COMMUTATION OF TAXES. 143 



such a proportion of the weight as shall be in accordance with the 

 extent of power or responsibility which has been placed in their 

 hands for it is well accredited, that in monarchial governments the 

 steps to power are scrupulously graduated by the amount of posses- 

 sion. It therefore appears to us a very reasonable doctrine that the 

 regulation of taxation should be based on the same principle, and that 

 according to the extent of power which the possession of wealth 

 secures, so should be the amount of taxation required according to 

 the means and abilities of the subject to pay. We are aware that this 

 reasoning differs from the system which has been followed in England 

 for the last century, where the very reverse of such a mode has been 

 adopted where taxation has not been regulated with a view of 

 placing the heaviest corner on the most powerful buttress, but it has 

 been thrown off from this position, and allowed to fall most heavily in 

 that direction which was least able to avert or lessen its oppression. 

 The subject, however, has at length assumed a different character- 

 popular power has been renovated and strengthened, and it will 

 henceforth bear its due proportion, casting over the remainder by its 

 reinforced strength, and throwing back the overplus upon that side 

 which ought long since to have borne its fair share. This is a natural 

 consequence that the proposers of a recent change do not appear to 

 have contemplated or provided for ; but, unless they speedily prepare 

 the adjustment, they must relinquish their architecture of a new 

 system to wiser heads, and more skilful hands. 



We shall next proceed to state our views as to what taxes are un- 

 equally divided in their collection from the rich and poor, and endea- 

 vour to show the injurious operation of the present system as affecting 

 the rate of prices under the influence of taxation, pointing out as a 

 consequence its falling back in a high proportion on the luxuries as 

 well as the necessaries of life ; because, if the tradesman is called 

 upon by the Government for a large amount of taxes, it is natural 

 that he should provide the means of paying it out of the profits of his 

 business ; consequently he places a higher price on the article which 

 he sells, in order to make up by profit that deficiency in his income 

 which the claims of the tax-collector have occasioned. By this, then, 

 it would appear that the dealer can be at no loss at whatever rate 

 the taxes are collected, because he has the means of repayment by a 

 quiet exaction from his customers. Such, however, is not the case 

 he suffers from a restricted trade which the high prices occasion he 

 also pays his fellow-tradesmen for articles of his own necessity in the 

 same proportion as he charges for his own goods, and thus he may be 

 considered as the centre of the system, whilst the classes below and 

 above him partake of his difficulties. But if we could by any means 

 reduce the price of articles in such a proportion as that their manu- 

 facturers should be fairly remunerated according to a per centage on 

 capital employed, and carry such a reduction throughout the necessary 

 articles of consumption then we should find that additional labour 

 would be in the greatest demand, that tradesmen would be enabled 

 to live on smaller means, whilst the general briskness of trade would 

 afford a larger than their present aggregate profit, and the gentry in 

 the same proportion would be enabled to support their establishments, 



