The Express.
London, England, 1853-05-10 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING. MAY 10, 1853.

*mien for seven years it ought to be a temporary tax.
If the tax on sueeewtods was to be a eompensaeion to the
possemors of precarious incomes, it was unjust if it was nut
provided that the tax on successions should end in seven
years, and iu the terms on which the right bon. gentleman
had proposed the lacunae tax ;it it was only to last sew' n
years, the tax on successions should be equally
(Hear, hear.) He (Mr. Disraeli) thought that the motion
of to-uight was the natural consequence of the arguments
of the right hon. gentleman and me policy of the govern-
' moot ; and so also it would be a consequence that when the
house came to consider the tax on successions, it would be
necessary that a motion should be made that it should con-
tinue only for seven years. (Hear, hear.) That would
be a question for the committee to consider at
a future relied. He would now come to the
vote of Monday last. The right honourable gen-
tleman said that this debate could not close without the
house knowing the meaning of the vote of Monday. In
deference to the feelings of the great body of the supporters
of the right hon. gentleman, he (Mr. Disraeli) wished that
he could avoid that subject. (Cheers and laughter). He
thought that there was something unnecessarily cruel in
the way In which the right hon. gentleman had put it.
(" Hear, hear," and laughter.) He should have thought,
as regarded the vote of Monday, the right hon. gen•leman
would have spared the feelings of those who he (Mr. Dis-
raeli) trusted looked back at it with:a satisfaction which he
thought did not await them. (Hear.) The vote of Mon-
day was an attempt to establish the principle that they (the
opposition) had asserted, when they were on the other side
of the table. That w.es the object of his hon.
friend the member for Hertfordshire. They had
attempted it, and had been defeated by those
whose interests the right hon. gentleman said were
opposed to it. The right bon. gentleman said, how could
they reconcile that vote with a vote for the motion of to-
night. The fact that the motion on Monday had been ne-
gatived, and that they (the Opposition) had been defeated,
was not only the excuse, but the necessity, for considering
the measures before the house on their merits. (Hear,
hear.) He could understand that boo. gentlemen, es-
pecially those who were in favour of the difference in the
schedules of the income tax, might now triumph is a ma-
jority which did not vindicate their conduct, though it had
established their government. But was there anything
novel, or anomalous, or unjustifiable, in the motion
of his honourable friend the member for Berkshire?
If the policy they (the Opposition) proposed had been re-
leeted by gentlemen opposite, they bad a right to try
the policy of the government on its merits. Was there
scything new in the policy that they (the Opposition) were
recommending ? The right hon. gen Leman said it was new,
startling, and dangerous; and be said that the motion in
tilted the house to tamper with the income tax, and who
'could stop at Schedule A ? He (Mr. Disraeli) knew some
persons who had invited the house to tamper with the tax,
end thought that they might atop at Schedule A without
danger. Ile could quote opinions, but be would not refer
to Hansard for the purpose of annoyance—that period was
past. (Hear.) If he had Hansard before him it was sot to
enable him to go back fifteen, ten, five, or
three years, but the only reason he had it before him was
that he did not choose to trust his memory, although his
recollection was strong and precise on the matter
to which he was about to allude. On the
lest motion which be (Mr. Disraeli) brought forward, and
which was said to have destroyed the government, although
he was unconscious of having performed such a feat, fur he
thought it was done by the noble lord, thp Rome Secre-
tary at the head of the Militia—(" Hear, hear," and laugh-
ter) ; on that motion in which he called the attention of
the house to the question of local taxation, a subject which
was now under the influential treatment of the hon. mem-
ber for Devonshire ; on that occasion, a member of the
present government, he would not be so invidious as to say I
the most distinguished member ; but at least the most dis-
tinguished of the country gentlemen in the government ;
—an extreme free trader, who was frightened
at his (Mr. Disraeli's) dangerous policy, which he
said would bring revolution on the country, that
policy being the consideration of the local taxation of the
eountry ; the right hon. gentleman the First Lord of the
Admiralty made a powerful speech in opposition to the I
motion, and he said that that was not the way to deal whh
the subject if the landed interest was distressed (and he ad-
mitted that there was distress). He said that you should
toosider the question of local taxation, which would
Moe the effect of upsetting our whole financial system ;
Ihsh Is that he saw revolution in the distance, and that the
Seggiquence of our triumph would be the destruction
et
the empire. (Hear, hear.) But, said he, there
ate means which, if toed, would afford reasons to
justify the policy recommended, which would have
force in the country, and cane parliament with
them, and that they would enjoy a glorious opportunity
when the income tax again was under consideration.
The country would require from the government a distinct
explanation as to why there was these variations of opinion,
and would require to know if anyone could bring
forward a valid reason why the landed inte-
rest should be unjustly assessed under the income tax.
They had plated before their constituents and friends the
motives on which their policy was founded. Right or
wrong, their friends were satisfied with those motives, and
they would support that policy, and no taunts would pre-
soot them from doing their duty to the farmers and pro-
prietors of the soil, who founded their claims upon the
arguments of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and the
---"osdations of the First Lord of the Admiralty.

(Cheers.)
Lord J. RUSSELL described Mr. Disraeli as maintain-
ing the principle of relieving precarious incomes at the
expense of real property, at the same time that he proposed
to lighten the tax upon real property, leaving precarious
incomes as they were. Examining Mr. Disraeli's other
arguments, he reminded him that he had proposed the
remission of the malt tax only on the ground of benefit to
the consumer. He accused him of treating the great inte-
rests of the country with levity and caprice—so much so,
that it was impossible that the country, could place any con-
fidence in his future financial propositions. One week be
au all for trades and professions. the next all for the land;
and Lord John asked " under which thimble was the
He besought the house to reject such counsel, and to accept
the great measure of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and
gain the admiration of the country.
Lord J. MANNERS made a defence of Mr. Disraeli to
a noisy and impatient house, clamouring for a division.
The committee then divided, when there appeared—
' For Mr. Palmer's amendment
Against it 2Ol
276-75

The CHAIRMAN then proceeded to read the remaining
part of the first revolution, en which no amendment was
made. On his proceeding to read the second resolution,
which has reference to the farmers' schedule, and on which
Mr. Vansittart has an amendment to the effect, that the
farmers be assessed at one-third instead of one-half of their
rents.
Mr. DISRAELI said be hoped the noble lord would have
no objection that the Chairman should report progress as
it was not possible at that hour properly to discuss the
amendment of the hon. member for Berkshire (Mr. Van-
sittart).
Lord J. RUSSELL hoped the hon. gentleman would
proceed with his amendment as it was of importance to the
Wade and revenue of the country that they should proceed
se speedily with the legacy duty and the Customs duties part
of the bill. (Hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI said that the amendment contained
matters of detail which would require a long discussion.
Lord J. RUSSELL said the amendment might be post-
posed till the committee on the bill.
Mr. VANSITTART could not consent to that comes 110
accommodate the noble lord.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said awes
not a question of the accommodation of the noble lord, bet
a question In which the trade and ue of the country
were concerned. (Hear.) Hon. gentlemen could have se
conception of the inconvenience to the whole mertmetibe
body of England which was caused by Mule
protracted discussions; and with regard te dis
revenue, the entries for the charge of customs dello
reached a figure which he was afraid to mention. Mem,
bear.) With regard to the amendment of the hon. endue
for Seeks, the whole answer of the government was com-
prised in a single sentence, that if the farmers did not like
the assessment in schedule B they had the option of being
assessed in schedule D.
Mr. DISRAELI.—WouId the government leave out
schedule B altogether ? Surely the right hon. gentleman
did not mean to stop all discussion of the question.
Sir C. WOOD said it would equally 'wirer the purpose
of discussion if the discussion took place on the bill.
Mr. DISRAELI said that if he stood alone he would
press the rstprement of the discussion. They had been
all night discussing the case of the landlords, and he could
not have it said that they refused to discuss the case of the
farmers. (Hear, hear.) He would therefore move that the
chairman report progress.
Lord J. RUSSELL said that in the interest of the trade
and revenue of the country, he could not take upon him-
self the responsibility of postponement. (Hear, hear.) He
must therefore divide against the motion for reporting
progress.
Colonel SIBTHORP heard such gross and unbe-
coming conduct as that of the government in not consent-
ing to the chairman's reporting progress. (Hear.) He
supposed they relied on a majority which did them little
ciudit. (Laughter.
Mr. BIIIGIIT suggested that there would be no use in
opposing the motion for reporting progress, as it would be
consented to afterwards. Besides, he thought the progosi-
-1 tion for reporting progress a reasonable one, as the right
hon. gentleman thlr. Disraeli) made a proposal similar to
the amendment, which he had not an opportunity of stating
his reasons for—a circumstance which he (Mr. Bright)
thought was fortunate for the right hon. gentleman.
(Laughter.) With regard to the inconvenience to trade he
thought the government might assume the budget to be se-
cure, and might proceed with the customs duties and set
trade free. (Hear)
The CHAIRMAN then reported progress.
SALES OF BULLION BILL.
This bill was read a third time and passed.
HACKNEY CARRIAGES BILL.
The house went into committee pro forma on this bill,
for the purpose of having it reprinted and amendments in-
troduced.
LONDON AND EDINBURGH GAZETTE BILL.
Mr. COWAN asked whether it was the intention of the
government to proceed with this bill.
Mr. WILSON said that it was, unless some other mode
ithan that proposed by the government was suggested fur
cioing away with the indefensible manner in which they
were published at present.
1 TAXING OFFICER COMMON LAW BUSINESS
(IRELAND) BILL.
I On the order of the dey for going into committee on this
bill
Mr. I. BUTT objected to its bring proceeded with at
Slat bony (quarter to 1), on the ground that he had an