The Sun.
London, England, 1853-10-13 00:00:00

No. 19,048.]

Cheaper Editions, 3s. 6d. each.
READINGS IN POETRY.
READING-A IN ENGLISH PROSE LITERATURE.
READINGS IN BIOGRAPHY.
READINGS IN SCIENCE.
London : John W. Parker and Son, West Strand.

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1 aris' gin different parts. Many benevolent persons have
been most desirous that a system of international arbitration
should take the place of war, with all its frightful conse-
-1 quences. This is not the opportunity to discuss the theory
of those gentlemen, considered as a theory, but it is an op-
t Portunity on which we may observe, not without satisfac-
tion, that some degree of real progress has been made and
as II exemplified within the last twenty years in the history of
Europe towards the substitution of arbitration for,war.
(Hear, hear.) The miseries of war between Belgium and
I Holland were prevented by the intervention of some of
the great powers of Europe, not by a perfect machinery,
but by a machinery that was better than no machinery at
all. (Hear, hear.) That influence of the great powers
was used to bring to a termination the civil war that
afflicted Spain, and on other European questions a similar
influence was exercised with similar effect.. (hear,
hear, hear.) In tho case of the Ottoman dominions
themselves, in the year 1840, a war between the Pacha
of Egypt and the Sultan was brought to a tormina tion
by the agency of the European powers. (Hear, hear.) The
kingdom of Greece, which we may live to see, or at all
events our children may live to see, playing an honourable
part in the affairs of Europe—that kingdom was relieved
from the consequences of war by a simitlar action of the great powers of Europe. (Rear, heaon on the part
r.) t s wll
that so much has been done ; and these are causesl ni whiceh
the effusion of blood was prevented, or its continuance was
stopped, by pacific intervention. (Rear hear.) That in-
tervention is to be distinguished from ameddlesome inter-
vention, that would involve us in particular quarrels ;
because it is not an intervention of an officious State un-
dertaking to settle the affairs of its neighboiu.s, but it is
an intervention or agency of States that represent the com-
bined force of Europe, and have a right to say to Europe,
with something like authority., that a particular corner or
portion of Europe shall not break the general peace, or
set us all by the ears on account of petty local arrange-
ments—(hear, hear)— and to recommend them to enter into
arrangements that will be for the interest of and satisfac-
tory to all parties. (Cheers.) Such an intervention is
devoid, I know, of the heroic and romantic appearance
that belongs to achievements in war ; it is clogged with
intrigue, vexation, and delay and chicane. That is true ;
but as the result contemplated is the saving of the effusion
of human blood, and the averting of a calamity that would
disturb the operation of industry, and deprive nations of
their subsistence, surely the sacrifice is small, and surely
the reward is great. (Cheers.) Now, Mr.
Mayor and
gentlemen, I have detained you much longer than I
thought I should have done, but I have been led onward,
I must say, by your kindness and indulgence, to speak to
a greater extent in regard to matters of foreign policy
than I had intended. (Hear, hear.) The Chancellor of
the Exchequer, you must know, gentlemen, in his official
capacity, is opposed pretty nearly to all wars—(laughter)—
but at the same time the present Chancellor of the Exche-
quer in his official capacity is also of opinion that good
financial arrangements are amongst the most important
preparations or war—(hear, hear, and cheers)—when
a war is necessary ; and so far as finance is concerned,
I do not think tat England has ever been better
prepared for a war than at present. (Loud cheers.)
Matters have been reduced to a state of simplicity ;
and iu adverting to certain persons who have been more
anxious to resort to arms than I could wish, I must say I
really suppose those gentlemen are so satisfied with the
present legislative acceptance of the income tax by the
masses of the people, which has been embodied in an act
of Parliament for a term of seven years, that they think it
would be convenient to bring in a bill to double or treble
the income tax—a simple operation so far as the House of
Commons is concerned. (La,ughter.) Twelvemonths ago
we heard much of a measure that would produce a good
deal of money, namely, the doubling of the house tax
there may be a portion, but surely not a large portion of
the community with which that measure would become
popular. (Laughter.) But I can assure you that it is not
only as charged in my official capacity with the finances of
the country that I deprecate war—because we all, advisers
of the Crown, and responsible in this great question of Eu-
ropean policy, entertain the same sentiments—whether as
a minister, a Christian, or a man, I cannot but entertain
from the bottom of my heart those principles ; and, more.
over, those are the principles on which her Majesty's; Mi-
nisters have endeavoured to secure the honour of the
Crown and the best interests of the country. (Loud
cheers.) With respect to questions of domestic policy, I
need not detain you long, for the subject of the greatest
interest in our domestic policy is the subject on which
Manchester has spoken out to-day more audibly and em-
phatically than any man or community could speak by
mere words. We have the happiness of having reached a
time when arguments and statements are absolutely need-
less with regard to the principles which ought to regulate
our financial and commercial legislation. In accepting,
with deep thankfulness, the expression of approbation
which you have accorded to the efforts of Governments,
, of ;public men, and of Parliaments in recent years, I am
well aware, and, indeed, your addresses would have
made me aware, that you look not to the past only but
likewise to the future. Much, no doubt, has been
achieved, but in the vast and ever-extending concerns
of this mighty empire, as far as my experience goes, I
would say that the more active Parliament becomes in
the work of legislation, not less but more remains to do.
New social wants are daily developed—new improvements
suggested. It is a blessed career to which we are called—
a career of wise and vigorous improvement—and to that
career in public affairs I do not believe any termination
can be affixed. At present there is to me a real reason for
gratification in the state of the public revenue which has
just been declared. There is an apparent increase on the
quarter's revenue of 400,0001., when compared with the
corresponding quarter of 1852, which was likewisea period
of great prosperity. A strict analysis, lam bound to say,
would make a considerable diminution in that apparent
increase ; but still it is true that, on the revenue of the
quarter there is a real increase, and that under circum-
stances which render the increase peculiarly gratifying.
During last session of Parliament we repealed taxes with
no sparing hand. The address from the Changer of Com-
merce says that they would have been pleased if the duties
on silks, wines, and some other articles had been abolished.
Gentlemen, my answer is, so should I. (Great laughter
and cheers). But they will freely admit, lam sure, that
it is our duty to conform our measures to the exigencies
of the State, and that, above all, it is wise, at whatever
apparent sacrifice, to affix such limits to the reduction and
modification of taxation, as ensures to the public an im-
mense benefit and advantage, which is the great secret of
the strength of our commercial undertakings—the limit,
I mean, of having always a surplus revenue. (Cheers.)
I think the repeal of taxes last session, which are all now
in operation, passed two millions. To provide for the
deficit thus created we had to look to three sources—
the augmentation of the spirit duties in Scotland and
Ireland, the extension of the income-tax, and the
succession duties. At the present moment we have not
derived more than a mere drop in the water from the
extension of the income tax—the sum of about 10,0001.
We have not yet obtained one single farthing from the new
tax on successions. The spirit duties alone are in operation ;
and on that account I think you will agree with me,
that when all our reductions have taken full effect—and
the principal sources of our increase have not yet come
into practical operation—an increase of revenue on the
quarter is a most gratifying indication of the strength of
our finances. (Cheers.) That is the case with respect to
the prosperity of the country, as indicated by the revenue
of the quarter. Reference was made in the proceedings of
the council to the subject of the paper duties. Well, now,
I must venture to tell you---though the confession works
against myself—that when public curiosity is excited in
reference to any measure, you cannot possibly have a more
inconvenient or a more impracticable guest than the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer. (Great laughter and cheering.)
Gentlemen holding other offices may enter with tolerable
freedom into discussion, and may announce their intention
to introduce this or that measure into Parliament. But,
though I confess I never felt more disposed to depart from
the old and salutary rule than at present, yet I must re-
member that the lips of the man who holds my unfortunate
situation are hermetically sealed till the day and the hour
or the moment arrives when it is his duty to rise in the
House of Commons and bring forward the budget. There-
fore, on the subject of the paper duty, I am afraid I have
very little to say. I had the pleasure of seeing, yesterday,
in the extensive warehouses of a gentleman whom I see
present, that beautiful manipulation—for beautiful it cer-
tainly is—of packing goods for exportation. It was im-
possible not to observe in the package the quantity of paper
that was used. I don't know that there was less than 10
pound or 15 pound weight of paper altogether, which is
liable to the Excise duty of lid. per pound. It is quite
obvious to me that the penny-halfpenny a pound laid upon
the paper—that is upon the package—might as well, so far
as the practical operation of the duty is concerned, be laid
upon the commodities themselves; and, therefore, un-
doubtedly, the principle which has led Parliament to ex-
empt the great manufactures of this country from the ex-
tremely practical.and onerous operation of the Excise duty
is perfectly capable of extension—(hear, hear)—when the
proper time arrives and circumstances permit it. (Laughter,
in which the right hon. gentleman himselfoxteuaion
to the mate-
rial heartily joined.)
That principle is perfectly ca awe awe of
in which those manufactures aro wrapped—that is,
gentlemen, really the whole I have to say upon the sub-
ject. (Renewed laughter.) It is here stated, in their
address by the town council, that they hope to witness, as •
wo have advocated, the continuing
the result of the policy
and increasing prosperity of all classes in the country.
There is ono reference in the address of the corporation
that I must briefly 4 notice.x withlt itsh set ac
clear
haenr thatd
distinct
w ehave
un-
derstanding
re-enacted the income
derstanding that at the expiration of the renewed term
for which it is imposed such taxation was to be repealed.
few words, I will state to you how I
Gentlemen, in a very
impossible
antgter stands. lam myself not particularly
the income tax, on this ground, that it
consider teles'ateemti
anxious
impossiblerespecting
to
reconstruct it, and
.it being
Ls
008 et it, a sense of injustice and inequality
on part of the public attends its operation, though
the tlgople of England may be found willing to ac
submit to it, either to attain a great object Of.
cept and
Hc good, or to ward off a national danger ; but it is
pub.- -ted I think,e atro form part of the ordinary
not well BM
, —oar.) But, in re dto what
gar parliament may have done respecting it, it would be in-
effectual, it would be ludicrous on their part to bind the
parliament of 1860. (hear, hear.) The present Parlia-
ment have done no such thing. What they have done is
this—knowing that a promise at present for the removal
of the income tax Would be delusive, and would form part
of that system of public imposture which, I hope, will
never be admitted into the government of this country—
(cheers)—namely, a system of conducting public affairs by
promises instead of by performances—knowing that we
never asked Parliament to bind a future Parliament to
the repeal or continuance of the income tax—(hear, hear)—
we asked Parliament to adopt positive measures for
the reduction of the income tax in the time that is to
elapse between 1853 and 1860, and likewise by drawing
from another source—namely, the succession tax, money,
which might, in some considerable degree, replace the re-
duction of the income tax—(hear)—we asked them, by
adopting this measure, so to reduce the amount of the
income tax, and shape the other financial resources of the
country, that in all human probability, and barring the
calamity of a general war, that when the year 1860 shall
arrive, the Parliament f that period may be able to do
what no Parliament since 1840 has been able to do—that is,
to exercise freely an unbiassed judgment on the question,
whether there is to be an income tax or no income tax.
That is what we have done, no more and no less : we have
enabled the people of the country to say, by their represen-
tatives—to say, at a certain time, whether they will part
with the income tax, or whether, which, for my part, I
hope they will not, they will continue it as part of our
ordinary system of taxation. (Hear, hear.) Without
subterfuge and without evasion, I have endeavoured to
place before you what the Government intend to do, and I
leave you to exercise your free unbiassed discretion on the
subject. (Hear, hear.) With regard to the continuing and
increasing prosperity of the country, I believe that is an
admitted truth. (Hear, hear.) We are living now in a
time when the prices of grain have become very high, but
so far as I am aware, no single voice has been raised in
murmuring accents, from one end of the country to the
other, on account of the high price. Those high
should be permitted. prices are
paid
with contentment, because they are the result of the
wisdom
of the Almighty, and of that inclemency which He
hasseen (cheers.) The intelligence •

I PRioz SD.