Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/399

 corn is imported. There was no such thing as a store of 'corn abroad, kept there waiting for a contingency that might arise. (Hear, hear.) It was their opponents who wished to produce an unnatural inundation on the market, by waiting for a time of scarcity and starvation. (Cheers.) Their opponents were not contented with spreading fallacies at home, but they were trying to spread delusions on the Ukraine and in the valley of the Mississippi. (Cheers.) That was the question as regarded the farmer. The agitation had not been sustained because the bill wan an error in political economy, but because it intended to put the nation upon short commons (cheers); and he opposed it in the name of the people at large (cheers); and its total and immediate repeal was therefore pressed for. They had never heard it argued that this law was passed for the benefit of the whole nation. They had heard it said that it was for the benefit of the farmers and landlords. If it was not for the benefit of the great body, why on earth should they now come forward and say that it should not be repealed? Sir Robert Peel came forward and talked about the interests that had arisen under this law; he (Mr. Cobden) pleaded for the great interests that had been crushed to the earth by it, and, to prove what it bud done, he would bring their Home Secretary and his Prison Report into the witness box. He pleaded for the total and immediate repeal for the great body of the working men. The government was going to repeal these laws at a Season of distress, at a time like the years 1839, 1840, and 1841. In those years scarcely any corn could be got from abroad, and yet these countries were to be depended on for a supply of corn, should Divine Providence think fit to punish us with a bad harvest. Where was the supply to come from? The government ought to be called upon to answer that question. It ought to be thrust upon them. (Cheers.) Let the whole of the responsibility be thrown upon them. That was his case, as the lawyers said, for the total and immediate repeal."

He concluded by urging on all present to attend to the registration of themselves and their neighbours. Mr. Bright and Mr. W. J. Fox followed, in eloquent and spirit. stirring speeches, which excited great enthusiasm in the meeting.

A brief discussion took place in the House of Commons on July 22nd, on a motion by Mr. Ewart for a committee on the Customs Act, with a view to his proposing an alteration of the duties on butter and cheese. He was of opinion that these duties should be totally repealed: in the first