The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-10-16

IOfelSu Ut Oi Importance W HUG
remain yours, very respectfully,
sALrs-OctoJer II, Is45.-Ira Board.-5,O0O Ohio 6s
100 Reading r. R. 81; 400 do? Ot; 1000 United States
Bank o.; Pennsylvana e's. 76h bid, 76t asked
Second Boord-250 Morris Canal, 24h.
From another correspondent
New YoRE, Oct. IA, l645.
"The ad palorsm is certainly The only just, legitimate
and proper standard"
You have, Mr.. Editor in the few words above
quoted, which find in your paper of the 18th in
stant unravelled the whole mystery of the tariff
of the tariff. Under the principle of minimum val
uations and specific duties, the greatest inlustic,
and grossest frauds are constantly occurring; and
the sooner they are swept from the statute-book,
and the ad paorem principle alone adopted, the bet
ter for the community and the government.
The tone assumed by the "Union" in reference to
this subject has given great satisfaction here moi
alone among democrats, but large class of inteli-
ger wings 1t is looked upon as forerunner to
our entire liberation from the nets and tolls Of
schemers; and great credit and much gratitude are
felt to be due to Mr.. Walker the Secretary Of the
Treasury, for his presumed determination not only
to bring the present niquitous tariff to the revenue
standard, but to adopt such a principle of taxation
as will satisfy all right-thinking and unpreudiced
minds; and this the ad poiorem principle will accom-
plish
The "lntclligencer" appears to be hard pushed
for an argument to refue your assertions in refer
ence to duties on silks. As an additional proof OF
your assertion that the coster silks intended for the
wealthy pay less tax or duty than the cheap ones,
or those worn by the poorer or middling classes,
desire to say, that no later than yesterday saw
lot of dress patterns manufactured OF silk each one
of which cost $500; and their average weight was
but 5 pounds ounces, and Of course the duty on
each wa 0nlv ala 1Ok nj n trHe 4
Now, every farmers wife" pays for her sub
stantial ''coarser" silk tax to the government Of
from 90 to 25 per cent; and those of still more mod.
crate means must take up with cotton fabrics, on
which tax is laid of from so to 100 per cent, while
my lady Dashall is taxed on her fnery but 3 per
cent! 1t is not long since had shown to me an
invoice of "heavy" silk laces, amounting to x225
sterling, or say 1000. The weight of the whole
was % pounds ii ounces; the duty on which, at
50 so per pound would be $50 %, or not quite 6
per cent. These are only additional evidences Of
how much less the wealthy are taxed for their luxu-
res than the poor for their necessaries Of life.
Apply the I'D paiorem principle of duties to the in
stances have cited, by charging (say) IS per cent.
duty on the amount, you will have received on the
first stated $780, instead of Sl3 l2k; and the
second $780, instead Of $50 % These, and all such
expensive articles of mere luxury, are entirely be-
yond the reach Of the poorer classes, even If not
taxed at all; and, general rule, the quantity
sold is not regulated in the least by the tax duty
laid upon them. A low duty would not increase,
neither would high duty decrease the sale of them;
and it appears to me that, upon such articles, the
heaviest duties should be placed, instead Of upon
the coarser fabrics and actual necessaries of life as
is now the case. This whole subject is, however,
in good hands; and there am willing to leave il.
We had, on Sunday, one Of the most violent
transforms, accompanied by high wind, that we
have experienced here for long while; and we
hear this morning, by one of the eastern express
lines, that the steamer Great Britain was seen on
Monday morning off Nantucket, with distress sig
malls flying and foremost gone Great apprehension
is felt for her safety.
Shepard Knapp, president of one of our WALL
street banks, and very wealthy man, was yester-
day held to bail in the sum of $1,000, for COM
pounding felony. Sad times, these
Information was brought to the city yesterday,
from the anti-rent district, Delaware county, Of the
final adjournment Of the court. John Van Steen-
hung on the 29th of November; Daniel w. Squres,
Moses Earle, and Zera Preston, were sentenced to
the State prison for life which, together with DR..
Boughton, or Big Thunder, of Columbia county,
makes six human beings who are virtually cut off
from the world forever Their fate is truly sad
one, but they have broughtit upon themselves and,
doubt not, il was richly earned. Their friends,
who are numerous, and many of them wealthy,
will make strenuous efforts to induce Governor
Wright to pardon them; but, unless greatly mis-
take the disposition Of the governor without effect
Show them the least lenity, and IN two years time
the antirent fever would run as high as ever The
following is a list Of others who were sentenced:
Zera Preston had pleaded guilty to mansaughter
in the first degree. State prison for life.
John Phehix, aged 2l John Burch, aged %;
John Latham, As; William Leside, "a; Isaac l..
Burhans, aged 23-all pleaded guilty to mansaugh-
ter in the first degree Each sentenced to the State
prison for seven years.
NJ I'D.
the first degree. State prison ten years.
William Brisbane had pleaded guilty to man.
slaughter in the second degree. State prison seven
years
Daniel Northrop pleaded guilty to manslaughterin
the first degree. State prison for life. (The court
intimated that should his conduct warrant it, the
court would interfere for his pardon in two or three
ycars
Charles T. McCumber pleaded guilty to man
slaughter in the second degree. State prison seven
years
William Jocelyn pleaded guilty to granddaughter in
the fourth degree. State prison years.
Robert Scott, indicted for murder, also for con-
spiracy, being armed and disguised, &c. Proceed
ings suspended on the former, and fined 500 dollars
on the latter, TO which he had pleaded guilty)
John Davis stands in the same position. Pro-
ceedings suspended on the former, and fined 500
on the latter.
Darius Travis, Augustus Kettle, Edwin Mason,
Darpour ohuoru, rlenry La nusSeh, x<auoen 'a.e
Northrop, John Whitson, jr., James Clayton, Smith
Sanford, and Alonzo Sanford, all young men, mostly
under 81 years of age, had pleaded guilty to man
slaughter in the 4th degree. Sentence suspended,
and the prisoners allowed to 60 at large.
Henry d. Wickham, pleaded guilty to manslaugh-
ter in the 4th degree. Sentence suspended and gave
bail to appear at the next Oyer and Terminer.
Francis F. Scott, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, be-
ing armed and disguised. Sentence suspended.
] informed you, some days ago, that the Hon.
Edward Sanford would receive the nomination for
senator. He has since been nominated, and will