Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-03-04

year commences the payment OF S So. Ooo. 90,
OF debt contracted daring the war. Iunun
again ask, whether this is a time to tampe,
with our revenue
am not disposed, said Mr.. G.. 10 excite idIt
alarms about our national debt, nor, should
peace continue, do doubt u,ii ability TO ex.
tnguIsh 1t, and, at the same time To support
with Judclous iiberaiiy and wise economy
our existing establishments but, nevertheless
l cahhot AVOID reference 10 the experieEc.
oi England, when reflect that our debt Wv hch
we mad, IN 1919, reduced to $4,000 900. has
remained almost stationary for five wears, and
that it DOW amounts to about S o6. 900 600. in.
Guiding our Florida purchase. We should ad
veft TO That singular political fact, that the ma
uona' debf of England has accumulated since
i68S-It was then little more than E SOC. 600.
l.. Is me once oil wisdom to mark on this no.
iiucaI thermometer, the degrees by which tax
at'on has rapidly mounted and, at this early
period IN our history, AT least TO avoid any I'M
necessary experiments on our revenue. If we
are indeed legslating for posterty, let us en-
p'"y our existing revenue in rxtinguish6g our
ueot. lest another war should add one or two
hundred millions To it, Let us not lose AN i'm
mediate and positive advantage, i'm pursuing a
| remote speculation, liable at best to all the VI
cissitudes OF the natural, moral, and political
world.
| But, II gentlemen are determined io execute
'o,s ,"Sthi""s scheme Tor more rapidly rxtin-
gushing orr existing revenue system, | trust
lhey are prepared with "A substitute of SOM.
KIND. IL would be we'll in adopting the pro-
posed measure, To throw a cautious and susni
cious glance ahead, lest that licensed robb4r.
me eXciseman, should rush unexpectedly nm
on US far, however acceptable his presence
might he 10 some Of us. upon conditions. an
Prcuehd IL would MT he acceptable 10 the A
merican people upon any conditions. The
| time may come, when ne may be compelled
To resort To II system of Internal taxation
when II arrives, shall not shrink from nv din.
Ivy nut have no desire to accelerate H. Our
existing revenue system answers all our r.de-
RAJ Pnlp"sts-let us preserveit. Let us leave
all our sources of internal taxation to the use
OF our slate govern nents, whose necessities
are annually increasing, and where they will
be required for that very useful branch Of ex
pendIturr, Internal Improvement
shaii now said MIR. G. notice the practical
operation the principles advocated by the
Chairman OF the Committee, upon property
and right, as they exhibited in the measure
proposed. In considering the mere expedien
cy "t The measure, waving the character of
our coniederacy, have presumed our inter.
va, 'I' !" oe as extensive as our external pn,yrrs
nave met gentlemen on the hroade,t nation.
oute "f sovereignty. But, in touching the
points oil property and right, we must claim
the projection ct onr Federal Cnnstitltiou -
In applying the principles of our charter 10
ms or any other measure, shall nor refine
them into almost invisible webs. moi strong
enough TO hind snci-ty together. nor shall
enlarge Them To munstrous dimrn-inn; crush
| ins or ann'hIIa'Ing every pnu or with which
'"ey come IN collision. shall argue in the
| nE ntIr
pm" :" our Constitution, according To the
maxim oi That inriDcih!e advocate M coI,n,,l
| rights the eloquent nathan. VIM save ,h.,t
=" IN questions fliherty and properiy. H.. was
app 10 ulstrust the rehnemrnts oflearning - Le
SehrIhhy consulted, aud was determined nv
! me uir'a'rs oil common SENSE" A guide more
sure anu penetrating, In such questions than
| all thc grave conclusions of profound and an
sTaci scirnce one that cannot be decpiypd
ny our modern art of clothing an unconstitn
| tionai purpose in constitutional dress thar
rtJer's ihe distinction between the abuse and
Su'P"'on oil poweT-a guide that can ne
yer ne scduced by modern refnements. or
selfish patriotism. Common s.nsr. thai old
ana faithful friend of constitutional liberty. in
CURES, why, with six or seven millions in The
treasury, are orr taxes to be augmented Ia
u Tor the purposes of gov ernment? No: thew
are To increase the profits .,f oar nanurarf,,r
ers. Do they petition for :hese taxes Some
! OF Them do: but maturity, cnfrenched with
IN ihe'r cItadris of power, are busily and USE
July employed they care not for our laws or
our taxes they have enough To do in manac
'rS ''e'' own c"ncr'ns, and in regulating the
affairs of the little worlds whose moyrm.nts
they superinfend.
| But, let us reject all these id'e forms. SIM.
pose our capitalists were to propose, to con
tract VITA government, giving hond and s,,re-
~, binding themselves and their heirs tn fur
| nish ms country, in ten years, and forever
Thereafter, with CERTAIN articles az r,ducsd
prices, and ~ any quantity required, upon con-
| l'iInn mat Congress should forever trohibi,
| me importation OF similar ariclrs. is any rem
'"'lan prepared IN advocate such contract.
| '.'on 'rueTa' ana constitutional ground p
Ana yer, where, In common sense. is IN. pc
sentId difference between such a rnntrac, and
me principles of the measure PROMISED px
crpt' indeed, that by the bill we grant away
me rights and property Of the people, upon a
mere sprchiatOn-withnut bnpj-w ithout
security II these are the principles upon
whlch me property 0f the consumers is t1 be
!egisiatrd away, We shall always find capital
ISIS ready to accept our contracts without res
possibility.
But, let us again waive all forms. This mo-
urrn schrne of protecting industry. will cost
our revenue az least two millions annually
suppose our capitalists were to petition Con-
gfPss Tor an appropriation Of two millions. tn
nf distributed annually among them. by our
C"mmtire "n Manufactures, ~ bnnniies.-
Sh"nid we even dare to vote for such = disuo.
! sitinn OF the peoples money? Yet, how
ever startling ms proposition may anppar.
"ha' - me character of the measure actually
| proposed While one half Of this bill il de-
signed to prohibit importatinns. and plunde 81,
our Treasury tie other half is acknowledged
to bean increase of our taxes. to snpplv tbn