The Pavilion was again crowded on Tuesday, by an assembly
of Anti-Corn-law " Operatives," who, to the number of about five thou- sand, dined at a shilling a head. No liquors were supplied except to guests on the platform, but the dinner was pronounced " excellent ;" and, which was of more consequence, the operatives behaved better, were more orderly and attentive, than the party who occupied the sante places on the previous evening.
Mr. Warren, President of the Anti-Corn-law Operative Association, delivered a very spirited and effective speech—well adapted to the oc- casion and the audience. Mr. Cobden did his best to promote cor- diality of feeling between the working men and the enfranchised classes- " Who are the people? Am I to be told that it is one class of men who are dressed in this suit of clothes, or another class dressed in another fashion, or a third distinguished by a courtly suit ? No ; in the word 4 people' I comprise the whole community, the lowest, the middle, and the upper. I should no more think of separating one class from another without doing injury to the Whole, than I should of separating a limb from the body without affecting the parent trunk. But it is said that the people are the source of legitimate pourer. I will not disguise from myself that on this occasion, at least, the term people ' was meant to apply more particularly to OHO class, and that class not the highest, and not the middle classes ; and I will not blink the question, for I tell you plainly that so far as that toast is literally construed, it is in the present day telling a lie. The people, emphatically so called—the working clesses—are not now, as they ought to be, with the other classes, the source of legitimate power. I think it right to mention this, because although, as Corn-law Repeaters, we repudiate party politics, I shall ever dare to speak my sentiments on a principle like that when I am addressing thousands of my fellow coun- trymen. I should be unworthy to stand with this beautiful motto above my head—(Pointing to the word Justice' formed by gas jets, under which the speakers took their station)-1 should be unworthy to stand with this beautiful
motto above my bead, if I ever lost sight of that which was due to the great majority of the people. I think it necessary, too, to premise as much, because I know there are those who will say. you are met here this day to sell your birthright for a mess of pottage. 1 deniit, so far as I am concerned at least. I say that in joining you here this day to agitate the total repeal of' the Corn- laws, I expect no man to lose sight, for an instant, of what is due to himself as a man and as a citizen of this country—I mean his political franchise. But what I want at the same time to contend for in every large assemblage of my fellow countrymen, and particularly among that class of which I am now proud to meet some thousands—what I wish to contend for Is this, that every class, that every individual, has a right constitutionally to agitate and endea- vour to effect whatsover he considers, in his humble judgment, to be most con- ducive to the promotion of the interests of the people. I do not ask yon, the working people, to join with me in calling fur the total repeal of the Corn- laws, and at the saint time turn your hacks on other questions mi which you. have set your minds. Go on, I say, and may God speed you in every righteous object you may have in view ; butt I most 'particularly impress upon you to go on and press forward for the attainment of that object which I consider of the greatest importance of all." Mr. lirotherton, Dr. Bowring, Mr. George Thompson, Dr. Epps, the Reverend Thomas Spencer, Mr. Villiers, and Mr. O'Connell also ad- dressed the assembly ; which was complimented by Mr. Villiers as " one of the most orderly and attentive he had ever witnessed ;" while Mr. O'Connell, unable to resist his propensity to blarney, made a truth appear ridiculous by exaggeration. Said the Member for Duld i " My eloquent and patriotic friend who has just sat down, the Member for Wolverhampton, has told you that in his political experience he never saw such a meeting as this. Now I was an agitator before he was born. I have served five distinct apprenticeships—which make in vulgar arithmetic thirty-tive years —to agitation ; and /*never saw such an assemblage as this. (Prutonged cheers.) Nay, I believe that mortal man never witnessed such an assemblage as this.
It is not the multitude, it is not your intelligence, it is not your patriotism, but it is the polished politeness of your conduct that dignifies you ; and shows
that the operatives of this country are beyond the gentlemen hi uuu, ut/mn' country on the flaw ql the earth. 1 thought last night that we had struck a blow against the Corn-laws, and I went home cackling and laughing at the idea of having given them a good kick ; but the blow of last night was nothing to the blow we arc giving them this Wght. This is the finishinr,-blow." The Anti-Corn-law Delegates from various associations and towns assembled at the Manchester Corn-Exchange on Tuesday. The Dele- gates were about 150 in number, but upwards of 1,500 persons were present. The Secretary of the Anti-Corn-law League read a report on the proceedings of the League, and the state of their funds. It appeared that the receipts had amounted to 2,4841., and the treasury was "almost empty "—the cash in hand and in bank being under 701. They had paid 1,2361. for lectures, 872/. for printing, wages 1461., and sundries 781.: these were the principal items of the account. Resolutions were passed approving of the report, and of the necessity of supporting the League. This also was a very impressive meeting, from its weight of sense, influence, and determination.
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