Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-12-07

remarked that This incidental protection decreases
when the manufactured needs 1t most, an0 increases
when he needs it least, and colnStittitesa Sholns se"ro
which always operates against HIM. Inc revenues
NJ The country arc subject to similar huetuat!oh.-,
Instead of approaching Il steady standar9' us "ou'u
be the case under i system OF spccihc duties, 'ntt
sink und rise with tho sinking pld rising prices .!
articles in foreign countries. X would llot DC uiiheuil
for CONGRESS- 10 arrange O system Of specltc duties
which would afford additional stability eoth 10 our
revenue and our manufactures, and wlthonl INJURY or
Injustice to any interest OF the country. This might
he ACCOMPLISHED by asccrtaining the average value OF
any riven article for IL series of years at tho place OF
expectation, and 10y simply converting the rate OF az
rdlorera duty upon it which might be deemed ncces-
sary for revenue purposes, into the form OF q .speclhc
duty. Such IN arrangement could not iIlurc tHc
consumer. If he should pay II greater amount oi
duty one year, this would be countcrhalanccd by n
lesser amount the next, and in the end the aggregate
would be the same.
l desire to call your immediate attention to the
present condition Of the Treasury, so ably and clear
" presented by the Secretary III his report 10 Lon
cress: and to recommend that measures be promptly
adopted 10 enable il to discharge its pressing oblIga-
tons. The other recommendations of the report 'e
we'll worthy Of your favorable consideration.
| herewith transmit to Congress the reports OIL tue
Secretaries OF Var, OF the Navy, Of the Interior, and
Of the Postmaster General. The recommendation
and suggestions which they contain are highly faIiia-
bic and deserve your careful attention.
The repor OF tho Postmaster Gclaral details 'le
CIRCUMSTANCES uIlucI WHICH, NIIuSi''' ' ".tN ''
my request, agreed, in the month OF July last, 10
carry the ocean mails between onr Atlantic and lacl-
&c cousts. Had he not thus Hctcd, this important
INSTRUMENTATION must have been suspended, ~
least for II season. The Postmaster General lad no
power to make him any other compensation Than the
hostages on the mail matter which! he might carry
Il was known, ~ the time, that these hostages would
tall tar short OF ali adequate compensation. rs well
az Of the sum which the salne service i!aa previous
" cost the Government. Mr.. Vanderbilt, IN = COM
mpnAahlp suirit wns willin, ~ RELY upon the Justice
OF Congress TO make mp the deficiency; ana l., there
fore, recommend that nj appropriation nIny he
granted for this purpose.
| should do great injustice 10 tho Attorney GGiic-
nl were | to omit the mention "' his diSli'iSulShc"
services in the measures adopted aud prosecuted D!
him for the defence OF the Government ;Shi!st n"-
merol,S and untounded claims 10 land III California,
purporting to have been made by the MeNi!mh 1'V-
ernmeit previous to the treaty ol csssioh. Inc sue-
cesstul opposition TO these claims has saved 20 Tic
United States public property worth maLy MILLIONS
of dollars, and 10 individuals holding titie under
them to ut least III equal amount.
II has been represented 10 me, from sources which
I deem reliable, that the inhabitants in severa! p"r-
tons Of Kansas have been reduced nearly 10 y state
Of starvation, on account Of the almost tota! failure
Of their crops, whilst the hurvcsts'in every other
portion OF tbs country have been ablt'''Hn'.-
The prospect before them for the approaching winter
is well calculated ~ enlist the SymlathieS OF every
heart. The des,itution appears to be 50 general that
it cannot be relieved by private contributions, All"
they arc in such INDECENT circumstance rs 70 he ui-
able to purchase the ncccSSarlcs OF lie for tiic'i-
selves. | refer the subject TO Congress. IL any con-
Stitutional measure for their rel!ct call be drFIse'i |
would recommend its adoption.
! cordially commend to your favorable regard Tile
interests OF The people OF this District. l!it! Hrc
elninenlly entitled to You! consideration, especially
siucc, unlike the people Of the States, they can ~
peal 10 10 Government except that of the Cn!9II:
JAMES BUCHANAN.
WASHINGTON Cry, 81 December, le60.