grounds. And as we feel convinced that the whole question cannot be justly, equitably, or satisfactorily discussed, arranged, and finally settled by any other tribunal than that constituted by the whole people, or by representatives fully, fairly, and freely elected by them; and inasmuch as such full, free, and fair representation cannot by possibility be accomplished through other principles than those contained in the document entitled The People's Charter, we hereby pledge ourselves, in spite of all opposition, to continue our glorious struggle until the people's charter is made the basis of the British constitution.'
"M'Grath, the chartist orator, then followed his leader in a similar style of incoherency, and concluded by seconding the amendment.
"Mr. Bright then came forward amidst loud cheers, and spoke as follows:—I have listened with the utmost attention to the two speeches that have been made by the mover and seconder of the amendment which is now before you; and I confess that, with respect to the speech of the mover of that amendment, I am unable at this moment to discover any very clear ground for forming an opinion as to his views on the question of the Corn Laws; he spoke against and for them in about an equal quantity; bat, if I had been under any difficulty with respect to his speech, that of his seconder has wholly cleared up that difficulty, for I have perceived during the progress of that speech a repetition of the arguments in favour of the Corn Laws which are poured forth to a small portion of the readers of the public newspapers in the columns of the Morning Post, the Herald, and the Standard. (Cheers and laughter.) That gentleman might, without any impropriety, be the writer of those articles, so clear is the resemblance, so entire the identity between his views on this question and those of the high protectionist paper, the Morning Past. I address this meeting with the impression that if there be one class in this country more deeply interested than another in the discovery and adoption of truth, that class is the great mass of the people who live by their industry. (Hear.) It may be that the aristocracy and the clergy benefit by a law which is unjust in principle and injurious to the rest of the people; but there can be no injustice practised in this country by the legislature under which we live which can be advantageous to the millions of the people, who have no property bat their labour, and no income but their wages. Being, then, impressed with this opinion, I am conscious of no anxiety on the subject but that of discovering the truth. I am willing to and do assume that in your minds also there is an entire wish to perceive the truth and act upon it. I shall, therefore, go into no extraneous matter that I can possibly avoid I shall not heap obloquy upon this or that man (hear, hear), but I will ask you as a class of intelligent men, the thousands here assembled to hear the arguments fairly on this momentous question, to