The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1846-08-07
NUMBER ~.
From TIE Richmond Wing
DFbAte in the Senate.

Oae of the leading positions taken BY Mr.
Lewis, the Chairman OF the P,psnce Com
ln''iee IN The Senate, in favor Of the new
Tariff bill, had scarcely been Uttered before
II received signal confu,alion from. an I'M
! expected quarter. Tha, speech. the inpe.
nuliy and plausbility Of which we cheer
fully coucedo, is devoted 10 two Oh jccis-
fret, TO show the advantages OF I'D yalorem
over specific duties and secondly, 10 de.
monstrate the capacity Of the new tariff to
! yield az adequate revenue. In support Of
the first proposition, he asserted ihui the
ad valorem principle vas objected to by no
other class OF the community bu, The man.
utaciurers. The prompt reply is gwen by
the memorial Of the importing dry goods
merck0nts Of Boston-and i, will soon be
followed up by similar papers from New
! ork and other commercial cities who
say that they have examined the new tariff
ball With alarm and CONSERVATION Why
On account OF the low rates Of duties No,
but IN consequence OF the adoption of the
I'd Valoren principle, which, they say, will
compel them to abandon their business sim
10 the hands Of INSCRIPTIONS foreigners,
Who have little or no regard to our custom
house oaihs." l. the practical knowledge
Of this intelligent class Of meu 10 be set q.
side as worthless, and tho opinions of MIR,
Lewis, who, although ho may be well YER
sed in The writings OF A Adam Smith, is Who'll
| ly uuconyersant with commercial opera.
tons, TO be adopted as iho basis of leglsla.
ton 7 Are specific duties, which are coe-
Val with The existence of our own Govern.
menl, and which constitute feature Of tho
commercial code Of every government, Oh
the face Of The earth, TO be abolished, be.
cause distinguished Southern cotton plan
ter declares, er cGthedrQ, that ad yalorem
duties are Of easier application and less La.
bic TO lead to fraud We cannot suppose
that Mr. Lewis opinion-however worthy
of respect in reference to matters Of which
he has personal knowledge-wil weigh
feather against the opposing declarations Of
importing merchants, whose everyday bu.
siuess enables them 10 comprehend It's fall
lacy.
Mr.. Evans, Of Maine, replied to Mr.
Lewis, in one Of the most conclusive argu-
men,s, so far as i, has gone, which we have
ever met With. Ths National lntelllgen-
Ger truly says; "Never gero facts aud
hgures and argument brough, TO bear moro
trlumphansly upon any question than they
were by Mr.. Evans in his mastery and IN"
unsweruble defence of the Tariff Of l942.
he addressed The Senate nearly three hours
10 speech Of grea; power-indeed, with
force Of reasoning and eloqueuce seldom e.
qualled, even 10 the Senate, and such as TO
add TO his high reputation for ability. Hs
was listened TO throughout with profound
attention. Among the most attentive of
the auditors, we were glad 10 ses The Hon,
Secretary Of the Treasury, who must have
been no, a little edited by Mr.. Evans
searching examination and dissection Of bis
various Reports, estimates, calculations and
an,icipations, in regard TO the finances, rev.
enue, imposts," &c. Among the errors of
the Secretary, which he pointed out, was
one Of about q million of dollars, in docu-
ment presented TO the Senate that morning,
showing the receipts from customs for the
iiscal years ending the 30th Of June, ls45
and l646. Il was the design of the Secre.
tasy to satisfy the country that the revenue
is declining, and hence he states that while
for tho year ending the 30th Of June lS45,
the amoun, OF revenue was S27 ,527 ,112 20
/. vas in ls48 only 26,65l,9l5 az