Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1845-03-14

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terests OF sections or classes, must operate to the
prejudice of the interests Of their fellow.citizens
and should be avoided. If the compromises Of the
constitution be preserved--if sectional iealousos
and heart burnlngs be dscountenanced- our laws
be Just, and the government be practically admin
istered, strictly within the limits of power prescrb-
ed to tive may discard all apprehensions for the
safety of the Union.
With these views Of the nature, character and
object of the government, and the value of the u
MON, | shall steadily oppose the creation of those
institutions and systems which, in their nature tend
! to pervert it from its legitimate purposes and make
1t the instrument of sections, classes and ndividu-
ais. We need no national banks, or other extrane-
Gus institutions, planted around the government 10
control or strengthen it in opposition to the will of
| It's authors. Experience has taught us how unne-
csssary they are as auxiliaries of the public au
thortles, how impotent for good, and how powerful
for mischief
! Ours was intended to be plain and frugal gov
eminent, and shall regard it TO be my duty to re-
commend to Congress, and, as far as the Executive
is concerned, to enforce, by all the means within
my power, the strictest economy in the expendit-
ure Of the public money, which may be compatible
with the public interests.
A national debt has become almost an institution
OF European monarchies. 1t is viewed, in some of
them, as an essential prop to existing governments
Melancholy is the condition of that people whose
government can be sustained only by system,
which periodically transfers largo amounts from the
labors Of the many to the Golfers Of the few. Such
system is incompatible with the ends for which
our republican government instituted. Under
wise policy the debts contracted in our revolu-
ton, and during the war Of 1919, have been hap
| PLY extingulshcd. By iudicous application of
the revenues not required for other necessary pur-
poses, 1t is not doubted that the debt, which has
grown out of the circumstances of the last few
| years, may be speedily pad off.
! | congratulate my fellow citizens on the entire
restoration of the credit of the general government
Of the Union and that Of many ofthe States. Hap
py would it be for indebted States if they were
| freed from their liabilities, many of which were in
cautiously contracted Although the government
of the Union is, neither in legal nor moral sense
bound for the debts of the States, and it would be
violation Of our compact Of union to assume them,
yet we cannot but feel deep interest in seeing all
the States meet their public liabilities, and pay off
their just debts, at the earliest practicable period.
That they will do so as soon as it can be done with
out imposing too heavy burdens on their citizens,
there is no reason to doubt. The sound, moral and
honorable feeling of the people of the indebted
States cannot be questioned; and we are happy to
perceive settled disposition on their part, as their
ability returns after season of uneXamped pecu-
mary embarrassment, to pay off all just demands
and to acqulesce in any reasonable measures to
Spmplish that object.
One of the difficulties which we have had to en-
counter in the practical administration of the gov.
ernment consists in the adjustment of our revenue
laws, and the levy Of the taxes necessary for the
support OF government In the general PROPOSE
ton, that no more money shall be collected than
the necessities of an economical administration
shall require all parties seem to acquiesce. Nor
does there seem to be any material difference of
opinion as to the absence of right in the govern
ment to tax one section Of country, or class of
citizens or one occupation for the mere profit of
another. "Justice and sound policy forbid the fed
eral government to foster one branch of industry to
the detrlment of another or to cherish the interests
OF one portion to the injury of another portion of
our common country" | have heretofore declared
to my fellow citizens that, in g. my Judgment it is
the duty of the government to extend as far as It
may be practicable to do so, by its revenue lawa
and all other means within its power fair and just
protection to all the great interests of the whole
Union, embracing agncYLbFe, manufactures, the
mechanic arts, commerce and navigation | have
also declared my opinion to be ain favor of tariff
for revenue" and that in adjusting the details of
such tariff have sanctioned such moderate dis
terminating duties as would produce the amount Of
revenue needed, and at the time afford reason
able incidental protection to our home industry"
and that was opposed to tariff for protection
merely and not for revenue.
The power "to lay and coffcct taxes duties, i'm
posts and eXcises" was an Indispensable one to be
conferred on the federal government, which, with
out 1t, would possess means Of providing for its
own support. In executing this power by lcvying
tariff for the support of government, the raising
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incident. To reverse this principle, and make pro-
lection the object and revenue the incident would
be to inlet manifest injustice upon all other than
the protected interests. In levyng duties for rev.
enue, 1t is doubtless proper to make such dscrim-
nations within the revenue principle will afford
incidental protection to orr home interests. With
in the revenue limit, there is discretion to dscrim-
mate; beyond that limit, the rightful exercise of
the power is not conceded. The incidental protec-
ton afforded to our home interests by discrmina-
tons within the revenue range, it is believed will
be ample. In making determinations all our home
interests should, as far practicable, be equally
protected The largest portion of our people are
agrlcuturallsts. Others are employed IN manufac-
lures, commerce, navigation, and the mechanic
arts engaged In their respective pursuits and their
JOINT lnbors constitute the national or home indus
try. 10 tax one branch of this home industry for
the benefit OF another would be unjust. No one
of these interests rightfully claim advantage
over the other, or to be enriched by mpovershng
the others. All are equally entitled to the foster
ing care and protection of the government. In ex-
ercslng sound discretion in levying dscrimina-
ting duties within the limit prescribed, care should
be taken that it be done in manner not to benefit
the wealthy few at the expense of the toiling mil
lions, by taxing lowest the uxuries of life, arti
Giles OF superior quality and high price, which can
only be consumed by the wealthy and highest the
necessares of life, articles of coarse quality and
low price, which the poor and great mass of our
people must consume The burdens of govern
ment should, as far as practicable be distributed
Justly and equally among all classes of our popua-
ton These general views, long entertained on
this subject have deemed it proper to reiterate.-
1t is n suble upon which conflicting interests of
sections and occupations supposed to exist and
spirit Of mutual concession and compromise in
adjusting its details should be cherished by every
part of our wide spread country, the only means
OF preserving harmony and cheerful acquesence
n all in the operation of our revenue laws. Our
patriotic citizens in every part Of the Union will
readily submit to the payment of such taxes as shall
be needed for the support of their government,
whether in peace or in war; if they are so levied as
to distribute the burdens as equally as possible a
mong them.
The Republic of Texas has made known her de-
sire to come into our Union to form part of our