Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-11
Debate in the Senate.

The debate, in the Senate, on the Tariff,
has commenced in earnest.
On Wednesday, Mr.. TooMBs proceeded to
speak at length against the increase of tariff
duties, as proposed by Mr.. Biglcr
The resolution declared the creation of Il
large public debt incxpcdicnt in time of
peace. Large and small We're onl V relative
terms. Ii the Senator meant to say, II was
wise to meet the ordinary expenses of gov
eminent bv its ordinary revenue. he colncl-
ded heartily with him. But the converse
proposition was equally true-eXtraordinary
expenses should be met by extraordinary
means 1t would be unwise to change the
duties under the advalorcm system. because
in single year the receipts were less than
the expenses. 1t was unwise to change Il
system to meet temporary Deficiencies. This
becomes very important under our Govern
ment, where the revenue is raised from Gus
| toms.
The second part Of the resolution asserts
the present revenue to be insufficient to
meet the unavoidable expenses Of govern
ment. lie took issue there for he did
not believe these expenses to be unavoidable
He thought the tariff of 1857 would bring
in enough for an economical administration
of the Government, which he proceeded TO
demonstrate by statistics. According to
Guthrie's report, the average annual eXpen-
SEES for five Years prior to 1897, were only
about S4S. 100000. Congress was called on
to deplctc the treasury by reducing the
revenue. 1t did so not without consld-
Grafton but after deliberate discussions, and
the measure passed both Houses, when the
Senate was administration and the House
opposition. Massachusetts and South Caro-
lima were united on this question, and the
reduction WAS made by the consent of all
sections.
The difference between himself and the
Senator was radical. He considered it the
duty of Congress to reduce expenditures
The Senator favored IN increase of taxes
The great State of Pennsylvania was presen-
ted in the attitude Of begging 10 be taxed
| She bowed her back to the burden. lie did
not believe she desired it. An increase of
taxation would rebound to the benefit of II
single interest at the expense OF all others.
in Pennsylvania as elsewhere.
The Senator from Pennsylvania had said
| these burdens were unavoidable. lie thought
otherwise There was All initial error i'll the
statements, to show the necessity OF Increased
taxes. 1t was said the whole appropriation
could be expended within the year. The
| history of the government showed that since
| 1889 there had been always Il balance in the
treasury at the end of the fiscal year, result
ing from the failure or postponement to apply
some of the items appropriated. Yet 10
make deficiency upon the present year, the
Senator from Pennsylvania had represented
| the treasury rs empty at the end Of the next
fiscal year; but an uncxpended balance
might bc anticipated as usual.
Why was this dilemma presented! TWAS
useless to handy the responsibility between
the executive aud representative departments.
Both were to blame both should cooperate
in the remedy The expenses Of the govern
ment had chiefly increased in the items
which were necessarily discretionary in their
amount The departments alone could scrl-
tinze and reduce them. and they never did
| 50.
But were these expenditures ''unavoida-
| ble!" lie thought not and would proceed
to show how large economy night be effected
and the revenue brous hit within the Legitimate
wants of government.
The army expenses had increased enor-
mousy. They were nearly now ut the an
nual average Of the war with Great Britain.
They had gone up from nine I" eighteen
millions. yet We were ut peace with all ma
tions. Comparisons were made ni our mill
tarv ability with that of England-"ur sys-
| TENS were different England was at war
with half the globe. She held power by the
| tenure of force We held ours by the con
sent of the Governed. Were England to re-
duce her army she would have al universal
revolution amongst her subjects Ireland
and India were held in bondage hy thcarmy
and navy of England. No comparison there
fore could be instituted between the two
systems.
Mr. Toombs went on to review the expcn-
SEES of the different departments III detail, ana
to show that. without dctriment t" the public
service, the expenses could be cut down. so
that the present revenue would be ample for
all our wants. He also referred to the re-
marks made yesterday by Mr.. Bisler i'll re-
gard to our postal expenses and stated that
none of the States, except Rhode Island, Dis
trict of Columbia New York and Massachu-
sets paid Il surplus over the expenditures OF
the Postofficc Department. The two former
was so small that the mail carriage was in
significant while the two latter received some
&2,OO0,O00 annually from foreign postage
| lie denounced the low postage system under
which this state of circumstances arose, US Il
| fraud on the poor man, who was robbed Tor
the benefit of literary men. When lie had
concluded Mr. Clngman got the floor.
De-