Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1855-01-17
From our washington correspondent.

cial em6arvassnaents- of the day-Homestead
bill defeated Steamships betsoeen San Francisco
against KnoD Nothings- Virginia Election
Duty Of the DenpocrGcy-Death Of Mr.. Norris
European Neacs-Sale Of Cuba. q
Monday the 9Th inst. being the anniversary of the
battle of New Orleans celebrated in this City
by Convention of the old soldiers of 1872 Several
hundred of them were here, and the procession to
the Presidents mansion presented quite an imposing
appearance. To these veterans of the second war
of independence it was most delightful occasion,
recalling to their recollections the through
which they passed forty years ago. Their battles
We're all fought over again. The object of the Con-
ventIon was to urge upon Congress the proprety of
making additional donations of land to them and
their comrades in arms for their military services.
1t is settled principle of our government to make
liberal donations of land to those who have volun-
teered in the countrys Defence and if Congress has
not already done justice TO these old defenders, it
should not hesitate day in doing 1t is known
however that this Convention gotten up princi-
pally through the instrumentality of bounty land
and claim agents i'll this City, and that their interests
will be especially subserved by any legislation in be-
half of the old soldiers. These harpies always
ready to take advantage of the beraty of Congress
and the generosity of the country.
The subject of the tariff has not yet been taken
up, but its consideration will be urged upon the
House at an early day. AS the committee of Ways
and Means have one plan and the Secretary of the
Treasury another, it is questionable whether either
will succeed. The Wings and few Democrats will
endeavor to carry Mr.. Guthrie's plan through, be-
it proposes to admit dyestuffs and raw mate
Eials generally used n!manufac turing free of duty,
and to that extent subserves the interests of the
manufacturers This class is always ready to urge
the Importance of special legislation in their favor,
and hence the earnestness with which they have
seized upon Mr.. Guthrics recommendations. 1t is
difficult to why this interest should receive the
special consideration of Congress, and be exempted
from bearing its proper share of the public burdens
and hence the Discrimination of large majority of
the Democratic party to endorse the Secrearys pan
The committee of Ways andi Means have taken the
principles of the tariff of 1916 their guide and
propose general reduction of duties without add
ing materially to the number of articles the free
list If neither plan succeeds, it is said bill will
be introduced to make average reduction of twen
ty or twenty-five per cent on the rates now paid,
and this may possibly be the only mode in which
the wishes of the Democratic party can be carried
out.
1t is amusing to notice the various remedies pro-
posed by Wing politicians and the Wing press to
afford relief to the present financial pressure, all
based upon notifications or rather radical changes
f the revenue system. n high tariff to check i'm
portatons and foster special interests at the expense
of the people they say will put stop to overtrading
and end to the expectation of the precious metals
Thus they propose TO foster manufactures at the eX
pense of the commercial interests; but then they
uphold commerce by means of navigation laws and
other cXpedients of the sort. The favorite
idea of Wing statesmen is to push up particular in
tcreStS with one hand, while they pulling them
down indirectly with the other and all at the expense
of the people for the benefit Of certain favored class
Why not let the business of the country regu-
late ITSELF subject alone to the laws of trade? Gov
eminent cannot interfere in Individual enterprise
without causing such pcrturbatons in trade will
certainly in the end, work evils greater by far than
the benefits at first accruing 1t is the evil of the
day to look too much to the government for aid and
depend too little individual enterprise. If this
tendency is not eradicated from the minds of the peo
pie, centralized government must be the result !;
and thus complete revolution in our beautiful re-
publican system be accomplished.
The House of Representatives has devoted three
days of the present week almost exclusively to the
consideration of bill to amend the act passed at
the last session of Congress graduating the price of
the public lands with the amendment of MIR. Daw-
son, being his new homestead bill to sell the land in
limited quantities to actual settlers on five years
credit at fourteen and half cents per acre. After
considerable discussion and various amendments the
whole bill was rejected, and thus the homestead in
this shape received its quietus. Iii probable, how
ever that it will come up again in other shape.
Mr.. Latham, of California made speech on Tues
day urging the establishment of Steamship line
between San Francisco and Shanghae, the govern
ment to subsdzc the line literally in the shape of
a contract to carry the mails The establishment Of
such line would probably increase our trade with
China at first but, as it wouu create monopoly.
it would probably lessen the total amount of that
trade in the end by discouragng the efforts of ind
vidual enterprise. few years only will elapse be-
fore such line will be commercial necessity and
then the aid of government will not be needed on
the contrary it would be felt interference with
healthy individual competition
The Senate has spent the greater part of the week
in the consideration of the bill to Ietorm the judi
cary system of the United States. The business of
the Supreme Court and also of some of the Circuit
Courts has become great and accumulated to such
an extent, that some change in the system has be-
come unavoidable Various plans have been pro-
posed and discussed, discharge the Judges of
the Supreme Court from Circuit Court duties 50 that
they might devote their attention exclusively to the
duties of the Supreme Court; but this plan has been
rejected Final action has not yet been reached on
this matter.
1t is said but do not know upon what authority,
that the Democratic members OF the Senate are to
hold meeting at early day to express their views
heresy. 1 believe they are unanimously against
effect form of government and building up an
irresponsible Olgarchy in its stead. The organza-
ton consists of several degrees of Lodges the high
est of which have the fewest numbers yet this gives
law to and controls all those subordinate to it. A
few individuals, therefore, through this society, will
exercise despoc control the interests of the
country-irresponsibe individuals who plot and plan
in secret to carry out their own selfish purposes
The State election in Virginia next Spring attracts
much attention here The Know-Nothngs have
gained some foothold in that State, and by amalga-
mating with the Wing party hope to effect the de-
feat of Mr.. Wise. The Democracy of Virginia owe
to themselves and to their history to unite in
solid phaanx and put down the old enemy in this
new and dangerous disguise. Let them rally in sup
port of the nominees of their Convention and those
leaders who now hang back will be compelled to 60
to work and labor for the of their principles