Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1859-03-16 00:00:00

THE PAPER DUTY AGAIN.

IT is very important that this great practical
grievance should not be lost sight of, amidst the
many exciting political questions which the proceed-
ings of Parliament have already, and very naturally,
thrown out. Even the great cause of- reform must
not be allowed to throw it into the shade, if it can
possibly be avoided. For let it not be forgotten, that
the obnoxious tax is one that of itself, in its every-
day operations, does more to obstruct the progress
of reform than any one single influence besides. It
is the extension, the increase of intelligence that,
more than anything else, is to hasten that progress.
And the tax on paper is one of the greatest obstruc-
tions to such extension and increase. The Press is
the great dispeller of prejudice, the sure corrector of
error, the dreaded exposure of corruption. But the
tax on paper shackles the Press—obstructs, and often
paralyses its influence. The irresistible power in
this country, is that of public opinion. It is a power
to which the changing structure of its governmenk is
continually giving additional force. Just in that
proportion, therefore, ought public opinion, even
among the masses of the people, to be constantly
enlightened, by means of a cheap, and popular, and
right-principled Press,—cheap, that its influences
may find access to every class of the people ; popu-
lar, that it may duly ingratiate itself with the
people ; and right-principled, that it may not lead
them astray, but instruct and counsel them in the
ways of truth and justice.

liztthttn Eimm.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1859.

THE DAY'S NEWS
In the House of Lords last night, the Earl of
Malmesbury in reply to the Earl of Clarendon, stated,
in reference to the treaty with Hanover of 1814, that
on the 11th of August last, when he told Count
Platen that notice of the termination of the treaty
was about to be served upon him, he begged that it
might not be done, but that it was given notwith-
standing, and there could be no doubt but that it
took effect from that day. He hoped that by deplo-
matic means the Stade dues would be reduced, and
that the grievance under which British commerce
laboured would be removed. In the House of Com-
mons, upon S'.r J. Trelaw my moving the second reading
of the Church Rates Abolution Bill, Mr. Griffithis
moved an amendment, which was, however, at once
withdrawn, when Mr. B. Hope moved another
amendment, that it be read a second time " that day
six months," but upon a division the amendment was
rejected by a vote of 242 to 16g, and the bill was
then read a second time.
The Reform movement gathers strength daily,
and all parties seem now to recognise the fact, that
there is in the country a very strong feeling in
favour of a comprehensive measure, and one that • I observed, " condemned the tax as emphatically as
shall settle the matter for years to come. The 1 the Deputation did. He told them, it is true, that
idea that prevails, that, because there has not hither- they had said nothing new on the matter, but we
to been any great amount of agitation upon the -
ourselves had told him that we felt that his previous
question, that the people were indifferent, is rapidly
giving place to a conviction that the quietude was the favourable declaration had made it incumbent on us
result of a settled belief in the sincerity of the pro- to avoid wearying him with argument. His sole
mises of the various governments of the last few reason for keeping on the tax was, that Government
years. However, now that a measure has been
proposed, which falls measurably short of the public wanted the money. But he did not venture to ques-
expectation, the people are beginning to express, tion the accuracy of those who told him that the
in unmistakeable terms, their feelings and wishes. Repeal of the tax would improve the Revenue. It
must be considered, therefore, that this is not denied,
The letter of Earl Grey, alluded to in our paper of
yesterday, as much as admits this, and hence his
and ,
that
there is some other reason. It does not
anxiety for a final settlement. Meetings continne
to be held in various parts of the country, and the follow that that reason exists irr Lord DERBY'S mind,
resolutions adopted are all pretty much of the same but A exists in the minds of other men whom Lord
character. Those that have most recently taken DERBY fears. It would take three years to fill
place were held in Bolton, Ashton, Congleton, Col- up
the void in the Exchequer, and thus create uneasi-
Chatham.chester,
Hanley, Dublin, Stirling Inverness, and
A meeting of the
.LiNb'erpool
.Refo;mer.s, ness." All this, we dare say, is most true. We
under the auspices tlipßeform Association, will ourselves are quite persuaded, that both the Premier
be held in the Amphitheatrel, into-morrow night,
with Thomas Brocklebank, and his Chancellor of the Exchequer would gladly
.of thethe chair. We
understand it is the intention of repeal the duty to-morrow if they could 'do it with-
the promoters of
meeting simply to offer resnooltuttions condemnatory out occasioning that amount of inconvenience which
of the Government bill, but
tl(i)e affirm the prin- they apprehend would arise in their financial
ciple as to the measure that people require.
Mr. Gladstone, we believe, will arrangements. 'We humbly think, however, that
not attend the
meeting. their apprehensions on this score are in a great
The Continental news adds little to that previouslyt measure groundless. Not but that it would require
known, but what is fresh is not favourable to peace. some contrivance to make up for even the temporary
In every direction the note of preparation is
ex
ing ; and the least accidental circumstance wouldusae; derangement that might be produced. Eventually
The Paris corres- . there need be no doubt at all,—and in no long time
the whole of Europe in a blaze.
pondent of the Herald, writing on Monday evening, either,—that the revenue would recover itself. And
says—gi A modification of the Imperial Cabinet is' in the mean time, there must be some good manage-
imminent, and the retirement of M. Fould,M. Rouher, ment to supply the deficit. Necessity is the mother
and M. Delangle is looked upon as inevitable.
of invention ; and the necessity in this case would no
Walewski will resign the Foreign Office to M.
doubt invent the means required for whatever was
Thouvenel, and succeed M. Fould as Minister of
State. M. Pietri and M. Laity are still the short in the Exchequer, without harm to any interest
favourite candidates for the post of M. Delangle ; of the country whatever. " If, therefore," as it is
further observed, " the House of Commons can be
and as for M. Rouher the number of candidates for
brought to pass a second resolution still further con-
the office he is about to vacate— Public Works -is
we do not anticipate that Lord
con-
legion. These changes are very eammg the tax,
warlike symptoms ; ~
but though they are now fully decided on, it is im- 0
possible to say whether they will be carried out, as DERBY will provoke a conte. t with the popular

It is most encouraging to find that the Gazette
which is published by the Association for the Repeal
of this most hurtful duty, considers Lord DERBY'S
reply to the Deputation that lately waited upon him,
to again urge their case, as in its general tenor, when
closely examined, rather encouraging than otherwise
towards the object in view. " Lord DERBY," it is