Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-07-04
RICHMOND WING.
MONDAY noRNIN0. JULY 4.
FREE TRADEINREATITy

The acting President, in his "Third Veto,m take.
the position that additional legislation, though de.
srabe, is by no means indispensable to the co
lection OF duties subsequen, to the thrtieth day
Of June last. We cannot, for moment, be induced
to believe that nnY, possibly one of the Cabi
net officers has advised that there is any law now
existing requiring the payment of any duty whatever
on any SPECIES ofimported goods. Such IN opinion
may, and probably has been given. by the Guard
or some member Of it, las have no doubt the veto
was determined on in kitchen consultation in on,
position TO large majority of the constitutional ed
visers Of his accidental Exceency. We do not
value ourselves on our legal acumen, but no,wth
standing are not willing to place it on level with
that OF the whole Guard, the valiant Captain in
cluded. The compromise act is so plain ,hat those
who run may read. We are, to all intents nd
purposes, without any law for the assessment or
collection Of import duties the following exlrnc
from the compromise bill clearly prove.
Sec. declares, THAT until the 3Oth of June,
1872, the duties imposed by existing laws rs m'd
fed by this act, shall remain and continue to lie
collected"
Sec declares Chat all imports on which the
first section Of this act moy operate Gall articles
above 90 per cent? and all articles now admitted free
from duty or paying less rate Of duty than 90
ner cent I'D vnorem before the said 30,h OF June,
1912, from and after that day mny be admitted 10
entry subject to such duty not exceeding 20 rcr cent
ad volor;m us may he provided by law" The lat
ter clauses Of the 3rd section also refer TO "such
regulations (for fixing the home valuntion) as may
he prescribed by law. No language could have
been used on the OCCASION that could have rendered
It clearer than the above has done-thut we now
have no laws requiring the payment Of duties on
foreign imports. What, then, should be the course
Of Congress in this strange state Of ofiairs-one,
probably unparalleled in any civilized Government
SO jealous were our immortal ancestors on the sub.
ice, Of money! jealousy derived from the wings
Of Englsnd-that they provided in our Constitu-
ton, that all Revenue Bills should originate in the
House ofRepresentatvos, the body directly respon-
sibo to the people; the Senate evcn the body repre-
sen'ing the States, they deblrred from that great
power In our times, however, and under men who
have liberty State rights. the good Of the people
ever on their lips, this great controlling power Of the
Governments in fleet transferred 10 the acting PIE,
sidept, who, If Congress now yielded to him, will,
beyond all question, originate revenue bills. Pass
(says that functionary) a bill III such ond such
provisions in it, and such and such provisions con-
tanned in the bin you lately sent me excluded from
II, and will sign ilnot other ways-lf this bo not
originating revenue Bill-whot Isl viii Con-
gfess submit II the expenses OF the Govern
ment were fixed, they should bc, at millions pct
annum, We should have fears, but tho apostacies
that have occurred within the last twelve months,
coupled with the fact Of tho oxtuvngani amount.
annually appropriated Tor the expenses Of the Co
vernment, and the open corruption that is practicod
't Washington, to gain adhorents to tho cause Of
Tylcrism, almost make us despair Of any thing be-
Ing done by Congress that will rebound to the honor
of the Country, or the good or the People. We have
many men there that would DO honor to any cause.
but whether they compose a majority Of both
Houses, is question difficult Of solution as il is
important