The Sun.
London, England, 1842-02-11 00:00:00

EVENING SUN

THE GREAT
ANTI-CORN-LAW
CONFERENCE.

(THIS DAY.)

The CHAIRMAN took the Chair at Half-past Eleven o'Clock,
and upon doing so he said—ln the olden time historians had
told them that persons in England were accustomed to immure
in their castle dungeons individuals who were suspected to be
possessed of wealth, and by the application of torture their
treasures were wrested from them ; more daring than their
ancestors, the landed aristocrats of the present day have con-
tived a monster engine of torture, which wrung from a nation
its wealth, and was more cruel in its application, as it
inflicted the severe pangs of suffering upon the poor and
destitute instead of the wealthy. They were met again that
morning to endeavour to destroy that monster machine, and
it was vain that Sir Robert Peel should tell them that the
complex machine he proposed would not be so painful as the
last—(Cheers)—and that the agony it would inflict would not
be so intense—that its lever would not be so long—and that
the snews of humanity would not be wrenched to so great an
extent. —( Cheers.) They were met there to tell Sir Robert
Peel that the voice of the nation—and he trusted the nation
would tell h in in a voice of thunder—that he should not, more
ot less, continue to torture the nation. If he might be permitted
he would again recommend, without it being supposed
to be at all as imperative, that the range of discussion should
be limited.—( Cheers.) He knew that one gentleman was
charged with the duty of addressing the Conference on the
. subject of statistics, but the object of most of the speakers
should be rather in recommendation of the course of conduct to
be pursued, and the actions to be adopted, than in showing the
evil effects of the Corn-laws.— (Cheers. ) He felt this to be
the more necessary, because he believed that to a great extent
the peace of the country was in their hands, and it was much
to be feared that the patience and long-suffering of the people
would give way when they learned the heartless intentions of
the present Minister of the landed aristocracy, for according to
the example of yesterday, he would not call him the Minister of
the Sovereign.—( Cheers. ) If, in the first brush of their
righteous indignation,— if, in the first act ion of despair, any-
thing could be done to control the people, and keep them from
out-burst and vengeance, 'it would be the confidence they had
in the deliberatione of the Conference.—(Cheers.) They would
wait and see what they would propo e, and what action they
would suggest, and, in proportion as their efforts were bold, vi-
gorous, and energetic, would be their confidence in the Con.,
ference, and the greater would be their power of controlling the
people. Two letters had been received, which he would
now read. One was from Mr. Johnson, the Chairman of the
Corn-law Association at Derby, and it was as follows
" Sir—At a meeting of the Anti-Corn-law Associa-
tion, hastily convened, to take into consideration the proposals
of her Majesty's Government on the Corn-laws, the following
resolution was unanimously passed :—''That this meeting have
heard with indignation the measures proposed by her Majesty's
Government to the House of Commons for an alteration of the
Corn-laws, and cannot refrain from denouncing the scheme as
unjust and iniquitous towards a loyal and suffering people ; and
this meeting hereby pledge themselves to oppose, by every Con-
stitutional means in their power the proposed enactments.'
The Association are taking measures for furthering the objects
of the Anti-Corn-law League, and a deputation will probably
be in London from Derby either on Saturday or Monday to co.
operate in the cause of total and immediate repeal. At a
meeting of the Town Council, held this day, a petition against
the Government measure was unanimously passed, and for-
warded to E. Strutt, Esq., for presentation to the House-of Com-
mons, which, it is hoped, willbe in time for presentation this even-
ing."—Another let ter that had been received was from the Church
and Congregation of Hope Chapel, Rochdale, and they stated,
that "having felt the grievous effects of the Corn and Provision-
laws in our pecuniary affairs, and in the distress that abounds
in the habitations of our poor weavers, we therefore feel anxious
that those oppressive hews should be wiped off the Statute-
book of the realm. We appoint the bearer, Thomas Turns r,
Esq., as our delegate, to represent us at the Anti-Corn-law
Conference, to be held in London on the eth of February,
1842." The le ter was signed by the Minister, the Deacons,
and two Elders for the congregation. They had also received
a letter from Mr. Brindle, of Manchester, in which
he said—" I am happy to inform you that a most
numerous meeting is now held in the Rooms,
Newell's Buildings, condemnatory of the scale of Sir R. Peel,
to agree to resolutions which will be submitted to a meeting at
the Bazaar at seven o'clock to-night. All is agitation—the
Tories on 'Change have expressed their disappointment." The
letter was dated half-pest five o'clock.
The CHAIRMAN then called upon the Rev. T. Spencer, of
Bath, to move the first resolution, when
The Rev. Dr. WADE rose to a point of order. He would
suggest that every speaker should be confined to a quarter of
an hour, and five minutes to wind up, unless the meeting re.
quired them to go on. —( Cheers. )
The Rev. Mr. WELLS seconded the proposition. All they
wanted was to find out their strength.—(Cheers.) They
wanted to know where their Delegates came from, and in what
position they were, and after that let some one point out their
path and they would walk in it.—(Cheers.)
'I he Clienteles; said before the first resolution was proposed
the Hon. Charles Villiers wished to make a few statements
to the meeting.
Mr. VILLIERS said that he had asked leave of the Chairman
to otop the proceedings for one moment, in order that lie might
explain the nature of two notices that were reported in the
Journals of this morning, as having been given in the House
of Commons last night, on the subject of the Corn-laws —( Hear,
bear)—one of which was given by Lord John Russell, and the
other by himself. With respect to the last, he begged to in-
form them, that it was in conformity with his own opinion, and
in compliance with their wishes, as conveyed to him by
some gentlemen belonging to the Conference, and it was to
move a resolution to the effect that the duty on corn should be
entirely abolished.—( Loud (beers.) He wished to inform
them that upon hearing that it was the general wish of this
Conferevee, and others who were here, consideringin what way
they could best advance the cause, to submit this motion as
early as possible, be had gone to the Speaker of the
House of Commons, and asked him what would be
the earliest opportunity, consistently with. the forms of the
House, on which it could be brought forward.—(Loud
' 'cheers. ) lie said that as this was a motion affect-
ing a duty, it could only he myrrh after he had left the chair,
and when the House wss in Committee, but that as it was
for the pureose of abolishing the duty, that it would
be taken as the first motion in Committee.—(Hear.)
He had therefore giv, n notice last night of his intention to
loose this resolution on the House going into Committee.
--(Loud cheers.) With respect to Lord John Russell's mo-
tion, as far as he knew if it, he believed that he had consented
to make it in compliance with the earnest solicita-
tions of several Members of the House of Commons
Tor the purpose of considering the principle of Sir R. Peel's
tm asure—( Hear, hear)—to which extent they bad made up
their muds against the present Corn-laws. And as such a
motion could be made before the Speaker left the chair, for
the House to go into Committee, he believed it would take
precedence of the motion in which they were peculiarly inte-
rested. P.e certainly had not suggested this course himself,
agreeing with themselves that the best mode of condemning
Sir Robert Peel's measure, would be by moving for the -total
abolition—(Cheers)—but be was not aware, and he did
not believe, that the course intended to be pursued,
would prejudice their cause.—( Hear, hear.) Indeed, such was
the detestation in which some :limbers held this sliding, slip-
pery system of duties recommended by Sir Robert Peel, that
he could not help hoping that, timid as they might be with
respect to the total abolition, that if the alternative was
to maintain the present system, cr to abolish it altogether,
that they might prefer the latter. (Loud cheers. )
However, whether that would be so or not, he was not aware
that the cause would suffer by discussion ; it had not hitherto,
and the more there was of it perhaps the better.—( Hear.) He
was chiefly anxiouseo show them that, with the view to give effect
to their wishes and feelings on this subject he had adopted
the only course open to him, and that there had been no tardi•
mess on his part at a moment when exertion from all was so
peculiarly called for. He was glad to inform them that even
in the House of Commons the very imperfect— he could almost
say insulting—measure proposed by Sir Robert Peel, seemed to
*save roused fresh spirit and zeal among those who had before
been with them.—(Cheers.) For every man saw in that
measure an utter disregard of all that had been said, written,
and suffered for so many years, on account of the laws, and a
positive refusal to effect any change with a view to
mitigate the evils which, in the opinion of the wisest among
them, and of millions now suffering, they had produced.—
( Loud cheers.) He would not longer detain them--(Cries of
"Go on, go on")—be had only made that explanation
out of the respect which was due to them, and to prevent
any misconception as to the course intended, knowing
that the forms of the House were not easy to
to understand—(Hear, hear)—to prevent any man from sup-
posing that there would be any compromise in the House of
Commons of the great and good cause in which they were
united.—( Cheers.) He only hoped at this crisis that nothing
would be left undone that could possibly promote their object,
for never were they before so completely dependent upon them-
*elves for success.—( Loud cheering.)
LOWE announced that since Sir R. Peel's intimation
with regar I to' the Corn-laws, such had been the feeling in the
parish of Whitechapel, that the people were flocking by hun-
alreds every hour to sign the petition ; 30,000 signatures had
already been obtained since Sir R. Peel's intimation had been
made known-,(Tremendous cheers)—and a gentleman had
told him that he could, on the shortest notice, get 1,000 people
to accompany this Conference in any movement they might
make. Tins was surely an inducement for them to go on.
The Rev. W. SPENCER, of Bath, said that he had to move the
'Wowing resolution :
I" That this meeting, duly appreciating the efforts of ministers of
all denominations to impress the people with the religious bearings
of the Anti-Bread Tax movement, would respectfully suggest that
their success would be considerably increased by simultaneous meet-
ings of their people all over the country, and that the standing
Committees of the various ministerial Conferences be requested to
take the same into their immediate consideration."
As this was a motion particularly connected with the ministers
of ieligion, it had been committed to him as a clergyman of
the Established Church—(flear)— and would be, he believed,
seconded by a clergyman of the Scotch Establishment—
(Cheers)—and he had no doubt that the more this subject was
examined, the more it would be found that the ministers of re-
ligion were never so much in their places as when advocating
the rights of the people. It was very common for ministers of
all denominations to aisist in any charity ; that was, no doubt,
right, but he considered justice before charity any day.
He considered it better to spend 51. yin removing the cause of
poverty, than 5001. in relieving that poverty.—(Cheers.) He
considered it right to do good to one distressed object ; much
moretiooo, "
0440, then, to do good to 13,000,000; and if there were
persons at present in this country who were not able
to obtain wheaten bread, with thousands of persons who had no
clothes, sheen, or hats to put on, and a measure were proposed
which should immediately find them work, put clothes upon their
backs, and plenty of wheaten bread, he
could not understand
what kind of men they were who would join in relieving two or
three persons, amid would not join in a measure like that.
(Cheers.) They had great authorities for adoptive the course
which they I.ad adopted. The Archbishop: of Dubin was one
f the first Anti-Corn-la v men in Ireland ; Dr. Wakeling was
most distinguished Free-trader, and indeed he knew many
clergymen who were decided repeaters. When he (Mr.
spencer) attended the Manchester Conference, he received
several letters from clergymen of the Established Church, in
I.incoln and the South of England, approving of what he had said
at that Coeferenne, and expressing regret at their own inability to
attend.—( Hear.) Besides, when they looked around, they
saw similare trtheye
saw the bishops and the clergy take part in timings very
v
to this ; they took part in teetotal meetings,
n
people having less beer and more bread.—( Hear.) He (Mr.
Spencer) was for less beer and less gin, but he was for giving
then more bread instead.—( Hear, hear.) The Bishop of
Bath and Wells was the great father of the allotment system,
and this was very like the abolition of the Corn-laws, -- hp
Pause,
by it the people-
got bread and potatoes cheap.
in his (Mr. Spencer's) own parish, lame
rn qysie, and by it the labouring people, instead of paying dl.
,an acre for their land, as they otherwise would do, new
s•Sfor from 11. to 11. 10s. per acre, being the same as the
*lid for his land. If the Bishops and clergy, then,
pin such measures as these, he could not see why it
.rtar,. nay, almost imperative, on the minister of rele.
jue us this great national cause,—(Cheers.) He
; ' of a religion which rested on prayer alone,