The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-07-20

necessary marine hospitals and coast surveys are useful
and benevolent yet, in the fury OF his party WRATH
they come 10 for ndiscrmlnac denuncation the post
Office deficiency Is tax that should be checifuly paid
because 1t Is the necessary result of cheap postage of the
benefits of which the people Of the free States have
full and plentiful share What shall be the country
when the demands for these reforms are satisfied with
no army no navy custom houses, no marine hospi-
tails coast survey cheap postage, no post ofces
and no court houses only such as stned expendi-
lures will maintain the honor and glory OF the country
will be at discount, M
MY friend from Virginia, mr. LxrcnEn, who sits close
by me- said that there some persons who seem TO
think that patriotism consists in spending money,
know none xlch, aud have heard nothing said here
which ustifes that assumption But can truly retort
him that there some persons who seem TO think
that patriotism consists in saving money One Of his
colleagues has avowed nearly much, and in violent
opposition proposed expenditures he actually referred
to the democratic platform and Virginia resolutions OF
1898 as not jus flying the This gentleman,
believe has voted against nearly all the appropriations
proposed made, though when an appropriation was
proposed for the la Virginia both OF these eco
nomical gentlemen, together with all the other rigid
economists from that State walked between the tellers
In favor of it. The application by the tacetios gentle
man from Louisiana Mr.. DAvIDsosl OF As5ops fable,
,Ihe Bu1l and the OK to one Of these gentlemen Mr..
CLEMESsl was strikpgly appropriate There are other
gentlemen from the South who have preached up
the sternest and strongest economy. One gentleman
was terrified at the expense attending the NATIONAL
~-S''~N-
Of expense in a most awfully prophetic,
reminding of the easy descent mentioned by
Virgil the escape from which is SO dreadful and difcut
The anxiety of southern friends is less about the
credit side of the account than Ia about the debit side
They advocate sned expenditures because they do not
like ts probable mode of increase OF the reyenue but
the same SINCERITY does not mark the course OF the oppo
sition who have advanced the charge OF enavagance
and have adopted theory Of reform merely for political
and partisan purposes earnestly hope that the people
will not be deceived msed by this halcyon cry OF
reform They have been deceived more than once py H.
They Welded to it in 1910, and the promised reforms
were an attempt to fasen upon them another Baak OF
the United states and the passage of bankrupt law
which privileged reckless spectators from paying their
debtsa law odious that in two years was repealed
vet not before hundreds of millions of dollars OF indebt
ednc had been cleared out by it, They yielded to it In
IS4S yet no reform be shown for made or
attempted and the history of our country shows that
reform has been made except by the democratic
party Hence too, its troubles Its members are not
always prepared for the changes which progress re-
qures and some with the best Intentions yet timd,
are not at oil times ready to march with Its advancing
column. s as 2.4& wa
1t is fact melancholy truth that the treasury is
haused and this too at time when surplus was pre-
icted and expected During tho lash session of Congress
this surplus the source OF constant trouble and anxi
ETY. Scheme after scheme was devised TO deplcte the
treasury and prevent this accumulation Tho pubic were
aarningy told that the collection of more revenue than
was necessary would accumulate large portion of the
circulating coin that business and trade would be inter
rupted and embarrassed NO one seemed 10 antCipabs
that tho sunshine might be followed by storm Clouds OF
that the present prosperity would ever be diminished
plan hit upon for the purpose of diminishing the rev.
cnues and certainly ii most successful in accomplish
ing the object for which it designed Mr. Robert
Walker the able and distinguished Secretary Of the Jrea
ury under President Polk had arranged the details Of the
tariff Of I846 which, while it reduced the duties largely
increased the revenue. 1t adjusted with discrmina-
ons in favor of such articles produced here and
until 1857 it was found to be SO we'll adjusted and pro-
portioned that interference had been attempted With
its details 1t had supplied nay it had filled to over
flowing, the national treasury but in March, 1851
headlong and needless change made further and
ildigested reduction of duties effected intended to
diminish the from six to ten million dollars and
this oo when the national debt was still in existence.
To this may be partly ascbed the deficiency which
has arisen while the financial revusion which pervaded
the whole moneyed world avaluable auxiliary in
king and keeping the treasury empty The great revenue
of the country must be derived from duties on imports
and these must be arranged as to produce the revenue
required shall mako no deceptive promises no pro-
essions on this subject but will show that there is
ether from which the treasury can be supplied Ii
succeed in this duty is pain and it must be per-
formed at every sacrifice.
The public lands have yielded large amounts but It
can hardly be contended that they ought to be relied
upon for They held by the government for
higher and better purposes than speculation aud
while it may be polite to dispose of them by salc the
present tagnaton of business of every kind forbds the
idea that they be made the available of supply
at this time The very decided vote in this House yes
terday against the increase Of the postage rates-l21
against it to 81 in its avorsows that the post offices
of the government considered institutions main
tanned for nober object than money The postal fac
tiles accommodate all the people, and reduction of facility
in this department would be gross violation Of the pop
uar will We have the power to levy direct taxthe
constitution gives that powcrbut it is not wise to
else it while other and easier at hand d-
rect tax will be paid by the people whenever the
stiles of government require IL to be levied but how
equal in name it is unequal in operation, and it
would be most odious We already payers of direct
taxes We pay them for the support Of city and
State governments and to add national tax is to in
crease to every man the burdens which already are
onerous There be parallel between this country
and any other in this particular The psople of other
places have but one government to recognise, and to
which the tributary taxes must be paid but is not
with us. Wehave State we'll national governments
We separate allegiance perform separate duties
as citizens and we already pay enough of direct taxes
n, then, MIR. Chairman am right in assuming that
1t is neither wise just to look to direct taxation post
Office receipts sales of public lands for obtaining the
national revenue for material contribution to
that object there to be but from which
the supply can be maintained and that from duties
imports. Whatever amount is required for the support
OF government must be obtained and the constitution
in authorizing Congress virtually directs it to lay and
and to provide for the defence and general well
fare of the United States z; and ready and willing
to act in accordance with this direction repeal of the
act of March, 1867, substitution of proper and honest
mode of valuation Of the goods upon which duties are
paid, and an attentive body of public officers in my
opnion will effect much, il all the improvements
required Our laws should be sufficient to require that
the true and accurate value of the imported article should
be ascertaned and the duty should be levied upon that