Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1842-03-25

through with consideration OF the gen.
eral subject, fixing the principles Of po.
licy proper to be pursued in relation to
it, II will greatly economise the time OF
the Senate and proporlonabIy save a
large amount Of the public money.
Perhaps no better mode can be Pursu
ed Of discussing the resolutions ! have
had the honor to present, than to take
them up IN the order OF their arrange
ment, as presented them to the Senate,
after much deliberate consideration.
The first resolution declares
"That it is the duty Of the General
Government, for conducting its admin
lstration, TO provide an adequate reve-
nue. within the year to meet the current
expenses Of the year; and that any ex-
Pedient, either by loan or Treasury
notes, TO supply in time Of peace, a de-
fciency Of revenue, especially during
successive years, is unwise, and must
e ad TO pernclous consequences"
have heard it asserted that this re-
solution is but truism. If so, | regret
to say that it is one from which Govern
ments loo often depart, and from which
this Government especially has depart
cd during the last five years. Has an
adequate revenue been provided within
each Of those years TO meet the neces-
sary expenses OF those same yearsf No;
far otherwise.
In 1887, al the called session, instead
of imposing the requisite amount Of
taxes on the free articles, according TO
the provisions OF the compromise act,
what was the resort Of the Administra'
tionV To Treasury notes. And the
same expedient Of Treasury notes vas
ever since adopted, from year to year,
to supply the deficit accruing. And, Of
nece ssity, this policy cast upon the Ad.
ministration succeeding an unascertain-
ed unlquidated debt, inducing a tempo
rary necessity on that Administration
to have resort 10 the same means OF
supply.
do no; advert TO these facts with any
purpose Of elimination or recrlmlnatlon.
Far from it. For we have reached
that state Of tho public affairs whom the
country lies bleeding a, every pore, and
when, as earnestly hope and trust,
we shall, by common consent, dispense
with our party prejudiceS, and agree to
look at any measure proposed for the
public relief as patriots and statesmen
say, then, that during the four years
Of the administration of Mr.. Van Buren,,
there was an excess Of expenditure over
the income Of the Government 10 the
amount OF between seven and eight mil
lions of dollars; and ! say that it was
the duty OF that Administration, the mo-
ment they found this deficit TO exist in
the revenue, to have resorted 10 the
adequate remedy by laying the requi-
site amount of taxes on the free arti.
c 'es TO meet and to supply the def
cheney.
shall say nothing more on the first
resolution, because ! do hope that, what
ever the previous practice Of this Gov
ernment may have been, there is nc
Senator here who will hesitate 10 concur
in the truth Of the general propositions
il contains.
The next three resolutions all relate
to the same general subjects-subjects
which consider much the most mpor
tsnt OF any here set forth; and shall
for that reason, consider them together
The second resolution asserts
That such an adequate revenue can
not be obtained by duties on foreign i'm
ports without adopting a higher rate
than twenty per cent, as provided foI
in the compromise act, which, at the
time Of It's passage, was supposed anc
assumed as a rate that would supply 6
sufficient revenue for an economical ad
minstration Of the Government"
The third resolution concludes
That the rate OF duties on foreign
imports ought to be augmented beyonc
the rate of twenty per cent. so as Il
: produce nett revenue Of twenty'sl1
millions Of dolars-twenty.;wo for thu
ordinary expenses Of Government, tw,
for the payment Of the existing debt
and two millions as a reserved fund 70
= contingencies"
The fourth resolution asserts
"That, in the adjustment Of a tariff II
raise an amount of twenty six million
Of revenue, the principles of the com
promise act generally should be adhere
TO; and that especially maximum rat
of ad vaIorem duties should be establish
ed, from which there ought 10 be as lii
tie departure as possible"
The first question which these reso
i, Iutions suggest is this: What should b
the amount Of the annual expenditure
Of this Government Now, on thi
/, point, | shall not attempt, what is i'm
/ possible, 10 be exact and precise in sta
, ing what that may be. We can onl
make an approximation. No man, j
his private affairs, can saw, or pretend