The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1849-07-24 00:00:00

HOUSE OF COMMONS.-THURSDAY.

The Lords' amendments to the Encumbered Estates (Ireland)
Bill were taken into consideration and agreed to, with some
modifications • and a great many met sures of the Government
were forwarded a stage.
Mr. H. DRUMMOND moved the following resolution—" That
whereas a greater amount of taxation is levied upon the people
than is required for the good and efficient government of the
United Kingdom; and whereas large sums are expended in
supporting needless places, extravagant salaries, and unneces-
sary works and establishments; and whereas the present taxa-
tion of the country deßresses all classes, especially the labour-
ing classes, by diminishing the fund for the employment of
productive labour, it is the opinion of this house that adequate
means should be forthwith adopted to reduce the expenditure
of the Government." The hon. ,gentleman contended that the
taxation of the country was unequally levied. so as to press un-
justly on the poor, the duties on articles consumed by them
being much higher than the duties upon articles consumed by
the rich. It was absolutely necessary to revise such a mode of
taxation, and also to reduce the whole expenditure of the state
before they could hope to give any material relief to the
country.
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER said the whole ten-
dency tA the measures of the Government for some years back
was to reduce the expenditure of the country, and more espe-
-daily that portion of the taxation which pressed unfairly on the
poor, in lieu of which the Government had endeavoured to
substitute taxes which were borne as far as possible by the
wealth and property of the country. In every way possible the
Government was resolved to reduce the expenditure, and feel-
ing that they had done their utmost, and being resolved to
do their utmost in the way of economy, he must oppose the mo-
tion as a censure upon the Government.
Mr. HUME said it was the House of Commons that was to
blame, and not the Government, for the want of economy in
the public expenditure. He should support the motion of the
hon. member for Surrey.
Mr. Ewart, Mr. M. Gibson, and Colonel Thomson seve-
rally sup-orted the motion.
Lord R. GROSVENOR moved an amendment which was, he
said, so slight a modification of the motion that he hoped Mr.
Drummond would accept it instead of his own.
Mr. ROEBUCK opposed the amendment, as being an excuse,
a shift, and an escape from a very proper motion, which he did
look upon as a charge against the Government. The hon. and
learned member concluded his speech by a severe philippic
against the Government for its weakness, hesitation, and imbe-
cility whenever it found itself in a right course of proceeding.
Lord J. RUSSELL said he feared the hon. gentleman would
think no Government strong unless it consisted of himself
alone. He thought it was not fair to bring forward such a mo-
tion at the close of a session, when the greater portion of the
members were absent, and when, even if the motion should
pass it could not be said to be an expression of the opinion of
the House of Commons. He did not look upon the motion as
a vote of censure on the Government, but he nevertheless
thought it would be very unwise to adopt its
Messrs. Spooner and Christopher supported the motion; and
after some observations from Mr. Hawes and Mr. Bankes,
Mr. Drummond replied; after which the house divided, and
the amendment was negatived by a majority of 71 to 68. The
division was hailed with loud cheering. The original motion
was then agreed to,
W; Eit',"friflfiViLi.E obtained leave to bring in a bill to make
better provision for the administration of the fiscal affairs of
counties, cities, and towns in Ireland; also a bill for promo-
ting the public health in Ireland.
Mr. Mooag then called attention to the outrages lately com-
mitted in the neighbourhood of Castlewellan, charging the
Orangemen of the north of Ireland as the authors of all that
bad occurred, and charging the magistrates and gentry with
being alders and abettors in the fatal collision which had taken
place.
Sir W. SOM ERVILLE said the occurrences were of such re-
cent date, that their information was as yet imperfect; but
one thing there could be no doubt about—namely, that they
presented a state of society most lamentable. Every investi-
gation should be made into the circumstances, and until after
that investigation he thought it better not to enter into the
details of the unfortunate occurrence. _ .

—kiter-ione observations from Captain Jones, Mr. Bright,
Sir D. Norreys, and several other members, the matter then
dropped.
The orders of the day were then disposed of, and the house
adjourned.

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