The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-05-23


i The British ministers have again been de-
feated in the House of Commons. A majority
of fourteen in favor Of Mr.. HUME's motion To
renew the income tax for one year only, instead
of three, has placed them under the alternative
either of resigning or submitting, contrary to
old English practice, to the will of the oppo-
siton.
The change which has come over political
parties in Great Britain of late years, has ne
cessitated change of tactics 1t is still con-
sidered the right course to resign in such cases,
when the minority cannot command majority
in that House, which holds the purse strings of
and modified parties, that no set of men can be
found, willing, under present circumstances, to
take upon themselves the responsibilities of Of
| flee. Politicians are now governed by motives
of expediency, and Lord JOHN RUSSELL is COM
PEELED to pocket the aifront with good grace,
and retain the premiership. 1t does not seem
likely at present that he will repeat his game of
resgnation-for he has already announced to
the House his willingness to have committee
appointed, which shall report as to any amend
ments that may be made for the future.
The arstocracy consented to the imposition
of the income tax only upon the distinct condi-
ton that it should endure three years. period
long enough, it was supposed, to enable the
government to devise some better scheme for
balancing income and expenditure. AS was
foreseen by many, a renewal was demanded
again and again; although improvements had
taken place, through judicious changes in the
revenue. Yet such was the pressure of many
taxes upon the people, that the government
found it necessary to reduce them, and cling to
this source of revenue in spite of its obnoxious
character.
Nothing shows more clearly the pressure of
taxation in England, and the embarrassment of
its government than the fact Of its having to
impose, in time of peace, a tax which had never
been imposed but in time of war, and then with
difficulty Sir ROBERT PEEL alone could have
persuaded the arstocracy of England to consent
to such measure.
The present opposition comes from that
source. But what can be found to supply the
place of an income of five millions and a haf?-
an income which but just covers the expend-
ture!
The government will have to use all its nflu
ence in the proposed committee, to obtain from
| it a report in accordance with its own necessi-
ties; and whether it obtains it or not, the diff
Guilty is not removed, inasmuch as those who
now support the burden are unwilling to bear il
longer.
The people probably regard the tax as fair
and equitable, since it falls on those who can
best afford to pay. Hitherto the public bur-
dens have been so distributed that they have, in
fact, fallen almost entirely upon the masses,
and as these are equally determined to bear
them no longer, struggle must be expected
which cannot fail to increase the embarrassment
of the British ministry.
Since the passing of the Reform BILL in 1881,
the public camor forced the Wings to diminish
the most oppressive taxes. They had made
promises to the nation previous to coming into
power, and as they held the power only by its
appreciation of their conduct, they were COM
PEELED to keep to them. They did 50. They
got rid of vast amount of sinccures, cut down
pensions, diminished obnoxious and useless
places, or the incomes attached to them, and
took OFF many oppressive duties. They could
not, however, equaize income and expenditure !;
and twice or thrice have the Wings Quilted the
helm of affairs, after creating deficiency of
some two millions sterling year, leaving to
their Tory successors the perilous task of FILL
ing up the gap, without Accomplishing new bur-
dens upon the shoulders of the people.
To SIR RoBT. PEEL is the credit due of hav-
ing met the difficulty in bod and skilful man
ner. No other man in England h ad the capac-
ty, financial talent, or influence necessary to so
great an undertaking. He not only persuaded
the wealthy classes to submit to the imposition
of a war-tax, for three years, in order to supply
the pressing wants of government but he made
such judicous changes in the duties on sugar
and other articles that, although getting rid at
the same time of several obnoxious taxes, he so
far raised the revenues of the State, that he left
a surplus of about two millions of pounds on
quitting office.
This surplus the Wings again reduced 1t
cannot be denied but that the latter are deficient
in financial ability. No government, whatever
its promises to the people, ought to leave the
State with an increasing debt in time of peace.
IT it can find no new or increasing sources of
income, it ought not to change those which ex-
st; but rather resign the direction of affairs into
ADLER hands.
1t must be admitted, however, that the Whigs
have bad unusual difficulties to encounter. They
could not have held power day without fulfil
ing some, at least, of their promises, and they
had not influence enough to meet the difficulty
as SIR RoBERr PEEL did.
MIR. COBDFy has nrnpoood narhor, H. or1,,