The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-20


yeai u This be done il necessarily follows that this
amount OF revenue must be raised from some other
source Gentlemen, We'll aware of this inevitable con
SEQUENCE, propose TO supply the deficiency by i'm
Pos' uu'y on silks and wines hoping to satisfy the
eouh'ry Tor this new imposition Of taxes upon them,
y holding out the delusi,e idea thai they iuru-
ftes ana That tax upon them is tax upon the
IN VOW Mr chairman, tax Is tax, whether
pc imposed ON Injuries or on necessaries anil no
WOULD be SO absurd contend that the imposition
% tax upon Injuries will relieve, single stiyei the
tn upon accessories, when the tax upon Injuries is
IMPOSED 70 supply the deficit created by the withdrawal
|" IKE amount OF revenue from another source
am no advocate for the exemption Of luxures from
'aAaon but am ready al any lime To subject them To
iair and equal taxation when the necessities of the
revenue and the relief of the articles Of necessity
shail require But can see no propriety IN creating
heiicit IN the public revenue, by withdrawing iron,
me public Treasury the proceeds of the sales Of the
Pubic lands SO long they necessary for revenue
py snbJectng any class of citizens TO taxation
merely TO supply the deficit
a has been estimated that by the distribution the
proceeds OF the sales Of the public lands the State Of
virginia would receive about "a 100000, and by the
array OF THIS result IL is supposed that the State would
Inc favorable to the distribution. Ii this addition 10
inc means of the treasury of Virginia, real and
substantial and would add to the permanent capital of
the State that much then, indeed, would it present
lmost formidable and imposing argument IN favor of
tine scheme. But, sir, this is not the case ; and al
though do not char &c the friends Of the scheme with
insncery or improper design, yet, with due Difference
TO them, must say that the whole appearance deu-
siye and deceptive. It's that il will add thus much
10 the State treasury but il will add more than this
amount 10 the taxation of the people of the State sup
ply the vacuum created IN the National Treasury and
thus while with hand you make donation TO the
State Government you draw heavily with the other
upon the pockets OF the people to supply the gift and
thus when In truth and fact you profess be be
raj you are bestowing nothing but increased bur
then II has been contended, by many wise and ex-
perenced statesmen, that the consumers of foreign
goods, who are the principal producers of the country
the principal tax payersand thus sir they would
have bear all the burthens OF this system without
any benefit whatever. What estimate would you
place upon the intelligence of man it he weud
cept proposition to receive $500 in pocket To-
day, and pay 300 out of the other tomorrow This
sir, is fair illustration Of this scheme so far Vir-
! ginia is concerned
! feel very confident, Mr.. Chairman, that but for
the very indirect operation of system of Taxation
by which the true amount of the burthens imposed up
on the people is concealed from them that this scheme
of distribution would find favor in Virginia or any
of the producing States la system of direct alton
prevailed, and the people who pay the taxes TO
count out TO the officers OF the Government in dollars
and cents, the they would have To contribute
to the National Treasury supply the deficiency pro-
uced by this withdrawal of the proceeds of the sales
Of the public lands from the general reveaue am
That they would not tolerate II for moment but rebel
against IT, But from the indirect operation OF our sys-
tenn of taxation the great body of the people do not
reflect that in every bushe Of salt in every pound OF
coffee and in every yard Of wooen goods, of foreign
manufacture, which they use, they are paying their
taxes to the Government; and thus, while this four
millions of dollars would 90 to the Government of Vr-
gnia the people of the State would more than refund
II the National Treasury by this indirect system of
taxation on their salt, woollens coffee &c. cannot
perceive, Mr. Chairman, what possible benefit can
suit TO the people Of Virginia by thus bestowing to
her Government this four millions of dollars, to be
squandered by Legislative prodigality and withdraw
ing larger amount from the pockets of the people to
supply its place. From every view which have been
able to take of this question: well convinced that
the present system dsposing the public lands and
the faithful application Of its proceeds to the purposes
of revenue, is the most beneficial and just disposition
of them which be made, because pro tanto, they
i relieve the taxation Of the country.
i SO far as relates Mr.. Chairman to the restriction OF
the fund proposed be distributed the purposes
education and internal improvements, have only 10
remark that II this land fund be resduum after
cutting the trust created by the original of cesson
then, and in that case the States have clear and
lndeeasibe title 10 this residuum they had 10 the
original subject; and any restriction upon its appro
priation would be incompatible with, and in violation
of their rights, and could not create upon them the
slightest obligation to regard it. Let it be remember
ed too, that all the expenses of surveying selling and
patentng, which are very considerable are To be
thrown upon the impost duties For these reasons up
grounds of expedency, am opposed to this system
of distribution. But while declaring my opposition to
this system of distribution, feel it my duty to state
that am utterly opposed to its competing schemes
the reduction OF the price of the public lands and their
cession TO the States in which they lie. But Mr..
Chairman there are other and higher objections to
this scheme of distribution, which deem it my duty
briefly to bring TO notice. The moral influence W hch
il would exert upon the relations between the Federal
and the State Governments, and Its tendency TO make
the State Governments dependent upon, and subser
Went To, the Federal Government, matters TO my
mind Of the most grave and insuperabe objection
| This small beginning of q connection between the
/ revenues Of the State and Federal Governments,
fear would increase it progressed, and finally terml
nate in permanent and ruinous connection. 1t
would prompt the people to forget that they had State
Governments at all and turn their eyes entirely to the
| Federal for supplies The Federal Govern
| ment would then be the Alpha and Omega of our
whole system and all the advantages arising from
Federal compact and the cherished sovereignty of the
States he buried in its vortex. All moral EVIL has
small beginnings, but swels as II progresses, until
| overwhelms every thing with which il comes in
tact The pyramids of Egypt were constructed by
ping stone upon another, until they reached their
present towering height--so, fear, will be the opera
ton of this system Of distribution. One system VIII
be piled upon another until finally it will assume
permanency and strength beyond the control or resist
ance Of the States or the people. have heretofore
had little experience this subject of distrbu-
ton voted for the act of 1886 distributing the sur
plus revenue among the States referred to, and
strongly rcprobated by my friend and colleague mir.
Wise) When | voted for that bill, did So believ-
ing it, what profcssed TO be- bill for the deposte Of
the surplus with the States, and with the en-
tire confidence that the States would redeem the
pledges they were required give TO return those de-
postes the National I easury under the restrictions
and limitations prescribed by the act whenever regulr
ed But what now, sir is the state of things} With
bankrupt Treasury, the States hold to these de-
posites and laugh to the very idea of restoring
them. | sometimes humorously asked Ivy my
friends whether did not know when voted for that
bill that il was intended gift Of the surplus reve-
nue. TO the States | answer no, was entirely igno-
rant ofit had not then acquired much parliament
tary manGuvring TO know how to frame bill with
constitutional aspect which to operate an uncon-
stituiionaI effect ! had not then learned that the