Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1871-12-23

our government has been relieved of
| further intercourse with Mr.. Catacazy,
! and the management of the affairs of
! the Imperial nation has passed into the
hands of gentleman entirely unobiec-
| tionable.
With Japan we continue to maintain
| intimate relations. The Cabinet of the
| Mikado has since the close of the last
session of Congress, selected citizens of
the United States to serve in offices of
Importance in several departments of
| the Government. | have reason to
! think that this selection is due to an ap.
! preciation of the disinterestedncss of
| the policy which the United States have
pursued toward Japan. 1t is our desire
to continue to maintain this disiuterest-
ed and just policy with China as well as
Japan. The correspondence transmit
ted herewith shows that there is no dis
position on the part of this Government
to swervc from its established course.
Prompted by a desire to put an end
to the barbarous treatment of our ship
wrecked sailors at the Corean coast |
! instructed our Minister at Pekin to en-
deavor to conclude convention with
Corea for securing the safety and hui
name treatment of such mariners. Adj
miral Rogers was instructed to accom-.
pany him with n sufficient force to
protect him in case of need. A small
Surveying party sent out, on reaching
| the coast, was treacherously attacked at
a disadvantage. Ample opportunity
was given for explanation and apology
for the insult Neither came. A force
I 1 1
march over a rugged and difficult coun-
try, the forts from which the outrages
had been committed were gallantly as
saulted, and were destroyed. Having
thus punished the criminals, and having
vindicated the honor of the flag, the
expedition returned, finding it imprac-
ticable, under the circumstances, to
conclude the desired convention. | re-
spcctfully refer to the correspondence
relating thereto, herewith submitted,
and leave the subject for such action as
Congress may see fit to take.
The national debt has been reduced
to the extent of $50, ,057, l26 so during
| the year, and by the negotiation of ma
| tional bonds at lower rate of interest,
the interest on tho public debt has
been SO far diminished that the sum to
| he raised 70: interest account is nearly
100000 less than on the lst of
March, 1869. 1t was highly desirable
that this rapid diminution should take
place, both to strengthen the credit of
the country and to convince its citizens
of their ability to entirely meet every
dollar of liability without bankruptiug
| them; but in view of the accomplish
~ II L. ,c h,
lrapid development of the resources of
the conntry, its increasing ability to
meet the large demands, and the
amount already paid, it is not desirable
that The present resources OF the coun-.
try should continue to be taxed in or:
der to- continue this fapid pay
ment. ! therefore recommend a
modification of both the tariff and
the internal tax laws. recon-
mend that all taxes from internal
sources be abolished, except those on
spirituOus wines and malt liquors, to-
baoco- in its various forms, and from
stamps. In readjusting the tariff, |
suggest that a careful estimate be made
of the amount of surplus revenue col
lected under the present law after pro.
yiding for the current expenses of the
| Government. the interest account, and
p sinking fund, and that this surplus
be reduced in such manner as to afford,
| the greatest relief to the greatest mum
her. There are many articles not pro
| tiuced at home. such as medicines and
compounded essences, from which very
! little revenue is desired, put which en-
! ter into general use. All such articles
! ! recommend to be placed on the. free
list. Should u further reduction prove
advisable, | would then recommend that
it be made upon those articles which
can bear it without disturbing home
production or reducing the wages of
American labor. | have not entered
into figures, because to do so would be
to repeat all that's laid before you in the
report Of the Secretary of the Treasury.
The present laws for collecting the
revenues pay the Collectors of Customs
all seizures, which, at the, principal
ports of entry particularly, raise the
compensation of these officials to Il
large sum. 1t has always seemed to me
as if this system must at times work
perniciously. it holds out inducement
to dishonest men, should such get pos
session of those offices, to be lax in
their scrutiny of goods entered, to en-
able them finally to make large seizures.
Your attention is respectfully invited
to this subject.
Continued fluctuations in the value of
gold, compared with the national cur
rency, has q most damaging effect upon
the increase and development. Of the
country in keeping up prices of all arti-