The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-01-18
OLD HICKORY ON THE SUR
PLUS
His Views on tlse Tariff and the
Danger Of OYerla1afi0n.

His Views on tIse Tariff and the
Danger OF OYerla1ation.
Extract from Jackson's Farewell Address
There is, perhaps, no one of the
powers conferred on the Federal
Government so liable to abuse as
the taxing power. The most pro
ductive and convenient sources OF
revenue were necessarily given to
it, that it might be able to perform
the important duties imposed upon
it; and the taxes which it lays upon
commerce being concealed from the
real payer in the price of the article,
they do not SO readily attract the
attention of the people as smaller
sums demanded from them directly
by the tax gatherer. But the tax
imposed on goods enhances by so
much the price of the commodity to
the consumer; and, as many of these
duties are imposed on articles of ne
cessity which are daily used by the
great body of the people, the money
raised by these imports is drawn
from their pockets. Congress has
no right under the constitution to
take money from the people, unless
it is required to execute some one
of the specific powers intrusted to
the Government; and if they raise
more than is necessary for such
purpose it is an abuse of the power
of taxation, and unjust and .oppress-
i've. 1t may indeed happen 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 un-
questionabIy the duty of the Gov
ernment to reduce them, for DO cir
cumstanccs can justify it in assum-
ing power not given to it by the
Constitution, nor in taking away
the money of 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 that there is
constant effort to induce the Gov
ernment to go beyond the limits of
its taxing power, and to impose un-
necessary burdens upon the people.
Many powerful interests are con
tinually at work to procure heavy
duties on commerce, and to swell
the revenue beyond the real neces-
sites of the public service; and the
country has already felt the inju-
rious effects of their combined in
fluence. They succeeded in obtain
ing a tariff of duties bearing most
oppressively on the agricultural and
laboring classes of society, and pro-
ducing revenue that could not be
usefu!ly employed within the range
of the powers conferred upon Con-
gress: and, in order to fasten upon
the people this unjust and unequal
system of taxation, extravagant
schemes of internal Improvement
were got up. in various quarters, to
squander the money and to purchase
support. Thus, one unconstitu-
tional measure was intended to be
upheld by another, and the abuse
OF the power of taxation was to be
maintained by usurping the power
of eNpendiag the money in internal
improvements. You cannot have
forgotten the severe and doubtful
struggle through which we passed
when the Executive department of
the Government, by its veto, en-
deavored to arrest the prodigal
scheme of Injustice, and to bring
back the legislation of Congress to
the boundaries prescribed by the
Constitution. The good sense and
practical judgment of the people,
when the subject was brought be-
fore them, sustained the course OF
the Executive, and this plan of un-
constitutional expenditure for the
purpose of corrupt influence is,
trust, finally overthrown.
The result of this decision has
been felt in the rapid extinguish-
ment of the public debt, and the
large accumulation of surplus in
the treasury, Notwithstanding the
tariff was reduced, and is now far
below the amount originally contem,
plated by it's advocates. But rely
upon it, the design to collect an
extravagant revenue, and to bur.
| den YOU with taxes beyond the