The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-14
BALTIMORE.
TUESDAY, DECEMBER ID. 1858

TUESDAY, DECEMBER IA, 1858
As we intimated yesterday, it has been within
the line of both duty and inclination to afford
IN the Administration support, limited only by
our own convictions of truth and right We
cannot shut our eyes to the fact, that there is
much fretlul criticism INDUCED in by a large, and
perhaps the ablest portion of the newspaper press
of this country, more akin to captousness and
insolence than to real independence of thought
and frankness Of speech. The self-respect of a
government, like that of servant may be de-
sroyed by undue scolding; and recklessness, aris-
ing from the consciousness of perpetual injustice
is a sure result.
It is therefore, with no feeling of pleasure in
any case, that we point out the denquencies and
shortcomings of the constituted authorities Ger
tainly in according to the annual message of the
PRESIDENT the respectful attention of a review
as impartial and unprejudiced as we are capable
of making tive regret to find in that document
so much that we cannot permit to pass without
an expression of decided disapproval Hitherto
IDENT's review of the Kansas Question, and the
policy of his recommendations in respect to Cuba
To-day-while expressing our concurrence in his
views on the subject of the substitution of specific
duties in lieu of the dd galOrem system introduced
by Mr. WALKER, in 1916, it is impossible for us
not to advert to the singular circumstances under
which those views are presented to Congress and
the country.
In connection with his resume of the financial
condition of the Government the PRESIDENT, re-
ierring to the necessity of raising additional rev.
enue, uses the following language-clear and ex-
plicit beyond the chance of misapprehension:
In regard the assessing collecting duties
undera strictly revenue tariff have long entertained
and often expressed the opinion, that sound policy re-
quires this should be done by specific duties in cases to
which these can be properly applied. They well
adapted to commodities which usually sold by
by measure, and which, nature are of equal
of nearly equal value Such, for example are the
articles iron of different classes raw sugar and FOREIGN
wines and spirits.
In my deliberate Judgment, specific are the best
if not the only of securing the against
false and fraudulent invoices and such has been the
tice adopted for this purpose by other commercial ma
tons Besides specific duties would afford to the Amer
manufacturer the incidental advantages to which he
fairly entitled under tariff The present sys
TEN is sliding scale to his disadvantage Under it. when
prices are gh and business prosperous the dute in
amount when he least requires their aid On the CON
trary. when prices fall, and he is struggling against ad
versiy the duties are diminished in the proportion
greatly to his injury.
Neither would there he danger that higher rate of
duty than that intended by Congress could be levied in
the form of specific duties 1t would be easy ascertain
the average value of any imported article series of
years. and instead of sujecting it to dd udIOrem duty
at certain per centum to substitute in its place
equivalent specific duty.
BY such an arrangement the consumer would not be
injured 1t Is true he might have to pay little more
duty on given article i'll year; but if he would
pay little less in another and in series of years these
would counterbaance each other and TO the same
ng so lar as ms interest is concerned This inconven
fence would be rifing, when contrasted with the
onal security thus afforded against upon the rev.
ene in which every consumer is directly interested.
have thrown out these suggestions the fruit of nv
own observation, to which Congress, in their better
Judgment, will give such weight they may justly de-
We have quoted Mr.. BUCHANAN's own language
on this point, at length, in order that it NAV be
seen upon what grounds he rests his recommended
lions. 1t will he observed that these are the re-
suit of opinions '9ong entertained" and 'often
expressed" and even in the closing modest SUBJ
mission of them to the better judgment of Con-
gress, they are presented the ''fruit of his own
observation, Or, in other words of the long
experience of our oldest statesman. This is the
position of the PRESIDENT. The SECRETARY of the
Treasury, not only fails to second the PRESIDENTS
recommendation, but, under cover of a perfectly
conclusive argument against home valuation.
contradcts the PRESIDENTS statements, and ressts
his conclusions. The essential disagreement be-
tween the PRESIDENT and his SECRETARY. if not
brought out into bold relief by the latter takes if
possible, more contemptuous FORM by being in
simulated under a show of statistics; and his simple
recommendation of adherence to the Tariff of 957
which hn 0H ,,OIo =,
a small advance of duties in certain schedules
places his contumacy beyond all question.
For such difference of opinion between
PRESIDENT and SECRETARY of the Treasury there
is memorable precedent. In 1888, Mr. DUANE
declined TO remove the deposits of the Government
from the Bank of the UNITED STATEs,-for which
refusal he gave his reasons to the country. The
course which General JACKSON ttook the RESPONSE
bility' of pursuing under those circumstances is
well remembered, and forms the part of the prece-
dent to which we invite the PRESIDENTS attention
Weentertain, however, expectation of the dsmis-
sal of the SECRETARY of the TREASURY by the PREsI-
DENT, and desiring the success of the measure of
specific duties, we could wish that each, upon this
question,-if there must be difference of opinion,
had occupied the others ground The same tact
force Of will--or what you please-which
brought Mr.. BUCHANAN to submit to the ndgnty
of being snubbed and thwarted by his Minister,
will be able to throw the whole influen ce of the
EXECUTIVE in behalf of whatever it may favor
Having permitted himself to be thus contradicted
IN argument before the country, the president
may as well prepare himself for defeat in Con-
gress. Mr.. CoBB having ascertained the small
cost of the first step, will scarcely hesitate about
the second.
The tests of party fidelity really becoming
hard to be understood. At first-the PRESIDENT
like a certain thcologian, seemed disposed to take
the ground, that political ''orthodoxy" was CHS
doXy," while every body else's ''doxy'' was
"heterodoxy." This was simple, and, on the
whole, perhaps, as good platform as any. Under
IT. we have seen Members of Congress- co-ordi-
nate and perfectly Independent branch of the
Recommendation the mere expression of opinions
aud giving of votes, not in accordance with the
views of the EXECUTIVE, -hounded from the
party '-asSailed at every point where the wrath
OF offended power could reach them-followed
through their political contests in their own States
or districts-and with hostility, unappeased by
lapse of time condemned by caucuses of the faith
1ni, TO lose some poor post of honor, like the
Craftsmanship of Committee But what becomes
OF this rulc-whcn we find SECRETARY of the
1REAsURY-a creature and subordinate of the PREsI-
DENT-for whose conduct and recommendations he
alone is responsible-hying in the face of the
PRESIDENT mature convictons-controvertin his
reasoning-disputng his flcts-resisting his con-
cluSlons-and appealing to Congress and the coun-
try against his recommendations, without being
read out of the "party," or even deprived of his
place. The contrast is certainly extremely Gu
rious.
That opposite views of the same question will
arise in Cabinets elsewhere, evil of course fire.
quenty occur; but the worlds understanding of
Cabinet Councils is that they are specially intended
for the discussion and settlement of such differences
and for the adoption and recommendation of some
well-defned and fixed line of policy. We NAV
well conceive the PRESIDENT gracefully Welding
some view of his own, to the sound opposition and
remonstrance of his faithful councillors. and that