The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-02-13
7 H E r E ? u BLIC.
WASHINGTON:
WEDNESDAY MORNING. FEBRUARY 10. 1850.
{ See first pare. ]


See first page.
Congress.
In the Senate, yesterday, the morning
hour was occupied in the discussion of {
motion to receive petition praying thai
slavery may not be extended to Califor.
MIA and New Mexico. Mr.. BERRrEN Their
concluded his address on the compromise
resolutions. After which, joint resolu.
ton, authorizing the appointment of a
special clerk to the Supreme Court, was
taken up and adopted.
In the House Of Representatives., the joint
resolution from the Senate limiting the ex-
penses of collecting the revenue from Gus
toms for the present fiscal year was passed,
with an amendment allowing a million
and quarter for the last half of the pre-
sent fiscal year, together with the amount
received from storage, carriage, and labor
for said half year, and in the same proper
ton for shorter or longer time until Con-
gress shall act upon the subject, and sus-
pending the legal restriction of salaries in
California and Oregon during such time.
The Treasury Department. and the Chair
man OF Ways and Means.
If any thing more were necessary 10
the triumphant vindication of the Depart
ment, i'll relation TO the collection of the
revenue, the Chairman of Ways and
Means has, in his speech of Friday last,
afforded the most abundant materials not
only for it, but of fastening upon the Com
mittee the responsibility ard blame of all
public and private injury arising from the
forced action Of the Department.
The avowed object Of the Chairman is to
prove that the expenditures for the col
lection of the revenue may be reduced
more than half million of dollars; that
the sum of fifteen hundred and sixty thou
sand dollars is amply sufficient to the safe
and convenient collection and protection
Of the revenue.
This is the very pivot of the contro-
versy. Every thing outside of these linn
its is alien to it.
There is but one mode by which this
double assertion of the Chairman can be
established. Let every reader bear this
fixed fact in his mind. That mode is to strike
out of the expenditures which were made
by Democratic Secretaries the unneces-
sary items amounting to the half million
of dollars This being done, the work is
accomplished. Or, by making bill of
specific appropriations for every necessary
expenditure, and keeping within the limit
of 81, $50, 900. This mode would be eff
fectual and complete, and it is the only
mode; 1t is, beyond all question, the mode
which would be adopted by any one who
was conscious of right, and DESTROYS of
bringing the matter to the severest test
and to the closest scrutiny.
This the Secretary has done; but this
the Chairman of Ways and Means takes
the most especial care to avoid. He does
not, and cannot, grapple with these direct
issues presented by the Department; their
sharp points pierce too painfully TO allow
the Chairman 10 press against them.
How does the Chairman undertake TO
make out bis casel Hear him-he says:
'In 1S4S, the per centage for collecting
the revenue was six and near half; in
1S49, it was upwards Of severn
A satisfactory account of the increase
Of half per cent. is found in the additional
expenses caused by the new territorial ac-
QUESTIONS. Besides, Mr.. MEREDITH. APP
pears to charge about $500, 900 more than
Mr.. WALKER, because he pays into the
treasury the drayage, carriage, &C., and il
is charged; whereas Mr.. WALKER paid it
before going into the treasury, and it was
not charged to him.
The next ground Of the Chairman is,
that it costs England ''but ) and 3-16ths
per cent" The Democratic Secretary
knew this fact, if it be one; yet did it ena-
bic him 10 curtail TO the same ratel The
reply to this is, that 5 and 3-16ths per
cent on the English revenue of one hun
dred millions, is equal to 10 per cent. at
least on thirty-fve millions; that is, it is
easier to collect one hundred millions at
5 3-16tbs per cent, than thirty-five mil
lions at ten per cent, because, as the
Chairman observes, ''it ought 10 have d.
minished, as the per centum for collecting
a large sun is less than for collecting a
small one" The italics are the Union's.
The Chairman adduces as proof that,
Gin 1915. the eypenses of collection were