The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-01-30

| admitted justice, and il is peculiarly proper tina
they should be speedily decided, and no longe
postponed, as the principle has been adopted
that no interest is TO be allowed upon claims
however long justice may be withheld.
With all these facts staring him full in the
lace, the Secretary estimates the appropriation
Tor the next year at 10000 900 against his owl
admission for the last year of ~, $4,000, and
which have no doubt amount, in truth, 10 a
least 26. And inclusive of redemption of Urea
sury notes, al twenty-five and half millions
against his own admission over the last year o.
y, 643 900, and which, in truth, is not short o.
| 80. His estimate of receipts from customs, not
withstanding another reduction of the tariff, il
about seven millions more than the receipts Of
the last year. How can this be 2 II is only pos
sible In one way, and that even, the Secretary
would have blushed to advance. He no doubt
knows that there will be greater economy than
has heretofore been practised, and hence the
disbursements will be reduced in amount and
the war having ceased which has been waged
against credit commerce, property, civilization
ITSELF The powerful though PROSTATE, but yet
uncrushed energies Of this great people will once
more be exerted, and we shall see the country
rising up like the strong man from his sleep
but The force OF these causes, powerful as they
are, the sanguine temper of the Secretary has
oyer-estmated. II will take more than one
month, or one year, to redeem the country from
VIC 'hcSts vi leu years OI
But, admitting that we were encountered with
no debt at all, will the future revenues support
the most economical administration of the Co
vernmentl | am very sure they will not
The tariff will be reduced finally in January and
June, 1912, and il is demonstrate that the reve-
nues will then be insufficient The Secretary est
mates the accruing revenues from customs after
that period, at between ten and eleven millions.
IL will not and cannot, be more with nearly one
a at al. II
duty Ii to this you add three and a half millions
from the public lands, you will have fourteen
millions. Does any one man really believe that
The Government can be carried on with that
sum? No one does, although | have no doubt
many demagogue, here and elsewhere, will
say so. For myself, | calculate on little, very
little revenue for the future from the public
lands. will not consent to see that source OF
revenue withdrawn, and the whole thrown upon
imposts, much less will vote for any tax, with
view of supplying deficiency to be created
by surrendering those lands But he is blind,
indeed, who does not see that our vast public
domain has become mere fund with which
aspiring politicians play their games. II has al
ready become regular contest which shall out
bid the other In the declining days of Rome,
the candidate for the Empire succeeded who
would promise the largest distribution of corn
from the public granaries-so it is now We
have not the corn to bribe with, but what is the
same thing, we have the land upon which to
raise the corn. We have got the most that we
shall get from that source, rely upon it,
do not in the least doubt that the future reve-
nues of the Government will be insufficient for
the most economical administration. That this
deficiency is not temporary, but permanent and
therefore, that it should be met BY providing
some permanent source of supply; and il is
upon the postulate, that there win be such de-
fciency that proceed to the inquiry-Whence
is the additional revenue to be derived Only
three plans have or can be suggested: direct
taxes, imposition of increased duties on pro-
tected articles beyond 0per cent, and in viola
ton of the compromise, or the imposition of ade-
quate, but moderate, duties on certain articles
Of luxury now duty free.
| hardly know whether ought to regard the
plan of direct taxes as having been proposed
One of my colleagues has suggested it but,
as far as know, it is unendorsed by any one
member on this floor, or by any individual any
where, except by two or three of his own con-
stiuents. In the present condition of .hings, it
is about as practicable, and not whit more
so, than would be proposition TO raise revenue
by alchymy, and when either of these plans
shall be seriously brought forward, il will be
time enough to discuss them. The choice,
them is between taxing Injuries, where the tax is
laid equally by all sections of the country; is
paid by the wealthy, and is paid voluntarily, and
increasing the taxes on protected articles which
are paid exclusively by one secton-that which
does not manufacture-which are paid by the
poorer classes, and where the tax is not voun.
tary, but cannot be avoided. Between these
cannot hesitate. But, sir, | do not conceive
that have right to choose; | am bound by
that which | regard as Of little less authority
than the Constution-the Compromise of 1888.
L cannot violate that Compromise consistently
with my own ideas of what is right, and would
not il could. The case of deficiency Of reve-
nue. was anticipated in the Compromise act, and
provided for. Shall we, honestly and in good
faith, comply with the compact then entered
into?
Ipropose to show, LIST. That the Compromise
Act of March, 1888, prescribes what is to be done
in the event of deficient exchequer. ID That
this Compromise is binding upon us. Sd. That
the exemption from duties of the free articles,
was one of the leading objections to that act,
on the part of the anti tariff party, without one
single exceptions and that il was concession
to the manufacturing interest. 4th. That If il
were entirely an open question now, it is the
best, the iairest, the only practicable mode of
raising revenue-that il is the most advantage
Gus to the whole country, and especially 10 that
section from which | come. The sixth clause
of the act of March 3, 1888, commonly called
the Compromise Act, is as follows:
'Sec G. Andbe Il. further enacted That so much of
the act of the fourteenth day of July one thousand
eight hundred and thirytwo, of any other act as
inconsistent with this act shall be, and the same is
hereby repealed Proridtd That nothing herein
contained shall be construed to prevent the pas
sage prior subsequent to the said thirteenth day OF
June, one thousand eight hundred and tortytwo, of
any act acts from time to Time may be necessary
detect prevent punish evasons of the duties on
imports imposed by law TO prevent the passage oil
ans act prior the thireth day of June, Il ou-
sand eight hundred and forty two, in the contingency
either of deficiency of revenue, altering the
Of duties articles which, by the aforesaid act
of fourteenth day Of July, thousand eight hun
dred and thtytwo, subject TO less rate Of duty
than frenty per cent dd rdiorem, in such manner as
exceed that rate, and to adjust the revenue