The Sun.
London, England, 1853-08-15 00:00:00

The House of Commons has invariably, from

time immemorial, acted as the guardian of the
public purse, as the protector of her Majesty's
subjects from fiscal tyranny, and fiscal extortion-
Without its consent no tax could be levied. And
even if previously in existence, it decided that
it should cease and terminate—it would not en-
dure the rejection of the proposition by the
House of Lords. On financial subjects it claimed
and exercised supreme authority, and exhibited a
peculiarly sensitive feeling at any appearance of
tampering with its Constitutional function. The
tacking on of a money clause as a rider to any
bill, was a significant hint that no tampering with,
or mutilation of, the measure would be sanctioned.
What, however, will be thought of the independ-
ence or spirit of its Members if they submit
patiently to the striking out of the money clause
and accept the measure as amended by the Upper
House ? We should be loath to impute such a
degeneracy to those who occupy the seats once
filled by really determined and energetic men.
What, after all, is the question to be decided ?
The Charter of the East India Company will ter-
minate next year, and with it the right of taxing
one hundred and fifty millions of her Majesty's
subjects. It is necessary that there should be
some renewal of that Charter, either with or with-
out modification, the substitution .of some other
governing body, or the assumption of the supreme
power, by or in the name of her Majesty, without
the intervention of any other authority whatso-
ever. The House of Commons decided in favour
of granting a modified Charter to the East India
Company, clogged with certain conditions, one of
which especially related to fiscal matters, and
might therefore be looked upon as peculiarly within
the province of the representative branch of the
Legislature. This condition was, that the manufac-
ture and trade in salt, which had been carried on by
the East India Company in violation and defiance
of a clause contained in the existing charter
should, after a certain time, be relinquished, and
that the manufacture and sale of salt in India
should be absolutely free, subject only to such
Excise or other duties as may now, from time to
time, bp levied upon such salt so manufactured.
It will be seen that the House did not go by any
means as far as it might have done. It would
have been justified in declaring that the iniquitous
impost, by which the health and lives of so many
of her MAJESTY'S subjects were sacrificed should
cease ; that a tax as odious as one on potatoes in
Ireland could or should be totally abolished. In
place of so doing, it merely decreased ; the ter-
mination of the monopoly exercised by the Com-
pany giving a reasonable time for winding
hp its affairs. It alluded to the enactment
passed twenty years ago, by which the Company
should- " with all convenient speed close their
Commercial business," and decided that the salu-
taderYeispiornovvbision should no longer be violated. This
in order to
and
or equally due to the people of Hindos-
tan
and unadulteirallZ
the United Kingdom. To the former
an
the local difficulties adequate supply of a good
article at as moderate a rate as
the tax still sanctioned
the enormous amount of
latter in order that Ile('
constrani.
would permit ; to the
they should not be deprived
e of their articles of
of an important market fo
,But
and large demand
abrogated the salutary
produce, whence a
the Rouse of Lords
hmaivgehtsvabnetoannlyticainpadtwediifult
on a, fistce:l sub-
now remains but th-,tethn-
e
provision. They have interfered
ject on which Hindoos and Englishmen
cerned, and nothing
House of Commons should assert its undoubted
privilege, and maintain its independence • mama-
paired—that it repel the unjustifiable and un_
warn Lilted invasion of its rights.

THE; CAMP AT CHOEHAM.—The public interest in the
camp,. instead of subsiding, appears to increase, now
that its days are numbered. On Saturday, although
round
in
point of military manoeuvre, an " off day," the
was visited by many thousands of persons. The camp
will f inaliy break up on Saturday next.
OF FICIALAPPOINTMENTS.—TheHon. Frederick Bruce,
now Charge d'Affaires and Consul-General to
th 9
Oriental Republic of the Uraguay (Monte Video); is aP-
pouited her Majesty's Agent and Consul-General in
Eg,ypt. Mr. Richard Birnie, of the Inner Temple, is
Pointed Advocate-General for Western Australia.--
Observer.