Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1805-10-09


treasure, which could be spared for lhess
Objects, and the season VIXEN it could be
! spared. This view Of the subis6f there.
fore, strongly ebfnrces the propriety.
while il demonstrates The necessity, that
J q large par, of this power Should be exer.
cised by The general government.
?. There may, however, be those, who,
from jealousy of the extensive powers
OF the general government, and an syersi-
ON to their extension in any respect, are
hostile to the bcstowaI of. this power.
These men will probably argue in this
manner. Let thegeneral government at.
tend alone 10 those objects t. which the
states arc altogether incoInpetent- Let
Them las taxes for these obieels, as occa-
sion requires. When the occasion cea.
ses let the taxes be repealed Tue
states can then rcimpose them, and spply
their proceeds TO. the accomplishment of
Objects peculiarly appropriate to them.
10 this argument, II may be answered,
that the proposed alteration Of the Cons,i-
tuition, SD far from augmeutipg, would pro-
eabiy reduce the present powers of the ge.
neral government. as viii appear bereal-
ters But, not here insisting on. This point,
IT'S sufficient in reply 10 observe that the
great, and only abundant sources of reve-
nue. are e-reluSfveiy vested in the general
government. A long experience has
shewn that the ideas. the habits, the pre-
Judices OF our citizens will not admit the
Imposition of considerable taxes, excepl in
The shape of duties on imported articles.
~ We psss the whole states in review. IL
viii be found thai the taxes lad by them
on. other objeets, gre comparatively ex.
trcmeiy light. Writing entirely from
general Impressions. may, notwilh siara-
ing, confidently say ihat the whole amount
OF taxes, laid by all the states, does not sz-
coed the annual sum of one million of dol
lars. which is not tenth part OF he a.
mount OF taxes paid to the general govern
mernt on imported articles. Il then the
power OF the general government 60 pro-
mote Internal Improvements be denied,
and The feposing such power releeled,
sii tae benefits dcrisable from The Surplus
wealth ofthe general treasury will be lnst;
mt dollar. OF IL will be devoted 10 these
grea' obiecls.
we shall, however, be told, that Con-
gress viii only have 10 reduce their du.
ties, when they cease - have occasion
tor them, and thus correspondentIy re.
lieve the people from the butthen &c
taxes. But this would he attended with
the serious Inconvenience of bernetnJ
change IN the duties, so mischicyous To
the regular ayocalion of the cillzens; or
With The still grea,eT Inconvenience ne
having too much, or too llstle money in
the general treasury the first of which
you'd tempt the government into many
dangerous projecls, while the latter would
expose u To embeciity and insult. But
independently Of these considerations.
What IS IN few years, TO be done wi.h
the vast income that viii flow from, the
sale ot western lands, source OF wealth
which will hen be e9nai TO the whole PIE.
sent revenue derived from Inposts? This
cannot be abandoned, without manifestin,
Justice 10 the general interests. Ard vet.
u IS not easy TO see, aftertbc national debt
shall be discharged, 20 What objects, other
than those OF. internal Improvement, il
could be Der eliciaily applied.
1t win be found hereafter, not onlv
impoiit'ci bot impraeticabie, IN any efea,
degree, TO reduce the duties paid on I'm.
ported articles. A large portion of The =.
mount, probably The greater part of II, is
derived FROM articles, which are ,axed 10
counterfeit the inpositjons NJ Other natl.
ons, and 20 encourage the grown or ma
nu'at'ure OF our own pioduetlons. The
same causes which, iu the Gts,s instance
occasioncd The irnposiiions ofthssc duties,
VII not oiiy Justify, but render them IN
grsat measure absolutely necc ssafy. 7be
diminuion, therefore, Of duties. .hodes
highly desirable on some obj.0s, viii Be
fon1a 10 DC inIPraeticabie OF large
scale.
4. In The next place, villa obisas can
81 properly claim he application II the
surplus revenue derived fem iinposts az
those o. in,ernai improvement T.is ~.
tenuc IS drawn from tax, which, so f.r
from being ocai'or couined TO part Gu.
iaf class Of individuals. falls inaiscri,ni.
naieiy upon al ranks aid pcIeadss he
whole uiion. Il Is true hat il IL collseI.
ed Pfwc'Pai!Y az few great t0mmercis,
GePots; bGt il 10 not IIefefpr- he less ge.
neral 81 rs operation. Srch is th, oators
OF trade that he price of r,,ro,,. ,,,t;,;... =.