Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1889-12-16
The Treasury Surplus.

informed Of the condition OF national no
ances through the Presidents message.
This condition is without precedent in the
history Of nations or in the archives of treas
uries. A net annual surplus b. You'd liber
al estimate of expenditures of about one
hundred millions produced with the provo
cation of little or no complaint from the
taxpayers is Incompatible.
Ia the same month has been forthcoming
a message from the executive of compon-
ent of>this union devoted almost exclusive
~ to the unfortunate condition Of its fin
auces A report that ia not only Indicative
of present evils but Is productive OF dlsss-
trous consequences In the future.
The existence of vast surplus In our
federal treasury and q condition OF practical
bankruptcy in one of our older States is
pri,na facie evidence of unjust laws, of in.
competent statesmen or OF a defective con-
stitution. Suppose we glance back 10 the
formation Of this federal union and to the
relation of The States to one another.
At the close of the revolution the Amerl
can people we're heavily in debt both 90 in
dependent colonies and as confederation,
and by their divided state they were weak
abroad and consumed By jeaousies end riv-
afries at home. Uaited, each could erJoy
the strength and the resources OF the whole
aud thus preserve reapect abroad and pros
perty at home.
Il wss accomplished, and under the able
statesmauship of Washington and Hamilton
every State debt was assumed by the nation.
IL was Just, for the States had granted to
The Upion the two great taxes-the customs
and the internal revenue; aud 1t achieved
upbounded success, for credit was restored
Throughout the length and breadth Of the
land.
But what Is now the result of this great
transfer of revenue from the States to the
Union
For time the assumption Of the debts OF
the States by the national government raised
their credit TO par. A half century passed
AWAY. The spirit of the times called Tor
vast internal improvements 10 the construc
ton of railroads and canals from the inland
States to the seaboard private capital was
inadequate, and some of the States assumed
the work and thus became heavily burden
cd with debt.
Civil war came about, and third OF tho
States declared their right to wltndra"
from the Union and establish sep
arate government. They fought brave
w, but were conquered and forced
into the federal union with their sons torn
and bleeding from the strife, their homes in
ashes, their slaves conf7caled, and burden
ed with the heavy debts contracted years
before and the interest accumuiatlons there
on, and with the government OF the freed
men.
TO preserve the form of o State govern
ment axes must be levied on these lmpoV'
a la1 nit
What did the nation do for these unfortu
nate STATES in this time of dire wretched-
ness? Nothing but add continually to the
burden of their misfortunes by giving the
freedman the franchise.
What have our Presidents and Congresses
done to allieve these burdens after years
have passed away, when the farce passions
of brutal war are supposed 10 have given
place to the broader views OF statesmen
Be it said to the discredit OF an enlighten-
ed people that their public officials have
done nothing Do they execute the trusts
and provisions of the Constitution in ab
sorbng the bulk of the revenues of the ma.
ton for the accumulation of q vast and un-
used surplus, while the individual States Of
the union are in the dust of financial dis.
credit
This is not union, it is oppression. Tax
alton without representation ia impossible,
but taxation without benefit should be un-
bearable.
Can Virginia supply her qnota OF troop',
or of resources 10 foreign War? No. she
ia q practical bankrupt.
Again the annual treasury surplus is menace
to the virtue of our institutions aud is prolihc
sou rec of careless and extravagant LEGISLATION.
Has the hour come when our union begins to
be failure when the great names of Washington
and Hamilton must be furnished by the narrow
and unworthy policy of their successors;
Specifically the nstion is in the full tide of
prosperity, but in the midst appear momentous
evils.
On what grounds of equity can the central gov
eminent retain and monopolizs all the great
sources of revenue receiving sums far 10 excess OF
its needs and proper uses sni no. distribute the
surplus among the debt-burdenci States as pre-
vided by law?
Let our statesmen awaken to broader sense of
the trusts and responsibilities imposed by the
Constitution and this wretcbed stain upon our
character as nation will be oblitsrated and the
South will again feel that the union provides
some real benefits and is no longer mere engine
of oppression.