The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-16 00:00:00

their revenue was raised from the land. Why, how fiscal burdens of the country cannot be too fully or
could Sweden or Denmark raise revenue except from i too often discussed. That there are crying grievances
the land ? (Hear, hear.) He mentioned France.
cannot for a moment lie rontradictto or denied. The
The proprietors of land in F,ance contributed to I
the direct imperial revenue of the ccuutry 7,500,0001. entire system of taxation is erroneous; and defective.
sterling. But they complained in England not It rests on an unstable and rotten foundation. It is
that real property paid a particular tax, that based on injustice and cannot be rearded
it contributed its due proportion to the impe-
, g
rial revenue, just as the land of France did, but as permanent until a more equitable prin-
that, besides, it was forced to raise a second revenue for ciple be introduced, until every citizen shall
the
hear.) publiclt was impossible, service to the extent of 12,000
his broa d •000L—(11?
view ar, contribute according to his means to the main-
of the facts of the case, that any of those partial state-
tenance of the national establishments, and the liqui-
ments and arguments they had been amused with could dation of the national liabilities. That is the golden
at all be tolerated. Gentlemen opposite had raised up an rule that should be brought into operation as speedily
amusing antagonist, and then destroyed it. But when a
possible—its justice, its expediency is recognised
nation was suffering, their Parliamentary tactics were
things beneath contempt.—(Cheers.) It was a fact, that by all ; none could be found with sufficient hardi•
the fourth of the income of the country had the painful hood to question the propriety of such a system. But
duty of levying a second revenue for the
.service of the, unfortunately, here the unanimity ends. Each per-
state. It was a fact, that the greater portion of the real
property of the country was in a state of unparalleled de- son is full of the hardships to which his own particu-
preasion and intolerable suffering.—(Cheers.) It was a hr class is subjected ; he expatiates loudly on cases
fact, that it was in that state owing to the changes ceased of individual hardship, and endeavours to cast a portion
by their legislation.—(Cheers.) And it was a fact, that
that legislation had been changed for the benefit of the of the burden from his own shoulders upon those of his
privileged portion of the people of England.—(Cheers.) neighbour, who is perhaps unable to sustain the
Me must tell them that these were things which they weight to which he is already subjected. A more
would not endure.—(Cheers.) They must understand
that the real property of this country would no longer statesmanlike, a more general view should however,
be taken.
consent to contribute two republic revenues.—(Cheers.)
He said this in no spirit of acerbity or heat.—(A laugh.) " Afelius est petere fontes guam sector i rivulos."
He told those who laughed that in violent counsels they In place of discussing minor details, and inquiring
had advised conciliation—(Cheers) ;—that, if they had
en-
chosen to stimulate the passions of suffering multitudes, into the circumstances of particular imposts, the
they might have produced a very different resolution tire taxation of the country should be investigated,.
from that which had been brought forward. Let not any The amount of the charges and the outgoings of
suppose, if they voted against it that night, that the con- every description and character, by whatever name
troversy was ended. Let them not suppose that they were
to be intimidated by the menaces of the Hon. Member they may be known, should be ascertained. Having
for the West Riding.—(Cheers.) He would tell them thus determined the lowest amount that would
that the only consequence of the rejection of that resolu- be required, the charges should then be equitably
tion would be a proposition conceived in a severer spirit
of justice.—(Cheers.) By some combination of parties assessed, so that every member of the body politic
the Government might extricate themselves from the should bear his just and fair proportion of the general
embarrassment it might occasion them; but let them not burden, according to his power, and to the protection
suppose that the suffering landed interest which they had and benefit he receives. This is the only mode by
for years been conspiring to injure—(Cheers)—that the
various classes of that interest would renounce for a mo-
which a measure adequate to the emergency can be
ment every chance they had to find a remedy from the obtained. If all who felt themselves to be aggrieved
legislature of the country.—(Cheers.) They would have under the existing system united in
-the demand, no
in the end to do that suffering interest justice, and he Government could venture to reject the ap-
warned them that before the session ended they would
~ . . .
for the third time be appealed to.—(Cheers.) Like the Plication. Divide et impera" is, however,
unknown strangers in the Roman legend, they would a well-known principle. One class or body
come; on the third time only one book would then re- of men are played off against another, and
main; but they would take it up, and on it would be in-
scribed, " Protected and regenerated England."— by fomenting their dissensions, and inflaming
(Great cheering.) their passions, the dominant party is enabled to keep
The House then divided:— both down. The power of the one is used as a de-
For
Ag Mr. Hume's amendment ... 70
ainst it ...
..• ... 394 fence against the aggressions of the other, and
Majority against ... ... —324 vice versa, and thus the general grievances are
For Mr. Disraeli's resolutions ... 189 maintained, the iniquitous and vile system is per.
Against them
petuated.
Majority against —9l
A stronger illustration could
_not be desired, than
Oa the motion of Captain HARRIS, the following
returns were ordered:— was afforded by the divisions of last night. The
Return of the line-of-battle ships (specifying their names, agricultural and manufacturing interests were
tonnage, number of guns, and the date at which they were arrayed in opposing ranks. All those, who with
launched) which have been broken up, sold, wrecked, burnt,
converted into hulks or depots, or otherwise rendered unfit the Honourable Member for Buckinghamshire,
for active service, between the Ist day of January, 1815, and believed that the owners and occupiers of real pro-
the Ist day of January, 1849 ;
Average of the periods during which the above ships have perty were unduly taxed, who desired a more equal dis-
been fit for active service; tribution of local taxation, flung their weight into
Account of the origina cost of construction, and of the the Ministerial scale, in order to defeat the amend-
subsequent repairs of each of the above ships ;
And, Return of the number of line-of-battle ships annually went of the Honourable Member for Montrose. The
launched during the period specified above. 189 supporters of Mr. Disnlam swelled the Govern-
The House adjourned at a Quarter to Three o'clock.
ment majority by their votes. The numbers, con-
sequently, were against the amendment 394, for it
70 ;, whereas, if all who desired inquiry, and a
change of system had co-operated together, the
numbers would have been against the amend-
ment 394 --189 = 205, for it 70 plus 189 = 259 ;
or, in other words, a majority of 54. On the divi-
sion on the resolutions, the defeated party fully
returned the compliment. The 70 Reformers
achieved the Ministerial triumph by their votes. Had
it been otherwise, the glorious victory would have
been converted into a signal defeat. There would
again have been a decisive majority, 189 plus 70=259
would have outnumbered 280-70=-210. The de-
sired investigation would thus have been obtained,
and the side of truth and justice would ultimately
have prevailed.
It is, on this well-understood principle,
that we invariably find the leading men
of the different parties, those who are either actually
in the enjoyment of official rank and emolument, or
who anticipate the arrival of that happy period, oppo-
sing every inquiry unless the object of that inquiry is
clearly indicated. It is not sufficient to show the
existence of gross injustice, of grievous hardships,
unless the nature of the proposed remedy is clearly
indicated and explained to the House. It would
indeed be strange if it were not of such a character as
to excite the hostility or alarm the prejudices
of some few whose voices might prove suf-
ficiently potential to turn the nicely-balanced
scale. Thus we find the Right Hon. Member for
the University of Cambridge—a quondam and per-
haps a future Chancellor of the Exchequer—an-
nouncing to the effect that he could not consent to
go into Committee to arrange a change of taxation
unless he had a tolerably good idea of what that
change was to be. This is true official strategy, the
manoeuvre invariably resorted to. Mr. DISRAELI,
with an acute perception of the system, withheld his
project until he should lay it with all its
details before the Committee. He explained
the nature of the grievance he intended
to remedy, but he did not indicate the mode by
which it was to be carried into execution. It was
forthwith assumed that he contemplated an increase
of the property and income-tax, with all its inequali-
ties, and torrents of eloquence were poured out in
opposition to the phantom, and his motion was con-
sequently rejected. So it has ever been, and so it
will ever be, until those who are justly dissatisfied
with the existing state of things :agree to lay aside
their minor differences, and, for once at least, to
unite in obtaining a full investigation into the
general system, with a view to the removal
of every grievance. Why, we ask, might not all
parties coalesce in supporting a motion for the ap-
pointment of a Committee to take into their conside-
ration the general system of taxation, with a view of
ascertaining what changes, if any, would be expe-
dient and equitable ? Surely the suffrages of all
parties might be united to carry a resolution that
would not pledge the House to the adoption of any
particular course, but which would give all classes
and interests full opportunities of being heard in their
own defence. We offer this suggestion for the guid-
ance of those who are justly dissatisfied with the
present state of affairs.

rilE LEGAL TITLE ASSURANCE
COMPANY.
(Provisionally Registered, January 17, 1849.)
Capital, 2,000,000/., in 80,000 Shares, of 251. each.
Preliminary Deposit, 2s. 6d. per Share
Prospectuses and full information may be obtained at the Tempo-
zary Offices of the Company, 13A, Cannon-row, Westminster, on ap-
pl:eation to

G. F. HOWE, Hon. See., pro tern.

SAQ.WAZ SHAME .

MESSRS. WILLIAM LAMOND and CO.,
Stock and Share Brokers respectfUlly annouace that 'hey
continuo daily to BUT and SELL, by Private Contract, all descrp-
tloos of Stocks, English and Foreign, Railway Shares, &e.
Threadneedle-street. London, January 15, 1849.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.
The Nobility, Subscribers to the Opera, and the Public, are
espectfully informed that

TO-MORROW EVENING
Will be presented Rossini's Opera,
LA CENERENTOLA.
The principal parts by
Mdlle. Aiboni (her first appearance at this theatre),
Mdlle. Pollonia, and Mme. Grimaldi ;
Signori Gardoni, F. Lablache, and Beletti.
To conclude with, first time at this Theatre (the Scenery by Mr,
Charles Marshall) the celebrated Ballet, entitled

LE DIABLE A QI/ATRE.
In which will appear
Mdlle. Carlotta Grisi, Mdlle Mario Taglioni, and
Mme. Petit Stephan, Mdlle. Carolina Rosati,
M. Paul Taglioni, M. Charles, . Louis D'Or ; Mdlles. Thevenot
Julien, Lamoureux, and Aussandon.
Applications for Boxes, Stalls, and Tickets to be made at the Box.
office, Opera Colonnade.

QT.
)0

JAMES'S THEATRE,
Season 1849.
FRENCH PLAYS and OPERA COME/WE.
THIS EVENING,
maces will commence at Right o'clock precisely, with
RICHARD CCEUR DE LION.
To conclude with Auber's admired Opera,
CONCERT A LA COUR.

According to an opinion expressed by the cele-
brated American essayist, RALPH WALDO EMERSON,
immediately on his return from Great Britain to the
United States—the chief characteristic of English-
men is pluck I And there are certainly two associ-
ations situated respectively in Yorkshire and Lan-
cashire who have within the last few days been en-
deavouring to afford the remark something like a dis-
tinct verification. Unfortunately the penalties of
their contention must have fallen in the first instance,
in the event of any disaster, upon the public. It
may be all very pleasant for the pointsmen
or switchers of two belligerent lines of
railway to have a tussle about the pas-
sage of a train,—it may be capital fun (and
doubtless it was capital fun) for the engine-drivers of
the East Lancashire Company and of the Lancashire
and Yorkshire Company to back their locomotives,
buffer against buffer, and try who could conquer or
blow up first—it is possibly an agreeable as well as a
:
and
iiefile ccao Ttons across an
ui
facetious mode of interrupting the monotony of rail-
way duties to erect temporary fortifications
I t
r sa ea adrp Cor-
poral tc as Uncle
arterial
ca
os
nstrcomplacentlyucted
dhes
TRIM in
the skittle-ground at the end cf the shrub-
bery
but all that we would im-
plore of railway
directors and their subor-
dinates, whenever they may in future feel dis-
posed to recreate themselves with these innocent little
explosions of pugnacity, is, that they will avoid im-
perilling the lives of her MAJESTY'S lieges, and inter-
fering so very rashly with their general convenience.
As luck would hare it, the quarrel which we are about
to submit to consideration was attended with no
melancholy catastrophe, although the most fatal con-
sequences might have resulted from the insane
wrath of its promoters. It is from this circum-
stance alone that we are enabled to regard with
a feeling of good-humoured derision an occurrence
that might otherwise have excited merely horror
and indignation.

From the accounts which have already been pub-
lished, in reference to the recent dispute between
those two great northern associations, it would appear
that the East Lancashire Company have been per-
mitted,until towards the close of last week, to run their
trains over three or four miles of the line belonging to
the Lancashire an dYorkshire R ail way—affording com -
pensatiou for that privilege by paying certain stipu-