The Sun.
London, England, 1857-02-10 00:00:00

TWO O'CLOCK.

Butler
Weguq lin
Andrews

~ 840
~ 818
663

All is quiet, but great excitement prevails. The shops
are partially closed, and business is almost wholly sus-
pended. One half of the constituency polled in the first
two hours..

GREENWICH ELECTION—(This Day.)

STATE OF THE POLL.

ONE O'CLOCK.

Codrinton
Sleiet

• 2,298
• 1,158

lIILECTION INTELLIGENCE.

HERTFORD.
The Right Hon. W. F. Cowper having been appointed
Tice-President of the Board of Education, his seat as
a member for the borough of Hartford necessarily be-
came vacant. The hon. gentleman was yesterday re-
elected without opposition.
Mr. COWPER, in returning thanks, said—Mr. Mayor,
electors, and gentlemen,—During my canvass I have had
the advantage of ascertaining what is at present occu-
pying your minds ; and I have found that the income-
tax is one of the subjects which most occupies not only
your minds, but the minds of the public generally. I
am not surprised to find that that tax is felt to be a
grievous public burden, and an oppression on those who
have to pay it. (Cheers.) My only surprise is that
the people of this country have with so much patience
and fortitude endured in silence for-So long a time this
very heavy and burdensome impost. (Cheers.) I think
it will be one of the brightest pages of our history which
relates the fact that this has been so. (Hear, hear.)
Tne people have felt that, though the tax did press upon
them severely, still, as our country was embarked in a
great war with a formidable Power which threatened
the liberties of Europe, that they ought all to bear their
share in the struggle, and that the way to get the vic-
tory—and a speedy victory—was cheerfully to submit
to all those burdens which were necessary to carry on a
vigorous and successful campaign. Therefore it was
that while the war lasted we did not hear a murmur
from any quarter; but every man !bowed a resolute de-
termination to submit to that which he believed to be
necessary, and to bear with patience the burdens im-
posed upon him. But, though the people patiently
endured the income-tax while the reasons which first
led to its imposition lasted, it does not follow that
when the necessity for it is removed the same sub-
mission and patience should continue another day.
(Cheers.) lam only surprised at the apprehensions that
have existed on this subject ; that people should have
imagined that there was any question whatever that the
income-tax of 10d. in the pound was likely to continue
for another year. I never heard of any one in any re-
sponsible situation who ever propounded the possibility
of such a thing. I, for one, never contemplated such a
course of policy. (Cheers.) Ido think that the clamour
which has been raised throughout. the country on this
subject has been mot vain, futile, and unnecessary. The
Government have been devoting themselves to a strict
investigation of the expenditure of the country. They
have already largely reduced the army in all its branches
and are now preparing to make extensive reductions in
the navy, and when the Chancellor of the Exchequer
places before the country the estimates fdr the ensuing
year, and states the amount of expenditure necessary to
be provided for, my friends will see that all their alarm
on the subject of the income-tax has been futile. But
though there is no question as to whether the income-
tax should be continued at its present amount, yet it be-
comes a matter of grave consideration whether the ori-
ginal tax of 7d. in the pound should be continued until
1860, when according to the existing law it is to cease ;
whether it should be maintained beyond that date, or
whether it should altogether cease, and some other form
of taxation be substituted for it. The right hon. gentle-
man then adverted to the conduct of the late war, and
concluded his speech by again thanking the electors for
the honour they had conferred on him.