The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-08-04
PROPHETIC WORDS.
protective TarifF, Excessive Reye-
nue. ana Class LegisIaIion.-
Extract From the Fare
well Address of An
drew Jackson.


only Il few days ago a ST. Joseph
newspaper intimated that jackson was
All advocate of high protective tariff
The following quotation from his fare
well address indicates that on this, as
on all other questions, "Old Hickory"
was Democrat
"fhcrc ia, perhaps, no one of the
powers conferred on the federal gov
ernmcnt so liable to abuse as the tax
ing power. Tho most productive and
convenient sources of reven&a were
necessarily given to il, that il might be
able to perform the duties imposed
upon IT; and the taxes which il ~.
upon commerce being concealed from
the real payer in the price OF the arti-
Gle, they do not SO readily attract the
attention of the people as smaller sums
demanded from them directly by the
tax gathercr. But the tax imposed on
goods enhances by so much the price
of the commodity TO the consumer, aud
as many of these duties are imposed on
articles of necessity, 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 entrusted TO the gov
ernment: and if they raise more than
is necessary for such purposes it is an
abuse of the power of taxation, and
unjust and oppressive. Ii 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, il is unquestiOnably the duty of
the government TO reduce them, for no
circumstances can justify il in assum-
ing power not given to it by the con-
slitution,nor in taking away the money
of the people when it is not needed for
the legitimate wants of the govern
ment. Plain as these principles appeal r
to b9, you will yet find that there is
constant effort TO induce the general
government to go beyond the limits of
its taxing power, and to impose un-
necessary burdens upon the people.
Many powerful in erests are continually
at work to procure heavy duties on
commerce, and TO swell the revenue
beyond the real necessities of the public
service, and the country has already
felt the Injurious effects of their com
bined influence They succeed in OBJ
tanning tariff of duties bearing most
Oppressively on the agricultural and
laboring classes of society, and prOduc-
ing revenue that could not be use
fully employed within the range of the
powers conferred upon congress, and, in
order to iasten upOn the people this
unjust and unequal system OF taxation,
schemes of internal inn
provement were got up i'll various
quarters TO squander the money, and ,
TO purchase support.
Thus one unconstitutional 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 cXponding The money in ip-
lernal improvements. You cannot /
have forgotten the severe and doubtful !
struggle through which we passed, !
when the executive department of the |
bv its veto, endeavOred to !
arrest the prOdigal scheme of injustice,
and to bring back the legislation OF
congress to the boundaries prescribed
py the constitution. The good sense
md practical Judgment of the. people,
when the subject was brought before
hem, sustained the course of the ex-
'cutIve; and this plan of unconstltu-
ional expenditure ior the purposes of
corrupt influences is, | trust, finally
,vcrthrOWn.
"rhe result of this decision has been
elt in the rapid eXtinguishment of the
public debt, and the large acCumula-
ion of Il surplus in the treasury, not
the tariff was reduced,
nd is now very far below the amount
contemplated by it's advo-
ales. But, RELY upon il, the design to
collect an eXtravagant revenue, and TO
'urden you with taxes beyond the
wants of the government,
s not yet abandoned The various
interests which have combined togeth-
4 to impose Il heavy tariff, and to
'roduce an overlooking treasury, are
90 strong, and have too much at stake
o surrender the contest, The corpo-
alions and wealthy individuals who
re engaged in large manufacturing
desire high tariff to
Increase their gains. Designing poll
icians will support il, to conciIiate
heir favor, and To obtain the means of
proposed expenditure, for the purpose
# purchasing influence in other quar-
crs; and since the people have decided
hat the federal government cannot be
to employ its income in In
ernal improvements, efforts will be
made to seduce and mislcad the citizens
/ the several states by holding out to
hem the deceilful prospect of benefits
D be derived from Il surplus revenue
objected by the general government
nd annually divided among the
tates.
" And if,cncouraged by these fallacious
npes, the state should disregard the {
principles of economy which ought to
haracteriZe every republican govern
nent, and should indulge in lavish |
Expenditures exceeding their resources,
hey will, before long, find themselves
oppressed with debts which they are {
Unable TO pay, and the temptation will {
rcome irresistible 10 support high :
lriff, in order to obtain surplus for I
Do not allow yourselves,
~ fellow citizens to be misled on this l
ubject The federal government can ]
Ut CoIISCi u surplus lol SUCH puTpuSeS l
Without violating the principles of the s
and assuming powers l
Ihich have not been granted. 1t is, !
borrower, Il system OF injustice, aud, if {
ersis;ed in, will inevitably lead to i
and must end i'll ruin. |
he surplus revenue must be drawn !
'Om the pockets Of the people, from !
ne farmer, the mechanic, and the la !
oring classes OF society; but who will
pccIvC il when distributed among the /
latcs, where ii is to be disposed OF by I
'ading state politicians who have a
'iends TO favor and political parlisanS
, CRAFTY? 1t will certainly not be re- s
IrneG to those who paid it, and who i
ave most need of it, aud are honestly v
ntitlGd to it. There is but one safe h
nle, and that is to coutimc the general !
Ov2rnmcnt rigidly within the sphere |