Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1859-03-23

VINO, Win more means, was able ano tnOuSnI pIOP-
er to buy article of the highest price and best
quality; in short, to require the man who has
tract of land worth only $780, to pay just as much
as his more wealthy neghbor, with a tract worth
$4,000
To avoid this, and to apply the principle as just
laid down. of taxation in proportion to property, the
Democratic party has inaugurated the present poll
cy of ad valorem tariff, which levies the tax in
proportion to the value of the article that the
lower the goods the lower will De the tax.
But there are others who advocate specific duties
to limited extent they would confine them to such
articles as are usually sold by measure or weight,
and which are equal, or nearly equal, in value; and
they urge this has been already said the best
mode of securing the revenues against fraudulent
and false invoices. 1t is difficult to conceive of
given class of articles which are all of the same quail
ity and therefore equaln value and even if it
SO, the argument upon which this change is based,
to false invoices would equally apply to all other
classes of articles; and, though confined now would
prove but the entering wedge for an exclusive sys-
TEN of specific duties But sir, it is not true that
specific duties the only security against faudu
lent and false invoices. 1t is too late in the day to
assert this; the Secretary Of the Treasury shows
that the restrictions thrown around the collection of
the revenues, under the present system, ample
protection against frauds and if they have occurred
the nd ralorem system is not responsible. Besides
sir the working of the present tariff for upwards of
ten years. should be, and is a sufficient answer to
this argument
The next question that claims our attention is the
present tariff 1t is urged by many who are opposed
to both protection and Specific duties that there exists
present necessity for its rcvsa and increase The
Secretary of the Treasury, in his report to Congress-
estimates that the total deficit in the Treasury for
the fiscal year ending the 3Oth of June 1860 will
amount to $7,9l4,576. This sum, as the Secretary
very properly remarks, should be provided for in
some way, either by an increase of the tariff or by
cutting down the expenditures. Here the alterna-
tive is presented; and the question as to which
course we shall adopt, becomes Of serious moment
to our constituents, and demands at our hands the
most serious and earnest consideration. 1t is ques-
ton of raising the taxes upon the people, of ncreas
ing their burdens; and while under all circumstan-
ces it would be one of deep interest, yet at time
like this when the country is just recovering from
the effects of the late disastrous revulson, it be-
| comes one of special interest and importance.
Is there then, necessity for this increase? Has
the present tariff been fairly tested? Can any one
say that it may not yet meet all the requirements of
the Government? 1t has been in operation only
since the LIST of july 1857 and during this time has
had to encounter all the sad effects of the revusion
Business of all kinds has been greatly depressed; ;
our trade has been crippled; our importatons have
fallen Oft; and, as matter of course our receipts
| from customs have diminished Under circumstan-
ces like these, any tariff would have failed and a
high tariff more likely than low one Then sir,
this tariff has not been fairly tested The Secretary
admits this. The people will ask, and we'll may it
be asked why should we seek to impose other bur
dens before the necessity really occurs? The rcvu
sion is now fast passing away. Trade everywhere
is reviving; new life and energy seems to be nfl-
sing itself into all classes of business. Our impor
tations have already increased and still rapidly
increasing. For the months of October and Novem-
ber in 1883 the receipts from customs at the single
port of New York have exceeded those for the same
months during the year 1857 by nearly two million
dollars. Will not these receipts still continue to in
crease, and may we not calculate that when the ef
fects of the revulsion have passed quite away the
present tariff will yield an abundance of revenue to
meet all the necessary expenditures Of the Govern
ment?
If, however, we should be mistaken in all this, we
have still the alternative presented of reducing the
expenditures. am pleased that the Secretary has
thus presented it. am gratifed that the RESPONSE
bility is placed on Congress On all sides we have
the cry of retrenchment and reform. The appropri-
alton bills are before the House; and we, who are
ever ready to cry "reform," will have an opportu-
nifty of testing our sincerity. The expenditures of
the Government have increased year after year, un-
til they now reach the large sum of over seventy
two million dollars. This increase, to a very con-
siderable extent is owing to the rapid expansion of
| u
demands upon the Treasury for the last two years.
But sir, after allowing all due credits on account
of the expansion of our country, still there is room
enough for retrenchment and reform, and to such
extent as with the increased duties of the tariff will
not only meet all the demands of the Government
but leave us in the Treasury amount sufficient to
meet all contingencies which may arise At time
like this, when our expenses exceeding the reve
nues there are many OUTLAWS of money which should
off that fharf -hor,f
is full might be altogether proper Nor sir, should
we overlook small matters know there arc some
gentlemen who disposed to sheer at and treat as
unworthy statesman of liberal and enlarged views
a reform or reduction which is small within ITSELF
But sir, the ocean is made up of drops; century,
of moments and doubt not that, even in small
matters, we might make such reduction in all the
varied and multiplied objects of expenditure, as in
the end would amount to- millions of dollars. Be-
sides, must confess, that have no sympathy with
such statesmen as would disregard and overlook an
abuse and waste of the public money because it was
small We are the sworn agents Of the people, and
have no authority legal or moral to expend one
dollar-no, sir, not even one dollar more than is
necessary.
Let me not be misunderstood would not so re-
trench as to nure in any degree the public service;
on the contrary, l am willing and will, vote to make
liberal appropriations to every branch of the service
and for any necessary purpose of the Government.
agree with the President that is not always true
economy to withhold supplies but we should dis.
criminate properly as to the objects, and apply the
money sacredly to such as are necessary and leglt
mate. Economy, rigid system Of economy, in the
expenditures of the Government, have ever regard
ed as one of the highest and most important duties
of Representative It is essential to our prospect
ty as a nation. 1t inspires the people with conf
dence in the Federal Union, and is guarante,
against corruption, waste, and oppressive taxation
On the other hand reckless extravaganza and use
less waste of the public money has corrupting anc
demoralizing tendency 1t increases Executive pat
ronage; gives to the national Legislature undu
power and influence; tends to consolidation; weak
the confidence of the people and the bonds which
hold together the Union; and, if suffered to go
checked, will most assuredly work out the destruc
ton of the Republic. 1t was not the Goths ant
Vandals that destroyed Rome; nor was it the mai
of Macedonia who overthrow the institutions q