Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/47

 Mr. Ewart opened the second night's debate in an able And honest speech, full of proofs of the downward progress of trade, the consequences of our refusal to receive in exchange for our goods the produce of other countries. Mr. Liddell followed, and attributed the distress to overproduction, in a country where one half of the people were in rags! Lord Worsley complained that ministers called the present Corn Law a "temporary" measure, and thus kept the farmer in uncertainty and alarm. Mr. Knight abused the League; the best argument, perhaps, that he had to offer. Mr. Ward gave a frightful account of the State of Sheffield. "There had been no building mania there, for only 300 houses were in course of building in 1837, but at the present moment there were no less than 3,100 houses untenanted, and a gentleman in whom he (Mr. Ward) had the most perfect confidence, wrote to him, 'I have considerable property in houses, and I have not a single tenant who is not in arrears of rent, some for two, others for three half years; and this is the general condition of the town.' Another gentleman, whose letter he had that day received, stated, The affairs of the town are getting worse and worse: the distress is intense and increasing.' The amount which had been raised for the relief of the poor was in 1839 £20,000, in 1840 £35,000, in 1841 $52,000, in 1842 and this year it would be at least £64,000."

Mr. Disraeli said that if time were given for the operation of natural causes, trade would certainly revive! Mr. Ross was rather behind the fair in proposing an 8s. duty, diminishing one shilling a year till the trade in corn was free. Mr. B. Hope attributed the distress to over-population and over production; and with this philosophical conclusion the debate for the night terminated.

Dr. Bowring commenced the third night's debate with a most distressing account of the state of Bolton. Mr. J. Wortley complained bitterly that the hon. member for Rolton had spoken of gentlemen on the ministerial side of