The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-17

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tor from Massachusetts il would be the praises which he
offered to General Jackson in his speech Philadelphia
But who be surprised al this fact after he attempted
10 palm himself Oft the aamirer OF Mr. JehersOn's opn-
IONS upon the good people Of Virginia, the campaign
of 1910, "under October sun :"
Dir. Websers motive in praising General jackson is
obvious. He attempts TO separate Mr. Polk from the Old
Hero by making out that the former Is anti protection,
and the General ia favor of high protective Tariff To
make out his he adopts the policy Of quoting the
earlier opinions and suppessng the latter opinions, OF
this distinguished man This may be worthy Of a mere
advocate at the bar, in where he is employed 10 do
the best for his clent but does not well consist with
the character OF statesman, whose client ought 10 be
his country II is her interests only which he is bound
toconsu Unfortunately the orator playing the soph-
list in Phiaiephaand making he worse appear the bet
reason" In his speech, therefore he forges only
his earlier opinions, but the latter opinions Of Gene
raj jackson. These 10 be found in Of his latest
messages, and above ALL in the yaeiietoy which he adj
dressed TO the American people the 4h March, 1887
Be il duty refresh the memory OF Mr. Webster and
his hearers IN relation TO this subject
| Opinions OF General jackson the Tariff.
In his Farewell Address delivered to the people OF the
United States, in 1897, General Jackson says:
''Ihere is perhaps no of the powers conferred
the federal government so liable TO abuse as the taxing
power The most productive and convenient sources Of
revenue necessarily given TO IT, that might be able
TO perform the important duties imposed upon 1t and the
taxes which il lays upon commerce being concealed from
the real payer the price OF the article, they do not
readily attract the attention Of the people the smaller
demanded from them directly by the tax-gaherer
But the tax ar) imposed on goods enhances much
e price on The commodity 10 the consumer and, as many
OF these duties are imposed articles OF necessity which
daily used by the great body OF the people, the money
raised from these imposts Is drawn from their pockets
Congress has right under the constitution to take
money from the people, unless II Is required TO execute
some one Of the specific powers ntrused to the govern
ment and il they raise more than is necessary for such
nj nj nd
rust and Oppressive II may indeed, happen that the rev.
enue will sometimes exceed the amount anticipated when
the taxes were laid When, however tins is ascertain
ed, is easy to reduce them and in such case, i Is
unquestonably the DUTY of the government to REDUCE
THEM, for no circumstances can justify 1t in assuming
power not given to il by the constitution taking
away the money Of the people when it needed for
| the legitimate wants OF the government
Pain these principles appear to be, you will etnd
that there is a constant effort to induce the general gov
eminent to go beyond the limits OF its taxing power and
to impose unnecessary burdens upon the people Many
powerful interests continually at work to procure
heavy duties on commerce. and TO swell the revenue be-
yond the real necessities OF the public services and the
country has already felt the injurious effects OF their COM
bned influence. They succeeded in obtaining tariff OF
duties bearing most oppressvey the agricultural and
abonng classes of society, and producing revenue that
could not be usefuly employed within the range OF the
powers conferred upon Congress- and IN order to fasten
upon the people this UNJUST AND UNEQUAL SYSTEM OF
TAXATION eXavagant schemes OF internal Improvement
were got up, in various quarters, TO squander the
money and to purchase support Thus, one unconstItu
|
and the abuse OF the power OF taxation to be main
tanned by usupng the power OF expendng the money IN
internal Improvements You cannot have forgotten the
severe and double struggle through which we passed,
when the executive department OF the government, by
its Veto endeayored to arrest this prodgal scheme of in
Justice and to bring back the legislation of Congress to
The boundaries prescribed BY the constitution The good
sense and practical judgment OF the people, when the
subject brought before hem sustained the course OF
the executive; and this plan OF unconstitutional eNpend
ure for the purposes of corrupt nfuenceis, trust final
ly oyerthrown. -. -,.
eXtngushment of the public debt, and the large accumu
ation of surplus in the treasury, notwithstanding the
tariff was reduced and is very far below the amount
originally contemplated by its advocates But rely upon
H. the design to collect an extravagant revenue and to
burden YOU with beyond the WANTS OF
THE GOVERNMENT is NOT YET ABANDONED. The
various interests which have combined together to I'M
pose a HEAVY TARIFF and to produce an oyerfowing
treasury strong and have too much at stake TO
surrender the contest The corporations and wealthy lnd
viduas who engaged in large manufacturing establish
ments, desire high tariff to increase their gains De
signing politicians tcH sustain it, 10 concdte their ia
and to obtain The means Of Profuse expenditure for
he purpose of purchasing influence other quarters
and since the people have decided that the federal govern
ment be permitted to employ its income IN internal
improvements efforts will be made to seduce and mislead
the citizens OF the several States, by holding out to them
the deceitful prospect of benefits to be derived from
surplus revenue collected by the general government, and
annually divided among the States And if, encouraged
by these faacous hopes the States should disregard the
principles of economy which ought to characterize
every republican government and should indulge IN
lavish expenditures exceeding their resources they
will before long, find themselves oppressed with
debts which they are unable to pay, and will become If
resistbe support high tariff, in order to obtain sur
plus for distribution. Do not allow yourselves, my fell
low citizens to be mised on this subject The federal
government cannot collect surplus for such purposes
without violating the principles of the constitution, and
assuming powers which have not been granted. Is,
moreover system of injustice and # persisted IN, tgM
ineritaby lead to corruption and must end in rum The
surplus ferenue rM be dratrn from the POCKETS THE
pEopLE-rRoM THE FARMER, THE MECHANIC, and
the LABORING CLASSES OF society; but who will re-
ceve il when distributed among the States where it TO
be disposed OF by leading State politicians who have
friends to favor, and political partisans to gratfyi 1t will
certainly not be returned to those who paid it, and who
have most need of it, and who honestly entitled to it.
There is but safe rule and that is, to conne the
general government rgdly within the sphere of its ap
propriate duties. It has no power to raise revenue,
imposes except for purposes enumerated in the
constitutions and if Its income is found to exceed these
wants IT SHOULD BE FORTHWITH REDUCED,
AND THE BURDENS OF THE PEOPLE so FAR
LIG HTENED." .. - -
Up to the hour of sending paper to press mail
from the north had arrived in this city.
Gen S Houston and MIR. Rusk, the senators from