Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-12-10

f,slsIprs,,s Mrss.oE.-CcHeipded tr'" First f'Ee''
While lbs 5eaI III Chr pyohihitUry and re.
s,riciive duties o! ;hc-ac III 1912, AZ Tue sup
slilu,ion I'M their place o ieasonAo DE revenue RATS,
levied on articles iapofe according 10 'neir az
tuAl caine has increased the revenue anu aus
mrp,ei our foreign trade; all me great tnterests
OF ihe, country have been advanced aaa p'''"'-
ted; - v = = o., r..3 .a
The great aud important interests OF aS'icut-
,ure. which had been not only too much mcgee.
ed but actually taxed under the protective pouey
for the benefit Of other interests, nave ocen ~
,of the burdens which that pohcy i'hpo -.
nm Them and our farmers and plah'eiS, UNI
a mofe Just and liheral COMMERCIAL pp,ieyi a anr
finding new and profitable markets do'c "u
their augmented products: .tA,, ,n3 is
ex,,sd,ns mote widely The circle OF internaiionc
al ercbapses Great as has been tue lhc!edse y.
nnr impofls during the past year, our exports Oh
domestic prpducls sold in foreign markers ha'e
been still greater. ,,osner.
ous The number OF vessels boil! 10 inc on".a
8 ates has been greater than during any p's.su 80.
ine period of equal length: Large pion'. 40. "
hae, dsr;ved by those who have constructed DIS
Ill 40 bv those who have naviga'ed mem
Shoh,A me ratio OF increase in The NUMBER OF our
r,snchan, vessels be progressive, and be as great
for ire turure' as during the past year, me l'ine
IA NO, distant when our tonnage and commerciai
marine will be)Iaryer than that OF any other nd
ton in The world. -, Sc oo,,-
Wbi., the Interests of agriculture, OF com,
mefce. and Of navigation, have been enia' ano
invigora,ed, it is highly gratIiy1ng W ooSror.
that our manufactures are also IN P.oSps' ~
condi,,on. None OF the ruinous effects upon 'als
inI.,..rc which were apprehended by some, as inc
resnb NJ the operation Oi the revenue sys'eu'
frsshyssea nv ylhc.acf Of 1916, have been eSpe-
tac,oties and he amount of capital in9tl'eaan
hem 4. steadily and rapidy increasing, afforoins
gratifying proofs that American enterprise anu
Skill EMPLOYED 10 this branch OF domestic NOUS
n.y., with no other advantage than those larry
and incidentally acctuing from Just system OF
revenue duues are abundan,iy ao.e 70 NEE sue,
cessfully all competition from abroad ana st'!1
derive fair and remunerating prohIs
While capital invested in manufactures is
Welding inadequate and iar profits under the
new system, the wages OF labor, wheAher employ
ed in manufactures, agriculture, commerce., OF
navigation, have been Augmented. Inc 'o'i''S
millions. whose daily labor iurnisheS Inc supply
OF food and rainent, and all The necessalies ana
comforts Of life, are receiving higher wages, ana
more steady and permanent employment than IN
any other country, or a, any previous pc''oeS u
our own history. - =
So .necesstul have been all branches OF our
industry. that a foreign war, which generally al.
mini,hes the resources OF nation has IN no e.
sen,af degree, retarded our onward progress, VI
checked our general prosperity. TN r..
With such gratifying evidences OF prosperity.
and OF the successful operation oil the revenue ac'
of 1896, every consideration Of public policy re-
commends that il shall remain unchanged. IL Is
honed ,bat The .y stem oil impost duties which II
established may be regarded as the permanent Po'
licv Of The country, and that the srealineIess al
;ected by il may NOT again be subject 10 DC my
riou.ly disu rbeli rs they have heretofore been, oy
treouen, and sometimes sudden changes.
Eor iihe' purposes OF increasing The revenue, aud
without changing or modifying the rates imposed
by The act of 1916 on the duuaole afllc'eseul-
bIaced by its provisions, again recommend 10
vofr favorable consideration the e1pediency OF
ievvino q revenue duly on,ea and coffee. The
nohcy which exempted these articles from duty
5nritp peace, and when the revenue 10 be de-
r;ved from Them was not needed, ceases TO exist
when the country is engaged IN war, and requires
Tho nee of all its available resources. II IS tax
which would be SO generally dffused among the
people, that ii would be felt oppTessiveiy oy none,
and be complained Of by None Is oe'ieVe'
lhar,here are not on the lis. OF imported art'cies
any (which are more properly the soOJsc' VI "ai
dulles ihan lea asd cofee.
II is estimated thai three millions oil dollars
world be derived annually by moderate duty
imposed on these articles.
ghoujd Congress avail itself OF this additional
source of revenue, not only would the amount OF
the ppblic loan rendered necessary by the "aF
with Mexico be diminished 10 that extent, ou; NE
public credit and The pubic confidence III lhe
abilny aud determination OF The government 10
,nee,;alI its engagements promptly, would be
more firmly established, and the reduced amount
OF the loan which, it may be necessary TO nego-
,iate could probably be obtained a; cheaper rates
C5bsress is therefore, called upon 10 deter
mined whether il is wiser 10 impose The war du.
lies rect mmended, or, by emitting 10 do So, IN,
crease the public debt annuay three millions OF
dollar, ivus q iuaus shdii oc feq"iNe :" r."
scenic the war and afterwards provide, in some
other form, 10 pay the semi'anhaal intei.s' uPoh
Il and ultimately 10 exlingush the principal
II in addition to these duies. Congress shou!o
graduate and reduce the price of such OF The pub
lie lands az experience has proved viii mol COM
mapd the psice placed upon them by The gov
er6meni, hn additional annual income 10 me
treasury of between half million and a
miiion Of dollars, il is ESTIMATED, Wonid
be derived from this source. Should both mea-
sures receive the sanction Of Congress, the annu-
al amount OF public deb, necessary 10 De contract
~ dufi:.a lhc continuance OF the war, would De
Ieduced near four millions OF dollars. The d.
lies Iecommendsd 10 be levied on lea and coffee,
il is propo.,d, shall be limited in their duration to
the end OF The war, and up,il The public debt rem
dered necessary 10 be contracted oy II sha'l oe
discharged The amount OF the public deol 10 oe
contracted should be limited 10 The lowest Practl-
cable suna, aud should be e2itnentshed as carry
aller The conclusion OF the wsr as INC 'hea"S VI
RE treasury will permit.
With ,h,s view, it is recommended that, as
s,on as the war shall be over. all the surplus
In Tho treasury, not needed for other lndspen-
sinlrinn fund
and be applied 80 tue purchase OF the innded
debt, and ,tir authority be conferred bylaw
for that parrhse. '.A re-. a... IN. IL. e.:-.
The &C. Il liz. siyih OF August, 1916, "to es
tsblish wareaonsing system. mas oeen IN OPP
Grafton more than syea', and mas p.nVpu y,
be an important auxiliary TO the tsriii "c' al
ls46, IN augmesting the revenue, and 'x'en,
ding the commerce OF The country. Hhiit'
i, has tended 10 enlarge commerce, Il has been
beneficial to oui manufactures, by diminishing
forced sales at auction OF foreign goods stlo"
nr;ces TO raise the duties 10 be advanced on
them, and BY checking fluctuations in The mar
ke,. The eysten, although sanctioned oy the
experiences Of ether countries, was en,lrely
new in ihe United States, and is susceptible OF
improvement in some 70: lts provisions. The
Secretary Of The Treasury, upon whom WAS
devolved large discretionary p""c,. W I'''
ing this measure into effect, has cpi'rie"t Rna
is now colalipg, the practical rcsuils Oh The
system in other countries, where !! !! has long
been established, and will report at an early
pesivd Of your session, sneh further regnla:
tioos suggested by the investigation as may
reader i, still mere effective and beneficial.
Bytl,e actto provide for the better nFgan;-
xuinn o. The treasury, and for the collection,
e Al. ..,Ll L.
saie keeping, and disbursement OF the puollc
revenue. "a ali banks were discontinued as fs-
cal agents OF the government, and the paper
currency issued by them was no longer per-
milted 10 be received In payment Of public dues.
The Constitutional Treasury created by this
,c, veSr into operation On the first Of January
last. 1UpGer the system established by il, the
public moneys have been collected, safely
kept, and disbuised by the direct agency OF oi'
Ca. of tho Government in cold and silver,