Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1840-12-07
NEW Observation-Disclosures,
DEBT-TARIFF

The new administration of the national govern
nent VIII come into power, IN some respects az
least under very embarrassing circumstances
They will find deranged currency, national
debt, and an empty treasury; with an accruing
revenue inadequate to meet the greatly increased
expenses OF the government. To extricate them.
selves from these difficulties, in which, without
any fault of their own, they will find themselves
placed 1t will be necessary, as speedily as possible
to introduce economy, by looping off all sinecure
offices and cnrtailing all unnecessary expenditures
to recover as far as possible, the public moneys
from the hands OF nnfaithlul agents-to stop the
various leaks from the public treasury and to pro-
vide revenue sufficient to meet the current ex-
penses of economical administration OF the
government.
The introduction of strict accountability and
punctuality in the collection and disbursement of
the public moneys-the prevention of the various
peculaticns by those who handle the national
treasure-and the dismissal Of unnecessary place
men, will devolve upon the President and his
principal agents, the Heads of the Departments
and upon Congress will devolve the duty of pro-
vldng a revenue adequate to the current demands
which should be legltimatey made upon il, These
duties, far the Executive is concerned, will
he plain and simple, though, TO some extent pain
full or unpleasant: but that which will devove
upon Congress is one upon which much difference
of opinion is to be apprehended
1t is notorious that the current revenue is not
adequate TO meet the current expenses of the gov.
eminent, and an increase of duties upon imports
from foreign countries, resort to direct taxa
ton, seems to be the only alternative by which the
expenses OF the government can he met aud an
increase of the national debt avoided. That the
people of the United States will patiently submit
to drect, or involuntary taxation for the support
OF the national government, in addition to that
which they are compelled TO pay for the support
OF the state governments, we do not believe nor
do we believe it necessary or expedien, that they
should do so. We do not assert that Congress
can properly, consttutionally levy duties on
the importation of foreign articles, solely for the
purpose of building up manufactures in our cOun-
try ; but we do assert that Congress has the
stutiona power TO levy import duties sufficient
to meet the expenses of economical admins
tration OF the government, and that in levying
such duties, that power may with proprety be so
exercised as incidentally to afford protection to
the great agricultural and manufacturing interests
of the nation. We admit that in adjusting tariff
so as TO accomplish these great objects ithout
doing any injustice 10 any section OF the Union,
or any class of its citizens, some difficulty will be
encountered A diversity of opinion may and
probably will exist as TO The details of the plan
but, in regard to the great principles involved, it
seems to ns, that all who possess liberal views,
united with spirit of conclliation, must agree
Ohio Stale Journal.