The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-12-16
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distributing The proceeds Of Tho sales OF me
public lands among the States Other c%pe-
dieuts were devised to tnke money our OF inc
treasury, and prevent It's coming III rom my
other source Than the protective 1nr'H' Iho
authors and supporters of the system were
tho advocates Of the largest expenditures,
whether for necessary or useful purposes or
not, because the larger the expenditures the
greater was the preteXt for high taxes III Inc
form ofpr0tect've duties.
These several measures were sustained by
popular names and plausible argnmnnis, ny
which thousands were drluded. The bnnk
WINS represented to 10 an indispensable fiscal
Rgent for the government; was TO equallHe
exchanges, aud TO regulate and furnish a
sound currency, always AMI everywhere OF
uniform value. The protective tariff was 10
rive employment 10 "Americnn labor" nj nd
Vanced prices,was to protect "home industry"
md furnish a steady market for the farmer
Internal improvements were to bring trade
into every neighborhood and enhance Inc
value of every mans property. The dlslIl-
button oftho land money was To cnricll me
States, finish their public works,plant schools
throughout their borders, and relieve them
from taxation. But the fact, that Tor every
dollar taken out Of the treasury for those Oh,
iects much lnrger sum was transferred
from the rockets Of tho people 10 the favored
the tendency irnot the ultimate design OF the
system to build up an aristocracy OF wealth
TO control the masses of society, and monop-
olize the political power oftho country.
The several branches Of this system were
so intimately blended together, that IN their
opera,ion each sustained and strengthened
Ihc others. The Joint operation was TO ada
s,ew burdens of taxation and 10 encourage
largely increased nTd wastelul expenditure
Nfpubic money. II was the interest OF me
bank that the revenue collected and the dis
bursoments mnde Ivy the government should
be large, because, being the depository OF tho
public money, the larger amount the greater
profits by its use 1t was the interests OF The
favored classes, who were enriched by Tie
protective tariff, to have the rates of That pro-
section rs high rs possible; for the higher
those rates the grenter would be their advan-
sage. II was the interest ofthe people of all
ahese sections and localities who eXpcc; to
BE benefited by expenditures for internal
improvements, that the amount collected
should he MS large as possible, to the end
vhat the sum disbursed might also he the lar
ger.
The Stnles being the benefcaries in the
distribution of land money, had mn interest III
liaving the rates oftuX imposed by tho pro
Eective tarifflarge enough 10 yield sulilcicht
Hrovonuc from that source 10 meet the wants
of the government, without disturbing or TAX
ing. from them the land fund so that each
of the branches constituting the system hnd
Il common interest III swelling the public ex-
pendi,ures. They had a direct interest IN
maintaining the public debt unpaid, and IN
crensng its amount, because thus MOULD pro-
sluce an annual increased drain upon the
treasury. to the amount of the interest, and
render augmented taxes necessary. The OPP
GRAFTON and necessary effect ofthe whole sys-
Eem were, to encourage large and eXtrava-
giant expenditures, and thereby to increase
She public patronage and maintain n rich and
splendid government at the expense OF IL
Gaxed and impoverished people.
1t is manifest that this scheme of enlarged
taxation and expenditures, had 1t continued
90 prevail, must soon have converted tie gov
eminent of the Union, intended by ii trainers
no I've pain, cheap, and simple confodera-
zion Of States, united together for common
protection, and charged with few specific
duties. relating chiefly TO our foreign affairs,
anto n consolidated empire, depriving the
States of their reserved rights, and the peo-
pie of their jus. power and control III the adj
ADMINISTRATION of their government. In Tins
snanner the whole form ofgovernment would
be changed, not 10y an amendment ofthe con
stitnlion, but by resortng 10 an unwnrranta-
he and unauthorized construction OF That in
strument.
The indirect mode ofIevying the taxes by
duty on imports, prevents the mass OF Tie
people from readily porceiving the amount
ihey nav, and has enabled the few, who are
shus enriched, and who seek 10 WELD the
political power of the country, to deceive and
delude them. Were the. taxes collected by n
direct levy upon the PEOPLE, rs is the case Ill
abe States this could not occur.
The whole system was resisted from its
inception by many of our abest statesmen.
some of whom doubted its constlutlonnlity
md its expcdiency, while others believed ii
was in all its branches,n fragrant and danger
Gus infraction ofthe constitution.
That national bank, a protective tariff
Jevied not to raise the revenue needed, but
for protocrion merely internal improvements
and the distribution of the proceeds OF the
sales of the public lands, are measures with
out the warrant of the constitution, would
anon the maturest consideration, seem to DC
clear. 1t is remarkable that no one of these
measures, involving such momentous conse
auences, is authorized by any express gran
of power in the constitution. NO one OF men
is ancident to, as being necessary and prop
or for the execution OF, the specihc powers
granted by the constitution. The authority
Under which it has been attempted 10 JUST
fv each ofthem is derived from inference
md constructions of the constitution which
its letter and its whole object and design d'
NOT warrant. ...
Is il to be conceived that such immens
powers would have lIeen left by the Trainer
of the constitution tn mere i,iicrcnces AM
aIoiihtftil constructions? Had it been inten
ded to confer them on the federal govern
ment. it is reasonable to conclude Thai
would have been done by plain and uncqniv
zeal grants. This was not done; hut I'll
whole structure Of which the "American sys
tenn" consisted, was reared on no other o
better foundation than forced implication