The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1841-05-11 00:00:00

1111PRAL Ur 8111:A0

Parlist34,l repeaiorti isn4 the aarolypro of tho thory or
Tres tritchi held a tweeting last evening in the MusiarhopL fpr
the purpose of supporting the ministerial plan of InoPlitYing
the corn laws.
Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEY was called to the chair, and ob-
served that he was happy to have auy opportunity of presiding
over a meeting the object of which was to repeal the corn
laws. Whatever might have been the cause of ministers
having promised to bring forward a plan for modifying the
present system, that meeting could not do otherwise than
rejoice at it. At least, it put upon those laws the stamp of
injustice and iniquity from the very highest position, which
would enable them ultimately to sweep them from the statute
book. ( Hear.) At the meeting in Clayton-square a petition
was agreed to praying for a total repeal of the corn laws, but
that would not prevent them from supporting the plan of
ministers, which was a step towards obtaining what they
wanted. If the conservatives came into office, as be feared
they would, they would perpetuate the sliding scale under
the specious pretext of reducing a portion of the present pro-
tection ; and therefore he would point out a few of. the dis-
advantages of it. It was devised to protect the landowner,
to put into their pockets an amount of money for their corn
equal to the yearly taxation of the country ; to maintain a
perpetual scarcity ; to keep up the greatest possible fluctua-
tions, and to convulse all our commercial relations.
Mr. H DOH HORN BY moved the first resolution, which was
to the effect, that the meeting adhered as strongly as ever to
their conviction of the propriety and necessity of the ultimate
total repeal of the taxes upon bread, and hailed with satisfac-
tion the step which ministers had taken towards meeting
their viewS. (Hear, hear.) No man possessed of ordinary
reflction and thoughtfulness could contemplate the condition
of this great country, at the present crisis, without feeling
anxiety and apprehension for the future. The principal
branches of our commerce and manufactures were almost
paralyzed; the monetary system of the country was in a
statr of derangement, the national revenues were yearly de-
clining. in the face of increased taxation, whilst the threat-
ening attitude assumed by foreign powers, and the unsettled
state of our colonial dependencies, rendered an increase ab-
solutely necessary, in order to maintain the security and
honour of the nation. There was also a consideration of
greater importance even than that—namely, the condition of
the working classes. The industrious and intelligent la-
bouring population of these islands were in a state of fear-
ful distress, and he greatly feared that there was but very
little probability of amelioration. He was firmly persuaded
that these evils were mainly owing to the unwise aud pre-
posterous regulations which disfigured the commercial code
of this country, and most especially to that most mischievous
of all laws, which forbade the introduction into this country
of food for. the people. Since the death of the late Mr.
Huskisson, little or nothing had been done to improve our
commercial regulations. We ought not. however, to blame
her Majesty's ministers for the tardiness with which they
had brought forward this measure, for they had a large ma-
jority against them in one branch of the legislature, and in
the other had to contend with the feeble, languid, and un-
certain support which the liberal population had afforded
them. They had, nevertheless, at length brought forward
some measures of commercial reform, which entitled them
to the gratitude of all classes. The town of Liverpool would •
derive most important advantages in all respects from those
measures, but what was his surprise and astonishment
to find that the member for Liverpool had come for-
ward to take the lead in opposing those measures
in the House of Commons ! As to the other member,
he took no interest in the subject whatever. What were
the grounds upon which Lord S ,ridon had opposed the
alteration in the sugar duties, an alteration than which none
bad been introduced for many years which would have so
great an effect upon our prosperity ? Did he oppose it be-
cause it was not acknowledged upon all bands to be a most
judicious and financial measure, because it did not affect the
consumers of sugar throughout the country—and he (Mr.
Hornby) begged the meeting to recollect that the consumers
of sugar were the great mass of the people ? When he told
them that during the past year the consumers of sugar had
paid a tax exceeding four millions to the owners of colonial
possessions, independently of a tax of equal amount to her
majesty's treasury, he thought they would admit' that this
was a subject affecting all. It would also give employment
to our manufacturing poor, which was to them happiness and
comfort. What, then, had been the ground of Lord Sandon's
opposition ? He had opposed it because it would promote
the carrying on of the trade in slaves. He (Mr. Hornby)
trusted there was no man in the country who held that traffic
in greater abhorrence sad detestation than he did, and he
was persuaded he was speaking the sentiments of every mem-
ber of that
.meeting, when he said that if a continuance of
the present system, though he was persuaded it was destroy-
ing the foundations of the greatness of this country, would
put an end to that nefarious practice, he, for one, would take
all the disadvantages attendant upon it to obtain so glorious an
object. No one knew better than Lord Sandou that our use of
the sugar of Brazil did not affect that trade to any material de-
gree, while i t increased the distress of the people of this country.
The only way of putting an end to that trade worthy of this
nation was boldly and manfully to declare any country, which
allowed her colonies to: import slaves, our enemy ; and he
would fearlessly say that we had never unsheathed the sword
in a more holier or a more righteous cause, nor in one in
which she would receive more enthusiastic support from the
population. But no such arguments could be used against
the proposed alteration of the corn-laws. The argument
against an alteration was this that if the people -had cheap
bread their wages would decline, .in the same proportion.
The argument was contrary to common sense; for it we im-
port foreign corn we must pay for it in the manufactures of
this country, and he had yet to learn that a great demand for
those manufactures had the effect of reducing wages.

Mr. RATHBONE seconded the resolution, pronouncing the
occasion which bad brought the meeting together one of the
utmost importance. Ministers had now done their duty ;
would the people do theirs ? The people must turn the tories
out, and then they would have honest representatives, but
not till then. Look at our local representation—the liberals
would not come forward to support their own principles. His
friend, Mr. Hornby, had spoken of Lord Sandon as the mem-
her for Liverpool, but he had made a great mistake. He
was not the member for Liverpool, but the member fur the
West India interest, and for that alone. The West Indians
had claimed the noble lord as their own, and they were wel-
come to him. The speaker then ridiculed the idea of hu-
manity being the motive for the resolution proposed by the
noble lord, and concluded by a strong call upon the meeting
to support the present administration.
The Rev. Mr. GILES, a Baptist minister, said he supported
the motion, not as a political agitator, but as a philanthro-
pist, a patriot, a Christian, and 'a Christian minister. In the
name of each of these he said to the meeting " Away with
the accursed corn laws."
The motion was then carried.

Mr. LAWRENCE H e worth, in the absence of Mr. T.
Blackburn, moved the second resolution in a very long
speech. The resolution declared that the opening of the
trade in corn would be found alike benefiiiial to the merchant,
the manufacturer, the shipowner, the shopkeeper, and the
labouring classes of the kingdom. The burthen of Mr. Hey.
worth's remarks was that dear bread operated two ways, in
cutting down the prices of goods, and in lessening the demand
for them.
Mr. W. Noon seconded the resolution at considerable

length.
BERNARD MACARTNEY, a working man, here came for-
ward and said, he wished to move an amendment.
The CHAIRMAN said he should be heard, but first he should
like to know the nature of the amendment.
MACARTNEY said it was to call upon the meeting to ex-
press its opinion in favour of universal suffrage, rather than
in favour of the ministerial plan for modifying the corn laws.
The CHAIRMAN said he would put an end to this in a mo-
ment. They were not met to discuss the neglect of universal
suffrage. (Much uproar.) It had no reference to the mat-
ter under consideration ; and, therefore, he should proceed
to put the motion. (Cheers.)
MACARTNEY claimed to he heard as an inhabitant.

The CHAIRMAN.—SiIence, sir, I will not allow you to
speak ; and it yOu attempt any further I will have you turned
out by the police.
This threat had its effect ; and Macartncy retired amidst
great uproar.

The CHAIIIMAN then put the resolution, and it was of
course carried. After declaring it, he said—l think it but
just to myself and this public meeting to say, that I never
upon any occasion was afraid of fair and full discussion upon
this and every other subject ; but when a meeting is called
for a particular purpose, and when a set of men, miscreants
as they are---:(loud cheers)—come here to endeavour to mis-
lead you, and to destroy the best interests of the people—l
think, I say, it is but just we should mark our disapproba-
tion and displeasure of those men, not upon this only but
upon every occasion. (Cheers, and a cry, " They have sold
themselves to the tories.") I believe them to be men paid
by your worst enemies, the tories. (Loud cheers.) Leave
them, gentlemen, to that merited contempt which you have
shown them, and which they so richly deserve. (Cheers.)
Mr. Wm. BrtowN, highly eulogized the efforts of Lord
Melbourne ! Lord Lansdowne, Lord John Russell, and Earl
Fitzwilliam, in this question, and at his request three cheers
were given to them. The resolution he moved, said the inte-
rests of the landholders were identified with and consequent
upon the prosperity of the the manufacturing and com-
mercial classes, and the meeting confidently anticipated
th 3 commencement of sound principles of legislation, on the
subject of corn, would benefit them in common with all other
classes. _ _ _ .

Mr. CHARLES HOLLAND, in a fluent speech, full of the
usual free trade doctrine, and liberal sentiments, seconded
the resolution. _

Mr, AMBLER, an operative, supported the resolution,
after which it was carried.
Mr. JAMES HARVEY moved, and Mr. HENRY ROMMILLY
seconded the last resolution which was to the effect, that the
principles of free trade avowed by the ministers and their
declaration of laTislating for the welfare of the bulk of the
people, in opposition to any class interested, were deserving
of cordial support. •
The meeting then separated.

Tilg SIREN FROM MONTE VIDEO.—BV this vessel, T. S.
Hood, Esq., H.B.M. consul at Monte Video, has arrived
at this port.

Boors.—Bibliopolista have now au opportunity of making
some valuable additions to their libraries, from the collec-
tions of Mr. Foster and the Dean of St. Patrick's, which
have been purchased by Mr. Rees, of Leece-street.

LAUNCH OF AN IRON STEAM-VESSEL.-A, beautiful iron
steam-vessel, of about 200 tons measurement, was launched
last Thursday from Mr. John Laird's building-yard, North
Birkenhead. She was named the " Lady Flora Hastings,"
and is intended, we understand, for Demerara. Her engines
are now putting on board by Messrs. Fawcett and Co., and
be very soon ready to sail for the
she will, it is expected,
West Indies.
- - -

••••••••••
DEATH •BY SCALDING.—On Monday week a little boy
named John Smith, residing in Midgall-street, was severely
scalded by the overturning of a saucepan of boiling water.
He was alone when the accident happened. He lingered in
great torment till Thursday last, when he died.
THE PRESIDENT.—As we stated in our last, the latest ar-
rival from the West Indies makes no mention of this unfor-
tunate vessel, but the accounts only reach to the 4th April,
twenty days after the cessation of the storm, an interval too
short to allow her, if much crippled, to reach the nearest
island. The next packet from the \Vest Indies may be ex-
pected to bring intelligence which will be decisive as to the
fate of this ill-fated steamer.

Two IMPRUDENT MEN.—Mary Ann Brierley, a disso-
lute female, was, on Saturday, placed before Mr. Rushton,
charged with having robbed Benjamin Alilner. It appeared,
that Milner and John Williams, one of his shipmates, were,
an Friday last, paid off from the Gulnare. On Friday night,
about half-past twelve, they met the prisoner and another
woman near the Custom-bouse. The four adjourned to a
house in North-strQet, where, in the course of the night,
a
Milner was robbed of sovereign and his comrade of three
half-crowns. Constable Lynch was called, and he took the
prisoner into custody, it appearing that the other girl had
nothing to do with the robbery. 'A
sovereign was found in
the prisoner's possession. She denied the charge, and ,was
committed for trial.

WEST INDIA INTEREST.—A great meeting of planters,
merchants, and others interested in the British 'West India
colonies, was held in London on Wednesday. Strong reso-
lutions were adopted against the proposed reduction of duty
in foreign sugars.

THE DEAN OF YORK.—On Thursday, in the Court of
queen's Bench, Sir W. Follett applied for a rule calling upon
the Archbishop of York, and his commissary, Dr. Phillimore,
to show cause why a writ should not issue to prohibit the
effectuation of a certain sentence which had been delivered
by the cominissaary and archbishop in the course of some
proceedings which had lately taken place in the Cathedral of
York. The court granted the rule.