Page:History of the Anti corn law league.pdf/284

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
268
HENRY VINCENT.
and all that is therein. Might I then propose, if my voice should reach those elsewhere whom it may concern, that we should admit this principle—that each shall go on his own way, without attempting to hinder the operations of the other."

This judicious advice, proceeding from one who was as much an advocate for a thorough reform of the representative system as for perfect freedom of trade, was not without its effect, for it gained over, at least from opposition, the more enlightened of the chartist body, Henry Vincent amongst them, and established a sort of understanding that, while they advocated radical parliamentary reform, they were not to put themselves into an antagonistic position to those who asked for the thorough reform of our commercial policy. On the 18th October, Mr. Vincent gave a lecture on chartism in the Carpenters' Hall, and at its conclusion there was a discussion between him and Mr. Finnigan and Mr. Warren, and it ended in the adoption of a resolution: "That in the opinion of this meeting the charter is just in principle and ought to be contended for; and that the Corn Laws are unjust in principle, oppressive in their operations, and ought to be repealed."

The manufacturing districts had responded to the recommendation of the League with respect to petitions, and a cart load was sent from Manchester, on Wednesday, October 7th, praying the Queen not to prorogue Parliament till the distresses of her people were taken into consideration. The prorogation had, however, been previously resolved upon, and it actually took place on the Thursday. Her Majesty's ministers had advised her to say that she would receive the complaints of her suffering people through the hands of the Home Secretary; and thus were Earl Radnor, Earl Ducie, Lord Kinnaird, and other patriotic peers, deprived of the opportunity of accompanying the written prayers with a verbal statement of the existing distress. Ministers, in the speech dictated to