Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1859-02-23

! said, in my African Church speech, in 1856;
that if it was not for the boldest audacity that
ever controlled reckless party, they would
come forward, in spirit of humility and shame;
acknowledge their incapacity to regulate and
control the affairs of this great nation, and ask
/ to be relieved of its responsibilities. What l
said then, / take occasion to repeat here. The
President tells us that the estimated expendi-
lures of the gresent and next succeeding year,
will fall considerably short of the estimated re-
ceipts and, of course the deficiency is to be sup
piled by another, and another, and another loan,
as circumstances may require; and all this when
we are at peace with all the world; end exclu-
sive of the $50, 600 000 with which it is proposed
he shall be invested. to involve US in war, if he
thinks fit, land to establish PrOtcctorate in
Mexico, without her consent, which, of itself, is
war to all intents and purposes, us l have said
before,) and for the negotiation of treaty for
the purchase of Cuba-and yet, this is the party
that claims to be the only party in this country
capable of administering, or worthy of being
entrusted with the administration Of the govern
ment,
1t is but an act of justice to one member of
the Democratic party, upon whom the weight of
responsibility rests too heavily to be borne, to
say that he has recanted portion of his false
doctrine, has renowned the error of his way,
and paid a just tribute to the far reaching sa-
gacity of his political opponents,-and that is,
Mr.. Buchanan, the President himself; who nc
knowledges the error of hte Democratic party in
establishing and adhering to the AL rdLOrem sys-
tenn of specific duties, which has always been
u great bone of contention between the parties;
and the reason he assigns for the change altho'
mOdestly and cautiously said, nevertheless it IS
said, and we are thankful that he has said it
notwithstanding this, the party bound by that
inexorable rule, will not yield TO his suggestions
because it would be giving up party measure,
and that would be an acknowledgement of their
tttLlibility, which they and the Roman Catholic
church never admit.
lie says-''In my deliberate judgement spe-
cific duties are tie best if not the only means of
securing the revenue against false and fraudu-
lent invoices, and such has been the practice
adopted for this purpose by other commercial
nations-besides specific duties Groutd afford 10
the american Gnutdcturer the incidental dd-
rantage to ,chich he is fairly entitled under req
enuc tariff"
There it is! And that is just precisely what VIC
have been trying to impress upon the popular
mind 81 upon the democracy in particular,to the
last 25 years. But | am afraid it has come from
the President too late to be of any service to the
country-he has filed all his appointments;
there is no vacancies in the cabinet, and no
more foreign missions to be filled, and If there
were the term of duration is getting to be rather
short.
If he had made the recommendation when he
| first came into power, when he held four full
years of patronage in the hollow of his hand,
what influence it might have had, especially if
persevered in, and pressed with tho same earn
estness and vigor that the Lecompton Constitu-
ton was, it is difficult to tell. Then, indeed,
there would have been strong hope that the
country might have realized some advantage
from his administration.
But it appears to me avery pertinent inquiry
might here be made. If the President is in ear
nest in his recommendation and knows that false
and fraudulent invoices are daily resorted to
under the nd vulOrem system, by which the rev.
enues of the government are stolen, and if he
believes the American manufacturers are deprl-
we'd of advantages that they are entitled to in
cidentally or otherwise, why does he not make
\ these matters test of Democratic orthodoxy,
as he did the Lecompton Consultation? Why
does he not require those occupying positions OF
influence and power by his own appointment to
aid him in protecting the government from be-
| ing swindled, and securing to that important
class of his felow-citzcns all the rights to which
| they are entitled?
l5y the suflragcs of the people, Mr.. buchanan
| is the head of the Government, and upon him
devOlves the duty of seeing the laws faithfully
executed, and upon him also rests the response
bility of their violation, so far as it is in his
power to prevent it. Why, then, when he makes
one recommendation, does his Secretary of the
Treasury interpose the influence of his position
/ to thwart the views of the President, which
must necessarily divide the party2
! think there is but one solution to the ques-
| ton! The President and Secretary are both
Democratic politicians They both belong to
that great IMPOSITION party of the country,
and they are playing game of ho6-,loL with the
people. 1t is Cobb! you tickle the South under
the ad valorcm rib; and Buck! you tickle Penn
sylvania and the North under the specific rib:
and this will furnish ground of defence for the
party in each section Of the country. In ono
section they can swear by the President, and in
the other by the Secretary. This is one of the
party tricks not unfrequently played in manu-
featuring platforms that will read any way you
may desire, to delude and cheat the people. If
this is not the true secret, do not see how Ell
Their gentleman can be content to hold his pres
ent political relations with the other.
Mr. Cobb is one of my most intimate friends,
for whom entertain great personal regard; but
am dealing with these gentlemen as politicians
and not as friends: and feel assured that Mr..
Cobb would not willingly throw himself in the
path of the President, upon so important a ques-
1 ton. if there were not some understanding be-
4 tween them. 1t may be n sharp game but it is
not strong one, and it wont pay-for as long
as the Democratic party is in power, it must
stand responsible for its own measures; but if
it could diride the responsibility, then the Sec
rotary of the Treasury and his wing must bear
| tho responsibility of encouraging frauds upon
1 the revenues; whilst the President must bear
r Al 1a,, 10 Iayy