Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/114

 another quarter. A large number of tenant farmers connected with the fertile Vale of Clwyd, wincing under the pressure of a limited demand and low prices for their produce, fixed a meeting to be held in the County Hall on Wednesday, June 8th, to which they invited the county landowners, in order to consider the existing state of things, and also the means best adapted to procure "protection."

The greatest publicity was given to this meeting, and every landowner and considerable tenant was warned of it by circular. Several influential landowners and a great number of the tenant-farmers did attend, and others sent letters. Amongst the latter was Mr. Myddelton Biddulph, the Lord Lieutenant, who went at some length into the question of protection, showing how futile it had hitherto been, and pointing out that the existing as well as all past protection had only produced uncertainty, and not prosperity; and that what the agricultural interest was now mainly suffering from was, "decreased consumption."

After some four or five hours' debate, a thorough free-trade resolution, advocating the removal of all restrictions on industry as the remedy for the existing distress, was adopted by a large majority. An objection was taken, that that majority was not composed of owners and occupiers of land, which was the fact and the mover withdrew it, in order that the owners and occupiers present might go to a division on the moderate revenue-producing duty principles propounded by the Lord Lieutenant, and the ultra pro-corn-law resolutions of Mr. Griffith. The result was, that just three persons, including Mr. Griffith and his seconder, voted for the latter; and the meeting then adopted petitions to parliament, founded upon the Lord Lieutenant's letter.

A more decided victory was obtained over the ultra protectionists at Aylesbury. Dr. Sleigh, supposed to be employed by the Duke of Buckingham, had announced that a meeting would be held in the County Hall. The