The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-07-25

Before proceed, Mr.. Chairman, to notice some of
the details and bearings Of this tax bill from the
Committee of Ways and Means, that may have es-
capped the attention OF gentlemen who have preceded
me, let me state fact that may be worth consdera
ton and induce reflection. All Governments tha'
have ever read of, up to the present Tune, "hethei
despotsms limited monarches, republics, or otief
variety, all agree in common feature--fdrtg Ia
Dor 10 the relief Of capital With an occasional anerra
ton SO, this Is the oppressive, unjust acuon Vi al
and call II policy what you will, IL eVdenuy
kind of inherent instructive, sympathetic secret that
they all understand and agree IN IL IS true there Is
difference, occasionally, among Governments IN
the mode process OF absractlng from the labor oil
the many to aggrandize the few to compel the indus
trous To- support the idle. The genuine, legitimate,
full biooded 1espotsm will do the summary, clear
thing, at once--cut of head or carry of the pro-
perry of the subject without question or ceremony
but the more refined Christian Governments 80 dill
ferenty to work-by the action of curious nice,
subtle nsnuatng, little operator OF three letters call
ed tar" they keep grinding, and squeezing, and
scrapng, and wearing out the mind and body and
property of man. woman and child until all becomes
exhausted, nothing lett but the mere skeleton oil what
has been. AT the same time the motive OF actlon IN
all is the same-to make the producer do the work,
pay, nd fight, while the Idle exclusive luxuriates
and riots the consumpt on OF the fruits OF the pro-
ducer's labor And our own Government mas Deeh
in the same habit since have known it--taxing
labor to the relief of capital but habit that am
in hopes will have to get rid OF pretty soon by the
fiat of the People, for IT IS very plain from the con-
dition OF the country, and the Governments embar-
raised m yements that il is behind the People, and
they will have put it right We all know that the
Government must be supported, and that 1t has been
maintained heretofore by the income from the pubic
domain and by indirect taxation called a tariff, or
1nties ON imnorts and the bill now before us is of
the atts description, for the public lands are gone
and, by provision in the BILL are, IT seems 10 con-
tinue gone. Well, 1t Is a volumnous Dill, compris-
ing fifty pages and an ably drawn up BILL and a well
prlnied bi but it appears to me- at least revenue
hin that will be very difficult of Digestion and may not
81 easy an the stomachs of those who swallow it, I'M
less made more palatabe and wholesome by remodel
mo and reconcing its conflicting proportions re-
moving tie crudites and substituting more sound ma
1srial
ia relation Mr. Chan man TO the amount of money
N Le coI.ced fro the ueoule To deray the xpense
of ,hs,r Goyernmenl and no more the will of NV
cons inents and The conviction of INV own iudp ment
il thai as heret fore the first item of revenue To be ap
propated towards that purpose should be the proceeds
Of he sales of the pub &c lands aud that the indirect
tax in the shane of Jues on Imports To make up the
remainder should be levied as equally AID impartial
~ in reference to the various indus rial pursuits of
the American People as may be practicable. And
such is the guide by which will be rected In my
course upon this new tax bill a bill that TO a man of
Main simule s,nrIe-eyed purpose. indicates il il
should become law series Of distractny and per-
pesing consequences to the sections and classes and
interests il may be supp, sed 1t will benefit, and dis
tprb and unhinya and dissa,isfy the
and more direct avocaions that are not embraced in
the scheme Such believe with the most respec;-
full difference to the committee that drew 10 the bill
will be the effects and results of the dsparities and
partial tendencies of ITS provisions wnetner for pro-
lection posIlive or incidental or for revenue or for
all their dscrim mating OperatiJns wi be perpe King
and oppressive and sful in execution. How
ever be that may, my mind is single and straight
forward upon the whole subject in ,axatlon as in
all other legislative ion 20, erncd by invio-
late irrepressble regard for the Peopl : ca rights
in their pune, entire Amplitude, believing that their
tegny is the only security for the perpeuation of tree
government. Under TINS firm conviction, adhere 10
the ientinenls aimed during the extraordinary
session of last summer, any remarks on this floor
when the Tax bill of that day under discuss on
perhaps may well quote the proposition itself -
GAS put myself upon the ola H. unerrng broad
ground OF equality Ut taxation direct or indirect and
that The Peoples rights and the Constitution and
the harmony Of the MON through impa tal Ia alton
imperlousy demand, in every act OF legislation, an
entire, unqualified regarJ Tor this Democratic funda.
mental principle Of free governmen--equa riphts-I
offer plain, simple proposition, arising out of the
subject of this BILL and that Is hat the Import du es
upon all products that we can raise in our soil and
upon all fabrics that we cal sbouI be of
an ad valorem denominations Of such Der ceotags a.
wodld together with The proceeds of tne public lands
pay The expenses of the Government and no more
That products which our climate will not permit MS 10
raise should come in duty free tia the duties should
be pad III cash down and that gold and silver: and
the fish bounty laws repcaed F" This is n a oen.r,l
proposition thai subnlted to the PEOPLES Re1fesen-
tatves for their consideration then and submit the
same now with the incumbent addi,ion of The neces
sary checks and guards ap,insl fraudue,t ;nv,;ces
and other revenue malversati,ns. h,y;n IN MS ~,
sitop n single eve To Tho oood ~ tho ,ytna , &c,
m,,ing INV m,yyinat,on re n. IeJ ..an h ' S p
interest,", If ac,,oo cI,oue cI,.. ar ,o,;y;,pI ID
believe me. Mr.. Chairmno wa m,s,aLa ,ha ,a,,ar
esrey,ousy If we sunnoss ,hs, ,nu re t;nd 81 10
direct Ia xiny Legislation will sa.f Tho v,iI of IN.
American Pe,pL. oeneraI,v. Inv hon Wy w., -, ~
vestlrate and scru ~. cos.lv 10 ha.,nos and Of
fects of the tax,ng mower IN n. anncan he,a,nr,r.
on their ,odepend.nce and 'd ,ha hnnr
is rapidly aprroacb,nu wh.r ~ ~, .nn6n. ;,s ~
ercise TO an inpar,ial ,eaa,d sr ,ha u,..h,,;,v If