Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1812-02-07
From The New-York Evening Post.
CoMMuNICATIoN.

COMMUNICATIONS.
aThis day, June 20, 1902, (said the party
now in power,) deserves particular record IN
the history of Americas it terminates the
existence of series of measures bearing a
Aaiutul resemblance to those which caused "a
merica ten years war, and hundred thou
sand liyes-on this day the odious stamp act
expires, obnoxious to the spirit of liberty
The tax on houses and lands ceases, 50 ln]u-
rious to population and agriculture. Inc TAX
on carriages, so injurious to home n1anuiac-
lures"
Yes. ON the 2eth of June, the above laws
expired. The economical mind OF MIR. 'el-
ferson foresaw that they were unnecessary, q
that the country did not require the money 10
be raised by these taxes: and In his message
to CONGRESS- of Dec is, 1902, he held the tol-
lowing language speaking OF the extinction
Of taxes he says:
nWben effects so salutary result from the
plans YOU have already sanctioned, when mere
" by avoiding false objects of expence, we
are able without internal taxes, and without
borrowing to make large and effectual pay
ments towards the discharge OF our public
debt, and the emancipation OF our prosperity
from that mortal canker, it is an encourage
ment, fellow citizens, of the highest order to
proceed as we have begun, in substituting e.
conomu for taxation, and In pursuing what Is
useful for nation, placed as we are, rather
than what is practised by others under differ
ent circumstances. And whenever we are
destined to meet events which shall call forth
all the energies of our countrymen, we have
the frmest reliance on those energies, and the
comfort of leaving for calls like these, the
extraordinary resources of loans and internal
taxes"
This was the language held by Mr.. Jeffer-
son, at time when it was calculated to an
swer the ends of democracy. The people
swallowed as wholesome truths, whatever came
from this man with avidity, and the tederallsts
lost ground at every election afterwards. The
taxes no longer exist, and we now shall grow
rich, was the current language OF the people.
Mr.. Jefferson had declared that "without
direct tax, without internal taxes and without
borrowing the national debt should be paid
off, and the country emancipated from that
" Mortal Canker"-taXes. Yes, In substl-
tuting economy for taration," the country was
to be placed on footing, such as no nation
had ever before witnessed, the envy and adml-
...;.., .,r 4l----al--e>, Irosr ucIiBnt-
full theme, and economy economy! resound-
ed from Maine to Georgia. But how did Mr.
Jefferson fulfil the promises to the people
He abolished, it is true, the taxes on certain
articles, while with an ingenuity equal to his
falsehood and deception, he still continued to
draw o revenue from the people In an indirect
manner, equal to what they had ever paid be-
fore. But as the poorer class Of people were
not able to penetrate into the fiscal matters OF
government, they suffered their eyes to close
in perfect security in their leader. But be-
hold, to what crisis has this substituting
g economy for taration," brought the country.
After suffering the loss of our commerce for
FIVE years-after enduring enbargoes, nom
importation and non-ntercourse acts, which
measures have reduced nearly one half of the
country TO beggary, we are now, torsooth, cal
led upon by these very democrats to pay taxes
amounting to nine millions sic hundred thou
sand dollars to support the government IN a
war Of conquest and dominion against the Bril-
fish This money too is to be drawn from the
pockets Of the people, by the means OF those
very taxes which Mr.. Jefferson had declared
was " Mortal Canker," to our country.
But this situation was predicted by the tede-
ralists. They told the people that they were
only sleeping in false security, that would
end in their death. And Mr.. Randolph pub
licly declared on the floor Of Congress, that the
democratic administration were living on the
money the federaists had provided, and that
the moment it was expended the nation would
become bankrupt How far Mr. Randolph's
assertions were founded on fact, the present
depiorable situation Of the country gives the
answer.
JUVENIS.
ri Rat in the Treasury !''-says Duane.
This is only an echo of the cry set up by Du-