The Sun.
London, England, 1853-06-22 00:00:00

I rity of Sir Robert Peel, Lord Grenville, Lord Grey, and
almost every other statesman in this country during the
last twenty years—to an income tax as a permanent source
of revenue; and he was anxious to take this opportunity of
stating that he had in no degree changed his opinion in
' this respect. The object with which the Government had
fixed the period of seven years for the continuance of the tax
was the very reverse of that which had been assumed by the
noble lord opposite—that of fixing it more firmly upon the
financial system of the country—that period had been
adopted on the assumption, founded on facts, that year
after year the revenue would so increase from the impetus
given to trade by the removal of those imposts and excise
duties which had hitherto acted as checks to thefull de-
velopment of the resources of the country, that by the
year 1860 we might altogether dispense with a tax which,
he admitted, should be resorted to only under special cir-
cumstances. As a permanent source of revenue such a
tax was in the greatest degree objectionable and unconsti-
tutional, being, as it was, a tax not only on the pockets,
but on the feelings of the people. With regard to the ex-
tension of the tax to Ireland, he thought the time had come
for considering how far the taxes of the two countries
should be imposed upon the principle of equality. It was
not because the consolidated annuities were remitted that
the income tax was imposed, but as it was considered un-
just to continue to exact from Ireland the payment of those
annuities which formed a galling and most unequal impost,
and as it was impossible longer to exempt that country
from the taxes paid by this, the moment was thought
favourable for sweeping away those consolidated annuities,
which, more than any income tax could do, had tended to
check the prosperity of the country, and at the same time
establishing something like equality between the two
countries. (Hear.) As to the mode of levying the tax in
Ireland, the Government had given the subject the fullest
attention, and had adopted the mode proposed in the bill
as the most equitable and fair to all parties. It had been
said that a property tax was a war tax, and should only be
imposed in time of war. He earnestly hoped that it might
bo long before we should have to resort to it for that pur-
pose—(hear, hear)—but should war unfortunately come,
the continuance of this tax would be found to have raised
up a giant ready to be appropriated to the national defence
and the national honour, and by placing the finances of the
country in a position to enable it to maintain its position
a nongst the nations of the earth. In the event of a war
we should take the surest means of preserving peace.
The Earl of WICKLOW approved of the extension of
the tax to Ireland, but objected that the mode in which it
was to be imposed would make it equal to upwards of a
shilling instead of sevenpence in the pound upon the land
in that country.
The bill was then read a second time, and ordered to be
committed.
ENCUMBERED ESTATES (IRELAND) CON-
TINUANCE ACT BILL.
The LORD CHANCELLOR, in moving the second
reading of this bill, entered into a brief explanation of the
nature and extent of its provisions.
After a few words from Lord MONTEAGLE and the Earl
of CLANCASTY, the bill was read a second time, and or-
dered to be committed.
BURGH HARBOURS (SCOTLAND) BILL.
This bill was read a second time, and ordered to be com-
mitted.
Their lordships then adjourned at twenty minutes to nine
o'clock.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—(YESTERDAY.)
The SPEAKER took the chair at five o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The Lords' amendments to the Londonderry, Ennis-
killen, and Sligo Railway Bill were considered and
agreed to. _ _ _

-The following bills were read a third time and passed :
—Edinburgh, Perth, and Dundee Railway ; and West-
minster Improvements.
The following bills were consiiered and ordered to be
read a third time :—British Electric Telegraph Company;
Great Southern and Western Railway (Ireland); Liver-
pool, Crossby,
.and Southport Railway.
The Spitalfields to Shoreditch Improvement Bill was
read a second time.

Sir W. MOLESWORTH moved that the Spitalfields
to Shoreditch Improvement Bill be referred to a select
committee, and that the committee do consist of Sir
William Molesworth, Sir William Clay, Lord Robert
Grosvenor, Lord Seymour, Mr. Osborne, Sir Robert
Harry Inglis, and five to be added by the committee of
selection ; three to be the quorum. That the com-
mittee have leave to sit and proceed upon Monday next.
—Agreed to.