COBDEN SUPPORTS THE MOVEMENT TO REDUCE DUTY ON WINE COBDEN (Richard, 1804-1865, Statesman)

Autograph Letter Signed to B. Oliveira saying that he is "unhappily prevented from attending the Festival to be held on the 9th inst to promote the reduction of the Wine Duties, I trouble you with a line to say that the object of the demonstration has my hearty sympathy. Although I have always been in favor of applying the principles of Free Trade to our own legislation, without waiting for the concurrent action of other Countries, yet I see with pleasure that many French & other foreign visitors are expected to be present at your meeting, for as they are known to be advocates of Commercial freedom, I take it for granted that they consider that a reduction of our duties on their great staple export would assist them in their effort to diminish the imposts on our production in their Country ...", 3 sides 8vo., on mourning paper, Midhurst 8th July

Cobden was an English manufacturer and Radical and Liberal statesman, associated with two major free trade campaigns, the Anti-Corn Law League and the Cobden–Chevalier Treaty. In 1838, he and John Bright founded the Anti-Corn Law League, aimed at abolishing the unpopular Corn Laws, which protected landowners' interests by levying taxes on imported wheat, thus raising the price of bread at a time when factory-owners were trying to cut wages. As a Member of Parliament from 1841, he fought against opposition from the Peel ministry, and abolition was achieved on 16th May 1846.
On Wednesday, July 9th, 1856, a grand demonstration in favour of the reduction of the import duties on foreign wines took place at the Crystal Palace, Sydenham, under the auspices of the Wine Duties Committee, of which Benjamin Oliveira, M.P., was chairman, and of the Anglo-French Free-Trade Association, which for some time had been established and in active operation in the Potteries of North Staffordshire, with the aim of agreeing a reciprocal trade agreement.

Item Date:  1856

Stock No:  39482      £375

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