Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1817-12-13

Compared with the nations of Europe,
the condition of this country stands pre-
eminenily Happy. Instead OF increas-
ing The public burdens To diminish the
national debt, those burdens are 10 be
leSscned, as no longer necessary for that
object. In such condition of things,
the repeal OF the internal taxes becomes
essential, and cannot be too early aitend-
ed 10. ii should be the first act of Con-
gress, because the licenses expire at the
close of the present year, and the eXtre
mites OF our country arc SO remote that
unless these taxes are repealed speedily,
tine fact will not be known at those points
IN time, and mach confusion and diili-
Guilty must be the consequence. The
committee, therefore, to whom this bust
ness has been referred, must be active,
! and lose 10 time in reporting TO the
House, with a view TO an immediate de-
cision of ihe question. The policy ofthis
measure cannot be questioned. II the
revenue arising from these sources be suf-
ficieni, a. stated, 10 defray the expeHces
of government, pay the interest OF the
public debt, and extlDguish the principal
at the periods authorized, there can be
no necessity for tile continuance Of the
internal duties. The revenue arising from
iDIpOsls and tonnage has, since the year
1915 10 The present time, been double
the amount estimated by the different
secretaries, and this year il will be per-
haps ten millions more than was esiima-
ted by Mr.. Crawford In his report of
1916 Ifsuch be the wealth and resourc-
es Of the nation, there certainly can he
no good ground for continuing the in
ternal taxes, and we are sure that the
prosperity of The country must be in the
condition we have mentioned, from The
recommendation of these measures by the
president. WashingtOn City Gas.
1t would appear from suggestions thrown out
in the course Of Yesterdays debate, that much
importance has been attached TO 4 remark
made in that House by Mr.. Clay, in the course
of his observations last week on the affairs of
tie Spanish Patriots, that the enforcement of
our neutral obligations in the existing contest
had been all or one side. This incidental re-
mark has probably received a latitude Of con-
Structiou, which the gentleman who made IT,
never intended for few words will shew
that, property viewed, il cOnVe 10 reprOdch
on The Administration. As to tire Neutrality
Act Of last session, referred to ia tlIat debate,
il must be obvious on the slightest reflection
that the execution Of that act would operate
on but one Of the parties, which it had in view
The sympgtlIies OF the people Of this cOUntTy,
have, since the lirst dawnng of tie southern
TeNOiutiDH DvcH tOV bt"eih ~ idFpi VI htc
patriot cause, aud adverse to that Of the moth.
er country, 10 have required the interference
of the government 10 restrain our citizens
from giving unlawful aid 10 the royal party
aud there was no idea entertained, at the
time of its enactment, that there would arise
any case IN which the act eoud bear on the
friends OF Spain. a people ike az individual,
have fiequ nily inclinatious, winch It is All
office Of their duty 10 cOUtrOul the proper
performance Of which is tie perfection Of vr
f,tc II ,.s A., eguftgrdcf the strong disposition
Of our citizcms 10 aid the patriot party, and
prevent thai disposition from violating the
duties imposed By good faith on neutral va.
tiOD, thar the restrictions Of the act OF last
session. became necessary, aud were therefore
imposed. HID there existed IN tbs country
party equally Jealous in the cause Of Spain.
and as ready to give IL an active support, tile
Jaw would have been administered with AT
least the same promptitude and yigOr IN their
case, as II has been on the other side. The