The Sun.
London, England, 1848-03-07 00:00:00

TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH l, )848.

consent to remove the Bank restrictions, in order to
bring the rate of interest below eight per cent.
There was another tax in which a considerable in-
crease might bo obtained at a less cost, perhaps,
than by any other means. An additional penny on the
postage would prodnce, he believed, 850,0001.—(Loud
cries of " No, no.") Why, that would not be so great
a grievance as the income-tax.—(Hear, hear.) When
the reduction was made, it was estimated by the pro-
moters that within three years the number of letters
would increase 51 times, and that 2i millions would be
added to the revenue ; but had these predictions been
fulfilled ?—(Cries of " Question," and "Divide.") The
question was, whether or not the country was to have
imposed upon it for three years longer the income-tax,
which had been extremely odious to the coun-
try, and not the less so because on each pre-
vious occasion of its being put on first ia
1842, and then again in 1845—the country bad
been distinctly promised that it should be but for a
short time.—(Hear, hear.) Faith had not been kept
with the country in this matter, and the people were
dissatisfied, as they had a right to be when states-
men deceived them by false promises.—(Hear, hear.)
Either they must retrace their steps and raise taxes
from foreign imports, or, if the luxuries as well
as necessaries of life were to bo reduced, let them take
25 per cent. from the incomes of those who lived on the
taxes of the country.—(Much cheering, mingled with
cries of " Divide") When they feund the wages of the
Spitalfield's weaver reduced 20 to 25 per cent—whe
20,000 operatives were out of work in Manchester for
months together, and these meetings of which he had
an acconnt in his hand—(ob, oh)—but would not read
at that late hour, were being held to consider whether
or not the operative 3 of Lancashire and Cheshire were to
be sent across the Atlantic to share the fate of the
wretched Irish ethigrants—(Hear, hear)—they must
not allow the large birds of prey to escape scot jfree
with their large salaries and cheap luxuries.—(Hear,
and cries of " Oh, oh" " Question," and "Divide.") If this
was to be made the cheapest country in the world, cheap
because the wages of labour were ground down to the
lowest possible rate, let the aalaries of those who fattened
on the public taxes be reduced also. Lot 25 per cent.
be taken off the salary of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland,
who, being a free trader, himself, could scarcely object
when it was necessary to maintain his own views.
And let all the other public officers suffer a similar re-
duction.—(Hear, hear.) What he recommended was to
allow this income-tax to remain another year, and in
the mean time ascertain whether they could not reduce
the expenditure of the country without impairing the
efficiency of our establishments, and, if not, whether
they should re-impose this tax for a still longer period
or have recourse to a different system of taxation alto-
gether.—(Hear, hear.) He would conclude] by calling
upon his friends around him to remember
"That an honest man might once take bad advice,

But idiots only could be deceived twice."

Mr. BROTHEIiTON, amid loud cries for a division,
moved the adjournment of the debate.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER hoped
a division would now be allowed to be taken.—(Cries of
" Go on," "Adjourn," and " Divide.")
Strangers were ordered to withdraw ; but after a
few moments they were re-admitted, no division taking
place.
Mr. WILSON said, though he should be sorry to in-
commode the Government, yet this being the stage at
which many Hon. Gentlemen who had not yet spoken
were anxious to express their opinions, he could not—
especially after the speeches of that evening—which had
given the debate a turn some. Hon. Members had not
expected—(Hear, hear)—think it proper that a division
should be taken until all who wished to speak should
have had an opportunity of doing so.—(Hear, hear.)
Sir G. GREY observed that if the Hon. Gentleman
did not propose to address his remarks to the question
of whether the tax should be continued for three years
or one year, but to the general question, he would have
full opportunity to speak hereafter.—(Hear.)
Mr. DISRAELI called upon the House to remember
that the Right Hon. Baronet (Sir R. Peel) had been
entering into the merits of the new commercial system
to which he and his friends believed the present defi-
ciency was owing. It was necessary, therefore, they
should have an opportunity of showing their belief that
there would, but for that system, have been no necessity
for this tax.—(Hear, and cries of " Divide.")
Mr. WILSON intended to speak to the motion
before the House—that of the period for which the
tax should be continued, for in that the whole question
was involved.—(Hear.) He agreed with the Right Hon.
Baronet that if they did not continue this tax it would
be impossible to carry out the policy which had of late
years governed the House.
Mr. WARLEY was decidedly in favour of an ad-
journment, though not on the same grounds as the Hon.
Gentleman who had jest spoken. If the tax was to be
continued for three years Government was bound to give
some substantial reasons for it, which they had not yet
done.—(Hear.)
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER con-
sented to the adjournment, and
The debate was then adjourned till Friday next, and
the House resumed.
PASSENGERS BILL.

Mr. LABOUCHERE having moved that the House
go into Committee on this Bill,
Sir P. Nugent, Sir F. Burke, and other Irish Mem-
bers, urged its postponement, which was opposed by Mr.
M. J. O'Connell, Mr. Maunseli, Mr. Aglionby, and Mr.
Cardwell, on the ground that as the emigration season
was approaching, it was of great importance that the
question should be settled, as much evil would arise
from further delay and uncertainty. Mr. Forster and
Mr. A. Stafford thought it would be better to give up
the Bill altogether, as there was no probability of its
being passed for several weeks. After a conversation
which lasted half an hour on the propriety of going into
Committee, Mr. Virawn, who said he was opposed to the
Bill altogether, moved as an amendment, amidst much
laughter, that the Speaker leave the chair that day fort-
night.
The House divided, when there appeared—
For the motion
For the amendment .
Majority —93
_ _

The House then weiit into Committee, but

Mr. WAWN protested against their beim called upon
to proceed in Committee with a Bill which had only been
delivered that morning, and moved that the Chairman
report progress and ask leave to sit again.
Mr. LABOUCHERE felt that the interests of
humanity demanded of him to persist, if supported by
the llouse—(Hear, hear, and cries of " Go on")—more
particularly as he had reason to believe that it would be
generally concurred in by the shipowners.
Captain ELLIOT said he would sit there until four
o'clock in the morning if necessary, in order that the
Bill might be passed through Committee.
Sir R. FERGUSON, although opposed to the original
Bill, supported it in its amended form.
After some discussion, as to the evils of further delay,
Mr. Wvivri consented to withdraw his motion, and the
Bill passed through Committee.
CONSOLIDATION OF PRISONS.

On the motion of the ATTORNEY.GENERAL, a
Bill was brought in to amend an Act for consolidating
the Queen's Bench, Fleet, and Marshalsea Prisons, and
for regulating the Queen's Prison.
AGRICULTURAL CUSTOMS COMMITTEE.

The following Members were appointed on this Com-
mittee :—Mr. Pusey, Mr. Nowdegate, Mr. Stafford, Mr.
E. Denison, Mr. T. Egerton, the Earl of Arundel and
Surrey, Mr. Henley, Mr. Hayter, Mr. Bouvorie, Sir C.
Lemon, Mr. W. Miles, Mr. Colvile, Mr. Burroughes, Mr.
Drummond, and Sir J. Trollope.
The House then adjourned at a Quarter past Two
o'Clock.