Savannah republican. (Savannah, Ga.) 1816-1818, August 31, 1816, Image 2

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I H - niiaa^^adfafc^ ■From the National Intelligencer. INTERNAL -REVENUE OP THE UNITED STATES. There are some facts connected with thq internal re venue of -the United States, that do not seem to be so generally known as their importance merits that they should be. It is not, perhaps, extraordinary that these facts have Wot heen debated in tlie public prints, when We consider the numerous and interesting topics that have engaged for a considerable time past the attention of congress, and that the documents printed by tlieir or der, during the last session alone, fill at least adozeu vo lumes. There certainly-never has existed a government in which the fountains of knowledge have been so tho roughly opened, or from which a more abundant stream ©flight has constantly flowed for the information of the people. The only fear now, perhaps, is, lest the extent and variety of this information, involved, as it necessarily often is, in the forms of office, may in some points obscure rather than enlighten the public mind by the various views presented of the same objects, or deter tbe conduc tors of our public journals from filling their columns with details that are dry and tedious, however interesting in their results. It is these results, exhibited in condens ed and general views, that it has, hence, now eminently become die duty of our public journals to exhibit. The views which it is intended now to present, being *11 derived from official documents, may be entirely reli edon, and will, it is hoped, be an antidote to various misapprehensions as well as misrepresentations that have appeared in the public prints. This office is ribw under taken principally from one consideration. Most of the internal revenues are in their operation substantially direct, that is, the individual jWlio pays the tax bears himself the burthen, instead of its being, as in tliecaseofimportedgoods, eventually borne by the con sumer, although in the first place incurred by die import ing merchant. Direct taxes, it is well known, have been universally the most difficult to collect, owing to the ex pense of collecting them from so nutny persons, and to their payment being in all cases compulsory, not de pending, as in the case of articles of consumption, on the inclination of the individual purchasing them, who, moreover, in many cases, is unconscious of the tax he pays. Hence it has always been expected that the imposition of such taxes would involve . he strongest appeal to the good sense as well as virtue of the com munity, and the liveliest solicitude has been entertained #ot* the effects of their imposition, strengthened by die impression made on the public mind by their original im position during the administration of Mr. Adams. The experiment has recently been made with a success beyond the most sanguine expectations. These taxes, though for a time very considerable in amount, have been discharged with a promptitude and cheerfulness that have evinced a general willingness and ability to pay them. This alacrity has not been confined to the friends of the administration, but has' been also, to their honor, displayed almost universally by their opponents. A people thus obedient to tbe laws, in the point in which their operation is the most sensibly felt, claim our res pect, if not our admiration. Tor let us always remember that they not Only pay tbe taxes, but diat they also laid them; that itYvas their will which gave them being, and that it is their will that continues them in existence.— "With this fact in view, the attempt recently made, to prove that these taxes are reluctantly and tardily dis charged, calls for exposure. That where the highest praise was merited, this severest reproach should be cast on the people, should excite not only indignation, but reprobation. To repel this unjust charge, to dis prove it beyond a doubt, to vindicate the honor of an abused community, is the object of the subjoined state ments and elucidations. In the second year of the late war, viz. on the 24th of July, 1813, congress passed acts imposing duties on car riages, stills, sales at auction, and on refined sugar, and on the 2d of August ensuing passed acts imposing du ties on retailers, and on various instruments of writing which were required to be stamped; ail these duties to take effect on the 1st of January, 1814. On the 22d of July, 1813, an act was passed directing an assessment to be made of tife real estate and slaves in the United States, the operations under which were not to commence until the 1st of February following. _ On the 2d of August, 1813, an act was passed imposing a direct tax on the real estate and slaves, so assessed, of three millions of dollars. On the 24th of July, 1813, the office of commissioner of the revenue, on which the superintendance of the col lection of the revenue was devolved, was established. Before the System could be carried into effect, it be came necessary to organize one hundred and ninety-nine distinct districts in the United States, by appointing in each a collector and principal assessor, and giving them the necessary instructions, and by the appointment by these officers of the requisite number of assistants. This organization was seasonably eff ected, and the col lection of the internal duties went fully into effect on the appointed day. flow far this system has succeeded the following re sults will shew: T 9 Treasure* And the expenses of collection were V “• - 75,996 Total paid into the treasury . * ; g1,-166,844 The Whole expenses of collection being Six and a hail I. View of the collection of the direct tax and internal du ties for the ycur 1814. Th4 secretary of the treasury had computed that, of these duties, there would accrue in the first year the amount of two millions. Instead of this amount there actually accrued above three millions two hundred thou sand dollars. This aggregate sum was drawn from the following du ties: From Stills .... ■v' Carriages - - - Retailers - Sales at Auction Refined Sugar Stamps - - Interest and penalties gl,681,087 - 225,178 - 787,065 154,629 - 11,670 410,516 3,845 Refunded or remitted, 3,273,990 11,739 3,262,197 Of this amount there was received by the collectors during the year 1814, 2,083,218 dollars; the balance con sisting principally of bonded duties not payable within the year. Of the sum received by the collectors in the vear 1S14— There was paid to the treasurer And the expenses of collection were gl,762,003 148,991 Total paid into the treasury, Leaving in the hands of the collectors gl,910,994 g172,224 SI,747 The expenses of collection, consisted of the following items:— stM ContinJHB expenses, such as books, sta tionary, notiees, kc. Measuring stills, an expense almost ex clusively incident to the commence ment of the system . 13,594 Commission and extra allowances by the - president 118,250 The whole Expences of collection gl48,991 Being 7 per centum on the amount paid into the trea sury, and about 7 per centum on the amount received. The assessment of the real estate and slaves generally commenced in the month of February, and was, in most of the districts, accomplished within a period of six months. It is doubted whether the fiscal annals of any nation exhibit the performance of such a complicated operation within a shorter period, and it is the more me morable from the fact, that the only general assessment, ever before made in the United States, which was direct ed in the administration of Mr. Adams, occupied several years. The collection of tlie tax of three millions was imme diately consequent to the assessment. Of the whole aihount, the states of New Jersey r Jersev, Pennsylvania, Virgi nia, South Carolina, Georgia, Ota>, and Kentucky, as- ■ " ' ’ >tas, and punctually, with the sumed their respective quotas, and punctually, induction of 15 per centum allowed by law, paid them. The aggregate of these quotas, amounted to 1,363,290 dollars, 0 leaving to be collected from individuals the sum of 1,636,760 dollars. . Of this last amount there was received in the year 1814, the sum of 1,258,549 dollars, of which there was paid to the " per centum on the amount paid into the treasury, arid six per centum oft the amount received. Combining the direct tax and duties the whole amount paid into the treasury,, during the year. 1814, indepen dently of the quotas of the assuming states, was. 3,077,838 dollars, and the expences of coHecttftn 224,9b. : dollars, being about seven and a quarter per centum. On the 28th of November, 1815, it appears that then remained to be collected, 56,761 dollars, near one h;df ot which was due by Lousiana, in which the assessmentvus much protracted, from the difficulty of obtaining officers for the compensations allowed by Lav:—The balance con sisted principally of taxes on non-resident property, for the payment of whichfurther time is allowed, than for taxes on the property of individuals, and on property purchased oil behalf "f the United States. 'I he whole of tliis balance has been since reduced to an amount within twenty thous.Jid dollars, winch, will be disciiarg ed within the periods fixed be law. II. View of the collection of the direct tax, and Interna! dunes fir he year 1815. In December, 11>14, ttte duty on carriages was modifi ed A duty of 20 cents a gauon was laid on spirits dis tilled within the United States, to take effect on the 1st of February ensuing - , in addition to the duty on stills, the duty on ret ilcrs augmented fifty per centum, and that on sales at auction one hundred percentum, both augmen tations to take eitbet on tbe 1st of February ensuing. On the 18th of January, 1815, a duty was imposed on household furniture, and g’-ld and silver watches, and on various articles manufactured in the United States, the latter to take eff ect on the 18th of April ensuing. In the same month a direct tax of six millions of dol lars was laid on the United States, exclusive ol the dis trict of Columbia, on which in tbe ensuing month, a di rect t;ix of 19,998 dollars was laid. Under this act, a new assessment was made throughout the United Stales, on principles, in some respects differ ent from tlu.se by winch the preceding assessment had been regulated, and particularly in regard to an entirely new feature, according to which the valuations ot the principal assessors of each state were required to be sub mitted to the whole of the principal assessors of the state, who definitely fixed them and decided the rate of taxation. In consequence of the increased labor of this operation, a much gre ter time was consumed in effect ing it, than was taken up in the preceding assessment, and very different terms occupied in different states, and even in different districts of" the same state. We find, accordingly, that in some districts the assessment was not computed so e..riy by seven or eight months as in others. Owing to this circumstance the collection of the tax was commenced at very different times in the differ ent districts. Forming an average ot those times, it may generally be taken, as commencing on tbe 15th of Februa ry, 1816. In this year (1815) the aggregate internal du ties th ,t accrue d, amounted to about §6,300,000 Add the amount which accrued but was not received during the year 1814 1,178,000 Of this amount there was received by the col lectors during the year 1815 Leaving a balance uncollected, consisting prin cipally of duties, not payable within the year, of Of the sums received by the collectors, there was paid to the treasurer And the expenses of collection were §7,478,000 4,980,000 2,498,000 4,150,000 278,582 4,428,582 Total paid into the treasury The whole expenses of collection being 6 1-4 per cen tum on the amount paid into the treasury. Of the direct tax ofl814 at thu end of that year there remained unpaid into the trea sury, the sum of Of the direct tax of 1815 amounting to 6,019,998 there was paid by the states of New-York, South Carolina, Geor- giaand Ohio, which as sumed their respective quotas, including the deductions allowed the sum of 1,634,268 Leaving to be collected from in dividuals 469,996 4,385,730 4,855,626 As already observed, the collection of this tax did not commence in any of the districts till late in the year of 1815, and in many of them did not commence until the months of January, February and March, of 1816. Of the balance of the tax of 1814, remaining un paid into the treasury, there was paid to the treasurer during 1815, 367,335 And of the tax of 1815 there was likewise paid to treasurer in that year 388,662 And the expenses of col lection were 48,042 Total paid into the treasury 804,039 Leaving to be accounted for at the end of the year 1815 4,051,587 The whole expenses of collection being less than six per centum, on the amount paid into the treasury. Combining the direct tax and dudes, the whole amount paid into the treasury during the year 1815, independent ly of the quotas of the assuming states, was 5,232,621 dollars, of which' the expenses ofcollecton were 326,624 dollars, being less than six and a quarter per centum. At tbe late session of congress an essential modifica tion was effected of the existing internal dudes, and the direct tax was reduced from six to three millions of dol lars. Of the effect of this modification, the following estimate muv be made: Reduction of direct tax, of duty on retailers, Abolition of duty on spirits, On various manufactures On household furniture and watches, 5,310,000 300,000 2,500,000 1,500,000 affll certainly t paid into the , - , . than thnse incurred in the year'll not exceed six per centum bn the treasury. From these statements the following general inav be, drawn; ' , . x That the whole sum that has accrued, for internal ties, from the 1st of January, 1814, to the present time, amounts to about §12,862,197 That The whole of the direct tax Of 1814, and 1815 amounts to simplicity;/its form and mat, appropriate to morning costume" PARISIAN FASHIONS certainly 9,019,998 Total amount of internal revenue, exclusive of proceeds of sales of land and duties on postage 21,882,195 That of this ed amount there has been receiv- 18,900, ,608 That tax tliere remains due of the direct 220,000 Add for the augmented duty on stills, 7,531,000 690,000 Amounting in the whole, to a reduc tion of 6,931,000 The remaining taxes may be estimated as follows: Direct tax Duty on carriages Retailers Stills Auctions Refined sugars Stamps 3,000,000 200,000 700,000 1,500,000 400,000 150,000 400,000 6,360,000 HI—View of the collection of the direct tar and internal duties, since the 31sl of December, 1815. The accounts as yet rendered by the collectors, do , not furnish the requisite materials for a statement oftht ♦ That there remains to be paid of the duties, by far the greater part of which is not yet due; about 981,587 2,000,000 iSn That of the direct tax and duties received from i viduals, there has been paid into the treasury, viz; In 1814 3,077,838 1815 5,232,621 1816 about 7,000,000 Total 15,310,459 That rile expenses of collection have been In 1814 224,987 1815 ■ 326,624 1816 375,000 > Total 926,611 The entire expenses of collection being on an average, six per centum. That these revenues have been promptly paid by the people. That they have been faithfully collected and account ed for. That they have been economically collected, tbe ex penses of collection, not exceeding six per centum, h commission which is not greater than that paid in Great Britain, where the population is so compact, and the amount of taxes so great, and where, moreover the go vernment enjoys the benefits of a long experience. These facts will serve as an antidote to a flagrant mis representation, which seems to have run through thfe papers, that the duty on household furniture and watches amounted only to 70,000 dollars, which was entirely ab sorbed in the expenses of collection; the tact being, that the expences of collection in this instance, are precisely the same with those incurred in collecting tbe other du ties, and will little, if at all, exceed six per centum. It may be added that the duty on furniture and watches will probably amount to 220,000 dollars. in - - « BRITISH COLONIAL POPULATION. We lay before our readers the following extracts from the latest official returns of population, ordered to be printed by the House of Commons, July 12, 1812. Governor Baines, of Dominica, reports, that on the 19th of February, 1811, there were on the Island— Slaves, 21,728 Whites, 1,325 Free persons of color, 2,988 Governor Bentinck, of Demerara, states the popula tion of this Island to be— Slaves, 71,180 j Whites, 2,871 j Free colored 2,980 i In the Island of New Providence, one of the Bahama Islands, the population was, December 13, 1310— Whites, 1,720 Free blacks 565 Free colored, 5u9 Black Slaves, 1,044 Colored Slaves, 146 Foreigners, 100 Grand Total 6,034 St_ Vincent Island contains— Whites, 827 Free colored, 646 Slaves, 22,020 The Grenadines contain— Whites, Free colored, 226 76 Slaves, 2.000 Bermuda contains— Slaves, 4,794 \*'!iites, 4,755, Surinam contains— Whites, 3,029 Free colored and black. 3,0 75 Slaves, 53,935 Curraeoa contains— Whites, 2,731 Free colored, 2,161 Free blacks, 1,872 Slaves colored. 690 Slaves black, 5)jv>6 Grenada contains— Slaves, 29,331 Whites, 771 Free colored, 1,120 Martinique contains— Slaves, 77,577 Whites, 9,2J6 Free colored, 8.60J Thebirtlis in this island, in 1810, were— Whites, 71 Slaves, 1,250 Free colored, 80 Berbice contains— Whites, 550 Colored, 240 Blacks, 25,169 The slave population of Barbadoes exceeds 69,000; tliat of Jamaica 30,568. 319,912; and of Antigua, in 1810, amount of the accruing internal duties during the present year. There appears, however, to have been received by the collectors, from this source, 3,800,000 dollars, which ex ceeds by 1,300,000 dollars, the whole balance outstanding on the 31st of December, 1815. If this balance be deducted from 3,300,000 dollars, which may be estimated as the probable amount of ac cruing duties during this year to the present time, there will remain 2,000,000 dollars for the whole amount that has accrued and which has not been paid, which princi pally consists of bonded duties not yet payable. Of the direct tax there appears to have been received by the collectors during the present year, the sum of 3,070,000 dollars, which taken from the amount out standing the 31st of December, 1815, leaves the sum of 981,587 dollars, to be yet collected, which is in a state of rapid collection. The expenses of collection will be this year rather less LONDON FASHIONS. FROM I.k BELLE XSSEMBLEE FOR JULY. British Walking Dress.—Round dress of line French cambric; newly invented spencer of white satin and spring green; cornette of fine lace under a white satin hat, surrounded with three superb ostrich feathers of a cor respondent color to the spencer. Parasol of blush co lor, with boots of green kid and Limerick gloves. Parisian Hats.—No. 1, represents straw hats, some having colored silk crowns, some tied a la MarmoUe with silk or lace half handkerchiefs or with ribband; all ornamented with flowers of India corn and chicory, lilac intermingled with roses, a full w reath of roses or vine leaves mingled with sprigs of maiden hair. No. 2, re presents the capote or morning bonnet, made of fine clear muslin, ornamented with rich embroidery, fine lkce and white ribband. FROM XCKERMANw’s REPOSITORY OF FASHIONS. Opera Dress.—This dress is composed of white lace, and is worn over a rich soft wiiite satin slip. The skirt is trimmed in a stile of peculiar elegance with laced fes tooned at regular distances; the festoons are etlged by a plain band of bias satin, and finished by pearl ornaments of a very novel and pretty shape. The body, composed also of lace, is cut bias, and is richly ornamented round (he bosom with pointed Lee. Plain long sleeve, very full ► xcept towards the wrist, which is nearly tight to the & arm, and elegantly finished with lace. The hair, which is ornamented only with a wreath of French roses, is parted in front, and simply dressed in loose curls, which fall very low on each'-side. Tlie hind hair forms a tuft at-the back of the head. Necklace, ear-rings and brace lets of pearl. White satin slippers, and white kid gloves. A blush colored French silk scarf is thrown carelessly over the shoulders. ♦ Morning Dress.—A round dress, composed of jaconet muslin, finished round the bottom of tlie skirt by a deep flounce of rich work scalloped at the edge, and a heading to correspond. The body has a slight fullness behind. The form of the front is extremely novel and pretty. Plain long sleeve, finished at the wrist by a pink band and bow. The cornette worn with this dress is of the mob kind, and by much the moat becoming we have ever seeru it is composed of white lace, anti tastefiUiy on munented roses. Piak kid slippers, and white kid gloves This dress is much approved by Min »f tmu for its a . . Frequently also a“ diadem gated roses is displayed in front of the hat or J P nt ' poses of red roses and lillies. The manufacturer, £* m ' ever, begm to pLce the diadems or thick garlands centre oi the hats a labor kale. 6 ^the INDIA. A serious affray has taken plane in India, between k- majesty's 87th foot and the division of the honorabL^-T* pany’s European regiment. Such had been the iealo,!?' and ill will excited between the troops, that it was dew mined to seperate them by sending away the 87th r ■ ment from its station at Berhampooret. The 11th of V veftiber was appointed for that purpose, when the evenin'*' before many privates of that corpse rushed out of thF barracks, armed with naked bayonets, and a reguLr L T tie ensued between them and the honorable comnanv’ European regiment. But for the timely and spirited j * terference of their respective officers; the consequent ' ' might have been fatal) as it was, before they could be p / ed, many men were severely and some dangero^ wpunded. An inquiry has been instituted to asceru; the causes of this quarrel. We regret to state that the above affair is not the 0 : instance of refractory conduct of which our troops m i/ dia have been guilty. A letter from Bangalore s* c t " pfif.e utnee- , that some very unpleasant disturbances had taken in his majesty’s 84th regiment, and in conseque court martial had been instituted for the trial of e-i the ringleaders, who, it was apprehended, would be tally punished.—London paper. Ignorance.—A London paper of the 20th of April i a long article abusing the United States—but we notice^ only to shew the solid information those folks possess ** the condition of our country. Speaking of or.<T>f-| reports of a committee of the house of represent atiu J ' e manufactures, they say—'“TV new manufactori., hanks of the Mississippi find their brethren of Mnsinc’ setts will no longer buy their goods vo'uniariln, and'a"' therefore petition congress to compel them to d~, so ” a / manufactories oil tile Mississippi supply the peorte ' Massachusetts with woollen and cotton goods' If T were to say tliat New- Castle Was s, .pplied with coals f- r , C London, liow would these wise men laugh at \>. they can do any Hung—make brigs of a peculiar const-/ tion to sail up the falls of Niagara/. 1 —Weekly Rfu egincr. MEMOR ABLE FACTS. It is now < i covered and proved that the butcheL and proscriptions committed on French republic- / Robespierre, were caused bv tbe secret agency ■ emigrant royalists at Coblentz—Louis the eighteen*!, ••• ticulariy it is now known, and will ere long appear n history, that many excesses of the French , , , - . revolution were produced by tlie emissaries and gold of England in order to blacken the fame of a republic. y *' per. From the Richmond Compiler, .lutrust 22 DEGENERACY OR IMPROVEMENT! - A wise man has said, tliat there is no opinion so ab- surd but what has been advocated by some philosophers, file abbe Raynal has verified tnis remark of Cicero, by taking it into his head that human nature had degenerat ed in America. x ed in America. The author of the Notes on , •. , , . Virginia, has successfully combatted the absurd proposition., by showing* the suve- ral improvements which we bad made, and fumishin -- a satisfactory reason tor our not equaling the Old World in a few others. Every day is exhibiting new proofs of the folly of the abbe; and astonishing the natives of the old world by the ingenuity of tlie new. The United States have introduced a form of political power, which permits man to enjoy happiness, without rt- ducing him to the situation of a slave. Not a king, nor: prince, nor a noble, crawls like a leach on the bouv p ; J tic—yet have the inhabitants of the new world rated! e ‘ ' We have formed a society, which permits man - , o joy all the rights of conscience, without organiy. ; . privileged priesthood to preach up the truths of re gion—each man seeks God after his own manner, andw. there is no want of a rational religion. This great -r-V; of toleration, so consoling to the friends of hunutr., had been dreamed of by the philosophers of Europe, y- is reduced to practice by the politicians of America—ul yet man has degenerated in America. The abbe Raynal has even insinuated that the pores of multiplication are also weakened in America; that lou was more indifferent, and its fruits “fewer anti far be tween.” But some how or other, what with emigrations, and what with marriages, we contrive to double ourpo- illation in twenty or twenty-five years. A degree : multiplication, wiiich astonishes the natives of tiic ok world. In martial achievements, by which we have bee; brought fairly into contract and comparison with the £:• ropeans, we have been able to st.-nd our ground some success—the war was not apparently between - race of giants and one of pygmies—but as our vanitv r.ii whispered us, sometimes we conquered even tlie conau-.:- ors of Europe. On the ocean, Our triumphs have bea indisputable—not too over the degenerate natives ec Spain, or the gallant sons of France; but the self-s:y!K sovereigns of tlie seas. Our fir-built frigates, with the calico sides and striped bits of bunting, have proved st- perior to the Old English Live-Oak—and yet ttie ini.j ants of the new w orld have sunk into a shameful dtp neracy! Our commerce spreads to every sea—as active ssri Dutch commerce ever was at its "most fortunate pc-r.tc. and much more daring—and yet we have degenerated The natives of the old world have been the ft* to muzzle the savages of Barbar;, and to teach justix » . Ifrica—and yet the natives of America have suia Los tiie st andard of the man of Europe! We have presented him with the steam boat—vLcb is | penetrating all his rivers and will gradually spreadovs the civilized world—sixteen of them are already in tb | Clyde—and wherever she goes, she carries with her the j triumphs of American genius. An old invention, which is now in familiar use with us, is about to be introduced into Holland, and we susp«- will gradually made its way over the rest of Euro? f j We mean the invention of the decimal monev, wh:cr hi- I ferson first brought into fashion—and w Iiich every tu- I tion conversant with figures, will find it convenient I employ - . And yet the abbe Raynal has said that man ha* *?"' I nerated in America! With the intrepidity of thought and of entepr:- I spired by a free government, our triumphs over the J* I will daily - iilCrcase^LWe cannot excel in aii the sr " 5 i j once. As the old w^ ing is, “Ro ve was nor buil r ij 1 1 day.” But there are many discoveries which he like I in the flint—which tlie hardy spirit of American enter-1 prise will gradually strike out. BRITISH COINS. I Standard silver is now 5s. Ojrf. peroz. or 60». lb. By the new coinage bill, government are to is»ae I ver at 66s. per lb. or 5s. 6d above the present P nc \! j sum more than sufficient to tempt the cupidity ot the cc- . I erS! This wise measure, however, is to be attended *I a declaration that gold is the sole standard tacssu"* J value. It Seems to be supposed tliat the enunciate? I abstract proposition, which in the present state of nobody can possibly make sense of, w - ill have some I gical effect in altering the intrinsic value of the P" | metals. The nronosition. however, is iikelv to b et L metals. The proposition, however, is likely ^ preterea nihil—for it is a little extraordinary - that t- l ject of tlie act fixing this new standard is not us with a perfect gold coinage, but with a ver one.—London paper. From the Ohio Moniter. VERY SWIFT COMPOSITORS. We mentioned in our paper, a few weeks since, formance of a large day’s work by one of our appn Q , t On Wednesday, tlie 24th ult. a younger lad, ^ | wold, brother to one of the editors, comp 0 *. _ j manuscript copy, 9,144 m’s, and on Friday composed 12,000! This raised the ambition oi u: ; whose day’s work we mentioned before, he composed 13,032 m’s