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DOMESTIC NEWS.

,PRINOIPAUTY.

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PRINOIPAUTY. BEBECGAlSm. I M P O R T A N T MEETING. A large meetiog of farmers, freeholders, miners, and inhabi- tants from the several parishes of LUnguick, Llandilo, Llanga- doek, and Bettivg, was held on a common, Bryn Cwm Llynfell, j situate on the border of three counties, viz., Glamorganshire, Brfecfiociishirgj and Carmarthenshire, on Friday, the 22nd September, 1843. John Jotles, Esq., of Bryn Ammon, in the chair, the place öf the meeting was romantically situated in the very heart of the mountain, Mynyd.d d$, or Black Mountain, formiflg the northern boundary. The approach Was somewhat difficult atlri danaerOUs, parsing ovet an extensive comfhoti or bog, called Waun Cae Gurwen Common, which a stranger would find almost impossible to traverse safely without a guide. Being accompanied by gentlemen who well knew the track, we succeeded in crossing and recrossing without accident, although in the dark, the meeting not terminating till between seven and eight o'clock, P.M. It was necessary, however, to march in In- dian file, passing the word of caution from van to rear when any dangeftms rtart e>?c'jwed. At length a steep and rugged dtsceni into Gutlie Vaur Valley, terminated ifrs penis and dan. gers of our passage, and the generous hospitality of CUT worthy chairman and host, at Bryn Ammon House, revived our droop- ing energies; it was, however, about two o'clock in the morn. ing ere we reached Swansea, after an absence of nearly eight- eenhours. The Chairman opened the meeting by slating, that the meet- ing was called to take into cofisideraiion the cause of the pre. sent difficulties and distress under which (he country suffered. That the y,ario'is tomplaints would be laid before the mteiing by the different spe'a'keis, vvhott he requested to state unhesi"* tatingly their opinions on the subject, The Chairman then said it was intended by fixture that every man should be happy if he was not so, there nbust be a cause, and the object of the meeting was to enquire into tne rau-eof the present misery and distress. Had any one any- thing to say ? Mr. Benjamin Hall, of Fountain Hall: Allow me to say, the great men who have made Ihe laws, have done so in igno- rance of the wants and the conditioo of the people. Let eveiy man come forward boldly, and explain fairly his view of the catises of thp prssent dutress. Never mind homely language we are not here to m^ke fine Speeches. If we do not help our. selves, no one else will. We have been oppressed foryears. and may continue to be oppressed for years to coffll.5, if we don;1 put our shoulders tothewhee). Mr. John Jenkins, M.A. of Swansea: A gentleman said a few days ago. that the farmers of Carmarthenshire and Glamor- ganshire knew ntjthihg St all about the matter, but he said to the meeting. let them come forward and give the lie direct to that, by each man saying what he had to ssy, The voice of 'he people must do away with all grievances. Mr. Samuel Williams, farmer, of Cwm Garw: I can say plainly enough what are our grievances. We pay a 6th and 7th, instead of a 10th for tithes. It is not the gentlemen that oppress us as much as the competition amongst ourselves-thai hascausedthedistress. The restriction upon trading over the sea has been upheld as keeping up the price of agricultural pro- duce; butlamwitfiogto have it done away. lhe landlords held out restriction as a bugbear over us. Mr. Hopkin Heib>-rt, farmer, Cwm Nantymoel: I think all the farmers will agree with the last speaker, that tithes are op- pressive. With regard to the poor-rates, only 6s. 6d in the pound go toward the support of the poor; the remaining four- teen shillings are consumed in the management and other pay. ments charged Ihereon. The farmers and the farm laboureis are for getting the Corn-laws down, and so am I too. Mr. David Williams, Gwm Carw The tithes are pressing double, 10 what they were, and very little of the poor-rates go to the support of the poor. Mr. John Harris, Court Falde: I have very little to say. What hail been said I agree with. Thetithesandthepoor. rates are mismanaged. Very little of the money paid goes to the poor, I should be very;happy to pay it if it went to suppoit thecoor. Mr. Morgan Daniel, Tygwyn I have as much necessity to speak as anybody hete my rent is too heavy. 1 should like the labourer to have fair play, toenabte him to live comforlably, I am an advocate for free trade. Mr. Thomas Isaac, Cwm Ammon I think the greatcause of the difficulties of this country are the Corn-laws, and next, the Poor laws. The money we pay I wish the poor to have, and not those who are in better circumstances than I am. The Chairman then said, the farmers seem to be of opinion that iithes and rates are too high; the reasons are— that the corn and provision laws prevent the farmer having fair play. Go vernment, through the Corn-laws, promised the farmer 56. per quarter for wheat, whereas he only got 46s' This IS one 01 the props the farmers have to keep up rent. If the tenant have sufficient credit to enable him to bny his seed, and he does not realize the price promised him, he cannot pay for it nor his rent. What then does the landlord 1 Why he sends in a dis- tress, and he geis the produce of the land before any oilier cre- ditor. This is hard, for the other creditors get nothing. The laws of good society say do unto others as you would they should do unto you," but landlords foiget this golden mamii. in therr dealings with their tenants. The law of society oughi to be like a machine, s'eady in operation, and easy of applies non but the fact is, the law makers have hllherlo almost ex- clusively belonged to the landlord class, and they have made laws to benefit themselves. The laws of distress are very un- fair, and should be amended. The system of the present laws is contrary to the Liw of God. There is nothing more inju- rious to the nation than a restriction upon commerce. Let every nation be allowed to exchange their surplus commodities freely. England is like the steam-engine of the world — if things go wrong with her, all the world goes wrong too. Markets should be open for perfect free nade. Mr. John Jenkins, M.A. I stand here, my fellow-country- men, as the defender of free trade, and the opponent of tlie Corn-laws. 1 am the advocate of Free Trade, and am ready to answer any question from any farmer. No one speakmg, The Chairman said, if you are all silent, you must be of opi- nion that theCorn-iaws should be abroga'ed. Mr. Jenkins then asked the manufacturers and miners if they had any questions to put. Not receiving any reply, the learned gentleman proceeded with an excellent and appropriate speech, of which our space will only allow us to give an outline :— There is as evident a dependence and connection between the parts of the social system, as there is between the seasons ot the year. If you oppress the poor, ihe day of retribution must come. The same law applies to society as to iodividuals-the welfare of one class should not be purchased by the sacrifice ot another. What are the principal causes of distress among the farmers and working clllsses 1 Some say the Poor-laws. 1 don'l say the Poor-law is not the cause. Some say tithes. 1 don't say they are not. But this is my opinion. We feel the few pence we pay for the gates every Saiurday. We feel we are going to destruction. We feel every little tax all press upon the country, and therefore let us do away with them. But we must examine the reason why the farmers of Carmar- thenshire and Glamorganshire are in such straightened circum- stances. What is ihe reason that ihey feel these little taxes 1 The reason is—the Government have cheated the farmers—the Government promised one price, and the farmers are getting another and a much less one for their produce. Is there such a strength in the hands of Government-do they possess unknown power to keep up price? It is not so. They have made laws which a-e qune conuary to the laws of nature. Thev have imposed such high laxes upon the export of goods to other countries, that it has stopped our country sending coal to France. This is sufficient to produce distress in these parts. There is no use growing corn where there is no one to eat it. There is no useg'owtog com on ground whtch is better adapted for other purposes. VV hoever is benefitted by the Corn-laws, it is cer- tainly D0* e ers e far,ner pays a price for his land as if he got »• P-r q-r er and if he gets less 'tis plain he loses the dirfdrence. I he farmer of small capital being the weakest goes tot e wa first and that is the reason the small farmers are now so distressed in Carmarthenshire and Glamorganshire and it is t ie same all over England. Let farmers make up their accounts for e ast 28 years, and they will find they have been losing meir captui. Instead of redress'm g our grievances, soldiers are en into the country although I dont agree with the mo e a opte of breaking the gates, and of breaking the JBWS. L r' enkini then read an extract from a document, shewing the quantity of corn imported during the quarter of a year, from June to September, VIZ, 1,500,000 quarters, and 400.000 quarters in Midsummer quarter. Corn is brought out of bond at the time when the firmer expects to make a fair price, viz., 5os. Well, the price falls to 47<—he must pay, ne. VeKfie 6if' reDt accorc''0K ,0 'l,e price of 56s. If the price rose to oos. he would be gaming, but the fact is, when corn rises above 56s., bonded corn comes in and deprives the farmer of his profit. Thus the poor farmer is brought down to ruin, anil when rent day comes he finds be is worth nothing. The Corn Laws operate as an impediment to the manufactures! the de- mand lessens-wages fall off. We have now an instance of that ruin in YystrudgunUis. 1 would urge upon the meeting the necessity of petitioning Parliament to repeal the corn and provision laws. It is impossible in a short speech to explain fully this great question, but I thiuk I have said enough to con- vince you of the impolicy of all restrictions upou trade, and the connexion they have with the distresses which afflict the country. Mr. Price, surgeon, Yniscedwan: Fellow countrymen, I have heaid a good deal about things that oppress lhe country. Mt. Jenkins has told you what he considered the causes and remedies. We have heard of the d.oir,gs of Becca of her taking down gates where there were good roads. I don't ap- prove of it. Let us have good loads. If we had good roads we might tiavel as safely by night as by day. (A voice in the crowd cried out I wish you good loads, Mr. Price.") Let Becca come in Ihe middle of the day, as well as in the night. I don t like these nocturnal outrages. espeaker continued at some length, and was replied to by QU I '"R' ^Ut ltl's l'me BEC*ME t0° DARK 10 report. Short y afterwards the following resolutions were carried una- nimously— That in the opinion of this meeting, Free Trade is the only remedy for the existing distresses of the country." Th,ree cJe78,^ere g,ven for Free Trade. "I hat t e following petition to the Queen be adopted." Car- ried unanimously. r TO THE QUEEN'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY. ^r61 nf il'16 undersigned Freeholders, Farmers, and Inhabitants of the several p*nshes of Lian^ickt Llan. ?his'22ndd September, assembled in Public ,neetin&- Humbly Sheweth, That y our itioners are at present suffeiing from the grea P le times, which your Majesty's peti- tioners firn y s arisen from the want of demand of the produce consequence of the inability of the great mass o P-P ,?Purchase other than limited quanti- ties of the necessaries ot hfe. Your Majesty s'P6!1™"8 are all suffering from the high rate of rents, "« ■*1 obliged to payl and although, from the causf* s0 v r to, the prices of all agricultural produce have been so ery low, the reut id b t t f eis has not varied. \our Majesty s petimne^s^a.e fully ren( (jQes no| come directl> oannot lm 6 s remediable by legisla- tive enactment; thiey«i l-^wever, but conclnde that thi, want ot proportion b<siw een the value of land and that which and produces, is • f » af!, lve enactments, which have professed maintain d at a certain value, and have thus held out to the farmer the hope of realizing prices reiv- ing on which they huve given higher rents, in the expectation that such legislative enactments would maintain S. fo. food, which they have been unable to accomplish, and have thus compelled the farmer to expend hit capital in the pay- ment of reots. Your Majesty'# petitioners, tberefofe. pray for a Repeal of i the Corn and Provision Law. and Protective Duties generally, on the ground, 1st, That tbey hafre;, by restricting Trade and Commerce, interfered with the market fof Corn produce. 2nd. That in giving an artificial yala<S to agricultural pro duce, they have held forth hopes to the farms?, *?hfch expe- rience has proved they cannot lealize. <- Your Majesty's petitioners conceiving that the present Par- liament was called together under circumstance wholly differ- ent from those which at presenf exist in this country, and moreover that events have occurred to enlighten your Majesty's subjects with respect to the great causes of the depression ot Trade and Commerce, humbly implore your Majesty to exer- cise your lioyal prerogative by dissolving the present, and to convoke a new Parliament, which may legislate more in ac- cordance with the great change in opinion which has, under f the te^'chiA'gs of expeiience taken piice within the last two years. And your Majesty's peiTtittner?, as in duty bound, will ever pray, &c &c. Thit the thanks of this meeting be given to the fepdTten for the Times, Swansea Journal, and MonmoutllshirBMerlin, for attending to leport the proceedings of this meeting. I. That the thanks of this meeting be given to John Jones, Esq., for his able conduct in the chair. The meeting then broke up.

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