The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-05 00:00:00

TEE ANNUAL REPOR2 S.

REPORT OF THE HON. DAVID A. 'WELLS,
SPECIAL REVENUE COMMISSIONER.
RESTORATION OF NATIONAL CREDIT, AND RE-
SUMPTION OF SPECIE PAYMENT.--The Commis-
sioner does not feel that it is his province to pre-
sent any plan in detail, whereby a surplus like that
anticipated can be best used for facilitating a re-
turn to specie payments ; but he does feel con-
vinced that if one half of such surplus, or from two
to two and a half per cent. on the whole debt, were
applied regularly, month after month, and year
after year, to purchase in the open market, and to
the cancellation of the gold interest-bearing obliga-
tions of the Government, so long as those obliga-
tions can be obtained at a discount from their par
value in gold ; and, if at the stun; time, the legal
tender notes were, under certain restrictions as to
time and quantity, male convertible at the plea-
sure of the holder into interest-bearing bonds, that
the value of both bonds and currency might be so
greatly and.so r.tpidly enhanced as to make a re-
sumption of specie paytnents a matter of much less
difficulty than it now appears. If it be objected
that this measure involves contraction of the legal
tender currency, the Commissioner would reply
that he is in favour of such contraction.
THE EXPERIMENT OF CONTRACTION.—The Com-
missioner believes that no man can look back to the
period when a moderate contraction was authorized
by Congress, and put his finger on one single ba d
result assumed to have flowed from such contraction,
which was not due, in the first instance, to a wholly
imaginative influence; and furthermore, the Com-
missioner asserts that no one can review the history
of prices when contraction was authorized and in
operation, without feeling convinced that there was,
during such time, i.e., from March, 1866, to January,
1868, a tendency to a gradual and healthy shrinkage
of value and prices; and that the shrinkage in prices
which actually did occur was equivalent, through an
increase in the purchasing power of the moneyin use,
to a practical increase and not to a diminution of the
power of the currency to effect exchanges.
GOLD CONTRACTS.—One of the most wholesome
measures, in the judgment of the Commissioner,
for smoothing the way to specie resumption would
be an act legalizing gold contracts. A much larger
share of the business of the country than is gene-
rally supposed is now transacted in gold, the parties
relying upon the rules of commercial integrity for
the fulfilment of contracts when the law fails to
provide for their enforcement. These transactions
relate principally to foreign goods, the cost of Which
is always computed in coin.
REDUCTION OF TAXATION, WITH A VIEW OF RE-
DUCING THE COST OF PRODUCTION.—In the applica-
tion of a moiety of the anticipated surplus to the
reduction of taxation, the especial object sought to
be accomplished should be the reduction of the cost
of national production ; with a view of removing
those impediments which now so greatly restrict
and, in many instances, prevent the free exchange
of the products of American industry with the
needed products of other nations ; and thus bring
to the country a more favourable balance of trade
than now exists.
THE COMMISSIONER RECOMMENDS—First, an en-
largement of the free list. Second, a reduction of
some rates of duty, and, as an exception, an in-
crease of a few others, with a view to the increase
of the revenue. Third, a reduction of some rates of
duty with a view to an absolute abatement,on the sim-
ple ground that the reduction of a duty is the reduc-
tion of a tax, and that the most efficient method of
protecting home industry is by the removal obstacles
in the form of taxes. Fourth, the conversion
to the utmost possible extent of the present
ad valorem duties into specifics, as the only practic-
able method of insuring certainty and equality in
the assessment of duties and the prevention of un-
dervaluations and the abrogation of the privilege
which enables returning tourists to import free of
duty an amount of goods corresponding to their
real or supposed social position. In behalf of the
conclusions thus expressed the Commissioner confi-
dently appeals to the true friends of American in-
dustry for countenance and support, for nothing
can be more certain than that, if unnecessary and
iniquitous burdens of taxation under the tariff
continue to be laid upon the people, the day is
not far distant when a reaction of public senti-
ment will compel either a sweeping reduction• of
duties or induce through agitation such a❑ insta-
bility in legislation as will in itself prove most in-

jurious and destructive. The Commissioner does
not believe it expedient in this, a general Report,
to enter upon the specific details of a tariff revi-
sion, but the precise changes required, in his judg-
ment, will, if called for, be made in the form of

au additional Report, or be submitted personally to
the Finance Committees of Congress.

A new mint is about:to be built at the Wiles,
Oregon, according to plans made by Colonel J. P. Morse,
Department Architect for the coast. The building will be
one of considerable size and imposing appearance, two
storeys high and a full basement, and will cover 50}x.90
feet. The superstructure will b 3 crowned by a cupola 14
foet in d'ameter, 21 feet above the roof, and 72 feet from
the ground.
Among latest novelties we may notice the follow-
ing :—" Elias Keene, of North Turner, Main', has a hair
album composed of the locks of hair of upwards of 80
persons, from the age of 96 years to five weeks, including
his maternal grandfather, all his children and grandchild-
ren, his paternal grandparents, their children and grand-
6hildren ; his first, second, and present wife, with three
children. The different shades are artistically blended
into buds, half-blown and full-blown flowers."
The evidence against General Dyer was rapidly
breaking down, and the general impression was that he
must be honourably acquitted, as the witnesses upon
whom Gen. Butler and his committee based their charges
have been examined, with the only effect of showing his
innocence. Ihe brother of "Brick" Pomeroy's Washing-
ton correspondent got $l,OOO of the Alaska purchase lobby
money. People now begin to think that Collector Smythe
will after all be confirm's(' by the Senate as ambassador to
Russia, but there is no chance that Alexander Cummings
will be as commissioner of internal revenue.

DEATH OF GENERAL ROUSSEAU.—This event,
which we briefly announced last week, took place at New
Orleans Jan. 7, where, after only three days' illness, the
General died, aged 51. The news was telegraphed to the
President and to General Grant. Btigadier-General
Lovell Harrison Rousseau was born near Stanford, Lin-
coln County, Kentucky, but his parents had come from
Virginia. Having studied law, he commenced practice in
1841. He was elected to the Indiana Legislature, and
served three years in the House and three years in the
Senate. He acted through the war with Mexico as Cap-
tain of Indiana Volunteers, and was present at the battle
of Buena Vista. After the war he returned to Louisville
and re-commenced the practice of law in that city. In
1860 he was unanimously elected to the Kentucky
Senate, and after serving one session, resigned, to take
Fart in raising troops to suppress the rebellion. In June,
1861, ho was commissioned Colonel of Volunteers, and in
October he was appointed Brigadier-Gen. of Volunteers.
i e
and was officially praised for his gallantry ;
also present at the battle of Perryville, Kentucky, October
and 7th, present
1
ud as
86 2, at the battle ofPittsburg Landing, April Gth
,
gallantry and
gauj iosrh_eGde neral of Volun-
tiers,from October 8, 1'862. After the battle of
gB,ooldBs6e2r—vice7manmdewndaesdapfpoorindtiesdtisin
to date .
;InanldB6althtehecoudsiegucateodf
Na
araahid
into -
andPittsburg i
athe Landingbata
of ho
Stonew a was the ajdavnaunacrey u o nlBCorinth
and in the battle of Stone River January 1, 1863, and
Alabama, and
member of Congress from
After
t
many
ryble
tlymi:lllnwnootaorerder,inloigeraowgfearnAs defended fort Rosecrans with 8,000 men.
O
wasr-
Or-
leans, Kentucky to the 39th Congress, 1865-67, and served oa
the committees of military affairs and on roads and
canals. In April, 1867, he was appointed Brigadier-
General in the regular army, and. was assigned to duty
in the new Territory of Alaska. On the 28th of July,
1868, Rousseau was placed in command of the De-
pa, tmeut of Louisiana, composed of that State
and Arkansas,
and waseaanta at holdingas
bad Christ Church,
the that
attendance
autre
New position at
the time of his death. The funeral service was performed.
lbeytsh,eaßnd thishoopuogfh theLousi
weather
large, comprising civil and military officers and numerous
Freemasons. Resolutions expressive of sympathy and
regret were passed in the Legislature and City Council;
the courts and public offices were closed, and the houses
of business which the funeral passed. General Rousseau's
death creates a vacancy among the Brigadiers-General,
and with the retirement of General Hooker leaves two
nominations to be made by the President. General Bu-
chanan succeeds in command of the department of Loui-
siana.

DUNVILLE and Co., Belfast, are the largest
holders of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is re.
commended by the medical profession in preference to French
Brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or exports
tion. Quotations on application to Messrs. Danville and Ce.,
Belfast; or 4, Beaufort-builangs, Strand, Lyndon W.9—[Ad:
vertiaoment.]