The Sun.
London, England, 1842-03-24 00:00:00

and necessaries, and that was the subject which of as othess
was moat worthy the considetatien of that House. Now he
recollected a speech that was made by an Hon. Friend of his,
whom he did Oct see in the House, in which was introduced the
calculation of the amount of indirect taxation pre sing upon the
working classes. He would give that calculation to the House,
as very few Gentlemen were present at the time the Hon. Gen-
tleman made that speech to the House. This calculation hail
been made by a practical man in the City, in a large retail bu-
Siness. He said that of two ounces of tea at 4s. per lb., taking
this amount for a poor family, the price was 6d. and the duty
one j.sound of sugar at 6d., the duty was 21/2(1., two
ounces of coffee, the price was 20. and the duty Id.,
with other minor articles of general use, amount-
ing in all to Is. 71/2d. , the amount of duty was
7d, or ed. Now for the same articles for an opulent fa-
mily the price was 165., and the duty only 3s. 8(1. Thus upon
the better articles the taxation was 23 per cent., and 31 per
cent. upon the common articles. lie caicillated that out of
ls. paid over the couater by a poor woman, she received
worth of goods, and the Government hail the remaining 50.
This was not confined to these articles alone, either—there
were other articles that came equally under the system of indi-
rect taxation. There was butter, soap, tallow, spirits, cheese,
and almost every other article; and all this amount of taxation
had to be provided for out of the amount of the wages of the
poor, which caused competition, and that competition assisted
stagnation of trade. Now he was bound, as ail ho-
nest man to say, that if he had to choose be-
tween a 3 per cent. and a 5 per cent:, to avoid the indi-
rect taxation he would take the 5 per cent., in order to
get rid of that system of indirect taxation.—( Hear, hear. )
But when he said this he alluded to a property tax, and not
on the incomes derived from labour, which W.i3 in its nature
unjust, inquisitorial, anti partial ; and therefore he could not
bring ',himself to vote fur the resolution befoie the House.
He must say that a property tax was not one only fitted for a
time of war, nor did he think it calculated to lower us
in the estimation of foreign powers, but still it was a
charge in the financial system which ought to be met by
the Government with large concessions, In cause a property
tax was a most convenient instrument in the hands of any Go-
vernment. It was only to make a single turn of the screw,
and they had additional per tentage, and it was a g eat eneour-
agement to extravagance, and that charge ought not to be
made unless it was purchased on the part of the Governmenr
by large concessions of a substantial character. When he heard
the speech of the Right Hon. Baronet the other night, he
would not reiterate the praise which had been heaped upon
that speech, but he would say that a most complicated subject
had been gone over in a most masterly manner. It was per-
fect in itself, and those with the most limited understanding
could not fail to have understood it. But he compared the re -
sults with the principles laid down, and he did not see that the
principle was honestly carried out. He expected some amends
for no revision of the duties on corn and sugar. He found
that those articles most consumed in the country were un-
touched, such as cheese and other articles, and from which a re-
venue of 400,000/. was received. He had carefully examined
the proposedt ariff, and he found no such reductions contemplated.
Was there any benefit to be derived from the importation of
foreign cattle? Certainly not. There was no part of the
Continent in which there wa's such bad meat as in Paris.
Holstein was the only place which was at all calculated to ex •
port cattle, but even there the cattle were yet to be had before
they could be brought into the English market. There was
no doubt. the income tax was a most grevious burden upon the
humble classes. Could there be anything more unjust or op-
pressive than to impose the same amount of taxes upon the
proprietor of landed property, as upon the professional man
who, while struggling to arrive at distinction, in hopes of better
times, was endeavouring and found it difficult to make th'ngs
meet? That injustice was the cause of his ( Mr. Ward's) great obe
jection. When he looked to the state of trade in this country--
when he looked to the fact that in the great town / Sheffield)
which he had the honour to represent, he believed it would be
found that no more than two firms were carrying on what
might might be called a profitable trade.—( Hear, hear.) He
felt that the measure proposed by her Majesty's Government
was a most unjust, arbitrary, and inquisitorial measure—
(Cheers from the Opposition)—and as at present advised he
was determined not to give it his assent. It might be said
that the Government contemplated a salutary change
by the introduction of the t ariff—( Hear, hear)—but
as that proposition stood at present it was clear
there were not many advantages conferred upon the poor of the
country. If a revision of the tariff was to be undertaken and an
income tax paid as the price of it, he thought the scale should
be held by a very impartial and just hand—it should he held
with an unflinching hand, and then the ministers who had acted
so might appeal to common sense and reason. Fie was sure if
they had acted fairly towards the people they shoald have not
only his support, but the countenauce and sus port of every
Member upon his side of the House—( Hear, hear)—but the
Right Hon. Barunet had not done that —he had truckled
with the interests of the country. —( Cheers and counter cheers. )
In making his financial statement, the only passage upon which
the Right lion. Baronet flinched—the only passage for which
the Right Hon. Baronet apologised--the only passage in which
he clearly felt sensible that he was in the wrong, was with
reference to the sugar duties.—( Hear, hear.) He talked of
the duties upon slave sugar, and yet, in the very next breath,
he said he was prepared to remove the duty on slave grown
Brazilian coffee and sugar. The manifest object was to
benefit select classes of the country. What he ( Mr. Wood)
wished was, that all classes should be fairly dealt with. Every
body should be shown that the object f the Government was nut
to benefit a few—that the object was not to bolster up taxes,
but to get every necessary upon as cheap terms as it was pos-
sible. If the Government recommended an income tax if it
was necessary, and that they protected the interests of the
country in other respects, there was, he (Mr. Wood) was sure,
not one man upon his side of the House who would not support
them.—( Ironical cheers.) They had a right to consider and
weigh well all the hardships of that tax—they should discuss
itat length, as they had a perfect right to do. The burdens
which it was proposed to lay upon professional gentlemen,
whose incomes were fluctuating, and unlesss • they ( the Oppo-
sition Members) heard, as it was stated by the Hon. Member
fir Berkshire, that there were Members on that side of
the House who were prepared to concur with him k Mr. Wood)
—he (lid not think there could be any reason upon the part
of the Right Hon. Baronet to be in the least surprised to meet
with opposition; at the same time he (Mr. Wood) should say
he thought that that opposition should not be unparliamentary.
(Hear, hear, from the Ministerial benches. ) He slid not think
it would benefit his own party, or their case, to carry that op-
position beyond a reasonable limit.—(Cheers from the Mims •
terial benches.) He wished merely to see the sense of Pasha-
meet expressed fully upon the subject, and then, if the mea-
sure was carried, ,he best tlijtig to be done was to oppose, or
endeavour to have the most objectionable parts of it amended.
Mr. M. ATT WOOD did not at all agree with those who
thought that measure should be precipitately carried to a con-
lusion. It was a measure affecting a vast number of people,
and undoubtedly it desrved the most serious consideration.
(Cheers from the Opposition.) When n measure like that
was proposed, after 25 years of peace, time ought to be given
for the discussion of it, in order that it might be carefully and
deliberately considered, in ail its bearings and in all its effects
upon the interests of the country; he thought that time, and
more than enough of time, should be given to the people them-
selves to consider it, so as that they might have an abundant
opportunity to communicate to the House their sentiments
upon the mea.ure, either through their representatives,
or by petitions. ( Hear, hear.) He could not but
think that delay,• and much more consideration than
the measure had received, was highly necessary, and
would be most beneficial to her Majesty's Ministers
themselves.—( Cheers.) He was fully convinced that there
were many parts of the measure very hastily considered—and
all should admit it required much modification—(Loud cheers
from the Opposition)--for instance, the precarious incomes of
professional men and annuitants, which terminated in a com-
paratively short period, were to be submitted to the same
amount of taxation as land, or any other species of permanent
property. He (Mr. Attwood) had heard with great surprise
the statement of the Right Honourable Baronet
when he said it was the intention of her Majesty's Go-.
vernment to impose upon annuitants the same amount of taxation
as upon permanent property. As an illustration of the injus-
tice of such a measure as that, he would take the liberty of
stating to the House, for the consideration of the Right Hon.
Baronet himself, a case, of which he (Mr, Attwood) was per-
sonally cognizant, and one of that class of cases which it is
necessary to be considered deliberately, so as to ascertain
whether it, was really wise to mpose such a tax as that. The
case to which he alluded was an annuity for ten years, pur-
chased by him ( Mr. Attwood) and his vartners for 21,797/.
That annuity was to expire in 1845. Now, although he and
his partners were taxed at the rate of 3 per cent. for thot
annuity, was it supposed that it was any thing like pxed
capital! • In their accounts, they accurately designated the
amount of that 21,7971. as capital. They calculated it at
6,0001., and upon that sum the profit was equally divided.
Was it just that they should be taxed for the additional
15,7971., unless it was intended to tax all the capital of the
country ? He would put the case of a proprietor of land who
had sold his property, suppose • for 2,000/.—that lie was
to receive the purchase-money in 1842, together with
1,0001.? being fur the the last year's rent of the property,
was it fair to tax the rent and the money obtained for the sale
of the estates. Suppose a morteage was had for 20,0001., and
that the interest and principal were paid, would it be fair to
tax the interest as well as 'the principal or would the House
consent to tax the principal alone ; and if they decided upon
taxing the principal only, he was at a loss to know upon what
principle of justice or reason a tax should be imposed upon
annuities? And if the Parliament, in its legislative capacity,
did determine upon imposing that tax, as undoubtedly it had
a right to do if it thought fit, he 01r. Attwood) thought tnat
annuitants should have a right to call upon the Government
in another capacity to reimburse them for the taxes to Which
their property was in Isis (Mr. Attwcod's) Opinion unretasen-
ably subjected.—( Hear, hear ) These annuities were pur-
chased upon the authority of an Act of Parlia-
ment, which explicitly provided that they should not he
liable to any description of taxes ; and if he hereafter applied
to his Hon. and Learned Friend, the Attorney-General, fur
his opinion upon the sucject, he (Mr. Attwood) would expect
to hear from that Right Hon. Gentleman that even though
this measure was adopted, annuitants, circumstanced as he
(Mr. Attwood) and his partners were, would have a.claim to
be reimbursed.—(Cries of ." Hear, hear.") He urged this,
in order to show the necessity of considering that tax
in all its bearings, and with a view to endeavour to persuade the
House to mitigate the injustice of the proposed measure; at the
same time, he felt bound to say, that whatever course her Majesty's
Government might adopt upon that measure, if they persisted In
passing it, as it was at present proposed or recommended to the
House—if they should say that they could not draw the line of
distinction as to what sort of property ought or ought not to be
taxed—that to make the tax productive it was impossible to draw
the line, he (Mr. Attwood) was determined to give the resolutions
proposed against the measure Isis most cordial support.—(Loud
cheers from the Opposition benches, and, ironical cheers.) He
should yield to the necessity of supporting a political party,
he should yield to the necessity es adopting measures fur the
removal of that appalling picture of the distressed condition
of the people which was drawn by the Right Honourable
Gentleman, but while he (Mr. Attwood) said that he felt bound to
say also that there were many points of the financial scheme pro-
posed by her Majesty's Government to which he would never con.
sent.—(Cheers.) No consideration of false politics would induce
him to support that measure or any other measure at any time, or
by whomsoever brought forward, which would injure or bring to
ruin any great branch of British commerce for the sake of conferring
benefits upon selected classes.—(Renewed cheers from the Oppo.
sition and counter cheers.) No vague or visionary expectations
of doubtful or contingent advantages would induce him to support
that measure.—(Increased cheers.) The Right llonourab'e
Baronet at the head of the Government admitted that
the country was in a most deplorable 'State of distress—
that the people defended themselves from the taxes on consump-
tion by discontinuing to consume. After that statement of the Right
lion. Baronet, nothing could fall upon his (Mr. A.'s) ears more
ominous of the declining power of this country, than the Right
lion. Baronet's announcement, that in this state of the country he
was about to propose measures of commercial reform. He carried
it so his mind, and he called on the Committee to carry it in their
minds. What was meant by that statement ? Why, before the
commencement of the career of-commercial reform, the people of
this country paid 80,000,0001. of taxes upon articles ofconsumption.
Since that period 29,000,0001., had been redirced, and at present
the people paid 48,000,000/. whilst the articles of consumption
were so heavily taxed. Did the people discontinue consumption ?
—(Hear, hear.) On the contrary, the more they were taxed the
more they consumed.—(Hear, hear, and laughter.) But the
Right Hon. Baronet had told the House that he intended to pro-
duce more commercial reforms, as if the whole twenty-eight years
past had not been one continued series of commercial reforms.
What was the measure relating to Joint Stock Banks but a me. sure
of commercial reform ? And, again, what were the measures
which occupied the- 1-louse for two consecutive Sea.