The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1818-06-09

mean tine be devised An arrangement OF
this nature will rise in Importance should
reduction and extinction of the debt of the
State be contemplated.
In selecting sources OF revenue, all those
considerations which appertain TO SO delicate
subject will undoubtedly have their merited
weight 10 your deliberations. The farming
interest has ever been disposed to contribute
IFS share of The fiscal demands of the State !;
and on great emergencies when dangers have
pressed on the Commonwealth, its efforts have
been limited only by the occasion. The con-
sequences however of drawing revenue too
copiously from this source, though first felt by
The agriculturist himself, operate remotely up
on every class Of society. Little objection
can be urged against the moderate tax now
laid on polls. Blu. taxes on labour must in
crease its price, or be drawn from that portion
of the product of it, which, to maintain the
laborer in full vigour, ought to be appropria-
ted TO his subsistence. Taxes on polls, and
real estates, susceptible of being only annual
ly laid, and being slow and expensive in col
lection, must be circumscribed in amount.
But revenue derived from trade and COM
merce, from duties on Injuries, and on articles
which are consumed or used only, or chiefly
by the wealthy, while they admit of inde6-
mite extension, are collected with promptness,
with facility and little expense.
The Secretary will lay before you, Gentle
men, for your information, the report of spe-
cial Committee OF the House of Representa-
tiyes in Congress on the subject of the claims
of this Commonwealth against the govern
ment OF the United States, together with SUM-
dry accompanying documents the consider
alton of which report was postponed till the
next session. Although the merits of the
claim have never been discussed in the Ma
tlonal Legislature, yet, considering the nature
and magnitude the object for which the ex-
pendtures were incurred f; The danger OF men
aced invasion at the period when a large
proportion OF the disbursements was required,
upon a maratime frontier OF more than five
hundred miles in extent the remarkable una
nimity OF sentiment which then prevailed
among all classes of our citizens, and the cor
dialiiy with which they united their labours
and zeal in raising works OF defence against
the common enemy; and more especially the
liberal and unhesitating manner in which the
resources oil the State were employed, as well
Tor the defence OF the posts, navy, and other
property of the United States, as for the i'm
mediate defence ofits own territory and pop
ulation, we may confidently presume, that
the general merits Of the claim, will be duly
appreciated and that the enlightened States
men to whom are now conhded the destinies
OF our nation, will authorize a reimbursement.
In this expectation, we feel the greater conf
dence, from witnessing the adoption OF those
liberal and comprehensive views OF general
policy, which have elevated the United
States to their present exalted grade in the
scale of nations.
lT is not deemed necessary, on this occa-
sion, to advert TO considerations, which have
only an indirect bearing on the subject in
question. Whatever agency Massachusetts
may have had in establishing the National
Government or however great her sacrifices
or valuable her contributions in supporting its
existence and efficiency, in the spirit OF amity
and accommodation which produced the COM
pact, we concede that she enjoys an equiva-
lent And in estimating and remunefatIng her
contributions and various efforts for the pub
lie defence, she asks only the same measure
of Justice and equity, that has been observed,
for analogous expenditures, towards her sister
States.
Thar the constitution Of the United States
has been productive of the most beneficial Ell
feels that the blessings resulting from il have
transcribed the utmost hopes of the Sages
who formed and the States which adopted It,
are subjects OF high graduation and JOY, and
of Gevout gratitude 10 that Being who rules
among the nations. But TO ensure continu-
ance Of lis beneficial effects, the principles
upon which it was founded must be maintain
ed in their purity. The primary apprehen-
sions OF many otits friends which arose from
an imagined imbecilty in lis structure have
subsidized and the severe trials it has sustain
ed sufficiently demonstrate its tone and vigour.
The proofs OF IFS strength however, have been
intermingled with admonitions of its tendency
TO accumulate power by refinement and con-
struction And should the time arrive when
the sovereignty Of the States shall be merged
III the general government, the catastrophe
must probably be effected by the extension
o. constructive prerogaliyes. Whatever diti-
cuItles may occur in drawing line between
those rights which have been surrendered,
and those which are retained by the States, it
is 10 be remembered, that on every question
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