The Express.
London, England, 1852-12-14 00:00:00

the cotton trade wasle les EY *it
calico exported was aft gg give after
the taper% bed rims be theWalliW/WIS a AO
yards, the declared vele* Wing telea lti. get. then,
unlock the springs of indwaley. Y MISIMIIII.IIB Ilmillaer, in
respect to the agricultural MINIM) Unques-
tioaetily it would hays the sane OW; IllgumPotiasably it
would be • course consistent with the mew commercial prin-
ciple ; and es anquestionshly it wadi be preemptive of vast
benefit, both to the COIIIIMIN and the . Hs now
mood to the third questions erlieli rsbeled to the direct
taxation of 1. is country. aWriMitiles thethe was right that
the remission of the tea dative ad of the malt unties were
beneficial—assuming that he was right that, eonsietently
with this great principle which they had established, the
'peat principle of commercial freedom, there was no injus-
tice in relict se any interest frees restrictions or impedi-
aints—let him now see whether they might not legiti-
mately carry into execution those principles by the mode
in which they proposed to oiliest the direct taxation of this
country. The hog. gentlemen told them that direct taxa-
tion wee first put on to tea:mance a great commercial re-
form. He (Mr. Walpole) Paid that the addition to the
direct taxation—if there really were an addition—as now
propoeul was to- enable them to templets that great
commercial reform. They put on originally, not as
had been said repeatedly in this debate, because
there was a deficit. There was a deficit it was true, hut
that deficit did not require them to put on a tax of fire
millions; two millions or two millions and a htlf would
have been sufficient. But they put en this direct tax, Out
met ely to get rid of a deficit, bet also to commence a great
commercial reform. It was true they had nu deficit now,
but the addition of the direct taxation now, it there was an
addition, was to complete this same commercial reform. 1
The direct taxes they dealt in were the house tax and the
rtv and Mem*, tax. They dealt with the house tea .
icreasing it all it was in 1461, but not inerea,ing it I
ea elispered with what it was twenty years ago. They
trateaskil the area on which the boom tax was to be
seemed, end they varied the property and income tax. The .
right hos. member fur llalifas said their proposition was an I
eppryesiye tamition. lie (Mr. Walpole) said they were re-
mad Mg the injustice first perpetrated in repealing the
tax and substituting the house duty. The window
duty produced 1,11.50,0001. The house tax, with the increase I
now proposed, would yield 1.720,0001.; so that, actually, in I
1842, the alteration of their taxation, instead of increasing
the direct taxation, as compared with what it was iu 1360,
would leave it 210,0001. lees, and would remedy the injustice
which, it was admitted on ell hands, was done when they
subatitutml the partial house duty kw the window tax. I
Then, did they object to this tax on any phileso
phierl or scientific ground? Remember the reamns
8W which they took off the window tax. They were
teas vim, the improvement of the sanitary COliiitlol2 of the
sentry, end, secondly, because it pressed unequally. Was
Ike remedy for that the sacrifice of • revenue of a million
a year? Their remedy was to substitute a direct tax
which was not unequal- 11 they had laid • house tax
as a substitute for it. " would have done that which

essmemenity. The right honourable gentlemen had
thee proceeded to tale of the large reductions in
' the excise duties which he proposed to effect.
The government of Sir R. Peel had proceeded on such a
bans, that by a skills' management of the receipts and ex-
peediture of the mutiny, they had a large balance evade.
ble out of which they could afford to make reductions.
(Cheers.) They did not, in the first laetrusee, create a
deficiency, and then call upon the house to make large re-
ductions of taxation. (Hear, hear.) This was the broad
distinetion between the course pursued by the present go.
vorament said that of which he was a member. llis righ•
boa. friend talked of the acclamations with which the
budget had been received in the City ; but if, whin two
years bad elapsed, instead of a surplus there wise deficiency
to be supplied, by luau mud other illegitimate soure,a, it was
very doubtful whether the same applause would continue,
(Hear, hear.) This question involved fee higher considers.
moue their whether they should relieve • m rtsio eh.' by
the reniksion of duties which they now paid, or
whether they should cuter into a controversy about the
I consumers or the brewers deriving the larger portion of the
benefit ; it involved tbo etability of the finsecial e) stem.
(Cheers.) The question we., whether the finenees were in
that state in which they could 'tad to part with two.
und-a-belt minima of productive duty, which might press
in a certain degree upon the general consumer, but which
was the !mut oppressive of all taxes, and the removal of
which was the least celled for. (Hear, hear) And they
were doing this at the risk of creating a de firienry. We
bad been letter') employed in removing evils that had
miles from our tamer uegligence, and in adding to the
defences of our country, nut with the view of hustile opera-
Hans, but to place ourselves, during peace, in the position
is which every greet country ought to stand. But, bed the
government turgot that it there were any element a
safety foe the country, any ground on which its delouse
mum surely rested than another, it was the VW i
embarrassed state of its finances ? If they did wilfully end
wantonly create an etturl deficiency, and cuter upon the
service of the year with a confident expeetafigla
theist its close they must necessarily involve themselves tat
debt, they raised up an obstacle to adequate defence here-
after which uo military preparations and no amount of
troops would overcome . • they iodic:tit a blow upon that
public credit which had previously nabkd us to withstand
the most hostile demonstratimis. (Hear, hear.) The budget
proceeded on the assumption of a surplus of 400„0:001. at
the end et the next financial year. With a surplus so
am ill, it was naturel and reasonable to look at the items
out of which it was derived; and though individually there
might be small ilifferene,s of opinion as to the valuations in
a MP plus so small, toe amount of difference made the whole
distinction between having • deficiency or a surelii, at tie
end of the year. The right hon. gentleman did not captain
why he estimated the less Oa the malt duty at nee million.
He stated that he should have to pay a million so draw-
backs. Surely the boos* had a right to expect sonic ex-
planation on that point; in default of that they
could only form their own opinions. Ile had had some
experience as to estimates of'

~ they w.__ e
... .as to Nome._ 'drawbacks, and he never yet
wee just and that which all the best political economists bad knew an instance of •e Chancellor of the Exchequer assent-
advocated. They all told them that a house tax was pro- log a reduction of duty and • drawback on the stocks in
behly the fairest impost they could place on the different hand, where it did not not turn out that his connate was
dames of the community. (No, no.) Well, if they would falsified to a great degree by the event. (Hear, hear.)
not admit the word " ail," he would chugs his phrase, Should that occur to the right hon. gentleman, which had
and say the best political economists, whether they went occurred to others, this would be an element of loss which
back to Adam Smith or they took the Rune am- it was impossible to calculate. In the same way, there was',
item political economists—he meant Mill and Ricardo, a trifling difference made by the tea duties, about 60,0001. I
both of whom said it was the fairest income Ile amassed that 400,0001. was to be received from the re-
tax they could propose, because the rent a man paymentsof loans; the sum was in reality but 300,0001.;
paid foe his house was the beet criterion of his mean.. making a loss of 40,000 f. more. Taking into calculation
flie other subject of direct taxation was the income and that by the projected alteration of the income tax there'
cry Ma. He hardly knew that he need de- would also bee lees of 160,0001., and that the expense of
the alterations they had: there made. The collection would be greatly augmented, it was probable that!
leme. member (Mr. Cobden) had teisepletely shown the fair- 1.30,0001. or 200,0001. more would have to be deducted from
lamer a distiuction beta een precarious and fixed internee— the surplus. If that were so, was it not quite clear
balms, from precarious sources, and incomes from realised thst the right boo. gentleman, having in his piosesaien
meggenty. Tins übj.ctiesa hart been principally them, the a real surplus of le millions, proposed deliberately
emu ininneted by the 'totem lord the other night, and and calmly to subject the country, at the gad of the next
seguattly pressed in argument by his former colleague (Sir financial year, to a deficiency which it was impossible to
C. Wood), and the other taken by the eight hon. gentleman calculate beforehand ; for it was impossible to foresee what
(Mr. Cilaoshene). They were both of a formidable charm- might be the effect of accidents and adverse seasons. He
ter, and if they could be sustained, would clearly affect the gave the right hon. gentleman credit for courage of a cer-
picipmety of the budget. The objection of the noble hod rain kind. The geverument of Sir Robert Peel had not
was that they had increamil the number of exemptions. the courage to spend the money when they had it not in
Now, what had been the exemptions hitherto ? First, they possession. (Cheers.) They had not the courage to risk
exempted all property in Ireland of all Musa and deecrip- the credit of the country in order to gratify any
lions,. and the eecond pleat class of exemptions was personal cluicasnts for Teeniest el of taxation, when they
income. under 1401. by their proposal, instead of exempt- knew that it would end in injury to the public
ing every class of property in Ireland, they, for credit, and perhaps a sacrifice of coufeleu ce.
the first time, excluded from these exemptions Surely the right hon. gentleman could not view with very
the salaries of officials in Ireland, and the ennui- tranquil feelings the prospect before him, comparing it •
ties from stock. They had also diminished the num- with 1842, when there had been a succession of deficien-
ber of exemptions in this country. They had reduced the cim, and the national credit was only recovered by a great I
point of exemptions with referee., to precarious incomes to effort. We should bo reduced to the same state again, I
lOW. instead of 1501., and with reference to reel property to mamma the right hon. gentleman was prevented from
601. instead of 1301. How the noble lord could object to making away with the email surplus Ile had. He did not
their dealing with these execuptious be could not couceire. complain of the reduction of the tea duties; that came
He might say that the alterations they had made acre not within the means of the existing aurplus, end it might
equitable in themselves. Then the variations they had give increased employment to the shipping interest and
made were not of au exempting character, but to put the great comforts to the pour. It might, as in the cue of
tax on an 'mutate.) footing. It was said they sugar and ciffee, replete the revenue that would be sand
had benefited the farmer. Why, what had they aced in the first instance. But the repeal of the malt tax
done as regarded the farmer ? 'luny said that since 'toed on quite a different footiug. Barley lands had sat.
the repeal of the corn laws the proportion between feted the least of any in this country ; and yet the govern.
rent and profits, were not the same that they were before. meat now thought it necessary to relieve their cultivators,
te ith regard to the exteumeou of the tax to the Irish although the way in which it was proposed to be done
fundholder, he defied the right honourable gentle- would be no relief at all. (Hear.) He hail heard with great
man (Mr. Gledatone) to *miry this on any ground satisfaction that the goverument proposed to allow Auger to
el national engagement, or on any of the consequences bo refined in bond; he presumed that it would be
that flowed from such an engagement. (Hear, hear.) confined to certain classes of sugar. Thin would cause a
How then ought they to deal both with the Irish loss to the revenue ; why was not a statement given of the
and the English fuudholder ? Tbey ought to tax him in probable amount ? Whatever injury clans interests might I
precisely the same manner as they taxed every other elms of sustain, he was certain they would suffer from nothing
the community, the quality of whose income, and the nature more than from what effected the national credit. Then
of whose estate—as regarded its duration—was the legitimate relief was found in the growing pro.perity of •
mime as his. (Hear.) It was clear then that they would the country ; and he was no friend to those interests who,
not be justified in lookiug upon the fuedholder's dividends forgetting what was due to the national credit, sought to
as a precarious and uncertain income, and therefure they gain support by professedly relieving the hardens un e rtaia
had nothing left but to treat linti its a peewit with ap: rum- Masses. (Hear, hear.) The Chaneellur of the Exchequer,
vent propeity. (Hear, hear.) He was sorry to trouble the is 1849, addressing a meeting of agricultueists, had eaves.
house at such length, but when the public faith was in ceded term formation of a sinking feud, in order to raise the
question It was right that they skald 4 sa4eavour, not with national credit, and hail declared the, it was not by the
any party view, but fairly and honestly, to se• whether they reduction of this or that tax that imperilled agriculiure
were dealing with the Public creditor in any unjust or ite- was to be relieved. (Hear, bear.) The right hon. gentle-
equitable manner. (Cheese.) For these reasons, then, he man hod refereed fa tempi of approbation to the effect of
thought he might ask the house to assent to the principle the measures which he (Mr. Ouelburn) had assisted in
of his right hoe. friend's proposition' which was all he was carrying out ; and ha had hoped that he would act on the
contending for. (Hear, hear.) He had now gone through principle of ome measures; hut from the way in which he
the whole of time propositions which had beta submitted to .notched atthe small surplus of a million and a half,
them by his right lion. friend ; and he challenged them to so a means of reducing certain tines, he feared that he was
show that the principles of those propositions pursuing a course which would have the very orposite
were anaoand or that their objects were other- 'beet to what he professed to desire—the raising of the oa-
wise than beueficial to the whole community. nonal credit. (Hear, hear) It would have been much
' (Cheers.) And though he did not see the right hon. better to have emerged the surplus for a time. lle objected
baronet (Sir C. Wood) in his place, he meet take leave to to • surplus being sacriSeed instantly. (Hear, hear.) He
add that, notwithstanding the tone of self-consututed knew that political economists represented a Louse tax as a
superiority—(minkteriel cheer.)—which the right hen. fair and legitimate direct tax to which the community ought
gentleman had assumed the other night, he defied him, or to be subject, and it might be, under circumstance.' which
any of his supporters, to prove that they ware propositions required it, a correct tax if properly distributed and midi-
which wield impair the credit of the country or tarnish the fled. He objected, it was true, to the house tax of the right
good cams of England. (Cheers.) The right hen. gentle- hon. gentleman the member for Hebrew, because be believed
man (continued Mr. Walpele) has told us that my right it to be defective in the principle on which he thought a
hon. friend ought not to be ashamed to follow the example house tax ought to be placed ; and he likewise objected to
of the edministratiem of Mr. Pitt or of Lord Liverpool ; the present proposal of the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
and to take back his Budget for re-consideration during because, although it obviated some of the defects which be.
the Cbristmarie rem e. If there were any necessity to do longed to the house taxed thehon. gentleman the member for
so, my right bus friend need not melt for precedents ao rs- Halifax, it contained others which were essentially fatal to
mute. (Loud cheers end laughter.) He would have a its continuance. The right hon. gentleman said that his propo-
precedent in a late Chancellor of the Exchequer, who sition was precisely similar in principle to that proposed by
in the course of one year amended and remnicaded his his late right hen. friend Sir 11. Peel. He (Mr. Oeulburn)
Budget, and amended it main a third and even entirely denied the accuracy of that representation, for his
a fourth time—(cheers and laughter)—and that chancelier late riolit hon. friend only introduced direct taxation when
wes the right boo. member fur Halifax. (Renewed cheers) indirect taxation had been carried to the fall extent, and
Bat my right hon. friend will have, 1 believe, no necessity was found to be unproductive. (Hear, hear.) The budget
to alter his budget oa any material point ; and I think that of the right hon. gentleman was likely to accantenulate dell-
you will Sad the miscalculations to which the right h,o. ciencies in future years, and so far from being a completion
member for Halifax adverted are his own, and not my right of the system propounded by Sir E. Peel, it had merely
hon. friend's. (Cheers.) I think you will find that while the temporary object in view of giving partial relief, and I
that measure is a large and comprehensive one—so urge was not at all likely to be generally beneficial. The right
and so comprehensive that the right hon. gentleman wishes bon gentleman said that the house tax recommended itself,
to divide it into two parts, and to make half of it I 'appose because it was only a substitute for the window tax. But,
the budget fur 1833, and the other half that for 184-- he recollected the time when no tex excited so much oppo-
(lingliter)—it is not so large or so compreheusive sition as the house tax ; and in the years 1832.3-4 this
but that my right hon. fri.nd will be able home was inundated with petitions eomplainini of its ex-
to show to this home that he can do in Wrote. (Hear, hear.) Time right hon. gentleman must
one year what the right hon. baronet would only do in therefore be prepared, if he doubled the a ousel tax for the
two. (Idiaisteriel cheers.) But I mum ask—and t would sake of ropealieg the malt tax, fur a repetition of that arena.
out have entered at ail into this suieect but for the dime time which curled in the removal of the former heuse tea,'
teaming tune which 1 think hes beau somewhat impro- and would ensure the repeal of the present use at no distant
petty assumed—l must ask whence is this extraordinary dare, if the right ',lion. gentleman succeeded in imposing
feeling against my right hon. friend? What is the came it. (Hem, hear.) Hie right honourable friend said
why he is to be assailed at every point when be has brueglit that the government had remedied the inequalities
forward in one year two financial statements, Wei of in the present income tax by removing exemptions and
which were attempted by this LOW*, and certmiuiy, making a il stincqua between permanent and prima-
-1 believe, by the country i (Cheers.) is it became rises incomes. The right hon. petit man must look with
you are jealous of his success ? (Cheers.) Is it a very paternal feeling milted un the proposition of the gle '
because he has struggled hard arced ;end with Resin., worriment if he expected that it would remedy those peed-
with rank, and mos er' until he Las obtained the Ligiiest eels: grievances which were made the sub cot of complaiot
eminence to which an honourable embitioa can aspire—the by various gam tits who were unposed to the continuous ot
leadership and guidance of the House of Commons? the La. (Hear hear.) The right lion. gentleman saki
(Cheers.) In spite of the dispara sing tone of the right that he removed an exemption by extending tie income kW I
boaourable member for llahfax, I think I may say that to Indult!. Ile (Mr. Oeulbure) should rather say that by
the budget of my right hoe. friend will bray extending the income tax to Ireland as he heel done, Ise
comparison a ith any of hi.. ((teat ministerial charts.) added to the number of exemptions. (Hear.) Nothing
'fhe best judges in the country have declared which passed iu 1842 could justify the right hon. gentleman
that he ha, put himself on • level with the boldest and yet in attending the income tax to Ireland. The priuciple of
the most prudent financiers this country ham ever seen. the income tax of 1842 was that emeriti' residing in Egg-
(Loud cheers amid cries of "oh.") They will tell you et hind should pay income tux on their property, though that
any rate that in time greatest einpuriton of commerce in the property reeved in Ireland or any foreign country. Bet
globe, these plans of his have r. heeled upon hies the Ireland herself was exempted from the tex on the ground
higheet praise in the judgment of those who are capable of that other burdens were imposed on her which were eons+.
thinking upon such subjects. (CliceisO They will tell tiered as au emiivareet for the impotition of the income tax
you as )ou have been reminded ten night, that ho Lembo- in England. (hoar, hear.) When has right hon. friend
proved by thug propositioos the common talleewhat men el hiol him that he was at litter y to select funded pro-
genius may nut he essentially and practically men of pert, for the phrpase of eubjetting it to the tax,
business ; and whatever may he the result of this debate ; be clearly violated the contract with the pule
whatever may be the future fate of the present govern- lic creditor. (Hear, hear.) By imposing a separate tax
mint—whatrver may be effected by that ilLassorted Atheism on the undies of property, I u violated the public faith as
se hieh I see berm, me—(ministerial ch ets)--the country much ashy the mist arbitrary ievesion upon it. (Hear,
will say, I firmly beli ore, the: toy right boo. freed his hear.) The right hes. gentleman a mid that he made a dis-
earned for himself a reputeti It hIl ostensive as the empire tinetiou between permanent and precerious ineomes. But
for which he him so meetly Irmieleted.—(loud erl.ll of he did indeed place funded property lu the situation of pre-
" Oh!")—ad agr allude at le ruienent a. the ho est rune. carious property, for if the right hon. gentleman model h
realty of a thankful, enlighteneo, suit re fleeting cumin eaity. putting his own construction en the contract with
(Lied cheers.) the public ereditur tax funded property oils third
Mr. GOOLBURN reseed:atm' any fer liege of ielfownstis mete then other progeny, what was to prevent
I toted sutmerwrity or of jealousy ; but he rime to oppose the a kid moderate Chancellor of the Exchequer from
hu•lrri•t be,111164: it was opp.wed . i them principles nu vili;ch teeing it to • greater extent ? What was the penny now
he had administers I ti.o pelnie thrums mid on alma. ft might become the eluding, and whet was the shilling
be lied ever eche] ohm nin epousitioti —principle, which be might L. e.,111•1 the pound, When the cOUCtfy wee weaker or
ceseidered henna imp with the best interne. of the eemoury, me minierer more wicked. (Hear, hear) As it shied be.
and from winch he erer out piepered to dee irt, in deter- I lore hire, the prepesition of the government into'', d the
ince either to 'lie elmmuence iii leis tight Lon. and homed whole question in Ilo•Efie mile diftie uhtiea. (Hear, hear )
friend or to the talents of the lielir hen. ireutlenum. (II ear.) the teem whimed the right Loa. st..utlein mu rave the foment
The right hon. gentleman had told Mom that the object of wa. sio tmou et all, Meat ihe present time if time r roiits of
the budget was—first, to maintain and einleeLy to memo' - the farmer did not am cunt to half his rens, he had the
free trade or utireesreeed cenimietitime ; la tne si coed place, I poser art going lit the i nil or the year before the commit-
to deal with the distressed interests in such a Manner that, • 'Liner, and gettirm it reduced or altogether remitted, if he
in aderding relief, they should nut coatravene the geueral i aetislied them that he made nptleing. (Hear, hear.) Then
priaclples which had hue 'Mooed by the house; coil, with regard to the elergy, if the right hon. gentleman
thirdly, to apply equal taxmen' to every clam of the gave the benefit of the lower asemeramit to the clergyman