The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1861-12-20

4
the satisfaction Of claims arising from the
war. The property Of rebels in rebel States
should be treated in the same manner. Tho
rights to services under State laws must Of
necessity form an exception 10 any rule Of
confscation. Persons held by rebels, under
such laws, to service Ms slaves may, however.
be justly liberated from this constraint, and
made moro valuable in various employmeuts
through voluntary and compensated service,
than II coufscased as subjects Of property.
The Secretary Gays that the most 2crcd
duty Of American people now requires tho
construction Of all theif energies and resour.
ces to the rc-establshmert Of the Union, and :
sound policy would seem to suggest not eI-
tension Of foreiss trade. but.mcre absolute
reliance on American laboy American skill
and American soil. He recommends. that
the duties on tea coffee and sugar be increased
to 9 l.2 cents PER pound ON brown sugar, 3
cents on dayod, ~ cents on green tea, s cents
on coffee, and that no other alterations OF
tariff be made unless further experience shall
demonstrate the necessity.
lie deems il necessary to Increase the direct
tax 30 as to produce from loyal Statesa
revenue o, at lcas. 10000, 600, and laying
such duties on sails, distilled liquors, to-
bacco, bank notes, carriages, lcgacics on pa.
per, eyidcncics of debt and convcyaecs OF
property, and other like property s will
produce an equal addition sum. The inVmo
tax will probably produce 10000 900, max.
Ing an aggregate Of jO,OOO,OCO.
The Secretary is aware that the sum is
large. but seeing no probability of revenue
exceeding 4O,OOOOOO during the current
year, he feels that hc nlust not shrink frOma
plain statement Of actual necessities OF the
situation. Two iiiths Of one per cent on real
and personal property Of the loyal States
will produce 1900. 600, the proposed in-
come tax adding 10000 600. The Sccreta-
~ recommends plan fora national circu.
lution of notes, the features Of which are u
circulation of notes barring common i'm
preston, aud authenticated by common au-
thoriiy. The redemption Of the notes by
the associations and institutions to which
they may be delivered for issue, and tho
security Of that redemption by pledge Of
United States stocks and an. adequate pro-
visions Of specie. An important advantage
to the people by this plan, would be in ths
increased security OF the Union, sprInging
from the common interest in its preseryation'
created by the distribution ol its stocks to
associations throughout tho country as tho
basis OF their circulation. And the Sccreta-
~ entertains the opinion that IL credit cir
culation be desirable in this form.
lie states that it Is earnestly bopcd, and
not without sufficient grounds, that the pres
ent war may be brought to an auspicious
termination before midsummer, and in that
event the provisions OF rr,enue by the taxa
ton recommended, will amply suffice for
financial exigencies without additional loans
and enable the government at once to begin
u reduction of the existing debt. II the war
continues to July lst, 1862, the public debt
will be $5l7 ,372 ,sO2; il to July lst, 1863.
il will be in round numbers nine hundred
millions.
The prohibition Of trade with the rebel
States has been fully enforced. Regulations
have been established by which cotton, rico
and other property in insurrcctionary dis.
trcts, occupied by our troops, will be col
lec,ed and sent by SEA to New York. All
sales will he for account. Cf tho government,
and the proceeds paid into the National
Treasury. As general rule commerce
should follow the flag, and when the authori-
,y OF the Union !. fully established in tho
States, the ror,- -hould be opened without
restriction. anu si. commerce freely per-
mitted.
The Secretary closes by saying that It has
been his endcayor to in.uSe into his DEPART
mcnt the greatest possible activity and ,igor,
and hopes that continued endea,or-. with
large experience, will make it what !, ought
to be.