The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1836-12-23


the time has arrived when the representatives OF
the people should be employed IN deylsing some
appropriate remedy than nov exists, TO a.
vert IT,
Under our present revenue system, there is eve
~ probability that there will continue 10 be a sur.
plus beyond the wants OF the Government; and il
has become our duty TO decide whether such a
suit be consistent with the true objects Of our Co
yernmehL
Should a surplus be permitted 10 accumulate,
beyond the appropriations, It must be retained IN
the Treasury as 1t nov Is, or distributed among
The people the States.
To retain 1t IN the Treasury, unemployed in
any way Is lmpfaciicabe. il y, besides, against
the genius OF our tree institutions to lock up IN
vaults the treasure OF the nation. To taAe rom
the people the night OF bearing arms and put their
weapons Of defence Ia the b IDS Of standing ar
my, would be scarcely more dangerous 10 their
liberties than 10 permit tue Government to accu-
mulate ina ense amounts OF treasure bey Ond the
supplies necessary TO It's legitimate wants. Such
treasure would doubtless be employed, at some
lime, It has been II other counties, when op-
porluniiy tempted ambition
TO collect Il merely Tor distribution to the States
would seem to be highly impoliIc II not as dan.
gefOus the proposition to retain II IN the Treas
ury. The shortest reflection must satisfy every
one that to require the people 10 pay taxes TO The
Government merely that they NAY be paid back
again, Is sporting nth the substantial interest oi
the country, and no system winch produces such
result can b. expected 10 receive the public
tenance. Nothing could be gained by 1t, even il
each individual ~ho contributed portion OF the
tax could reeeiyciye back promptly The same per.
ton. BOT 1t u apparent tia, 90 system Of the
L III. f ~ IL
a considerable portion o. tie money, 10 be dislri.
bulcd 10 salaries aud commissions to The agents
employed il the process, aud IN the various losses
and dcyreelaious which arse from other causes
aud the practical effect OF such an attempt must
ever be 10 burden the people with taxes, not foi
purposes beneficial 10 then bot TO swell the profits
81 dciosiie banks, aud support band OF useless
public officers.
4 distribution to the people IS impraclicable and
uuIusi 10 other respects. fl would b. taxing one
nan, property and giving il 10 another. Such
would b. ne unavoidable result OF a rule OF eqush.
= aud none other Is spokeh OF, or would be llse-
4 TO be adopted inasmuch there Is NO n4ode
4, Shtch the anount OF The individual oonlfi5u-
ilous OF our citizens to the pubic revenue can be
80. r,aiatd We know that lhcy contribute Hne-
qualify ant a rule therefore that would distribute
- ihea tgps5y, would BE- labe TO all the ohjec-
toes which aeply TO The principle Of equal d.
vision OF property. To n,aae tie General Govern
ncui the instrument Of carrying TIN, odious prln-
ciple into effect, would be al onct 10 destroy the
useans o. /, usefulness, aud change The c'araeter
designed for ~ tie iraintfs OF the constitution.
Bot tie more extended end injurious cobs,quen-
ccs Is,y ~ result from poIi which would col
leo, surplus revenue of ae purpose o. di,t.ibui-
ing H. mas BE- ioicibls illustrated by an tvamina-
ioh OF The Effects ALREADY produced 81 In, present
ceFs1si,c act. This act, although eertany design
Cd to the sA, keeping tic public revenue,
M, ,nliteiy tree "a is tendencies rom mHnF OF
the OH lians which sppY 10 this principle Of Dis.
tribuu1u The Government had. without ueces-
stt. received from the people a large surplus,
which INSTEAD o beiug employed, a. heretofore,
and returned 10 them rs means Of the puhhc ex.
scndNurc, ws. deposited y I,h sundry banks. Tie
banks proceeded 10 make loans upon this surplus,
ard thus converted II into banking capital and IN
tlis manner u has tended TO multiply hank char.
icfs, aud les had a great agency 10 producing a
spiri, 81 Mid speculation. The possession and use
II the property out Of Rhich this surplus ere
attd bcIohe 10 ,he people, but lhc Government has
transferred lts possession 10 Incorporated banks
hose interest and effort il is To make large profits
oui o. its ne THIS pfncsss need only BE- stated to
show IL Injustice and bai policy.
And the same obSetvattons apply TO the inhu-
tnee which is produced hy the stc9s necessary "a
collect, as well as to dtstihuic such revenue
About tbroe.6fihs of all the duties on imports are
gard ~ the city OF New York, but it is obvious thai
the means 10 pay those duties are drawn from eve
~ quarter Of the Union. Eyery a Iacn in every
= &, who purchases and consumes an artlcl,
y hlch has paid duty al that port. contributes I,
the accumlating mass. The surplus coieclcC
there, must therefore. he made Up OF moneys o.
property withdrawn from other points aud ulhei
States. Thus the wealth and business of every
regain from which these surplus funds proceed
must be 10 some extent injured, while that OF tn,
place where the funds arc concentrated, and are
employed IN banking, are proportouably extended
But both in making The transfer of the funds which
are FIRST necessary 10 pay the duties aud collect
the surplus--and IN making the re.tTanstcr, viii eb
becomes necessary when the time arrives Tor the
distribution OF that surplus--there is a considers.
bic period when the funds cannot be brought iuto
and il Is nantes, that besides the loss ncvi.
table from such an operation, its tendency is tc
prodnoo fluctuations IN the business of the coun
try, which are always productive of speculation
aud detrimental 10 the interests Of regular trade
Argnncni can scarcely be necessary to show tina
a measure Of this character ought no; TO receive
further legislative enconFag emenI
Byesanaiuing The pfacticsi operation Of the "a
liz orthe dsiri 'ullon, adopted 0ihe deposite bIl
Of the last sessio shall discovetethcr ieatnros
that sppar equally Objectionable rer~iiahe as
sumcd, Tor the sake Of argument, that the surplus
moneys TO be deposited with the States have beer
collected, and belong to them in the ratio %. then
federal representative popnlation--an assumption
founded upon the fact that any Deficiencies in uu
future revenue from inpo,ts and public lands, mus
be made up by dircc, taxes, collected from the
States IN that ratio. Ii Is proposed to distribute
the surplus, sa, S30,000000, not according 10 th,
ratio in which II has be2n collected aud belongs
IL. ...l.. - ~. S.-!.. L.L -. lL.i NJ L-eI.