The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-09


ws. New ports of entry delivery created by law at
POINTS remote from the ordinary channels OF direct 10
reign must be provided with officers paid by
annual salaries other emouments expenses Of col
lecting the customs New buildings must be furnished,
warmed lighted and kept in state Of repair and clean
ness under the direction OF suitable officers with proper
compensation. All charges of such character are now
betrayed out Of the appropriation for the expenses OF col
Gently rapidly diminished these charges are daily in
The public debt on the LIST July 1867, was $40 o6o,
3S6 co. Since that time there has been paid the OF
$3.50 232 3s-leayng the public debt at this time $685.
les 54 81 Since the Sd March last there has been paid
az tho public debt 4S78 S77 S. The details are shown
by the statements marked o, and g. The department
continued the purchase OF stock as long as the law and
proper regard for the public interest would JUSTLY Inc
debt which had number Of years TO run, whilst the pay
ment Of the large sums from the treasury required Tor
this purpose aordng relief TO the commercial and
other interests Of country, which then struggling
TO ward on the revusion which finally came upon them
At that time not seriously apprehended that the re-
yuson would 80 greatly affect the and business OF
the country but looking even to the most unfavoraole
result that could happen, was thought that the treasury,
il compelled TO resort to loan 10 meet temporary de-
fciency that might occur, would suffer no injury from
having the character OF the loan changed from debts fall
interest and which could be redeemed at the pleasure
Of the department.
ways occasions more Of distress among the people
The consequence is that the public mind is directed TO
the for relief and 70 that branch
of II which has charge OF its financial operations There
are many persons who seem TO think that it Is the
duty of the government TO provide relief in all cases
of trouble and distress They do not stop to inquire into
the power which has been conferred by the people
upon their agents, or the objects for which
that powers TO be exercised Their inquiry is limited to
the simple fact Of existing embarrassments, and they
other agency capable of aordng relief and their
cessies their judgments, force them to the conclu
sion that the government not only can but ought to
leye them. moment Of calm reflection must satisfy
every that such is not the true theory OF our govern
ment 1t is Of limited powers, to be exercised for
specified purposes. Its operations political and financial
should be conducted within these prescribed limits in that
that will most certainly effect the object for
which the power conferred. In doing this should
be the policy is unquestonably the duty, of the gov
eminent conduct its affairs as to confer the greatest
good upon the greatest number of the people This mis-
apprehension of the and duty of the government
has led TO the suggestion OF measures OF relef when
have pressed with such earnesness upon this de-
partment as to demand brief consideration of them.
private individual who finds that his income REDUCED
at feels the proprety Of bringing his expenditures
within his REDUCED means. The suggestion to such per-
son to increase his expenses would instantly be rejected
To characterize such advice as folly would not be con-
sidcred harsh unjust The estimates OF receipts into
the treasury for the present fiscal year exhibit the fact
that the income of the government will be considerably
reduced in this state of things it Is seriously urged
that expenditures should be increased for the purpose
of afording re lief to the country. Such policy would
doubtless furnish employment to large numbers OF wor
thy citizens II would require the use OF large amounts
money to be raised either by loan or the issuing OF
treasury notes and would thus afford temporary relief to
the country extent limited only by the discretion of
the government in this unauthorized use OF the public
treasure and credit But where shall look for the
TO do this in the constitution What provision or
that instrument authorizes such polcyf Inc absence OF
satisfactory reply these inquiries is an uDanswerable
argument to the suggestion In the discharge Of its eg
innate functions the government Is required to expend
large OF money in the building Of vessels of
the erection Of custom houses and other public budngs
the preparation of the defences OF the country and in
rety Of other WAYS which give employment labor and
from the treasury the money which has been collect
ed from the people for these purposes There might and
would be just OF complaint the government,
der the pressure Of either imaginary real monetary
crisis should suddenly stop these extensive operations
and by throwing large numbers of employees out OF ser
vice add the distress and suffering which the revusion
had already created Being engaged in the prosecution of
necessary and legitimate works for the public service,
would be the policy and duty OF the government to con-
tinue their prosecution, though 1t should occasion
the necessity of increasing it, available means by some
extraordinary measure. The dscontinuance Of such
works has not been and is not now contemplated,
and TO this extent the country may look with
propriety TO the operations OF the government
for relief: There are other public works OF
commenced. temporary postponement Of them will
violate existing contracts will deprive no one OF en-
poyment which he is authorized TO look: will infct
wrong upon any portion of the people but will enable the
10 realize its means In advance OF its expen
Gre o. sna 'o ." pSss IN
regardu alike OF the just claims of the people and the
protection of the treasure and credit OF the government
the approval Of the country and II upon
such principles Is proposed to conduct the financial de-
par,ment OF the government in the present crisis.
As a OF relief TO the country II is proposed 10
the tariff return TO high protective system
regarded by the surest mode OF extrcatng the
country from cmbarrassments and afordng immediate
as well permanent relief TO the public distress. The
people already suffering from Distress and the propo
s,ion seeks 10 diminish their suffering by adding 10 their
burdens The earnestness and ability which have been
brought 10 the support OF this proposition demand that its
merits should be examined with some care and without
attempting elaborate exposition OF question which
has heretofore commanded much OF the public attention,
deemed proper to refer 10 some OF the considerations
which render the adoption Of such policy unwse and
improper.
The theory Of the protec,lonists is ths-That under
low tariff the importations Of foreign manufac
lures encouraged and being brought into the
lower prices than they be produced, the
petition with the domestic manufacturer Is runous TO his
business The remedy Is, TO raise the duties upon the TO-
reign article to such point that either il will be excud-
ed and thus give the domestic manufacturer the entire
home market or else II will be so increased in price by
the additional duty enable the domestic manufactur
To receive rcmunerniipg price for his productions.
That the effect would be temporarily for the benefit the
manufacturer conceded, but that the ultimate effect
would he alike injurious Ia him well as all other interests
IL equally clear. In looking upon the operation
OF relief must consider us effects not only upon
the domestic manufacturer but also upon the consumer
the increased duty neither dim nsbes the mportaons
nor increases the price, s manifest that no advantage
has been derived by the domestic manufacturer II the
should be 10 exclude the foreign article then the
domestic manufacturer monopozes the home market,
and commands his own price. The relief he needs IL
higher price for his goods and a matter 81 course
unrestraned he will then be by the laws Of competition
he Will 50 raise his prices as TO remedy the evil OF low
prices Of which he had complained. The effect upon the
u clear lie must pay the increased price thus
put upon the article Of consumption. Nor does stop
there Under the existing state things when he has pur
chased the article he has not only furnished himself with
the goods he needed at the reduced price but at the
time has paid into the treasury the tai required Of him for
the support Of government The measure Of relief pro
posed by the procctoulss increases the price he Is
qured for his goods and where the foreign article
u excluded leaves his tax unpaid This deficiency IN the
must be supplied, aud he called upon 10 pay
from his other The proposed measure Of relief
thus imposes uTon him these additional burdens, IA the
increased Price OF his goods and the additional price nc
required a. ray IT, however, the incrcased duty should
not exclude the importation Of the article, but simply adj
the price remunerating point " the domestic
manufacturer the effect upon the consumer would be TO
require him pay the additional price not only upon the
foreign article but also upon the domestic manufacture
The Of taxation put upon him for the benefit
pectyely OF the treasury and the domestic manufacturer
will depend upon the relative proportion OF the foreign
and domestic article he may consume 10 no event can
the Increased duty operate 70 the advantage and relief of
the manufacturer except by corresponding injury "a the
The amount Of benefit conferred and injury
sustained by the proposed relief would depend
uJon the relative number Of manufacturers and consumers
Of the articles upon which the increased duties laid
and the number OF consumers exceed the number Of
manufacturers would the injury sustained exceed the
benefit conferred. policy 50 partial and unjust IN its