The Arkansas advocate., 1830-07-07
VOL. I.--NO. I5e

these enumerated in these bills. With out well regulated system of internal improvement, this exhausting mode of appropriation is not likely to be ayoid- ed, and the plain consequence must be. either continuance of national debt. or a resort to additional taxes.
 Although many of the States with laudable zeal, and under the influence of an enlightened policy, are successful ly applying their separate efforts to
 works ot this character, the desire to enlist the aid of the General Govern ment III the constructions of such as from
 their nature ought to devolve upon it.. and to which the means of the indiyid~ uai States are inadequate, is both ra- tlonai and patriotic; and, if that desire is tlot gratilicd now, it does moi ioiiow that it never will be. The general in- telligence and public spirit of the Ame- rican people furnish sure guarantee. that, at the proper time, this policy will be made 10 prevail under circnmstanees more suspicious to it's successful prose- cution than those which now exist.-- But, great as this object undoubtedly is, it is not the only one which demands the fostering care of the Government. The preservation and success of the Re- publican principle rest with us. To elevate its character, and extend its ili- fuence, rank among OUT most ifnpor- tant duties: and the best means to ae- complish this desirable cid, are tLose which will riyet the attachment of our citizens to the mentoitheirchoiee. by the comparative lightness of their public burthens, ard by the attraction
 which the superior success of it's opera- tions will present 10 the admiration and respect Of the world. Through the favor Of ali oyerruiing and iiidulgcnt
 Providence our country is blessed w:th general prosperity, and our citizens ex- empted from the pressure of taxation. which other, less favored portions of the
 human family, are obliged to bear: yet it IS true, that many of the taxes col lected from our citizens, through the medium Of imposts have, for a consider- able period. been onerous. In many particulars, these taxes have borne SC. verely upon the laboring and less pros porous classes of the con.munity, being imposed on the necessaries of life, and this, too, in cases, where the burthcn was not relieved by the consciousness. that il would ultimately contribute to make us independent oi foreign nations for articles of prime necessity, by tine encouragement of their growth and manufacture at home. They have been cheeriully borne, because they. were thought to be necessary to the support of Government, and the payment of the debts unayoidably incurred in the ac- Equlsition and maintenance of our Ma tional rights and liberties. But have we a right to calculate on the same cheerful acquiescence, when it is known that the necessity for their continuance would cease, were it not for irregular. improvident, and unequalappropriations of the public funds? Will not the peo- pie demand, as they have right to do, such prudent system of expenditure as will pay the debts of the Union, and authorize the reduction of every tax to as low q point as the wise observance of the necessity to protect that portion Of our manufactures and labor, whose prosperity is essential to our national safety and independence, will allow?-- When the national debt is paid, the duties upon those articles which we do not raise may be repealed with safety. aud still leave, l trust, without oppres- sion to any section of the Country, an accommodating surplus laa:.s, lfaa:a.sa which which may be beneficially applied to some we'll di- gested system of improvement.
 Under this view, tic question, as to the manner in which the Federal Gov ernment can, or ought to embark in the construction of roads and canals, and the extent to which it may impose bar thens on the people for those purposes, may be presented on its ownmerits, free of all disguise, and of every embarrass- ment, except such as may arise from the Gofisttiitut ion itself. Assuming these sug- gestions to be correct, will rot our con- stituents require the observance of a course by which they can be efected9 Ought they not to require it? 1t? Wiisth tine best disposition to aid, as far as can conscientiously, in furthcrance of works ofinternal improvement, my opinion is, that the soundest views of national poIi- ey at this time, pointsto such course.