The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1888-01-26
GEN, jackson ON TarTff Taxation


In the QlecuSSlO0 ana CO0Slu0FatlOu
f measures and methods to dispose of ,
he surplus revenue, in which extrav- :
.gance and reckless unconcern of the
,bject of tariff taxation, by means of
which the immense surplus has accu-
nulated In the vaults of the National
Treasury, is characteristic of the So
called prOtecti onists, it Is well for us
o give heed to the prophetic utteran-
,es and warnings of one whose patri-
otism and concern for the welfare of
the people. both in their individual
and collective capacity, was at all
times manifested.
The following is taken from Gen.
Jackson's farewell address:
There is, perhaps, no one of the pow
ers conferred on the Federal Govern
ment SO liable to abuse as the taxing
power. The most productive and con-
venient sources of revenue were nee
essariIy given to it, that it might be
able to perform the important duties
imposed upon it and the taxes which
it lays upon com merce being concealed
from the real payer in the price of the
article, they do net SO readily attract
the attention of the people as smaller
sums demanded from them directly !
by the tax gatherer. But the taxes |
imposed on goods enhances by SO
much the price of the commodity to
the consumer; and. as many of these
are imposed on articles of necessity,
which are daily used by the great body
of the people. the money raised by
these imposts is drawn from sheir
pockets. Congress has no right, un-
der the constitution, to take money
from the people, unless 1t is required
to execute some one of the specific
duties intrusted to the government;
and if they raise more than Is neces-
sary for such purposes, it is an abuse
of the power of taxation, and unjust
and oppressive. 1t may, indeed, hap
pen that the revenue will sometimes
exceed the amount anticipated when
the taxes were laid When, however,
this is ascertained, it is easy to reduce
them and, in such case, it is unques.
| tionabiy The duty of the government
| to reduce them for no circumstances
car Justify it in assuming a power not
given to it by the constitution, nor in
taking money from the people when
it is not needed for the legitimate
wants Of the government.
Plain as these principles appear TO
be. you will yet find there is a constant
effort to induce the general govern.
ment to 60 beyond the limit of it's
taxing power, and to impose unneces-
sary burdens upon the people. Many
powerful interests are continually at
work to procure heavy duties on com
merce, and to swell the revenue be-
yond the real necessities of public
service; and the country has already
felt the Injurious effects of their com
bined influence. They succeeded in
obtaining tariff of duties bearing
most oppressively ON the agricultural
aud laboring classes OF society, and
producing a revenue that could not be
ussfuIly employed within the range OF
the powers conferred upon congress
and, in order to fasten upon the people
this unjust and unequal system OF
taxation, extravagant schemes Of in
ternal Improvements were got up in
} various quarters. to squander the mon
ey and to purchase support. Thus
one unconstitutional measure was in.
tended to be upheld by another, and
the abuse of the power OF taxation
was 10 be maintained by usurping the
power of expending the money IN in
ternal improvements. You cannot
have forgntten the severe and doubtful
Struggle through which we passed
; when the executive department of the
government, by its veto, endeavoreC
to arrest this prodigal scheme of iBju US
tice, aud to bring back the Legislation
of Congress to the boundaries pre-
scribed by the constitution. The goOC
sense and practical Judgment of th
people, when the subject was brough
before them, sustained the course o
3 the Executive and this plan of un
constitutional expenditures for the
finally overthrown.
The result of this decision has beer
felt in the rapid extinguishment o
J the accumulation of q surplus in thu
treasury. notwithstanding the tarif
was reduced, and is now very far be
low the amount originally contempla
3 ted by its sdvocates. But, rely upol
= it, the design to collect an extravagan
a revenue, and to burden you with taxe
beyond the economical wants of tn,
government, is not yet abandoned
The various interests which hav,
g combined together to impose heav,
= tariff, and to produce an oveIflowin;
treasury, are too strong, and have to-
much at stake, to surrender the con
test. The corporations and wealthy
: individuals who are engaged in iarg
manufacturing establishments desir
a high tariff to increase their gains
Designing politicians will support i
to conciliate their favor, and to obtain
, the means of profuse expenditure, fo
the purpose of purchasing intluenc
in other quarters and, since the peo
0 pie have decided that the federal gov
= ernment cannot bs permitted to EN-
a ploy its income in Internal improve
ments, efforts will be made to seduc
and mislead the citizens of the severa
e states, by holding out to them tn
0 deceitful prospect of benefits to b
derived from a surplus revenue col
lected by the general government, an,
c annually divided among the states
e and if, encouraged by these fallaciou
IS hope 8, the states SHOULD disregard tn
# principles of economy which ought t
characterize every republican govern
, ment, anu should indulge in lavisl
:, expenditures, exceeding their resour
e ces they will, before long, find them
selves oppressed with debts whicl
!, they are unable to pay, and the temp
u tation will become irresistible to sup
g port high tariff in order 10 obtain
surplus for distribution. Do not ALLOW
II yourselves, my fellow cit,zens, to b
misled ON this subject. The fedora
government cannot collect a surplu
e tor such purposes, without violating
: the principles of the constitution, an,
81 assuming powers which have not beel
granted. 1t 10, moreover, system Q
: Injustice, and, if persisted IN, will in
e evltably lead to corruption, and mus
t end in ruin. The surplus revenu
n will be drawn from the pockets of tb
people. from the farmer, the mechani
y and the iaboring classes of society
but who will receive it when distrio
uted among the states, where it is L
be disposed of by leading state politi
i clans, who have friends to favor AM
! political partisans to crafty? It will
certainly not be returned 10 those VIII
= paid it, and who have most need of il
l and are honestly entitled TO it, Their
is but one safe rule, and that is to con
fine the general government rigidl.
!, within the sphere of its appropriat
4 duties. 1t has no power to raise