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Leader (1850-1860), 20th May 1854, Edition 1 of 1, Page 459, Untitled Article

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      vhfch the Horae was dreadfully bored . Why did not Ministers epeak ? Why did they not explain ? Hadi 3 *© " powerful and able" speech of Sir Btdwer Jjjtton silenced them ? tord John Russeli ,, who had probably waited to sum up * . rose at this point ,, and exasperated the Opposition by coolly laying , bane the real question in dispute . It was , he said , one much -wider than gentlemen , opposite were willing to admit . They boasted of having supported a Government with whom on many points they differed ; but really the only question on which any difficulty was likely to arise was in reference to Hie taxation for carrying on the war ; and after Tjoastinj * of the sacrifices they "were prepared to make , itf-wfecs too much to ask the House to l ^ Eere tha t it ^^ tlfe natur e of th 6 particular tax which , induced them to reject it . What T they were

      tit ^ U ^ t ^ T 36 e afc h ° » e- Sh * i thereifiJre ; 18 TomrasntM 'SfvJr "fVirtammvitAdbi enables her ifejeity fo ^ bkll ont anda » rol thennfitia * ha * thought fit to imk 1 bW < K # i mawcatwn totfeejHoujfe <* J ^ orfs , to Oe , ehdrtiutafaffrnftv TOSSPOT ** * 9 aeh P * * ^^^ think 8 i «» eiM £ tft ba forthmth . dmwn oat aad ^ mbbdwd . M . ac ^ oSwS c [ Tm * o » ;* , ¦¦ ¦ " * * ^ Subsequently the Dai ** moved * suitable reply . C 2 iS 3 JW ? i . aroi * M *" - 1 ^ * **» & . LoiA > S 34 hoped thakfaUh would * ot fee brokenrwtthtlwwfcwho bad > T < 4 un ^ eered under different cifcumstancftfeuiRhe Duke of Mud that it

      ^ KWCASTLB waa not at pre # flnt intended to embody the whole of the militia fo *« e-r i Jj 5 , MO , only—and , these will be selected feo » u re * i meats which have expressed a perfect readiness , to serve . Then it will not be neeessaryt in semeduB stances , to eqibody wliole regimenta , * od in tJb * ea * e leave of a ^ isenceowIUbergivfen to $ ha * er ^ ho ; ca « not from their vocation * oom& forward * Wnthafc ; no « enous ioooa ^ nienc © , if 4 uoy at , aK , Mi * tatfefee .-tfto The Earl of Dbbby . agreed ^ tI *> rdrl&syatlwfc the alteration : fthouidhay-e as little aapowibie , *** tnwpective character . . . . . . ,., ? ¦ .:. ;« . ? ,., •¦ lt 8 w . * r : 'i

      /• from the iraswertiiatfcaaiMwm ^ en ^ tkotejWeBaalK , though .-jiotiMchmeal ^ oc ; ia iteEjns . ^ fc anwjt ei $ «« t ^ tli * tdis . w » t& ta _ y » hich tbanobla e » rl p ^ i ^ fwi ^^ j ^ XM ^ n yet that the GaJerinnent , In the selectioti ^ f lrSme ^^ s ehijbo 4 imeht , will select those re ^ m ^ bts l ^ ii ^ ift@ « Me Mi Nton ^ u » 4 « senre ; mi . fartfieri tna ^ ini ^ er TM ^^ B ^ eMitisting ' of 90 d : or 1000 inam , they wooM b * 3 ftnaUeW&itift 1 a - sHK ) ot GOOmen . who wooli be wiUi % to v&mi&c . b&ia ithm x > t > W « I > uh »; iwll ^ e ^ nelSg 1 | fc < &lEhwvfe ]^ jterOTBtocLkinuf ' l . .-. k ' .-. ¦ - > i ' - -r . Joo ; -f ... v f *< iMidiM ¦

      , tl £ * e , "JWj * pf » Bvro , »«*« t-V . Sam ^ m ^ M ^ m ^ t . apec ^ jniawerpreted what 4-said ., The wlrdiwWflCftjithit joo stated it nwre . fu llV f aai clearh * : j £ N ^; 4 M ^ Mfl ^ ' Eari Grey— " I ; think that to aflhirS tnb ^ crSiousTy . togpoa laitn in tnose majxsfs is & point oi tn * . CFMtoeBCin - i portancei for our whole system of ettHstrae ^ t'f ^ til S snri ¦ THil ( tia , aad nar ^ and tha saecess of ffi « ^ fcokgoPtKe ^* - i «« t arrangements really cest ^ upcin tliu « . gMiftnd £ i&a £ uBtt > fi--denea shall ibe placed ' in t ^ Stito j Aadtiih ^ nn ^ rb » telBBan > stances will strict good faitii be departed feoait ^ . IwifStite ia its dealings with those who contract with them . Hitherto this eoontry b « s keiM ; a Mgh-ohar » € rte * mpowib&ttbject , and I h * H b « glad that nothing Btfall b « 4 » M ^^ ttr « dt from that cdamctar . ^ . ' ¦ •; : ¦ ' ¦ - ¦ " ¦ ¦ ; - i-xirM

      ' The resoltitiau ia sulsw ^ tli ; e a ^ d ^ sitwW ^ tli ^ # M ^^ G ^^ - ^ W *^ r ; : ; i ^ j ,, ; . Jit . # ** ,, Hoa 3 « of ComiaqM Ixh ^ s P . aj ^^ bw JMMughtr up > the , meaaagefaijidriJWweax ^ b ^ wpiy ^ were substantuuly tb * * ame as thoae in : theiHotwecf ( Eob ^ " , ' - - ¦ •¦ .:.- - •• - ¦ " : -I ;; . t « f-j = ¦ _ . {>! , j . - ;; • - . ; r ¦ ¦ •¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦ TJaBBd- ' ow -xjrdfWiawj ^ ii f ; ^" ' ' 1 Tn making Tiis annual call -upon the att « nf « ikr < of fli ^ Hoiise ^ ^ wifti Tefew ^ e to tfe v la ^ aflctlfi ^ m neiiykpa ^ eri ^ iiip , - | fc . mt » i ?^ i | 8-oMicto | Mbinew policy . -Hitherto . XUmimm&mimm ffite ,

      Jth * purpoiie of- effecting theJ ^ pe ^ ottiKB ^ fa ^ MS ^ thci » year he dimply asked tho House t ^ , -wnOcnMiiiihe lav ftndthe proceedingii under it > , by pt » 3 X » ia « kte ifbttowingxesot ^ tion : — . •• '¦ : ;• ' ¦ i i-i-. ii ^ n * mJj y , J * Tbatit ia tfte opinfoia of * hi * H ^ b t « a ^« M » la # 8 ^ irtftwjnoe to th > . peribatcat jrtofctri *^* i » rspitp 0 af'Wfi «»^ ite m-dottn ^ Wn * tmeqialiy enftiree « r * n « it ip ^ wit ^ to « tife House that tlw subject demamis the earljr ^ Hpia ^ rtrtiottof ; P 4 ri&mfetttf ^ ' ' ' ¦ ' , " Strito ^ y . oouflnina nlmBelf tb the ietn » s of' ^ resoldtk > n Sl ^ r . Ciib ^ on dad . not airgue lot the regnal of tlj $ duty . The i *» lutioit was , ooV ^ ** $ erely aa « b « kr « cl ! proposition . ibMseftoi two f ^ cU , ' —naoaejji that at the pMsent time tlierlaw reUt * v « to tlie pf «« i vu iH ^ eflnedv * nd , wcondly , thafcj the Bx « outif « < Kd nob enfiir ^ e the law ^ mxcfe a « it ^ was , f ith ^ ii ^ wrk tbtlity . ShoMiil the House adtopt the rwolutio « , lt

      trould ? indicate the c ^ pinfon . of " the' HbuW thaift too GK > vemmeat should Htkg in . « i weiwvre for the pur-. pose of defining the Iaw , and . also instruct thoSt offleeiB to eafbrcethe taw with impartiality . T ? o ikxm that the Taw is iU-deuJoed , Mrt , Gibw » adduced several cases of prosecuOous uniertalceata testi the law . First , the caw * £ the MQu $ rim Narrative o / Current Event * , the proprietor of vrhiab was prosecuted , not for the purpose of raflictmgsi penalty , but to ascertain whether by tew theWw * . ment had th « right to put down ' n ^ ^^ SHSl The Judges of the Exchequer GHamber decide ^ tnafl tdiey haU not ; and GorernnoeDt , still adhewhg to tLoir own interpretation of the law ) were compelled to bring in a measure releasing the pu > - Ushers of Mr . Dickens from rfurtber pjowwutMtt-Another case was that of the Duhlii * Ptnm Com ***

      trial Journal , also prosecuted to ascertain mngllK muMi decide a point of law . This is a- mon «« wHM injitttiee . The question raised was whether a- journal consisting mainly of literary matter , and a little newt , chiefly * " lk > ndon letter , " is a newspaper . The Qovetnnrttii were defeated . Another case wo * that of the Wusmw Timea—o . paper which for tea years hadbeea jp , utfr ' li » hed witli tlxo sauction of the 8 t » mp-offl * e » tox tliej had never inberfered . Mr . Novello , tbei proprietor , M the treasurer of the Association , for ttafr H * p * al of im Taxes on Knowledge . Mr . Timut , of theBta ^ oi ^ ofllae , wrote a letter to Mr , Novelty on the W * May la «* j informing him that as the Mmsieaf T&M * contaluw

      dii the noble lord , of all men in % ht worifl , say ? Th « noble lord qtute- consistently < lfea |> prove < i > of tbe poH ^ f , and , of cowsft , of the financial policy of Mr . i * itt . TlJe noble lord apprwvea only rf that financial policy wfefch doubled the income-tax , to which ho referred with so > much pride ,- and tipoa the memory of which' glory repose * my Lord Lansdowne . ( XoatyAte * -. ) The noble lord wtjrs , * Mfc Pitt may have had bis errors , but he was still a great man . B » 1797 Mr . Pitt had a twinge of reiborse , a salutary reperitince , ' and , following the Chanoeltbr of the lixobeqtier , the noble lord Absolutely recalled the ; attention to the important fact that , in 1797 , there was a sal a tar y change in the policy-of Mr . Pitt . Nowtb ^ t the Chancellor of the Ercheque ^ . who ed and

      was l ^ educated a T <> ty , and who , ia moaie ^ ts of rhetorical emotion , may still' feiicy hioaself a Tpryr—( laughter )—should criticise , but still , as he informed the House , with a feeling t ) f Teneration ** w-Mr . Pitt ; an 4 that by an adroit arrangement of pcrioiis lhe shoaT ^ end ^ aTcar to harnaanise his criticisms of Mr * . Pitt's finance with Ifci ten . preciationof Afr . Ktt ' ft policy and patmttsm , is ^ verj intelligible But what are the facts ? What was tim year 1797 , whicl the noble lord ( as I should think- toithe « stoRbhment of thi Fox Glub to-morrow ) hafi ¦ chosen feae ihe . s ^ ibjeot jof his eulpgium ? What , I ^ ay was thi& period ,, ^ be ^ a % ihf noble ord has told p s td Tiughk Me . Pius ' s eyes were . a | u length opened to the sin of his Drevioiis ways 7 ( LauaftterS' Why . time ,

      suppose the ^ Housfe tia&heard ^ hax ^ thi&wai the ^ rhen , in pitnotfc disgust at th ^ condtigjt of' ^ Ir .-Pftfr iu raising * fcose terrible loans which W * have recentfjr heard sd nipch depliored from the Treasury 'VMiehes , Mfti Pox , ibllowed % ; Charles Grey afterward * tiia greAtEariCSeey ^ apd ^ tHe-priacipalleaderft . of . tb «> WJ » ig ; paJri » y , l # fb : Hg ® Bouse ? ofIQwnmons in hepel ^ ssneas . toaey * theeoitotry , and fi » » longtittM remained a , bsent froiait . But it so happened , tbiafwhien * in 17 , 97 * on the veyw uight refertfed , to b y tHe ^ hajMellor of the EiclfiqjiRti Mn Pitit ' * eyea beiog atlajstopeneajtb tbftiarror of iMs ways « her o » ra » down to lh « Hbuse < ef Qoradnond , where he e ^ piejBjttd only to meeli bis blowers land bU > cretttur « S , with ; a lawei propositioa ibr . a measure of direct texations ; sueb

      watrthetindiguatida of Mr ; E « s ^ such wasttoe i » d % Q « l ^ on of Charlea Grey , 8 « cq was thfr indignation « f tbosetriatybrilliaBt aadielo ^ ueftt ratttwho h * d ; foV a long time seosd fed from rtiKeus places tin i F » Kttment « tb * tr—awful apparititajt- ^ -they ^ uddanly rehappeacedj Uv their places beiocei tlw-astoauahed ^ Jhaneellor of th& ^ lxcheqneri ( Cheem tuid lavght&ny Mr . JFoitl ^ lt that v pinfulas was fab reappearance ontha acteae [ h # ; h »< Kretinqa » sufe (^ jt , . was ibia . duty to tlw great bjstcrk ^ and toaditionary party -of wiicfc bje , m * a , the tecogfised leader , [ evealft itBiaaVfltsityf- to cooae ^ forwards in tfae / fioose andi to d « uotuK » theiwm ^ ndple oftfiimilcial ^ K ^ yibnraght ^ M : by Mr . JPitt . QCktters ^ An * it was « po © tbatt » eaaoa , th « t » edelivered one . of bis naost « kauenli . malt thouehtfaL and

      imest < meawrablei speeches , ia which be ikid dawncThat he calleit the < sure- an « d ipermaaeet priacrfple * o £ Wiagfinance- ^ principles utterly Hog ) posed to the rppentani RoUcy of Alj . Pitt ' p ^ meeiis ahS ; l ^ r « feH >—principKs wtfitfr 4 fr . 1 m * * tfever ' deserted nor mtnqtdshecl , amd ' which-, nctwithstattdirjg ^ re comparative degradation of the post -whaeh thVuo ^ Ie ^ Iorai opposite ( Lord J ^ Bossell ) os » jfiUs ^ r di * not belim » eithat , in deference to the Ghanecttobq of ; the Escncqmr , or to my Lord ^ Aberrieeh—< rr » e » 4 JI ?* Qti r 4 & $ qadakeeray-rtm would have rtdibquiahedttitfais Haase . ' * . .. , i He perbrHtefl upon Kisffr ^ lt tteme , the territorial constitution , and the grievous impolicy of Vtae inafiStax , aiff regard ^ the good feeling of : the territorial interest , and wound up th . ua : —r

      u You have demanded a great tax to 4 be amouikt » f two miirioas and a haif ; and not a Minister of the . CiWwo ^ . bnfc by extreme compnlsion r has condescended to « icpre » B ;« word is favour of the proposition . What was y « wr motivvfor tbjsf Did you shrink from diseuasion ? ' . Pidjjroa tbiok ,. at tius tnoBi ^ nt , a debate cpoit the w « y * and means of tfa ^ war was impolitic ? , or that it would create a b ^ d impreasiott abroad , if the House of OonDmons should have adiawoaBum and division upon the subject of taxation ? If that ba yoar faelLog ^ do yottoot think that tha credit ~ of the Government and ; toe resources of the country hawo been much more injused in the eyes of other nations br the way iu which yon have attempted to raise a loan ? (< Jheers . ) Ia it not mote . « aK

      culated to injure the credit of the oounlry , aod < to diminish the idea of your resoorees that your Miaistor of Finance cannot nyiato tbje City and obtain two millions at Jour per cent ., than that the House of Gommona ahould by natural and frank deliberation consider the taxalion which yen pro pos « to lay upon , the country ? It is- bettor even tbat our foe ahoald . see that a large sura auoJi as tlu » now sovght to be rAiaadr —« , sum larRer than could befurnuhed bymairyof the proviaces in tho kingdom « C your im ^ Mrial foe , ahould < be frankl y discussed , thau that he should s « e the'cbiurli « a ,. tmdigniued , and unmanly attempt : of the Governmeat to u ) oh this amount oi money : Is ib not better thai : the fas skoold

      see that we are determined to exercise oar functions tof night aa -the representatives of . the people , and tbat while w « are prepared to support our Savereigo and even , ai QdTemment which we should otherwise oppose , in & war which tiue oountry approves of , we will do our utmost , in duty to our ooastitaent& , to provide that the wa ^ a and mean ^ s should be provided according to tlie principles of eternal ju&lice ? " ( CIuwa . y The House then divided , when there appeared — for the second reading , 303 ; fbr the amendment , 195 ; Government majority , 108 . The announcement was receive ^ with . Loud cheering . Mr . Eliot Yob . ke gave notice that , on going into committee , he would move that th « additional tax be limited to one year .

      NATI 0 BTAX DBBTENOE . On Monday night the " Duke of Newcastle placed ia tlie hands of tlie Lord Cliancellor a message from her Majesty , wliich tlie noble and loarned lord read as follows : — "The operations of the war in wliicli her Mnjeaty ia at present engaged with tho Ernporor of Russia having rendered it riecessivry to send a largo part of her Miijosty * forces abroad , she dee ins it proper to provide additional naeans for

      ready to incur an immens ! eTsaerifice , but they found Is . 3 d . a bushel upon malt really too gneatl { Cheers tmdhritghterS ) Having : met some of the superficial points raised by Sir Balwer I / ytton , Lord John viadicated the proposal before the . House . What articles of eoHsutnptioii could bear to be taxed better-than spirifs . and-malt ? They are not articles of prime nec ^ ssitv ,, like soap a , nd . candles . With rfispefct to iDaDSr althougli noti aa adjroirer of Bdjr ^ . ^ Ut , y ^ i lie must say that Mr . Pitt ' s conduct ia I 797 ,, in trying ip pe « t ; the . expensegL . of tbxe war by taxation . instead pf by ruinous loans ,: was worthy of till admiration . The question was whether posterity or we shall bear the whole burden of the war . Here Lord John brt >] ceout agaixust t ^ i&pposUion and ioldtmpleAsant truths : — r-

      V'DoaS tesll me- that the landed interest lit tau-eo q atry < 5 an « ot bear fiftewnpence additional &aty on malfe TelP us Tather that which I should be sorry to hear , but which mraMi be BK * 6 r fair , manfy , and candid—teH us tliat though you a ? e in favour of tHe war—that trrcragh yon are teady- U ) vote arn > y and navy in suppbrt of it , yon are not ready to vote * the necessary taxes— £ ' Oh ^ oU ^ from ike Opp 9 d& ( m ^^^ att ^ pfa . shrink . rromtheuapppuIarTfcy which betoigs to the proposal ofi consid ^ mbleburdfrns upon tlie coun&ryj . aMd . that jrott wotiMi wish too escape that obligation iy-means of l * ans ,, or any otheri means by which youcan avoid t&ose burdens ; but dom ^ -hdlj me tbifc this . , smxlt additibn fco the inarMfcx is really « hfe obstacle ^ hicn prevents vou stt-pportinfir the Govemmerjfe ohi

      thi 3 « c ( iatrton . (^ ly imagmewhat wptild be now your p ^ B » - tiotfifjwhen you are asKed to make a great effort to raise , Bot 2 } S 0 ^ , O 004 r But' 7 , 000 , 00 € ? ., fbrtbe support of the wat , your firat vote should be to reject that propjJsat Woald not the eflEect be throughout Euroje , that yotL did nofrniean tos engage heart and soul in the fvoject—( eh « er& )—that you , meant only to give it your iepipDrary . support—tlast yt » u > Bhrunk aod escaped from . it the first ioppOrtuaity you . had , — fyhoute , oftOh % foKZfrom ike Opposition)—tint yoai ware ready , to / oregp the . declarations you had , mad ^ to ; abandon the opinionp yfln entertaiaed and to involve your coniitrjin tnebecerisKy . qf s . dishonouraHe peace . QCheer * and iisapprobation . ') I am not teffihg you that that ia your ihteation ^ init I am astrng you whether such would not W'the eflfeet ef wich a vote as I have supposed ; E would venture to

      say that no proposition coaid be toore clear or ' mor » lndis ' - putable—that no person - wouW believe that itr was merely on account of vising the malt-tax from 2 s . W . to 4 a . tbat you refused this bill . They would say you refused the taxes necessary for the support of the war ; and nobody would think this war would be carried on with vigour and perseverance . Tbat certainly is mtv impression . Witli regain ! to the nt<-tax , we have debated- it for the last ten years . Its merits and its . demerits have Deen canvassed over and over again ; and Mr . MPCulloch sa . ys , even hi times of peace , the malt-tax should be imposed ; as being 1 a'tax peculiarly adapted to s g * ood sy * tem of finance ; T > ut whether it be the malt-tax , or beat anything else , I say , if the House of Commons mean to support the war—if they mean to support ua in endeavouriBg to maintain the dignity of the Crown and the welfare of the country , they will support the second reading of this bill . " ( CJieersS

      Mr . Dishaeu , assuming- the air of one really concerned for Lord John ' s reputation , aa . id he had heard with regret and surprise the extraordinary doctrine that Government proposals are noti to be questioned or criticised because the country is at war . "I myself am a supporter of the policy , so far as tho war is concerned , of the Government . I do aot want to go into toe causes or th « merits of that war at present ; it fa enough that -we are involved , in that war , and it is our duty io support her Majesty in its prosecution j bat 1 do reserve to myself , and I should hope that geutlemen who are members of this House , and not merely sitting ou the benches behind me , always reserve to themselves tho means of criticising the mode in which you are proposing to carry on that war , even if we be unanimous in thinking that that war ought to be prosecuted with vigour an . 1 effect . " ( Cheers . )

      A great part of his speech was to show that the malt-tax discourages production ; and that because baxWy comes in competition with tea the malt-tax is a protective duty in favour of t « a ! But he soon q uitted this for a more inviting subject—an historical attack upon Lord John Russell : — " There ie another remark which tlie noble lord made , which ia so singular , that , as I suppose he is Htill the leader of tie Whig party , 1 cannot pass it over on this occasion eatwely without notice . I shall advert to the subject as lightly as 1 can , because the Chancellor of the Exchequer is ubaool , and in his absence , ao far as he ia concerned ,, my lips are oloaed . Tlie House htm not forjrotUsn and the country wll Ioiir remember the itiunner in wlncli tho right honourable gentleman referred to Mr . Pitt . It has been alluded to tonight , and th « noblo lord , with unhuppy chivalry , came loward to vindicate tho right honourable yemlcinan . Whut

      Untitled Article

      May 20 ; 1854 . ] 'IH'Bl OI DB K ; ^

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 20, 1854, page 459, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2039/page/3/