The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1854-01-25


JAMES ID. EADS,
Of Lee Co.
NO TARiFF-DiRECT TAXATION.
The New York Evening Post, the ablest
Free Trade paper of the country, says
at nigh, seem rash to affirm that we are on
our way TO the time when indirect taxation will
be abolished, the whole custom system broken
up, and dlrec, taxes, the surest guaranty for an
honest and frugal administration ct the imam
ces substituted We do not, by any means,
intend TO predict such result; and yet it would
DE scarcely more remarkable than the change
which public opinion has passed through within
the last thirty years. The tendencies OF the
day are certainly in that direction. The friends
Of free trade are getting more and more numer
ous and disposed more and more to insist that
the commercial law of the country shall be
made conformable to their view"
Nothing is more true, than that the tendency
Of mankind is to free trade, and no proposition
is more correct, than that this is the only true
and radically correct plan for raising means,
to sustain the administration Of government
Where the revenues Of the government are
collected by direct taxation, the people realize
the burdens Of government and feel sensibly
the amount they have to contribute TO sustain II
This stimulates inve stigation, care and watch
fuIness in its disbursement. II leads them to
enquire of those who are selected to administer
the government, the manner in which they dis
charge that duty-it holds them toa prompt
and rigid accountability-it compels them TO
study both honesty and economy and TO both
learn and perform their duty. These are not
all the benefits and blessings which arise from
the operation of the free trade principle. The
burdens Of government fail upon those who
should bear them-upon the wealth and proper
ty of the land and not equally upon the mighty
mass, whose toll produces the wealth Of the
country and who earn their bread by the sweat
OF their brow. Under the salutary operation Of
such law, all danger of an overloaded Treas
ury is obviated; the sharks and leeches who trail
age Of any temporary squalls or misfortunes
which m y befall it, are forced TO seek employ.
uent ard healthy exercise for their lazy carcass
SEES; and thousand unnecessary, unwise and
improvident expenditures are avoided. Then, the
farmer, the mechanic and the laborer contribute
their just proportion towards defraping the ex-
penses of the government, and no more. They
are not compelled to regulate their tax, by the
amount they purchase ofthe merchant. 1t isnot
drawn from the tea, coffee aud sugar, that affords
a temporary comfort to the old lady the fabrics
that cover the nakeduess and warm the body;
the iron that is put into the pillow, hoe, axe, jack
plain, peck, spade or crow-bar; the nails and
bolts for the house and barn; the shoes and
boots that protect the feet and the hat that COW
ers the head; but it is laid upon the property of
the land where it rightly belongs. What would
be thought flour State, County, City and school
tax, was collected in tn is way-to furnish the
means to support our local government, we had
to 60 to the merchant and pay an extra per cent
for onr gosds? Would we not regard it as q
most ridiculous humbug and imposition and EN-.
brace the FIRST opportunity to visit the ballot box
and obliterate such law from our statute books :
Undoubtedly we would. Yet. are we nut in
precisely the same relation with tle general
government, that we would be with the State
government, were such a law in existence here
Undoubtedly we are. Then why are we so
snbject' Is it from our mate propensity to ad-
h e TO old notions and fllsories WHICH hsse'oi
claim to respect, but the length of time that
they have been allowed to prey upon the credu-
lily of mankind Is it frem a careless neglec,
OF, OF want on indifference to cur own true in
terests and the interests of the country Is il
from mistaken notion that we have not all
right to speak oat upon the subject and are in
duty bound to do so, if we believe wrong ex.
lists Is it from fear 10 let our views and opin.
ions be known TO the world, lest we should call
down upon US the ridicule and censure Of our
fellow men? Whether from one, or all Of these
causes, our silence il equally reprehensible, i'll
we acknowledge a wrong to exist in this par.
ticular.
Mankind are rapidly realizing the force & JUS
tice Of free trade sentiments the inequality and
iniquity ofthe Tariff principle; and the absolute
and pressing necessity Of speedy and radical re-
form. England, whose hardy and industrious
masses have groaned and wrthed under this
system Of oppression, as long and patiently, as
any people under the sun, are beginning 70
awake to proper sense Of their rights, their
interests, their humanity and their duty. They
are slowly, but surely moulding public opin-
ion, which is eventually to give them the bene.
fit Of q free and unrestricted commerce. They
are driving their Lords and tyrants before them,
and by the hardest, are gradually extorting from
them reform, which is to make them free
and independent people. Other nations are
following in their broad track and it is to be
hoped that the day is not very far distant, when
the commerce Of the whole world will be as
unrestricted and free from tribute, the domes-
H. c. ntl,.ce 1t The Mississippi. God speed
ID. d.. A.len this grand result shall be at.
tain.l
Rel EMENr OF JUDGE KINNEY.
The proceedings Of the Suprem, Cour. upon