Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-02-06
Mr.. GALL41yN'S REPORT.

scu national expenditure, IL had become a sub
Ject OF interesting speculation, in what manner
the nece ssary funds should be provided to meet
the augmented disbursement. The attention of
the committee of Ways and Means, who in our
House OF Representatives perform the duties
assigned IN the British House of Commons TO
the Chancellor ofthe Exchequcr, wss according
~ attracted to the subject and their cali upSa
the Secretary OF the Treasury for his opinion,
&c. produced the Report which we few days
ago presented 10 the Public
II appears 20 have been the scntimen. Of the
Committee, rs wei IS ofthc Head of the Trea-
sury department, that for The expenses of q
war, reliance should bc placed on LOANS, re-
deemabie III period Of antic ipated Peace
But, as universal experience has proved il to
be essential TO z maintenance of Public Credit.
that tho interest falling due on loans should be
punctually paid, it becomes necessary to pro-
vide gradually increasing fund, which besides
supplying what is deficient for the support of
the ordinary Peace Establishment, should be ade
quate to the payment ofthe interest on the debt
incurred in the prosecution Of the War For
this purpose, of course, additional revenue be-
comes necessary. The Report ofthc Secretary,
IN Il lucid manner, expresses his opinion, as re-
CURED by the committee, in what manner the
deficiency OF revenue thus created can be most
readily and least opprcss;vc!y supplied Ofthc
merits OF the proposed system, az to It's dcsir-
nation of objects for taxation, it is for Congress-
to Judge; our intention is not now to enter in
to That question:, but to notice some vague in
timations thrown out in the public prints that
really 1t is altogether unnecessary and impolit;c
(and fit be one it is certainly the othcr) to lay
any additional taxes on the People. Oar at
tention is particularly called to the subject by
letter from Washington, published in the sun.
OF FRIDAY, which says, in speaking of the pro-
position to print an extra number of copies Of
the Report IN question" The committee had
''.made no report and this was merely the Sec
- retary's budget. 1t was very Improper to a.
(" larm the people lin advance) with frightfu.
:" list of taxes that are altogether unnecessar,
" and will not seriously be thought of by an,
Sc one"
We have ever entertained the opinion that
war, rs the scourgc Of mankind, as peculiarly,
pregnant with difficulty and dangert 10 a younr
republic, ought sedulously TO BE avoided so long
Us ITS avoidance is consistent with the honor
and permanent interests OF the nation. But
when, as at this moment, they ilnperously point
TO the last resort-xhen in fact the first
step is taken; ,ve discard from consideration
all minor objections, and, without claiming any
share ofthe eclat to arise from war, shall not
Whilst we advocate it, decline our share of re.
sponsibility for the measures necessary to sup
port it.
Among the many evils attendant on war. re-
iccting men have never thought il the least i'm
portant, that it must stop up in great degree
the channel thro' which our revenue was drawn
from its source, at the same time opening adj
dit;onal drains, which, instead of accommoda
ting our expenditure to the diminished receipt.
require the construction of other channels TO
that source, the people, from whom all revenue
IS immediately or remotely derived But, in
deciding on war, its various disadvantages
could not but have been taken into calculation
by its advocates, who must have made up their
n.inls to meet them. No rational man, il ap-
pears to us, could have overlooked them. and
We have therefore been not little astonished
Mt those whom personal enmity towards Mr.
Gallstin, or an indisposition sto alarm the
people with irightful list of taxes have in
duced TO declare that taxes are altogether un-
necessary. Money is proverbially said 10 be The
sinews ofwar-taxes follow necessarily in its
train. Ofthe description fpoliticianswho atlvo-
cate war and deny the necessity for an increased
revenue TO meet it, we would say, did we nor
feel assured to the contrary, that they must have
calculated on bloodless war, to be waped bv n
neryelcss force.
But it is said the people viii be alarmed at
the prospect of taxation. How! DO the people
callloudly for war, and will they withhold the
supply by the aid of which alone it can he con-
Quoted Are they TO be frightened with shad.
ows The mass of the people, at least, are en-.
dOwed with common sense enough not to be TO-
iiOldht tuat tney WNst furnish the means for the
support OF the war which they demand to be
undertaken. The history Of the war of 'e8 ba.
been introduced to prove that the peopI- will
not consent TO be taxed for the support of an ar
my. which has been said to have been as me-
cessary then as now. The cases are in no wise
analogous Were an attempt TO be made, as II
was during the Federal administrati ION, TO sun
port an army without any possible laudable OBJ
Ject, the people would now, IS they did tben.
withdraw their confidence from those who rails
ed it, whose views might be reasonably conclnd
ed to be hostile to the liberties of their country
but when, on the ono hand, the great CONNER
cla' interest OF the country is threatened with
humiliation and, on the other, agriculture.
from Tier intimate connection with commerce
PartaKes OF the danger the people will cheer
iuhy contribute, each his proportion, to assert
the violated rights and honor Of the nation IL
tlns government be founded in the virtue aud
inteiiigenee OF the people, why shall we fear to
aiarn tsem by laying before them the true state
OF orr hnahces, aad the measures deemed ne
Ce5sary 10 enable tina Public Treasury 20 minis.
Ter 70 INC national waNs We cannot see a rca
son i9r u ana, IN our jew, the idea Of alarm
'hg the people by the difVsion of this document
conveys an urJustiiiabie Insult TO the under
standings Of the community
For our part we feel much eLl;ocJ nc ,.,ooc
the people, to the Secretary Of TIC Treasury for
the candor and pcrspicuity with which he has
uniOided TO congress his views e or resources.
and otthe relative cxpcdieL-y of nc different
modes o. raising ncvenue. The enquiry what
are the fsicst objects for taxation is aGistinct
question, and foreign 70 our present puioose
Having heretofore witnessed the cxtraordiN,rv
araf af.l.fr g "a. q L