Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-01-24

| taxes, of the character of which we will endeavor
| to give the reader some idea before we have done
with the subject with the aid OF all which, how
| ever the Government, when it borrowed money
upon its own stock bearing six per cent. interest,
was under the necessity of paying to the lender a
premium Of twelve per cent upon the loan; and, af-
terwards reduced the pass of not being able to bor
row money upon lis stock on any terms, was fain to
carry the war by issuing Treasury Notes in pay
ment of demands against the Government which
notes deprecated the moment they passed the
threshold Of the Treasury, and sold openly in the
streets and brokers' Offices, though bearing interest,"
at twenty-five per cent. discount that is to say at
seventy-fve cents in the dollar.
Such was the condition of the Treasury when
Mr.. DALLAS, with public spirit and courage
worthy Of all praise and honor, took the helm as
Secretary Of the Treasury, and proposed measures
calculated to revive the dropping credit of the Go
vernment, in doing which he was but family and
tardiy supported by Congress, whose members
stood appalled, at the magnitude of direct and inter-
nal taxation required at their hands; and the prob
lem whether they would assume the responsibility
required by the crisis but partially wrought out,
| when, only fortnight before the end Of the ses-
sion, the news of PEACE to rejoice all hearts,
and change at once to smiles and gladness the
gloom that overspread every countenance. We do
not mean to intimate that the war would have
slackened for want of MEANS had the news of peace
not come when it did with healing on its wings.
We believe, the contrary, that the larger States
New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, which had
then little no debt of their own to shoulder,
would have stepped forward and carried the General
Government through the conflict on their backs, by
| providing it with both men and money. What we
desire to show to the conviction of the reader is,
that heavy direct and indirect taxation is the very
first step to be taken in the prosecution of war,
and ought to be taken on the first apprehension Of it,
We now proceed to show to readers the va
rious objects and the amounts of direct and inter-
nal taxation, resorted to, during the war Of 1912,
under the administration of JAMES MADISON, intend
ed to raise money enough to defray the ordinary
expenses of the Government and the interest on the
war loans from which taxes, however so far as the
collection was prosecuted, there was not realized
one-half of the necessary sum, the whole amount
received at the Treasury from direct and internal
taxes, from 1913 to 1917 inclusive, being only
S24,6l3,S45. But, to raise even this amount
by direct taxation, within four years-an average
per year of little more than six millions of dollars
let the reader but look to what array of taxes and
what complex machinery was necessary! As it
was then it will be again, should our rulers ever
get us into with naval Power, or materially
reduce the present duties upon imports. Yes, reader
look at the following list faithfully compiled from
the statute-book
Iares laid by the General Government during
the toar, ending IN February, 1915.
DIREcT Tax, on all LANDS, GROUND, with their
Improvements, DwELLIse-HousEs, and SLAVES
the last annual amount of this Tax being fixed at
six millions of dollars
SusAR refined within the u States, taxed cents per h.
Or CARRIAers, for the conveyance Of persons
Coaches, $40 per annum
Chariots and post-chaises, SIT per annum
Ph@tons and coaches, $40 per annum.
Every other our-wheel carriage on metal springs,
81 per annum
Every other fourwheel carriage on wooden springs
and two-wheel carriage on metal springs, 81 per
annum
Every other four and twowheel carriage, 81 per
These duties carriages afterwards repealed
and an ad rdoreyn duty on carriages and har-
ness substituted, varying from to per
per annum.
OK LICENSES DrsTrLLrRs Of sptuous liquors from do
nestle materials
For every gallon of the capacity Of each STILL cents
for weeks; Is cents per gallon for a month
81 cents for months ~ cents for 9 months
50 cents for months 20 cents for 6 months
81 0s for year.
Stills, used in the distilation Of roots one half the
above
For sTILLsemploy ed in distlng spirits from foreign
materials, IS cents for every gallon of capacity for
month so cents for each gallon Of capacity for
months 81 05 for months; and 81 IS for
year.
For every BOILER employed in distleries where
steam is substituted for the immediate application
Of fire to the materials" double the amount per
gallon Of the above rates.
OK SAIIs AUcTroS-of merchandise, one per cent on
the amount Of purchase money and on the sale
Of ships rs cents for every 500 of the pur- |
chase money. This duty afterwards increased
100 per cent
Or LIcTssEs TO RETAILERs OF WINES, sP1RITUoUs IT
oUoRs, AVID ToREIeS MERcHASDIsE-
To retailers residing in cities, towns or villages
containing within the limits Of one mile square
more than 100 families for the retailing of mer-
chandse, including wines and spirits s25 Der
snnum for the retailing Of wines alone $40 of
spirits alone, $40 Of domestic spirits alone, SIS
OF other merchandise, SIS.
To retailers residing "i any other place than cities
towns, and villages containing more than 100
families within mile square, for the retailing of