A most singular occurance...
A most singular OCcuIri-nce took place last night in the House of Commens. Mr WVODEHOUSE, the member for the county of Norfolk, asked his Rtight Honourable friend near Ilim (the CHANCELLOR of the ExCHEQUER), wile- ther it would not be practicable to remove some of the restrictions complained of in the mode of collecting the salt duty, if that duty should be continued." Your Ir has been said to be a peace-maker ; but in the present in- stance, being the precursor of the infraction of a treatty, we should apprehend that, without great caution, it might lead to war. The total relinquishment of the salt duty was so solemnly promised last year, that the CRt rN CELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, M1r. WODEROUSeas Right Hon. friend, acenowledged and lamented, in opening the bit(uget fior the present year, that thAa pledge could not be violated: yet eoes Mr. WODEHOUSe now come forward with an iF, upon the subjcctwhich the country had thought so decidedl and settledl. WVe say this is very singular; and ir it does not prove a connivance to relieve the CHsAN-. CELLOR of the EXCHEQuER from his solemn engage- ment, the afEair looks so like a canriTvitice, that. a prudent ma n would have avoidledl the appearance. It is conceived, or hinted, that some other, tax trere oppressive may be relinquished in place of this salt- duty, now producing 360,0001. The sincerity of the in- tention to rdlieve the people will be best seen wrhen we know the tax or taxes, the repeal of which is meantt to be substituted for that of the salt-tax: but in the mea n time, we must point attention to this side-wind way of relieving a party bound by an enigagemenit, from the obligation of fulfilling that engagement.