Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1863-12-16
cause, and no measures directed to that end can BE-

700 prompt or too stringent ezaSes@ :'seE
Reverting to the constitutional provisions already
cited the question recurs whether it be possible to
execute the duty fapportioning taxation in accord
ance with the census ordered to be made as basis
so long as this appeared to be practicable
deny the propriety of your course in abstanng from
the imposition of direct taxes till you could exercise
tile 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 Oonsi-
ton, which depend for their fal6llment on the un-
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 "to guarar,-
tee to every State republican form of government" I
IL enJons on US ITO protect each State from inva.
slon and while declaring that its great objects and
purposes are to establish justice ensure domestic
tranquility and secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our. posterity," Econfers the means
and thereby imposes on US the paramount duty of |
erecting Its INTENT by laying and collecting taxes
duties, imposts and excuses necessary to pay the
debts, provide for the common defence and carry on
the government of the Confederate States"
None would pretend that the Constitution is vio |
lats because by reason of the presence of hostile
armies, we are unable to guarantee republican form
OF government to those States or portions of States
now temporarily held by the enemy, and as little JUS
ice would there be in mputing blame for the failure
to causes not foreseen by the authors of the const
tuition, and beyond our control The general intent
OF our constitutional charter is Internationally that
property of the country is to be taxed in order
to raise revenue for the common defence, and the
special mode provided for levyng this tax is imprac
ticable from unforeseen causes. IT Is in my Judge.
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 npable to perform it in the pre-
else mode pointed~k Whenever it shall be posi-
BILE TO execute our 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 cond
ton renders practicable. Whenever the withdraw
al OF the enemy shall place it in our power to make
census and apportionment of direct taxes, any
other mode OF Lev g them will be contrary the
Will OF the law g.ver and incompatible with our OBJ
legation to obey that will; until that period, the al.
Tentative left is to obey the paramount preeept and
to execute 1t according to the only other rule provi
dad, which is to make the tax uniform throughout
! the Confederate States"
Inc considerations just presented are greatly
forced by the reflection thatany attempt to appor-
ton taxes amongst States some of which are Who'll
ly or partially in the occupation of hostile forces
would subvert the whole intention of the trainers Of
the Constitution, and be productive of the most re-
voting injustice, instead of that just correlation be-
tween taxation and representation which it was their
purpose to secure. With large portio6s of some of
! the States occupied by the enemy, what iustics
j! would there be in imposing on the remainder the
whole amount of the taxation of the entire State in
proportion to its representation What else would
this be in effect than to increase the burthens of
those who the heaviest sufferers by the war; and
to make our own inability to protect them from in
vason, as We are required to do by the Constitution
the ground for adding to their losses by an attempt
ed adherence to the letter. in violation of the spirit
/ of that Instrument No such purpose could have
been entertained, and no such result contemplated
! by the trainers Of the Constitution 1t may add
weight to these considerations if reflect that al.
though the Constitution provided that it should 20
into operation with representation temporarily dis
tributed among the States. it expressly ordans af
ter providing for census within three years, that
this temporary distribution of representative power
is to endure until such enumeration shall DO made
Would any one argue that 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 the subject be viewed am led to the con-
clusion already announced and which is understood
to be in accordance with vote 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 it
my duty to approve any law levying the taxation
which you are bound to impose for the defence Of
the country, in any other practicable mode which
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 circu
lation, by offering inducements to voluntary fund
ing. The measures adopted for that purpose have
been but partially successful and the evil has now
reached. such a magnitude as 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 as which disturbs the basis of all
exchanges, renders impossible all calculations of fu.
ture values augmens, in constantly increasing pro-
portions the price of all commodities and SO depre
ciates all fixed wages, salaries and incomes, as to
render them inadequate to bare subsistence. If To
these be added the still more fatal influence on the
morals and character of the people, to which have
already adverted, am persuaded you will concur
in the conclusion that infexible adherence to
Limitation of the currency at a fixed sum is an in
dspensable element of any system of finance now
to be adopted. 80.
The holders Of the currency now outstanding car
only be protected in the recovery of their just
claims by substituting for their notes some othel
security If the currency is not greatly anG
promptly reduced, the present scale of inflated
prices will 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 stiff more extravagant and the whole system
will fall under its own weight, thus rendering tn,
redemption Of the debt impossible, and destroying
the whole value in the hands of the holderAbH. OF
the contrary, funded debt, with interest secured
by adequate taxation be substituted for the out
standing currency, it's entire amount will be mad.
available to the holder and the government will b
in q condition enabling it. beyond the reach of any
probable contingency, to prosecute the war to-
successful ISSUE 1t is, therefore, demanded, as wei
bv the interest of the creditor as Of the country
large. that the evidences Of the public debt nov
outstanding in the shape Of treasury NOTES, be con
yertcd into bonds bearing adequate interest with
nroyision for taxation suicient-to ensure punctua
payment, and final redemption Of the whole debt
The report of the Secretary of the Treasury pre-
SCENTS the outlines of system which, in conjunc
ton with existing legislation is intended to secure
the several objects of reduction Of the circulation
within fixed, reasonable limits; Of providing for tn
future wants of the government; of furnishing Sc
curity for the punctual payment Of interest, AM
final extinction of the principal Of the public debt
81 &C nlor;no the whole business of tho country