Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-06-14
coHGRR ssIoN Al.
REVENUE bill.

the Union, (Air Mekennsn Of Penn. in the Chain
and resumed the consideration Of the bill to provide
REVENGE from Imports, and 10 change and modify
existing laws imposing duties on imports, and for
other purposes.
Mr. SALTONSTALL moved to amend the ball,
bv striking out all after the enaSiing clause, and
Inserting in lieu thereof the tariff oil reported oy
the COMMITTEES on Manufactures, with the eSeeP'on
OF the last clause.
NJ, FILLMORE, then, as the exordium to his
,neech entered at great length into the diihcnnes
.rh;eh The Committee OF Ways and Means had had
!, IN, preparation and perfee,ing OF the measure
now be fore the Committee. lie said II was ques
ton Of the greatest magnitude that eou'o come DC
fore an American Congress. Nothing snort OF 'he
question of peace or war, could be more important
thsn the question Of the mode Of raising the neees-
sary revenue TO carry on the government, TWAS
also subject that was complicated IN US character,
and he therefore regretted that the House should
have refused authority to the Committee on Manu-
features to collect such information as the settle
ment Of so important subject rendered necessary
They were denied the privilege OF senuins 'or per-
ans and ma pers and they were denied the aid OF
.l.,l IN, notyithstandng all these circumstances,
was due to the committee TO state, that they had
zone on and collected q mass OF facts, that woup'
be found useful both TO the House and the country,
though falling short OF what ought TO have been
obtained TO enable the House TO consider this sub
iect propery. He alluded to this more IN sorrow
than in anger" and only by way oil apology Tor
the committee If the result OF their laoors should be
found imperfect He next recapituated the services
which Ind been rendered by the head OF the Tea
sury Department TO the committee, ana men pro-
ceeded to the all important question itself
In the first place. he begged TO state that TINS was
revenue bill, intended to supply the wants OF the
Treasury: and he therefore, should consider II IN
that point of view. And the first question which
presented itself for consideration, was what was the
amount Of revenue that would be required TO carry
on the Government That question had been rather
fully considered by the Secretary OF the treasury,
md he begged to call the attention of the committee
TO the remarks Of the Secretary on that subject
In the Secro,aty's report accompanying his proIe,
he estimates the expenses OF the Government Tor
the year 1912 including civil, foreign, miscellaneous
and the army ami the navy, at S2l, 424S S9i ana
for the other permanent appropriations Tor the year
1922 000 There then, in addition TO the amount
required to pay the public debt, an estimated amount
of between S25 600, 900 and s26 100000. The Sc
cretrry then estimated the amount that would be
required on the part OF the Government for the pay
OF debts, and other liabilities, which made the
aggregate demand on the Treasury Tor the present
wear, S33 S22 600 The Secretary then went on to
estimate the expenditures for the years lS43-4,
md for three years he made the aggregate amount
ses, 242 O00-thnt sum, Of course, including the
amount req ured to pay the Treasury notes oustand
ing. and other debts contracted.
II, however, they passed from these opinions Of
the Secretary to examine some collateral facts, for
the purpose Of ascertaining what amount would he
necessary, they would find that, during the four
years of MIR Van Buren's administration, the annual
expenditures, independent Of oil payments for the
public debt, were rear s2S 900, 600; and if the
pcrience of the past to afford guide for the
future thew might calculate the annual expenditures
OF the Government hereafter to be between 81 900
900, and % 000, 000 independent of the amount
quise to pay the public debt now existing.
But there had been much discussion in refer
ence 10 the probable expenditures of the Govern
ment for some years come, both in this body and
the other branch Of Congress, that he might be ex
cused from going into details. He might, however,
remark, that the estimates OF the various gentlemen
VINO had investigated the subject, and which they
showed nv tables and figures, ran up from SIS 000-
600 TO sec. 900 600; whereby II was showed that
where intelligent men differed so much. 1t must to q
great extent, be found TO be matter OF con lecture
But, from what he had seen for the last few days
he thought there spirit cf reform at work, that
however much he might regret its destructive char
meter 10 some Cf the essential esta bshments Of the
country. if carried ont, might diminish the expend-
lures between s3.o00,0O0 and $4,000, 600 below
what they had been for the last three four years
The expenditures, therefore. MIGHT be reduced to
between S23 00O.0 600 md SPA 600, 600 Ii, then
TO this be added 100000 pay the interest on
the public debt. the annual expenditures would be
about S27 600; and this amount would lie ne
cessary TO carry on the Government. he should as
sumo, then, for arguments sake, that the annual
expenditures would not exceed S24 10000 with
the addition OF So 900 900 pay the interest Of the
public debt; and then the next question that pre-.
senied itself was, how should this amount be raised7
The Constitution, n its grant OF legislative powers
on This subject gave the power 10 lay taxes 10 col
leet duties on imports, and. in the third place, 10
raise the money by excise. Now, to which mode
would they resort Ithad been commended that the
best mode was by direct taxation; and this idea had
had a general circulation in the country. That they
had the power 10 supply the treasury by direct
taxation, could not be denied; but was any gentle
man, after full examination OF the subject, willing
TO resort to that mode OF supplying the wants Of the
treasury. except in the d'esI necessity? They had
tried IL once and there were gentlemen who had in.
tlmated their willingness TO try II again. As early
as l79S-when, he believed there was some appre-
henson Of war-an attempt made 10 supply
the wants of the treasury by direct taxation; and
law was passed. directing the valuation OF land and
negroes, for the purpose OF evying direct tax.
But he desired the committee TO look at the number
Of officers that would be spread the country,
TO make the requisite valuation. For even when
that was once done, they must take into consldera
ton that the value Of land and negroes, and other
property to be taxed, was constantly changing in
value; and what a tremendous power, then, IL would
give the appointing power ofihis Government. The
requisite number Of officers for this purpose would
he "llke the frogs of Egypt"
He bad taken occasion 10 look into the amount
Of money thus collected by direct taxation, and
he found, since the commencement Of this Govern.
71ent, leaving out small items that there had been
collected, for the purpose o. paying the debts Of the
Government, and us aecruing expenses, the sum
OF S9i3, 100000. And from what source did they |
suppose 1t had Gomez The question had ever been !
asked, from what source can the money be drawn /
with the least oppression to the poeTle2 And, in |
answering such n question, the experience Of fifty /
or sixty years was not TO he overlooked. u would /
he found that SAG, 100000 were from duties levied
on goods imported.
In answer TO question from Mr. Rhett. he said |
he did not include the amount of the Post Office
revenues, which Mr. Rheit said, during the las,
ten years, had averaged from three to five millions
OF dollars. The Post Office paid its own expenses
out Of its receipts; and he Mr. Fllmore) was only
considering the mode by which they should raise
the requisite amount TO deray the ordinary eKpens
es OF the Government, and to pay existing debts.
lie then proceeded with his enumeration OF the
sources whence the receipts had been drawn.
Iwenty'two millions had been raised by excise
nnd only twelve millions by direc. taxes. lie sta.
TED the amount which had been received from the
pubic lands, and added that dividends and bonus
ses from that odiOus monsler-the United States
Bank-amounted to $4,000, 900; being 3, 900 600
more than had been collected by direct taxation
lie had merely alluded to these facts to show that
Inc experience OF more than fifty years had demon.
s'fated that direct taxation not the mode by l.
which the wants OF the Government could be |
supplied.
The next question, then, was, whether they would
supply the treasury by excisel He had heard
ecntlemen-very intelligent gentlemen both with.
IN and without the walls Of that House, speak Of !
that as a very eligible mode by which TO supply the
wants Of the Government but he asked II any gen.
ueman there then prepared 10 resort 20 IL. Tie
very name Of excise was odious IN Great Britain |
where Il was praclised; and though they found In .
the Constitution power 10 raise revenue by excise