History of the Anti-Corn Law League/Chapter19
CHAPTER XIX
THE CAMPAIGN OF 1842.
On the first day of January, 1842, a meeting was held in the League rooms, Manchester, consisting of working men, deputies from Manchester, Salford, Birmingham, Forfar, Ashton, Bury, Bolton, Warrington, Leicester, Stalybridge, Halifax, Macclesfield, Nottingham, Coventry, Oldham, Liverpool, Royton, Waterhead Mill, Middleton, Mossley, Stockport, Great Torrington (Devonshire), &c. Seldom had there been seen a body of more intelligent men. Mr. E. Watkins was called to the chair. Reports of the state of the working people, and of trade, in the various districts represented, were read by the respective deputies. Many spirit-stirring speeches were delivered during the day; and an excellent address to their fellow-workmen was agreed to, urging them to promote, by every means in their power, the great object of the League, to destroy the great monopoly which stood in the way of the removal of all other monopolies, and especially the monopoly of political power.
A public meeting of the members of the Dundee Anti-Corn-Law Association, and deputies from the various anti-corn-law and free-trade associations in Forfarshire, Fifeshire, and the neighbouring counties connected with the flax and linen trade, was held in Bell-street Chapel, Dundee, on the 6th of January, for the purpose of diffusing information relative to the distressed state of trade, and the baneful effects of the Corn and Provision Laws on the condition of the people, and to memorialise her Majesty, and petition Parliament for the total repeal of these laws and other restrictions on commerce. Edward Baxter, Esq., president of the Dundee Anti-Corn-Law Association, took the chair, and Messrs. Low and Wighton were appointed joint clerks. The platform was crowded. Amongst others were noticed about fifty deputies from the towns and villages of Forfarshire, Fifeshire, and Perthshire; comprising a number of magistrates, merchants, manufacturers, and tradesmen, the greater part of whom were connected more or less with the linen trade in their respective districts. The speakers, during the day, were Sir John Ogilby D.Baxter, Esq.; T. Saunders, Esq.; Mr. Landale, of Kirkaldy ; Mr. Jas. Inglis of Durnfermline; Mr. Kinloch, of Kinloch; Mr. W. F. L. Carnegie, of Baysack; Mr. Canning, of Arbroath; Mr. G. Stuart; Mr. Angus, of Kirriemuir; Mr. Lamb, of Brechin; Mr. J. Baxter, of Blair–gowrie; Mr. W. Nairn, of Logiealmond; Mr. A. D. Young, Mr. Butchart, Mr. Low, and Mr. Paton, of Bankfoot. The statements presented by the various deputies exhibited a mournful picture of commercial embarrassment, of manufacturing distress, and social misery. Bad as was the foreign trade, it appeared from the report of this conference that the home trade, as in all the other branches of our manufactures, was in an equally depressed state; contradiction strong to the flimsy fallacy, that the bread tax was necessary for the preservation of the home market. On the subject of "protection," the meeting wisely passed the following resolutions: "That, while this meeting claims as a natural and inherent right, the privilege of exchanging the productions of their industry freely for the corn and provisions of other nations, they are willing that the so-called protection enjoyed by the linen trade of this country should be at the same time abolished; and the just and peaceful principles of free trade applied to the productions of this and every other country." It was most gratifying to observe, that during the greater part of the lengthened sederunt (nearly six hours) the attendance was numerous and respectable—the most of the principal merchants, manufacturers, and tradesmen of the district being present. The day's proceedings were not only free from all interruption, but passed off in the most cordial and satisfactory manner.
On Thursday, January 6th, a meeting of the Woollen Manufacturers of the counties of Somerset, Wilts, and Gloucester, called by circular, took place at the White Hart Hotel. The meeting was numerously attended, and among those present was Colonel Gore Langton, M.P., notwithstanding his being an invalid. Charles Staunton, Esq., M.P., for Stroud, was also present, on whose motion J. L. Philips, Esq., of Melksham, was called to take the chair. The chairman having explained the objects of the meeting to be, to take into consideration the present state of the manufacturing interest in the West of England, and the great distress consequent on the depression attributable to the operation of the Corn Laws, the first resolution was moved by Mr. Edmunds, of Bradford, who gave an appalling picture of the state of trade in that town, and a detail of facts as to the great decrease of manufactures. From 1820 to 1840 the number of woollen goods made in a given year had decreased from 620 ends to 100. Of 19 mills, in 1820, only two remained employed in 1840. House property had consequently been reduced in value more than 15 per cent., and the poor rates and pauperism increased in a proportionate ratio. Mr. Merlin, of Stroud, in seconding the resolution, gave a similar statement of facts relating to that district, where the number of mills in employ since the year 1831 had been reduced from 100 to 63, of which some were not now half employed, others not above one-third, and very few wholly so. The motion having been supported by Mr. Matravers, of Westbury, who also described the trade of that place as being at a very low ebb; it was carried unanimously. The next resolution was moved by Mr. Overbury, of Westbury, in an argumentative and effective speech of some length, showing the evil effects of the prohibitory duties on corn and other food. The resolution was seconded by Charles Staunton, Esq., and on being put by the chairman, only two hands were held up against it. The third resolution was moved by Mr. Charles Cooper, who repudiated political motives as inducing him to attend the meeting, and pleaded the repeal of the Corn Laws on grounds of humanity and Christian principle. Mr. Salter, of Trowbridge, seconded the resolution, and spoke to the deplorable state of the trade and manufacturing interests in that town. Mr. Stancombe, moved the fourth resolution, corroborating Mr. Salter's statement, which was seconded by Mr. Wood, of Frome. It was stated by the chairman that the next resolution related to the adoption of a petition to both houses of Parliament, founded on the foregoing resolutions. On this Mr. J. H. Webb, of Trowbridge, rose to move an amendment as a rider to the petition, the purport of which was, that the meeting in seeking legislative measures in favour of the manufacturing interests, sought nothing that might be incompatible with a due regard to the claims of the landowners to protection. It was seconded by Mr. Ghee, with a few observations in defence of the plan recently broached by Mr. Christopher, as the ministerial organ; which called forth some spirited arguments from Mr. Staunton, on the fallacy of some of Mr. Christopher's opinions, quoted by the seconder. The amendment was put and lost, only three hands being held up in its favour; while the original motion, having been moved and seconded, was carried almost unanimously.The petition was then signed by the chairman,and afterwards by most of the meeting.
Almost simultaneous with this movement of the south-western counties of England, was one of much importance in Scotland. On the 11th of January, a conference, or synod, or convocation, was held in Edinburgh, consisting of ministers of the gospel, deputed by their congregations, each accompanied by two laymen. The ministers of the Established Kirk of Scotland had not been invited, for it to be expected that men whose stipends varied with the price of corn would join in an agitation to reduce their own incomes. The Free Kirk was not then in existence, but things were drifting onwards towards the great disruption, and the more independent members of the establishment were too deeply engrossed with their own ecclesiastic affairs to take much part in the anti-corn-law agitation. To the ministers of the Secession, Relief, Independent, and Baptist Churches, 670 circulars were sent, and 494 answers were received. It appeared that 459 of these ministers expressed decided opinions in favour of the total repeal of the Corn and Provision Laws, and the establishment of an entirely free trade in corn about twelve were in favour of a small fixed duty, or gradual abolition and the remaining thirty-three did not answer to the question. It was not a little remarkable that not one member out of the 494 expressed an opinion in favour of the existing Corn Laws. With regard to the opinions of the people, 431 of the ministers stated that their congregations were nearly unanimous in approving of the total abolition of the Corn and Provision Laws, and Free Trade,and only three stated that the people were not nearly unanimous. Of the remaining sixty, about fifteen stated that their people were either in favour of gradual abolition or a fixed duty; and the others omitted to answer the question. Not one minister stated that a majority of his congregation approved of these laws.
The chairman, the much respected John Wigham, jun., a member of the Society of Friends, disposed of the sliding scale very pointedly: "I am sick of sliding scales, and all scales. There is a man of the name of Smith who has been robbing the country of bills to the amount of some 500,000 in the course of five years,—would you receive a proposition from him to the effect, that, as the way in which he has been accustomed to live is expensive, you must not think of reducing his income—all at once that he will be satisfied with a fixed income at the rate of 100,000 in five years for the future?(Cheers and laughter.) If these laws are what I have described them to be,—as honest men, as Christians, we can enter into no compromise. We demand complete justice—we can give our consent to nothing short of this."
The Rev. Mr. Marshall, of Coupar–Angus, the Rev. James R. M'Gavin, of Dundee, the Rev. Mr. Lowe, of Forfar,and the Rev. J. Kennedy, of Aberdeen, argued the religious and moral bearings of the question with great ability. The latter, in recommending union amongst the friends of humanity and civil liberty, said: "I would say to the chartist (and I trust, sir, it will not be considered treason to mention this word in this meeting), I would say to the chartist: Go on, nor rest till you have gained your object—till the suffrage is as universal as the present suffering, with the exception of the crime it has produced—(hear, hear)—and, as time rolls, you will find the friends of your cause increase, as a conviction of its justice breaks in upon the mind. But, oh, I would beg of the chartist, by the humanity that beats in his bosom, by the tide of parental affection that flows through his heart, not to protract his own and his family's sufferings by withholding his aid from the present vigorous movement which is now in progress, for bread to the hungry and prosperity to our languishing country. (Cheers.) Union in this may bring about union in other things; and, if this is accomplished, the scorpion sting is extracted from oppression, and the smile of prosperity will begin to gladden the land."
Mr. Dawson, editor of the Kelso Chronicle, gave some painful details of the suffering which was experienced in the agricultural districts represented by him, and assured the meeting that the farmers, although they were kept silent by the aristocratic landlords, were fully alive to the mischiefs inflicted by the Corn Law, and of its uselessness in the way of protection to them. He mentioned one individual, a relative of his own, who, paying a rental of from £200 to £300 a-year for land on the banks of the Tweed, not only entertained those views, but was of opinion that, under present leases, it would be for the general advantage of the farmers that the trade in corn were freed from the unnatural shackles by which it was beset.
But the most important testimony to the enlightened opinions of the Scottish tenantry was borne by Mr. William Hope, an East-Lothian farmer, who declared that as a grower of grain, a feeder of sheep and oxen, he wished to proclaim to the public, that he had no reason to fear for the ruin of his order from the pale-faced working classes of our manufacturing towns being permitted their just right to exchange the produce of their industry for food raised in foreign lands. He proceeded to show that low prices of corn would have no effect in throwing out of cultivation large tracts of land, and thus bring ruin, by depriving of employment both farmers and ploughmen, as had often been asserted by the advocates of the present law. He said:—
An important demonstration in Glasgow followed closely upon the one which had been made in Edinburgh. It was held on Friday, January 14th, and was attended by deputies from most of the manufacturing towns in Scotland. At the morning's meeting, presided over by Walter Buchannan, Esq., evidence was given of the existence of extreme distress in Paisley, where, out of one hundred shawl manufacturers, seventy-six had become bankrupt within the previous month in Aberdeen, where there had been a great decrease of employment and a corresponding increase of pauperism and in Kerriemuir, Auchter-muchty, Linlithgow, Maybole, Stranraer, Kilsyth, Saltcoats, Kilmarnock, Mauchline, Cumnock, Largs, Duntocher, Kilwinning, &c., where the distress was equally severe. A great meeting was held in the City Hall in the evening, consisting of nearly two thousand persons, all seated at refreshment tables. The chair was taken by James Oswald, Esq., M.P. for the city, supported by the Rev. Dr. Wardlaw, Mr. Ewart, M.P., Mr. Dennistoun, M.P., Mr. Fox Maule, M.P., Mr. Eutherford, M.P., Mr. Spiers, M.P., Mr. Wallace, M.P., and the Eev. Dr. Heugh. The Rev. Dr. Wardlaw asked a blessing on the banquet and the Mr. Ewart, M.P., proposed the first toast, proceedings. which was, "The total and immediate repeal of the Corn Law." The Glasgow Association had resolved that this should be given as a test of opinion, as in that city many persons interested, or supposing themselves to be interested, in the preservation of the West India monopoly, were not disposed to go the length of the entire abolition of the great landowners' exaction; while others were warmly attached to whiggism as associated with its former services to liberty, and therefore, looked favourably on the scheme of a moderate fixed duty, for which the late whig ministers would contend. The enthusiastic plaudits which burst forth on the enunciation of the out-and-out free-trade toast at once proved that the vast assemblage, comprising the most influential merchants and manufacturers of the district, were against any compromise of the great principle.Mr. Ewart was followed by Mr. Fox Maule, Mr. Rutherford, Mr. Spiers, Dr. Wardlaw, Dr. Heugh, and Mr. Patrick Brewster, the only minister of the establishment who ventured to be present. On the following evening, a soireé, attended by sixteen hundred persons, served still further to strengthen the movement in the west of Scotland.
At this period the whole of the island from Cornwall to Caithness was in commotion. To given even a sketch of the meetings held would fill a volume. I notice only those which represented the opinions of districts. Of these was an important one at Birmingham, on January 27th, consisting of the principal merchants and manufacturers of that town, now thoroughly roused by the evidence of deep distress spread all around them, and of deputies from the populous towns in that neighbourhood, amongst whom were the following gentlemen:—From Wolverhampton: Mr. J. Walker, Mr. J. Wynn, and Mr. Walton; from Coventry: Mr. W. Edgar and Mr. T. Latham, with deputies from the Young Men's Anti-Monopoly Association, and the Anti-Corn-Law Association of that ancient city; from Dudley: Mr. Cook; from Kidderminster: Mr. Dodswell from West Bromwich: Messrs. Boyle, Brettle, Murray, J. Smith and J. Dark from Bilston: Messrs. Lovell, Dimmock, and Blew; from Walsall: Kev. Mr. M'Kean and Mr. J. Spicer; from Stourbridge: Mr. Scott, M.P. and Rev. Mr. Richards; from Coalbrookdale: Mr. Abrahams. There were also deputies from Darlaston and other places in the neighbourhood. The details of distress were similar to those which had been given at the meetings in the midland counties, in the south-western counties, in Yorkshire,in Lancashire, in Perthshire, and in Lanarkshire; and at the ministerial conferences in Manchester, Carnarvon, and Edinburgh. The following gentlemen were appointed as a deputation to wait on her Majesty's ministers, to lay before them a statement of the effects of the Corn Laws on the trade of the district: Messrs. J. Sholefield, M.P., G. F. Muntz, M.P., T. Thornely, M.P., C. P. Villiers, M.P., R. Scott, M.P., Joseph Sturge, Josh. Walker, W. Boultbee, Corbett, Taunton, and the chairman. The following resolution, passed unanimously, proved that the meeting was strongly adverse to any compromise: "That this meeting rejoices that the National Anti-Corn-Law League have convened a meeting of deputies, to be held in London on the 8th of February, and earnestly recommends to the deputies, then assembled, to take prompt and efficient measures, irrespective of the course which may be pursued by the government, for testing the opinions of the members of House of Commons on the total and immediate abolition of the Corn and Provision Laws."
The design of a bazaar, upon a grand scale, so as to add largely to the funds of the League, and to bring into friendly communication, and daily social intercourse, the friends of free trade, and especially the ladies who had taken a deep interest in the question as affecting the welfare of suffering millions, had been first broached in September 1841, when a committee was appointed to consider how it could be carried out. On the 4th November the ladies, forming the committee, met in the Town Hall, where they received deputations from the Anti-Corn-Law and the Anti-Monopoly Associations. Mr. George Wilson stated that a correspondence had been opened with various large towns in the kingdom, with the view of making the Bazaar a national one; that promises of active support and patronage had been received from every quarter; and that in addition to the ordinary articles of dress, ornament and vertu, which composed merchandize of bazaars generally,they should collect articles of manufactures, British and models of mechanism, architectural designs, paintings and drawings, specimens of coins, minerals, birds, insects, and shells, manuscripts of celebrated authors, foreign, autograph letters of celebrated persons, philosophical instruments, &c. Mr. Gadsby then read an address,stating he objects to be aimed at, which thus concluded:—"To secure an abundance of food to the whole family of man, to give to industry the reward of fair remuneration, and thus to emancipate the country from the certain thraldom of pauperism and abject misery, are objects worthy of the ambition of the noblest, and the contributory labour of the best of our species." As one of the deputation, I felt it my duty to say something of the direction of the produce of this contributory labour. The enemies of free trade had sneered at the intention of the ladies as joining in a political movement, and were saying that it would better befit them to raise a fund for the relief of the prevalent and many benevolent persons were likely to look distress; more upon the means of present amelioration than to the removal of that which caused the suffering. I said: "There can be no doubt that the ladies who assist in this excellent work, when they endeavour to induce their friends to join this committee, and to obtain presentations to the Bazaar will find one difficulty. It will be objected that the proceeds instead of going to swell the funds of the League should be applied to the immediate relief of the suffering poor during the winter. But the object is not to rescue the poor for only a few weeks from their misery, but to give fair play to their industry, and enable them to procure a greater abundance of food permanently; in fact to do that which would enable the industrious man to sustain himself, and to secure for his class a benefit which will be felt for centuries to come. I believe this to be the higherobject, the more extended benevolence. We look not so much to the temporary relief of a few thousands only, as to the permanent benefit of millions, who are suffering now, and will continue to suffer, unless relieved by the repeal of the Corn Law." The belief being that the Bazaar would be heartily supported, a discussion arose as to the time of holding it, in which Mrs. Bickham, Mrs. Haughton, Miss Haughton, Mrs. Armitage, Miss Armitage, Mrs. Woolley, Mrs. Potter, Mrs. Prentice, Miss Gifford, Mrs. Hilton, Miss Weston, Miss Satterthwaite, Mrs. and Miss Swindells, Mrs. Gadsby, Mrs. Gill, Mrs. Gunness, and Mrs. Bibby, took a part, and it was resolved that the Bazaar should be held in the beginning of February. A ballot then took place for officers, when Mrs. Cobden was chosen as president of the committee, Mrs Armitage, as vice-president, and Mrs. Woolley, as secretary. Mr. Wilson, on behalf of the mayor, then tendered the use of the Council, or the boroughreeve's room for future meetings, and the proceedings terminated.
There was much to do in these two months and a half, but woman's zeal was enlisted in the cause of benevolence, and thousands of fair fingers were instantly at work, and everywhere there were eloquent pleaders for co-operation. On the following Saturday the Manchester Times contained the names of eighty-five forming the committee, the number of which soon became three hundred and sixty, comprising ladies in every part of the kingdom, each becoming the medium of communication for numbers in each locality. It was intended that the Bazaar should be held in the Town Hall, but it soon became apparent that there would not be room enough there. The Theatre Royal, probably the largest theatre out of London, was at length fixed upon, and its whole interior underwent a change, which converted its somewhat sombre appearance into one of great brilliancy and beauty. The effect was the production of the joint industry, talents, and taste of Messrs. Bowden and Edwards, builders, Messrs. Bradford, gas fitters, and Mr. Doveston, upholsterer, aided by Mr. Geo. Wilson and the gentlemen's committee of management, and was thus described in my newspaper at the time:—"The pit has been covered over with a good substantial flooring, having a slight incline so as to form an ascent to the dress boxes, corresponding with the inclination of the stage in the contrary direction; or, in other words, the floor declines from either end to the proscenium, and will give to the visitor, when the Bazaar is opened, a much better view of the magnificent scene than could otherwise be obtained. The stage scenery and side wings have been entirely removed, and stalls are fitting up on either side of the stage in their place, and in a line with the dress boxes, which are also converted into stalls. Another line of stalls stretches down the centre of the floor, and the walls and ceiling being covered with handsome white and coloured draperies—the former relieved with pilasters, and the latter disposed in alternate folds of crimson and white radiating from a centre; whilst a cornice of pink drapery, disposed in festoons, gives to the whole a handsome finish. The appearance of the room is that of an immense hall beautifully decorated and lighted; for, in addition to the ordinary glass chandeliers suspended from the boxes, the stage is lighted with gas, each burner having beautiful Chinese shades, with pale blue ground, suspended beneath them, which materially soften the light, while they add to the general effect of the decorations. A splendid mirror against the Charlotte-street end of the immense room, and reflecting its whole length, materially adds to the imposing effect produced by the coup d' æil on entering the building. The stalls consist of two tables running parallel with each other, the one behind being slightly elevated to give a better view of the contents; and the only division between the stalls is a piece of red tape, to mark the extent of each. Clusters of small, but elegant banners, in silk, bearing appropriate inscriptions, depend from the columns supporting the roof, and from the front of the upper boxes. The central stalls are to be occupied, principally, by ladies from distant towns. The upper boxes are to be devoted to the exhibition of the Pottery contribution, which will be placed on shelves rising above each other in about the same degree as the seats do, and thus an excellent view of it will be obtained from every part of the theatre."
The great building, thus brilliantly decorated, gained additional grandeur and beauty when filled with an almost endless variety of elegant contributions, which gave the scene rather the character of a great Art Exposition than of a mere Bazaar. It was an approach to the greater exhibitions that were to follow—the Covent Garden League Bazaar—the Exposition in Paris of 1849, and the Crystal Palace Exhibition for the Arts of all Nations of 1851. The attraction and the success are shown by the following statement:—
| Receipts of Monday, Janurary 31st. | |||||||||||||
| From Visitors, at 2s. 6d. each | £200 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Sales at the Stalls | 1,508 | 3 | 2 | ||||||||||
| £1,717 | 3 | 2 | |||||||||||
| Tuesday's Receipts | |||||||||||||
| From Visitors, at 1s. each | £284 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Sales at the Stalls | 1,208 | 13 | 0 | ||||||||||
| £1,492 | 13 | 0 | |||||||||||
| Wednesday's Receipts | |||||||||||||
| From Visitors, at 1s. each | £261 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Sales at the Stalls | 800 | 8 | 8 | ||||||||||
| £1,061 | 8 | 8 | |||||||||||
| Thurday's Receipts | |||||||||||||
| From Visitors, at 1s. each | £223 | 3 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Sales at the Stalls | 821 | 17 | 10 | ||||||||||
| £1,045 | 0 | 10 | |||||||||||
| Friday's Receipts | |||||||||||||
| From Visitors, at 1s. each | £197 | 17 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Sales at the Stalls | 585 | 15 | 10 | ||||||||||
| £783 | 12 | 10 | Saturday's Recipts. | ||||||||||
| Morning Visitors, at 1s. each | £49 | 17 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Evening Visitors, at 6d. each | 41 | 19 | 6 | ||||||||||
| Sales at the Stalls | 988 | 18 | 10 | ||||||||||
| 1,080 | 15 | 4 | |||||||||||
| Mondays's Receipts, February 7th. | |||||||||||||
| Morning Visitors, at 1s. each | £28 | 9 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Evening Visitors, at 6d. each | 36 | 6 | 6 | ||||||||||
| Sales at the Stalls | 294 | 18 | 0 | ||||||||||
| £359 | 13 | 6 | |||||||||||
| Tuesday's Receipts. | |||||||||||||
| Morning Visitors, at 1s. each | £33 | 10 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Evening Visitors, at 6d. each | 47 | 9 | 6 | ||||||||||
| Sales at the Stalls | 311 | 8 | 7 | ||||||||||
| £392 | 8 | 1 | |||||||||||
| Wednesdays's Receipts. | |||||||||||||
| Visitors, at 6d. each | 55 | 10 | 6 | ||||||||||
| Sales at the Stalls | 173 | 2 | 7 | ||||||||||
| £228 | 13 | 1 | |||||||||||
| Thurday's Receipts. | |||||||||||||
| Visitors, at 6d. each | 51 | 17 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Sales at the Stalls | 135 | 5 | 0 | ||||||||||
| £186 | 2 | 0 | |||||||||||
| Total Recipts | £8,333 | 8 | 0 | ||||||||||
To this were added £87 the proceeds of a sale by auction, after the close of the Bazaar; £1,100 of donations in money and the proceeds of some valuables, retained for after-sale making the total receipts close upon TEN THOUSAND POUNDS.