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    December 18, 1852.] THE LEADER. 1199

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    The Parliament Of The Week. Financial De...

    pEEl , thoug ht that the direct taxation , when imposed , should be laid on with a friendly and discriminating hand . At present the people could not see any emerncy calling for an increase of direct taxation . He characterised the Budget as retaliatory in principle . jfr . WAiiPOlE pointed out that Mr . Peel , Sir C . Wood , and Mr . Cobden had severally admitted the wisdom of these parts of the Budget—the remission of the tea duties , the relief to the shipping interest , and

    the distinction between incomes . The Brfdget carried out three things—cheapness of articles of consumption , relief to the farmers , and aquality of burden on all competitors in trade . Sir C . Wood had anticipated no increased consumption of beer , because the manufacture had not heretofore increased ; but it was the taxation which had prevented the increase . The remission of the tea duties would cheapen a beverage " which , sifter all , should be * the most encouraged , " and would extend trade with China . Next , the colonial interest

    and the shipping interest had been relieved ; then the agriculturists . Mr . Cobden had compared the Malttax to the duty on cotton taken off in 1830 . If , at that time , that duty produced five millions which could not suddenly he spared , still , would not the remission of half have been wise and beneficial ? Mr . Walpole then defended the exemptions from taxation of the Irish landholder , and argued that the Irish fundholder had no right to claim that exemption , for his peculiar rig ht to exemption arose from national circumstances , not from his residence in any part of the United Kingdom ; and as to the general fundholder , they had a perfect right to tax him according to the quality of his income . Mr . Walpole , having gone through the items of the Budget , wound up by some sentences of strained eulogy on his colleague , the Chancellor of the

    Exchequer . " I think you will find that , although the measure is a large and comprehensive one , so large and so comprehensive , indeed , that the right honourable baronet opposite wished him to divide it into two halves , making one of them his budget for 1853 , and the other half , I suppose , the budget for 1854—( cheers and laughter)—yet that budget is not so large nor so comprehensive but that my right honourable friend will show to this House—and I trust that he will at least have the opportunity of doing so—that he can do in . one year what many Chancellors would do in three years . ( Ironical cheers . ) But I . really would not have gone into this dispute except for the very disparaging tone which I think has been somewhat improperly made use of . ( Ministerial cheers . ) I must ask whence it is that these

    extraordinary attacks are made against my right honourable friend ? What is the reason , what is the cause , why is ho to bo assailed at every point when he Jias brought forward —when he has made two financial statements in one year , which have met , I believe , with the approbation of the House , and certainly of the country ? Is it because you are jealous of his success P ( Ministerial cheers . ) Is it because be has successfully struggled hard and long with genius against rank and against power , until he has attained the highest eminence to which an honourable ambition could ever aspire—the leadership and guidance of the Commons of England ? ( Ministerial cheers . ) Is it because he has verified in his person the dignified language of the description of the groat philosophic poet of antiquity , portraying equally hia past career and his present

    position : — " ' Cortaro ingenio eontendcre nobilitato , NocteH atquo cUob niti pwcatanto lahoro A < 1 summits emerge ™ opes , rerumquo potiri . ' ( loud cheers . ) My right hon . friend has . attained that position ; and who will grudge it to him ? I will not spoak disparagingly—God forbid that I wliould—of the right honourable baronet the member for Halifax—his abilities and his powers are admitted by all ; but without disparaging him , I think I may say that the budget of my right honourable friend may boar comparison with any of his . ( Ministerial eheoi-s . ) Tho boat judges in this country will declare , nay , 1 believe they have declared , that by hia ' budget ho 1 ms put himself on a level with the boldest and , at tho same time , the most prudent financier which this country has produced . ( Ironical cheers . ) They will of

    t « ll you , at any rate , in tho greatest emporium commerce of tho globe , that those plans have reflected credit upon him—in the judgment of thono bout capable of judging ol thorn , of the highest eminence , they will toll you , an you lmvo heon reminded this night , that he has disproved by those propositions the common fallacy which the world ran away with , that a ituui of ' genius may not be essentially and practically a man of business . And whatever may be tluj result of this debate --whatever may bo tho fate of the proHent Government—whatever may bo tho effect of that ill-OHsorted alliance * which t see before mo ( Ministerial ch «« rH ) --Uio country will say , I firmly beliovo , that my r'k'li' - lion , friend has earned for hirnndf a reputation us oxtonsivn as the empire which ho is largoly benefiting by his logiHlution , and gratitude as permanent an tho lamest geueroHify of a tbmikful , enlightened , and reflecting communit

    y . ( Loud choers . ) Mr . GoinmntN contrasted th « present linaneiul «« 1 ioith ! with the cour . su pursued by Sir Robert 1 ' eel . ¦ W" first obtained mi available balance , nmj then made wuluctioiiH ; but the present Government created a deficiency , and then culled for inoro taxation . Tho ques-!¦«»> now was , could tho finances afford to low two ami ll - » ulf millionH ? There was u present surplus , but Miv J > wmoli , wiLh " a curtain kind of courage , " proposed to "wbjwt tho country , lit the <»»* » f IU ) xL J" ' " ' ll dc '" fiuienoy they could not calculate beforehand .

    In the meantime , Lord Derby , replying to Lord Wicklow , made some statements , intended to be significant in the House of Loeds , early on Tuesday evening : — " The question of the extension of direct taxation , subject to aa few exemptions as possible , engaged at the present moment the anxious attention of the House of Commons , and he trusted it would be solved in the course of the present week . That question was one of deep and ¦ vi tal importance to the permanent interests of the country . He was not speaking of any personal results attaching to the present Government—though , unoubtedly , the decision

    of the House of Commons , whatever it might be , could not fail to have important and immediate consequences on the position of the Government itself , —but he was speaking with respect to the permanent interests of the country , in reference to which he held that the decision of Parliament on the question was of the most vital importance . He earnestly hoped that as soon as practicable Parliament would relieve the country from the anxiety with which it was awaiting the decision of the House of Commons on that important subject . Undoubtedly , it was not desirable to hurry or accelerate the proceedings of the other House , so as to preclude that body from the due consideration , not of any change in minute detail , but

    of the great and broad principles involved in their present deliberations ; yet he thought it was of great importance that the country should not continue long in suspense as to the course the Parliament might adopt , and as to the hands , also , by which the system now established was to be administered . He hoped a few days or hours might decide that question , as far as the other House was concerned . He regretted that in consequence of these discussions , and the delay which had taken place—though , of course , he did not complain of the delay—it was necessary for their lordships to meet day after day , witb little or no business to transact , to sit for a few minutes only ,

    and then to adjourn ; and he was anxious , as soon as the decision of the House of Commons should be pronounced , and the resolution now before that assembly affirmed , if affirmed it should be , that their lordships should be released from their daily attendance there . But , while the question to which he had referred , and other questions contingent on it , remained in abeyance and undecided , he thought he should be wanting in his duty to the Crown if be were to recommend an adjournment of the House for any lengthened period , and thus deprive the Crown of the possibility of the attendance of that House at a time when it might be necessary for the Crown to have recourse to its immediate advice and assistance . "

    On Tuesday , after Mr . DiSRAEuhad incidentally placed the question at issue on this ground—Whether " the area of direct taxation should be extended / ' Lord JoCBtTN expressed his approval of the Budget . Mr . Osboenb commented o n the question in a speech marked by his usual fitness of phraseology and wonted happiness of quotation , and by a treatment of the topic more than usually able . Avoiding discussion on direct" and " indirect" taxation , he pointed out a peculiarity in the Budget : all new tax was immediate , —all remissions were left " looming in tho future . "

    The remitted moiety of the Malt-tax was " compensation" in disguise : why was the House-tax—its substitute—levied only on town houses , and not on country cottnges ? The speaker quoted Sir E . B . Lytton ' s England and the English—especially the passage , " I believe , if ever the national debt be in danger , the fatal attack will come less from the Radicals than from the country gentleman , jealous of the fundholder , and crippled with mortgages . " This , read with point , elicited ringing cheers from the Opposition . A still happier quotation closed bis remarks . Mr . Walpole had lauded Mr . Disraeli , ami had referred to his reception at the ( Juildhall , as a . proof of tho popularity of the Government . A remarkable parallel to that reception could be found : —

    " JIo alluded to the reception of Buckingham and . ' Richard HE ., when Dukeof ( Hosier , at Guildhall . Gentlemen would roniombor tho quotation in Sbakspearo : — ' When he had done , some followers of mine own , At lower end <> ' the ball , liurl'd up their caps , And some ten voices cried 'God save King Richard !' And thus I took tho ' vimtago of those few , —

    'Thanks , gentle citizens , and friends , ' quoth I ; ' This general applause and cheerful shout Argues your wisdom and your love to . Richard . ( Roiu-h of laughter . ) JIo would venture to suggest to tho Home Secretary , when h <» quoted tho reception at Gmldlmll that it was not very probable n Hot , of well-to-do irenflemon , who were met to discuss tho tender merits of turtle and venison , would l . o inclined to criticize with any severe eye tho dry details of a financial project . No , those wore not the classes they hhjhI quote oh giving a cordial reception to their Hudgot . It was tho industriousclerk striving to support his family upon an income of not 1 WM . ii-voar ( Chctirs . ) It was the energetic mechanic , just , omonrinir into independence , whom they muni , ask what Uioy thought of tboltudgcl , ( V "'^

    , .,...,. _ ., Aldcrninn TuoMi'HOK praised the Hudgol , and asserted that the repeal of tho Timber-duty would l > e a less valuable boon to tho shipping interest than the rem ' msioiiH that bad been made . Sir B . Ham showed how unduly partial towards the tenant-fiinnern was the spirit of the financial propositions . Sir . 1 . Duokwouth , eoufiding in the Government , Hiipported . the Budget ,, with reservations—intimating mi objection tothollousetax . . . Mr . IIUMii pruised all tho romiHsionet and couocssionH

    i n the Budget ; but condemned a House-tax as the worst of taxes . Why not add one per cent , to the Property-tax and strike off the House-tax ? Indirect taxation should be still further and very extensively remitted , and direct taxation should be extended ; the whole of the Malt-tax should be struck off , also the duties still remaining on 233 foreign manufactures and forty-two articles connected with agriculture . But he would vote against the present proposition . Sir E . C . Dering- defended the Budget .

    Sir J . Gbaita ^ t , after pointing out Mr . Humes financial inconsistency , in consenting to wholesale remissions of taxes , replaced but by one per cent , tax on property , extracted from Mr . Disraeli a statement that the issue before the House was simply the narrowed question of the extension of the House-tax . He pointed out that that alone could not bo considered , as the Budget calculated on the increase , as well us on the extension , of the tax . Briefly but clearly referring to the advance of sound financial and commercial doctrines already achieved , Sir James approved of the " shipping interest" portion of the Budget . The concession to the West India islands , of refining sugar in bond , was good ; but he had been told that home holders of inferior sugar would use the privilege , causing an annual loss to the revenue of 200 , 000 / ., uncounted

    by Mr . Disraeli . Did not this give added weight to tlie warning touching public credit expressed by Mr . Gladstone , " his independent station , his long experience , and his spotless character giving additional weight to that warning . " But a great admission had been made by Mr . Disraeli , namely , —that the security for the landed interest was to be found in the welfare of the working classes ; as they become better off , poor-rates fall , and this relief compensates the landowners . "Thus , while there is much left on which we differ , there is much on which we agree . " After all the anticipation of the Budget that had been , he

    was glad to get the tangible thing at last : yet , stripping it of the Malt-tax repeal , the Hop-duty repeal , and the House-tax , it had the usual family features of all budgets . Tho repealing of half the Hop-duty was a specially unwise item . The Hop-duty was a tux comparatively costly in collection , vexatious to the producer , onerous to the consumer , and trifling as a source of revenue . It was just one of those taxes which should be entirely remitted or completely changed . The Malt-tax was a tax which former Governments found it impossible to do without : it was too great a source of revenue to be cut oil " . Mr . Bass bad testified that it

    was not vexatious in its operation ; and as to the farmer feeding bis cattle , the law allowed him to wet barley , and cause it to germinate , —in fact , do everything but dry it for the purposes of brewing or distillation . Tho remission of half the duty would reduce the price of porter but one farthing per poc , and the reduction in the price of pule ale would be still less . Neither would the landed interest be served by the remission ; the barley-growers , owing to the great demand and limited supply of hurley , did not want any " boon" of this kind ; and Scotland , with intrinsically inferior grain , would . suffer from barley and inferior grain being put on n level . Sir James then addressed the country

    gentlemen , incredulous of his good will " as a friend , having a community of interest with them , " — [ his advances were met by derisive choers]—and pointed out that flic Exchequer Loan Fund had been especially useful to them . It had also done tlio Slate good . service , being a convenient plan of avoiding direct Government loans to local objects . " And I ask , why should the Chancellor of tho lixchequer , under these circuinntaiices , lay violent hands upon , this fund to meet a deficiency which he himself has created , by Jumpering with the taxation of the country , and

    l > y proposing to reduce simultaneously tint Malt-tax and the Ton-duties , which together yield an annual income of l () , (>() O , 000 / ., or no less Mian ono-lifth of tlio whole revenue of the country P Witb a clear balance in the Exchequer of l , fi <)(> , (>(><>/ ., the ri ^ ht , honourable gentleman tampers with these two great , branches of revenue , and , to meet a deficiency which be himself creates , lie threatens to lay violent hands upon the funds of the hlxeheqiier Loan Commissioner . In fact , the right honourable gentleman has no surplus , either in the first or second year , beyond what those particular funds will enablo him witb dillicully to obtain . " lie appealed to Mr . Herri en , an experienced financier topronouneoon this point . Mr . Lowoluid pointed out , with great ; force and ability- - ( dicers ) tlie impropriety , of proposing roAud . ions of duty to lake p lace a year after you make tho proposal . ' Mr . Disraeli bud called direct taxation , with exemptions , confiscation ; yet hot had continued exemp tions . In Ireland , for instance . The Knglish clerk , with 100 / . u-yenr income , will now pay for fhe ( ii-Nt lixie 2 / . IJJ . v . income imd bonne tax , and you remit him virtually about 12 s . a year in his mult iuitl tea ; while the Irish clerk of I 0 O / . ai-yonr obtains the name JU . v . n-year benefit , but payw no iuconio or hoiiMJ tax . Tho following wero Htriking instunces of

    December 18, 1852.] The Leader. 1199

    December 18 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER . 1199

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 18, 1852, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_18121852/page/3/