The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-03 00:00:00

which I insist • and I say that, great as the effect of our
changes in the Customs' duties have been, and the advan-
tages are greater even to Ireland than to England, in pro-
portion, the increased means of consuming coffee, and
sugar, an, d under this budget, tea, will enable the people
of Ireland to consume articles of which they have been
hitherto deprived, and which will, therefore, be of peculiar
advantage to that people ; so that the real question of this
taxation is as to its effects on the consumers and on the
poor infinitely more than on the rich. (Hear.) Having
stated these views with reference to the income tax, I cer-
tainly shall not think it necessary to go much into any
other part of the budget though, perhaps, I may refer to
certain sentiments of mine which have been quoted by
gentlemen in this debate in opposing the proposition which
is now before the committee. Several gentlemen have re-
ferred, in terms of which I certainly cannot complain, to
the objections which I made in 1842 to the proposition of
the income tax. It certainly was my opinion at that time
that by a judicious alteration of the duties on corn, by a
reduction of the prohibitory duty on foreign sugar, and an
adjustment of the duties on timber and coffee, the advan-
tage of a moderate price to the community might be com-
bined with an increased revenue to the state ; but the
House of Commons took the other course—they imposed
an income tax, and made alterations in certain duties. In
1846, however, they went much further,
in 842
her,wilth r, and look-
;eferenceto
corn and to sugar, than I had proposed
ing back to what happened at that time, and seeing what
has happened since, lam bound to say that, upon the
whole, the course then taken by Parliament was more bene-
ficial to the country than the course which I proposed in
1842. The country had, indeed, to pay a dear price for the
benefit in the imposition of the income tax ; but is quite a
different thing, having adopted that income tax, now to
seek touratie a policy which you would not pursue in
1842. (Hear.) As the matter now stands, I believe this
income tax, as it has already been the means of relieving
the country from very great burdens, and from excessive
duties on articles of consumption, will, in like manner, be
the means, before 1860, of relieving the country from other
oppressive duties of the same kind. (Hear.) In 1830 it
was stated by Mr. Huskisson that the great evil of taxa-
tion was that such heavy. indirect taxes were placed on the
consumer, and teat the rich did not pay an equivalent tri-
bute to the revenue. In the last 20 years we have done
much to remove that reproach, to obviate that evil, and
I hold that we should act wisely in continuing that policy.
(Hear.) The right hon gentleman towards the close of '
his speech spoke much of the hardship of the legacy
duties ; the hardship of the legacy duties in question has
been much exaggerated, and even to-night an hon. gen-
tleman said that 2,000,000/. of additional taxes are about
to be placed on land. Now, the fact is that there is
already a legacy duty paid on a portion of land, while
another portion is totally exempt from the tax. "What,
then, can be more just—what more equal, then to make
the portion which has not hitherto contributed contribute
to the tax—an act of justice, let me add, which will not
involve a payment of 2,000,0001., as is asserted, but of
500,0001., or, at most, of 700,001.; and be it observed,
further, that when the duty reaches this full amount the
income tax will be diminished to the extent of at least
700,000/. ? (Hear, hear.) Adopt the amendment, and
this consequence yin follow :—My right hon. friend pro-
poses in two years to diminish the income duty ld., and
in two years more Id. more, and this you do if you adhere
to the uniform rate ; but kdopt the amendment, and this
will be impossible ; so that the land, in 1855, will not be
relieved from the burdens from which the plan of my right
hon. friend will relieve it. In the course of the operations
to which I have referred, beginning with the removal of
the differential duties, we have come, in course of time,
to abolish those duties which deprived them of many com-
forts, many necessaries. I believe the house cannot more
worthily represent the people, more worthily represent the
people, than by pursuing this course. (Hear, hear.) It
was said last year, and fthink it was a proof of little wis-
dom in him who said it—that he would endeavour to rule
this country so as to check the advance of democracy.
Depend on it that the ruler who sets himself to check the
advance of democracy will but increase the irritation and
augment the influence of the power against which he sets
himself—(hear, hear)—but, if you consult the interests
of the people you will make democracy conservative ; you
will carry democracy with you, instead of having it oppose
you as an enemy. (Hear.) This, it seems, to me, is the true
policy for Parliament to pursue—neither to neglect the in-
terests of land nor the interests of trade, but to con-
sult all together, giving no undue favour to any one class,
but pursuing a course which each must knew to be just.
(Hear, hear.) I rejoice, that towards the termination of
this course, which Parliament has now for nearly 12 years
pursued, my right hon. friend the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer has had this opportunity of laying the propositions
before the house, which; whether we consider the proposi-
tions themselves, or the manner in which they were intro-
duced, must give him a name to be envied among the Fi-
nancial Ministers of this country. (Cheers.) If, in order
to do this, it has been his fortune to live before his age, I
trust he will find his reward in the approbation and sup-
port of this house, and in the gratitude of an admiring
people. (The noble lord resumed his seat amid loud cheer-
ing.)
The committee then divided ; the numbers were—
For the resolution
Against it
Ministerial majority —7l
The announcement was received with vehement cheering
from the supporters of the Government.
Mr. LAWLESS then proposed an amendment to omit
from the resolution the words " United Kingdom," and
substitute the words "Great Britain," with the view of
exempting Ireland from the imposition of the income tax.
The debate on this amendment was adjourned, notwith-
standing numerous calls for an immediate division ' • and
the Chairman reported progress, and obtained leave to sit
again on Thursday.