The Sun.
London, England, 1851-03-01 00:00:00

t° state, I not only did not tender, but I expressed my dis- !
t
h:_,"".9 opinion that, at the present time, a dissolution was im-
;r",'T'ble- I have already stated the circumstances under
theich , letter I now hold in my hand was written. Her I
t 9eo3ta said that she presumed I should have no objection
to. hat had taken place between her Majesty and myself
nn; stated to Lord John Russell, to whom she was about
1 0..
,10eavean audience; and shortly after I arrived at my own
in compliance with her Majesty's desire, I sent this
ta 'meat of what had taken place to her Majesty, in order
ia Prevent the possibility of any misconception. Now reports,
are industriously circulated, that before I had sent
stit_lrhat was assumed to he my resignation, namely, this
,(r.enlent of facts, her Majesty had either sent for other
isers, or that Lord John Russell had, wholly uncalled for,
_erest himself upon her Majesty's attention. The facts
;all; that at half-past four o'clock I communicated to her
IJe3tY my desire to be relieved from taking office; at half-
nt!at dye o'clock Lord J. Russell was sent for to the palace ;
3at half-past six this statement of what had taken
shee Wasp by her Majesty's desire, communicatel to Lord
. a Russell I mention these facts, in order that it may
heot b •
5 supposed by any portion of the public that
tletrer Majesty Communicated with one Minister, while ano-
e„ Person who had been charged with the responsibility
at,_
"LuPtlng to form a Govrnmet had not resigned that
ty
ta4lw and that, on the other hand n,
L ird John Russell had
teritinilitibe Presumptuous step of forcing himself upon the at-
wit, of the Sovereign while negotiations were going
.on
oleo., another person whom her
.Majosty had intrusted with
duty
of forming an Administration. I might here stop,
are --r as the personal explanations which I am able to melee
Stcee!n,cerned ; but I cannot do so in the present strange
to so °I political affairs, without adverting r a few moments
orre,'" of those leading topics which appear at this time to
il;Znlt an insuperable obstacle to. the union of public men.
lh am mortified—that I feel it as a mortification—that
enavesloyen unable to form a Government which could carry
to tactorily the affairs of the country, I will not pretend
ent",enY; but I trust your Lordships will not suppose that I
wards
to
hostility, apart from political differences, to-
ev‘e ds those to whom lam politically opposed. I may, how-
hetrt'ibe permitted to express my regret, not upon personal
ie 1)41 Public grounds, that I was unsuccessful' in form-
g
broti a
which ;right, I think, have
Pena to Administration
to a satisfactory i•sue two or three im-
blo,-kiltrluestions which appear to be the great stumbling-
re, to at the present moment. It may be presumptive in
lay sloe "Y so I might, perhaps, have been deceived in
andcta.tions; but, having no object in concealment,
time finking that a frank declaration of opinion at this
to
tittleublic men—(Hear, hear)—may not be injurious
iitl? country. or to the possible successors of one who
the "ed in framing an Administration, I will step out of
theZdinary course, which, under other circumstances, I
had Pursue, and will frankly state the course which, if I
ale,,,Tn enabled to form a Ministry, I should have felt it
quettiuoesirable to adopt with respect to these important
eOaatr ns•—with reference to the financial conditionof the
otierivi• With reference—as combined with the financial
ard 4- to the relief of agricultural distress, and with re-
'o that all-imo Noble
question which has been stated
I to
Point oble Friend above me to have been the main
Nei etruationpon which he found it impossible to form an Ad-
how. I begin, then, by saying, that financially I
one to be an object not only of vital importance but
Pledged 'which the faith cf successive Ministries has been
teng., that the income-tax should not be permitted to de-
peel
into a permanent tax.--(Hear, hear.) In 1842 Sir
per introducer Introduceo that tax. He introduced it for a limited
Leto' With the express declaration that it was to enable
eoteit"ratlal With other portions of the financial system of the
asill a mode which he hoped would raise the revenue to
thatqtl,4litY with the expenditure, and he pledged himself
cote:" the expiration of that period the income-tax should
soar Hear, hear.) Without that pledge there is not a
lA42,'"lng who believes that the House of Commons, in
a ttx w,°tlld have consented to the imposition for an hour of
or warWnith has always been held to be the resource in time
tires hear)—which has always been deprecated in
Altar Peace, and which, take it as you will, levy it as you
`Noon' ;nun be full of anomalies and inconvenience., pressing
sOrtiolisr,'Y upon different classes of the community with a
teraieZated injustice that no modification can altogether
tlie t Sir Robert Peel anticipated, when he proposed
1.1:14, that it would be continued for five years; but,
fort drat instance, he asked Parliament to sanction it
Woakfee years, expressing his assurance that Parliament
the tt not refuse to continue it for the remainder of
stiookeledttring which he believed it would be necessary,
leek circumstances prove that the system was working
• was The Sear 1848, when the renewal of the income-tax
threr°Posed, was a period, as your Lordships will recollect,
tt.() deePeat distress, following immediately upon the (Us-
' It 1,44 Year 1847 ; and, to maintain the credit of the country,
aRi absolutely necessary to continne it. But we have now
aebt Mti,,,at a very different state of things. We have, in the
,wit• hi—se,'ance, a surplus of two millions and a-half to deal
gr3o we have a state of general prosperity in the coun-
ttlab dT° not wish to deny the existence of that prosperity,
bath fear I see indications in some quarters that it is
" Perm
..rdshi, anent or as fully established as some of your
gen '8 may imagine. But, when the country is in a state
4•500,„,;5rat Prosperity, when we have a surplus revenue of
!Ike and at the expiration of nine years from the
4eratheuen the income-tax was imposed, I hold that a
either' renewal of that tax, without any security taken
tirtn- , for it, modification or abolition, would be
tioeriatiklY declaring that the income-tax shall be saddled
loco, trl country for ever.—(Hear.) When I remember,
ow, at the Chancellor of the Exchequer declared in his
sityf that there were various other classes of the commu-
Wipe° well entitled to relief as the class which paid the
hallo th '47 duties and that he stated that when he had disposed
PaPer dt;ties the tea duties, and the tobacco duties, and
preparalized the system' of taxation generally, he would be
vetto deal wito the income-tax, I think it is not as-
wedL'ion' """.„ much to suppose, that if Parliament had again
"eingtA,`" renewal of the income-tax without any steps
tBe;ed ti;,,811 for its limitation, they would virtually have im-
ore ta x upon the country permanently. A short time
t'ood to h" introduction of the Budget it was generally tinder-
alc ha-Ltbe intention of Ministers to renew the income-
opth -" alteration, and there was a very general feeling
their 8 Part
e of many persons in favour of an opposition to
the ne.tax, while they demanded the total abolition cf
that jir,nd.°4' duties. I took the liberty of stating at that time
rusitiaver would be a party to any step or measure in op-
toeet.4l Which, if I were charged with the responsibility of
rea4tnent, did not sea my way towards being able to ac-
eot;',4—(Hear, hear)—and, believing that the credit of i he
Of th:7 would not at this moment bear the entire abolition
ter.' Income tax, I stated that I would not support a mea-
the' which would leave a deficiency of at least 2,500,0001. in
sbourievenue. I was, however, of opinion that a course
tette be taken declaratory of the determination of Perna-
of I, to deal with the iticon:e-tax as rapidly as the state
shonle., national finances would allow, and that its reduction
so),° not be rendered a matter of impossibility by frittering
terfeoeverY surplus as it arose. I believe that, without in-
soisting with the credit of the country, dealing with the
ISoes, surplus, without attempting to alter or reduce other
• „r‘TI we understood), in the course of this year a reduc-
-lotea-Lu'oni one-third to one-half in the amount of the
die„.„--t4x might safely and beneficially be effected. I was
'44" that Parliament should, by some resolution, pledge
it▪ et:' the gradual reduction of the income-tax, with a view
4%3.051 abolition, and I should have been prepared, if the
oil -"'d devolved upon,me, to recommend Parliament to grant
°YO4• I.lltib a renewal of that tax as would reduce its amount
toP▪ leVuird or one-half, and I should have been prepared
'stile myself that any surplus revenue that might arise
lila 44411 the.first instance be applied towards the reduction
.41e), .. extinction of that tax. But I may go further, for
▪ le,erilte now that which I was not justified in stating-
-1,41111t4l"I did not feel called upon to state—in answer to an
-oto,nlade to me a few nights ago by a Noble Lord who is
Present. I will take this opportunity, therefore, of
-11„3' vie-a,ing to your Lordships, fairly and frankly, what are
-4‘ess, -,4,and intentions on the subject of agricultural (lis-
t-me lanai bold it to be an admitted and undisputed fact that
it-fa is at this moment the only suffering interest, and
otreriptiolaisuouring under an amount of taxation of various
tar exceeding the amount which falls upon
..40t oat'asoes of th Inanity. I believe also - and it will
the-hsontradieteedortibink,- by any one - that the result
11114,,1 th-a"sare of 1546 for the total repeal of the corn-laws,
an -o.llnrestricted introduction of foreign corn, has
ra.ted e"eet upon prices tar more extensive than was e.x-
-anthll'o_e ex,-tensive than was d.es. and more extensive
4441. "nssibly have been anticipated ba, he framers of
erne When the corn-laws were repealed, it was asserted
stances eltvoured to be proved, that, under ordinary circum-
' ei°7ll4l4ir°4l the state of foreign markets, the price of corn
of:* or ep; °4 an average, fall below 48s. We now see it at
t0441114e•c.1 and, with n.o desire to check the free exercise
.13s, •-• with no desire to reverse the general policy of
oor,otoiereiai
a system introduced by Sir R. Peel, I say that,
:104 e.orsin-g a Moderate duty upon the importation of fo-
•8 eo You miitht raise a very considerable revenue for
lat Intr‘• While
yo Pelee -f• you would not materially raise the exist-
lealt Wow?, Produce to the consumer—(Hear, hear)—but
that kir., y the acquisition of a duty of 1,500,(410/ or
to`tt, object enable the
referredGovernnientmore rapidly to effect
▪ eorn_to which I have .as
.of great advantage
inunity at large—the extinction of ,raet• not hesitate, therefore, to say that if itwere found
.11104tatiaine4brie• as I think it would be, to effect such a corn-
Ireall e.` the system of taxation as to place all classes
ero7tred. Perfect level, then, according to the best
• '5-4 authorities, 't is not adverse to the principle of
Jetted etle to • lee'
-to aa Impose, in favour of the class. which is sub.
Iktatnotint" undue share of burdens, counter% etling dutiesdto
ite„_teve tb..aufficient to meet those burdens—(Hear)— an I
itibvurt of' by the imposition of a moderate duty upon the
W -°l4lt nee°r4 and provisions you might raise such an
°Ohl so taxation as, at the close of the year after this,
hen4le
the 8 the • the country altogether, and I trust for ever, to
a income-tax I venture say that that relief of
4:1
t xtt -nees of the con try, and theremOval of that pressure
Zte:ll)l4eti" ;..• would infinitelyn and immeasurably exceed any
"eerl it-r"ling alteration in the price of food--and trifling
trot aratt-must be—which could touch the consumer. I do
tai
't° enter u the general question. I express my
is ?It, ()Pinion thatPon the the question of Protection, or, if you
ontnie sell. question of the unrestricted import of provisions,
5e "11 mustsettled by the country—(Cheers)—
theN and for be
is Inv ever—(Renewed cheering)—whenever an ap-
eit,, Present" to the country for its decision. I cannot take
lin': cheers, Policy as more than an experiment—(Hear,h
in ,next
.11? the course of being carried out. S oul.d
1„....nt00n oieLtion prove that the sense of the country is
asion rof the perfectly unrestricted import of all pro-
t°ll4trei' Unaccompanied by those duties which in other
kttiel ea are
Veit es, an, imposed for purposes of revenue upon all
aio extent" which in this country are imposed, and to a
tlit ard' ulx,!n articles of prime necessity for
that be
Opi,iY ulterior to that of bread itself, I say, if that be
11lieae,' of the country at the next election, I for one, and
res,„e`ue majority of your Lordships and of Parliament,
41011:141.......ctMe1y bow to that expression of the sense of the
etn", of tbeV±l.;ar, and cheers) But until I see that expres-
vrayete.2!eling of the country, when I find that the
than
4t, working an amount of evil far greater than
4t, icipet_ilated by its opponents—certainly greater than I
milt
_urinyEelt; I cannot as an honest man abandon the
h,re.tier_
ielieve the exisitng distress Weave the imposition of
taboor Meort duty upon corn. h been told that
th!f. io 8 I 3 classes in the agricultural districts are well off.
itn°l•toolartlMe tounties and districts tiistress has not reached
alat'essiale'reao soon as it has touched his employer ; but it is
tetieli the
eior labourers to continue in a state of prosperity
ete tit hi, emP.loYer of labour is daily, weekly, and hourly
clittnnoesitaaPaal diminish anti his means dwindle away,
itnaoti. as it is for a river to continue to flow if you
ki,Pologa o.eosPrings by which it is supplied. I feel that
dopeulle to your Lordships, particularly upon such
doroebtratiat,7llbis,for venturing to state incidentally, but I
a„tetedl views I entertain, and the policy which un-
Whi44 of sir iott pursue. have
.no
.desire to reverse the
lo modify it in th.os!tctasesrien.
:41einve.e1.11:141(itifitilatieornt Pweoeulid I think, largely rec,rui
erre;tttero to"lu2 you: to take. off unjust taxes, as I con-
collet': the aroro_ might not injure the consumer, and might
seenioß
tsCsa of. that ruin which I foresee rapidly
ost important class of this country. O. ne
Illittit,,gl44ienvporierintahin important question of Papal aggression.
has stated his strong conviction that no
Itrest mess should be adopted now, or at any time, for
roooling reli •
eriegY then frls opinion. No man can feel that more
tinctiO" sboulcia'borrnore entirely concur with my Noble
tt of an_ e e the last man to consent to the intro-
teutrot.4‘ll.._ azure which deprive any portion of
treedd full 'zero* of their