The question of Church-rates is again prominent, owing to the
resistance offered by Mr. BAINES ; who has become, as it appears, a very unwilling martyr to the cause. The principle is not quite intelligible which induces a man to resist payment as a question of conscience, and then rely upon the technicalities of the law as his means of evasion. The case of Tnononoon was diffimint JOIIN seemed to glory in his imprisonment, in tile hope that the hardship of his case would increase the public feeling against the impost, and compel the Legislature to abolish it : Mr. IlaixEs's case is a struggle between the lawyers, for the purpose of trying whether the existing laws can be evaded, and not whether the principle on which they are founded is just. It is not in thus way that the war against Church-rates can be effectually conducted. The costs will indeed be multiplied, and the amount tor which the nonconfbrmer is detained may thus be made to appear enormous ; but the fhet that the enormity grew by his own act—that it arose from expenses of the Law, and not from the demands of the Church— will in a great measure defeat the object. If Mr. Ilmsns wishes to become a " martyr," his best plan would be to endure his impri- sonment with meekness, instead of wrestling with his chains.
