Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1838-08-21
Great Britain 1854.

Great Brtdtn-lS3l.
Customs eco Jos 703 Charges Go IL . per ct gross
Excise duties II .554,6 6.l3634 do.
Stamp do. ( per cent
Assessed Taxes in 1896 1898 per cent.
Post Office % do.
In France-Averose costs of collection Of revenue,
- 2per cent
In the IT, States. where paper has been the principal
medium, understand the costs Of collection varies he
tween four and five per cent. am told, do NJ, know
how for it is uue) tina, the gold and silver transfer
growing out Of the operations Of the last year. have cost
more than $50 ,000 although the collections mt
more than millions. Upon the score Of economy,
then the specie paying note system should be preferred
because its superior has been practically tested
One Of the reasons urged by the honorable gentleman
from South Carolina (Nlr PickensD in faVo. of the
adoption Of this is, that this Government has
no constitutional pocer to receive other medium
payment of the public dues than gold and sursr. =
This, TO me, neo proposition, md noret doerine,
and breaks upon the country in Tue face OF that
strucon of the Constitution which has been given to il
by the uninterrupted practice of the Government from
its founda,ion-an Interpretation Of the powers Of the
Constitution, made by its very trainers at the moment
of adoption and uniformly acquiesced in by the wis
est and patriotic statesmen who have been called
10 the Executive Administration, or the councils Of lecis
1a,ion-s construction which, under such
should not be lightly regarded rashy reversed There
is power impaired 10 this Government By the Con.
s,tuton, compel any Of its citizens receive any
other medium than gold and silver discharge their
debts and this power prohibited the States hy the
Constitution; but the Constitution nowhere prohibits the
from receiving paymentn any medium he peases,
even if it be brckbats and it would be monst,ous if
did, and while The Government is not bound receive
any other medium than gold and silver. canno, perceive
where it is ant why il should be, prohibited from voun.
tsy receiving any medium which its interest, its
sity, convenience might justify require The Con
stitulion empowers the Government TO borrow money,
yet does not prescribe the terms the in which
the loan shall be contracted this matter e entirely
the decision Of Government The Constitution empowers
the Government levy taxes but does prescribe the
subject the manner, or the mcdum this s ie 10 the dis
erection of the Government, as it should be- he
trolled by circumstances The Constitution mparts 10
the Government, the power 10 make war, 5nt it does
not define the number description Of troops or the
in which The war shall be conduced this is left
to the discretion OF the Government The Constitution
does not in express terms authorize The Government to
construct FORTS arsenas &c, yet these incidents to
tAswsr power, and is the right of the Government 10
receive any medium Of payment which may designate
incident the taxing power. To illustrate what might
be the danger such construction of the Constitution
let US ina CINE Suppose the Government engaged
in war; in any other state of embarrassment and from
he scarcity of gold and silver, i. could neither collect