Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1866-08-31

hghtened, it has been done in such a way
that the surplus applicable to paying off the
public debt may not be interfered with, nor
that great work interrupted. While there
fore, We give credit 10 the Administration
Tor ITS exeruons 70 bring our finances back
10 the prosperous solYeney they once exhibi-
ted, we insist that the work performed By
congress In efeetlng so large diminution
Of taxation IS OF even more Importance, and
deserves 70 be quite as well remembered.
1t was deemed by the Republicans in Con-
gress the best plan to try this measure of
demlnished taxation, and see how it worked
and what effect il would have upon the reve-
nues, before going any further At the
next session we cannot doubt that q still fur
ther abolition or reduction Of taxes viii be
effected, though not to so great an extent rs
to impair the revenues, it being deemed best
to maintain these at as large d total as may
be consistent With the purpose of paying off
/ the national debt, without oppres5iyely in
teTferlng with the business of the people.
As the task ofslmplyfyIng the taxation goes
on, 1t viii wipe out many Inquisitorial exac-
tions, as the present bin has already done.
The same amount of revenue viii be raised
from fewer sources, and by this mc6ns we
shall probably be able to get rid OF some Of
the vast swarns Of officials necessary under
the existing system.
Il must be remembered that we cannot
hope to pay of the debt if, by reducing our
revenues too largely, We take away from
! the government that surplus which is appli-
ed TO the work OF reducing the mountain of
debt. We cannot have at the same time q
continued and large reduction Of debt and a
sweeping reduction OF taxes. Our oppo-
nents elamor for both, though any Teasona-
bic man may see that such thing is i'm
possible. Congress has therefore, done well
for the government and the country 1t has
relieved the people Of the worst forms of
taxation, and those which most iniuriously
acted upon our domestic industry, while it
has preserved the revenue with a view to
the continuance OF the work of paying off
the debt
As the country increases Ia population,
and the south recurerates from the destruc-
/ tive effects Of the war, the revenues win
augment steadily even while we annually high
| ten the taxes. The amount Of revenue We
raise Is not the evil to complain Of though
1 Democratic partlsans stupidity hold il up be-
| fore the people as a hein0us charge against
/ the Republicans. Without raising some
such amount, It Is sheer nonsense to look
| for a reduction 4 Ahe debt, and these parti-
sans know it. We do not find the national
! Administration tayoring any reduction Of
/ the revenues beyond that authorized by
| Congress, and on this topic the Administra-
/ ton and Congress occupy substantially the
/ same ground. There was no conflict what
/ ever between them on this point Congress
/ took counsel Of the Treasury in framing its
/ tax bill and no more reduction of taxes was
attempted than the Secretary was willing
/ to allow.
Nevertheless, the primary credit Of any
reduction Of taxes belongs TO Congress,
/ which body at the session Of 1865 felt so
much impressed with this necessity as to
| provide for a joint revenue commission, to
/ sit during the recess and examine the whole
/ subject Of revenue and taxation This
/ measure was wholly the work Of Republicans.
/ The opposition would have preferred to In
/ crease appropriations, taxes and debts, as
| that would make a stronger case for them
/ against the responsible ruling party Such
! has been the course Of the Opposition
/ throughout the Republican administrations
of Lincoln and johnson. If the dominant
! party showed its capacity to subdue gigan-
( tic rebellion and abolish the vast institution
/ Of slavery, It has on the return Of peace
shown still more sigually its ability 10 cope
with the great financial problem involved in
the mastery Of our debt and currency. The
Treasury and Congress, each in its way, mas
our debt is reduced one hundred and twenty
four millions Of dollars, aud our load Of tax
alton hghtened seventy FIVE millions, all in
one year From this let the public judge Of
the future. The North Americaa.