Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-09-30
ALEXANDRIA.
ITO sHKw
ras vsRr AGE & BODY OF rHs TINE
~. rcpu AND PRESSURE"
7'eu.ara mntortnr, et' nos mutamur

serted the reader With some of the doc.
iriacs sasintsined by Mr. Madison when
in tie Virginia Convention of 1888. We
now sclcct short extracr from aspeecb
d.litered at the same time in that body
BY his Secretary, Mr.. Monroe. The par
,ica,ar snAieet under consideration, was
Inc "power of laying dirce, taxes" pro-
postd 70 be vested in the Federal Go,
Yernmsnt. Toihis power Mr.. Monroe
WAS warmly opposed. He conceived il
10 &c nrtcessary, irtrscdeabte srder a
Dem3craey, and If exercised, as tending
80 aaarchy, or tie su6pcrsion Of H6erty,
ana Ara6a6iy the latter. The concur
rcnt Interfering power in the general s
stats governments, of laying taxes on
the people, would, he thought be esta-
bIi..ing a ;Tyrsnny to which the people
of A ncrica could not and would not sub.
mir 7, endangered their liberties.
Without stopping 10 enquire into tbs
sn,iGdncss of these doctrines, we would
barely ask what are this gentle mans o.
pin:ons upon The same subject noTo 2
Why: he thioks. that the general go.
verament are perfectly jastihable IN de-
cjariag a war, to which al least one half
tue pcople Of the u. States were dccid-
eddy opposed, and laying direct tares to
carry it on. The concurrent power of
Iayias taxes in tie general and state go
vernments, which it exercised, would
produce expressions to which the peo-
pie could not submit, and which endan-
eered their liberties, has been exercised
10 It's utmost limit, and any man who
uarss 70 mnrmur or rrpine when called
on to pay his dcu6le tares, is unworthy
to enjoy the blessings OF Tree coun
try!!
What are the powers which the fe-
deral government ought to have! VIII
draw the linc between the powers neces'
sars TO be given 10 the federal, and those
which ought to be left TO the state go
vernuenis To the t'Tmer would
give control over the national affairs : to
the latter woa!d leave The care OF local
interests. Neither the confederation,
nor this constitution, answers this dis
examination. Tona&e tue first proper
federal government, I would add to 1t
one great power---I would give 1t On alb
solule control over commerce. loren
der The system under consideration safe
and proper. would take tro:n II one
power 0nly---I mean that OF cirect taxa
ton. conceive its other powers ARE
sufficient nithcu, this. My objcctisns
To this power, are, that conceive ittobe
unnecessary, imprac,icablc under de-
mocracy and if exercised, as tending
To aparcby, or the sub,crsloa OF itoeFty,
ard probably the latter. 10 the first
place, il is unnecessary, because exi-
yencics win not require 1t. The de-
MAIDS and necessities Of government
are now greater than they will be here
after, because Of the cXpeoces OF tn
war in which we were engaged, Which
cost rs The Good Of our bezt citizens, &
Which ended so gloriousiy.
There is no danger of war, as have
already said. Our necessi,ieswili there
fore j., short tine be greatly di'ninis :
ed. What are the resources ni the "
ni,ed S.ates? How are acquisitions to DC
complied with ? j know the gov:rn'
ment ought TO he so organized, as TO Dc
cor petsnt to discharge Its engagements
and secure the public happiness. -
ensbls il To do these things, would give
1.-THE rnwcr of laying an impost, which Is
ar p!y sufficient with Us other means.
The iaapost, at an early period, vas cal
culc,ea II nearly a million ot dollars.
If this calculation was we'll iou9ded-ii
it was so much at FIVE per cen,um. "na'
will il not amount to when the absolute
control OF commerce will be in the hands
OF Congress Nav we not suppose iha'
when The general government VIII De a.
bic 10 Law What duties II may think pro-
per, that the amount will be very consi-
tlerahle there are other resources
The back lands have already been LOOK
ed rpon as a very important resource
When we view The western extensive
territory. and contemplate the iernhty
of the soil, the noble rivers which per-
wade il, and the excellent Navigation
which may be had there; may we nov
depend on this as vesy substantial re-