Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1846-10-02
From the Ohio State Journal.
Direct TaxatiOM!-HOw il Operates!-
Are the People of Ohio prepared
for il!
for ia!

Yearse since-as far back as the session of
| 184l-'2-Mr Pickens, member of Congress
! from South Carolina, and others from the same
section of the country, urged a resort to Direct
Taxation as better mode of sustaining the Gov
eminent than that so long in operation, by which
our foreign imports were made to bear the public
burthens. The operations of the Compromise
Act had almost brought the Government to
stand, as Henry Clay feared it would when a.
dopted. More money was needed for the sup
port of Government and must be raised by a
change of the Tariff and the imposition of higher
duties, or Direct Tax must be imposed. Mr..
Pickens and few Others as we have remarked,
were in favor of Direct Taxation. They found
but little disposition to follow their counsels in
Wing Congress. But the aspect of affairs has
altered since that period. Locofocoism has full
control of the General Government. The Ta-
riff of 1842, that yielded more revenue than is
needed in an ordinary state Of affairs, notwith-
standing the sombre predictions of its opponents
at the time of its adoption, has been repealed
repealed without consulting the people, against
their wishes and their earnest remonstrances,
that poured into Washington by thOuSandS!-
This step was taken too at time when the Gov
ernment was engaged in an expensive war, SEEM
ingly pih the uery design of creating a necessity
for DIRECT TAXATION! direct tax was not
hinted at in the late Congress-, because it was
rightly supposed that the country was not pre-
pared for it and would revolt at it. But the men
who repealed the Tariff of 1842 knoc that their
substitute will not yield anything like as much
revenue as the old bill, without increasing our
importations far beyond our ability to pay; and
they must have known, if they pretend to reflect
at all on the bearing of their proceedings, that a
vast deficiency would occur to be provided for by
Direct Taxation, or in some other way. They
have shut the door against the adoption of a
Protective Tariff. They have declared that in
stead of increasing the duties or varying the
mode Of levying them, further reduction will
be the next step and nearer approximation to
free trade, TO be followed of course by a tax on
the properly Of the country. No sooner had
Congress adjourned than, in view of the antici-
pated deficiency, they began through some of
their leading journals to broach the idea Of D-
rect Taxation.
They have set to work, deliberately, to fami-
liarize the people with the idea, and there no
longer remains the shadow of doubt that this
new and abominable system will be fastened on
the country before the close of the present ad-
ministration, unless mighty effort is at once
made by its threatened ctzens! What is worse,
the official organ of the President has dared to
intimate that the people cannot help themselves;
that they cannot, if they will, restore the pro-
tective policy! Unheard Of indignity! They
rely Of course upon the patronage and power of
the Executive to control Congress against the
people. How many Of the three hundred and
twenty thousand voters of Ohio are prepared for
Direct Taxation and willing to endorse the new
policy of the administration! Not one in 5000
Nevertheless, the question must be met, and met
at once. 1t will not do to say that we are op.,
posed to SUCH "progress," and then turn around
and send to Congress men who are ready TO do
the bidding of the administration even under the
lash, as did1he Ohio Delegation last session on
the Tariff. This is serious matter, and one
that should receive prompt and earnest consid'
eraton-one that should arouse to action
Things are rapidly approaching fearful pass
Without increased duties or direct taxation the
Government will soon be at stand, and if this