Page:History of the Anti corn law league - Volume 2.pdf/259

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MR. SMITH'S SPEECH.
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come before them as the advocate of any faction, nor the tool of any party, but he preached a new doctrine which found a response in the heart of every man, woman, and child in the borough; he contended for the right of every man who could make any description of goods to exchange them for any other description of articles in which he might stand in need. He contended for perfect freedom of trade, independent of any paltry party consideration; and having submitted the arguments in favour of this principle to the people of Walsall, they at once saw the reasonableness and justice of them. They saw how intimately their own immediate interests were bound up in the question. And what was the consequence? Why, the election came on, and, instead of having 300 majority against him (Mr. Smith), the monopolist got only 27 votes above him. To those who knew the circumstances under which that contest was fought, the result would be surprising, and nothing less than a great amount of enthusiasm could have effected such wonders. In five months after, however, the contest was renewed; and in place of a majority of 27 in favour of the monopolist, they had a majority of 23 in favour of his honourable, excellent friend, Mr. Scott, and free trade. He believed there was a spirit planted in the borough at that time which would never die until they got freedom of trade established throughout the whole world. Mr. Smith went on to say that the monopolists were boasting of the present prosperity, but there was none that had not been occasioned by two comparatively good harvests, which had somewhat revived trade; but if they had free imports of food, they would always have good trade. He defied any man to show him where prosperity reigned among the people without there being an abundance of food in the land. It was impossible that prosperity could exist in this country unless that the people were in the enjoyment of plenty. When corn was scarce and dear, all the money the working