The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-02-02
The Treasury and the Tarin-The Northern
Majority OF the House va. the Southern
and Western Majority OF the Senate.

The Treasury and the Tari6-The Northern
Majority OF the House vs.. the Southern
and Western Majority or the Senate.
The resolution which was put through the
democratic caucus of the Senate on Saturday
last, declaring that 1t is inexpedient, at the
present session, to disturb the existing tariff law,
was, doubtless, intended as a party decree, pass
ing this important subject over to the next Con-
gress, in contempt of the Presidents recon-
mendations. But the resolution introduced into
the open Senate on Monday, by Mr.. Bigler,
affirming the Presidents views, and the proceed
ings of the same day in the House, very clearly
show that this last Saturdays Senatorial caucus
instead Of shelving the question under consider
alton, has only precipitated the inevitable issue
from which there can be no more lodging.
Mr.. Bigler appeals from the caucus to the
Senate-from the Southern managers of that
caucus to the representatives in the Senate of the
several States in their public capacity, and
puts to them this unanswerable proposition
that "as the creation of large public debt in
time Of peace is inconsistent with the true
policy Of the United States, and as the present
revenues are insufficient to meet the unavoid-
able expenses Of the government, Congress
should proceed without delay, so to re-adjust the
revenue laws as not only to meet the deficit in
the government expenses but to pay offthe present
debt so far as it may be liable to immediate
cancellation" On the same day Monday there
were some proceedings in the House on the
same subject, of still more significant character
Mr.. Houston, Of Alabama, prominent leader
of the Southern democracy, and, if we mistake
not, low I'D palorem tariff disciple of Mr.. Secre-
tary Cobb, asked leave to introduce bill au-
thorizing the President to contract new loan of
twenty millions; whereupon Mr.. Covode, of
Pennsylvania, wished to know whether the gen.
tleman intended making any provision for the
payment of the loan, as the delegation from
Pennsylvania will not consent to vote for an
appropriation of money until there are some
measures adopted to supply an empty treasury.
He would tell the gentleman they the Pennsyl-
vanians) not going to suffer them (the loan
partly to run the country into debt without
first revising the revenue laws go as to increase
the receipts of the treasury"
But Mr.. Houston was not thus to be frightened
of, and 80 he moved a suspension of the rules,
in order to make an opening for his twenty
million loan. And this motion has given us
something more decisive than the decree of the
Senate do-nothing caucus; for the vote of 70 for
the suspension, to l27 against it, as we take it,
is tantamount to resolution by the House that
there shall be no more loans nor treasury notes
without some provision for their redemption.
Thus then, stands the case The Southern
and Western democratic majority the Senate,
whose constituents are more deeply interested in
cheap ''store goods" than in protective duties of
any kind, are afraid to touch the low tariff of
1851 and shrink from it, notwithstanding the
stringent necessities of the treasury. But the
Northern majority of the House, whose constitu-
nts-especially the Pennsylvanians- are very
deeply interested in home manufactures, are not
disposed to let slip this present golden opportu
nifty for at least that incidental protection which
a revenue modification of the tariff NAV confer
With this division of Congress the President
stands committed; while by the other side, the
Presidents head clerk ofthe Treasury, Mr.. Cobb,
is regarded as the genuine oracle of the policy of
the democratic party.
We apprehend, too, that in this conflict be-
tween the tariff majority Of the House and the
anti-tariff democratic caucus of the Senate as in
all other cases, the weaker body will have to
succumb to the stronger. The House. under the
constitution-and wisely, too-holds the initia-
tive authority over the revenues of the federal
treasury; and, in this connection, the resolution
against Mr. HOuston's loan bill may be accepted
az very seasonablc rcbuke to the Southern de-
mocratic leaders Of the Senate. Their little
plots and plans for the next Presidency, and for
the Southern elections yet to come off for the
next House of Representatives, upon which may
fall the election of our next President, may be
worth look after; but a rapidly increasing public
debt, and heavy excess of current expenditures
over current receipts, are matters Of higher and
more immediate importance than all the local
conveniences and inexpedients of President
making politicians.
The House Of Representatives have the right
side Of the question, and they have the admins
tration with them, of which the President of the
United States is the official organ, and not his
head clerk of the Treasury. This resolution
against Mr.. Houston and his loan bill should be,
and doubtless will be, followed up by the Houses;
and if the Senate should remain incorrigible,
and refuse modification of the tariff, let the
House stand fast and refuse any more Treasury
notes and loans. An extra session of the new
Congress, "fresh from the people," will doubt.
less come to some satisfactory agreement, and 80
the sooner the President shall be convinced Of
the imperative necessity for an extra session, the
better it will be for all concerned
But the democratic caucus Of the Senate, as
we understand it, have agreed that the members
of the party may disagree upon this question Of
the tariff Perhaps, therefore, the resolution Of
Mr.. Bgler, when brought to the test, may prove
the existence of sufficient democratic balance