Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1846-08-20

make Of it, as ii stands full of the most bunglinp
errors the most bareiaced frauds upon the public
for whom il was got up. Upon their own showing,
this is most wretched bill for this county-a bill
to increase the importatons of foreign goods and
to depress American manufactures and the Ameri-
can people. And this is why we call it BRIT
ISL BILL, and its graceless defenders the BRIT
ISH PARTY. Let Vermonters say whether they
will defend such bill and such a party. Speak
out, one and all, on the first OF September.
AID yAL.OREM DUTIES-MR. CLAY MIS-
REPRESENTED-MR. BENTON'S OPIN-
ION.
The Patriot repeatedly quotes Mr.. Clay as being
unquniifediy in favor of exclusive ad valorem du
ties in fact, as being in favor of the principle of
the British locofoco Tariff. But the Patriot knows
bet,er,-knows that this is unjust to Mr.. Clay
We quote from Mr.. Clay, as quoted also by the
Patriot in one place: albeit in various places it
quotes Mr.. Clay just dishonesty as the Bible
was quoted, when it was represented to prove that
",here Is no God" by leaving out "the fool hath
said in his heart" After speaking in favor Of the
ad valorem system he says:
"There is, admit, one objection to it; as the
value Of article is matter subject TO opinion,
and opinions will ever vary, ethef dishonesty
fraudulently, there is some Ghcu,tv in prevent
ing frauds. But with the home rdIuGtion proposed
by my friend from Rhode Island, (Mr. SimmoDs)
the I'D uaiorem system can be adopted with all
practicable safety, and will be liable those chan
ces only of fraud which are inevitable under any
and every system"
! Ad vaorem duties, with home valuation: that
was Mr.. Clay's doctrine, and it was right. Many
of the friends of protection have long demanded a
home valuation; it was one Of the express condi-
tons in Mr. Clays compromise; we have urged it
ourselves; and with that fairly and honestly made
by custonhouse officers friendly to protection, ad
vaorem duties might do. We would not trust
even that TO Folks tools, howe ver the men who
violate the Tariff of AZ, are fit for any raud.-
But again, in the same speech in another place,
which the Patriot has mol quoted, Mr. Clay said:
ave should ourselves assess the value of the
goods on which we lay the duty, and not leave the
value 10 be fixed by foreigners. AS things now
stand, we lay the Duty bat foreigners fir the uulue
Of The goods. Give me but the power Of fixing the
value Of the goods, and care little, in comparison,
what may be The rate of duty you impose. is
euident hat on The AID VALOREM PRINCIPLE,
ii is THE FOREIGNER mho virtually tfres The
actual amount ofhe duty paid"
| Had Henry Clay been in the Senate we can be
at no loss as to what his course would have been
on this British bill he would have denounced it,
for its want of home valuaiinn-for its discrmina-
tons against protcction-or ITS utter Inconsistency
with all the principles which Mr.. Clay, and almost
every other distinguished statesman, has heretofore
acted upon. 1t is in view Of this objection 10 the
ad vaorem system of The new Tariff, that the organ
of the British party 1.-THE Union) has already pub
lisho faI for
home valuation. The big dog has barked, and all
the little ones will doubtless yell in chorus. The
assertion is untrue: it was rebuued twice by Mr..
, Webster in the Senate, and the Chairman of the
Committee of Finance, (Mr. Lewis,) acknowledge
ed that the bill provides no such thing. Besides all
this the bill speaks for itself there is provs
ion for home Notwithstanding but a mere ap-
praisal, in accordance with existing laws in order
TO find the value of the goods /" in the principal
markets of the country whence the importation
shall have been made, or in which the goods i'm
ported shall have been originally manufactured or
: produced"
We now quote for the benefit of our readers from
SENATOR BENTON, who tells US that this new
, act was in part taken from the BRITISH ACT, as
! well condemns the ad valorem system of the bill
The oh section one which Mr.. Benton had in
view when he made this speech-the one which
y was stricken out on motion of Mr.. Webster,--but
his maedlc,ion stands against the exclusive ad
valorem principle of the bill
CAT least six months ago, in a conversation with
the Chairman of the Committee Of Ways and
Means Of the House Of Representatives, MIR Nc
kay,) | mentioned the British practice Of taking
the Importation at the invoice price, as an objection
I to the ad vulorem system objected to the system
and mentioned this identical practice of the British
Government as an incident of the system, and one
not suited TO the genius of our Government, or
perhaps consistent with Constitution. In Great
Britain, it was found upon experience, that ad pat-
oTeBs eren 10 the hmitef erfent there used tcere so
subject 10 fraitd, and 10 frauds rhich could not be
proUsd, that 1t was necessary to have recourse
i addition to other penalties, TO the extraordinary
remedy Of converting the government into a mer-
chant, and taking the goods on It's own account.
9 1t was evidently intended TO make the American
I. act confornabe 10 the British act but with total
9 msconsrucon ofthe British act. Our bill differs
n from the British, in being applicable 10 fraudulent
3 instead Of innocent importauonS aud differs from
1t 10 not giving to the Importer his fair mercantile
profit In this our bill Is contradictory and incom-
4. prchensble.
Fraud was never before rewarded
except by this bill. undertake say it is the first
bill which rewards fraud, which has been seen IN
the annals of human legislation.
If we were able to act up to the elevation of our
circumstances, and act like statesmen, IN perfect
ing bill, should be glad to 70 into it, aud con-
tribute NV labors to make good bill. But we are
Sc not able so To act and am not willing to be ma
chine, aud to appear like perfectng and maturing
bill which is not to be changed or altered.
v roDeat; if we were able 10 act up TO the eleva
faaGIQ in aanh fha