The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1860-03-23
WASHINGTON NEWS.

WASHINGTON NEWS.
| MEXICAN AFFAIRs-MR. MoRRILL's TARIFF BILL.
The Select Pacific Railroad Committee hold their
next meeting on Monday next at ten o'clock, in
stead of Saturday, as previously agreed upon.
| The greatest interest seems to centre about this
committee. Its room, where is suspended large
map, upon which is traced the different routes from
the Atlantic to the Pacific, has been the centre OF
attraction by different parties interested in the diff
| ferent routes.
The all-absorbing question here is that of Next.
co, and Judging from the general feeling manifested
IN all quarters. and among all political parties, the
ratification of the Mexican treaty is sure; for in
the event OF the treaty not being ratified forcibe
occupation and acquisition Of territory will be the
result. The steamship project of Colonel Butter
field is about to occupy the attention of Congress
and, it is said, will be warmly supported. The Nj
| caragua treaty will in all probability be revived
Resolutions of inquiry into the capture of the
two Mexican steamers, near Vera Cruz, have been
| presented in both Houses The impression exists
here, In the absence of official Information, that
Commodore Turner supposed the treaty with Jua-
rez was ratified, and hence interviewed to cut off
Mlramon's naval support. His action is, however,
approved at the Navy Department, where the ex-
pedition is stigmatized as piratica No precisely
parallel case is on record. One nearly similar oc-
Cured off Hayti over Is years ago, when an Amer
lean man-ofwar fired blank cartrige across the
bows of French vessel which did not exhibit her
colors The Frenchman answered with shot when
boat from the American went alongside to ex-
plain that they were not aware the vessel was a
man-of-war, to which the Frenchman replied that
his pennant was flying.
During the troubles in the Gulf in 1855 our mer-
chantmen often refused to show their flags, and
Secretary Cass rebuked them for the OMISSION
The whole practice is one of constitutional comity
neglect of which nation has the right to punish
by force. The national vessels of gland, France
and Spain took no exception to these steamers
passing down to the anchorage, and their officers
are said to deprecate Com. Turner's summary con
dnnf rhA
bring Captain Jarvs's account of this affair here
has been telegraphed to mail his dispatches and
return to his ship. Commodore McCluney, who
commands the home squadron, was not at Vera
Cruz at the time of the action, being ordered to
remain at Aspinwal with the Roanoke to bring the
Japan Commissioners to the United States
Marin, who was captured with the steamers
was formerly Commodore in the old Mexican navy
Our government is possessed of information of all
that passed between Miramon and him, and framed
Mr.. McLane's instructions under that knowledge
He had credit for $4,000 in one BILL which was
subsequently increased to purchase steamers and
munitions either in the United States or Cuba to
cooperate with Miramon when the attack from
land was made against Vera Cruz. He left Havana
under the Spanish flag, which was the original
eoors OF the steamers, but hoisted the Mexican flag
IN the Gulf. His movements were known and
watched throughout.
Upon an examination of an advance COW of the
bill offered by Mr.. Morrill,, from the Committee on
Ways and Means, providing for the payment of
II
any time within twelve months of the sum of TWEEN
ty-one million OF dollars and to regulate and fix the
duties on imports, and for other purposes, we
find that bill provides that about one-third of the
whole amount of importatons collected will be
specifics; the best is divided into four schedules,
three upon which duties are affixed at ten, twenty
and thirty per cent and one free list which is con-
siderably enlarged. The following some of the
important provisions:
Section six provides that from and after October
l, 1860, there shall be levied, collected and paid
on the importation of the articles hereinafter men
toned, the following duties that is to say-First
-On brandy, for first proof, one dollar per gal
lon on other spirits manufactured or distilled from
grain, for first proof, forty cents per gallon; on
spirits from other materials, for first proof forty
cents per gallon; on cordials and liquors of ali
kinds, fifty cents per gallon; on arrack absynthe
kirschenwasser, ratafa and other similar sniritn
Gus beverages, not otherwise provided for. fftv
cents per gallon; on bay rum, twenty-five cenfs
per gallon; provided, that the duty upon brandy.
spirits and other spirituous beverages herein emu
merated, shall be collected upon the basis of first
proof, and so in proportion for any greater strength
than the strength of first proof On Madeira,
sherry and port wines, in casks bottles seventy
hve cents per gallon; on champagne and sparkling
wines, Burgundy and hook, in bottles, one dol
lar per gallon, in casks fifty cents per gallon;
on claret Teneriffe, Sicily and Canary wines,
in casks or bottles, thirty cents per gallon
on all other wines not enumerated thirty per
centum ad valorem; provided that all limitations of
brandy or spirits of any of the said wines, and
all wines imported by any names whatever, shall
be subject to the duty provided for the genuine
article which 1t 10 intended to represent and to the