The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-12-09

been advanced why all duties should not be imposed on
all articles proportion TO their real value As To frauds
our merchants and public officers familiar with the
foreign with the home price current The duty being
assessed on each cargo proportion TO It's value nj the
port OF exportahon that value being governed by the
price at the port from which the shipment made,
is much easily ascerainabe than the home value,
which is different in nearly all our principal cities No
apprehensons entertained by this department OF mpo-
siton BY fraudulent invoices or false valuations, II is
fully believed that system of fair and honest valuation
can and viii be established, by increased vigilance at
home and abroad, by making custom-house and
set OF appraisers check upon the otherhus establish
ing uniformity throughout the Union, and finally subject
ing the whole supervision here under the immediate d.
recton and superintendent of this department ID is be-
heyed that the aggregate under the tariff
ceedng that under the DID, will demonstrate that the gov
eminent has not lost by fraudulent invoices false valu
atoms under the system of duties ad vaoem and that the
duties will be collected according TO the actual value of
the IMPORTS which is not pretended, il designed
that they should be under system OF minimum spe-
cfc duties II is respectfully submitted that the sys-
tenn, just and equal in all its purposes, should have
fair trial Even those who oppose IT, from sincere con-
ylcton that is erroneous, ought TO desire that should
be fairly tried II il fails they believe IL thea be
abandoned and the old system restored but il the new
tariff succeeds, the confident belief OF this depart
ment il will be triumph OF justice and OF equal rights,
rejecting the highest honor free institutions.
Il is remarkable that all the able and philosophical
writers on this great question: both ~ Europe and Amer
lea, unconnected with party politics. and influenced
only by regard for truth and the best interests OF all
TONS have long and faithfully advocated the great doc
rne OF free exchanges even when the practice OF gov
ernments opposed To their views; and they
Joy the high satisfaction of seeing what they regarded
automatic truths incorporated into the policy Of the two
greatest powers Of the world and moving onward to the
great and final victory of universal peace and unrestricted
commerce
copy OF the instructions for carrying into effect the
new tariff is hereto annexed, marked j.
In conneNion with the finances, the suggestions made
in my last annual report in regard TO the reduction and
graduation OF the prices OF the pubic lands in favor OF
settlers and cutvators, again respectfully submitted
| ID
augmentng the revenue The public lands now subject
10 sale at private entry exceed one hundred and forty mil
lions of acres, vast portion OF which long in market is
wholly unsaleable at existing rates, but would, If re-
duced and graduated, find many purchasers at lower
rates The sales in the Chickasaw cesson in the States
OF Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee, establish the
fact that the application of the principle OF reduction and
graduation rapidly augments the proceeds OF the sales
The addition TO the wealth OF the nation, IN the aug
mented value of these lands well the crops that
have been already raised upon them cannot be less than
thirty millions OF dollars This district having been sold
for the benefit of the Chckasaws is the only one Of the
land districts in the States TO which the principle OF
reduction and graduation has been applied and the result
has proved the beneficial effects OF this great measure
both means OF augmentng the revenue, and increas
ing the public welfare
! By a communication from the General Land Office,
hereto annexed marked NJ appears that the quantity OF
public lands in that cesson is 43l6,25 Of which
1851 800 have been sold. The average price realized in
less than nine years, up TO the 3Oth OF June 1885,
nne-one cents per acre. the lands being subject TO sale
BY the treaty. the first wear 81 25 per acre. the second
year at 81 per acre. the third year fifty per acre.
the fourth year at twenty five cents per acre, and the
fifth and all succeeding years al twelve and half cents
per This is lower price, and much more rapid
reduction than was proposed IN regard to the public
lands and yet this district in which the sales made
in the same manner, Except the graduaiion0 by the
United States, rs other public lands has commanded
larger proportional in the erod than any other
land district in the United States II also appears by the
official report from the Commissioner of the General
Land Office that II the whole OF the public lands each
of the land districts of the several States of the
Union had been sold within the period the
rates. there would have been saving to this govern
men including interest at SIX per cent on It's revenue
from public lands, OF $6l ,990,657 But few of these
lands purchased for speculation, but las the entries
show chiefly by settlers and cutvators, distinguished
for enterprise and industry, well as for moral worth
and ntegence and whilst contributing largely in mon
ey from the sales, have added many millions of dol
provement and cultivation OF those lands If gradua
ton BILL in the form in which passed the Senate its
return from the House, during last session, should be-
come a law, it would increase the revenue from the
public lands from half million to mil lion of dollars per
annum and, adopted together with the proposed duty
tea and coffee the loan might be safely reduced to
of graduation applied to the Chckasaw cesson were
adopted regards all the public lands, it would increase
for many years the revenue from that source, proved
by the data presented in the table before referred to,
eral millions of dollars per annum.
1t is believed that the saes at the prices reduced and
graduated should be confined to limited quantities. sold
only for settlement and cultivation In this manner,
whilst the aggregate wealth of the nation and revenue
of the government rapidly augmented, the wages of
lanOr must De ennanCeu, by 10 our WOTKlTE
classes and the Industrious poor certain means, whenever
reduction OF their wages shall be proposed, OF pur
chasing homes for themselves and families at the reduced
rates to be established in relation to the public lands, by
the graduation bill
Some augmentation of the revenue might be produced
by removing several restrictions in the preemp
ton law and especially by extending its just and salua-
~ provisions to the unsurveyed lands to which the Indian
title has been extngushed BY returns from the General
whilst the surveyed lands not yet offered at public sae to
which the pre- empton principle extends, amounted
to acres, the unsurveyed to which the Indian
title has been eXtnguished, amounted to 92 06O,572
acres; the opening OF which to prescriptions could not
fail augment the 1t would carry thousands
of settlers upon these lands advance of the surveys
well the sales, who would desire to purchase the
farms occupied by them the existence of which would
give increased value the remaining lands and largely
augment the proceeds of the sales Whilst the
would thus increase the revenue it would secure homes
to those enterprsing and patriotic settlers who move in
advance into the Wilderness extending the blessings OF
civilization, diusing the influence and advancing the
progress Of republican principles, and adding State
after State TO the American Union
! No nconsderabe addition could also be made to the
revenue by authorizing the sale OF that portion Of the
public lands containing copper and other ores, whilst
the measure would more rapidly develop the resources OF
owners and propetors those who occupy the rela
ton of tenants to the federal government landlord
Congress- al an early period OF the present session
would impose the proposed duty tea and coffee,
duce and graduate the price of the public lands favor
of settlers and cultivaors extend the presumption sys
tenn to the unsurveyed lands to which the Indian title has
been exnguished and authorize the sale of that por
able the loan might safely be reduced from twenty
thrppt m ntaen milf pf dpll