Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-03-04


entered on Which to receive dutes owing 10 enpora-
rs distractions OF commerce. And t;s latter case IS
precisely our case. We have not eretn.orc-no Wings
have Ecreoiore-ncver Lefore the election, complained
of any defect in the a,cs; hut have loudly complain
ed and with triumphant effect Of the war OF this Adni
nsraon on the currency, credit nj home and abroad
commerce, banks, and State debts; Of the cx-
perlmrnts Of this Administration, causing excessive
spccuatons, large foreign debt, extravaganza at
home, immense mportations for a few years and per-
fleet neutrality-suspicious. now. The fluctuations OF trade
have been immense, and Of currency more enormous
stall. The foreign debt two years ago was POD millions,
and it hardly have been reduced % Millions if re-
duced at all since. These and extravaganza and deal
cation, and political electioneerlng in the Offices oi Co
vernmcnt The causes Of the present deficiency IN
the The rate of duties defects in the tariff
laws, are no the Of this deficiency than
any alleged defects III the laws organizing The Urea
sury Department were the causes Of the deiacatIon
of Sam. Swartwoui. Heretofore the Administration
has been charging every evil and a loss and error
10 the defects of laws; and we have been defending
the laws and charging every thing 10 their flilhless
and corrupt and negligent execution of the laws
And, Sir, believing all said before the election be-
leye all say now, and will not change my tune with
my change Of fortune. Out of power and in power, ]
declare that II is owing to no defect in the tariff laws
that we have not revenue enough 10 pay every debt
owe and to have large surplus besides. In ls39
the lmportatlons excessive and cnormous-the
foreign debt increased much and the country so
overstocked with goods that last year the mporatons
had TO tall enormously, much of the foreign debt was
paid the country bare, tho demand Tor goods Is
great and growing large orders sent out for goods
10 supply the demand many goods shipped TO by
foreign merchants their account the importa-
tons must increase again, and with the restoration
of confidence, and trade and credit and currency the
must be very considerably increased AT all
events, | am for waiting and seeing the Of
events, the developments and results, before plunge
into another high tariff. WILL if can await the full
effect and operation Of the compromise act, and II II
must he sed, take it upas whole and revise i as
a system altogether Ii is obvious that if we legslae
upon the tariff at all, must do both partially
and blind!y
But yesterday, MIR. Chairman, there was m cross
of revenue aud there ought 10 be upon any cal
cuation, an excess OF at least thirteen millions. have
read YOU the 9th section OF The compromise act 1t
provided that the duties should be altered prior 10 June,
1872 it declared, only Sin the contingency enc. o!
cycesS deficiency of revenue, and 50 10 adjuSt
the 10 either Of the SAID contingencies II
there f1c6sS the duties of course were TO be d.
mnlshed and if deficiency, TO be raised on certain
articles not 10 exceed 81 per cent. Now, Sir, say
we had an crcess surplus OF revenue 10 the amonn.
of forty millions in 1850 and there Elimination OF
the tariff then, Did any gentleman then cry "e1cess
excess. vehemently as they now shout deficiency
deficiency" Was there voice heard then exca'm'ng
diminish the duties plainly VIC hear many voices
now loudly calling for increase Of the tariff? Did
any who are so anxious for taxing the "iurnTteS
Of the rch then propose to take the burdens OIL the
necessares Of the poar' No. Sir, no. Not voice was
heard then from the South demanding the adjustment
of the revenue TO the contingency of an excess But
lt \ ,emporary deficiency arise, however temporary
and evanescent, and hear the tariff party Immedi
atcly announce it, and call for adjustment OF revenue
to the contingency of deficiency. This IS the ever
lasting difference Of the North and the South The one
vgant and true TO lis own interests the other
ever generously careless and Indifferent and inactive
I'll the, vi actually upon them No. SIR there was Then
no demand for dnnuton. On the contrary, there WI
distribution. And, sur distribution is one Of the main
causes vi this deficiency. Gentlemen who wish me 70
raise tie tariff must first pay back into the Treasury q
millions which, since the compromise act, they have
taken ont Of H. and without constitutional authority
and in the teeth Of the compromise act, drposaed-ay
9rDositea with the States and who Will ever remove
those dcpositcs:-hcfore ! admit any deficiency rs
preteS, for raising the tariff when forty millions Of sur
pus was no prc,ex for diminishing the Tariff, Suppose
these twenty-epht millions in tie Treasury
| would admit you deficiency, the highest INSIST
ed on of fifteen millions, and then, Sir, we would
have an .rcess still Of thirteen millions, repeat, Tor
The pre:ext of dimnution instead OF increase OF the
tariff al this very time. Voc, now at this moment,
,cre should be an excess for diminishing, instead of
deficiency for increasing the tariff if there had never
hen such thing as distribution. Yes, Sir, instead oil
voice from the South to hail "cxcess tor dImlnuton
# ,bc tariff the arch nulllier himself was seen side
81 side with the great champion Of the arhi, coming
down D'''
&c d.nosi,e distributions in open violation OF the con-,
promisc act-their joint act-and OF the Constr
tuition ;.
sion, The first thing have to say of it IS, that con-
formulated IN direct counexon with this bill to issue
,surv notes IL makes donbt the sincerity OF gem
Inne, in nrctending any alarm about serious or
considerable deficiency in the Treasury.
How can gentlemen be sincere IN Their demands Tor
;,cre,sed duties on imports to supply the rrnnis and
hrs,tb they proclaim their policy of
Let Distribution Of the revenue from public lands.
Cd ENLARGED appropriations TO haroors and all IN
tcrnal improvements.
hr those objects of raising the tariff consistent with
.b.;r ,yoved reason Of dlfcicncy Or is deficiency
Tho ,rc,sJt and these tile real reasons OF cianor
for an increased taril:
Sir DESIRE in the next place, to relate TO TINS com,
,se The hstorg Of that bill to dcPosite the surplus OF
na !, ls36 with the States VI the Union mean
the deposte act of July, 1870
In March, 1885, the compromise act was Passeo'
expressly we have seen, that no more le'c
mo should be raised than was necessary 10 an ecoo
nue of the Government and in case OF
,reess the duties imports should De adns'co 10 ''1
CONTINGENCY, or, in other words be reduced.
Tho Government depnsitcs were removed from the
s,od- and the control of law in October, lSo3 rom
that time until the passage oil TINS act OF July
CO. tho nerod of two years and ten monhs-the puo''1
dap renamed,
oder the custody and control Of absolute Executive
discretion During all this interval at the sessions
1sg2 RI 1884, and 1885, the Executive eSef'eu
ali its influence, strained every nerve, 10 piss
s,e net to sanction in the FIRST place the removal oil .e
deposes, and in the second place. to confirm VI ,rs
Executive an absolute and unlimited discretion 10 aepo
etc The Government funds in State banks as shouin
fit to the Secretary of the Treasury, controlled Oy
the President as has othcer.
Tho journal of Is34-35 will show that at that ses-
sion Mr.. Polk who was then Chairman Of the Comm.
tee Means brought ,h se 's state a0n
uh;cb was very like, if not precisely The same as .ns
iii a. s: ID y a; %as @ B
by him. IKE .ne p ., TO secure the safety of the pub
o Gepesss s as bill oJay 1856 did, ey VERY
thing to broad, unlimited Executive Carrsd ,o The
Committee mi Of the Whole the state Of the Union In
commtee Mr. Bnney the able and s distinguished ass. nor
Red by the gentleman 10 my left Mr se!gsaG pro
posed ;aay .asy me- s. ns sA ssrs IN vHs'
I., ,,. ffjb of the amount OF dcposafS IN SPe