New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1868-03-27
oo1LEorroN oF TgE REVENUE,

Congress has now perfected nearly all
the appropriation bills for the ensuing fiscal
year, commencing on the first Of July next,
and the aggregate amount shows very
gratifying reduction from the sum estimated
for by the secretary of the treasury last
December, So careful and ass.duous has
congress been in the work Of retrenchment,
and so well has it been seconded in that
work by General Grant, that it is now able
to state that the entire expenditures of the
government Tor the year ending June thirty,
1869, including the payment of the interest,
and one per cent of the principal of the
debit will be S2GO,OO000O, instead of nearly
s400.00O,000 as estimated by Secretary
McCulloch. This retreuchment has justified
the house of representatives in the passage
of the bill abolishing the excise duty on
all home manufactures except whisky, to-
bacco, and petroleum. This will relieve
the people of a burden of S75,0OO,0 900 per
year, the cotton tax will cease to be col
lected, and SIS 100000 more will be saved
by this relief, and the country may now look
with some confidence for speedy revival
of trade and prosperity.
But from what sources is the necessary
revenue of $500, 100000 to be derived
The estimates of congress are made up as
follows: From customs, s150,00O,000; in.
come tax s9O,OO0,OOO; stamps, s25,OOO,-
900 4; licenses, S15,0OO,OOO distilled
spirits, SIS 100000; tobacco, s25,00O.00O ;
tax on sales, s10O0000O total, s270,0OO,-
GOO.
To pay the interest on the public debt
and that part of the principal which must
be extinguished during the coming fiscal
year will require S145, 100000, and all the
other expendi axes for the same period
will be slI5,O0O0O0. This makes total
of S2GO.0OO,00O, and leaves surplus of
SO, 100000 for contingencies.
This is by no means discouraging
prospect But the figures given above
suggest some reflections that we desire to
commend to our readers and to congress.
1t will be seen that the revenue from dis
titled spirit, in the above estimate is put
down at he pitilul sum Of $4,000, goo. The
amount Of whisky distilled in the United
States every year is not less than 100000
900 gallons, and, as every one knows, the
present nominal tax upon this article is
So per gallon. 1t is evident that if this
tax could be honestly collected and faith
fully paid over to the government, the peo-
pie could at once be relieved from all other
direct taxation; and the indirect taxation
which we now pay upon imported articles
could be reduced SO as not to be felt at all.
With revenue Of 100000 900 from the
manufacture of whisky, and tariff that
would produce a revenue of only $4,000
600, the government would be able to meet
all the claims upon it. Imagine for a
moment the wonderful tide of prosperity
that would flow over the entire country
under such a state Of things as this Re
lieved at once from the crushing weight OF
taxation, trade, commerce, and manuiact-
ures would revive as if by magic, and the
hearts of men would again beat high with
hope and confidence. Aud now the ques-
ton is, why can not this be done
We know that for three years the whisky
ring has bid defiance to the government.
Instead of a revenue of S2OO,oOO,OOO, the
comparatively paltry sum Of S25OO0-
600 has only been received from the tax on
spirits. Where one gallon Of whisky has
paid the tax seven gallons have been allow
ed to escape untaxed. A government that
was strong enough to suppress rebellion
of eight million of its citizens
has been too weak to conquer a little band |
of adroit aud INSCRIPTIONS men, and con-
gress is now on the point of coniessiag it.
self vanquished. and of abandoning the
field to them. But must this be so? Is it
impossible to suppress this whisky rebel
lion as the Shareholders rebellion was
suppressed indeed by Gre and sword,
but by the faithful execution of The laws !?
That is-a question which we appeal to con-
gress to ponder well before it consents
finally to the reduction OF the whisky tax
70 fifty cents, or twenty-five cents, or ten
cents gallon.
We have never been of those who
claimed that it was impossible to faithfully
collect this revenue On the contrary, we
have believed that under certain circum-
stances 1t might be as easy to prevent
frauds in the payment Of the VIII islzy tax as
it has proved to be in the payment OF the
cotton or tobacco tax. And this belief has
been very much strengthened by the
perusal Of the recent report of the re-
trenchment committee upon the whisky
frauds. That report discloses a very re-
markable state of affairs but IL there be
one thing that 1t demonstrates more clearly
than another, it is that the secret Of the
success Of the whisky ring lies in the fact
that the president Of the United States was
on its side.
This Is = startling charge to make, but |
the report proves Il 70 be true. The late
rebellion eeald never have been suppressed
had President Lincoln given aid and com |
fort TO the Insurgents and II Is not surpris-
ing that the whisky ring has not been pus
down when President johnson stood be-
tween il and the law. 1.-The were foreman |
in office we would recommend an abandon
nent of the contest. But in a few weeks
mare he Qiil he renaovad and an honaof |