Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1829-12-10

Government, in "A very short time, TO exfinguisi
/ The public debt. When this shall be done, GU
population will be relieved from a considera
/ bile portion offs present burihens; and vii
! find not only new motives 10 patriotic affection
! but additional means for the display OF individ
nul enterprise. The fiscal powe Of the Staie
will also be increased, and may be more er,en
sively exerted in favor of education and otbel
public objects while ample mt aus will remain
10 the Federal Government TO promote tht
general veal, in ALI the modes permitted 10 III
authority.
| After the extinction OF the public debt, il j,
not probable that any adjustment Of the tariff
upon principles satisfactory TO the People o
the Union, will. Until a remote period, il ever
/ leave the Government without a considerable
surplus in the Treasury, beyond what may be
required for its current service. As then the
period approaches when the application oil the
revenue TO thu payment ofdebt will cease, the
disposition ofthe surplus will presents subject
Tor the serious deiibeTaiion OF Congress and il
may ba fortunate for the country that it il vel
10 be decided. Considered in connection with
the difficulties which have heretofore attended
appropriations for purposes OF internal im'
prnvempnt, aud with those which this expert
ence tells us will certainly arise, whentveripow.
err over such subjects may he exercised by the
General Government, II IS hoped that II may
lead to the adoption nt some plan which will
recanC lie the diversified interests OF the States,
and strengthen the bonds which udlte them
Every member ofthe Union, IN peace and III
war, viii he benefited by the improvement of
inland navigation and the construction Of hIgh.
ways in the several STATES. Let Us then cGdea-
vOr to attain this benefit in mode which will
be Satisfactory to all. That hitherto adop ed,
has, by many ofour fellow ciiizens, been dep,c-
Gated as 40 uiraction OF the Constitution. while
by others il has been viewed as inexpedient.
Alltrel that il has been employed at the expense
Of harmony in the legislative councils.
To avoid these evils, IL appears TO me that
the most safe, just, and federal DISPOSE ion
which could be- made o the surplus revenue.
would be IFS apporilonmeni among the several
states, according 70 heir ratio of representa-
non; aud should this measure not be found
warranted by the Constitution. thar it would b.
expedient 10 propose to the States an amend
ment auth oriziug it. regard an appeal TO the
source OF power ia cases of real doubt, and
where it, exercise is deemed indispensable to
the general welfare, as among the most sacred
of all our obligations Upon this country,
more than any other, has, in the providence of
Cod been caet the special guardianship OF the
great principle of adherence 10 written constifu.
tons Iii fail here. al hope in regard to i
will he cxringuishrd. That this was Intended
10 he "A Governmen of limited and specific, and
not general powers mnst he admitted by all
and IL j, our do y 10 preserve for il the charac
ter intended 10y lis trainers. If experience
points out the necessity for an enlargement o.
the e powers, LEI us apply for 1t to those for
whose benefit il is TO be exercised and not
undermine the nhoe sSsem by H resort to o.
vers,ralned constructions The scheme has
worked we'll. II has exceeded the h pes nfthose
who devised il, ard become an object of admira.
tiou to the world. We arr responsive to our
country, aud 10th g orious cause OF self govern.
ment, iUrth preserva ion of so grra, good
The great mass OF legislation relating TO our 10
ternal affnirs. vas intended Ia hr left where the
Federal CONVENTION found tin the 5 ale Co
vernments. Nothing is q arer, IN NV view,
than that we are chiefly debted Tor the sue
cess - the Con ,lituInn nnd,r wUirh We are nav
acting TO tie wa chfuI and auxiliary opera
tin Of he State nuihoril =. Tn.s is not the
reflection ia lay, tut belongs to the ,nu.t
deeply rooted convictions otmy mind. can
not Il e'efore,'o $40 glt or too earntsty, tor
my own ,ensc Of its importance. warn YOU n.
galnst aIlfncroacbmenls upon the legitimate
sphere Of the STATE sovereignty. Sustained by
ITS healIhiul and i'm igoralng influence, the
Federal system can never fail.
IN the collection Of the revenue, the long
credits authorised on goods imported from n.-
yond the Cape OF Good Hope ave the c.ief
cause of the luSscs nj present sustained. If
these were shouened 10 SIX, nine aud twelve
months, and warehouses provided by Govern.
mcnt, suthGient to receive lhe goods offered in
de posle for security and for detenure-and if
The right ofthe United states to priority Of
payment out nf the estates Of IL insolven,
debtors were more efeciually secured, this evil
W 'uld, in great measure, be ouyiated IN
authority TO construct such houses, is, there
tore. with the proposed alteration OF the credits,
recommended 10 your attention.
II is ~orthy OF notice, tina the laws for the
collection and security of he revenue arising
from imposts were chiefly framed when the
rates of duties on imported goods pre- .enled
much less temptation for illicit trade than al
present exists. There IS reason 10 believe,
that these laws are, in some respects, quite in
sufficient Coz the proper security of the rrve.
nue, aud the protection OF the interests of those
who are disposed 10 observe hem. The ipiu.
rious and demorallzng tendency of success
tul system OF smuggling, is so obvious as not
to require comment, aud cannot be too careful.
ly guarded against. ! therefore suggest to
Congress the proprety of adopting efficient
measures to prevent This evil avoiding, how
ever, as much as possible, every unnecessary
Infringement Of individual liberty aud embar,
IA smrnt Of fair and lawful business
On An examination of The records of the
Treasury, have been torcby struck with the
large amount of public money wbich appears to
be outstanding. Ofthe sum thus due from iudi-
ylduals to the Government. a con siderable portion
II undoubtedly desperaie-and in many instsn.
Co.'S, has probably been renderned SO by
remissness IN the agents charged with its col
lection. by proper exeitions, great part,
however, may yet be recovered and, whatev
er may he the proportions respectively belong
ing 10 these Two classes. il behoyes the Gov
eminent 10 ascertain he real state of the fact
This can he done only by The prompt adoption
OF Jndcious measures for the collection of such
as may be made available, II is believed that
avery large amount has been lost through tn.
lnadequacy Of the means provided Tor the col.
lection OF debts due 10 the public, and thar
this inadeonacy lies chiefly in the want oflega