Weekly North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1858, 1857-02-04
c3RREspoHDEHcE OF THE STANDARD.
WAsHrNeroN, Jan. II, 1857.

referred 10 the committee OF the WhOie mouse on the
state Of the unon SO that the debate thereon n-
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 sgnal for taking up the bill to amend
the asif, and this really important measure is now
before the House for its consideration and action
Another week may see the close ofthe debate there
on and then the House will be ready to vote upon
the many amendments that will be offered 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 on The different class
es as they were fixed by the tariff Of 1896 The
articles thus transferred to the free list mostly
such as are used in manufacturing, either the raw
material dye-stns and the like, and the bill is there
fore most acceptable to the nuac:uring interests.
The project of the minority Of the committee, pre-
sented 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 sub
jcct o,thc same duty. The principle he lays down
is that articles of prime necessity not grown in this
country, the proper subjects for moderate taxa
tion 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 view, yet Mr.. Boyces proposition
hardly hope to meet with the favorable action Of
Congress. The observation applies to Mr.
Le,chvrs plan, which will be sustained by the De-
mocrats alone. The plan of the majority Of the
committee has but one 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 by
the next Congress. Among the amendments offered
by individual members find one making sugar free
Of duty, and another, offered by Pennsylvania,
to retain the duty of thirty per cent. 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 prospect Of
reducing the protection enjoyed, is followed by
some demonstration in the halls of Congress in its
favor. The Senate committee on 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 Biger has entered sort of protest in behalf of
Pennsylvania interests.
The bill amend the act to promote the efficicn-
cy of the Navy, has passed the House by q large
majority. 1t purports to be a measure 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
lis real character. The retired officers have claInor
ously demanded fair trial. The oil provides for
Court Of Inquiry to investigate publicly and open
iy 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 case 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 ofe, ed resolution, which has been
adopted, instructins the committee on post Offices
and post roads to enquire into the pruprety of
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 United States has also passed the House
with some amendments, requiring its return to the
Senate Fips levies and Spanish quarters, will here
after be legal tenders for five ten and twenty cents
only 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 Sem
ate on Monday by vote Of 90 to IS against the le-
galty Of his election. The decision Of the Senate
amounts 10 this: that when the constitution of q
State directs the election of Senator to be made in
joint Convention, q majority Of both branches must
be present in their organized capacty-that quo
rum Of the convention must consist Of quorum OF
both houses. The Legislature of Iowa is now in
session. and there is doubt fMr. Harans reelvc.
ton to ill the vacancy. In deciding his the
OacK HcpuOlicanS voice UNANIMOUSLY III his laVOr,
while the other Senators were divided, showing at
least that the decision the part of the Democrats
was an impartial one.
| The balance of the week has been consumed by
the Senate in the alton OF the revolutionary
! clai bill, which was postponed yesterday until
next Congress, thus killing for the present Some
progress has also been made with the appropriation
bills in the Senate, aud large number of private
| claims disposed of.
The select committee appointed to investigate
corrupt combinations to procure the passage OF bllt
through Congress, is progressing with its inquiries
Some of the witnesses. it is said refuse TO give ties
| timony duplicating individuals. Yesterday an order
I was adopted by the House instructing the Speaker
to issue precept commanding the sergeant. arms
| to arrest one Chester, who had been summoned L
appear before the committee but had not presented
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, il the nves
| tigation should fail this account to pass bill
making it contempt for witness to refuse to Civ
| testimony before a committee of investigation. Re
cusant witnesses then bc put in Jail, If they
| fuse to disclose what they may know of corrup
I practices by members Of Congress or others. Il
! the case Of Edwards, he admits that he made th
! proposition to Col. Paine, but asserts that it wa
done in q joke-made in pickwickian sense, it
presumed, to mean something nothing according
to the manner in which the proposition was re
ceived.
mentioned in my last the possibility that Co
| Forney could not be elected to the Senate fror
Pennsylvania, yet it was not supposed that blac
Republican would defeat him. Yet such is the fac
Threo rnen,hprc of tho T