Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-02-07
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.


is an amusing one just now, to say the least
of it. The demagogues of the opposition arc
certainly making the best possible use OF inc
means of gentlemen on the Democratic SIDE In |
whose eyes dollars are nOtoriously OF the di-
ameter of cart wheels, of which class there |
always have been more or less representatives. |
in the Congress of the United States. 1t is |
fortunate for the reputation Of the Democratic |
party among the voting public, however, that |
there never fails also to be in legislative pub
lie life here, gentlemen, who, like Mr.. Sam
Smith, of Tennessee, have acumen and indus
try sufficient to enable them to collect and
condense. for popular reading, ample data to
put to flight in short order, all the bugbears
concerning Democratic party extravagance,"
which the opposition leaders may manufacture
out of the jeremiads over governmental ex-
penditure with which cart-wheel dollar gen.
tlemen invariably approach the "dear people"
A more complete refutation of all the alleged
grounds for the existing panic in Congress con-
corning the increase of the public expendi-
lures cannot be conceived than that embraced
in the speech of Mr.. Smith, wherein he shows
beyond dispute that taking the circumstances
OF the country into consideration, its affairs
are now quite as economically administered as
at any previous period of its history. That
panic is the work of the adroit misrepresenta-
tion Of the opposition press and public men, of
the complaints of others who cannot compre-
bend why it should cost more to feed and
clothe an army in Utah, for instance, than
when stationed in the Notifications on the
A aantic coast. As explained above, the De-
mocracy of the nation owe Mr. Sam Smith
debt of gratitude for his prompt interference
to save the reputation of its agents in the
Government, from the effect Of the joint inau-
ence Of those INTERPRETATIONS and the fears
of such Democrats as are prone to fancy that
the country is rapidly going to the poor-house
The PROPOSED REISSUE OF TREASURY
NOTES.-The believe that the proposition of
Secretary Cobb to reissue Treasury notes as
one of the means of providing for the expenses
of the Goyernmentinitsp present straight, result
ing from the decrease of dutable importations is
approved by at least nine-tenths of Congress
Nevertheless, as measure standing BY itself
we have no hope that it will be adopted by Con-
gress; because there seems to US to be a clear
working majority Of the House who will vote
for no means of relieving the Treasury that
fails to embrace the feature of raising more
revenue upon imported merchandise. A large
majority of the members who have evidently
come to that determination, would undou btedly
carry it to the point of insisting upon the re-
enactment of protective tariff, to the extent Of
forcing the President TO call an extra session
That is to say, they will vote to the bitter end
against any conceivable proposition to raise
sufficient revenue or means to carry on the
Government, that fails to embrace their own
ideas. Their plea will be ito their constitu-
ents) that they seek to compass the restoration
OF protection; while their reason may really be
sought in their hope that an extra session of Con-
gress will result urfayorably for the Democratic
party. Nevertheless, there arc enough gentle
men on their side of the revenue question who
are seeking only to secure sufficient revenue
tor the Governments legitimate purposes, who
VIII Join the i-protectionists in making rea-
sonable changes in the existing tariff law, if in
that way they can secure what they wish. We
believe that in week these two divisions of
Congress will come to a satisfactory under
standing; and that, through it, the necessity
for an extra session, which will otherwise be
imminent, viii be obviated.
The CAUCUS, on Saturday night, resulted
simply in making it apparent that 1t is utter
impossible to expect a majority of the Democ-
racy Of Congress to agree to dispense with
either of the great existing branches of the
public service. While there are some of the
Democratic members who are for dispensing
hereafter with the coast survey, others for
abolishiDg the equipment and repairs bureau
OF the Navy, others for the abandonment of our
frontier military defences others for abolishing
the light board, practically, others for the
of salaries to United States con.
suls, others for the abandonment of the over
land mails, DC, &C., by way of saving money
for the time being, the caucus of Saturday night
made it apparent that there is a majority Of
the party for no one Of these proposed changes
The country is for retrenchment by abolish
ing the Thanking privilege to begin with-that
parent the waste of the time of Congress, of
over much Congressional printing and Of other
enormities that cost the people annually mapy
millions on millions of dollars that should not
be expended. Yet if the signs of the times
arc to be relied on, the axe will not be applied
to that great root of all the evil of the times so
far as improper expenditures of the Govern
ment are concerned.
THE SECRETARY's LETTER.-The recent let
ter OF Mr.. Secretary Cobb has opened the eyes
of sundry parties in Congress to the fact that
the same scale of revenue duties which will
amply suffice for the wants of the Government
when the importations are very heavy. may
not be advisable when, owing to circumstances
wholly beyond the control Of the Govern.
ment-to the general financial condition of the
countryside importations fall off amazingly.
30 great has been the effect of Secretary Cobb's
letter among gentlemen in both branches of
Congress, as that it is already probable that a
number Of those who were fort
night ago firmly bent on refusing to seek to
obtain more revenue from import duties than
the existing tariff will accord under the exist
ing condition Of the country's foreign COM