280
LAND-TAX FRAUD.
in protecting others. Where is the protection of the frame-work knitters? When he needs protection most—when the high price of food renders it most difficult for him to support his family—have we heard to-day that the Corn Laws are a protection to him? No; we have heard that just in proportion as the Corn Law effects its object for those who gain by it, just in the same proportion does it minister to the misery and degradation of the working classes of this district."
Mr. Cobden proceeded to advert to the "exclusive burthens," which landlords pleaded as a reason for protection and very rapidly demolished their fallacies, and compared the heavy burthens laid upon land in other countries with their light pressure in England; he said,—
"Sir Robert Peel (and I thank him for it) has directed attention to another point of landlord agitation; and when I look into the question origin of the land tax, from its to the present time, I am bound to exclaim that it exhibits an instance of selfish legislation, secondary only in audacity to the Corn Law and provision monopolies. Would you, gentlemen, who have not looked into the subject—but go home and study it, I entreat you,—would you believe that the land tax, in its origin, was nothing but a commutation rent charge, to be paid to the state by the landowners, in consideration of the crown giving up all the feudal tenures and services by which they held their land. Yes, exactly 149 years ago, when the landed aristocracy got possession of the throne in the person of King William, at our glorious revolution they got rid of all the old feudal tenures and services, such as the crown having the right of wardship over every minor, the fines payable on the descent of certain property from one person to another, and a thousand other similar incumbrances, which yielded the whole revenue of the state; and besides which the land had to find soldiers and maintain them. These incumbrances were given up for a bona fide rent-charge upon the land of four shillings in the pound; and the land was valued and assessed 149 years ago, at nine millions a year; and upon that valuation the land tax is still laid.—(Hear.) Now, you gentlemen of the middle classes, whose windows are counted, and who have a schedule sent to you every year, in which you are required to state the number of your dogs and horses; and you who have not window and dog duty to pay, but who consume sugar and coffee and tea, and pay a tax for every pound you consume extra—I say to you remember that the landowners have never had their land revalued from 1696 to the present time.—(Hear, hear.)
Yes, the landowners are now paying upon a valuation made just 149 years ago. The collector who comes to you to count the
