The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-13

lecled, have received consideration. In 1881 these
aules were repealed except to the vessels Of os'
countries that impose duties on goods and tonnage
discriminating between their own vessels and ours
In respect to those nations counter discriminating
iuiies on our part still remain Ihey vary 10 anount
but their annual produce, on an average Of thf las
| twelve years, is about sixty thousand dollars, al
though for the last year it was less than thirty thou
sand dollars. 1t is respectfully submitted whether ]
would not be eKpedent to direct that this duty, as
collected should be applied to the reliefof sick ant
disabled seamen, in aid of the hospital fund.- Al
though this amount would not furnish adequate
provision for this mertorous class Of citizens yet in
connection with other provisions herein fter suggest
ed, it would, to great extent, relieve Congress from
| the appropriations ordinarily made TO supply the de-
fciepcy in that fund The advantage of such an ar
rangement would be to AVOID the distressing contn
gcncy Of an inability TO meet tho cases Of suffering
that occur after the fund exhausted and previous
| to an appropriation. 4"
Considering the disadvantages under which cur
navigation suffers from various causes the un
dersgned is not disposed to recommend the restora
| lion OF the general tonnage duty. But it is deemed
worthy Of consideration whether the vessels enjoying
the benefits Of our very expensive light house estab
Iishment ought not in justice TO contribute to its
maintenance? The light duty was repealed at the
same time with the general tonnage duty, and II is
believed for the same reason, the abundance Of
nue. then exssting That reason has ceased 70 exist
Our revenue IS not adequate 10 the ordinary expenses
Of the Government. A duty of six cents per ton up
all vessels engaged in the foreign trade to be paid
upon each entry into our ports, except that not more
than duty shall be required for any one month
and like duty annually upon vessels engaged in the
coastng trade and fisheries, would produce on the
present tonnage about two hundred and thirty thou
sand dollars less than onehalf Of the annual
expense OF the lighthouse The annual duty would
be light scarcely to be felt and if other sugges
tons contained in this report by which the interests
of our navigation may be promoted should receive
"a vorahle will he than
Enumerated for the amount Of duty now proposed.
Iii worthy Of consideration whether the revenue
might not be improved and the navigation of the
country augmented by the imposition of transit du-
/ ty upon imported merchandise on its passage from
one Of our ports TO the dominons of foreign state
Immediately adjoining the United States. by the
existing law no drawback whatever is allowed in
such cases, except to forei places to the south
ward or westward Of Louisiana. The facility afford
! ed by the improvements of our interior communca-
tons and by the application of steam for the rapid
and safe transmission of goods fromsour seapors
to the British dominons, together with the early clo-
sing of the ports Of the latter by ce and tho late pc
RODS at which they open, would ordinarily induce a
preference to that mode Of supply, and a! particular
seasons would be so advantageous to citizens
as to secure very large portion Of this carrying
trade, besides giving adj itiona employment to our
ships The policy which has in effect prohibited this
trade, doubtless arose from the apprehension that it
might afford opportunities for the illicit re-introduc
IL
adopted at time when the whole am unit of du-
ties collected on merchandise, with deduction Of
one per cent, was refunded on It's transportation.
Ii Is submitted whether the introduction OF the JUS
and uiIciuus principle If retaining much larger per
centage Of the of draw back ard the IMPOSE
tIon duties in the colonial ports, have not changed
IT, great extent the ground of tins policy It's not
perceived what motive of interest exist tos ug-
gle INTO this country goods which have paid his tran
charge add these dulis rather thun the merrhan-
disc which under existing laws may be ported to
! Hslifax, and carried from thence the do
unions. Whatever apprehenslons may exist on this
point 1t is not doubted THAT they may BE- removed by
! adequate guards Among these may be su ggesed the
designation OF the ports from which only the re-exi
atom GIT be PERM ted and the produc ion of Off
cla evidence that the same goods had been cevsd
entered, aud pad duties In the adj lcent British do
minions TO which they Were re-ex ported Ii cannot
DC DOUBTED that such measure would tend greatly 10
The increase OF tonnage, iand restore to our own
! ships trade of which Iolicy has TO great *
| tent, deprived them
| In the list annu-l report from this Department the
attention of Congress was invited Ia the warehouse
system, and various communications fiom CUSTOM
b officers aod nte.li cnt merchants were submit
ted. IL is certainly worthy Of inquiry whether the
time during which imported goods aie permitted to re-
man tie charge OF custou.housc officers may not
be extended TO relieve The importers from the al
! va nee OF the duties which hey n " obliged e
make before the amount is realized by sales OF The
goods. lie frequency OF Tie communications De
tween our shores and those Of Great Britain and thc
surprising regularity, have doub less nlgated tn,
burden Of these advances upon our own L zens, al
the goods TO he imported from that country IN ef
feet warehoused htie, and shipped according I,
the supposed demands of the market. But it may b,
well {, inquire VII, her this mtg alton is not in TACT
DIES ructSe of that portion of the importing busines,
of our CT zens upon which it operates by ans
fering it 10 those upon whom the burden falls lightly
if at all. Possessing large capitals, and able TO com
mand money AT much lower rates of inieres, thar
our own cizcns, Blush merchants can letter afIOr,
t. keep large stot k hand TO advance The dutie
upon such as they send US The same advantages u
tnor favor also ia respect to mercha ndse i'm
ported the cont nen and other parts of he world
Ia the absence ( regular and speedy communications
the of this description must he ordinarily large
and The advance of duties upon them must Absorb
apila and cause very serious lnrOad upon the %
ii of business 1t is represented that The importing
trade Chi, fly IN the hands OF tle az ms OF TO
re 90 houses independent of othsr consideration
|, winch will suggest themselves, the Consequence {,
our navigation, he building e ships, aud To- tn,
enploy n.it of own seamen, of giving TO subjects
OF her counties The sc ecOD OF the means ot con
Juctng merce with US, may be very serious.-
Add 1t will escape intelligent Legislators to IN
quire how far u Is ntnpscally just tn demand of ont
cas- OF our citizens the advance TO tie Governmen
OF portion of their capital while u /, not equre'
fr IN any oher cla-s. The importers are N fact tn
Collectors o, tie duties for the Government, and
would seem that very cog,nt reasons Of publ
policy should es. TO compel them 10 pay over betor
: they had collected.
he general opinion to be derived from the CORES
pobdrnce communicated to Cong in he report be
= fore men Toned Is, that the revenue from cus ON
would I've Augmented after the frs year by the ware
house system, In Consequence of the greater facit
that would be given to nuporaliOns, ard of fur an
/, increased competition, and ctns' qutntly probabl
reduction IN prices that n ctuaions IN the amour
of imports would I've prevent d, and that our commci
cal maine would be increased by rendering thl
county the entr,poi Tor echandse destined to othc
market In these views am inc med to repose grea
co fdcnce. The bet er opinion would serln to be
however that the sy stem of waIehousing should be re
srcled to prominent Articles of considerable bu'k an
piyine high specific duties, such as wines, hquo'
' sugar, muasses, iron, sc. Doubtless, u c ehtc
woud be TO postpone the collection of that portion
y he dut cs which would accrue on the warehouse al
: tcles This temporary effect must be met wheneve
, the system shall be adopted and it may as we be or
: cuunlered now al any other time. IT the const
qucnce would be, az anticipat, d, augmentation