Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-01-04
Ten and Coffee.

The aversion Of the Loeofoco party TO even
duty upon these articles, for the purpose Of desyng the
expenses OF the War into which their President plung-
cd the county, and the duty provide peeunary means
Tor the successful prosecution Of which therefore esps-
esy although not exclusively incumbent upon his friends
one OF tho remarkable sgns OF the times The Seere-
'ay OF the Treasury. is obvious alarmed by the con-
don into which he has been precpaed by the repeal Of
the eheen revenue tariff OF lSi2 and the substitution for
1t OF another system which, like that superseded by the
act OF 1884, already ererng blghting influence upon
the CREDIT Of the Government, by impsng the conf
denee OF capitalists in its ability der the tariff of 1916
to pay the interest upon the heavy debt which it will be
compelled speedily TO contract Hence, content with
the recommendation Congress contained both in the
Presidents Message aud in hsown Annual Report to trans
fer Tea and Coffee from the free the dutsble list the
Secretary has addressed the following emphatic appeal
that body, through the chairman C the committee OF ways
and means:
TREASURY DEPARTMENT. Dec. 81, 1876
SIR: Permit respectfully call your attention TO
the views submitted in my last annual report regard to
osing duties on tea aud coffee.
These duties suggested in view Of the necessity of
obtaining the loan therein proposed and this department
iees bound to communicate the opinion by it,
that IN the absence Of these duties will probably be
wholly mpraetcabe negotiate the loan on such terms as
would be permitted by Congress.
Most respectfully,
Your obedicnt servant.
RI. WALKER,
Secretary Of the Treasury.
Hon JAMES Mckay,
Chairman OF the Committee Of Ways and Means.
Can the Locooeo members who are so prone TO charge
the Wings with desire cnfcebc the arm OF the Exc
cuve, hesitate 10 respond the Seereiarys appeal en-
forced as It Is by reason urgent and momentous D.
Surely not; especially as il the free trade theory be
sound tea and coffee should be the very articles oil
others, from which should be derived not as
temporary exPedicn, but permanent feature of their
system. Duties upon them will be thoroughly anti pro-
lecture, do moi nrodure tbc,,
selves, bu, because the derived from them will Gu
able Congress TO repeal reduce still farther the duties
upon other articles which Of domestic growth or fab
neauon and which are therefore, TO that extent protective
The Wbg members OF Congress- however, are differently
situated They are opposed duty on tea and coffee
for the very reason which ought induce the free trade
party to impose it-beeau.e it is sntp,otcctve in itself
ssd in its effects They may well vote agains, it there
ioe and in response to the appeal of the Executive
through the Treasury Department. they may saw we are
prepared TO cooperate with you both raising an ade
quao revenue and IN einviyong the declining credit Of
the Government, as We did in 1912; We then iouad a
bankrupt treasury and government without credit-We
filled the one, and rees,ablshed the oiher-we will
do again, by the mcans-Restore the tariff of 1912
in Its essential ieaures-Fepeal the SlbTreasury which
is embarrassing your officers, while i, alarming ca
palsts- one wOrd establish the policy which Won
have destroyed in despite Of the daily proofs of its bene
hcia effects upon all the great of the country
and we vii! cordially unite with you: But you cannot eI
pee us to patch up with temporary eXPeients your crude
and idgested system Of the evil effects of which
we iorewarned you and which you cannot too soon aban
don, whether you have regard the wants Of the Govern
meni OF to the prosperity OF hs People" Upon this posi-
ton the Wings may plant themseves-in this language
appropriately address the Executive. 1t wall then devolye
upon the Administration decide whether they will re-
nounce their mschevous policy, go laundering 10
the last" until the people, convinced Of the
runous consequences OF their experiments shall restore the
government TO those who prefer making experience their
counsellor and guide.