Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-03-04

system Of regularity, in which il took him foul
yeers TO bring TIE expenses OF tho srmy per man IC
What he did, he would ask was it kiRi Of the Sc
nator TO aunt the Wing party with not having &c
eomplished in one year, what i, took him four year
TO accomplish
Ms. CALHOUN corrected the Senator. He hat
always said 1t was work Of time. All he askeC
OF the presen: Administration was 10 begin-,C
show an earneStness in commencing the work o
reform
Mr Clay continued. The gentleman will bs
grained. The reform began, and would be carried
out. lie maintained in detail that the Wings had
more than fulfilled their pledges, and that amidst
discouraging circumstances of the most unex pected
and extraordinary kind. IL the Senator required
four wears to brig down tho Department over
| which he presided, il not unreasonable to give
The present rnrty in power enc or two years to
carry out ttSu good attentions.
lie did not mean TO preclude further retrench-
ment; no man was more DESTROYS than he 10 see
Thu, Government administered with economy and
the expenditures could be got down TO fifteen or
even thirteen millions, without prejudice to the
public service, none would unite in that desirable
oblee, more cheerful'y than he would.
| now, as 10 the % millions assumed in those re-
solutions 10 DC the sum necessary, he would enume-
rate the items which would make up the aggregate.
iiere MIR Clay stated in detail the items OF hi,
estimate, namely, three and half millions for the
civil list ten millions for the army, seven millions
lor inc navy, and one and half millions for other
lparposes-making IN the aggregate twenty-five
| millions.
With regard to the estimates of the Departments
Tor THIS year, those who look only at the surface q
things might suppose that eleven millions FOR the
army was very exravpeant sum; but il was com
posed of items not strictly eharseable to the mere
military service, which was really but four millions
about double the sum which the army cost at the
TINS the Senator from South Carolina was at the
head OF the service. The expenditure per man is
not greater III was here suggested that increase
OF 81 per man per month had since been madel-
That must have added considerably 10 the expens q
OF the army proper.
here MIR Clay went into many details with re-.
gard 10 the appropriations exceeding the estimates
and admitted there was great difficulty in eomins
GOWN from twenty-siI millions next wear totwen-
t-two millions. He supposed hs civil list might be
| eu' DOWN halt million. The expenditures of the
army might be cut down a million and three uurr-
tets-Ieavns The estimate ten millions. The osti-
mate OF the Navy Department is eight mi, ions nod
three quarters. He had said b, fore thar vas too
h'eh stu, as the navy the boast Of the nation
~ "s s'ea' resource IN case OF war; no man would
ne IN favor OF cutting that down excessively. but
ne would suppose the same reduction as in this army
one million and three quarters-it wouid l.. ~
most that could be done; the reduced estimate,
men NC three millions and hall for the cvl
"s', zen lot the army, seven for the navy and ono
ana haii 10. miscellaneous expenditures. m,Liro
''e estimated sum OF twenty-five millions which bc
SuPpo,eu INC expenditures OF the Governmsn, could
DC eoSHheu 10 Tor years TO come Ii two millions
more Dc appropriated 10 extinsuish the DEL,
ne also suppoSed two million. moe nusb, n bs
psoNlusj as reserved fund for contineenc,es Tbus
ne proposed to raise a revenue of twen;v ,ix mi
lions. "'' SiN u'''
The next inquiry is. how ought this rsvsnus 70
DC raisedi There two modes OF estin,a,inv ,bc
revenue OF the country from foreign imports
lie look me exports as the lest basis 10 max. b;s
es'ltna'es' Inc Treasury Department had taken the
Ihports, ana ne was greatly gratifed on comparing
notes with the Chief Clerk IN the Dsp,rtmsnt 70
hnd that both agreed IN the results OF their e.jcn
tons $3.50 N'eu'A-
MrClay herewent into details to show thu, the
true value OF exports was the price at the place of
export. ms he considered the fairest means of
arriving at the value Of imports for revenue a.
supposed that the exports fell short of imnorts
one year, the excess of the latter created n Ssbt
ABROAD which was 10 he psid by an excess of ex.
ports IN succeeding year.
The exports from 1886 10 1871 nn,opp,.d - -;
hundred and twenty one millions: the annual aver
sse Is one hundred three nni half millions IT,,
ne considered the safe average for the future r.
IoN n''een ana nail per cent. as the profit 10 be
acdeo making one hundred and nineteen rniIIions !
rom this he supposed ten millions sbonId he -
1ueteo Tor the interest Of the State debts abroad
L nat caves one hundred and nine millions Uo,r
hlch IS duIab!a and how much Is fee? IL mas hasn
-Suns'ea That the free articles amount TO Thirty
nlllionsi from that he proposed TO deduc; twoivs
Millions for tea and coffee which ouch; To be ,,v.J
eaV'ns eighteen millions free, and giving ninety.
me millions TO be assumed a. the duiiab q ar,eis,
or years 10 come. How is the sum OF ,wen,v..,y, L
le -
OF granted no man IN the Senate would venture IN
Inc ot peace 20 raise The proposition that we ouch,
o resort 10 direct taxation. At what raie par 1srt
"hl Il be necessary TO 90, in order 10 raise from
misty one millions OF imports, twent-sir M lions of
eVenuc7 friend NJ the head Of the Con, ,;,,c, on
he understood, had q pI m 10 ur,,oo
AZ present, SUBJECT only 10 the operations in form |
he foreigner fixes .he value. II you Give me OH.
erved Mr. C. the fixing Of the value care nor what
. ae 81 guy you adopt The foreigner hx.s your
But independent OF all tho considerations ffac,;,
he dignity and honor Of the county, this Governs
nent ought to make the value at home. /, has hesn
-sumated at from fifteen to twenty rer cen but he
housht u ought TO be from twenty to twenty-five
per cent which would amount TO an addition Of ave
per cent 70 the compromise act.
without entering into the question OF home value
he would treat the subject as If the presen. svsrer,
were 10 be continued, and proceed 10 estimate what
rate OF duty would be necessary 10 give tyyspfy.
SIX millions Of revenue. Supposng every article /
subject 10 thirty per cent. the result would he !
twenty-seven millions, and deduc,ing exDensss ~
COLLECTION, the nett revenue would lie but ess han
twenty i've millions and three quart.rs II b,s
been supposed That when he proposed a fixed rate
I'D valorem, his intention that every article ,v,,
10 be brought up TO thirty per cent But such was
not The case his object was 10 discriminate for
example, jewellery and articles OF great value and
small bulk, easily struggled, should be OF a lower
ratei but as thirty per cent. on oil articles vouid
l &c requisite TO raise revenue Of twenty-five mil
lions and three qunrters, II follows that sonething
/ beyond thiIiy per cent. will be necessary If Inc
home valuation is not adopted. He proceeded 10
review what he considered very important branch
OF the subject-that III relation 10 the Compromi,e
| oct. At the time 1, was proposed he though, !,
/ right the country should make fair exoerimen,
and that in good faith, 1t ought 10 be carried out ne
far NJ possible or practicable. He was animated
by the same principles of good faith now as tbrn
But II becomes necessary TO consider the true min
ciples Of that act. The first is, that there sboad
he fixed ad valorem duty at twenty per cent. and
a discrimination below il. Tha. the tariff should
] be gradually reduced to twenty per cent and The
that revenue should be ndequlte 10 an econoroic,l
administration Of the Government Mr. CLAW here
read the fourth fifth and sixth sections Of the Com
promise act.
! These six compose all the leading prineiple5 Of
] the Compromise ac,. IL has been supposed that
/ twenty per cent. was not 20 be exceeded That he
denied. lie udmliled that OF tie lime il was not
/ supposed that II was probable tie expenditures of
on economical Government could require a duiy
exceeding twenty per cent There was, OF he time
an Overlooking Treasury, and the great anxiety
was, how to dispose Of il. But that the rate Of
twenty per cent. should not under any circumstances
be exceeded, va MT, e insi It'd, a principle OF
the act. To sustain this view, he went into details
showing the process Of reduction 20 twenty Der cent
md denied that there any hing in the act to say
| The duty should remain stationary az twenty per
cent lie read the conclusion u the clause begin.
ming, land otter the Both OF June such duties sinai
| DO laid, Ms shall furnish such revenue ~ shall b
necessary for an economical administration Of IN,
/ Government" He admitted the obligation 10 ad.
minister the Government economically; but main.
i a..a. Fl q aIH q. -