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

consumes, lie pays heavy commissions
likewise TO the importer, The wholesale
ami the retail dealer, through whose hands
the articles pass. do not know, said
MIR. B. why we ia the west, who are so
much interested in this view of the uueS-
lion, should not be permitted 10 pay our
taxes directly 10 tie government, instead
OF paying the increased amount, charged
OF foreign goods. The repeal of these
taxes, he said, he believed 10 be traught
with consequences highly injurious 10
as tending to produce OBJ
lection 20 the imposition ofany protecting
duties on imported manufactures, which
would be asked of Congress. He was
sure, he said, that public opinion did not
require the repeal of the internal duties
and he believed that those who should
vote for this bill under the impression
that they ought to follow, and yese fol-
lowing public feeling, would iind they
were taking wrong course. He beliey-
ed that the repeal would be unpopular,
that the people were no longer to be mis-
lie by names, and already saw that it was
better to pay their taxes directly than in
directly TO the government. Mr.. b. said
lie was unwilllngto trust TO the assurance
of the committee of ways and means,
'hot t"hSS houiu NC again luit whenever
necessary. When were these taxes lad,
Mr. b. asked? Not until the third SEES
sion after the war was declared, it was not
until the government was destitute of
means. thai the taxes were impoaed-and
before the proceeds OF them flowed into
The treasury, the stock of the government
had been lIawked about 10 any bidder,
and the government itself had become
the prey of every shark and usurer in the
stock alleys of the nation. When the
taxes shoHldbe again wauLed, they would
be again delayed, till the nation was on
the verge OF bankruptcy. However those
might think who recommended the mea-
sure, and those wllOWere no " precipitatinq
II through the House, The public opinion,
he was satisfied, was on the other side
He represented part Of the country
which might besupposed 10 be Interested.
ana the people there were opposed to the
repeal, which he believed with them. 10 be
hostile 10 the best interests of the west.
MIR. Il. said he did not wish 10 enlarge up
on this subject-he knew it was useless :;
and if the gentlemen whe were pressing
forward the measure thought thew were
running the race of popularity, he should
impede their progress but a few minutes.
But he wished gentlemen To reflect u mo-
meGt, whether the substantial interests of
the country would not be seriously in
jured by The measure. II would appear
TO him, he said, before repeating these
taxes, they ought TO wait till towards the
close OF the session, and see what exnen-
diiures Congress might authorize. Pro-
positions for providing for the widows
and orphans of soldiers killed i'm battle,
for erecting three additional military AGA
denies, for establishing a corps of iuya-
lids, &c. were before the House, and a
bill had been already reported for com
mutinG soldiers lands for money, which,
IL passed, would OF Itself require ten mil
lions of dollars. Whence is this money
10 come In reply TO the suggestion OF
want of present objects TO winch to aD-
ply the surplus of revenue, Mr.. d. said
that objects could not be wanting as long
as the twenty one millions of the stock OF
the Unified States subscribed 10 the Ma
tlonal Bank remained unredeemcd. II
appeared, from the treasury report, that
during the present year only eighteen mil
lions OF stock had been redeemed aiioye-
liner: among lie particulars IF iniurma
Ton, the want of which he fell, MIR. g.
SAID, he should like TO know how much OF
tins eighteen millions was that which
had been subscribed TO the bank, and
what portion was of other stock. II ten
or eleven millions Of that stock were, as
he presumed, yet redecmable, it would
take away one strong argument for tue
repeal OF The taxes, by atlUrding an OBJ
JeCt TO which To apply The surplus reye-
Dua. There were, Mr.. B. concluded hy
saying various considerations which pres
sed OH his mind against Tie passage al
his bdl; but Inc wished not 10 take up
tie time of the House. lie had briefly
stated some of the reasons why he con
celyed the bill impoIltic aud of ruiuons
tendency TO the important interest. Of the
country.
Mr.. SERGEANT, Of PENNSYLVANIA. next
spoke TO the question. IL the Threshold
| OF iis remarks, he disclaimed all intention
to cn!erln tive race fOr popularity, which
had been spoken of. On a subject Of ihis
kHd, there ought TO be belief that the
members were all aCtuatcd by fair mo-
| tlves, particularly OIL question, where il
appeared TO him, the weight OF the argu-
ment was IN favor Of the repeal; aad il
was to endeavor to sbew. that, in voting
TO repeal The Internal Duties, tie mem
hers oil The House might act from reason
aud not from desire Of popularity, that
ne rose. In the first place, with respect
10 the system of internal taxation, he said
he was not apprzed how tae argument
applied which recommended the continu-
aBce OF system; because the greater
part of III system which had been esla.
blished, the very bone of If, had been ia
ken out, and there remained some hall
dozen OF taxes which seemed TO have been
lett, noi as constituting 81 stem certain
iy. but to guardagainst the possible chance
OF a deficiency in the revenue. Let gen
tlemen look at the taxes remaining, and
see whether they did not present Them
selves IN iiiat view to them. Now, il ap-
peared TO him, Mr.. S. said, instead of
TALKING about maintaining 2 sraie1n nc,-