Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1854-06-17
OUR TARIFF-TAxEs.

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The following remarks smbodying useful facts, are
contained ii 4 note Of recent speech delivered in
the House of Representatives BY Mr.. Clingnian, on
the subject of the public expenditures
MANY persons do not know how much they arc
taxed on account Of the expenditures of the Federal
Government The amount now collected by reason
of the tariff indirect taxes, is about sixty millions
per year. If this sum be divided by two hundred
and thirty four the number of Congressional dis
trics, it gives the share paid by each district two
hundred and ffty-six thousand dollars Non tn "a
rolina has eight districts and fraction over She
therefore pays as State, of this tax, upwards OF
two millions annually. There were, however, some
ninety thousand votes given at the last State cleo
ton 1t is therefore true that the share OF each vo-
ter in the State upon an average IS twenty-five aoi-
lars piece. This is not unfair mode OF stating
the case, because the women and children, IN TACT,
contribute little to the payment of the taxes Such
county as Rutherford Wilkes, therefore, pays
about 10000 in each year. The actual loss is, IN
fact much more to the people; for this sum OF $50,
OOO 900 which the government gets is, in the first
place, paid by the importing merchants, and they
charge profit on the duty paid, well as on the
original cost of the goods when they sell to the
wholesale DEALER and he, likewise, puts on large
profit when he sells to the retail merchant; and this
retail merchant usually adds not less than fifty per
cent. when he sells to the consumer. 1t is probable
therefore, that the people ofthe county pay In TRUTH
twice much as have stated, in addition, too, to
the very large paid by way of protection to the
home manufacturer which, on many classes OF art-
clcs exceeds greatly what the Government collects
itself
If this sum seems very large, it must be remem-
bered that from one fourth to one third OF all the
money paid to merchants, and for articles brought
from abroad is to be charged to this tariff system
Many pay hundreds of dollars per year in this
way, when their purchases large, without being
aware of the extent to which they taxed. 1t is
probable that the people of North Carolina pay in
this way to the General Government nearly ten times
much they pay to support their State govern
ment.
If this money collected direct taxes are,
by the sheriff. it would be complained of in many
instances, and members of Congress would perhaps
be censured when they were found wasting money
their favorites, in where it was not called
for by public interest," but was wastefully and mis-
chievously spent
While I am willing to vote all the money that the
public service requires, 1 am opposed 90 donations
and largesses to favortes. My policy has been to
reduce, if possible, the expenses of the Government,
that may diminish the taxes of the people. l
wish to reduce the tariff generally if possible; but
if this cannot be done, least to repeal the duty
railroad iron, to enable the country to make
improvements, and thus put the farmers and all 9TH
better footing, so that they pay the tax
es with less difficulty. Salt sugar, probably, and
other necessares have strong claims to be released
from duties. If these subject properly under
stood by the people of the country, they would in
my opinion, compel their members of Congress and
Senators to Top off wasteul expenditures and reduce
the taxes. "