Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-10-17
From the .MA4IoNAL Ly4xLLIcENcsR.
+ o T II E Pc PL e.
THE ID T. r e NC e
M vi


J We shall now proceed to consider the
measures of the administration under the
divisions flowing from the distribution of
powers among the departments Of finance,
war, navy and state.
| The control of financial operations Has
been seen to be an object of great import
ance. In modern times its consequence
has greatly increased (: and there is proba-
bly, no nation ofthe civilized world to which
it is more important than to the United
States; as in the event of any serious ex-
ternal or internal danger, our reliance
will be, not on large existing military es-
tablishments' but on our ability promptly
to call forth the strength Of the country.
I On subject ofso much Importance, the
President, appears 20 have been sensible OF
the propriety of avowing his opinions with
eXplicltness.
Having called to the head OF the ireasu-
ny man of uncommon clearuess of per-
ception, of great industry, and of ire
proachable morals, worthy of the conf
dence of the whole nation and eminently
possessed of that of the republicans, he
communicated the principles on which
the Executive contemplated to act, and
recommended various measures 10 Con-
gress.
After critical scrutiny into the nation.
al expenses and resources, with that con
fdenCc which flows from a conviction OF
accurate information, he proposed the a
BOLTON of the internal taxes, and more
rapid discharge of the public debt. To
Justify these steps general retrenchment
| nj \
ed, so far as depended upon law, and pur-
sued SO far as depended upon the execu-
tive.
The abolition of the internal taxes has
been declared an unwise measure by the
opponents of the administration, and eff
fects, the most pernicious, predicted as
likely to flow from it. A large portion Of
these predictions, having been falsi6ed by
experience, require al present no notice
The remaining resources have proved mol
only equal to every existing engagement,
OF the government, but likewise 10 a more
rapid discharge of the public debt than that
for which the national faith was pledged
The extraordinary expenses incurred by
The purchase ofLouisiana, and the defence
OF the Mediterranean trade, are not over.
looked. In subsequent part of this view,
1t Will be made distinctly TO appear, that
the former is one Of those vast and extra
ordinary events that justihes the use of ex-
traordinary means, and that the latter is a
measure likely to be Of but short duration
and consequently not requiring permanent
revenues.
| Assuming il then az an indispu,able act
that the revenue derived from the internal
revenues could be spared, our enquiry, as
10 the expediepcy of their repeal, is mar
rowed into a consideration whether it was
expedient to repeal them, or to diminish
the duties on imported articles.
| Every one acquainted with the history
of the United States knows, that after the
revolutionary war, it was general, not tc
say universal impression, that the Grea
power of taxation, vested in the genera
government, should be over imported com
moditieS. This impression arose undoubt
eddy from the legitimate relationship be
tween the nature of a government fedora
IN its structure, and tax whose equal o.
peration could only be secured by the ge
neral government. Under this impressi
on, and the most important intreaties G
| CoiiE5l CSS1 tWCING SldNGSB q SiiOIl NtlhC OG
fore the adoption OF the Constitution, hat
agreed to vest Congress with the powei
( OF laying duty Of FIVE per cent. on i'm
ported articles. Rhode Island, not Their
constituting more than a sixteenth part o
the union, alone resisted this measure. Bu
Tor her resistance, the power would have
been conferred, and the new Constitution
would probably have never been framed
When framed, it gave Congress absolute s
e5rcilsfUe power duties on foreign com
modities, thereby adding another, to thenu
merous existing proofs that this was con
sidered as the appropriate resource Of the
general government. II gave, at the same
time a concurrent power, with the states
over every other source Of revenue, will
the express view Of enabling a govern
ment, charged with the national defence
on any great emergency 10 call into aG(i
witty the undivided resources Of the com
munity. This was the only reason, per
haps fallacious one, ON which this sweep
ing power OF taxation, was conhdcd. Ac
cordingly Congress, in the first instance