Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-08-01
FINAL PROCEEDINGS ON THE TARIFF
IN SENATE-JuLr 27, 1916.


The bill for the reduction of the Tariff then taken up
and before resuming his argument upon the bill
Mr. WEBSTERtook occasion to say that il was circum
sancea good deal characteristic OF the state of things in which
they now found themselves placed and strongly indicative
the absorbing interest which surrounded this that he
had not the honor to-day to address full Senate Since the
OF his observations Saturday honorable
member Of the Senate from one of the Southern States had
vacated his seat in that body They would probably soon
hear from that gentleman himself the reasons which led him
to leave position to which he seemed be attached He
was not otherwise acquainted with those than he
gathered them from the very airy publication in the
government paper OF Saturday evening He inferred from
that publication that the honorable member left his from
an inability to support the of the Administration
before them without violating his conscience aud from great
unwngness TO dsobge his party and political friends by
voting against them AS that gentleman was gone he might
speak OF him. and doing he could speak of him other
wise than as man Of character and standing a Of
learning and attainments, of great courtesy of unsurpassed
intelligence and attention the discharge his public duties
and they all knew, Gas they might Judge Of his
there the unaterng and consistent friend of the present
Administration
Now, sir, Continued Mr. WrBsrEn,) ashamed Of
my country when gentleman of this character hunted
abused DETAINED according the degree Of abuse and deaa
ton which some writer for the government IN the paper Of the
government fit to pour against this retiring member
u Is disgrace to the civilization OF the is disgrace
this Government ii is disgrace to the American people
Another circumstance not unworthy of notice will advert
to before proceed to the few remaining which
intend to submit If may believe the intelligence
possession
and authentic information that extraordinary and vigorous
effort making throughout the whole Republic Of Mexico
sustain her In the carried against her by the Uni
ted States suppose the Government is informed that
Gen. Bravo appointed President dd interim and that Pa
redes with such forces he collect marching to the
north and that there spirit Of united action and general
contribution to the purposes which they call deences of their
country such manifested before. Churches
provinces, and individuals contributing in manner hith
ero unknown in Mexico since the time of her revolution
suppose say, that the Government possession of this
intelligence, how well founded know but they have the
information have doubt and the importance of it is that
this state of things furnishes quite why we
should do nothing to disturb the just expectations of
or diminish the necessary income Of the Government.
Mr.. Webster then resumed and concluded his in
opposition to the bill Instead, however moving to post
pone the consideration of till the next session. he moved to
amend the bill in its ninth section by striking the latter
part of the ninth section.
He followed this motion by observations exposing the
mpoency Of this provision the BILL which, while awaited
repeal the penal provisions the present law which forfeit
the goods in the Of fraudulent entry left the fraudulent
importer free from all penalty and secured him the full amount
which he had valued his imporaons with five Der cent
additional to his expenses
Mr. LEWIS commended that this provision of the bill was
exact transcript Of the British law with the exception that
under the British law ten per in addition the valua-
ton was to be refunded to the importer and only five per
cent under this bill would be perceived that was but
additional means put into the hands of the Secretary of the
Treasury TO punish fraudulent importers
Mr.. CRITTENDEN said he thought there must have
of the word " in place of the word without" in the
ninth section, in connection with intention defraud the
for he could hardly suppose be intended "a
punish an intended fraud upon the by paying the
importer who attempted commit the fraud his valuation
the goods and five per cent upon that valuation in addition
This would be very singular sort Of punishment
Mr.. JARNAGIN said another why appeared &c
him that there must be mistake was that in the eighth
section penalty enacted against undervaluaton and
that penalty additional duty Of twenty per cent Blu
why enact this penalty if in the very section person
undertaking. his goods should be entitled receive from
the Government five per cent in addition his valuation
What to become of the under such enactment
that IL importer contemplated committing a fraud
upon the revenue he ought forfeit the whole Of his goods
but instead of that here direct encouragement held
out for the preparation of fraud. Such provision thai
was, in his opinion, highly Objectionable.
Mr.. McDUFFGE defended the clause. II did not in the
least he said interfere with existing provisions Of the Law
upon the same subject II only additional remedy
additional security against frauds; and he thought was
very wise and sautary provision II not 10 be en-
poye in all cases. but only in those in which the Secretary
Of the Treasury consulted, and in which he believed
advantageous to the United States that the goods should be
taken. Suppose where importer nvoced his goods
fifty per cent below value. The Government by taking the
goods and selling hem though they pay the importer
five per cent upon them would still be gamer forty five pei
cent This would not only the revenue, but woult
tend greatly TO increase It, The provision embraced in Tho
ninth section intended, however, apply particular
and generally The law in other respects would
remain as at present.
Mr. CRITTENDEN said he had very little anxiety abou
the amendment proposed, any other amendment bu
he thought that the honorable Senator from South Carolina
upon reflection would find that he was mistaken
to the meaning Of the bill and TO the objects sough
to be accomplished The honorable Senator seemed to sup
pose that the Government by taking the goods at the mpo
ers valuation, and giving five per cent in addition thereto
would make money by the transaction but the Senate
would find that il was mistake.
Under every other bill that passed the coec
ton OF revenue goods that attempted to be audun
entered forfeited could not be the intention of tn
Government to give up the right whole of the goods
The meaning Of the provision he thought must certainly
perverted, by substituting the word with in place of with
out" The English law contained provision that wbe,
goods undervaued without the intention to commit
fraud the goods might be seized and the valuation paid and
in tempting to follow that model he supposed the
must have produced the which here existed by
the expression with intention dcfraud the revenue in
stead Of "wihout the intention" &c As il stood wa
clearly repugnt and contradictory other provisions Of law
Bot as he had said he socous about amendments
he opposed the whole measure and every part OF Il,
and he wanted mixed divided responsibility about IL
wanted the friends Of this BILL il they determined to pas
it, pass In such shape suited themselves and take IN
whole responsibility He wanted to have no hand in it, HI
wanted Wing mark dot upon H. from one end Of tn
bill to the other He did not intend to 90 into discus
sion OF the questions involved in this BILL either as TO the de
struction Of the system Of ang protection American la
bor to the decrease Of the time when tn
utmost amount Chat could be obtained required by tn
Government He did not intend go these subjects the
were IN the hands OF those who competent
them justice He had only to say that II gentlemen tn
other side determined pull down this great fabric b.
which American industry tostered and susanedf the
determined to pull down upon their own heads the
OF n do bal