Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-03-22


that the taxing power OF Congress must and will be IN
vokeG TO extent only L. be measured by The ehae'
ance oil the payers o7 the continuance o. iote'S
trade Tia. sach effects should folio" iron. the sepa
ration of these important powers OF Garernment, and
the exercise each respectively by independent hand,
and under independent influences is rs natural as ta
the most perfect machine OF human Invention should
run wild and defeat object and destroy Iis"ii, when
the proper checks and balances upon the different parts
are wholly removed their appropriate powers and
Influences entirely reversed
This mode OF raising money Tor the states can never
make taxation and expenditure equal between the dill
frcnt States and sections OF the Union The tax 10 MP
on the foreign po-tatous Of the country. They prn
cpaly into the country al few points and are DIS
,buled according 70 the OF trade over our broad
land The duties first pad, secured T. Dc paid al
the place of importation then charged by the i'm
porting merchant as pl; OF The cost ana The purchase
10. consumption pays the duty rs part OF me price
the goods he purchases, whether be at " ORR, tbs
principal point Of importation, at the most remote
point in the Union where retail merchant OF toreigF
goods is located, travelling ped!ar OF such good
finds his war. Take, then, The rap OF the u States
Look al the facilities for communication wt and trans
por:ation to the different sections Examine the Stats
ties Of the country to population and wealth. and tht
means and Inducements to purchase foreign goods, ane
see whether these elements warrant the presumption
tina. the distribution Of the avails Of tax upon The
single of population Will restore 20 each tax
payer the moneY he has pad, with only the ceduc
ton of the and charges of collection 1t neve
can tie so. The pecuniary condition OF the differ
ent sections of the country, the habits and manners
aud fashions as well as the tastes and nc!na,lons, vii
make the NEST essential dierenc in the consump
ton of foreign goods between portions OF the popnla
ZION numerically equal. The exercise OF the Fedora
power of taxation the form OF npusS, therefore, Il
RAISE money to he distributed To the States according
to population, produce an equality between
those who pay the aud those who receive the ava
The action OF n system cannot fail 10 be unequal
and mus, therefore he unjust
Another view viii e2h!h greater inequality IN the
working of the system The different sections OF the
Union follow dleren, employments, aud have essen
tally different interests 10 e affected by any tax upon
impora,ions Yet nil viii Weld 10 such mpos;,ions OF
tins character the necessities oi the Government
reCYire. Depart from that STANDARD, however, and
conmcoce to impose these for STATE expenditure,
and the ingenuity ard injustice become u:nst manI
fest. The Federal Governments the Government OF
all and must b. supported by ali; and whatever por.
ton of the necessary tor that support 1t shall
b.. thourht polite 10 draw from upon imports
mist be paid by ALL however uneqoally that tax may
bear upon The different States aud sections OF the
country. Not with the State Governments They
are the institutions Of the States themselves: OF the par
tcular people subject each, aud their revenues and
their expenditures should he equally matter with
themselves The objects for taxation, Ike the objects
4or expenditure, should BE selected by each, anu borne
and ENJOYED by lis people These principles are
SO plain and so Just, that the simple statement OF them
il would seem, mast command the assent oil every
American heart
BRING IN, then, the Federal power OF taxation, ard
exert that power upon the foreign imports la RAISE mo-
ney for State expenditure, and where will be the
equality or Justice One State will consider the tax
al.ec benefit 10 peculiar interests because Will
pro!ec, them against for I'm competition, and to that
State iis;rbutIve share at the money derived from
the ,ax wili be bat incidental consideration TO the
advantages anticipated from the Influence OF the tax
anon It's domestic interests. Another State Will look
upon tina; same directly calculated lodestroy ;he
market abroad for its principal staple, and therefore
threatening It's peculiar Interests direct INJURY, IN
fnitelv beyond the contribution IN money winch
the tax calls iu and such State ,i.e mere Gstrlbn
ton of it's share at jie proceeds o the tax. after the
panses of collection and distribution Shall hare been
deducted w seem rnthsr iasult than compensa
ton Tor the injustice inflicted opou it. Can The most
sarquine advocate fox the policy @; distribution !aii 10
see that these conf Ctng interests and influences and
feelings must Surround the practical operation o t!e
system:
Bring these arrnr elements into action in The Halls
OF Congress, and set them 80 selecting the descriptions
OF property tie e;cles Of import, upon which tax tor
dsrIhuton shall By assessed See the representatives,
from each State struggling 10 secure the highest attain
able upon snch imports Us can!e III competition "il
is domestic interests and TO discharge from the tas
such other articles its citizens TO not grow, or manu-
f.eure. and purchase. Let the scramble - on
until 4 combination OF interests can be formed suh-
GENTLY extensive 10 control gnlpry OF the votes o!
the HOUSES and then witness the character oi the
taxation which will be imposed 10 raise money for an
can contemplate a course OF action thus induced, and
hope that institutions can Ion, endure the conflicts
which will lie engendereG'
variety OF OPINIONS entertained and had been
expressed, as the ultimate termination Of such po
lev by those who equally agree that il mus be
tire subveFsioD, radical change III the iern "t our
Government, class contcnding that n.daton,
another that Giss luton OF the Union, and third that
perfect ANARCHY would be the rut to be realized from
II measure So dangerous To Mr. w. il very PLAIN
OF tins suicidal policy must
he rum IN form and ruin eecral 10 the peace
and strength and Liberties OF tie country as TO render
It's precise form matter of secondary interest. The
intermediate steps would be most likely 10 decide the
character OF tie catastrophe II The States were con-
nued the a?praprdling bodies, while THIS Government
was forced exercise the taxing power, at pesen,
PROPOSED, the tujn must commence here This Co
yernnieni fail, and that speedily, under such
system. II, the contrary, Congress, from short
experience should see ts speedy dissolution and
feel the seeds OF lis own des,uruon the prosecution
Or tina, unnatural course and SHOULD resume The dec.
Of the expenditures, and proceed TO exercise that
right in conjunction with the taxing power, then CON
.oiaou would be the unavoidable result OF the quiet
acquiescencc OF The States.
l. there the possibility Of mistake in these conclu.
sicns, Look the condition Of the States this
ncnt. To-day, resolutions from the Legislature Of one
State are LAID upon our tables, pressing Congress 10
pursue this policy Of distribution. Tomorrow rcsoll-
tons from the Legislature Of another Stale come,
fusins accept It's dsrbutive share of The money,
throwing back prolered boon aces and
pudiating the policy unconstitutional, quail and
unjust Does this look Ike peace and harmony and
prosperity under this new system when yet the first
step under it has not been tokeu
90 he c0StjRned)
REMARKS OF MR. CALHOUN
The resolutions OF Mr.. Clay 10 increase the Tariff
above the ma xnum of the Compromise Act, being
der consideration in the Senate, Wednesday, Mr..
Calhoun addressed that body for upwards of two hours