Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-10

After the extinction of the public debt, it is not
probable that any adjustment of the tariff upon prin
cipes satsfactor, to the people of the Uniou will
until rcuio;e period, if ever leave the Government
without considerable surplus in the Treasury be-
yund whit may be required for it's current SER
wee. as then the period approaches when the ap
piIcation OF the revenue TO the payment of debt will
cease, the disposition of The surplus will present
subject for the serious deliberation of Congress-;
and 1t may be frtunote for the country that
it is yet to be decided. Considered in copnex-
Idn with the difficulties which have heretofore at,en-
ded appropriations for purposes of internal improve
ment and with those which this experience tells us
vi certaniy arise whenever power oversuch subjects
may be exercised by the General Government it -
hoped that 1t may lead 10 tho adoption of some plan
winch will reconcile the diversified interests of the
States, and strengthen the bonds which unite them
every member of the Union, in peace and in wsr
wall be benefited by the Improvement of inlpnd nav
iSation and the construction of highways in the
several Suites. Let then epdeayor to attain tn;s
0eneht IN q mode which will be satisfactory to ILL.,
mat hitherto adopted has, by many of our fellow
cltzens, been deprected as iuIaction of the Con
s!tution, while by others it has been viewed as in
e.TPedicnt. All feel that it has been employed ut
the expense of harmony in the leuisatiye councils
20 avoid these evils, it appeu1s to me TINT the
most safe, just und federal disposition which could
4e made OF the surplus revenue would be its appor-
tiohmen among the several States according their
ratio OF representation, and should this measure not
De found warranted by the Constitution tina, it would
DO eSPedent to propose to the Suites an amendment
euthonzing IL. 1 regard an appeal to the source of
is deemed Indispensable TO the general welfare az
anong the most sacred OF all obligations Upon
TINS country, more than any other has ia the proyi-
asnce OF Tod, been cast the special guardianship Of
tpe great principle OF adherence to written constitu-
tlos IL it fail here, all hope in regard to it will be
eAtingutshed. That this was intended to be Gro.
1tInrnent OF limited aud specific and not general
powers, must be admitted by ALL and it is our dnv
TO preserve for il the character intended bv IT'S fra
ners Ii experience points on, the necessity for nm
enlargement or these powers, let us apply for 1t to
te Tor whose 6eneft 1t Is to be exercised; and not
undermine the whole system BY resort to oversrin-
e1constructions. The scheme has worked we'll It
mas exceeded tue hopes Of those who devised it and
oecome an object OF admiration to the world. We
are responsible to our country, and to the plorops
Cause of sefgovernment for the prcservntion of en-
great gbod The great mass of LEGISLATION reIa
ting to our internal affairs, was intended to be left
ssaere the Federal Convention found tin the
soFate Governments Nothing is clearer, in NV
view, than that we are chiefly indebted for the
success of the Constitution under which we are
iio,. acting to the watchfll and auxiliary op-
the reflection of day, but belongs to the most
deeply rooted convictions OF my mind | cannot. |
therefore, too strongly too earnestly for nv own
ctoachments upon the legitimate sphere of State
sovereignty Sustained by its hcaltLful and Invigo
rating Influence, the Federal system can never t5Il
an Inc collection OF the revenue. the long credits
aQthofize1 on goods imported from beyond the Cape
OF Good Hope, are the chet cause of the losses at
present sustained. Ifthese were shortened to six
nine, and twelve months, and warehouses provided
by Government, sufficient to receive the goods Of
pred III deposite for security and debenture and if
the right of the United States to priority Of pav
IDent out OF the estates of its insolvent debtors
we're more eftectually secured this evil would in |
great measure, DO obvated. An authority to con-
struct such houses, Is therefore, with the proposed
alteration of the credits recommended to your at
IGNITION.
I, is worthy Of notice, that the laws for the coI
lection, and security Of the revenue arising from i'm
posts, were chiefly framed when the rates of duties
oh imported goods, presented much less temptation
Ion Illicit trade than at present eXists There is rea-
son 70 oeileVe, that these laws some respects
quite Insufficient for the proper security Of the rev.
eue and the protection Of the interests of those ho
[fe disposed to observe them The injurious and
demoraiizing tendency of q successful system oil
st1uggiing is obvious as not to require Comment
aid cannot be too carefully guarded against there
lore suggest to Congress the proprlcty of adopting
eihcent measures to prevent this evil avoiding, how
eyer, as much as possible, every unnecessary in
tingement of individual liberty md embarrassment
OF fair and lawful business
On an examination of the records of the Trea
ery, nave oeeH forcIeiy struck with the large u
mount OF public money which appears to be oufs,an
dkTg. Ofthe Sum thus due from individuals 70 tho
Government, considerable portion ia undoubtedlv
cooperate and N many instances, has probably been
rendered SO By rcmissness in the agents charped
With ats collection. BY proper exertions q pfeat
part however, may yet be recovered; and whatever
may De the portions respectively belonging to these
two classes. it behoves the Government To
te real state ofthe fact. 4his can be done onv b,
the prompt adoption Of judicous measures for the
collection of such may be made available It is
4eieved that very large amount has been lost
Through the nadequacy Of the means provided for
tpc collection of debts due to the public aud that
thS nadeGuacy lies chiefly in the rant Of epl skill
haDituaIly and constantly employed in the direction
OF the agents engaged in the service. It mus
think, be admitted that the supervisory power over
slits brought by the public. which rs now vested in
an dccounting officer of the Treasury not selected
With view to his legal knowledge, aud cucumber
cd as he IS with numerous other duties oberotes |
uhfavorabdy to the public interest
1t IS important that this branch Of the public SER
professional skill as~vill give it efficiency The y
Pense attendant upon such a modification of the Fly
ecntive Department would beiustifed by The sound
csf principles Of economy. I would recommend
t1erefoTe, that the duties now assnneh TO Tic nnt