Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1863-12-11

SO long this appeared to be practicable, none can
deny the prOpety of your course In absalnlng from
the imposition of direct taxes till you could exercise
the power in the precise mode pointed out by the
terms of the fundamental law. But it is obvious
that there are many duties imposed by the Constr
e ton which depend for their flflment on the I'M
disturbed possession of the territory within which
they are to be performed. The same instrument
which orders census to be made in all the states,
imposes the duty on the Confederacy Ito guaran.
tee to every State republican form of government
1t enjoins on us "to protect each State from lnVa-
son" and while declaring that its great objects and
purposes Is to establish justice, ensure domestic
tranquility and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterty," it confers the means
and thereby imposes on us the paramount duty oil
effecting its intent by Laying and collecting taxes
duties, imposts and excuses, necessary to pay TUG
debts provide for the common defence, and carry on
the government Of the Confederate States"
Nome would pretend that the Constitution is vlo-
lated because by reason of the presence OF hostile
armies we are unable to guarantee republican form
Of governmental those States or portions OF states
now temporarily held by the enemy, and as !ttleJus
tce would there be in imputing blame for the failure
to make the census when that failure is attributable
to not foreSeen by the authors OF the const
tuition, and beyond our control The general intent
of our constitutional charter is unquestioHably that
the property of the country is to be taxed IN order
to raise revenue for the common defence, and the
special mode provided for levying this tax is mprac
ment, our primary duty to execute the general in
tent expressed by the terms of the instrument which
we have sworn to obey, and we cannot excuse our
selves for the failure to fulfill this obligation on the
ground that we unable to perform it In the pre-
else mode pointed out Whenever it shall be posi-
bic 10 execute duty in all its parts, we must do
so in exact compliance with the whole letter and
spirit of the Constitution. Until that period shall
arrive, we must execute SO much of It as our c0ndl
ton renders practicable Whenever the withdraw.
al of the enemy shall place it in power to make
i census and appOrtionment of direct taxes any
other mode of levying them will be'contrary to the
will of the law gver, and incompatible with our ob
legation to obey that will until that period, the al
tentative lc:t Is 10 Ocey the paramount precept and
execute it according to the only other rule prOvi
Id which is to &" make the tax uniform throughout
the Confederate States"
The considerations just presented are greatly en-
forced by the reflection that any attempt to appor
ton taxes amongst States, some of which are Who'll
~ partially in the occupation of hostile forces
would suhvert the whole intention of the trainers oil
the Constitution, and be productive of the most
voting I'M uStce, instead Of that just correlation be
tween taxation and representation which it thei!
purpose to secure. With large portions of some OF
the States occupied by the enemy, what ustict
would there be in imposing on the remainder tn,
whole amount of the taxation of the entire State ii
proportion to its representation? What else would
this be in effect than to increase the burthers OF
those who are the heaviest sufferers by the war;
TO make our own inability to protect them from in
vasou as are required tn do by the Constitution
the ground fJr aiding to their losses by attempt.
Cd adherence to tht letter. in violation of the spirit
OF that instrument? No such purpose could have
been entertained, and no such result contemplated
10y the trainers of the Constitution. 1t may add
weight to these considerations if reflect that al
though the Constitution provided that it should 60
into operation with representation temporarily dis
tributed among the States it expressly ordains at.
dine
this temporary distribution of representative power
is to endure until such enumeration shall be made
WOuid any one argue tIst because the census can
not be made within the fixed period, the government
must, at the expiration Of that PERIOD perish for
want OF representative body? In any aspect in
which tie subject can be viewed am led to the con
clnson already announced and which is understood
TO be in accordance with rJte taken in one or both
Houses at your last session.
shall, therefore, until we are able to pursue the
precise mode required by the Constitution, deem il
my duty to approve any law levying tho taxation
which you are bound to impose for the defence Of
the country, in any other practicable mode which
I shall distribute the burthen uniformly and impair
TALLY on the whole property OF the people
In your former legislation you have sought to
avoid the increase in the volume of notes in crcu-
lation, by offering inducements to voluntary fund
ing The measures adopted for that purpose have
been bat partially successful, and the evil has now
reached such magnitude to permit no other
remedy than the compulsory reduction of the cur
rency to the amount required by the business Of
the country. This reduction should be accompa-
MED by pledge that under no stress of circum.
stances will that amount be exceeded. No possible
mode of using the credit Of the government can be
so disastrous which disturbS the basis of all
exchanges renders impossible all calculations of fu-
ture values augmentS in constantly increasing pro-
portions, the price OF all commodities and depre
crates all fixed wages salaries and incomes as to
q hare tn
these be added the still more fatal influence the
morals and character of the people, to which have
already adverted, am persuaded you will concur
in tue conclusion that an inheXble adherence to
limitation of the currency at a fixed sum is an in
dispensable element Of any system of finance now
to be adopted
The holders of the currency now outstanding can
Only be protected in the recovery of their just
claims, by substituting for their notes some other
security. If the currency is not greatly and
promptly reduced, the present scale Of inflated
prices viii not only continue to exist, but by the
very fact of the large amounts thus made requisite
in the conduct of the war, those prices will reach
rates still more extravagant and the whole system
will fall under its weight thus rendering the
! redemption OF the debt impossible, and destroying
| the whole value n the hands of the holder IT, on
| the contrary funded debt, with interest secured
by adsonate taxation can be substituted for the out
standing currency, its entire amount will be made
available to the holder, and the government will be
in condition enabling it. beyond the reach of any
! probable contingency. to prosecute the war to a
successful issue 1t is, therefore, demanded, as well
by the interest of the creditor as of the country at
| large that the evidences of the public debt now
outstanding in the shape of treasury notes. be con-
versed into bonds bearing adequate interest with q
provision for taxation sufficient to ensure punctual
payment and final redemption of the whole debt
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury pre-
| sents the outlines of a system which, in conunc-
ton with existing legislation, is intended to secure
the several objects of reduction OF the circulation
within fixed reasonable limits; of providing for the
future wants of the government; of furnishing SO.
curity for the punctual payment of interest," and
final extinction of the principal of the public debit
| and oc placinga the whole business of the country