The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-26

In twenty four years that we have been connected with
the pablic press OF this city have never known k
orally, and we may say unanimously dissatished with
the administration OF the customs department they ar
at present II is merely that in enforcing the reyenu
The merchants that many new and perplexng formal;
ties introduced OF no possibe use 10 anybody and
adding not particle TO the security Of the revenue bsl
- especially that the Secretary o. ias Treasury W.
expenses Of collecting the revenue within ~ pr
snnum has taken upon himself the power which vest
ed only 10 The two houses Of Congress- with The concur
renee OF the Executive, OF IEcREAsIEG TIE TARys, and
that, on some articles. TO an ENORMOUS extent A
Philadelphia lawyer, or perchance q New York law.
YER accustomed e hair;sglinE and and, splicing. may
imports are assessed in the form OF carriage fees &C.
&C., &c., it's all perfectly legal, and within the scope Of
their delegated powers But the common sense Of the
power Of imposing revenue duties was vested in Con.
sess for the Joint security Of importers and consume
and that the Secretary OF the Treasury has right BY
Ii Congress imposes duty Of 30 per upon iron and
coal and be adds 80 per cent in another form, what
l. Il but usurPng power above that Of Congress and
,svs. dessss CSpssss enact asi re ds I
shall be 90, anything Ia the act Of Congress- to the con
trary Notwithstanding We have not the least idea that
his position will b sustained By The courts; and ho
do il under protest, with view appeal to the LEGAL
tribunals 1t very clear that, II be can impose such
additional burdens az be now does he can increase then
TO any extent; and, in short merchants much
dependant upon the viii Of Secretary Meredith hos
of Turkey are upon the will Of the Sultan, or those
Russia upon that Of the Aut0crat, Moreover Ii,
consumers Of an imported article, who, through hei
have decresd that itshall bear specified
ae Of duty are thrust aside by Secretary Meredith who
DEGREES that i shall bear much higher rate Of duty
What is this but erecting himself into Dictator tie
heads Of both Congress and the Peoplei we trust that
Congress will lose no time in teaching him bis duties
Tie intent Of the law under which Mr. Meredith pre-.
tends TO act, evidently to prevent unnecessary
pendifuyss in the collection Of the and this
essentially the wording Of the law But be cannot
prchend any Interpretation Of il which should cause him
q dismiss any norton 81 his army Of satees and DE-
pendants, some Of whom work 70 excess while ohen
might be spared without derment TO the public service
That is new idea Of retrenchment which leads to
impesiions and taxes Mr. Meredith does not bring be
expenditures within u as required by law, Bat
imposes new burdens 10 meet the excess above that
Thus he violates the law on the hand and is gui1
OF gross usurpation on the other. ass Ns9
III Be found the law incapable d ful6lment, repre-
sentaon Of that fact to Congress would doubtless have
been deemed sufficient; for man u bound to Do i'm
possibilities But to make i m occasion for gratifying
his hostility against foreign commences - what we should
not have expected from any fair-minded man.