Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1820-09-05

rS6ept the 9th and 10th sections, ls copied
from the present law; those sections have
been inserted with the sole view OF guarding
against frauds which exist TO very great ex-
tent, and which, ifnot checked, Will complete
Gy couneract principles ofvltai Importance to
the system we have recommended. Fears
have been entertained that the lOth section
will be injurious to the fair commerce OF the
country. Ii is not so intended, and can be so
modified as to secure the objects OF the COM
tnittee, without injuring an interest equally
worthy of national protection as the one am
advocating. If it cannot, | will consent to
etrike it out for | am no enemy to com
nerce,s This is not the time to make pro-
fessions-they will not be believed till the ex-
citement occasioned by this, and the other bills
reported by the committee, shall have sub
sided when they are calmly examined, there
will be found no evidence of a disposition to
protect one at the expense Of the other great
interests ofthe nation all are alike depressed
presenting equal claims on government de-
signed for the common benefit; struggling
against foreign competition ard regulations,
all parts of the country require your protec-
ton. The committee, adopting the opinion
ofthe treasury, that this was the proper time
to effect q change in our internal relations,
have not, in recommending this measure,
overlooked these interests. 1t makes ample
provision for revenue; if the imports continue
the same as in 1918, the increased duties add
S5,800,000. 1t must be matter OF conjecture
now far the diminished importation will equal
or exceed the increased duties-if the system
ofimports is alone to be relied on, if you will
resort to no other, it is your duty to make the
most of it-not to attempt to support it by
loans and taking the sinking fund, as proposed
e,
will cling to it, hope you will not reject this
bill because it aids manufactures as well as
revenue-that those who are so sensitive on
the state of the treasury and object to this,
will propose better mode of apportioning the
hurthens on the consumer Pass this bill, re-
duce the credits of the custom house, impose
q duty on auction sales,-you want no loan !;
the CRY of revenue will be hushed by an union
of those who wish to fill the treasury and pro-
tect our own industry. But we understand
each other very well-revenue is one of the
alarm bells to defeat this bill; those who raise
it, well know that for the present it makes
ample provision, but that for the future new
eystem must be adopted; one which must
combine the protection of the great interest
which they oppose. AS it is inevitable, it is
better to come to it gradually-if postponed
ill the voice of the country makes an impera-
tive call, do not blame us if the revulsion is
sudden and the shock violent. In five short
years your impost has diminished from thirty
six millions to sixteen, more than three mil
lions of which is now in suit. Your eXpendi-
lures are twenty six millions, in a state of
peace. 1t requires no spirit of prophecy to
tell that the income will not meet the ex-
penses you must resort TO new means to
internal taxes, to excise. In using these words
4 Il.
mean not direct ones On land, but on auc-
tons, pleasure carriages, watches, expensive
furniture, &C.; in other words, those taxes on
the rich and money-making classes of society
which were repealed two years ago, when a
Temporary overlooking ofthe treasury induced
you to abandon the original financial system
Of revenue. and trus. alone to inposts, BY
excise mean tax on the domestic manufac-
ture which is protected from foreign compe-
ttion. Excise has been an odious term but
1t will soon be understood and Invested of its
terrors. To the consumer it makes no DIFF
ference whether he pays to the merchant two
dollars impost on pair of boots, or the same
amount of excise to shoemaker; to farmer,
whether he pays five dollars impost on his
coat, or five dollars excise to the manufacturer.
There is indeed one difference, and that con-
tains the sum and substance of political econo-
my-he can pay the manufacturer in rcool and
brouisions. The merchant he must pay in
money-he must remit it to England she eX-
cludes our produce and raw material. This IL
illustrates the difference between impost and
excise; the first turns the whole attention of
the government to encourage the importation
of foreign productions, as the means of i'm
posing tax on the consumer. If the country
commands its own consumption, importation
and imposts cease-now every thing becomes
subservient to revenue and to commerce as
the means of transporting the instruments of
taxation Such system necessarily checks,
If not destroys, our internal industry. Do
nestle manufactures paying no tax, the en-
couragement of foreign is the inevitable con-
sequence.
Whether this system is beneficial to the ma
ton, is no longer matter of opinion, but of
history The late war totally destroyed the
imposts; you were left without revenue ;
foreign importation ceasing, the manufactures
of the country sprung up and hourished.-
Amid all the pressure and priyations of the
war, the people grew rich and were able to
pay taxes to the amount of 100000 in one
year. How much could they afford to pay
now The peace found the national resources
untouched, the nation strong, and the people
contented while the war duties continued
there were no complaints revenue was abun-
dant commerce fourished; manufactures
prospered; farmers rolled in wealth mot a
murmur was heard against taxes; even when
you repealed them, there was but one solta-
ny petition on your table PRAYING for the mea-
cure. 1t was most strange after this expe-
rience of the salutary effects of the then state
OF things, that there should have been recur-
renee to the old system, which must be again
abandoned on every iuctuation of our COM
merce and foreign relations-whch can never
be permanent, but is in its nature temporary
resulting from the chapter of accidents relied