Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-12-03

aeut was swept away ana was never paid OF heard OF
more and the Dutch debt was, by the new Congress,
to be paid by the proceeds of mposts foreign ships
and goods; which imposts were deemed necessary to
the encouragement of the manufactures, arts, arr
shipping, OF the United States. So that no tax
gatherer has, in America, colecte money from
the people, to pay debt interest of debt AT one
time, soon after the establishment of the present 60
vernment, an excise duty was imposed on home made
whisky Tor the double purpose OF paying Off the debt
aud OF preventing the inordna'e of spirtunus
liquors. The people In Pennsyv resisted the law
by force; and though they reduced TO subms-
sion,It was solely owing to the great veneraon for
the President, Washington, who compelled to
march IN person against them; and even he would
not have succeeded, without clearlv-understood
promise, that the tax should be abolished, which
done III very shnrt time afterwards and since that
no attempt has eyer been made to impose any internal
tax for the payment of debt. Internal taxes were
laid duing the last but expressly for the purpose
oi carrying OH that war, and they were abolished as
soon as the war was over. The Americans IN their
separate States, pay taxes for the administration OF
Justice, on account of the prisons, for the repair OF
their roads and bridges for the relief of the poor for
Keeping up their mill Ia, just do III separate
Coun'ie IN England. But these are matters purely
domestic, much the affairs of family are: these
contributions necessary to the peace and happi
ness of These several communities, and, which Is
another important consideration, it is much mon
ey. not to create uphold iders, but to compensate
abour CT one another, aud, moreouor, 1t Is,
aud n,'tSt "i"ays be, eXpended amongst the commu
niy themselves; 1t remains IN the Several counties
III luxurious capital, or to go to enrich foreign ma
tons; III which important respects, ii is wholly DIFF
terent thing from taxes raised to pay the interest
principal OF a national debt
o. No people earth pay their domestic taxes
more cheerfuliy than the Americans; no people ON
earth yield n more prompt and willing obedience to
the laws; in which respects they wha: their ia
Tiers were Ill former times; but if taX-gatherer
were TO 60 to an kuerit ans house. and I'm nd only
one single quarter of pastre fer the payment OF
ona debt, he would be resisted and 1t necessary. by
physical force His plain understanding, his of
natural Justice would repei the audacious demand
All the laws, to which his mind has been accustomed
to attend, founded principles which direct
ly The reverse ut "a law TO compel onc generation to
pay the debts of another. So far children from
being bound pay the debts Of the at her thai accur
ding to law, the freehold lands of the deceased ia
ther 60 to his heirs without being liable for the pay
nent OF his debts This every creditor Is appraised OF;
he, therefore, trusts the father his own risk; aud
thus the lazy says, that the children shall not when
ever can be prevented suffer from the deDts the
father Upon what ground then, can the whole COM
nnity claim the right OF loadns their children with
debts?
10. The Poor Law, of which nobody but English
men and Americans know much, but which is the
greatest law that ever was passed, springing as il
does directly out of The law of ure founded as 1t Is
In the very principle of civil society; sanctioned as it,
mas been by ages upon aGes of experiences how does
tins famous law illustrate the principle OF national
debts! 1t condemns it point blank for it enions that
tie expenses OF every year shall be completely dis
Charged by money raised within that year; and for
tins reason, that it would be unjust make the pro-
pretors OF this pay expenses incurred by the
proprieiors OF last year. Upon TIE same principle
the taxes Tor the roads, the bridges the adnnstra-
ton otjustice, proceed. And if it be unjust make
the proprietorS of this year pay any portion of the ex
Penses OF those of the last year, must il be still
more UNJUST to compel the community Of the present
day 10 pay the debts contracted by the community fifty
years ago?
H. In this case. in every other where our object
NJ nod way 70
make the case Suppose then. that it
were proposed to pass law to compel all the present
inhabitants of England to pay taxes; that is to soy,
to give up part of the fruit their labour and skill
IN order that the generation MIG hit live without
taxes suppose the money collected in taxes from the
PRESENT Community, to be put into Chest or lent out
at interest," ID order that might be ready to support
the government and carry on wars for the next Gen
Grafton Would not all the world inveigh against
the Justice of this? Would any people, who were
not downright slaves, submit to such law? And vet
where IS the difference in the two cases? Is it no.
as just and censonant with reason and with natu-
raj right, as law, to make the present generation
pay for supporting the government sHd carrying
onhe wars of former generations? And as even
slaves would hardly submit to the former, hoy is it
to DO believed that who make The Ia SIS themselves
will submit to the latter.
IL. will not waste ny time in anticipating arpl-
nents on the other side: whenever they shall appear
| am ready to answer them; and in the MEANWHILE
ct Us see whether the principles which | have here
will not be acted upon in France; and
bis is great matter for US, in this country, to con-
idcr. 70 tina objections against national debts
generally there IS this peculiar to that of France
namely, that no possibly pretend that !, was
contracted for the benefit OF the people OF France
The comparatively small part that existed before the
restoration Of the ,Bourbons, was contracted with
but any assent on The part of he people, and for pur
poses hostile to them ali that has been contracted
ncc has, IN fact been forced upon France either by
oreign bayonets actually at the breasts ftbe people
>r oy foreign bayonets held in readiness be sent
against them And, as 10 the uses which the main
part OF the borrowed money has been applied they
have all been uses so far from being beneficial to
France, that they have been SO many modes of sha-
ping indgn'.es and punshments inflicted upon her
13. This being clearly understood by the French
people; and they do understand it clealy this pecu
ilary provoking circumstance being added to the
weight OF the odiousness aud crying injustice ofca-
ing upon the children for payment of the debts of the
fathers, who s to believe that that people, undisci-
pinned to grinding taxation; full ofust notions of po
htlcal right; knowing their own strength, and bav-
ing so recently tried 1t with success people, IN shot
nElln ole .Infrf