Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1840-1842, 1842-05-06
WAsHIseros. April 30. 1912.

WAsHIseros, April 30, IsI2.
! 70 he House Of Repressntifires
| or the THiisd STATES
In compliance with your resolution of the Goth
ms'' nave the honor TO transmit the reports Of
Messrs' Kelly and Ste uart, two of the Comm;ss;,n
erS originally appointed along with MIR Pond.xter
To investigate the rfiats OF the Custom Hons, n,
Ne" io'h' together with all the correspondent,
anu testimony accompanying the same and also IN,
report of MIR Pondexter and Mr. RrndI.v ia
last named gentleman was substituted in the nI,cs
ot MIR Kelly, whose inclinations and duties called
nun 10 ms residence IN Ohio after tho return of the
commissioners TO tins city, about the last OF Ausus
one OF the letters lust mentioned was addressed n
me secretary of the Treasury, and bears date tbr
zn o. Apr, instant; and the other to myself dat
Zoth OF this month. From the former, YOU will
earn that most interesting portion of the inquiry
instituted ny this department. viz: that relating ia
'Ththonses, ouoys, beacon>, revenue cutters and
revenue boats, IS proposed be made the subi.r,
OF further report by Messrs. Bradley and Pam.
N'N"c'' on VIII also learn, through the accom-.
panylng letter from MIR Stcuart the reasons which
have delayed him in making a supplementol and
auu'uohal report 10 that already made by himself
ana MIR Nelly, embracing his views nd opinions ON
'ne IeveI9pments made subsequent to the Withdraw.
a. OF Nr Kelly from the commission ,nd ,be I'll,
sutuuon OF MIR Bradley in his place. ol.o
transmit two documents furnished by MIR Stou,r,
and which were handed by hun To the Secretnrv -,
the treasury on the eth inst. The one being "Nem-
oranda OF Proceedings" SC marked No I. and the
marked No l. W.
The commission was Instituted for the purpose oI
ascettainng existing defects IN the custom house
TO trace to their true causes past errors.
TO detect abuses; and, by wholesome reforms IN
guard IN iu;ure not only against fraud and pecula
uon, hut against error and misma nj cement For
'heSe purposes selection was made of persons Of
acknowledged intelligence and industry; and upon
'h's task they have been engaged for almost an en-
TIRE year, and their labors remain vet 10 he con,
peted. The character of those lahors may he csti
mated Ivy the extent OF Mcssrs. elley and Steu,rt,s
Report, embracing about one hundred PAGES Of
closely written manuscript, the voumnous memo.
rinua ana correspondence of MIR Steuari the ,rc,,
mass Of evidence accompanvine Messrs X oiIs ..i
Sieuarts Report, and the Report OF MIR Poinds x,er
extending over three hundred and ninety four
pages, comprised in the volume accompanying tbis.
ana ADDITIONAL reports still remaining TO be made
as teiore stated.
should be better pleased to have Tin NV novor
to communicate the entire mass ofrepor,s made and
coniempatedto be made, at one and the same Time
And stu more should have been gratihed if time
could have been allowed me- consistently with IN.
apparent desire oil the House of Representatives tn
be put into immediate possession Of these papers 10
nave compared or even to have read with delibern.
ton, the views presented by the Commissioners as 10
proposed reforms IN the revenue avs, together with
The mass oi documentary evidence and inflammation
by which they have been explained and enforced
and which do not admit OF q satisfactory comparison
until the whole circle Of rerorts be completed Char,
ges oil maeasance against some of those now in Office
VIII devove upon the Executive n rigid nyestie alton
INTO u err extent and character, and will in due sea-
son claim my attention. The readiness however. with
winch the House proposes to enter upon the grave
anu oimcult subjects which these papers suggest
having anticipated that consideration Of them bv
The Executive, which their importance demands II
only remains for me in lien Of specific recommen.
dalions, which, under other circumstances, it would
nave been my duty TO make, 10 urge upon Congress
we importance and necessity OF Introducing the ear
nest reforms IN existing laws and usages so as 10
guard the country in future against frauds in the
collection OF the revenues; and the Treasury against
peculaton; TO relieve the trade and commerce from
oppressive regulations; and to guard law and mo-
ralty against violation and abuse
AS from their great volume, it has been necessary
TO transmit the original papers to the House takins
order Tor their restoration to the Treasury Depnrt.
ment at such time as may comport with its pleasure
JOHN TYLER