Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-07-18

IN urging us aooption, precisely ~ the moment
when, in consequence of the Mexican war, the
Treasury 10 to be burthened with an additional
expenditure, estimated Mt twenty three millions of
dollars for the present year. But in what an in.
consistent attitude, nevertheless, does this aIgu
,nsnt present these gentlemen! When the tariff
of 1912 was under consideration, its opponents,
with one voice, predicted that BY destroying COM
merce, il would diminish the revenue to such AN
extent to render resort TO direct taxation in
evitable. The experience of the last three wears,
having falsifed that prediction, las indeed it has
Tcfu,ed every other,) they changed their tactics,
and insisted upon reduction Of duties because
the tariff is yielding more revenue than is neces-
sary for an economical administration Of the GO
verDment, and consequently that Congress is
tempted to make useless and eIlravagant appro-
priations. But in the mean while, the Mexican
war, rendering an immense additional e1pendi-
ture necessary, broke out and then, changing
shapes with Proteus, the very men who had ur-
Ved reduction of duties, for the purpose of dimi-
nishing the revenue and preventing large eHpen-
ditures, insisted upon the reduction for the
purpose Of augmenting the revenue to meet the
new and large demands upon the Treasury that
must inevitably accrue
But th. important question is, will the proposed
tariff yield 2s millions Of dollars, estimated by
Secretary Walker and Mr.. Lewis In our ludg-
Incnt, Mr.. Evans conclusively demonstrates the
fallacy of their estimates. II is barely possible,
that the importations Of the first year, stimulated
by spirit OF speculation consequent upon this ra-
dical change in our system, may up the re-
venue TO an amount approXimating this est.
"A al. - -. al. a, I. 4 4
lowed by a sudden reaction the year afterwards,
by which the revenue will be reduced, as was
the case from 1886 to 1887, and from 1889 to
lS4O, fifty per cent.-a huctuation injurious both
in a fiscal and commercial point of view, and EN-.
barrassing equally the government and the peo-
pie. But Mr.. Evans shows that Mr. Lewis was
not very accurate even in his calculations. For,
if as Mr.. l.. says, the average rate of duties under
the proposed bill be 81 l-2 per cent and the i'm
portations consumed in the country shall be in
creased, by the reduction of duties, from l02 to
ll9 millions Of dollars per annum, it would give
us but s25, 900, 900 of revenue and ifthe mporta-
lions should be the last year, the nett re-
venue will be less than twenty mions-6 IL
millions less than that of the present year, at
time when, according to the Treasury estimates
which, we predict, will be nearer 40 than % mil
lions
Mr.. Evans touched upon another portion OF Mr..
Lewis's speech-that referring to the large in
crease of agricultural exports to Great Britain,
particularly Of bre ad-stuffs, in anticipation Of the
repeal Of the Corn Laws. 1t is true that these
exports have increased; but why Was it indu-
ced by the prospective modification Of duties upon
bread stuffs, or by the rumors which reached u.
not only from Great Britain, but from the NORTH
of Europe ALSO of short crops, and of threaten
ed famine PROFESSIONALLY the latter. AnG
what has been the consequence Has this e1
portation led to increased Prices7 No. Bread
stufis, instead Of maintaining their former prices
have fallen some rs per cent; and we are con
strained by this and other facts to concur with Mr.
f. in opinion, that no considerable expectation o
American agricultural products will hereafter re
suit from the modification of the British Tariff.
In reply to Mr.. Lewiss remarkable assumption
that I'D valorem are less liable than specific du.
ties to lead TO frauds upon the revenue. Mr.
Evans adduced facts, such Mr.. Lewis rather
imprudently challenged members to bring for
ward, If they could, to show the contrary, Mr.
Lewis had read paper signed by one Of tire,
appraisers in New York, presented TO Congress
three years ago, in which II said that "ther
never was a clearly proved case" Of such fraud
Tho result shows that Mr. Lewis ought not Il
have relied upon this testimony. All public do
cuments" are not safe authorities. "Why, (sa
Mr.. Evans,) at the very time that report wa
drawn up, cases embracing half million 0
dollars were pending and the evidence taken b.
the courts was before them But said the ap
praisers, that evidence was not taken by them
and therefore they reported there no fraud
Oh but their room was open, and any body nigh
come in And who came IN Why, the frau
duent importers themselves" who Of course
would not confess their own guilt Mr.. Evans lhel
went on to speak Of the yorkshire cases" Q
fraud at New York, at the period when the com
mission was in session:
ono of the cases was that Of Hood. His Esther b
England had been in the habit NJ sending fraudulent IN
voices him u he became slarmed. aud wrote
certainly very tal letters 10 tie elder Hood, calm
him a Ounce and q villain, aud cautonng him 60 uu
der-vaue his invoices than 25 or 30 per cent
would not swear 10 greater differentiation. Hoo
she aiher. became bankrupt and his papers, with hes
letters fell into the hands u the assignoos. Who bein
honest men, revealed the fraud house autho
rites IN this country. Wns ssued aganst several
the fraudulent importers. who lied the county
them named Taylor, escaped 20 Canada and after 70
rns,nng there for time. last succeeded epmprc
rni.ing the suit by paying sl5 O0O-nol half a. much
De- Ought have paid according 10 the statement Of Oh
collector. And thU others also compromised the suits
tbo same way. from the difficulty Of obsning rroof Of u
extent Of the fraud. Ia Philadelphia the same frauds ht
been pofpeuatod, and then there forty tos
fore ily-sevon different ures, and forty conviction
NJ w. coaunuod considerable length 10 expose the frau
which had been Derpeuated IN similar way, describing
manner in which they successfully effected. Und
the Tsnii Of l542 they led been obliged, certain
uccs the hazard ni I'd gaofem duties, because ~
ci6c duics could not be laid A. ths pIesent session
Congress they had enacted law ags.ast which bo (MT
hsd protested. taking away the chief guard sRanst frau
by repeating the law giving share Of the penalty Of frat
20 the custom.house officers How many prosecutions
they expect nov 7 All sort of motive TO vigilance hi
been iakcn awsy A. thst Law had been passed. - mo-
she more ngdly should they adhere the suingencies
che present proposition. The senator from Alabsma n
argued tha under The specific duty system the nr,
ibfouKh fhe hands Of only officer, fraud
ssy than under he I'd val0 system, when several Of
reviewed The srieo. snd checks upon each Of
~. The check simply whether the right
duy had been hrsd. No body bot ibs clerk examined
goods The ID vslorem we're liable 70 just double
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