The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-06-22

and $3.50 ga % national currency; and In 1867,
to $50, 463 10, hard money, and sos, 7O3 33 ma
tlonal currency which shows falling off In the
hard money receipts of about one-half. This
arose, not from corresponding diminution of i'm
perts from which it is derived, but from the fact
that the tariff of duties on importation was, by a
law of Congress, which took effect that year, re-
duced One-half
To show the proportions of the revenue derived
from the principal classes-the last years alone,
for example-that derived from imports amounted
to $A,63O 80, and from tonnage SIS, 735 as, hard
money; and from exports, $l39, l46 81, national
ing the market value of the government issue at
that dale July !, 1877 the two first items of which
constitute a little more than half the whole reve-
nue.; the whole for thatyear, reducing the paper In
the same way to its real value, being $l20,277 SO.
The expenditures of the government for the same
year were 1872 81 hard money and 81 345 2l7 81
national currency. Which last being reduced as
before, the two amount, in hard money, to the
sum of $l47,2S 81, showing an excess Of the ex-
penditures over the legitimate receipts OF the gov
eminent, of little more than twenty-seven thou
sand dollars,-a sum not quite equal, however,
to the diminutions OF the revenue caused by the
reduction made IN the tariff of imports.
Ihave analysed the official documents, emitting
the Items of government emissions of paper and
copper and small loan, and presenting all through
only those which compose the actual revenue. |
made this discrimination in order to show the
actual resources of the government, as compared
with the expenditures.
To devise the means OF bringing up the receipts
to the amount OF the expenses of the government,
Qor the latter were considerably within the official
estimates for the last year, has occupied the earnest
attention OF Congress during its present session.
The President in his annual message recommend
ed the raising of the tariff on the principal EXPORTS
namely, mahogany and tobacco; which measure,
he calculates, would make up the deficiency for the
future, while the Congress has been warmly dis
cusslng proposal to raise the whole tariff. No
thing has yet been decisively acted upon. Mean
while, there is considerable balance in the trea-
sury, resulting from the extraneOus sources of re-
venue before alluded to. A foreign loan is talked
OF; but no steps have yet been taken, that | am
aware of, for effectingit.
pass to few observations on the general ad-
mlnstration of the several departments of the 60
vernment,,, Of the Congress, whose sittings have
occasionally attended, l may remark that their
proceedings are characterized by degree of de-
corum and parliamentary system and regularity,
that strike the stranger very favorably; and nea-
sures are discussed IN it with as great degree of
ability and practical skill as could be expected
under the circumstances. For 1t is to be consider
ed that they are practically novIces in the science
and art of legislation, since there do not exist
within the constituency any Evolutionary or hered-
itary ideas, SO to speak, of the character and model
of legislation-the nation having vegetated for
centuries in the torpid state of colonial dependencies
and atterly, down to the period of the recent ma
tional resurrection, under the still more torpfying
influences of foreign subsection. In this view Of
ment IN the science of Legislation their acts and
proceedings manifest. Comparing this body with
our own, or our State legislatures the contrast is,
to be sure sufficiently marked But we are. as a
nation, much older. Nor yet is this the only or
indeed, main reason. We have grown up with
our systems and practices; rather, they are the
legitimate offspring.-the fruits of our domestic,
social and national education; they, or their
germs, are Incorporated with our earliest ideas
and associations, and grow with our growth, not
less as individuals than as component parts OF a
social and political system. Here the case is
otherwise IN each of these respects. This ma
chinery of legislation which belongs to an adj
vanced political state, exists here as an exotic. 1t
IS not Indigenous to the soil, the habits and asso-
Citations, the culture and training of the people
Its idea has been seized upon, introduced and at
tached to the body polite here, by few ntelli-
gent spirits, who, from observations abroad or
study at home, have grasped the ideas of rational
liberty with Its appropriate FORMS Its political
machinery, and transplanted them to their own
country, and moulded them, or are at least at
tempting to do so, to the condition. wants and ca
liabilities OF their fellow countrymen, with what
ultimate success time alone can disclose. Mean
time, It will be one of the principal purposes of
this series OF letters to illustrate this experiment.
develope Its progress, and show how an off-shoot
OF the tree OF liberty thrves, and is likely to -four
lsh transplanted to this island-home embosomed
within the tropical seas, famed by its soft breezes,
and created by nature, as 1t would seem, in one OF
her most prodigal moods
The remarks to which my alusion to the legls-
lative body gave rse are for the most part, equal
ly applicable to every department OF the admins
tratlon Thus, as has been remarked in a pre-
vlous letter, the civil and criminal codes of the
State are not of indigenous growth. They did not
spring cut OF the character, condition, and wants of
the people-on the contrary they are of Transact
lantic origin, the offspring of very different state
of society, and still clothed in the unnatural
garb OF foreign language. All these clrcum-
stances render 1t often matter of perplexlty and
difficulty for the Judges to expound the laws The
system is strange-forelgn to them: Their early
and inbred ideas and associations do not come IN
to assist them In their expoundlng OF the codes,
is the case under the common law, or even those
modified systems of the civil law which the wants
OF particular nations originate. Hence, though
the judiciary are, so far as the writer's professional
experience and his observation, have enabled him
to form an opinion, body, upright and intelli-
gent men, still, there necessarily results In many
instances, tardy and imperfect administration OF
justice, beyond their power to prevent. These I'M
projections and difficulties have attracted the at
tention of the government from the beginning.
The President has recently called the attention OF
the national Congress to the subject; and the min
lister who presides over this department, closes his
remarks on the subject by recommending such an
alteration in the system OF laws as Wi adapt
them to the capacity of those who administer, and
OF those who are to obey them"
The subject of popular education has, from the
first, engaged the earnest attention OF the govern
ment. A law made subsequent to the constitution,
has sought to carry out the provision on this sub
Ject contained in that instrument. This has been
practically effected, in a great measure, here in
the capital, and partially elsewhere; but the min
lister in his last annual report aments the limited
extent to which it has been done, owing to the
inadequacy OF the means at the disposal OF the 60
vernment for this purpose, and earnestly recon-
mends that provision be made for putting the sys-
tenn in full operation.
In its general course of conduct and line of po-
llcy-whether towards citizens or foreigners, in
domestic or foreign afiairs--this government
seems 10 be acuaed by Just and liberal principles.
But It has many difficulties to contend with, one
of the main sources of which, though an anoma-
lous one, am fully persuaded, arises from the
fact of its being in all respects, far in advance of
the great mass-the embodied national character
and intelligence of the country, of those whom 1t
represents, or, to speak more accurately, governs: