Liberty advocate. [volume] (Liberty, Miss.) 1835-1866, 1846-03-14

nave Just lad the foundation OF us cost
10 the nation. am not prepared to 90
into statement Of facts and figures onI
this point. and cannot, al this moment,
say in " hat length Of time the expense of
ship afloat equals the cost OF construc-
lion. 1t cannot be but few years -
How natural, then, that the people OF this
country should look With jealous eye toI
the expenditure OF money for this branch
of the public service, not only because i'll
imposes heavy burdens upon their indus
Itry--not only because it draws our citi-
zeus from peaceful pursuits, and creates
fresh pensioners upon those in our coun.
try who do its labor--pensoners who are
TO wear our clothes and eat our iood--butl
because, when the burden is once created.
there it remains; it is fixed upon our
shoulders. The ships are bullt--the men
are enlisted to command them--and the
generation of to day, at least must, sue,
Icumb 10 the tribute, whatever il may,
that we shall impose upon them.
| feel it TO be my duty, Mr.. President,
while on this branch of the subject, to
say one word in relation 10 the manner
in which taxes are levied upon the people.
not only for this arm of the defence, but
for all branches of the public service, As
in all ct her Governments, there has been,
and is in this,A TAX PAYING and TAX
RECEIVING portion Of the community.
In all countries, and most especially in
ours, the line Of separation between these
classes is marked and distinct. And
say here, in my place, that the annals Of
history, and the records Of nations, may
be turned over, and there is not to be
found upon the face OF the globe so une-
quail, so unjust, 50 oppressive a system OF
Il taxation as that to which this republican
government resorts for the purpose of ex.
Itractng money from the people 10 support
i it in its extravaganza. 1t is leIt-severe.
lily lelt--by the people of all our agricul-
tural States-by that sturdy yeomany OF
the land whose blows in war have saved
our country from its enemies with their
armies Of veteran soldiers, reared on
the fields Of hundred mighty bait les
saved US, too, without inAictng upon the
nation the evils Of such tribute as this
in time of peace. again assert that ii il
quite natural that the people should lool
with keen jealousy to the expe ndrtures o
this government, and that they should re
quire strict accountability OF those who
control its expenditures. The people
let me add, have ever been found willing
TO contribute the liberal sums whenever
convinced that the eXigencies of the gov
f eminent, its honor, or its welfare deman'
ded it. But, at the same time, they al
, ways have protested against wild and I'M
necessary expenditure of the public mo-
new. And why? does not every gentle
man within the sound Of my voice know
that it is perfectly absurd to talk here Of
bringing the expenses Of the government
TO low standard unless the expenditures
be reduced? If you 90 on maintaining a
large standing army, building great ia.
w, and carrying out a splendid system Of
! internal improvements, every man OF
+ common sense must know that a system
Ior taxation equivalent tothls must be
kept up. The money must be extracted
from their pockets and wrung from helr
hard earnings. The enormitles of the
tariff held up in one hand, and this bill
in the other, presentsa beautiful figure Of
consistency for the antltarlff men !
/ have alluded bat incidentally to this sub,
] iect. Lit were proper moment, would
, pursue the argument step or two iur
liner. | would endeavor to draw aside
the curtain still further that now shrouds
the golden sources Of your armies and ma
yies. | would show you with what pro
priety these appropriations for presenting
to the world a splendid spectacle ofnatlon'
al defence may be urged by individuals
who, unlike my constituents, are not tax
ed to raise the money. But to proceed,
as | wish to observe the utmost brevty,
| ask if, as peace measure, the appro-
pration called for in this bill is requisite
for the protection OF our commerceE That
lis the question for if we are TO have
f peace, take it for granted that the most
1 fastdious gentleman here who is pleading
for the extension Of the navy, Will agree
with me that any further than a necessl-
ty may exist for the protection of our
commerce from piracies on the high seas,
no augmentation Of the navy is demanded
|: was stated by the honorable senator
from Missouri, that upon the Medlterra,
nean-lhat great sea oftheves and pirates
our ships and commerce at this time are
as sale as in the Chesapeake bay Wei
hear Of no piracies on the high seas; and
why9 The world is at peace, and each
civilized nation is co operating Tor theI
Il
common. protection Of the properly and
vessels of all from the horrd acts OF the
pirates. Hence it is, in this glorious era
Of peace and civilization, that crime thel
most aggravated that can DO committed
AGAINST the law Of nations, has almost