Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-02-28
CORRESPONDENTS OF THE STANDARD.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 81. 1867.


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 bin reported by
the majority of the Committee of Ways and Means
without alteration. One or two imnnte rial amend.
ments only were made to it. The bill changes the
present tariff by adding very large number of ar
tcles 10 the free list, such used bv manuac-
turers; no reduction of the rates Of duty is made
The bill Is, therefore, for the especial benefit Of
the manufacturing interests, while effort whatcv
or 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 or amendment
il may make can hardly be considered in the House
at all il is safe TO assume that no modification of
the 'ori'f 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 as 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 sup
port an economical administration of the Govern
'nent 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 a great evil in
many ways, and should he carefully guarded against
congress TO reduce the current receipts into the
Treasury, has already caused the revival of two
qnondam Wing schemes for its depletion. Mr. Bell
has offered, IN the Senac, bill to distribute among
the States that have received donations of public
lands, the proceeds Of the sales within period of
years; and Mr.. Campbell, of Ohio, has inma,ed his
intention, in 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 cannot possibly succeed at this time but |
mention them here to show that the old heterodox
principles of protection, distribution and so on, have
n fixed place in the hearts of certain politicians
whatever political commissions may overthrow Old
party organizations aud lead to new ones
On Monday a large number Of Internal Improve.
men, bills were reported by the House Committee
of Commerce, and referred under the rule, TO the
Committee of the Whole The hill fnr the benefit
of the Cape Fear River is among them They NAV
be taken up sngly and disposed Of, or they may bc
combined into one bill which is mos, 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, wpug out every thing ia the way
OF legislation that has been done in Kansas aud
providing for n new organization Ii amounts to
nothing, as the Senate has already disposed of it,
Mr.. Green, the new Senator from Missouri, stated
that the Objectionable laws had already been repeal.
counts from the Territory indicate that all parties
arc beginning TO ac1uirscn in the local government
that the difficulties and diSsenSunS are substantially
at an end. Even the AbolitIonstS OF Lawrence have
ceased agitation, and begin to have care for the
material interests Of the Territory and especially for
their own. Such state OF things il exceedingly
unsatisfactory to the Eastern AboIitionist4, MS it
furnishes then with no more 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 il
passed the House of Representatives The increase
is considerable one, being twenty dollars n month
on the pay OF every officer, and addition of ten
cents day the ration increasing ii rom 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 I'LL to that effect has yet been
offered or passed in either House.
The b fixing the value of certain foreign coins
was amended by the Senate, aud is now a law The
amendment provides that Tor 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 coins,
ana gives an opportunity Tor Their gradual With
draW", ana Tor Their exchange Tor our own coinage
Inc tA''t'iS event Oh the week Is, o' cohrSc lne
report OF inc House Corruption Committee Ihr
ruinorS OF corrupt prncuc's ON the part OF members
OIL congress 50 literally circulated OF late have been
snoSt"n"Iaten with respect to iour OF 'hen, ut east
Messrs Madison, Edwards and Gilbert, Of New
YORK, ana Ngch, OF Connecticut all shrckcrs Tor
freedom anu Fremont, are convicted by the Com
mltce OF selling, or Offering to sell, their votes for
consideration. There may he others also iinlhra''d
III these dark transactions, but the proc" is against
these lolr ony. witnesses Who Know anything OF
corruption on the part OF members OF Congress, are
Always reluctant TO testify, ana e'nde giving PoH'tIV"
evidence ny every species Of e1"Vocat"n. Hence
VI