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HOUSE OF LOBDS . —Mo . hday , Apjul II . lord Campbell moTed the second reading of the three B 31 s by -which he proposed to transfer to the Bouse ol I / ords the power at present possessed by the Privy Council , of hearing appeals , te reform the appel-] ate jnriBdictioB of the House of Lords , and to render Tjerm&nent the office of Chief Judge in the Court of
Cbincery . lie motion wag opposed by the Lord Chancellor , IiOid Brougham , and the Duke of Wellington ; " and the amendment being carried witheut a division , the Bills were lost .
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BOUSE OF COMMONS , Friday , Awn . 8 . j , ir . T . Drs combe revived , in another form , the question of the preceeding afternosn , as to the admisaihility of petitions against pending taxes ; but as no notice jjad been given of his intention , it "sras agreed , after Bone conversation , that this debate should be adjourned \ o Monday . On the question that the report of the Committee of " 9 f ajs and Means should be brought up . Lord JOBS BC 5 SELL rose to move , by -way of jjneBdment , & resolution , the purport of irhieh was , that the estimated deficiency of income to meet expenditure might be supplied by a jadidoU 3 arrangement of the dsiiea on com , sugar , timber , and coffee , and a rednction of the various prohibitory and differential
duties ; and thai , considering the taxes ( neatly 2-i milli ons ) in ssnouut , "which , exclusively ol the income-tax , tad been taien off between the termination of the -war snd the year 1836 , and the various other means of supplying deficiency , the House vrould deem it not sectary , and therefore not advisable , to renew a tax , ( viz , on income ) inquisitorial , unequal , and hitherto considered as a -war reaerve . He -w as of opinion that the Go vernment had takes too gloomy a view of the coubtxy * s financial difficulties ; the difficulties which required fiie chief consideration "were the commercial ones ; and accordingly the new burdens were preposed rather for commercial than for flnfvn ™* purposes . It was under pressure of -war , and tmder great and increasing deficiencies that an income tax had on former occasions been
imposed ; at the return of peace it had always been removed ; and tbere bad fceen an understanding that it ¦ jras to be reserved for seasons of -war . The present deficiency was to the extent only of about l-28 th of the yearly revenue ; public credit continued high ; and money could be borrowed at an easy rate . The great objections to an income tax ¦ were these : —Pirst , it taxed the funds , ¦ which led to the danger that some other metropolis of Europe ¦ would become the great moneymaritt of the world . Another objection was the inequality of the tax , for it assessed precarious incomes as heavily as the incomes of permanent property . Again , it was a tax of which an inquisitorial examination must be part and parcel . There was a peculiar infitness , too , in the time of proposing it- When it
was first brought forward , the valna of mousy was felling by the operation , of the paper currency ; but no Euch operation was in progress new , and the commerce of the country was at present in a state of gre&t depression . He admitted the necessity of providing for the deficiency , and proceeded to specify several articles of consumption from which he thought a sufficient revenue might be obtained for that purpose . These -vrere . sue&r , timber , and wheat ; on the first . £ 587 . , ou tie second £ 600 , 000 , and on the third £ 530 , 000 , might have been obtained without pressure on the people . On coffee , as on timber , a needless sacrifice of revenue had been made . There were various other suggestions from various quarters , most of which he thought preferable to the Government plan ; for instance ,
a fluty on tee succession to landed property , and an increase of the assessed taxes onfcui-wheelt 4 carriages , male servants , and other itesis in the sxpenditure of the rich . He should not despair of succeeding in objects so reasonable , were it not that he foued the question now was , not what would be most useful , but what would beet uphold the prestnt ; Administration . Me and his trisnds - * rere maligned as the bittar enemies of tie farmer . He denied the cliarge ; he believed the principle of the fixed duty to be a beneficial one for agriculture as well as for other interests . Men of the greatest ability , and the most warmly attached to agriculture , had declared that even a fixed duty of 8 s .
-would not be permanently wanted for ita protection ; snd yet persons , whose heads seemed to be made of the same clay as their acres , called him the bitter entmy of the farmers . Had he been the means of deceiving the farmers ? He had not given and broken pledges on the subject of their interest ; and if they were angry , let them turn their anger , not on him , but on their deceivers . 2 *" ow ,, feasted ,-was an income tax of , £ 4 , 000 , § 00 —was t ^ at a partial and unequal t * x , to be imposed , not for toe necessities of the country , but for thB avowed purpose of rapporting an Administration ? If so , he thought the nation would ere l » ng regret that they had elected a House of Commons which had bo betrayed the trust reposed in it .
Mr . Goci-Brss disclaimed any gloomy view of the conntry " B condition- energies , or capabilities . He hailed the admission that the deficiency must be provided for ; and contended that it was not enough for the Hoase to meet the mere present necessity ; they were bound to regard the state of affairs in the East , and the probable expences which the contests there would involve , and to place their finances upon a basis -which ¦ would enable them , to do justice to the country in future years . Mr . Pitt ' s ground for originating the Income Tax was not merely the existence of a war , hot stall more the sxistenee of a great deficiency ; and so far frem proposing to confine that tax to the season of war , Mr . Pitt proposed to pledge the proceeds to be raised from that tax after the return of peace for the
payment of the loans contracted daring war . ' Loid Alttorp , in later tames , had declared the necessity of Jneeiixtg a deficiency of £ 2 500 , 000 , should it occur , even is profound peace , hy the imposition of an Income Tax . In troth the maintenance of public credit was just as important in peace as in w ^ r , and a system of loans in peace was to be carefoliy guarded againstthat system which had been so long the resource of the late Government . The IfoMe Xord had ialieu of the era influences of a tax on funded property ; yet the funds , which were but lately at SS and a fraciian , had bow , even since the announcement and discussion of this very tax , risen to above 90 . 2 io doubt an Income Tax was unequal ; but s * was every tax ; and at least the inequality would here operate favourably for the
Email incomes . He adauttad , too , the inquisitorial character cf the tax ; bat he hoi-ed he should be » i . le to remove , by various regulations , the most consid £ r&ble of the practical objections On this head . He then adverted to the bndget of the late Ministry , particularly to the proposal for the admission of foreign sugar . To that course the prtssct Miniate s had objected , not on financial grounds , bnt by reason of the eneoirregenient -winch it wunld nave given to foreign slavery eik ! the foreign slave trade . "And at las * , the ^ o ' ole Lord ' s bndgtt wonld have left the country with a revenue deficient to the extent of abon j a couple o : icillloiii' . JJow as to the new suggestion of theXoble Lord . It seemed to be thought tLat legacies on land pad rn legacy duty ; but the fact was that they
paia exacuy its jane legacy duty as if they were Chatgtd on land . It seemed also to be thunght , on the other hand , that all personal property paid probate a . vi legacy dnty upon ^ accession ; bat th- fact was , that thar wherever prrso ^ al propaty was in settlement , as the large properties in land most mnaiiy were , it paid no cu : y whatever . There were indeed some landed properties Tn-stttirf , but they were chief y the smaller onfes ; and it y ^ s cot upo n the holders of a little that he xhougbi it desirable to impose fresh duties . By tie best approximation he had been able to make , it appeared thit -A a total of about £ 8 , 000 , 000 produced in ax years by the legacy duty , upwards of £ -3 , 000 , 000 had been yielded by the lfgacies charged ou land ; and he qusted a speech of ilr- Baring , the late Chancellor of the Excaeqxier , corroborating these results . The
Koble Lord had also recommended an increase of the assessed taxes ; but such taxes did not fail , as lie seemed to think , on the rich alone . The window tax , indeed , had once been a very productive one , but that was when the smaller class of hcu ? es was included , which in later tirats the Government had been enabled to exempt ; and it could not be desirable to bring back iie poorer tenants iLto Bnch an assessment J 3 e quoted the Epgecfe cf a personage whom the Noble Lord , as member for the City , was bonud to acknowledge a 3 a high authority—a speech of Sir John Key , Lord Hayor of London , condemning the window tax as being " the income tax in its worst shape , unjust , oppressive , and irquifitorlaL" Fall time had novr elapsed for the peopleto farm their opinions of the proposed measure , a ^ he trusted that the House wonld enable the G > Ternment to maiclan by it the credit cf the country .
ilr . Williams ¦ Coventry ; dislifeed the income tax , cut thought Lord John Russell had made cut no very good case in his ether objections to the Ministerial nr-ance . He hid himself given notice of two proposals , both of which he tlitnght fetter than those of the J < ob 3 e Lord . First , fc& would propose on all inheritances or ae-risea of L " . cd a duty equal te the probate and iegacy duty on personalty ; and seconJly , a graduated per centage oa salaries and other incomes payable out of the public revenue . He calculated that these two measures would produce from , £ 4 , 000 , 000 to £ 5 . 000 , 000 , -wliicn would be sufficient to meet the deficiency .
Sti S . ISGtis suggested that , as incomes ol £ 150 * ere to be wholly exempt , the posstssors ef large incomes should have so far a proportionate benefit as to be taxable only on the surplus beyond the £ 159 ThuB z man with £ 250 would pay only on £ 100 , the » aa with £ 300 would pay only on £ 150 , and so on . He Would , however , bave preferred evea a higher pel csatag * on property , with a tet&l exemption of mere income , iff- P . Stswast said , that the suggestion of taking £ 150 the unit in the scaleand taxing enly
, * hs excess , was one which he should approve if he * ere Dot wholly opposed to the taxes in any shape . Be thought it premature to include in the present fcrasgement a provision for the deficiencies of Indian ^ enne , and for the probable expanses of the Chinese * **• The Government were unnecessarily alarmed at I * present drcumitaBces of the nation . He approved ** reduction cf the duty on eeflfee , but not on timber . * tfce room of t >^« odious tax he would suggest some jjja subjects of assessment . Be would t&X landed ^ caalons , anl that suggestion taa this lecommend-
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ation—that no present owner would suffer from £ t He "Would have a fixed duty on com ? which duty-would not only produce present revenue , but serve as a stepping stone to a wholly free trade . Sugar -would be another resource . The West Indians wosld object in vain to a re-adjostment of the sugar duties , for they were at all events doomed to destruction from Cuba and Brazil , and might as well make up their minds to their fits at once . He made some criticisms on certain points of the tariff , and concluded by deprecating a pusillanimous view of the present difficulties .
Mr . Palmss ( Essex ) vindicated his own consistency on the subject of the Corn Laws . It was impossible , in the case of any very large measure , that every one of its points should be approvod by every one of- its supporters . The credit of the country must be obtaintd , and tbongh B * me objections might be made to an income-tax , there was no alternative bat to accept it with a good wilL Having expatiated npon the Chinese question , he referred to the tariff , which he condemned on the broad ground that it was a measure of free trade ,-though it gave a very large protection to the cotton manufacturers . He did not grudge thwn & protection , bnt he wished to see all interests protected equally . Mr . W . somerville thanked Sir R . Peel for having exempted Ireland , and for having taxed the absentees , bat could not support this impost without a stern necessity .
Captain Hamilton supported the tax ; for while he felt the hardship of the impost upon the widow and the professional man , be considered also the great relief-which the tariff would give to th « m , and to all other classes of consumers . He regarded this arrangement in the same light as the organization of a military force in time of peace for security , against , the breaking out of war . Mr . SH 1 EL was persnaied of the people ' s generous willingness to come forward for the public aafety ; but it was a feeling of -which the Minister should be slow to avail himself . The Minister had said , that unless he carried his tax and Ms tariff , he wsuld retire ; but his virtue was not likely to be put to the test His first difficulty wonld be his suocess—would be the
people ' s feeling of his income tax , with its pressure , as inquisitions , its conjectural surcharges , its -whole train of vexation and injustice . They would then aek whether he had not availed himself of power to abuse it ? Surely it was rash to increase a deficiency for the purpose of supplying it -sritb . an income tax . The late Chancellor of the ^ Exchequer , had he done so , would have been called an empiric The tariff should at least have been perfect . to warrant such an impost for i » s site . He then criticised the reduction of duty on timber , and the non-Tefiuction of duty on sugar . Ministers talked of the foreign slave trade , and yet lowered the duties upon the coffee of the foreign slave colonies . The present deficiency had been charged upoa the Whigs ; but it was not by the Whigs that the debt had been raised
to hundreds of millions . By them , on the contrary , taxas to the amount ot , £ s , oo » , ooo had been remitted " . . ( Hear , hear . ) The Tories , too , had remitted many taxes ; the first they had remitted waa this very income tax , which they had taken off in 181 C , and which was now the first to be reimposed by the Tories of 1 S 42 . The iEcome Tax Act , passed by the Whigs of 1806 , was framed to continue till the April following the treaty of peace , and no longer . He feared this blister ; tfee more it should draw the more it -would adhere . It had been condemned by all the greatest interests and authorities , ameng whom was the late Sir Robert PeeL It had bee * supported by Lord Castl = rcajh ; but he had a much stronger ca » e than the preseit Govern » eat , yet he did not succeed ; was success , then , to attend the Minister in a reformed Parliament ? Conld he reconcile his measure vrith his profession of care for the pool ? How unjust -was it to
tax the intellect of one man equally with the acres of another I Onght the landed gentleman , " who lives at home at ease , " to pay no more than the officer of the army or navy , or the widow struggling to maintain four or five daughters on a slender jointure ? Nor was it fitting that a Government should create inducements to falsification . The House had been strongly exhorted to shut out perjury in the Irish registrations ; would they not he equally -watchful against perjury in the collection of English Taxes ? If they were not hypocritical Pharisees , he hoped they would not show themselves remorseless publicans . And where was the necessity for the , measure ? The Queen ' s speech , the speeches of Ministers to their own constituents , bespoke safety and fair prospects ; the country bad had no disasters ; bnt when money waa wanted , then the master of all the Ministers came down to tho House with vague alarms and dark intimations ef danger .
Sir R Peel rose . and Mr . JBrotberton moved anadjournment . Some question was made whether Sir IL Peel was entitled , in speaking on tke motion of adjournment , to enter upon the main snbject . The Speaker haviag decided that he was at liberty to do so , Sir R . Peel proceeded . After expressing his anxiety to vindicate himself from the charge of exaggerating difficulties , he reviewed the rlsancial state of the last few years , and showed that the late Ministers , who had come into ofBee with a surplus cf three millions , hid quitted it with a deficit of five , TnnVing a difference of eight millions against the country . If those facts were substantiated , was thare any exaggeration on kis part ? He quoted a speech in which Lord John Russell , having then a surplus , had said that no Minister wenld so far
embarrass and degrade his country , as to commence the financial year with a deficit even of one million ; yet heT 6 was a deficit of five . The last speaker bad said , there had been no disasters . When had England ever sustained such a disaster as that which had jtut annihilated , with the exception of a single individual , the whole-of the British force in one quarter of India ? Was not some decisive exertion necessary for enabling the Government to repair so great a calamity ? What , then , did he propose ? A t&X usually , indeed , te * ene& for -war , but equally applicable V ) any other great emergency . Lord John Russell himself had supported a resolution involving that admission , and proposed in 1833 by Lord Althorp , for the purpose of dissuading the House from the removal of the window tax . The
If oble Lord now recommended a duty upon Ianied successions . His own Chancellor of the Exch « -quer , only two years ago , tad recerded his opposition to the principle of such a tax . Sir Robert Peel then reprobated Lord Join ' s contumelious attack upon the intellect * of the agriculturists . They , however , needed no vindication of their consistency , for the very objection of the Opposition themselves to his Corn Bill was that it removed no substantial protection from the land . Now , what were the substitutes proposed thi 3 evening by Lord John for the income ttx . N » t an 8 a . duty : that resource was now disposed of by the passing of the Com BilL Assessed taxes ? H ow would they relieve professional men , and tradesmen , and widows ? The rieh might escape them by going abroad , but the less
affluent classes , who could not travel , must stay and bear tbtm . It -was said , retain the timber duty . In aLswer » o that suggestion he explained the various ways In vrfricb this remission would benefit the country afe large , and especially the maritime interests . Sugar was another of the injects pointed out ; but , after the sacrifices made by this country for the extinction of the slave trade ,- and in the present stato , of onr negotiations on that q-rrsrion , he had noi ; deemed it justifiable to Itjfn foreign sugar for mere pecuniary considerations , without any security against the evils of biave cultivation . It was said that we were a
vras , indeed , proposing a new tax 1 but he was remitting- o&ere to a great extent . He was reducing duties on articles of subsistence ; and be entreaSed his agricultural friends to suspend their judgments upon this part of the subject , per ^ uided that he should be able , at the proper time , to show the expediency of that reduction for all interests , including agriculture itself . He would say , fairiy , before they voted on this question , that he could not consent to increase his low duties on the import of live cattle . No wonder , however , that the public mind was agitated when such efforts had been made to disturb it . Papers bad even been circulated proposing to supply fresh meat by contract from Hamburgh at 3 d . per pound , when at ilambcrgh itself the price was 5 d . Bat he would reserve himself for future and fuller explanation on this subject . He admitted that an income-tax must be inquisitorial ; but it was necessary that honest men should be protected against the evasions of tkeir
neighbours . The last speaker had pleaded eloquently against the income-tax ; might not an equally t Juching picture have been drawn on the other band , of the father of a sick family compelled by a nevr -window-fax to shut ant the light and the access of air from his anguishing children ? To be sure you might now get a loan easily , fn the funds were high . Bat what had raised them ? The prospect of this very t 3 x , and the conSdence that Parliament wonld maintain public credit He was not fairly liable himself to be taunted for having said that on the success of these measures the fate of the Government must dtpend ; nor yet his frieDds , who , approving the genera ; principles of his administration , consented to yield tbeir own opinions npon particular points . Some men might prefer one form of government and some another ; but he agreed with Lord Melbonrne that of all governments that was the worst which , lacking power to carry its measures , was content to linger out its existence upon Uiq forbearance of its opponent !
Lord Jons Rlssell desired to explain that his allusion-to heads of clay had no reference to any particular class of members . Mr . Bbothebton again mooted the question , whether Sir B . Peel had been entitled to speak on the main subject ? The Speaker again decided in the affirmative . The debate was then adjourned . Monday ' , April 11 . Sir R Peel- began the adjourned debate respecting
le petition from Finsbury , which Mr . Duncombe had resented on Friday , against the income tax . Sir B » eel opposed the reception cf this petition , on the rtund of the ancient usage excluding petitions against ending taxes . If that usage should be rescinded , great bstmstion to public business might be the consequence ; was true that a resolution now existed against the abating of petitions but that resolution had raised a sage of only"five years , whereas tie other was of 150 . [ e was aware that much difference of opinion existed a this subject ; but lie thought himself bound not to
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abandon a practice of so long standing without taking the sense of toe Heon upen it . Lord Howick thought the old objection to these petitions was removed by the modern prohibition of discossioa upon them . Sir R . Peel seemed to have no reason to urge against the change , except that it was a change . Mr . MlLNES supported the old practice , because he thought that if the House , by a large majority , should sanction a tax , while the country in general was petitioning against it , an opinion might grow up that the Houst did not duly represent the people . Mr . F . Berkeley . Bhortly supported Mr . Duncombe . Lord F . Egerton also expressed his feelings that the dtors of the House should be opened as wide as possible to the people ' s petitions .
Lord JOHN RUSSELL , though reluctant to contravene a practice which had prevailed for 150 years , felt himself obliged , since the departure from the old usage of debating upon petitions , to support the motion of Mr . Duncombe . He could not consent to maintain the customs of antiquity only on the side of restriction . Even if you should now shut out these petitions against the enactment of the pending tax , you could not abut Out petitions next year for its repeal . The rational course would be to allow the presentation of these like otheT petitions ; but , as in the case of other petitions , to exclude discussion . Mr . J . S . Woktley was disposed to support the motion . He thought the practice of the House on such a subject should not be construed with the Strictness of B penal statute .
Sir Jakes Graham observed , that this usage had originated soon after the Revolution , at a period highly favourable to the rights of the people , and had continued uninterrupted for a century and a half . The recent exclusion of discussion might perhaps be rescinded ; and if that should happen , the supply might be effectually obstructed , and the Crown left without a remedy . Lord John Manners , as an anti-revolutionist , would vote against a practice which the period of the Revolution was cited to sanction . Captain Hamilton opposed the reception of the petition . Lord SaKDON desired tt nphold the existing practice until there should be a standing erder against the discussion of petitions .
Mr . Q 0 VLBVB . X deemed it highly important taat the practice of the House should not be rendered uncertain , aad above all that resolutions should not be left on the books and daily violated . If the practice ought to be changed , it should be dona by a motion to rescind the ancient resolution establishing it Mr . Buncombe said , his object was to break down a practice which he regarded , as an unconstitutional , however it might be an ancient , one . No antiquity could sanction such an is justice . If this petition shou ! d be rejected , another would be presented next day ; so that Ministers would mot be much advanced by their resistance If they wished te exclude petitions , the wanly way would be to move a standing order to that effect . The people disliked the pending tax , and the object now was to gag them . The House divided , and the numbers were—Por the exclusion of the petition ... 222 Foritajweeption . 221
Majority for the exclusion l The adjourned debate on the report of the committee of ways and means was begun by Dr . Bowring . He rejoiced that he had not been a parly to the policy -which had produced the deficit now to be supplied . He had seen no occasion for the Syrian nor the Indian war : but neither did he perceive any intention in tbe present Ministry bo terminate tbe hostilities in India Still , if they had been content to assess income with some regard to its Bources , he would have supported their measure ; for he was persuaded that the principle ol direct taxation was the true one ; but he could not accede to the levy of an equal per centage from permanent and from transitory income . He expatiated on the general benefits of direct taxation .
Mr . Gaily Knight sketched & draught of the will of the late Ministry , b « que * kbigg to John Bull a deficit of £ 50 , 000 , 000 ; item , a war in China , item , a war in India , item , an unsettled boundary in America . He reprobated their reduction of taxes for the sake of popularity , and their resort to the expedient of loans . Referring to Lord John Russell ' s description of the landed gentleman as having heads of clay , he avowed his opinion that they would deserve that sarcasm if they did not show that they had the sense to support their friends against their enemies . Mr . ELPHINSTONE would have preferred a revenue raised from the sources pointed OUfc in Lord John Russfcll's resolution . A tax levied upon all incomes , withont Tbterenct to their duration , waa peculiarly objectionable . It pressed the trading and manufac turing interests with disproportionate severity . The tariff was an improvement on the old system ; but it was imperfect in many particulars .
Sir Walter James protested against the protraction ol these debates , which were suspending the whole commerce and manufactures of the country , embarrass ing the capitalist , and starving the operative . In such a state of things it was the duty of the House rather to act than to talk . Gentlemen opposite bad not been able to deny that the plan of Ministers was bold , comprehensive , and calculated to raise the revenue sought from it . He defended its general principle , but thought that no man ought to be taxed for that portion of any lifts income which he laid out in the insurance of the life . Mr . Wallace quoted a speech made in 1833 by Sir R . Peel , disapproving the exemption of Ireland from any income-tax that might be necessary for Great Britain . If Ireland waa to be exempt , so ought Scotland to be ; and be WOQld take the sense of the House on a motion for exempting Scotland .
Mr . Liddell cornMnnted upon the manner in which the Whigs had redeemed tbeir pledges of teform , retrenchment , and peace . Reform they had carried ; but what had been their retrenchment ? They had retrenched income , and increased expenditure . And as to the peace they had procured for their country , he tad only to refer to that expedition into Afghanistan against which the Duke of Wellington had so wisely and so early warned us . With respect to tbe measure now proposed for the repair of those evils , he gave it his cordial approbation . The proposal in the . tsriff for the reduction of the import duty upon live cattle had indeed given rise to much uueasinesi among the graziers , but it was an uneasiness without foundation .
The markets of this country were more than equal to absorb any import likely to be let in throngh this reduction . Indeed , the countries of Northern Europe , from which so overwhelming a supply b » d been apprehended , were all , except Holstfin , importing countries themselves . He thought it but right that these things should be stated , in order to disabuse tbe agriculturists ; and , connected as he wag-with agriculture in all his feelings and fortunes , his statements came at least from an unsuspected source . He defended also the reduction cf the duty on timber . But while he approved thesa reductions on the tariff , there was one item of a contrary character which he could not approve—namely , the imposition of a duty on coal .
Mr . Wason quGted a speech of Mr . Huskisson ( March , 1830 ) , as marking the distinction between a property tax and an income tax . Against the latter . Mr . Wassn protested . It was property alone which he would subject to taxation . For that purpose no inquisitorial machinery was -wanted . He intended , if . Lord J * hn Russell's amendment should be rejected , to move another , for the exemption of income " derived from industrial Bourcea . " He sbomJd willingly take off those other taxes also which bear upon the poor , and he would make up the deficiency by a further tax upon property .
Mr . C W . Wysn begged the House to consider , that after years of temporizing , the day -was now come when an exertion must be made to pnt public credit upon some substantial ground . He gave a history of the income tax-is of 1863 and 1866 , and explained 1 the reasons for imposing them . He observed that the Incomes of mest of the great landed proprietors were only incomes for life ; and Baid' it was of no consequence whether the possessor , being only tenant for life , were to be succeeded by a son or by a stranger . He did not believe the country would allow the tax to last one year beyond the ntcessity .
Mr . Macaulat began by stating the substance of a petition from Edinburgh , which the practice of the House had precluded him from laying on the table . He believed it to be true , as was said by Ministers , that a property tax was impracticable ¦ without an income tax ; but the inequality and injustice of an income tax were such , that its imposition could be warranted only by extreme necessity . Mr . Roebuck had intimated that no man shoald object to disclose his income . That gentleman , iu tho position he held , might afford to indulge such a feeling ; but that was not the sentiment of the great body for whom the House was legislating , and with yrbom the half Of life was a constant struggle against tho appearance of poverty . This was a tax to be adopted only in the last extremity , and such waB not our present situation . Was there ever , Sir R . bcrfc Peel had asked , finch a disaster as the recent destruction cf our Indian amy ?
In one sense , certainly , that catastrophe was deeply disastrous—deeply bo , with reference to"BritlBQ honour and to domestic feeling ; but in a financial View , the only view material to the present question , the disaster was not of the same importance . The fact was not even known when the Right Hon . Baronet brought forward the present measure cf taxation ; and it certainly was not likely to require any greatly expensive armament Ten or twelve thousand troops would be an ample force ; of which the whole charge would probably fall Bhort ' of £ 400 , 000 a-yeai . This was not an exigency like that in which you imposed an income tax to protect you againBt the nations of the continent leagued
with France , when your navy estimates alone exceeded the aggregate charge of all your present establishments . He believed that , at this moment , England was better able to maintain a great war , than at any former period of her history ; and yet , from the late course of the Minuter , the peeple of the continent might be led to suppose that England was in a state of the greatest difficulty and danger . The right hon . Baronet had introduced also the topic of Indian finance—an important topic , but not yet so far explained as to form a just ground for an income tax . Mr . Macaulay then touched upon the other resources which he considered as available for the present occasion . Sir R , Peel had objected to a Butar duty on the score of slavery ; but , considering
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what was clone about coffee and eotton , and tobacco , he thought it a strong effort of charity to believe the right hon . Baronet sincere . Then as to timber , Sir R . Peel had pitched over £ 600 , 000 at once , a greater bio * to our finances than the disaster In India , instead of f onndmg an income tax to meet a deficit , the Minister had made a deficit to found an income tax . - _ Lord Stanley said , that whatever might be the difference between the two sides of the House in their conclusions , there ww no disagreement in their premisesi ; the greatness of the deficit was no matter of doubt ; and the Opposition , now that they were no longer under the responsibility ef having taxes to find , admitted likewise that the time for make-shifta was over , that the finance of the country must be repaired ,
that the burden could not be thrown upon the commercial and manHfaqturing interests , and tbat the budget of last year would not yield a revenue adequate to tbe ocsaslon . On his own nide it was equally admitted that a great emergency alone could justify such a tax . ^ f « . Were th <> » oln <;« of general agreement . On the other hand , there were disagreements to be noticed evea among the oppositlinthenMielvesi Some said , ' Tax property , but not income ; " while others , and Lord John himself said "if you tax property you must needs tax income too . " Lord Jobi and Mr . Macaulay objected to the course taken upon the sugar and timber duties . Mr : Williams , of Coventry , took a wholly opposite view to both of them . Lord John had said , an income tax has hitherto been ' a war reserve— -no
great compliment to His Own Government , which , after twenty yeaw of peace , had placed our finances under difficulties equal to those of war . When had it been necessary before to hold 20 , 000 baypnete in Canada ? Who could tell what cost would be entailed on England by the war which thelate Ministry hid stirred up la China ? Talk of peace ! Look at India . Tne Duke of Wellington had prophetically told them what would be the consequences even of success in that quarter . " A disaster , certainly , ' - « aid Mr . Macaulay , Vbut , " added he , " not a financial one . " Waen he had thus estimated the lives of thosa brave men in pounds , shillings , and pence , who could calculate the further cost in which we might be involved by the spread of that insurgency against tue prestige of England , which was but too likely to follow aucn an overtorow ? True , the Government knew nothing of that calamity when they brought forward this measure
ill as they thought of the expedition ; they had not anticipated anything quite so fatal . But they had looked a little before them ; they bad foreseen the general probability of great expenditure ; and , surveying the whole state of the countryi they had come unanimously to the conclusion that direct taxation was the only available resource . The Neble Lord now wanted to drive us back upon that budget which had been already rejected by two Parliaments . Butthec « rn , which had been one of its main items , was now dealt with in another ways the Noble Lord admitted , that his budget , even if the corn wera Btill available to it , would not yield enough to make up the present deficiency . The Noble Lord talked of charging land with a probate and legacy duty . His own Chancellor of the Exchequer , Mr . Baring , had
condemned that very scheme , and had shown long since , as Mr . Gpulburn had done in thie present debate , that land already bore an equivalent stamp duty , though in another fonn . He acknowledged the lnquiBitoiial nature Of a tax upon income-, but the bill imposing it Would coutain alleviations of this objection . And what would the Noble Lord , who proposed , an increase of the assessed taxes , say to the inquisitorial nature of those assessments ? The present call was made ! upon the country , not to pay off past debt , but to meet present annual expenditure ; and so far from an unjust tai , he believed it te bo both an equitable and a wise one . In reference to Mr . Shiel ' s quotation from Waller's panegyric aa applicable to Sir Robert Peel * Lord Stanley regretted that Mr . Shell had not added the remainder of the -passage—
" when , without noise . The rising 6 via night ' s vulgar ttffhls destroys . " He was glad to claim the praise awarded to ministers by tbeir opponents—that the measure now before the House was a bold and honourable one . Mr . Labouchere , after defending Mr . Macaulay from what he complained of as a misrepresentation by Lord Stanley of that part of bis speech which related to the disaster in India , referred to Sir R . Peel ' s ckarges against the late Government of living on the forbearance * f its enemies , and retorted , that Sir R . Peel himself bad held officein 1835 without any majority in that House . He contended that the necessity now
alleged by Ministers was of their own creating , and that the income tax waa a price which the country was called on by Ministers to pay , for the continuance of the present system of duties on sugar and timber . Si * R . P « cl was bringing oat his tariff , as if he were tho author of its policyi whereas it was the policy of his predecessors , andhe was but tiking advantage of the tide as it turned . He defended and applauded that feeling of liberty and pride which induces Englishmen to resist any measure of an inquisitorial nature . Of the tariff in general he approved , and would take hia share of the responsibility attaching to the changes it would introduce . ;
Lord F . Egerton condemned , as beipg no longer a mere excusable party mancBUvre , but a positive crime , the delays by which Members Of Opposition were paralj-z ' ng the trade of the country ; and he read some passages if a petition from Lancashire , very numerously signed , and praying for the despatch of this measure . The Opposition had spent their time during the holydays in getting up petitions j and they bad spent their money , too , if he might judge from the placards and standard bearers that paraded the vicinity of the House . So far from thinking that the courea of Ministers bad
lowered on the continent the estimate of England ' s resources and spirit , he inferred from the foreign journals that the tone and measures of Sir R . Peel bad impressed our neighbours with the highest respect for the country so governed . He wauld support this measure on general grounds of confidence in the Goment j and specifically , because that Government possessed in its councils that great man whose sword bad achieved such successes in India as well as in Europe , and whose spirit , in his advancing age , Still burnt with the brightness and clearness of his youth-Mr . Brotuebton moved an adjournment .
Lord John Russell imputed the delays complained of to the parties opposite , Who had thought it more material to displace the late Government than to discuss the importint duties . As for the expedition to Affgbanistan , he did not shrink from his share of responsibility ; but the papers relating to ft ' bad been hid on the table last , year , and no motion had been grounded on thenv by the opposite party . He was ready to identify himself with Lord Auckland in this master . - '¦ ¦" ¦ ¦ .. ' ¦ ¦¦ ;¦ ' ¦" . ¦ - .. ¦ ¦ Sir John Hobhouse expressed himself to the same effect w&en the estimates for the supplemental fo : ce Bhould be moved , he would take an opportunity to state the case of the late Government .
Mr . Mark . Philips bore testimony to the respectability of the signafcUKs attached to tbe petition which had been mentioned by Lord F . Egerton . He could not conscientiously support aulncouie-tax .-nnlesEt upon some greater necessity , or with a view to some more extensive arrangement , than was now stated to the House . Some desultory conversation took place , which occupied ten minutes more , and the debate was then adjourned . Tuesday , April 12 . A discussion on the same question which had occu ^ pied it at the commencement of three former evenings - —the question whether' the House should allow petitions to be presented against pending measures of taxation , was first called , on . It was raised by Mr . Cowper , who tendered a ' petition from Hertford against the income tax .
Lord Francis Egehton desired a postponement of the debate until Thursday , on Which day he would submit a resolution having for its object to admit petitions against taxes , with a due precaution against their being debated . : Colonel SiBTHOn . 1 * said a few worda , and so did lord J . KUSSEtt ; but the subject seemed to have no interest , the House being very inattentive , and keeping up a general murmur , which evinced " that they regarded th * division of the preceding afternoon upon the Finsbury petition as having substantially disposed of the question . Mr . T . Duncombe had no notion of letting Lord F . Egerton make a feather-bed for Ministers to fall easily down upon .
Sir B : peei was in no fear of a fall , and therefore wanted nothing to break his descent . He had opposed the abrogation of an ancient rule , and the Houie baying sanctioned bis coarse by a majority of 31 , he had also opposed the presentation of the Finsbnry petition . The majority , however , having then shrunk to one vote , he bow felt that it would be difficult to maintain the practice . But it was iurely desirafele ; if a change was to be made , that ifi should be inade without irregularity ; and he did therefore wish for a short interval to frame such a resolution as would effect the object in a safe and decorous mannsr . When that should have been done , he trusted the meetings to be convened for the purpose of petitioning would be really publici ones . > Lord Howick would recommend it . ' - . to Mr . Cowper to withdraw nk motion , if Sir R , Peel would himself bring forward the regulation necessary to Bettle the question . - - . ¦ . ¦" - ' . "¦ ¦ . " ¦; ' . '¦ ' . . ¦ . . ¦ . • . '• . •¦ " . ¦ - / ¦ . ¦ . . \ ¦•¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦'¦
Sir R . Peel answered that without actually originating the regulation himself , he would willingly co-operate with Lord F . Egerton in framing it Mr . CUMHING BBliCK was understood to recommend a Committee . " ' . ¦ ' . ' ¦ . - .. . - :. ¦¦ : -. ¦ '• - ¦ . ¦ .. . ' . ¦ , . ' - ' ¦ . ¦ ,. - ' . : ' i The Speaker , on a request from Lord John Russell , explained that a resolution of the House , while it remained uuKscmded , was binding only on the Parliament which passed it ; but that a standing order , while unrescinded , was binding on succeeding Parliaments . ' . ¦ ¦ ' ;¦ .: - ' ¦ .:. ¦; : . ¦ ¦ ¦ / ' ¦'"¦ '¦ : ¦" Lord Mahon moved , that this debate should be adjourned to the day succeeding that on which Lord F . Egerton should make bis motion . Lord F . Egerton read the notice of motion which he proposed ta put in . Lord Palmerston -would recommend it to Mr . COWper to postpone hlB motion , if Sir R . Peel would engage to support that of Lord F . Egektpn . Sir R . Peel said he was willing to support Lord Y Egerton in bis general object , but could not undertake ,
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without time : for consideration , to support the specific motion . \ ' ' /¦ . - ' J -: '¦¦ ' '¦ ¦ ' ¦ : ' : ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ : ' ¦' /¦ ' ¦ ¦ ' ¦ : ¦¦¦ ¦ Mr . WakleY wonld" not consent to any motion for the admission of petitions , if coupled with a condition excluding debate npon theni Sir < J . GREY explained to Mr . TVakley that there was no new comprdnaise . The proposed motion-would merely annex to the provision for letting in petitions a repetition of the already established resolution against debating them . \ Mr . Wallace was for debating all petitions . Mr . Cubteis thought Lord F . Ejjertqn ought to let Mr ; Duncombe , to whom this success was ? wingy have the honour of making the motion which was to ratify . ir .. . ¦ ¦¦ /¦ -: - " 'V .: -V- " ¦ ' /; - " ¦ ¦' ¦ -V- ¦'" ' '••• "•¦ : Mr . 0 'eoNUEi . i explained that there was nothing : of compromise in what bad been proposed . Mr . Cowpek then consented that the debate should be adjourned to Friday .
Mr . WaSON made a motion for restricting election councU to one committee at a time . Sir . J . GilAHAM and Mr . W > nn showed the toipractscabilitjrof anj'such regulation , Mr . WALlacb supported Mr . Wason , and lamented the present expence of election petitions . Mi . Wortley said , that such expenee could be prevented only by the ; appointment of a proper judicial tribunal for tbe trial of those matters , Mr . QCONNBtt concurred In deeraingf the present tribunal unflt for its purposes . Many petitions , be said , would be prevented by an enactment that every registered voter sbouli retain his vote for the year , notwithstanding a change of residenoe . The tribunal for ultimate trial might be also a court of appeal from the registering barristers ; and should be composed of lawyers belonging to the cla 33 from which the judges Of the superior courts are selected .
Mr . Aglionp ? . exposed the impracticability of Mr . Wason'a suggestion , and advised that a committee should be appointed for considering the whole snbject . Mr . H . Fitzroy believed that the only remedy would be to place in the chair of each committee , some distinguished lawyer of the House . Lord GRANvii . fcjj Somerset observed , that the lawyers of experience in the House were too few for this duty . Mr . Wason , after repeating an observation made by several of the preceeding speakers , that the whole question on an election committee was , what were the politics of the Chairman , withdrew his motion . Mr . Ceuldehs , having just had twenty » one days' experience on a Committee , whose chairman , a Conservative , he acquitted ef partiality , felt , however , a conviction that the tribunal was cot calculated to do justice .
Sir R- Peel said , that the arrangement about the chairman , waa a suggestion , not of his , but of Lord John Russell ' s . Mr . Ewart wished for a regular legal tribunal ; and here tb is discussion ended . The adjourned debate on the financial measure of the Government was resumed by Mr . Brotiierton . He admitted that at Manchester there was no very strong feeling against the income Us . Perhaps , because a new generation had arisen which remembered not tho pressure of a like tax in former
days—perhaps because they did not understand tbe distinction between a tax on income and a tax on property —perhaps because , as one of his fnends had lately told him , the manuf aclurers , having got no profit last year , thought it no gi ' eat hardship to compound at the same rate for the three years next to come . He thought the tax unnecessary . He wished for no wars : he thought the trophies of peace more glbrions . At all 6 Vent 8 he would not tax income equally with property . He would assess the funds , and ail landed property , as it was now rated to the poor , only raising the rate from the landlord instead of the occupier .
Colonel Wood ( Brecon ) calculated , that , but of the whole population of this island , being about 18 , 600 , 000 persons , not more than 206 , 000 would be called on to contribute to this tat How very much smaller a nnmber was this than the number who must have contributed more or less to any indirect taxation ! He defended the conduct of himself and other couatymenibera in Supportiug the principle of the New Corn Law againBt that of the fixed duty . hit . arANOLES , admitting the magnitude of the disaster in Afghanistan , yet regarded it as no suifflcient ground for an income tax . It was a lighter disaster tban that of the American war ; but there seemed to be a tendency in o » r nature ever to magnify present evils in comparison with past The Indian
Government in Lurd WelleaUjr ' s time had been pressed with great pecuniary difficulties ; its debt was then upwards of £ 3 l , 000 . 0 d 0 , being more than twice itff annual revenue . But in 1839 , that debt had increased by only about a million , while the yearly revenue had increased by ¦ £ 5 , 000 , 00 l » : and Whereas , in Lord WeHesley ' s time , the Goveinment was commonly borrowing at twelve per cent ,, the present rate of its loans was only five pet cent . ; a rate bo much lower th * n that of private discounts , as to prove the high credit in which the Government now stood . And yet We were told that , this state of things
required us to charge ourselves with an income'tax •' He adverted to the heavy losses smtalned by our Indian army during tbe Burmese war ; losses occasioned , indeed , by sickness rather than the sword , but equally important in a nnaHoial view , though not so painful in point of feeling . He believed that India , if well governed , would maintain herself . He did not participate in the apprehensions entertained for the security of our empire there . The Hindeo part of the people would always side with us against the Jlahomedan . Our dominion rested not on a mere prestige , but on pnbllc : opinion , — -the impreesion of the ' natives , that the English dynasty is a truthful and upright one .
Mr . Qranville VEENON was not satisfied with . the argument that the Indinn finance was not very materially disordered in 183 >; neither at that time were the finances of England v « ry heavily depieasbd ; but the question was , how far the deficiency had been aggravated since ? He-deplored the policy which had prompted the expedition to AffgbanisUn . A large force Was now required , not only for India but for Canada ; and even in Europe the tone of some foreign Governments was such as to forbid the neglect of defensive preparations . These were our necessities ; and he did not think them adequately met by the suggestions of gentlemen opposite . He felt tbe inequality of taxing temporary like a permanent income ; but this hardship was not peculiar to this tax ; it attached
just as severely to church-rate and to countyrrafce . Mr . C . Buller thought it not a little ominous that the tax , originally proposed for three years , was now spoken of by S r R . Peel as very likely to last for five , and by no means sore to be removed even at the end of the latter period : Whatever objection was made to the tax , the answer of the Ministerialists was always that the Whigs had . cotntnitt'jd this Or thatM 8 take . Such recriminations , even had thsy been fair , would not be logical ; but they werenot fur , for the present . Ministers were the paities properly responsible for many of the very evils now charged on thelf predecessors For instance , the Canadian expencea , and tie uneasy state of the negotiation about ¦ the American boundary ; and even to tho Indian war
they had given a tacit sanction by dropping their iwtice of motion agaiust the policy of the late Government respecting India . When tbe estimates were to be voted , the Conservativea had always recommended an increase of our armanienta , and -when the postage was to ba reduced , thtiy had given way , as the Whigs had done , to public opinion . Why was the Indian debt introduced into these debates ? Was England to bo charged with it ? If not , it had no business in the calculatidn of the general deficit . There had been a great Indian deficit in 1830 , when Mr , Goulbumwas Chancellor of the Exchequer before . Did Mr . G > uiburn come then to the house for an income tax ? No : be then diminished the revenue by taking off the tax on beer . Lord John Russell had now proposed a
resolution , in which he did not barely condemn tho Ministerial ; measure , but suggested one of hia own . Sir R . Peel ' s plan was to protect the great monopolies , and break down only the minor ones . Lard JoLm ' s , on the contrary , sought to abolish the greatest . The articles on which Sir R . Peel was remitting duties , were not such as the poor consumed ; but all classes Would have been relieved by Lord John Russell' s reduction of duty on corn and sugar . Sir R , Peel had done just what was best for the landed interest , removing exactly so much of the duty on , corn as produced them obloquy without protection . Mr . C . Buller then commented on the addresses : of the county metnibers to their constituents , lidieuling Lord Stanley ' s assertions on the subject of the vast
quantity of corn grown at Tamboff , and the popular agitation of the . Lincolnshire members againgt any alteration in the old corn law . Mr ; Gaily Kuisht had last night repeated to the House what he called the will of the late Government . The real legacies of that Gpyei'nment had been reli ^ ioua liberty to Catholics and Dissenters , emancipation to the \ negroes , launicipal franchise to the towns , and freedem of commerce to the whole people i but the executors 0 ] f that will Were those who had been thefr constant opponents , and for ten years had used : all possible means to defame them . Mr . BORIHWICK insisted on th « sppalling magnitude of the late calamity in India , A parallel had been drawn between our losses in this and in the American war ; but what had been the result of bur losses in America ? That Anjerica had been wretted from us . For his own part , he came to that House unpledged , and would give hia best consideration to
any Suggestion , from whatever quarter , for the benefit of the country ; and , however , unwillingly , at a late hour , and In an impatient House , be . mustdischarge the duty Of delivering his fleBtlment 3 . XUe Jmpatience of the House , however , rose > 6 such a height when the Hon . Member had spoken about half an hour , that he found it necessary to move an adjournment ; upon which , at a little after midnight , the galleries were cleared for . a division . The House , however , did not divide , but permitted the Hon . Member t « resume bis speech . He attributed tiie commercial distress of this country , not to the Com Law , but te tbe revolutions of the Continent , and warnily espoused the interests of agriculture . He thought there might have been a better plan than that of Sir Robert Peel , but it waa the best that had been propounded , and he should feel himself bound in duty to give bis independent vote in ita "favour .- ' . ' : ¦ '' ¦ ¦ ¦' ¦ : ¦ ' ¦/¦ . - ; ""¦ ' :- ' - ¦¦¦ ' ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦¦ : ¦ ' ¦'¦ - ' : :. . \
The debate was then adjourned , Sir Robert Peel expressing hia hope that it would conclude the next night ¦ . ¦ . ' . ' : " : :. ' ¦" ¦ ¦ " ' ' ' : ' ¦ " ' ' ¦
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Mr . MASTERMan deplored the injury occasioned w the commercial world by the delay ; and that evil was further insisted on by Sir W . James . Lord J , Russell expressed his confidence that tbe debate would close on Wednesday nigrhfc . Mr . si . Phillips desired tff observai as to delay , that the country had waited five dreaiy montbs to know tbe intentions of Governm « 'nt- . : ,: Sir R . Peel said that though it was quite fair to debate the question fully , it was hardly allowable to put off the effective part of the bill till ten O ' clock of each eveniD ^ ¦ ' ¦ ' ¦ - . ' ' " " , ¦ 7 ¦ ¦ :.: ¦¦¦ ¦• ; : - . : ¦ ¦ - ¦ : '¦ ¦ . ; The other orders of the day were then read , and the House adjourned .
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ALLOA . —Mi . Abram Duncan left this town on the morning of Friday last , for London , being dmegated from this district to the London Convention . He took along with him a box containing the signatures , from this . district , to the National Petition ; and it is very cheering to announce that the Dumber of ti ^ natiires from this district amounted to no less tbah 18 , 090 . , ¦ : ' ¦' , y : -. -: D imHAM .-Tie National Petition from this place has been sent off . It contains the signatures of 1 , 785 males , and 800 females—total 2 , 585 . SOUTH SHIELDS — The Petition from this place has been forwarded , with 3 , 440 signatures attached , and supported also by £ 1 to the Convention Funds .
BIRMINGHAM . —The Chartist and New Move Conventions both dissolved on Saturday night , many delegates having left oh Friday . On Sunday , the Coancils of the various ; localities met to draw up resolutions , and appoint movers and Secondera to them , and for other urgeHt business , lespeoting the forthcoming greiis demonstrafcioii . In the evening , a funeral oration waa delivered by Mr . E , P . Mead , for Mr . Henry Frost . The room was crowded ta suffocation . BTjaV , —Mt . ' Rankini of Manchester , lectured here on Monday last , to a crowded meeting . At the closd &f his lecture , the sum of 6 s . 3 ^ d . was collected f « r the Manchester victims . . ., . - NEW OTILliS . —Mr . E . Clarke , of ManchesteT , deliyeTed a powerful and : instructive ' . lecture , in the Chartist : meeting room , New Mills ; on Monday eveainglast . ¦ .:. ¦ .: " " .:.: . \ ¦¦ ' ¦ ' ' . ¦ ' ' . ¦¦ . ; ¦ ¦ - . ' . ; . ' -. ¦ : .
HUDDERSFIELD . — Pelegate MEETING . —On Sunday- last , the adjoarnedmeeting of the General Councillors of the Huddersfleld district was held ia the Chartist ioom , HOnley , when councillors from the following places were present ' : —Holmfirth , Thomas Haddock , Wai . Cufctall ; Kirtheaton , John Marsland , John Dyson ; Honley , Edward Haigh , Charles Boothroyd ;' Dalton , Matthew Carter ; Berry Brow . Joshua Robinson ; Yew Green , T > ayid Gledhill ; Lepton , Richard Inman ; Almondburyi William Sykes ; Huddersfield , Josiab Thomas , Edward Clayton ., Mr . Josiah Thomas was usanimonsly called to the . chair . The report * handed in by the various Councillors from each locality
were gratifying ; as far as regards tbe spreading of the principles of democracy , the number of members , aad the spirit manifested by the people . The forthcomiHg Convention having caused great excitement , all ia quite alive , and a good spirit manifested . Tho propriety or impropriety of engaging a lecturer for the present waa discussed , when it Was agreed , that for tbe present DO one f&ouM be engaged—several local lecturers having volunteered to give the « setvicea gratis to any place needing a lecturer . After the busineas of the district had been dispensed with , and a vote of thanks given to the Chairman , the meeting adjourned to that day five weeks , to be held in the same place . ;
3emjjar(Ai Abarlfamnrt
3 Emjjar ( aI aBarlfamnrt
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BRIGHTON :. GREAT PUJBLIC MEETING .-tRIUMPH OF THE CHARTIST ^ . Onthe evening of Thursday , April 7 tli , a public meeting was convened by a requisition Of electors of the borough at the Towb HaU , for the purpose of hearing the difit rent candidates for the representation of the borough at the anticipated election declare their political principles . At seven o ' clock , the hour appointed for the commencement of the business , the room was crowded to suffocation . . : "' ¦ : , On the proposition of Mr . Alien ,
Mr . John Good was unanimously called to the chair . , ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' . ¦¦ . ¦ ~ y- - ' - " ¦ : ¦ ' ' .- . ¦ ¦" ¦ : , : . ¦ ' " ¦ :: . . ¦ . '¦• Mr . Brooker , the Chartist candidate , on enuring the room , was received with Joud cheers . Mr . Harford , the rejected of Leytes ^ also mounted the platform , amidst the cheers of his party , and cruis . of fo Go back to Lewea , " "Nobribery , " &c . - v The Vestby Glerk having read the requisition calling the meeting , TheCuAiRMANbritfly addressed the meeting , claiming an impan ial hearing for each gentleman who would address them . ; : ; The Vesthy Clerk read % letter from Captam Fechell , stating that in conseciiience of the important business ia the House of Commons he was unable to attend . ¦ . - ; - ¦ . : '¦ ¦ ¦ . ' " '' ' ¦ . ¦ ¦ . . . '¦ ' ¦ :: ¦ . ¦
The Chairman then called upon Mr . Charles Brooker , aS the senior candidate , to declare hi » opinions to them . Mr . BatfOKEa , on rising j was received -with loud cheers . He addressed them as electors and nonelectors Of Brighton . The country v ? as in a sinking and ruinous condition ; they Were how making ( he last trial : it was the last straw that broke tha camel ' s back , and Sir Robert Peel was making the last trial upon poor John Bull ' s back . Sir -Robert Peel had admitted that John Bull could have no more taxation in an indirect manner , but he was making a trial of direct taxation ; but it was a . reduction , ' and not an increase that they wanted in the taxation . As his sentimeats were well known to . them , it would be
unnecessary '"; for him to detain them with a long speech . He was the unflinching advocate of th& People ' s Charter . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . Brooker explained id very clear language the six poiiits of the People ' s Charter , commencing with Unirereal Suffrage . He contended that the poor man had as great a stake in the ; country , and as gr » at a right to oe represented , through his representative iu ParlT ' ament , as the greatett nobleman in the land . As to Property Qualification , it seemed that unjess a man possessed property , he certainly could not possess much wisdom . He contended . toy th « contrary and would , therefore , abolish Property Qualification . And againi as to the 1 Pavmeiit of Members . If a poor man . was sent as a representative , why fhonld
he not be remunerated by the Btato tor eervices doue to thorstate 1 "With Annual Parliaments , he believed that where they ended slavery began . Although fee preferr- d open voting , yet , as a protection , he would advocate the Ballot . He also advocated thedivisiok of the country into equal electoral districts , showing the absurdity of sending two Members for one place , it often occurring that the voter supported two men of opposite principles . He was for thetotal separation of Church and State , for the immediate Itopeal of the New Poor Law ,- : which he declared to be aa inyasion of the rights of Englishmen , and that the Poor Law Commission was a complete inquisition Mr . Brooker related a ease of a poor m >» , who hung himself at Jevirigtbn , rather than go in fco tho
Ea 3 tbourne Workhouse , on . Monday -last , to aa elm tree , near the churchyard j and that the jary brought in a yordict otfelo dese . Mr . Brooker concluded a long speech by exhorting them to stand firm to the principles of the People ' s Charter , and . aatdoTFn amidst loud cheering . Mr . Nicholson j of London , being the next candidate was called for and appeared amidbt loud cheering . He declared bimseir to be a Radical of the old school , one of Home Tooke ' e time ^ a supporter of the prihcipleB of William Cobbeit ; he lashed the Whigs in fine style , amidst loud applause .
You have the common enemy in front now , said Mr . N ., but don ' t be humbugged by the Whii ? sany more ; they call themselves Liberals now , only let them get into omce again and they will be vety liberal with your money ; He repeatedly cautionei them against sending a Whig , and after ; three quartere of an hour ' s lashing the sot disaht Whi § Liberals , he sat down lpudly cheered by cautioning them against being hurhbugged any more by the Whigs . The Chaikman then called upon Lord Hervey , the Tory , but he had sent a polite note stating that he should not . appear before the electors until the day of nomination . ' v ' . . ; . . ; . ' .- ; ¦
Mr . Habfobd was then called upon , who appeared amidst the cheering of his friends , and the groans and hisses of the Chartists , with crieB oi "No bribery "— " Go back to Lewes "— " Oh you advocate of the truck system "— We won't have ye "—and many expressiona of disFatisfaction ; however , Mr . H . tried to make a speech by partly reading one to an assembly composed of nearly three hundred persons ; hiatoptcs of address was the income-tax and the new tariff , which he opposed ; he was in . favour of Vote by Ballot , Triennial Parliaments , and Household Suffrage . ¦ ¦ . ¦¦¦ . - . . - , _^_ .
Mr . Harpord concluded a speech fall of Whig or Liberal promisesj and was very gljyJ to resume his seat , loudly cheered by his party , and the hiasea of the opposition . . Mr . John Sandyj in a very excellent speech ^ proposed Charles Brooker , Esq ., aa a fit and proper person to represent this borough in Parliament . Mr . Flower in a rather warm address seconded tho resolution , telling Mr . Harford that he was a Whig and nothing else , and he niust liot expect their support . : ¦ ¦' ¦ ' Mr . George Faitheull , a lawyer , moved , That Mr .: Summers Harford is a fit and proper person to represent the . borough . " Mr . HiltoS seconded the nomination of . / Mr , Harford . ¦ . -. ¦ ' . ¦¦ ' ¦ ¦ ¦ : ¦ .- ' . ¦ ' ¦ ¦ " ¦ ' ¦ '¦ ¦ ¦¦ " ... ' ' ¦ ¦ ¦ - '• . '
In conseqaence of no person proposing Mr . Nicholsoii his imina was not put , however Mr . N . declares he will be on the hustings at the day of election , that he Will go to the poll , and fight it out to the last . The Whigs of Brighton w ^ re never in such a quandary before . Mr . Nicholson will knock them on one side With his debt and taxation-riddance scheme , and Mr . Brooker will goad them on the other side most strenuously with the Charter , backed by the workiug men of Brighton , assisted by that indomitable champioii of the people , Feargas O'Coenor . Hurrah , for t . he Charter I
Untitled Article
THE NORTHERN STAR ¦¦ ¦ ' -V ' ^ : rv- :: :: ' : V ^ : ; .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 16, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1157/page/7/
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