The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-25
Fog the Union
e. ~. Fog the Union.
Mr.. wEBsTER's SPEECH ON THE Ia
RIFF THIS DAY


RIFF THIS DAY.
A remark made by MI. Webster, that the boys at
the Boston schools the present tme as excited
upon the result of the tariff bill the men,
brought me back 70 the time when attended pub
lie school in that town, and when he was fllmina-
ting his free-trade speeches in Faneuil Hall also
remember to have heard his great speeches 10 the
convention TO amend the constitution of Massachu-
sets, where was present, as member Of that con-
yention. signer Of the declaration of independence,
the second President of these United States. His
mark to-day that with greater research and in
creased experience, and change Of circumstance,
he was justified in changing his opinion may salts
fy some; but none Of his modern speeches bear the
impress Of a baptised in great principles, do
those Of 1920 and 1924 Mr. Webster must remember
the influences that have surrounded him for the past
twenty years. and the friends of liberal principles
will remember that early Impressions sometimes
fade; that Sir Francis Burdett, who submitted to
imprisonment in the Tower Of London, in defence
of the peoples rights, turned against those people
twenty years after, and justified himself by the pre-
tence Of increased experience and matured judg-
mept.
We intend at a future time to review more in de-
tail Mr.. Webster's speech of this morning, but have
time now only 10 allude TO two three topics.
The first is where he assented TO Mr.. Simmons's
sertion that coal Liverpool cost but dollar, or
al most dollar and fifty cents the ton. Here he I'M
doubleday reckoned without the book, as appears
by document which he furnished the Senate, while
Secretary Of State, dated February 81, l643, in
which is table Of commodities exported 10 the
United States from Liverpool during the months
Of July, August, and September lS43:
"Coals imported, S,l7l tons; cost s2l, 3l6 A, or
81 81 psr ton, exclusive Of freight From Nova
Scotia Goals screened, 1882 chaldrons cost 50 GU
per chaldron freight 81 so.
Wages: miner in the pits earns 50 10 per day;
mechanics earn 81 per day"
We think Mr. Webster must have forgotten
something else since he Secretary of State-viz:
the customs laws Of England. He berated the Sec
rotary of the Treasury for introducing section in
the tariff bill which authorized underyalued goods to
be seized on certain conditions; and the amount of
differentiation with 5 per cent. additional paid to
the persons making to the entry. He contemPtu-
ously exclaimed, Would any other nation ever have
thought of such provision in a bill We reply,
yes such has been the practice in the English Gus
tom houses time immemorlal. Here Is the law
"GooDs UNDERyALUED.-lf, upon the eNamina-
ton ofany goods entered to pay duty according to
the value thereof, it shall appear to the officers of
customs that such goods not valued according to
the true value thereof II shall be lawful for such
officers to deain and secure such goods and within
days from the day on which the goods shall
be finally examined by the proper officers by virtue
of duty paid on entry, 10 take such goods for the
use Of the crown; and the commissioners Of her ma
jesty's customs shall thereon cause the amount of
such valuation, together with an addition OF ten
pounds per cenum thereon, and also the duties paid
upon such entry, to be paid to the importer or pro-
prietor of such goods in full satisfaction Of the same,
and shall deal with such goods in such and the like
manner as goods so circumstanced under the acts
3 and 4 of William w." &c.
This is Just and equitable, as the following exam
pie will show II, at the end of vintage, purchase
in France brandy at 40 cents the gallon, which, du
ring the demand has sold at so, ship it to New
York. invoicing the same at its cost the officers, find
-, intrn n
would seize mine at under valuation: is 1t just that
my property should be coniscated' Clearly not.
But by the new law the officers Of the customs with
the advice Of the Secretary of the Treasury, returns
me the 40 cents, and per cenum on the same, or
AZ cents, which reimburses me the cost Of the BRAN
dy and expenses for shipping and insurance. They af
forwards sell il at its market value and the proceeds
go to the United States treasury.
We could not but smile when the letter of Ben amin
Marshall, of New York, was read by Mr.. Webster,
where he said he, with his brother, made million of
dollars by buying goods in Manchester 10 per cent.
cheaper than any one else; and by paying an ad
valorem duty on a value less than others, realized
a large part Of his property. We know these Mar
shalls, and purchased goods at the same time they
did, and in same quantities. and from the same par
ties, for cash down. They bought goods no cheaper
than others. We refer to Messrs. b. Il p. Wiggin,
of Boston, who commenced business at the same time
as the Marshalis, and made as much money. Be-
sides, large portion Of Marshalis purchases
plain cottons-such as prints, furnitures, dyed cam
brics, and other similar goods paying specific, and
not an ad vaorem duty. When Marshall found he
could make no profit by paying duty on
goods he sent men and machinery from England,
and made them in New York, free of duty. The
New York mills shirting, which he sold in 1S42 at
10 cents the yard, in l843 he advanced IN price;
in lS45 another advance; and last January, in spite
of a lower price for the raw cotton, he sold at Is
cents the yard, or advance of p per cent on
prices of 1912
We will close, by extracting from Boston letter
dated 18th July, which refers to sheathing copper
We omit names; but Mr.. Webster shall have them,
if he desires:
"Mr. -, wing merchant, has spoken to me
o.day about sheathpg copper, which he says must
continue free, or else the ships will be coppered IN
foreign ports, thereby injuring the mechanics, &c.
He stated that there was not copper manufacturer
in the country, that he knew Of but was rich enough
to retire from business and had all made fortunes
within few years. Mr.. -, one of the largest
shipowners in Boston, also, said sheathing copper
ought to come in free, there very little labor
in its manufacture, being most all done by ma
chinery."
A BosroM DRY-GooDs IMPORTER
FOR THE LAST TWENTY YEARS. d.