Federalist No. 12

Moving on slightly from the notion that union helps commerce, Hamilton notes that it can help generate revenue, too.

For example, as commerce increases, the value of land increases.  "And how could it have been otherwise? ... It is astonishing that so simple a truth should ever have had an adversary."

Also, the more commerce, the more tax revenue.  Hamilton was a trickle-downer!  Hamilton notes direct taxation is not very effective, and therefore indirect taxation -- especially duties on imports -- are preferable.

(Maybe that's the trick: convince the IRS that their methods are ineffective!)

I love this line: "The genius of the people will ill brook the inquisitive and peremptory spirit of excise laws."  In other words, the character of the American people is such that they won't put up with a system that is so pervasive, unavoidable, and nosy.  I wish the character of the American people had remained such.

Hamilton goes on to say a national system of duties would be easier to swallow for the people, being the same for everyone, and without prejudice.  Further, disunion would require taxes on the trade between the states, which would be impossible to enforce (especially along the rivers), whereas taxes on trade into the country, all coming along the Atlantic, would be relatively simple.

Come back again for another installment of <i><a href="//slashdot.org/~pudge/journal/101412">The Federalist</a></i>.