Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1837-03-15

" ~ 10 q So AbNAAA AASAh
Congress has no right under the con.
stitution, to take money from the peo-
pie, unless it is required to execute
some one of the specific powers intrus-
ted to the Government and if they
raise more than is necessary for such
purposes, it is an abuse Of the pow
er Of taxation, and unjust and OPP
pressive. 1t may, indeed, happen that
the revenue will sometimes exceed the
amount anticipated when the taxes
we're laid. When, however, this is as
~certained, it is easy t reduce them (;
and, in such a case, it is unquestiona-
bly, the duty Of the Government to re-
duce them, for no circumstance can
justify it in assuming a power not CIV
en- to it by the constitution, o in ia
king away the money of the people
when it is not needed for the legitimate
wants Of the Government.
Plain as these principles appear to
be, you will yet find that there is a
constant effort to induce the General
Government TO go beyond the limits of
its taxing power. and to impose n
cessary burdens upon the people. Ma
ny powerful interests are continually
at work to procure heavy duties on
commerce, and to swell the revenue
beyond the real necessities oil the pub
lie service ; and the country has al.
ready felt the injurious effects of their
combined influence. They succeeded
in obtaining a tariff Of duties bearing
most oppressively on the agricultural
and laboring classes of society, and
producing a revenue that could not be
usefully employed within the range Of
the powers conferred upon Congress /;
and, in order to fastcn upon the people
this unj ust and unequal system of tax
alton, e%xtravagant schemes of internal
Improvement were got up, in various
quarters, to squander the money, and
TO purchase support. Thus, n un-
constitutional measure was intended to
be upheld by another, and the abuse Of
the power of taxation was to be main
tanned by usurping the power Of ex-
pending the money in internal improve
ments. You cannot have forgotten the
severe and doubtful struggle through
which we passed, when the Executive
Department of the Government, by its
veto, ~endeavored to arrest this prodigal
scheme of injustice, and to bring back
the legislation of Congress to the boun-
daries prescribed by the constitution.
The good sense and practical judg-
ment 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 influences is, |
trust, finally overthrow.
The result ofthis decision has been
felt in the rapid extinsuishment of the
public debt, and the large accumulation
of q surplus in the treasury, notwith-
standing the tariff was reduced, and is
now very far below the amount origin
ally contemplated by its Advocates
But rely upon it, the design to collect
an e~Xtravagant revenue, and to burden
you with taxes beyond the economical
wants of the Government is not vet
abandoned. The various interests
which have combined together TO i'm.
pose a heavy tariff, and to produce an
overlooking treasury, are toe strong
and have too much at stake, to surren.
der the contest.
The corporations and wealthy indi-
viduals who are engaged in large man.
ufacturing establishments, desire a high
tariff to increase their gains. Design.
ing politicians will support it, TO coRci-
late their favor, and to obtain the
means of p%rofuse expenditure, for the
purpose ofpurchasing influence in 9TH
or quarters; and since the people have
decided that the Federal Government
cannot be permitted to employ its in
come in internal Improvements, efforts
will be made to seduce and mlslead the
citizens of the several States, by hold
ing out TO them the deceitful prospect
of benefits TO be derived from a surplus
revenue collected by the General Go
yernment, and annually divided among
the States. And il, encouraged by
these fallacious hopes, the States should
disregard the principles Of economy
which ought TO characterize every re-
publican Government, and should in
dulge in lavish expenditures exceeding
their resources, they will, before long,
find themselves oppressed with debts
which they are unable to pay, and the
temptation will become irresistible to
support a high tariff, in order to obtain
a surplus for distribution. Do not al.
low yourselves, my fellow-citizens, to
be misled on this subject. The Fede-
raj Government cannot collect a sur
plus for such purposes, without viola.
ting the principles of the constitution,
and assuming powers which have not