Democratic banner., 1849-02-19

RLUuS w SSBOu o1o ~
of our country would still rave been cIoth-%
ed in the shackIes of an English monarch,
and suffering the wrongs of tyranny instead
of enjoying :he fruits Of the American
Revolution.
He admired the action Of other States
that had thrown aside these unjust restrlc-
tons, and adopted the advalorem system on
taxation-the only one tenable, the only
one truly republican.
lie thought the democratic doctrine was
Ito let every man pursue that profession
which best accorded with his genius and
Ibis desires, if that profession be compatible
with the preservation Of morality, and not
Injurious to society at large. Gentlemen
contend tina. some occupations are a nui-
sance TO society, and should be curbed by
1.-The imposition of exorbitaht taxesb by the
State authorities-that they corrspt our
youth and scatter abroad the seeds OF in
morality. This fact he didenOt deny,b but
lhe for one, could never consent to c0niin-
lie hat he might conceive to be an evil,
for the purpose Of acquiring a few dOiiafs
for the State. He compared It TO the saie
of indulgencies by the Roman clergy 10
ancient days, who clothed il the garb Of
%sancity, and shuddtring at the thought Of
wrong, could. for a small compensation,
grant TO another the unhaiiowed privilege
to perpetrate, in their pa sence the most
horiid crimes.
Gentlemen must show better reasons for
the support of this system before il' cons
~victions could at all be changed. If he
could believe that any professions were be-
ing followed in this State, 1raugLt2wih G.
wis so monstrous as to calf for legislative
action, in the way of heavy aud UNUSUAL
impositions, he would be willing TO provide
the most effectual remedies 10 prevent pei
8 sons from engaging i'll these pursuits. And
now, he would inquire what Is the effect OF
excessive imposition and burden-sonre
tariffs on pursuits which are necessary IN i
state Of society? When q tariff is imposed
on articles OF foreign importation, the bur
den is not so much on the importing mer-
| chant as upon the consumer. And So it's
with the license system under State au-
l~thority. The tax, 10 be sure, is first drawn
,ifru,n the merchant, but next from the con-
sumner, with interest thereon; and gentle
men mistake the intelligence Of the Peo-
pile when they presume them too ignorant
Ito penetrate the secret which fancy deems
to be hidden. lie argued at length to show
Ilhe injustice Of the law Of last session, IN
wrestIng from the pockets Of the farm
q Ioverseer and the day labOrer,t TO whom
might be given the mere promise Of q sala-
~, five times as much tax as is drawn from
the rich lord, for whom he daily tolls, Un
y Itile same amount. Ia other words, the
] man surrounded with a large family ard
driven by necessity aud want TO engage his
: services 10 another, 10 earn Il small PIttaHte
for their support, is compelled to ay One
PER cent on his salary, whilst his employer,
perhaps railing in luxury and ease, pays
onIy one-Gflh Of one per cent Oh tue pro-
ducts of The same labor. lie also spoke #
1.-The sbsuIdity of fixing the salaries Of pubs
lie officers by law, when, at The same time,
: we commanded the collector TO call upon
: them for a largs1'er cent Of the same and
return it to the: State Treasury. If the SAL
aries CT officers be too large, Why not Ie-
idure them at once and cease to. sguander
the money Of the people in the 'cost>of col
lection aud distribution. This is worse
than the old distribution law of Congress-,
(which proposed To- collect Ssy&aae for tho
federal government, and generously gi,eR
back TO the people, after the lnss OF a large
amount of it for the payment CT officers,
through whose hands it must necessarily
pass.
In conclusion, he desired to say, that the
'act to sustain the credit If the State,
the repeal Of a portion of which is how
under consideration, was passed at a time
$ when Legislators might well resort 10 al
i most any means 10 increase the revenue
, and preserve the State from bankruptcy.
At that time the revenue was too small 10
meet the current expenses Of the govern
, ment. The case is now quite different
1.-THE increase If property in the State has
S been such as to produce a revenue sufi-
Client to meet all our expenditures, and
leave a large balance in the treasury to be
applied to the liquidation of the State eebt.
He would farther remark, that the object
of the bill had not been accomplished: In
stead of producing a large amount Of rev.
enue, as was intended at the time Of its
passage, il had only brought into the treas
Jury the pitiful sum of q or g thousand dol.