Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-08-08
THE ENQUIRER.
Richmond, August 6.


EfHCEeEE1OBht4 -
,prsrs or TIE REVENUE LAWS.
,.a,,sr.,av briefly examined the Importance
II . re-. adjustment Of the consular system us
lending materially 10 enhance the sa'ue o. our
,o,erce ana The welfare Of all the grca. interests
Of The nation
We propose hi, morning 10 glance al congo
NAL subject, viz: some OF Inc ABUSES p'ac'iseo
in ,he imporaiom OF foreign merchandise. N's
conceded hy those conrersan' WIN ms ha"e''
ia, ,hor, one-enth OF The value OF foreign mer.
cbandise entered al our custom houses Is uhiePie
sen,ed by invoice The plan usually adopted IS
- make out the invoice in fictitious value, rang
i. from len 10 fifteen per cent less than The real
cos, This evasion is managed III such way a
70 elude detection. The goods are packed ana
arranged in the cases, SO as TO have Inc appeal
ance Of correctness on being opened LOT cAai'ii'
nation. Under The present law very co''''"oh
practice exists Ii is that when invoices a'e -
be localized the parties do mol often present 'he'''
se,res before the Consul abroad, but sign Tue
prin,ed form Of the prescribed oa'h al ''e co"h'-
;no.room. in The presence CT an aSeh, VINO cA'''-
bits !, 10 The Consul for approval oi'en inc m
voice will be returned on account OF some irregu-
arity-such as incorrectly defining the mefchan-
die omilting give the quantity ana price, OF no.
properly stating the true amount, IN fi9uTes, ana
in the currency Of the country. II IS believed
that many invoices are represented as being on
American or joint account when, IN iaci' mere is
an entire foreign owEership or II there he any
Joint interest, il is one of nominal character de
signed TO cover some evasion OF our ne'e"uo
Laws This abuse, as also mat OF introducing
into our country, as in the last year. sucn iud"-
,;,ics ot merchandise are 10 be attributed 10 10
reion interests. The extravagant duly lmPo;eo
IN many foreign fabrics it is said encourages
decentjye practices, and besels a disregard OF
custom.house oath. As remedy against an
these abuses, it has been suggested maj an ~
voices should be legalzed at the place OF snip
menl-and that those who ship should be re-
ouired TO appear before the Consul, 10 satisfy
him as 10 The correctness of the invoice, ana 10
answer all questions under oath. Should the
parties be of doubtful character, The Consul
could investigate The matter and convey ihiofma
lion 10 The Government, in time TO correct the de
ception.
This whole subject will necessarily come
before the next Congress, and The Administrator
will. doubtless, furnish ITSELF with ample iacls
and materials, 10 present The true state OF Inc case
and 10 suggest such measures as are requisite 10
secure the public revenue, and 10 enforce lui'
and complete execution of the revenue laws.
In connection with this subject, We extract the
following from the Boston Post;
mExTESsIvs SEIZURES OF FOREIGN Wool
We noticed day or Two since the SEIZURE OF
quantity OF wool at Lowell, BY an oiiicer OF the
customs al this port We have since learned mat
the 10, then referred TO was part OF some recent
;mnor,a,ions from Buenos Ayres al this port and
New York, which paid duty OF five per cent.
ad valorem, as costing seven cents rer pound or
under at the place Of expectation, but which has
since been discovered 10 have been greatly unaef-
valued and consequently subject 10 the highest
rate specified in The Tarf-,hIee cents per 10. and
thirty per cent
1.-THE whole quantity which II IS alleged mas
been thus imported under false invoices IS oe,
tween 500 and COO bales, valued al from S75,OoO
70 100000. II has nearly all been seized-300
bales having been taken 10 ihs city or Lowell
in The ba pds OF manufacturers who had purchased
il from the importers, and the balance ~ New
York. -
"The principal part oil the wool came 10 New
York. consigned to MessIs. w. w. La Forest &
Co., BY foreign house The lot that arrived
here came from The same house 10 Messrs. Bar
nard, Adams s. Co. The fraud was first suspect
ed in The Boston custom house, and we believe
the Government officers, both here and in New
York, are principally indebted 10 the vigilance
and activity of S. J. Bridge Esq, one OF The APP
praisers OF this port. for the evidence upon whien
part Of the wool seized. :,
at is proper 10 add, that we are informed BY
one OF The parties whose names have been con-
neced with the transaction that the consigneesare
confden, that an investigation will terminate IN
The release OF The WOOL and in the exoneralion Of
the foreign house implicated from suspicion OF
dishonesty