The Nevada journal., 1854-01-13

coast could not. under their instructions, per-
NIT foreign goods to be landed without the du-
ties having been first paid, though there was at
the time a pressing demand for them in the
country.
In the absence however, Of law on the subject
the Civil Governor assumed the responsibility
of permitting the goods to be landed, and OF
receiving the amount of duties fixed by the act
of 1916 and the people of California controlled
by their necessities, though without force in
the councils of the nation, quietly acquiesced in
| this novel exercise of the taxing power.
This fund collected from the people of Cali
fornia before the revenue laws of the United
States were extended over the country-collec-
ted, in fact, without authority of law, and long
before we were allowed representation at Wash
ington, it is contended, belo ngs to the State OF
California and should at once be refunded. The
subject is commended to your consideration
with the hope that an expressi on of opinion on
the question, as we'll as all the important facts
in the case, will be carefully prepared and for
warded to our delegation in Congress.
The great necessity and Importance of pro-
viding means to 1iquidate, and as speedily as
possible, the civil debt of the state, having been
urged upon your early consideration, and meas
ures recommended which, if adopted, in com :
paratively short period Of time, will enable the
agents of the state to effect that desirable OBJ
ject, permit me to recommend cooperation on
the part of the Legislature, with our delegation
in Congress, in securing the assumption by the
general government, in some form, of the ex-
isting war debt, which now amounts to the sum
of S924,259 65.
No provision has, it is true, been made for
the payment of the accruing interest on the war
Jabf h,,ffb fbo cfofo hv, of Of lori ,lo-
tion stands pledged for the payment Of the
whole amount, principal and interest.
The present, for various reasons, is regarded
as propitious time to demand justice in the
premises, at the hands of the general govern
ment. In addition to the fact that there is now
large amount of surplus money in the treasu-
ry of the nation, and the bright promise of fu-
ture increase, the immense Importance of the
Pacific country to the commerce, not only of
the Atlantic States, but of the whole Eastern
world-an Importance now universally conce-
ded-cannot fail, it is conceived, to commend
our rights and interests to the immediate con-
sideration of the general government.
There are, however, many other and cogent
reasons too, why the general government
should promptly, not only assume the entire
war debt, principal and interest, but also re-
fund the whole amount of the civil fund, ex-
cept, perhaps, the sum expended in defrayiny
the expenses af the Constitutional Convention,
held at Monterey, in September and October,
| l849.
The important fact that California contrib
utes annually more to the National treasury, in
proportion to population, than any other state
in the confederacy, certainly entities her to in
creased consideration in making disbursements
from the national Golfers
The amount of revenue collected at the sever
al ports within the state during the fiscal year
ending June 30th, 1858, exceeds two millions
three hundred and fifty thousand dollars, an
amount equal to one-sixteenth of the whole sum
heretofore annually required to defray the ex-
penses of the National Government And, the
receipts of the first quarter nave been so much
increased, as to warrant the belief that the
present fiscal year, the revenue collected at the
different ports in California, must considerably
exceed three millions, being equal to an annual
tax OF ELEVEN DOLLARS AND THIRTY-FoUR CENTS
upon each man, woman and child, within the
limits of California The amount thus indirect
" collected in the other States of the Union,
averages only TWO DOLLARS AND THIRTEEN
CENTS to each man, woman and child.
! 1t will be seen from the report of the Comp
troller of State, that he estimates the expendi-
lures for the fiscal year ending the Both day of
June, 1854, at nine hundred and sixty thous-
and four hundred and fifty dollars, and ifty-one
cents. This estimate, though regarded as suf
iciently high, is in the aggregate, only equal to
one-third the amount annually contributed by
the people of California for the support of the
National Government, and is an average tax
of only three dollars and sixty-three cents on
each man, woman and child within the state
Whilst state taxation is the subject Of general
complaint, as being exorbtant and oppressive
on our people, not a murmur is heard in rela-
ton to the indirect exactions of the General
Government, though three fold greater than the
amount collected for state purposes.
This mode of taxation, although perhaps, not
so apparent as that which is more direct and
collected for the purposes of state government
is equally onerous and oppressive. Great as is
the amount thus annually exacted from the hard
earnings of our people, for the support OF the
general government, they have acquiesced in its
collection without a murmur, and now fee
that they have claim to increased considera-
tion on the part of Congress. Again, it should
be remembered, in the consideration of the
claims which we preselt, that California, though
the youngest of the sovereign states, annually
adds to the wealth of the nation, about eighty
two millions of dollars in gold dust, being con
siderably more than one half of the whole sum
contributed by the other states.
i During the year 1852, the total amount o1
exports from the other thirty states was but
Sl54, ,93l ,147, as follows
COLlOn ..s..t 20 100, OZ
b Breadstuffs, ...... .......... 25,857,O27
Other Products, SO. ...... 28,607,076
Tobacco, ...... ...... ...... lO,O5l ,5o3
/ Rice, .............. ....... 2,470,029
Total value Of exports from the
i other thirty states 49,. .Sl54, ,931,l7
Amount of Gold Dust shipped
from California in 1853, ...... 81 ,30O,3 ,399 AZ
Estimated amt in private hands, $4,000, 900 90
Total amount of Gold dust ship
! ped in 1858, S82,300, ,399 AZ