Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1811-06-07

be accounted for? In my second address,
| alluded to the general cause-That as
Mr.. Jefferson and his fellow labours rose
to power by inhaming the love of the PEG.
pie TO France and their hatred to England,
they have also thought il necessary TO keep
awe these passions as the surest means for
the continuance of their power. They re.
presented the impartial system Of Wash
iugton's administration as a "system of
| ingratitude and injustice towards France,
rom which they would ALLEVIATE the pco-
pie OF the United States, TO bring them
| under British influence" These are the
words of Mr.. Jefferson in his letter to
Mszxei. And as the cry of ingrati,ude
to France and OF British influence was weil
adapted to promote his ambitious views,
its origin May well be ascribed to him. Il
corresponds with the ISLANDERS against
Washington and Adams, for which he sf.
forwards paid his friend and correspon-
dent the Infamous James Thompson Cal.
lender With similar views his partisans
keep up the cry to this day.
Having thus led the body of the people
into fatal errors respecting the two great
nations At war, and the character and views
OF the citizens who before administered
the government, they dare not undeceive
them. They cannot now tell the people
the TRUTH, without justifying the senti.
ments and policy of their political oppo.
nents, the followers of WAsHlNcToN, and
| thus hazarding the loss of their Offices and
power: and their measures for the last
four years especially, are in evidence that
they would rather sacrifice the rights. in.
terests and honor of our country, and pot
IN jeopardy its liberty and independence.
Another means employed to undermine
the federal administration, was the raising
Glamour against the taxes which were in.
dispensable for the support of the public
faith in regard to the debts incurred by the
revolutionary WARRIOR carrying on, du-
ring several Years, an expensive war a.
gainst the Indians, for the defence anc
protection of the frontiers-and for pro
viding the means of protecting our com
merce and our country against the aggres
sions and hostile views of France.
| Although no government can exist with.
out revenue--and no revenue be attainable
without taxes-yet no person of an, expe.
rlence can be ignorant, that the levying oil
taxes is one of the most ungracious acts OF
government. IL has therefore been the
policy OF most governments TO raise a
great Gotten the greatesD portion of their
revenues by indirect taxes; especially on
the articles imported from foreign coun-
tries, which are first paid by the merchant
importers, and then by them added to and
blended with the prices of the articles inn
ported; so that the people at large who
use and consume them, cannot Distinguish
the taxes from the prices of the articles
themselves; and being thus paid insensi-
| biy, they occasion no murmurs or discon.
tent and the less, because as to many ar
| ticles which are more of luxury or ccnve-
nience than neceessity, they may be pur-
chased or not at the pleasure OF every citi-
zen. But when government lays direct
taxes, for example, certain sum on every
man's head (thence called pail or capita
tion tax or certain sums on his house, bis
land, his horses and cattle-he knows pre-
cisely the amount OF his taxes; and it
these be heavy, discomfort is not an unusu-
al conse quence. Yet sometimes necessary
wars (such as that of the American revo-
lutiou) and defensive wars in general, are
of such extent and long continuance, as to
require large revenues, and proportionably
heavy taxes.
| Now if the whole of the taxes in su Oh
CAGES were imposed upon goods imported
from other countries, great portions OF
them could never be collected the tempta-
ton to run or smuggie the goods into the
country, and thus evsde the taxes altogeth-
err, would be SO great, as with many to be
irresistible. IF, for instance, tax (more
commonly called dufy) on any imported
articles, be twenty five per cent Tor one
fourth of its value and it may be brought