Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-12-21
coNCRnss--Eirs, Session.
Docnments accompanying The Psesidtats .Ness"se.
REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY or TIE TREASURY.
Lrn.-ct..

D0cnmentS accompanying The psesiatafS -Isss"se.
REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY or TIE TREASURY.
(Cohcisdfd
Among the means OF improving the revenues, the
duties on tonnage and lighmoney, heretofore clect
ed, have received consideration la 1881 these Guiirs
were repealed, except 10 the vessels OF those
tries that impose duties goods ard Tonnage, dsc',n-
mating between their vessels and la respect
II those nations, COUNTIES ID scr ting Gaes our
part still remain. They vary in amount, but Their an
nuai produce, average Of the las, twelve wears,
about sixty Thousand dollars, although fo the si yfa5
was less than thirty thousand dollars II is respect
fully submitted whether j, would not be expedent
direct that this duty, collected should be apptd
the relief Of sick and disabled seauen ard vi The
hospital fund.- Although this amount would not furnish
adequate provision for this mertorious class Of c
zens, yet, in connection with other provisions herena
ter suggested, would To great extent relieve Con-
gress from the appropriations ordinarily made 10 supply
the deficiency in that fund The advantage OF 81 !
arrangement would be avoid the distressing coniin
gency Of an inability the of suffering that
occur after the fund is exhausted and previous
appropriations
Considering the disadvantages und,r which cur ma
vigat on suffers from various CAUSES the under
signed 5 not disposed 10 recommend The restoration Of
he general tonnage duty. Bu, i, deemed worthy Of
consideration, whether the vessels enjoying tie benefits
Of our very expensive eh, house establishment ought
not in justice 10 contribute 10 itI maintenance The
light duty repealed ct The same time with the &C.
neral tonnage duty, and ii IS believed 70. tn.
son. the Abundance Of revenue then existing That
reason has ceased 10 exist Our is not sde-
qua;e 10 ir ordinary expenses of the Governmeh; -
a duty Of six cents per ton upon all vessels engaged
in the foreign trade, 10 be paid upon each entry
ports, except that not than drty shel be
qured for any one month, and Ike duty annually
upon vessels engaged in The coastng trade ard Gsle-
ries would produce the present tonnage about tw"
hundred and thirty thousand dollars, less Than oneha
Of the average annual expense of the lighthouses
The annual duty would be ght scarcely TO be felt
and if other suggestions contained in this report, Ivy
which the interests of our navigation may be promot-
cd should receive favorable consideration, they will be
more than remunera:ed for The amour. OF duty now
proposed.
Ii is worthy of consideration, whether the revenue
might not be approved aad the navigation OF the coun
try cugmcnt.d by the imposition of transit duty up
imported merchandise on its passage from one o.
our ports 10 the doninions OF foreign stale mmedi
ately adjoining the United States. BY The existing
law, no drawback whatever is allowed IN such cases,
except to foreign places 10 the Southwark or Westward
of louisiana The facility afforded by The improve
mants Of our interior Communications a3d by the ap-
plicaton of steam for the rapid and safe transmission
of goods from seaports to the British domln-
ions together with the early closing of the ports of the
latter by ice and The late perlnds at which they open
would ordinarily induce preference 10 that mode Of
supply, and al particular would be 50 advana-
geous to our Own citizens TO secure very large
portion Of this carrying trade besides giving additional
employment TO ships. The policy wh'ch hes IN
effect prohibited this trade doubtless arose from The
apprehension that il might afford opportunities for the
Illicit eintraduciion into this country of The goods thus
exported 1t was adopted at time, when the whole
amount of duties collected merchandise, with
deduction Of per cent was refunded on It's re-eS
por,at'on.
II is submitted, whether the introduction of the just
and udlcous principle of retaining much larger per
cen,oge Of the amount of drawback and the imposition
of duties in the colonial ports have not charged to
great extent the ground of this policy. Il is not per-
ceved what motive Of interest exist 10 smugge H.
to this country goods which have paid this transit
charge and these duties, rather than the merchandise
rJ.ich under existing laws may be re-exrotAd to Hal
not doubted t.at they may or -'.A---i""o
guards. Among these may be suggested the drs'gna-
ton of the ports from which only the re-eSoorta,Ion
mpht he permitted, and the production OF ohcal evi
dence tha the same goods had been received, entered
and paid duties in the adjacent British domntons 10
which they were re exported. 1t cannot he doubted
that snch measure would tend greatly to the increase
of our tonnage and restore t, our own ships trace
Of which policy has, u great extent, oepF7eo
them
In the las; annual report from this Department the
attention of Congress invited to the Wnarehouse
system, and various communications IRON custom
house officers and intelligent merchants were submit
ted 1t is certainly worthy of inquiry whether The time
during which imported goods are permitted 20 remain
in the charge of custom house officers may not De ex-
tended so as to relieve the importers rom the advance
of the duties which they nos oil ard 10 make De
fore the amount realized by sales OF the goods ne
frequency of the communication between our shores
and those of Great Britain and their SUPPLYING regu-
lrty have doubtless migated the burdens OF these ao
ynnces upon citizens, rs the goods 70 pe iHi'
ported from that country in effect warehonsed there
and are shipped according to the supposed demand oi
the market. But it may be well 10 inquire whether
this mitigation not in fact destructive OF mat poFlon
of the importing business of our own CITIZENS upon
which il operates by transferring II those upon who"
tho burden falls lightly, if at all. Possessing large
coool. and able 10 command money at much lpwer
rntes of intecs. than own citizens, BRUSH he
chants can better afford to keep large STOCKS on a"u
or 10 advance the duties upon such as they send 20 Us
The same Advantages in their favor exist also IN espec
to merchandise imported from The contns NJ ana o'hS
mart, of The world In the absence OF regular ano
spcedy communications, the stocks OF Tins description
mpst be ordinarily large aud the advance oil duues
UPON them must absorb capital and cause very scf
Gus nrocd upon the profits of Business IL IS repts
spnt tha. the importing trade is now CHIEFLY IN inc
hands Of the agents of foreign houses. Independent o.
other considerations which will suggest themselves
the consequences to OUT Navigation, 10 Inc ou'ih"s
ships and 10 the employment OF our own seahish, y
oiyino 10 the subjects oil other countries the seeco'
| of the means OF conducting commerce villa Us, MY
he very serious. And 1t will not escape neii'geh' ie
gisato,s TO enquire how far it IS inrInslca'y ]us'
demand OF one class Of citizens the advance - III
Government OF portion OF their capital wh'la Is o
the collectors of the duties for The Government, am
il would seem that very cosent reasons oil pubic poe
should exist to compel them 10 pay over before they hat
collected
The general opinion to be derived from the CORES
pondence communicated to Congress in the report oe
fore mentioned is that the revenue from Gus, @oui
be augmented after the first year by the warehouse
tenn in consequence of the greater facility tna' wou'
be given 10 imporiations and of fair and increase
competiion, and consequently PROBABLE reoucVoh
nrices that fluctuations in the amount oil imports "ou
be prevented and that our commercial marine wou'
be increased by rendering This country tie enrepo' le
merchandise destined 10 other markets In inese VIZ"
) am inclined t, repose grea: confidence. Inc pete
opinion would seem TO be, however, that the system
warehousine should be restricted 10 prominent a,tci
of considerable bulk and paying high sPeeihc ds.e
such a, wines, liquors, sugar, moinsses, l'on "
Doubtless the Ell. CT would be TO postpone me coec'"
of TINT portion Of the duties which would accrue
the warehoused articles This temporary ehsct ID
be met whenever the system shall! be aapP'ea' 1na
NAV as we'll be encountered row Is al any oher '''h
If The consequence woul1 be, as antcipaeo an au!
entaton OF the revenue, it could not wei happen u
! soon The temporary deficit which migh, De ciea.e
could be provided for BY extension OF Inc au'h0f'
TO borrow. ,. ,.,;o,,
: The loan of seven millions, which has been preVion
l. mentioned was effected IN pursuance OF tue ac.