ! register !"—(Cheers.)
Mr. COBDEN, M.P., said, it seemed to him, that go where
he would, the same wide-spreading and enthusiastic interest
was felt upon the question in hand. He had been recently
attending meetings in Lancashire and Yorkshire almost every
night, and amongst the tall chimnies and smoky factories of
those localities, it was natural that the people should be
strongly interested in a free-trade question. But the same
appeared to be the case in the cotton districts and under the
shadows of the cathedrals of Gloucester and Bristol.—(Hear,
hear, and a laugh.) It was therefore no sectarian or selfish
question.—( Hear, hear.) The large and intelligent audience
he was addressing did not consider that the repeal of the
corn-laws would throw land out of cultivation, rob farmers
of their capital, or deprive the labourers of employment.—
(Hear, hear.) The interest the audience felt in the question
was a contradiction to all the false statements which were
put forth upon it. He confessed himself unable to find
anything new to say about it. The fact was, the question
was settled, and the otily meeting they ought to anticipate
was one grand assembly to rejoice at the downfal
and extinction of the present corn-law system.—(Loud
cheers.) He was anxious, however, to have it understood
that the triumph they were to win could not be that of one
class over another.—( Hear.) There had been heartburnings
enough about one class being favoured at the expense of
another. The repeal of the corn-laws would be a benefit to all
classes.—(Cheers.) Ho could not except that repeal on any
other terms; he would not accept it as an injury done to the
farmers or as a bonus to the manufacturers.—(Hear, hear.)
But if any one, either iii the House of Commons or out of it,
could show that the maintenance of the corn-laws was bene-
ficial to the farmers, he would give up his point. Where
were the men who, two years ago, raised an outcry in that
city against the League ?—(Hear.) The protectionists of
Gloucester knew that the corn-laws were to be abolished.—
(Hear.) Every mail and every post announced the news.
Two years ago the 'protectionists told them, "If you allow
the corn-laws to be abolished, you will be able to pay no
rent." Well, if that were true, in what a predicament would
the rent-rolls of those gentlemen be placed !—(Hear, and
laughter.) The protectionist squires of Gloucestershire had
told their farmers, that should the corn-laws be abolished
they would not be able to compote with foreigners, even
if they had their lands rent free.—(Hear, hear.) Well,
then, those squires were in a perfect mess ; for the corn-
laws were going to be abolished.—(Cheers and laughter.)
Those gentry knew it; and :if they were wise—
but most of them had not sense enough for anything—they
would call the farmers together and say,—" Gentlemen,
don't you think it is just possible we have been mistaken?
After all, may not that Cobden be right? He told us that
we could compete with foreigners in corn as well as in flax
and other articles."—(Hear, hear.) He should not be sur-
prised if in less than six. months he found himself quoted by
those very gentlemen. In fact, he did not see how they could
get a farthing of rent, unless they came to him and took his
advice.—(A laugh.) The Duke of Richmond, who stood at
the head of this choice squad, once said, "Should the corn-
laws be abolished, I will bring in a Bill to:cancel all existing
leases, and make fresh ones, in order that the farmers may
have their farms at reduced rents." He (Mr. Cobden) would
take care to remind the Noble Duke of his words.—( Cheers
and laughter.) Those protectionists were the men who had
been leading by the nose the farmers, many of whom, judging
by their tanned faces, he thought he saw before him. The
protectionist landlords might get as good rent out of their
lands without the corn-laws as with them. For himself, he
would rather take a lease of 21 years, if he knew that the
existing laws were to be abolished to-morrow, than if they
were to -be continued the whole of that term. But the
question of rent could not be settled by the landlords.
There was a statesman of sufficient standing ready to do their
work in the Legislature, and he was a great gain indeed.—
(Cheers.) But let them recollect that Lord J. Russell had
said they were not to depend on him for the carrying of this
measure, for that it could only be carried by an unequivocal
demonstration of the will of the people.—(Hear, hear.) It
rested with the people of England to do the work. The more
they wrapped themselves up in a sense of false security, the
more they trusted to this or that man to accomplish the end
in view, the less likely were they to succeed.—(Hear, hear.)
The people in the north of England did not intend to depend
on any man, but to carry this measure themselves ; and,
judging from the present meeting, he had no doubt that at
the fitting time Gloucester would be as ready as Manchester
and other places to take its part in the struggle. Let those
who charged the League with wishing for low wages and
worse food for the working classes know that they abhorred
such wishes. They desired to seethe people supplied with good
wheaten bread, and beef, and bacon, and pork, and to that
end there must be more provisions furnished to the eaters,
and if there was not enough at home, let it come in from abroad.
At Manchester, one of the largest meetings ever held there
resolved to support Sir R. Peel if he would open the ports;
and that was the general feeling throughout all England.
Lord John Russell, in his magnanimous letter, said he would
support Sir Robert in that measure. Nobody could blame
him for passing it; it would strengthen his hands. But his
responsibility would be immensely increased if he did not
adopt that measure.—(Hear, hear.) Every meeting such as
the present, in which such a sentiment met a cordial response,
proved that if Sir R. Peel had followed the example of the
Continental Powers, which he ought long ago to have fol-
lowed, he would now be in possession of the unanimous
support of the country.—(Hear.) If he did not do it, why
then—(a pause)—he would be a fallen man.—(Loud cheers.)
As a Lancashire man, he was sorry for it; for he used to
think Sir Robert had more "pluck."—(Laughter.) He
had always said that the proper time for the repeal
of the corn -laws was one of low prices, and he had told
Sir Robert Peel in the House of Commons last session
that he was a rash man if he allowed Parliament to
separate without repealing the corn-laws.—(Hear, hear,
and cheers.) Sir Robert had called those rash men a year
ago who proposed theirrepeal ; but still he told Sir Robert last
June, in the debate on Mr. Villiers's motion,—" Now is the
time, when wheat is from 40s. to 465. a quarter, to repeal
the corn-laws, and if you allow the session to pass without
repealing them you are the rash men, and we are the
cautious men, who want ;to abolish this system while prices
are low."—(Renewed cheering.) But those who knew the
aristocracy best were of opinion that these restrictions upon
the importation of food would never be got rid of except in
a time of scarcity or famine. That seemed to be probable.
It appeared that during the next twelve months there would
be greater scarcity than ever; and it was very likely that
these corn-laws would be torn from the statute-book amid
the excitement of an infuriated, because a starving popu-
lation.—(Loud cheers.) Had the corn-laws been abolished
before, we should not now have felt any alarm at the failure
of the potato crop ; for there was always an abundant stock
on hand of all other articles in which the trade was free,
such as cotton, silk, spices, and indigo. He charged on those
who maintained the existing corn-laws the responsibility of
so doing. He said, with Mr. O'Connell in Ireland, "If you
have the people perishing for want of food next spring, those
who maintained the sliding-scale, and refused by an Order in
Council to do what foreign nations have done, are responsible
for all the misery and loss of life that may ensue."—(Hear.)
How was it that Sir R. Peel in England did not act as
humanely and with the same common sense as the Dutch,
Belgian, and Russian Governments? Because he felt himself
responsible, not to the Queen, not to the people, but to an
oligarchy of landlords, who placed him in power, and who
had kept him there so long.—(Cheers.) He was not malign-
ing them. The Duke of Richmond had said the same thing.
At Steyning he said, " We. who made him Prime Minister, if
he does not do our bidding, will unmake him." That ac-
counts for the people of England being treated worse than
the people of Holland, Belgium, or Russia.—(Hear, hear.)
The Prime Minister of this country was a tool, a mannikin
anq
in the hands of the Dukes of Richmond, Buckingham,
Co , who pulled the wires, and did what Russia, Belgiuni,tiatnua..
Holland durst not, because they were shielded by p
of men who were called the representatives of the poop
Members for
who counteracted the votes of such men as the
nclusion he
oionl d order
support t o
tional form of government, and were supported bya tchen:ev,obtuest
the city of Gloucester.—(Hear,
4ohrrdeel!lholods:
uenrgabedlehtihsemaudthitorrsetutornpcuortchinat
the repeal of the corn-laws, and prevent t city members
Let than) do that, and the next time they met it would be
only to raise a hearty cheer of three-times-three at the
and the voice of the constituency from being neutralised.
yse-members