The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-02-16
A Tax of Postage upon Exchanges

A bill has been introduced into the House
OF Representatives in Congress, by Mr.. En-
glish. proposing TO amend the law in relu-
ton to the circulation of newspaper and
periodical exchanges. Its object is to re.
qulrc the payment of postage OF that class
Of mail matter, known rs exchanges, to the
same extent that il required Of regular sub.
scrbers.
Retrenchmpnt seems to bc the order of
the day, and there is no theme upon which
demagogucs can with greater facility i'm.
pose upon the people than upon this sub.
Ject. This is an admirable opportunity,
when pnblic clamor is high for retrench.
mcnt and reform, for this class of politicians
to make themselves notorious, and some of
them seem TO be taking advantage of it.
They would make it appear to the people
that the Government is becoming so wretch.
cdly poor, rs to be no longer able 10 indulge
IN the time .hon"red custom of free OK.
changes. But when the government is re-
duced to such IN extremity that the press
must oe taxed to keep it up, we will have
arrived at II period of It's existence, when
1t will be questionable whether il were not
best Ia let the institution 90 foi want of
funds ia keep it up. The measure would
not fall with peculiar hardship upon the
newspaper interests: II would be felt bv the
whole country, and in way the most dam
gcr"ns to the welfare Of a republican gov
ernmrnt; for it would in effect be nothing
more nor less than II direct tax upon the
Intelligence Of the people. To REFORM
rcpIcnlsh the treasury, or curtail the cx.
p"nscs OF the government, if cxpedient, is
all rsht enough: but there are many WAYS
of doing either without resGrting to the
press, and this proposition, at Il season of
universal prosperity like the present, could
only have come from dcmagogue or Il
tyrant.
The position Of the democratic party in
relation to the public finances is ut this
tim" peculiar. II the public money has
been andered in useless extravayoncc
1t Is they who have done it /; they are re-
sp"nsIblc for the depletion Of the treasury.
Tor they have been in power: and how TO
remedy the evil that is past and avoid the
consequences of their cNtravagancc is the
question. Money must be raised TO carry
on the ordinary expenses of the govern.
ucnt ana how? The Protectionists pro-
pose for This purpose, 4 higher tariff; but
the Democratic party has promised the
great industrial interests OF the country
that til" tariff shall not be raised and thai,
irce trade policy shall be maintained -
iiere IL dilemma thai is peculiarly unfor
tunate in view Of the rcarrcis Of the next
Presidential election. They tLe demo-
cratic party cannot offend the South by
gratifying the Prolccionists, nor can they
afford 10 lose the support oF the great mnn.
ufacturing interests Of PENNSYLVANIA and
other Northern states, ~ they would do.
We're they To make bold and manly effort
for free trade ani direct taxation. The
party embraces too many interests its tim.
orons and party serving policy is becoming
disgusting, and it will not be strange It.
under n combination of circumstances. the
unwIcidly concern loses its ascendency.