The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1861-07-24
GREAT SPEECH


In this state of the case, for the purpose
OF quiet:ng the apprehension of the coun-
try, and demonstrating, nrst, that the Presi
dent does not mediate war and secondly,
that he has no means for prosecuting tcarilre
bring in This resolution. Attempts are made
/ to prevent its consideration 1t is suggest.
| ed that the discussion oft al this time would
/ be, if not improper, al least Injurious
| What bad effect can result from answering
! the inquiries contained in the resolution
If the policy OF the Administration be
peace, and il the answer be such as anti
cipate il will be, it will quiet the country
! it will relieve these apprehensions it will
cause rejoicing throughout the length and
breadth Of the land. If, on the contrary,
the policy be war, it is due TO the people of
The United States that that fact should be
/ known, ,and that we be informed whittier we
are drifting, in order tina, we may see whelh
er we are willing 10 be drawn into war ir-
regularly, without the sanction OF Congress
| or the consent Of the country.
| | believe that the answer 10 this resolu-
/ ton will quiet the couniry, and restore good
will and good feelings among the people of
the different sections repeat the convic-
! tion that Mr. Lincoln does not mediate war.
Certain ! am that, under the laws as they
now exist, he cannot consistent lC:h his oath
do any act that triR produce COLLISION bettreen
! The seceeding STATES and The Federal Government
10 the first place he has no power, under
the existing laws, 20 collect the revenue on
ship board, as is suggested by The partisan
press. BY the laws OF ;he land, the reven-
ne must be collected al the ports of entry,
and in the custom houses designated by
/ law, and cannot be collected anywhere else.
except in specific cases provided in The law
itself. By reference TO The act OF The I'd OF
March, 1899, il will be seen that South Car,
olina is divided i'll three collection districts :;
that three ports of entry are established
one al Georgetown, one at Charleston, and
one at Beaufort and collector, surveyor,
+ and naval officer, ars TO be appointed "to
reside at Charleston" The custom house
! of entry designed IN the law. So il is with
i all the collection districts in all the other
States. Another seciion-section eighteen
-of the law makes il unlawful 10 enter
goods or collect revenue elsewhere than The
| sports of entry" designated IN the law. II
expressly prohibits The collection of reven-
ue or the entry Of goods at any other Pidee.-
| Then, subsequent secton-section eigty>
J FIVE of The same la:-makes one exception
10 this rule and that is in case vessel is
prevented by ice from approaching the pier
or wharf al the port OF entry, the captain on
application to the collector, may receive
permit 10 land the goods. and pay the du-
lies at any place in the district designated
in the permit. The only case, then, where
revenue can lawfully be collected, or goods
lawfully entered, at any other point than
The port OF entry designated in the law. is
where the vessel is obstruced by ice from
approaching the wharf al such port.
II has been suggested, and the people of
the country North and South, have been
led TO believe, that it is the purpose of this
Administration, without authority 0! law, to
order revenue cutters down TO those south
ern ports, and 20 collect revenue on board
ot them. wish to call the attention of the
| Senate and the country to The fact that The
iaw torbids The collection of revenue on ship
board or Onywhere else, except al Charleston,
al Savannah, al New Orleans, and at each
one of The ports designated in the law
/ The President OF the United States would
subject himself justly and 'slawfully TO i'm
peachmeni il he should attempt 10 collect
the revenue on shipboard, or in any other
! place." than that authorized by law. The
law in this respect stands now just as it did
when General Jackson in 1882, called on
Congress for additional Legislation 10 enable
him 10 collect revenue at The port of
Charleston. Then General Jackson had no
power 10 remove The cusom-house from
| the City of Charleston to ship aboard in the
harbor. He had no power to order the col.
/ lection of revenue anywhere else than at
! the place designated by law. Because OF
the absence of legal authority 10 do this, he
called on Congress to pass law, which
authorized him TO collect the revenue on
land or ship-hoard, anywhere within the
the harbor other than at the place designa-
ted at the port of entry. Congress passed
the law known to the country now as the
''force bill" The force bill was passed
March 2, 1893 and the first and fifth sec.
lion which gave authority 10 collect The
revenue al any place in the harbor, and
the power 10 use military force, expired at
the end of the next session of Congress by
the express limitation OF the act Hence
the law stands now just as il did before the
force, bill was passed and there is no more
authority to collect revenue on shipboard
now than there was before the passage of