The Illinois free trader. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1840-1841, 1840-12-04

wv 'i''iN VI tltt country by suCn n
Ubiquitous system large and excessive
revenues are collected, and, consequently
wild and eXtravagant appropriations made
If, III Government like ours, based upon
the virtue and intelligence, and admins.
tered by the will of its citizens, we arc
to be told that they will not tolerate the
most economical. certain and efecmal
mode of discharging their liabilities, then.
indeed, we are compelled, however re-
Iuctant, to subscribe to the federal doctrine
OF their incompetcncy TO regulate their
own affairs, and constrained to acknow-
ledge that we only enjoy the name and
shadow and not the reality of republican
ism.
But being, as | am, firmly persuaded
that they are always patriotic in their sem
timcnts; instead of temporary expedients,
have no doubt they would gladly en-
brace the most direct and judicious plan
to relieve themselves from any embarrass-
mcnts in which they may be involved.
This would especially be true if they
were always kept acquainted with their
real condition, which would place them
upon their guard, and enable them to
avoid many calamiliss which otherwise
would be cntailed upon them. cannot.
therefore, consistently with that duty
owe to the public welfare or my private
feelings recommend TO your favorable
an increase of our banking
capital as source of revenue or for any
purpose whatever. | do not believe the
people require it, or, if they did, that ii
would afford them any assistance.
The question hence arises whether we
shall resort to direct taxation. am
clearly of opinion that it would be better
to postpone the adoption Of this policy
for the ensuing two years. Although an
increase of taxes may ultimately be ineyi-
table, yet, under existing laws, the amount
collected will annually become greatly
The vast quantity of public lands enter
ed in 1885, 6, 7 and g, which are not
yet taxable the continued increase of
wealth pouring into our State through
the channels Of emigration and trade, and
the present scarcity of money, point out
the propriety of making loan to meet
the interest upon our internal improve
ment debt until your next regular SEES
slon.-Thc quantity of lands entered du-
ring the year 1885 and 1886 exceeds
5,220,22 acres. Estimating its value
ut 50 per acre, the additional revenue
which will annually arise from this
source under the present law, after the
of one and two years will be
$52 ,292 &c, and an undminished aug
from lands entered in 1897 and
. will be continued and so on continual
~, at less rapid rate, however, for ma
ny years to come.
BY setting apart. and exclusively APP
plying the proceeds arising from this con-
tinual, unlailing and increasing source Of
revenue to the liquidation Of the interest
of our internal Improvement debt, and by
rigid economy in the public cx-
pcnditures of the State, the lands now
taxable, together with the personal pro-
porty, will ere long yield a surplus,
which added to the above resources, will
go far towards the payment of that inter-
est as it accrucs. Under this policy the
augmentation Of taxes, when rcsortcd to,
would be comparatively of inconsiderablc
amount. In connection with this subject
| would suggest the propriety of reducing
the county levics oftaXes, and in the same
or less proportion, increasing the State
taxes. BY amending the revenue law SO
as TO limit the county tax to one fifth
and increasing the State tax to one lourtl
per centum, the taxes would be reduced
instead Of increased, and the couutie.
would still, with proper economy, be sup
Piled with means to NEE. all necessary
expenditures.
In the meantime, OF before resort i,
had TO an increase of taxes, the State may
derive aid from other sources. Mr.. Cal
houn, of South Carolina, at the last SEES
sion Of Congress, introduced into tina
body bill ceding to the States the publit
land, lying within their respective lin
its, on condition of their paying into tn
National Treasury, on the FIRST of Fcbru
airy annually. one half of the proceed
arising from the sales, reserviug the othe
half TO themselves. The adoption of thi
measure would be nothing but an act O
justice to the new States, and coming, a
it does, from distinguished southern
Senator, it exhibits the liberal and en-
lightened policy of the statesman. |