There is one more scheme to notice, which, though rather less against nature is not less hateful and insolent; namely, to encourage you to emigrate to foreign countries.  This scheme is distinctly proposed to the Government by one of the correspondents of the Board of Agriculture.  What he means by encouragement must be to send away by force, or by paying for the passage; for a man who has money stands in no need of relief.  But, I trust, that not a man of you will move, let the encouragement be what it may.  It is impossible for many to go, though the prospect be ever so fair.  We must stand by our country, and it is base not to stand by her, as long as there is a chance of seeing her what she ought to be.  But the proposition is, nevertheless, base and insolent This man did not propose to encourage the sinecure placemen and pensioners to emigrate; yet, surely, you who help to maintain them by the taxes which you pay, have as good a right to remain in the country as they have!  You have fathers and mothers and sisters and brothers and children and friends as well as they; but this base projector recommends that you may be encouraged to leave your relations and friends for ever; while he would have the sinecure placemen and pensioners remain quietly where they are!

No:  you will not leave your country.  If you have suffered much and long, you have the greater right to remain in the hope of seeing better days.  And I beseech you not to look upon yourselves as the scum; but, on the contrary, to be well persuaded that a great deal will depend upon your exertions; and therefore, I now proceed to point out to you what appears to me to be the line of conduct which journeymen and labourers ought to pursue in order to obtain effectual relief, and to assist in promoting tranquillity and restoring the happiness of the country.

We have seen that the cause of our miseries is the burden of taxes occasioned by wars, by standing armies, by sinecures, by pensions, etc.  It would be endless and useless to enumerate all the different heads or sums of expenditure.  The remedy is what we have now to look to, and that remedy consists wholly and solely of such a reform in the Commons’ or People’s House of Parliament, as shall give to every payer of direct taxes a vote at elections, and as shall cause the Members to be elected annually.

In a late Register I have pointed out how easily, how peaceably, how fairly, such a Parliament might be chosen.  I am aware that it may, and not without justice, be thought wrong to deprive those of the right of voting who pay indirect taxes.  Direct taxes are those which are directly paid by any person into the hands of the tax-gatherers, as the assessed rates and taxes.  Indirect taxes are those which are paid indirectly through the maker or seller of goods, as the tax on soap or candles or salt or malt.  And, as no man ought to be taxed without his consent, there has always been a difficulty upon this head.