Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-11

pense with great portion of the protection heretofore az
iorded By the same information will appear. that by
renewing the manufactures from the burhen of the high
duty upon the MATERIAL the existing duties may be
very materially reduced aud gradually removed consis
teny with Just regard 10 the interests which have
long enjoyed the advantages OF the protective system.
10y these considerations and the proud and gratfyi fact
h'' ere no longer exists any public debt requiring the
present amount oil revenue after the ensuing year. the
question Is submitted 10 the Legislature, whether will
continue to raise FROM the people the United States six
millions OF dollars annually be yond any demand for the
public service that avors which have been long enjoy
ed and which may he dispensed WITH without de-
ment TO the national safety independence may be in-
ochnitcy continued.
The unrrsgnedis duly sensible that the decision of this
question belongs properly TO Congress. The duty howe
yer enoined him by the laws, digest plans
Tor the Improvement and management Of the revenue and
Tor the support OF public credit, less than the deem
soicitue he feels for the safety OF country
have urged him present it, with his own tons Tor
the consideration of the Legislature.
la the decision Of this ques on the present crisis in the
Cneu STATES, pregnant vi the de, pest interest. must
nave us weight an ineics, arising much an
apprehension oil weakness in the laws of bty TO
eSecue them as from universal conviction
large portion OF the I'm of the necessity OF change
anu OF lne proPrey oil paying reasonable defereLce
hat opinion The harmony and brothery se ction of the
czens OF different parts OF this great Republic, if not the
preservation oil The Union itself, appeal the patriot and
stare man tor the exercise OF their highest qualities in re.
gnaing the burhens OF the people h the
equal rights OF ALL rendering the law not less free
anu equal than the Institutions under which they are
enacted he occasion nvokes the spirit of liberal con-
cession and compromise which laid the foundations OF our
m
requires that no interest should more than NAV
b" consistent with tie welfare OF the whole.
Such an appeal comes with force 10 ALL but, i'm an es-
sehhal manner be maie 10 those who have so long
reaped the advantages OF those burthens from which
,helr brethren throughout The Union after having submit
ted TO them while ne public obligations and the national
ueiehce and independence reque cd it, ask be re-
lieved. - ~
II ibis appeal do not find response in wise and NAT,
riotic moderation, there will DO efficacy i'm the MOI,
iorcc on Which The republican institutions of the Union
repose. 'o' ~
1'l,n Il.
multiplied lessons patriotic duty, but none OF greater
emphasis and perlnence in he present crisis. than i'm his
adinomhon, that III is Indispensable, all occasions to
unite with steady and firm adherence to constitutional
acts OF government, the fullest evidence of position
as far may be practicable TO consult the wsbe, M
every part of the community and TO Law the oundaons
OF me pubic administration in The affections OF the peo-
ple $50 r
The operation OF the 18th section OF the Act Of the b
oil July last according the construction given 10 at the
fe"snry, beirg IN some resrecs different from that
which the crclauts concerned consider important TO Their
n'eresS, deemed proper TO bring the subject BET
me auetton oil ongress, that, il owing any defec. in
the law any the construction the intentions of
The legislature have not been carried into e the neces
saty remedy may be applied.
BY that section the several articles enumerated in the
Act whether imported before after the passing
were authorized TO be put into the Custom House Stores
ana such as remained under the control of the proper Off
Ger OF the Customs the 3d of March next were sub
Jeced no higher duties than il imported after that day:
ana the duties or any part thereof which may have been
paid on such articles TO be refunded person i'm
porting and deposng the same And the Secretary of The
reasury was authorized 10 prescribe such rules and
regulations as might be necessary carry the section
into effect
In executing the section the fullest disposition was felt
10 consult the interest and of the
butt was perceived that unlimited ciion of its
terms was calculated not merely conflict with the seve
raj members OF the section and with other sections
oil The Act but TO disturb The financial arrangements of the
government and postpone the payment of the public debt
In the last annual Report from this Department as well
as in That by direction Of the House of Represen
taves and accompanying the bill which formed the chief
basis of the Act Of the I4h of July it was stated that the
existing obligations of the Government not less than the
interests OF the community forbade reduction of the pre-
sent duties earlier than the 81 March, 1885, and by the
ID section OF the Act this recommendation was distinctly
recognized and adopted
Without some limitation therefore as TO the rerosnec
tive operation OF the 18th section the object of the I'd sec
ton would not only have been defeated but the Act itself
would in fact have been rendered operative in all mast
time, so far as concerned any goods in the original pack
ages, no matter when imported and the owners whether
importers or retailers in all parts of the country would
have had right TO deposiie in the Custom House
stores and claim a reiundng of the duties.
BY one OF the provisions OF the 18Th section, the auo
ty refund duties which had been paid on articles de-
posted, IL expressly confined 10 the persons smporng
and depo>iing the ame;us treating the inporter and
dcpositor as identical And it is not reasonable 10 sup
pose That the right 10 depose greater that 10 claim
rciuding OF the duties the words ''imporer or ovner
in other parts OF the section were treated as synonymous
These terms, moreover throughout the laws refer
10 importation, anu are Intended 10 signify the person
porting whether the actual proprietor the agent or the
consgnee. 1t obvious Also that by this construction
the terms importer only receive their usual
meaning, but reconced with those of impor-
ter and deposition; which could not be- if The conjunction
TO receive distinctive interpretation was there.
lore, held that goods could be deposited only by i'm
porter.
As the act contained appropriation for drawing mo-
ney out oil the Treasury Tor repayng the duties autoZ
eel to be refunded the Department fully warranted in
interpreting the 18th section applying those duties on
Iy which may have been paid TO the Collector after the
passing of the Act and, consequently, in limiting the
right of deposit TO the goods which those duties
But, from desire 10 give the section liberal consruc
ton consistent with all the other objects of the Act
allowed TO apply TO the whole of importation on
which any part of the duties remained unpaid the date
OF the law. And, to make this construction operate as
equally aud avoraby among the importers generally as
might be- ii was allowed TO include those goods also upon
which the duties had been paid in cash provided thai bv
the terms of credit allowed by law, fresh duties OH any
part of them would have been payable until after the
date OF the law 1t is not believed, however that any
construction OF the section which will admit of the de-
pOs OF goods when in original packages whether in the
hands of the importer of any other person. no mat
ter when imported, will be satisfactory the owners of
such goods may be imported at lower of duty af
ter the 3D. March But ii he the intention OF Congress
to extend the operation OF the section il is respectfully
suggested that il will in that case necessarily embrace
goods upon which the duties must have been accounted
for and paid to the Treasury, appropriation be
made for repayng the amount of such duties out of the
Treasury.
With view TO obtain reasonable certainty i'm the nan.
cial operations OF the government and the suggestion
Of the Collectors the mo necessary for the duties 10
be performed by them in exciting the 18th section a re-
gulaon adopted fixing the time 10 which goods might
be deposited, at the LIST Of January next 1t is however
the intention Of the Department to extend the time if if
be found that the duties Of the Collectors will admit of H.
The alteration in many Of the rates Of duty and the re
nra of nth birh hayo hocu cHor