The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-09-02

|
the last session Of the last Congress sue
ceeded in appropriadng for these objects no
less a sum than S5,445,65l 4s. The op.
proprations for these objects alone, during
The Thirty Fourth Congress, amounted to
the monstrous sum of SS,66S, $50 As! The
country will be astonished to learn that for
the Capitol extension, the dome, and few
works of ort $4,97O,000 have been appro-
priated since 1852. An enormous amount
has also been appropriated TO the Hqueduet,
that can only be told in millions. | have
resisted all these things to the extent of my
feeble ability, but Who of the Opposition
has come 10 my aid Now and then, some
one of them has raised his voice in opposi.
ton, but it is unteniable that an over.
whelming majority Of that party has voted
for them. The nineteenth amendment OF
the Senate to the civil bill at this session
made appropriations for eleven custom
houses, in different parts of the country, and
on agreeing to that amendment the vote
was yeas so, Democrats, Is; Opposition,
32) nays 73, democrats, 81 ; Opposition
220 | have resisted the increase OF salaries,
and the multiplication Of offices and Govern
ment employers, and have, in all fair and
honorable modes, endeavored to reduce the
expenditures to the lowest practicable
smouUt consistent with proper regard to
! the public interest and an effective admins.
tration of the Government.
Such has been my course as Represen-
tative OF the people, aEd now tender to the
gentleman my cordial cooperation in all
wise, just and proper measures which he or
his friends, may propose for the reformation
of abuses or the reduction of expenditures.
think the expenditures may be curtailed
without detriment to the public service ;
that the number of officers may be dimi-
nished and many salaries reduced without
prejudice or embarrassment to the prompt,
intelligent, and faithful disposition of the pub
lie business. The gentleman will find this
side of the House reudy to second all efforts
he may make to this end, and all he has to
do is TO introduce his measures at the earli.
est practicable moment. He has been rath.
er dilatoFy heretofore, considering tie mag
nitude and importance of the work before
him, but still there is ample time during the
next session TO accomplish all that may be
needed to inaugurate his reign of economy.
There is suII another point--the "end.
lees jobs and contracts" to which the gen.
IOlcltCus w Hut lucSc JUS
and contracts" are / have no means Of
knowing, and the gentleman has not inform
ed me. For all s'jobs and contracts" that
were to let, imagine at least one bidder
could have been found among the Republi-
} cans in the last Congress. The results OF
the investigation at the close of the last ses,
sion showed very conc!usively that some of
the Republicans kept an eye open to "the
main chance" and that they were the reci-
pients of such pluDder us was to be appro-
priated and enjoyed. Suspicion attaches to
no member OF the Democratic party in that
House. ".
heard this remark, in regard to "jobs
and contracts" with no small degree OF sur.
Prise, from The gentlt man from Ohio and
am sure, from my knowledge of him, that,
in his moments OF calm reflection, he will
see the injustice he has done to the officers
of the Government.
In this connections, permit me 10 say that
the Democratic party passed the tariff bill of
1867, a measure of vast interest and mpor.
lance to all sections OF the country. At
the present session an investigation into the
mode OF its passage was ordered, and it is
source Of pride and pleasure to find that not
a member of the Democratic party of either
the House or the Senate could be found who
was even suspected OF being Influenced in
his action upon this measure by pecuniary
or other improper considerations.
] have heard it sQid often and again in
the House during the present session, vote
for expenditures, and thus create the neces-
sity fer revival OF the doctrine Of protection
for "protecton's sake" The Opposition,
aided by fraction of Democratic party, have
acted upon this principle, and have accord.
inglv voted for numerous items OF expendi-
lures not recommended, either by the Pre-
sident or the heads of the Departments.
Complaint has succeeded complaint that
high protective policy has not been recon-
mended by the Administration. If it had
been recommended and successfully carried |
out by legislation, what practical end could
it have accomplished Our exports have
fallen eff more than twenty per cent, and
our imports have fallen off more than fifty
per cent, as compared with last year, as the
following facts demonstrate most conclu.
sivelv.
Exports from the port of New York, from
January to May inclusive, in the year 1857,
amounted 10 SAG. .460.64l for 1868, $780,
5lG,465.
Importations of foreign goods, including
specie from January to May inclusive, at
the port of New York, for the year 1857,
amounted to $l05, 5,5G0,50l for 1858, $751;
Sos, 1872.
Our revenue is mainly derived from i'm
ports ; and if the importations fall off the
receipts Of the Government must be reduc.
ed in corresponding ratio. Under the re
cent revuIsiou, which prostrated commerce,
trade, and business, the importatons were
necessarily reduced to so great on extent
that the revenue from that source fell great.
ly short of the sum which, under ordinary
would have flown into the
Treasury and hence the necessity of bor-
rowing an amount of money sufficient to
supply the deficiency until the financial
storm should blow over, and commerce,
trade, and business of all kinds should again
resume their wonted activity. That time is
coming, and by the month of August or
September we shall in VII probability have
a pretty lively trade, and it will continue to
improve to the first Of the next year.
But says the gentleman from Ohio and
his friend from Rhode Island, Mr.. Derfoe,
must be done for the manufac-
turers. The tariff of last year must be over.
thrown and substituted by measure more
highly protective-a measure something like
that OF 1912. The manufacturers of cot.
tons, Woolens, and the iron and coal inter.
ests of the nation imperativeIy require
change that will give them greater protec-
tion. From the complaints made by the
la mAn lrnm r RhnIo Iolo nd tuo ,.,o,IJ bo I