Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-03-24

10 whom you are 'iHtti.u' ,,,
Nor fear the i!anovetian
TwENTY-SEVENrH CONGRESS--2d Session.
SfEECli OF Ma WRIGHT, OF New YoHK,
In Senate, Wcdnesday, .Nqroi >, lei2On Mr.. Gays
Resolution IN relation To the revenues and cxpenc
lures of the Government CORotaGedl
Mr. w could omit, in this connection, to throw
out another idea inseparabe from this disposition OF
the public money. We were constantly referred 10
the deep Indebtedness of large proportion OF the
States and 10 their urgent want OF means 10 prosecute
their works Il internal Improvement, the jusica
ton fc- the Distribution proposed and was doubtless
intended by the friends OF the measure that the money
should have those APPLICATIONS Most Of the State
debts had been contracted Tor the construction OF ra
roads and canals works peculiarly beneficial to the pro-
perty holders OF tue States, enhancng the value OF
She property held by them. THIS had been ihe ptoln
Dent nducement for the commencement and prosecu.
ton of the most of those works III the several States
and the debts had been incurred aad made charge
upon that property, upon the ground that us enhanced
value would enable il TO discharge the ncrmbrance,
and still receive benefit from the operation. All tins
was fair and ust because the benefits and the burdens
were made TO 90 together. Adopt the policy now pro-
posed and we change the debt from the property TO
the persons within the State. by providing for the
payment in the way of taxes upon the consumers of
imported goods we, Ia very great extent. Tax The
rlcn and the pvot equally An must be clothed and
fed, and bv changing the tax To pny the State debt
from the land and other taxable properly OF the STAT
TO the mere articles OF foreign Importation, which
more less into the clothing and the food OF every
dvIdual OF country, iorce almost equality OF
tax upon ALL without regard 10 the possession Of pro-
perty while the essential benefits o. the expenditure
almost in the direct ratio Of property Thus, while
in the capacity OF the National Legislature, ven
ture upon the exercise of most questionable power
TO use stronger language, for The avowed otect of
relieving the States, truth aud IN fact do no
more than to interfere and impose most unequal
and unjust upon their respective citizens 10 pay
those debts which the property OF each State ought 10
pay
The honorable Senator from Kentucky mir. Clay I
apon late occasion, when speaking of this dsrbul'on
introduced the comparison !" kind parent, dispensing
portions Of his income and OF the property he had
mua,ed, aid encourage and relieve his needy and
embarrassed children forgetting The honorable gen
tienan must have done a. the moment, that this Co
vernment, which represents his supposed parent far
from having income or estate 10 spare IN aid of the
States, is in extreme want, and, being wholly una
ole to supply itself from lis It's credit, is daily
threatening with further taxation all the people OF all
the States fill its empty Treasury. Mr.. w would
make the comparison at the honorable Senator accord
ing to the facts The parent, finding his be
wholly insufficient to meet his current expenses, and
that his credit has failed be for the def
cheney, generously offers the estate his children pro-
vded they will consent to an annual tax far beyond
its value be equal to all has expenses and enable
him to live at MS This is the the facts
present il; and will the honorable gentleman present
It TO the States of the Union, when he, the of
this common Government, ,trrs In them the boon of
his proposed distributions viii the Legislatures of the
States and the Governors OF The States, when
pectve agents shall return from the exhausted Federal
Treasury, with this humble p,lance, and when they
shall present 1t to the people they represent tell that
people, honestly and truly that for every dollar OBJ
tanned they must pay back IN taxes another dollar over
and above the charges for collecting The tax: viii
they tell them further that while the dollar received
TO be applied towards The payment of debt charged
upon the property oil the rich, 10 make canal or
railroad to benefit has property the dollar to be returned
Is to be taken in nearly equal proportions from the
pockets of all who able to command the ordinary
comforts of life generally enjoyed our country: I'll
they do, the real merits o! ths policy Will be uni
versaly UNDERSTOOD and cannot that case fail to be
Justly appreciated by All Intelligent people.
3, The influences OF this policy, especially upon the
expenditures OF this Government, Tor objects purely
tional, such the army, the navy, public deences
the administration of Justice, aud the like, should now
RI eiye a brief consideration.
The natural and necessary tendency Of This policy
mast be to produce n constant conflict between the
wants of the States and the wants of this Government
Both to be presented al The Treasury and 10
be met from the same general resources from the
rxertion of the body raise revenue. Take the
present time, and the present condition Of things in
regard to the aud the wants of both Govern
nents, one most favorable for the illustration MANY
of the States deeply indebted, their treasures empty
their wholly insufficient 10 their ordinary
expenses and pay the interest upon their debts and their
public works are arTestcC IN an incomplete and
ductive state. This Government is defence less state
army too small its navy but commenced. lis judicial
system covering but part Of lis settled territory lis
harbors not touched, but partly improved give
security TO commerce, It's debt increasing Treasury
empty its credit depressed, lis foreign relations pre-
senng threatening aspect, and lis revenues all tore
,her insufficient 10 meet The interest of lis debts and
the expenditures called for by those entrusted with the
administration of It's affairs In this pecunarv cond
ton of both Governments the State and the National
this policy of distribution is proposed relieve the
sa,es II is adopted subj Ct 10 certain limitations
The ava;s of great branch OF the national revenue
ure 10 be taken from the National Treasury and given
10 the States, provided the a;'er certain rate OF
TAX will NEE, the wants of this Government A few
months pass away, and before HE time Fixed in the law
ir The distribution principle 10 commence lis nc ion
the TACT becomes manifest, beyond doubt question
that the branch oi revenu- left for the OF this Co
eernment, pushed the extreme limit allow ed ty the
distribution law, viii meet the indispensable wants
Of the National Treasury and that both branches oth
revenue together canno. supply the expenditure pro-
posed by the Administration.
Here the conlic, begins. The distribution is insisted
on in the face Of these facts, and the resolution
der consideration presented, boldly removing the
ynm,inng condition attached to he disrib on iha
Of certain supply for the National Treasury, and thus
providing certainly for The States TO the extent Of this
entire branch of the nstousl revenues, leaving the na