The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-04-08
NUMBER 1O1.

hyPo'hesis tlat Wenty-sK millions per annpm
must be raised from impost Mr. w. proposed to
bring back the land revenue, land thus diminish this
amount by three millions of dollars. lie trusted
he had succeeded in showing before that two mill
ions more Of the amount as mere Treasury bal
ance was unnecessary land must have been includ-
: ed under IL Misrepresentation, inasmuch as the
, whole amount of the honorable Senator was based
upon the assumption OF twenty-five millions as the
standard for ordinary expenditure. These deduc-
tons would bring down his necessity for mpost
to twenty one millions per annum and inasmuch
as the actual ordinary expenditures of the year
1910 were brought down TO about twenty-five and
one third millions, and il was admitted on all
hands that the work of retrenchment from the en-
uavagances of the period of surplus revenue had
been scarcely more than commenced, he must
think the standard of the honorable Senator of
twenty-five millions loI the ordinary expenses of
an economical administration much too hgh He
did not know that these considerations ought TO
induce the belief that rate ofduly of 20 per cent.
would produce a sum which, added to the land
revenue, would be sufficient to meet the expend-
lures OF an economical administration, but he was
compelled TO say that the honorable Senator had
tailed to prove to the satisfaction of his mind tha,
that rate would not be sufficient, aided by the pro-
ceeds Of the lands.
1t was unsafe too in his judgment, to adjust a
tariff intended 10 be permanent, upon calculations
as TO the imporallons Of 1871 and 1912 alone, the
two years,n all human probability, of the greatest
depression in period of depression hitherto unex-
ampled in time Of peace. The result of an adjust
meni upon such basis would be anos, certain to
be an early excess OF revenue again, and conse-
quent extravaganza of expenditure Accomplishing
Of SURPRISES, arrangement of business, distribution,
and another depression. And, next to hopeless
debt, repetition Of these events, now so fresh in
4 l,a f. nll
Mr. w. had now reached the fifth resolution Of
the honorable Senator, and he considered that the
key to unlock all that preceded it, the hinge upon
which the whole action upon the fist five res0u-
tiOns must and woud tula II was in the follow
ing language
9th. Resolved, That the provision in the act of
the extra session for the distribution orthe proceeds
of the public lands, requiring the operation of that
act TO be suspended, in the contingency ola higher
rate OF duty than twenty per cent ought TO be re-
pcalod.
This resolution opens the policy which i, seems
to be the object Of The whole series TO call upon
the Senate 10 sanction viz; the policy and expedi-
ency of distribution, regardless of The state Of the
Treasury, TIE mtans of the Treasury, the power
to raise revenue, or the condition Of public credit.
No proposition OF higher Importance could well be
presented 10 the Senate, and the questions which
demand deep and careful consideration, before il
is decided, are Of vital interest TO the people, TO
the Government and to the existence Of our nstl-
tulicns. Among them are the following:
l. The consll'uonality Of exercising the power
OF tins Government to raise money for Stuie ca
.. The necessary influences upon both the State
and the National Government of the policy ofds-
tributlon and the consequent exercise of the Fed
eral taxing power 10 raise money for the States
3. The influence of Ibis Government, for objects
- a..
lie delences, the administration Of Justice, and the
like.
4. The necessary influence of the policy upon
the public credit of the United States
These points Mr. w. would consider IN their or
der, and
|. The constuonality Of exercising the taxing
power oilhis Government 10 raise money for State
expenditure.
The time had been when this fact was matter Of
dispute, and when i, was commended that the pro-
ceeds Of the sales of the public lands might be dis
tribued TO the States without drawing after it the
consequence OF imposing new taxes for the support
ofthis Government, At former session orcongress,
he had consumed the time of The Senate in making
abored speech, the almost entire object of which
was to establish this fact: To prove tha, the distr-
button the proceeds of the lands would be, in el-
feet, TO distribute the revenue from impost: and at
that time he had supposed, if he could establish
that position 10 the satisfaction Of ALL the disrbu-
ton policy would be abandoned by all
This fact was undispuied, was admitted by all,
so that any necessity for repetition of his former
labor, up to this point, was wholly supcrseded.-
Now the Treasury Was in want with all the means
which the revenue from the lands and the customs
would bring into it. No one, therefore, pretended
to deny that if the revenue from the lands should
be taken away for distribution, instant new taxes
must be imposed to supply the deficiency thus oc-
casloned This was a consequence of the present
distribution bill universally conceded.
lie was not, however compelled to resort 10 this
consequential testimony 10 establish this fact. The
honorable mover Of the resolutions (llr Claw had
upon late occasion, with his accustomed trunk
ness, declared in his pace that the real question
presented was, whether we should pei the
States 10 resort 10 their power of direct taxation 10
meet their present advertisements and wants, or
should exercise ourselves our more mid power Of
incidental or Indirect taxaliOn 10 accomplish the
same'obje ct; and thus stating the question, he rrg-
ed the exercise ofonr power for the States instead
Of their exercise Of their own power ioi them
selves. This put the question Of fact at rest
How was il then, with the question of power on
our part /? The Constitutional the United States.
article l section 3, says: 1.-THE Congress shall
have power TO lay and collect taAes duties npos,s,
and excuses, 10 pay the debts, and provide for the
common defence ana general welfare oil tie tni-
ted States"
This is the power granted 10 Congress by the
Constitution-"io lay and collect taxes, duties inn
posts, and excises;" and these are the objects for
which money may be so collected from The peo-
pie. viz to pay the debts Of the United States; to
provide for the common defence of the United
States TO provide for the general welfare of The
United States. To distribute money from the I'rea-
sury of the Union TO separate States us a gratuity
is certainly not applying i, to the payment Ofdebis
of the United States. 1t is not nsing il 10 provide
for the common defence Of the United States. Does
such disposition of the money, then, come with
in the power ",o provide for the general welfare
of the United States If not, the Constitution
does not authorize such an application of the mo-
ney of the Union. If it does come within this
power then any object Of State expenditure. d.
rected by he Legislature Of State, is an exppnd-
ilure to provide for the general welfare of the Uni
4 ,,,I al.