Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1830-06-04
GOW4R8SS IONATe
DEBATE ON THE TARIFF.
HOUSE or REPRESENTATIVE &C.
MR.. McDUFFIE'S SPEECH.
CONTINUED


fifteen years. hundred millions Of dollars. BY ,his
operation alone, the annual dsbursements of the Gov
eminent were made to exceed the annual amount of
the very Early hundre ed millions. We have,
therefore, almost tie very STATE of thngsI supposed, in
regard 10 Pennsylvania The Government levied
nu al tax 500 600 600 and made an annual dsburse<
ment cf $500 100000. Great b iiain never SO
hourishng; and il the operation could have last
ed forever she wsud have continued TO flourish tO
the end But il no, in the nature OF things that t
could last much longer than il did Great Britain was
acting the pat OF the prodiga, who converted his in
haritance into annuity fer 10 years and then expend
ed his whole annual income. She was living upon the
resources of rosriy and if she had much further,
she would have exhausted them But when peace was
restored TO Europe, the picture Of Biish prosperity
reversed. When superficial observers expecting
increased prosperity from the cessation OF war and s
expenditures. OF dis ress and ruin ensued not
more a.bnishng and apparently unaccountable than
the former prosperity. But thu was just as natural
as the other This sudden withdrawal Of the dishurse~
mepts Ct the government. 10 the amount OF more than
500 100000. without any corresponding reduction OF
Che taxes was like Withdrawing his accustomed s'nu-
lus from mar, who habitualy took his bottle Of wine
day. paralysis was thrown over the industry and
prosperity of the nation, from which pre-
dict when she will recover.
| Now, Sir when you have looked al this picture and
then looked at thatwhen yen have compared the dis
tress and suffering OF Grea, Britain iii &C the peace of
Europe, wi the property which pre- ceded have
the hand cxempliGcaton and only faint
OF the blasting and whitening influence of enormously
unequal faxes levied in portion Of the Unior, with
scarcely any eturnin the fem OF governm mt dsburse
men's and On the other, OF the rnang and invgorat-
ing influence of large endorsement. in portions OF the
lively speaking, 10 the public revenue.
! will now ask the atteh,ion,fo the committee 20 a
comparison which propose to institute, between the
actual distribution oi The tu thensof the Federal taxes
among the dill rent classes OF produc Give industry and
the different raphca subdivisions Of the Union and
the distribution that would take lace under lust and
equitable system Of taxation. What then, is the true
principle OF distribuive justice in the apporonmen of
taxes among the different orons of the community?
IL is hd down in work OF the h:gh ST authorityand,
indeed, no auho'iy is necessary give sanction TO
rule of such apparent in,tice"That the subject OF
every State ought {, contribute towards the support OF
the Government, nearly possible in proportion TO
the revenue which they joy under the protection OF
the State The expense oil Government, 10 the ind-
vidnals OF great nation, IL like the expense OF manage
men to 'he joint tenants OF great estate, who ALI
obliged 10 contribute in proportion TO their interests in
the estate. In the Observance or lec of this ma kim
consists what iscalsd equality inequality, Of taxa
ton" According 10 this fundamental rue, the justice
AMI equity OF which no man ia his commit
tee. i'll venture TO conroveft, Income Tax would
be the neaes approach that could be made 10 that e.
quality which ought 10 be the aim of every Govern
ment, and which our own constitution, most carefully,
hut vainly, attempted to secure. With view 10
tain " hat would be the result OF such Ian OF taxa
I'll n so f4r regards its distribution among the various
portions of the Union have made an estimate nj the
aggregate amount Of all the ps of the United
States giving The resul, $50 o00, 900 dollars. have
subj c;ed this estimate to the test of several modes OF
calculation, and tlnk it rather under than the
! truth. British economist estimated the income of
Great Britain in 1920, at 100000 600 pounds sterling.
and cannot suppose it will br deemed exravagant 10
estimate the income OF the United States in 1880. at
= m'ny dollars What, then, would be the distribution
" OF the huhens of The Federal taxation among the diff
terent sections OF the Union If the people taxed
in proportion TO their income 1t is TO he remarked
that the exports OF the staple growing States consti
the principal part of their annual income But that
may he certain of not making too low estimate, I
p will assume that he income Of all he persons engaged
in producing Gotten, tobacco, and rice, $40 100000
nearly double the amount of their exports; and that
the income oi those ENGAGED in producing cotton and
rice, is S50000,0 900. 70 produce 4 of S24,-
500 ooo tax of only seven per cent upon the aegre-
gate Income OF the nation, would he In the
+ apporonmcnt of this sum, upon the principles OF
Income Tax there would fall to the share of the
d OF cottor tobacco and rice only 1900 900. AMI
to that OF the growers OF cotton and rice only SO 500,
d 000 whereas II the other branches of productive in
dusrv in the United Safes, would have to contribute
+ Sl96OO,OOO. Let IL compare this equitable dis-
trbuion OF the taxes, with that which actually exists
under our present system The of cotton, to-
bacco, and rice have heretofore shewD, sc'u
IS ally contribute TO ihe support OF this Government
IF SI ,000 being 900 600 than their just pro-
portions and the growers OF cotton and rice contribute
100000, being So 900 more than their just Pro-
IS portion.
aware, Mr. Chairman that the inequality of our
system Of mpost Jufe. a. scheme of taxation
is so enormous, that is calculated 10 asound those
who have not thoroughly examined the With
view, therefore, Of presenting The question in
N practical and familiar point of view will suppose
d that general excise were imposed upon all those pro-
auctions which constitute The basis OF the internal COM
merce Of the Union, that the inpost duties upon foreign
! commerce were reduced 10 the rate. As a mere
question OF dsiribuve Justice, cannot be doubted for
4 moment, that the exchanges Of internal commerce
81 onlh be subjected to The very imposons with
" the exchanges Of foreign 1t is essential,
indeed the perfect equllity Of taxation, that all ind-
rect taxes SHOULD fal precsely alike upon all the pro-
# duciions of domestic industry, made or manufactured
for SALE whether at home abroad. 1.-The planter is
called upon TO pay certain per ceniage upon the
n al value Of the cotton he exchanges for foreign manu-
lectures upon what human principle il be contend
ed, that the farmer IL not equally liable 10 pay the
came centage the annual value of The grain and
= other productions which lie exchanges with the neigh
bdriag manufactures; and that The manufacturers of
every description are NOT equally liable 10 pay the same
. per centage upon The annual value of the manufactures
they exchange for agricultural aud other productions i'm
the domosiic market An Dpos, and excise duty
sre preceiy the In principle, differing only In Tho
solitary particular that they fall upon different produce
tons OF domestic Industry. And whether the tax ulii-
naely ia'ls upon the producer consumer just
gard TO the principle OF equality would require that all
the producers and all the consumers of the country,
should equally participate in sustaining the financial
bUr'hen' Of The State.
IT The value OF the cotton exported by a. planter lat
be regarded the measure OF hs income upon the We
~ same principle the value OF the grain sold by the
f,ru or, Of The cloth cold by the manufacturer should
be regarded the Of his income, and the
duty imposed accordingly.
\ Now, Sir IL will be found upon examination that gem
eral system Of impos and excise duties equally app
cable TO all commercial exchanges, whether foreign
inerns would bring almost 10 the very result
as income tx
The advocates Of the prohibory system have habiuaI-
ly dwell upon The insignihcance OF foreign when
comparad with our internal ru1Prce In the ell