New-York tribune., 1874-03-11
sesinst tho party in power. II is rather re-
minder TO the Administration than rebuff
THE ADDRESS or MR.. SCHULTZ.

THE ADDRESS OF HIS, oCHUEIH.
IL is generally admitted that the remarks OF
Mr.. jackson s. Schultz before the Committeo
of Ways and Means last Saturday produced
deeper impression than all the arguments Oh
counsel and all the stories OF personal suffer
ing which have been brought to the discussion
of tho pending question. This morning we
publish full stenOgraphic report OF MI
Schultzs statement. Our readers will see tna'
tho praise bestowed upon it has not been 700
strong. 1t is a clear. dispassionatc, convincing
nresentation of a CASE which needs no rhetoric
10 enforce its lessons. Mr. Schultz does not
touch upon tho constitutional objections to the
seizure of books and papers; he does not as
cuss tho demOralizing influence OF the moety
system he does not dwell upon the abuses
which inevitably grow out of the employment
of informers with enormous contingent
emoluments; all these branches OF the
subject had been treated by other
persons. He first gives minute eA-
planation of the process of entering goods
and paying duties to show that the Govern
ment has ample means of ascertalnIng ana
collecting its dues, without recourse to vio-
lent, inquisitOrial, and oppressive regulations
provided only that its officers are reasonably
competent and honest. He describes the COM
plcatIons and perplexites of the Revenue
laws and the rulings of the Treasury to show
that unintentiOnal irregularities, such as must
legally forfeit an invoice, are not only
easy but practically unavoidable, and that
there ia not merchant i'm New-York with
Largo foreign connection who could not be
ruined if he fell into the Special Agents
hands. He points out how the Government
fills the CustOm-hOus with incompetent ap-
praisers and worthless or corrupt clerks, and
amerces the merchants to make up for the
losses it suffers through its own servants.
He then passes on to certain narratives OF
individual hardship resulting from this shame
fui system. Told without establishment or
comment, there is pathos in these stories
of which the least imprcssibie reader must be
conscious.
When Mr. Jackson S. Schultz shows
us che Government OF the United
States as the enemy aud oppressor of the
mercantile community, loading it down with
impossible requirements furnishing innocent
errors with outrageous penalties, exactlng
unreasonable and burdensOme securities,
obstructing financial settlements, checking
enterprise, driving capital away from the
marts of legitimate trade, and instigating
patriotic Americans to forswear their country,
we are bound to listen with moro than
ordinary attention. Mr.. Schultz is one of our
most respectable citizens. He is man OF
excellent personal character, of decided
ability, and of extensive commercial experience.
And he has no personal grievance to warp his
Judgment All his prejudices, if he had any,
would naturally be in favor of the Govern
ment. The principal officers of the New-York
Custom-house are his friends He is counted
among the firm supporters of the Administra-
ton. His political alliances lead him naturally
into close association with the men who are
charged with the enforcement of these OBJ
noxious laws and who share in the proceeds
of the fines and penalties. Nothing. there
fore, could induce Mr.. Schultz to make these
statements except conviction that the real
welfare of the Government and the prosperity
of our city required personal friendships and
party preferences to be set aside for the sake
of this great reform. His testimony will be
listened to az that of an expert whose knOwl-
edge and impartiality are alike beyond question