The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1870-12-10

So.su =: eners cheaper food to the nation an in.
S".S -. :. the annual surplus Of wealth. It il
10y ':at the Government of Great Brit ain will
w sno !us"ce OF abandoning the parrow and in.
:r o'An to which her Can ,dixn prov.
inces hsve urged her adherence.
Our depressed Commerce !. a .,h;sc, n vh;oh r
called your special attention q, ~ i.., ....;o.
ana suggested that We will in the in,nre have
20 look more TO the countries sontb of n. and ~
China and Japan, for its revival. - u.s. '"N ="
Our representatives to all tbes. vovsrnmsr,s
nave e1erted their influence to encourage tr.da
between the United States and the countrie, h
Wn,'n 'ney are accredlted but the fact exists
tnat the carrying Is done almost ent;r.jv IN Gov.
eign bottoms and while this state Of - ~
lists we cannot control our due share ~ Tho cow.
meroe OF the world. That between thu p.n;Gc
states and China and Japan is abont -, ~
carrying trade now conducted in Amer,csn ras,
sells l would recommend q liberal n,,;",,
toward that line of American steamers: ons 49,
VIII insure Its success and even increased ,,.o-
fulness. USE
The cost OF building iron vessels the op)v or.,
that can compete with foreign vessels = .Ss
carrying trade-is so much greater in the ITn;,oJ
states Than In foreign countries that, without
some assistance from the Government thew can.
not DC successfully built here. There will ha
several propositions laid before oonpres, in the
course OF the present session looking to remedy
Tor the evil Even il it should be at some co:t
70 the national treasury, hope such encourage.
men' Will oe given as will secure American
shipping on the high seas, and American shin.
building at home sap
Inc condition OF the archives at tho department
OF state calls for the early action of congress.
Inc building now rented by that department. :.
q frail structure at best and a. an inconyenient
distance from the Executive Mansion and from
.ne otAer departments 1t is ill-adapted to the
purposes for which it is used, has not capacity to
accommodate the archives and is not fre.proof
its remote rituaton, its slender construction, and
the absence OF supply of water in the nsighbor
hood leaves but little hope of safety for III.
building or its contents in case of the accident az
hre. Its destruction would involve the loss Of
the rolls containing the original acts aud re.olu
lions OF congress, Of the historic records Of the
revolution and of the confederation; of tn whole
series OF diplomatic and consular archives sinca
the adoption OF the constitution, and of the MANY
other valuable records and papers lef: with that
department when 1t was the principal depository
OF the government archives. / recommend an
appropriation for the construction of a BUILDING
Tor the Department Of State
recommend to your consideration the pro.
priety OF transferring to the Department of the
Interior, to which they seem more appropriately
TO belong, all powers and duties in relation TO
the territories with which the Department of
state IL now charged by law or usage and from
the Interior Department TO the War Department.
tue fension bureau, 80 far as it regulates the
payment of soldiers pensions. would farther
recommend that the payment of naval PENSIONS
be transferred 10 one of the bureaus of the Nav
Department
Ahe estimates for the expenses of the govern.
ment for the fiscal year SIS pa 34G less than
Tor the current one but exceed the appropriations
!or the present year for the sane items, S,912,.
!2Ioo la this estimate. however, is included
*22,33s,2!s.3I for public works heretofore begun
under CONGRESSIONAL permission. and of winch
only 80 much is asked as congress NAV choo.eAo
give. The appropriation for the same work for
the present fiscal year was $ll,9S4 ,5ls0S.
The average value of gold AZ COMPARED with
national currency for the whole of the year 1869
WAS l34, and for eleven months of 1870 the same
relative value has been abou, ll5. The approach
to specie basis is very gratifying but the fac.
cannot be denied that instability OF tie value of
our currency Is prejudicial TO our prosperity and
tends TO keep up prices TO the detriment OF trade.
The evils Of deprecated and fuc,uatiny chr.
rehcy are so great that now, when the premium
on gold has fallen 80 much j. would seem that
the tune has arrived when by wise and prudent
legislation congress should look to policy which
would place our currency at par with gold at no
distant day.
The tax collected from the people has been
reduced more than $S0000,0 600 per annum. By
steadlness In our present course there is no rea-
son why In few short years the national tax
gatherer may not disappear from the door Of the
citizen almost altogether
WIN the revenue stamp dispensed BY post
masters In every community a tax upon liquors
OF al sorts and tobacco in all its forms, and bv
. wise adjustment Of the tariff, which will put =
duty only upon those articles which we could
oisPehse with, known as luxures, and on those
whicn we use more of than We produce revenue
enough may be raised after few years Of peace
ana consequent reduction Of Indebtedness, to
fulfill all our obligations; and further reduc.
ton OF expenses in addition to reduction OF in.
terest account may be relied on to make this
practicable
Revenue reform. If it means this has nv
hearty support. If it implies collection Of all
the revenue for the support Of the government
ior the payment OF principal and interest OF the
PUBIC debt, pensions, &c, by directly taxing
the people, then / am against revenue reform.
and confidently believe the people are with me-
II 1t means failure to provide the necessary
means to defray all expenses of the government,
and thereby reputation of the public debt and
pensions, then [ am still more opposed 10 such
kind of revenue reform
revenue reform has not been defined BY any
OF Its advocates, in my knowledge. but seems to
be accepted as something which is to supply
every mans wants without any cost or effort
on ms part. A true revenue reform cannot be
made IN a day, but must DO the work of nation
al legislation and of time As soon as the rev.
enue can be dispensed with, all duty should be
removed from coffee, tea, and other articles of
universal use not produced by ourselves The
necessities OF the country compel US to collect
FRO,