, 1841-10-23

~ IN 'SLhS oh III tflIS OIL TeStS.
be established, and it would follow, as GER
tainly as i. is now before us, that this Gov
eminent and those Of the States would be
placed in antagonist relations on all subjects
except the collection and distribution of rev.
nue.; which would end, in time, in converting
this into a mere machine of collection and
distribution for those of the States. to the
utter neglect of all the functions for which
it was created. The proper responsible
ity of each to their respective q nstituency
would be destroyed; then would succeed a
scence Of pIunder and solu., tor, " an IN
tire change of system. Yes, If any one
measure can dissolve this Union, this is that
measure. The revenue is the State, said
the great British statesman, Burke. With
us, TO divide the revenue among its members
is to divide the Union. This hill proposes to
divide that from the lands. Take one step
more, to which this will lead if not arrested:
divided the revenue from the customs, and
what of union would be left? | touched more
fully on this, and other important points con-
nected with this detesta5le measure. during
the discussions OF the last session. and shall
not now repeat what ! then said.
What | now propose is, to trace the change
it would make in our financial system, with
its bearings on what ought to be the policy
of the Government. ! have selected il. not
because it is the most important, because it
is that which has heretofore received the
least attention. This Government has here
totore been supported almost exclusively
from two sources of Revenue-the lands and
the customs; excepting Il short period at its
pppponocapnan and l,rI,. al.
when 1t drew 4 great portion Of its means
from internal taxes. The revenue from
lands has been constantly and steadiIyiincrea-
sing with the increase of population, and
may, for the next ten years, be safely cs,i-
mated to yield an annual average income
of $4,000. 900, if they should be properl;
administered "a sum equal 10 more than a
fourth OF what the entire expenditures Of
the Government ought TO be, with due econ.
omy restricted TO the objects for which it
was instructed.
This bill proposes 10 withdraw this large,
permanent. and growing source of revenue.
from the Treasury of the Union. and TO dis
tribute il among the several States. and the
question is. would it he wise 10 do 81, view
ed rs Il financial measure, in reference TO
"''RS JUL ~ W NV pun VI Ut pONtII-
mcnt! which brings up the previous question,
what that policy ought TO be? In TIE order
of things, the question Of policy precedcs
that of finance. The latter has reference 10.
and is dependent on the former. II must
first be determined what ought to be done,
before il can be aSceriaincd how much of the
revenue will be required. and on what it
ought to be raised.
To the question. then, what ought 10 he
the policy of the Government? the shortest
and most comprehensive answer which ]
can give is. that it ought to be the very OPP
posite of that for which this extraordinary
session was called. and of which this meas.
ure forms so prominent Il part. Tie effect
of these measures is Ia divide and distract
the country within, and to weaken it with
out; the very reverse of the objects for
which the Government was intru>tcd-which
was to give peace, tranquility, and harmony
within. and power, security and respectable
ty without. We find, accordingly, that with
out, where strength was required, lis powers
are undivided. In its exterior relations
abroad, this Government is the sole and ex.
elusive representative of the united majesty,
sovereignty, and power of the States conSti-
tuting this great and glorious Union. To
the rest of the world. we are one. Nei-
ther States nor State Government is known
beyond our borders. Within, il is different.
There we form twenty six district, indepen-
dcnt and sovereign communities, each with
its separate government, whose powers are
as exclusive within, as that of this Govern
ment is without, with the exception OF three
classes of powers which are delegated 10 it.
The first is, those that were necessary TO the
discharge of its exterior functions-such rs
declaring war, raising armies, providing a
navy, and raising revenue. The reason for
~delegating these requires, no explanation.-
The next class consists of those powers that
were necessary TO regulate the exterior or
International relation of the States among
themselves, considered a district
ties-powers that could not be exercised
by the States separately and the regulation
of which was necessary to their peace, tran
and that free intercourse, social and
commercial. which ought to exist between
confederated States. Such are those of reg
between the States COIN
ing money, aid fixing the value thereof, and
the standard of weights and measures. The