Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-04-12

mise that duty should be laid above 90 per centum
after the Both of June next. The Senator admits this
10 he lnlraclion, but pleads necessity Now, Sir
admit, if there be indeed necessi:y-if after reduc-
ing the expenditures nfhe Government its just and
economical wants, and the list Of free articles that
provided for in the act and returning the revenue from
the lands to the Treasury, there should be deficit,
which could not be met, without going beyond the 90
per cent, case would be made that might Justify
But utterly deny in the first place, that f all had
been done that ought to have been, there would be any
such necessity and in the next the right TO plead
Il necessity of his creating. go farther, and call
him to explain how he can, in fairness honor, af
ter what occurred al the extraordinary session, propose
as he has in these resolutions To repeal the provisions
IN the Distribution act which makes VOID the duties
should be raised above 20 per Ii is well known
to all that II could not have passed without the inser-
ton of that provision, and that its PASSAGE depended
bat OF the Bankrupt bill. Now, ask INN how, after
having secured the passage OF two such important
sures, can he reconcile 1t with what is far honor
able, round and propose to repeal the very pro-
vision by which their passage effected:
But the Senator denies that the necessity is Of his
creating, and insists, tha, if the from the land
restored rigid economy enforced, and all the pro-
visions of the Compromise respected, there would not
be sufficient income 10 meet the necessary and
mical wants oflhe Government. take issue with him
the fact and shall now proceed to show, that
on his own data, there would be ample revenue without
| raising the duties above 20 per cent.
According TO the estimates of the Senator, the whole
amount Of appropriations, excluding public debt,
quired for The service of the year, permanent and
rent, under the various heads OF civil list and miscela
neous army and navy all their branches, is twenty
millions five hundred thousand dollars To which he
adds for other appropriations not included in these,
million five hundred thousand dollars which can mean
nothing but contingent unforeseen expenditures;
and for the debt, two millions of dollars, making in
the aggregate twenty four millions of dollars To this
| he proposes add two millions more annually,
reserved fund 10 meet contingencies, TO which
object the ground that the object is already pro-
vided for by the million five hundred thousand dol
lars for appropriations not included IN the twenty NIL
lions five hundred thousand There can be no demand
on the Treasury but through appropriations, ard there
can be meaning attached to contingent approPr1-
tons but such unforeseen expenditures as are not ns
cy included under the various heads of civil list,
ccl!aneous army and navy. The Senator has clearly
attempted To make distinction that does not exist, and
| in consequence made double provision for the
object OF the two, take the less sum, as regard 1T
annie as permanent contingent fund, which WILL
make his estimate for the year, thus corrected to be
twenty four millions OF doars-a sum surely amply
large.
Let us turn TO the ways and means 10 meet this
large demand the Treasury The first item is the
revenue from the land, which ought TO yield, under
proper management, an average oil OF least three mi
lions FIVE hundred thousand dollars for the next five
years and which would reduce the amount to be pro-
yded for from, the mposs TO twenty millions five hun
dred thousand dollars From this there ought TO DO
deducted at least five hundred thousand dollars from
the saving that NAV be made in the collection of the
customs, which the Senator estimates at one million
six hundred thousand find, taking series of years,
under the Tariff Of 1888 with its eyorbitant duties, and
the consequent great increase of expenditures 10 guard
against smuggling and frauds, that the collection OF
abput an equal sum cost II per cent. Allowing the
same under the more simple aud n'odehte system
of duties according even to the scheme OF the sena-
tor and the cost of collection, instead OF the sum pro-
posed would be about eight hundred and fifty thou
sand dollars, making difference OF seven hundred
and fry housand-but for the facility OF counting,
and to be LIBERAL allow but half million for saving.
That would reduce the to be provided for by du-
ties TO twenty millions of dollars and the next ques
lion s, what rate Of duty will be necessary 10 meet
that amount
Here again. will take the estimate of the Senator,
as the basis Of my calculation lie bases his estimates
of the IMPORTS OIL the probable amount of the exports,
adding fifteen per cent the former for the profits Of
feiph and trade On this basis he estimates The pro-
bable amount of imports at one hundred and nineteen
millions Of dollars, sum probably too low, taxing
the average of the next FIVE years, provided the cues
should be moderate and no adverse unforeseen cause
,hould intervene From this sum he deducted ten mil
lions to meet the interes; abroad, account OF The
debts Of the States sum- for the reason assigned by
the Senator from New Hampshire behind me- too large,
least by three millions OF dollars Deduct seven mil
lions on that account and there would be left hun
dred and twelve millions. The Senator next deducted
eighteen millions for articles made free by the act OF the
Extra Session. including coffee and tea, which he
estimates at twelve millions. cannot assent TO the
deduction TO the extent stated as IT IS clearly against
the provisions of the Compromise act as beyond the per-
ma nent free lis, provided for by thatact What would
be the amount within its limits have not been able 10
ascertain but on the best data have been able TO OBJ
tain, would not suppose that II would much u any,
exceed three million five hundred thousand dollars, not
including gold and silver. exclude them because
they are constantly flowing in and oGt, according 10
the demands Of trade, the imports ot one year becom
ing the exports of the next, and the reverse
small amount that may be permanently added 10 the
dir uloftn he uspd "
three million FIVE hundred thousand dollars deducted
from the hundred and twelve millions would leave, OH
the data assumed. hundred and eight nhon h"e nun
dred thousand as the probable annual amount OF duta-
bic articles that would he imported for home consrmp-
ton Twenty per cent that sum would give twenty
one million seven hundred thousand collars, sum
ample 10 meet the amount estimated, ana cover lie
necessary expenses OF collection, and pay the boun-
ties and premiums properly chargeable on the Ires-
snry.
wish 10 be understood acquescing IN the estimates
which the Senator has made OF what ought to be The
| expenditures of the Government. ! hold them much
too high. With efficient system OF administration,
actuated by true spirit of economy, seventeen NIL
lions would be ample To meet oil expenses, without I'M
pairing the efficiency OF the Government, as nave
shown on q former occasonto RAISE which, an aver.
age duty of twelve or fifteen per cent, instead of
twenty would with the aid of the revenue from the
| lands be abundantly sufficient.
HAVING Dow shown that while the Senator processes
to respect the Compromise ne has IN iact' Voaln' or
proposes TO violate all the essential provisions oil mo
act and that his plea of necessity fer the proposing 10
raise the duties above the twenty per cent utterly fails
him. IT may be asked, how is this contradiction IN hs
course to be expa Is he deluded, or does he IN
tend TO deude others To suppose the latter would
inpeach his sincerity, which do not intend to qnes-
ton But how is delnsion 10 be accounted for! ii
results from his position.
| lie is Tariff man, decidedly opposed to free trace
We have his authority for the asse7''o" Accord
ing to his views free trade is among The creates curses
that could bcfall the country, and hgh Protective
| Tariff among the greatest blessings. While ne thus
thinks and feels circumstances necessary to be
planned, have placed him in such relation to The Corn
promise act, that he is sincerely desrous of respecting
lis provisions; bu, the misfortune is that his respect
for j, is not compatible with ms strong a,,1c.'en. 70
his long cherished system Of policy. There IS no es'i'