American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-09

nenl in n nogition which would enable II n
reduce the public EXPENDITURES to that eco
nomical standard which is most consistent
with the general welfare. and the pure and
whoIpsome nrocress OF our institutions
Among orr inst causes of compIain, apains,
Mexico, arising out Of her refusal to treat for
peace, as well before as since the war so I'm.
lustIy commented on her part, are he extra
Ordinary expenditures in which we have been
involved. Justice TO our own people will
make it proper that Mexico should be held
resnonsibIe for these expeDGltures
Economy in the public exp, ndilurrs is atall
times high duty which ali public function.
aries Of the government owe 10 the peonle.-
This dpty becomes the more imperative in q
neFiod of war. when large and extraordinary
expenditures become unavoidable. During
the existence of the war with hIexico all our
resources should be husbauded, aud no ap.
prcpriations made except such as are abso.
lutey necessary for its vigorous prosecution
and the due administration of the government
Objects Of appropriation, which in peace may
be deemed useful or proper, but which are not
indispensable for the public service, may,
when the counry is engaged in foreign war,
be well postponed to future period By the
observance Of his policy at your present ses-
sion, large amounts may be saved TO the treas
ury, and be applied 10 objects of pressing and
urgent necessity, and thus the creation of a
core, bonding amount of public debt may be
avoided
1t is not meant to recommend that the or
binary AMI necessary appropriations for the
support Of government should be withheld but
it IS well known that at every session of Con
gress appropria'ions ere proposed for numer-
Gus objects which may or may not be made,
without materially effeCting he public inter
ests; and these it is recommended should not
be granted.
The act passed at your last session ''reduc.
ing the duties on imports" not having gone in
to operation until the first Of the present
month, there has not been time for is practi-
cal effect upon the revenue, and the business
Of the country, to be developed 1t is not
doubted, however that the just policy which
it adopts will add largely TO our foreign trade,
and promote the general prosperity. Al
though it cannot be certainly foreseen what
amount Of revenue it will yield, it is estimated
lh,t it will exceed that produced by the act
Of 1912 which it superseded. The leading
PRINCIPLES established by il are. to lew the
taxes with view 10 Ia Sc revenue, and to ion.
nose them upon the articles impotted accord
lnr To their actual value.
The act Of lSl2. by the excessive rates of
du,y which j, imposed on many articles, eth.
er totally excluded Them from imporiatjon or
greatly reduced the amount imporled. ami
thus diminished instead of produciup revenue
BY it the taxes we're imposed not for the leg
itimate burmese Of raising revenue. hpt 70 AZ.
ford advantages to fav. red classes, at the *
tense Of large majority of their fellow. ci,i-
zeDs. Those empIoyed in agriculture me-.
chanicaI pufsnits. commerce. and navipation
were c.mpelled 10 cootrihu!e from their sinh.
stance to swell the nro6ts and ov, rgrown
wealth of the comparatiyeIy few who had in
vested their cari,aI in manufacturers Tie
taxes were not levied in nronortion to the val.
ne of the articles upon which thew were inn.
pns,d: hut widely depar,inp from This ms,
rule. The lighter taxes were in MANY cases
levied upon articles of luxury and hiob price
and the heavier taxes IN those Of nere.si,v
and low urice consumed nv the great rooss -,
the neonie q. II was a system tie Inevitable
effect Of which was to relieve favored classe,
| and the wealthy few from contributing thei,
| lust PROMOTION for the supnort government
! and TO lay the burden on the labor of the ma
ny, engaged in other pu suits than manuCac.
| lures.
A system so unequal and unjust has been
superseded by the existing law, which imposes
duties not for the benefit or injury of classes
or pursuits, but distributes, and, as far as
practicable; equalizes the public burdens o.
mong all classes and occupations. The favo.
red classes, who, under The unequal and un.
just system which has been repealed, have
etoore realized large profits, and many oil
them amassed large fortunes, at the expense
Of the many who have been made tributary Ia
/ them, will have no Reason to complain if they
/ 81 all be required TO bear their Just proportion
Of the taxes nee ssary for the sup ort of gov
eminent. So far from it, it will be perceived
by an examination of the existing law, that
determinations in the rates of duty imposed
within the revenue principle, have been re.
aimed in their favor The incidental aid a.
| gainst foreign competition which they still