Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1859-02-04
PROM WASHINGTON.
( Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2, 1883.

! FROM WASHINGTON.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Enquirer
WAsnrxcroN, Feb. 2, 1859.
Messrs. Editors:-Rumors oil an ih'ehueo
chance in the cabinet arc extensively IN circn'
%lation here, founded, doubtless, upon the sup
nosed existence Of q difference of opinion be-
tuecn Secretary Cobb and the President rs to
,ho conah;lity Of the tariff Of 1857 TO furnish
a revcnnc adequate to the maintenance OF the
covernmcnt. and the course 10 be pursued in
le,;slo,ino upon that subject. 1t is confidently
snrn,i.cd that the former will, in response Ia
the resolution calling upon him for an expires
sion of opinion in that regard, advise Congress
that Judging from information in his posses
sion no NECESSITY exists for a modification Of
the tariff. while it is Us veheinently asserted
that the latter will in 4 few days send a special
message to Congress, demanding either an III
crease of duties, or some extraordinary provi'
sion for the necessary expenditures Of the en-
suing fiscal year. Should these various reports
prove true, and the cabinet still preserve its
present discordant features, a strange anomaly
in Executive action will be presented. But il
remains to be seen whether the Chief Magis'
tr,te, with an eye single TO the iron interests OF
Pennsylvania, will involve the Democratic
party, SO far as his action can promote
such a result, in u remuneration Of its time,
honored and oft asserted opposition to the prin'
cipie Of protection, or if the financial officers
of the Government will consent to yield TO
his wishes, to remain in league with the present
Administration in spite Of their pretoaceivcd no
tons of tariff legislation, even in view OF the
| threatening legislative demonstration, made in
Z Al. - -. ..,n,,. Thn Dr,SIlrNs In-
sircs to give employment to the ten thousand
operatives who, lie says, are out oil employ
ment in the Key Stone State. for want Of Con-
gressional subsidies 10 local capital; the Secrc-
tary has already conclusivciy shown that the
depression OF the iron business, in common
! with that of other articles Of trade equally al
fected, is attributable to causes very far remov-
ed from the operation of the tariff, and besides,
witness such 4 revival in the foreign importa-
tons as, in the event Of a change in its rates,
to create in the course Of u very lew years more
troublesome SURPRISES, upon which to feed
! the lobby corlnorants. So stands the caSc.--
! What will be the result, it is hard IN these e.
trenslv tortuouS times to imagine. Mean
while, We must console ourselves in the thought
| that I'VE shall see what we shall see.
AZ Any rale, " II HUN nnSiS 'ho wv No'PSN
| of the old Wing, or Of the American party,
las circumstances may determine, in favor oil
| twecdIe.dum or twccdlc-dec) will start to its
feet upon being touched by that angel Of tie
! resurrection for defunct comprehensive cx-
ecutivc scheme of protection, and that this re-
| cuscitated specimen Of once happily inurned
Federalism, by receiving numerous accesslons
to its strength, from the seven principle De-
- -.r.,J l,, o,,o ,rn, nf not fnr
distant, will render the fight of 1860 a cheek
by.jowl contest between the Charleston nomi-
nation and the Opposition, if not succeeding in
throwing the election into the House. Con-
siderations of his kind must not, however, he
allowed to determine the issue Of the present
struggle. The voice Of the past Sternly calls
to the suggestions of a so-called eXped;cncy.
Honest legislation, and an unqualified rcnun-
citation of the system Of rObbing Peter to pay
Paul, must pay" as uncle John Unit" would
say, and will form a basis of party Organiza-
ton which will demand the support Of all con-
s~crvative men throughout the Union. Rear
aloft, then, the banner Of Free Trade, for a
third war of independence, and its triumph
will be none the less important or desirable be-
cause achieved over traitors at home.
The vote in the House upon laying on the
table the French Spoliation bill, is not TO be
considered Il test of its strength. or aS indic:-
tive of 4 disposition on the part of that body
to pass it a. the proper time. On the contrary,
it is likely, since the measure was referred to
the committee Of the whole, that there it will
sleep until American justice shall once more
rouse itself to pay its honest debts. WIZ A@t
time erer come? The President, however, not
withstanding the rather suggestive position as
sumed by the Union, is not, it is thought, IN
imical to the measure.
Movements. as | predicted at the beginning
of the session, have been made both in the SEN
ate and the lIou,c-ia the former by Preston
King, who comes from Ogdensburg, on Lake
Champlain; in the latter by Israel /. Hatch, o.!
Bufialo-bo,h Of them representing constituent
cics affected by the Reciprocity Treaty, with a
view to its repeal. These gentlemen say that,
in accordance with the spirit in which she
usually observes treaty obligations, England
has so raised the duties upon articles not emu
merated in the treaty rs to counteract whatever
benefit might enure to American interests from
the parti,l freedom of trade thereby created, if
allowed its legitimate operation.
Such being the state Of the facts, may not Il
repeal of the Reciprocity Treaty, by increasing
the amount of our dutiablc merchandise to the
extent of $50, 900, 900 or more per annum now
imported free, present a solution of our lina;l-
cial difficulties, produce an addition 10 the re-
venue quite equal 10 the demand OF all parties,
without injuriously affecting the interests OF
any particular locality, and, at the same time,
benefit the country generally by creating an
equality Of taxation for the support Of the Go
vernment. The suggestion is worthy of care
full consideration, and, if carried out, will serve
to show the object of the present movement for
! an increase Of duties.
As an instance of the avidity with which
| offices arc sought here, it may be stated that
applications are already being nuInerously made
for the positions to be created by the bills
1ately reportedJ for the organization of the
/ three new Territories Of Dacotah, Columbia,
and Jefferson. With an application for the
Governorship Of the latter, the name of the
Hon. Mr.. Mason of Kentucky, stands in pro-
mincnt connection. 1t is doubtful whether,
under the Constitution, he is entitled to receive
the appointment.
Mr.. O'Bannon of Va, has been nominated to
the Senate for the vacant Fourth Authorship.
NEHIrAS.
RAILROAD MEETING IN BRUNSWICK.
In accordance with the adjournment OF the meeting
held on the 18th Of January. lsJg, at Ebenezcr Academy, u