The Express.
London, England, 1848-02-26 00:00:00

THE CITY PETITION AGAINST THE PRO-

POSED INCREASE OF THE INCOME TAX,

Yesterday a Court of Common Council was held to
take into consideration the propriety of petitioning parlia-
ment against the proposed increase and contiuuance of the
income tax. The Lord Mayor upon entering the court,
which WU filled with members, was loudly cheered, in
consequenceof the promptitude end alacrity with which he
signified his intention to call them together on the °cession.
We do not recollect to have seen anything like the excite-
ment which prevailed, since the celebrated sensation caused
by the Reform Bill.
Mr. Nostxte read the resolution", upon which it wan his
intention to found a petition to the House of Commons.
They were as follows:
"'that this court have observed with surprise and dismay that her
Majesty', mintatera bare mode a proposition to renew the income tax
fur a period of see years, and to increase the said tax for • period of
not lees than two year* Morn sevenpence to one shilling in the pound,
—That a tax on income is unjust in principle, and was submitted to
in the fleet instance on the diatinct understanding that it was for a
temporary purpose and fur a limited period only. —That it is unjust
to levy the same amount of tax on precarious and uncertain incomes,
arising from trades and professions, as from landed, funded, or caber
accumulated property.--That it in thus made a direct tx on the tn.
dustry and skill of those engaged in trade or profensional pursuits,
and imposes on them an unfair proportion. of the public Mathew.—
That this court do not hesitate to declare, that it the honour-
able Home of Commons .hound agree to perpetuate this
slates of taxation, it will no longer deserve the confidence of the
people of the United Kingdom.—That, amid unprecedented corn.
menial difficulties, and with trade and manufactures is a state of
moat extreme de preadon, any increase to the taxation of the country
would be impolitic, and that the inquisitorial eh outer of en income
tax renders it all times peculiarly obaosiola—That thin court are of
opinion, mail submit that it is the duty of the honourable House of
Comnions4. limit the expenliturr for the public service to the SUMS
already amended horn the ordinary rourOm of taxation.—Thal your
honourable house should not anticipate by lavish expenditure a re.
SWISS to be raised by additional burthenc, and that the country re-
gard with the most serious apprehension the annually increased
expenditure for the public ounce, and submit to the honourable
Mouse of Commons the necessity of • strict revision of our unjust
and unequal system of taxation.
The court loudly cheered at the conclusion of every sen-
tence of the resolutions, particularly when the mover read
that which stated, that if the attempt succeeded the House
of Commons would co longer deserve the confidence of the

people.
Mr. WIRE reminded the court that the corporation of
London had, at the time of the repeal of the 10 per cent.
tar, in 1816, e•rongly m irked the abhorrence in which the
measure vas held by ad•ptine the followiug resolution :
That in the opinion of this court it is highly expedient that all the
voucher., documents, papere, and records which hare been obtained
by the 'name the eornmieionera should be burnt and destroyed, a
eon' ain ing an exposure of the private concena of almost every person
in the kingdom ; and that it is the sincere wish of this court that an
irt of the legialature should pass toe the purpose.
The resolutions read by Mr. Norris were then unanimously
agreed to, amidst acclamations and clapping of hands, and a
petition was drawn up founded upon the resolutions, and
immediately a, nt down to the House of Comatose, and, as
may he seen by our parliamentary report, was presented
last night.
A vote of thanks to the Lord Mayor was then, amidst loud
cheers, passed ; and kin lordihip haring expressed great
pleasure at witnesing such uuanimity upon suck a subject,
the court adjourned.