Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-12-17


| subiect of establishment to the citizens in gene
ra than it has been a Of annoyance and inju-
| nv 10 the mercantile community who have been OPP
pressed by them. The public and secret history Of
these SUITS however, is a matter not very generally
understood.
| When the late MIR. w Off, of Pennsylvania, was U.
S Comptroller, he issued his celebrated decree by
which variety of articles alleged to be dutia
BILE that had been pronounced free from the LIST of
January, 1854, by Mr. lay's Compromise Act. This
celebrated circular of DIR. Comptroller Wolf, (by
which he TO interpret the true meaning
of Mr.. Clay's Compromise Act) charged duties on
silk aces, silk hosiery, silk gloves, and various
other descriptions of silk goods, of which silk forms
the chief component whereas, by Mr.. Clay's Ast,
all such goods declared free of duty that is
all goods in which the value Of silk exceeds the va
ue of the other component parts super added to the
cos! of the manufacture or Of which silk forms the
chief portion Of the fabric and the value. All such
were released from duty from and after December
3lst, 1852 by the Compromise Act Of that year.
The Cole here charged the duties as directed
by Mr.. Comptroller VOLTS circular. The impor-
tiers paid them under protest, and wrote to Mr. Wolf
showing the folly of his circular, unless the Compro
mise Act was rescipded From Mr. Wolf, no an
swer could be obtained. About this time, Mr. Muh-
with foreigs mission and $1,000 outfit. MIR. Wolff
murmured great deal at this, and to Pacify him, he
was made Collector of the port of Philadelphia. Mr..
Barker was then made Comptroller, and in April,
1888, he rescinded the order made by Mr.. Wolf,
relative to silk goods, believing, Gas he sad) that
the Attn section of Mr. Cays act released them from
duty In the course Of the summer Of 1885, however,
the National Treasury was getting very low, and
pettifogging political influence was brought to bear
on Mr.. Barker 10 such an extent, that in August,
1885, he issued circular revoking all his former de-
crees and not only revived all the alleged dutable
articles under VOLTS circular, but even went much
farther and ordered duties TO be charged on linens
and variety Of other goods, that had hitherto been
admitted free
This movement created great eommotion among
the importer, but they were compelled to pay the
duties; and those who made any noise or deciaime
about the odiousness Of the measure particularly
the Wing importers,) lad their goods sent TO the
public store by way of punishment, and In order 10
make then keep silent on the subJectoi PohticS; ana
10 such an extent this carried, that one inPor'
ter who was marked down by the Custom House
CLIQUE a. a bitter wing partzan, had all his goods
sent to the public by three or four successive
ships, and wa, denounced by the milk and water
gan Of the Albany Regency in this city the "Eve-
ming Post"
Inc revive" " VI"
troiel' "'e' Nc nav -,
nave oeen eAu'eu " '"e -;
n@u'rss o' 'n' N"''.n- - L.. ;..,.to g
and since that tine' 'he "u''o"
being the agent ior he PeoP'' "1 W. "'
mutual Protss'ien anu AL ""''s. " ~i''A-
ed into an Instrument o' 'PPieS''o"'o ."'
and series Of acts OF Pe"' .i'""y
49,. hrn. ina Inf xppI IT
up,ss,ts upon sIits nave oee" pio's",' y. NJ v
with scarcely any exception 'he e'-'e' ""' NC"
defeated; but On the o'her manu- 'ne oinoeis VI "e
Government nave Poehe'e1'A's''e ' ""' " "N
lac revenue oy reason VI '"es' '"'' $40 '"'
system has thus tenaea 10 'he "ss "
few office holders to tAe INJURY Oh the community I"
large.
The present Coiiec'or' w""s s'o" ,A' 'A'a'! "a
si+oo year, besides the lar &c lhso'ne r'n
for public storage ana ohe-'N'h u q" '''N''' "''
brough, nearly or quite hall hundred suns against
our merchants during the snort Time '' nc ""s 'e'"
IN Office; these suits, IN almost every instance nave
been broughtto resorera da'y OF ~ per cent I.''
the periodical reduction OF the 'Srh' "heo 'ne ooi
ieetOr found his case pretty desperate enc he has
abandoned the % per cent c!a'n' ana 'hdea''rea 70
recover - per cent as noa- enumerated so'ds. anu
in all these suits which have been Drought soiey 10
harrass the merchants, the L. = District Attorney
gets large fees although he and his friend, the Col
lector have been defeated ia the whole OF themwia
the exception we believe, CT the case oil the smoroi
dered goods OF Grips, Wyeth x Go. which was lost
by the carelessnes, II the clerks oil that hrm-
Nothing dasnted by the defeats wh'eh De e'huhe
ed 70 sustain Al tue hsnAs Vi AJ"s " ms
rens, (but which, howevsr,put money intothe peck
ct of his frend) the Collector, with the advice and
assistance OF certain set OF pettiogging poteaas
had the new Act connected In this city and seat
10 WASHINGTON for ratification. This Act is termed
"Aa Explanatory Act and can Act TO ensure the
more faithful execution of the laws relating TO ihe
collection OF duties and imports Ana yet uheef