Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-03-08
From The Washington Union.
the New s.s'sG.aGccD--1i Direct Tax
:assaii'

The Chairman Of the Committee of Way;
ard Means in he House, spent his hour
on Friday in declaiming against direct
taxation ~ mode of sustaining the war.
Who proposes any such thing? Certainly
no. the administration. They have pre-
scented their plan OF finance and frankly
assumed the responsibility both Gifts sue
cess, if adapted, and of its approval by the
people. The plan embraces particular
form of loan, a temporary war tax on tea
and coffee, and a wise regulation of the
price of the public lands. In its main
features, the plan has already been tried
with complete and unprecedented success.
The form Of loan proposed, placed at the
last session of Congress more than fifty
millions Of capital at the disposal of the
government above par. Presented In a
time of war, it lifted the credit ofthc gov
eminent higher, perhaps, than it ever stood
before, even in time Of peace. 1t created
not the slightest embarrassment in the
money market. 1t gave the treasury at
once all the money wanted, on the most
favorable terms. aud it sent millions away
unaccepted. The government asks au-
thorlty to make similar loan now, for a
similar purpose. The Committee of Ways
and Means, instead of granting the loan
or recommending the small temporary
duty on lea and cofiee, refuse both; pre-
sent to the government bill authorizing
the issue of a naked six per cent. stock;
and then its chairman gels up, full OF
zeal, to denounce direct taxation.
In this stale of facts the case is plain.
If the wings Of the House wish to fur
nish supplies to the treasury, to sustain
The country in the war, they know how to
do it-how TO do i, without embarrassment
10 The money market, without burdensome
taxation upon the psople, without the
slightest disparagement of the public cred.
it. lfthey do not mean to furnish sup.
plies-if they mean to break down the
war, and with it break down the rights
and character of the country, by with
holding money from the government
then let them say SO, openly and distinct
ly. They must do SO, sooner or later
No pretences or subtertuges will long save
them from looking the issue straight in
the face. The people know their posi-
tion-that, as party, they are opposed TO
the war; and that, by chapter of acct.
dents, they age majority in the popular
branch of Congress. Will they then vote
the government the facilities which it asks
and deems necessary for the supply Of the
treasury and the maintenance of the pub
lie credit, in view Of the expenditures
necessary to save the lustre of our army
from tarnlsh, and the cause of our country
against her enemy from failure and shame?
They can by their votes answer the
question fatty in the negative, and then
go before their constituents Oh that issue.
They can answer it in the affirmative, and
put the responsibility upon the admins
tration and those who support it, by pas
sing the measures which the adminis.ra-
ton has already tried successfully, and
now again recommends. But they cannot
dodge the question by voting measure
which is not the government. measure. So
voting, they take the responsibility away
from the administration, and assume it for
themselves. In that case, if the war Ian
,uishes and drags on for want of means,
hey will stand responsible for it before
he people. If the treasury is embarras-
'ed, or the money market deranged, theirs
will be the blame of ia blame incurred
'gainst the clearest teachings of expert
,nce and the earnest recommendations Of
he Executive. In such case, the people
will be cheated out Of an expedient mode
'fraising supplies for their war by an un- |