The Sun.
London, England, 1824-03-05 00:00:00

[MORNING CHRONICLE.)

We have always supported the Chancellor of
the Exchequer in his propositions for the Free-
dom of Trade ; and we have done so from a con-
viction of the great advantages that must result
from it to the community. We therefore trust
he will go steadily on ; for should he desert his
own principles, he must expect to be deserted in
turn by those who approve of them, as well as
by those who disapprove of them. We offer
these remarks to the attention of the Right Hon.
Gentleman at this moment, when a very impor-
tant question is discussed with respect to the
equalization of duties between the rich and poor
in the important article of beer. At present
the most unjust principle is in operation with re-
gard to this article; for the poor, who ought
rather to be favoured than otherwise, actually pay
the tax for the rich : the former paying 5.55. per
quarter on malt, the latter 205.; and the way it
is disguised from the people is, by putting a tax
of two shillings and sixpence per bushel on malt,
and ten shillings per barrel on porter; arid in-
stead of making every class pay the tax on beer,
the rich private brewer escapes this latter tax,
while the poor working classes pay both, and, in
addition, pay for all the restrictions placed on
the trade, the purchase of publicans' leases, &c.
which forces on the retail purchaser a very con-
siderable additional price. If justice and free-
dom of trade be the rule laid down by the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, we trust he will con-
firm it when this question comes on next week.
When Mr. Maberly brought on this question (so
important both in its principle and results) last
year, not a tenable argument was opposed to him
even by Mr. Robinson, yet he was out-voted, not-
withstanding the new principle promulgated by
his Majesty's Government; we repeat it, if these
inconsistencies prevail, no one will have any faith
in the Minister's assertions. We would therefore
recommend to him consist-ncy ; for nothing can
retard the practical benefits to be derived from
the freedom of trade more than raising excep-
tions, when those exceptions cannot be supported
either by necessity or justice.

[BRITISH PRESS.
Mr. Canning laid, last night, on the table of
the House, most important papers relative to the
South American Colonies. They will be found
in our columns, and command unqualified inte-
rest and attention. The Right Hon. Secretary,
papers before the House.
when laying these

stated, that in the debate which took place on
the Address in answer to his Majesty's Speech,
at the opening of the Session, and that part of it
which referred to South America, it was then
stated that some time would he required to fur.
nish the papers necessary to convey a full infor-
mation to the House, as to the course Government
had pursued with regard to these Colonies. The
papers, the Right Hon. Secretary added, which
he then laid on the table, conveyed that informa-
tion; and he concluded by moving that they should
be read. These papers are, indeed, most import-
ant ; they detailed clearly and freely the en-
lightened and straight-forward policy of this
Government with regard to South America.—
We have read these important documents with
anxiety and attention, and the gratification we
have derived from the perusal has been full and
complete. They display a policy on the part of
our Government, mod erate,but fir►n,and every way
worthy of this great country. The right of Spain
to reduce her revolted Colonies to obedience by
her single force and arm, if she be equal to the
effort, is acknowledged, and that Great Britaiu,
with whatever regret she might view such a con-
flict, would yet consider herself bound to remain a
neutral spectator. But the strongest protest is
entered by our Minister against the armed inter-
ference of France, or the Continental Powers, or
any attempt by Spain to shackle the Colonies with
the exploded commercial restrictions which for-
merly fettered them, and which would interfere
with the extensive commercial relations that had
gradually (under the sanction of Spain herself)
grown up with these great Countries. Undereither
of these occurrences, a menace is made of the
instant acknowledgment of the independence of
these great Republics, and the armed resistance
of Great Britain to any Continental league is
more than hinted at. The appointment of Con-
suls to the different provinces is explained as
necessary to the protection of the rising com-
merce of Great Britain in South America ; and
Mr. Canning states, that the intended appoint-
ments had been frankly communicated to Spain,
some time before they were publicly announced.
The conference with the French Ambassador,
the Prince de Polignac, appears to have been
frank and decisive. The sentiments of our Govern-
ment were fairly explained,and the policy intended
to he pursued towards South America stated
without reserve or hesitation. The feelings of
the French Cabinet, as far as M. de Polignac
avowed them, appear to have accorded with this
country. The hopelessness of any effort by Spain
to reclaim the Colonies by force was admitted,
and a declaration made from France that she
only wished to have a fair participation in the
commerce of these countries, suffering Spain, as
we wished to do, to take the most favoured sta-
tion, and enjoy from her former power peculiar
privileges. There is, however some qua-
lification and doubt thrown on the sincerity,
of these sentiments, by the French Ambas-
sador's pointed allusions to the political situa-
tion of the South American Republic, and
the encouragement the alliance of this coun-
try might give to theories and feelings incon-
sistent with the state of the Continent, and the
feelings of the monarchs of Europe. This sub-
ject Mr. Canning wisely passed over, and, satis-
fied with the broad declaration of our policy, and
the concession of France to these views, he re-
frained from discussing any irritating minor dif-

ficulties. The proposition, by the Conde Ofalia,
of a Congress at Paris, to legislate between Spain
and her emancipated Colonies, and the invita-
tion by the Spanish Minister to this country to
be a party to such Congress, was also wisely
declined, on the ground that Great Britain had
already clearly and fully explained her views ;
and that, having once done so, there needed no
repetition of them at any such Congress. Such
is the history of this memorable diplomacy, the
records of which will be read with the deepest
interest. They are equally honourable to this
country, as an avowal of her enlightened policy,
and to her leading Minister, whose official acts
they are. There can now be little doubt that
South America will not be attacked by any Con-
tinental Confederation, and Spain is too feeble
for any serious effort. She will thus be enabled
to consummate her freedom and institutions in

almost complete tranquillity. This dispensation
she will mainly owe to the power of Great Bri-
tain, and the decison of her Minister. Her gra-
titude, we trust, will be commensurate.

THE Times.]
We have repeatedly spoken with severity of
the Chancellor of the Exchequer's new plan of
finance, not for what it has done in alleviating
taxation, but for what it has left undone—not for
the principles of financial policy on which it is
grounded, but for trying even a successful expe-
riment in foreign trade or commercial regulation,
to the obstruction or postponement of that im-
mediate relief from domestic pressure, to which
the expectation of the public had been so in-
tensely directed, and to which their long patience
under suffering had given them so just a claim. It
cannot, moreover, escape the attention of the
most careless, nor will it be left a secret to the
Chancellor of the Exchequer or the Parlia-
ment, that the benefits which may ultimately
result from the new scheme are not purchased
without counterbalancing evils, and that while
the public is not sensibly benefited as the re-
venue is diminished, partial interests feel them-
selves severely aggrieved. How wise, then,
would it have been to have abolished the window
tax in the first instance,—an undeniable and un-
equivocal advantage, against which nothing could
have been said, and of which no human being
could have complained,—and to have left to a
future opportunity, or to a more prosperous
period, the change in our commercial system.—
It is already known, that meetings of per-
sons engaged in the silk and wool trades
have taken place, and have adopted Reso-
lutions to petition the Legislature against
the financial plan, so far as it interferes
with their interests. To the remonstrances of
those bodies will now, we are assured, be added
that of the British distillers, who consider them-
selves injured by the reduction of the duty on
rum. As this latter class of persons will be sup-
ported in Parliament by the landed Gentlemen,
whose income will be affected by any diminution
of the demand for corn which may be occasioned
by the successful competition of rum in the spirit
market, and who (God knows) are always suffi-
cienty loud in calling attention to their own in-
terests, it would be superfluous
in us to enter up-
on any lengthened statement on the subject. The
following factslimwever,will show that thedist illers
with a case for the conside-
ration of the Chancellor of the Exchequer than
are not less provided
the silk or woollen manufacturers, to whose re-
presentations ryeforrnerly- alluded. The duty on
West India Torn ImPerted into this country is at
present I is. 7.1 d• at the strength of hydrometer
that on
proof, while the gallon of corn spirits
distilled in England is 10s. 6d. at 7 per cent.
above hydrometer
proof. It has hitherto been
the policy of Government to protect the British
distiller against ruin, by subjecting the latter
to a rate of duty
somewhat higher than that pay-
able Oil Spirits distilled in England. When, in
1819, this policy was partially abandoned by
raising the del (11 corn-spirit Is. 34d. per gal-
lon, the English distillers
loudly complained, and
were able subseq
nntlY to stand their ground only
by the low price 01 barley. It is inferior barley,
i principally, which s used in distillation ; and if
the market for such barley be lost by a reduc-
tion of the British distilleries, the agricultural
the consequences. interest will feel The Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, in opening the budget,
gave notice, that he intends in future to al-
low the introduction of rumat the same rate
of duty as that on british spirits, or 10s. 6d. a
gallon, thus making a reduction of Is. lid. from
lls. 74d. It is almost needless to mention that
in the West Indies rum is distilled from sugar
and molasses, and that, as a protection to British
agriculture, the use of these articles is prohibited
at present to the home distiller, though in sea-
sons of dearth corn has sometimes been prohi-
bited, and the use of these materials permitted.—
Now, say the distillers, if the spirit *lade in the
West Indies shall he admitted into consumption
in England upon an equality of duty, it follows,
upon every principle of justice, that the English
distiller should be allowed to use the same mate-
rials as the distiller in the West. Indies—namely,
sugar and molasses. The principle of equaliza-
tion, in order to place the parties on a level,
should go the length of admitting an equalization
of material as well as of duty, or it must be un-
sound.