The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-03-27

may, in case Of var, be doablcd without in
convenience or dang.
In line of peace, and particularly undc.
existing circumstances, habits of smuggling
might be promoted by too great an increase.
Sut the precise rate which may with safety
he adopted can only be a matter of opinion
20 be tested by experience. / would not he
state however to mention an additional th,.
~ of five per cent. IN merchandise, paying
ad valoren duties, and an increase of 33 Is
per cent. on the existing duties ON all other
Articles, rs attended with very little danger,
and preferable to any other new source of
taxation. A renewal of the duty on salt,
which produced six hundred thousand dol.
lars year, may be exceptionable in other
respects. but on account OF the bulk of the
article, is liable to no objection in the pre-
sent view of the subject,
Ii was stated in the annual report Of Dec.
last that an increase of duties would not, on
account of the terms of credit allowed for
the payment Of duties, supercede the ne
cessity of lean for the service of this year.
The amount of that loan might of course be
diminished, if no credit, or credit of only
sixty days was allowed for the payment of
the proposed additional duties.
Public Lands.
These constitute the only great national
resource exclusively of loans and taxes -
They have already been mentioned as form
ing fund for the ultimate extinguishmen ,
of the public debt; and the possibility of
their being used as means Of facilitating
loans, has been suggested. A portion might
also be uscfully applied as bounty to Oil
GERS and soldiers, whatsoever it may become
necessary to raise considerable force. -
But as an object of Immediate revenue, |
much doubt whether this can be materially
increased without g radical change in the
present system.
Not less than ten land Offices are now
in full operation, Offering great choice of
good lands, situatedin varions climates, and
suited to the habits of the citizens of every
portion of the Union. They are sold at the
rate OF two dollars an acre, or rather at one
dollar and SIXTY four cents, if paid for at
the time of purchase. and in tracts or one
hundred and sixty acres: AS much is sold
rs there is actual demand fur land in SINH
lar situations at that price. The sales are
however. almost exclusively confined to
those who are or intend to become actual
Settlers, and all the money which can be
raised by that description of purchasers is
annually paid 20 the United States. In or
der to increase Immediately the amount Of
sales, different capital from that which
has heretofore been applied to that object,
tne Capital OF persons WHO VIII purchase for
the purpose of selling again with a pro
lit, must be brought into action. But it
Is evident that nD persons will purchase
lands at the present price as an object of
speculation, whilst the United States cont
nue. to sell at the same price in small tracts
10 effect the proposeti object, it would be
necessary not only to reduce the price, but
to make difference bttween that of lands
sold IN large tracts, and that asked for
snail tracts, sufficient to encourage pur-
ehasrs on an extensive scale. That al.
terationmight produce IN additional revenue,
but appears to me extremely injurious in
other respects. The present system of sales
has been tried, and answers the expectati-
ons of the Legislature. A gradual increase
must, notwithstanding dome temporary fuc-
tuations, necessarily take place On that
would rely; nor. would venture to sug-
sest any other change than that already
proposed on formet occasion, a moderate
and general reduction of prices, discontinu
ing at the same time ali sales on credit, but
continuing to sell at The same rate large on
small tracts of land.
Ihave the honor ODE,
Very respectfully,
Sir, your obediens servant
ALBERT GALLATIN.