Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1864-05-06
Congressional.
SPEECH OF HON. J. S. MORRILL,,
ON THE TAX BfLL

MK CHnRHAS An that propose to do on the
present occasion will be, after brief preliminary
mafka, 10 make plain exposition OF the bill before
giving the reasons Tor some new matter and for some
changes Of the provisions of the original b aud
innate of the probable amount Of that may be
expected hom II.
when the internal revenue bin of 1882 was passed. Z,
intended with the iarf, 10 cover ordinary annu.
a expenditure Of 800 900 the interest on debt Of
abogi sl0OJ 600 900 and .lcave something more a
sinking fund
The magnitude and length Of tae rebellion has so far
estimates and make system Of taxation large
enough 10 cover all contingencies, Tue demands upon
the Treasury are unprecedented but have only to
marshal our resources aud they equal 70 all
geneies and 70 any campaign, good bad. The bill
now presented with the receipts from the tariff, will Gov
assumed ordinary annual expenditure Of Sl00 900.
600 much greater than any prior 70 the rebellion, pay
reach 90 much, and leave most respectable sinking
fluid besides. II We the Representatives Of the people,
pass this h will show that the financial credit Of
Oovenmsnt - % be sustained At all costs, and 1t will
tend 70 the evils Of ful Speculation, which ncyita-
bly, goes hand IN hand with imitation Of the currency
BY throwing losses upon those who embark in such.
The system Of internal taxation Of two years ago,
which, had to impfovisu IL upon being plunged
10 war Of almost ampled magnitude cannot f.irly
be cited ior TIE hst year Of the Of
q be iealiEed from IT, is rapidly vindioating
TIE wisdom Of the Thirty Seventh Congress, which 40
earnestly aOored and nearly as unit, 70 give just pro
portion 70 its principles sell symmetry its details
hope the present Congress may be relied upon for equal
fairness, patriotism and courage. Vita nothing added
% TINS Congress We are receiving from forty 10 hiy per
cent more internal revenue this year than last and
oi The ocefs shall have been properly taught how to
enforce the ptoss Of the law mAy be expected
do better still. Even the derived from this
source s. a. expected more important to the TreA
sury than that from imports, aud both together
cqaal ~ any scale u Ordinary expenditure IN Of
peace, aud the payment of interest debt Of much
larger magnitude all have yet piled IN IN the
huge aams required - mAiutAin an Army aud Navy
whose fasness 10 only surpassed by that Of the heaer
over which they are dispaed Thus r we have proven
10 people, at least, that the interest bearing
ouuues 4 tie United States solid beyond peradYen-
tus They rest upon the stout shoulders of the Anet
can pcOpe whJse eeasscss activity brings forth
weah IN year than any other people in three and
Shose dtccnnid increase Of population s siK times
greater thau that Of any nation In Europe
The annual increased value Of the national wealth
actually taxed Tor each year between the uf 1850
and lsG0 was SsOi ,so2 55i while our public debt,
ordug ~ the estimate Of the Secretary of the Treasury
val have teen nctessed, II the lasts long iof the
leat Jut 1854, 70 July l. 1860, only 4iylb 5j0 and
Rom this there must be deducted the great
tauon Of the revenue proposed by the present bill.
II We pass ths measure, without eursilng its dimeu
sons-.nd think It will be the pleasure OF the House
ra,her TO Increase than diminish them-we shall Furnish
prof that can not only pay interest pubHo
debt, NhAe,et 1t is keyto be- and the ordinary eHpen-
ses of The Government ia time Of peace but that
shall contribute handsomely toward keeping
expenses within moderate hmts-such limits will
convince the world at large we'll the
faced douoer among our oNn people who has any Lao iu
money boarded, that the people u the United
oulJ but tciH pay ever bond IA
n1~ owe or ever vii owe prncp and interest," IN coin
unoippcd and Undimmed by posponem mt for single
hour The public faith viii be maintained At all hazards
At this moment the Guyernmtnt is supplied With
gold than sufficient for these purposes, and il abs0
utey begging ITS creditors 10 accept payment long in
advance n order that It may be relieved Of plethora Of
gold whith locked up isnot only idle, but by deAns
values detrimental TO the commerce of the country
lie u pe known and understood that should The war be
closed by 1905 our present proposed scale Of taxation
viii support the Government and pay off the entire
iioua de0t IN but little than ten years Let t also
be knoNh aud understood that present large annual
expenditure IL not equal 70 our annual increased wealth
any gentemer doubt this, invite them 70 the tes; Of
wbs, s our present condition. Nhen ,Ai. war com
mencee We had but small number Of vessels, less
than one hundfed al told since that time we have built
puf hAsed ships, steamers iron cads monitors and
gun boats, that have Of the finest navies
the world, or in round numbers sK hundred
sells. We have made or bought rihed cannon and can
non OF immense caber, with other field equipage, 80
that ordnance and odnance absolutely
immense. We have made OF bought rides and muskets
wagons aud horses almost without number. Our armies
the largest and finest have brought into the
field surprising any known under the greatest
captains Of The world. They are IN position Our OH
weedod Of the incompetent and those who have
stomach for The fight possess the confidence Of the sol
ders aud u the country. All this has been achieved
great labor aud al great cost, but IL Is al paid for All
the cngnery Of ready and the first Outlay has not
10 be repeated We have but 10 supply the means 70
keep in motion and 70 make good the wear and tear OF
it. mighty operations With only the ordinary prudence
upon part Of commanders the weighto columns
drive the rebel armies rearvArd aud with the dash
Of the general who never fails march on their work
sangume tn pecting more important and
crushing results than any heretofore vouchsafed 20 our
But let Us set our house in order financially, and we
Withstand even heavy disasters IN the field do not
sound credit and with military shall be indeed
'Oer all the ills Of life victorious"
Let Us show enemies aud To the world that we
are stripping for the light, and that fan IL not an A
merican word
But 70 carry on this struggle to triumphant term
nauon 10 sustain our finances (th, only spot assaabe
ON the Uued states map,l there are duties TO be per
fumed by Congress. The utmost economy in all de-
VAEuents Of the Government must be rig diy n-stsd
upon perish Congress holds the purse sIIngs Of
the nation, aud Appr puauons shall be made i'shy'
for any but immediate and most pressing Necessities,
Id Mil he HEX 10 A IN N
cali e1uaSRgance generosity, nor economy meanness.
We have no treasure to squander II there be any jobs
buncombe measures supposed TO be necessary 70 De
carried through ia order Teeeetons the
~ brueT dispense w the services Of the sponsors
ofsuoh tiust there such, and that
there Is no member on THIS moor Who has not the cour.
sacrifice himself rather than the greatest good OF
hiss county To force the Treasury % issue legaender
notes IN any way beyond the present imithuugh the
wages OF labor, though the pay Of saaed aud Of
the solder should be inereased-would result n sap
pontmeut and disaster When the business Of the
y requires only $500 900 600 Of Gu rencJ in
Of the vuume TO soOOOOOO 900 will buy no property
than the 500 900 uOO while il unsettles the values u
many times that amount % property by increasing the
price hhy per cent Let Us have taxes, let US have
loans samethmg, at all events which will reduce the
amount Of legal tend outstanding, and increase
the value Of the pay Of the soldier
IL 70 be hoped that the internal bill and
increase Of the tariff will enable the Secretary Of
the Treasury obtain from loans all the funds which
may be required for future wants. and also to re some
share Of our redundant legal tender issues.
there Is one topic sometimes discussed in tone OF
dscuur cement uf sufficient importance justify word
Tor the aatsfactlon uf tnOoe VINO
mot unwilling accept Of truth come from may.
1be lAtge number Of freedmen whom the rebellion
Of t,f masters has opened world, with tasks
and new duties. has been sometimes pIophetiealy
nounced a. likely add the burdens Of loya peo-
pie WIN pariouoaly sustain the Government 10 the day
which tines the pocket-thAt modern seat OF the soa-
by paying chee fuly all taxes demanded and then Law
ihing mt 10 thousands Into all the blessed channels Of
charity pouring oil and wine into the wounds u the
sodiefn the field and forgetting the widow and the
faherlers left at home but think the facts already de
veloped show that freedmen contributing aud vii
contribute much 10 the ma ioaa wealth than theiT
friends have hitherto claimed, Already they are larstls
increasing the Of their productions beyond the
amount 10 sheh they seemed limited while in state o
unpaid aud forced labor l am looking at the subject
merely in economical light and not OT the purpose
staining a theory. These men have been true Wher
others haze proved false They fight for they worn
for US, and II II that something re
qured for their support for time, they have conhdee
IN good faith and honor is pledged TO give thea
shelter aud protection BY the reports already Publshe'
appears they only produce much that is sub Il
national taxaIiou but their wants keep pace with the
wages, and lheJ large consumers Of the cheap IA
bIics upon which We impose internal duties. by te
port on this suhjeot-and wilt only cite single iI'
stanoe-t appears thRt thirty three freedmen, Leasing
ands the Mississippi during The past year, withou
any capital their hands, aud Of course under man!
disAyaniAges raised three hundred and seventy
bales Of cotton, hundred aud one OF which we're so
for upward of tweny-iour thousand dollars and II tn
remainder should bring an equal price as Is suppose