The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-13


be seen therefore that this objection does not hold
good and that instead of articles the value OF when
is uncertain paying specific duties as the reasoning
of gentlemen would lead TO infer, i Is quite ihe
reverse, the duties being IN those cases ad vaoreh
But the general answer made IN the case OF wines
will suffice for this whole class Of articles and that
answer is this that IL any man possesses intelligence
enough, inspection Of the article, 10 make Jndi-
cious purchase in the foreign market three mer-
chaots can surely be found in New York, for In
stance, with equal intelligence, and able to put a
market value on the article. But II frauds are
niece ssary concomitants of ad yalorem duties, how
comes il that these frauds have not been detected
We hear a great deal ofcomplaint from the manu-
facturers, bat from no other source. Dad any man
ever hear merchant complain oil another on account
of any violation Of the law under these ad vaiorem
duties No. With all their means, wealth, industry
character and zeal, yet they have never oeen ao,e
detect any notable instances Of fraud resulting from
the ad valorem system. This will prove before
have done. II fraud has ever been perpetrateo
where is the proof II has been charged over ana
over again, but so far from having been proved,
will show that after the most thorough inyesuga-
uon--and at the head Of which was distinguished
member of the whig party, who, after most iaoo-
nous examination, made report on the subject
no case Of fraud could be made out. Let me now
direct the attention Of the Senate TO the result OF
that investigation. THE clerk read the following
extract from House Doc. No. 2l2, 9Th Congress,
I'd session, page 2O9
n search ofthsse frauds and the manner In which they
have been might be pepetraed the nave
examined this most intelligent and experienced
engaged in the importation OF foreign goods and In SSms
trrogatores put TO these merchants covered the weoe
ground Of their knowledge Of frauds or eyasion Of me rev
laws their belief the existence OF such iauds the
information which they had received from others aud ear
eumsances which might lead to the eonension ina, se
frauds and eyasions had been pcsed TO the injury OF
Of the honest importer OF knowledge
single witness called has testified TO any fact which es
the existence Of frauds evssons Of the laws
and various circumstances relating TO the
discrepancy in price between importers OF the same de-
scripton Of goods (some OF selling price far be-
low what could be afforded by others at reasonable
prof and speculative opinions all agree that frauds have
been praetissd the revenue at different times to CON
siderable extent They also speak OF the devices ny which
these frauds have been successfully pcrpetraed and by
which they may be again; but Of their knowledge
they do not profess to know anything resting their oPn
ions entirely on general reputation and me course o.
witnesses examined these points domestic manuae'
turer or their agents or merchants referred 70 by soe
establish the existence OF frauds on the
in order to place foreign eommsree under the
most rigid restrictions to exclude the foreign fabric Tor
the benefit Of domestic goods Of the same description u
may therefore be fairly presumed that IL any positive ey
could be adducsd to fix the charge Of fraud any
number OF foreign Importers, would have been as the
door widely thrown open by the commissioner to the
introduction Of such evidence. None such however, was
adduced and it presumed therefore, that none such ex.
isted"
None, sir, "was adduced, and therefore il is to be
presumed none existed" Now, / ask the clerk
TO read another extract from the same document,
page 372-the report Of three very experienced APP
-, " 80 - 49, w. ~
OF New FORK Inc clerk reah as iohoWs.J
"The undersigned late principal appraisers ofthe
toms for the port and district OF New York beg leave to
submit the following report and respectfully solicit that
From long and careful observations and OF
merchandise at the custom house they fully satisfied
that Their, have been no raucs of any pac
sed on the revenue by the OF cloths and
cassimeres at their entry
kind great uniformity in value on the invoice prices
when Of similar quality whether imported by American OF
'nn., .; an, oosr. r,,.Is,l M id,n,
and qualities have not be subjected to duties
Ing value; have r'ost cases been subject
ed to Increased duties through prejudice caprice, OF
40, h. asai Us IN Ss S ypprl
B,eaass there has been no motive 10 undervsse the
goods invoice since 1t taken the criterion
value on when me auues wers 70 De and con
sos mo-, san,asr hi. ioYoes a. gude 10 The sa,I., 10
be imposed here
"Bsesuse neither In our official capacity or otherwise
have eo%Pso. been made Of any instances Of suspected
In the manacture Of done,,e Goods md had there Been
any such Valuations the Vigilance Of rivalry and
promPtings Of interest would have made the facts known
b'ssnss' ~ tne SAFES OF cloths ana cassmsrss when
and without preiudee thew have rarely broasb, the In
voice and charges, when made under the
favorable circumstances; and in large majority Of the
,hey nave mot Drought 10 exceed wohd' oil he
"Thst there were frauds bv smuggling committed du
ring last Of swsrtwouts ncumbency there can
not he doubt put these were brought about by coliuson
bo,bsr Nv W wa b and
not having seen the goods, are unable to say.
1--WE have confined these remarks TO cloths and cass
solely because no allegations oauds in any Other
Sesn nv o. ,hs nmsnse o. nave ever
edge Blu, i is due to the public to state Cand we do i
with great difference and respect that among the
cases Of evs'ons and frauds that came under our obeIva
BY false or or otheYwise much hs
proportion both numbers and amount were q good,
other than those in which wool wasa component parn
Now it seems to me that the result of this
thorough nveste alton establishes in the most con.
elusive manner tina, the objection which we have
been considering is entirely destitute of weight.
Having then thus disposed Of the objection as to
fraud urged against ad valorem duties, feel that
have put down the principal argument in favor q,
specific duties; for do not know that ever heard
any individual express an opinion in favor of speci
6c duties unless on the principle Of the danger 81
ad vaorem duties. The great argument re- that "a ad
valorem duties are not adequate for the purposes 81
revenue, we must OF necessity be driven TO specific
eouitv of adj vsjore d,tes alone ent;,l. The,