Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1867-10-31
FTNANCES AND T1X1TTON-
TIE DUTY OF CONGRESS-.
From the Evansville JournaIJ


The advices from Washington are that
the Secretary of the Treasury is engaged
in preparing his annualreport, and that it
Will present very encouraging condition
OF national finances. Notwithstanding the
large reduction Of taxation authorized by
Congress for The past year, the receipts OF
the Government exceed its expenditures,
and the report will show both consider
able reduction of the public debt and CON
traction of The currency, ard also "A large
balance in the Treasury. The financial
condition of the Government would have
been much more satisfactory, if there had
been an honest and rigid collection Of tax
es, especially upon whisky and manufac-
tured tobacco. In the collection of the
whisky excise, especially, there have been
the most shameful frauds and corruption,
and the consequence of it will be that the
more honest and more deserving branches
of industry will have to bear the burdens
OF taxation which it has escaped. and will
continue TO unless more vigilant measures
are adopted.
One oi the ..iost important duties resting
on congress is at It's earliest session to give
this matter of taxation careful attention,
and see that the corruptions of the revenue
system are remedied. The responsibility
OF Congressional action rests upon the Re
publican party, and for the good of the
country, rs well as the future success of
the party, it should address itself prompt
~ TO the work of revising the revenue sys-
TEN, checking extravaganza and useless
appropriation, furnishing fraud and corrup-
ton, reducing or removing the taxes on
many OF the minor articles i'm the list, es-
tabllsh upon a reasonable basis the curren-
cy and debt question. and do all that is
possible 10 bring relief 10 the people and
satisfy the just complaints of the industrial
classes. All that is necessary now for the
reconstruction of the Southern States is TO
see that the present Congressional plan is
executed faithfully, and to do that little
time need be wasted. 1t will be the part
Of wisdom to leave the question of suffrage
in the Northern States alone. After the
result of the Ohio election, it will be the
hight of folly TO discuss Congressional
legislation on that subject in any shape
The project OF impeachment will hardly be
supported by Congress. 1t is measure
which ought 10 be resortcd to only in the
most extreme cases. It's agitation, under
existing circumstances, will have no other
effect than to beget commercial distrust,
We repeat, ii will be we'll for the country
and well for the party il Congress shall adj
dress itself at once to the important work
before it, which has as little as possible OF
partisan political questions in il, and yet
the party which proves itself most faithful
to this duty will be the one which will
most strengthen itself before the people.
We hope to see our Indiana Republican
Congressional delegation united and earn
est IN support of the followiur: !. \
general and material reduction III expcn- |
ses in every department of the Govern |
mcnt, wherever il is at all possible. >.
Opposition 10 all appropriations which are
not absolutely necessary 3. y rigid and |
honest collection of the revenue, and the !
punishment of all frauds especially in the
whisky excise. 4. 4 reduction of the |
taxes upon raw productions, an abrogation |
of the cotton tax, and removal of the tax
es upon the minor departments OF industry |
and the hundred minor articles which |
cumber the duties Of the revenue officers |
and harrass the people, with little additions |
To the National Treasury. >. Opposition |
to the demands of the Pennsylvania iron |
men, New England manufacturers, Ohio |
wool growers, and all others who are |
for special protection, The
people of the West will tolerate no tariff |
except for rcrcnuc;. the day of special /
protection is passed. III addition 10 these
measures, which are OF the utmost impor-
tance 10 the trade and industry of the |
country, il is important that the national
and debt shall be regulated so rs
10 give assurance to- business and conf |
dence to our national credit both at home
and abroad. Attention TO these matters
Will be OF much greater Importance than
the endless discussion of suffrage or i'm
parchment, The people demand a rcduc-
ton of taxation and it is also highly de-
,irable that the national debt be steadily
Both can be accomplished by
rigid economy, the faithful
execution of the revenue laws. and judi
cious and settled financial policy.