Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-06-19
Country Collector for the WING i'm
VIRGINIA.
The WAYS and Means.

The Ways and Means.
The Presidcnts Message, accompanied by Secretary
Walkers Report, estimating the probable expenditures OF
conducting the existing with Mexico, and recommend
ing plan for raising the will be found IN
oureolumns this morang. We are informed by the Pre-
sden tho estimates which contemplate At the end OF
the fiscal year. debt Of twelve and half millions shave
been made nj the l.rsest which any OF the
service may require" We hope yet we do not fear
60 hazard the prediction the shall continue twelve
months that the debt the close OF the fiscal year, will
not be less than double that Estimates Of
eminent expenditures like those of civil engineers, uni
formy fall far below the actual expenditure. Taking the
Presidents Message for granted however and the Of
l2l millions added the 10 millions OF surplus in the
Treasury when the commenced will make the cost OF
extending our the Rio Grsnde by order OF the
President before the question Of boundary had been settled
by the governments, upwards o. twenty millions OF
dollars. We hazard nothing in saying that for five mil
hons Mexico would have relnqushed peaceaby the
disputed territory, IT, upon fair examination OF the
respective claims OF the countries il had been ad
Judged TO belong her-snd for five millions more she
would have ceded California also. We should not
have reaped the harvest OF glory be by the paci
tic settlement of the question but the other hand, the
many valuable lives that have been lost would have been
preserved their country and their families. If honOrs
would have been wou neither would any blood have been
shed. The wall of anguish would have mingled with
the shout Of JOY and the cypress would not have been in
tertwined with the wreath Of laurel.
Bui what are the means by which this additional expen-
iture 10 be met First, advised reduce the
b. high duties q" many articles" and secondly
levy duties on the free list. BY this reduction OF
duties on some articles, and the imposition OF them
on Others now free, it is estimated that the Revenue
will be increased "S5534,057 (hOw very precise If
the Secretary in the habit Of seeing his estimates
alsied annually by millions, instead OF tens OF dollars
beyond that which will if the tariff Of ls42 shal
main Treasury notes, or loans, exceeding the
sum OF 400, recommended, TO meet the
estimated deficiency at the close Of the fiscal year. We
have as little faith Secretary Walkers estimate. OF tho
revenue derived from the proposed modification OF the
tariff Us Of the prospective expenditures, should the
continue The transfer of and coffee and OF a few
other articles from the free list to the dutable schedule,
will add three millions the dependent,
of course upon the OF dutybut upon very few OF
the protected articles any reduction Of duty pro-
duce augmentation OF Among the highest OF
these duties, for example, ia that upon coItons
which is said to be prohi5ory Who believes if that
duty shall be reduced abolished altogether, that
the British fabric will be imported If all, in any
siderable quanuv1 That fabric s excluded now not by
the duty but by the superior quality and cheaper price
ats American rival, by which the American manufacturer
has been enabled suppant il, not only in but
likewise foreign markets. into which both upon the
footing aud even to compete with at the very
doors Of the English manufacturers after paying the duty
imposed upon in British ports How, then, be be-
evsd that reduction OF tbs duy upon
result the importation OF the foreign article, and
queny augmentation Of the revenue1 To other
OF protected articles the remarks will spply
though perhaps to the extent But it may be
asked, why adhere TO duties which thus confessedly
nugaIoyl We say, at once, that should have OBJ
lection to a reduction, a repeal OF the duty on
1t OF benefit the manufacturer
although, being untruy said be prohibory as
OF the strongest grounds Of assault upon the protective
system by the facilities misrepresen ation which az
fords. II only such duties reduced abolished we
would cheerfuy concur in a modification OF the tariff
But when other Interests less advanced and therefore less
stable than those which have been long established are
endangered by the proposed revision of the system the
consequence Of which will probably be the destruction OF
important interests for the benefit OF their foreign
rivals, protest against policy anti national in its
character and which, as oil experience proves will be
detrimental in its consequences only those interests
but to the general prosperity Of the country.
Ye: said yesterday, look with less Of concern
than Of ca,osy TO the action Of Congress on this question
AL ask thSI the parry which deelams so vehementy
against protective policy, shall finch when they are
called upon carry their prineples They are re.
sponsb!e for the administration Of public AFFAIR." and hay-
ing large msores in both branches Of Congress- they are
bound redeem their pledges people. One Of these
pledges, not TO REDUCE DUTIES but The tRo-
TEcITI sTsTEN To that pledge shall hold them. We
care not 70 nhdt extent they may reduce dntes-st If
they shall DISCRIMINATE FOR PROTECTION. %
AL their schemes confessodIy do, contend that they will
be alike iahess their principles and false their pledges
We shall not silently permit them denounce Us as pro-
toeuonsu and therefore voasrs Of the constitution and
punderer Of the people, while they themselves adhere 10
tho protective policy either for the purpose Of coneang
abe iron and sugar interests because they are convinced
Of the mpossbiy Of administering the government in
accordance with their delusVe theories Of Lads.