The Arkansas banner., 1844-08-21

ss sthe Demociatic patty, does not lead to dree h,axatlon, but the reverse. Itis proposed sby US, to make trade free, by abolishing al %lmpost duties, and leaving our ports free tt Aail the world, without restriction What i atruly meant by free trade Is to relieve trade sfrom the embarrassments of unequal anC oppressive taxation; and to allow every in. Sdustrial interest to enter the lists on free anc hequal terms, with all others. The party te swhlch belong is ia favor of Tariff fol aeVenue, as the most convenient and ecomical amode oi taxation; and as the only means bv aWhich the government can be supported, with sout aTesort to direct taxation. Areyenue Tariff IS the very antipodc of direct taxation. ssand the only practicable mode of preventing 3lt' But Protsctire Tariff is the very re sverse of this; and if carried to the extent sconiended for by its friends, would prohibit Aall foreign lmporations; and thus. by de- sPryng us ot impost duties, would leave the governmentno alternative but a resort to direct taxation, III order tosupport its bare existence. u IS 10 prevent this disastrous state of affairs. ! land to preserve every public and private inte- 3rest free from inequality and oppression, that ] tree trade and d revenue tariff, thus under stood, arc contended for, and protective Tariff, with all its dire and inevitable evils, ] IS earnestly opposed
 From my proceeding remarks, 1t will be perceived that 1 am opposed to the collec- ton of single dollar, by any mode of tax satlon, more than is absolutely necessary to lpay the expenses of all economical adminis- tratlon oi the government. Consequently. | am opposed, as stated intheintrodueto por- ton of this address, to the policy of inter Inal improvements, within the States, by the lfederal government, except in cases clearly lnatlonai and necessary. The peculiar situ- latIon oi our own State, comparatively young iand feeble, being border member of the con- Itederacy, dying contiguous to, and bounded Tor considerable distance, by foreicn State, and by territory inhabited by numer- ious tribes of Warlike Indians,-must ncces- |sarily entitle 1t to be viewed, as forming to Isome extent, an exception to the general rule. But, III the main, hold that Arkansas should Irely upon her own great resources. for her future improvement. Her present means.l (which may by the judicious action of theI next Legislature, be made available, should bel |called into requisition, for that purpose. Bvl this our people would reap a doublG, andI
 perhaps a threelold benefit, by the activel
 means which could thus be put in circula-I
 tlon. Fgst-lt would effect the main ob- j ject contemplated, by removing obstruetionsE
 which now exist to the navigation of ourI
 rivers; opening new roads, and repairing andI
 completing old ones. .Secoadly-It would:
 throw into circulation means more easy to bel
 obtained by Bank debtors, and other embar-f
 rassed individuals, to relieve their pressing
 wants. And lastly, 1t would contribute sol
 much to the saving of uncertain Bank debts,! as to save the people from direct taxaton,i for the purpose of paying the liabilities of thel State, 10 the amount thus made available; and. which, by proper care and economy, mayy save us from the mortdying necessity of rel pudation.
 THE ANNEXATION OF TEXAS.
 This is a subject materially involving the; interest of this State, in common with thatl of the whole Union. lis one which IwouldI hot pass by in silence; and, yet, without con-ll suming too much space, with single letter, l can barely offer all outline of my views' upon a few of the important points it pre-. sents
 In saying that am iii favor of the annexa-l immediate annexation of onr sis-s ter Republic to our Union, but express thes sentiment of every true hearted man in Ar-s kansas. l am in favor of this annexation up-s on the broad ground of universal freedom; and in order to spread over the greatest posi- sibIe extent of territory, and over the greatests possible number of human beings, the ines-s iimable blessings of the free governments which we enjoy. This consideration derivess great strength from the fact that the citizenss of Texas are our own people, our relativess and friends, who have redeemed a nobles country from the hands of the spoilers, and; now desire 10 secure and establish her pros-ss perity, by restoring her to a rirhtfui Unions with our own favored land. lam in favor off this annexation, because believe that it's in-S nently conducive to both interest and honorE for, while 1t will enlarge our market and ex-s tend our traae, as planting, manufacturing, and commercial people, it will increase our strength and importance in the great familys of nations; and teach other powers, who re-s gard us with jealousy and hatred, and whoses greatest happiness would be in our downfall, 3 that our principles are in the ascendant, ourS course is onward, and our prosperity, found- s ed in human liberty, is secure beyond con- tingeney, and limited only by the will of Hea-s ven. In addition to these general considera- tions, regard the annexation as highly im-s portant-as essentially necessary, indeed, to' the safety of the Southwestern States, in the. possession of both life and property. The! reasons of this belief, must be obvious to all who will examine the subject in even the most prominent of its bearings.
 As to the claims of Texas to be consideredI an independent and sovereign State; and off the right of annexing her to the Union, with the consent of our people and hers, con-'' slider them too well established to require ar-5 gument. If then, as conceive, the inde- pendence of Texas be established, and the' right of admission into our Union be clear, what objection can any American have to an-!