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

GnSettatej.not only did not tender, but I
.expres.sed my dis-
opinion that, at the present time, a dissolution was im-
Pc,s?ible. I have already stated the circumstances under
tnich the letter I now hold in my hand was written. Her
flaiesty said that she presumed I should have no otjectiou
b.:t_shat had taken place between her Majesty and myself
stated to Lord John Russell, to whom she was about
to give
110,. audience; and shortly after I arrived at my own
statement
in compliance with her Majesty's desire, I sent. this
I,`atetaent of what had taken place to her Majesty, in order
_Prevent the possibility of any misconception. Now reports,
• see, are industriously circulated, that before I had sent
i°
what Was assumed to be my resignation, namely, this
aoiernent of facts, her Majesty had either sent for other
sera, or that Lord John Russell had, wholly uncalled for,
;:.I_lt himself upon her Majesty's attention. Tne facts
4111:e, that at half-past four o'clock I communicated to her
Jesty my desire to be relieved from taking office ; at half-
DaSt five o'clock Lord J. Russell was sent for to the palace ;
;id at half-past six this statement of what had taken
ate', was, by her Majesty's desire, communica'ed to Lord
-.di Russell. I mention these facts, in order that it may
Sot be
her supposed by any portion of.
.the public that
ther ajesty communicated with one Minister, while ano-
. Person who had been charged with the responsibility
atte •
. inPting to form a Government had not resigned that
takt4:o,
,a,nd that, on the other hand,. Lord. John Russell had
test. me presumptuous step of forcing himself upon the at-
met,lan f the Sovereign while negotiations were goin with
ad another person whom her Majesty had.intrusted
wetit! of forming an Administration. I might here stop,
ar Is the personal explanations which I am able to make
et: concerned pr
; but I annot do so in the esent
sloe of political affairs, a. a without adverting f few moments
I:me of those leading topics which appear at this time to
=sent an insuperable obstacle to the union of public men.
Ihsa,tltam mortified-that I feel it as a mortification-that
_
oo 'men unable to form a Government which could carry
risfactorily the affairs of the country, I will not pretend
estiY; but I trust your Lordships will not suppose that I
rtain
wards any hostility, apart from political differences, to-
ever
ktnose to whom I am politically-opposed. I may, how-,
but ' permitted to express my regret, not upon persona'
in uP°ll public grounds, that I was unsuccessful in fohrm;
Ve's 4,11 Administration which might, I think,
.av
Ll)Oat to a satisfactory issue two or threeim-
mepant questions which appear to be the great stumbling-
at the present moment. It may be presumptive in
my . say so ; I might, perhaps, have been deceived in
• atePectations ; but, having no object in concealment,.
tits. Plinking that a frank declaration of opinion at this
to -,ts'flitn public men-(Hear, hear)-may not be injurious
has fm:, country or to the possible successors of one who
the fame country
in framing an
.Administration, I will step out of
shoal remary course, which, under other circumstances, I
Lad Pursue, and will frankly state the course which, if I
lea4estYee, n enabled to form a Ministry, I should have felt it
.tisee .aesirable to adopt with respect to these important
toont,1"8--with reference to the financial condition of the
with reference-as combined with the financial
on _
to the relief of agricultural distress, and with re-
V; to that all-important question which has been stated
Point 7 Noble Friend above me to have been the main
" saini upon which he found it impossible to form an Ad-
ration. I begin, then, by saying, that financially
one to tQ be an object not only of vital imp& rtance but
pled' Which the faith f successive Ministries has beend
ter, that the income-tax should not be permitted e
itte.into pm tax.-(Hear, hear.) In 184.
.Simr
pe reel introduced that tax. He introduced it for a limited
timrto' with the express declaration.. that it was to enable
taunt deal with other portions of the financial system of the
rY in a mode which he hoped would raise the revenue to
thatqualitY with the expenditure, and he pledged himself
sl..aseat tfbre,
expiration of that period the income-tag should
teen Nuear, hear.) Without that pledge there is not
.a
1842, '7ing who believes that the House of Commons, mt.
tas would have consented to the imposition for an hurt. o
4. which
13f Ws, has always been held to be the resource in time
tirtie-"ofGlestr, bear)-which has always been deprecated in
plea Peace, Peace, and which, take it as you will, levy it as you
• Ntrio,,,linust be full of anomalies and inconvenience, pressing
eots„"., eiY,upon different classes of the community with a
rers,,"eated injustice that no modification can altogether
the t-l!e• Sir Robert Peel anticipated, when he proposed
ie th‘a, that it would be continued for five years; but,
fore first instance, he asked Parliament to sanction it
vroaidree
noteyars, expressing his assurance that Parliament
the refuse to continue it for the remainder of
Shoof,tiae.cluring which he believed it would be necessary,
Veil. ',circumstances prove that the system was king
teas Pro
P°sad, was a period, as your Lordships will recollect,
Stroh° "eePest distress, following immediately upon the dis-
It 'o4s Year 1847 ; and, to maintain the credit of the country,
• erriv •absolutely necessary to continne it. But we have now
first at a very different state of things. We have, in the
Vllthllls.„%ance, a surplus of two millions and a-half to deal
try 7e have a state of general prosperity in the coun-
ahosr,i! no not wish to deny the existence of that prospelity,
t I fear I see indications in some quarters that it is
4.oratiVennanent or as fully established as some of your
4,1 Rea.iPs InaY imagine. But, when the country is in a state
4,500,1,1,ai Prosperity, when we have a surplus revenue of
time '2l. and at the expiration of nine years from the
'arthe:aen the income-tax was imposed, I hold that a
' either renewal of that tax, without any security taken
Virtj for , its modification or abolition, would be
ItpesatiY declaring that the income-tax shall be saddled
too , loaf country for ever.-(Hear.) When I remember,
It the Chancellor of the Exchequer declared in his
aity'Lee that there were various other classes of the cornmu-
arieds7 Well entitled to relief as the class which paid the
had dillies, and that he stated that when he had disposed
orid . raper duties, the tea duties, and the tobacco duties, and
Prep`a(rltialized the system ot taxation generally, he would be
inins,el to deal with the income-tax, I think it is not a!i-
k_i'lottie'd much to suppose, that if Parliament had again
• 'ming
liken for
renewal of the income-tax without any steps
testa --e`,.en, for its limitation, they would virtually have n:ri-
s forettial` tax upon the country permanently. A short time
sa,..4t°°(-1 t Lintroduction of the Budget it was generally d
ofto- the intention of Ministers to renew the incorn
1/,_ll 1t,.,--atalteration, and there was a very general feeling
,_"ae eeLatt of many persons in favour of au opposition to
*tt,""a '"e -tax, while they demanded the total abolition of
that /1.440 w duties. I took the liberty of stating at that time
enaiti„""er Would were a arty to any step or measure
.in op-
' Bove °n Which, if Icharged with the responsibility of
' colt -.Meat, I did not see my
n' way towards being able to ac-
Wi•
-- ear, h ear)-and, believing that the credit of he
otos y would not at this moment bear the entire abolition
aurl% income tax, I stated (fist I would not support a mest-
Nc..Ythi7.l would leave a deficiency of at least 2,500,0001. in
' th:ievenue. I was, however, of opinion that a coursei
alestg he taken declaratory of the determination of Par ia-
Of th to deal with the income-tax as rapidly as the state
toee national finances would allow, and that its reduction
ild net be rendered a matter of impossibility by. fritterfng-
tstfe,rerY surplus as it arose. I believe that, without in
nOvith the credit of the country, dealing with the
tax:* surplus, without attempting to alter or reduce other
Net ro (a
fs we understood), in the course of this year a reduc-
istottom one-third to one-half in the amount of the
lesi4-taX might safely and beneficially be effected. I was
itself
t: that Parliament should, by some resolution, pledge
d e not
a gradttai reduction of the income-tax, with a
mtyh abolition, and I shoull have been prepared, if the
by kan devolved upon me, to recommend Parliament to grant
aa-e11.tt,114 renewal of "that tax as would reduce its amount
.4)1, Plea,,uird or one-half, and I should have been prepared
'uountle myself that any surplus revenue that might arise
hd finn, the first instance be applied towards the reduction
'alai-a' extinction of that tax. But I may go further, for
altt leaatetalte now that which I was not justified in stating-
,,-PPest , 4 did not feel called upon to state-in answer to an
got ts,,,,,,tninte to me a few nights ago by a Noble Lord who is
LlPlein"ir,Ptesents I will take this opportunity, therefore, of
Yies,-.g to Your Lordships, fairly and frankly, what are
and intentions on the subject of agricultural ds-
14 land ;hold it to be an admitted and undisputed fact thatd
114 it • `I at this moment the only suffering interest, ?.n
• . deseri •la
nous
• othtis ring under an amount of taxation of va
P
er el," far exceeding the amount which falls . upon
oft be of the community. I believe also - and it will
Me inel'tadieted l think; by any one • that the result
tae e-ure of 1846 for the total repeal of the corn-laws,h
.tt g.ltnrestricted introduction of foreign corn, as
e -ett neon prices tar more extensive than was ex-
extenaive than was desired and more extensive
.14111 Possibly have been anticipated by the framers of
ef.tlle4(ll. When the corn-laws were repealed, it was asserted
eiTates,roured to be proved, that, under ordinary circum-
aitl)deeirairi the State of foreign markets, the price of corn
t
of ter Bg.°ll an average, fall below 48s. We now see it
.a
thomaniner;; and, with no desire to check the free exercise
b .%/11 with no desire to reverse the general policy of
Inertial ' •
• rei.,eposinn, 83 stem introduced by Sir It. Peel, I. say that,
the° corn -6 a moderate duty upon the importation of fo-
b, tnbot Yon might raise a very considerable revenue
.for
,ZR prie.r.Y, while you would not materially raise the exist-
. •12„.,,,Atyysn'i°1 Produce to the consumer-(Hear, bear)-but
bY the acquisition of a duty of 1,500,000/ or
.714 eb• enable the Government more rapidly to effect
r the Jett to which I have referred as of great advantage
!ak. rloraunity at large-the extinction of the income-
' aPrastuo not hesitate therefore, to say that if it were
ofound
kateti leable, /
think it would be, to effect such corn-
' klPott 'al of the system of taxation as to place all classes
r-ee•tral Perfect , then, according to the best
' ree.tr-s.e authorities, it is not adverse to the principle of
Atted ale to imPose, in favour of the class which is sub-
, an to en undue share of burdens, countervailing duties to
Im belie punt sufficient to meet those burdens-(Hear)- and I
thato by the im
Position of a moderate duty upon the
Ott f corn and
t of taxation provisions yoa might raise such an
as, at the close, of the year after this,
4141 enable the country
_altogether, and I trust for ever, to
• the the income-tax. 1 venture to say that that relief of
financest,_ of the country, and the removal of that pressure
7iation, Would infinitel and immeasurably exceed any
tadeeue trifling alteration iYa the price of food-And trifling
must,be-wuich could touch the consumer. I do
S4NIL ant to en tee upon the general question. I express my
,o_l?inion that the question ot Protection, or, if you
le one the question-of the unrestricted import of provisions,
tee%
_which must be settled by the country - (Cheers) -
Nan It'd for ever-(Renewed ch.eering)--whenever an ap-
the hl% made to the country for its decision. I cannot take
;tan lea rsrt°sent policy as more than an experiment-(Hear!
4,`,4r5)-in the course of being carried out. Should
ors)-in election prove that the sense of the country is
isiZ.our of the perfectly unrestricted import of all pro-
toestrais unaccompanied by those duties which in other
titles " are imposed for purposes of revenue upon all
oast t' and Which in this country are imposed, and to a
404 kxtent, upon articles of prime necessity for consump-
the
o"arilly inferior to that of bread • elf ay, if that be
IwhaillittivnelOtnh:fre country at the nexittseleCtion,s I for one, and
majority of your Lordships and of Parliament,
coesTtesPectfully bow to that expression of the sense of the
entry 'oe Hear, and cheers) But until I see that ex res-
eeet the feeling of the try, when I find that hePpre-
„ seat_
an
tent is working an"'amount of evil far reatter than
aatiti--"ciPated by its o ponents -certainly grgeater than I
atte Patea m P
our yse f, I cannot as an honest man abandon the
t, re
41.1.0 relieve the exisitng distress by the imposition of
-e°e labe„a_t.e import duty upon corn. We have been told that
"4,oer, I,,""tig classes in the agricultural districts are well off.
some counties and districts distress has not reached
• in, labour
mi ier soon as it has touched his employer; but it is
heiefor bourers to continue in a state of prosperity
, employer
dim rush
daily, weekly, and hourly
e-Trlntiossib Nal dimis and his means awiedle.fawai,
eit'er all e
tk_as it.is for iver to
supplied.c.ontinto flow
feel
yhortut
„nletcy iue,soPrings by which
.it
la° tion (? to your Lordships, particulrly upon suchl
A Pe fra„, , a‘,B thie, for venturing to state incid.entally, but
;`ouble,`,"'zi, the views I entertain, and the policy which un-
"iltitleluitto.trrisoiiilitoeouahltel pursue. I have
.no
.des.ire to reverse the
Reber Peel. To modify it in those cases in
,Z! if* end ion would, I think, largely recruit the re-
errve them raule you to take off unjust taxes, as I con-
co the, to
be, might not injure the consumer, and might
‘7ol334ll,,,'"itelit°tgliree of. that ruin which I. foresee rapidly
tnei,now 0 most important class of this country. One
ale tteeo
aFttPrri tisntdil has portant question of Papal aggression.
stated his strong conviction
.that no
6,,torL,ttliug reii should b.e. adopted now, or at any time, for
.erienn•Y tha- gwua opinion. No man can feel that more
tb,__. d. or more entirely concur with my Noble
e,;'‘itiort of ''""uici be the last man to consent to the intro-
". 4
falloef.`ny Measure which would deprive any portion of
couut,—
eauon of
.the free and full exercise of their