The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-27 00:00:00

THE BUDGET.

GREAT DEMONSTRATION LN SOCTIIWARIC.
A public meeting of the electors of this borough.
called by the Southwark Reform Arociation, was held Lut
evening at the Bridge-House Hotel, London-bridge. The
spacious room was crowded to comas; and we observed on
the platform, Sir William Molesworth, M.P. • Alderman
Humphery, M.P. ; Messrs. Thomas Pumice, Walker,
Thwrite., Maley, Vickers, (irme, Jones, Stormey, Challis,
Palmer, Juilkins, Alcuoder, Armitage, Howard, and
others. . .

-...,...
Mr. THOMAS POCOCKE having been unanimously
called to the chair, made a few prefatory remarks, and
then celled upon
The SECRETARY, Mr. W. Howard, who mad letters
of vology from Lord Duncan, Mr. Hume, Sir Benjamin
Hall, Mr. W. Williams, M.P., and other gentlemen, who
were prevents" from attending by similar engagements
elsewhere.

Mr. T. WALKER, senior churchwarden of St. Saviour's,
moved the first resolution, which stigmatised the proposi- ;
tun to repeal the window duty merely to substitute a house
tax in its place as a gross insult to the nation; and de- '
mantled not only a total and unconditional repeal of the
window tax, but an entire revision of taxation, and such a
reduction in the public expenditure as should secure to the
people the full benefits of free trade. (Loud cheers.) Mr. '
Walker remarked that as the iniquitous tax on windows •
had been imposed 35 years ago to support an iniquitous war
which had ceased 34 years ago, it was not remarkable to
find them now demanding its repeal. The only wonder was i
that it had not been done long ago. (Cheers.)
Mr. HOWARD seconded the resolution, observing that
it was well for the aristocracy, aye, and it was well for the I
people, too, that they did nut know a tithe of the abontina- •
time connected with the expenditure of the country. i
(Cheers.)
Alderman HUMPHERY, M.P.' showed that the pro- 1
pined house tax would produce fully as much as the old .
window tax. (Cries of "More.") The Chancellor of the i
Exchequer had made it a great merit of his scheme that it .
made the window tax interfere no longer with the !sanitary .
condition of the people ; but, would it be believed, he
actually proposed that all improvements on old houses ,
should be valued, and taxed a per cent. (Cheers.) He
(Alderman liumphery) considered that the income tax was .
trill worse than the bowie or the window tax. (Cheers.)
Alderman Humphery concluded by declaring that he
would hold his seat only so long ea his opinions were in
accordance with those of his constituents. (Loud cheers.)
Sir W. MOLESWORTH said that he was decidedly of
opinion that the window tax should be immediately re-
pealed, and he would vote for an immediate repeal of that
tax. (Cheers.) The evil effects of that tax were so well
known to them that he would not dilate upon that subject.
Ile wished, however, to state, as briefly as he could, his
views upon the gnat questions of finance and taxation,
which had been referred to by the gentlemen who had pre-
ceded him. At present this country was the greatest com-
Inertial country in the world, and it was in fact the •
commercial centre of the universe; long might it he so,
lone might it thrive and increase' in wealth ; hut to do so,
it was as necessary for a commercial country as it was for
an indiyielul merchant or tradesman that its credit should ,
be of the highest character, and beyond all suspicion. TO
maintain in the highest degree the credit of the country, it
w•,. neceseary that its finances should be in a sound condi-
then, that its income should be fully equal to its expen.li- '
tom, and that the people should convent to bear the amount
of taxation required to cover that expenditure. (Diesappro-
lettion.) Now, the expenditure of this country was not, and
could not,he an inconsiderable numaluttexpenditure consisted
of two distinct portions. The first and greater portion was on
account of the interest of the national debt ; that expendi-
ture could not he curtailed without an act of national bank-
ruptcy, and rather than consent to so disgraceful a deed, be
would agree to pay hie last shilling in the shape of taxes.
(Cheered The other portion of the expenditure of
the country was on account of the general govern-
ment and defence of the empire. Now, in an
old country, with a deire population, holding the position
of this country among the nations of Europe', with territo-
ries in every 'motion of tee globe, and carrying on a trade
with all mankind, it was impassible that the expenditure on
account of its general government and defence could ever
be an inconsiderable 411141, even with the strictest economy.
(Dieapprobationd It was true that at times the expendi-
ture ut the country lead been excessive. As one of their
repreoentatives, he had laboured to reduce unnecessary
expenditure. For three years coneecutivelv he had sat upon
a committee appointee' to inquire: into the military and
naval expenditure of the country. In consequence .4' 'hat
ire tier alejerey's late' milliners heed made eionsiderahle
reductions in expenditure, and he believed thnt if they had
continued in office,they would have made still further 'ethic-
time. (A laugh.) It was not the fact, as stated by a pre-
, lions speaker, that the ufiteers were CICIO4iiVIy or chiefly
Seim. of the aristocracy—(uproar)—and ennsiderine every-
' thing, the army not navy were certainly hardly worked,
reig nut overpaid. (Uproar.) Ile thought further redue-
t' 4 out.' he mule without detriment to the public Nee-
vim, especially in the expenditure on account of the colo-
Ries; and partly with this object in view he had endea-
morel to obtain for the colonies complete self-government
in local affairs. (Cheers.) Ile must, however, repeat that,
emppering every reduction to he made in national expendi-
titre which could be• made without detriment to the public. ,
service yet the expenditure on atrount of the debt, the ,
general government, and the defence of this empire, mot
always amount to a very considerable sum of money.
(Mews.) That eeemeet to hint to be a self-evident rwei-
time, and therefore he held it to he the deity of the repro-
sentetivee of the peepleeign order to maintain the credit send
honour of their country, nut to attempt to take off a tax,
unto,. the income of the country exceeded its expenditure
by the whole amount of the tax. Nome persons wished fur
a gl'ller.ll 411111 immediate revision of the whole taxation of
the country. They "seethed to euhnitate for those taxes
which they thought most burdensome other tuxes which
they considered to tu. less burdensome. Ile did not affirm
that the existing system of taxation was perfect, nor did
he. deny that a better system could he devised, if they
had to begin afresh to tax the country. (Hisses.)
But he doubted fleet it would be practicable, even if it Ire'rt•
expedient, to make a complete and i-nntediate revision of
the whole taxation of the country. (Hiwes.) lle doubted
the expedieney of so doing: for though every tax sus in
itolf an evil, the evil of a new tax was more sensitively felt
than the evil of nn old tax. When a tax had been long
imposed, men made arrangements and acquired property
under the ex:wet:dim of its continuance, and became ac-
customed to it. (A laugh.) A new tax disturbed existing
t, arrangements, and altered the value of pmpen , and the
notelty of the thing predated discontent. Oh!) Ile
doubted also the practicability of so doing, for ere wan a
great difference of opinion, nut only as to what taxes
ought to Is' taken off, but as to what taxes ought to be
impowel in the need of them which might lee taken off.
111 fact, every tux preened, or appeared to press, unequally
upon mate portion of the community ; theme person upon
whom a particular tax pre-wed meet heavily, were generally
most anxious to get rid of it, and if they euuld not hope to
de eo in any other manner, they not unfrequently en-
deavoured to transfer it to other person., who were equally
unwilling to accept of it. (Hear, hear.) What men gene-
rally meant by a eomple•te revision of taxation was, to get
rid of their own burdens, by increasing the burdens of
other men. For instance, the other night in the House of
Commune, Mr. Disraeli, in a very able and states-
manlike speewh, shadowed forth what seemed to
be a vast scheme for the revision of the taxation of the
country. But when the details of that scheme were exa-
mined it proved to be merely a proposal to relieve the agri-
cultural Classes of the burdens which they disliked, and to
do so at the expense of the commercial and manufacturing
clams. (Cheery.) It appeared to him, therefore, that any
scheme for a general and immediate revision of taxation
which would command the approbation of one large class
of the community would probably obtain the disapproba-
tion of every other large class. Ile doubted, therefore, both
the expediency and practicability of making a general and
immediate revision of the taxation of the country. Ile
thought the wise and prudent course would he gradually to
review the taxation of the country. Fur instance, whenever
the income of the country so far exceeded the expenditure
that tete+ could be taken off care should be taken only to
repeal those taxes which were most objectionable in prin-
ciple ; and, on the other hand, whenever it might become
neekeisary to impose new taxes care should be taken to int-
pew taxes which were the least objectionable in principle ;
thus in the course of time the taxation of theeountry might be
gradually revised. Ile had now stated his views on the great I
%matt ~,, 4 et finance• and taxation. They might be gummed up
in a sery few words—first, and above all things, to maintain
in the highest degree the pecuniary credit of the nation ;
tee reduce unnecewory expenditure; to adhere to free trade;
and to carry out the financial polity of the. late Sir R. Peel.
By acting up to these vices. he hoped to deserve and obtain
their approbation. (Cheers and disapprobation.)
The resolution was carried unanimously.
Mr. 'l'll WAITES observed that the presence of theh
member% was an unmistakeable symptom of the approach-
ing di...denim of parliament. (Loud and continued cheer-
ing.) Ile wished to know how it was that the hen. baronet,
who had so eloquently denounced the window-tax, had,
nevertheless, voted tier it during the last session ? (Loud
cheering.)
Sir W. MOLESWORTH—I never voted for it. (Counter
cheese.)
Mr. THWAITES —Did the bon. baronet mean to say
that when flee question was fairly brought before parliameut
he did not walk out of the house instead of stopping and
voting for its repeal ? (Uproar.) lie• took it for granted
that with the moral and common sense standard of the
men of Southwark there was no virtual difference between
voting in support of a tax, and running nut of the house in
order to avoid voting against it. (Loud the He
hoped that the next time the hon. baronet found that his
moral courage was too weak to enable him to vote against
a tax which was obnoxious to the people at large, he would
just write down to the secretary of the Southwark Reform
eeeere Laren, and tell his constituency that he was hot strong
enough for the. place. (Loud laughter and cheers.) thieuid
that he had sat three years on a committee appointed,
to inquire into the nasal and military expenditure. Surely
after sitting leo long that committrs,,ought to have hatched
something worth lewking at. (Cheers and laueneter.) He
would ask this hon. leartinet, however, on what principle, as
a professed radical, he justified the increase of the expendi-
ture froin the year 1845 to the year IS-11, Awards of ten
raillious. (Cheers.) Did he think with Lord John Russell
and the rest of that aristocratic clique, that the people of
this country would be' satisfied with such ehmse-paring,
such chip-in-porridge reductions as those be had mentioned ?
(Cheers.) They did not object to the Warn* of Mimes so
much as to having six where two would suffice. (Cheers.)
Ile. was ...wry that a public man, holding the position of Sir
W. Moleorueth, should come forward in the manner he '
had, instead of, u a radical, striking at the root of the
era. (Loud cheers.) Mr. Thwaites concluded by moving a ,

resolution, protesting against taxing incomes at the same
rate as realised property.
Sir W. MOLESWOHTII briefly replied, urging as a
reason for not having voted against the window-tax on the
previous occasion the fact that the revenue was not in a'
position to justify the sacrifice. Having (amidst some con-
fusion) reiterated the principles enunciated in his former
spech, Sir William concluded by calling on the electors, if
they were dissatisfied with the views which, as an honest
and upright man, he had felt bound to express, to reject
him at the next election. (Cheers.)
The meeting hosing been also addressed by Mr. Henry
Elhinton (who seconded the resolution), Mr. Alfred Pel-
lett, and Mr. 'Townsend, the motion was carried unsni-
mously.
'llisnks were then Toted to the Chairman, and the meet•
ing adjourned.
PARISH OF ST. ANNE WESTMINSTER.

Last evening, a public meeting of the inhabitants
of this parish was held at Miss Kelly's Theatre, Dean-
street, Sobs, " to oppose the re-introduction of the ob-
noxious, unequal, unjust, and unnecessary house-tax, now
attempted to be thrust upon the people by a government
pretending to be liberal and economical."
The chair was occupied by Mr. °noun E, the senior church-
warden. There were present Viscount Duncan, 31. P Sir
De Lacy Evans, M.P., Mr. Jacob Bell, M.P. Mr. Wakitli
M.P.; their appearance on the stage was loudly cheered.
Tho CHAIRMAN read letters from Mr. Luahington,
M.P., Mt. W. Williams, M.P., Lord D. Stuart, M.l'., Sir
H. Hall, M.P. Mr. Mowatt, M,P., and Mr. Wyld, M.P.,
who regretted their unavoidable absenre from the meeting,
and expressed concurrence in its object. After an en-
comium on the members present, the chairman stated that
' there were present representatives from theparishes of Mary-
lebanc, St. Pancras, Islington, St. James, and St. Clement.
Though but one opinion existed throughout the country as
to the window tax, which had been unanimously condemned
by crowded meetings in every part of the kingdom, the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, while professing to repeal it,
had proposed to continue it in another and Mill more unjust
shape. (Hear, hear.) Ile hoped this would never be cur-
ried out, and that the late government would not be able to
form themselves again.
Mr. HOLMES moved a resolution, declaring that the
window tax having been condemned by the people, and
surrendered by the government, no future government
ought to be allowed to continue it, and that the deficiency
ought not to he made up by any other tax, but by a reduc-
tion of the national expenditure.
Mr. FOX seconded toe resolution. _

Viscount DUNCAN, M.P., was loudly cheered on
rising. Ile congratulated himself on having attended this
and various other meetings on the same important subjects,
and to-morrow he should attend a meeting at Bath. lie
rejoiced at the enthusiasm displayed on these occasion,—as
a proof that the country was alive to financial reform. With
regard to the window tax, would any one have the bold-
ness to come forward and advocate its continuance ? ("Not
one.") lie would give anything for an opponent. (Laugh-
ter.) In the house, there wait certainly an opponent
in the late Cheacellor of the Exchequer (Cries
of " Oh, oh,)—who, in a proposition doubtless meant
to be popular, had professed to repeal the window tax,
while his proposal went to leey more money than before in
the shape of an odious house tax. The house tax and the
Ckancellor of the Exchequer were, however, both defunct—
they were now attending their funeral—and he
supposed Mr. Wakley had already dissected them.
(Cheer; and laughter.) l'rultibly he had never had such a
willing audience round his dissecting table. (Hear, hear.)
'lhe question of the house tax was already settled; it had
been repealed in 1831 by the inhabitants of the metropolis,
who had also prevented its re-imposition. (Cheers.) And
the country at large would compel whatever government
WWI in power to repeal unconditionally Cie window tax.
(Cheers.) A tax on air and light was universally condemned
by public opinion ; and when the day of trial canoe, when
he brought forward his motion on the subject, if the people
were properly repreeented, there could not be a doubt as to
the fate of this odious tax. The Chancellor of the Exche-
quer bad let the eat out of the bag, to the effect that there
was a sufficient surplus to admit ;if the repeal of the window
tits. (Cheers.) Ile had no doubt of ultimate success ; no-
thing could prevent it, if the people were but true to them-
selves. (Cheers.)
Sir lk L. EVANS, M.P., was received with loud de-
monstrations of applause. After referring to the labours of
Lord Duncan un this question, lie said he should support
the noble viseount's motion whenever brought fOrward, no-
thing doubting of its success. (Bear, hear.) lie appeared
before them under some disadvantage. A previous speaker,
one of his constituenb4, had told them sullies were a bur-
den on society ; he suppowal the present company were ex-
i•epted. (A laugh.) Ile agreed in the remark so far as to
think that our forces in the colonies might be safely
rediired; but in the metropolis and other parts of the
empire he did not think the garrisons at all out of propor-
tion to the necessity that existed for them. After having
given many of the colonies the management of their own
affairs, we ought not to be callisloll to support an armed
form for their benefit. (hl oar, hear.) It wail perhaps be-
cause nn (414,4 liked to contemplate a reduction in their
own department, that he thought retrenchment was
particularly called for amongst the bishops, whom
he considered moot inefficient fur the purpose, for which
they were uppointA. (Cheers.) The recent painful agita-
tion of ecclesiastical questions would probably have the
eff.-et of directing public attention to a reform of our own
church, and particularly the reduction of the salaries of the
bishops—if, indeed, it were necessary to hase bishops, about
a hum lie found not one word in the bible. (Cheers.) loos
Friend Sir B. Hall had taken up thin question ably, and he
hoped he would pursue it. (Cheers.) As to the house and
a inflow taxes, he was of all others most pledged to oppose '
Cum. If we were to have an election, he thought
the sooner the better. But, whatever government might be
in power, it was the duty of the people to rid themselves of
the obnoxious wiudow tax, without any sort of substitute
whatever. Ile believed it would be perevetly constitutimial,
correct, and just, to atop the supplies if this was refused.
(Cheers.) It would be perfectly justifiable, because there
wan a surplus of near three millions in hand; and there was
therefore no vacua, for the refusal to repeal this tax. The
metropolitan members were fully aware of their duty ; and,
with one or two exceptions, would doubtlesa act with zeal
and unanimity. Those who were not likely to do so ought
to be urged by their constituents to do their duty. (Cheers.)
The resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. GILANT moved a resolution deprecating any attempt
to restore a system of protection as dangerous to the peace
and welfare of th.• country, and pledging the meeting only
to support such ministers as would adopt measures of re-
trenchment and economy, as a means of reducing the bur-
den of taxation.

Mr. I'ASCOE, one of the overseers, in seconding the re-
solution, said he had made up his mind not to pay any
taxes beyond poor rates if the window tax was continued.
Mr. WAKLEY, was enthusiastically cheered on
rising. Ile said he had come there as an elector of West-
minster to look after his re preventatives. (Laughter.) In
this important crisis, he hail been anxious to hear their lan-
guage. The time for shilly-shally work was at an end ;
they were in the field of battle; and what was more, their
enemies were completely routed. (Cheers.) The influence
;of Westminster was great throughout the kingdom, and it
was essential that its determination should be correctly
ascertained. As to the window and house taxes, they were
gone, completely gone; their proposer was gone also.'
(Cheers and laughter.) The Chancellor of the Exchequer
seemed to have forgot that the people of England possessed
common sense, he tried to make them believe that two and
two made seven ; but his proposal was denounced as a fraud
and a juggle. The parties now seeking to take the helm
must beware of driving the vessel on the rocks; they did
not know the waters in which they sailed. (Hear.) There
ought to be an infusion of representatives of the middle
class into the ministry; it was said they wanted new blood;
yes, and brains too. (Cheers.) It seemed the task of govern-
tag a nation was the easiest imaginable ; men readily under-
took it who, if they attempted to manage a shop, would
soon find themselves in hitecross-street. (Cheers and
laughter.) It was whispered that Lord Duncan had been
offered an office—and they would all be delighted to see
him in one—but that he bad abandoned it, not choosing to
give up his motion ou the window tax. Ile would recom-
mend some of the dilettanti politicians, the deliberate
young lorellings, who thought themselves competent to
govern the country, to engage in some easy trade, as ladies
shoemaker or corset maker. (Cheers and laughter.) We
had had enough of those persons. Had they ever mixed
with the middle classes, such a thing us raising the price of
the quartern lust' by act of parliament would never have
entered their heads. (Cheers.) The people would not
stand it; and the proposal would cause a dreadful commo-
tion. (Ileac, hear.) We must have a government that
would econumise, retrench, and widen the basis of our
glorious constitution by admitting within its pale
all who bore their share of taxation. (Cheers.) The
people had no wish to interfere with the royal preroga-
tive ; but they might properly intimate what it was with
which they would now be satisfied. (titter.)
Mr. BELL, M.P., said his attention had been drawn to
the window-tax from noticing in his capacity as guardian
of the poor, its deleterious etLet on the dwellings of the
working-classes. This tax was now unquestionably doomed,
but a substitute might be proposed. To present this the
metropolis must make itself heard, as it had already dune.
The succeeding government must see plainly that no new
tax would be submitted to. To ensure the success of the
present movement them must be union amongst reformers.
He regretted the confusims that must inevitably result from
a changer of the ministry at present, but hoped that the
people would ultimately benefit by the change. The inva-
riable moult of a surplus revenue was to disappoint every-
body who could nut get a slice of it. It would
be far better to have a de rieieney, which would
prove that the government had been more moderate in their
demands. Whatever ministry came in, they must begin by
removing the window tax, and abandoning the house tax;
but care must he taken that they did nut contrive to put
a penny ur twopence on the loaf. (Cheers.) Let temperate
expression but be given to the pe'ople's wishes, and the
legislature must see the propriety of attending to them.
i (Hear, bear.)

The resolution was unanimously agreed to.
Mr. ('OOPEK moved the adoption of an address to the
Queen, declaring that the taxation iropmed upon the people
wa• greater than they could bear with patience, and pray-
init her Majesty only to call to her councils men who would
reduce the burdens of the people.
Mr. 110 WELL seconded the resolution.

Mr. } RELTII, one ui the d,putatiun from Maryltbone,
and other delegate 4, addressed the meeting, and the pro-
ceedings dosed with a vote of thanks to the chairman.

TIIN NICEDFX AT BATH.—The coroner's inquest in
this ease was brought to a conclu-ion on Tuesday. The ex-
amination of witnmes having been concluded,-the coroner
summed up, and the jury returned a verdict of wilful
murder against Joseph Clarke, the husband of the deecased.