The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-01-31
NBWS BY THE MAILS.



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Our Washingtoa Cozrsspondence.
| WAsHISoroN, Jan. %, 1851.
FdstSre of the TariS Movs-1k Prospeet-Psssase
Ams~dme~t-Nesc York BvaSch Mint, &C.
The first effort to amend the tariff was made 70
day, and resulted disastroasy to the opponents Of
the present law, displaying an opposition much
more formidable to any change, as yet suggested
Than was anticipated. The sections proposed by
Mr. Strong omitted wholly the article of cotton,
and suppose that this omission the cause
of the failure; but some old and experienced wing
members differ in this estimate, and contend that
all hope of change which will give an Increased
duty upon any articles il vain No less than six
teen wings voted to sustain the decision OF the
Chair, either because they are opposed to change,
(Which is not pr6batle,) or because the measure
proposed by Mr. Strong did not 60 far enough. II
this latter reason was the of their detection.
it is clear that if the duties are placed higher 70
please these gentlemen, it will fnghen of all tho
moderate men who have been coaxed into a sup
port OF partial modification. Thus the matter
has got into hitch where any move is sure 70
weaken it,
/ stated, the other day, that Mr. Bayley, tho
was in favor of some change by winch frauds in
the revenue would be stopped, and that he was
also in favor of the appointment of appraisers at
large. | inferred from this, that he was not op-
posed to establishing home valuation because 1t 10
evident that that mode of collecting the revenue
would be the most efficacious in preventing fraud
as has been clearly established by the Secretary of
the Treasury, and because appraisers at large are
of use whatever, unless home valuations are
established. Ii now appears, however, that Mr.
Bayley had no intention OF being understood in
such sense. He is merely in favor of going as
far as Senator Hunter does in his b,l-taking the
value of the goods at the ports from whence they
are shipped, instead OF, as now the place Of their
m manu- 1 such change would De OF no
at loss TO see how il will prevent frauds any
more than the present system. The custom house
will still be obliged to take the foreign invoice, and
il IS in that way that all the frauds are now COM
mitted.
On the whole, it is the opinion of many expe-
nenced members that no amendment whatever
will be made in the tariff this session, beyond the
passage Of Mr.. Hunters bill, which will be taken
up for consideration In day or two.
Mr.: Rusk, from the Committee on Post Offices
and Post Roads, of the Senate, reported back this
morning, the House bill for the reduction of post
age, with several amendments. The principal was
on the establishment of three cent rate on paid
letters, and tive cents on unpaid This is done
with view 10 discourage sending letters without
preparing them, as il is found that nearly the
whole OF the dead letters are unpaid Ones and il is
believed, If the system OF prepayment was general,
could be greatly reduced, if not wholly done away
with. Another amendment is the charge of ono
cent on all papers OF two ounces or less, TO be
weighed when dry-haf of this charge when sent
within the State. No provision is made in the
House bill to weigh the papers when dry; and, il
they are TO be sent by weight, il 10 more liberal to
the publishers that they should be averaged At
their weight when dry. The provision 10 send
papers circuit of thirty miles, free of postage, e
done away with, and very properly; and, instead,
exchange papers and magazines are permitted to go
upon every postmaster to deiace the postage stamps
These are the amendments; but II is understood
the committee was anything but unanimous, and
that the bill will be subjected to good deal Of
opposition and amendment in the Senate. An
amendment will be made to make the rates on
prepaid letters two cents and q half, on the
grounds, first, that the reduction will not be more
than the country desires and the Post Office can
sustain; and, secondly, because the amount will
De much more convenient in multiplying than the
three cent rate.
IT imperative upon postmasters to deface all stamps
when used, under heavy penalty, il is merely
giving the importance of a law to 4 regulation
which now exists in the department.
The friends Of the New York branch mint are
sanguine OF success. Mr.. Briggs deserves great
credit for his ndefagable attention to the interests
OF his constituents in this matter. V.
WASHINGTON, Jan %, 1851.
Ntc York Ssnator-Natiowai Whigs and Demo
1ats-7Ne Turf IN the Houss-A Fissk-Col.
Benfon a~s The California Question IN the
S<wafe-Fdthsr Ritohie and the P,inttHg-Epe,s-
tmg E~fufai~wse~ts.
II is here understood, that Sewardsm. nullifi-
cation, or the higher law, or whatever else the
thing may be called, has a majority in the New
York Legislature, as between these woody heads
and the silver greys; but il is not impossible that,
with little help from the democrats, a national
wing may be elected over a null6er,
Mr.. Phoenix, one Of our own city delegation in.
Congress, is spoken of as man who, il he can
bring the silver greys up to the scratch, will secure
the support OF the old hunkers Of the democratic
party, in preferen 10 Prince John or even Hamil
ton Fish. II is useless to say word Of the charac
ter, influence, and popularity Of Mr.. Phoenix in
New York city; and as we think it would be judi
| cous TO put down Sewardsm in New York State
before the spring elections. we trus, the Legisa-
ture will send man with national endorsement
to the Senate, and not twin brother Of Seward
| or political cousin Gov. Fish Is probably good
Union conservative, but If he is to be persu AIDED to
make any concessions Of nationality Ia deference
10 that higher law party, junction OF the con-
stfvetlyes, upon some other man, wings and de-
mocrats, we have reason 10 believe would be high
" satisfactory TO the administration and the coun-
| try.
OF course, no man would require Mr.. Fish to.
follow the example OF Mr. Phoenix Ia signing the
| Congressional antisgitanon circular; bat there
ought TO be a distinct understanding, whether he
10 TO &c considered a Seward whg or a nationak
wing. Upon that point we should say, IL would be
expdient te have an understanding.
The tarlh has bad trial in the House to day.
and the experiment Of lacking IL on to another bill
was izzle; second experiment, to log.rol il
IN with rivers and harbors, &c, equally fruit
lees. But Il was not a fair teet-lO3 10 10
IS not the division Of the House upon the
merits OF the tariff question. A reasonable
bill OF advances upon the schedules OF 40
might, indeed, be earned through the House. IL
there were only time enough TO bring the cotton.
woollen, coal and iron men 10 a fair understanding
The chances for any notifications of the duties.
asthey stand, are, however, growing "small by
degrees, and beautifully less" every day-for
very day shortens the time, and congresses a
anger proportion OF other business into the short
interval TO the adjournment. Mr.. Hunters bill.
when " SIMPLY measure to carry out more ef-
fectually the act Of 46 is about the best hat we
can hone for. nnleas anna hesnera,a .a... 4.