The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-14

moment before The D0rLdi In this view our politics
IN the conduct Of foreign relations have risen e
the height OF our destiny. Witness the fact tina
what MIR. Monroe proclaimed as theory in 1923, anC
what the present President repeated in ls45, haa
now become established and manifest truth. Their
Is no longer room for further European colonization
on the North American continent! ....
The programme Of democratic policy in our inter
nal affairs, skeched out by the President in his
message, and by the Secretary of the Treasury in
his report, at the opening Of the session, was com.
Prehensiye and complete. II embraced the estab
lishment ola just revenue system in place of the
great protection scheme Of l642-the separation Of
the finances of the government from the fluctuations
of bank issues, by the establishment of constitu
onal treasury--the establishment of the warehous-
ing system and the fair and just graduation of the
prices of the public lands according their value
and p the length of time during which they had re-
NAMED In the market unsold. OF these four grea
measures, the three first have been fully and happily
contaminated by the legislation of Congress The
graduation bill has, indeed, for time, failed to DO
come law. But the principle upon which 1t is ba-
sed has been fully recognised by both houses, and
early in the next session of Congress, it will doubt
less take Its place upon the statute book.
We have heretofore spared no pains to make ful.
ly known our views in reference TO the new tariff
We look upon il, and entertain no doubt that the
country will look upon it, as a relief and reform
most just and necessary IL stands strong in its
sound, equitable, constitutional principle. Under
the name and ia the exercise Of the pO,esr OF reve-
nue. tax il lays bona ds tax for revenue. II makes
that tax as light as may be upon the people, with II
view to its object Il confines its prot,ctip.
agency vigorously within that revenue limit, to which
the constitution confines the protective pOOsr of Con-
gross. These great recommendations will carry the
new tariff home to the hearts OF the people They
form its permanent credentials to popular favor If
experience shall prove hereafter that this law is in
some OF its details susceptible of amendment, such
amendment will doubtless be made in conformity
With Its essential principles. But these principles as
we believe, will henesor be changed in the reve-
nue. policy. Of the country. We have run the
round OF high tariffs since 1916, and have tried
during the latter years of the compromise
act tariff comparatively low. We have at last
settled upon just and moderate revenue tariff and
from this established position the public senu.
ment Of the country cannot; as we believe, be with
drawn. The present tariff is founded upon the
rspenue principle 1t abolishes all fictitious, decep-
tive minimums, and all specific duties, and is es-
mated alone by the ad palOrem standard.
In connection with sis subject, the warehouse
bill, so carefully prepared and so ably and perse-
veringly pressed to its contamination by the senator
from New York, must not be forgotten. The clause
which restricts the period OF warehousng to a sin
gle year, instead Of three years. proposed in the
original bill, may be found to deprive the law Of
some portion Of lis benefits. But this defect may at
any time be remeded by farther legislation. And
in favor Of the clause it stands this at least may
be said, that under it we enter upon the expert
ment Of the warehousng system in spirit of eau
tious moderation. In the law as it stands we re-
cognise an effective auxiliary to the new tariff sys
tenn, and wise and just provision for the extern
sion Of our commercesnd the mitigation of the APP
parent hardship of the cash system of duties.
Ii is matter of congratulation that in the river and
harbor bill, and in the bill drawn in pursuance of
the report upon the Memphis memorial, the deber.
ale sense of the government has been taken upon
those perversions and excuses towards which an
general government must always tend. 1t is clear
we think, to the Judgment of the country that the
veto Of the river and harbor bill stands upon impreg
nabe constitutional grounds, and is put forth in the
spirit Of our best constitutional era. 1t was a case
calling upon the Executive for the performance Of
high and responsible executive duty. That duty
has been fearlessly and firmly performed.
All these great measures of internal policy Tin
Guiding the veto of the river and harbor biID have
assumed in their origin, or in the progress of their
discussion or less of partisan character. To
a considerable extent, the democracy of the coun-
try is fairly responsible for them; and the whole of
that responsibility will be cheerfully assumed and
sustained. They all belong to the ancient, theory of
democratic legislation.
The veto on the French claim bill, and the veto
on the river and harbor bill, affect the revenue to
the large amount of from six to seven millions.
In addition to these measures, Congress has adopt
ed some most effective arrangements for arming the
government with men, money, munitions, and ships
to carry on with great vgor the war with Mexico,
which they have recognised to exist We can only
regret that the bill for conditional appropriation of
two millions of dollars, in order to facilitate the
gotation for peace, not equally fortunate in its
passage. Its principle, however, was sanctioned by
both houses.
The bill for establishing the Smithsonian Inst-
tute is going into operation.
The Cherokee treaty. for settling the differences
between the several tribes of the nation has been
substantially ratified. The new organization of the
consular system, and the for recognizing
the State Department, have been considered and dis
cussed but there was time for acting upon them.
We must look to the next session of Congress for
these improvements being carried out, with the nd
vantage of all the information which the Secretary
of State will be able to communicate upon these two
subjects.
The past is, on the whole, one the most active
and brilliant sessions which has ever taken place in
Washington. We hail 1t with pride and graft
tude which it is difficult to express. We congratu-
late the country on the result. No one Congress,
during the first session of new administration, has