Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-01-20
JOHN QUINCY ADAMS,
III. CLAY,
ALBERT GALLATIN.
Z u n q X E 5 s.
THE WAYS AND MEANS.

| LIE w AiS AND MEANS.
Report Of the Committee of HAYS ami
Mems, iH,tae House Of Representatives,,
| 10 toItoR ,Cas committed SO much of the
Presidents Message as relates 10 rece-
| nue..
lJanuary 9. lSl6-Read and committed to com.
mittee ofthe whole house
The Committee of WAYS and Means, to
whom have been committed that part OF
the Presidents message which relates to
the revenue, and the annual report of the
Secretary oil the Treasury, excepting that
part which relates to the establishment OF
a bank, ask leave to ex lain the general
views which have induced them to submit
to the House the propositions with which
they shall conclude their report
The ausement ut the finances with
view to the receipts and expenditures of
la permanent peace establishment" has
been the first subject alter providing for
the deficiency i'll the appropriations OF
1915. which has engaged the attention oi
the committee. Whist they recognize,
with uHnixt d satisfaction, (" that improve
meht n! the condition OF the pubic reve-
nue., which will allow in immediate alievi-
alton ut the Durthens imposed by the me-
cesslties OF the war;" they we'll know
that such an alienation can oniy be expect
ed aud wished 10 an extent :. which shall
leave to the government the means OF
maintaining its faith invioate, and of pro-
scouting successfully the measures of a Ii
Deral" and provident policy.
In forming an opinion upon the expen-
ditures OF a permanent peace establish
ment, they have supposed it right that
their attention should DC directed. not only
TO the resources of the United States, but
to the condition of other powers. In the
perplexed system of European policy, the
United States can have no disposition to
lnterpose but their conduct must neces-
sarily be affected by views connected with
the military or financial resources vi those
states with which their relations are most
Interesting. 1t is Impossible not TO see
that Europe is more military than ever.
and that, accustomed by twenty years OF
war To exertjOns that were once thought
impracticable, her governments have &C
CURED power which makes preparation
more difficult ana more necessary, oB the
part OF every state expUsed to the chance
OF their hostility. 1t must be doubtful
what precise increase Of expenditure these
considerations Ol foreign policy Or views of
internal Improvement may induce con-
gress eventually to authorize but even
the measures now before them appear TO
require considerable addition Ia the esti-
mates of tie annual peace expenditure.
lhc only prepal alton against the dan
geis OF foreign aggression, which it falls
within thedgties oithe Committee OF WAYS
lad Means % recommend, Is that of a ,e-
Venue which, IL supplying the wants Of
che government, shall not burthen unne-
oessaily tie industry of tie citizen viii n
shall be capable Of repairing, Oy an expa. =
sion OF the pawers OF some Of its parts, the
| Injuries which war may infiict ~ others :
aud above ali, shalt ae disencumDered from
debt as con as the resources Of tie country
and the conditions of its contracts will per-
init. Public debts have indeed sometimes
been considered as giving stability aud or
def to state, but tue committee can never
believe that a government which secures
every civil and political right to the great
body of the people, can want chat security
which would be afforded by the distribution
Of any amount of annual interest upon It's
debt, which to be received by the few must
be aid by the many. 1t may be true, that
a pub &c debt omy makes a diHeretn dstri-
button Of the income of society, but it pays
the stakeholder what shOuIdbe reserved for
supporting tie seaman aud the SOLDIER
That government indeed does well, which.
when forced into war, brings into the con-
test every resource which credit or revenue
can furnish but it neglects Que Of its FIST
duties, when it allows the season of peace
to pass away without an adequate provision
for removing every incumbrsnce upon its
effective revenue. The committee ac-
cordingly consider it as an indispensable
requisite in any arrangement of revenue
and expenditure in peace, that it shall pro-
vide tor the rapid extiuguishment of the
public debt,