The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-01-25

'hetcAore De uhwlse. 1t II IS to be collected from
one portion of the people and given to another, it
would be unjust. II it is to begiven to the States,
IA their corporate capacity to be used by them in
heir public expend IRE, know Of no principle in
the Constitution which authorizes the Federal
Government to become such a collector for the
States, nor Of any principle of safety or propriety
which admits Of the States becoming such recipi-
eats OF gratuity from the General Government. :,
The Public Revenue, then, should be regulated
and adapted to the proper service OF the General
Government. II shoad be ample; tor dehclt IN
the public income, always 10 be deprecated, is
sometimes, attended, as we know well from hlsto-
ry, and from what has happened in our own time,
with fatal consequences. IN country, so rapidly
growing as this is with such diversified interests,
new wants and unexpected calls upon the public
treasury Elust frequently occur. Take some ex-
ampies from this session. The State OF Vir-
GINA has presented claim, for an amount but
little short Of million, which she presses with an
earnestness demonstrating her conviction Of its
Justice The State OF South Carolina has also
claim for no nconsideraihe sEm, being upwards OF
100000 which size urges with equal earnestness.
The gentleman frcm Pennsylvania tMr. Wilkinsl
has brought forward claim, arising out OF French
spoliations previous to the Convention of 1900,
which is perhaps not short of five millions, and to
some extent have no doubt it las just iounda-
ton In any provision Of public Revenue, Con-
press ought so to FIX i, as to admit OF he payment
Of honest and proper demands, which Its justice
cannot reject or evade.
hope 200 that either in the adjustment of the
public revenue or what would be preferable, in the
appropriation of the proceeds Of the public lands,
effectual and permanent provision will be made Tor
such Internal Improvements as may be sanctioned
nv Congress. This is due to the American Peo-
y'e, and emphatically due to the Western People
sir, temporary causes nay exsct reluctant &C
qn!escence from the People oil the West, IN the
suspension of appropriations to objects OF internal
improvement but certain ?s you preside in that
, Chair or as the Sun performs lis diurnal revolu-
ton. they will rot be satisfied with an abandon.
ment of the policy. They will come here and tell
YOU, no. in a tone of menace duplication, but
ja language of conscious right, that they must
share with you in the benefits, as they divide with
you the burthens and the perils Of common Gov
eminent They will say they have no direct in
terest in the expenditures for the Navy the Forth
feations, nor even the Army those greatest alb
sorbants of the public treasure. That hey are
not Indifferent indeed 10 the safety and prosperity
Of any part Of our common country. On the con-
trary, that every portion Of the Republic is indi-
rectly, at least, interested in the welfare of the
whole; and that they ever syEpathize in the dis
tresses and rejoice in the happiness of the most
distant quarter of the Union. And to demonstrate
that they are not careless or Indifferent to inter-
ests not directly their own, they may triumphanty
and proudly appeal to the gallant part which they
bore IN the late war and point 10 the bloody fields
on which some of their mos, patriotic sons noblv
fell fighting in the common cause. But they will
also say that these fraternal and Just sentiments
ought to be reciprocated by their Atlantic breth-
rem. That these ought not to be Indifferent to the
welfare Of the West, and that they have the same
collateral indirect interest in its success and
Advancement that the West has in theirs That
1t does not ask internal Improvements to be exclu
sively confined to ITSELF but that it may receive in
common with the rest Of the Union, q practical
benefit in the only form compatible with its inte-
rior condition.
The appropriation Of the proceeds of the public
lands, or considerable portion of them, to that
object, would be a most natural and suitable dis
position And do hope, sir, that that great re-
source will be cherished and dedicated to some
national purpose worthy Of the Republic. Utterly
opposed as trust, Congress will shew itself to be
to all the mad and wild schemes-and to that latest
but inaddest and widest of all, recommended by
the Secretary ofthe Treasury-for squandering The
public domain, hope it will be preserved for the
present generation and for posterty, it has been
received from our ancestors, a rich and bountiul
inheritance. In these halcyon days of peace and
plenty, Sld an Overlooking treasury, we appear to
em6arrass ourselves in devising visionary schemes
for casting away the bouAties with which the |
goodness of Providence has blessed US. But, sir, |
the storm Of war will come, when we know not .
the day OF trial and difficulty will ssuredly come |
and now is the time. by prudent forecast to hus-
oand our resources and this the greatest ofrhem ALL
Let them not be boarded and Rugged with mi (
ser's embrace but literally used. Let the public |
lands be administered in generous spirit, and es-
pscIaily towards the States within which they are
situated. Let the proceeds of the sales of the
public lands be applied in season of peace, to
some great object; and when war does come, by
suspendiDg that . LEGATION of them during its con-
tinuance, you will at once be put in possession of
means for its vigorous prosecution. More than
twenty-five years ago, when first took seat in |
this body, was told, by the fathers Of the Gov
ernmeut, that, if we had any thiag perfect in our
institutions, it the system for disposng of the
public lands. and was cautioned against rash in
novations in it. Subsequent experience fully sat-
SHED me Of the wisdom Of their counsels, and that
all vital changes in it ought to be resisted.
Although it may be impracticable to say what
The exact amount Of the public revenue should be,
Tor the future, and what would be the precise pro-
1uce OF amy given system Of imposts, may safely
assume, that the revenue may now be reduced
and considerably reduced. This reduction may be
effected in various ways, and on different prnci-
pies. Only three modes shall now be noticed
1st To reduce duties on ali articles in the same
ratio, without regard to the principle of protection
I'd 10 retain them on unprotected articles and
them on the protected articles
And, Sd. To abolish and reduce the duties on
Unprotected articles. retaining and enforcing the
faithful collection Of those on the protected arti-
cles.
To the first mode there are insuperable obiec- |
lions. it would lead inevitably to the destruction
d ocr home manufactures. 1t would establish a |
'ort of bed OF Procrus a, by which the duties on all
rtieles should be bndiy measured, with respect to
heir nature or the extent Of their consumption
Ind 1t would be derogatory from every principle
# theory or practice which the Government has
hitherto proceeded.
The second would be still more Objectionable
o tie foes of the Tariff than either of the Others
;ut it cannot be cent.oyerted that, by augmenting
considerably the duties on the protected class, so
S to carry chem to the point, near to the con-
mes of absolute prohibition, the object in view
efecting the necessary reduction Of the public
eVenue, may be accomplished without touching
10 duties on the unprotected class The conse-
uence OF such an augmentation would be great
lmnutlon in the importation of The foreign arti.
lie, and of course in the duties upon it But
gainst entire prohibition, except perhaps in few
lstances, have been always, and still am oppos-
d. BY leaving the door open to the foreign rival
ftlcle, the benefit is secured of sautary compe-
ton. II II be Theoretically closed, the danger is
lcurred Of monopoly.
The third mode is the most equitable and rea-
onable, and it presents an undebateabe ground,
n which had hoped we could all safely tread
'lthout difficulty. 1t cxacts sacrifice Of prin-
lpie from the opponents Of the American System;
comprehends none on the part Of its friends
he measure before you embraces this mode. 1t
! simple, and free from ali complexity. 1t d.
ises the whole subject Of imposts according to its
sture. 1t ,ettles at once what ought not TO be
isputed, and leaves to be settled hereafter if ne
essary, what may be contreverted.
certain part Of the South has hitherto COM
i;inedihatit pays adisproportionate amount Of the
nPssts. II the complaint be well founded. by
he adoption of this measure il will be relieved at
nee, as will be hereafter shewn, from at least
'urth Of its burthens. The measure is in confor-
lity with the uniform practice of the Govern
tent, from it's commencement, and with the pro-
'sslons OF all the eminent politicians Of the
outh, until Of late 1t assumes the right of the