Laws, but declaring their repeal to be inexpedient and injurious, unless preceded by the charter. It is a singular fact, of which probably no parallel is to be found among the numerous and flagrant derelictions of principle too often met with in the history of political parties, that this amendment was supported by the votes of nearly all the conservatives of Northampton, including most of their distinguished leaders, notwithstanding it recommended two propositions—the charter and the ultimate repeal of the Corn Laws—to both of which measures they have repeatedly avowed hostility, in the hope that by the combination of these two extreme, and, in principle, utter antagonistic bodies, they should be enabled to overthrow the free-traders. Bodies of chartists bad been brought in from the surrounding districts, and every exertion was made to secure the defeat of the Anti-Corn-Law League.
"Mr. Grundy having been voted to the chair, read the requisition convening the meeting, and called upon
"Mr. Cobden, who was received with loud cheers. The honourable gentleman called upon the meeting to discuss the question in the terms of the requisition, with reference to the interest of the farmers, the labourers, and the community in general. He then proceeded, in his usual lucid manner, to show that the Corn Law bad been positively injurious to all those classes. With reference to the interests of the farmer in the Corn Law, us securing high prices, if the present harvest were well got in, wheat, which is now as low as 47s., would, before next Christmas, be down to 42. Mr. Cobden then alluded to the efforts made by the working classes in 1815, to prevent the passing of the law, and in subsequent years to procure its repeal. It might be asked, why had not the masters then united with the men for that purpose? The reason was, that there has not that union which ought to have existed between the two bodies; but that was no argument against the present generation acting more wisely than their fathers then did, especially as we have had thirty years' experience of its injurious working. He (Mr. Cobden) was at school at that period, and therefore could not be blamed for any sins of omission or commission which were made at that time. Whenever bread had been low, wages bad risen in the manufacturing districts, and poor rates and deaths had diminished in an equal proportion. If the Corn Law had thus injured England, would any Irishman stand forward on that platform and maintain that it had benefited Ireland? If so, he would appeal to the highest authority with reference to that country-Mr. O'Connell himself, who always voted in Parliament for the repeal of the Corn Laws, and had attended all the League annual meetings at Manchester. The Corn Laws were only maintained for the benefit of the landlords. (A voice, 'And the cotton lords.') It could not be for the cotton lords, for there were only some fifteen of