298 



FINANCES OF THE UNITED STATES. 



revenue from which is inconsiderable. At the 

 same time he suggests, as an important con- 

 sideration to be regarded in making the reduc- 

 tion of duties, that nothing, as the consequence 

 of legislation, could be more disastrous to the 

 public prosperity than a policy which should 

 destroy or seriously disturb the manufacturing 

 interest of the country. Nevertheless, it is pos- 

 sible, by wise and moderate changes adapted 



to the condition of business and labor, to re- 

 duce the rates of duties with benefit to every 

 class of people. 



The receipts from internal revenue sources, 

 as already stated, for the year ending June 30, 

 1871, were $143,098,153.63. The proportions 

 of this amount yielded by spirituous liquors 

 and the States in which the distilleries are lo- 

 cated are shown by the following table: 



States, not in internal revenue warehouses, on 

 the 1st of May, 1871, was 41,185,713 proof 

 gallons, showing a decrease in the quantity on 

 the market since November 15, 1870, of 

 4,452,580 gallons. 



The receipts from spirits for the fiscal year 

 snding June 30, 1871, will be seen by the fol- 

 lowing enumeration : 



$ The amount of tax received on fermented 

 liquors, at $1 per barrel, was, for the years 



1866 $5.115,140 49 



1867 5,819,34549 



1868 5,685,66370 



The increase from the year 1871, as shown 

 in the above statement, is believed to be due, 

 in part at least, to the greater attention given 



$5,866,40098 



1870 6,081,52054 



1871 7,159,74020 



