Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-07-24
CHARLOTTESVILLE.
FRIDAY,JULY "a, 1929.
DEFICIENCY IN THE REVENUE.

York and Boston in the first quarter of the pre-
sent year compared with the corresponding quar-.
ter of the year 1923, of upwards of SO OPS 900.
1t seems that a comparison Of the revenue for
the same periods in tho port of Philadelphia,
shews deficiency there also of 1889 SOC So
making together, in these three ports, a dimn.
ution OF the revenue for one quarter of wear
only, OF 81, al SOC sc. We have no data by
which to form an estimate of the probable def
ciencies in our other ports Of entry, or indeed
of calculating what they likely to be for the
other quarters of the year in those of Boston,
New-York and Philadelphia. Bat the results of
the first quarter in these ports will be sufficient
to staggcr the confidence of those who placed
any confidence in them, in the predictions of
President Adams, as to the productiveness of
the revenue for the year, 1929 and to stamp
their real value on the assurances of the friends
ofthe American SYSTEM so confidently and
repes tedly urged, that their impositions on TO-
reign commerce for the protection of manufac-
lures, would not ir1iariousy effect the revenue
of the country. The forced facts and bald So
phistry by which this fallacy was attempt
ed TO be imposed, were fully detected and ex-
posed, but the avaricious expectants of sudden
of Treason, and, aided by bare majority in Con-
gress, forced their schemes upon the country al
most at the hazard of disunon and civil war. The
operations ofthe smuggle. s. aruinous COMPETE
ton among the manufacturers, have justified the
warnings and predictions Of the enemies of the
tariff. The immense failure in the manufac-
turing establishments which are daily occurring
and the great falling off in the revenue, which
there is too much feason to anticipate, will, we
trust, compel modification OF the "American
System" which will render it compatible with
the general interests of the whole people,
DIR. WATKINS. In the $3.50 case, n verdict
has been rendered in the words following
Guilty Of obtaining $3.50 in his official capaci-
ty, and applying the same to his own private
use" After various remarks on the character
and effect of this verdict, both from the bar and
bench, Judge Cranch read the following, which
was afterwards handed TO the jury :-tThe Court
have doubts, if, under the verdict, they can give
Judgment either for against the defendant
because the Jury have not stated whether the
money was received with fraudulent intent, or
if it was the money Of the United States and if
the jury desire they may retire and consider
these points" On receiving this instruction
the jury retired and returned in about an half
hour with the following I" Guilty of obtaining
$3.50, money of the United States, in his official
capacity, and applying tho same to his own pri-
vate use ~ still emitting to find the fraudulent
intent without which, it seems judgment CT con-
domination cannot be passed on him by the Court
The evidence is not yet before the public, and
therefore are unable to determine how far
the remark said to have been made by Mr. Kew
in his closing speech in reference to the jury.
that it is notorious that they are party men, !"
will account for their reluctance to stamp the
conduct of Watkins witt, the character which is
necessary to inves: with the attributes of legal
guilt. Enough however is seen to fix on him
high moral official delinquency and very ser-
ously to connect fhe late Administration with
/fddf delinquency-We allude to the letters
frwrung from Mr.. Southland, and which, from
what we understand Of their character, prove be-
yond question that Watkins's malfeasance was
not unknown to him. We now understand the
reason OF the great constituencies of the Coalition
Editors on this subject and the indefatigable ex-
ertioDs of his volunteer counsel, for we under
stand them to be unfeed, at least by Watkins, to
involve and mystify it. The evidence, we pre-
sumo, will shortly he before the public, and the
public will judge ofit-and although the squeam-
ishness Of the jury may avail to screen him from
judicial punishment, that public will stamp its
real character upon his case, and the late Ad-
mnistration will scarcely be able to clear their
skirts from its effects
We lay before our readers paper purporting
to be memorial from the county Of Augusta to
the Convention, on the subject of gradual abo-
;ition If slavery in Virginia, and recommending
to that body to incorporate into the contemplat.
ed constitution, provision with that view. In
fixing the basis of representation, our slaves will
present subject, we should think, Of sufficient
difficulty in the handling. There would be little
prudence in embarrassing the proceedings ofthat
body with the heart-burnings and dissentions
which the subject of abolition, stirred whenever
it may be, will oe sure to excite.
Our western brethren will not, we trust, urge
this question upon the Convention. We antci
pate the happest results from the delberation
of the Convention, in adjusting some importan
principles of republican government, and quiet
ing the public mind on some points Of the,prese
system, which are considered as abuses. Blu
much of the good which is to result must depend
on the temper of moderation and mutual for
beasance, which inspires its members. Thu
principles of a just compromise should preside il
every deliberative body in which conflicting in
tefests are to be weighed and reconciied. Ifw'
may Judge from the scenes Of last winter, thos
principles will be sufficiently tested when tn
basis representation comes 10 be adjusted.
The question presented by the Augusta me