The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-29 00:00:00

The decision at which the Government arrived on
ascertaining this universal feeling is deserving of the
highest approbation. It is a course worthy of a Li-
beral Ministry, of those selected to administer the
affairs of a free and enlightened nation. They did
not persevere in an obstinate adherence to
the propositions they had brought forward.
They recognised the sovereign will of the people,
expressed through their representatives, and acknow-
ledged the right of those representatives to dictate to
the Government, and more especially so on a question
relating to taxation. The constitutional principle of
" no taxation without representation" never received
a stronger sanction or a more unequivocal admission
of its validity. Although the Right honourable
Baronet believed that the more prudent course would
have been to have complied with his demand, he
abandoned the proposition he had submitted to the
House, expressing, at the same time, the regret he
felt at the necessity which left him no alternative.
How different might have been the condition of
affairs amongst our continental neighbours had the
Guizot Ministry exhibited a similar submis-
sion to the public feeling of the country.
'We have seen the result of an unwise
resistance, which led, not merely to the overthrow of
a Cabinet, but the destruction of a dynasty. We
shall also see the consequences of a different line of
conduct in the additional strength acquired by the
Government who made so prompt and judicious a
concession to the popular will.
The Government now make no new demand upon
the pockets of the people. They, of course, reserve to
themselves the right of proposing some amount of
taxation which will equalise the income and expendi.
tune of the country ; every prudent reduction con-
sistent with the national credit and the national safety
should be mare in that expenditure. But, however
anxious we may be for a remission of the burdens
that press so heavily on the industry of the
people, any undue precipitation is to be avoided,
which might not eventually prove to be real
economy. The' estimates which by any possibility
could be cut down should be examined with the
utmost care. Everything approaching to extrava-
gance or waste should at once and for ever be got rid
of; but the efficiency of the several establishments
should be maintained, and full regard had for the
honour and dignity of this great nation. The
deficiency will probably be but of a tempo-
rary character, and the very fact that there
is a deficiency will induce every exertion
to bring our expenditure within our ordinary in-
come. No additional provision should be made until
a full investigation has taken place, and it. is made
manifest that no further reductions can take place.
Then, and not sooner, must we consider of the means
by which an additional revenue can be obtained. We
would not have a permanent deficiency, nor would
we cast upon our posterity the burdens which, in
justice and equity, should be sustained by ourselves.
Whatever is ascertained to be necessary mist be pro-
vided for, however great the difficulty in procuring
the necessary funds.
We are now only asked to renew the present in-
come-tax as it at present stands. There is certainly a
very material difference between retaining a charge
already in existence, and the imposition of a new,
or even the increase of an old one ; but still
the inequality of the pressure of the present tax, and
its injustice on a certain number of the payers is so
manifest, that some alteration should be made. The
Honourable Member for Glasgow, in his admirable
work on " the Progress of America," has shown that
in 1845 the amount of all incomes in Great Britain
above 601. per annum amounted to nearly
258,000,0001., of which " 200,000,0001. (or nearly
fourth.fiths of the whole) might be estimated as the
rents and profits of all realised property, viz., the
rents and profits of all lands, tenements, houses, con-
structions, funds, stocks, and shares, including fac-
tories, workhouses docks, shipyards, railways, canals,
public funds, Bank of England stock, East
India and South Sea stock, and the stock
and shares of all companies whose stocks and
shares are bought and sold in the market." It is
impossible to find a more equitable tax than one
charged on this description of property. At 5 per
cont. it would amount to ten millions per annum,
which would not only supply the present deficit, but
would enable the Chancellor of the Exchequer to
repeal the tax on light and air, and others that un-
duly press upon the industry of the people. An
equitable modification of the stamp dutieswou would also
produce a considerable addition to the national
which we trust will not be lost sight of when the
proper time arrives.

LAMA TINE is the soul of the Revolutionary move-
ment in Paris—he is the representative of the public
Opinion of France—he is the author, the herald, the
orator, the statesman, the genius of the Republic. In