Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1844-09-21

they do it INDIRECTLY. That is to say, the
government collects this Tariff tax from the
importer Of the articles consumed by the peo-
pie, to wit: their hats, Shoes clothes, sugar,
iron, &c. The importer then adds the amount
of impost, or tax, so paid by him upon his
PRICE for the articles and when the citizen
purchases the cloth, or iron, or sugar, or other
thing to consume, he refunds to the importer
the tariff taxes in the additional price he pays,
and thereby these imposts or tariff taxes be.
come an INDIRECT tax upon the people. Never
dollar goes into the Treasury which the
people do not in some form create under Gods
blessing by their labor, and afterwards con-.
tribute to the government Immediately or re-
motely-DIREcTLY OR INDIRECTLY. These are
plain, common truths about which there can
be no dispute, and upon which there can be
no difference of opinion. Our divisions arise
in their application. Now, then, to apply
them to the Tariff the favorite taxing system
of Mr.. Clay and his party" The Tariff Act
of 1872" The returns Of the Treasury De-
partment show that the amount of revenue
(taxes) collected the present year is, or will
be, about forty millions of dollars! The ex-
penses of the General Government are quite
large enough, if not too great, when they
reach twenty millions. Why, then. should the
people be thus taxed TWICE as much as there
is any necessity for! The State of N. Caro-
llna-the people of both parties-agree that
the government expenses should not be as
great as twenty millions. Mr.. Clay himself
has said the same thing, and his party have
likewise, over and over again, declared the
same opinion. In this we concur with them
heartily and sincerely. We would therefore
repeat the inquiry, wherein lies the necessity
or the policy of taxing the people forty mill
lions for government that ought 20 be ad
ministered for less than hat that amount
Undenia5ly this is done by the tariff act of
l842; and yet Mr.. Clay is "utterly opposed
to its repeal!" and even in the South his par
ty leaders have gone with their Chief.
1t is not only burden to the people to pay
sequences still more deplorable. You know,
as all men of observation must know-alas!
too well-that Congress, like individuals,
when they are in possession of full treasu-
ry are apt to use it extravagantly.- is
peculiarly the case with governments where
In the Representatives SPEND what the peo-
lple pay. To denounce extravaganza in your
government, and at the same time oppose a
reduction of the taxes below forty millions,
is absurd. How can you rely upon any
mans professions of economy in public ex-
penses when he goes for adheung to tariff
tax that yields forty millions year,
Then, again, large revenue like forty
millions year (Which is estimated by our
opponents themselves will increase to more
will not only lead to extravaganza, but extra
vagance in the government begets corruption
| IN It's administration, no matter what party
rules, as naturally as the sparks fly up
Wards.''
The Liberties of the People and the Union
OF the States are never so secure, Ito say no.
thing at all about the cost) as when their Con-
stitution is permanent and undisturbed-the
Nation out Of debt-the expenditures of Co
vernment moderate-the Taxes of the people
low-and tie real producers of our wealth
left to manage and to use the fruits of their
own industry under the protection Of equal
laws.
What would you say to a law OF this State
for doubling the taxes, when one half the
amount is all that has been found necessary
for its administration And if these double
taxes (under the Tariff of 1922 are PAID
chiefly by the farmers of the country, Tas we
believe they are, they have right to COM
plain against the excess; and North Carolina
being community of farmers, might be ex-
pected to reduce such burdens, regardless of
party leaders. If it must needs be, that our
farmers are taxed, in order to protect favored
classes of capitalists, is it not quite enough to
tax them ALL that the Government N EEDS1
Wherefore should they be oppressed with
double taxes! But suppose this Tariff did
not operate unequally against the farmers, for
we mean not to discuss that question now; let
it be conceded that these Double Tariff Taxes
were imposed upon all sections and all classes
alike, with mostunerring impartiality,& that all
the People paiG them in just proportions, then
is i: not beyond dispute the interest Of all the
people in all sections and Of all classes TO re-
peal one half Of their oDn Idres, the econo-
mical administration of the Government re-
curing no more for Its liberia! support! Nay
let it be supposed that these DOUBLE bur-
thens were now resting upon the shoulders
If our countrymen in other States, and mt
upon ours, would the people Of North Caro-
lima be so unjust and SO ungenerous as to
refuse any relief to those who pay them. when
by taking off but one half of them, there
would still be enough for the Government,
and to spare What does it matter to this
question whether the North or the South, the
East or the West, pays an equal portion
of the Taxes When the amount of reven-
ne SO far exceeds the wants of the Govern
ment, Justice, Patriotism and self-interest
unitedly cry out against it. and the People,
every where, owe tito themselves, to insist
upon diminution of such burdens, and to
elect no one President who is " utterly oppo-
sed to it." But Mr.. Clay's party leaders
have adopted this Tariff of 1912, as THEIR
OWN, even in North Carolina. Mr.. Clay
has pledged himself in writing. tina, he is
" UTTERLY OPPOSED TO ITS RE-
PEAL" Such are his own words not ours
Col. Polk has given no such unwise pledge
against the repeal of Double Taxes, not ne
cessary to an economical administration.
A Tariff for Revenue. The Tax necessary
to raise revenues sufficiently large to support
the Government, is opposed by no party GER
tainly it is not by US. nor by the Democratic