The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-03-19
THE TARIFF.

Office, continue TO receive large share Of the pub
lac attention. large edition has been printed and
exhausted, and we trust a new edition will be pub
lshed. The "Wsynesburg Messenger" of Penn
sylyania, is republshing the series in It's column
and pays them the compliment Of saying, wv.
cannot too highly commend these numbers to Ii.
consideration of our democratic friends throughout
the county; and let every democrat, AFTER reading
them himself, hand them to his whig neighbor, for
perusal. The mass of the wing party are honsst
and when they see the gross injustice Of high pro.
tective system-when they learn that not only the
tendency, but the OsJEer Of such system il 10
favor few wealthy capitalists at the expense Of the
farmer and mechanic-they viii Join heart and hand
in procurnga more equazing system of revenue d.
ties" The subject must be discussed and decided du.
ring the present Congress- The people are beginning
to call for action. We learn that the Committee Of
Ways and Means are preparing their revenue bill,
and it's expected they will report in few days Ths
chairman says they could have il ready in "a hours
The friends Of the protective system are hoping
however, to defeat all action by the present session
They are looking for every chance of escape. They
are counting upon the divisions in our own parry.
They calculating at one time upon the effect Of
the Oregon quesuon-at another upon the hsrbor and
river bill. For example, Washington csrss-
Pondent Of the Boston Courier" though in some
respects liberal opponent Of the President show,
Us, in the following extracts from his letter, wha
are the hopes Of his party: Nc.
THAT Mr.. Polk has ever hesiiaied or vacilhtsd
/ in his course, since he adopted his policy on The
Oregon question, there 10 ground for belief and
that he will contue TO pursue steadily there no
good to doubt The idea that the furious ebu
may follow, will operate to influence his course, i
not TO be entertained for an instant That lhh
course is not to be sustained by portion OF ~
West, Is not now known for the first time II has un.
doubtedy been hoped that the harmony of the party
might be preserved; but il was hoping against hops
&c.
"hb hoped by the friends Of the pro,.ctis. policy, ai
t,psen the South and West, on Tie Oregon qussfiss,
peH as on that Of internal mprovsmsnt moy lad
divided councils ON the tariff and prevent The passses
Of Mr.. Walkers bill If the wrath of the 81 70
men could be maintained at its present pitch, this
hope would be well grounded; for they are now all
ready to swear that, If their southern democratic
allies desert them on the Oregon question, they
won't touch the tarif-not they. So also do certain
prominent gentlemen declare, out and out their do
| termination to vote against having anything To do
with the tariff at ALL until the bill for imp rowing the
western harbors and rivers is finally passed. And
many timorous gentlemen belonging to the dom.
nant party, declare their strong apprehensons that
| the party will ultimately 60 to the d. on these
questions. 1t is to be hoped their fears are well
founded. But taking into consideration the large
majority in the House, and the great responsibility
under which senator's act in matter involving great
principles, we must conclude that, if the Oregon ds
pute is settled with any degree of promptness
means will be taken to alay the various excited ole
ments which rend the party, and that the present
if will go by the board. II, however, the Oegonb
TO be kept open question till towards the close Of
the session, we must speak with less certainty.
This will be avoided if possible, for the necessities
Of the administration, as well Of the country, an
pressing"
These are the warnings which the wings them
selves are ringing in Are they not deceiv.
ing themselves We were assured lately, by one Of
the most distinguished members from the West,
Gan out and out Oregon man, that no wsssn
man will vote against the reduction of the tariff,
however much he May be annoyed by the Oregon |
question. We can little believe that he will per.
nit the harbor and river bill to swerve his course
The protectionists need not calculate upon such
result 1t is sincerely hoped that no republican will
abandon his principles or his party--no one can
vote against reduction which is demanded by jus
ce as well as interest, because he 10 in favor n
another and distinct measure. They will see Their
DANGER and. they see the calculations of the wings
and we cannot doubt that they will have public !
spirit enough avoid both the rocks on which the
wings count upon their shipwreck.
In connection with the speculations of the Boston
correspondent upon the probable defeat Of Mr.
Walkers bill, let add that the bill from the
mittee will probably correspond, in almost all ito
provisions, with the Secreary's bill. In laying his
detailed estimates under the proposed bill before
the committee, he informs them that s'the net reve
nue. is estimated at 500, 927, 495 the expenses Of
collection at sl5i56o5 being s537 1854 les, than tho
last scalyear Notwithstanding the supposed increase
ofmportation; but under the proposed bill that re-
duction Of expendturcs can and ,oilrbe effected BY
Ibis department. The estimated revenue would, IN
a state of peace, be too large in (his) Judgment
the public debt extingushed; and Che submits)
respectfully for the consideration Of the committee
whether prospective provision for further reduc
ton Of the duties, to go into operation upon the pay
ment Of the principal and interest of the public debt
might not with great propriety be inserted in the
present BILL"
We understand that the Secretary, in a subs'
quent letter, recommends clause to be inserted |
limiting the expenses Of collecting the revenue under
the bill to a sum not exceeding sl,52O,0o0. Heal'O
proposes very important reform in the fnanceso
the United States. "The sum expended in collect
ing the revenue is now almost exclusively within |
the discretion Of the Secretary Of the Treasury
The payments are frequently made merely upon
checks sppertaning TO the liquidation Of other 40
counts; and the payments are not regulated by spr
ci6c appropriations made by Law as in other cases
Il is his "opnicn that the expenses incident to the
collection OF the revenue should be regulated BY
specific appropriations, and the payment made