New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-03-28
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN, SATURDAY, MARCH g. 1868


both branches of the national legislature
must have much to commend it. and we
are much mistaken if It's not received with !
pleasure and satisfaction throughout the |
entire country. The unanimity with which
the bill was passed is the more remarkable
when it is remembered that the secretary OF
the treasury addressed to the finance com
mittee of the senate letter strongly re-
monstrating against the measure, and de-
claring that If it we're passed the revenue
would be so curtailed as to render it i'm
possible to carry on the government with
out an increase of the public debt. Mr..
McCulloch complains that the redus
ton consequent upon the abolition
of the cotton tax, added to that
which would follow the passage of the then
proposed bill, would amount to Sl20,0O0,-
900. He is strangely forgetful Of the fact
that congress has not taken his estimates Of
last December as the figures at which the
expenditures OF the government would
stand for the next fiscal year. The total of
Mr.. McCulloch's estimates for the year end
ing June 30, 1869, including the interest on
the debt was 1912, 100000. But by judi
cious and timely retrenchment congress has
made it possible to carry on the govern
ment for the next fiscal year for s250000,-
900, thereby saving $I22,000,00O, which
Mr.. McCulloch would otherwise have de-
manded of the people. Thus the relief now
to be afforded by the exemption of manuiac-
lures from taxation is thoroughly justified,
and the people may thank their represent
atives fer saving to them just that amount
of money, which would otherwise have
gone into the Golfers of the public treasury,
there to be locked up with tue already
enormous SUM which the secretary Of the
treasury always keeps lying idle.
The new law goes into operation on the
first day of April. Its effect is to relieve
from the present internal revenue tax all
articles of domestic manufacture except
gas, Illuminating, lubricating, or other min
eral oils, or articles made from crude pc
troleum, wines, and distilled or termented
spirits, and all the manufactures of tobacco.
Articles made from petroleum are TO be
taxed at One-half the present rates, and
manufacturers whose sales exceed $4,000
annually are to pay two dollars for every
$1,000 above $4,000 of sales.
This will do very well for beginning
and we hope it is only beginning in the
good work of still further tightening the
burdens of taxation. The true principle
Of direct taxation is to select those things
that are not essential to the comfort and
health of the citizel-that he can dispense
with, if he pleases, without injury to him
self and to his family-and which are
Injuries only; and tax these SO heavily
that the necessaries and comforts Of life
may remain free. The sum of S200,000,000
ought to be derived from whisky alone; the
people now pay that sum every year, but
instead Of going into the Golfers of the gov
eminent it is diverted into the pockets Of
the "ring.n But even if the tax were
| reduced to one dollar and twenty-five cents
per gallon, and this sum was honestly col,
lected and paid over, no other direct tax
would be required. Sl25,O0O,00O from
whisky and $l5O,O00,OOO from the tariff
would carry on the government with all
possible ease The income tax, the stamp
duty, the tax on sales, and the fees for
licenses, could all then be abolished. These
are still felt as burdens; but the whisky
tax is not felt at all. Let congress, in al
tieipatiOn OF the beneficial results that will
flow from the expulsion of Mr.. johnson
from Office, resolve tnat the whisky tax
must be collected, and then it can at once
relieve the country from all its other
burdens.