Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1837-03-14

conferred on Tie federal gouernmenl 50 iu-
bic 10 abuse as the taxing power. The most
nroductve and convenient sources of reve-
nue. were necessarily given to 1t, That II
,nirht be able to perform the important du-
lien imposed upon it and the taxes winch
Il laws upon commerce being concealed
from the real payer in the price OF the ORTIZ
Gle, they 10 not so resdilyattract the alien
ton Of the people as smaller sums demand
ed from then. directly by the mXgatner'-
But The taa imposed on goods enhances ny
so much the price OF the coinmodliY 10 the
consumer; s., a3 many 81 THESE duiIes are
imposed on articles OF necessity, which arc
d,ii, a. ,d bv the rreat body Of the people.
The money raised by these mposis is drawn
s;o,n theIr packets. Congress las no right
vaIer the constitution, TO take money from
the people, unless il is required TO execute
some on, Of the specific powers intrusted
20 the Government; and if they raise more
than IS necessary for such purposes, II IS an
abuse of the power Of taxation, and unjust
and cppressive. 1t may, indeed, happen,
tbat The revenue will sometimes exceed the
amount anticipated when the taxes were
laid WHEN, however, this is ascertained,
ills easy to reduce them; & in such case
IA ia Internationally the duty OF the govern
tilttIt 10 IHNitNl tliNitAs iNi ~ w NN"'-'
can Justify it in assuming power not Civ
on ~ il by the constitution, nor in taking
avag The money Of the people, when 1t is
not needed for the legitimate wants OF the
people.
Plain rs these principles appear 10 be,
Won will vet find that there is constant Ell
f,rt 10 induce the General Government to
go beyoad the limits Of its taxing power,
and to impose unnecessary burdens upon
the people. Many powerful interests are
continually ct work 20 procure heavy duties
on commerce, and 10 swell the revenue be
yond the real necessities OF the public ser
vice and the country has already felt the
Injurious effects of their combined influence
They succeeded in obtaining taritl OF du-
ties bearing most oppresSIveiy on the agrl-
cultural and laboring classes OF society, and
producing a revenue that could not be use
fully employed within the range Of the pow
ers conferred upon Congress and, IN order
10 fssten upon the people this unjust and I'M
equal system OF iaxation,- eXiravagant
schemes of internal improvement were got
M, IN various quarters, to sQander the mon
ey, and to purchase support. Thus, one
unconstitutional measure was intended to
be upheld by another, and the abuse Of the
power Of taxation was 10 be maintained by
usurpinr the power of expanding the mon
ey in internal improvements. You cannot
have forgotten the severe and doubtful strug-
gle, through which we passed, when the
Executive Department Of the Government.
by its veto, endeavored to arrest this prodi-
gal scheme Of injustice, and 10 bring back
the legisia ton Of Congress to the boundaries
prescribed by the Constitution. The good
sense and practical Judgment Of the people,
when the subject was brought before them
sustained the course OF the Executive and
this plan Unconstitutional expenditure for
the purposes Of corrupt influence, is, trust
ouerthrown.
The result of this decision has been felt in
the rapid extinguishment of the public debt
and the large accumulation OF a surplus in
The treasury, Notwithstanding the tariff was
reduced, and is now very far below the a.
mount originally contemplated by its advo-
Gates. But, rely upon it, the design to col
lect an extravaganza revenue, and to burden
YOU with taxes beyond the economical wants
OF the Government, is net yet abandoned
The various interests which have combined
together to impose n heavy tarlit, and tc
produce an OVERLOOKING treasury, are toe
strong, ard have too much at stake to sur
render the contest. The corporations anc
wealthy individuals who are engaged Il
large manufacturing establishments, desire {
high tariHto increase their gains. Design
ing politicians will support it, TO conciate
their favor, and 10 obtain the means of pro-
fuse expenditure, for the purpose ofpurchas
ing influence ia other quarters; and since
the people have decided that the Fedora
Government cannot be permitted 10 employ
its income in internal improvements, efforts
l., 4,ft
zens Of the several Suites, by holding on
10 them the deceitiul prospect Of benefits (
be derived from a surplus revenue collected
by the General Government and annually
divided arnonc the States. And II, encour-
aged by these iaacious hopes, the State
should disregard the principles Of economy
which ougt to characterize every Republican
Government and should indulge In lavish
expenditures exceeding their resources
they will, before long, find themselves op
pre- ssed with debts which they are unabb
10 pay, and the temptation will become il
resistabEc To support high tariff, in oric
10 obtain surplus for distribution. ID
not allow yourselves, my lellow-et2ens t.
be mised on this subject. The Fedora
Government cannot collect a surplus 10
such purposes, without violating the prin
ciplcs Of the constitution, and assuming
powers which have not been granted. It is
moreover, system Of injustice, and if per
sisted in, will inevitably lead TO corruption
and must end in ruin. The surplus reve
nue. will be drawn from the pockets Oft
people, from the farmer, the mechanic am
the laboring classes Of society; bni who vi
receive il when distributed among the States
where is il 10 be Disposed ofby leading Stat
politicians, VINO have friends to favor, an