Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-06-04

ted IN these bills Without well regulated sys-
ten OF internal Improvement, this exhau sting
mode OF appropriation is not likely to DO nv old
cd, and the plain consequence must be, either n
continuance of the national debt, or a re sort to
additional taxes.
Although MARY of the States, with lauda.
bic zeal, and under the influence of an enlirht-
ened policy, are successfully apply ing their sep.
paratc efforts TO works of this character, the de-
sire to enlist the aid of their separate efforts TO
enlist the aid of the General Government in tho
construction of such as from their nature
ought To devolvc upon il, and to which the means
OF The individual States are inadequate, is both
rational and patriotic; and, it that DIES re Nis not
gtaithcd now, 1t does not follow that itxever will
be. The general Intelligence and public spirit
of the American people, furnish sure guaran.
tee, that, at the proper time, this policy will
DO made to prevail under circumstances more
suspicious to ITS successful prosecution, than
those which now exist But great as this OBJ
Ject undoubtedly Is, IT is not the only one which
demands the fostering care of the Government.
The preservation and success of the Republi-
can principle rests with u.s. To elevate its char
ac'er, and extend it's influence, rank among our
most Important duties and the best means to
accomplish Tins desirable end, are those which
VIII riVet the attachment of our citizens TO the
Government OF their choice, by the comparative
hghtnes' OF thcirpublic burdens, and by the at
traction which the superior success of its opero
lions VIII present to the admiration and respect
of the world. Through the favor of an over
ruling and indulgcnt Providence, our country
Il IyIt
''lehs exempted from the pressure of taxation
winch o'her' less favored portions of the human
iamiiy' are obliged to bear yet It is true, that
many OF the taxes collected from our citizens.
through the medium of imposts, have, for n
considerable period, been or erous. I'm MANY
PARTICULARS these taxes have borne severolv u,on
the laborng and less prosperous classes of the
community, being imposed on the necessaries of
iiic, and this, too, in cases where the burden was
not relieved by the consciousness that it would
ultimately contribute to make us independent Of
foreign nations Tor articles of prime necessity, by
The encouragement Oft their growth and manu-
iacture at home. They have boon cheerfullv
borne, becau sc they were thought to be neces
sary to the support of Government, and the nay
'nent OF the debts unavoidably incurred in the
rights and liberties. But have we right to
calculate on the same cheerful acquiesccnce.
when 1t Is known that the necessity for their
continuance would cease, were it not for irreou
lar, Improvident, and unequal approximations of
the public funds; Will not the people demand.
as they have light to do, such prudent svs
tenn of expenditure, as will pay the debts of the
Union, and authorize the reduction of eyerp tax
to as low point as the wise observance of the
nevessity to protect that portion of our manu-
features and labor, whose prosperity is essential
to our national safety and INDEPENDENCE, Will al
low When the national debt is paid the duties
upon those articles which we do not raise. NAV
be repealed with safety, and still. leave, trust
without oppression TO any section of the country.
an accommodating surplus fund.- which may be
benehcially applied to some well digested sys-
tenn OF improvement.
Under this view, the question, as to the man
ner in which the Federal Government. can or
ought to embark in the construction of roads
and canals, and that the extent to which il NAV
impose burthens on the people for these purpos
es, may be presented on its own merits free Of
all disguise, and of every embarrassment. ex-
cept such az may arise from the Constitution
itself Assuming these suggestions 10 be cor
rect, will not our constituents REQUIRE the nh.
SCI vance OF course by which they can be eff
fected: Ought they not to require it? With
the best disposition to aid, as far as can con-
scientiously, In turtherance of works of internal
improvement, my opinion is, that the soundest
views of national policy at this time, point TO
such a course. Besides, the avoidance of nm
evil influence upon the local concerns of the
country, how solid is the advantage which the
government VIII reap from it in the elevation
of its character How gratifying the effect. of
presenting TO the world The sublime spectacle of
republic of more than twelve millions of ham
Ply people, in the fifty-fourth year of her exis-
tehce' alter having passed through two rotract-
ed wars the one for the acquisition, and The
other Tor the maintenance of liberty-free from
debt, and with all her immense resources unfe,-
tered What salutary influence would not
such an exhibition exercise upon the cause of
liberal principles and free Government through
out the world Would VIC not ourselves find.
in its effect, an additional guarantee, that our
political institutions will DO transmitted to the
most remote posterity withou. decay course
of policy destined to witness events like these.
cannot be benefited by legislation which tole-
rates scramble for appropriations that have no
relation to any general system of Improvement.
and whose good effects must OF necessity, be
very limited. In the best view Of these appro
piatlons, the abuse to which they leads, far ex-
coed the good which they are capable of pro-
noting. They may be resorted to as artCul ex-
pedients, to shift upon the Government the loss
es of unsuccessful private speculation, and thus