The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-02-06
The Revenue Question.

in nnrsuanee of that war policy which Mexico has
t1 ,non us and which the almost unanimous vote OF
crsss has sanctioned the majority OF that body has
;lel for loan, Issue OF treasury notes, at the
ration of the President TO the amount of iwentythree
n,i;ons The practical question before the domi-
oo, Marty in Congress is, whether the necessary
ain the credit of the government in this proceeding
shall be raised
# Congress rises without making ample provision Tor
,ro such additional revenue, the honor of the country
,a have been sacrificed, and the patriotism OF the
who approve of the and eager at all haz-
A IN 6ebt out and 10 close il in victory, will have
e batrayed In such event. the Democratic maori-
. :; Congress- will have made formal confession
t,, i has not the nerve to meet in its legislation
N, manifest demands OF crisis, though the EXecu-
five of the country has promptly and fearlessy taken
the lead in recommending the requisite measures Hold
y firmly to.the conviction that the democratic party
win now as always, find IFS true wisdom in confronting
Nth 6rmness all the responsibilities of its position, we
m If opnion and we speak after investigation OF
bs matter that all the necessary will yet be levied
bv the present Congress. The real question is tar
onaston The loan which is authorized implies, in the
r,sw Of all lust craftsmanship, the imposition OF taxes
10 sustain IT. and to contribute towards paying 1t OIL No
o,ber legislation will satisfy the public expectation In
This view, we still look for tax on tea and coffee.
The Oppostion avow that they wish to break down
he tariff of 1916 They do not conceal that they mean
10 make the expenditures of the preext for dong
SO The government must raise money, and Federal
wisdom points to protective and prohlbltlve tarii-
in word, e revival of the act of 1si2-as
the means viii the democracy agree to this, or
will they rather stand by the principles OF the ex-
istng tariff vote down all modification OF Its
details wiich is not IN harmony nth those principles and
thus raise the required by other suitable modes OF
taxation? To the democracy, this state OF things presents
the distinct ISSUE shall our old financial creed for which
we have so long labored, which fully pledged
and which we have at last written down the Statute
Book shall this creed be now sustained abandoned
1t scarcely less than question OF party adenty II
we aIe to sustain our financial principles, must put
uar tar on some articles Of the free list Oh these art-
cles tea and coffee are far the most important In the
Judgment of the Treasury Department they are the only
free Articles which bear any considerable taxation,
from which any considerable can be collected
war duty of fifteen per cent, on tea and coffee Will
probably bring into the treasury more than million
duty of twenty-five per cent may well be relied on to raise
about two millions and a half.
Such tax is not unjust II is not unequal in its prin
cpe, unequal in its operation than any mpost
must be- All the money raised from il goes into the ea-
sury 1t does not make the people pay five or six
times much in the shape of high prices is re-
ceivel BY the Treasury, has been fully shown to be
the case by recent official documents in protective taxa
iion Nor is tax tea and coffee burdensome tax in
vipyyo tha of only aliphtly in
creases the price of cheap article in universal use
of the cheapest, easiest, arest, and sures means
OF keeping the credit of the country good We still be-
eye that Congress will adopt it. For so doing we doubt
not Congress will receive the thanks of the country.