The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-11 00:00:00

ettelliltd Int

LONDON, FRIDAY, APRIL 11, 1851.

In the House of Lords last night,

Lord BROUGHAII introduced ;Bill conferring an ori-
ginal equitable jurisdiction on the judges of the County
Courts.

The Mutiny Bill and the Marine Mutiny Bill were
read a third time and passed, and their Lordships ad-
journed.

In the House of Commons,

Mr. DISRAELI stated that the object of the motion of
which he bad given notice for to-night was to sesure to
the farmer exemption from the house-tax.
In answer to MT. ANSTEY,

Lord PALMERSTON said that he had officially protested
against the proposed incorporation of all the States of
Prussia and Austria in the German Confederation.
Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH moved the resolutions of
which he had given notice, on the subject of colonial
policy. These resolutions were to the effect—first, that
steps ought to be taken as speedily as possible to relieve
this country from the civil and military expenditure
now incurred on account of the colonies, excepting only
the military stations and convict settlements; and, se-
condly, that there ought to be given to all but those last
named dependencies ample powers for local self-govern-
ment, so as to set them free from the imperial inter-
ference with their affairs, which is inseparable from their
present military occupation. The Hon. Baronet con-
tended that a saving of 1,600,000/. might be effected upen
our military colonial expenditure, which at present
amounted to 4,000,000/. per annum, and that a consider-
able saving might also be effected in our civil service.
He went very minutely into the details of the military
expenditure of the various colonies, and spoke at length
respecting the Kafir outbreak, which he attributed to the
frontier policy of Sir H. SMITH.
Mr. URQUHART seconded the motion. _

Mr. HAWES contested the accuracy of the statements
of Sir W. MOLESWORTD, and protested against the adop-
tion of the course proposed by the Hon. Baronet, which
would be practically an abandonment of our colonial em-
pire, and greatly endanger our commerce.
Mr. ADDERLEY supported the motion.
Mr. STANLEY insisted upon the necessity of maintain-
ing Jamaica as a military station, which, from its vici-
nity to the Isthmus of Panama, would soon become of
the utmost importance.
Mr. COBDEN called upon the representatives of agri-
cultural constituencies to support this motion, if they de-
sired a relief from taxation, and contended that the co-
lonies would be willing to defend their own frontiers if
they were permitted to govern themselves, and that there
was no danger that in such a case they would sever the
connexion with the mother country.
Lord J. RUSSELL considered that the question at issue
was not a mere financial question; it involved the
maintenance or dissolution of the empire ; the na-
tional honour was deeply interested, for it would be
tarnished if, under pretence of giving them self-govern-
ment, we abandoned the defence of our weaker colo-
nies; if we abandoned them, eager rivals would take
possession of them. He admitted that in many of the
colonies the defence of the frontier might be confided to
a local militia, and that was an object of which the Co-
lonial Minister had not lost sight.
On the motion of Mr. HUME, the debate was adjourned
till Tuesday, and the House adjourned.

There will not, however, be such perfect unanimity
on the second part of the motion. Many, including
the metropolitan Members—no inconsiderable or un-
influential body—will demand the total and uncon-
ditional repeal, of the tax—that it shall be abolished
without any substitute whatsoever. The present is
undoubtedly a much fairer proposition than that
brought forward in the first edition of the precious
After the elaborate statement submitted to the Budget. That recognized and attempted to per-
House of Commons last evening by Sir WILLIAM petuate the evils of the existing system. It reduced the
MoLESWORTH, no further misapprehension can exist amount by one-third, but it made no alteration whatso-
as to the precise extent or character of our colonial ex- ever in the apportionment, so that the grievance
penditure. The community can no longer be hood- so loudly and so justly complained of, as to the in-
winked in reference to this as to so many other re- equality of assessment, would be continued in all its
ported grievances. Statistical details have at length naked enormity. No person could have adduced
been furnished through the assiduous inquiries and more cogent reasons against that very system than
indefatigable researches of the Hon. Barenet the Sir CHARLES WOOD himself in his second speech.
Member for the metropolitan borough of Southwark, He fully admitted that " the fairest mode—the mode
and, accompanied by the corrected evidence of the most consistent with principle—is to impose a uniform
Under-Secretary in the Colonial Department, these duty upon old and new houses." He had not the
details may be regarded with some degree of reliance courage, however, in the first instance to act accord-
even by the most incredulous politicians. There cer-
ing to his own convictions. He was afraid to per-
tainly does exist on the very surface of the investigation
form an act of simple justice lest he might have
such a very remarkable and bewildering discrepancy, excited a clamour among those residing in
that some effort is required, in the first instance, to
better class streets, whose assessments might
enable us to estimate correctly the amount of our an-
possibly be increased thereby. He, therefore, deli-
nual disbursements for the support of the colonial
berately and advisedly abandoned what he considered
civil and military establishments. When it is con- to be more just and equitable, in order to avoid an
sidered that, according to Mr. HAwas, the gross sum interested outcry from a few, who having long con-
annually expended for this purpose throughout the tributed less than their fair proportion, would desire
colonies does not exceed 2,358,0001, out of which still to be benefited at the expense of their less for-
-661,0001. are devoted exclusively to the military tunate brethren ; and this is the Minister who, in
stations and the convict settlements, leaving only another part of the very same speech in which he made
1,697,0001. for the ends above-mentioned ; when it this damaging confession, declared that it seemed
is remembered that in direct contradiction to this Sir to him to be "his clear policy, his duty, his
W. MOLES WORTH calculates the civil expenditure alone best and only practical course, to propose
in the colonies to reach 500 0001., and the military to that which he honestly deemed right to
exceed actually 3 000,0001.—having increased to the House, and having made such proposal,
that amount from 1,800,0001., as it was in 1832 to abide by it." It won't do, Sir CHARLES. That
not inclusive, be it recollected, of another million for may do for the members of that gallant corps who
the payment of those soldiers at home for the non- are supposed to possess an extraordinary degree of
effective services—some notion may be formed of credulity. You may tell it to the marines, but it will
the difficulties in the way of arriving at any satisfac- hardly receive general credence when we find it ex-
tory conclusion. If we take the assertions of the pressly contradicted by yourself in the course of the
malcontents as conclusive, we must perforce re• very same oration.
gard the squandering of the public mo- The question for the House to determin owever,
neys as extravagant beyond the reach of is not the comparative merits of the two prV'itions,
palliation. If, on the contrary, we view the declare- —it is whether there should be such au l''''' us
Lions of the Government as incontrovertible, We distinction maintained between houses and all °G-L.2
must still consider the disbursements complained of descriptions of property, real or personal, as that the
as unnecessarily exorbitant, and as requiring a very former should be compelled to pay a direct tax of 64speedy and comprehensive reduction. Nevertheless per cent. on the valuation, while others are only
it remains for us to decide in some manner as to the charged 3, or more properly, 2 11-12 per cent. If
veritable nature of the grievances which our financial there is to be a property-tax, we do not see why
reformers are anxious to destroy in connexion with that tax should not be imposed equally on all kinds
the Colonial Department of the Administration. of property, without exception or drawback. There
Before we can reasonably expect Ministers might be some reason perhaps for charging personal pro-
to coincide in any way with the demands perty that was not subject to local rates for the relief
of economizing innovators it becomes necessary, of of the poor or other purposes, which are levied to the
course, to point out explicitly and even minutely the extent of 12,000,0001. or 13,000,0001. per annum, with
extent of the desired improvements, and consequently, an additional per-tentage, so as to equalise the burdens
for the better advancement of this, to enumerate the as nearly as possible ; but there can be none for placing
actual evils against which we are declaiming so very the addition on that which is already liable to
loudly. All this we cannot but think has been really the heaviest demands. It is therefore unfair and
accomplished by Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH in his unjust to impose a new house-tax. Far better, if it
masterly speech of yesterday, for, in spite of the were absolutely necessary to obtain a substitute for
blunders committed by him in one or two instances
Sche-
(blunders not to be marvelled at, considering the mul- the window-tax, to increase the charge under
tiplicity of the facts enumerated, and the extraordi- doles A and Cof the income-tax to ls. in the pound,
a change which would more than compensate for the
nary confusion in which they have hitherto
abolished impost, and enable the Minister of Finance
remained), his remarks comprise a vast
to relinquish the taxes on knowledge and cleanliness,
accumulation of unanswerable truths brought for-
wattl with considerable logical acuteness, and adduced or at least on advertisements, and paper, and soap. There are also strong objections justly entertained
with admirable candour for the scrutiny of the House
to the exemption of all houses below the value of 201.
of Commons, and in the presence of her MAJESTY'S
per annum, which are to be altogether exempted from
Government.
the tax. That tax is one that would fall, not on
Without any question, Mr. COBDEN correctly in- the occupier, but on the owner, as it would unques-
sisted last evening upon the folly of depending as tionably be taken into consideration in settling the
much as we have done heretofore upon the influence amount of rent to be paid for the premises. Now,
of our pecuniary liberality, or rather, we should say, that owner may be a man of large fortune, and we
of our monetary extravagance, with a view cannot understand why the proprietor of 100 cot-
to connect this country the more intimately tages, worth 181. per annum each, should escape, while
with its enormous and scattered possessions. the proprietor of a single house, worth 501. or 1001
Better and wiser would it be incomparably per annum, should be liable to the additional assess-
to bind our colonies more strongly to ourselves by the
went. There should not, in fact, be any exemption
ties of a common descent, by the influences of equal recognised in a direct tax on property—all should pay
laws and of identity of language, rather than attempt in proportion to their means. A great deal of fraud
w
to effect the same miracle by the paltry bribes of a
would be avoided by the recognition of this salutary
civil and military expenditure. True undoubtedly it
principle, and there will be a greater temptation to
is, as the Prime Minister objected, in the course of that fraud, as the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER
d
yesterday evening's discussion, that such links cannot declines to bind himself to any particular assessment,
always be welded between England and her either that of the poor-law or property ; but " will
trans-oceanic territories—referring, as he Sac-
adopt that which in the particular district would re-
and
knowledged, to such colonies as the Cape present most accurately the real annual value of the
the two Canadas—but in the majority houses." This leaving matters in doubt, in order
of cases it must be obvious that such a line of
proceeding is at once practicable, and not only prat- that the co: lector may extract the largest possible
,
ticable, but preferable for a variety of considerations amount from the tax-payers, will occa-
sion the greatest heartburning and litie
to the peddling policy hitherto employed for the pur-
poses of our colonial government. While, however, gation , • there will be constant complaints
we are fully satisfied that such a principle of action
as the one here sketched out by the Honourable and- appeals from the valuation, which would
be avoided if either the poor-law or the property-tau
Gentleman the Representative of the West Rid-
ing of Yorkshire is the most wise and politic, carry
valuation were selected as the basis of the charge.
Sir CHARLES WOOD, however, appears determined to
we would shrink unquestionably from any such im- out every proposition in the most 'unwise and
elicit confidence in its sufficiency as to advocate the impolitic manner, that it may be executed, as it is
conceived, in the narrowest and most paltry spirit.
daring project of Sir "WILLIAM MOLESWORTH, where
The exemption, too, besides being unjust, is i _repo,-
11-1;-- suggests, for examplef, the withdrawal of
nearly all our troops rom our Australian licit. It is calculated to produce the evils so graphi-
cally depicted by Lord ASHLEY in his admirable ad-
possessions. Not that we can at all confound,
dress respecting the dwellings of the humbler classes,
as Mr. HAWES did rather surprisingly last evening, ito which we have already directed the public attention.
the scheme of retrenchment advocated by our finan-
It will prevent the erection of large buildings, to be
subdivided among numerous families, who may have
vial reformers with the virtual abandonment of the 1
colonial empire of Great Britain. To protest against
far greater conveniences in such dwellings than they
,
an annual squandering of 2,000,0001. or 3,000,0001. could have in separate cottages. The window-tax
is formerly operated most injuriously to their interests
assuredly
upon the military establishments of the colonies,
'll d
somewhat more rational than to suggest the lin this respect—its substitute
wi. pro uce a similar
g
propriety of abandoning those colonies to the cupidity 1
result, although in a smaller de nee. The object
or ambition of the more enterprising states of Chris-
ri should be to economise the sp e
prevented
ou which such
tendom. When the
Member for Southwark is in-
buildings should be erected, but this will b t d
veighing against the folly
of disbursing 1,000,0004 i by the impolitic exemption to which we hove itllticied.