The Sun.
London, England, 1848-02-28 00:00:00

CASTLE I3AYNARD WARD.

On Saturday a numerously attended meeting of
citizens residing within the ward of Castle Baynard
was held in Mr. Johnson's Rooms, Sermon-lane,
Doctors'-commons, for the purpose of taking the
necessary steps to oppose the Ministerial proposition
with reference to the income-tax.

The chair was taken by the Alderman of the ward,
S. Wilson, Esq., who, having briefly opened the
meeting, called upon Mr. Newton, the clerk, to read
the requisition.
This having been done,
Mr. Deputy Elicits proposed the following resolu-
tion :—" That this meeting views with the deepest
indignation the proposition of her Majesty's Govern-
ment to increase the income-tax from three to fire
per cent., and more particularly in the present de-
pressed state of the trade and commerce of the coun-
try." He (Mr. Flicks) made this motion with great
pleasure, conceiving as he did that the Government
were not justified, under the circumstances alleged by
them, in increasing the tax upon the income of the
industrial classes. If they had made out a case for
an increase of taxation, it was not upon those classes
struggling along the up-hill of life that such a tax
ought to fall. The tax, if any was imposed, ought
to have seized upon real property, and not upon the
capital of the working man—his labour.—(Cheers.)
He cordially moved the adoption of the resolution.
Mr. JAMES BAILEY seconded the motion, which
was unanimously passed.
WILLIAM PRITCHARD, Esq ' High Bailiff of South-
wark, then moved the second resolution, which was
to the following effect—" That the meeting is of
opinion that if the funds in the hands of the Govern-
ment were judiciously applied, sufficient would be
found to meet the expenditure of the present, and the
deficiency of the last year, without adding to the bur-
dens now laid upon the people." He considered the
proposition of Lord J. Russell to be of a most monstrous
character, utterly impolitic, and altogether unwise.
Why was not a tax (if it was required) laid upon pro-
perty ? And why were not the stamp, probate, and
legacy duties equitably arranged ? If they were,
considerable assistance would be given to the funds,
and the required sums would be forthcoming for
national purposes, without so unjustly taxing the
people ?—(Hear.) With reference to France, he
would say, it was not worth the while of the English
people to talk of " national defences," finding as they
did that day, from the intelligence the newspapers
conveyed, that they (the French) had quite enough
to do to defend themselves. With respect to the
course for the meeting to pursue, as to the Ministerial
proposition for increasing the income-tax, they must,
as one man, declare they would not have it, and that
the Minister must rescind his determination of raising
funds in such an objectionable and unwarrantable
manner. He coincided with the resolution, which he
most heartily recommended the meeting to entertain.
Mr. CARLIN having seconded the proposition,
The CHAIRMAN said that he was of opinion that,
unjust as was the proposition of the Prime Minister
with reference to the increase of the income-tax, he
(Mr. Alderman Wilson) did think that a tax upon
income, in a modified form, was an equitable, though,
like most other taxes, not a very palateable tax.
But the whole of the machinery required to be re-
vised. Was it right, he would ask, that two men,
who, as he (Mr. Alderman Wilson) well knew, -were
in the habit of realising 30,0001. per annum from
business, should be exempt ? Why, these very men
did not spend 2,0001. in any single year in their lives ;
surely then they ought to pay an income-tax for
State purposes. He was of opinion that a property-
tax ought to be imposed, and an income-tax also ;
but let no parties be assessed to the latter, without
they receive at least 3001. per annum. To bring
the line of demarcation lower was to perpetrate an
injustice at all times, for the tendency of such a
measure was to crush enterprise and impoverish the
respectable, industrious, struggling man placed in
those classes of society most valuable to the nation.
As to the bugbear about the " national defences,"
why, what were they told that very day by the
morning journals ? Why, that a meeting had been
held at Brighton, one of the most exposed parts of
the British coast, one thousand persons had declared
that they lived in perfect security, and had no fear
of French, or any other, invasion. True it was
that in England there would be taxes to pay, but
unjust imposition would not, and indeed could not,
be tolerated. The power of the public voice had
caused the abolition of the corn-laws, and of other
onerous taxes ; that voice had only now to be unitedly
expressed, and the measure for the increase of the
income-tax, if not the tax itself, would be as a " tale
that was told."

The resolution was then put, and carried without
a dissentient voice.

It having been unanimously decided that a petition,
founded upon the above resolutions, should be pre-
pared, and forwarded to one of the City Members for
presentation,
Thanks were voted to the worthy Alderman for his
conduct in the chair, and suitably responded to, when
the meeting was dissolved.

THE WARD OF ALDERSGATE WITHOUT.

On Saturday afternoon a wardmote of the ward of
Aldersgate Without, which was numerously attended,
was held in the board-room of the General Dispen-
sary, Aldersgate-street, " for the purpose of petition-
ing the House of Commons against the proposed
increase and continuance of the income-tax." Sir
Peter Laurie, Knight, Alderman of the ward, having
been called to the chair, briefly addressed the meeting
in opposition to the proposed measures of Govern • .
ment, reference to the income-tax, and observed
that he felt great pleasure at seeing so large an at-
tendance of the inhabitants upon that important
occasion.