Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-07-01

4
tons, and the purity with which they are admins
tered. Ii is impossible, however, to forbear re-
marking, IN connection with this fact, how greatly
extended and multiplied The benefits the citi-
zen now enjoys Tor this contribution, in the pro-
lection given TO commerce by the Navy the facii-
tiles and securities afforded it by liz Int houses
piers harbors and various other aids: The security
PROVIDED against war by a system OF fortihca-
ions; the assistance TO internal trade and in !
tercourse by surveys, improv ements in roads, |
ana IN thousand other ways; besides the meal |
cuiaole advantages he derives from the prugre
prosperity oil the Nations; h-r increased strength,
reputation, and standing in the world, and his en-
tire exemption from all taxation, and from all con-
tribu,ion but such as he may choose impose u
pom biinseli by the consumption OF imported art
cies. upon the most sober and ,asonable est- |
mate, TINS Is state OF things which does not seem
TO suggest the necessity OF change. Ii is believed
that II may be advantageously contrasted with !
any instance which the history OF the world can
produce, and that the best friend OF his country
can desire nothing better than its continuance.
During all the period from 1901 1907. it will
he found that the public contributions amounted TO
something more. than 81 for each citizen This
TACT Is noted, not for the purpose of any comparison,
OUT 10 bring into view high authority upon the
SUBJECT under consideration, and the Just conclu
SONS to be made upon it. In the year 1906, the
revenue gave promise of surplus in the Treasury,
anu the question naturally presented itself, whe
'her inns accumulation should be prevented by re
ducing the income, or, being suffered to occur,
should be distributed in useful and lructifying
Pcndlture! Mr.. Jefferson, whose Opinions upon
| points of economy have been deemed sound, al
ways errins Of at alp upon the side Of irugality
unhesltatingly recommended the increase of expen-
diture in preference to the reduction of the
nue. In his message OF December, 1906, he says
f, :" when both OF these branches OF revenue shall
| IN TINS way be relinquished, there will still,
long, be an accumulation of moneys in the Trea-
| Sufy beyond the instruments OF public debt which
:, we are permitted by contract to pay. They can
not, then, without modification assented to by the
hp
oil this debt, and the complete Liberation OF
venues the most desirable oil all Objects nor, if our
peace continues, will they be wanting for any 9TH
! cr existing purpose. The question, therefore, now
comes forward, to what other objects shall these
,surpusSes be appropriated, and the whole surplus
oil inpost alter the entire discharge of the public
debt and during those intervals when the purpos-
es oil war shall not call for them' Shall sup
press The impost and give that advantage foreign
over domestic manufactures: On a few articles of
more general and necessary use, the suppression,
In due season. will doubtless he right; but the great
mass OF the articles on which mpost is paid,
foreign luxuries, purchased by those only who
rich enough TO afford themselves the use of them.
Iher patriotism ,couid certainly prefer us
tt"udnce and application to the great purposes of
the p"ottc education, roads, -riUers, canafs, and
| such other objects IF public Improvement, as IL
may be thought proper to add to the constitutions
al e'tunerotton 9fJederdt poIors BY these ope-
rat'oi,s, new channels Of decentralization will be o.
pened between the States; the lines of separation
VIII disappear; their interest will be identified;
and their Union cemented by and indissouble
ties"
So far as, of late years, the expenditures have
increased 1t has been precisely within the limits
ana Tor the objects here prescribed.
beginning with the period when the nation was
relieved from the charges of war, that is, with the
year 1918, il mus, he observed, in the FIRST place
that burthen has been imposed upon
the citizen; but OH the contrary, the direct tax
and all the internal taxes, have been taken off 10
The amount o. more than twelve millions and a
hall OF dollars per annum. The whole revenue,
with the exception OF the sales OF the public lands
is now derived from the customs, as il was at the
time OF MIR. JeiiersOn's message Just quoted. The
duties upon importation have not, since that time,
Eefe hey have rno bes H Il she
IL has been with a view to protect domestic indus
try, and was calculated rather to reduce the reve-
nue..
The public debt has, in the same pcricd. been
rapidly diminished On the LIST January, 1916. il
amounted to $l37 1884 1893 IA On tn. Isl Lar,
1878, 1t Was but 67,4l3,377 o. from which must
be deducted the $1,000 900 subscribed TO the ban,,
oil the u States which Is represented by an equal
amount and greater value in the stock OF that
bank The amount of the debt therefore, on the
Isl Jan, 1928, was reduced 10 500 II3377 81
| and' OH the lst July next, it will be still further
reduced, 10y the payment of So 900 0OO) to s55-
| 1ia,aS7 W: from this must also be deducted the
$o,uoO,ooO OF debt contracted Tor The purchase of
Florida leaving $50 4I3,377 90. So that in twelve
years, besides discharging the various claims grow
ing Out oil Inc war; paying the interest of the debt
winch in the beginning, must have been shout six
OF seven millions year; prov ling for the sup
port OF Government, and paying all other necess,-
ry expenditures; there has been paid of the prin-
clpd OF the public debt no less sum than SIG
vi 800 %, upwards OF 1000 900 per annum
The revenue Is sufficient, after providing for ali
other necessary expenses, to pay the public debt
aS soon as we are permitted by contract TO paw
AMI u no national cXigcncy should occur 10 com
pei greatly increased expenditure, the whole If
the pubic debt may be paid of 10y the year 1885 |
besides " an accumulation of moneys in the Trea
sury, and very large annual surplus afterwards |
WIN respect TO particular expenditures making |
up the aggregrat; II has ready been remarked
that they were authorised by law. They have re-
ceiyed the sanction of Congress and it i believed
they have, in general, met the appreciation of the
country. The provision made Tor the DECLINING
years oil The soldiers OF the Revolution which
brought considerable charge upon the Treasury |
out acquitted heavy debt OF gratitude the system
OF loiuhcduOns .fcr tie defence OF Our maritime |
hontier; the aid given 10 internal Improvement bv
roads aud canals, and by removing distractions i'm
rivers, Tor the great purposes strongly enforced
ia the message above quoted; the establishment OF
the army and Navy, and all the other leading OBJ
Jects oil the public and concern have been sat-
ed by the decisions OF Congress, aud 1t is believed
nave been satisfactory to the n ton. Not that
there has been entire unauimty of opinion-l
Upon some these great points, nesi,ies other
GROUNDS OF discussion, there has been what
may b. termed a radical difference of oDin.
ion, As to the extent to which the faculties of te
Government oil tile Union ought 10 he exercised
Tor the benefit OF the Natiou and though this seems
TO belong rather TO the political than the nan-
cdl history oil the Government, yet must be an
parent that 1t VIII have al influence upon the