The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1841-11-12
MIR WOODBURY. AND THE TEA AND
COFFEE TAN.

On Tuesday the Mercantile Journal asserted that
Nh Woodbury., while Secretary Of the Treasury,
governmental earnestly that Il duty Of hreniypcr
cent h0uid Lc imposed upon tea dad CQpce." We
yesterday pronounced this allegation 10 be vile
cnlunny, and in proof that 1t was so pointed to Mr.
Woodbury's contradiction Of it in luncu Hall:
but, instead of referring to that Speech or to Mr.
Woodbury's report 10 Congress in which the tear
nest recommendation" is alleged TO have been
made, either of which would have shown the fall
sity Of It's assertion, the J0arH0l copies, from the
Lynn freeman, m CItr0ci from the report, in
which Mr. Woodbury. suggests this tax on tea and
coffee, and other free articles, mode OF raising
revenue, which Congress might, if they saw fit,
adopt, although it was not one which he approved.
How he came 10 make this suggestion, will appear
from the following report given in the Post of the
18th of October, OF his remarks III Eancu Hall on
the evening previous:
"li has been chlrgcd against him, (Mr Wood
bury said) that he had at one time recommended
Il duty on tea and coffee, but the charge was false,
and it afforded him pleasure there TO give it so pub
lie rc(ulaton. While in the performance of his
duty as Secretary of the Treasury, and only actu-
utcd by Il sincere desire to reduce to the lowest
practicable point the public expenditures, and 10
check as far MS he could the spirit manifested by
Congress to lavish the national treasure upon the
many wild projects then in fashion, he was led TO
inform Congress, in one of his reports, that If the
lavish expenditures TO which he alluded were per-
sisted in, and the spirit Of the compromise act was
kept inyiolate, tax upon the necessarles of life
would be necessary; but this very suggestion was
accompanied by an ton of the mpOlicy and
injustice Of such n measure. lie could give, how
ever no better evidence that he was never in favor
Of such Il tax, than that il icds at his motion The
Senate struck tea and coffee out Of the rercnac
ill.,"
On reference to the report alluded tO--that Of
the 9Th December, lSl0--wc find that it sustains
in every respect Mr. Wuodbury's declaration. One
extract will be sufficient TO show that it was re-
irenchment, not taxation, which he earnestly re-
commended"
ain the opinion Of the undersigned, the best
mode of providing for this case IAN anticipated de-
fciency in the treasury would be, without either
an extension of this kind, or n loan, or further
issue Of Treasury notes, or change in the tariff;
but merely by lcsscning the appropriations for the
service of lsll below the estimates, or by passing
such dcclautory clauses as to the present tariff,
and such acts as 10 the public lands as have here
tOlnre been urged on the consideration of Congress
"Ihc arguments in favor of some further d.
intuition in our expenditures, and the general
items in which The reduction is considered most
compatible with the public interests, were SO fully
exhibited in the last two annual reports as 10 render
n repetition Of them unnecessary.
"It was then believed that the laws could be
altered so as TO admit Of safely curtaing the ap-
preparations at once 10 such extent that the cx-
pcnditures need not exceed in the aggregate, sew
enleen or eighteen millions yearly. After more of
the pensions terminate, and the removal Of the In
dams j. completed, they could be benelically con-
,ractcd to even less than that amount. Such a
reduction as is first ddrericd 10, seems therefore
proper 10 be adopted nor, since it could be effect
ed without the probability of inj,y to any useful
national establishment. would promote public fru-
galitv, and supersede The necessity either of higher
hrVs, direct tdres, or permanent DEBTS"
Boston Post.