Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-02-16
House of Representatives Fob. IA.

Indian appropriation bill.
/ Mr.. Phillips, of Pa, said the actual def
cheney of the treasury was much greater than
had been represented. The Secretary OF the
Treasury had stated the probable deficiency
! ON the first Of July 10 be - ,OO0,ooO but he
| had not included the SlS,OUO,OOO OF treasury
notes about falling due, which would swell
the amount to 50, COG, 900. Add to that the
loan Of S2O, 100000 and some other items,
and we had total deficiency of S47 ,OOO,O 600.
| Under these circumstances he had made up
! his mind irrevocablv not to vote for the re-is-
sue of treasury notes unless accompanied
with bill so modifying the tariff as to raise
money enough 10 pay them. lie believed
no power could change this determination
| Mess our legislation was changed, our credit
to borrow money would be destroyed. 18th
deficiency of between forty and fifty mil
lions, rs h. believed. and no means taken to
improve tie finances, who would continue
! long Ia trust Us.
30 reliance could be placed on the esti-
mate of the Secretary of the Treasury. When
the issue of treasury notes was made, we were
told it was not wanted as II permanent loan,
vet now we are asked for more. If we made
mistakes once, we could repeat them. BY
making comparison Of his estimates last
session with his statements at this session,
| he discovered that he had made an error Of
only $40, 100000.
Mr. Smith of Va. asked for the figures.
Mr.. Phillips read from document the
| Secretary's estimates submitted in December
1857 and for July. 1859, and stated that the
difference was something over S4O,OO,OOO.
lie contended that it was absolutely neccssa-
~ to increase the tariff to meet the alarm
| ing deficiency in the revenue lie was In
favor Of economy, but he did not want to cut
down the army and navy appropriation to
break up our consular and diplomatic system
and shut ourselves out from the world. Neither
would he cut down the postofice appropria-
ton. He did not care whether the Postotice
Department was self sustaining or not. 1t
was great distributor Of intelligence, and
his constituents were reading and writing
people.
MIR. Miles, of s. c., asked if he did not
| think his enlightened constituents should pay
for their own 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 lie would not curtail the means of en-
tightening the people.
Mr.. Miles asked if to make the depart
ment self sustaining would decrease mail ia
cilities and the spread of enlightenment.
Mr.. Philips-"lrs il the gentleman will
look to the post office returns he will see
what section pays most for it's tacilites.-
Let the gentleman from Mississippi see what
his State pays"
Mr. arksdale-"My State receives moth
iug from the general government. believe
The gentlemans State monopolizes about
two-third> the Offices at this time
Mr.. Smith Of Va, thought the North re-
ceived an undue share of patronage.
Mr. PhiIIps-'The gentleman ought not
TO talk. BY all accounts his State is well
provided for.
Mr. Smith. THE gentleman gets his in
formation from common rumOr and she is Il
common strumpet.
The discussion then continued on the pol
icy Of making the Post-ofice Department self
sustaining Mr.. Phillips arguing that such
was not the intention Of the trainers of the
constitution. Mr.. Phillip, then contended
that the present increased receipts from Gus
toms arose from the fact that goods were be-
ing crowded in anticipation Of an increase OF
the tariff the continuance of which could not
be depended on. lie favored specific duties
and wished the tariff 80 adjusted as to raise
sufficient revenue with incidental protection
to the great branches of American industry,
So ~ to place the American mechanic ON All
equality with the foreigner. lie was opposed
to tariff levied for protection which he de-
fined to be- one which raised the revenue on
il few articles and placed prohibition duties
on others The doctrine Of incidental pro-
lection had been too long sanctionedto be at
tackled now.
Mr.. Jones. of Tenn. said the revenue last
year was S4G.OOO,000. asthat not enough
Tor IN economical administration of the gov
eminent!
Mr.. Philips said. no. economy was not
ncanneSS. and he did not believe the govern
mcnt could be properly administered on that
sum. lie concluded by urging an Increase
of the tariff H. the only measure of relief.
Mr.. Garnett, of Va, said the country was
divided into tax PAYERS and tax consumers.
They were here urrayed now against each
other aud hc was glad the deficiency and the
treasury had brought up this issue. The
question was whether We should raise the
taxes for the benefit Of the tax consumers or
reduce the expenses for the benefit Of the tax
payers.
Mr. Garnctt then proceeded to show that
Mr.. Phillips estimate Of deficiency of S4I,-
OOOOOO was incorrect, and that by reducing
the expenditures the tariff of 1857 would not
only yield sufficient revenue, but afford a sur
plus. He denounced the extravaganza Of the
government expenses and spoke earnestly in
favor of retrenchment and economy.
The committee then rose and the House
adjourned