The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-05

alton? 10 every siesnibod other
water craft TO be boarded every few miies by some
one Of these officials insolensly demanding: pay
science TO be found to execute these works! The |
honorable Senator obviously has no confidence IN
the Corps of Geographical Engineers, He tells
us they are fond of fashionable life, and do not go
out nd lodge the sand bars to be food for ms
quitos and other insects as voracious "a P,iti'
clan But will one of these corps, organized by
State, or a combination of States. be any more
proof than that of the Uuited States?
Will they be any less likely to betakr themselves
to ball rooms and fashionable soirees! i ain not
prepared, the honorable Senator seems to be, TO
blow up the United States Corps 81 Typographical
Engineers as of no use, nor am prepared to be:
lieve that corps organized by the States will be
any more efficient than, even half as efficient as,
the accomplished officers of the United States
army.
do not understand how the honorable Senator
is to get mis- machinery into operation take II
for granted be contemplates something practical.
display himself and his subject before the Country.
| do not understand that the Senator proposes t.
Dust the United States OF all jurisdiction he has
not brought an action OF ejec'ment against the
General Government, quo ad hoe; but, ON the con-
trafy, ] understood from the concluding portion
OF his remarks that in the penitude OF his conde-
scension. he is willing to receive proper cnntri-
button for ths great national object from he strong
box of "Uncle Sam" at least until his scheme
could 60 into operation
But let US attend to the modus 0perdndt OF this
scheme We will suppose that Kentucky and Mis-
souri, enter into compact to improve much OF the
Mississippi as lies between those States and that
they establish and levy tariff of tonnage dutcs TO
obtain the requisite means to carry on the work
that Tennessee and Arkansas do the same thing
as to 80 much Of the river as lies between those
States, and Mississippi and louisiana likewise,
and then Louisiana alone as to so much OF the
river as is wholly within her limits How are these
Contemplate the erection of forts 10 compel steam
boats to come to and pay toll at the various
points Of exaction! We will suppose the honorable
Senator to be in command of one of these forts-he
halls steamboat and says "HalIo. Mr.. Captain
there 10 little toll due here; please call at my log
cabin and settle" What would the captain do?
Why, rush by in spite of any fire the honorable
Sena tor could open "on his rear" What nexG
Why, the Senator would have to call around him a
fleet Of revenue cutters. and give chase to the de
linquent. No one can doubt his quail fcations
admiral, for we all know he contemplated not
lung since, taking the chief command, not only Of
the army, but OF the navy OF the United States,
though he happened to slip up at Baltimore
PITY tits tits true! But, as have said the admi
"Nlississppi;' would not the craft of friend be
quite as likely to be Pierced by Polk stalk as the
fugitive steamboat! Heaven forbid such an expo.
sure! Such exalted statesman ship should be
served for SO, and not be put 30 wantonly at ha-
gard!
But, Mr.. President, have little bit of col
loquy to hold with the honorable Senator a sub
ect of deeply interesting import to bis constituents
and the whole Northwest, and here institute the
inquiry: Who is to pay these tonnage duties in
this ill advised scheme is carried into effect?
We will suppose that farmer in northern Illinois
raises five hundred bushels OF wheat which he sends
to the New York market to obtain means 10 pay
for his land, or support his family. or both. On
arrival at Chicago, some tax gatherer or publican
Gas they were called in old times) makes grab
at It in the nature of tonnage duties, to improve the
of that place; at the st. Clair Flats another
publican makes another grab to open a channel
there; ut Buffalo another grab. for the Of the
harbor at that place; and, finally, at Albany ano-
Their grab, to subdue the overslaugh below that city
How much Of the wheat Of the poor farmer would
remain after running the gauntlet of all these tax
gatherers, and after being subjected TO all these
exactions? Or, if the farmer of northern middle
Illinois chooses to ship his wheat to New York, via
New Orleans, how much will remain after being
taxed to improve the harbor OF St Louis; TO clear
the Sings and sawyers out OF the Mississippi, from
St. LOUIS to New Orleans and even to clear out and
deepen Of the mouths Of the Great Father OF
Waters"
The honorable Senator from Michigan (NIr.
CAss) seemed to have some just notion the Ssh.
ject. He ordinarily knows what he is about; and
that il more than can be said Of every Senator. He
asked, emphatcally, where 10 the burden to fall?
can tell the honorable Senator Mr.. DoUaLAs)
that it ia to fall the necks of the farmers of the
West and Northwest. l care not which way the
freightis going-whether up or down. If going
down to the Ultimate market--such as -four, wheat,
corn pork, beef, butter, cheese, lard, hemp wool,
tobacco, and other agricultural products-I can
demonstrate that every smiling OF these duties IL
to come out of the pockets Of the farmers of the
West and Northwest. And can demonstrate also,
that every shilling levied upon freights the other
way-such tea, coffee, sugar, SALT iron, woollen
and cotton goods, and ten thousand other articles
of consumption will also come out Of the pockets
of these same farmers. Yes, cir; the pre- emp
TONERS and the log cabin boys thus be visited
by the" hand of oppression and taxation! The hon
orable Senator has proposed to 60 into every log
cabin in the Northwest with his system Of tonnage
duties, and to levy them the ha I'd. listed and
hard-working boys of that region Of country.
And now let me recur again for a moment to
freight from the point of production to the ulti
mate market; as, for example, wheat raised in
northern middle Illinois, to be transmitted and
cold in New York; who will pay the proposed ton
mage duties? Who will have to meet the contem-
plated exactions at Chicago. st. Clair Flats Buff
falo, and Albany? 1 say, unhesitatingly. the pro
Queer will have to pay it; or rather it will, with
other charges, be taken out of the value or price
Of his wheat at the ultimate market, whether that
be found at New York, Boston, or else W here The
reason is, that the northwestern producer will,
when he arrives at the ultimate market have TO
compete with the growers Of wheat elsewhere, who
would not be liable to any such charges. lay it
down a universal law of trade, that where an
article comes from two different to one and
the same market, in without burden, and
in the other with, in the latter the producer
loses the charge, duty. burden what ever il may
be. 1t comes out Of the price. This is inevitable;
otherwise the producer, not subject to char es,
would underbid and en- gross the market
TO BE CONTINUED.