The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-10 00:00:00

Majority in favour of the Government 75

On our admission into the gallery, we found
Mr. DISRAELI asking the Government to allow the
chairman to report progress, in order to allow the amend-
ment of the hon. member for Berkshire (Mr. Vansittart)
to undergo a full discussion.
Lord J. RUSSELL seemed to think such a coarse would
be unnecessary.
Mr. DISRAELI must really press his suggestion. The
amendment of the hon. member for Berks was a very in-
teresting on, and it would be quite impossible to take a
discussion upon it after so long a debate. (Opposition
cheers.) He felt, therefore, called upon to move that the
chairman report progress.
After an observation from Mr. VANSITTART, which was
inaudible,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said, that
the question was not one as to his noble friend's accom-
modation or otherwise—it was a question which concerned
the trading interests of the country. (Cheers from the
Ministerial benches.) He could assure the right hon.
gentleman opposite that he could have no conception of the
amount of inconvenience to which the whole community
was put by this very protracted discussion, the serious in-
convenience—perhaps he might say. the serious loss—which
was caused in numberless cases by uncertainty as to the
amount of duties to be charged at the Custom-house.
Now the answer which he had to make on the part of the
Government with regard to the case of the farmer was
simply—that if the farmers did not like the rate on which
they were assessed under schedule B, that they had already,
by law, the right of going into schedule D. (Oh, oh, from
the Opposition benches.) It was, therefore, entirely a
question affecting the suspension of the trading interests of
the country, if they agreed to postponement.
Mr. DISRAELI—Perhaps the right hon. gentleman
would have no objection to leave oat the schedule alto-
gether? But really the question was, not so simple as
what the right hon. gentleman would make it—a fact which
discussion might serve to demonstrate. (Hear, hear.)
Sir C. WOOD said that vaken ho was Chancellor of the
Exchequer he had given the farmers the power of appeal
against the tax.
Mr. DISRAELI observed that if the noble lord perse-
vered in continuing the debate, he should be under the
disagreeable necessity, although he might stand alone, of
moving that the chairman report progress. They had been
all night discussing a schedule interesting to the landlords;
they had now come to a schedule interesting to the Ammo.

(Hear, hear.) Hon. gentlemen opposite could devote an
evening to discussing their own particular interests, but
he thought they were now adopting a somewhat shuffling
course. (Hear, hear.)
Lord J. RUSSELL said that the discussion had been
postponed to the committee on the bill, and this was a suf-
ficient answer, he thought, to the present complaint. Con-
sidering the consequences to the trade of the country by
delay, he would not be responsible for now reporting pro-
gress. (Cries of divide.)
Colonel SIBTHORP complained of the conduct of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, and said that if he remained
until five o'clock in the morning he would resist what he
must designate as an attempt to bully the house by means
of a Government majority. (Laughter and cheers.)
Mr. BRIGHT observed that both the Chancellor of the
Exchequer and the noble lord had dwelt upon the incon-
venience which would arise to trade from delay. It was
quite clear the income tax was safe, and the sooner these
Customs duties were proceeded with the better. He
trusted, however, the noble lord would assent to the rea-
sonable request that the Chairman should report progress.
(Hear, hear.)
The CHAIRMAN then reported progress, and the house
resumed.