The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-07

|
the proper course Of the Executive to suggest 10 Con-
gess for their consideration the propriety OF strengthen
ing the finances OF the country IN order that they might
be prepared Tor any emergency But instead OF that the
Executive recommended modification OF the revenue
laws For what purpose did he make that recommends
hon' To increase the revenues3 No; with view to
the reduction of duties II did not appear to him (Mr
Nd at the time to be the proper He had supposed
that was the correct policy for the government to pro-
vide beforehand for anticipated drafts upon the treasury
Every merchant when about undertaking any important
enterprise, as they all aware, generally examined
the state OF his finances and first decided whether he
should be able TO meet the demands which would be
made upon HIM. When at last they were found to be
actually in state war, he was really astonshed TO
hnd measure for the reduction OF duties pressed upon
them He uttered his asonishment at the time though
he sald IN financial view, that he should support the
interests OF the administration. He deemed that
there could be no measure more unwse than to cut down
the finances OF the country at any time, especially when
the country engaged in He could only explain
the proceeding by the thought that peculiar theory
had got into the heads of certain individuals and that
they were unwilling to give it up, though the
dtion of the country had entirely changed He raised
the warning voice at the time In his opinion that was
for peace On this point he might be
mistaken, however, but certainly II was not revenue
measure for Nor il revenue measure adapted
to the condition of the country at that time, The war
was then foreshadowea, and, in his opinion was one
which could be avoided II was, therefore, the duty
of the government to put the country in condition to
meet it and therefore to render the finances of the
try equal to the demands which would be made upon
them. But different policy prevailed. A measure was
passed calculated all probability TO reduce the finances
to the low demands of peace II only necessary 10
alude to this point, and let all Judge for them
selves 1t was a matter of simple arithmetic which
could not be mistaken But the difficulty did not
stop at this point. 1t had already been said that
they had introduced system which would bring the
revenue down TO the low demands of peace. But what
could be done The settled policy of the government
could not be disturbed So said the President So said
his sincere friends around him. He agreed with them
But he thought that without changing the details of the
law, the secretary might have recommended uniform ad
dton to the duty in all the schedulesexcept, perhaps,
Tho ord
view, although il would with his But this propo-
sal had been made Had il been the settled policy
OF this government from its foundation that they should
look to impost duties for aone' And in time
of war this the main resort Every one knew that
in the last this policy resorted to but unfor-
tunatey, they were then at with commercial ia
tIon and consequently their crippled, and
almost destroyed But if anything needed to
Gle the people of this country to the present let them
remember that they at war; not with nation of
little commercial Importance to them that the existence of
thewar did essentially affect their commercial inter-
ests What then, should be done in the present crisis
There adequate provocaton for direct taxation
The system of mposts could supply all their He
would like, however to hear from the Secretary of the
Treasury how much more more money would be brought
into the treasury by the proposed reduction of duty His
belief, however on the subject of the tariff that
they produced substantially proporoned to the
per centage they bear to the imports He thought that
the whole scheme of increasing the revenue by reducing
the dntes founded wholly on hypothesis and not at
all on experience. An examination of the history
of this countrys experience this subject would
perence OF the country well with the most plaus
BILE views of the natural results of commerce He, for
one, protested against the policy which they per
suing He protested against it inconsistent with
the present condition OF the country--as inconsistent
with vigorous prosecution of the war-as creating
unnecessary national debt. Would gentlemen contend
that because they engaged small war; that they
were absoved from their woned allegiance 10 prin-
cples' And was it not one OF their principles-one
Of the first Scs Of the S party At least
ties, that national debt is national CURSE and
should be avoided by all possible means Could they
down to poserity the blessed inheritance Of national
debt OF sixty perhaps hundred Millions would
perhaps be, ii the war continued Mr. N. con-
said were falsely called free-rade principes-false
| ly called, because, he said, there no such
principles existing in this country. He said they
were now, it seemd, introducing the wonderful
system thus denomnated, and with national debt for
basis, ia laugh i might have fair trial They would
ties and his friends over the way 1.-THE whigs] would be
likely TO be involved in the difficulty aughter,l and
they would have the tariff of 1912 back again. per-
haPs the still more prohibory tariff of 1915. But he
GREETED the course which they pursuing. 1t
every way wrong-every way anti-democratic-
way inconsistent with the protested objects of the system
of low duties--inconssent with vigorous prosecution
Of the war He would carry on the war with all pos
sble energy but they might vote armies, and recruit
vounteers-all in van--ths would languish as all
wars languish when the treasury insufficient He
would increase the revenue, suspend the specie clause Of
the independent treasury act, necessayat all events
fill the treasury.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Maryland then rose, and moved to
amend the resolution by adding follows
"And whether in his opinion any which may be laid
on said articles will increase the price of the the
consumer to any amount; and if so, to what amount
Mr.. SPEIGHT accepted the amendments of Mr. LEWIS
and Mr.. JOHNSON, of Maryland notifications of his
own; and the amendment thus modified, agreed to-
and the resolution adopted
ENLIsTMENTs IN THE ARMY.
| MIR. BENTON, from the Committee on Military At
fairs, reported bill to encourage ensments in the reg
lar army and asked for its immediate consideration
| The bill having been read
Mr.. BENTON said: The bill has single object it is
to fill up the rank and file OF the present regular army
To accomplish that object, it has two sections, one 10
give the recruit the option OF enlistng for the term of the
war with Mexico; the other, TO give him bounty of
twelve dollars This is the object of the bill and these
the means proposed to accomplish it. The ranks need
filling up the proposed means are expected to accom-
plish it There is deficiency of 5000 men now in the
rank and file OF the army The authorized regular estab
shment, OF all arms, Is 400: the actual establishment
us ,120 deficiency 5000 To supply this deficiency
an object OF great moment, and worth than much
greater number IN new regiments. By going into exist
ing regiments, these 5000 recruits will be among
trained men, and under trained officers; and will
be worth double much if in regiments
among recruits and unframed officers, and besides,
will be ready for service much is, therefore,
great object to get them The proposed will prob
long, and presents way to shorten it the alternative
presents an untyed term but one which, my opinion,
must be far short of five years, and probably will be
in the opinion of the recruit His imagination has room
to eXpatae there and to suppose period much short of
five years, and to suppose rightly 1t will be the best
term for the recruit, because it will probably be the
shortest and, If he chooses, he enlist again Ii ia
the best term for the United States for they want men
for the and il will deprive the enemy of one of their
grounds OF reliance, that troops viii be entitled TO
l,r,k, H.. -