Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-06-12


the community, who are as much entitle
TO the benefit Of the measures of govern
J ment and to the benefit Of equal legslauo
} as these corporations
| object to it again, because this mod
Of special legislation will prevent reyisa
OF the tariff; it will prevent the tariff fror
being revised and reduced to the revenu
standard, thereby securing fair, equal
and just revision Of that measure. Can
not any man with half an eye see tina
those who are now pressing forward thi.
railroad scheme here, represent the odd.
and ends of all sorts Of parties? Here
are large number Of wings believing in
the policy of protection. Every body
knows that the wings are in the main a
protective tariff party; and that if they
are allowed to relieve themselves of the
burden Of taxation on railroad iron, III
which they feel an interest, when we wan;
Their aid to assist us in general revision
of the tariff, they will decliae giving it.
Pass this measure, and they have gotten
all they desire.
And then they will leave those who are
.prctectionists here, and who 60 for
free trade, or as near an approach TO it as
possible, to help Themselves as best they
may. The Democratic party is said to have
some sixty or seventy majority i'll this
hall, but who believes it? l do not think
there is a 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 settle it. You will ind that among
the democratic party there are a great
many northern tariff democrats, and a
great many now calling themselves demo-
Gratis, who used to belong to the old wing
party, who have quit that party on some
pretext or other, and come among lis with
all their old whig notions on this question !;
daughter and whenever the pinch OF
the game come they will be the first
men to desert, and leave the old-line
Democrats to bear the brunt of the con-
test.
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 rail
road iron, let US hol y them long enough to
see if we cannot make them of some SER
vice to US, in bringing about the result we
desire. And, finally. am opposed 10 the
remission of the duty on railroad iron, be-
cause it discriminates between the manu-
facturers OF iron. Let all persons engaged
in this species Of manufacture stand OIL
platform OF equality. Ii railroad iron is
to be free of duty. then make all other
iron free of duty also. Do not discriml-
nate in favor of the manufacturer Of the
one and against the manufacturer 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 defcien-
cy bill, which will soon claim our consid-
Grafton.
Sir, of late every little town is setting
up claim for post office, marine hospi-
tai, 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 whtth-
er it terminates in 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 appropra
tons now in the Deficiency bill. These
abuses las | consider them) have been
going on for some years, aud it is well
enough to call attention OF the people aud
the attention of the administration to them,
to see if they cannot be corrected. Re-
formation in these matters is greatly need
ed, aud unless that reformation shall take
place, our party will be held responsible
for them. These abuses have had their
origin under preceding administrations
but as we are now in power, under the
flag of economy, retrenchment and reform,
it becomes US TO carry out our doctrines,
and TO apply a corrective to the evil. l
begin with place called Passamaquaddy,
in Maine, and | see by this document
which hold in nay hand (being executive
document No. 90 OF the 33d Congress.)
that it has had appropriated S36.044 for
custom house Improvements, including the
cost of the site and repairs, prior to July
1, 1858, while the whole revenue collec-
ted in the year 1858, was $19,7l0 80,
and the expenses Of collecting it S16,-
643 So.
Now, sir, 1t strikes me that that is rather
a poor specuation--$36, 900 for custom
house, $4,000 Of revenue, and SIG. 900
tor collecting it
Here is another place. Marlborough,
in the same State. $2,247 have been
spent upon the custom house, aud the
whole revenue collected in 1853 was
$1,774 %. and a, cost of $4,871. -
laughter.
Again. here is Wiscasset, in Maine;
expenditure for custom house $4,000;
revenue collected in 1858, S265 % and at
a cost of $4,973 06 to get that. Laugh
ter.
Here also is Kennebunk, in Maine, Sis
SIS have been spent upon the CUSTOM
house. The revenue collected in 1853
was nothing, and it cos. $573 to collect il.
Laughter.
Mr.. Breckenridge. Where do you get
this information?
Mr.. Letcher. get it from the state
ment Of Mr.. Guthrie. the present Secre-
tary Of the Treasury, furnished IN answer
to resolution introduced by the gentle
man from North Carolina, Mr.. Cling
man He says So and suppose you will
agree that it is to be relied on.
Here is Newburyport, iE Massachu.
sets, where $23 1873 so have been spent
|