Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1859-04-15
REISSUE OF TREASURY NOTES
PEECH OF HON. SIMON CAMERON
OF PENNSYLVANIA,
IN THE SENATE. MARCH 2, 1859.

| OF PENNSYLV ANA,
IN THE SENATE. MARCH a. 1859,
| The Senate, as in Committee of the Whole,
| took up for consideration the bill making ap-
preparations for sundry civil expenses of the
| Government for the year ending June 80,
1860,
| MR. CAMERON. Mr.. President cannot vote
| for this bill. In my judgment, it is unwise to
borrow money without providing the means for
Its payment. Let il be accompanied by Sec
tion changing our revenue eystem from ad palo-
rem to specific duties, and | will vote for this
additional $40, 100000 of Treasury notes.
| / have been disposed, hitherto, to hope that
something would be done for the industry OF the
country at the present session; but am satis-
/ fed now that it is not The intention of this Con-
gress, or of this Administration either, to cur
tail their extravagant expenditures, or TO pro-
vide the means OF payment. We are to live
upon credit' and those who follow us will have
| to pay the debts contracted under this Admin
] istralion.
The proposition of the very intelligent Sem
ator from RhFode Island, to alter the form eff
collecting duties, voted by the majority this
morning as unconstitutional, upon the ground
that it was In the nature of revenue measures
| and that such measures must originate with the
| House Of Representatives. Its purpose was
to prevent frauds; aud Its effect upon the Treas
ury would have been an increase of its receipts;
| but, IN preventing frauds, it would also have
| benefited, incidentally, the manufacturer, by
| keeping out of competition worthless and un-
der r-yalued fabrics. Now, we are about to vote
upon measure which avowedly and openly
raises revenue, in the shape of irredeemable
Treasury notes. This measure viii be voted
constitutional by the same Senators who refus-
ed By their Votes, this morning, to 50 adjust the
present law as to make frauds impossible
The Government should increase their income
| by wise adjustment of the revenue sgstem
but they come here and ask us to allow them 10
| borrow more money. If they get this new is
sue, of course they will act as all broken-down
! merchants do-use that expedient for the pres
ent, and next year they will probably come for
another batch Of irredeemable notes. In his
annual message, the President told us that be
was desirous Of changing the revenue sus;em
/ from ad vlloreHl 10 specific duties, IN accord-
ance with the interests of his native State and
with his promises made to her citizens. Does
any Senator believe be was sincere in those prom
isesl If he was sincere, then men will wonder
how bis call for the Cuban fund of S30,00O,-
600 was SO cordially supported BY all his par
ty. viii any one believe that the President
was sincere in his recommendation when be gets
no support for it in this body, when large ma
jority are his partisans, and many of them were
| the advocates of protection before they joined
bis Standard lie would not himself be will
ing to admit fact SO discreditable to his pow
| er. And yet such is the truth. All of his
friends are now doing all they can to prevent
| any action on the subject.
The organization of oil revenue bills belongs,
property, to the House of Representatives. 1t
is known here, it is known at the other end of
| the avenue, that no loan bill can reach rs from
| the House of Representatives, unless it is ae-
companied BY an alienation in the tariff This
subterfuge is, therefore, resorted to. 1t is o
part of that skillfuli legislation which the we'll
| trained gentlemen who come from the section of
the country where, they say, they have no sec
tlonalism, always practice with signal ability.
They can always find some mode of getting
around the Constitution, when it suits their own
purpose They want no change in the tariff but
they want money to carry on the Government;
and the credit Of The Government viii raise
money.
Yesterday, an amendment, originating in the
Senate, changing the mode Of merely collect
ing the revenue, was, in their opinion, uncon-
stitutional. To day. it is constitutional to orig
mate loan bill in the Senate; for it has been
discovered that such bill, having passed this
body, can be squeezed through tho house of
Representatives by the skillfu use of its rules.
In all the discussions on this subject, we of the
North have been treated as not belonging to
the country.
The honorable Senator from Virginia, [Mr.
Hunler,l as we'll as the distinguished Senator
from Georgia, [Mr. Toombs, have, in their dis
eussion of the tariff question, endeavored to
excite the prejudices of the people of their Sec
ton by the alarming cry of taxation. They al
legc that the South is unduly taxed for the ban-
eft of the North, in all revenue stills which
even incidentally, or by accident, give protec-
ton TO the manufacturer, They are highly hon.
orsble gentlemen, of acknowledged ability, and
with long-standing reputation as statesmen.-
They seem, too, to be sincere; and / should not
venture to contradict what comes from such
, high authority without the most ample proof
/ But, believing the facts would prove them tc
be IN error, have taken some trouble to have
carefully examined the census tables in the re-
port Of the Treasury Department.
Mr.. Guthrio's report on the finances Tor the
. year 1856 contains a number of important ta'
bles, compiled from the census of 1850. Turn
, ing to table No. q, page 100, the population
, of each State and Territory is given, sefara-
! ting the slave from the free; and giving the
former the benefit of Delaware, which is otter