Mr. Humepresented a Petition from the North West Metropolitan Union, praying for the diminution of the taxes upon all kinds of publications which had for their object to communicate knowledge and information to the community. He was of opinion, that to the ignorance unhappily prevalent among some of the lower classes were to be attributed many of the offences against the peace and property of society which had lately been perpetrated. To remove this 103 cause of evil, he thought that Parliament ought to repeal all taxes upon newspapers, pamphlets—aye, and he would go further, all taxes upon paper and on all articles used in printing. They should do this in order to carry into effect the objects of this petition. By the laws now existing, parishes were obliged to find food for pauper children, and he thought it quite as important that they should provide them also with knowledge. He trusted, that Ministers would take the necessary measures to remove the duties upon publications during the present Session.
§ Mr. Trevorwholly disagreed with the remarks which had fallen from the hon. Member who had just addressed them. He should like to see these taxes on publications increased, instead of being abolished, for he was convinced, that much of the evils now existing in the country arose from the doctrines that were disseminated in the daily journals. The poorer classes, by reading these despicable, these diabolical papers, imbibed many of their present errors. He knew that to be a fact, and he thought it a fact of a most serious kind. Among what class of persons did these papers circulate, but among those who had just sufficient education to be pleased with the matter contained in such obnoxious publications? By reading these, they acquired a smattering of political knowledge, by which they were misled, and he was convinced, that so far from improving, it had deteriorated their condition.
§ Colonel Torrensobserved, that the salvation of the country was wound up in the diffusion of correct political information. It was, therefore, clearly the duty of Government to encourage its extension by the removal of all existing impediments to the acquirement of sound knowledge. The more ignorant men were, the more likely were they to be misled, particularly when they were under excitement, as at present. The most effectual way to turn that excitement in a right direction was, by allowing every facility for the general diffusion of practical political information. Knowledge was power, but the people had only half knowledge, which was half power; give them full knowledge, and they would know that they had an interest in exercising their power in a proper manner in defence of the rights of property, instead of attempting to shake those rights and undermine its influence.
Mr. Hume,in moving that the Petition be laid on the Table, observed, that he was surprised, that at this time there should be 104 persons opposed to the general diffusion of knowledge. He wished to ask the hon. member for Durham, whether he considered the interests of society were promoted by the propagation of mischievous doctrines—such, for instance, as regarded the rights of property. This was done by people in desperate circumstances, for the sake of a living, while respectable persons were deterred from answering them in cheap publications from fear of fines imposed by the Stamp Office. Thus were the most dangerous doctrines circulated through the country. It was on these grounds that he urged the prayer of the petition on the attention of the House. He would avail himself of this opportunity to ask the noble Lord opposite, whether it was his intention to repeal the taxes affecting publications?
§ Lord Althorpprotested against a question as to what he intended to do with respect to a particular tax. The hon. Member called on him to make a pledge, when he was quite unable to do so.
§ Mr. Trevorsaid, he was glad to hear the hon. member for Middlesex now admitted, that evil was likely to ensue from the publication of such doctrines as he had described, though last Session the hon. Member had deprecated the punishment of persons engaged in such pursuits. If the proprietors of newspapers were desirous to reply to such opinions, they could as well do so now as when the tax was repealed.
Sir Francis Burdettagreed with the hon. member for Middlesex. There were many most objectionable publications circulated in a cheap form, in defiance of the law. These publications contained sometimes the most dangerous doctrines. There were men who would gladly devote their talents to answer them, and to diffuse better opinions among the people, but they did not like to incur the penalties of offending the Stamp Laws, and, therefore, these publications remained unanswered. It was the Stamp-laws and the attempt to put down cheap publications, that brought the mischievous ones into notice. Give others an opportunity to obtain a hearing by repealing the Stamp Acts, and these mischievous publications would be fully answered. If fair play was given on all sides, the Press itself would rectify all the evils which it was supposed to have occasioned.
§ Petition to lie upon the Table.