The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-03-26

keeping these funds, nor does Congress make any
distinction in making appropriations. From every
view of the question, then, there is no distinction
other source, and every distinction which may,
hereafter, be made is wholly arbitrary, much SO
as to say that all the revenue collected north of
Mason and DiXon's line shall be distributed among
the States, thereby making Il distinction between
those collected north and those south of any par
tcular line, Seeing then, that the three millions to
be distracted from the treasury by the distribution
Of the proceeds Of the sales of the public lands
must be supplied by taxes in addition 10 the pres
cnt revenue, and, that those taxes must be levied
on impost and, that all taxes on imposts necessa-
ry suffer a dimnulOn of about ~ per cent in
passing from the pockets of the consumers to the
national chest, we ask, in the name of plain CON-
mon sense, what are we to gain by it, Are we
to be humbuged into the support of a measure of
this character, by being told of magnicen, internal
improvements? That by this splendid scheme of
the great orator, Windsor and Burlington are to be
brought within almost speaking distance by the aid
of steam: lfso, we ask, after all, who pays for it !?
Where Is the money ultimately to come frOm -
We ask this question, seriously, because, if there
is any subject on which the people feel seriously
it Is the subject of taxation, and it is one which
they ought to act understandingly. Let me tell
you, men of the mountains, you consumers, YOU
taxpayers, it comes from YOUR POCKETS, but
it passes iOm you in the shape of duties impercen-
tibIy and receives a severe deduction before it
reaches the national chest. Is it any consolation
to you, that all, which reaches the United States
treasury, is returned to your Stale, though not to
yourselves that is, all except the ~ per cent cost
of collection goes to your State treasury from the
National treasury. Arc the people prepared to tax
themselves, for internal Improvement, or for any
other purpose, except to defray the necessary eN-
penscs of the State government and to pay the in
torest on our own debt: lfso, let direct tax be
laid by your own Legislature, Instruct your rep
resenatyes 10 vote tax ON your polls and rnruble
estates equal to the share of Vermont out of this
gambling fund, and then you will understand who
pays for your Internal Improvement, People of
Vermont DO you not know that the collectors of
Vermont collect your State taxes for two per cent,
instead of72? Much then would be slycd by grant
ing and collecting your own way. But the people
would not submit to it in that way of collection.
There must be fraud 10 blind their eyes or the
scheme will not succeed. The people will not
stand and have their pockets rlcd in the open face
Of day wihouta why and wherefore. Is it pos
sibIc, then, that they can, now, after all the fumes
Of hard cider have evaporated, tamely and passive
y submit to downright imposition and believe
that this land distribution system is an act of gem
arosy to the States, of which the great orator and
alher Of the American system is the author and |
inisher'
1t would seem that it cannot require great sa-
5acity to sec that, instead Of an act Of generosity
t Is only exercising power, indirectly, which the
Constitution would not allow Congress to exercise
lirecy; that it is eyylnga revenue in and for tho
states. To one unaccuslomcd to the arts, intrigue
nd tinessc and legerdemain of great political
amber it would seem strange indeed that propo-
ition should be made to distribute 70 the States
wo or three millions of dollars from an exhausted
rcasury and the nation twenty millions in debt as
lr Webster contends yet it is no more strange
han true that these two cO-workcrs are sustaining
rccisely these two positions But the tariff re-
son of the tariff; that is the objec-a protective
ystcm is their darling object, and surplus rcyc-
ne, once more, is earnestly sought after. The
iree great federal projects run together, give aid
nd support to each other and the one will not \
lstain itself without the help of the other two
We mean internal Improvements by the general
oyernmcnt either, directly or indirectyl either by
ic direct acts of the general government or by dis
ibution for tha. purpose. \ protective, and of
purse an excessive tariff, which shall furnish ,
lrpus revenue, and National Bank to keep and |
scount upon the surplus revenue, and speculate Z
pom the funds thus drawn from the pockciSof the
cope. We ask, ngain, are the people prepared, -,
ter being cheated out of taxes under prctencC of l.
wing 1t back TO them again, TO pay excessive taxes
supply the vaults of National Bank 10 enable .
mt gigantic institution TO introduce fluctuations, +
spenslons and assumptions at pleasure Are the o
'ope of Vermont willing TO pay taxes to build up t,
ID sustain an institution which shall control not 4"
NY the many markets, but also the price Of the Il
owlh and products Of their farms, nay, more, to
ablc one individual ",o sit in his arm chair II
ID make his power fall all over the nation" IL ~
cy are satisfied with all this they have only 10 ii
rrah for "Tippccanoc and Tyler too" guzzlc "
I'd cider and sing songs, and, in the end, taxes v
II be plenty and the great Bank will be gov y, -
nment of itself. Those who are satisfied with :,
IS state of things should be prepared like humble it
ssas, TO hiss the rod that ncts the stripes upon nc
3m. GALUsuA. =,
The first number of Vol. NJ of the quario Ntc- nc
,rker comes to us enlarged and printed upon
lutilul paper and new type. 1t contains the ", :"
Of n;rLo,ss ,,,,. ,-o.l. . -,