The Sun.
London, England, 1835-06-13 00:00:00

As the first victim of Corporation Reform, he appears
in rather an interesting character ; nor is his labours in
behalf of Reform generally, unknown to several
Members of the present Administration. The law
under which be now suffers has been declared by the
Whigs a disgrace to the country, so that the very
least they ought to do is to remit the fine of two hun-
dred pounds. Of the guilt of private libel, Mr.
Justice_LITTLEDALE, when about to pass sentence,
pronounced him wholly innocent ; and it is surely un-
worthy of a liberal Government to sacrifice him to the
letter of a law, and the vengeance of a Corporation
alike hostile to British liberty. A public subscription
would answer the purpose ; and, if necessary, we have
no doubt will be raised ; but we would prefer the
generous interference of the Government.

Mr., ROBINSON last night brought forward his pro-
mised motion on the subject of taxation, which we
regret to say was not very favourably received, either
by the House or by the Government. The simple fact
that out of 658 Members not 150 thought it worth
while to attend, is a proof that the public mind is.not
yet sufficiently alive to the importance of the question.
If the people do not take it up.—if they do not tell
their representatives that the burden of taxation is
all but intolerable, and insist on some steps being
taken with a view to lighten it—they may rest
assured that no spontaneous efforts will ever be made
by the aristocratic part of the community to afford the
necessary relief. How indeed can this be expected ?
The only way that the pressure of taxation can be
alleviated, is by removing it from the poor to the rich,
and this is a process in which the rich would rather
be excused from co-operating—at least it holds out no
inducement sufficiently attractive to overcome the
axis inertice of the legislatorial character. A gentle
" pressure from without" is in most cases desirable—
in this indispensable.
Had Mr. Rom NSON'S motionbeen to take off certain
taxes, and to substitute others in their
*stead, there
would have been fair ground for opposing it, considering
the present state of our financial affairs. But he moved
merely for the appointment of a Select Committee, to
enquire into the operation of the present system of
taxation on the resources of the country, with a view
to equalize its pressure, where it should be found to
press unequally, and injuriously. Could a more mo-
derate, a more reasonable, a safer proposition than

this have been offered to the consideration of the
Legislature? The CHANCELLOR of the Ex-
CHEQUER admits that the productive classes are
ground down to the earth by taxation. He declares at the
same time that it is impossible to repeal a single tax.
The only possible mode of relief, therefore, is, to shift
the burden; yet the Right Hon. Gentleman opposes any
attempt to investigate the means by which this
be accomplished, or even to enquire whether it be
practicable at all I And what are the reasons
assigned for this opposition ? First, the reduction of
taxes already made. We are certainly not disposed to
withhold due praise from the Reforming Administra-
tion for their exertions in this respect. But these
reductions, great as they have been, are quite beside the
question—the burden is still too great to be borne.
And as to the injury which the proposed inquiry
would do to those branches of trade affected by the
taxes proposed by the Committee to be altered, it seems
to us altogether chimerical. If such an argument
were listened to, no tax would ever be either repealed
or modified. The public are not such fools as to be-
lieve that the recommendation of a Committee must
necessarily be carried into effect, and if no enquiry is to
be made as to the expediency of relieving a commo-
dity from an undue burden of taxation, for fear of in-
jury to trade, how can the Reports of the Excise
Commissioners be justified ? And may it not be
asked, what injury was done to trade by their re-
commendations ?