Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1832-04-04

public debt That proposes therefore, to create
an annual surplus of Sc, soc, GOO beyond the wants
of the government, not only without the smallest
lnecessity but with the certain effect of changing
the character of your government and corruptlng
the people, Why is this surplus to be created9
Has the gentleman given single reason in its
favor; or has he not himself sealed the condem-
uation of his own proposition, when he admitted
that no surplus ought to be created for dstribu-
tom for if it is not to be in shape dstribu-
ted. for what purposes is it to be raised? The
next objection to this scheme is, that it proposes
to relieve Injuries from all taxation, while the
taxes on the necessaries of life are to remain Just
as they are; subject to duties of from so to 100
per cent. tits true that the gentleman, SEEING |
presume, the enormiy of the proposition in its
original form now consents that some very mod
crate duty may be levied on wines and silks. But,
sir, should be glad to know, in what wines and
silks differ from the numerous other articles which
bv the gentleman's scheme, are to come in duty
free Here is list of some Of them, and 1t will
be for the Senate and the country to say how far
lit is reasonable or Just, that the consumers of
these articles shall contribute nothing to the pub
llic revenue, while the honest laboring man is to
be taxed from 80 to 100 dollars on every hundred
dollars which he expends on the wcollens, and the
Ihannels the iron, and the sugar, which are indls-
pensable to the health and comfort Of himself and
family.
cit is one of the grandest farces ever attempt
ed to be played off upon free people, to see an
attempt made to reduce the taxes on olives and
capers, anchoves and brandy fruits, mace, cloves,
nutmegs, precious stones, alabaster ornaments,
cordiaIs, perfumery, artificial flowers, billiard
balls, battledoors and shuttlecocks, coral beads
and gold snuff boxes, silver spectacles and ivory
headed canes, velvets and lace, null muslns and
gros de Naples, camel's hair shawls, morocco and
prunella shoes, fine cambrcs, plated chatting dish
es, porcelain and china dinner and tea sets, gold
watches, Champaign & Burgundy wines, oranges
and pine apples, embroidery, ivory fans, fine Irish
linens, parasols, centre tables, gilt books, pier
looking glasses, vermicei and macaroni, Italian
marble, mantle ornaments, rouge, essences and
court plaster, chessmen, sweet scented soap, silk
stockings, gold and silver thimbes, mantel time
pieces, tooth powder, wax dolls, and a hundred
other things used by the rich. We say, it is one
of the grandest farces ever played off upon free
people, that such articles as those we have emu
merated, should be exempted from taxation; whilst
iron and sugar, woolen and flannel, and many O.
IneF HcCeSSdTleS VI lliG, WHICH are required TO
render the situation of our working people COM
Portable, should continue to be heavily and une-
qualify burdened."
ask for the reason for this distinction which
relieves Injuries from taxation, and throws them
upon the necessares of life; which burdens the
poor and exempts the rich; and / am told it is
necessary to protection. Whose protection? Why,
the wealthy proprietors Of manufacturing stock !;
men who are realizing enormous dividends, drawn
from the pockets of the people. Sir, no other
reason for this distinction has been, or can be Civ
en-; for it is acknowledged by all the world, that
uxuries are the proper subjects for taxation, and
ought rightfuly to be taxed higher than the me-
cessares of life. But here the manufacturers
interpose their claims, and the claims of Justice
are disregarded Again, sir, these are articles Of
general consumption; at least among the wealthy /;
and consumed equally, too, all over the country
and yet they must come in duty free, and the
whole revenue of the country be levied ON art-
cles, in relation to which, the duties operate most
unjustly and unequally; being i'll truth bounty
to certain portions of the people, and burden
upon others; and yet the Senator tells us he had
hoped that such proposition as this would not
only have met the appreciation of all parties, but
would have been received as a concession to the
complaints Of the South. How it was possible
for the gentleman to have INDUCED such an ex-
pectation, am utterly unable to comprehend
Sir, what single concession, or the slightest APP
proach towards it, is made by such proposition +?
Does it consist in agreeing to take off six millions
of taxes, when the demands on the Treasury are
to be reduced to double that amount? Has the
South ever uttered one word of complaint against
the duties which it is proposed to reduce? No
These were imposed for revenue; and against du-
ties fairly levied for that purpose they have never
complained. 1t is against duties, imposed not fo1
revenue, but protection, that they have been SC
long and so earnestly demonstrating; and, to quiet
their discontents, the proposition is gravey sub
mitted, to take off all the revenue Duties and to
leave the protecting duties untouched. Sir, it is
not so much the amount of this tax, as its inc
quality and Injustice, which has reused the whole
South to determined opposition. And how is it
proposed to relieve our complaints? By aggrava-
ting that inequality, and extending and perpetual
ting that injustice. We tell you that the protec-
ting duties operate as tax upon us, and bounty
upon the tariff States. We insist that it is a Vi
olation of the principles on which our government
is founded, and reduces US to state of colonial
vassallage; and this it substantially does, if we
are not mistaken in its operation, and Mr.. Graf
tan's definition of colony is the true one-''a
country governed in reference to the interests of