Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1811-12-07
From The NORFOLK LEDGER.

SrcREraRY OF THE TREAsURY's REPORT.
This important document was presented to
our readers in the Ledger of Friday. 1t ex-
hibits painful but plain view OF the diminish
ed resources of our country. We shall make
brief examination of this document. The
reader is always to bear In mind that the year
at the Treasury ends on the soth OF every Sep
tember, consequently that the year 1871 end
ed on the 3oth of last September, and that
we are now in the year 1912.
MIR. Gallatin commences his calculations OF
resources for the year 1912, by assuming that
the nett revenue from duties and tonnage ior
tha wear 1912, will amount to 100000 dol
lars. This we think impossible, II our pre-
.ent system of non-intercourse Is continued
and enforced. We shall endeavor to prove
this impossibility by reference to former do
cuments. On the 18th Of February 1906, "a
period of commercial prosperity Mr.. Gallatln
made a most luminous report on the imports
and exports of the country, in which he stated
that the nett amount Of duties on goods i'm
ported from all parts ofthe world, was
dolls. ll,55o,Ooo
Of which was derived from
goods imported from Great-Brl-
tain and her dominions, 5,432,ooo
Leaving for the rest Of the world, 6,llS,ooo
We presume no one Will undertake to say,
that the extent of our commerce with all the
world Great Britain and her domlnlons ex-
cepted) is now one half OF what 1t was IN 1906,
If we were to say it is not one third, we are
confident we are much nearer the truth. But
let US put it down at one halt OF what 1t was
in 1906, and the amount of duties will be
li,tle oyer 100000 of dollars, and yet not
withstand;ng the Eon-lntercourse, the revenue
from imports is to amount to seven and AT
half millions! From the three millions which
we have assumed as the probable future reve-
nue. (supposing the non-intercourse In rigid
enforcement We must deduct 100000 dollars,
the amount of duties on Salt imported in 1906,
from all parts Of the world Great Britain and
her dominions excepted at present there is
no duty on Salt. But let US suppose that our
commerce with all the world Great Britain
excenteSi1 shall be to the extent that 1t was
IN 1906. then the amount Of duties will be,
dolls. 6,lls,ooo
From which deduct the duty on
S,i, IN 1905. 10000
dolls. 5,S48,o0o
Mr. Galla,in calculates on seven and an halt
millions, whereas 5,S4S,ooo dollars IS the
most that can be calculated upon, leaving
deficiency OF nearly two milll,ns.
Tn 1906. the nett amount OF duties on the
two articles of gin * brandy (nelther import
81 from Great Britain or her domlnlons) "a
,nonn,ed to $4,000 dollars: at present there
!. no, one half the amount OF those articles I'M
r,r,ed. and In this every intelligent merchant
win agree, by which nearly another bali mil
lion Is lopped off from the Secretary's calcu-
Io,;ons.-But we shall be triumphantly told,
thai the Sccretary's report and calculations,
ore founded upon actual returns from the col
Isc,ors of the customs. We believe it to be
true. but then we do deny that the non-inter-
course can at the same time be enforced. nor
en- il he possible, unless it can be proved that
part is equal TO the whole. me extent oil
revenue calculated upon by the Secretary,
must sail, and very much indeed, II the non-in-
tercourse is enforced We may incur the
charge of accusing the importers with evad-
inv the non-intercourse law; we make no
such charge, but if that inference arises, we
co,not help ii; in the search OF truth, we
,annot shut cur eyes. We wish to draw the
a,,,n,iop OF the people, to this subject, and to
guard them against specious calculations, and
., m. same time to exhibit another odius fea-
,ura in this restrictive system. To what a
-,n;serai,le situation are we reduced! The
sources of our revenue must fail, or the laws
hs evaded. or in other words the sour
c,.s of revenue are to be derived from the vi
,l.t;,ps of iav--hence the evil OF enactiDg
Ia,y< which leave no choice, between want
S s,nnor,. and a breach of moral obligation
for er.ry violation oflaw, is breach of moral
obligation
aefoiency for the year 1912 viii be as follow
e'e g.. 80. Nv the Secretary 100000
difference between 6,lls,ooo
and 100000 ' ssao oo
Difference in salt duty a1o,ooo
in duty on brandy and gin $4,000
dolls. 3,2s6,ooo
->.re,t ;s founded upon the calcl-