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622 ffif) * !l£air£t% [Saturday,
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PARLIAMENT OF THE WEEK. Chicory seems de...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Church Affair3, In One Form Or Other, Ha...
police and soldiery , are traits of our social life , not peculiar to the week . Nor is the case of Connelly versus Connelly , which has undergone some further , but not final arguing before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council , unprecedented as a suit for the restitution of conjugal rights ; though the very existence of such suits is an infamy to a civilized country ; but its odious character is incredibly aggravated by the fact , that it is urged to force a nun back under the conjugal roof . Sir Herbert Jenner Fust affirmed the husband ' s claim : the distinguished members of the Judicial Committee do not seem to view it with no much favour .
The most astounding event of all , however , is that strange discovery at Norwich of a human body , cut up into small fragments , and scattered over several fields to an extent of two miles in length ! A murder of course ; with a sign of madness in the excessive elaboration of the concealment : but the murderer is as yet undetected .
622 Ffif) * !L£Air£T% [Saturday,
622 ffif ) * ! l £ air £ t % [ Saturday ,
Parliament Of The Week. Chicory Seems De...
PARLIAMENT OF THE WEEK . Chicory seems destined to a long series of victories over coffee . What is called " Wood ' s mixture" has beaten "Anstey ' s pure" out of the field ; South Essex and the West Riding have carried it again , over Ceylon and the West Indies ; and henceforward pure coffee is banished from the land . Mr . Baking , whose resolution for the withdrawal of the Treasury Minute of 1832 was lately rejected , agfin brought forward the question on Monday night , when the House of Commons was about to go into committee on the Customs Hill , by moving , ' That it be an instruction to the committee to make provision for preventing the mixture of chicory with coffee by the vendors of coffee . " The whole case is contained in a nutshell . Coffee is
adulterated with chicory , among other things . The product is called coffee , and sold as coffee ; the Treasury conniving at the fraud . Mr . Baring contends that this is improper . But the interests of the coffee growers as opposed to those of the chicory growers , are brought into the debate , and Mr . Baring , an avowed importer of coffee , states their case thus : — " If the reduction of the coffee duty [ as proposed by the Cusfonre > Bill ] were not to such an extent as to prevent adulteration , was it fair to those who produced and imported coffee , and who paid a duty of 50 per cent , upon it , to place them in competition with dealers who paid no du'y upon articles which passed current with the Treasury sanction as coffee ? ( Hear . ) The duty upon coffee
proposed by the bill was 3 d ., and the duty upon foreign chicory was 3 d . ; while the untaxed chicory grown at home could be brought into the market and sold at 4 d . per lb Now , when for 4 d . per 1 b . you could buy a commodity and pass it off for coffee , which paid a duty of 3 d ., it was in vain to expect that the reduction of the duty to 3 d . would prevent adulteration in coffee . { Hear . } Here , then was a direct inducement to the dealer to adulterate his coffee with chicory . The value of coffee , ground for use , might be taken to be lOd . per lb . Chicory was the dearest commodity with which coffee could be adulterated . Beans and lupins were cheaper than chicory , while
dogbiscuits , mahogany shavings , and tan might be had for little or nothing . { 'Hear , and a laugh . ) Taking chicory to cost 4 d . per lb ., then half-a-pound of coffee at 5 d ., and half a-pound of chicory at 2 d ., gave a pound of Bomething which was sold for coffee , and which cost only 7 d . This , be it observed , was a greater mixture of coffee than was generally sold by the fraudulent dealers , and here was a mixture for 7 d . when the article in a pure state cost 10 * 1 ., which they were selling to the public at from Is . 4 d . to 2 a . as ' canifter coffee , ' and ' patent coffee . ' Now , did the Chancellor of the Exchequer think to put an end to adulteration by such a reduction of the duty on coffee ? ( Hear . )"
It was further unfair to the colonists . The Government ought not to allow nn untaxed substitute for coffee to compete with an article that paid a high tax . He did not wish to interfere with the growth of chicory at home ; nor with its sale ; all he asked was that it should not he Hold for what it was not . He knew Government could not prevent the fraud ; but it was one thing to brand that fraud with disgrace , Ami another to Btamp it with legality . The Chancellor of the Kxciikquku officially defended the chicory . Bucked by u band of " indignant grocers , " whoso feelings " were outraged by the he contended that
accusations of the coffee growers there were only two grounds upon which Government could interfere ; either that the article was deleterious , or that the revenue was injured . He denied that it wan lUe " general practice" to mix deleterious articles with coffee under the numo of chicory . If such wore tho fact , he was ready to ' prosecute , " supposing a case could be made out ; but he believed that a recurrence to the interference of the excise , as it existed previousl y to 18 . T 2 , would be productive of very ( jwut evil . Tho lunt sentence of hi * uptcch is remarkable ; both from the assumption it contain * , mid the weakness it betruys : —
"If , then the co »* uim > r now wan prevented from having u < : hVup mid wholesome beverage , and the pio < luc « r wan previ-nwd from iciowing chicory , it would not bo the nut of the Government , but the liuidbhip would
be forced on the Government , unwilling and reluctant to interfere in a manner so injurious to the dealer , the grower , and the public . " Beside its official champion there were several minor , but not less effective , supporters of chicory . Sir John TykelIi trusted that the capital and energy and labour invested to so large an extent in the groVth of chicory in this country would not be destroyed by the " concentrated essence of prejudice , " which had been got up by interested persons against the article . Sir F . T . Baring directly contradicted the statement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer . It had been clearly proved that the
adulteration of coffee with other matters than chicory had gone to a great extent , and the Treasury minute had been issued on a representation from the most respectable portion of the trade that the law as it stood was a protection to the dishonest dealer ; and he could not understand how any dishonesty was practised when the public knew what they were buying—what , in fact , was publicly advertised as " The Chancellor of the Exchequer ' s mixture . " Mr . Ralph Osborne was not going " to violate a very important principle , and to interfere in all the petty
details of commerce , instead of leaving them to the fair spirit of competition . " Mr . Thomas Wakley occupied himself in replying to an accusation made by a correspondent of Sir John Tyrell , that the " coffee-growers had hired the Lancet to run down chicory , " which he did in a very humourous style , characterizing Sir John as having been " at one time esteemed and re . sp < cted as a noble-hearted , very droll—{ laughter )—but straightforward andhonourable man ; " but now in his present " wreck of morality " he had condescended to make this insinuation . The
House divided , when there were—For Mr . Baring ' s motion , 122 ; against it , 199 . Majority , 77 . The House then went into committee , and proceeded to consider the clauses of the bill ; and after a squabble about the " timber duties , " the bill went through committee . The real Party conflict of the week next came on . When the order of the day was read for going into committee on the House-duty Bill , Mr . DisKAELirose and made a two-hours' speech by way of preface to his resolutions on the financial situation . As had been anticipated , the result of the motion was a mere oratorical display on the part of the Protectionist leader . He entered into an elaborate review of the
financial policy of Ministers ; digressing upon the Papal aggression ; criticising the income-tax , which he maintained was never intended to be permanent ; jesting at the extraordinary " vitality" of the Government ; delivering a small essay on the windowtax , which he was quite contented to repeal , and which he declared ought to have been repealed unconditionally ; finally developing the kernel of his argument , after two effective personal incidents . The fir-st of these was a reply to the Letter of Mr . Pusey to the Electors of Berkshire . That gentleman had declared that his ( Mr . Disraeli ' s ) motions were "futile , " and that the mover was "insincere . " These were "harsh opinions . '' It was always held the juster course to give a man credit for good motives when those motives were unknown .
"I may have been mistaken , " exclaimed Mr . Disraeli , " and yet not insincere . ( Hear , hear . ) My reason may have misled me , my vanity may have misguided me ; I may have been a foolish man , or a very vain man . It it * better to think that than that I should be an insincere man . At least , it must always be a question of controversy whether my motions wore efficient or inefficient ; or whether my motions were sincere or insincere ; but what are we to say of a member of Parliament who , when motions are brought forward which he believes to be futile , and by a gentleman who he is convinced is insincere , and yet omits no opportunity of following him into the lobby—( loudcheers )—and supporting him by hia suffrage ? ( Renewed cheers . ) Why , I might turn round upon the honourable member for Berkshire with great advantage ,
for there is ucarcly an epithet of vituperation , 8 care . ely a phrase of invective that , under such circumstances , I ( should not be justified in lavishing upon him . { Hear , hear . ) But , sir , time has taught me not to judge too harshly of human nature . We all know that men are actuated not only by mixed motives , but often by confuted ones —( ' hear , ' and laughter )—and it is very powttible fora man to be in possession of very considerable ability , to have received remarkable culture , to be in possession of many reputable and of some amiable qualities , and yet to be gifted with such un uncouth and blundering organization , that he is perpetually doing that which he did not intend , and Haying and writing that which he did not mean ; and that is the chari'ablc view I take of the honourable member for Berkshire . { Cheers and laughter . )"
He then alighted upon Mr . Hume , in attempting nn uccount of what could have disturbed the " serenity of the ilnimciul temperament " : — " An honourable member from the other side , who is the great ornament , and one of themoot valuable members , if he is not , indeed , us I believe , the father of the lloutie , one who looks on us all in a paternal light— one whom 1 nitty describe aa the mom constant and as the most couniment supporter )* of 'he Whin Government , who , though tie muy soim times chide tin in , ohidis them uh a futhci ; who , though he muy uometiniCH catuigau * theit ^ etuHigatfti them in uu afitciionate manner ( cheers and laughter ) , and always stcnu forward Ht the light moment to extricate
a not altirays grateful Government from an impending catastrophe , brought forward a motion to limit the duration of the income tax to one year only . . . . Well , then , what happened ? Why , sir , the motion was carried . The basis on which the whole system of the Chancellor of the Exchequer was raised fell from under the superstructure ( cheers ) , and the fairy palace vanished in a night . { Cheers . )" At length he came to the gist of his speech which amounted to this : the vote of the 2 nd of May ( Mr .
Hume ' s limitation of the income tax to one year ) had entirely changed the financial circumstances of the country . The income tax could not be relied on for more than one year , for he thought that the House would never consent to the continuance of that impost . How then would the Chancellor of the Exchequer provide for the expenses of the country ? Was it wise when a large revenue amounting to £ 5 , 000 , 000 was , most probably , about to be withdrawn , to propose reductions in taxation ?
" Supposing , then , Parliament will not consent to continue the income tax , the Chancellor of the Exchequer — Isay nothing of the Kafir war—may find himself with a deficiency of £ 5 , 000 , 000 or of £ 6 , 000 , 000 . I ask the House quietly to consider what are the prospects of meeting this peculiar and partial deficiency . . . How , then , are we to meet this deficiency ? There are two modes , and two modes only , as far as I know , by which we can do-so . They are the reduction of expenditure , and the increase of taxation . "
And he concluded that it was impossibe to reduce expenditure ; and , therefore , that " the deficiency must be met by increased taxation . " What , then , could be " more impolitic , more imprudent , more unjust , than to take off £ 2 , 000 , 000 of taxation" with such a task before them ? And , not satisfied with the " financial embarrassments" here shadowed forth , Lord John Russell said : — " ' I have chosen thisileisureand tranquil time for
proposing a new reform of the House of Common * . ' { 'Hear , and laughter . ) This , observe , is the prospect that awaits us . At the very moment when you will probably have a deficiency of millions to supply , and to determine the principle on which your financial system shall be established—at that very moment her Majesty ' s Government stand pledged—mind you , pledged—to introduce a very extensive measure of Parliamentary reform . { Hear . ) I say the noble lord is pledged to that course in the most formal manner . "
He would not conceal what policy he and his friends were prepared to support if Ministeis would carry it out . They would vote for the repeal of the window tax , oppose the reduction of the timber and coffee duties , and support a " measure which should permit the British shipbuilder to build in bond . " After these remarks Mr . Disraeli " perorated" upon the magnificent theme of " public credit , " the House rapturously applauding the " eloquence , " and nobody being the wiser thereby . He moved the following resolutions : —
" That , according to an estimate of the propable future produce of the existing taxes submitted to this House by the Chancellor of the Exchequer , it appears that a surplus revenue may be expected in the present year to the extent of about £ 2 . 000 , 000 . That in the revenue so estimated is included a sum exceeding £ 6 , 000 , 000 derived from the tax on income , respecting which an inquiry has beeu directed to be made by a committee of this House , on the result of whose labours may depend the future renewal or modification of that important impost . That , in this provisional state of the financial arrangements of the country , it appears to this House to be most consistent , with a due regard to the maintenance of puttlic credit and the exigencies of the public service , not . to make any material sacrifice of public income in effecting such changes as may be deemed advisable in other branches of taxation .
The Chancklloh of the Exchequer disposed of the " eloquence and ingenuity" with which Mr , Disraeli had " favoured" the House in the most summary fushion . The resolutions Bnid one th'ng , the speech another . The House waited to hear v \ hut tho honourable member had to say against repealing taxes , and they had heard nothing ; while he had reminded the House of the necessity of upholding public credit ; and " upon this point he had indulged in some high-flown language nbout the mines of Golcondn , the empire of the Caesars , with its triple crown , pillared palanquins , and other things which have little to do with the question . ( ' Hear , ' and laughter . ) " In fact , Sir Chahxks was disposed to dismiss the speech in silence , and leave the House to negative the resolutions , had not his own viewa been mis-stated : —
" I estimated the surplus at £ 1 , 900 , 000 . I ntill nbide by that estimate , and nothing baa uiucv o « curred to alter my opinion as to the amount of loss the revenue will huhtiun by the reduction of tne duties on timber and coffee . The honourable member says that my surplus for this year depends on the income-tax . I beg to way that , is not the case . The decision to which the House bus conic respecting the income-tax leaves my surplus for this year untouched . The honourable member informed th' - House that I said I contemplated the income-tax being u permanent lux ; but in that , also , he in niimuk . ii . On nn other point , alno , the honourable number misrepreHented my opinions . I never said that the income-tux ought , to be continued until a long catalogue of iiixi'n which he enumerated had been repealed . What I Haiti win thin , that 1 hud this year proposed the repeal of those duties
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), July 5, 1851, page 2, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05071851/page/2/
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