Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-12-13

Of the United StateS." There is no such
provision as would authorize Congress to
collect together the property Of the country,
under the name of revenue, for the pur-
pose of dividing it equally or unequally
among the States or the people. Indeed,
it is not probable that such an idea ever oc-
CURED to the States when they adopted the
constitution. But, however this may be, the
only safe rule for US in interpreting the pow
ers granted to the Federal Government, is,
to regard the absence ofexpress authority to
touch subject as important and delicate as
this is, as equivalent to aprohibiton.
Even if our powers were Jess doubtful in
this respect, as the constitution now stands,
there are considerations afforded by re-
cent experience, which would seem to make
it our duty to avoid a resort to such a
system.
All will admit that the simplicity and
economy of the State Governments mainly
depend on the fact that money has 10 be
supplied to support them by the same men,
or their agents, who vote it away in appro.
priatons. Hence, when there are eXtrava-
giant and wasteful appropriations, there must
be corresponding increase oftaxes; and
the people, becoming awakened, will ncces-
sarily scrutinize the character or measures
which thus increase their burdens. BY the
watchful eye of selfinterest, the agents Of
the people in the State Governments are
repressed, and kept within the Inns of a
just economy. But if the necessity of levy
! ing the taxes be taken from those who make
the appropriations, and thrown upon more
distant and less responsible set of public
agents, who have power to approach the
people by an indirect and stcalthy taxation,
there is reason to fear that prodigality will
soon supercede those characteristics which
have thus far made US look with so much
pride and confidence to the State Govern
mcnts as the mainstay Of our union and
liberties. The State Legislatures. instead
Of studying 10 restrict their State cXpcndI-
lures to the smallest possible sum. will
claim credit for their profusion ard harass
the General Government for increased sup
plies, Practically, there would soon be but
one taxing power, and that vested in body
of men far removed from the people, in
which the farming and mechanic interests
would scarcely be represented. The States
would gradually lose their purity as we'll as
their independence; they would not dare to
murmur at the proceedings of the General
Government, lest they should lose their sup
plies; all would be merged in a practical
consolidation, cemcntcd by wide spread
corruption, which could only be eradcatcd
by one Of those bloody revolutions which
occasionally overthrow the despotic sys-
TENS of the old world.
In all tho other aspects in which | have
been able to look at the effect OF such prin-
cipc Of dis 'ribution upon the best intcrcs' S
the country, | can sec nothing 10 compcn.
safe for the disadvantages 10 which have
advertcd. If we consider the protective
duties, which arc, in great degree the
source Of the surplus revenue, beneficial to
one section of the Union and prejudical to
another, there is no corrective for the evil
in such plan Of distribution. On tic con-
trary, there is reason TO fear that all the
complaints which have sprung from this
cause would be aggravated. Every one
must be sensible that a distribution of the
Surplus must bcget disposition 10 cherish
the means which create it; and any system.
therefore, into which it enters, must have
powerful tendency to increase rather than
diminish the tariff. Ifit were even admit
ted that the advantages Of such system
could be made equal to all the sections Of
the Union, the reasons already so urgently
calling for q reduction of the revenue, wohld
nevertheless, lose none Of their force; for it.
will always be improbable that an intelligent
and virtuous community can consent to
raise surplus for the mere purpose Of dl.
vidng it, diminished as it must inevitably be
by the expenses ofthe various machinery
necessary to the process.
The safest and simplest mode Of obviat-
ING all the difficulties which have been men,
toned is, to collect only revenue enough to
meet the wants Of the Government, and let
the people keep the balance of their proper
ty in their own hands, to be used fer their
own profit. Each State will then support
its own Government, and contribute its
due share towards the support Of the Gen.
eral Government. There would DC no sur
plus 10 cramp and lessen the resources Of
individual wealth and enterprise, and the
banks would be left to their ordinary means.
Whatever agitations and fluctuations might
arise from our unfortunate paper system,
they could never be attributed, justly or un-
Justly. to the action Of the Federal Govrrri-
mcnt. There would be some guaranty
that the spirit Of wild speculation which
seeks to convert the surplus revenue in;o
banking capital, would be effectually check
ed, and that the scenes Of decentralization
which are now so prevalent through the
land wouli disappear.
Without desiring 10 conceal that the ex-