Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-06-04

u.
ruary, 1871.
Mr. CHAIRMAN: When | addressed the House few
days since, stated that the object of the proposed
taxes silks and other luxuries, was not 10 provide
for any deficiency in TO meet the appropriations
of the ensuing year, but intended 10 proonce an
of revenue to be distributed to the States.-
Such was the purpose frankly avowed IN the Senate,
by distinguished Senator from Massachusetts,. The
gentleman from Georgia, mir. Nesbit who succeeded
me in the debate,) as my colleague MT lhompson)
had done before denied that any such intention existed
the part of those who advocated the new taxes
They wanted for ordinary expenditures, and
for nothing else; and, accordingly, gentlemen en-
deavored 10 show an immense deficiency in the
Treasury 10 justify their imposition lndePend-
ent Of the fnilacies of the fiscal statements re-
lied on, arg one, thought, who kept bis ears open,
could no: easily be deceived by such pretences. But
torn away. The gentleman from North Carolina Ont.
Sanly) who moved the taxes as an amendment 10 Inc
Treasury note BILL forward and distinctly de-
clares that his object in moving them, was TO PROVIDE
the means for the payment Of our debt rs he calls IL
due o the States account Of the fourth nstament OF
the Opposite act, amounting to nine millions of dol
las; and also for an annual abstraction from the 1rea
sury OF some four FIVE millions more, TO be gwen
TO tie States the proceeds Of the sales OF The pub
lie lands. And, Sir, he must, indeed, be Scol's'
in politics and the plunderng propenstes OF human
mature, vino believes that when the vaults OF your
Treasury open TO the indebted States, these
supplies will constitute the limit of their demands
The assumption of the debts of the States by The Ge-
neral Government, amounting TO two hundred and
sixty millicas Of dollars, and the completion OF the
mighty works of internal improvement for which these
debts contracted, will naturally follow in the
train Of this portenous beginning and, accordingly,
the gentleman from Massachusetts (M.. Adams) has
already distinctly nmaied that this is the consuni-
nation to be attained. To meet the immense liabll'-
ties such policy will impose, what excessive taxation
~. -. II. -,
must consequently overshadow the South! And It
was Sir for pointing out such Designs opposing, in its
incpiency, the taxation by which il proposed to
accomplish them, that the gentleman from Georgia,
(N1r. Nesbit) suppose, in auslon to me, spoke oil
''ullraists." When that gentleman and took our
seats this floor, little than year ago, we
agreed on all cardinal principles in our politics. lie
was in favor of the Independent Treasury scheme,
with the specie feature, and opposed TO U. s. Bank
He opposed to Internal lmprovement--opposed to
to Protective Tariff VIII
The gentleman say whether such his opinions now?
(Mr Nesbt was understood to say That he was Still
opposed TO Protective Tariff, in any form, and Inter
ma Improvement opposed to the project of Dlstllbu-
ton grounds of expedency and to u. 5. Bank on
grounds of constutonalty lie voted against the In.
dependent Treasury bill at the last session. because he
thought it would operate with more severity upon the
State banks than he had formerly supposedly
Well, Mr.. Chairman, it seems that do not now
changed. neither judge nor condemn his course
But does it become him, protesting ever 10 be State
lights politician ''of the stratest Sect to condemn as
lltaiss those with whom he but the other day agreed
ind who are now exactly where he left thems If he
charity for those with whom he so lately stood,
will he have none for his opinions,
Mr. Chairman, | shall take the positions pursued by
he gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Stuny) as
he occasion Of the remarks propose offering to the
committee. ] shall do this for two reasons-the gen.
f "a ,c Sc.I pfessng nP9 hsse
tho indications around us shall he realized, but few
months will intervene before we must act upon mem
lie gives me an occasion have earnestly desired, 10
peak: and the topics he discusses ure Just such as
wish to press the attention OF my constituents
heretofore done-lcave others to notice his OBSERVE
ions.
The first position he assumes, that the States have
obt 10 the fourth nstament Of The deposte act or 10
he proceeds of the sales Of the public lands, WIZ pear
~, fl;ttlc examination The Government, having o.
nr,lns revenue. determined instead Of leaving it on
ieposi,e with the banks, corrupng them and the coun
~ TO depose it in certain proportions win the
States of the Confederacy, providing IN the act the
and time in which it should be returned by The
States into the Treasury of the U. s., whenever need
ID and called for by the Secretary OF the lreasury
Threefour,hs of this surplus was WIZ. ,
States. The explosion of the banks in 1887 and Inc
,ouseouen wants of the Government rendered 1t IN
,ynediept if it was possible TO deposlse with them tne
nnr,h insalment. And now, Sir, it Is gravey con-
ended that the amount of money thus deposited, con-
,titutinp mere trust for safe Keeping was gJ.' anu
bnt norton which was not deposited is dtbt due 10
The States by this Government Suppose Inc banks
with whom the money had been previously deposited
had act IN such claim, what would Inc gentleman
have thought of it, Perhaps ne would nave )ust'hea
i in them as he now does in his pretens'ons Tor the
S,,tes Such ethics may be very good Tor public
considered
.necuoiiops but in private life all honest men would
urn u,on them with adherence and contempt. DIT,
here Is no debt due by this Government TO the States
m account of the fourth nstalment OF the dePosite
act; and when gentlemen talk OF It's payment, .hes
man oohinr more than that SO much money raised
for Tho people by taxes shall be distributed to The
S,,,oo And so also with the nett proceeds OF inc
,,les of The public lands They know full well that
here are and can be- nett proceeds from tne only
norton Of the public lands TO which the Siaies can
b,y. even the scmhlance Of CLAIM i ne virginia
ossson although perfectly clear, according to my aP
0.oLans;oo in refutng any such claim, constitutes
Ie ole basis of their demand. This covers only the
states living between the Mississippi and ONO rivers
and having the Revolutionary debt which the irs' g'eu'
nurnose expressed the face of the cesson ana .he
expenses incident to the exllngulshment Oh ~.
lila and The sale Of the lands-there will not De- ana
cannot he dollar for distribution Do not gentlemen
J. nou This TO be fact, The only portion OF the puoc
domain which can produce any nett revenue al all 10 NC
5strbpted are the lands which have been purchased
md 10 which the Indian title has been exnguished by
money raised from the people through the customs
To distribute the lands such taxes have purchases OF
he money resulting from the sale of lands such taxes
have purchased, is the distributing the taxes
Directly Let gentlemen turn it as they please the'r
scheme for distributing the fourth nstament, or lhe
proceeds of the public lands amounts TO
raised by indirect taxation from the people, through ne
customs by duties on Imports is to be distributed 10
be States That is the naked, unquestonaole propo-
Now, Sir, to carry out this policy, suppose the .aIes
raised from the people by duties on our imports 10 DC
equally paid by them all over the Union and suppose
,lso in your distribution of them to the states, !hey
are returned equally to the peope-it will be aheu
10 discern the wisdom of such legislation, No 20
yernment in the history of man has ever heretofore
missed money from the people to be given back 10 mem
gain and if man by man, they received BACK oolar
or dollar what has been collected from them what can
Ibey gain 1t would only be magnheent e1pell-
,nent 10 see how mnch money may be MADE oy cna"g
No 4, from one hand to the other. But The people, 10
.a5rv this notable scheme into effect can never receive
back what they pay by taxation because most o. Of
cers mus, be employed and paid to collect the taxes
rom them and return them TO their possession. II tne
eInenses of our present revenue system will be far
rerion of the cost of collecting and discussing taxes