FREE TRADE, RETROSPECT FROM 1817 HENRY HUNT.

(To the Editor of the Portland Guardian.)
 

Sir,—A child from the " Field of Peterloo," who has taken part in the political movements in England from the Reform Bill agitation up to '54, and has since watched with intense interest the chequered phases of his native isle, may presume to give an opinion on the proposed new " fiscal policy." He records his impressions of the motives of the different actors in the " political arena," from the murderous slaughter on " Peterloo," chester to the present glaring gladstonian offering to France, Napoleon III , and the cotton lords of Lancashire, Cheshire, etc. When Henry Hunt, the Wiltshire farmer and landowner advocated "repeal of the corn laws" in conjunction with Cobbett, Cartwright and the ultra radicals, it was purely a working man's question, the real and professed object to cheapen bread to the working class and thereby reduce rents that had quadrupled during "Napoleon's war," by the effect of war demand, and war prices. Whatever may have been the imputed motive directing Henry Hunt to advocate for the benefit of the labouring class, a measure that would reduce the value of his own estate; and also lower the price of corn, that much of his capital and time was invested in producing, I am disposed to believe—from the "chivalrous character " of the man, evidenced in his offer of all his goods and chattels, to the service of the state if required, by a pressure of the war, and in many minor instances, that his agitation of this subject was impelled by purely patriotic and philanthropic feelings. Certain it is, that it was opposed to his self interest, and therein he set a noble example, which but very few of his class, if any—followed. He stood alone of his class, and at his own cost, carried on the movement. The Manchester manufacturers sided with the agriculturists, or RATHER, with the landlords, and some are said to have been in the Yeomanry cavalry troop that sabred the people at Peterloo. Foreign trade was not so coveted then, a good home trade was cultivated, and the landlords were among the best customers of the calico weaver.
If the government had listened to the reasonable prayer of the people then, the repeal would probably have effected that adjustment of rents, that the radicals predicted, and at the same time have extended agriculture and given increased employment with cheaper food to the working classes. But this was too good a purpose to command the attention of the pedants and pharisees, who preyed on the proceeds of labour, and this latter class alone were represented in the two houses of Parliament, and naturally using their political power to conserve their own particular interests replied to the clamour of the hungry for bread and political rights; with restrictive and coercive measures. Laws, abridging the liberty of the subject were speedily passed, to prevent united action. The laws against political meetings of great numbers, against corresponding societies, and meeting with closed doors, were stretched to check the radical movement. The evil passions that swayed the representatives of the then limited constituencies may be measured by the manner in which they met the motion of Henry Hunt, for a parliamentary enquiry into the Manchester massacre, as he presented a piece of skull cut from the head of one of the victims. Honourable members laughed and shirked inquiry.
The manufacturers or master class, left the toilers to struggle on by themselves; they winked at high rents and dear bread, seeing that they acquired the power to reduce the wages of labor. The blessing of peace brought in its train the social calamities of scarce employment, low and lowering wages, and famine prices, inducing internal commotion. The soldiers that had returned with honour from the field of glory, rewarded with praise for having put down our enemies abroad; were now led to the hateful task of putting down their bretheren at home, and strikes for wages were settled with the bullet and bayonet.
The repeal movement was assuredly a social one; to remedy an evil that had been entailed on the nation by the long war, viz., exorbitant prices, which one class had secured a law to perpetuate, whilst the rest of the community were open to the levelling action of competition.
Political economy, so called, did not protrude its "commercial idea " into the struggle , and as it only sensibly affected that great body, the " laboring class," whom the privileged class said "must be put down," having the power, they put them down.
 

CAURUS, Melbourne.
 

Portland Guardian and Normanby General Advertiser 30 April 1860,