Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-05-30

try, which is the source OF revenue, or Tor any
increase from the increased SAFE Oh 'he Puoiie
lands. and also. without allowing for any dimin-
ution Of expenditure from the lne'i'aoie reuu0
49,, &c ,ha pers;on list. now amounting annu-
allv n near a million and hall OF dollars, or
ar diminished expenditure on the public
bn;ld;no s. forti6cations, now nearly complet-
ed NJ fhe exniration in 1877, OF the act appro-
nr;a,;ap Ssoo,ooo annually for the gradual in
crease OF the Navy. -,
Cd The next cause which will lead, in the
Underwent of the Committee, to speedy adop-
t;on of general system of internal improve.
ments, is to be found in the great success which
has every where attended their accomplish
ment, and the immense profits and advantages
derived from them, wherever they have been
adopted.
3d. Because the general sentiment OF the
country is decidedly in favor of this policy
sentiment which is rapidly extending itself
throughout the country, and prevails almost
universally in the young and growing States OF
the Union, while the opposition to it is con-
fined almost exclusively to those States whose
relative strength in the Union is either declln-
ing, or stationary.
4th. Because internal improvement is the
fifteen millions a year can be expended alter
the extinguishment of the redeemable portion
of the national debt in 1929, as before stated.
5th. Because the duties from which the rev.
enue is derived, are not imposed for purposes
of revenue, but for the protection of national in
dustry against foreign competition, and these
cannot and ought not to be repealed.
9th. Because the Tarif and Internal Improve
Of IL
cy, and must stand or fall together, for should
the enemies of the tariff succeed in defeating in
ternal improvements, on which alone the sur
plus revenue derived from the tariff can be ex-
pended, the argument that there is no use Tor
the revenue, will at once be urged by them In
favor Of the repeal OF the duties. tits then a
like the interest and the duty OF the friends OF
the tariff, and internal Improvements, to unite
in sustaining and upholding this system ofpol-
icy, by which the taxes imposed for purposes
of protecting the national industry, will be en-
ployed in promoting national improvements, &
the tolls and revenue derived from these may
be devoted to purposes of education, and men
tai improvement, thus making taxation bles-
sing instead of burthen to the country.
WAYS AND MEANS.
The Committee, believing that they have
thus demonstrated the importance of this work,
and that general system Improvements will
shortly be commenced by the General Govern
ment, beg leave to suggest some reasons why,
in their Judgment, il should meet with prompt
and efficient aid, without waiting the total eA-
of the national debt:-In COM
any great system Of measures, 1t is the
part of a wise and prudent policy to commence
gradually and cautiously. One improvident &
wastefu expenditure at first, may have the
most injurious effects; by this means, also, we
will elicit Improvements in the various plans
and modes of construction, over different eleva-
t;ono e,.-c-----, t--- -- e - >i~ ->stIiih
until we have discharged the whole of the ma
Honal debt in 500, and then commence in $50,
with surplus Of twenty-five millions six hun
dred and ffty-two thousand FIVE hundred and
twenty-eisht dollars and 50 cents, according to
the report of the committee of Ways and
Means, without skill, without experience, with
out improved plans, and without economy, pro-
ducing feverish and unwholesome circulation
in the body polite, by throwing at once such
vast sums into circulation, raising, by the great
demand, the price OF labour and provisions, so
rs not only to make the public works much
more costly to the Government, but to crush
manufactures by the operation and the influence
Oh tne same Causes
The Committee would therefore suggest,
whether it were not better to apply annually,
the existing sinking fund of ten millions ofdoi-
lars per annum to the national debt, and en-
ploy the surplus olive millions, in promoting
internal improvements, until the national debt
is extinguished; or to adopt the plan recon-
mendcd a few days ago, by the Committee OF
the Senate. By either plan, the final discharge
of the debt will only be delayed a few years; and
in the mean time, according 10 the report OF the
Committee of Ways and Means, We shall have
FIVE millions annually of surplus, for purpo-
ses of national improvement. This policy
would not only have the happy effect Of equal
izing the payments, by throwing forward. the
surplus debt of the three next years, Beyond the
means of the Treasury to discharge and dis
tribute it through the four succeeding years,
when the amount redeemable will fall greatly
within our means; besides, this arrangement
will be advantageous and gratifying to the pub
lie creditors, who deprecate not hingmore than
the too rapid discharge of the debt due them
by the Government The result, according TO
the plan proposed by the Committee of the
Senate, would be as follows, viz:
SzS Ss55 g5aS s
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