The Sun.
London, England, 1861-05-02 00:00:00

not satisfied with all the calculations of the Chan-

cellor of the Exchequer as to the probable surplus
of the year, we are compelled to accept as a matter
of confidence that the accounts will be justly, fairly,
and reasonably made up, and the question that the

House of Commons will have to consider is, not
whether there is not a surplus, but in what manner

:hat surplus may be best applied in diminishing the

hardships and relieving the industry of the country.
And, my lord, I have a strong opinion myself that
one portion atleast of the mode in which the Govern-
ment proposes to deal with this question is not as
to the mode which financially or politically is most

desirable; and I believe that if this country were
polled from one end to another, and I would almost
reconcile myself to that favourite nostrum, that

skulking hole of political cowardice—vote by ballot
—(cheers)—l would, I say, be almost reconciled to
the adoption of the principle if I could put before.
the country for its deliberate decision this question
—Will you, for the advantage of the country, have
a million and a quarter of duty taken off paper, or a
million and a quarter off tea ? (Cheers.) That is
a question which the House of Commons will have
to decide in the course of the present week ; and
without pretending to be a prophet on that subject,
I think I may venture to say that if the Govern-
ment find themselves in a minority upon it, they
will not appeal to the sense of the country to con-
firm them in their opinion. Nothing should I like
better than for the Ministry to whom we are op-

posed to go to the country with this cry, " Down
with duty on paper, and up with the:duty on tea."
(Laughter and cheers.) I mention this subject be-
cause it is one not only of immediate urgency, but
one of great political as well as financial considera-
tion. It is the turning point of the financial policy
of this country. It is one on which turns the
question whether the House of Commons will
sanction a larger increase of direct and a greater
remission of indirect taxation, or whether in a
time of peace they should apply themselves at
once, or as soon as circumstances will permit, to
the reduction, not the abolition, of those duties
which, by reduction, might increase the revenue,
and which were imposed only to meet the extraor-
dinary emergency of war. I have said this is a
question for the House of Commons to consider, and
I say emphatically for the House of Commons, be-
cause no one can be more ready than myself to say
that to the House of Commons belongs exclusively
imposition of taxes and the regulation of the taxation
of the country ; and that when a surplus had been
established to the satisfaction of the house, and
they have formed the judgment with respect to the
best mode of dealing with that surplus, they need
not apprehend what some persons pretend to appre-
hend—any collision upon such a judgment between
the two houses of Parliament. (Loud cheers.) It
is quite true that last year when circumstances
altered—when the Chancellor of the Exchequer was
coming forward with an amended Budget, entirely
falsifying the calculations which had been previously
brought before the House of Commons, it is quite
true that, under those circumstances when the
figures of the Chancellor of the Exchequer showed
a manifest deficit of the revenue, the House of Lords
did feel it their duty, and did .exercise an excep-
tional, but at the same time a perfectly constitu-
tional right. (Hear.) They did interpose to diminish
the amount of the deficit, and succeeded in diminish-
ing the amount of that deficit by a million and a
quarter ; and although the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer was very angry with his colleagues for not
resenting what he considered an innovation, he yet
with the greatest complacency pocketed the affront
and the million and a quarter—(laughter)-7and at
the end of the year found himself in a much more
advantageous position than he would have been had
not the House of Lords exercised that salutary
supervision, and which I believe has obtained for
them the universal sanction of the country at
large. There being a• surplus, it is for the House
of Commons to decide how that surplus should be
applied, and if there should be any persons who
imagine that upon such a subject there can be any
collision between the two Houses of Parliament,
they little know the spirit which actuates the
House of Lords, or the moderation which is pre-
scribed by the Constitution, and which I am sure
-.tit 130 oxercisea by that branch of the Legislature.
(Cheers.) The House of Lords are too well aware
of their own dignity, they have too much respect
for themselves and for the great interests which
are confided to them, to think for a single moment
of resenting from petty pique the deliberate action
of the House of Commons. I must apologise for
detaining you so long, but I was anxious that the
motives which influence the Conservative party
with reference to the question awaiting the decision
of the House of Commons should be broadly and
distinctly brought to the knowledge of their fel-
low-countrymen. We have no secrets to conceal ;
we have no desire to spring a masked battery upon
our political opponents. We venture to believe
that the purity of our motives and the patriotism
of our conduct will be appreciated, and, in due
time, rewarded by the country. (Cheers.) In my
own name, and in the name of that great party
which has so long honoured me with its confidence,
I earnestly thank you for the reception which you
have given us this day, and I venture again, on
their part and upon mine, to say that the senti-
ments of gratitude and satisfaction which have
been inspired by your lordship's kindness, will not
be soon obliterated from my heart, nor, I believe,
from the hearts of my political friends. (Cheers.)
The LORD MAYOR then proposed" the House of
Lords," which was responded to by the Duke of
RUTLAND.
The Earl of DERBY then proposed " the health of
the Lord Mayor," and said that of the many occu-
pants of the chair by the first magistrate of the city
of London, none was more respected or more hon-
oured than his esteemed friend who now filled the
office of Lord Mayor of that city. He trusted that
his right hon. friend, while attending strictly to
his duties as Lord Mayor, would not forget that he
had still great and important duties to perform in
connection with the House of Commons, and that
he would be as heretofore as constant an attendant
in that assembly to see that the interests of the
country were carefully attended .to. (Hear.)
The LORD MAYOR having briefly expressed his
acknowledgments for the compliment conferred
upon him, proposed " The House of Commons,"
coupling with it the name of Mr. Disraeli—a name
that had obtained a world-wide reputation for com-
manding eloquence and sagacious statesmanship.
Mr. DISRAELI said the toast which had been pro-
posed could not but be one of. great interest in that
assembly, coming as it did from the head of one of
the oldest municipal corporations in the country,
and recognising as it did one of the most ancient
institutions in the country. (Hear.) One of the
great qualities of the Mouse of Commons was, that
it was not disposed to interfere with co-ordinate
instituticns in the country. He thought it was wise
in adopting this course ; for to adopt a different
course would be, in his mind, not only prejudicial
to the interests of the country, but injurious to the
House of Commons itself. (Cheers.) Although at
present there was nothing going forward in the
House of Commons of a prominently exciting cha-
racter, and consequently the public mind was not
much directed to what was going forward in that
assembly, assaults were being constantly made upon
the Church, the State, the law, and other matters of
great consequence, which required a faithful and
watchful body of men in that assembly to prevent
these assaults from being effective. These sub•
jects, although not brought forward by the Go-
vernment, were frequently supported by them,
and it required all the vigilance of a watchful Op-
position to see that measures such as those to which
he had referred were not successful in the House
of ,Commons. Such was the case he was happy to
say, that day. (Hear, hear.) The Conservative
party would be ever found to be the opponents of
measures such as those to which he had referred,
and he should ever feel honoured by being asso-
ciated with that body. (Hear, hear.)
Miss Poole sang in a charming manner " The
Mermaid's song." Mr. Young and Mr. Hatton
were also much admired for the manner in which
they respectively
sang Nelson's ballads, "I saw
not her face," and the " Harmonious Blacksmith."
The banquet was in every respect highly credit-
able to Messrs. Ring and Brymer, by whom it was
supplied.