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Deputies appointed by Anti-Corn-law associations and religious congregations in every part of England, Scotland, and Ireland, have assembled in London, to hold a Conference on the mode of furthering the repeal of the Corn-laws. The Conference was opened at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, in the Strand, on Tuesday. Mr. Duncan M`Laren was called to the chair ; Mr. Sidney Smith and Mr. Joseph Hickey were appointed Secretaries. Among the gentlemen upon the platform were the following—Mr. Cobden, M.P., Mr. Scholefield, M.P., Honour- able C. P. Villiers, M.P., Mr. Milner Gibson, M.P., Dr. Bowring, M.P., Mr. A. Johnston, M.P., Mr. Heathcoat, M.P., Mr. O'Connell, M.P., Reverend Dr. Wade, Reverend T. Spencer of Hinton Charterhouse, Colonel Thompson, Mr. Boultbee, Mr. Ashworth, Mr. Heyworth, Mr. Joseph Sturge, Reverend Dr. Pye Smith, Mr. Muntz, M.P., Mr. Pren- tice. But the Deputies have continued to arrive from day to day, and the list of their names fills nearly three columns of the Sun. The first business on Tuesday was the appointment of Executive and Finance Committees. The speakers were Mr. Bright of Rochdale, Mr. Pren- tice, Dr. Pye Smith, Mr. Falvy, a working-man from Macclesfield, and Mr. O'Connell. The speakers were unanimous in the opinion that no measure would be effectual except the total and immediate repeal of the Corn-laws—the fixed duty and the sliding scale being equally con- demned; and such, said each speaker, was the general opinion in the part of the country from which he came. Dr. Pye Smith announced the-, that was his last appearance at a meeting of the kind ; his total de- pri ation of hearing preventing his taking part in such proceedings.
',he following resolution was carried unanimously-
" Diet in the opinion of the Deputies present, representing associations, pub- lic meetings, and religious congregations in various parts of the kingdom, the COT ' and Provision laws violate the natural and inalienable right of man—the right freely to exchange the produce of his labour for the food of all other countries; impiously obstructing the circulation of the bounties designed by Divine Providence for the benefit of all his creatures. That the aim of this monopoly of the first necessaries of life is to enhance the price of the produce of the soil of this country, thus necessarily inflicting severe privations, espe- chi"' upon the poorest portion of the community. That these laws in their operation not only expose the labouring-class to the physical evils of hunger, Isms , and even premature death, but they war against their eternal interests, by increasing the temptations to crime and immorality, rendering them less accessible to the influences of religion. That in denouncing the Corn and Provision laws as a great national sin, the Deputies express their own deliberate conviction, and that of a vast portion of their countrymen, that those laws should be immediately and totally abolished ; and the Deputies constituting this meeting pledge themselves never to swerve or relax in their efforts until that object be eccomplished."
Mr. John Brooks, as chairman of a preliminary meeting of the De- puties, addressed a letter to Sir Robert Peel, on Monday, requesting an interview before the announcement of the intentions of Government on Wednesday. Sir Robert replied on Tuesday, that preengagements pre- vented his making the desired appointment.
A resolution was passed, on Wednesday, that a motion ought to be made in the House of Commons for the total and immediate repeal of the Corn and Provision laws, and approving of the course taken by Mr. Villiers. Mr. Boultbee subsequently stated that Mr. Villiers intended to bring forward an amendment to Sir Robert Peel's motion, tending to a total and immediate repeal. Another resolution was carried, that "the De- puties present connected with the staple manufactures of the country, whilst they demand the removal of all restrictions upon the importation of corn and provisions, declare their willingness to aid in the abolition of all duties imposed for their own protection."
After the sitting of the Conference on Wednesday, the Deputies, to the number of about 600, walked down in procession to the House of Com- mons, and asked that a few of their number might be admitted into the Lobby. The request was refused. They then ranged themselves on each side of the door leading into the Lobby, and saluted the Members as they passed with cries of "Cheap food !" "A total repeal !" and the like. They then retreated to Palace Yard. Mr. Prentice of Manchester mounted to an elevated situation, and said, "The doors of the lobby are closed against us by order of those in power : it is impossible for us to get in to address the Members as they pass. The Corn-laws were passed under the protection of the bayonet, and the Tories now ensconce them- selves behind the truncheons of the police. But the time is fast coming when the voice of the people will be heard, and their oppressors will quail before it. Let us give three hearty cheers for the cause of Free Trade I" The cheers were given, and the Deputies proceeded up Parliament Street. Just at Privy Gardens they met Sir Robert Peel coming in his carriage to the House. He looked very grave, it is said, and immediately afterwards very blank, when he heard the shouts of "No Corn-law!" "Down with monopoly!" "Give us bread and labour!" As soon as Sir Robert Peel's measure was announced, at half-past seven, the Deputies met at Brown's Coffeehouse, and resolved that the measure, "so far from holding out the slightest prospect of any relief of the distress of the country, is an insult to a patient and suffering people ; and the Deputies view such a proposal as an indication that the landed aristocracy of this country are destitute of all sympathy for the poor, and are resolved, if permitted by an outraged people, to persist in a course of selfish policy, which will involve the destruction of every interest in the country." A second meeting was held at nine o'clock; and a string of resolu- tions was passed. The Deputies deemed it their duty "to record their emphatic condemnation of it [the measure], and their solemn protest against it, as a total denial of the just demand of the people of this country, and as evincing a determination to perpetuate an oppressive and unrighteous system, together with all the essential evils which have hitherto resulted from the operation of the existing Corn-laws." They called on the supporters of repeal throughout the country to express their hostility to the proposed measure, and " their fixed and unalterable determination not to relax in their exertions until a measure of complete justice is obtained ; and to consent to no compromise of the sacred principle upon which the agitation for the abolition of the Corn-laws is based. And they urged them to support Mr. Villiers's amendment with petitions.
These resolutions were adopted and formally passed at the regular meeting of the Conference on Thursday ; when the speakers all dis- played the influence of the stimulus imparted by Sir Robert Peel's measure. The Chairman, Mr. Joseph Taylor, said that the question had assumed such a shape since the previous day, had been so cleared from all difficulty, as to make their path clear and straightforward— All apprehensions had been removed lest the wily politician at the head of her Majesty's Government should by seeming concessions—concessions in words only—lure some portion of that support from them which had recently been manifested in their favour throughout the country ; and if they conti-- nued in their course with resolution, moderation, and firmness, they must carry ilia- point eventually, as they would be sure to carry every question involving a national wrong. Mr. Taylor produced a parallel to Sir Robert Peel's boast of increased exports— Now if any one of them had ever walked through the streets of London during a time of distress, he must have seen staring him in the face the an- nouncement—" Tremendous sacrifice." The consequence of that announce- ment always was, that immense sales took place; and perhaps, in the course of two days, the merchant's warehouse was cleared. Well, then, when this had taken place, Sir Robert Peel would go into that merchant's warehouse, and shaking him by the hand, say to him, "Sir, I congratulate you on your pros- perity; you never made such large sales in your life before.' The merchant might well reply, as did the general who had lost half his best troops in a vic- tory, "Sir Robert, another such a run of prosperity would be my ruin."
Mr. Greg deviated a little from advice given by the Chairman, who recommended action, and uttered a few arguments. Where, he asked, would be the use of seeking trade abroad, if it were not a trade in food ?—
In this island there was but a small space, and the inhabitants were too numerous for the food it could produce ; and the result was that they must perish unless more food could be produced. It was useless to talk of any thing that would not have that effect. If the people had money, it was true they would buy food; but what would be the effect of that? The price of food would be increased, but no more food could be got, and the agricultural la- bourers would have to perish. In short, before they could get more food, re- lief must be given. But it was said, negotiate with foreign powers, open new markets for your industry : but what would be the use of that unless more food could be obtained? He would suppose the whole empire of China was open to the English markets : there would be no use in that ; no good result from it unless more food could be obtained. It was true, that if China was opened to the English, they might get more gold and silver, they might get more raw silk ; but that would do no good without food. It might be applied to the pur- chase of that, corn mostly ; but how could it be expended unless there was plenty of food in the country to purchase ? If the Corn-laws were repealed, then they should have the benefit of new markets, because then the manufac- tures of the country could be exchanged for food.
A resolution was passed to present a memorial to the Queen. The Chairman announced in the course of the day, that the Anti-Corn-law Bazaar at Manchester had realized 10,000/. And Mr. Sidney Smith, stated that nine hundred and ninety-four petitions for repeal of the Corn-law had been presented to the House of Commons since it had assembled.
The proceedings yesterday were interesting. Mr. Villiers appeared to explain the nature of the two notices on the Corn-laws given by Lord John Russell and himself— He had learned from the Speaker, that his own motion, which went to abo- lish a duty, must be proposed in Committee. Lord John's motion he believed, had been made in compliance with the earnest solicitation of several Members who had made up their minds to the extent of condemning the principle of Sir Robert Peel's measure ; and as such a motion could be made before the House went into Committee, it would take precedence of his own. He cer- tainly did not recommend that course; thinking that the best mode of con- demning Sir Robert Peel's measure would be to move the total abolition: but he did not believe that the intended course would prejudice their cause. Indeed, he thought that some, who were timid about the total abolition' so detested the sliding slippery system of duties, that if they were reduced to the alternative, they would prefer the total abolition. [Mr. Villiers's explanation only shows that Lord John Russell's motion may take precedence of his, not that it must.]
The Reverend Mr. Spencer moved a resolution, which was carried unanimously, recommending the religious ministers to call simultaneous meetings of their people throughout the country. In doing so, he sug- gested the example of the destruction of Jericho : he would take a thou- sand men from the streets of Manchester and bring them up to Lon- don, and let them march seven times round the House of Commons blowing Anti-Corn-law horns, and perambulate the streets of London telling their distress ; and the walls of monopoly would fall;
Mr. Cobden, in a brief but rousing speech, denounced Sir Robert Peel's attempt to shut out food from the people of England. Sir Robert' said that they did not want corn in ordinary years : they only wanted enough, and they had better not have a surplus. Who was to judge when corn was wanted ?--who to decide when the people who eat corn had enough ? Mr. Cobden asked his hearers if they would act and suffer in the cause? If so, let them offer to Government a passive re- sistance. He would take his part : as soon as the bill became law, he should as far as was in his power withdraw all support, moral and pecu- niary, from such a Government. (Much cheering followed thie an-, nouneement.) Mr. Joseph Stttrge then proposed a resolution, which was carried' unanimously, recommending the constituencies of the kingdom "not again to support any Member of the House of Commons who does not vote, or any candidate who does not pledge himself to vote, for the total and immediate repeal of this obnoxious law."
The Reverend J. W. Massie introduced a petition to the Queen, ex- pressing alarm at the consequences likely to arise from the sufferings of the people, and utter want of confidence in Ministers; and the Execu- tive Committee were requested to ascertain the best mode of forward- ing it to its destination.
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