Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1857-04-11

counted in representation, provided that
three-tifths only should be eosntcd in the
system Of taxation Bu. compromise
feulty failed in its object, for, with two or
three exceptions, there has been no direct
taxation levied by the Federal Government
Under the system Of duties The we'll fed and
well clad slave of Virginia pays as much
into the federal treasury as the leboYiug
classes Of the North THUS it happens that
while Virginia is deprived Of the represcn-
tation Of two-fftl,s Of II aIayes hy the fret
of these provisions. or in other words loses
two representatives in the popular branch
Of Congress she derives 10 benefit from
the eolopensating provision in regard to
taxation.
Fer this evil there is ne remedy 80 long
as system Of import duties is continued in
lieu Of the more just and equal system Of
direct taxation. But it Is now, the object
Of the friends OF distribution to extend the
evil, and actually to return to the States the
surplus revenue invested in lands, on the
scale Of federal numbers. In other words,
though Virginia has paid her full quota OF
this revenue wherewith the lands have been
purchased, she IS to receive in return not
her fall quota of the proceeds Of the sales Of
those lands, but an amount only equal to
the sim to which she would be entitled il
deprived Of iifths Of her slaves. The
balance thus unjustly distracted from yir-
ginia and the slave-holding States, is to be
iayished by the SYSTEM OF distribution upon
the north, already fattcned ana sustained,
but never gorged with the substance of the
South.
The proposition for which We are contend
ing will be palmer if we consider it in ano-
Their light. We have said before that under
a proper economical administration of the
government, supposlng no surplus to be in
the treasury, the money thus distracted
from the federal treasury for distribution,
must be restored by increased taxation -
Now, according to the system proposed, the
quota of distribution to be given to Virginia
is to be apportioned according to her federal
numbers. that is, by excluding two-tifths Of
her slaves But in restoring the fund dis
tributed, there is no such exclusion, and
Virginia must pay her full quota of taxa
ton into the treasury rs though every slave
were freeman Thus, so far from being
benefited by the system of distribution, she
is injured exactly to the extent of the duties
she pays into the treasury on account of the
consumption Of two-6fths of her slaves
But We are here met by the assertion that
there is . surplus in the treasury, and that
the restoration process Of which we have
been speaking can never take pace What
is to he done with the immense surplus
which the Democratic Tariff of 1916 has
poured into our treasury? Should it be
kept in Washington as a fund Of corruption
and bribery--as means resorted TO for in
creasing the centralzng tendency Of the
Federal Government, and swelling the cor
runting influence of the Executive Such
are the questions with which We have been
met by the opposition. But the answer is
simple ard easy. There can never be any
danger from q surplus in the treasury ST.
long as there are so many laudahle and con-
stitutional objects On which 10 bestow tt
Take, for example, our navy. Can there
be more laudable Object for expenditure?
With tonnage nearly equal to that of Great
Britain, with two mighty oceans washing
on either side half continent, with 4 coun-
try almost limitless i'll extent, ard rich in
every element of wealth. with internal i'm
provements in ali the States daily develop
ing cur resources and parting to convey the
rich freight to the seaboard, we can boast
of a navy scarcely superior to the maritime
force of a third rate power 1t has not been
long since our relations with England were
of such Il character rs to por,cnd long and
destructive war. The mutterings of the
threatening storm have not yet died upon
the ear Suppose such a calamity should
befal us. Dare us hope that we will be en-
abled to preserve unlurt the great family Of
States whose destiny would depend on the
struggle? Could we with our little navy
expect to defend from the maritime power
Of Great Britain the harbor Of New York
on the Atlantic; Of San Francisco on the
Pacific, and Of New Orleans on the Gulf Of
Mexico? And yet there are those who
pirate of the danger of a surplus in the treas
ury. Apply it at once to q rational increase
Of the navy; in time of peace and plenty.
prepare for var, and then reduce your ia
riff, and as far as it may be, proclaim prac-
teal free trade TO the world Above all,
be not deceived by those who deprecato the
corruption incident to an overloaded treas
ury, and yet would devote that very sur
plus to the corruption of The fair honor Of
the States
Much has been said of the relief which
will he tlus afforded to the tax paying COM
munity of Virginia TO those who are not
willing to be relieved at the sacrifice of
principle, such an argument is an insult
rather than q persuasion. To those who
are so willing, we say that it can be proven
by figures, that every cent which you thus
receive from the Federal Government, YOU
must return with heavy and usurious in
tcrest into the Federal Treasury. Under
the process Of distribution you receive out
fragment of your equitable proportion,
under the process of restoration You must
pay your full quota to the treasury, and that
too, in addition to all the expenses incident
to collection of the revenue.
i
INy