The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-12-09

compared with the previous year, were as fol-
lows:
aershandise ae% sess 4sslss ssSs, $50, ,oss 90
silver. II, ,650,307 $50 627
REVENUE REFORM.
In my last annual message In Congress atten-
ton was directed TO the fact the revenues of the
government exceeded its actual needs, and il was
suggested that legislative action should be taken
and relieve the people from the unnecessary bur
den of taxation thus made apparent In view of
the pressing importance Of the subject, deem il
my duty to again urge its consideration The in.
come OF the government by its increased volume
and thorough economi' in its collections is now
more than ever in excess of public necessities
The application Of the surplns to the payment of
such portion of the public debt AS is now at our
option subject to extinguishment, it continued nj
the rate which has lately prevailed would relieve
that class of Indebtedness within less than one
year from this date. Thus continuation of our
present revenue system would soon result in the
receipt OF an annual income much greater than
necessary to meet the government expenses with
no Indebtedness upon which it could be applied
We should then be confront ed with vast GUAM
tity OF money. the circulating medium of the peu-
ple boarded in the Treasury wheh it should be
in their hands, or we should be drawn into waste
ful public extravagance with all the corruping
national decentralization which follows in its
train.
But it is not the simple existence of this sur.
plus and its threatened attendant evils which
furnish the strongest argument against our pres
ent scale OF Federal taxation. Its worst phase is
the exaciion of such q surplus through a pcrver-
sion OF the relations between the people and their
government and a dangerous departu e from the
rules which limit the right of Federal taxa
!ton. Good government and especially the gov
eminent OF which every American citizen bOasis
has tor lis objects Il pre- ecton of every person
within its care in the grt test liberty consistent
with the good order Of society and his perfect
security in the enjoyment of his earnings, with
the least possible diminutiOn for public needs.
when more OF the p 'ople's substance is exacted
through the form OF taxation than is necessary to
meet the just obligations of the Government, and
the expense OF it's economical administration,
such exactiOn becomes ruthless extOrtion and
violation OF the first fundamental principles of
government The indirect manner in which
these exactions are made has a tendency to con-
ceal their true character ard their extent but we
have arrived at a stage of super1uous revenue
which has aroused the people to a realization of
the fact that the amount raised. profess " for
the support OF the Government, is paid by them
as absolutely as if a. ded 10 the price of the
things which supply their daily wants. es if it
was paid at fixed periods into the hand of the
tax gatherer. Those who toll ior daily wages
are beginning to understand that capital, though
sometimes vaunting its import ince and clamOr-
ing for TIE protection and favor of the Govern
ment, Is dull aud sluggish till, touched by the
magical hand of labor. it springs into activity,
furnishing an occasion for Federal taxation, and
gaining the value which enables it TO bear its
burden, and the labOiing man 's thOughtfuly in
quiring whether, in the circumstances and
considering the tribute he constantly pays into
the public :sury he supplies his daily wants.
he receives his fair share of advan ages.
There is also suspicion abroad that the sur
plus OF our revenue indicates rbuormal and ex-
cepsiOnal busiD . D ojts under the system
which produces such surplus increase without
correspo Iding benefit to the people at large.
The We t accumulatiops Of few among our
ciIiZene, whose fortunes rival the wealth of the
most favored in anti Democratic nations, are not
the natural growth of steady, plain, and indus
tTious Republic. Our farmers t0s,, and those en-
gaged directly and indirectly in supplying the
products of agriculture SEQ that, day by day, and
% often % the daily wants of their households
recur, they are forced TO pay excessive and need
less taxation, while their products struggle In
foreign markets with the competition OF nations
which, by allowing freer exchange of produc-
tions than We permit, enable their people to sell
Tor prices which distress the American farmer.
As every patriotic citizen rejoices In the CON-
Stantly increasing pride Of our people in Ameri-
can citiEenship and In the glory Of our national
achievements and progress. sentiment prevails
that the leading strings usetu to nation 10 its
infancy may wsh be 10 great extent discarded
in the present Stage OF American ingenuity,
courage. and fearless self-reliance, and for the
privilege OF induiging this sentiment with true
American enthusinsm cur citizens are Quile will
ling TO forego an idle surplus in the public trea-
sury, and al ahe pe0ple know that the average
rate Of Federal TAXATION upcn imports b to-day
In time q peacs bus iitiIs tsss, while upon some
articles OF necessary csusumptiou Il q actually
more than was imposed by The grievous burden
wi1Iiogly bOTne at The Hms when the Govern.