Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1857-03-04
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE STANDARD.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 1857

deal of the attention of the House of Representatives
during the week now closing, and yesterday final
action was taken upon the subject by that body.
Numerous amendments were offered and voted down
by the Committee of the Whole, the majority having
evidently determined to take the bill reported by
the majority of the Committee of Ways and Means
without alteration. One or two immaterix amend
ments only were made to it. The bill changes the
present tariff by adding very large number of
tices to the free list, such used by manufac-
turers; no reduction of the rates Of duty is made
The bill is, therefore, for the especial benefit of
the manufacturing interests while effort whatev-
er is made to relieve the mass of the people from
any Of the burdens of taxation. Such bill cannot
pass the Senate, and any alteration amendment
it may make can hardly be considered in the House
at ALL it is safe to assume that no modification of
the tariff can be effected at the present session.
During the five minutes debate Mr.. Craige offered
an amendment proposing duty Of ten per cent. on
all articles of importation bullion and specie alone
excepted, which he explained as fully that length
of time would permit That would be strictly
tariff for revenue, falling upon all interests alike and
at the same time producing quite sufficient to su
port an economical administration of the Govern
ment. Such reduction of the tariff would add to
the commercial and agricultural prosperity of the
country, by removing portion of the burdens they
now bear; and it would be the most efficient means
IN driving corruption out Of every branch of the
Government full Treasury is great evil in
many ways and should be carefully guarded against.
Congress to reduce the current receipts into the
Treasury, has already caused the revival of two
quondam Whig schemes for its depletion. Mr.. Bell
mas offered in the Senate, bill to distribute among
the States that have received donations of public
lands, the proceeds Of the sales within q period of
years; and Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio has intmated his
intention, in case change in the tariff is effected
to Introduce bill to deposit with the States the
surplus in the Federal Treasury, to be returned to
the General Government when called for These
schemes IN, 81, I,,k 7
mention them here to show that the old heterodox
principles of protection, distribution and so on, have
liked place in the hearts of certain politicians,
whatever political conrusions may overthrow old
party organizations and lead TO new ones.
On Monday, q large number of Internal Improve
ment bills were reported by the House Committee
OF Commerce, and referred under the rule, to the
Committee Of the Whole. The bill for the benefit
of the Cape Fear River is among them. They may
be taken up sngly and disposed of, or they NAV be
combined into one BILL which is most probable. An
effort may be made to take some of them up on
Monday.
The House has passed Mr. Grows BILL introduced
some time ago. wiping out every thing in the way
OF legislation that has been done in Kansas, and
ProVldng for new organization. 1t amounts to
nothing, as the Senate has already disposed of it.
MIR. Green, the new Senator from Missouri, stated
that the Objectionable laws had already been repeal
ed by the Legislature of Kansas, and the latest
counts from the Territory indicate that all parties
that the difficulties and dssensons substantially
at an end. Even the Abolitionsts of Lawrence have
ceased agitation, and begin to have a care for the
material interests Of the Territory, and especially for
their own. Such state of things is exceedingly
unsatisfactory to the Eastern Aboitonists as it
furnishes them with political capital but it
is very satisfactory to the country at large.
The Senate has passed the bill increasing the pay
of the officers of the Army, in precisely the form it
passed the House Of Representatives. The increase
is considerable one, being twenty dollars q month
on the pay OF every officer, and an addition of ten
cents day on the ration, increasing it from twenty
to thirty cents. This increase applies also to the
officers of the marine corps 1t is proposed to make
similar increase to the compensation of officers Of
the Navy, but no bill to that effect has vet been
offered or passed in either House.
The bill fixing the value of. certain foreign coins
was amended by the Senate, and is now law. The
amendment provides tnat for two years the new
cent coin shall be paid at the mint in exchange for
the Old Spanish coinage at its nominal value This
maintains the present received value Of these coias
and gives an opportunity for their gradual with.
drawa, and for their exchange for own coinage
The exciting event of the week is, Of course, the
report Of the House Corruption Committee. The
rumors OF corrupt practices on the part of members
OF Congress- so literally circulated of late, have been
substanttated with respect to four of them at least
Messrs Mattson, Edwards and Gilbert, Of New
York, and Welch, of Connecticut, all shriekers for
freedom and Fremont are convicted by the Com
mttee of selling, offering to SELL their votes for
consideration. There may be others also implicated
in these dark Transactions but the proof is against
these four only. Witnesses who know anything of
corruption on the part Of members of Congress, are
always reluctant to testify and evade giving positive
evidence by every species of equivocation. Hence
it is always most difficult matter to convict
member of corruption, although circumstances may
oe conclusive of his guilt. The Committee recon-
mend the expulsion of these members, and the con-
sideraton of the matter is set down for Wednesday
next. From the demonstration made by their party
friends on Thursday, it is probable that the most
strenuous efforts will be made to shield them from
the consequences of vote by the House, and some
suppose even that every species of parliamentary
tactics will be resorted to rather than permit vote
to be taken. In that event it will be impossible to
get through even the ordinary business Of the
sion and Mr.. Buchanan may find it necessary to
convene extra session about the first of June
next The possibility of such o result is already
topic of discussion
1t was supposed two or three days since that Mr..
Buchanan had definitely fixed upon the members of
his Cabinet The programme stood thus: Gen.
Cass for Secretary Of State; Mr. Cobb, of Georgia,
Secretary of the Treasury Mr.. Jacob Thompson, of
Mississippi Secretary of the Interior Mr.. Aaron ".
Brown, of Tennessee, Secretary of the Navy; Mr..
Floyd, Secretary of War; Mr.. j. Clancy Jones'
Postmaster General; and Mr.. Toucey, Attorney
General To-day, however, it is stated that MIR.
Jones has declined. The truth find to be this {:
that Mr.. Jones has written to Mr.. Buchanan not to
permit himself to be embarrassed on his account-to
include him in the Cabinet not as he may see
proper. An influence is at work in Pennsylvania,
insisting that no Cabinet officer should be taken
from that State, and Mr.. Jones has proper,