Iowa territorial gazette and advertiser. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa Territory [Iowa]) 1840-1846, 1844-05-11

Nh. Clay and Direct Taxanaon.
One Of the cl6rges nade 'against tho
democrats by the wings, win their accus-
toned disregard Of truth, i that Of adv6-
eating system Of direct taxation IS sub
stitute for the present mode Of raising rev.
enue for the support Of the government.
The accusation il utterly untrue, as We
have frequently proved, and a. is known
by those who mahs Il; but still il il persist
ed in. Messls. Van Buren,, Calhoun,
Johnson, Cass, Buchanan, and al others
whose names have been mentioned by the
democracy in connection with the Presiden-
cy, are avowed advocates Of . revenue
tariff, and have never favored the introduce
ton Of direct taxation; but can the wings
say as much for their candidate, Mr.. Clay?
They cannot, as the following extract from
q speech made by him after the close Of
the war fully proves. During the war,
revenue from imports being entirely cut
of : resort to internal taxation was rem
dered absolutely necessary; but when, af-
ter the restoration Of peace, the attempt
was made to abolish these direct taxes,
Mr.. Clay, as the following goes to prove,
opposed it. What will his friends say to
the admission at the close Of the extract
ave do not derive our ability from
abroad to pay taxes; that depends upon
our wealth and industry, AND 1T is
THE SAME WHATEVER MAY BE
THE FORM OF LEVYING CONTRI-
BUTIONS2" There, gentlemen-you
who have been attempting to gull the peO-
pie with the absurd doctrine TINT the pro-
Queer Of articles of foreign manufacture,
and not the consumer, pays the duty or
tax-swaliow that, from yourgreat idol.
In speaking on the subject Of the tariff,
Mr.. Clay, says
"Can any one doubt the iapolicy Of gov
eminent rest solely upon the precarious
resource Of such . revenue? II is con-
stantly .tauct,AatiMg. It tempts us BY its
enormous amount at one time, into extrav-
agant expenditure; and we are then driv-
en-, by its sudden and unexpected depres-
sion, into the opposite extreme. We are
seduced by its fattering promises into ex-
penses which we might avoid; and are af-
forwards constrained By its ireachery to
avoid expenses which we ought to make.
1t is a system under which perpetual
war, between the interest Of the govern
ment and the interest Of the people. Very
large importations fill the Golfers Of gov
eminent, and empty the pockets Of the
people. Small importations imply pru-
dence on the part Of the people, and leave
the treasury empty. In war the revenue
disappears; in peace It is unsteady. On
such system the government will not be
able to rely much longer We all antici-
pate that we shall shortly have to resort to
some additional supply Of revenue euhin
ourselves. ! was opposed to the total re-
peal Of the INTERNAL REVENUE
| would have preserved certain parts Of it
at least, to be ready for emergencies such
az now exist. And am, for one, ready
to exclude foreign spirits altogether, and
substitute for the revenue levied on them
. tax upon the spirits made in this coun-
try. No other nation lets in SO much for
eign spirits as we do. By the encourage
ment Of home industry, you will lay a
BASIS OF INTERNAL TAXATION,
when it gets strong, that will BE STEADY
and UNIFORM, yielding alike in peace and
,car. We do not derive our ability from
abroad to pay taxes; that depends upon
our wealth and industry; and Il IS Tie same
WHATEVER MAY BE THE FORM,
Of kvying contributions"