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

General nsylys speech.
We publish to-day the able speech made by General
Bayy. OF Virginia, the chairman Of the Committee OF
Ways and Means. in the House Of Representatives on
wednesday last will be remembered that early in the
session the administration applied for relief from the law
OF March last which required that all duties should be
paid directly into the treasury and limited the expenses
ofcoectng the revenue from to 81 500 year
The Senate did not postpone the operation Of this law.
but joint resolution was passed by that body increasing
ing the amount expended by Mr. Walker under the old sys
tenn for the year ending June, ls4s This joint resolution
was submitted to the Committee Of Ways and Means,
when it represented to the committee by the Secre-
tay that the resolution from the Senate would give him
relief for appears that the expenditures for collect
ing the from customs for the first six months Of
the fiscal year, commencing the first Of July last had
SO much exceeded the expenditures for the same time
under Mr. Walker that Mr.. Meredith could find no re-
Lief in being limited to ala2,6a6 for the whole fiscal
year. He has under the advice of the Attorney General
decided that the law OF March last did not 60 into opera
ton until the first of January last; and consequent
ly that it applied only to the last half of the pres
ent fiscal year. from January to June inclusive This
decision permitted him for the first six months OF the
present fiscal year, from July to December. ls49, ncu
sve. to act without Limitation restriction, and to pay
the expenses Of collecting the revenue from customs be-
fore the duties were deposited in the treasury Mr.
Meredith seems to have made the most of this decision
for he expended for the first six months Of the present
fiscal year III POI s97; which is within $40 73e Of
the whole amount expended by Mr.. Walker for the
whole of the fiscal year ending June Is4s Therefore it
is that he finds no relief in being limited to the amount
expended by Mr. Walker. He has already expended SO
much, that the residue of $2,l32 ,63e--being only
$40, 739woud not enable him carry on the service
up to the 3lst OF June next, 10 his satisfaction And il
should be borne in mind that Mr. Meredith is relieved of
heavy expenses which Mr. Walker was required to de-
fray The annual charge for the revenue cutters CON-
menced during Mr. Tyer's administration. amounted to
several hundred thousand dollars II formed portion
of the expenses of collecting the revenue during
the last administration But Mr. Meredith has been re-
lieved of il by special appropriation; and, BESIDES he
discharged portion Of the marine some months
since Yet notwithstanding these circumstances, Mr.
Meredith has expended for the last six months 81 29I s97
which is at the rate Of $2.5s3,7s4 yeara sum which
exceeds the expenditures for the fiscal year ending
June, lS4s. by $45ll5s Yet, with these facts within
his knowledge, Mr. Meredith has permitted his organ in
this city to assail with foul language the democratic
members Of the last Congress for limiting the expenses
Of collecting the from customs to amount less
than that expended by Nj. Walker, when he knew
that he would not be satisfied with the expended for
the year ls4s and would be forced say that he could
find no relief from it,
But cannot pursue this subject further al the pres
ent time. Nor is it necessary that we should do So
The able speech Of General Bayly pecudes the
sity OF any further words from We ask for it an
attentive perusa; and venture to say that no
can read it attenvey, and call to mind the acts Of the
Secretary of the Treasury, without being forced to be-
lieve that Mr. Meredith, if he has any regard for his
reputation, must the day when office lured him to
the city Of Washington.