Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-08-07
SELECTIONS s.
From Me Boston Statesman.

MIX. VAN BUREN'S SPEECH
we shall select few extracts from the speech
II this Gentleman at the county meeting, held al
Albany, Stephen Van Rensselaer, in the chair Judpe
buel Secretary, for the purpose of appointing de-
gates to ihe Siate CCny enliOD upon the subject of
aevisiDg measures to obtain by legislation add-
uonai protection 10 the growing and manula curing
of wool,
In the cominencement OF his speech he went in
- an explanation Of the rise, progress and final
aging OF the Bill the table, his several votes
npon 1t in its stages, and his reasons therefor
me cause oil ils having been laid on the table a
rose from the lsteness of the period of the Ses
sron, when II was 10 have been acted upon and
not from any hostility on his part toward the OBJ
Jec's oil the Bill he then went into a spirited de-
.ence OF himself against those calumnies which had
heen circulated concerning him on this head
In giving history Of the laws and evils pre-
eented for consideration, Mr.. Van Buren, remark
cl as follows:
The first and leading evil complained of. was
ne evasion OF the revenue laws. That was effect
n various ways. LIST. Through the medium
OF false invoices OF the cost of the goods in the
ieTelgn market, made by COLLISION between the
owners, manufacturers, consignees and agen,s 2d
hy the introduction of the clotll in an unfinished
state, which would be appraised ct low price
c!b made OF infinitely greater value by an incon-
SdeIabe expense in finishing them here; and lastly
~ The importation OF tire raw wool on the skin
Il brief reference to the several laws upon the
~ correct conclusion. By the act of 1880. the
!iEst law under the federal government for the i'm
2osiiIon OF duties, five per centum was assessed
upon he uG!ue Of The goods. at tie time and
N'ace ~ IhetI importation, to be ascertained by
appraisers to be appointed by the government In
LI49, tbs simple, practicable, aud as cannot hut
mink sale mode OF imposing duties was tieparted
itom, and new ore sub-titutrd But IL instead
OF laying the duty upon die uallts at the time and
pace ~ importation, he duty is directed 20 be
asfeTtalned, by adding ten per ceninm uDon all
= ods imported from this side of the Cane OF Good
Hope, ard twenty per centum if beysnd. IN lie
cVSl doro1d. 10 ascertain that cost references
10 he invoices Is OF course Indispensable and COL
iIsion between The owners manufacturers, CON
sIsnees and agents, to diminish the du'y, becomes
tUe natural consequence. Congress Las since FRO
FIued an Immense mass OF machinery, to 0sces tam
ihe costs or raiHe oGgo0ds at the place tDhence
imported, aud the oaths of the owners, manulac-
turers, coLsisnees, &c. have been required a. one
u lie mean 81 guarding against fraud; but if
any orc OF those guards prove Insufficient as il is
Feasonaole 10 suppose vii! otten be the case, the
"hole OF them are In measure rendered unaya-
iTS. In consequence OF the frauds which were
pracuced through the medium of false invoices
avs " ere passed in 1918 and 1929, aufhorisine
ire appointment OF appraisers, with power 10 add
% the invoice where fraud was suspected But
lie supreme court Of the UniIed States render ed
his provision, in great degree imperative by its
decI-lon shat the words g sT1lc value are TO be
construed as meaning the actual cost of the Goods
znd not Their current and market ua!ue and that
although the collector may suspect that goods
purchased abroad, inv ole "a below the c,lTrert
17a'tet ralWe thereof, yet if he does not suspec,
pat they are inyoiced tslow their true and aci,,1I
cost, he has no right 10 direct an appraisemeut -
Aher al, IS commended, that the checks pr.yiIed
oy law have proved Intellectual thar the enhanced
lily OF 1871, has increased the temptation TO eva
shon, and that these evssions have been so exlen-
II VI a. % 20 tlo
3'ac'urer designed by the tariff of 1924
Assuming all Ibis 10 DO go, The question presents
i'sel', what IS tie proper Temedyy> and would the
Jill proposed have effected the oIjec, in view?
Several amendments were submitted and debated;
= by representative from ihs state of much ex-
gsrience and intelligence, whch provided l Il for
ile enlargement OF the powers Of the spprai. ers
aTd for remedying the defect in the law ofIs22
Fhich had been pointed out by the decision of the
supreme Court; and e. that goods imported in an
unfinished state, with a view 10 evasion, should
% appraised II they were finished that fGv
ger cent be added TO tie value by way of rn,,,ci
md the duties be assessed ou The aggregate amount
The remedy for the evasion in reepect To the ravv
wool, was simply 10 provide that sheep skins
with thewoo on ,sh0udEe excepted from the exernp.
non from duties allowed by law to rasy skins i'm.
ported into the country. To this amendment an
amendment was offered by another member from,
mis- rtaie who was Jealous friend Of the bill
oToViding Glliiionsl safeguard. In addition to
sGese an amendment was offered by an early. in
elligent and very efficient advocate Of The Ia
It y stem, from Pennsy lgania, which had been
prepared with great care and ability Il proposed
% lay the axe at the root Of the evil b. abolish
ng the system 1893, and The supersifuctufe rails
Ell upon IL which inside the cost of The orlj.Je
abrynd the basis for the assessment of the dufies
and by restoring the old law, imposing the duties
upon the Ualue Of the goods az Mc time and
piaec Of their Importation, 70 be ascprained bv
appraisers 10 be appointed by The government -
IL also contained provisions for the arrangement
n the goods into Just and eonYeniest classes, and
or the imposition ofths duty upon the square yard
rs thus returning to the simplicity Of olden time,
was eonleHisl earnestly and inielligsnily By fhe
mover, that no r2om Tor fraud or evasion would
De LEFT, other than the direct corruption Of the or
pTaisers. pcrinscous resistance was made 10
ffese Amendment and they we're al either rejected
~ supersedfG By ihs use of tie previous question
aud bill passed By one bfhnch Of the LEGISLATURE
,ti7hOH containing single ze,O pyopfsio,, for
ne suppression Of the froitfs cog1pf9iped ~.
5,2 segkiHg % prcvent Them, bV greasly in
creash0g me temptation 10 commit thcyo. I,
world seem 10 him, Mr. Van Buren, said. In DO
within the comprehension n The plsinest ,eind IN
.adge correctly uron tho rro5sb!e eficsacy of
Jch O ucasIfs.