The Press.
London, England, 1853-05-07 00:00:00

THE PRESS

and that the surrender of the consolidated annuity
debt was more than a full equivalent:—
" The only reason why Ireland had hitherto been exempt
from it was, the distress which had pervaded certain poi,
tions of the country ; and now that distress was removed,
and the burdens it heal entailed were to be taken off, there
was no reason why Belfast should not be subject to the
same tax as Liverpool. In 184$, when the country wee
far more distressed than it was h ow, the right hon. gentle-
man opposite (Mr. Disraeli) had supported the extension
of the income tax tat Ireland without any relief from the
consolidated annuities. The income tax, it was true,
would impose on Ireland 450,000 L, the succession tax
60,0001.. and the tax tan spirits 1104,00 I.—total, K 58,000/. ;
but the relief would be to the amount of 070.000/., and in
1860 the income tax would be repealed, and the balance in
favour of exemption would be 1A4,000/. It was not enough
to consider, however, the mere figures upon this question.
It was essential to consider the effect of the removal of
duties on articles of consumption in a pour country like
Ireland."

Denying that the legacy duty to be imposed upon
land was unjust, seeing that some landed proprietors
were already subject to it, and citing Mr. Huskisson
for the opinion that indirect taxes enabled the rich
consumer to escape paying his fair share, and we
ought therefore to proceed in the work of abolishing
them, Lord John Russell concluded by warning the
Legislature against any attempt to disturb the on-
ward march of democracy :---
It was said last year—Red it was a proof of little wis-
dom in the man who said it—that we ought to endeavour
to rule the country so us to check the advances of demo-
cracy. Depend upon it. the ruler who dues that will only
increase and greatly irritate the power which he wishes to
check. (Cheers.) By adopting the opposite course, on
the contrary, the minister will make the democracy con-
servative. insteed of its opposing hint as an enemy.
( Hear, hear.) 'Chat is the true policy for Parliament to
pursue., neither neglecting the interests of land or trade,
hut consulting the interests of all--giving nu undue favour
to any, but pursuing a course which an must admit to
be just."
On the division there appeared--
For the original resolution .. 323
For the amendment .. 252

Majority for the liovernmout -- -71
THE IltinttET CuNTINITED.—A SCENE IN THE

HOUSE.

The resolution being-
again proposed on Thursday
night,
Mr. Lvwt.esti moved the omission of the words by
which Ireland was to fall within the scope of the
income tax. Ile approved of the entire budget, ex-
cept as to that particular point, and supported his
view by gi‘iug various details respecting the present
condition of Ireland, and referred especially to the
weight of the poor-rate and other local taxes, which
amounted to only 2s. -11 d. in the pound in England,
while averaging :Is. 71d. in the sister isle.
Colonel Deseie thought the motion useless and
inopportune, and welcomed it solely as evincing a
spirit of repentance on the part of the mover, who
had voted in the Government majority on Tuesday.
31r. SCILLY looked at the question as one to be
settled in the interest of classes rather than of coun-
tries. It was not whether England or Ireland should
pay most taxes, but whether they were to be paid by
the rich or the poor. Taking this ground, and review-
ing the probable consequences of the income tax in
aceordance therewith, he was willing to accept it for
his constituent.s.
Mr. GAVAN Ift'yFv, disliking a " sham battle,"
examined the speeches and votes of the mover of
the resolution, and drew the conclusion that his
motion was not bowl fide, or was tut absurdity and
inconsistency. Leaving personal topics for the gene-
ral question of Ireland r. the income tax, he declared
that when Peel first proposed the tax, and relieved
Ireland from paying it, that country was more pros-
penl..., and England less so, than now. At this
moment the Government intended to mulct Ireland
with the tax, though England was richer than she
had been within the memory of man--when there
was a surplus in the Treasury---and when the Irish
state of things was such as the world had never seen
before—multitudes flying the country, because they
were starving in it. There was no consolation to
them to know that by the help of this tax turtle,
anchovies, brocade, jewels, and artificial flowers were
made cheaper. The man who canted 100/. or 130/.
in England was often a prosperous artisan, living in
a comfortable way, but. in Ireland was a struggling
trailer or professional man, barely able to make both
ends meet. Professing much curiosity to learn the
exact means by which " the gentleman who takes
members out to vote" managed to secure for the
Government so ninny Irish representatives, Mr.
Duffy proceeded to state by way of explaining the
mystery---" Short as my experience in Parliament has
been, I do not think that in the worst days 14 the
Walpoles or the Pelliams a more unscrupulous cor-
ruption existed than I have seen practised, under my
own eyes, of corrupting Irish mentbem."
[An explosion from the Irish members here inter-
rupted the butt. member, who attempted in vain "to
pass to another brand' of his argument." Cries of
" Name !" "Explain !" "Oh, oh !" and "Chair, chair!"

SATURDAY,

effectively stopped all further discussion, until at
length the general indignation found a voice through]
Mr. JOHN BLit., who moved that the objectionable
words used by Mr. Duffy be " taken down."
A confused discussion ensued as to the proper
mode and time of proceeding, and it was suggested
that the Speaker should be recalled. Sir DENHAM
NORREYS interposed with a suggestion that perhaps
Mr. Duffy would retract ; but this meeting no re-
sponse, and the chairman having no note of the
words, Mr. Ball wrote them down, from recollection,
and Mr. Duffy, being appealed to, " did not quarrel
with the version."
Lord J. RUSSELL informed the committee, and es-
pecially the Irish members, that they were justified
in treating the expressions with contempt, as words
dropped in debate, unless the hon. member who
vented the offensive charges would declare himself
prepared to give names and proofs when the Speaker
had resumed the chair.
Mr. Lucss corrected the noble lord. It was rather
the Government than the Irish members against
whom the charge of corruption was laid. Ministers
must have taken the initiative in attempting to cor-
rupt representatives, and it was to them the infa-
mous comparison with Walpole and Pelham was ad-
dressed.
Continued confusion, which the Chairman (Mr.
Bouverie) vainly attempted to still or reduce to order,
was quieted for a moment by
Mr. DISRAELI, who endeavoured to place the ques-
tion of order" in its true bearings before the com-
mittee. It was disorderly, no doubt, to impute cor-
rupt practices to any member of that House. But
it was not disorderly to allege corrupt conduct. This
was what Mr. Duffy had done with regard to Minis-
ters. He was, in so doing, quite right; and, if he
could substantiate his allegation, had but performed
the highest duty which could devolve upon a repre-
sentative.
Lord PALMERSTON accepted the words as a direct
charge upon the Government of using corrupt arts,
and challenged the accuser to prove it; otherwise he
suggested the propriety of his retracting with a good
graSir ce.
G. GREY and Mr. HERBERT having also at-
tempted to extract an apology from the hon. member,
Mr. DUFFY, after complaining that the language
and conduct employed towards himself " were not
creditable to a society of English gentlemen," en-
tered into some explanations of his meaning, but
concluded by asserting that he was not prepared to
unsay anything he had said or might say in that
house, and was ready to abide the consequences.
Mr. BRIGHT endeavoured to persuade the com-
mittee that the offensive words ought to be inter-
preted merely in a " figurative sense, according to the
Oriental latitude" of expression which Irish members
were somewhat apt to indulge in.
The confused debate continued some time; but at
length the Chairman procured an affirmative to
the resolution, that the words in question should be
taken down and reported. The Speaker accordingly
took the chair, the house resumed, and Mr. Bouverie
brought up his report.
The SPEAKER, taking the report, read the words
again, and then said," Has the hon. member anything
to say in explanation or retractation of these words r
Mr. Deere I have already explained, in the ab-
sence of Mr. Speaker, the general circumstances
under which I used these words. I do not know
whether I may be permitted to ask the house to tell
me the course lam expected to take. (Loud cries of
" Oh, oh !")
The SPEAKER informed him that he might either
explain or retract, and that the house would then
decide what should be done with him.
Mr. DUFFY, pleading much ignorance of the forms
of the house, offered, if a committee were given him,
to bring forward the evidence on which he had
founded his allegations. He then withdrew, and,
after some discussion as to the next step to be taken,
Mr. STUART WORTLEY recommended that P day's
time should be allowed for the hon. member and the
house itself to cool and reflect. This proposal being
adopted, the debate was adjourned, and Mr. Duffy
ordered to attend in his place at four o'clock yes-
terday (Friday) evening.

CHARITABLE TRUSTS.
The Lonn CHANCELLOR 0 n Tuesday carried the
second reading of this bill in the Lords, and ex-
plained the machinery by which the measure was to
fulfil its assigned purpose of " better administering
and making more useful the charitable trusts of the
country." During forty years, and through the me-
dium of more than one commission, who had issued
between them thirty-eight folio volumes of reports,the
abuses attaching to the present system had attracted
attention. More than four hundred prosecutions had
been instituted on the same account, and bills been
brought in year after year, which, however, had al-
ways fallen through from various causes. The gross
number of charitable trusts now existing was no less
than 25,540,0 f which 22,760 were below the value of
301. per annum. Owing to yaricui causes, the hese-

MAY 7, 1853.

volent purposes to which these bequests had been ori-
ginally devoted had become useless, or even highly
injurious, while the legal machinery now provided
for effecting any change in the object or mode of ad •
ministering any bequest was munbrous in all cases.
and far too costly to be set in motion in behalf of the
large class of minor charities. It was now proposed
to give the county courts a jurisdiction over all chari-
table funds of less than 30/. per annum revenue, and
that all above should be brought before a master in
chancery, in both cases under certain precautionary
provisos. Over all there was a board to he consti-
tuted, with very extensive powers of superintendence,
control, and advice, for the cheek or guidance of the
respective bodies of trustees. Farther, it was pro-
posed that every change in the administration or di •
rection of a bequest, if suggested by the trustees,
approved by the board, and not forbidden by Parlia-
ment, after lying before either house for a space of
thirty days. should become of full effect, and super-
sede the original design of the testator in that case.
Lord Sr. LEosien's apprehended danger from the
establishment of a board holding such very unli-
mited power over a vast mass of property, and inti-
mated his purpose of proposing some modification of
the bill when it had progressed into committee.

THE ROCKET CONSPIRACY.

Mr. DuNcobtsE, in a half-hour's speech on Thurs-
day, asked the Home Minister whether the Govern-
ment intended to persevere in the prosecution of Mr.
Hale, the ltotherhithe manufacturer of illegal
rockets ? The hon. member gave a burlesque detail
of the circumstances attending the police seizure, and

the police-office decisions; inferred that Vauxhall
and Cremorne Gardens would he visited with a
similar process; and complained that, while the
Government could find nothing hut a trumpery-
charge against the principal offender under an obso-
lete act prohibiting squibs and crackers, the Gove►n-
ment organs were insinuating atrocious charges
against M. Kossuth for designing to levy war against. a
friendly power.
Viscount PALMERSTON had no intention of pre,:sing
bard upon Mr. Hale, but could not abandon the
prosecution.

" It was nut tla►t Mr. Hide had a few pounds of gun-
powder in his isossession, or carried on the trade of making
shells and rockets for ordinary purposes; but when I was
informed that there was a great collection of warlike
tunres accumulated in an out of the way place, under cir-
cunastancea of secrecy, and when I coupled that with
other circumstances which tended to show that there was

a purpose, the object of which was ley•ond the 'ts of
this country, and not connected with the legitimate interests
of commerce, 1 felt it my duty to inquire whether• these
proceedings were or were not contrary to law. ( Hear,
hear.) I was► told they were contrary to law, and ther•-
fore 1 think I should have neglected my duty if I had not
taken such steps as the law appeared to authorise for the
purpose of putting a stop to those proceedings. I hold
that in doing that I have consulted the honour ami dignity
of the country. (Hear, hear. )"
He acknowledged, however•, without he.itation. that
there was no evidence to hear out or justitj• proceed-
ings against any other person.
Lord D. STUART, feeling most interested in the
fair form of M. Kossuth, accepted this statement as a
complete exoneration of his friend.

Mr. BIUOHT remarked that the Government had
" got into a mess " through its pitiful proceeding
against 31r. Hale, and then launched forth into a
violent diatribe against the Times for its malicious
insinustions against Kossuth. lie compared the con-
duct of that paper with the worst specimens to be
found in the worst days of continental journalism.

Mr. Comws proposed that Kossuth should be al-
lowed to exculpate himself, making a sort of affidavit
of his innocence :---

" The ex-governor of Hungary• is not below the notice of
the Home Secretary. Let Kossuth explain, and, if he
gi►•es his word of honour, I say that he is as much entitled
to credence as any member of the th•leans family who are
habitually- visiting at our Court. ( Hear, hear. l"

Lord J. RussELl. recognised the equal right en-
joyed by all refugees, royal or republican, to enioy
the hospitality of this country so long as they did
not abuse it. The suspicions excited against. Kos-
suth, however, were to be traced to his own words
and acts, some of which the noble lord related. He
then passed on to notice and refute the statement
which hail been industriously propagated, that the
Ministry had acted upon Austrian prompting.
4ir J. WALI4SLEY reiterated the %indication of Kos
suth ; and the subject, which had been introduced
rtpropost of the motion for going into committee of
ways and means, was allowed to drop.

PAYMENT OF WAGES MU.
Sir H. Hm.roan, in Wednesday morning's sitting,
moved the second reading of this bill. The objeet of
the measure was to relieve the manufacturing opora-
lives, and especially framework-knitters, by render
ing more stringent the existing prohibitions of the
"truck" system, and protecting them from the inter-
ference of middlemen, and from various exactions at
eieut imposed Ron them by ,oinu of the master

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