Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-05
The WAYS and Means.

are compelled to omit shows already the dis
turbng influences even of so insignificant war
as that with Mexico, and at its very commence
1nent, upon the monetary and commercial inter
esis of the country. In devising remedy for
this evil, the opinions of our wisest Statesmen
seem 10 be as discordant if they were en-
barked upon unknown and untried sea,
without the light of experience to guide and di.
rect them. This is but the beginning of the end !!
But this Debate opens still more important
ouestion-we refer to the large increase of public
expenditure rendered necessary by the war, and
TO the mode in which a revenue adequate TO the
emergency is TO be raised. We are glad that the
attention of the country has been thus early call
ed TO this subject, and that direct appeal Is about
to he made to the Executive for its own financial
scheme-for it is TO be presumed the war has not
been begun by that department of the govern
ment without both counting the cost, and digest
ing plan by which the public Golfers are to be
supplied with the funds requisite for its vigorous
prosecution. We are particularly gratified that
this call upon the Executive proceeds from lead
ing member of the Administration party in the
Senate, and from Senator whose position,
Chairman of the Finance Committee, shows that
he has the confidence of his political associates.
Had Wing Senator proposed thus TO elicit from
the Executive its financial plan TO meet the im.
pending crisis, il might have been ascribed TO a
factious spirit--to a wish and purpose TO embar-
rass the President; or at least, to devolve upon
that functonary duty which must at last be per-
formed by Congress. As it is however, the move
ment can be attributed to nothing less than ma
nfestaton of proper Difference for the opinions OF
Oh Exo md tn a natural Snlirituda m tho
part Of Congress to have the benefit of any plan
which may have been maiured, which may
hereafter be suggested, by its sagacity and expe.
rience-quaties, in which however may''deem
it wofully deficient its friends ascrbe to it in no
stinted measure.
Among the points of enquiry embraced in the
resolutions before the Senate, as 4 means of aug
menting the revenue, is " the modification of the
Tariff"-by which phrase, as was correctly re-
marked by Senator Davis, either the reduction
the increase of duties may be understood. Dur
ing the last war with Great Britain, At was deem
ed wise policy by the Statesmen at the head ofthe
Government to double the then existing duties,
for the purpose, as they supposed, of increasing
The revenue and it seems to that like poll
cy, though perhaps not to the same extent, should
be adopted now. But a new school of Political
Economists are now at the helm and according
10 their teachings, Madison, Monroe, Gallatin,
and A. ]. Dallas labored under a total miscon-
ception of the effect of their revenue system and
we consequently take it for granted that one ofthe
prominent features of the Executive scheme will
be u reduction of the tariff even below the rates of
duty recommended in the Bill recently reported
by the Committee of Ways and Means, and which
was intended to provide only such a as might
be necessary TO supply the ordinary wants of the
Government in period of peace! As much
larger amount of revenue will be confessedly re-
qured now than was contemplated when the pen
ding tariff bill reported it follows as a direct
cOrrollorary from this assumption, that the rates
of duty must be still farther reduced. But, in
despite of the vehemence with which the leaders
of the Administration forces urge a reduction of
the duties, incredulous as to the sincerity
with which they support that reduction on the
ground Of its tendency to increase the revenue;
and shall expect to see, whenever they are
brought to the test, a summary reputation of a
theory, the falsity Of which has been uniformly
demonstrated by experience. They may, indeed,
under the lash Of party discipline, and for the
purpose Of avertIng the rebuke which they feel
they will deserve il they fail to redeem the pledge
given by the Baltimore Convention. succeed in
carrying their scheme at the pr esent session Of
Congress; but, even If the Mexican war should
be terminated during the present summer, and If
we escape a collision with Great Britain, not
year will elapse before their experiment will be
abandoned, and we shall return again TO the ex-
isting Wing policy the wisdom Of which, in DIES.
piie Of all the acrimonious vtuperation with which
st has been assailed, has been invariably and
trumphantly indicated not less by the benef.
cence Of is actual results than by the evils which
have resulted from its occasional temporary aban.
donment.
We have remarked that the theory Of an in.
creased revenue resulting from reduced tariff
has been uniformly reiuted by actual results; and
for the evidence OF the truth Of this assertion we
point TO the official records Of the country In his
late admirable speech in the House Of Represen.
tauyes, Mr.. Stewart, Of Pa, quotes from d table
accompanying Secretary Walkers last Annual
Report, statement which we are somewhat sur.
pr,sed and equally gfatifed to find in that con
noction. We are surprised that the Secretary
should have reluted, by this lucid exhibition Of
results, position which no uncomfortable portion
Of the reasoning Of his Report Intended to sus.
tain; aud grallfed that whether iuadyertent-
" of in a spirit Of candor, he has thus furnished
the country with the snlidote as we'll as the bane
From that official table, showing the revenue un.
der the different Tariffs for the last twenty five
years the following facts are grouped aud briefly
commented on by Me-. Stewart:
Fof the four yeau preceding the tariff Of s24 bs a.
verags revenue wns 80 900 Under the tariff o.
1874 which its opponents ~ the time predicted would ru
ne end compel resort 10 direct aHston, the
avetage or tho four years " m dufaon E2s 929 600
Nert came the ebii Of ahomnatons," the BLACK tariff o.
l61s" which said would bankrupt the treasury be-
yond Ell question. and what the result The sver
ses during the four years q he operation
20 a105ft 900. Then the oOmPfomise bill Of 1871
sheh brought the tariff down BY BIENNIAL reductions TO
horizontal duty Of ~ per aud what iis effect ~
on revsnus The declined paTt with N
farG yeding to she years average Of S2l 496OOs
ssd me yess a m operation under the 90 per cent d,