Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-19

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lie revenue, may DO accomplished without touching the
duties ON the unprotected class. The consequence of such
an augmentation would be u great diminution in the i'm
portatlon OF the foreign article, and of course in the duties
upon it. But against entire prohibition, except perhaps
in a few instances, l have been always, and still am, op.
posed. by leaving the door open 10 the FOREIGN rival ar
tcle, the benefit is secured of a salutarv competition. III
1t be Theoretically closed, the danger is Incurred of mono
poly.
The third mode is the most equitable and reasonable
and it presents an undesirable ground. on which | had
hoped we could all safely tread without difficulty. II ex.
ocs no sacrlhce OF principle. from the opponent Of the
American System; it comprehends none ON the part of its
friends. The measure before you embraces this mode.
1t is simple and free from all complexity. 1t divides the
whole snbJect of imposts according to lis nature. Ii set
ties at once what ought not to be disputed and leaves
to be settled hereafter, if necessary, what may be con-
troverted.
A certain part of the South has hitherto complained
that IL pays n dlsproporhonate amount of the imposts. If
the complaint be well founded, by the adoption of this
measure il will be relieved at once. as will be hereafter
shewn, from at least Il fourth of its burthens. The mea-
sure is III conformity with the uniform practice of the
government, from It's commencement, and with the pro-
iessions oil all the eminent politicians of the South, until
oil late. 1t assumes the right of the government, in the
assessment Of duties, TO discriminate between those orti-
Giles which sound policy requires it to foster, and those
which 1T need not encourage. This has been the ilyaria-
BILE principle on which the government has proceeded.
from the act of Congress of the 9TH of July, 1889, down
TO the present time. And has it not been admitted by al.
most every prominent Southern politician ? Has ii not
been even acknowledged by the fathers of the free trade
church, IN their late address, promulgated from Philadel-
phla, to the people of the United States? If we never
mad a system OF foreign imposts, and were now called up-
on, for the first time, 10 originate one, should we not dis.
eliminate between the objects of cur own industry. and
those produced by foreigners? And is there any differ.
ence i'll its application, between the modification of an ex-
listing system and the origination of a new one? If the
gentlemen OF the South, opposed to the tariff. were TO OBJ
tam complete possession of the powers of government.
would they hazard their exercise upon any otLcr principle /,
Ii 1t be said that some of the articles which would by this
measure, be liberated from duties, are luxuries, the re-
mark is equally true of some of the articles remaining
subject TO duties. In the present advanced stage of com,
fort and civilization, il is not easy TO draw the line between
Injuries and necessares. 1t will be difficult to make The
people believe that bohea tea is n luxury, and the article
of fine broad cloths, is n necessary of life.
In stating that the duties on the protected class OUGHT
to be retained, it has been far from my wish TO preclude
inquiry into their adequacy or propriety. If il can be
shown that, i'll any Instance, they are excessive or dispro-
porlionately burthensome on any section Of the Union,
for one | am ready TO vote for their reduction or modifca-
ton. The system contemplates an adequate protection
beyond that it is not necessary to go. Short of that. its
operation will be injurious TO all parties.
The people of this country, or large majority of them,
expect that the system will be preserved. And its aban'
donment would produce general surprise, spread desola-
ton over the land, and occasion as great a shock as a de-
claration of war forthwith against the most powerful nation
of Europe.
But if this system be preserved, it ought to be honestly.
fairly, and faithfully enforced. That there do exist the
most scandalous violations of 1T, and the grossest frauds
upon the public revenue, in regard TO some of the most
important articles, cannot be doubted. AS TO iron, objects
really belonging TO one denomination, TO which a higher
duty is attached, are imported under another name, TO
which a lower duty is assigned, and the law thus evaded.
False invoices are made as to woollens, and the classifca-
tion into minimums is constantly eluded. The success of
the American manufacture of cotton baoginr has been
such, as that by furnishing n better and cheaper article.
the baggng of Inverness and Dundee has been almost
excluded from the consumption of the states bordering on
the Mississippi and its tributaries. There has not yet been
sufficient time TO fabricate and transport the article in ne
cessary quantities from the Western states to the Southern
Atlantic states, which therefore have been almost exclu.
sively supplied from the Scottish manufactures. The
payment of the duty is evaded by the Introduction of the
foreign fabric, under the name of burlaps, or some other
galdaGfsee yard il it Il Is entered VIII a 9 d ftS' Of only FLEETS GifntS th B
cent. ad valcrem. That this practice prevails. is demon.
strated by the treasury report of the duties accruing on
cotton bagging for the years 1898, 1899, and 1890. Du.
ring the first year, the amount was s 1877 SOC, the second
= lO0,O6o, and the third it sunk down s 14,14I!
lhe time has arrived when the inquiry ought to be Sc
riously made, whether it be not practicable 10 arrest This
illegitimate course of trade, and secure the faithful exc
cutlon of the laws. No time could be more suitable
than that at which it is contemplated to make a great re-
presented themselves 10 my mind, and which I will now
suggest for consideration and investigation. On such n
munity and practical men, all the light which they are SO
capable of ~afording, and should be reluctant to aci on INV
own convictions, however strong.
1he first is to make Il total change in the place of valra-
ton. Now the valuation is made i'm foreign countries
We fix the duties, and we leave 10 foreigners to assess
The value on 81? articles paying ad valorem duties. That is,
we prescribe the rule, and leave its execution TO the
foreigner. This is an anomaly, | believe, peculiar TO this
country. 1t is evident that the amount of duty payable
on a given article subject TO an ad valorem duty, NAV be
effected as much by tile fxation of the value, as by the
specification of the duty. And, for all practical PURPOSES
1t would be just as safe TO retain to ourselves the ascer-
tainment OF the value, and leave to the foreigner 10 pre-
scribe the duty, as it is to reserve to ourselves the right 10
declare the duty and allow to him the privilege to assess
the value.
The effect of this vicious condition of the law has been
to throw almost the whole import trade of the country, as
to some important articles, into the hands of the foreigner
| have been informed that seven-eighths of the impor,a-
ton OF woollens into the port of New York, where more
is received than in all the other ports of the United States
together, are in his hands. This has notIproceeded from
any want of enterprise, intelligence, or capital. on the
part of the American merchant; for, in these particulars
he is surpassed by the merchant of no country. II has
resulted from his probity, his character, and his respect to
the laws and institutions of his country-a respect which |
does not influence the foreigner. / am aware that IL is
made by law, the duty of the appraiser to ascertain the
value of the goods in certain cases. But what is his chiefl
guide ? 1t is the foreign invoice, made by whom he knows
not, certainly by no person responsible 10 our laws. And
if its fairness be contested, they will bring YOU carloads
OF certificates and afidavits from unknown persons 10
verify its exactness, and the first cost of the article.
Now, sir, it seems TO me that this is n state of things 10 |
which we should promptly apply an eficacious remedy,
and no other appears TO me, but that of taking into our
own hands both parts of the operation, the ascertainment
OF the value as well as the duty to be paid on the goods.
III 1T be said that we might have, in different ports, differ
ent rules, the answer is, that there could be no diversity
greater than that to which we are liable from the fact Of
the valuation being now made i'll all the ports of FOREIGN
countries from which we make our importations. And
that 1T is better TO have the valuations made bv persons
responsible TO our own government, and regulated by one
head, than by unknown foreigners, standing under no
resDOusibiltvX gInfpver To ue