Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-28
FOR THE ENQUIRER.
IITGWrION OLN THE rrADTEI.

1t appearing by the Treasury Report that the Public
Debt may, and probably will be paid off in little more
than year, and that the national may conse-
quenty, be reduced TO about half of its present amount
becomes TO consider the effects of such reduction as
wei as the principles upon which it should be made.
whether Mr. Mcl-anc's proposition concerning the
Public Lands, be adopted not il to be generally
admitted that the Tariff will be modified as to produce
weVe or fourteen millions less than at present 1t now
eVes am average tax OF about two dollars each ndiv
dual and supposng Virginia consume her proportion of
imported merchandise her annual quota of the present re-
from the inpost is about two millions and half
When this impost shall be reduced to dollar head
the Secretary tells may be- ;he annual saving
the people OF this Commonwealth will be upwards of
~ zoo'ooo an addition TO our circulating wealth, which,
whether regard it as increasing the taxable fund of the
state or the means OF individual enjoyment be
deemed inconsderable.
have taken it for granted that our revenue will still
continue to be raised principally by duties on Imports
have done So because il is not ONLY the cbeancs and
est but the only practicable mode of raising an ADEQUATE
revenue The most perfect system of direct taxation that
could be devised would probably than twice as
much in the collection, be attended with ten times as
much loss, and require double the amount of
For these reasons, the Tariff considerably modified will
no doubt, be continued.
But ii Is said be am ineouitabe mode oT IA
bears unequaly the different States and that this oh
lection outweighs all its advantages II certainly de-
sirable that every should contribute TO the ppor of
government according to his means. But no system can
be devised, whether be laid according TO capita mr.
income, consumpton that will completely attain fb;s
oec but those who laid the first Tariff thought hey had
MADE as near an approach TO it practicable i'm any
other mode. by laying specific tax on such imported
%
ose Injuries that consumed only by the rich thew
presumed that they would make the great mass of indvi
duas and, still more, nearly the States contribute
10 the support OF government according their
means. The wealthy class commonly does this from
choice; the poorer classes from necessity and i'm The
Savehoidng States il the slave consumes less of oreipn
merchandise than the freeman, his master consumes the
more by reason OF the slaves pyaton IL did not there
lore seem easy to devise system of more equal taxation
After however, the Tariff shaped as TO give pro-
tecu0n to manufactures rather than increase the revc
nue. met with numerous opponents in every part of the
Union as both mpolidc and unjust and i'm the Southern
States who felt themselves most aggneved bv H. fe on
position was almost universal The grounds of their on
position are familiar TO all But of late the Injustice or
the Tariff has been exhibited in new and an aggravated
form ~
IL maintained by Mr. McDufe, who has the merit Of
originating the doctrine that tax upon imports is the
same thng as tax upon the exports which have been
gwen IN exchange for It that tax upon the goods
whch the cotton OF South Carolina has purchased is paid
moi ny the consumers Of the goods but by the producers
me cotton; and consequently, the Southern States
furnish more than their proportion Of exports they CON
tribute to the national revenue in the same ratio
This proposition, not rcpugnant TO the common
appehcnsons Of mankind than 10 the most approved fheo
es of political economy having met with several an
swers and been formally dsclaned by the ablest anti
iauf periodical the Southern Review, mo XII seem
ed, Tor time, to have supporter but Mr. McDuGio
himself But as he has again and again publicly defend
ca the doctrine and often not without pausbiltyay the
last No Of the Southern Review dsrcgarine consistency
has deliberately maintained and seems 10 receive the