Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1868-01-03
INTERNAL REVENUE REFORM. .
important Letter from r. I. WsIker.


important Letter from r. I. WsIker.
| From the Cleveland iiernid.
.rhe fofiowing Letter, ffom Hon. Robert
j. Walker, to q gentleman OF this city, was
received during the sitting Of the late
Manufacturers Convention. IL was. un.
doubiedly the intention OF the writer To
have the views expressed ia this letter
brought to the notice OF the Consention,
but they have not heretofore been made
public. We give IL now, because Mr..
Walker Is entitled to speak on the fnsa-
cal aud industrial questions Of this coun.
try. The letter IL Us iollowsi
wAsnIsoToN clrr, Dec. II, 1867.
DEAR SIR: have received your letter
Of the 10Th inst, inviting u,e TO sttend
the National Convention Of MaDuiacsurers,
70 be held at Cleveland on the 18Th lust.
regret very much that II IL impossible
for me to leave Washington at this time.
aud am compelled TO iorego The pleasure
Of meeting you. 's ah,.l i.am
My views on the subject Of Ipsernsi
Revenue and taxation have been already
very fully expressed IN my address 20 the
American people OF the 30ih OF November
lust can only repea, the opinion there.
IN expressed that the whole system. OF Io-
tornal Revenue should be abolished st
once, with the exception of taxes on
National Banks, on wines, mplt, spiriiuous
liquors aud ,obacco. Our system OF iutcr-
nal taxation IL destroying the industry al
the country, aud shVuld be inmedissely
repealed On this question there should
bo no delay, as Il has already been 40 op-
pressiye, aud has produced 10 much dis
satisfaction among the people, ~, iflong-
or continued, 10 threaten us with repas
diaIion aud all its disaslerous eopsequen-
ces.
The tariff question can be postponed
until the next session Of Congress, When,
the excitement of the Presidential canvass
having terminated, We may all consider
tho subject more dispassionately, aud with
a view TO such an arrangement us, whilst
Welding the largest posslbo revenue ffom
that ssntee, will be attended with all the
incidental benefits 20 our industrial pur-
suits that can properly be derived from any
just system Of duties on imports. T
On this question, In view Of our large
public debt. aud the necessity OF the pune
tual payment Of the interest thereon,
there IL, uudor existing circumstances, .
great ideutity of interests between the pro-
ducers aud consumers. Should the tariff
be So imposed as 10 be destructive of reve-
nue, IL will force return to internal taxa
tion, with all its baneful influences.
Permit me TO say however, that the most
oppressive tux now imposed upon indus
trial pursuits, isun nredeemable aud de-
preciated paper currency. Grelsous as 10
our present system Of internal taxation. 10
is far less oppressive than the burden i'm
posed by luctuatipg aud deprecated
medium Of exchange. This tax, specially
upon industrial pursuits, may Dc meas.
ured with near approximation 10 the
actual results, by the difference between
the value OF gold and our paper currency.
Ii this Is 33 per cent. the tax IL equivalents
in lis opelalion upon domestic maniactures
20 deduction OF one thiid from their sn-
nual net profit; aud, il longer continued,
Ms the history Of tho world has shown,
must proslrute NIL our industry which
comes in competition with ioieien pro-
duets. Whilst, then, am ior immediate
abolition with the exceptions before
stated), of our whule system Of Internal
taxation, | would postpone the considers.
ton of the tariff until the Grst Monday OF
December next. Is.1l
1t gives ne great pleasure tc say that
since my return from Europe Gus the fiscal
agent of the GoyerumeuD, in December,
1864, have convefsed very fully with
gentlemen largely invested IN A.nericsu
manulacures--cspecially those of ironi
wool aud cottou-nnd have found on ex.
traordinary aud uniform coucurfence be-
tween their opinions and my own This
unity of views has not been produced by
any change OF opuion on either side, but
by the immense difference in the .coudi-i
tion of the country. growing out of the
enormous debt which we have incurred 10
mautap the Government and preserve the
Union. This change in our condition
requiles that We should 20 impose our du-
ties on imports, rs TO realize the largest
possible revenue. aud the question of abso-
lutte free trade is therefore necessarily posi-
poned until our debt shall have been ex-
tinguished. ..af
an, sir, very respectfully,
II. j. WAtKER-