Saint Paul weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1858-1859, 1859-02-12
The Tariff Question Before Congress.
. .9s.io '...- aaa .-! i. New York, Feb. Q.

.'+ NEW 1Ohks fVO. 6'
On Saturday, the Goth, at Washington, e.
caucus of the Democratic Senator'S was he'll,
to consider increasing the Tariff, as recon-
mended by Buchanan in his Message, and the
substitution of certain specific in place of aa
ualoren duties. The N. Y Tribune remarks:
"Now York with her three and half millions
Of people and immense trade and industry,
had no voice in that caucus; Pennsylvania
with her three millions of people, had a single
voice there, through one whom his own State
has emphatically repudiated. Ohio, Michigan
Iowa, the same. In that caucus, the slave
breeding interest was Omnipotent, Louisiana,
Mississippi, Delaware, Florida, Arkansas, Tex
as, with less aggregate population than New
York, had eleven votes in that caucus-all
ranged against the President of their choice
all in favor of creating more debt rather than
Benjamin, a Clay Wing converted to Democ-
favor of the run-in- debt, stave-off, happy-go
luck policy. And thus the caucus overruled
the President, Overruled the acquisitions of
the Treasury Department, overruled the
pledged faith of Congress to pay off this year
the Treasury Notes issued last year, and re-
solved that the Tariff shall not be revised at
the President of its own choice with as little
ceremony as itemploys in subverting the Ter
ritorial policy of Thomas Jefferson, whom it
nevertheless pretends to reverence as the au-
thor of its creed, the founder of its party.
This action of party caucus--a caucus in
whose decisions only small minority of the
American People were represented--is likely
to defeat any change in the Tariff at this ses-
sion." ...,...-
On the night of February 1st, however, an
other Democratic caucus, of the members of
the House. was held "John Cochranc acted
as Chairman, and Messrs Ruffin and Cave
naugh as Secretaries. Mr.. Vallandingham
had been nominated for Secretary, but he de.
clined, saying the call for the caucus had not
whose instance he had come here to ascertain
the character Of the proceedings.
About 30 men were present, principally
from the South. but including two from New
York, two from Minnesota one from Ohio.
and five from Illinois. A great diversity ol
opinion existed as to the proper methods o!
meeting the present pressing emergencies Of
the government But a very general impress
sion prevailed, that the estimates were alto
gether too high, and that measures must be
tdNCh w lSuuCc eicih SCi uiutSi iidhy
Resolutions were finally adopted. First
that 1t is inerpe4lient to disturb tarif Of 1857.
Second that u committee of be appointed to
report at the next caucus, means by which
expenses of the government may be reduced,
and the caucus adjourned until Saturday
night, Feb. 5th, when general call is to he
issued to the Democratic members, and the
question of retrenchment is to be debated.
A despatch from New York of February 8,
says: "Senator Slidell says he would be
willing to take the tariff of 1916 temporarily,
and indications arc that bill rcviving that bill,
can pass the Senate"
s.,- WASHINGTON, Feb. 2-3P NJ
At meeting Of the committee on Ways
and Means to day, no action was had upol
the tariff They are awaiting the return:
from principal custom houses for the month
of January, from which the Secretary expect,
to draw definite conclusions as to the revenu,
that may be anticipated from the present tar
if. He expects these returns will foot up six
millions. .,a......
In pursuance of the resolution adopted al
the Democratic caucus on the tariff last night,
MeSsrs. Barnett, Vallandingham, Crawford
Burnett and Marshall, of ILL.,, were appointed
committee to report at the adjourned meet
ing, on Saturday, some plan OF retrenchnent
in the expenditures of the Government.