The Sun.
London, England, 1847-05-22 00:00:00

consequence of this ineffective interference on the
part of the British Go, ernment remains involved in
the most profound obscurit• . So far we have acted
as a generous nation should act towards a friendly
nower; but we cannot conceive for a moment
that the Ministers of our Gracious SOVEREIGN will
have the temerity or the cruelty to proceed fur-
ther by sendieg out an armament for the assist-
ance of Queen MARIA and the conquest of a
people who have arisen as our ancestors did in 1688 ;
especially as the Portuguese are less stringent than our
forefathers in the sacrifices demanded in expiation of
the abuse of the monarchical authority. We would
not rest contented without the dethronement and
expatriation of the Sec: id JAMES, they are only
solicitous to associate the system of national repre-
sentation with the moderate regal supremacy of
MARIA DA GLORIA. We declared emphatically and
definitively for WILLIAM of Orange, they have
sedulously abstained from pronouncing in favour
of Dom MiGuee. Now, leaving ont of the question
the religious differences which were prevalent in
England at the close of the Stuart dynasty, we main-
tain very distinctly that the Queen of PORTUGAL has
proved immeasurably more culpable in her behaviour
towards her suljects than did JAMES IL towards the
population of these islands. Knowing, therefore, in
its fullest extent, the culpability of MARIA DA.
GLORIA, we cannot but regard with a sentiment ap-
proaching to admiration the moderation of the de-
mands made by the principal men of the still pre-
vailing revolution ; and we are loth to imagine that
the liberal Cabinet of Lord JOHN RUSSELL would
proceed against a cause so national, so patriotic, and,
as we have just intimated, so moderate as that of
which the Junta is the acknowledged centre.
Whether it be from a natural indignation arising
from that abstract principle of justice which influences
every reasonable man, on the contemplation of such a
spectacle of mal-administration as that which has long
been -visible in the Palace and the Minis-
terial apartments of Lisbon, or whether it
arises from the kindred feeling inspired by our noble
and benignant constitution, it is certain that oursym-
pathies are enlisted to the very uttermost in the for-
tunes and position of the insurgent thousands of Por-
tugal. Hitherto the commanders of the Junta have
done nothing whatever to render odious the cause in
which they have taken up arms ; and most assuredly
their opponents have as yet acted in no way to jus-
tify them either on the score of policy or humanity.
North of the Douro and south of the Tagus the pro-
vinces of Portugal are in the undisputed possession of
the insurgent armies ; the Castle of Vienna has been
occupied and its Royalist defenders captured ; Ma-
deira, Terceira, and Fayal have revolted against her
MAJESTY'S Government ; even the capital is in a
state of deplorable ferment, if not of open insurrec-
tien ; the soldiers of SALDANIIA are visibly dimi-
nished in number and perceptibly deteriorated in
character ;—the consequence of all this must be the
ultimate submission of Queen MARIA to the demands
of the Junta unless there should be an armed inter-
ference on the part of Spain and England. Such an
interference, at least on our part, we are most un-
willing to anticipate.

The questions brought forward by Mr. MOFFATT in
the House of Commons on Thursday are well worthy
of, and we trust will speedily receive, the attentive consi-
deration of the Government, with a view to the removal
of the grievances by which the distilleri of British
spirits are injuriously affected. The 'many , heavy
charges on the National Exchequer, the depreciated
state of the Money Market, and the monetary embar-
rassments of the country, afford sufficient grounds for
the present opposition of the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer to any propositions, from the adoption of which
even a temporary diminution of revenue might be
sustained. He has already brought forward his
financial statement for the year, and he will have.
no means of providing fer any deficieneies that might
be occasioned by the introduction of new regulations.
This, therefore, may serve as a sufficient reason why
there should not be an immediate change in the
system ; but if it appears that its effect is
to create a gigantic monopoly, to cast the entire
trade of the country into the hands of a few firms of
enormous capital, to impose undue restrictions on the
trade of the Scotch and Irish distillers, and, finally,
to compel the consumers to pay a sum far more than
an equival:•nt for the corresponding benefit to the
revenue, a case is neele out for an early change, by
which these evils may be obviated.
The first objectionable point relates to the differences
that exist ia the warehousing privileges with rest ect
to colonial and British spirits. The former can be
bonded, and the producer or importer is not required
to pay the duty thereon until he has found a pur-
chaser and it is about to be brought into actual con-
sumption. It is unnecessary to say how great are the
advantages derivable from this regulation, more es-
pecially
when it is considered that the duty
amounts to 200 or 300 per cent. on the
original value of the article. The same fa-
cilities, however, are not afforded to the Scotch
and Irish distillers. They must pay the duty
within a certain limited time, or submit to
great disadvantages. They are compelled to charge
their customers a profit on their entire outlay, not
merely on that occasioned by the production of
their goods, but also on the Excise duty.
Compound interest at the rate of ten or fifteen
per cent. per annem on the amount of that
duty is therefore immediately added to the
charge which must be defrayed by the con-
sumer. But this is not the only, or even the
chief mischief: by reason of those stringent regula-
tions the entire trade is placed in the hands of a
few large capitalists, A% ho are enabled to regulate the
retail prices, and practically to exclude the Scotch
and Irish from entering into competition. We desire
no advantages for our home producers ; we have
never joined in the cry of protection for any branch
of cur manufactures. All that should be accorded
is a clear stage and no favour, but to that they are
manifestly entitled. It is no longer a demand for
protection, but for justice to British interests
The second hardship to which the British listiller is
subjected is, that duty must be paid on all spirits
going from the distillery to be rectified. Mr. Moe-
FATT suggests the propriety of permitting that spirit
to be rectified in bond for exportation, and also of
allowing rectified spirits and compounds to be ware-
housed for exportation; in other words, that in place
of the exporter being allowed a drawback on
the quantity sent out of the country, that no duty
whatsoever should be paid, certain restrictions being
adopted . to prevent the commission of fraud.
The only conceivable ground on.-which these vexa-
tious regulations can be justified is, that it would
otherwise be impossible to protect the revenue. If
this difficulty can be satisfactorily provided for there
is an end at once to the opposition. We are
convinced that these are not insuperable obstacles,
and that every objection can be adequately met.
The Excise authorities, however, are not the parties
who should. be permitted to adjudicate on the ques-
tion ; they will naturally oppose any alteration by
which additional trouble would be imposed on their
department. A Parliamentary Committee, who would
have the fullest opportunity of examining witnesses
on every side, is the fitting tribunal to decide on
matters so materially affecting any branch of the
commerce of the country.

The general slothfulness of Governments in
taking the initiative for the removal of public
grievances is proverbial. Aide-toi et Dieu Caldera,
is a maxim of which the people should never lose
sight. Whse reformation is required they should
strictly depend upon themselves and on the g.od-
ness of the cause they espouse for success, without
Pliking any reiiance upon the voluntary efforts of
t‘nveron in
u gh t power.
If the evil
under the sanction ofcoamnpn
any
authorised
of be
Public body of vast iinrfleauence, and its members
de-
trimental to their pecUnitaaruyiteimoetedryestsw,outlod
rperloyveuponshould consider the de.
their smooth prollnihseescoisndtiot
of itnihnetEto resting upon
t to the monopoly of salt lament
paabn broken k;
with
h r reed.es p e
cr
srensretvr
lalytni odiias M.P. :Io- :
ably attests the truth of these
foobr
1834, Mr. GEORGE WILBRAHAM,
South Cheshire, brought th:s matter under the con-
sideration of Parliament; the evils of the system were
then clearly elucidated, and the fairest assurances
were immediately proffered that the entire subject
should be carefully reviewed, in order to rid the
Indian natives of the harsh and cruel consequences
entailed upon them by the existence of this inicputous