The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-18
THE TARIFF-MR. EVANS.

|
| When a statesman of such eminent ability as
| MIR. Evans, Of Maine, makes a statement on the
floor of the Senate, suggesting an inaccuracy in AN
official report such statement deserves full and ex
plicit reply. We understand that Mr. Evans, in a
courteous spirit, designated founded in that
portion Of the report Of the Secretary Of the Treas
ury of the 10th inst which gives the "tota of free
imports for consumption, exclusive of specie, ST.
sol, l47." Now, this statement is made expressly
in reference to the imports for consumption, excu-
sve of SPECIE under the call of the Senate for such
imports for the fiscal year ending the 30th June,
lS45, not under the tariff Of 1912, nor under the
House bill, but expressly under the bill Of the
mittee and schedule A, submitted to the Senate on
the 18th June, 1886, and this is expressly stated,
both in the report Of the 10th July, 1876, well
| in the annexed tables.
The truth is the House bill, as it is now called
having passed only the ID Of July, had no existence
on the 29th of June, when the resolution passed the
Senate, to which the reply Of the secretary was
made.
Now, in table B, appended to the secrstOry's re-
port, is given in detail every item left free in The
biz of the committee, and schedule with the i'm
ports for consumption Of l545, and the amount is
added up exactly above at 81, sol ,047, and this
is the eraet and true amount Mr.. Evans's mistake
arose from two causes: first, il is due to him to
state that he did not have before him the table
companying the report, because that table then
in the hands Of the printer for publication, under
the resolution of the Senate.
Second. Mr.. Evans did not observe that in the
Uoft Ia ID ch.d, Lao
statement of the secretary and the table expressly
refer) tea and coffee taken from the free list,
and subjected to duty, also many other articles
eft free by the tariff of lS42; and this is the
why, under the bill and schedule, the amount of
free imports for consumption in ls45 under the bill
and schedule was, correctly stated by the sec
rotary, only sl5ol,O47. Mr.. Evans, then, clear
ly in error, arising from the causes have above
| stated and Mr.. Walker was Just as clearly
RIGHT, md no oensurs could attach anywhere,
for the accompanying tables illustrating the
report, which are very volumnous, then
imprinted, and the original in the hands of the
printer, by whom it only received the
evening preceding, but which tables are now pub
lished and will be delivered to the Senate at its next
meeting when we cannot doubt Mr.. Evans will, with
the report and tables both before him. correct the
error which he has made. The secretary states the
import free Of duty for consumption, by the bill and
schedule under the imports Of i645, at 81 sol 04,
| and no man can point out a single article thai has
been omitted. The tables that now printed
with the report, demonstrate that it is accurate in
every respect in the statement of facts and in eav-
ing nett under of S24 1896 537, under the
I;n,n Of Of vello for
augmentation of importation, either from augment
ed population reduced duties. The addition is
an estimate, and very moderate estimate, but
about which men may fairly differ. Tea and cof
fee are restored to the free list under the estimate
made by Mr.. Walker, in a note appended to his
| tables, of the revenue under the House bill.
As to MIR. Webster, every solitary statement
made by him is erroneous, taking as the STAN
dard either the bill and schedule, or the House
BILL and it is abundantly manifest that he had
never compared the tables under either bill
with the, duties and imports of ls45. We
have said Mr.. Walkers estimate was mode
rate He omits many causes for augmented inn
ports First, the increased revenue, not from the
same imports, not by the smuggler under high du-
ties, but by the fair Notwithstanding being
broken up or greatly diminished by the reduced du
ties 3D. The contemporaneous repeal of the British
corn law, (Which, rejoiced to hear by the
Cambria this day, is now consummated,) and the re-
duction of our own tariff duties, (Which hope to
announce by this day week, in spite the idle, and
we trust, ridiculous rumors which are now in crcu-
ation about the votes of the Senate,) will thus
break down the barriers on both sides, and open
the ports of the two greatest commercial nations in
the world to an immense reciprocal exchange Of
imports for exports.