Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1846-12-23

proper that Mexico should be held re-
sponsble for these expenditures.
Economy in the public expenditures
is at all times high dulywhich all.Public
funclionaries OF the government owe TO
the people. This duty becomes the
more imperative in period of war.when
large and extraordinary experience Of
the war with Mexico, all our resources
should be husbanded, and no appropria-
tons made except such are absolutely
necessary for its vigorous prosecution
and the due administration OF the govern
ment' Objects appropriation, which
in peace may be deemed useful or prop
er, but which are not indispensable for
the public service, may, when the coun-
try is engaged in 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 applied to
objects Of pressing and urgen. necessity
and thus tie creation of a correspond.
ing amount Of public deb, may be avoid
ed.
Ii is moi meant 10 recomm end that the
ordinary necessary appropriation for the
support Of government should be with
held. but it is we'll known that at every
session of Congress appropriations are
proposed for numerous objects which
may or may no, be made, without ma
terially affecting the public interests;and
these il is recommended should not be
grated
The acts passed at our las, session,
having gone into operation until the first
OF the present month, there has not been
time for its practical effect upon the rev.
enue, and the business oil The country, 10
be developed 1t is moi doubted, howey-
er, 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 ii II WELD, il
i, estimated that it will exceed that pro-
duced by the act of 1912, which il su-
perseded. The leading principle estab
lShed by it are, to levy taxes with u view
to raise revenue, and TO impose them
upon the articles imported according TO
their actual value.
The act of 1912, by the excessive rates
Of duty which it imposed on many arti
cles, either totally excluded them from
importatiOn, or greatly reduced the
amount imported, and thus diminish
instead Of producing revenue. BY it the
taxes were imposed not for The Legitimate
purpose Of raising revenue, but 10 afford
advantages To favored classes. at the ey.
pense OF large majority Of their fellow
citizens. Those employed in agricu-
ture, mechanical pursu S, commerce and
navigation, were compelled 10 contribute
from their substance To swell the profits
and oyergroWn wealth III the compare
lively few who had invested their capital
in manufactures.
The taxes were not levied in proper
ton to The value OF the articles upon
which they were imposed /; but. wild 'ly
separating from this just rule, the lighter
taxes were in many cases levied upon ar,
ljcIcs Of luxury and high price. ana the
heavy taxes on those of necessity and
low price, consumed by the great mass
OF The people. 1t was system. the in
evilable effect of which was 10 relieve
favored classes and the WEALTHY few from
contributing their just proportion for the
support of government, and TO lay the
burtheu on the labor Of The many, en-
gagged in other pursuits than mauufact-
ures.
\ system 50 unequal and unjust has
been supers ded by the existing law,
which imposes duties not for the benefit
or mi ,ry of classes or pursuits. but d.s-
tributes, and, as far as prac lcahle, equal.
lzes the public burdens among all classes
and occupations. The favored classes,
who, under the unequal and unjust sys-
tom which has been repealed, have here
tolore realized large profits; and many
Of them assembled large fortunes al the
expense Of The many who have been trib'
u,lrv TO them. will have no reason 10
complain if they shall be required TO bear
their jus, proportion of the taxes neces-
sary for the support of government. So
far from il. il will be perceived, by an
examination Of the existing law. that dis
examinations ia these rates of duty i'm.
posed, within the revenue principle, have
been retained in their favor.
The incidental and against foreign
competition which they still enjoy, gives
them an advantage which no other pur-
suits possess but of this none others
will complain, because the duties levied
are necessary for revenue. These rev.
enle duties. including rreighis and
charges, which the importer must pay be-
fore he can come in competition with the
hone manufactured i'll our markets. a
mount on nearly all our leading branches
Of m lnufacture, 10 mure than one third
the value Of the imported article. and IN
some cases To almost half of lis value
With such advantages, i, is not doubted
that our domestic manufactures will con
tinue to prosper, realizing in well con-
Quoted establishments even greater prof.
It's than can be derived from any other
regular business Indeed, so far from
requiring the protection of even Inciden-
tai revenue duties, our manufacturers IN
several leading branches are extending
their business, giving evidence OF grea:
Ingenuity and skill. and Of their ability
10 compete with increased prospect oil
success, for The open market of the world.
Domestic manufactures to the value oil
several millions of dollars, which cannot
find market nj home, are annually ex-