The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-11 00:00:00

OF THE LATE

DUKE OF WELLINGTON,

WITH HIS AUTOGRAPH, AND A FULL ACCOUNT

CF THE GRAND
NATIONAL FUNERAL,

AND IS NOW ON SALE.

ORDERS RECEIVED BY ALL NEWS AGENTS, AND
AT THE SUN OFFICE, 112, STRAND,
LONDON.

„„,
-
11 ritt'`Als-4,41% L 4444,

LONDON, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1852.

The discussion on the Budget has fairly com-
menced. The fate of the Ministry will probably
be decided within the ensuing week. We could
have wished that the first issue raised had been
on the Income-tax. It is admitted that the im-
post must be renewed in some form—that it must
henceforward constitute a permanent and import-
ant branch of the national revenue. But the
verdict of the popular branch of the Legislature
must determine on principle on which it is to
be levied—whether there is to be an equal charge
on all kinds of income, irrespective of the source
from whence it is derived ?—whether, in fact,
fluctuating and precarious income is to be placed
on the same footing with fixed and permanent ?
—or whether a wise and equitable distinction is to
be taken between the two ? The decision on that
principle—the `details being matter for future
arrangement--will form the foundation on which
the whole financial superstructure must rest. It
should be at once ascertained whether the Repre-
sentatives of the people take the same views as
the great majority of their constituents—the
views that have been so ably advocated by Huatz
and DISRAELI, and by the all but unanimous voice
of the Select Committee appointed to inquire into
and report on the subject ; or whether they will
be influenced by the absurd crotchets of GLAD-
STONE and GOULBURN, of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, and
Sir CHARLES WOAD. In place of this judicious
course being adopted, the issue most adverse to
Ministers has obtained a priority, which, though
it may be favourable to party interests on either
side of the House, is decidedly adverse to the
welfare of the community, and which may
very probably be totally unnecessary. We
can easily conceive - that the CHANCELLOR
of the EXCHEQUER may hope to carry his
unpalatable proposition for an increased House-tax
in consequence of the notion that the modifica-
' tion of the Property and Income-tax is involved
in the result—or that if defeated thereon, and
changed from the Ministerial to the Opposition
leader in the House of Commons, he will retain
a formidable rod in pickle for his successors. We
can conceive that the ex-Ministers, in their intense
anxiety for place and power, may be willing to
accept office under any circumstances, or with any
• disadvantages, provided that desirable period could
be in any degree accelerated,—but it is not for
the benefit of the people,—of those who have little
to expect from the predominance of either side—
that this vitally important question should remain
in abeyance, or the fate of the Ministry be de-
cided on a collateral issue.
We are happy to find from the answer elicited
from the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, by the
persevering and searching interrogatories of the
Honourable Geutlemen the Members for Finsbury
and Middlesex—that the Government ara net pre-
pared to stand or fall on every item of the Budget
—or that a single hostile vote would ensure their
resignation. It is not, then, to be " the Budget
—the whole Budget and nothing but the
Budget." That notion had, unquestionably, been
extensively received ; and had caused deep regret
amongst those, who, while they found much to
approve of in the financial scheme, were yet de-
iriniin the to resist to the very uttermost that
Witch y believed to be at once unjust and im-
P°litio—neither more nor less than an act of rob-
bery and confiscation—the
large addition to the
already too onerous inhabited
House Duties. No
matter what might be
the consequences, that most
injudicious proposition
no doubt willshould—and we have
jority. It is the very subject that will
rejected by a large ma-
unite all the sections into which the Opposition
is divided into one compact body. We have had
•
enough
of class-legislation ; and any thing that
creates th t
creates an incessant hostility_,‘ a
war nto th
knife "—between town and
erYuntr3r, must bee
steadfastly and energetically Oppo„d.
If there is
to be a direct tax on property, we cannot
conceive
why there should be a distinction between
houses,
and lands, or why the person who invested his
capital in green fields—by far the
most valuable
Aescripticn of property—should p
esca e for 7d, in
the pound, or 3 per cent. on his income, while
the proprietor of dwelling-houses paid 2s. id., or
nearly 11 per cent. The latter would practically
:kit:Sp . pay nearly seven times as much in proportion to
l',--TlitArieeipital as the former. Let us, for instance, sup-
-;
;:=:, , _1- - ‘that a father has bequeathed 10,000/. each to
/Vse )
..ittro,\ q
f his children. The one, having a taste for
\ • ultur agnc al pursuits, purchases land in the country,
for which he pays at a very moderate rate 25
years' purchase—thus obtaining 4001. per annum
fcri his 10,00 W. from a secure and

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