Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1846-09-04

"uu'' IL has ddopted as the only parent of
our revenues
In 1875, when Washington was President,
alexander Hamilton, his Secretary of the
treasury In report to the House of Repre-
sentatlves, used the following words. viz:
According to. the present laws, imposing du.
Ties on articles imported into the United States,
not much short of one-third of the whole amount
OF the duties is derived from articles rated ad va
loren.
ain other nations where this branch of revenue,
as with US, is of principal, very considerable
consequence and where no peculiarly of situation
has tended to keep the rates of duty low, expert
ence has led to contract more and more the num-
Der of articles rated al valorem, and of course to
extend the number OF those rated specifically that
is, according to weight, measure, other rules of
quantity.
The reason of this is obvious it is to guard
against evasions, which infa libby happen in
greater or less degree when duties are high. 1t is
impossible for the merchants of any country to
have manifested more probity than those of the U.
States on this subject and it is firmly believed
that there never was one in which illicit purcha-
ses to the disadvantage of the revenue have OBJ
tanned so little as hitherto in this Yet would it
be deusive expectation, that, with duties con-
siderable as those which now exist, disposition
will not be experienced in some individuals, who
carry on Our import trade, to evade the payment
of them and this to extent sufficient to make
prudent to guard with circu inspection, and by ev-
cry reasonable precautlon, against the success of
such attempts. 1t is needless to repeat, that this
will contribute much to the interest of the fair
trader as to that of the revenue.
at is believed that in our system the method of
rating ad valorem could with convenience be bro't
nd
dent that to do so will contribute materially to the
security of the rerenue See american State
Papers, Finance, uoL l, page 349.
liz 1901, under Jefferson's administration,
Albert GalIatin, Secretary Of the Treasury, in
report to the Senate, said that
"In order to guard, far as possible, against
the value of goods being moderated in the invoices
it would be eligible to lay specific duties on all
such articles now paying duties ad va'orem,
may be susceptible of that alteration" See Amer
lean State Papers, Finance, roL. l, page 702.
In 1916, under Madson's administration,
A. J. Dallas, the Secretary Of the Treasury,
in report to the House of Representatives,
and in answer to a resolution of the preceding
session, after thorough examination, said ::
"That articles imported to a great amount
should rather be charged with specific duties upon
their weight and measure, in order to guard against
evasions a,ld trauds than with ad vaIorem duties
on their value."-See american State Papers,
Finance, COL 3, page 81.
In 1918, under Monroe's Administration,
William H. Crawford, the Secretary Of the
Treasury, in answer to a resolution of I6l7,
directing him to report such measures as might
be necessary for the more effectual execution
Of the revenue laws, said:
"In order oprovide an adequate remedy against
the frauds and evasions which already exist, and
to prevent their further increase, it is respectfully
submitted :" &c.
And then, after recommending twenty -four
additional laws, he adds
Whatever may be the reliance that ought to
be placed in the efficacy ofthe foregoing provisions,
it is certainly prudent to diminish as far as prac-
tcable the list of articles paying ad ualorena du
tIes."-See American State Papers, roL. 81 236.
|. These opinions, Of the great and eminent
men of our country, were never controverted,
so far as we knows--nntil she present, time; and
upon what principle of pdrf or of democ-
homage of my confidence and support? What>
should have Induced me. to forego the concIu-
slons ofmy own judgment, fortified by snch
Iauthorltgand confirmed by the. experience of
the government for half century In all my
ISN;4iOIOhVSS Will oCIIdLOISs ITO JULIET reason
was given to me for it than that the bill would
destroy the tariff of 1912; but the remedy was
as bad, il not worse, than the disease, and the
operation seemed to me almost as unwise as
to IS cut of the head for a cure of the tooth
ache.''
l have now explained to you the origin, and
reminded YOU of the character of McKay's bill
of 1914. lhave intimated to you the nature
l0f those marty. to cav fhocL. moral oI>T;o-,
tions, which we've contracted antecedent to
the elections of.l844, and have told you how
they were imposed upon me, as One of your
senators. in my best attempts to sustain the
democratic party, by harmonizine the country
generally upon distracting conflict Of local
interests | have also shown you how the
tariff bill proposed at this session was alto
gethcr different one, and every way objec-
tionable in its details and in its principles,
and in the time of its operation, and, | might
have added, in the manner it was urged upon
the Senate, and how utterly impossible it was
with me. ON account of all these things. to
vote for the bill without amendment, even a.
| LONG with other democratic senators, with our
mouths gagged, our judgments unconvinced,
and our deliberations forestaled, upon ques-
, ton which always thought to be national
one. above the dominion of any political par
ty whatever.
now proceed to lay before you an unadorn-
ed narrative Of nv party conferences in con-
nexion with this subject, and leave it for you
to characterize as it deserves the injustice that
has been done to me by all those who have
brought into question my faithfulness to the
democratic parfv. Where my defamers have
been prompted by malice, hey are en n 10
my compassion; where they nave been LED
| by the spirit of envy.they are more worthy OF
their own; where they have oeen ST sll%u.a'ea
into activity by vain concert OF , sne love
notorety, or Of petty pestssat9saas' .1ey are
deserving Of my contempt ana I'cliiy 80
rewarded with it. But oven 70 ao''ess Net
who MAJ have been misled oy 'nein I'M; uG.oun