The Yazoo Democrat. [volume] (Yazoo City, Miss.) 1858-18??, 1858-12-18

4 The claims OF our government against COsta
RIGA and Nicaragua fOpinjaries TO our citizens, are
still pending. and unless settled soon, It only
remains to adopt such other measures as may be
necessary in order that we may obtain that Justice
which il is vain attempting 10 secure BY peaceful
means. While we should and will continue to
show the most sincere regard fer the rights and
honor of these Republics, we cannot permit this
regard to be met by utter neglect on their part Of
what Is due to the Government Of the United
States.
With the Empire Of Brazil our relations are of
the most friendly character. Brazilian duties on
our -four have been reduced from one dollar and
thirtytwo cents to forty nine cents per barrel, and
duties on other articles Of ourproductjonin nearly
the same proportion The Government still con-
tinues to levy an export duty Of eleven per Gent.
on coffee, which our Minister is instructed to
endeavor to have removed. N4f@@
Commissioners have gone to Paraguay with full
powers to settle our difficulties with its Govern
ment Should their efforts at settlement prove
unsuccessful, no alternative will remain but the
employment of force to obtain just satisfaction.
The expedition already under sail is believed to
| be fully competent to serve that end
| When Congress met, year ago, the business of
the country had just been crushed by one Of those
periodical revolutions which is the inevitable
consequence of the unsound, extravagant system
Of bank credits and an inflated currency. Our
manufacturers suffered severely, not because Of
the recent reduction in the tariff of duties on
imports, but because there was no demand for
their productions. The people were obliged to
restrict themselves to articles Of prime necessity
In the general prostration of business, the iron
manufacturers in different parts of the country
probably suffered more than any other class. and
much restitution was the inevitable consequence
among the great number of workmen who had
been employed in this useful branch of industry
There could be no supply where there was no
demand, and there was no demand for railroad
iron. No action of Government could have pre-
vented the late revulsion. The tariff of 1857 had
no agency in the result.
Tie President renews the recommendation for n
uniform bankrupt law, applicable to banking In
situations.
The same causes which have produced pecuna-
ry distress throughout the country have so reduced
the amount Of imports that the revenue has proved
inadequate to meet tie necessary expenses of
Government To supply this deficiency, Congress
authorized theissuance Of 500 000 00G of Treasury
notes. and this proving inadequate, they authorized
he loan Of 20 600 900 to be applied to the payment
of appropriations made by law. No statesman
would advise that we should go on increasing our
national deot to get the means of defraying the
ordinary expenses of Government, This would
be a most ruinous policy In case of war, our
credit must be the chief resource at least for the
fret year, and this would be greatly impaired by
having contracted large debts in times of peace
1t is true policy to increase the revenue so as to
equal our expenditures. 1t would be ruinous to
continue to borrow; besides, it may be that the
incidental protection thus afforded by a revenue
tariff would, at the present moment to some
u f. A.. r
interests, and give fresh Impulse to our reyivng
business. To this surely no person will object
In regard to the mode of assessing and collecting
the duties, the President has long entertained the
opinion that sound policy requires that this should
be done by specific duties In cases to which these
can be properly applied. They are well adapted
to commodities which are usually sold by weight
or measure, and which from their nature are Of
equal or of nearly equal value Such. for example,
are the articles of iron of different classes For
raw sugar and foreign wines and spirits, in his
deliberate judgment, specific duties are the best
if not the only means Of securing the revenue
against false fraudulent invoices and such has
been the practice adopted for the purpose by other
commercial nation Besides, specific duties would
afford the American manufacturer tire incidental
advantages to which he is entitled under revenue
tariff. The present system is sliding scale to his
disadvantage Under it, when prices are low and
on the other hand duties rise in amount when he
least requires their eid On the contrary, when
prices fall, and he is struggling against adversely,
the duties are diminished in the same proportion.
greatly to his injury. Neither would there be
danger that higher rate of duty than that in
tende by Congress copld be levied in the form Of
specific duties. 1t would be easy to ascertain the
average value of any important article for series
of years and instead of subjecting it to an ad
Udl0rem duty at q certain rate per cent to substi-
tute ia its place an equivalent specific duty. He
throws out these suggestions as the fruits of his
own observations to which Congress in their better
judgment will give such weight as they may Justly
deserve. t
The President proceeds to state the total figures
of the Treasury Report, and says that the SeGreta
ry of the Treasury, to provide for estimated def
cheney OF revenue, recommends such revision of
the tariff as will raise the required amount. The
President would strongly urge upon Congress the
duty OF making the present session the necessary
preparation for meeting this anticipated deficiency.
The President urges rigid economy in making
appropriations recommends an increase in the
Navy. He calls attention to the Post Master
Generals recommendation to raise the rate of
postage to five cents; recommends modification
of franking system 3HI
| He urges the construction Of the Pacific Railroad
which should be committed to companies incorpo-
rated by the State, OF other agencies whose pecu-
mary interests would be directly involved Con-
gress ought to assist by grants of land, money, or
both. In commercial point of view, he considers
this the great question of the day; especially in
view Of the recent treaties With Japan
The action Of the Government in the case Of the
SLAYER Echo is narrated. The slaves were returned
to Africa under the AmercanC cation Society,
which, for foriy-fve thousand dollars agreed to
receive them in Liberia and take good care Of
them for one year. An appropriation for this
purpose is recommended
The President returns his thanks to Congress for
their kindness in responding to his request last
year to be allowed sufficient time before adjourn
ment to examine all bills presented for his approx
81, and warmly recommends this precedent as
their guide for the present session.
A passenger on board one of the steamers
from the Channel Islands says: 1.-THE Frenc :
mans story seems to me expressive. One
morning the cabin boy came to him for bis
boots. Boots T feebly sounded from the
berth, 'Ah, sure you may take zem; shall
want zem Marry more