Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-12-16

each may be paid secured directly to tho others
by the respective States purchasing tho land. All
cause OF difficulty with the General Government
on tins subject would thea be removed: and no
doubt can be entertained, that, by means of stock
Issued by tho buying States, bearing moderate in
terest and which, in consequence of the reimburse
mcnt of the public debt, would acquire great val
uc they would be able ut onceSo pay the amount
upon advantageous terms. 1t may not be unrea-
sonable also to expect that tho obligation TO pay
the annual interest upon the Stock thus created
would diminish the motive for selling the lands at
prices calculated to impair tho general value of
that kind of property.
1t is believed, moreover, that the interests of the
several States would no better promoted by such 4
disposition of the public domain than by sales in
! the mode hitherto adopted. And it would at onee
place at the disposal of all the States of tho Union
upon fair terms, fund for purposes of education
and Improvement, of inestimablo benefit to the flu
ture prosperity OF the Nation.
Should Congress, deem it proper to dispense with
the public land q future source of rcvcnuc, the
amount TO he raised from imposts after the Sd of
March, 1888 according TO the foregoing estimate,
will be Sis, 700, 000 but with reliance upon tho
public lands, heretofore, it may he estimated at
! $4,000, 000--to which, rs the case may be, it will
be necessary to adapt the provision for the future
Whatever room there may be for diversity of
opinion, with respect 10 the expectancy OF dis
tributing among the several States any surplus
revenue that may casually accrue, it is not
| doubted that any scheme for encouraging sur
|
should make it necessary, will be generally dis
cOuntcnanced. There is too much reason to
apprehend that regular uniform dependence
of the State Governments upon the revenue of
! the General Government, or an uniform expect
alton from the same source, would create too
great an incentive TO high and unequal duties,
and not merely disturb the harmony of the
Union but ultimately undermine and subyert
the purity and linden pedence Of the State Sovo-
reigntles.
| Tho public welfare and the stability of the
| Union would be more effectually promoted, by
leaving oil that ID not necessary to a liberal
public expenditure, with the people themselves.
Their affection for the Government would be
thereby strengthened, and the sources of ihdi-
vdual and national wealth augmented, so that
when the Government should have cause to
increase its expenditures for public emergencies
1t might rely upon people able aud wiling IL
answer the call. While these means of ihc
national wealth are thus cherished, the machi.
merry by which duties upon imports collect
ed and brought into the public treasury may be
kept in full operation, and susceptible of greater
efficiency whenever the eXigency may make
it necessary.
Il is Respectfully suggested. that these con
sdcra;ions, end hers that will readily present
themselves, point CIT the duties on imports
as the best source of revenue, md paculia RI p;
recommend that these duties shnnld be adspted
10 the actuel expenditure ofthe Government.
! The propricty Of reasonably protecting the
domestic industry is fully conceded but 1t is
believed that it would neither require nor uslify
the raising Of larger amount Of revenue than
may be necessary 10 defray the expenses OF
tie Government. Some of the evils of sur
plus, which an excess of revenue beyond the
expenditure would necessarily induce, have
been already noticed. To these may be added
the effect upon the peace and harmony of the
country, aod upon the safety of the Union,
which should certainly not be hezarded for any
OBJECT not OF vital Importance to it's welfare.
II It could be shown that the labor and CAPT
tel Of the United States required greater aid 10
ahield them from the injurious regulations Of
! Foreign States, sound policy would rather re-
COMMEND a system of bounties, by which che
duties collected from imports ght be direc!l "
! applied TO the objects to he cherished, than the
accumulation OF money in TIE Treasury. Nc
such necessity, however, is supposed to exist.
The amount of revenue equaly 10 the GU
thoTizcG expenditures of The Government, it is
the constitutional duty of Congress to provide
:. and TO tariff framed for This object, 1t s moi
perez iYed there can be any rea sonable objection
OF tins duty the constitution itself precludcs
all doubt, by authorizing both the expenditure
and the means of dcfraying il.
1t VIII be difficult precisely +" graduate the
| revenue to the expenditure. Thr necessity oil
avoiding the possibility OF deficiency III the
! revenue, and tho perpetual f. iciuau.n In the
/ demand and supply render such "a K almost
/ impTactic5o!c An excess Of revenue, there
! Tore under any prudent system If duties may
! be for time anavnidobe. b this can bc
! liter nsccTtancd by experience, and the evil
noV'ated, either by enlNrgIug the expenditure
ior,pubiic purposes, Or by reducing the duties on
such articles "a The condition Of The country
would best admit
In providing revenue upon this principle,
| and for those purposes. the attention Of Con
gress vii! be necessarily directed 10 the articles
OF imports from which the duties should be
collected; ard This is a question of expediency
merely, to be decided with just regard 10 all
the great interests involved IN tho subject
10 distribute the duties N such manner as
Tar as that may be practicable, as 10 cncoura &c
ana protect the labor IF the pHople of the Uni.
tea states from the advantages of superior skill
ana capital, and the rival preferences of foreign
countries; to cherish and preserve those mann.
features which have grown up under our own
lcgIsl"ton. which contribute to tire national
wealth, oDd are essential to oar independence
and safely; TO The defence If the country; the
supply OF Is necessary want; and tn the gene
raj prosperity, is considered to be an indspensa
Die duty. The vast amount of property en-
Pluyed in the Northern, Western and MddIe
portions ofthe Union, upon the faith OF our own
system OF lava and IN which the interests OF
every branch of our industry are involved could
not be immediately abandoned without tho most
TuInous consequences.
The various opinions by which tho neon1e If
the United States are divided upon this su!ject
concern the peace and harmony Of the country,
and recommend an adjustment on practical pfii,.
cIple5 rather than with reference to spv abstract
doctrines of political economy.
Tho proposed action Of Congress will not he
directed 10 introduce or countenance for the first
time, the adaptation of duties for r. vcnua to he