The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-04-15
Our Washington Letter.

Our Washington Letter.
WASHINGTON, April IA, 1871.
To the Editor of the State Journal.
The political contest in the forthcoming
election of the local and national officer!
of the new territory of the District o.
Columbia, is becoming very exciting, anc
nightly meetings are being held in the
different districts of the new territory
which are ably addressed by the repre-
sentative men of the respective districts
members of Congress, and others. Among
the foremost in the Republican ranks, is
Hon. John w. Forney, who, true to his
instincts, is untiring in his zeal in the
great work. His labors are unceasing-
not night passes but he addresses large
audiences.
Among those who have addressed meet
ings, are Senators Wilson and Patterson,
and Representatives Williams, Schenks,
Starkweather, Elliott, and Charles Fl.
Porter.
Senator Morton's serenade speech the
other evening is another bomb-shell in the
Democratic ranks here. The crowd was
so immense in front of the National hotel
that had congregated to serenade him, that
the broad Pennsylvania avenue (160 feet
in width and half square on either
side, was hardly adequate to afford stand
ing room. Senator Morton, though SO
physically infrm that he is generally
compelled to set while speaking, retains all
the intellectual faculties of giant mind,
and is one of the very few since the days
of Clay and Webster, who is SO able to
mould the sentiments of the masses.
Section 50 of the internal revenue act
needs amending, and Mr. Platte of Vir-
ginia, the interest of whose constituents it
severely affects, is watching the first OPP
portunity to move an amendment to the
same. 1t appears that the tax on tobacco
is exclusively on the manufactured article
The leaf tobacco in its manufactured
state, is free. Before any tax was imposed
on any kind of tobacco, but very few used
any other than the manufactured, as the
difference in cost then was the slight ex-
pense of its manufacture by reduced labor;
but since the tax the difference in the price
is so great that the leaf in its unmanufac-
tured state is used nearly as much as the
other, and thus the government is deprived
of the revenue it anticipated.
The administration of President Grant
has increased the collection of revenue one
hundred and sixty millions over the col
lections of Johnson's administration for
the last two years of his administration,
since which time the internal taxes have
been reduced eighty-three millions, and
custom duties twenty three millions. Quer-
ry:sI the administration of Grant more
competent or honest than that of his pre-
decessor If not more honest, then it
must be more capable--if not more capa-
BILE, then it must be more honest If
neither of these be true, then johnson COL
lected one hundred and six million more
in the last two years of his administration
than Grant in his two frst.. The record
shows not only that such was not the case,
but still farther, that Grants collections
largely exceeded those of johnson. Which
of the crimes against public policy was
johnson guilty of, dishonesty or incapacity?
Again, which, If not both, Of the public
virtues, honesty and capability, is Presi-
dent Grant to be credited with? LIFE.