Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-06-21

snY
lI onld eYtend 10 them protection for life, lber-
70 md property cheeriully clothed that Government
with the taxing power and as cheeriui'y pore 'e
necessary for the heahfu management OF lis anafs'
ns not the benefits of their institutions aud the e*-
,cisa s the rower was looked upon by them as Dan
- ~ he watched mol blessing 10 be coveted. Hehce
,he;r measure Of taxation the rgid tecessiefs "
tho government and they never seem 10 nave ihous"t
of inventing modes "i Appropriation i'' TIC sum "
opportunty To impose taxes
b.. 81 The cons, oucnccs Of the glorious war waeed
bv those PATRIOTS achieve the independence OF Tue
American Colonies, was the acquisition OF an immense
public domain, beyond the limits oil the theh set'ie
on, and beyond convenient boundaries Tor the theh
| states To produce harmony OF feeling between the
States TO promote the formation oil more perfect
Union and 10 tighten The burdens upon all the states
arising from the general charge and expenditure OF e
common Government, TINS sreat oo'na', was, " Wv
States within whose limits 1t was situated ceneu
u, tho IInion and made common fund to meet, as lar
! Il mioht that general charge and expenditure WINE
h state rese ryed to itself full powers OF taxation
over all the property within It's limits ana retained Tue
charge OF the expenditures Vi ''' Wv"
its own hands.
II, now proposed that in the form OF a gratuiiy,
tho ,eo,lc of the States shall purchase what remains
or This ouLic domain, we'll as oil that winch The e.
dora, Government has since acquired by purchase, ny
ce;vnu into the State Treasures the proceeds of the
,Ias of the lands semi annually, and subectlng their
citizens TO tax upon imposts, in the shape OF an IN
e,sed Tariff sufficient to refund to the Federal Trea-
sury the money thus taken from IT. together with the
cosis and charges OF the collection OF the tax
III the now indebted States, this must certainly be
Questionable policy as the money being in the State
Treasury must and should be expended although us
own Legislature might not think 1t exped'ent, hy It's
action to impose tax to bring the money nto its lfei
surv And if the money be taken from the Federai
Treasury the tax must he imposed by It's authority, he
canse even with this branch of its present revenue,
that Treasury is not supplied, and loans are re-
sorted TO- Practically therefore, this policy ~ olecl
resort to the power of indirect taxation gwen 10 m 70
arnmeni for the purpose of raising money for State
uses and State expenditures; and II II be qnesonaoie
in practice the interests OF the suites
and of their citizens will scarcely require arsumen nj
TO show that cannot be salutary to the indebted STATES
merely because they are indebted If the non-indebt.
ed State must nav more money than 1t receives by the
costs md CHARGES of collecting the tax, and must there
fore los, by the operation of the system, the indebted
State not saved from the loss by reason OF It's debt
fthis policy be dangerous as mere matter OIL nter
est. what must it be matter of principle, TO The
minds of State Rights Republicans With what favor
would il have been received by the Republicans oi
I7s7. Jealous as they were of the centralIzing inln-
cnces of Federal power How would they have met
the proposition that the sovereign States shon come
TO the F dera Treasury for the TO meet their ex
pendi,ures and that the power of Federal taxation
should be exerled upon their citizens 10 bring back the
money!
Is there not an ndirecon in this policy which shou
excite the alarm OF JthiouS VI 'iS VI
the taxing power their PERSONS their property and
their business, by whatever Government executed
| Why is this circuous course resored 10 ior supply
of means TO the State Treasures Not certainly to re-
lieve the people from taxation, because 1t IS freely nd
mitied on all hands, that all the money TO be paid to
The States must be returned to the National Treasury
by taxes It is then that the taxation may be INDIRECT
and therefor less perceplbe, and less SUBJECT 10 poPu
| lar vigilance. 90
Some States have used their credit too freely and their
legislatures may not be willing TO meet responsibility
of such an eAerton of their direct taxing power as
will meet their present responsibilities Other States
desire to make expenditures for internal objects Tor
which may not be safe impose direct taxation up
on their citizens. O.her States may anticipate direc
benefit their peculiar interests from increased taxes
upon imposts and for that may favor this policy
Such tax is not necessarily equal upon The dieren
States and if all can be made hope that they may
receive more, and pay less, and may iavor't.
Another great interest," political and pccunlary, may
be enlisted favor of this policy The greater Inc pc
cunary interests brought in subsection TO the Federal
Treasury and the extended and complicated these
shall become, the stronger may the argumen
be made in favor of great National Bank to superin
tend and manage them, and ior this reason many pow"
erful voices may sustain this policy.
Still is it Republican in principle? Has 1t the d
RICHNESS and fairness, towards the hole people, which
Democrats approve Is II not next IN Inoeclnes'
to that wild resort credit which has brought the pre-
sent pecuniary troubles upon the country Can 1t ex
ing other and more serious difficulties, both pecuniary
and political:
Other measures, which TO me to threaten the
rights and the peace of the States agitation before
| Congress, among which cannot omit to mention an
alarming stretch of the extent Of the jurisdiction of the
Federal Judiciary, and dctation Of the manner IN
which only the States shall be permitted to elect then
representatives for the House of Representatives OF
the Congress Of the l.. States | have already drawn
out this letter to objectionable extent and cannot
therefore think of remarking upon these measures
but sure that they will not fail to receive the ear
| of N. Carolina.
Many other measures Of the present day equally OBJ
econable in principle and dangerous in practice might
be named but must forbear; and will merely ask yot
to accept my thanks for the hatterng terms in which
your invitation has been communicated and 10 believe
me, With great respect,
| Your ob't servant,
SILAs WRIGHT, Jr.
Me.srs John l.. Henderson, J. G. McConnaughey
and oil hers