The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-04-09

While the government LASS, i is our duty 10 en-
deayor 10 keep IN the proper rack Inc aahgerls mol
from violence The sword has ever been great de-
stfoyer Ii has consumed feeble communities and States
But taxation has been the destroyer OF the mighty BY
government exaclon in s different forms great nations
have nerisbed The decay of the Roman empire has
been attributed By the abolition writers OF England,
as by their echoes ia this country 10 slavery But the
facts and reasonngs OF aboiiionsts alike destitute
of truth slavery existed in Rome from the days OF
Romuus During the prosperous ages Of the repub.
lie, the full tide OF conquest enabled them 10 make
the largest number OF captiyes The seyie popua-
ton greatly outnumbefed the free. These were The
days OF The highest prosperity OF the Eternal City.
During the deeaying years OF the empire, the NUM-
Der OF slaves was rather diminished but gov
eminent taxation IN rs various forms exhibited
frghtlul increase The exacuons OF the governors
ruined the remote PROVINCES or drove them INTO sue
cessful rebellion. Italy then drained OF IFS life
blood TO support the populace, which concentrated itself
Rome TO receive the argesses OF the government In
this way died the vast Roman empire. A similar con.
dion OF things now being presented 10 our own eyes
in Turkey The exactions OF the government have de
stroye lis valty The population is concentrating a,
Constantinople, The point OF government expenditure
The most fertile lands OF Asia Minor aud Turkey in
Europe rapidly becoming desert waste and The
magnificent Ottoman empire Is now litle better Than
dead In this way pershed the old empires which
formerly existed the banks OF the Euphaes, The
tended ruins only indicate to the passing traveller over
the desert how destructive have been the exacons OF
those who have held dominion over the country Where
there is security, where no limit exists TO the rapaciy
of the governors ihelc be nducement TO the sub
iecI TO labor on TO save.
What is now going on IN BRUSH India exemples the
process. Forty live per ceRt,-neary one half of the
gross products now exaced from the agrcuturists in
many, il not ALL the districts Can that country live per-
maneny under the system Ireland is oppressed by sim
liar exacllons. prosperous country like Cuba or the
United States can bear great deal With us the direct
taxation has not heretofore been great but OF the indirect
there has been TO complain. Permit me TO take
from individual much as choose OF all his pur
shsses, and may inhict upon him heavy oppression
The southern States OF the Union are sending IRON Their
limits not less than one hundred and nifty millions OF dol
lars worth oil their domestic productions; and they re-
ceiveor should Teceve-an equal value IN return ioF
them But the government takes from them much as
peases They may il is true, escape this burden by
manufacturing tor themselves everything they consume.
But The aniisavery should get The entire control
of the government, they ahong 10 do and have
prospect OF accomplishing when they shall have brought
IN sufficient number Tree States they may al their Will
make the constitutions possibly in form, certainly in Prac-
tce, what they desire 10 be- As our system OF society
is radically different from theirs, they might shape their
legislation isolate us and take away substance
entirely and leave the southern States little better than
dead body fastened 10 living one This condition oil
things is what we have most 10 dread Already is II APP
pretended by sagacous that The character and action
OF TINS cenrai government undergoing 10 change
SIR, what the object Of It's creation, and with what
attributes il originally invested II was created to
effect two main objecs-n the first place, 10 manage
relations with foreign countries. Hence became
sary 10 invest with the power OF making war, treaties
and regulating commerce with them. In the second
place. authorized preserve proper relations be-
tween the different States, and by consequence, to regu
late commerce between them and coin their money
the creation OF the constitution. To carry them INTO Ell
feet it was necessary that the government should have
the means OF sustaining itself, and hence the taxing
power was given. But II was never intended that the
federal government, should control The mere municipal
relations OF It's citizens, or interfere with Their private
rights. These lett 10 be regulated by the several
States composing the Union Had the government con.
fined itself to the OF these classes powers
which alone were clearly delegated to II, would have
escaped most OF The difficulty which II ha, hitherto
countered Especially ought il 10 have abstaned from
attacking interests which II was created to preserve II
has encountered difficulties BY its oicious ineImeddlng
with what IT had no positive authority 10 touch For
example, It's interference with the question OF slavery has
very nearly been the OF It's destruction Twelve Of
the thirteen States which made the constitution were
saveholdng and while they gave it express power 10
defend and preserve the institution of slavery they in
vested il with authority to overthrow even 10 make
IT, The government, too, has involved itself In
difficulty by It's attempts through the medium Of tar and
navigation laws TO favor certain classes OF its citizens
by the imposition Of burdens upon others 1t has, also
produced much discomfort by lis interference and
ion with banking operations, and other branches OF pr
vate business, Nobody will dispute but what it might
have abstaned from all these things, and still carried
every object which il created effect Yes sir il
might abandon all these preensions, and accomplish only
the better the great purposes OF It's existence Why them
should II not be limited its action 10 its proper
sphere In this way II might give itself perpetual and
indefinite existence.
- Our citizens ambitious OF having widely. extended
and magnificent empire The wish OF their hearts might
possibly be grabsd and the whole continent be subject
to sway, If this central government should in it-
action be limited its necessary and proper objects
Let conten, itself with conducting successfully our fof.
egn affairs, and preserving the relations between its
ponent States leaving them 10 regulate all domestic
ters Let IL be, many desire II 10 be- the great central
sun but let II be content with performing the office
which the does in the armament OF the heavens
That luminary regulates the orbits Of the planets
preserves their due dependence each other aud con.
trolls their motions, but itself rest in the centre
Does any regard It's office less important, because
OF Its quiet controlling II does the action OF the entire
system, and preserving the due dependence OF all its paris
Or does any suppose that could the rapid
motions OF the little planet Mercury without derangina
and destroying the whole solar system' SO II this cen.
trail government shall attempt 10 the active ard
lesser functions which properly belong 10 the several
States. II will destroy the existing system 1t may pos.
siby create IN its stead a vast and extended desposn
rather hope however, that the attempt would be fol.
lowed by the disruption OF the government, and the
throwing of oil several confedeaces. The fragments
thus separated would be sufficiently large to preserve
their liberties and advance the OF human happiness
Is not the apprehension even now constantly expressed
that the government totally changing limited char.
acer, and becoming useless and mschieyous machine
why, members this floor often pay no more regard 10
constitutional limitations than they would do in popular
meeting, where the unchecked viii OF the majority con.
trolls all things "
Many OF our people beginning 10 suppose This gov
efnment defect IN It's duties, " Il does not supply them
regularly with school.book and garden. seeds oor AT
The enormous increase in its expenditures They ara
now amounting TO more than 6fty millions annualIv /
do moi intend 10 cast eprosch the President ~ nj
advisers, constituting the cabinet respect them All
highly, and regard them well qualified both intel .
Iecually and morally, for the stations which they 6ll
The estimates for expenditure which they send in TO us
will he almost assuredy increased in this House After
passing through this body, they will have additions
made 10 them the Senate On the last day. or next 10
the last Of the session. they will be returned To us with
hundred or two hundred amendments amounting in the