The Sun.
London, England, 1842-04-14 00:00:00

scriptions to relieve the poor." The Right Hon. Baronet had
returned to that House and produced measures so great and so
extensive that they (tile Opposition) were staggered when the
measures were brought before the notice of the House. '1 hag,
when they heard them propounded, as the Right lion. Gentle-
man who had last addressed the House said, " the middling
and the industrious classes are united." Yes, those Hon. Gen-
tlemen who came forward, during the last session of
Parliament, demanded free trade from the Right lion.
Baronet, and the Right Hon. Baronet had met their demands.
(Ironical cheers from the Opposition. ) Had he not proposed
the tariff ?—(Renewed ironical cheers.) Yes, he hail assisted
the poor, and now they wished to prevent him. He had
given them a sop to stop their howlings for free trade.
Bat when the House of Commons first met, they (the Opposi •
tion) came forward with loud voices, and brought petitions
in favour of free trade. But how was it now
night after night ? Why they saw Honourable Members
coining in a whisper, with petitions from the shoe-
makers in favour of protective duties—silently coming
and laying them on the table without the slightest cheer.
Yes, he had reduced the price of oatmeal.—( Laughter. ) Did
they want it kept up ? He had reduced the duty on oatmeal
10s. a bushel, and butcher's meat 2d. per pound.—( Laughter. )
Was not that for the relief of the poor? Yes it was, and there
na; now one universal shout throughout Yorkshire and Lan-
cashire of " God bless Sir Robert Peel."—(Laughter and
ironical cheers.) They (the Opposition) kept up their fac-
tious opposition in that House to enable them to go down at
Easter to appeal to the working classes —( Hear, hear.) They
did go down, but they dared not call them together. No,
they went to their own eonstauencies, those whom they de-
clared to be in favour of free trade, and they sent them back
with petitions in favour of free trade. —( Hear, hear.) He had
heard a great deal in that House about the landed interest
not paying its share in the taxation. Why in the measures
proposed by the ,Right lion. Baronet they paid at the rate of
from fifteen to twenty per cent. Were they not coming for-
ward in a most noble meaner to support the Right Hon.
Baronet? But when they (the Opposition) were called on
to pay their share; they protested against it, anti refused
to pay it.—(Cries of " Hear, hear.") Whence proceeded the
opposition to the income tax in this country ? It
was concentrated en those benches.—(Cheers.) Did the
Noble Lord, the Member for London, dare to go to that city and
call a meeting? No—once the idol of the people—twice called
to power—on the shoulders of that power he dared not do so,
lie had held a meeting, certainly, in the corner of the Reform
Club, and he came there with that meeting on his back, and
said that he protested against the income tax passing into a
law. But let him ask lion. Gentlemen opposite this question,
They knew what the Right Hon Gentleman had done for the
working classes and the country, but what had they done ?
Now what had the manufacturers done?—(hear)—and the
free trade gentlemen, and the Anti Corn-law League men—had
they fulfilled their promises? No. As the measures of the
Right lion. Baronet reduced the price of the necessaries of
life, so the manufacturers in the north had reduced the wages
of their labourers. The wages of their labourers had been
reduced 15 and 20 per cent.—( Oh, oh.) Nay, it wasa fact,
and the manufacturers boasted publicly a change, that to what-
ever extent the Right Honourable 13-armlet should relieve the
poor, to the same extent would they reduce their wages.
—(Tery cheers, and groans from the Opposition.) Had not
the leading- organs of the other side declared that if the income
tax were laid on manufactures, it should be taken from the
wages of the labourers? Not only had that organ asserted it,
but the manufacturers bad pledged themselves to it. He would
not detain the House longer.—(" Hear, hear," from the Op-
position.) lie had only been seven minutes on his legs, and
he only rose to ieliver a message to the Right lion. Baronet
from the working classes—those men who carried them (the
Opposition) to power some time ago, but who now supported
the Right lion. Baronet, and would keep him there in spite
of al their machinations to the contrary. —( Hear.)
Lord WORSLEY rose, but was rendered almost wholly in-
audible by the noise in the House. He said that he wished to
state that whilst he could not agree to the resolution of the
Noble Lord, he could not assent to the proposition of an income
tax. Ile thought that if the Corn-laws were passed, the country
would be inundated with foreign grain; and with respect to
the tariff, whatever may be the opinion in other places, in the
county i.e had the honour to represent, the feeling against it
was very decided. The Noble Lord concluded by stating
that he would oppose the resolution of the Noble Lord, and
also the income tax of the Right lion. Baronet.
Colonel SIBTHORP ruse amidst loud cries of " Oh, oh,"
and " Divide, divide." He said he would not delay the House
a moment. He merely rose to say, that having understood
the Noble Lord to say that he would vote against the resolu-
tions, he was glad of it, because he (Col. Sibthorp) had given
him a kind lecture on the subject on the stairs—(Laughter)—
and he was happy to find that it had not been entirely thrown
away. . . . .

The House then divided, and the numbers were—
For the resolution of Lord J. Russell—. 202
Against the resolution.
Majority for Ministers

-106

On our return to the Gallery we found Lord J. R USSELL
saying something about future proceedings, but owing to the
noise we could not make out the Noble Lords observations,
Sir R. PEEL said there was a great desire among the op-
ponents of the Bill to see what the machinery of the Bill was
to be, and till the Bill was brought in it was impossible that
desire should be gratified.—(hear, hear. ) He hoped the No-
ble Lord, atter the opinion be expressed last night, and which
met with the general concurrence of the House,
would agree to that. He had no power to prevent
long discussions, but he did hope that he was not making an
unjustifiable request in asking the House to put him in a situa-
tion to bring in the Bill to-morrow evening.
Lord J. RUSSELL thought that the request of the Right
Hon. Baronet was put on fair grounds, and that he was not
asking anything unusual or unfair in the Government of which
he was the head.. He thought it was better for the public
business if the House proceeded to-night with the resolution.
That would enable him to bring in the Bill. The Right lion.
Gentleman said he should fix aconvenient time foi the first read-
ing ofthe Bill, and he would therefore postpone the division,whieh
he stated he would take abj the time, and take the opinion of
the House on the first reading. There must he a good deal of
discussion when the Bill was brought up, when he conceived,
without violating the form of the House, the Hon. Gentleman
might bring forward his question with regard to the legacy
duty on real roperty.
Mr. ELPIIINS'I'ONE said he was ready to with lraw itis
motion on the clear understanding that no technical objection
should be made to his bringing forward the question at a future
time.

After a few words from Lord JOHN RUSSELL,
Sir ROBERT PEEL said he could assure the Hon. Gen-
tleman he would not take any advantage of the forms of the
House.

111 r. ELPHINSTONE then withdrew his motion.
On our return to the allery we found
Lord JOIIN RUSSELL stating that he would, without
making any speech oa the ceeasion, take the sense of the
House upon the ques!ion, that the Report be brought up, as to
whether the rest of the resolutions should be confirmed.

The SPEAKER having put the question that the Report
be brought up.
Mr. W. WILLIAMS snored " That it is the opinion of
this Committee, that, towards raising the supply granted to
her Majesty, and for the reducing, as much as may be r'"
ticable, the duty now payable on malt, sugar, and
shall be charged, annually the sevoralrates a id dist'
da, there
that is to say, " for and in respect of ever,- -4'B following,
;
stipend, dividend, or salary, payable os,' annuity, pension,
of the United Kingdom of the an.-
of the public revenue
for every twenty shillings, si- ..ual amount of 1501. to 300!.,
twenty shillings, one *10" ..ponce; of 300/. to 500!., for every
shillings, one ',kiwi. ing ; of 500/. to 750!., for every twenty
twenty shill;- ..ig and sixpence ;of 750!. to 1,000!., tor every
tweni- .age, two shillings ; of 1,000!. to 1,5001., for every
; shillings, three shillings ; of 1,500/. and upwards, for
every twenty sillings, four shillin,v, on the value thereof. For
and in respect of all lands, tenements, la ereditaments, heritages,
and real property of every description, there shall be charged to
every person on coming into possession thereof, by inheritance
or bequest, a duty equal in amount to the probate and legacy
duty now payable on personal property."
After a few words from Mr. ELPRINSTONE,

Sir R. PEEL said he would proceed without further delay.
On to-morrow he could not proceed with it, as the House
would wish him to consider the motion which the Hon. Mem-
ber for South Lancashire (Lord F. Egerton) had given notice,
and which would bring on considerable diseussion. On Fri-
day the Mutiny Bill was to be brought forward, and notice had
been given of a motion which would lead to discussion upon it.
The Hon. Gentleman had certainly an abstract right to call
for the opinion of the House on the resolution, respecting the
legacy duties, but he could not move the resolution without a
Committee of 'Ways and Means. Ile (Sir Robert Peel)
had no objoction to an absolute resolution upon the subject.
He certainly did hope that the Hon. Gentleman would with-
draw his motion, particularly as he had expressed himself as
Laving no desire to cause delay with respect to the measure.
Atter a few words from Lord R. GROSVENOR, who was
quite inaudible in the confusion which prevailed,
Mr. WALLACE (amidst cries of " Oh, on," and " Hear,
hear,") said, that although he had given notice of a motion,
he would not interrupt the business of the House by pressing it.

Sir R. PEEL was sensible that Hon. Gentlem'en who had
withdrawn their motions, had done so from a consideration of
the public convenience.
Lord JOHN RUSSELL thought that:by taxing some people
at a higher rate than others, they would be interfering with
the law, which went to protect all property equally.
Mr. WAKLEY was anxious to learn from the Right Hon.
Baronet whether there would be any opportunity of in-
troducing the subject of a graduated scale during the future
stages of the Bill, of course up to the sum of 7d. ?
Sir H. PEEL said it would be quite competent to the Lion.
Gentleman to do so, and he intended to do so himself in the
case of the Scotch farmers.

In reply to a question from Mr. TWINER, which was inau-
ble in the Gallery,
Sir R. PEEL said he thought he could convince the Hon.
Gentleman that it was more difficult to determine the amount
of capital than of income. There were greater means of con-
cealing capital than income, and he thought, therefore, that the
inquisition must be more stringent and severe in the one case
than in the other.—( Hear, hear.)
The Report was then brought up and received.
Lord J. RUSSELL asked the Right Hon. Gentleman what
course he intended to pursue with regard to the further pro-
gress if the measure?
Sir R. PEEL proposed to bring in the Bill on Monday,
when, it necessary, they could take a division on the first read-
ing, and on Monday he would state the day on which he pro-
posed to take the second reading, which would most probably be
on Friday.