The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-13

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the fluctuations between the receipts and expenditures
IN diierentportions of the year. hardly know wha
IDEAS gentlemen attach 10 these words, permanent
and temporary" The receipts, every year. for foui
years past have fallen short Of the expenditures upon
an average, nearly eight millions 1t must be so this
year though TO ess amount In the next year 1S42)
the deficiency will be greater STILL unless sources
OF revenue are opened. Ii this be not "perndneni
dehciencya deficiency which has existed four years
which now exists-and will continue 10 exist and
ing the receipts be made confess do not know what
permanent deficiency is. The Secretary informs us
that the reduction of duties next year will amount TO
about five millions OF dollars and unless the expendi-
lures be reduced IN corresponding degree there Will
then he deficiency which may be considered perrna-
ne TO the amount of about five millions and he adds
this may be considered the first Of that character
which will occur under the tariff act of 1888
| do not see the distinction which is in the SecIeta-
rvs mind between such deficiency and that which
now exists, Under the reduction Of duties which has
been gong on and the increase of expenditures, we
Ind ourselves without sufficient TO meet the
expenses OF the Government II will be SO, great
extent, in 1912 There may be difference in the
amount of deticiency but can perceive in the
character of ii. both seem to me TO be permanent.
The history of the last four years demonstrates that
the deficiency is not temporary not occasioned by
fluctuations by heavy disbursements in one part OF
the year, to be supplied by increased receipts in
ther part The heavy expenditures have run through
the whole year, and have been met not by accruing
revenue, but by Treasury notes, and by funds which
had accumulated in preceding years and the capital
which was invested in the late Bank of the United
States. All these resources have been exhausted (;
and that brings to consider how the Secretary pro-
poses 10 supply the deficiency Of the present and Of flu
ture years What plans for the improvement of the
revenue has no "digested and prepared as is his du
ty to do by the act establishing the Treasury Depart
ment2 What measures does he propose2 In the first
place, as regards the present year. after suggesting
that contract might be made to extend the time OF
e..ftk ~.
ieve the treasury he announces that such is not his
plan. " The best mode he says, would be without
either an extension of this kind loan or further
issue OF treasury notes, change in the tariff but
merely by lessenng the appropriations below the es
mates" That is his mode. Ii YOU have not rot re-
venue enough to carry the operations Of Govern
ment to meet Its current expenses why, stop opera
tons neglect your duty abandon the protection Of tie
public interests. That is all very simple and very
easy; and then you will have no deficiency no debt
no increased duties, no Treasury notes. Take no
measures to supply means, but spend what you hap
pen to have and stop there That is the recommen-
dation. But il Congress thinks that is the best
mode OF carrying on the public service then he sug
gests " secondary measures" Enforce the present
tariff laws, stop frauds and evasons modify the sys-
tenn OF drawbacks and bounes Really sir, il strikes
that these ought TO be regarded primary and not
secondary measures They should be first resorted
to, and that other and higher considerations than as
merely affecting revenue. But the Secretary looks
upon them in no other light than bringing money
into the Treasury and that he prefers to dis
pense with for his tavore of reducing appro
Prations below the estimates. Passing over the poll
teal offence and turpitude of defraudng the revenues
the evil example Of permitting your laws be viola
ted the injury inflicted not only upon public morals
but upon business property of honest merchants and
fair dealers who pay their duties ageeaby the laws
the Secretary seems to be content and supposes all
these evils sufficiently cured compensated merely
by reducing appropriations below what he himself and
those charged with the administration Of the Govern
ment, consider to be essential for the public service
Then, as to draw backs why have they not been re-
duced TO correspond to the tate Of duties imposed p
fear after year we have been admonshed OF the fact
that the amount of drawback upon certain articles is
greater than the amount of duty received upon their
importation. Why has it not been corrected Who
of the majority of Congress-they whs have con-
troed its proceedings and shaped its pocy-who has
found time to attend such small matters the
venue of the country when the great of par
ty were at stake2 But this also is only secondary
measure not to beIesorted to if the primary Of
reduction can be carried into execution. What mo-
difcation of bounties the Secretary thinks suitable
do not understand Does he propose abolishing the
fishing bounties If So shall be ready to say
thing in regard to when the proposition is distinctly
submi ted
Secretary admits will exist year, and which may
be considered permanent" what remedy does he
propose for t2 What mode of supplying the means
necessary to conduct the affairs of the nalionl Hear
peace ought to be supplied by issue of Treasury notes
or by loan, has never been entertained by the under
signed. Nor can it be countenanced by any sound
principle, either of finance political economy In
this sentiment concur; and only regret that the
Secretary has not hitherto recommended some other
remedy than those which he now repudiates. Then
as to recalling any Of the depostes with the States he
thinks that is mot likely to be adopted"
Another practicable mode would be to resort to
direct taxes" But this he regards unsued TO the
hahts IL
most of population and abandons it, Some
other permanent resource must then, be looked to-
And what IS that permanent resource ~ The
choice will lest between the large reduction of expen
ditures with the other accompanying before
specified, and some extensive modification of the pre-
sent tariff Explanations have heretofore been riven
by the undersigned in taror Of heformer course"
Here is the permanent resource" which the Sc
cretary recommends for supplying revenue" large
duction of expenditure Now, sir that NAV be
toerabe mode of obpiatinga deficiency, but per
manent resource to supply it, to furnish revenue the
idea is somewhat novel. And the Secretary supposes
that it will probably prove sufficient TO meet the
gency, u The reduction be pushed vigorously" and
the imports shall increase. "A permanent resource"
TO supply exhausted Treasury, and provide for
deficiency, is TO push vigorous reduction and upon
what branches of the service is this to fall Ii Is not
designed, suppose, to abolish Congress, the Exc
cutive Departments, to break up our intercourse
with foreign nations dispense with the judiciary
The civil list must be maintained and all persons
nected with it paid Nobody suggests that the army
can be ought to be reduced; many of opinion
that 1t ought to be increased. The army, also, must
be paid, subssted, clothed and all the expenses aen-
dant upon IL must be met Does any body propose to
diminish the naval force--the number of persons
tuay employed, or their compensation They must
be paid and fed. Our Indian treaties be fulfilled
and very heavy burdens have been within few years
imposed on the National Treasury from this source
Where will you push "a vigorous reduction" then
can find no place upon which this process may be
commenced and carried on but Notifications and works
of defence arsenas ordnance barracks and increase
and Improvement of the navy and navy yards Who,
that knows any thing of the actual condition of these
vari ,us works and objects, will recommend I" a yigo
rous reduction here Read the reports upon these
subjects submitted by the Departments and officers