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“THIS IS TRUE LIBERTY, WHEN FREEBORN MEN—HAVING TO ADVISE THE PUBLIC, MAY SPEAK FREE.” —Evnipiprs.

anes acto —— te th —o aH a — nee ——— _ — Sam a eee

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on.) CHARLOTTETOWN, P. E. ISLAND, MONDAY, MARCH 27, 1848.

[No. 34.

HOUSES O2 ASSBMUBLY,

ah a tegen ——— att Ny ee t=

l6rH Feprvuary, 1848, LAND TAX.

that tax—the only direct one he would experience. | tithem more rigorous with the Tenants. Under these _.-.|might be that in some of the cultivated and christianised impressions, he could not consent to lend his assistance portions of the globe, less direct taxes were borne by to increase the Tax.

the people ; but, if such were the case, he could not then) Mr, D. Maclean was of opinion that a greater Tax

call to mind where those portions were situated. He should be levied from the land, and believed it could not

(Continued.)}

Mr. Rae was by no means inclined to push his propo- sition if the sense of the House were against it; but he hoped something would be done to make the Tax fall upon the Proprietors, as was the intention when the pre- sent law was passed ; but instead of this being the case, the Proprietors had managed to throw it upon the Ten- ants. "One half ofthe lands of the Island are under lease, these leases are so worded as to make the tenantry liable to pay all taxes imposed or to be imposed. ‘This was an evil or a grievance, which the House ought to remedy, and in order to doso, a rider should be attached to the Bill, to compel the proprietors to deduct the amount of the tax from the rents of those tenants who now have to pay it: and from recent events relative to leases, in Britain, he thought the scheme which he proposed would not be opposed by the Imperial Government.

Mr. Palmer said, the hon. member for Prince County (Mr. Rae) seemed to have some fears for the fate of the Bill, if an additional tax were to be put upon wilderness land; and yet, if he (Mr, Palmer) understood him aright, he would have no objection to increase the tax on cultivated lands, in the first Bill, and manifest no anxiety

could, therefore, see nothing startling or unreasonable be applied to a better purpose than the encouragement in what had fallen from the hon. Speaker, relative to an of education. Look at Scotland, said the hon. member, increase of the ‘Tax, and a reduction of the duties upon and compare the large salaries of school masters there Tea and other articles of daily consumption. He could with the miserable pittance of those in Prince Edward scarcely think the hon. member for Prince County (Mr. Island. In many parts of the Island, where school Rae) serious, when he spoke of imposing, by Jaw, upon/masters are engaged, they find, at the end of the year, the Landlord a Tax which the Tenant had bound him-/that their Jabours have, in a great measure, been thrown self to pay; when he calied to mind that, in many in- away, for the people cannot pay them. In short, they stances, even then, the Tenant, in some way or other, are—instead of being a respectabte class of persons—a contrived to evade his liability, and it ultimately fell roving, half-clad, and half-starved one. An entire new upon the Landlord, who, although the law was decidec- system ought to be created for the encouragement of ly in his favour; of two evils choosing the less subinitted education, and thirty or forty pounds per annum ought to—the payment of the Tax, as the expenses of recove:- to be as little as each master should receive from G - ing it would, most probably, greatly exceed that loss. | verument. ‘Then we might expect to see education in- Mr. Rae. It appears the hon. member for Charlotte-| crease, and a fresh and better qualified class of masters town(Mr. Palmer) has mistaken me. All I wished to Spring up. Under the present system, it is deplorable have was a second Bill, for any additional tax that may aad grievous to see, how small a part of the rising gene- be imposed; in order to make it doubly sure that we ration receive any education at all. The hon. member may not raise up an opposition, and thereby endanger continued, he verily believed not one-third of them could the whole. I well know that, if we are not very careful, read, and not half of those understood what they did what we impose on the Proprietors, will, as heretofore, read. It was, therefore, the bounden duty of the Honse be shifted to the shoulders of the already over-loaded to look to this question of all questions, and endeavour tenantry ; whose burdens I will do all [can to alleviate, to do their utmost to bring about a better system.

about its result,—though he appeared to be anxious that | but will never agree to increase. [ am fully per suaded’ Dr. Conroy. Sir, Lagree with every word that has the proprietors should pay both taxes. He (Mr. P.),that, if the people were consulted—if they were asked fallen from the hon. member who has just sat down. It

would ask, why not place both taxes in the second Bill?

case, it ought to apply in the other. He, for his own

part, saw no necessity for departing from the principle!

| whether they had felt the benefit they were promised js far better to educate the child, than to pay for the if the argument used by the hon. member applied in one| When the tax was substituted for the Quit Rent, their ignorance of the man. Where the people, Sir, are edu-

lanswer would be that they had not. Iam perfectly! cated, it is in vain to attempt to coerce them. Napoleon’s

aware that Her Majesty may resume the Quit Rent, if plan may be bronght to bear; but it would be useless to

of the present Land Assessment Act: it had operated to| the Land Assessment Act be allowed to expire ; but SO try coercion. Again, Sir, where the people are educat- the benefit of the Island; and they ought to be content| !ong as it remains she cannot revive its collection. ‘I lere! ed no tyrannical Government can have more than an

with it; though, were the tax to be increased, he agreed

| . . . Ps). . ; ‘ , . are Various ways of attaching riders to Bills; and, by ephemeral existence ; and in no other way, than by

with the hon, Speaker there was no reason to apprehend |Such means, I see no difficulty in carrying out my pro-' sowing the seeds of knowledge in the minds of the rising

that the Royal assent would be withheld. As he (Mr. P.) had said before, the existing Act had soon been found

position to compel the Proprietors to bear their own generation, can true civilization be promoted or secured. burdens, and contribute to the public wants. he |The school-master of this country is so little thought of

to work well; for, immediately after it came into opera-|tenantry have done all they can for this parpose, and can! oy cared for, that, in many instances, he is bandied

tion, thousands and thousands of acres of wilderness | bear no more, I should like to know whether the con- lands were let and settled, which, in all likelihood, would, tinuance of the Tax is for any particular purpose ; as the independently of the coercive operation of the Act, have | sreat object for which it was imposed is now accom- remained unoccupied and unimproved up to that time. | plished.

about and looked upon rather as an infliction than a benefit, and one upon whom the future welfare and hap- /piness of thousands depend. I see no other source than the land, from which we can raise the means to bring

He was, therefore, of opinion, that it would be wise and) The hon. Speaker. I am no part of the ministry, and about and accomplish the all-important measure, the sound policy to continue the existing!Act by a new Bill;)am not, therefore, qualified to answer the question of the! required improvement in our general educational sys- more particularly as there was not the slightest danger hon. member who has just sat down; but I take upon tem. Let us put our shoulders to the wheel, and endea- of its being encountered by any opposition from any | myself to say that, when the learned member and myself vour to establish something more like the educationa! quarter, if sunply re-enacted : but if it were to bealtered| were at the Colonial Office, the subject was pressed system of Ireland and Scotland—something that will do in the way proposed by the hon. member for Prince upon the attention of the Colonial Secretary, who ex- credit to the Colony, and prevent hereafier any Secre- County (Mr. Rae’, it certainly should not have his sup-| pressed his unqualified approval of this means of improv- tary of State from tuuntingly observing to us, that, in Port. ‘That hon. member, he (Mr. P.) was inclined to|ing the revenue of the Colony. His Lordship seemed consequence of the deficiency of education amongst us, think, was induced to recommend the alteration which fully aware of the situation of the tenantry ; and, I have we are not prepared for the practice and enjoyment of he proposed, by some unexplained motive not arising|no doubt, would lend a willing ear to any just and| Responsible Government, Let me not, however, be trom any thing which he (Mr. Rae) had perceived in the equitable measure for the amelioration of their condition. | misunderstood whilst alluding to the noble Secretary’s Despatch of Karl Grey. However, let that hon. mem- I, therefore, feel bound to say that we shall be guilty| taunt; for 1am very far from admitting that he had suf-

ber’s motive be what it might, he (Mr. P.) could notjofa great dereliction of our duty, if we do not embrace ficient grounds for making it. Indeed, [ believe some of

consent to the adoption of the alteration which he (Mr. )the opportunity now afforded us, to relieve our trade, by the agricultural districts at home are as far behind in

Rae) seemed so anxious to effect; for the measure so a remission of duties, and, at the same time, to sectire a education as the generality of the people of this Island, altered, he (Mr. P.) was convinced would meet with | means which would enable us to go a great way towards and less intelligent than theyare. I, therefore, consider inost strenuous opposition. But were the Bill to be getting rid of our public debt. Jf, in some instances, the insinuation as a most unmerited one. It is strange, framed according to the existing law, it should have his ithe tenants have paid the ‘I'ax, they have seen this! Sir, that the heads of families are not more alive to the .Mr. P’s.) support ; because, from what had come within building erected with the proceeds; and, during its|importance of education to their children. I know iis knowledge, he could confidently say it would meet) progress, great numbers of people were employed inj several who neglect it, and who cannot plead poverty as with no opposition from the Home Government. As to its erection, and the farmers in consequence were|an excuse: and I speak it to their shame; for it is un- the proposition for compelling the Proprietors to meet|benefited by meeting a more ready sale for their pro- parent:l, and a gross neglect of a father’s duty to his all the impositions, both on cultivated and uncultivated duce. And it ought not to be forgotten that, had not child. I will, therefore, go for an increased Tax, and } lands, and thereby interfering with nearly all the leases this imposition existed, a far more grievous one would hope to see it applied for the purposes of education.

in the Island, he should, if it were persisted in, oppose have been in operation in the shape of Quit Rent; the! My, F. Longworth said, the question was not that of it with all his might; for such a proposition he held to rigorous mode of the collection of which would have education, but whether or not, the land will bear an in-

be contrary to the principles of justice and equity. The jeopardized the possession of his farm to many an honest creased tax. He thought it would be good policy to

hon. member for Prince County (Mr. Rae) might, if he) man. I cannot agree that it would be consistent with! raise it 50 per cent. and to reduce the duty on Tea and thought proper, bring forward his proposition in a sepa- the principles of justice to compel the Proprietors to Pay other articles of daily consumption. Notwithstanding

ae . é . : i hs ryt > © : rate Bill; but were he to succeed in causing it to be that for which the Tenants have made themselvesliable what had fallen frem the hon. members, Messrs. Rae embodied with the present Tax, he might be sure the|in their leases, The possibility of increasing our Re-jand DP. McLean, he contended it would save the pocket

whole would be in jeopardy: for he (Mr. P.) would re-' venue by means of the Land ‘l'ax, has been suggested mind him {although he dic not seem to require the/tous. ‘The subject, in my opinion, requires but ver caution) that the Proprietors had yet some influence at|little consideration; and [ cannot see why we should the Colonial Office, though he (Mr. P.) was willing to not, without hesitation, pursue the course indicated to adinit that it was far from being so strong as it formerly be so much for our benefit.

was. He perfectly agreed with the hon. Speaker, that! Mr, Mucintosh thought he should vote against any in- a Tax upon land, though of equal amount to the old!crease w hatever, and, therefore, it was needless for him ‘Quit Rent, was greatly preferable to it, and less arbi-!to make any remark as to which he thought preferable— trary in the mode of its collection; and that should the one Bill or two Bills. He grounded his opposition upon

of the farmer more than the amount of the Land Tax,

Y\ even if he had to pay it. He would vote for an increase

ofone shilling on cultivated, and of two shillings upon uncultivated land; because, after the allusion to the subject by Earl Grey and the repetition thereof in the speech from His Excellency which they were then con- sidering, and after the assurance which: had been given by the lion. members, the Speaker and Mr, Palmer, he did not see the shadow ofa shade of danger that the

present Land Assessment Act be allowed to expire, Her the fear that, however cautious the House might be, or/ Royal assent would be withheld from the Bill; for he Majesty might again resume the collection of the! however stringent a measure they might adopt to bind took it for granted that the Home Government fully ex- Quit Rent, to the great detriment of the interests of the the Proprietors, they (the Proprietors) would be sure to| pected to see a larger revenue raised from this source. island. What man,he would ask, possessed of: reason- escape, and leave the tenants to discharge the obliga-| However desirable it might be to pay every regard to ing faculties, and enjoying a good farm of 100 acres.'tion: the Jatter would be sure to suffer in one way or the great question of education, hon. members who ex- would complain of being obliged to contribute three another. Even the present Land Tax had been an evil claimed, “Forward! forward!” had, he feared, much to shillings per year to the general revenue of the Colony. to them: many of them had been compelled to pay it, learn themselves before their wholesale plans could Le i he, at the same time, remembered that commodities of tho igh the Proprietors said they did. If an inerease| realized. They ought to remember that this Colony ‘s daily consumption in his house would be cheapened, by| were made, anda more stringent law enacted to compel not Scotland, where so many charitable endowed Insti- a reduction of duties, to an amount greatly exceedisg'the Proprietors to pay, he much feared it would make/tutions for education exist. “They should bear in mind

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