Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1846-12-30

expenditures to that economical standard
which is most consistent with the general
welfare, and the pure and wholesome pro-
gress of our institutions.
Among our just causes of complaint
against Mexico, arising out of her refusal
to treat for peace, as well before as since
the war so unjusrly commenced on her
part, are the extraordinary expenditures
in which we have been involved. Justice
TO our own people will mako il proper that
Mexico should be held responsible for
those expenditures.
Economy in the public expenditures is
ut all times a high duty which all public
functionnries Of the government owe TO
the people. This duty becomes the more
imperative in war, when large and extra
ordinary expenditures become unavoida-
bic. Daring the existence of the war
with MexIco, all our resources should he
husbanded, and no appropriations made
except such aS are absolutely necessary for
its vigorous prosecution and the due admit
nistratioh of the government. Objects of
APPROPRIATION, which in peace may be
deemed useful or proper, bat which are
not indispensable for the public service,
may, when the country is engaged in a
foreign war, be well postponed to future
period. By the observance of this policy
at your present session, large amounts
may be saved to the treasury, and be APP
piled TO objects Of pressing and urgent
necessity, and thus the creation of cor
responding amount of public debt may be
avoided.
1t is not meant 80 recommend that the
ordinary and necessary appropriate us Tor
the support of the govern nent should be
Withheld; but it is well known, that a, ev-
cry session OF Congress appropriations are
proposed for numerous objects, which may
or may not be made, without materially
affecting The public interests; and these, 1t
is recommended, should not be granted.
THE TARIFF.
The act passed at your last session, Gre
ducing the duties on Imports" not having
gone into operation until the lst Of the
present month, there has not been time
Cor its practical effect upon the revenue
and the business OF the country to be de
velooed. Ii is not doubted. however, that
the Just policy which it adopts, will add
largeIyto our foreign trade, and promote
the general prosperity. Although It can
not ne certainly toreSeeu what ssF17uat q
reveaue ii will Weld, it is estimgted that il
will exceed that produced by the act of
lI842, which it superseded. The leading
principles established by it are: to levy
the taxes to raise revenue, and impose
them upon the articles imported according
| to their actual value.
The act of 1912. by the excessive rate:
Of dutv which it imposed on many arti.
cles either totally excluded them from i'm.
portaron, or greatly reduced The amount
impor.ed, and thus diminished instead o
pr ,dncing revenue. By it, the taxes were
imnpsed, not for the legifimate purpose O
raising revenue, bIt to aft lrd advantages
To favored classes, al the expense OF {
large nainritv of their fellow citizens =
| Those emplpved in agriculture, mechini
cal pursuits, Commerce and navigation
we're compelled To contribute OF their sub
stlnce to swell the profits of the aIread'
overgrown wealth of the comparative ell
few who invested their capital in manufac
lures. The taxes were not levied in pro
portion 10 the value.of the articles upot
which they were imposed; bnt, widel
different from this Just rule, the lighte
| taxes were in many cases levied upon al
, ticles of luxury and high price, and tn
: heavier taxes on those of necessity an
! low price, consumed by the great mass c
the people. |, was a system, the inevIta
BILE effect of which was to relieve favore
] classes and the wealthy few from contrl
I butlng their ust proportion tor the sup
I, port of the government, and lay the burfe'
g on the labor of the many, engaged IN 9th
er pursuits than manufactures.
E A system so unequal and so unjust ha
been superseded by the existing Law
e which imposes duties not for the benet
: or injury OF elias es or pursuits, but dis,r
e butes, and, as far as practicable, equal
}, yes the public burdens among all ciasse
Y and occupations. The favored ciasse
II who, under the unequal aud unjust sysie'
i which has been repealed, have heretoior
n realized large profits, and many OF the
II amassed large fortunes, at the expense
e the many VINO have been made trIbutaT
to them, will have no reason to compla
n if they shall be required to bear their ju
l. proportion of the taxes necessary tor II
Dt support of the government. SO far iro
y it, it will be perceived, by an examInatlc
of the existing law, that, dlscrImn
ton in the rates of duties imposed, with
st the revenue principle, have been retaIn'
Of IN their favor. The Incidental aid again
x foreign competition which they s'll emf
u. pives them an advantage which no 9th
d. pursuits possess; but OF this, none othe
ic will Complain, because the duties levi
$50. r = ...u..,,o ThaOa roo