The North-Carolinian., 1856-12-20

1.-THE expenses of the municipal governments of
New York, Boston, and it Will be fault
and our folly, if we continue to do it. Direct
importatious will cure this evil foreign
comm odities like remedy will cure it to
domestic products. Let u. first secure direct
trade. This be done by imposing State
tax Of -percent I'D raiorenupon all goods
wares and merchandise offered for sale within
the State other than those which Shall be I'M
ported from foreign countrses. Two objects
should govern i'll filing the blank: Ist 1t
should he high enough to prevent all Indirect
importation Of foreign mercnardize I'd 1t
should be high enough TO raise sufficient rev
enue for all the wants Of the State, without
imposing upon the people any capitation or
other direct tax whatever. 1t five per cent
tax imposed upon all such merchandise, it
I is not probable that the importers of foreign
merchandise intended for orr consumption
would land them at any other ports than our
own, at, the cost OF fifty thousand dollars in
every million Imported; and If they did, some
other wiser people wUutd import similar COM
modites directly, and undersell them, and thus
drive them out Of markets. But if we
should be mistaken i'll the proper amount of
taxation to effect this object, We should raise
tue tax until it did accomplish it. The power
is uninlted-the object Inva vauabe The second
object is scarcely less important than the first.
the most striking difference between the legs-
iation Of the State and Federal government is
to be seen Ill the parsmony of the one and the
prouslon of the other. The treasury of the
Federal government is usually OveriioWing, and
nobody complains Of it. Congress employs
tlrcc1onrths oi its time in devlsng means to
get rio oi its redundant revenue. Salaries ARE
high and of late almost annually increased,
and utter disregard TO economy marks our
entire Federal legISa tIOn. On the other hand,
+ the State treasures are generally empty, the
States Durtheued with oppressive debts, which
OF !I;. "a e, Ia IN
impose the necessary burthens by direct taxa
htIon, to pay them. State officers are poorly,
even nieaniy paid, and consequently, the Fed
Grad government is fast drawing into its services
the abest and best men OF the county, to the
great Ietrment of the interests of the States
he people are constantly crying out for lavish
eyi,enL ture, and even for taxation by the Gen
crai government, and as constantly and more
vOcierousy crying out against toth by the
State governmeits. \ ct they pay all the taxes
to both governments. The State expenditure
is generally equal and just, and for the bene6
ot all tax payers: tine expenditure OF the Gen
cral yovernlnents on the contrary, is general,
unequal, unjust, and for the benefit Of u few
only OF the tax payers! The people OF eorgi;
pay less than four hundred thousand dollars K
, their tate treasury, aud that is paid reluctant
) ly and grud dgingy. Assuming that their pay
nent to the Federal treasury is only in eqta
: proportion to their numbers, they pay into i
the of above three millions of dollars an
nuay; yet they content! The secret o
this singular Inconsistency Is to be found III tn
: mode OF ievyng the taxes-sud that alone
r. The Federal government evles its taxes inu
+ rectly--the State lev:es hers dirtctly.-This
Just what | propose to do. Levy our taxes o.
consumption; it can be more easily paid: VI
we shall then Ell treasury to the extent Q
i cur wants. protect ourselves against the uh}us
q irrisla alton Of our sister States, bring tllrec
/ trade TO ports, give profitable employment
il to our capital and labor, educate peopit
: Ceyelope ali resources, and build ulj grea'
h powerful and prosperous commonwertis, abl
e to protec5 The people from ali dangers froi
o all dang aers from within anti without l do no
l. propose to go into the details OF the propose
!, iegslation-the wisdom Of cur State ieslsl. tul
I viii readily protect them. We already levy
& portion OF our revenue III this manner; l pro
II pose to levy it all 1t needs Gust courthouse:
: Lay the tax all commodities except thus
G imported from abroad. The State tan easil
Q provide for stamping and certifying the cxenp
Y cd goods; this evidence must be shown by til
, seller, the whole stock is taxed | wou
# exempt the merchandise brought to port
f for consumption III other States. The draw
+ back system OF the general government furnishe
Il well tried plan for efiecting that object
: y hatever other exemptions, policy or the III
terestS of some OF our sister States may deman
submit to the Convention, and the wisdom Q
tie representatives of the people.
am very respectfully, your o'bt: serv't.,
II. TOUMBS.
Messrs. e. c. Anderson, Mayor, and others
Savannah, Ga.