The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1856-02-26 00:00:00

-JOHN STEWART, ESQ.,
-01..

ling Requisition, I do hereby ap-
of the INHABITANTS of this
,eorge's Hatl, on FRIDAY, the
t Twelve o'clock at noon, for the
i expressed. _ _ _

ie Town Hall this 19th day of
JOHN STEWART, Mayor.

A T a PUBLIC MEETING of the Inhabitants of
AT
the Borough of Liverpool, held at ST. GEORGE'S-HALL, on
FRIDAY, the 22d day of February, 1856, convened by the Mayor,
in compliance vtith a Requisition most numerously and respect-
ably signed, to protest against the principle of the " Local Dues
on Shipping Bill," to agree to a Petition to the Houses of Parlia-
ment against the proposed Bill, and to adopt such other measures
as may best tend to avert so monstrous and unjust an innovation,
JOHN STEWART, Esq., Mayor, in the Chair,

Letters were read from Charles Turner, Esq., Hugh Hornby,
Esq., J. A. Tobin, Esq., William Earle, Esq., J. H. Turner, Esq.,
and Richard Brooke, Esq., regretting their unavoidable absence
from the Meeting.
It was moved by JOHN PEMBERTON HEYWOOD, Esq.,
seconded by GEORGE HOLT, Esq., and
Resolved unanimously,—That t,is Meeting has learnt with asto-
nishment that a Bill has been introduced into Parliament by the
Vice-President of the Board of Trade, by which it is proposed to
deprive the Burgesses and Corporation of this, and many other
sea port towns in England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, of the
Revenues which they now lawfully derive from Dues on Goods
and Shipping.
It was moved by S. R. GRAVES, Esq., seconded by ROBERT
RANKIN, Esq., and
Resolved unanimously,—That the Dues on Goods carried in
Ships and the Anchorage on Ships (the latter being the only
charge made on Ships by the Corporation, and only One Shilling
and Threepence per Ship, an amount too insignificant to notice,)
now received by the Corporation in the Port of Liverpool, have
existed for upwards of six hundred years; that they formed part
of the ancient rights of the Crown, and were sold by the Kings of
England, with the Assent of Parliament, to the parties from
whom they were purchased by the Burgesses and Corporation of
Liverpool, and have been declared to be their lawful property,
after a full inquiry before the Lord Chief Justice of England and
a Special Jury.
It was moved by AMBROSE LACE, Esq., seconded by RALPH
BROCKLEBANK, Esq., and
Resolved unanimously,—That the sum of one hundred and
forty-nine thousand pounds was levied by rates on property in
the Borough of Liverpool during the year 1855, for sanatory and
other public purposes, independent of the sum of one hundred
and eighty-three thousand one hundred and forty-six• pounds
levied in the same ye,r for the support of the poor, and that the
proposal contained in the bill now before Parliament to throw on
the burgesses of Liverpool a large amount of debt, contracted on
the faith of the continued enjoyment of their property, and also
to throw on them the expense of protecting, guarding, and facili-
tating the transport of upwards of a Hundred Millions worth of
property. which passes through the port every year, is contrary to
every principle of law and justice.
It was moved by R. A. MACFIE, Esq., seconded by CHARLES
SAUNDERS, Esq., and
. _ .

Resolvedunanhisord6,—That the trade and commerce of theking-
dom have been greatly benefited by the expenditure of the Revenue
derived from the Dues collected in Liverpool, of which more than
a Million Sterling has been expended in widening or forming new
lines of approach to, or communications amongst, the Docks,
which now extend five miles in length, and afford accommoda-
tion to four millions and a half tone of Shipping yearly, and from
which Docks the Corporation of Liverpool receive no Revenue
whatever. That more than Seventy Thousand Pounds has been
expended for purposes connected with the Conservancy and Im-
provement of the Port, and upwards of Thirty Thousand Pounds
in building a Lighthouse at the entrance to the River; whilst the
Corporation is under legal obligation to expend One Hundred and
Thirty Thousand Pounds in constructing a Landing Stage for the
use of Sea-going Steamers, and also to expend not less than Two
Millions Sterling to develops the commercial advantages of the
Docks of Birkenhead. That the Works, when completed, will
render Liverpool the most commodious Port in the world, hut
that such great and costly plans cannot be carried into execution
if the Corporation of Liverpool is deprived of Two-thirds.of its
Income.

It was moved by WILLIAM RATFIBONE, Esq., seconded by
FRANCIS A. HAMILTON, Esq, and

Resolved unanimonsly,—That this Meeting protests against
the proposal to transfer the Management of the Funds of this, and
other Ports, from parties resident on the spot, and deeply inter-
ested in, and thoroughly acquainted with, all local questions, to a
Government Board, not possessed either of knowledge of the
wants of the several Ports, or of any real interest in their prospe
rity, all experience having shown that Local Management is
generally superior to Management by Government Boards.
It was moved by HENRY HANSON, Esq., seconded by JOHN
SIDT,EY, Esq., and . . . .

Resolved toi;znissio'ruly,—That the Petitions to both Houses of
Parliament now read, be adopted, and that his Worship the
Mayor do sign the same on behalf of this Meeting.
The Mayor having left. the chair, it was moved by DAVID
HODGSON, Esq., seconded by Joitx Tong, Esq., and
Resolved by acclamation,—That the warmest thanks of this
Meeting be and are hereby presented to his Worship the Mayor,
for calling the Meeting, and for his impartial conduct in the
chair.

To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, in Parliament assembled.

The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Borough of Liver.
pool, in Public Meeting assembled,

HUMBLY SH EIVETH,

That your Petitioners have learnt with astonishment that a Bill
has been introduced into Parliament by the Vice-President of the
Board of Trade, by which it is proposed to deprive the Burgesses
and Corporation of this and many other sea-port towns in Eng-
land, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. of the Revenues which they
now lawfully derive from Dues on Goods and Shipping.
That the dues on goods carried in ships and the anchorage on
ships (the latter being the only charge made on ships by the
Corporation, and only Is. 3d. per ship, an amount too insignificant
to notice) now received by the Corporation in the port of Liver-
pool have existed for upwards of six hundred years; that they
formed part of the ancient Rights of the Crown, and were solo by
the Kings of England with the assent of Parliament, to the par-
ties from whom they were purchased by the Burgesses and Cor-
poration of Liverpool, and have been declared to be their lawful
property, after a full inquiry before the Lord Chief Justice of
England and a special jury.
That the Sum of £149,000 was levied by Rates on Property in
the Borough of Liverpool, during the year 1855, for Sanatory and
other Public purposes, independent of the sum of £183,146
levied in the same year for the Support of the Poor, and that the
proposal contained in the Bill now before Parliament to throw
on the Burgesses of Liverpool a large amount of debt contracted
on the faith of the continued enjoyment of their property, and
also to throw on them the expense of protecting, guarding, and
facilitating the transport of upwards of £100,000,000 worth of Pro-
perty, which passes through the port every year, is contrary to
every principle of law and justice.
That the trade and commerce of the kingdom have been greatly
benefited by the expenditure of the revenues derived from the
Dues collected in Liverpool, of which more than £1,000,000
sterling has been expended in widening or forming new lines of
approach to, or communication amongst the Docks, which now
extend five miles in length, and afford accommodation to four
millions and a-half tons of Shipping yearly, from which Docks
the Corporation of Liverpool derive no revenue•whatever.
That more than £70,000 have been expended f crpurposes con-
nected with the Conservancy and Improvement of the Port, and
upwards of £30,000 in building a Lighthouse at the entrance of the
river, whilst the Corporation is under legal obligation to expend
£130,000 in constructing a Landing-stage for the use of sea-going
Steamers, and also to expend not less than £2,000,000 sterling to
develope the commercial advantages of the Docks at Birkenhead,
that the works when completed will render Liverpool the most
commodious port in the world; but that such great and costly
plans cannot be carried into execution if the Corporation of Liver-
pool is deprived of two-thirds of its income.
That your Petitioners protest against the proposal to transfer
the management of the funds of this and other ports from parties
resident on the spot, and deeply interested in, and thoroughly
acquainted with, all local questions, to a Government Board, •not
possessed either of knowledge of the wants of the several ports or of
any real interest in their prosperity, all experience having shown
that local management is greatly superior to management by
Government Boards.

Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray that the said Bill may
not pass into a law, as its operation will be most prejudicial, not
only to the interests of your Petitioners, but subversive of the rights
of property hitherto held sacred in this country, and moat detri-
mental, as your Petitioners most humbly submit, to the interests
of the trade and commerce of the kingdom.
WM. SHUTTLEWORTH, Town-Clerk.

THE TOWN DUES.

THE crowded and enthusiastic meeting which took
place on Friday, in St. George's Hall, can leave no
lingering doubt as .to the feelings of the inhabitants
of Liverpool on the attempted confiscation of the pro-
perty of the Corporation. There was no mere affirma-
tion of the resolutions by a respectable majority, but a
unanimous and indignant protest against a projected
perpetration of one of the most barefaced schemes of
legalised robbery ever contemplated. There was no
amendment proposed by any apologist for the Govern-
ment stimulated by political sympathy, no voice raised,
no hand held up, no interruption whatever to the
unanimity which denounced the ministerial proposition
as altogether scandalous and indefensible. This is as

it should be, and if the expression of public opinion
has any weight whatever with the House of Commons,
the resolutions of the great meeting must have con-
siderable influence in defeating the nefarious scheme.
It will not be forgotten that this is no party movement,
no demonstration of hostile feelings towards the Go-
vernment as such ; but Conservatives, Whigs, and
Radicals cordially united in defence of those rights
which have been so iniquitously assailed, and amply
proved that in Liverpool there is no second opinion

on the subject.
Had the opposition to the bill been confined to the
movement of the Town Council, as the constitutional
representatives of the public opinion of the borough,
it might have been urged that that body had a direct
interest in maintaining the control over so large an
annual expenditure, and in continuing to enjoy the
patronage which it necessarily conferred. It was a
wise and judicious step, therefore, to summon a public
meeting of the townsmen, for no such argument can
now be used. Liverpool to a man is opposed to the
Government, and if there be any advantage in the
justice of a cause, the scheme must be given up, for
the sanction of such a barefaced robbery by the legis-
lature would render every man's title to his property
insecure. There can be no longer any virtue in legal
deeds or the decisions of courts of law as to their
validity, if this spoliation be permitted ; and those Cor-
porations who have petitioned Parliament in favour of
the Bill, under the delusive notion of its being for the
benefit of the shipping interest, would do well to look
to their own position, or they may find themselves the
next victims of Ministerial robbery.
The more this subject is considered on its own
merits, the more iniquitous and indefensible appears to
be the whole transaction. Brought forward under
the shallow pretext of affording relief to the shipping
interest, it has not been shown that shipping will have
the slightest fraction of relief in any shape whatever,
The Town-dues are levied only on merchandise im-
ported or exported, and until it can be demonstrated
by some refinement of microscopical arithmetic that
twopence on a bale of cotton of the value of £lO, or
fourpence on a hogshead of sugar worth £3O, can
make any appreciable difference in the value of either
commodity, it is absurd folly to contend that the levy
of Town-dues is the slightest hardship whatever, or
that the Vice-president of the Board of Trade has
any argument insupport of his measure. There
can be no doubt that he is animated solely by a petty
jealousy of the financial condition of the Corporation
of Liverpool being so much better than that of his
colleagues, and the proposed transfer of the collection
to the Board of Customs is but a stepping-stone
towards the confiscation of the dues to Government
purposes.

The opposition to the Ministerial scheme is not,
however, confined to those who may be supposed to
partake of the advantages offered by the expenditure
of the town dues. - The Shipowners, for whose behalf
the measure is said to be propounded, whose claims to
relief constitute the only attempt at justification, are
equally opposed to it. They deny the efficacy of the
pretended boon, and prefer the advantages which they
enjoy from the expenditure of the fund by the Corpo-
ration. At a meeting of the Liverpool Shipowners'
Association, they unanimously resolved to petition
Parliament against the Bill, and that no doubt might
exist as to their feelings and opinions on the subject,
they say in their petition :—" That your petitioners
feel specially called upon to assure your honourable
house that the Shipowners of Liverpool, being im-
pressed with the useful and beneficial application of
the town and anchorage dues by the Corporation,
have never complained of the dues so levied by that
body ; that they never considered them a tax pressing
on British shipping ; that they have never objected to
the demand, or asked to be relieved from the dues ;
and that any such representations that have been
made to your honourable house have been made in
error and without inquiry."
Mr. Lover attempted to persuade his auditors that
the Corporation of Liverpool, in exercising their right
of levying dues on merchandise, appropriated them
with slight exception to municipal purposes, and he
even endeavoured to offer an apology for such appro-
priation by asserting that it was rendered compulsory
by the Municipal Corporation Reform Act ; leaving it
consequently to be inferred that the ratepayers of
Liverpool had a direct interest in the maintenance of
the dues in order to save themselves from the payment
of a borough rate. Such an assumption is positively
false, and the position, therefore, that the Corporation
of Liverpool exercises a right of taxation injurious to,
or regardless of, the public good, is utterly untenable.
It has been proved in abundant instances that the
outlay of the town dues has been ostensibly and really
for the benefit of the public at large, adding materially
to the facilities of commerce, which, without such aid,
might not have been so largely increased ; and, on the
other hand, it cannot be shown that the fund has been
at any time expended for purposes which otherwise
would have been paid for out of a borough rate. The
assertions, therefore, of the Minister are utterly devoid
of foundation, and, consequently, that pretence of
principle with which he vauntingly set out is merely
a cover to hide a scheme of confiscation for which no
legitimate reason could be shown. It is but the thin
edge of a wedge, which, driven horde, may, under
equally shallow excuses, bring all corporate property
into the hands of the government, and should there-
fore be resisted by every means which the Constitu-
tion will allow.