The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-02-01

pot PAD IN other states iet tneir system OF taxsuon
By adirect TAX and know that Leading argument in
syor of indirect taxes has always been, that IRON the
fact that they are received in large sums and at few
e s stopped
the OF collecting the revenue BY direct taxation IN
the States. During and just after the war with Great
meu The expense q collecting i s ss when The
receipts were only $3,560,65l, was 3. 10 per cent
Nor have stopped here. have examined the Eng.
ish documents Their system Oh collecting revenue Sy
per centage which the collection OF the customs IN the
United Kingdom in the year ending the 9Th OF Janu-
Fof Great Britain alone 81 and excluding Ireland Scot
land and the small islands, where the collected
comparatively small and where the preventive force 70
vi s sss
amount OF duties Is collected, it is less than g. For
many years prior ls4s the cost of collection was about
must advert 10 other facts The United Kingdom has
larger seacoast than we have Her seacoast, including
the smaller adjacent isles three thousand tive hundred
geographical miles Our Atlantic coast is thousand
five hundred exclusive of islands, most OF which, from
the shaowness OF the water between them and the man
be said to have properly than one side OF
seacoas The only important one is Long Island and 70
measure all sides OF it, would only increase the length
about one hundred and twenty miles Our gull coast Is
one thousand two hundred miles, and our Paclnc one
thousand one hundred; altogether, three thousand
eight hundred understanding the English seacoast
but three hundred miles. California and oregon
mostly uninhabited and in view OF the argument
i've force obslruct smuggling il may be thrown out OF
the estimate Do so, and include our lake frontier and
our exposure, and that OF England would not vary
great DEAL far the length OF seacoast IS concerned
MI. BROOKS. (Mr. RAYLY yielding the iioor ior an w
terrogaory) Does the gentleman from Virginia assert
that the Atlantic seacoast is but 1900 miles
MI. BROOKS. The seacoast of Maine alone is 900
miles, as he was informed by members from that State.
BAYLY % not wish q mean 70 Ss as'Gai'e
only incorrect but preposterous. Why, sir, il is not
90 miles from the Capes Of Virginia 10 the northern
Mr. BROOKS. Did the gentleman from Virginia in.
clude the bays and rivers in his measurement
i Mr. BAYLY. | did not make the measurement
for-me applied to him. because had the greatest con-
dence in his science and accuracy and because learned
he had all the charts necessary Tor the purpose, which
from headland to headand, and is exclusive Of bays,
harbors frhs creeks. and other indentatons in both
countries And here beg to remark, that in this re-
at the maps, and they will this. Nothing be
more ndented and irregular than the coast of the United
Kingdom, while ours is comparatively otherwise,
AS far, therefore, the extent OF seacoast is con-
necessary than with US. But this is not the main
sderation The English tariff affords the strongest in
upon tobacco, spirits, and some Other articles make /
necessary keep up the largest preventive force pre-
vent evasions Of ihescustoms while with us our tariff
affords but small comparative inducements to lead to it,
There public sentiment does not reprobate il much
here The consequence is, in England the strongest pre-
ventve force n the form OF cruisers harbo vessels and
what they call a andguard, is necessary. They are
compelled to have Gordon of officers constantly on the
look-ou for which, with US, there necessity Be-
sides this. their proximity to the continent increases this
time, by catching favorable wind run almost
observed. But with only large seagoing vessels are
employed in bringing cargoes across the Atlantic; their
advent is always noticed and smuggling by them, under
any circumstances, is difficult In such Il is too
easily detected and proved and then comes the penalty
Yet. with all hi: necessity for large preventive force
al little than one-half of what we asked to
pend
Sir this is all wrong II ought to be corrected and If
Congress will back me, it shall be corrected.
The great defect in the system is, pay too high sal
aIes TO officers in the employ OF the general government
This is the connected with the customs, from
ton $4,000 which is double what any State officer Of
Massachusetts, receives We pay the collector OF New
York the same. The governor. who Is expected 70 do
Justice, who have the highest professional attain
menis, receives but $4,000 So in Pennsylvania the
collector, $1,000; the chief justice about s2,5oo In
and chief justice $1,000 And when we descend from
the collector through every grade we lind the same r-
regularity till we come to the very
OF compensation for all employment under the general
government is much greater than under the State gov
ernments and in the private walks OF life that all eyes
are turned here. The tendency is TO divert from
private pursuits (Which last honorabe) and
from employment under the State authorities to look
here the great fountain OF wealth and honor This in
the tendency Of public opinion regard the States
inferior corporations instead OF independent
eighties and tends TO centre everything in the federal
head, and leads consolidation This government is
the idol which every aspirant worships Besides this il
adds aspery 10 political So far from there
being contests for principles they contests for place
Bring down your federal salaries TO grade eual 10 that
which prevails In Our State governments and in private
pursuits, and you will not only vast amount Of
money TO this government. but you will do what
you will reduce its patronage already much too great and
you will have the public service better performed do
not doubt but that you can get better collector in New
York fer $4,000 than for $4,000 The would take
the ofce as plain business man, to do its duties, and
for its emouments and political patronage. In the
case, i would be filed by practical man Of business in
the other, bya managing politician The character OF
EACH under the one system or the other, would be
stamped upon all under them. With not much than
half the expense, maintain the cheap system would be
the most efficient do not recommend that the salaries
OF those whose salaries already low should be much
reduced BY no means would strike at those who re.
celve the exorbant salaries. | would harpoon the big
fish, no, the small / would fly at high game.
know supposed that the Secretary OF the Treasury
cannot touch these II is said their salaries regulated
/ BY law. do not in this opinion. When the law
OF the Sd OF March, si9 passed. requiring the Treasury
Department to reduce the expenses OF collecting the
nue. TO S,560,000 necessarily gave the Secretary the
authority TO do IT, His discretion as TO the mode OF re.
ducton unlimited Suppose the salaries OF all OF the
officers OF the had been fixed by law prior to the
act OF the Sd OF March, ls4o could be said that there
lore was imperative THAT the last law would be con-