Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-02-26

IHc rulcS were Su''icnucd, ana the Dlll
referred to the committee of the whole.
Mr.. Phelps asked leave to introduce
bill to revive the act authorizing the issue
of treasury notes, and to continue the same
in force for two years longer. Objection
being made by Mr.. Dean and others, Mr.
Phelps moved to suspend the rules which
motion was rejected by yeas 81, nays l1O.
Mr.. Philips, of Pa, said the actual de-
ticicncy of the Treasury was much greater
than had been represented The Socrcta-
ry of the Treasury had stated the probable
deficiency on the first of July to be 81, ,000-
COO, but he had not included the $l8,000,-
900 of treasury notes about falling due,
which would swell the amount to S25, ,00O,-
| 600. Add to that the loan of $40 ,000, coo
and some other items, and we have total
deficiency of $47, 100000. Under these
circumstances he had made up his mind
lrrcvocably not to vote for the issue of
Treasury notes unless accompanied by a
bill 50 modifying the tariff as to raise mo-
ney enough to pay them. He believed no
power could change this determination
Unless our legislation was changed our
credit to borrow money would be DESTROYED.
With deficiency of between forty and
fifty millions of dollars, as he believed and
no means taken to improve the finances,
who would continue long to trust us?
No reliance could be placed on the csti-
mate of the Secretary of the Treasury
Wheh the issue of treasury notes was made,
we were told 1t was not wanted as a perma-
ncnt loan, yet now we arc asked for more.
If we made mistakes once, we could re-
peat them. BY making comparison of
his estimates last session with his state
ments at this session, he discovered that
he had made an error of only 100000
Mr.. Smith, of Va, asked for the figures.
MIR. Phillips read from document the
Secrctary's estimates submitted in Deccm-
Der, 1857, and for July, 1859, and stated
that the difference was something over S40,-
100000. lie contcndcd that it was abso-
lutcly necessary to Increase the tariff to
meet the alarming deficiency in the rcvc-
nue.. He was in favor of economy but he
did not want to cut down the army and ma
Wy appropriation, to break up our consular
and diplomatic system and shut ourselves
out from the world. Neither would he cut
down the post-ofTicc appropriation. lie did
not care whether the Post-oflice Depart
4 IL
great distributor of intelligence, and his
constituents were a reading and writing
people.
Mr.. Miles, of South Carolina, asked if he
did not think his enlightened constituents
should pay for their reading and writing,
and not tax the people in the dark corners
of the land for their benefit
Mr. Phillips said his constituents paid
their share. He would not curtail the
means of cnlightenin% the people.
Mr. Miles asked if to make the depart
mcnt sclfsustaining would decrease mail
facilities and the spread of enlightenment.
Mr.. Phillips" Yes, if the gentleman
will look to the post-otiice returns, he will
see what section pays most for its facilities.
Let the gentleman from Mississippi see
what his State pays"
Mr. Barksdalc-" My State receives no
thing from the General Government l
believe the gcntlcman's State monopo-
Lies about two-thirds the Offices at this
time
Mr.. Smith, of Va, thought the North
received an undue share of patronage
Mr.. Phillips" The gentleman ought
not to talk. BY all accounts his State is
well provided for
MIR. Smith" The gentleman gets his
information from common rurnor, and she
Ia common strumpct."
The discussion then continued on the
policy ofmaking the Post Office Depart
mcnt sclf-sustaninr, Mr.. Philips arguing
that such was not the intention of the fra
mcrs of the Constitution. Mr.. Philips
then contcndcd that the present increased
receipts from customs arose from the fact
that goods were being crowded in anticipa-
ton of an increase of the tariff, the contin-
uancc of Which could not be depended or.
He favored specific duties, and wished the
tariff so adjusted as to raise sufficient rcvc-
nue. with incidental protection to the great
branches of American industry, so as to
/ place the American mechanic on an equal
| ty with the foreigner He was opposed
to tariff levied for protector, which he de-
fined to be one which raised the revenue
! on few articles and placed prohibition du-
| ties on others The doctrine of incidental
protection has been too long sanctioned to
be attacked now.
Mr.. Jones, of Tenn, said the revenue
last year was S46, 100000. Was that not
enough for an economical administration of
| thegovernmentG 1rtan
Mr.. Phillips said, no, economy was not
meanness, and he did not believe the GOV.
ernment could be properly administered on
that sum. He concluded by urging an in
crease of the tariff.as the only measure of
relief.
Mr. Eornett of Vo coil tbo oo,,n4,.,