Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-12-08

sons then presented for reduction OF the reve.
nue. to the wants Of the government, | am again
urged bv sense Of duty to suggest that further
reduction of six millions of dollars be made, to
take effect after the year 1888. Whether that
shall consist altogether OF dImInuIt"n OF the
duties on lmposts, o. partly OF REIMBURSEMENT
of the public lands as source Of revenue. as
then suggested, it will be for the wisdom of Con-
g,ess 10 determine.
Without atIyerting 10 unnecessary details, to
the considerations in favor OF lessenlng the ex'
isting duties. which had the hohor to present.
a. we'll in the last annual report, as in that called
for by special resolutions ut the House OF KEEP
ressntatives I deem it proper to observe, that IN
nv own mind these considerations have lost none
of their farce, but have derived new weight from
subsequent reflection.
The purity and simplicity Of the institutions
under which it has pleased Prov,r ence to make Us
a great and prosperous naliOn, the { W obl" cts,-
and those Of general nature-to which the pow
ers OF the Federal Government can be aPpropri.
atey applied and the great diversity Of inter-
es,s. which from their local and gensr aphiea Po-
sition. prevail in the several states. composing
the Union, imperiousiy require that the amount
of the public expenditure should be regulated by
a prudent econuinv. and that no greater amount
of revenue should be collected from the people
than may be necessary for such scale Of ex-
pendlture.
The main purpose of taxation by the general
Government, according to the spirit OF the Con.
stl.utian. undoubtedly is to pay The debts and to
provide for the common defence and general wei
fare OF th- Union, BY the means confded to Con-
gress. 1t is freely admitted that this power may
and ought to be directly exerted to c"unteract TO-
reign legislation injurious to nur own enterprise,
and incidentally to protect our own industry,
more especial, those branche Unnecessary to
GRE erve within ourselves tn means of national de
fence and Independence. And. although the ex-
erclse Of the power in either Case must necessari-
~ depend upon the cause which may call If forth.
The powers of taxation imposing large and per.
manent burihens for the encouragement OF par
ucular classes canuot be exercised, and by sen
der impurities, consistently with proper re.
gard to tie equal rights of all; and it ~ not to be
| con ealed that permanent system ut high pro-
| tecting duties directly tends to budd up favored
classes, ultimately prejudieial 10 the safety OF
| The State.
Deeply impressed with these reflections, which
| are now rendered more urgent. bv the reduced
| and limited demands Of the puDlc service, had
he honor, al the last session ut Congress, 10 re-
Commend reduction of the duties 70 the revenue
| standard. The furce Of these aaL similar con.
| ide' alions. and ut that recommendations. may be
supposed to have received, at thar time, the sane
ton Ut Congress. and to have formed motive
Of the act Of the i4th Of July last; notwithstand
my it was not then deemed practicable fully to
,drpt the recommendation Of the Department -
| By mat act, however, besides the positive reduc-
lion nth in the rate and in the amount Of duty,
tn exped,rn,y Of adapting the revenue to the
ex Culture, and of equalizing the public bur-
theu>, was, to a great extent, acknowledged. and
| the oppressive system Of minimums was. for the
most part, abolished By that act. also, those
ARTICLES principally necessary for the maintenance
and clothing Of the laburers Of the South and
Southwest, were. tn a certain degree relieved;
and, both by its direct enactments. and as Incl
dent to Its main scope, it encouraged an increas-
d consumption of such articles as depended for
their fabrication upon the raw materials and pro.
duc rlon. of the South. To extend aud improve
the demand for those productions. By substitute.
ing, as Tar as PRACTICAL in general US. cotton
fabrics. for those made Of materials from other
countries. was not an unmportaut object Of the
bill presented from this Department.
In the reduction then recommended. the ne
cessitv of adapting the proposed changes to the
safety of existing establishments. raised up under
the auspices OF past legislation, and deeply 10
volving the interests Of large purtIon~ Of the Uni
on, was distinctly recognized; and it is still
deemed 10 be not less imperious. IN the further
changes which may be considered eAprdIent.-
Sucn necessity, however arlses rather from
Just aud prudent regard to the rights and INFER.
ests of the whole community, than from any
absolute pledge Of the national faith uncon-
tro.ed by circumstances. The principle, of our
republican institutions discountenahce any s,s-
TEN of legislation not in the nature OF compact,
independent of the popular will. tending to de-
feat the action Of the constituent upon the repre-
sentative, and to exclude the op'ration Of chan.
ges in the condition OF public opinion, upon the
national councils. In this. as in all other Instan-
ces. the cau-es which call for the legislative ac
ton must determine it. duration. and that legis-
lation, especially. winch confers favors upon
d. ticular classes. has no other claim 10 perma>
hence than IT'S tendency to advance the interests
and prosprrlt, Of the whole.
T. aid American enterprise, in every branch
of labor. and, by seasonabie encouragement, to
fuster and preserve within ourselves the smrans
of national defence and independence. led to
the protective system in the infancy of the Gov