The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-07-11

This subject, TO which we adVefteu III oui
last paper, is briefly but ably reviewed by Hon,
c. CUSHING, member Of the House OF Repre-
sentatives in the following letter addressed 10
his fellow-citizens assembled near the battle
ground of Bunker's Hill, in celebration OF the
4th Of July
WAsHINoroN, Goth June 1910.
Gentlemen IL have the honor to acknowledge tue
regret that nv officai syc'frnts "
attending this any other OF the celebrations OF that
day in Massachusetts,.
Permit me however 10 embrace this occasion TO adj
dress to you and through you to my tellow-czens at
large, some suggestions on topic of great interest
and appertanng the political questions of the time
Il has been of the vicious characteristics of the
present Administration and of its predecessor to be
perpetually meddlng with the business interests of
the country in order to try some empirical experiment
Of it, own the vitas of the community; pro-
iect following another, each absurd than the
other, and all successfully resulting in utter failure
The dictates of wisdom, the lessons of experience
have gone for nothing in the eyes of the administa
ton Ere this letter reaches you, its last experiment
that of absolutely separating the interests of the Go
vernmen from those of the People in protested ima-
ton of the policy of the elete and lettering despo-
tisms of Europe and Asia and reducing the currency
and the wages of labor to their standard will sup
pose, have become the law of the land.
But limitations have been thrown out, and have
some fears that this experiment (if the people tamey
submit to it, and if they do not MS trust they will
bring forth the Cincnnatus of the North Bend to
pel the Gaus from the capitol Is to be followed by
another not less disastrous its nature and to this
desire to call the attention of my countymcn that it
may contribute with other inducements, to nerve them
in the struggle to put down the present administra
ton
In the report of the Secretary Of the Treasury on
the Finances of the Sd December 1899, l. the fol-
lowing significant passage:
: uRnt when acting on these orc other cases I,on-
gress cannot consistently with It's views of duty to
the country, adopt the suggested and restrict
the amount of appropriations, whether ordinary
traordnary, the certain current revenue the only
remaining causes which defensible are these:
Either to provide for recalling portions Of the public
money deposited with the States 10 establish
adequate system of direct taraton, at re-
sort to the contingent power contemplated in the
listing laws concerning the tariff when changes be-
come necessary for purposes of and
the duty on several articles of luxury free
l beg you to mark the words | have underscored
and to reflect on their ominous import
The hint which they contain, Of what the purposes
of this administration, if it be allowed to remain in
power, may be- acquires force from the fact that
very distinguished Southern friend and advocate of
the Sub-trcasury bill, (Mr Rhett) recently in the
pending debate that subject avowed himself in ia
of the substitution Of direct tares in the place of
duties imports, to provide means TO carry on the
Federal Government
shall not discuss this future new project in the
obvious and familiar point of view Of its runous ope-
ration upon the industry Of the country, by placing
this at the mercy of foreign nations In this respect
it is worthy companion of the present PROJECT Of re-
ducng the wages of labor in this country the stand
ard Of tl1sc very foreign nations Your own rehec-
ton, and the disquisitlons of the day on kindred
TOPICS will indicate to you the BLASTING influence
which the substitution of direct taxes f. duties on
imports would have the business interests Of every
part Of the Union.
What wish to do on this occasion is TO fix the
public eye the political relations Of the scheme Oh
they may be learnt from the past experience of the
Federal Government.
The Constitution conters on Congress ample power
ito lay and collect tareS, duties imp9sts and ar
cisesn for the use Of the Federal Gov -nment-pro
vded only that all duties mposts and excuses laid by
Congress shall be uniform throughout the United
States; that or duty shall be laid exports
and that captation other direct taxes shall be APP
portioned among the States according to tRe,a
bsrs
1t was the early policy of the government to raise
its necessary revenues, far il might by of
duties imports or characterization for two classes
Of ns-frct industrial reasons the protection of
own industry against the inroad OF other nations
and secondly the political to which shall
hereafter advert
These considerations have always been so powerful |
that direct taxation has been resorted only at two
periods of the greatest exigency in the history Of the
government, one IN the case Of the defence Of the
country against apprchcndcd with France in 1917
and 1888 and the other IA the l1s war with England /
Direct taxation was ia each Of those cases irar.
measure.
The direct tax and internal duty acts Of 1897 and
1913 were speedily abolished for briefly as
signed by Mr. Randolph in his report 10 the House
Of Representatives on the sth March, 1902