Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-12-06
THE WILMINGTON JOURNAL,
WILMINGTON, n. c., FRIDAY, DEC. 8, 1850.
1hs sIss..ng Of congre.s-The Prs..aent,. Mr..nge

of Government on Monday last, the first day of the
session, and the message was sent in at O'Clock P
M. and read in both Houses No further business
was done. The Message had been in the hands of
POstmasters some days previous and soon as tele
graphic information of its reading in Washington
City was received it placed in the hands of Ed
itors throughout the country.
The message is given in full in this weeks paper,
which circumstance dispenses with the necessity of
making any heightened comment, and indeed pre-
cludes the possibility of doing if even We were in
clned. AS State paper, it does not challenge at
tention II possesses but little of positive character
and is distinguished by nothing but sort of moder
alton 1t is moderate in length, moderate in tone,
and no one will deny that it is moderate enough in
ability to satisfy the most fastidous admrer of
directly. It hints at good many things, but we
have noticed only one decided recommendation. and
that is in relation to that delightful species of
hure, called Guano So that after ALL the one fixed
fact of the message may be said to be derived
what second handed from the scafowls of the Peru
Wan coast. 1t is happy thought that the President
is certain of thing that it is the duty of the
Government to employ all the properly in its
power for the purpose of causing that article to be
imported into the country at a reasonable price"
~-O"-NNA'S NOV"
exploded arguments of the Tarifites, at the same
time that he does not dare to walk up to the mark
and advocate protective tariff; he seems TO recon-
mend, however, the substitution of specific Tor ad
loren duties, and certainly uses of the most re-
markable arguments in favor of the specific system
which has ever been thought Of He says:
" AID valorem duties with the price, and offer
strong temptations to fraud and perjury Specific duties
the contrary equal and uniform all ports and at all
tmos and offer strong nducement to the importer bring
the best article, duty that than
of inferior quality"
Specific duties duties of so much upon all arti
ces of certain class, without respect to their rela-
tive value as for instance two dollars per yard up
on broadcoth, whether its value be 81 $40 per
yard. This would certainly, Mr.. FILLMORE says,
induce the importer to bring the best most expen-
sivc article, he would pay more duty upon that
than upon of inferior quality lower price
but We think it would be hard to prove the justice of
system like this, whereby the ten dollar luxury of
the rich would pay tax larger in amount than
the dollar necessary of the poor. If no larger in
amount it is easy to see how much lower it would
be in proportion to value.
The President avows his belief in the right and
power of Congress to appropriate money for internal
Improvements, but makes specific recommends.
ton. Very little space is devoted to the subject Of
the day The President hopes that the late compro
mise measures will be adhered to ''until time and
experience shall demonstrate the necessity of further
legislation to guard against evasion abuse" In
plain terms-untl convenient opportunity is offered
to repeal the Fugitive slave law The message, ac-
cording to the custom " in such made and
provided" ends with halleluiah, Amen.
Postmaster Generals Report.
d.
of the Department for the year ending June Both
1850 at IS 552971 49, and the expenditures for the
same period at 1922, 953 43. There is also on
hand net balance of ST. l32O45 80. The e1pen
ses of the current year are estimated at S6Ol98Oe
90; and the receipts at sc, 166.616 81 1t is recon-
mended that the rates of postage be reduced to
uniform rate of three cents upon the single letter
when paid, and FIVE cents when not pre- paid. 1
is also recommended to repeal the provision which
imposes an additional half-cent upon newspapers
more than one hundred miles, and out of the Stat
where they are printed, so to leave the uniform
inland postage ON newspapers, sent to subscribers
cent each
The increase of the mail service for the last fsca
year over the year preceding was 4-1Oths per ct
and the increase in the total cost was about IL 710th
per cent There is a large amount of additional sta
tistics of the Department given, but we have room
for more at present.
The LegIsOture-The Central Railroad Charter.
The debate in the Legislature last week, upon MI
SHERRARDs motion to repeal the charter of the Cen
trail Railroad is calculated to arrest attention and
awake reflection The doctrine there avowed an
endorsed by the vote of the Legislature is that char
tiers irrepeaable-that bare majority of on
Legislature may enact a law which subsequent
Legislature repeal-and that this irrepealabl
law shall confer exclusive privileges, to which n
time shall put end. The constitution wisel
throws checks and guards around the constitution
the State that changes of the organic law sha
be made hastily or by bare majority but here VI
find law recognized of more than constitutions
Obligation and perpetual in its duration and opera
ton, having received its binding force simply fror
the casting vote of the presiding officer of the Ser
ate. This power of granting irrepealable charter
without any limitation as to the time of their durs
ton, is that single Legislature should posses
and an amendment upon this point is one of the yer
first that should be made to the constitution.
Ons1Ovv County.
The December Term of the Court of Pleas an
Quarter Sessions for Onslow county, assembled G
Monday last at Jacksonville Owing TO the inclcmel
cy of the weather, the attendance was but small
most of the cases on docket were continued We r.
greet to learn that since the last term of the Cour
its excellent and worthy Chairman, DANL AMBRos
Esq, has been removed by death from amid tt