Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1842-05-12

New York Commissioners, AFrER the
House had procured copy:
WasHISGroS, April 30, ls42.
To he House Of Representatives
Of The United States.
Ia compliance with your resolution Of
the ooh Instant, have the honor 10 trans
nit the reports Of Messrs. Kelly and Steu.
art, two OF the Commissioners originally
appointed along with Mr.. Poindex,er, 10
investigate the ar irs Of the Custom House
at New York, together with all the cor.
respondence and testimony accompanying
the same, and also the report Of Mr.. Poin.
dex.er aud Bradley. The last named
gentleman was substituted in the place OF
Hr. Kelly, whose inelinaiions aud duties
called him to his residence in Ohio, after
tho return oil the Commissioners to this
city, about the last of August. One Of
he letters just mentioned was addressed
10 the Secretary of the Treasury, and
bears d4te the 12ih Of April, instant and
the other to myself, dated goth of this
month. From the former, you will learn
that most interesting portion OF ihe m
quiry instituted by this d partment, viz :
that relating to light housps, buoys, bep-
cons, revenue cutters and revenue hnats,
is proposed to be made the subject Of u
/ further report by Messrs. Bradley and
PoinJeMer. lou will also learn, through
the accompanying hitter from Mr.. Sieu.
art, the reasons which have delayed him
in making a supplemental and additional
report to tina; already made by himself
and Mr.. Kelly, embracing his views and
opinions on the developments made sIbse-
I quent to the Withdrawal Of Mr.. Kelly liom
the commission, and the substitution OF
Mr.. Bradley in his place. also trans
nit two documents furnished by Mr.. Steu.
art, and which were banded by him TO the
Secretary of the Treasury on the 7th in
slant. The one being " Memoranda Of
Procec dngs," &c., marked No. l, and
the other Letters accompanying Memo
randa," &C., marked No. l.
The commission was instituted for the
purpose of ascertaining existing defects in
the custom house regulations; to trace To
their true causes past errors; to detecl
abuses and, by wholesome reforms, to
guard in future not only against fraud and
population, but against error and misman-
agcment. For these purposes selection
was made Of persons OF acknowledged in-
telligencc and industry and upon his
task they have been engag, d for almost
an entire year, and their labors remain
yet to be completed The character Of
those labors may be estimated by the ex-
tent Of Messrs. Kelley AMI Stpuarts Re-
port; embracing about one hundred pages
of clos ~ written manuscript, the vOIu-
minous memoranda and spondrnce
Of Mr.. Stcuart, the great mass of evidence
accompanying Messrs. Kelly and Steu.
arts Report, and the report of Mr.. Poin-
dexter, extending over three hundr d and
ninety-lour pages, comprised in the vol
ume acc mpanying this, and additional
reports still remaining to be made, as be.
! fore stated.
should be b, tier pleased to have ii in
my power to communicate the entire mass
Of reports mads AMI contemplated to be
made, at one and the same time. AM
still more should have been gratitied il
{
sistently with the apparent desire Of the
House Of Representatives to be pa. into
immediate possession OF these papers 10
have compared, or even to have read with
elaboration, the views presented by the
/ Commissioners as to propose reforms IN
/ the revenue laws, together with the mass
Of documentary evidence and Information
( h,Nt iain I'd n nd
enforced, and which do not admit of a sat
sfactory comparison until the whole cir.
Gle Of reports be completed. Charges ol
naleasancc against some of those now IN
Office will devolve upon the Executive n
| rigid investigation into their extent and
character, and will in due season claim
my attention. The readiness. however,
with which the House proposes To cutter
/ upon the grave and difficult subjects which
these papers suggest, having anticipated
/ that consideration of them by the Execu.
tive, which their importance demands, ii
only remains for me in lieu of specific re
commentators, which, under other cir.
cumstances, 1t would have been my duty
to make, TO urge upon Congress the I'm
portance and necessity Of introducing the
earliest reforms in existing laws and usa-
ees, so as to guard the country in future
against frauds in the collection Of the rev.
enues AMI the Treasury against pccula-
ton to relieve the trade and commerce
from oppressive regulations and to guard
law and morality against violation and
abuse.
AS from their great volume, / has been
necessary to transmit the original papers
TO the House, taking order for their re-
storation to the Treasury Department at
such tins as may comport with its plea
sure.
JOHN TYLER.