Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-01-31
CORRESPONDENCE OF THE STANDARD.

Congress begins to make some headway. now
that over half Of the session is gone and only gx
weeks remain. The Presidents message has been
referred to the committee of the whole house on the
state Of the union that the debate thereon Is nm
ished: yet the general politics of the country still
continue to form the burden of most of the speech
es that are delivered. The reference Of the mes
sage the signal for taking up the bill to amend
the tai M and this really important measure is now
before the House for its consideration and action
Another week may the close of the debate there
on, and then the House will be ready to vote upon
the many amendments that will be offered, some OF
which have already been presented.
The project of the majority Of the committee of
ways and means consists simply in increasing the
free list leaving the rates paid The different class
es as they were fixed by the tariff of ls46 The
articles thus transferred to the free list mostly
such as are used in manufacturing, either the raw
material dye.sus and the like and the bill is there
fore most acceptable to the nuacturing interests
The project of the minority Of the committee, pre-
scented by Mr.. Letcher provides for an average re.
duction of twenty per cent. all the classes, and
slightly alters the present classification, so as TO
still further reduce the revenue. Mr. BOyce, OF
South Carolina has also offered proposition OF his
own, to reduce the duty all articles paying over
twenty per cent, and 10 make tea and coffee SUBJ
ject to the same duty. The principle he lays down
is that articles Of prime necessity not grown in this
country, the proper subjects for moderate taxa
ton, the duty imposed on such articles operates
only to produce revenue and in no shape affords
protection to favored interest. There is much
force in this vew yet Mr.. Boyce's proposition can
hardly hope to meet with the favorable action of
Congress. The same observation applies to Mr..
Letchers plan, which will be sustained by the De-
mocrats alone. The plan of the majority Of the
committee has but feature in its favor, and that
is that it will reduce the revenue to some extent,
and therefore, if all better plans fail, this may be
carried as temporary measure, to be perfected ny
the next Congress. Among the amendments offered
by individual members find one making sugar free
of duty, and another, offered by Pennsy lvanian.
to retain the duty of thirty per cent. on iron. With
respect to the former it is urged that the duty of
thirty per cent imposed for the benefit of the sugar
planting interest has failed of its object the quantity
of sugar produced within the United States having
fallen off very greatly within the past few years
Perhaps, however, the sudden impulse likely to be
given to sugar growing by the introduction ct the
Chinese sugar cane, may cause the duty now paid
to be retained. The iron interest of Pennsylvania
is excessively sensitive, and the slightest pr sect Of
reducing the protection now enjoyed is followed by
some demonstration in the halls of Congress in its
favor The Senate committee post offices and
post roads have agreed to report bill authorizing
the Postmaster General to make contracts with rail-
roads for carrying the mails, payable in the duties
on the imported iron they may use, to which Sena-
tor Bger has entered sort of protest in behalf Of
Pennsylvania interests.
The bill to amend the act to promote the effcien-
cy of the Navy, has passed the House by large
majority. 1t purports to be a of relief to
the officers dropped and placed the reserved list
through the action of the naval retiring board, yet
it is much doubted whether such will prove to be
its real character The retired officers have clamor-
ously demanded fair trial. The oil provides for
Court of Inquiry to investigate publicly and OPEN
! ly the character and standing of these retired Off
GERS and since its passage, they begin reflect that
such public scrutiny may not result advantageous
! ly, and in that their last condition will be
! worse than the first. The bill has not yet received
the signature Of the President, but will probably do
| within the ten days.
Mr. Branch has ofie, ed resolution, which has been
adopted instructing the committee on post Offices
and post roads to enquire into the proprety of erect
ing building at Raleigh for the of the post Of
flee and The federal courts.
The bill fixing value on foreign coins in circula.
ton in the Un.cd States has also passed the House
with amendments requiring its return to the
Senate. fps. levics and Spanish quarters, will here
after be legal tenders for five, ten and twenty cents
only. A bill has been offered designed to enforce
the attendance of members at the daily sessions Of
Congress, providing for deduction of twenty five
dollars day for any absence, excepting that caused
by Sickness
The case of Mr. Harlan was decided by the Sen
ate on Monday 10y vote of 20 to Is against the le
gality of his election. The decision of the Senate
amounts to this: that when the constitution Of
State directs the election of Senator to be made il
Joint Convention, majority Of both branches mus
rum of the convention must consist of quorum o
both houses. The Legislature of Iowa is il
session, and there is doubt of Mr. Ilarans cleo
ton to fill the vacancy. In deciding his thu
black Republicans voted unanimously in his favor
while the other Senators divided, showing a
least that the decision the part of the DemocI
|. an impartial one.
The balance of the week has been consumed b,
the Senate in the consideration OF the revolutionary
cla bill, which was postponed yesterday unit
thuS i'm fnr thp
progress has also been made with the appropriation
bills in the Senate, aud large number of privat
, claims disposed Of
The select committee appointed to investgat
corrupt combinations procure the passage Of bill
through Congress, is progressing with its inquiries
Some Of the witnesses it is said, refuse to give ties
timony duplicating individuals. Yesterday orde
adopted by the House instructng the Speakc
to issue precept commanding the sergeant arm
. TO arrest one Chester who had been summoned t
appear before the committee but had not presente
himself. The enquiries of the committee take
wide range, but it is doubtful whether any discove
ries can be made. Witnesses who really know any
thing refuse to testify 1t is proposed, if the nve
tigation should fail this account to pass a bi
making it contempt for witness to refuse to Civ
testimony before a committee of investigation. r,
cusant witnesses then he put in Jail, if they r.
: fuse to disclose what they may know of corrur
:, practices by members of Congress or Others
the case of Edwards, he admits that he made tn
!, proposition to Col. Paine, but asserts that it W;
- done in joke-made in pickwickian sense, it
presumed to mean something nothing accordir
= to the manner in which the proposition was r
ceived.
i. mentioned in my last the possibility that CO
Forney could not be elected to the Senate fro
!. Pennsylvania, yet it was not supposed that bat
: Republican would defeat him. Yet such is the fac
Three members of the Pennsylvania Legislator
;, elected Democrats from strong Democratic cou
- ties voted for Simon Cameron, securing his electit
e by two majority. Here the defeat of Col. Forne
= who was Mr.. Buchanans choice, has created de-
a.. IL ;r a..