The pilot and transcript. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1840-1841, 1840-07-18
w,svINGreN. 29th June, ls40.

18th of July.
WASHINGTON, 29th June, 1910.
aGentlemen,--I have the honor to acknowledge
the receipt of your invitation to attend the eel
ebration of the approaching Fourth OF July, at
Cambridge and / regret that my official enga ge-
rments here prevent my attending this any 9TH
Ter of the celebrations of that day in Massachu-
sets.
Permit me, however to embrace this occasion
to address to you, and through you to my fellow
citizens at large, some suggestions on topic OF
great interest," and appertaining to the pollticai
questions of the time.
1t has been one of the vicious characteristics
of the present Administration, and OF its pFedc-
cessor to be perpetually meadliRg with the busi-
ness interests of the country, in order to try some
empirical experiment of its own on the vitals oil
the community; one project following another;
each more absurd than the other, and all success
siveIy resulting in utter failure. The dictates
of wlsdosq, the lessons of experience, have gone
for nothing in the eyes of the administration
Ere this letter reaches you, its last experiment,
that df absolutely separating the nterests OF the
Government from those of the People, In probes
sed imitation sf the policy of the efete and tot
neutrality-suspicious. of Europe and Asia, and re.
ducingsthe currency and the wages of labor to
their standard, will, suppose, hare become tkt
law of sshe land.
But intirnations haSre been thrown out, and
have soue fears that this experiment, Of the
/ tyast tbey will bring forth the Cincinnatus o
nc North Bend, to expel the Gauls from the
! canitoll is to be followed by another not less
disastrous in its nature; and to this desire te
call TIE attention OF my countrymen7f.ha 1t may
contribute,-svith other inducements to nerve
them in the struggle to pat down the present ad
mnistration.
In the report of the Secretary of the Treasury
nm the Finances, of the Sd Decembers 1889, Ii
tho following ii significant passage:
eBut, when acting these or other cases
ff,opgress cannot, consistently with its views o
duty to the country, adopt the course suggested
and restrict the amount of appropriations, sv ne
ther ordinary or extraordinary, to the certain
current revenue, theonly remaining causes wkici
seem defcnsible areithese: Eitker to provide 10
uecaling portions OF the public money now de
posited with the States, to ESTABLISH dht 'afe
saalate system Of direct taxation, at once re
sort to the contingent power contemplated in th
existing laws concerning the tariff, Syhen changes
become necessary for purposes of Sevenue, ant
restore the duty several articles of luxury
now Free
I beg YOU to mark the works kave under
rcd and to reflect on their ominous import
The hint, which they contain, of what the
purposes Of this administration, if it be allowed
r. remain in power, may be, acquires force from
the fact, that very distinguished Seutherr
fr;end and advocate of the Sub-Treasury bill
mr. Rbett) recently, in the pending debate or
that subject, avowed himself in favor of the sub
sfifutioia of direct tares in the place Of duties
en- imports, to provide means to carry on thu
Federal Government.
shall not discuss this future new project IN
the Obvious and familiar point of view, of it
ruinous operation upon the industry Of the eoun
1 try, BY placing this at the mercy Of foreign ma
tons. In this respect, it is a worthy companion
| Of the present project, of reducing the wages Q
labor in this country to the standard Of thos'
very foreign nations. Your own reflection, an'
the disquisitions of the day on kindred topics
will indicate to you the blasting influence whicl
the substitution of direct taxes for duties on i'm
ports would have on the business interests 9
every part of the Union.