The Sun. — 1841-09-27 (London, England)

YOUNG AIENS' ANTI-MONOPOLY ASSOCIATION, AIANCIIESTER. This Associaion held its second monthly meeting on Wednesday, the I:,th instant, in the Concert Rooms, at theAthenwum; Mr. ii;,lward Ilerford in the Chair. The room was well filled. 'l.;:e. subject of discussion which was introduced by was— " Are the Corns-laws just ?" Mr. J. P. Culverwell in a well-roa.:oned essay, of which our space allows us to give only a mean, re outline. The object of these meetings is, that ~he members of the Association may prepare themselves to meet and successfully combat any of the numerous sophistries with which the supporters of monopoly attempt to shroud the subject. Mr. Culverwell very appropriately chose for the first discussion the simple question of the justice or injustice of the food monopoly. After some prefatory remarks, Mr. C. stated that the avowed object of the Corn-laws was to secure the corngrower an artificially enhanced price ; that 80s. per quarter was the price aimed at by the law of 1815, and 635. by that of 1828 ; this object to be attained by taxing foreign corn so as to prohibit its admission, except at famine prices. It follows, of course, that the Corn. laws compel us to give more lab ti for our food. Suppose that we now give Bd. for •ad which would otherwise cost 6d., we are just •ectually robbed of 2d. for each loaf that we buy a irt a ere taken from us by a sharper. In the one case it is the law that takes the 2d. from us ; in the other, the sharper. Now, if one of the lawmakers had detected the sharper picking his pocket, he would have lifted up his eyes to heaven in pious abhorrence, wondering how be could be such a villain, and would have had him committed to bridewell. Yet how aptly might the sharper plead ! He could say, " I wanted more money. lam too idle to work to rob is easier. But, alas : lam not a lawmaker ! had I been so, I could have robbed respectally ; I could have passed a law to enrich myself, and with the proceeds have built churches and prisons for the benefit of those who rob by the ignoble industry of their hands instead of by the invisible and ingenious machinery of a Corn-law." That which on the small scale is called cheating, on the large scale is designated statesmanship. " One murder makes a villain ; millions a hero." These laws, being unjust, must be maintained by physical force. just and equitable laW requires no forest of bristling bayonets to enfinaaeit. As a commercial' people, we have too strong an interest in the security of property to oppose any laws which guarantee the welfare of society. It 13 even doubtful whether force alone would be Oleo .tual in maintaining such enactments were their whole iniquity apparent. If the bread of which we are defrauded were openly taken from off our tables, the villainy would be so palpable and insufferable that no Government would dare to attempt it. But the assistance of frau is into effect that which brute force alone dare not call and a portion of our bread is taken from us byaft.rtelialuttiti; lently raising its price, and thereby diminishingthe quantity which is• can buy for a given amount of labour. We have the best authority for saying that the Corn: jaws impose an amount of taxation more than equal to the whole expense of Government ; and this, not for any but for the exclusive benefit of the lawn:l generalaking purpose,ct.; ass. But this enormous injustice is not the worst. By the unequal operation of indirect taxation, this burden is made to press heaviest where it can least easily be borne. ' Rich and poor alike are bread-eaters • but the poor man who spends a week bread out • in o of 10s., pays or 10 per cent. a weekly income income tax ; while the aristocrat, with an income-of 200,0001. per annum, or 40d. per week, pays only 25., or less than three farthings per cent. upon his income. Now, his fair proportion ought to be 401. per week, or 20,0001. a-year, to the robbery ; chestindeed, as he can afford to pay in higher proportion, heshould be charged more than this, especially as he probably will receive .part back again in the form of increased rent, while the Nor artisan receives nothing back ; on the contrary, dira2nishing trade, his wages are lowered and his in-co, b my dimin;:hed, as well as his expenditure increased.--"lntiBeead-ta„r Circular. [Some al'scussion ensued for which we cannot find room.—ED.  A BIG IiEGGAR-