Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-25
S774,OOO,OOO sI6,4sO,OOO

S774,OOO,OOO Sl6,49O 900
This amount doubled would be light tar,
which would make 49,, 9sO, 900
Here we have an amount of revenue collect.
ed from perhaps one in a thousand of the people
OF the country, and without resort to duties on
Imports entirely adequate to the wants of the go.
Vernment economically administered-and this
is certainly "iree trade in earnesf'-free trade in
fact as well in name. But Mr.. Johnson, who,
we take it for granted, has thrown out this sug-
gestiOn as "bait TO catch gudgeOns" in the
rural and not very enlightened district Of which
he is doubtless a very suitable representative falls
into prevalent error when he supposes that the
classes Of the community embraced in his novel
schedule represent The loealh Of the country. In
many instances, it is true, men Of wealth invest
their surplus funds in stocks and loan them out at
legal interest but very large amount Of mo-
ney is thus invested by persons in moderate cir.
cumsances, and perhaps still larger for the pur.
pose of securing annuity to widows, minors,
aud persons incompetent TO engage in business
affairs. Even were the classes indicated in Mr.
Johnson's proposition, however, as he assumes,
all wealthy, ii would be a fair enquiry whether
money invested in the stocks Of factories is gene
rally more productive than that employed in com
merCihl speeulations-and whether investments
in Bank and State Stocks, taking into considera.
ton the casualties to which they are subject. by
financial revusions and otherwise resulting Of.
ten in the serious depreciation Of the value Of the
one and to the repudiation Of the other-eSamples
OF which have not been very rare in our own
tImes-yield, m the long run, larger return than
those employed in agricultural and mechanical
pursuits lithey do not, with what proprieiy can
this discrimination" be made, FOR the "protec.
ton" Of the great body Of the community. owning
the mass Of the real wealth Of the country bv the
oppression Of a few, who happen to give to their
means particular direction
We have devoted thus much space 10 this s,,l.
,ect, not because we have any apprehension tia,
Mr.. Johnson will be able to enlist a very strong
party ia support Of his scheme, but because thai
gentleman IL one 81 the recognized leaders Of the
Administration party ia Congress, and il under.
stood to be on terms Of particular intimacy with
the President Of the United States We wish
Goo, 10 expose 90 the country the wild and in.
practicable notions Of some Of our Haissnen
(Heaven save the mark y who illuminate then
thunders against a revenue system based upon
PnRoiPlos recognized by The founders Of the GO
vernment, asd which have never been departed
from by any Administration without the most ca.
lamiious consequences-withoni diminishing the
reyenn,, greatly below the actual expenditures Of
the Goyernn. cnt--disturbng commercial opera.
tons. .doranging ne currency. destroying the
manufacturing and mining interesls'--and redu
cling the value Of agricultural pfpducis....in one
word, without PnralylIng and prostrating every
great interest Of the country. On this subjecI