The Northern Daily Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1857-01-23 00:00:00

GREAT

FINANCIAL REFORM

DEIIWiSTRATION.

MR. ROEBUCK, M.P., IN LIVERPOOL.

The annual meeting of the Liverpool Financial Reform
Association was hell last night in the Concert Hall, Lord
Nelson street. It having been announced that Mr.
Roebuck, M.P., would attend and address the meeting, the
doers of the building were scarcely opened when the hall
was crowded in eve:y part • and such was the reception of
the bon. gentleman, and so great the enthusiasm manifested
throughout the proceedings, tbat the meeting assumed the
character of a demonstration, the first of the hind, we believe,
"which has ever been held in Liverpool in favour of Financial
Itform.

At eight o'clock the chair was taken, on the motion of Mr.
-3)bn Fmith, by Lawrence Heyworth, Esq , M.P. Among
these on the platform were—Messrs. Robertson, F. B)ult,
Danson, C. E. Rawlins, D. Baugh, W. I‘l4lAillat,
7- D.quhart, John Smith, C. Willmer, C. E. Rawlins, jun.,
V. P. Smith, Melley, Jackson.
The Chairman said : We have received a few letters of
aPology, for not being here present, from parties belo'nging
10 the Cour ell, and other parties, and we will commence
the business of the everting by reading these letters, if it be
your pleasure. (Cheers.)
The Secretary, Mr. Macqueen, then read the following
letters :

19th Jan., 1857.
Sir,— lam only this afternoon in receipt of your note of
The 17th instant. An engagement of some standing will,
under any circumstances, prevent my being present at your
incosed meeting on Thursday next But 'even had this
tot been the case, there appears to me to he such a strong
leeliug in the country—a feeling in which I entirely concur
--against the continuance of the present Income Tax, that
eculd not support the resolution of which you have been
good enough to send me a copy.—l have the honour to be,
Sir,

Your fiithful servant,
To C. E. Macqueen, Eeq
<Eilisses and cheers.)

THOMAS B. HORSFALL.

New Brighton, 17th Jan., 1857.
M dear Sir,—l am much obliged to you for your letter
°F yesterday, and beg you will express to the committee my
the
of the honour they do me in requesting me to take
'ue chair at the public meeting on the 22nd. As one of the
"gioal members of the Association, and a regular subscriber
to its funds, I am, of course, in favour of the general prin.
tjPle it professes; but I cannot go the entire length of all
its recommendations. I have always been in favour of
eretding the system of direct taxation ; and, though
"“'come
of a reduction in that portion of the present
"“'oolne Tax which was levied for war purposes, I
would prefer even the present rate continuing rather
th4ll impose any increase of existing duties on article
()f general consumption. Bat I do not think the
"11141 is yet prepared to repeal all duties on raw
Produce, and substitute, in their stead, an equitable pro-
PtrtY and income tax. There can be no doubt, whatever,
that, by such an institution, much of the present expensive
tackle of collecting the revenue would be avoided, and a
11111°111m sum be consequently requisite for the protection
of the national credit, and for the general services of the
tlant-y. "To this complexion we must come at last," but
I do not think the mass is yet in favour of the immediate
substitution of the project recommended by the Financial
Reform Association. With these views, my presence, on
the 22nd would not, I feel, be of assistance to you ; and I
thatregret, o c therefore, that I shall be unable to take the chair on
occasion.--Believedear sir, truly yours,
To C. B. me, my
I"en , Es. J. C. .WART.
(Lothl applause) q

Richmond bill, 22nd January, 1857.
Dear was my
wish to be with you this evening,
ani not very well. Although I would not have taken
active part in your proceedings, I am favourable to a
I:qt adjusted Property and Income Tax, and to direct
Tha4tion generally as far
e 4 as it can be. carried out, as the
due of unshackling our commerce from burdens which
are so detrimental to the state. Yet, as many schemes and
t
iuggestions will be brought before Parliament on this
:Portant subject, you may.rest assured that, to the best of
thY_ judgment, I will support that which promises best for
c 7 interest of the country, with equity to the various
41Plicated interests of individuals.—Yours ever respect-
fully,
WM. BROWN.
Robertson Gladstone, Eq.
(Lucid cheers.)

Union-court, 22nd January, 1857.
Y dear Sir,—l very much lament that owing to illness
at bollle it is impossible for me to be present at the meeting
hi tLe Financial Reform Association, intended to be held
evening. I need scarcely say that, though absent' in
' suns I shall be present in spirit in the ratification of our
iiittneiPles by a public assemblage of my fellow townsmen.
the resolutions to be proposed I cordially concur. The
:41IParative free trade following the repeal of the corn laws,
111 a partial modification of the tariff, have bees attended
Such effects as ought to encourage us to proceed further
;tn:
ethaedospatnii:nof course. This can only, be done effectually by
a just system of direct taxation. And far
enforcement of economy of expeadEure and honest
'counts, I conceive that the appointment of a properly
tertinit
te(' finance committee must needs be attended with
I:nab,„ -liY
great advantage to the country. Again regretting my
ilitY to attend, I am, my dear sir, yours very faithfully,
ROBERTSON GLADSTONE.
To Lawrence Heywortb, Esq., M.P, Chairman.
(loud appiaute.)
The Chairman then rose, and was received with loud
IPPlans. r, •
Lae said : Ladies and gentlemen, I cannot
agine anything more delightful than the sight which•l
'ga are now before me. To see my fellow countrymen
liered together orr such an occasion to take into
e9rlsideration the nature of the fiscal system which will be
koaf
" beneficial and e''4tr profitable to every individual in the
tri%:Y is, to say the least of it, a veTy gratifying sight,
t compliment you on being here present to tAkc the
better into consideration. Hitherto this legislation has
0;11, a Mete matter of chance, lift entirely to theacci lent
heaeniance, or to the.ceinning of State craft trickery, (Hear,
hit
That has been the nature of our fiscal legislation
itfertn• Now, what we want to know is the sort of fiscal
l h,alation we should have which would be the least
° Fier t
vicluhs to the trade and commerce of Vie country, and
e least hindrance to the general accumulation of
ealt
ben(:). because we are quite sure that what will be generally
rn th clal to the whole country must be so to every individual
me e country. (Hear, hear,) Now, after due consideration,
the t'avc arrived at the conclusion that direct taxation is
cllllBt equi'able, the most just, the least injurious to trade
eritn e°n'rcerce, the most equal and fair to all classes of the
lar:tinitY, and especially to the working classes of this
that and commercial country. (Cheers.) It is for this
Nabl,Ve would urge upon your serious attention whatever
oe addressed to von this evening, and the more so,
large
h._
o
", d
from the want of correct information upon it, a
Dayi, Yof our countrymen take offence at the idea of
tales immediately out of their pockets, that is to
tl,,
doenorae and Property Tax. (Hear, hear). They count
of theeY> as it passes out of their pockets into the hands
tht collector, and they stand agh:ist at the amount,
their 2111' they, are hardly dealt with, without reflecting that
Iteor::nr labouring fellow countrymen are paying, as
.eti 201'"/, instead of 7 per cent, frequently 10, 15, or
theyAa Per cent, in the shape of the additional price which
for the articles they consume, owing to the
(444'14 has been levied upon those articles at the
h°42e. (Hear, bear, and loud applause.) Now,