The Express.
London, England, 1861-05-28 00:00:00

THE E7CPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 28, 1861.

the great conservatlve adulate, of our awn times, and under
• greater minister of a former generation, let them apply
themselves earnestly and seriously to the duty which they
could so well discharge, but which they seem so little dis-
posed to undertake—namel, that of reducing the public
expenditure._ (Cheers.) lithey did that they would really
reduce the burdens of the people, and they would obtain
what they would well deserve— the approbation and the con-
fidence of the country. (Cheers.)
Sir J. HAMDEN said that if he understood Mr.
Ayrtoa'e address, it meant that the main reason for
repealing the paper duty wee that it was • tax
which was sot felt. He bad voted last year spinet
the remission of that tax. bermes he thought that
there was no earplug ; sad that, if there were, it
ought to be applied to the reduction of the Income
tax and the duties on articles of prime oonstunption.
Similar reasons would guide hie vote now. He
doubted the surplus, for there was a new deft.
nition of a earplug—re which Ina literally in sup-
position, and not verified by facts and accounts. A specu-
lative surplus wee *seamed, and then the Cheneellor of the
Exchequer proceeded to give it away ; and this in the face
of a prospect of diminished trade and political disturbance.
With regard to the constitutional question, however the
proposed bill might be technically right, he was of opinion
that the rifest and nest dignified course on the pert of the
house with reference to the lords would be to act at least in
this year precisely as was dose last session.
Sir R. F' EEL rid, as this issue had been raised to-night,
he was desirous, not having gives a vote upon the question
when it was before under diaereses, to offer • few observa-
tions upon it,. sod considering the question in a fair and
horest spirit he was desirous, if he did vote, of qualifying
that vote, and if be did alit vote, of stating the reasons
which infuenced his mind. (laughter.) Now he was not
at all surpriud d then rationed discussions. An hon.
gentleman who had spoken from that bench a short time
ago bad said that be really thought after ten nighta' discus-
non, and perhaps more, they had had quite enough of this
question, and the Prime Munster himself had told them
the other night that he yea really quite our-
prised at these motioned (lift-maims. The words of the
Prime Minister were, that be undesired it was rot intended
to debate that part it the budget which was osenee'.ed
with the income tax, to revive the qua:ion of the tee
duties, nor to object to the repeal of the paper duties. The
• noble lord considered that these matters had been decided,
and that upon the resolutions of the house, the duties would
Ibe levied as • matter of MIMIC He (31, It. Peel) was
really surprieed to see him molds friend se more deceived as
to the state of affairs. ALwagbter.) He knew, and the
house knew, that the edge lord had cites availed himself
of the kind montanee of the opposition to stem and to curb
the exuberant fancies of some of his more impolitic partisans
—(laughter)--and he hoped that under such theurnaiasem
his =Me friend might never find that the loyalty aid sup-
port el the opposition would be wasting. Bat be had Yee
to learn that the Prime Mishkin wee representing the
opinion of the house is cheek* discussion upon this qrs.
lion--• more important on. as affecting all erases could
not be brought formed. It was not the fault of
the house that it wee sow Whitsuntide, and that they were
close upon the month of June. They might have had these
discourse mach earlier if the Chancellor of the Exchequer
had desired it, and therefore he thought his noble friend
had bees aocidestally led into error when he supposed that
this discussion bad been practically closed. But be (Sir
Robert Peel) should not perhaps have risen to offer any oh-
secretions upon that question if it had not been for the
statement made on • former occasion by the noble lord the
member for the City of London. The noble lord expressed
his surprise at these discuasions, and his words were worthy
to be mentioned—the noble lord said he believed these din
cued one were carried on merely for the purpose el injuring
the political reputation of the CharosUor of the
Exchequer. A more unfounded insinuatioe newer
mon from the noble lord, although they knew
that he was in the habit of making um of has
claptrap. occasionally, for the purpose of gaining political
capital. (Chien and laughter.) The noble lord made use
of this assertion the other night, and he (Sir Robert Peel)
for one, if he got up to disown this question, knew that the
idea never entered into his mind that is doing 1.0 he wan en-
deavouring, in the most remote degree, to throw • slur epos
the politiddcharacter of the right hon. gentleman the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer. (Cheers.) But the right has.
gentleman was perfectly capable of defending his own aka-
, recur, without having to be besmeared by the hollow pair
of the noble lord. (Laughter.) For himself, he could
fairly say, if he thought that this discussion was carried
on upon these pounds—if he thought, as the noble lord
Insinuated, that the poisoned arrow of personal 'malice
was directed against his right honourable friend,
he would at ore forego all free and liberal dis-
cussion, and take his stand by the right bon, gentleman
to the lest in the consideration of this question. As the
bon. baronet who bad just sat down, he (lid not propose
to enter into the constitutional part of the question.
Thank God they had got out of that pert, and they had
now got to the practical question of the effect of the re-
peal of the duty upon the intereets of the people of the
country. The constitutional point of view had been moat
ably treated by a without. meet competent to do so. His
right hon. friend the veteran conservative member for Car-
lisle—whom be was pad to hear address the house with
so much vigour—had treated this part of the question so
ably that be amid ant essesive any gas could have longer
any doubt spas it. The right hon. gentleman said that,
looking to the grewsdasis *partially and carefully, the Lords
were constitutionally and legitimately right in the rum that
they adopted. He (Mir R. Peel) thoroughly concurred in that
opinion, and he shouldsay that anyone w!)0 wee not satisfied
that the Lords were perfectly justified in the course which
they last yearridopted must be very difficult to satisfy upon
any point by force of argu ent. Allusion had been made
to the tame of Henry IV. and the learned member for Ply.
mouth talked of a presedeat of 600 years ago. He really
should have thought it imposeible to bring forward prece-
dents so remote ; but if they did exist, he thought they
might be just as well brought to bear in favour of the Lords
as against them. But let that question be considered as set-
, tied, sad let them consider the question as it bore upon
the neoessities of the people in 1861. (Opposition cheers.)
He knew that with some gentlemen on that side of the
house it was unpopular to consider the interests of the
middle and lower as well as of the upper classes. The hon.
member for Birmingham had over and over again said
he ounceived that the interests of the lower chases were
best consulted by raising them up in antagonism to the
middle and upper erases. (Cheers.) He thought, on the
contrary, that all clams should be considered, whether
financially or politically, as one oomplete entirety, and en-
deavour so to equalise the finances of the country that all
claire might be equally served, and nothing like clan legis-
lacion be apparent in the management of the affairs of the
country. (Cheers.) It would be perfectly competent for
him to enter into a full discussion upon the budget of his
right hon. friend. The noble lord the member for London
bad talked about bricks, soap, and glass, and it would be
perfectly fair to enter into all these questions. He
would not do so on that occasion, but would join
in the admiration expressed for the ability with
which the right hon. gentleman had embellished
his financial statement some months ego. The right hoe.
gentleman had a difficult task to perform. There was a
deficit last year of 822,0001. which had to be provided for ;
whereas now, with only a reduction of 1,000,0001. sterling
in the army nd navy expenditure, the Chancellor of the
Exchequer rid that he had a surplus for the present year
of 1,900,000 f. Bet where was this deficit of hest year
charged? Because if it were deducted from the surplus,
instead of 1,900,000 f., there would be only 1,100,0001. to
deal with now, so that in remitting the tangles upon In. •
coins and paper, if they did not get the indemnity from
China they were in a deficit of more than 300,060 f. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer finished his statement by
saying that he deprecated unnecessary expenditure,
and at the rme time told them that in a few
rarthe expenditure had increased something
20,000,0001. pesterling. He did not want to enter into
any of the details of the budget ; they knew how the right
lion. gentleman looked forward to the future with hopeful
expectation, and that ho bad censured the hoe. member for
Huntingdon, when he ventured to entertain dark fore-
boding, with regard the state of Europe. The Chancellor of
the Exchequer was followed in the same strain by the hon.
member for Birmingham. bet he (Sir Robert Peel) must say
• he agreed with the hon. barooet who bad just sat down that
there was nothing more dark or dangerous than the state of
Europe at the present time, and he thought the Chancellor
of the Exchequer and the government should bays COllBl.
dared the matter 10 • different light to
what they bad done. The member for Birming.
ham said that with regard to foreign affairs
gorgons, hydras, and chimeras. He did not know whether
the hoe. gentleman had ever read filiakspesze's Tinton of
Attras, because Timor' of Athens had a Chancellor of the
Exchequer called Flavius. Now, TIMOII was • very expen-
sive man—(laughter)—sad he asked Flavius to supply him
I with the ways and means for his extravagant expenditure,
and what did Flexion say '—he had not the abundant faci-
lity of eloquence of the Chancellor of the Exchequer—but
said in
He
and simple language, " What will this
, come to. He command us to provide, end givee great
' gifts, and all the while out of in empty coffer. Now, he
(81r R. Peel, did not know whether the coffer of the
state was empty, but to make a surplus dependent
• upon the receipt of money from China was • state
of things which he, for one, could not give his entire ap-
proval of. When the Chancellor of the Exchequer first
showed them that there was a surplus he admitted that,
as he had entertained spprehensions of so totally different
, • character, he listened to the statement with unqualified
• surprise, and perhaps felt some satisfaction, till the right
hon. gentleman came to the matter of paper, in regard to
which ho won sorry to see the contest raised again. The
Prime Minister had distinctly stated to a deputation that
waited upon him that lie could hold out no expectation
whatever of a remission of the paper duty—(opposition
cheers) ; and las'. year the noble lord brought
forward resolutions, which were adopted by the
house, confirming entirely the policy pursued by
the Lords. If, then, the question were again bandied at
all it must be handled with the greatest caution. The
question involved was whether it was desirable to remit
duties in favour of a limited clam at the expense of the
general public. It was a tax very easily collected,
and yielded • sufficient revenue. That would induce him
to go into the lobby on thisocaision to vote against this
measure. But he should like to hear a right bon. gentleman
who spoke last year on this subject express his opinion ou
the present occasion, and he expected to see him oome into
the same lobby as himself. He 'moat the right boa, mom
her for Coventry (Mr. Moe). Lad
_year the right boa.
gentleman said be thought it weld be better to welt far a
better opportunity before they repealed thin tax, which
might serve to meet a miles eineepsey and nnfereema