Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-03-31

apaft-into which Treasu-
~ the Land Fund goes1 lfinto the Fed
eral Treasury, we shall have to contri-
butte less to the Federal Government If
into the State Treasures, we shall have
10 contribute less to the States. In their
zeal to advance the cause which they es.
pouse, gentlemen seem to forget quite that
the people Of the States have any interest
in, or concern with, the Federal Govern
men. that Congress and the State Legis-
latures are but agencies of the same peo.
pie, endowed with special trusts, it is true,
but exercising them for the same end.
To Congress we have confded our
moro general concerns, and it is clothed
with exclusive power of raising revenue
by duties upon importations ito the
State Legislatures we have confided our
particular and municipal concerns, and
for means Of revenue they are limited 10
direct taxation. Between the two modes
OF revenue we cannot hesitate to decide
which is preferable. But here IS fund,
neither derived from direct taxes nor
from duties; and supposlng i to be appl-
cable TO the wants of either Government,
the question arises, to which shall we de-
vote i.7 Devote it 10 the States, and an
increase OF the duties upon foreign i'm.
portations will be necessary, and then will
be revived, we are told, the old exploded
American System" Now, to this, !
answer, that the policy Of distribution
contemplates only Tariff for Reuenue--
nothing more; and If, in the arrangement
Of duties, for the purpose Of revenue incl.
dental protection be given to domestic in
dnstry; if American labor can be foster
cd at the expense OF Foreign, who is here,
that feels the pulsations of a true Amer.
can heart in his bosom, will object. Dr.
rect taxes fall unequally on small proper
ty holders, most unequally on agricultural
classes. Their lands and personal estate
lie open to the tax-layer and tax. gaiherer;
whilst the large capitalists, the merchants,
manufacturers and monled classes, remain
untouched. They are reached by tax
upon Injuries which they consume. Look
around and see who they are who pay
the taxes on lands, and slaves, and horses,
and who pay the mposts on West India
Rum, French Brandy, Foreign Wines,
Imperial Teas and Broad Cloths, Silks
and Satnsl II tariff casts the burden
of taxation upon the rich you will reject
it because it gives life and vigor to our
manufactures in preference to those of
foreign nations Will you reject il be-
cause it enrichcs those who spin and
weave your co,tons in Lowell, Richmond
and Petersburg, rather than the spinners
and weayers in London and Manchester 7
Will you reject it because it furnishes
mouths to consume your bread stuffs, your
meats, and market for your wooll And
will you reject it because it lessons that
drain which carries to Europe the pre-
cious metals, undermining our banks, cor
ruptng our currency, and enriching bro.
kers and usurers?
We have, it is true, two Governments,
but we are one people. The people OF
the States have, in some form, to furnish
the means of carrying on both Govern.
ments. What is the best mode Of provid-
ing the meansl By impost duties or di.
rect taxes? And is this an unsettled
question of American polcy1 Are we
now, in 1912, after tho experience of all
commercial nations, and our own practice
for more than fifty years, called on to
maintain by argument the preference Of
imposts over taxes on lands, slaves and
horses, and odious excise laws?
In the days of Jefferson, whom gentle
men so often quite, an impost was looked
upon rather as a benefit than a burthen.
Ia his message to Congress, December Cd,
1906, anticipating surplus of revenue to
be derived from imposts beyond the wants
Of the Government, he says -" The
question, therefore, now comes forward to
what other objects shall these SURPRISES
be appropriated, and the whole surplus Of
the lmpost after the entire discharge Of
the public debt, and during those inter-
walls when the purposes Of war shall not
call for them! Shall we suppress the i'm.
post and give that advantage to foreign
over domestic manufactures 7 On n few
articles Of more general and necessary
use the suppression in due season will,
doubtless, be right. But the great mass
Of the articles on which impos, is paid, are
foreign Injuries, purchased by those only
who are rich enough to afford themselves
the use Of them. Their patriotism would
certainly prefer its continuance and ap-
plication to the great purposes of public
education, roads, rivers, canals and such
other objects OF public Improvement as it
may be thought proper to add TO the con.
stitutional enumeration of federal powersl
By those operations new channels OF com.
munication will be opened between the
States the lines of separation will disap.
pear their interests will be identified,
and their union cemented by new and in
dssoluble bonds" Thus spoke Mr.. JEFF
ferson; thus thought every statesman Of
every party and can any politician now
be found hardy enough to propose the
abolition of the impost, and the substitu.
ton of direct taxes and excise duties to
supply the demands Of the General Gov.
eminent Will the leaders OF the demo-
cratic party here openly take that groundl
They will know they dare not. Yet how
are we to understand the arguments Of tho
gentlemen IRON Louisa and Accomac ?
Both have directed their full force against
the policy of tariff, not for protection,
but rerenue. Both have ms sted that the
system Of impos, is most burdensome
form OF revenue, and deprecated all re-
SORT IN H. pursninu the argument the