The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1836-1851, 1836-12-17

lies baye been supposed 70 attend Inc
operation OF our federal system in re-
Ispcct TO its bearings upon the different
Interests Of the Union. In making the
basis Of representation the basis Of taxa
lion, the farmers Of the cons,itulson in-
tended to equalize The burdens which are
necessary to support the Government:
and the adoption Of that ratio. while it
accomplished this object, was also tho
means Of adjusting other great topics
arising ont Of she conflicting views re-
speeting the political equality of the ya-
ious members of tho confederacy.-
Whatever therefore disturbs the liberal
tspirit Of the eoHpronises which esiat-
lilhed rule Of taxation so jus, and
equitable, and which experience has.
proved .nbe so we'll adapted 10 The genius
and habits Of our people, should be re-
ceived with the greatest caution aud dis
trust.
A bare inspection, Of the annexed table
Of the differences produced by The ratio
usnd in The deposiie act compared with
the results If distribution according to
the rstio Of direc, ,sxation, must satisfy
every unprejudieed mind, that the for
mer ratio eontravenes The spirit Of the
constitution, and prodcces degree Of
injustice in The operation Of the F,rdcral
Gorernmen, which would be fatal to the
hope Of perpetuating ii. By the ratio Of
direct iaxstinn. for example, the State Of
Drlewsre. in the {. lection of 93O, ,000.-
600. of revenue. would pay into the
Treasury Slss.7l6: und in the dis,ribu-
,ion of CSC. .OOO 600. she wuuld receive
back from the Government, according to
the ratio Il the deposite bill, the sum af
3306, l22: aud similar results would f0!-
low the cumparison between the small and
The large States throughout the Union:
thus realizing to the small States an adj
vantage which would b. doubtlsss as un-
acceptable 90 ,hen as motive for incorpo.
rating the principle in any system which
produce it, rs il would be inconsistent
uiih the rights and expectations Of the
large States. II wss certainly the inten.
tion Of that provision Of the constitution
which declares that =. all duties. imposis
and excise" shall :. be uniform through
out the United States" to make the bur.
dcns of taxation TALL equally upon the
people in whalcycr State Of The Union
they may reside. Bn, eha, would BE- the
valuc Of such an uniform rule if the mo-
pics raised by il could be Immediately
returned by different one which will
give Ia the people Of some States much
more, and t" those Of others much less,
than their tair proportions! Were The
| EA.ta
press terms. the imports. and mannfac.u-
res Of some portions Of country from all
duties. while il Imposed heavy ones on
others. the injustice could no, be greater.
Il would be easy 10 show how, by the
operation Of such principle, the large
States Of the Union would not only have
to contribute their just share towards The
support Of the Federal Government, but
also have 10 bear in some degree the
taxes necessary TO support the Govern
menis Of their smaller sisters; but il is
deemed unnecessary to state the details
where the general principle is so obvious.
| A system liable 10 such objections can
never be supposed To have been sanctioned
BY The trainers Of the constitution, when
they conferred on Congress the taxing
power: and feel persuaded that a ma
ture examination Of the subject will sasis-
fy every one that there are insur,Eounta.
bic difficulties in the operation Of any
plan which can be devised Of collecting
revenue Cor the purpose OF distributing il.
Co.: -rss is MY authorizes ). levy taxes
"0 pay tle debts and provide for tie com
mon de,noe o'sd general re4ors ot tie Cai-
ted States" There is no such provision
as would su.horize Congress to collect to-
gesher the properly Of the country unde,
the name Of revenue, for the purpose Of
dividing it equally or unequaIly among
the States ar the people. Indeed, il 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 powers granted to The Federal Go
vernment, is TO regard the absence Of ex-
press authority to touch subject so inn
portant end delicate as this is, as cquiva-
lent to prohihiton.
Even il our powers were less doubtful
in this respect. az The constitution now
stands, there arc considerations afforded
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