Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/235

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REGISTRATION.
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tration had been totally neglected—in many partially attended to, whilst in others it had been entirely in the hands of legal agents—or rather in the hands and power of victorious bribers; but in a very few instances did they find that the matter had been properly attended to. They then formed committees where none existed, and exacted a pledge from the free traders in many boroughs, that the subject should be fully attended to hereafter; and although the work is a very great one, and it cannot he brought to perfection in a single day, yet I believe now that the first stimulus, the first great impulse, Bas been given, to put in full array and order the constituted body who have in their hands the fate of this country, and who can determine the fate of the Corn Laws and all other monopolies. Whenever, therefore, you hear it asked by anybody, what is the League doing? let it be clearly understood, that the whole of their attention is being given to the subject of registration in all its branches. The consequences of this assiduity was already seen. In the city of London you have a Registration Association, which has made unparalleled efforts on this occasion, and which has effectually, I believe, provided against the return hereafter of any monopolist to parliament for the metropolis. In South Lancashire, if I were to go into the interesting particulars, the result would be equally satisfactory; and I firmly believe, do what they will in the shape of objections hereafter in that county, that it has now been wrested from the hands of the monopolists; and, with ordinary attention, no monopolist will be again returned for that county." But though the registration occupied thus much of their time it must not be supposed that meetings were given up. They were being held, from time to time, as occasion required, all over the country. Mr. Wilson added:

"This is the 24th and last meeting of the League; and I venture to say the League is very differently estimated now to what it was at the time of our holding our first meeting in Drury Lane. (Cheers.) Where