Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-07-21
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CONGRESS-THE TARIFF BILL.

The most important business before the House
Of Representatives, during the last week, was the
Tariff Bill. which finally passed tha, body on Sat-
u,day last, by vote Of il6 to il2. The clause in
the Distribution Act, which provided that when.
ever the duties exceeded 30 per cent tho proceed.
of tho sales Of tho public lands shall again revert to
the Treasury, hiss been repealed.
The National lntelligenceI of Monday has the
following notice of The bill:
The GREAT TARIFF BILL,
After having undergone pretty thorough dis,
eussion and fair uial Of all amendments rropos.
ed or suggested to II, finally passed the House Of
Represent atives on Saturday evening, by a msjori-
y Of four votes. A light fit, truly! But then i,
must be rene nbered, that no tariff Of duties can
ever pass the II ,u.e Of Representatives except by
a close vote. There are many and such differ
ent reasons which inf fence men TO vote against it.
In many cases not much with the int, n,ion OF
defeating the bill, as for the purpose Of making
iheie individual discon,cnt at particular provisions
OF it that the majority in its favor will always be
diminutve in its proportion. Instead Of tour, how
ever, the majority would we believe, have been Ten
twenty times many, II all Who believed
Tint the bill ought pass, had voted in favor Of
Upon the fual vote the House unusually
foil. All the absentecs (exoept perhaps Mr..
Wise) are believed IL have been absent from neces
sity. II all had b"eH present, AMI the Speaker
had also votel, the majority would have been u
bout the same. But, hs bill and ensure its
passage, the'e Is no d 'ubt that had it even been
rejected on its first trial, that vote would have
been reconsideted and the bIl passed by spicieni
majority of votes.
Of the character Of the bill the reader viii be
BILE 10 obtain pretty good idea by close observa-
tisS Of the fate Of the amendments proposed
10 H. Some impotsnt amendments though
agreed 10 in committee Of the whole were rejeci-
ed by the ii nise among thrm that embracing
the warehou.e system, and that which exempted
che article. Of tea and coisc from duty, which
tieles amoag the naeSumerated articles in tie bill
as it passed, are subjected to ad pdiorem duty
of twenty per cent. Without The duty on these
arlicles we would have considered the bill an cs-
scntal failure as measure for revenue
There is one section introduced into bill by way
OF amendment, on the motion Of Mr. w. G. John.
s,n. of Maryland and unanimously coneurrcd in By
ths House, which we look upon as the most inpor'
tant--step, we're going to say bun the word
stride would better express our idea stride, let
VI. say. towards the reform Of abuse and the eeono-
imitation of expenditure in he collection of
nue., that has been thus far effected during the
whole coui SO of our experience of public affairs
II is one that we have ourselves than once
heretofore suggested necessary to bring under
some control by Congress, and, may add, BY
public opinion, the potential but irresponsible aud
a'most invisible patronage springng from the Gus
tom. house establishment, or cHging TO i, with
parasite tenaeity and appetite. We refer, ofcourse
the provision that, hence FORTH the Secretary OF
the Treasury shall, in his annual report to Com
ercss state the number and names, &c. of all per.
employed in the collection and protection OF
ihe revenue and the amount paid 10 each, by sale-
ny or otherwise, and that the compensation of all
snch officers, in whatever form, shall be dravn
from the Treasury upon regaioriy audited ac
eoaats. instead of being drawa from the repenue
before IL reaches the Treasury, &c.
This we take to be one OF the huits Of tho late
Custom house investigation, the valuable informa-
ton furnished by which has thus been entirely
.mothered By objections to the constitulonali,y OF
the Commission, or by exceptions TO the construc-
lions put BY Commissioners apon some portions Of
testimony taken before them. Notwithstanding
these imputed NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. of the Comms.
sioners, and the want OF good understanding be-
tween themselves this investigat on has supplied
vast amount Of Information of great value very ne
eessary and proper To be placed in the possession
Of Congress and Of the People.