The Democratic Whig. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1842-1843, 1843-05-25

al foreign Government. Almost every
PaFlisan newspaper; Especially those
called the ewing" papers Of New
York, and some that confess 10 speak,
FOR no party ia general but for each IN
PARTICULAR gives Us some cabinet Sc
crel, some dish Of diplomatic doings
obtained through 6rst-rale sources
from sources to be relied on from
one who knows.
A commercial treaty to settle the
tariff! Let Us examine this. Ac-
cordiDg TO the political theory Tor
which the people Of England reJelIed
against Charles |, and the Old Thir-
teen Colonies rebelled against George
AL, the taxing power belongs to the
people, through their representatives.
This theory is duly set forth in the
Bill Of Rights in Britain, and the de-
claration of independence in the Uni
ted States. According to the Federal
Constitution, Congress has the sole
power to lay and collect, taxes and
all "revenue bills, F." or bills for taxation
must originate in the House Of Repre-
sentatives. According to the same
Constitution Congress has the sole
power Of laying and collecting duties,
imposts, and excising, and Of regula.
ting commerce Eith foreign nations; a.
mong the States, and with the Indian
uibes. The Declarations Of lnde-
pendence and the Constitution have
some authority-the one for a funda-
mental principle, and the other for
specific and clearly defined details. If
then we understand a commercial trea-
~ to settle the tariff and regulate duties,
it is a tax bill, revenue bill, bill to
impose and rollect duties and imposts
and bill to regulate commerce with
foreign nations, originating with, and
passed by, the Executive
Truly this is a very cOmpsndious
method Of amending the Federal
Constitution, by transferring TO the
Executive powers exclusively vested
in the Legislature generally, and sub
ject, in one very important point, to
the control Of one offs branches espe
ciaIly. Any regulations Of duties and
imposts is an exercise OF the taxing
power, and is so more especially, when
imposts and duties are our principal,
and with the single exception OF Jue
public lands, our only source Of re-
venue. A duty upon any article Of
consumption is a tax 10 the consum-
or imposed upon foreign merchan-
disc it is a regulation Of commerce
with foreign nations F; and collected
and paid into the treasury, this tax is
revenue. IL the President can
manage ell this the Legislature
can be abolished for one principal
object Of separating Legislative and ex-
ecutive power-the protection prop
ery against arbitrary power-is de-
leated. But il the Executive have
this taxing power at all, be has it 10
any extent and therefore he can eth
er abolish al duties, or render them
prohibitory. Let US suppose treaties
with all nstions upon the principle OIL
unlimited free trade, or in other words
treaties admitting their merchandise
without any duties. What becomes
Of our reveuue1 1t is gone, aud we
must resort TO direct taxation. Gone
how {? Abolished by the President,
through commercial treaties Lee
US suppose treaties imposing duties
at City or one hundred per cenIum
giving sixty million Of revenue, when
thirty millions will defray all reasona.
Bile expenses Of the Government
Why this enormous taxation, and The
consequent extraVagant. expenditures
Such is the will Of the President, sig.
ni6ed through commercial treaties
Rather ample powers are these iol
the Executive Of republic J
But the Executive is authorized, BY
! the Federal Constitution to conclude
treaties, two-IhRds Of the SENATE
D conserving and therefore this Pows
/, to tax, and regulate commerce, doe
: not belong to the President alone
We admit this. But as the Consiitu
5 lion, in the first article, has veste,
lin Congress, which is both the HOus
and the Senate. the sole power Of lay
ing and collecting taxes and duties
and regulating commerce. and ha
vested il the House alone the powe
!. Of originating tax bills, we know nc
It how either OF these powers can be ex
' ercised by the President and Senate
n under the second article Of that instru
/" menr Yet such is the fact, if thes
!. authentic stories Of Cabinet movement
y be true.
p TRA-Ahout the wear 1859, hi