Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-07-15

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ton, in the imposition of those duties, regarding, WIN
an equal eye, all the great interests of American IN
dustry and production. But if you wilfully determine,
at all hazards, to keep the proceeds of the public lands
out OF The National Treasury, that you may JORGE up
a preternaturally high tariff for your peculiar adyan-
tage, you will awaken, through the length and breadth
OF the land, a spirit @hich promises any thing rather
than stability and repose 10 the interests you would
thus project.
The elements, for the permanent adjustment Of this
greatly question, lie so n0kedly before Us, that 1t seems
wonderful that they are not INSTANTLY seized and com.
bined by every intellect. Let the land fund come at
once into the National Treasury, as it must do If the
faith of existing legislation be observed, and let 1t be
set apart exclusively as a fund for the extinguishmeni
ofthe public debt. Let the duties, be adjusted, with
Il view to meet the current demands of the public ser.
vice alone, and not the whole aggregate charge OF the
Government, consisting Of both debt and current e&'
pen6iture. The latter would necessarily be the case,
if the land fund were now surrendered to the States;
and the conse qaence would be-, that as soon as the debt
vas discharged, a reduction Of duties would be called
for, exposing the interests which may have grown
up under them, to all the evils of a vacillating and
unstable legislation. On the other hand, the land
fund, being exclusively devoted 10 the eytinguish.
ment of the public debt, might, when it had performed
that office, be properly made the subject of "repartition
among the States" according to the suggestion of Mr..
{ fierson; and thus the system of imposts, involving so
vitality the interests of private industry and the employ.
ment and distribution Of the national capital, would be
kept stable and uniform in its operation.
Al 4 last resort in argument, we are sometimes told
that The States are heavily Indebted, and that they must
have The land money 10 pay their debts. But the States
have their own domestic administrations TO take care
nf their interests, and TO provide for their necessities
They are competent 10 do so; and will, firmly believe,
ir:umplantly sustain their credit, and the honor of the
American name. They will follow the example Of no,
bic Pennsylvania, the most embarrassed of them all,
and instead Of vainly praying to Hercules 10 deliver
them, they will maniully put their own shoulders TO
the wheel. What authority have we TO pay the debts
of the States, even if we had the means? Have our
constituents, or the Constitution of the country, given
US any warrant 10 do so' The indebted States them
selves are too proud and too just to ask it. The high
est and most honorable service we can render them is
10 abstain from pressing upon their resources by unne-
cessary taxation, and TO uphold the national credu,
" hich is The chief support Of theirs, by a faithful and
vigorous application Of all our means, 10 extricate the
finances Of the nation from the deep embarrassment and
disgrace which have u~nbappily fallen upon them.
| would respectfully suggest, for the consideration of
the honorable Chairman of the Committee on Finance,
whether this is likely TO be done by nm exclusive and
too confident reliance upon the capacity OF the customs.
This is, after all, but a limited resource. You may
augment your rate of duties Indefinitely, but while
you increase duties, you may dim. nish revenue. This
has been already strikingly shown in the experience OF
England; and Sir Robert Peel, in his late able speech on
the finances of that country, has given some very in.
structiye examples oft. The duties having been pushed
there TO their utmost productive limit, he has thrown
himself upon the e%xpedient of an income as the sole
alternative Of supply. | would ask my honorable friend
by what aiehymy he is to extract twenty.seven millions
Of dollars (the estimated amount of ex penditure) by du-
ties upon the foreign commerce OF this country, Ia lis
present condition. 1t cannot be done, Sir. ] have here
lofore given the reasons for this opinion, which will
not row repeat; but / stake myself upon ito truth, il
It shall unfortunately be put 10 the test of actual eSpe-
riment. If, then, in the straits to which we are now
reduced, the public lands are to be recklessly gwen
away, We may prepare ourselves, at once, for a system
of dircc, taxation. We shall no longer be able 10 say,
in the language Of Mr.. Jefferson, "l is The pride and
pleasure Ut an American 10 ask, what farmer, what
mechanic, what laborer ever sees The lace OF q lax
ra,herer of the United States" At best, Mr.. Presi-
dent. we must submit 10 be taxed, through heavily
increased duties, in every thing we eat, and drink, and
wear, TO pay hack TO the Government, with enormous
charges, The su m il distributes from the Treasury 10 the
States ; and must be permitted 10 believe, that the
intelligence of the American people is far too much
advanced to see any advantage to them in such q pro-
cess as that.