The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1811-12-26

alo OF southern men, Eight out of nine of the
Maryland delegation voted for the Senate's
amendment, by which all the states south
west OF Pennsylvania with the exception of
Delaware) are sacrificed to most unjust &
unequal distribution. The vote was 70 to Sc.
he abscntccs were it is believed chiefly from
the south.-ShirTt ef'76
A new patriotic play called the american
CahkUe, or Siege Of TrihoH, is now per-
forming at Boston to crowded houses.
From the head of New York Theatri
cal Bill we extract the following - The
public are respectfully informed, that MIR.
Cooke will perform in New York but four
nights more After which he departs i'm
mediately for Charleston, from whence he
takes passage for England"
TREASURY DEPARTMENT,
November 90, 1911.
The evasions Of the non-importation
act appear to have principally arisen from
three quarters.
l. vessels have arrived from ports not be
longing to u. Is. with merchandise of Bril-
tish growth OR manufacture which has been
entered as being of the growth or manufac-
ture OF other countries. This is believed to
nave been by far the most fruitful source of
evasion, and appears to have been, as yet,
confined to vessels coming with colonial pro-
cuce from ST. Bartholomew, and Spanish
ports.
q Coasting vessels chiefly from the nor
them ports have brought large quantities Of
plaster OF Paris, commonly taken on board
III the waters of Passamaguoddy bav and
1t is suggested that they have also occasio-
nally eceiNed there, or from vessels at sea.
other species of British merchandise.
3. Merchandise has been illegally impor-
ted by land from Canada, aud as it is belicv-
ed, principally through the State of Yer
ont.
The Official and direct information receiv-
cd on that subject is not very extensive
verbal CT private communications have been
made to me, more in the shape of suggesti-
ons than founded on a positive knowledge of
the facts. Still that evasions have taken
place IN the manner above stated, is suflici-
emily established. But am induced to be-
iieve, that with the exception of rum brought
In from st. Bartholomew, and of plaster of
Paris from New brunswick, the amount of
merchandise actually struggled is not very
considerable Exclusively of special in
structions applicable to particular cases, ant,
or the employment Of cutters, boats & men,
the general measures adopted for checking
* preventing those illegal attempts, were
Incorporated, & will be found in the two en-
closed circulars. But some further provsi-
ons appear necessary; and | beg leave to
submit the following suggestions
1.With respect to the importation of Bri-
tish articles under color of their being the
produce OF other Countries, two efficient
modes may be adopted: !, to admit no such
articles after certain date, unless accom-
panied with certificate of origin from the
american consul, or commercial agent, at
the port OF expectation 2, to direct a sum-
mary mode, by sworn examiners to decide,
at the time OF arrival, on the origin of the
article, which decision shall be admitted as
conclusive evidence in case Of trial.
IL In relation TO coasting vessels, it is pro-
posed, that they should be obliged to en-
Ser and clear, though ostensibly bound to
another port in the same or an adjacent
state, making only the proper exception in
favor OF packets and Of vessels employed
solely within the same.
III. The situation of Passamaquoddy
seems to require some special provisions,
such as to forbid altogether the importation
OF any foreign article from that port into a
ny other port of the United States, & not to
suffer any vessels 20 go there without special
permission from the resident.--Similar
provisions may also be useful with respect
to st. Mary'sin Georgia.
~. IL is believed that the. prevention of
smuggling from Canada depends more on
the vigilance and activity OF the collectors,
and persons employed by them, than on any
additional legal provision. 1t seems howe
YER, necessary to extend generally to nspcc-
tors the powerof searching houses, which by
the collection law, is given only to the col
iectors, or persons acting uHder "A special
appointment for each case II has also been
suggested thata permission to import salt
from Canada would in other respects, faci-
litate the execution Of the law.
V. it IS not known that vessels laden with
salt and Coming from Lisbon and other pla-
ces, have brought any forbidden articles /;
but the facility of concealnlent, tho article
being now duty free, and neither measur-
ed On examined, is oDvous and it suggests
the propricty Of directing that cal; should be
measured. OK weighed, a. if liable to duty.
There arc some other improvements of a
more general and permanent nature, TO
which The attention Of this department has
been more forcibly called by the restrictive
laws, and which 1 will also beg leave to sug-
gest.
The superinterda dance ofthc treasury OYER
Tie collectors, for the purpose Of producing