Page:The corn law question shortly investigated.djvu/5

 THE

SHORTLY INVESTIGATED.

is in vain to deny that a great and simultaneous effort will shortly be again made during the present Session of Parliament, entirely to do away with the laws which have hitherto existed for the protection of that hitherto all-important interest, British Agriculture. Societies are forming in every quarter, with large subscription funds—meetings are held, at which the most preposterous doctrines are propounded—and the agriculturist stands quietly by, without a murmur, as Sir R. Walpole said, "while the fleece is being shorn from his back." It is this which has caused the present writer to take up his pen, and, however inadequately, to endeavour to rouse all those who have the well-being of the state at heart, to a sense of their impending danger and ruin.

This is no party question; it is one of much higher and more paramount importance, involving the interest of every class of society; and therefore, from its very magnitude, calls on every individual, be his talents what they may, to come boldly forward and express his opinion, and to discuss the question fairly and openly—to meet the "Repealers" with their own weapons—agitate, agitate,—and by sending up petitions from every district in the country—then and only