Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1814-11-12

domestic spirits would easily bear the pro.
posed tax without materially lessening the |
There were still other reasons, Mr. o |
said. which. induced him to be in favor Of an
increase the direct tax AID to give it al
preference over any system Of internal tin
ties TWAS a certain tax in its product
lite government could not be deceived inthe
amount they calculated to derive from it,
When pledged to the public creditor, he
would be under no apprehension that the
revenue would ssil him, The confidence in
spitec by any system of revenue was always
IN proportion to the certainty Of its pro
cecds- The amount Of the proceeds of this
tax could not be materially varied by any
charge ir the habits, customs or business Of
the people, by which the internal duties were
always more or less affected. 1t was not
only certain tax, but It was easily coilecv
ted. ltemploycd no excise officers to har
rass thefeople. The assessments it reqnir'
ed to be made were in practice under the
state iawsin almost every state. In adt'ti
en- to this the mode of co,'ectingit was an
etfectual security AGAINST fraud ON the part
of tie collector. He could not en5czzle
any part OF the tax without detection. This
was consideration of ne smallimporeance.
WhCii ~ was Ct'Nsluttc GU tudt tue SptcIu>
went mus necessarily often make improper
appointments 10 the Office CT collector, and
when il was sometimes the case, that CON
siaer2ticrs entered into the appointment. o.
thrr than tnose OF the integrity and capa-
sity Of the cardidate.
He was further anxious, MIR o. said. for
an increase of the direct tax. As sentle>
men would perceive, If they agreed to raise
an add 'ional million and an half from this
source, they would be able to dispense with
the taxes on leather, candles, iron, saddles;
brides and some other articles of real ne
cessity, which he'd oeenpaced on the list OF
new taxes. The tax on leather was par.
ticularly ohjectionabe. II was proposed to
taxit notcrlY 10 the first stage Of he roas
rufaciure, but in harness. bopts, saddles and
brides; in almost every shape it conld as
sumo. The tex on iron was in truth tax
On the farmer and mechanic, into whose
business it necessarily entered to a great de,
gree. TIE farmer surely would prefer
paying his tex in gross sum, assessed up
on bis farm, hen he could knowthe amount
demanded of him. than to have it drawn
from him indirectly and TO an extent that
he could not well estimate. Ia duties on all
the leather, and iron, aud saddles and bril-
dies. and hats, and tobacco and nails, which
he might End II necessary to purchase.
AZ 49,.
Mr.. o. said, he was utterly opposed to
this system of drawing the supplies from
SO many sources and running into all this
detail Of indirect taxation. II was better
to lay hold Of a few prominent objects and
raise the money from them. Many Of the
proposed internal duties could not DO col-
lected at all but by means of an excise.
which was Away odiuus and Cypress we 20
the spirit of every free people Ehe e
smalleri.ems, therefore, had better be
mltted-. They were rot very productive,
but were still very ,cxatious and harrassins
It was better not to resort to them az all un.
till o,her resources were exhausted. They
might be reserved, al al events, until next
year; when, il the war continued there
would be ample opportunity to include them
In the list.
Gens'emer would perceive also, that ma.
ny OF these new internal duties we're to be
lsvied on the manufactures of the country
The goyeipWent Mr.. o. said, bad professed
agreatregard for the = infant niaRufactur.
es." Iron and leather we're articles Of
common use and q, cessisy and i. was as
essential to pational. Independence To pros
ieot and encourage the manufacture ofthese
articles, as thu manufacture of cotton. The
committee Of ways and means had deter
mined 20 give rp theta on Gotten yarn
He approved Of that DETERMINATION he:
could see no reason for exempting that ma ).
nufacture. whicf cid net apply with equal
OF greater force to the others.
To he continued
.