The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-13 00:00:00

WIWI WATER AT LOWEION ERIDOL

TO DST —limning. Afternoon. 4)t 11..
10,11111111 DOW —Mynas, U. Andriaoce. 4L 47a.

LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 13.

Norwmerrasottro all we have heard during
the last ten days of further resistance to the
Budget, we doubt whether any of its opponents in
the House of Commons will venture to appeal
this evening from the decision already pronounced
by • majority of that House in its favour. The
second reading of the Bill, which is founded upon
the whole of the Resolutions recently passed, and
which is framed with the intention of presenting
the entire of the financial measures of the Govern.
ment at one view for the approval of each branch
of the Legislature, stands first upon the orders
of the day. To raise the question whether
or not it should pass that necessary stage
would be to put in issue the still more com-
prehensive question of confidence or no confidence
in the Administration. Lard Patzsaarox and
Mr. Gtaisiroxic could desire nothing better calcu-
lated to sustain the stability of their sway. The
Budget is confessedly a compromise between the
opinions regarding expenditure and taxation
which the Fear Loan of the TREASURY and the
CHANcELLUR of the EXCHZQUIR are supposed to
represent, and which unquestionably have many
earnest supporters respectively in the ranks they
jointly lead. The proposal to reject such a coin-
promise would necessarily compel the House to
choose not only between Paper and Tea, or •
penny more and a penny less of Income Tax, but
between moderato and violent counsels on the
most sensitive of all subjects, that of finance. Wo
need be under no anxiety 111 to what the decision
would be. The majority of the House
has already declared, by its vote on the
previous question, put to it in the almost
theoretic form of a resolution, that it is con-
tent to accept the reduction of • million of
income tax, and of six hundred thousand pounds
of paper duty, as the amount of remission of
national burthena of tho present year ; but it has
declared at the same time its opinion that both of
these changes ought to be made. These are, in
fact, the two wheels upon which Mr. thaovirows's
Budget rolls, and to intercept either of them
would, it was felt from the first, arrest the pro-
gives of both. Nothing has occurred since the
vote referred to, calculated to alter in any sense
the position of things. Every man who voted in
the majority against Mr. Ilossrstes amendment
is certain to vote for the second reading of the
Bill ; while it does not by any means follow that
every man who made the mistake of supporting
the hon. Member for Liverpool will consider him-
self bound to vote against the Bill which em-
bodies what the House then determined on.
Indeed, we may without hesitation say, that
several who helped to swell unavailingly the
list ut the minority on that occasion would be
found wanting were their help relied on ag►in.
Public opinion has calmly bat clearly ratified the
woe course taken by the Home of Commons in
affirming Mr. flimiciroma's Resolutions without
alteration or reserve, and another division vir-
tually on the Wee question would only serve to
show the increased weakness and want of unity
that prevails on the t opposition side. Nothing,
we repeat it, therefor•, could be more acceptable
to the Caaxe nl. 1.4.1 t of the ExcitwOvaa than the
opportunity of obtaining a decisive confirmation
of the verdict pronounced in his favour. Will
the Tories so far gratify him? We suspect not.
With a view, however, to a vexatious course of
delay at • further stage of the measure, we shall
not be surprised if an attempt be made
to-night to revive discussion in a desultory
form on the relative powers and privileges of the
two Houses. The apologists of the usurping pre-
tensions of the Peers in respect of taxation will
possibly argue that the Budget Bill ought to be
divided into two or more parts, in order that
opportunity might thereby be afforded of reject;ig
one part and of sanctioning the remainder. The
Lords ought to be left in the enjoyment of their

unconstitutional prerogative, and every facility
ought to be given them of repeating their too
celebrated performance of hint year. It is hardly
worth while to waste a sentence or a phrase on
men who are so blind as to affect to reason thus.
The combination of financial measures as por-
tions of one financial scheme, in one financial
Bill for the year, was long the established
practice iii Parliament ; and a very good
practice it was, on many grounds that
need not be here recited. It is enough to
reiterate what has many times been said, that the
course now taken by Mr. Gxsuerolts is simply a,
return to the good old ways of the Constitution.
The very forms of the House indicate that the
Minister should ho free to adopt either course, as
may seem to be most convenient ; for they dis-
tinctly prescribe, when resolutions are adopted in
a Committee of Ways and Moans, that the same
shall be embodied in "a Bill or Bills." There
may obviously be occasions in which time will be
rived by dividing the work to be done in two or
more parts. When a Budget consists of a great
many branches, and these require a great number
of provision, to work out their details, it may be
more convenient to dispose of one portion com-
pletely in the Lower House, and send it to
the Upper, in nubs that the latter may not be
kept idle until the former has completed
its work. But in general no such necessity
can exist ; and the present is no exception
to the rule. There is, moreover, a strong and
palpable inducement thin year not to separate the
Budget Bill into separate measures. If a collision