The Sun.
London, England, 1849-10-10 00:00:00

THE SUN,

consequently be only the stronger. And yet we are
told that there is no available channel of redress even to
a nation deceived, tormented, and oppressed as Hun-
gary has been by successive members of the Hapsburg
dynasty. Away with this paltry trifling with the
right reason of the population ! Away with these
miserable vestiges of an obsolete and degraded
feudality !

It is undoubtedly right that every member of the
body politic should contribute towards the national
expenditure in proportion to his means and the stake
he possesses in the country. It is the legitimate
return which be must render for the rights and
privileges he enjoys, and the protection afforded to
him by the Government._ He must, in fact, surrender
a certain portion of his natural liberty and a part of
his possessions for the general advantage, and in
order that he himself may obtain the more secure
enjoyment of the remainder. Such is the law of
every civilized community—a law essential to its very
existence. Taxation is, therefore, a necessary evil to
which all must submit, and no reasonable complaints
can be preferred so long as it is kept within reason-
able limits, and fairly and justly apportioned.
Nothing, however, can be more unequal in opera-
tion, or unjust in principle, than the fiscal system
under which the public revenue of the country is
collected. Had it not been sanctioned by successive
Parliaments, and enforced for a long series of years,
it would seem to be a work of supererogation to ex-
pose its palpable injustice and impolicy. That the
man who is compelled to earn his daily bread by the
sweat of his brow, who maintains an arduous struggle
in the " battle of life," and who must toil inces
santly to procure a bare sufficiency of even the
humblest fare, should be required to pay a higher per-
centage on his income than the person in the actual
possession of accumulated and realised pro-
perty, who can enjoy all the comforts of
life in luxurious idleness, appears too gross
an absurdity to be argued against. •It
seems to be fighting against shadows, or attempting
the demonstration of self-evident propositions. But
the apparently useless task is forced upon us when
we find the leader of a great party—a man of un-
doubted genius and talent, one who recognizes the

importance of a "guiding principle," and who
adopts as his motto; " equal taxation"—advocating
not merely a continuance of the present impolitic
and inequitable system of indirect imposts, but a I,
large addition thereto, by placing a duty upon " every
article of foreign import whatever."
"Indirect taxation" is not only in the highest de-
gree injurious to the trade and commerce of
the country, but it also tends to the
demoralization of the people. It fosters and
encourages smuggling, and renders an enor-
mous expenditure necessary to check the illicit
trade which it is calculated to produce. Much
larger sums are taken from the people than are paid
into the Exchequer. The taxes ultimately fall upon
the consumer, but the merchant by whom the corn-

modity is imported,
.and the various intermediate

hands through which it passes before consumption,
calculate their profits not merely on the first cost
price of the article, but also on the duty paid to the
Government, and the profit on that duty obtained by
the previous dealers. The price is therefore enhanced
not merely by the amount of the duty, but by 30 to
40 per cent. additional, for the mercantile profit on
the duty advanced by the various traders ; the ex-
pense of collection is also exceedingly heavy ; so
that, putting the question of justice aside, the
very first condition of a judicious impost
is violated, the burden being much heavier on the
tax-payer than would be required under a wiser
system. But its impolicy is the least of the objec-
tions. Equal justice should be rendered to all, re-

gardless of the consequences ; no degree of expedi-
ency can justify gross and flagrant robbery. A
pickpocket will not be excused, because it was
expedient for him to obtain possession of another
man's property ; nor can the tax-payer be exempted
from censure who unfairly endeavours to shift the

liabilities from his own shoulders to those of his
neighbours. A wealthy man cannot,' by a pos-
sibility, consume taxable articles in proportion
to his income. A person with ten thousand
per annum will not require ten times the
quantity of tea or coffee, beer or spirits,
sugar or tobacco that would be used by another with
one thousand a year, nor still less, one hundred times
the amount of a person with but one hundred per
annum. Such a person, even if living according to

his resources, will not contribute to the revenue more
than fire or ten per cent. of his income at the outside,
while one of the middle class must devote 25 per

cent., and a labourer 40 or 50 per cent. of his earn

ings to the same purpose. Besides, the former is en-
abled to evade the responsibility, if he thinks proper.
He may restrict his consumption within the nar
rowest limits, or, if he thinks proper, re-
tire to the Continent, and expend the pro-
ceeds of his estate, or the dividends of
his stock, without paying a single shilling
for Customs or Excise duties. The middle-class man
and the operative are unable to cut down their ex-
penditure on those articles of primary necessity, nor
can they abandon the scenes of their daily labours.
They must have their tea or coffee and sugar, for
breakfast, beer or spirits at dinner, and cigars or
tobacco in the evening. They cannot sit down to a
single meal, or enjoy a single comfort or luxury, on
which a tax has not been rigidly enforced, and
goods of inferior quality are taxed as highly as the
very best that can be procured. The half-starved
sempstress must pay at the rate of 2s. 2id. per pound
on her bohea, the first cost of which was probably
notr more than 4d., while the countess will only
pay the same on the high-priced pekoe or souchong.
The former contributes at the rate of 800 or 900 per
cent. on the value of the article, while the latter only
gives 70 or 80 per cent. on the same.
On close examination, it will be found that the
same rule is observed throughout the entire system.
The necessaries of the many are taxed at a much
higher rate than the luxuries of the few, and the
great burden is therefore imposed on those who are
least able to sustain it. Such a system would never
enter into the mind of any lawgiver or financier, if
he were about to provide the ways and means for the
national expenditure ; but the iniquitous sys-
tem has grown up by degrees until it has
reached its present monstrous proportions. The
various taxes were imposed from time to

time, according to the exigencies of the moment,
generally during war periods. The legislative body was
composed of men in the possession and enjoyment of
large fortunes, who desired to lay the greatest portion
of the charge upon their humbler brethren. The
real amount was not so easily detected, as if there
were a more direct application; it seldom entered
into the consideration of a labouring man to question
the justice or propriety of his being obliged to devote
so large a portion of his earnings to public purposes,
or if the question was raised, he was speedily silenced
by the specious fallacies put forward by interested
parties. The eyes of the people are at length opened
to the iniquities that have been practised ; they will
no longer remain contentedly to be fleeced at the will
of a Minister sustained by an obedient and subser-
vient majority. The voice of public opinion will be
heard, and must be respected in high places. The
necessary concessions must be made, and chief amongst
these will be a speedy revision of the fiscal system—
the total abolition of indirect taxation, and the sub-
stitution of a direct tax on accumulated and realised
properties, calculated according to the actual capitalized
value thereof.

DEPARTURE OF THE COURT PROM OSBORNE POE
WINDSOR CASTLE (THIS DAT).—We understand
that her Majesty and Prince Albert, accompanied by
the Royal children, and attended by the Lady in
Waiting, the Hon. Misses Kerr and Dawson, Major-
General Bowles (Muter of the Household), Major-
General Wemyss (Equerry in Waiting), Lieutenant-
Colonel F. 11. Seymour (Equerry to the Prince),
Colonel Bulkeley Drummond (Groom in Waiting),
and the Rev. H. M. Birch (tutor to the Prince of
Wales), were to leave Osborne this morning, and
cross to Gosport in the Fairy, Royal yacht, and
thence by special train of the South-Western Railway
to Windsor Castle. The Court is expected to arrive
at Windsor Castle about five o'clock, where the
Queen will shortly dispense her hospitality to a dis-
tinguished circle.

THE SUICIDE IN BBYDGES-STREET.-Mr. Bedford
held an inquest yesterday at the Bill Tavern, Welling.
ton-street, Strand, on the body of Richard Bagshaw,
the news-agent, who committed suicide on Sunday
morning. The jury returned a verdict of " Temporary
insanity."

LONDON,

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The Committee appointed to consider the demand
made by the
.Ministry for a supplementary credit to
defray the expenses of the Roman expedition would,
it was said, be enabled to present its report to the
Assembly on Thursday, in which case the debate
would probably take place on Monday next.
M. DB FALLODX) who up to yesterday was convales-
cent, has had a relapse, and it is doubtful whether or
not he will be sufficiently recovered to take part in the
approaching discussion.
The Legitimatists and parti pretre are intriguing to
break up the Ministry and to substitute for it one of
an obscurantist character, which would enter into an
alliance with Russia for the immediate restoration of
the Count DE CHAMBORD by an armed intervention.
It is said that they have recently been coquetting
with M. DE LAMARTINE, but the great poet-states-
man is, we feel assured, too good a Republican, and
too honest a man, to lend himself to such a nefarious
scheme, notwithstanding his admitted predilection for
a Russian alliance. The PRESIDENT of the Republic
appears to be acting exceedingly well, and to be giv-
ing his support to the moderate Republican section of
his Ministry.
The National, which considers a Ministerial crisis
as inevitable, thus comments on the criminal folly of
the reactionnairee:— _ _ _

" Well, then, since the criminal folly of reactionary
factions condemns France once more to the hazard and
uncertainties of a convulsion; since they will fight
against the revolution, and against the people and their
rights; since they will substitute, in place of pacific and
regular progress, the question of retrogradation to the
past by compression and by violence; we cannot but feel
thankful that the situation has assumed a form so clear
and so defined between us and our adversaries. We
should not have spontaneously taken oa ourselves the
responsibility of such a struggle and its infallible conse-
quences. But they will drive the democracy of February
to the combat, without other alternative than that of
defeat or victory. Be it so! we accept a necessity, which
is only dreadful for those who impose it upon us. On
their head be the responsibility before the country ! On
them the coat of that future which they are preparing
1 for us!"

The Constitutionnel and the Ordre both state that
there is every probability that the differences between
Austria and Turkey will be settled without war.
Austria will not suffer herself to be dragged into war
by Russia if she can avoid it.
The Assemblie Nationale says :—A person usually
well informed affirms to us that the Government
ought to recal a part of the army of Italy. It
intends leaving, we are told, 10,000 men at Civita
Vecchia, and a single regiment is to occupy St.
Angelo, the Spaniards being about to enter Rome.
All that, it is said, has been decided according to the
wish of the Pope. The French Government desires
to hasten on some conclusion to the affAirs of Rome,
being anxious to announce, on the day of the discus-
sion, a solution in conformity with the will of the
majority who desire the proprio motu.
PARIS BOURSE.—TIIISDAY, OCT. e.
The feeling which is generally entertained that the
affair at Constantinople will end satisfactorily has given
some increased firmness to the market tc-day, and prices
have again improved; Threes for the account closing at
55f. SOc.; and Fives at 881.5 c. The market closed as
follows:—Threes, for cash, 55f. 85c.; for account, 55f.
80c.; Fives, for cash, M. ; for account, 88f. 5c.;
Bank of France Shares, 2,3171. 50c.; Neapolitan,
881:; Spanish Threes, 341. 50c.; ditto Fives not quoted.
RAILWAYS.—The Share-market has also become
firmer, and prices are rather better. Orleans closed
at 7351; Rouen, 525 f.; Ilavre, 2451.; Avignon, 215 f.;
Vierzon, 2901; Bordeaux, 402 f. 50c.; Strasburg and
13e.s e, 101 f. 25c.; N4rtbern,43or.; Paris and Strad barg,
3471.50 c.; Nsates, 2851.; Montereau, 112150 c.
BUSINESS DUNE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE. Ocr. 9.

The only transaction that to k place to-day was —Northet it
of France, 3% dis.