The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-08-19

ment now presents, and which calls for the excl
else of a rigid economy in the public expenditure
and the rendering available of all the means within
the control of the Government.
most respectfully submit, whether this is time
to give away the proceeds of the land sales, when
the public lands constitute fund, which of all 9th
ors may be made most useful in sustaining the pub
lie credit Can the Government be generous and
municen TO others when every dollar it can com.
mand Is necessary to supply its own wants And
if Congress woLd not hesitate TO suffer the proyis.
ions of the act Of 18th September last to remain un.
repealed in case the country was involved in war,
is not the necessity for such course now just as
imperative as it would be them
3. A third objection remains TO be urged, which
would be sufficient, in itself, to induce me to re-
turn the bill to the II ouse with my objections BY
uniting two subjects so ncongruous as tariff and
disrlbution it inevitably makes the fate of the one
dependent upon that of the other in future con-
ests of party, Can any thing be more fatal to the
merchant or manufacturer than such an alliance
What they most of all require is system of mod
crate duties so arranged as to withdraw the Tariff
question, as far as possible, completely from the
arena of political contention.
The chief want is permanenc y and stability
Such an increase of the Tariff, believe TO be
cessary, in order to meet the economical expenses
of Government Such an increase, made in the
spirit of moderation and judcious discrimination,
would, have no doubt, be entirely satisfactory TO
the great majority of the American people. In the
way of accomplishing measure so salntary and so
rmperalivey demanded by every public interest,
the Legislative department will meet with cordial
cooperation on the part of the Executive.
This is all TINT the manufacturer can desire, and
1t would be burden readily borne by the People
But cannot too earnestly repeat, that in order 10
be beneficial it must be permanent, and in order TO
be permanent it must command general acquies-
ccncc. But can such permancncy be justly hoped
for if the Tariff question be coupled with that Of
Distribution, as to which serious conflict ofopin-
ion exists among the States and the People, which
enlist in is support bare majority, if indeed
there be ma jority of the two Houses of Congress
What pcrmancncy or stability can attach to mea-
sure which, warning upon itself, gives away a
fruitful source ofreycnuc at the moment it propo-
SEES a large increase of taxes on the People: Is the
manufacturer prepared to stake himself and his in
tcrests upon such an issue?
know tina; it is urged, but most enormously,
in my opinion, that INSTABILITY is just as apt to be
produced by retaining the public lands as source
of revenue rs from any other case, and this is as
cribed to a constant nuctua,ion, us it is said, in
the amount Of sales. If there were any thing in
this objection it equally applies to every imposition
Of duties on imports. The amount of revenue an
nually derived from duties is constantly liable to
change. The regulations oiloreign Governments,
the varying produc,ivencss Of other countries. pc
RODS Of excitement in trade, and great variety Of
other circumstances are constantly arising TO affect
the state of commerce, foreign and domestic, and
of consequence the revenue levied upon it, The
sales of the public domain in ordinary times are
regulated by fixed laws, which have their basis in
demand increasing only in The ratio of the in
crease of population. In recurring to the stalis-
tics connected with this subject, it will be pcrcev-
ed tina, for period Of ten years preceding 1884,
the average amount Of sales did not exceed $2,-
OOO, 900.
For the increase which took place in 1915 and
6, we TO look at the peculiar condition Of the
country which grew out Of one Of the most ex-
traordinary excnemcnts in business and spccula-
lion that have ever occurred in the history of COM
mcrce and currency. 1t was the fruit Of wild
spirit oradvcnturc engendered Ivy vicious system
of credits, under the evils Of which it is londy
hoped will not soon Iecur.
Considering the vast amount of investments
made by private individuals in the public lands,
during those three sand which cqualled SI3,-
OOO, 600, equal to more than 20 years purchase,
taking The average Of sales Of the ten proceeding
years. it may be safely asserted that the result Of
the public land sales can hold ont nothing to alarm
the manufacturer with the idea Of instability in the
revenues, and consequently in the course Of the
Government.
Under what appears TO me, therefore, the SCUM
dcst considerations ofpublic policy, and in view of
the interests ofcvery branch of domestic industry,
return you the bill with these my objections 10
lis becoming a law.
take occasion cmphalically to repeat my anx-
ous desire TO cooperate with Congress in the
passing of law, which, while it shall assist in sup
lying the wants of the Treasury and re-esablish
public credit shall afford to the manufacturing in
crcst of The country all the incidental protection
they require.
After ALL the effect of what do is substantially
10 call on Congress to reconsider the subject. If,
on such reconsideration, majority oftwo-thirds
of both houses should be in favor OF this measure
it will become law notwithstanding my objec-