The Sun.
London, England, 1802-04-06 00:00:00

(Government to pursue; all Tie said, or meant to say,
I at that time was, that the Income Tax was a measure
much too important for the House to let go during
the continuance of the War, and he believed the Hon.
Gentleman then understood him clearly upon that
subject. He should be sorry also if the measure he
was about to take, was the result of a change in his
opinion, as to the policy of continuing this Tax had
the War continued, for, upon that subject, he knew
he differed from many Hon. Members of that House,
for whose judgment he had great respell, and for
whose principles he had' -great esteem, as well as
from many very worthy and intelligent individuals
in the Country : he was, however, bound to de-
clare his own opinion, and to add, it was his
thorough and entire conviction, that it was to the
wisdom which originated that Tax, and the firmness
which induced the House to persist in it, the Coun-
try was indebted for the comfort we now had; for it
was by that system we were enabled to surmount
the difficulties with which, during the last three
years, we had to struggle ; and it was from that
convitaion also he now recommended that this bur_
then should not be left to rest on the shoulders of
the Public in time of Peace, because it should be re-
served for the important occasions which, he trust-
ed, would not soon occur, but which might occur
hereafter, and for which we should look forward as
a possible event, and for which we should always be
ready to provide. In that sense of the matter, he
should always look to this mode of impost to be
carried into effect, with little difference from that
which now subsisted, except as to such modifications
as might render it more efficient: he thought it
worthy of the credit and the charatter of this Coun-
try, to look forward to such a resource, in the
painful event of being obliged to struggle for its
honour, and maintain its independence against
hostile force, and when, no doubt, if it should be
the fate of this Country, at some future day, to be
called upon to put forth its tfaculties, it would
not he found wanting to itself. Not that he appre-
hended such a condition likely to be our lot soon ;
but he thought it his duty to state the sentiments he
entertained on this subject—sentiments which he
believed he should never change. He had now,
however, the satisfaCtion of proposing an exonera-
tion to the extent of this impost for the People of
this Country. He had stated, it was his painful
duty to suggest to the Committee, the Taxes by
which he proposed, that interest was to be provided
for 97,934,4371. and he should commence this head
of what he had to submit to the Committee with
observing, what indeed the Committee would be
aware of, that it was impossible to satisfy the claim
of interest on such a sum, without proposing Taxes
which must, from the nature-of things, bear very
hard on the People of this Country. He should
only attempt to deceive the Committee, in which
he should be miserably deceived himself, if he either
thought or endeavoured to speak otherwise. All
he would, upon that subject, ask of the Committee
was, to follow up the principle which had governed
otr conduCt of late years, and particularly in the
course of the present War, that of looking at our
Debts and Engagements, and the whole of our
affairs, fairly its the face, and to consider of the
best means of furnishing the interest to the capi.
tat of the Debt. rt was in that view he had
to consider the subjeCt at present, and to sub.
mit to the Committee the means by which that
interest should be provided, and when he had
done so, the Committee would consider the pro-
priety of such means; and, he had no doubt, would
adopt them, unless it should be found that the same
purpose could be answered by imposing something
that would be less heavy on the People; but he need
not say that, in order to answer the purpose, they
must be equally effectual with those he had to pro-
pose e nor need he say, that if his measures were
found to be effeZtual, and none other could be found
equally so, and less burthensome, they would be
adopted, for that the mere consideration that the
Taxes must fall with weight upon the People, 'could
not be any reason for objeeting to them. That
must be a general objeCtion to all Taxes. There- ,
fore, without further preface, he should proceed to
lay before the Committee,