Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1830-12-31

payment OF dnty upon The proper value of imports
contemplated bv lw: but there are inSuperable diff
c,tes opposed in he nccompSIu len of rhls object.
under the presen system OF im1ost duties, to which
the Secretary OF The reasry would respectfully in
vito the serious attention Of Congress.
The valuation which tho al valore.n duties rc
aId dsceralned from the true or curen, value
Of the goods III the market OF the foreign country in
whichthey were nanufac' ured produced, with the
addition OF certain charges. and ten twenty per
cent. as the case may be, when imported from his
oT the other SIDE CT the Cape OF Good Hope The
aggregate of these items which The du; les are
laid, is presumed to re the value OF the goods when
offered for sal-in the United States market bl,t sncl
is rarely the fact Il is not possible for ,ha officers.
even a, any custom house to ascer ain he cur
rent value in the foreign market with such precision
as Will render 1t an item OF uniform ratio nat OF the
current value III the United Sntes and wha ever ID
pronch Nigh he made to his point by SCI OF fl.
aided by long experience and superior skill it is
not To bc expected that tie officers ofnearv one hun
dred separate custom house es, ablishments can be
we'll niorn.d of the value of goods all the pla-
ces OF expectation, or equally qualified by ability
and disposition for the performance of this difficult
duty, a 20 secure any reasonable degree of nnnrni
~ he inpos of the Gust ms at all rb, places
OF mpor atoms These difficulties added to the rem
cra repugnance of the officers be- drawn into col
liSion with the importers Will always render the IN
voice prices of mcrrhandize, the chief standard OF
current value IN the foreign m irke and corrections
will only b. made cases OF palpaalp error. This
detective operation Is The high"s: perfection which
the present system appears 10 be capable of But
LleTe are other nlpOrtant ObleCIonS to Which
worthy o! great consideration All npos' duties are
intendedio be paid by the consumer. The present
plan frequently ob!iges the importer pay them and
probably as often conpels the consumer to pay more
than the proper charge upon his consunution
i When goods are bought high prices IN the for
eign m rke, and brought into dcpress ID market az
home. ting duty may greutly exceed The advance
winch the importer is able to sell for; which event
a part. or the whole of It. falls The importer But,
il the gonds bought at prices below the usual cur
rent value, and brought into nar!ie where the de-
iaSno ~ orsS t:r consumer pays not only the duty
bu; nearv great price for the goods as if the
duty were laid on their true value u, the place of
Importation. In the FIRST case. the operation NAV
prove ruinons 10 the importer and, in the last he re
celves III his profits portion Of what ought 10 ac-
crua 20 the government. By these operations mani
fest injury is often done, e,her the government
the consumer. or the importer. the uncertainty and
hazard OF commercai enterprise increased aud
! whatever failures ens'ie 'he government will gene
rally incur Il considerable portion of the loss.
i IS long "a the current value, rather the in
Voice price OF goods Ill he foreign market is mad
the basis which duties are laid, peculiar advan-
tages vII be given those who have the best op-
perun'ties OF purchasing. Of making up invoices
at rates below ihe current value The purchaser
who lays n his goods low, only derives profit
directly from TINS circumstance, bu from The differ
ence IN the amount of duty paid on them al the
tom-house For instance, dferenc" Of 10 per
cent. IN the cost of article paying duty of 90
per cent, gives - advantage of Is per cent. to an
importer, who can purchase his goods o per cent.
creased under the operation of the Classification of
woolen cloths. These necessarily import
ed at prices near the minimum points and hose
vino can manage, either by max ng better purcha-
SEES, or by Disgusting the current value in the in
voice 10 introduce cloths under class Of duty be-
nr t,at - which the2 beon0. derive,
| er advantage than above stated The CLOTHS 50
Transferred ON the scale OF duties. may pay in enc
case 10 cents per yard ns cad ofS 10 9; and such
! importers may m1uDpoiZe the supply of
sve part OF the market for that arrcle 10 tn" entire
exclusion OF hose who have less favorable opportu-
nltir~ OF purchasing, Will resort to unfair
means in preparing their invoices. The necessary
etfret OF th" System therefore. throw extern
sive branch OF The importing business into The hands
OF foreign merchants, who can always lay III heir
goods on better terms than Am rican houses, hav-
| ING conneHIon abr ad and thu hands OF those
who whether fJregn or American are the least
scrupulous OF the means of gain. Under ordinary
circumstances, the edvantage which tHe American
merchant has in selling, equiv,l-nt to that which
| tn foreigner has in purchasing; bui he Cannot al
SO compete with different rate of duty. Such q
system therefore, mus 'ther corrupt the American
merchant. Or rXpe1 him from al thD-e Branches of
business IN which these operations re carried on
with success. Il is believed that an fectnal rene
dy Tor this serious and growing evil, is to adopt the
current vaiue of all gDod (sub~c' to ad vaorem du-
ty) IN the United States u the true dutiabe value;
disregardng, of course, the cost in the foreipp mar
ket and excluding all charges and additions Such
ch"Hge though important IN its consequences, will
MOI vary the principle ON which impost duties are
I
that which has long been practised IN the most CON-
roerclal nation of Europe. According to this plan
instead of resortIng vague and arbitrary rules to
| ascGrtuln be value OF goods in the United Sta e.
this object may be attained by direct means. Ordi-
nary experience skill and attention on the parr of
the proper officers, will enable them to determine
with all necessary accuracy, the current value in
their vicinity, and the mass of information
which might readily be collected to correct error if
any should be made by hem could not fail to Sc
cure just and equal appraisement This being ac-
c"rDp:Shed, ia" government will receive the whole
duty paddy the consumer, and no more: The price
OF goojs will be steady; merchants Will be
exposed to less hazard and the opportunity Of fair
competition between the American aud foreign MGR
CHAM 50 lar as can be effected by the acton ofthe
government, will be restored 70 that equality. which
liberal policy cannot deny TO foreigners, and which
wise government will always desire to to
lis citizens
An additional reason for the proposed change,
may D. icnnd III the difference tween the relative
values Oi gold and silver as established BY different