The National Register.
London, England, 1819-06-21 00:00:00

PEACE-TAXATION.

AGAINST the general system of peace-taxation we
have already entered mac solemn and decided protest,
a protest not dictated.isy party spirit, hut by a feel-
ing of compossion for a brave and patriotic people,
and by a fearful anticipation of .the evils which
must' be its inseparable attendants. These feelings
have been by no means soothed, nor our•regrets at
the inefficiency of the opposition these new taxes
have met with softened, by the open declaration of
• ministers that they are to be imposed, not for any
absolute necessity that exists (for their adoption, fur
if the sinking fund be mixed, and made available to
.the carrent cxpences Of the establishment, a surplus
of at least two millions is already provided, and
another million might eta) be added by economy
and retrenchment), but fur an object which, after
the horrible and wanton sacrifices which this
country has made, in her last two war, both of'
life anti treasure, our heart shudders and our blood
runs cold to contemplate, namely " put us in a
becoming, aitiiade to toted Ike czigencies of a new
War." Now without charging upon our rulers a
motive so diabolical and inhuman, as a wish or ills-
position to plunge our exhausted, and all but bank-
rupt state, into thelorrors and miseries of fresh hos-
tilities, we may yet • urge that the very attitude and
defiance, of itself alone, qften brings on a • contest,
and is at least an incentive and even challenge to
others to assume a corresponding position. We see
it in individuals, and it is not less true of nations
The business of peace, and the object of those who
love it, should always be to conciliate mutual confi-
dence and atiletion, by the total avoidance of every
thing which can create distrust. A spirit of proved
defiance is not :cos adverse to tranquillity than it is
to social happiness. IVe are not insensible to what
is due to national honour,- but we difir, lute anima
atque two Ma+ te, with the present administration
as to the best way of supporting it. We are not
anxious than they can be that our resources
si;ou!il be most carefuily husbanded, and that we
s::ould not forget that us long as pride, and ambition,
oad wrong, shall exist upon the earth, so long will
the scourges of war be employed as .the minis-
ters of their cause, and that no nation will be safe
fi-om their influence and aggressmns. But we must.
must loudly deprecate the doctrine that , a govern -
ntent is therefore to srptecce the last possible
lathing from the pockets of its subjects, for the,,
purpose of having a large revenue at its own dis-
posal, instead of leaving the earnings of honest
industry, or the proceeds of substantial prop2rty in
the hands of their proper and rightful owners. The
pr:ociple itself is irt outrage upon the social compact,
and it has been not less I.:mtitifiilly than truly
rtanatked by Monteequieu, that " though moderate
taxation may be favourable to civil liberty, yet that
u rich treasury and a s'arv;ng people are not only
destructive of liberty, but form the strongest fem.
tures of despot hrit, aral the most damning testimonies
of misrule." llut if our oh;ections be thus strong
against the whole system of peaze taxation, for the
p.:.:pose of accumulating ; even tie--what stn we say,
Low can vee attempt to express cur abhorreuee at
the items Avon which these fresh imports have been
laid ! We may be told that opposition is now
uselzms, and complaints idle. But the act of
ship-money hail born some time passed, and yet
the resistance of Hampden was not without its