Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1836-12-16


plus collected there must, therefore, BIZ
made up OF moneys or property from othel
statee. Thus the wealth and business o
every region from which these surplu:
funds proceed, must be TO some extent in
jured. while that Of the plucc where the
funds re concentrated, and are employed
in banking, are proporlionobly extended.
But both in making the transfer Of the
funds which are first necessary TO pay the
duties and collect the surpIus-and in ma
king the re- transfer, which becomes Dcccs-
sary when the time arrives for the dlsrbu
ton ofthat surplus there is q considerable
period when the funds cannot be brought
into use;. and it is manifest that, besides
the loss inevitable from such an operation,
its tendency is to produce fluctuations in
the business of the country. which are al
wnys productive Of speculation, and detri
mental 10 the interests Of regular trade
Argument can scarcely be necessary to
show that q measure Of this character
ougb; not to receive further legislative en-
couragement.
BY examining the practical operation of
the ratio for distribution, adopted in the
deposie bill of the last session, we shall
discover other features that appear equally
Objectionable. Lot it be assumed, for the
sake ofsargument, that the surplus moneys
10 be deposited with the States have been
collected, and belong to them, in the ratio
OF their federal representative population
an assumption founded on the fact that any
deficiencies in our future revenue from i'm
posts and public lands, must be made up
byNirect taxes collected from the states
in that ratio. 1t is proposed TO distribute
the surplus, say $40, 1000, 900, not accord
ing to the ratio in which it has been colec
ted and belongs to the people of The States,
in tn at Of their votes in the colleges Of cleo
tors Of President and Vice President. The
effect Of a distribution upon that ratio is
shown by the annexed table, marked A.
By an examination of that table. it will
be perceived that in The distribution Of n
surplus Of 100000 dollars, upon that
basis there is great departure from the
principle which regards representation as
the true measure of taxation: and il will
be found that the tendency Of that depart
ure will be to increase whatever ineqnoli.
ties have been supposed to attend the ope
ration of our federal system in respect to
it's bearings upon the different interests of
the Union.
In making the basis of representation the
basis of taxation, the trainers of The CO si.
tuition intended to cqualize the burdens
which are necessary 10 support the Govern
ment and The adoption of that ratio. while
il accomplished this object. was also the
means Of adjusting other great topics arts.
ing out of tic conflicting views respecting
the political equality Of the various mem
bers of the confederacy. Whatever there.
fore disturbs the liberal spirit of tn, com.
promises which established rule of taxa.
tion so just and eqni' able, and which cxpe.
Renee has proved to be so well adapted to
the genius and habits Of our people, should
be received with the greatest caution and
and distrust.
bare inspection. in the annexed table,
OF the differences produced by the ratio
used in the deposiie act, compared with the
results Of distribution according TO the
ratio of direct taxation, must satisfy every
unprejudiced mind, that the former ratio
contravenes the spirit of the constitution,
and produces degree Of injustice in the
operation ofthe Federal Government which
would be fatal to The hope of perpetunting
it. BY the ratio of direct taxation, for ex-
ample, the State Of Delaware, in the col
lection Of $50 900 900 of revenue; would
pay into the Treasury Sl8s,7i6; and in
distributioe Of $50 O0O,O she would re-
ceive back from the Government, accord
ing 10 the ratio of the deposite bill, tie
the sum OF S306l2e: and similar results
would follow The comparison between the
small and the large States throughout the
Union; thus realizing to the small states an
advantage which would be doubtless as IN
acceptable 10 them as motive for incorpo
rating the principle in any system which
would produce it, as 1t would be inconsist
ent with the rights and expectation OF the
large States. 1t was certainly the intention
OF that provision Of the constitution which
declares that "all duties, imposis and excl.
scs" shall "be uniform throughout the Uni
ted States" to make the burdens of taxation
iaIl equally upon the people in whatever
Slate Of the Union they may reside. But
what would be The value Of such an uniform
rule it the moneys raised by it could be i'm
mediately returned by different one which
WI! give 10 the people Of some States
much more, and TO those of others much
less. than their fair proportions? Were
The Federal Government to exempt. IN ex-
press terms, the imports, products, and
manufactures OF some portions ofihe coun
try from all duties, while it imposed heavy
ones on others, the Injustice could not be
greater.
~S."o"'u VIC SuSy " eHOW now, Nv inc OD.
Grafton of such principle, the large States
ofihe Union would not only have to con.
tribute their just share towards the supper,
OF the Federal Government. but also to
have to bear in some degree the taxes ne
cessary to support the Governments of,hcir
smaller sisters; but it is deemed unncccs-
'ary 10 state the details where the general
principle is so obvious.
A system liable 10 such object ions can
never be supposed TO have been sanctioned
by the trainers of the constitution, when
they conferred on Congress the taxing pow.
er: and feel persuaded that a mature ex
animation Of the subject will satisfy every
one that there are insurmountable Difficult.
ties in the operation of any plan which can
be devised Of collecting revenue for the
purpose of distributing it, Congress is
only authorized to levy taxes ITO nay
the debts and prouide for The common
defence and general toeI(dre pf The Uaued