Washington sentinel., 1854-05-27

SHotaSJ GA SiooSSo Wuo uoc lfOuy W bCai
the burden of. the tax which the tariff imposes,
while the owners Of stock in a railroad corpo-
ration is to be exempted from the iron tax.
The plough, the axe, the chains used blythe farm
err the anvil, the vice, the hammer of the black
smith, the chisel, the anger, the adze of the
carpenter and cooper-all, all are to bear the
iron tax. Nobody ever thinks of organizing
committee to bore Congress for their relief.
The laboring men of the nation cannot afford
to hire agents for such purpose, but corpora
lions can afford to do so. Corporations are
objects Of special concern, and the wealthy
owners of railroad stocks and contractors are
to increase their wealth by running their loco
motives over untaxed rails.
Now, sir, if this proposition had merit in it,
why is it that corporations alone are selected?
Why should not the legislation be uniform and
general? Why should it not be made to ope-
rate on all classes of the community alike
Why should corporations alone have the ben
eft of it, while individual members of the
community who may be very little able to bear
the tax, are made to bear the entire burden?
In addition to all this, sir, as is suggested by
a friend at my side, Mr.. BREcKINRIDGE, Of
Kentucky, the remission Of the tax is for the
benefit Of railroad contractors who have al
ready made their agreements to furnish railroad
iron, and have received it since July, 1852,
and are to be in receipt of more between this
undertake by its legislative action now to pro.
vide for that special class, and to adopt a sys-
tenn Of special legislation for their benefit, un-
equal and unjust in itself towards other classes
Of the community, who are as much entitled
to the benefit of the measures of government
and to the benefit of equal legislation as these
corporations?
| object to it again, because this mode of
special legislation will prevent revisal of the
tariff; it will prevent the tariff from being re-
vised and reduced to the revenue standard,
thereby securing fair, equal, and just revision
of that measure. Cannot any man with half
an eye see that those who are now pressing
forward this railroad scheme here, represent
the odds and ends of all sorts of parties? Here
are large number of wings believing in the
policy of protection Everybody knows that
the wings are in the main protective tariff
party; and that if they are allowed to relieve
themselves of the burden Of taxation on rail.
road iron, in which they feel an interest when
we want their aid to assist us in a general re-
vison of the tariff, they will decline giving it.
Pass this measure, and they have gotten all
they desire.
And then they will leave those who are anti
protectionists here and who go for free trade, or
rs near an approach to itas possible, to help
themselves as best they may. The democratic
party is said to have some sixty or seventy ma
jority in this hall, but who believes it? do not
think there is reliable democratic majority here.
You will find that whenever this question of
revision of the tariff comes up there will be no
democratic majority here to settleit. You will
find that among the democratic party there are
tor, A., n
great many noir calling themselves democrats,
who used to belong to the old whig party, who
have quit that party on some pretext or other,
and come among us with all their old whig no
tons on this question laughter and when
ever the pinch of the game comes they will be
the first men to desert, and leave the oldline
democrats to bear the brunt of the contest
Now, we Of the south, want this whole tariff
policy revised, and we are likely to be hard run
for votes and when these gentlemen want to
get rid of duty on railroad iron, let us hold
them long enough to see if we cannot make
them of some service to US, in bringing about
the result we desire. And, finally, / am opposed
to the remission of the duty on railroad iron
because it discriminates between the manufac-
turers Of iron. Let all persons engaged in this
species of manufacture stand on n platform of
equality. If railroad iron is to be free of
duty, then make all other iron free of duty
also. Do not discriminate in favor of the man
ufacturer of the one and against the manufac-
turer Of the other. Having said more on this
subject than / designed when commenced, ]
shall now proceed to submit some remarks on
the appropriations for custom-houses, as find
them embodied in the deficiency bill, which
will soon claim our consideration.
Sir, of late every little town is setting up
claim for post Office, marine hospital, and
custom-house. Every place wants them, and
every place is becoming an important importing
town nowadays; and we shall soon have ports
of entry at the head Of every canal, no matter
whetherit terminates in a swamp, or any other
equally inaccessible place.
Now, sir, propose to call attention to the
appropriations which have been made for these
objects, and to the appropriations now in the
Deficiency bill. These abuses las / consider
them) have been going on for some years, and
it is well enough to call the attention of the
people and the attention of the administration
to them. to see if they cannot be corrected.
Reformation in these matters is greatly needed,
and unless that reformation shall take place,
our party will be held responsible for them.
These abuses have had their origin under pre-
ceding administrations, but as we are now in
power, under the flag of economy, retrenchment
and reform, it becomes US to carry out ourdoc-
trines and to apply corrective to the evil.
/ begin with a place called Passamaquaddy, in
Maine, and see by this document which hold
in my hand, (being executive document No. 60
Of the 33d Congress,) that it has had appro-
priated $36,O44 for custom-house improve
ments, including the cost of the site and re-
pairs, prior to July l, 1853, while the whole
revenue collected in the year 1853, was $ls,-
7l9 80, and the expenses of collecting it Sl6,
643 So.
Now, sir, it strikes me that that is rather
poor specuation-$36,OO 900 for custom-house,
$4,000 of revenue, and $4,000 for collect
ing it
Here is another place, Marlborough, in the
same State. S2,247 have been spent upon the
custom-house, and the whole revenue collected
in 1873 was 81, IA %, and at a cost of $4,87l.
[Laughter.l
Again, here is Wiscasset, in Maine; expend-
ture for custom-house $4,000; revenue collected
in 1853, $265 25 and at a cost of $4,973 06
to get that. Laughter.
Here also sKennebunk, in Maine, Sl,575
have been 81 upon the custom-house. The
revenue collected in 1853 was nothing, and it