Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-09-07


rcrrr H. the iu.iaeGgc Vi -" protective ''.'S v" ~ 80
Distribution .!i ,ay ,ase II necessary 'i+' " s'''
,,l,rcs ~ continue. tine 8 its"iahl ~ 'ie - I 81"
~ Il he tie ptoui Ut liz s'nuhh'ss' ~ We '.'.' -
nue by ouiY upon an aftci" oil import, WIZ" e'"'
- ,,,,,on g iii an a;tci" ri domestic n'annacrfe'
,-r conssauenc. is, that the p-:cc OF The do
c ,,,,ce IN the markets. raised Il HE price al ne
,or,,d article whe The price oil The latter mas Ut
regulated by the duty imposed upon III that duty n',n9
,,rt ID. the cost market. Ihs increase ~ WV
nr,ce OF The domestic article 10 its consumer, ~ c"h>c
queuce Of the duty upon the foreign ccnrehh
I'D article IS an entire loss 10 the c"'inunis AZ We
excess of price goes into the pocket - h' a's''c ~
nnC,c,ur,r and not into the rnc Treasury aud there
fore while il is taken from Inc pockets oil the people,
does mi contribute 10 Tie distribution fund, or IN any
,,,v d the policy which II. 10 tins extent,
them this bin must tax the country without any
4, IN ,ts own policy and for the mere advantage u w
,,rnf,c,,rnr interests Is this one OF The OBJECTS ei
its friends, and Of the elements o. Us support
In The same connection is another tendency oil ths
messnr. The distribution To the States IN lheir cor
nor,, c,n,ces and the avnwed object and great pur-
~ : -, aid and assist and strengthen the sinking Gre
III, nj the debtor States; 10 give them something 10
meet the claims for interest now making against 'hcm
upon existing loans, something to"a.os Tue pay w ~
OF their debts already contracted ms proposed 70
no dons no the indirect application OF the powers "i
- f.,pms nj 10 impose taxes the shape al duties
unon ;mnor,s The honorable Senator from Virginia,
rN rcher in his argument, has discussed the reia-
live tendencies of the two modes oil taxation, the direct
md Indirect, and has told with great confidence, that
The indirect is far the cheapest OF the two II is lar
Tho mos, ;nsidious far the least pal pabe its eXactions
AMI oo,ress,ons far the least likely incur the cen.
sure and condemnation Of vigilant and jealous po'
ME but that il is the cheapest yet To be show
to mv satisfaction That IL is the most dangerous the
most unequal and the most UNJUST aud most especially
when applied TO the existing Slase uepls, Is eas'i
strable.
Ijpon what are these debts 3charge now: Upon the
taxable property of the Stale which has contracted ana
owes them 1.-THE State be- lr,t 10 pay them the taxes
IN meet the payments lie levied upon that pro-
nertv and il will be made pay the debts in Just pro
portions. Then the man worth one hundred ihouSah"
dollars will nav one hundred times much a. the mn"
worth but one thousand dollars. THIS Will De ]ns'
measure OF pa ynent especially 50 for the existing @.a
debts These debts have been contracted, almost WIN
out solitary exception, % construct "o,Ss " No.
improvements roads, canas, and railroads, within Inc
indebted States The greatest benefit sought anu eS-
oec,cd from these works ~ the increased 'aiue "
give to the property, and especially 10 Tue sou - W
State That property, therefore ana especially ''''
coil viii, us enhanced value, are the peculiarly ap
,nnr,,a objects Tor taxation pay the expenses oi
,ha.a works and the debts contracted Tor Their CON
,ruc,ion In this way, and in tins way only, can h
o,r connection between the burdens and benefits Of
The internal Improvement policy be preserved.
VIVA, classes of the citizens d. State are peculiarly
nd permanently benefited hi these works: Is 4 mol
c Observation-Disclosures and most especially the oaIrrs
If real estate And should not they BE- made 10 pay IL
least their proportion oil the Ia. according to TIE ~
creased value of their property, when taxes must 90
levied TO nav for and support tie works? Oi wa' nc-
ne6 are the cannls and railroads Of State Ia rs day
laborers who are without property: They may be car
culated TO cheaper To such man, TO very liii''d
extent the necessaries of life, hn, the probabilities are
that the wages Of his labor will be made to conform !"
any influence ii that Sort TO leave hun exactly
where he would have been without such Improvements
no uru he equally
of wealth, the extensive planter aud anhhnlder' ~
wards the taxes which The construction ot these WORKS
has rendered necessary LIT HIM pay according !" ms
substance, his taxable property; and should IL p'y
more: Wll equality and justice take more from MN;
Most certainly not.
And VT the policy Of this bill is take more, much
more, from him to lax him equally with the n'"n Of
wealth and the extensive owner OF real estate lis c.
feet is to he To relieve the property Of the STATE rop
the tax, and impose II, PR caphn, upon the ci''ArnS
Instead OF lcvyng Il upon the lands and goods ~ i
citizens at their fairly assessed values IS TO - entire
~ levied upon the necessarcs Of life, which the poor
must consume equally with the rich upon TIE ten. anu
coffee and sugar and SALT which are unnn The tables
of all and which, in this country, and rndt. nui inSl-
tntons should be permitted TO remain upon t' iah.,s
of all What equality, what listce, Is there IN such
measure of taxation iof such object IN thu levy
inc taxes TO pay for c1nlii an. railroads, which are |"
enhance 10 the man al wealth the value 81 ms tnsseE
sions while they wholly suppressed. the employment a.
many classes labore!s Under This mode OF collecting
In. taxes to pay for these works, the worth ts nun
ded thousand dollars may, nay, IN thousands oil san
ces will be made 10 pay lcss sum than the ma, orti
one thousand dollars, NY than the man not ""IV on'
cent oil property III the world, and whose h'ns arg
his only fortune The poor have wives and chi!iren,
and families as wei! the rich, and those wives and
children and families must be ciniheG and fed They
must have tea and coffee and sugar, and salt ana i!cs
should have them fnr the time has gonp IN THIS roIn
try when these articles to be talked about n Inxn
ries. They among our nec"ssaes oi most nhiveT
sal consumption and must and should remain So; and
vet they are be selected the objects Tor aSatini
10 raise money to pay lie debts Of r States, cnn,raci
cd 10 construct works ut internal improvement. de
signed and calculated only To Ecnet ,h"s" wiio hold
property. The taxing p"":er oi tins Government IS tt
be diverted from its Legitimate exercise t. raise Fedora
revenue and be welded for the sole and exclusive
use and benefit Of the States and that, too in way tc
work this fragrant Inequality, and injustice, and cruel
": and al, this be done 10 shield the mri"rs o
the State Legislatures from the appropriately OF eSer
csing the equitable taxing power ui their respective
States and 10 protect the propcyoldcrs {" tn" States
from the payment o their Just proportion "l The taxes
required 10 berac their state Governments from the
embarrassmen,s into which the fostering Of ihci' ln:c
rests has involved them.
am aware Mr. President, that ihIs bill - 10 pass
this body and that il is To become in FORM The
law Of the land Ii is too late 10 reason against the
combination IL interests pecunary and political, which
are hearing fnrYard this industrious policy; but can
wise and Jus, people givc 10 it their sanction Wal
they consent grind tho pnor mi" the dust IL taxa
ton, prive them IL comfort, that Ia" rici
may escape just burden. nope and trus; not
/ NV principal object rising TO call The alien
ton of the Senate, Of the House, Of the President
and of the Country 10 two of the provisions Of this
| bill, which have not been commented upon in man
ner to satisfy my mind and which, II there b" any s'r
of relationship between this measure and the C"n-ttu
ton, it appears 10 must stamp II with palpabe and
| tlacran, ricnnsttutonay
| refer. first 10 the rule Of distribution. The bill
came here the House of Representatives with
correct ,'uiicna rule, it. indeed there can be any
consiuonn rule for giving money from The Federal
Treasury H. the States which ! not only do not adj
nit, but positively deuy. Yet, admitting nr the sake
of the argument and do that un"''lIncly that
distribution can be constlutonaly made - there,
can there be- doubt that the rule 81 distribution must
be that 81 taxation II lie constitutional 10 not lei
Senators forget that the money distributed I" the State
Governments under ihis bill is immediately To be col
lected from the people Of the States BY ,aIniion and
will Il h. coniended that each Stale should not receive
what It's own people pay snbacting the expenses 81
collecting the tax; Such the provision oi the hi
| uh.n n.rr The dist lu h. made