Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-18

the house to-day, he had nothing like an
intention of uttering one word upon II,
he thought If his duty TO yindtcate the
principles which guided him i'll his vote
on the bal! before the house. He premls-
ed, that, IN giving his vote for this bill, he
was in no degree influenced by desire
FOR popularity, except that be desire for
popular favor which promps US TO decide
correctly, according 10 our Impressions,
when the interest OF the nation was cor
cerned. Passing from that remark, he
came 10 tue question whether, under ex-
listing circumstances, il be or be not good
policy 10 retain the system proposed 10 be
repealed. lie begged leave 10 remark,
taat, according 10 ms idea OF the theory
Of our government, it was never expected
by the trainers OF the constitution that
iAterual taxation was To be permanent
policy OF our government. Looking into
the book from winch We derive most OF
our ideas on the theory of ourgoverument,
and which might be regarded a. con
tenporaneous exposition of tie conStilu-
ton, it appeared that taxes on imports
were expected 90 DC the principal source
al revenue. ibl~ mas Hot only the lnten-
ton, as lie beie> Ell, ~ Tire trainers OF the
constitution, bat u VAS most correct in
principle, because most convenient 10 the
people. Ike wOuid not 80 into an eXam-
nsit0u oii.te relative merits Of che Two syS-
TENS OF l1tcrIai and external taxation ii
was sufficient 10 rclndri., Oh this head,
tnhi tie one WAS c0m0:i!sivc, the other
voluntary Ia any event, the system Of
exterior TAXATION was 10 be continued
and, II ~ we're ahUn6aniiv productive for
the necessities Of the government. what
need 10 retain, also, the system of inter-
or taxation WHIST, Mir. Is. asked, are
taxes Contributions %! line people TO the
maintenance of tie government, when It's
wants are such a a. require them. NhSn
it's demonstrated that any part of these
taxes are MOI wanted ii * not only the
sIty OF government, but Il IS lis soundest
policy to repeal ,iiea. Are they then
wanted SAID Mr.. r. LOOK at the exhi-
hilton OF the state of our finances, and
bare glance affords an apsW e. TO theques-
ton. 1t appears, that such Is the state Of
oar revenue, That we have within the past
wear redeemed IL, 600, 000os q public debt,
Tie whole amount OF which did not much
exceed an aggregate Of l2o, 1000. 1t
appeared also, that, after the Yazoo stock
and Louisiana debt were paid Oft, we
should have, not only 4 sun, equivalent TO
all the expenditures 0ftle government.
but exceeding that amount by 5000, 900
annually, up TO the year 1928, which is the
FIRST moment that the war loan of 1912 il
Iedeemable by the terms OF the contract
FORT. Shall we undertake, then, 10 law
OK 10 continue taxes, not because We do,
but because we may want the money
siIal! not, said Alr. b. be among the num-
her Ot those who refuse 10 iay taxes when
tie present necessities OF the government
require Ii, or Wienlt Is probable that they
Viii. Bat, lie said, he held it TO be bad
policy 10 lay taxes when not wanted: not
only because useless, bat because the Deo-
pie could always make the best use of
their own money, and 10 collect il INTO
the Treasury would be 10 withdraw the
means bv which manufactures, agricul-
fuTe, aud commerce were tosferei and
the nstlonal wealth enlarged. And TO
WITHDRAW II tor what? 10 lie idle in the
Treasury ! ii could not, Mr. g. said, be
the object Of gentlemen 10 lake from the
people money which was adyanta 6eously
employed ma iiclr OWL occupations, and
thereby enhancing the general prosperity,
10 become 4 mere cGpEt H10ltuH3t in the
Treasury OF the United States, and thus
lose the advantage OF capital otherwise
actively employ Ell. Tie wealth OF the
peopie is the wealth OF the government,
which IS enriched by the prosperity of the
people. ii remained 10 see whether the
government could use the revenue arising
iFoal internal duiits. Mr.. B proceeded
10 Sizes that they could not Up to 1919,
he sand the Louisiana debt could not be
ex'ingalshed. What then should be done
w,tn the surplus revenue ! Should il he
it!e, or should the government go into the
market, and purchase upthe public stock
! nat STOCK was aiready above par and
was ii not eVident, that every dollar Dur-
chased, at least until the time approached
al .s-f.t No. 4 i
butte 10 jut II more above oar? Frotl Mr.
b's examination OF this polar, he inferred
that the government could ROT make Use
OF the proceeds of these taxes, il ihey
saouFi be retained. lie could not see the
correctness Oftiie reasoning, he said, winch
woGld lead the House TO the conclusion
thai, because ii was proper In peace 10
prepare for war, therefore money Should
be drawn iron 1be pockets of the people
which could not be used. lie would keep
up a small army IA would cucrease the
navy, because II could not al once be
called lntO beng OH occasion. But tho
= navy could moi, a system of taxation
might, and there was therefore The less
occasion unnecessarily to draw money
from The pockets OF the people. II The
government did not reieem thal part of
MS landed dent which constituted It's por-
ton ofihe capital Of The Bank oftbe L. s.
lie money accruing 10 the Treasury.
tIitlOut these iaXes,) cOu!t not be used:
bui, it thtt stock was 10 be redeemed
whlch va; optional with the government,
Still there would bemDney enough, with
out these internal taxes, for all the par
poses Of the government Was it not then
wise policy to repeal The taxes? Was if not
a wise policy 10 repeal them because the
upODle looked for II The Internal flt,fios