Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1842-02-01
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE OF WAYS
AND MEANS.


whose duty II 90 examine the sfate of the imam
ces pte.en and prospective, 70 EXAMINE the oli-e
OF Auditor and Treasnrer and the sltultion and
condition Of the Treasury,
Report. that they have examined al thai pertains
q the fidelity and faithu.noss a the officers 20 those
departments OF the government a. well as the con
diton ~ The Offices and hld that the various duties
devolvinr nfon these officers so far It IN the
power ~ the com uttee to know, have been ilth-
fully and diligently performed.
The comm ttec 10 the discharge ~ tic duties as
signed them, fad themselves peculiarly situated.
Inc country D. involved deb. # sl3.25l,3tc,
which has bel contracted far internal improvement
purposes fiucud.ug also the tank loan made with
the Morris Canal end Banking Company and for
the liquidation of interest. For the discharge "
tins immense Debt and tho iu;eTes: thereon. your
committee have not with but TIFF ~ except >
been abb 20 ascertain any means with the control
of the Stlfe Immediately valuable and bit little IN
prospect but a resort 10 direct taxation. Tins the
committee feel well assured tie present pecuniary
condition OF the cougtry. would meet the decided
disapprob atom of the people.
For II viii be recoilectrd. that in tic inception
and during the progress 81 the system OF l-:G, all
the information given - the people IN relation 20
that subject, was based upon slid and visionary
Opinions. mistaken IDEAS and false theories. The
recommendations &C the Executives OF the State
who advised aud influenced he adoption Of thesys
TEN the report, Of Engineers. who surveyed and
estimated The various NofkS. ara TIE reports Oh the
comm ttecs Of both branches d the Legislature in
regard their cost Of construction, We're al. VI
sIonary and deceptive. and the people N supporting
the system. FAR y ever we'd their sauct on,
induced 10 do 50 by erroneous representations
md false reports, and u u not reasonable 10 sup
pose, that while then acting under The influence Of
these iGlse and deceptive representations, (Which
then presented all far md SAFE they ever IN
tended, and ~ the opinion al the committee, they
will not now consent the imposition at a tax 80
far beyond the amount ever anticipated by them and
20 far too, beyond the amount which many Of cur
public men stand so..mniy pledged To the country
that IL should not exceed. u would therefore be
both unnecessary and unjust 10 levy tax at this
time sufficient 10 meet the interest on the internal
improvement loans
Unnecessary because in the present condition Of
the country. Il could not be paid,-and unjust be-
cause to rs pre-: eIt enormous extent Il has never
received either the positive Implied sanction Of
the people. IL Is hot az all surprising that the im-
posing arguments representations and assertions Ia
favor of this scheme, coming they did from per-
of high character and standing persons IN
whom the people have been taught to reposc the ut
most confidence, should have produced the dSas.
trous effects now SO much 10 be deplor,d. The
people, honest themselves, and unsusp cious OF
others, especially those whose dGty II 10 act
their guardians and protectors have fallen prey to
the svarice Of the wiley Spectator. the ignorance
and hsarlessness Of the demagogue, and the Il
The committee, then. acting under TINS view ol
the subject, have made no levy TO pay any portion
# the interest on the internal Improvement loan.
This alternative has not been decided upon without
due elaboration and reflection, with regard 20 all IL
consequences. When the question was presented
to the committee IN its true light. and narrowed
down u the simple alternative OF Intoicrable on
preston upon the people, neglect To pay the IN
terest upon debt Inch never received their sane
ton, but enc opinion could be arrived at. The
people must be protected. Onerous taxation can
not BE- tolerated and liberty preserved To submit
TO oppressive taxation would be 10 become slaves
by wncousent. because in all countries whether
desPotc republican, It j. by taxation alone that
the people be oppressed and just IN proportion
the amount Of taxation are the liberties Of the
people graduated
To have imposed a tax sufficient to pay the inter
est on the public debt. would place burdens upon
citizens equal to those imposed upon the serfs
of Russia, and place them upon equality with
the peasantry of England or France. OF TINS the
people are well aware. and under 10 circumstances
Will they TO such asonable and oppTes-
sIve levy. Former Legislatures too, seem to have
been fully sensible Of the utter mposs bility of
compelling the people to submit TO excessive bur-
thens
For even in the hey-day Of the system, and
while us friends the zenith Of their power
and strength they never dared to levy tax to
meet the interest the internal improvement
loans And they took special pains too. 10y reports,
speeches and declarations all occaslons to assure
the people that they should not be taxed beyond
reasonable amount.
The committee have deemed i their duty 10 levy.
and they believe the people viii cheerluly pay
tax sufficient to meet all the necessary expenditures
Of the State Government, and gradually to absorb
the outstanding Treasury notes.
The levy for the ensuing year FOR the purposes
mentioned, rs high viii be required IN any sue
ceedug year, unless a subsequent Legislature
should determine to provide means by taxation for
the payment Of interest. Twenty cents, then, upon
each SlOu of valuation may be considered the max
mum OF taxation unless different policy shall be
adopted.
The committee would urge up'n the Legislature the i'm
portance Of making levy sufficient to The credit and
keep circulation the Treasury notes issued to pay conac
tors public work. Those notes in circulation
they are in the people, and allow them TO de-
preciae would create greater loss and impose heavier
buIthcn up0s he pie than the tax which IS intended 10
sustain their IL probable that there Will be
any for the redemption Of the notes in question ohe
than taxation and 10 postpone would Increase the deot and
deprceia'e the paper.
The committee been somewhat particular in regard
the Of which II Will be necessity q levy,
ea Of taxation may Re removed from the
minds of the peo lie. Nothing operate u ouy TO
any country the belief that lis citizens are liable 10 be
oppressed by taxation.
Indiana IS vet in her nfarcy; many millions Of
unoccnpcd lands, ~ the impression winch has
gone the world that heavy debt suspended
US aud high the inevitable consequence c-
hive been discouraged and their buoysnt sp bone
down, and the tide Of emigration. essential 10 Pros
incubus that hangs heavily upon interests
that people their wontef acry and
cheeTiuncSs, and the spring tide q emigration be again
caused to full current the fertile soil Of Indiana
growing the mode OF conducting
public works and the finances Of the State have destroyed
credit and deprecatcd stocks the market 10
nominal a If the State had means, even limited
compared with the actual Of her debt she
could be easily relieved Of all her buhens Tor there could
Thor AZ