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Leader (1850-1860), 3rd July 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 627, Untitled Article

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      of annuities to the extent of 2 , 60 © . * M )( M . The unpopularity of the income-tax had been much exaggerated ; and he believed that , among the best informed of the community , the income-tax is popular . (" Hear , hear , " and " Oh , / " ) He believed nothing would have been easier than for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to have retained this year the 2 d . which was to come off . What was to be done to meet our liabilities in 1860 ? It is onr duty now , in time of peace , to provide for them , or some of them ; and the Chancellor of the Exchequer , by his budget , ought to have made such provision . There is no more difficulty in providing for a sinking fund than for providing for the payment of terminable annuities It might be said this could only be done out of surplus revenue . But tliis vear there would be none ; on the

      contrary , he believed there would be a deficit , for the Minister at War had already encroached upon the estimated surplus . Much was said about national defiances , and their expense ; but those expenses are as nothing compared to the interest of our National Debt . The national debt of Fmnee cost only 11 , 000 , 000 / . annually , against our 28 , 000 , 0002 . Owing to the development of our resources , consequent on the adoption of free-trade , and our advantages in science and art , Great Brltiiin maintains her position positively ; but she does not maintain it relatively to other countries . France , for instance , has increased her exports and imports in n vastly greater ratio than ourselves . " lie conceived , therefore , that he was bound to bxing the subject , involved in his resolution before the attention of the House .

      Hie Chancellor of the Exchequer observed that the resolution involved propositions of a very questionable character , and that , if there was to be an inquiry into our finances next session , it , might have been as well had Mr . " Wilson postponed bis motion until then . It was unwise for the House to bind itself by such a resolution . The great objection he had to an artificial sinking fund , created by imposing taxes , was , that it is a mere theoretical arrangement that will not work . The real practical question was , would the House sup port the law of 1829 , which had . fulfilled' its purpose ? We could not have the sinking fund of 1829 and the artificial sinking fund ^ adopted during the war . The former could not be given up except upon a

      demonstration that it had failed in its object , whereas it had succeeded . —Mr . Williams denounced the bill as a breach of faith with the public creditor , and a repudiation of an important financial engagement . — Mr . Gladstone denied the justice of these strictures , and thought there was much truth in the remarks of Mr . Wilson . He could not , however , vote for the resolution , because he was sceptical as regards a sinking fund , and because Mr . Wilson's views were prospective and theoretical . " The course for the hon . gentleman to take would be to bring forward a direct motion , showing the defects in the financial scheme . Tlie true sinking fund lies in a policy of economy , and it was useless to talk of sinking funds when an extravagant public expenditure

      meetB approbation . He could wish . to have heard from the Chancellor of the Exchequer a more rigid doctrine in regard to surplus revenue . In time of peace , it is the duty of Government to make provision for the reduction of the public debt , and Iio confessed that ' to his mind it was not a sufficient justification for a delicicncy , that iu one year there was a bad harvest , or that in another year there had been commercial distress . " Sir G . C . Lkyvis said , he waB not prepared to support the resolution on the ground of any contract with the public creditor . He admitted that the Chancellor of the Exchequer hail put the question upon a fair issue , but lie disputed the correct ness , of his theory respecting what he termed a nutural sinking fund , resting only upon a surplus , and what he called an artificial sinking fund . He ( Sir George ) could not but think that a compulsory sulking fund , which is iu constant application by the

      House for the oxtinction of debt , is a sound and wise principle . —Mr . CAitmvjoix thought it would not be wisa to adopt the resolution , which would bo only a now prospective engngement lor the reduction of our debt . Nothing is cosier than to make such nn engagement ; the ditliculty is to keep it . —Sir II . Willougiiuy concurred with Mr . Gladstone that the tmo sinking fund is a rigid , spirit of economy . —• Lord Jon : * Russell differed with Mr . Wilson with respect to the Act of 1829 . He believed that that act was founded on a sound principle ) , and ho did not regret that they wero going back to it . It wan indispensable , in the financial operations of the present year , that there ahould bu n clear surplus xovenue ; and ho did not see that tlio Chancellor of the Exchequer h , ul provided for such surplus . —Mr . William Ewakt opposed the resolution . —The motion was thuu negatived , nnd the bill went through committee .

      nnuTAUY onuanimation . On the motion for going into CommUteo of Supiilv Captain Vivian called attention to tlic resolution relating to military organization which was adopted l » v the IIounc on Tuesday the . lstof . luno . Tim majority of tin ; Houso had supported that rmilution Imiouuso tlioy condemned tho present Hystem , and ho thought they had tho : fullest cvMunoo that that ryntoni had not worked well . I hat resolution should have bi'un acted on by tho Government , and effective Ht < ms should linvo been taken for tho promotion of military organization . — Tho

      Chancellor of the ExcniiQtmR expressed hi . i belief that the resolution was carried much to the surprise of the House . ( Hear , hear . ) He contended that the course taken by the Government was in conformity yt ' vAi the practice of the House , and that they were " not neces - sarily bound to act on the resolution . - — Lord Johs Russell thought that the Government was not justified in refusing to act on a resolution of the House , even though that resolution was carried by a bare majority . At any rate , if the Government did not intend to act on the resolution in question , they should move the House to rescind it . He did not think it desirable that the Mouse should proceed with the subject in the present session ; but lie hoped something . would be done next session . —General Pkkl denied that there was any

      divided responsibility in the army . —Colonel North did not doubt that there was mismanagement in the Crimea ; but it was owing to the interference of civilians with the military . ( Oh , oh !) " Why , look at the green coffee that was sent out by Sir Charles Trevelyan ! ( . 4 laugh . ') - The motion of the 1 st of June was a direct attack on the prerogative of the Crown . " —Sir William Codiungton could not reconcile the division of military authority -with the fact that the head of the War Department should be a civilian . He -wished to see a limitation of the authority of the Commander-in-Chief . —Mr . Elcice thought that the subject should be seriously taken up by the House next session . —Sir F . Smith said that great improvements arc being carried out in tlie army departments . —The subject then dropped .

      SAILORS AND MARINES IS GREENWICH HOSPITAL . Sir Cha . ui . ks Napieu moved , " that it is the opinion of this House that the sailors and marines in Greenwich Hospital should be allowed to receive their pensions for wounds and injuries , in the same manner that the officers do . "—Sir John Pakingtox suggested that the motion should be postponed to a future day . He admitted that the present system entails hardships which should not exist . But inquiry had been made into the system , aaid it is now under the consideration of the Admiralty . —Sir G 120 KGK Pegiiell hoped that full justice would be done to their old sailors , —The motion was then ¦ withdrawn .

      THE PESTIFEROUS STATE OF THE THAMES . Mr . Kovpell called the attention of the House to the noxious state of the Thames , and moved that the House considers it the duty of the Executive Government to take . immediate measures for abating this dangerous nuisance . —Sir Josum Paxton seconded the motion .- — Lord Johx Manners and the Chancellor op the ExciiiiQU Kit gave assurances to the effect that the Government were about to take measures on the subject ; and , after some further discuasion , the motion was withdrawn .

      WEEDON ESTABLISHMENT . Colonel Boldeiio moved " That an humble address bu presented -to her-Majesty , praying that she will be graciously pleased to appoint a ltoyal commission to inquire into the S 3 * steni upon which the books and stock have been respectively kept at Weedon , as well as tho general , mode in which the business of the establishment at Weedon has been conducted , the result of such mode of conducting the business , and the Btnte of the books and stock of stores , " He complained of gross

      mismanagement iu this establishment , by which the army and the interests of the public suffer , and appealed to the House to sanction the appointment of a lioyal commission to investigate the matter . —Mr . Gilpin seconded the motion , and expressed liis hope that no opposition would be made to it by members of the late Government , under whom this mismanagement had taken place . —General Peel said it was not his intention to resist the appointment of tho commission , becauao ho believed it would have tho cM ' oct of clearing thoso upon whom reflexions had boon unjustly cast . Ultimately , the motion for goin ^ into supply was negntivoil , nnd the address was agreed to . PlKXiltKBfl OF BUSINESS * . TllO ClIIKF JUSTIOK OF BoMUAY JJlW > , tl > O CONFIRMATION of Exkcutoiw , &c , Hill , and the AnT "Unions Act Amendment Bill , were respectively read a third timo , and passed . Mr . Hardy obtained lonve to bring in a bill to amend tho lawn concerning tho maintenance of pauper lunatics . The House adjourned at a quarter pnst one o ' clock . ' Tuesday , June 20 th . VO . STrONKMKNT OP 1 UI . I . S . Tho <; oiisidorntion in the ITotiarc oi- Loi : i > s of the Vk rouiA Station ani > Pimlico Kailway IIill was ndjounied , in order that tho First Conuni . ssionor of Public Works should l > o heard by counsel again . it it . The . second rending of tlui rNi > xrrcNM > KNCF . av I ' akltamknt IJn . i . wa . i i » o , sijnnK ' d by Lord Huoi .-ciiam till next Monday .

      ciiiriuMt nrsciri . isi ; and . sixjukktiiations . Lord St . Lkonauds nuked tho Arolihirihop of Canterbury whether ho intended to introduce ) a Will for improving the luw of Kcr [ uiwtriitions , with a vinw to dcLvr incumbcMitfl from getting into ilulit or obtaining advances of money on tho credit of their living , and compelling mul enabling thorn to rc . sido and perform thoir duties silthougli thoir livings are under Monucstration ,

      —The . Archbishop of Canterbur y stated that a measure , intended to remedy the defects of the present law , had been prepared , but , as there - wa * little chance of sxich nn act being passed this year , it had been postponed until the next session . The bill enacts that , where the clergyman is necessarily absent from his duty , a much larger stipend would be paid to the curate , and that the curate should be put in possession of the parsonnge-liousc . ^ Further than this , the authorities of the Church thought it was not-within their powers to go . Their Lordships then adjourned .

      GAIAVAY FltEEMEN DISVKA 2 JCIIISEMENT BILL . At the morning sitting of the House of Commons , the committee on this bill was proceeded with , and the first clause was . agreed to . An attempt by Mr . Burr ( in which the Government joined ) to get rid of the bill was defeated by 107 to 90 . —Mr . Whiteside then moved an amendment on the first ' clause , the effect of which was to confine the disfranchisement of voters who have been proved before the commissioners to have given or taken bribes in the last and previous election for Gahvay . — -This was ultimately agreed to , after a good deal of debate ; the Chairman was ordered to report progress ; and the sitting was suspended till the evening .

      BUSI . VIiSS OP THE SESSION . In the evening , the Ciianci ; ll , ou of the Exchequer rose to move that next Tuesday , and every succeeding Tuesday during tho session , Government orders should have precedence of notices of motion . He was at ways reluctant to interfere with the privileges of hon . members , and he should not have placed this motion on the paper had he not felt that it was the general wish of the House that the business of the session should not be retarded . Still , he would not insist on the proposal if

      he found it opposed to the wishes of any considerable number of the House . He proposed tliat the House should avail itself of the convenience of morning sittings as much as possible . There were several bills , including the India Bill , the Transfer of Land ( Ireland ) Bill , and the Scotch Universities Bill , which it was for the public interest should be passed into law in the present session ; but he could at present give no further information as to what were the intentions of the Government in regard to the measures on the paper . —The motion was agreed to .

      . In reply to Colonel Syk . es , General Peel said that tlie attention of two committees is being directed to the arming of troops—the small arm a committee , which has to test the merits of all descriptions of arms , and a separate committee to test the relative merits ' of the Whitworth and Enlield rifles . Some delay had occurred in the experiments of the latter committee , owing to the required Whitworth rifles not having beon sent in to bo tested . Experiments are going on , which lie believed - wouldlead to the employment of an improved description of cartridge .

      RKTIRKMENT OF BISHOrS . In reply to Mr . J . Stuart Wortley , Mr . Walpole said that during the present session it waa not intended to introduce any general measure to facilitate the retirement of bishops disabled by infirmity or old age . " With regard to a future session , the question is 0110 of such difficulty that he must decline to give any pledge ou the subject .

      CORPORATION Oir LONIX > N BILL . Replying to Mr . Laboucheuk , Mr . Wal . pot , b eaid he saw no prospect of the Corporation Bill passing this session . —In answer to Mr . Wohtlkv , the Home Secretary stated that the Government had received a communication from tho City of London , unanimously agreed to by tho Common Council , praying that tho bill might be proceeded with ; but , he added , " within two hours I Lave received a memorial from the Liberty of London praying me not to proceed with tlio bill . " ( A lant / L )

      AUSTRIA AND TURKEY . Mr . l ) rn « 'i' inquired whether the Government had been informed of , or believed in , the existence of any agreement , written or verbal , between Austria and the Porte , whereby the former Power engaged to give assistance to the latter in cn . so of an outbreak in European Turkey . Mr . Seymour Fitzcjf . iuld observed that the question ^ vns a comprehensive and nn unprecedented one , and ho doubted whether any advantage could bo derived by the House or the country from questions so vague and of such a roving character . No information of tho nature described hnd been received by tho Government .

      TTAINAUL . T ALLOTMENT . Mr . CAinn called tlio attention of tlio Honso to the expenditure incurred in tho Department of Woods and Forests on the Crovrn allotment of HainnulL , and moved , " That it is tlio opinion of this House thut the costs of management on tho Crown Allotment of Hainault , Bince tlio ( Into of ( lie A «; t under which it waa disafforested , linvc been o . xonsnivfl , and that the management generally lias not boon Hiitinfuetory . " Tho aamo iniHinanageimmt

      which exists in Hainault is found to prevail elsewhere — in Sumkoc , Euhrx , Lincoln , and other counties . —Mr . Hamilton quoted a variety of d *; tniln , uiifl read Heveral lcttcrn , to prove' that the : drainage and other worlia in Hainault had boon most tuiccuurifully curried out . The expenses had nut bitun no largo uh Mr . Cuird had ropro-Hcntcd , and that giullunian wuh incorrect in womo of h ' w figure ;* . Ho trusted , therefore , thut tho Houeo would not notice to the resolution . —After Homo < lincuHnion , tho question waa put and negatived without a diviaion .

      Untitled Article

      No . 432 , Jtoy 3 , 185 S . ] THE LEADE 11 . 627

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), July 3, 1858, page 627, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2249/page/3/