The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1870-12-23


would recommend liberal policy to-
wards that line Of American steamers
-one that will insure its success and
it's increased usefulness, The cost OF
building iron vessels--tha only ones
thnt can compete with foreign ships
in the carrying trade-is 80 much
greater in the United States than IN
foreign countries. that without some
assistance from the Government, they
cannot be built here. There will be
se-eral propositions laid before Con-
gress in the course Of the present ses-
sion. looking to remedy for this evil !;
even If il should be at some cost to the
national treasury, I hope such ercour-
agement will be given as will revive
American shipping on the high seas,
and American siip-bnilding at home.
RETURN TO SPECIE PAYMENT.
The average value of gold, as com
pared with national currency for the
year 1869. was abont 1874. and for the
eleven months of 1870 the same rela-
tive value has been about 115. This
approach to q specie payment is very
gratifying, but the fact cannot be denied
that The instability of the value of our
currency is prejudicial to our prosperi-
ty and tends to keep no prices TO the
detriment of trade. The evils OF a de.
preciated and fuctunting currency are
so great. that now, when the premium
on gold has fallen so much that it would
seem that the time has arrived when
by prudent legislation Congress should
look to n policy which would place our
currency at par with gold at no distant
day. ...=........
REDUCTION OF TAXATION.
The tax collected from the people
has been reduced more than eight mil
lion dollars per annum. by steadiness
in our present course; there is no rea.
son why, in few short years. the na-
tional tax gatherer may not disappear
from the citizens door almost entirely.
With the revenue stamps dispensed by
postmasters in every community. a tax
upon liquors of all sorts, and tobacco
in all its forms. and by o nice adjust.
ment of the tariff which will pnt dut,
only upon those articles which we car
dispense with. known as luxnries, and
IN those articles which we use more oi
than we produce. revenue enough ma,
he raised after q few years OF peace and
consequent reduction OF Indebtedness
to fulfill all our obligations.
REVENUE REFORM.
In addition to this. n reduction OF ;n
ternal accounts may be relied on TO rem
der this practicable. Revenue reform
il il means this. has my early support
If il implies a collection Of oil tho rev
enue for the supporter the Government
for the payment of principal and inter
est of tax. public debt. pensions, DC.
By direct taxation on the people, ther
| am against revenue reform, and con
fdently believe the people are will
me. Ii il means failure to provide
the necessary means to defray all ex
penses Of the Government. and there
by repudiate the public debt, then
am still more opposed to such kline
OF revenue. Revenue reform has no
been defined By any Of its advocate,
to my knowledge. but seems to be nc
cepted AZ something which is 10 sup
ply every mans wants. without an,
cost or effort on his part. A true rev
enue reform caanot be made in o day
but must he the work Of Naticna
Legislation, and OF time. As soon ~
the revenue can be dispensed with, al
duty should be removed from coffee
tea and other arti :les of universal use
not produced by ourselves. The ne
cessities OF the country compel US T.
collect revenue from our imports. Al
army Of assessors and collectors is no
n pleasant sight to the citizens, bu
that, or tariff for revenue, is neces
sary. Such tariff, SO far as it &C.
as an encouragement to the laborer q
living wages, in contrast to the Ol,
World, and also in the developmeR
of home resources. m fH
/ aG sd OTHER MATTERS. "a.
:. The President pleads for NOR
powerful navy. and shows how made
lauate our naval force is; the Posta
Service is represented as working sal
isfactorily. Considerable space
given to discussion Of the troubl
existing with reference to the Canad
an fisheries, and the free navigation {
the st. Lawrence as necessary to ou
, commercial prosperity. Should th
r Canadas refuse to make fair term
i with reference to the fisheries ques
, ton and the navigation of that rivel
he recommends unfriendly legislatio
on our part to bring them to a
! understanding Of their proper intel
ests.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM.
sl Always favoring practical reforms.
j would respectfully call your attentio
j to an abuse of long standing, which
should like to see remedied by tn
( Congress. It is q reform in the civ
t service of the country. / would ha,
: it go beyond the mere fixing of ii
Q tenure of Office of clerks and emplo,
s ees, who do not require the advice an
g consent Of the Senate to. make the
q complete. I would not have it govel
the tenure, but the manner OF maxim
: appointments. There is no, dut
which so much embarrasses the Execl
tive and heads Of Departments as th'
of appointments. Nor is there ar
such arduous and thankless labor il
posed on Senators and Representatiy'
!, as that Of finding places for their CO.
. stituents. as4.o..s.,,-, =. ...s