Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1845-08-16
From the Union.
IMPORTANT CIRCULAR.
TO COLLECTORS AND OTHER OFFICER

received official intelligence that the Con-
vention, as well as the Congress of the Re-
public of Texas, have sanctioned and adopt |
ed the joint resolution of the Congress of
the United States Of the LIST of March last. |
for the admission of Texas as a State of
the Union.
By the gath section of the act of the
Congress of the United States of the Both
of August, 1912, it is provided: THAT i,
shall be the duty of all collectors and other
officers of the customs to execute and carry
into effect all instructions of the Secretary
of the Treasury, relative to the execution
of the revenue laws; and, in case difficulty
shall arise as TO the construction or mean
ing Of any part of such revenue laws, the
decision of the Secretary of the Treasury
shall be conclusive and binding upon all
such collectors and other officers of the
customs" In conformity with this provis-
ion of the law, it becomes my duty to
communicate the views and instructions of
this department upon various important
questions arising out of the new relations
between Texas and the United States.
LIST. Although there is now a solemn
compact obligatory upon both parties for
the admission of Texas as a State of the
Union; yet, until the further action of the
Congress of the United States upon this
subject, and instructions founded thereon
from this department, you will collect du.
ties as heretofore upon all the imports from
Texas into the United States.
A similar question arose in relation to
exports from Florida into New Orleans in
lsl9 when it was decided by the Treasury
Department, "that all goods which have
been or may be imported from Pensacola
BEFORE AN ACT OF CONGRESS- SHALL BE
PASSED ERECTING IT INTO A COLLECTION
DISTRICT and authorizing the app ointment
of an officer to reside thereat, for the pur-
pose of experimenting the collection Of
duties, will be liable to duty"
If, then. as is apprehended, imports should
now be made from foreign ports into Texas,
with view to introduction here free Of
duty from Texas, upon her formal adms.
sion by Congress as State of the Unto n,
such exemption from duty, in conformity
with the decision before quoted in relation
to Florida, could not be permitted "before
an act of Congress shall be passed erect
ing it CTexas) into collection district"
When Congress shall pass such an act, am
pie provision can be made therein to pre-
ven, the sacrifice of our revenue by the
evasion of our laws, as is now believed 10
be contemplated.
I'd. In all cases where application is
made to enter goods with the privilege of
drawback of duties on explorations into
tiicates you will diligently inquire into the
circumstances of the case, with view to
ascertain whether this expectation is in
tended for the consumption of the cargo
in Texas, or for re-importation into the
United States; and any attempt to obtain a
drawback of the duties, where the goods
are really designed for consumption within
our limits, is manifest fraud on our reve-
nue. laws, which will be prevented by all
the lawful means within the power of this
department.
After the acquisition and occupation of
Louisiana, by an order Of the Treasury
Department, the Collector at New Or
leans was directed "to consider Baton
Rouge, and other settlements now in pos
session Of Spain, whether on the Misss-
sippi lberville, the lakes or the sea coast,
as foreign ports" In the same order it
was declared, sin no instance, however,
are you TO allow drawbacks for goods
which have been landed, and may after
wards be exported to such places" This
order was issued by one of my predeces-
sors, (Albert Gallatin) and was sanctioned
by MIR. Jefferson, then President of the
United States.
By the 60th section of the act of Con-
gress Of the Cd of March, 1899, it is pro-
vided That the collector aforesaid may
refuse to grant such debenture or deben-
lures, in case it shall appear to him that
any error has arisen, or any fraud has been
committed; and, in case Of such refusal, if
the debenture or debentures claimed shall
exceed one hundred dollars, it shall be the
duty of the said collector to represent the
case to the Comptroller of the Treasury,
who shall determine whether such deben-
ture or debentures shall be granted or not"
An entry for drawback, with a view to
re-importation, free of all duty, into the
United States, is fraud within the mean
ing of this act; and in all such cases it is the
duty of the collector 10 refuse the deben-
ture certificate. In all cases where the de-
benture shall not exceed one hundred dol
lars, the collector will Judge for himself
whether such fraud as is before designated
is contemplated; and, in the language of the
law. "if the debenture or debentures claimed
shall exceed one hundred dollars, it shall
be the duty Of the said collector to repre-
sent the case to the Comptroller of the
Treasury, who shall determine whether
such debenture or debentures shall be
granted or not"
| By the 10th section Of the art IF % of