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

the Secretary OF the Treasury be further required to
port TO the House, whether there any articles the
Tree list which would be desirable for the pur
pose of augmentiug the revenue
Mr. CAMERON in reply to the honorable senator
from Illinois, said he somewhat surprised nj his
marks. For himself he would only say that he had not
followed the example OF that senator making long and
useless speeches He had not troubled the Senate only
when he had something to say and hereafter whenever
he felt it his duty to address the Senate he should do
though he might receive the admonitory repoof OF that
very learned and distinguished senator In the present
case he only wanted plain from the Secretary
of the Treasury to plain question. He was willing to
admit the ability OF that high officer and he was anxious
to get his opinion upon subject which greatly interest
will be happy if the Secretary should the and OF
the very able senator from Illinois He particularly
anxious to have such information on tins subject as
would enable to provide revenue to conduct this
efficiently His State felt deeply interested in having the
army well supplied His friends, his neighbors, and con-
the regiment called for but she had added second and
she had even sent company of fine young to fill
up the quota of chivarous Virginia OF the five thou
sand enlisted last year. she had furnished three thou
sand from her citizens.
Mr. LEWIS desired to know on what commodities the
duties be increased and whether they to be
reduced any For he thought that by the tariff of 1916,
the duties many articles were too high, well as too
low others He therefore submitted an amendment to
the amendment, nqurng upon what articles the duties
can be reduced to increase the revenue.
Mr. NILES said he would very gladly avail himself OF
that opportunity to say few words-whch might as
well be said upon that occasion any oher-upon the
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awareas every senator undoubtedly wasthat that sub
iect belonged appropriately to the House OF Repre-
senatives AT the same me he considered il perfectly
competent for any member OF that body If not to originate
bills, at least to propose inquiries on this subject and to
suggest plans in that form at least they could not do it
in the form of law AT any rate, they had right TO pre-
their views regard TO what they might consider
that the interests OF their country required He not
disposed to go very fully into this subject at the present
time but was very happy to have the opportunity OF say
ing few words He not very particular about the
passage of that resolution, because proposed to inquire
into the propety of disturbing the tariff of the last
session. He had doubt that an inquiry of that kind
an inquiry TO the proprety OF NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
specific change in that law, might be advantageousy
made His views of that law were fully expressed
at the time of its passage and he had occasion
to repeat them For one he would not with the
President in his suggestions regard to simply
because he recommended them; nor would he commit
himself to any other system but he was disposed to
look at what he believed TO be the best interest of the
country lie would be glad if all other senators would
do the sametherefore he would fully with the
of the land it desirable that il should remain such
until it had been fairly tested. He differed with the
President to what would probably be the result of that
law yet equally with him, he wished that it might have
fair trial Under the present circumstances, he had no
desire to disturb either the principles the details Of the
law. But the question he would present to the Senate
and the country this-and it great question
whether that law, any other intended the basis of
revenue system in state of peace, to tram
mel the action Of the two houses OF Congress that they
or before the whole people OF this country en-
tirey poweress this subject of raising revenue by
the government in time OF war; That was the question
scheme What measure presented for the conside-
ration OF Congress for the purpose of supplying the treas
He took it that that officer referring doubtless the
Secretary of the treasury believed that their hands
tied up; that there nothing remaining to which they
could look for but small and meagre list of free
articles In regard to that he had particular objection
to the recommendation OF duty those arcles-such
duty would not touch the question Of protective poll
| Hhatx o1r - he E,t &c
free articles, heretofore had generally comprised
materialsthe elements OF industry to the country. Now
they were made part OF the taxed articles, and there
nothing left worth naming by the President but two
articles OF very general consumponteaa and coffee But,
he repeated he for had very great objections
tax upon these articles but admitting that tax was
likely to be granted, which it seemed not probable,
he asked whether that adequate to the present
the proposal to tax tea and coffee alone
was really worthy OF serious debate Was that the
only resource which, so far as the Executive branch Of
the governmn concerned, deemed worthy Of
being submitted to the consideration of Congress the
means of sustaining the finances OF the country in
time OF war; In connexion with other measures il was
well worthy OF attention, but standing alone it was
scarcely worthy of consideration at all In what cond
ton then the country placed After the commence
men OF war, when the experience OF history,
and the sagacity and craftsmanship of all nations
had he believed sanctioned the policy that the state of the
corresponding in reasonable degree at least with
the expenditures of the counry-wee they, them to be
content with mere peace establishment Ought they
not rather their expenditures enlarged increase the
appropriations Should they go on with mere peace
estabshment-to say nothing Of the question whether
this establishment adequate to the demands of peace
But admitting it to be adequate, would they go and
make provision whatever for the extraordinary
penses Of war; Did gentlemen believe that Ithe credit
of the country could be sustained in such state of thngs
Why they We're told in the official report of financial
officer of the government, that the expenditures of the
present year-basng his estimate upon the expenses of
the three. quarters which had already expired-would
amount to fifty millions This was probably an under
estimate They might he believed, with safety calculate
that the expenses of the present year would not fail short
of sixty millions. What were they doing TO meet this
enormous expense9 They told by the secretary
that the receipts from customs might amount to twenty
miIlionshat the public lands would afford revenue Of
haps, too great But he found that the secretary had es-
mated year ago. that the expenses of the current
year would be five millions less than his present esti
mate. How was this Was it the policy of the secre-
ary to sustain the theory that the act of 1912
running down. and therefore, that the revenues
cruing under that act were falling Off But il not
necessary to time upon that point The expend
lures under estimated by several millions But
in his view, there deficiency of thry.two or
thirty five millions This deficiency was to be met in
conncxion with the existing debt, amounting, prior
this period, to some seventeen or eighteen millions
making at the end OF the present year. debt rising OF
fifty millions of doars-probably fifty five millions
and If the continued, it would amount to much
than that for the interest of this debt to be provided
for WE'LL now, it seemed to be the settled policy of this
government to carry the exclusively by loan.
He was totally opposed to such course He was ep
posed II destructive to the acquisition of speedy
and honorable peace He for a vigorous prosecu-
ton of the war, and he believed that the first thing to be
done-and without which everything else would prove
unavailng-was to invigorate their treasuryto raise
which adapted to the condition and wants Of
the country. He believed that this war must languish
IN the present state OF the treasury He must say