The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-05-07
THE "DEFICIT" PRETEXT AGAINST TAR
u .FsF IFF REFORM #......E H#.

cratic members Of Congress should know how the
wings are presuming upon their representation in
respect of the tariff; and, secondly, because sympa-
thizing fully in the views and feelings Of the Post
upon the subject, glad TO present to the dem
ecratc representatives Of the great commercial
State of New York, so pregnant an indication Of
what their constituents expect at their hands.
From the New York Evening Post
"A Boston correspondent writes:
"'Do you know what the wings al Washington
writing TO their friends, the manufacturers here
They tell the mi-ownen not TO be alarmed-that
there is not the slightest danger of any change in
the tariff at this session, IL there is even In the next
They write that the democratic members are,
themselves, In no haste to approach the question,
and that some Of them whose views will influence
the rest think ii decidedly impolIuc in party
point Of view TO agitate il now. They 60 further
they say that Mr. Walker himself, the Secretary Of
the Treasury, does not scrupe TO say, that II the
tariff were reduced to the standard, the et-
feet on the autumnal elections would be disastrous
TO the democratic party; that he feels no interest IN
the success Of the plan he has himself recommend
ed, and only proposed it because something Of the
sort was expected OF HIM.
"'Such are the statements which not one wing
merely but many, not once or twice. but again and
again giving 10 their political friends here, ex-
pressing themselves not hesitatingly, OF by way Of
confidence. Can there be any truth in these sto-
riekg
"Not the slightest, was the answer instantly sug-
gested to our minds as we read this question.
There 10 no ground TO believe that Congress 10 about
thus to trae with the expectations OF the people,
sacrificing them and the public interest to paltry
calculation Of party advantage in Pennsylvania; for
in no other part of the Union could there be the
least question that mitigation Of the tariff would
be hailed by the whole democratic party, and some
portion Of the wing party also as an act deserving
Of the public gratitude. Even II the new tariff
were not TO be well received IN Pennsylvania, the
effect Of such an act Of treachery the adjourn
ment Of Congress without revision Of the present
tariff, would be so bitter disappointment to the
majority Of the Union, and would so dishearten and
weaken the democratic party, that no sensible man
in Congress would think Of trying the expert
ment
"Such is tho answer which the ordinary degree OF
confidence we have in our fellow. men would prompt
us 10 give so far as respects the intentions OF the
democratic members Of Congress. As far as con-
Germs the Secretary Of the Treasury, the assertions
Of the whg letterwriters alluded to are, we doubt
not mere fable. Free trade, we believe, has al
WAYS been a favorte idea with Mr.. Walker, and
there is no reason question hszeal or his sneer
ty in endeavorng to reduce his principles TO Prac-
tice. ~
"But when we consider that Congress is already
in the sixth month of its present session, and that
"
to deny that there is certain pausbillty in the as
sertions quoted by our correspondent. The Wash
ngton Union we perceive, has contradicted, with a
natural and honorable warmth, similar charges
made in wing print in Washingtoni but the Union,
say the whig agents Of the manufacturers Is not IN
the secret II there be any secret Of the kind, It is
creditabe the Union that il was not thought wor-
thy Of being made acquainted with it; for to be ad-
mftted to a knowledge Of the plot would imply an
expectation of connivance in its dishonesty.
1--WE are willing to accept the disclaimer Of the
Washington Union, but we must ask that paper to
xplain how it u.s. il the majority of the democrat
ic members are sincere in desiring commercial re-
FORM that the discussion Of a question involving
many nice details, and not TO be settled IN moment,
has been postponed in so extraordinary manner.
| In regard to the admission Of Texas, the majority
were in earnest and the measure consummated
in the course Of few hours In regard 10 the res
outon Of notice in the Oregon controversy, large
proportion of the members Of both parties were
manifesty reluctant to permit anything to be done,
yet the discussion Of that subject tedious and arti-
ciay protracted it was, over, and the rcsolu-
ton Of notice is passed. In regard to the new tariff
certainly every indication shows much greater de-
gree Of back wardness than existed in regard to the
resolution OF nofice. This Is the circumstance which
we should be glad If the Union would explain"
As showing that the calculations referred to by
the Boston correspondent Of the Post are not con-
fined to Boston, though apparently made with sPe-
cal adaptation that meridian, we take the follow
| ing summary statement from the columns of the
Philadelphia United States Gazette:
| "CoseREss.-The opinion is prevalent that Con-
press will not do much more business this session.
that tariff sub-treasury, warehouse bill, and divers
other matters Of stringent party character, will be
allowed to rest"
| The recent similar surmises Of the Intelligencer
| in this city, we'll known.
II appears that at last something purporting to bt
a pretext, has been trumped up to explain the al
legged unwingness Of the democratic majority in
Congress to 60 on with energy in the great work o
tariff reform which now awaits and has already too
long awaited their action 1t is said that the tariff
bill reported by the Committee of Ways and Means
will, when it becomes law, creale deficit in tn
revenue. A few facts and figures will show how
wholly futile this pretext, broughtup at the eleventh
hour, really is. The bill drawn at the instance o
the committee by the Secretary of the Treasury
made provision for a nett revenue of twenty-tou
| millions Of dollars. The committee, in the bill
which they have reported to the House, hav
so varied the duties proposed in the Score
tary's bill as to lay duty of IS instead Of Q
per cent. upon cottons; Of Is per cent. instead Q
Il 20 per cent upon WOOL and of 30 per cent. instea
of 25 per cent. upon woollen manufactures. Thi
increase in the bill of the committee upon the dute
proposed by the Secretary, is estimated, upon salts
Il factory data, to Weld aa additional revenue of on
i and half millions Of dollars. The total amount c
l annual revenue, therefore, which will accrue fror
the customs under the bill reported by the commit
tee, is twenty-five and half millions of dollars
n The revenue from the public lands is estimated
amount, for the next fiscal year, to three millions
dollars; making total of revenue from the custom
and the lands of twenty eight and half millions.
We have yet to hear Of that section of the demo
cratic party which would encourage an annual es
+ psnditurc by our government larger than this, G
even so large. The Secretary Of the Treasury
who, from his position, may be expected Ito forr
toerably correct views both to the resources an
the necessary expenditures Of the government, di'
tinc,ly recommended to the committee to provid
for diminuton Of the rate Of duties proposed in hi