The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-05-22 00:00:00

of the people

11 remember that the:

_ _ nough to contain
to meet in Clavton-snuare.

larg

not. only don't meet

in why they do not meet

US her

puutic; pcuur. k rwur3 ui
iuugu-
lemen, I think they have shown a very
scretion, but I have a more important conclusion

to draw from this advertisement. It is this. I wish for
no greater proof of the unpopularity of the ministerial
measure in Liverpool than this private, or, as they would
have called it, this " bole-and-corner" meeting of a few
gentlemen. (Loud and long-continued cheering.) I shall
go now, Mr. Mayor, to the more immediate object.of the
present meeting. If, sir, it had been to adduce new argu-
ments or new facts why this ministerial measure should not

pass, I should

You well

know, sir, that this question has already been most ably

and most fully discu

lbothhouses of par-

Foment, but at two meetings already held in tins town on present time.
the subject. (Hear.) But, sir, we nevertheless have an (Cheers.) Instead of that universal peace so boldly pre-
object, and that object is to ask the peers of England not dieted by the advocates of free-trade, we see war, and
to allow this measure, which we consider so detrimental to anarchy, and misery, ravaging the greater part of Europe.
British interests to become the law of the land. But, We see our West India colonies desolated, the planters
gentlemen, We have curious inuendoes thrown out against and proprietors for the most part impoverished, or made
us. as to our motives in opposing this bill. We are told bankrupt by acts of parliament. Canada has been de-
that we do not take it up on commercial grounds—that prived of protection for her corn, whilst she is subject to
we do not take it upon national grounds, but that we restrictive duties on the part of the United States; and
make it the mere battle-field for the overthrow of one galled by our laws and insulting measures, she has broken
ministry and the establishment of another. (Hear, hear.) into some excesses which we must all deplore. (Hear.)
Why, sir, we have gentlemen of all political opinions on But I can hardly trust myself. when I reflect on the man-
this platform, and for myself I repudiate the charge. ner in which these loyal colonies have been treated, to
(Cheers.) I have no such motive. My only object in dwell on this point. This is not the time for rash legisla-
opposing this bill is on the ground that it will be seriously tion,—nor for depriving our shipping of that protection
injurious to British commerce,—and I hope (said he em- which it has so long enjoyed, and which has formed the
phatically) not fatal to our naval supremacy. (Loud foundation of our colonial empire (cheers). With these
cheers.) But, Mr. Mayor, we have reciprocity treaties remarks I shall conclude, and still hope that, by a deter-
in existence with almost every nation, and if these treaties mined stand made in the House of Lords, we shall see
are not sufficiently enlarged—not sufficiently extensive— this matter brought to a successful issue (cheers). I
by all means extend them further. But I should like to have great pleasure in seconding the resolution proposed
know why, and I never yet have heard the question satis- by Mr. Horsfall (loud cheers).
factorily answered—when nations with whom we have The MAYOR then asked if any person had an amend-
treaties have the power of bringing the produce of their meat to propose, and there being no answer, he put the
own countries in their own ships into this country, why resolution to the meeting. It was carried by an immense
we are to go further and introduce a third party. (Loud majority, only two hands being held up against it. (Loud
cheers.) No reason has been assigned. It has been cheers.)
stated by Lord Carlisle, Sir James Graham, avid others, Mr. SAMUEL HOLME (councillor), on rising at the call
that the object is to cheapen freights, and they tell us at of the Mayor to propose the second resolution, was hailed
the same time that the British shipping can compete with with a tremendous burst of applause. He spoke nearly
that of anyother nation. (Hear) If, sir, the object of that as follows :—Mr. Mayor, and gentlemen, if, on a vital
measure—if the result of that measure is to cheapen and important question like the present, I had hesitated
freights, it answers itself. It must supersede some por- for :one moment to respond to the call made on me to