Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-12-06

manner likely to give general satisfaction
} The Government of the United States wi
not fail, by the exercise of all proper fricn,ll
Offices, to do all in its power to put an end I
the d'structiic war which has ragged betwcc
the different parts of I'll. island, AMI TO secur
to them both the benefits of peace and com
mcrcc.
refer you to the report of the Sccrctlr
of Treasury for a detailed statement of Ia
, finances.
The total receipts into the Treasury, f,
the year ending 3Oth of June last were forty
, seven million, four hundred and twenty fou
thousand seven hundred and forty elgh
dollars and ninety cents, (S47, AL, 7l6,90.)
The total expenditures during the sumo pc
Rod were forty three million two thousin,
one hundred and sixty-cight dollars and nine
iy cents, (s}I3.O02, los 0O1
The public debt has been reduced, since
the last annual report from the treasury Dc
partmont, four hundred and ninety five thou
sand two hundred and sovcnty-six dollats an,
seventy nine cents, 8l92,276,79.)
BY the 10Th section Of the act of 27:h Ianu
airy, 1917, the proceeds of the sales of tn,
public lands were pledged for the int n7t Huj
.'gaclpa' Of the public debt. III. great q
",l." -! hose lands subsequently rru.ci b.
Congress idr military boun'ics, wa. ,.is n.-
l."Ycd, very nearly supply the polite ayI.ruo
Tor several years TO come, ana rGt az !. I.-
li1nco can, therefore be had Oh that hitherto
fruitful source of revenue.
Aside from the permanent annual cSpcndi
lures, which have nccCss rlIy largely increased
II portion Of the public debt, amounting 70 eight
million seventy five thousand nine hundred
and eighty six dollars and 6f(y-ninc cents
(S0,015,o56,59) must be provided for within
the next two fiscal years. 1t s most desirable
that these accruing demands should be met
without rcsorting to new loans.
All experience has demonstrated the wis
dom and policy of raising large portion of
revenue, for the support OF Government from
duties on goods Imported. The power to lay
these duties is unreasonable, and It's Chief
object. OF course, is to rcplcnish the treasury.
| But if, III doing this incidental advantage
may be gained by encouraging the industry
ofonr own citizens, it IS our duty to avail our
selves of that advantage.
a duty laid upon an article which cannot be
pro luced in this country--such as ten or cof-
tJe-add5 to the cost of the artclc,and is chief
y or wholly paid by customer. But duty
lnid upon an article which may be produced
here, stimulates the skill and industry Of our
own country TO produce the same article which
/
the foreign article, and the importer is thus
compelled to reduced his PRICE to that at which
th2 domestic article can be sold. thereby throw
ing a part Of the duty upon the producer of
IL fplegn Article. The continuance of this
lc0cess creates the skill, and invites the CAPT :.
ill., which finally enable Ills to produce the ar
tee much cheaper than it could have been
procure from abroad, thereby bencftting both
nc producer AM the consumer at home. The
consequence of this is, that the artizln and the
tGticlitlrist are brought together, each af-
fo-ds u ready market for the prodsce of the
other, the whole country becomes prosperous,
ana the ability to produce every necessary of
lie renders us independent III war as well as
IN peace.
\ high tar.ifc'n never be permanent 1t
wi, cause dissatisfaction and will be changed
It excludes competition, and thereby invites
the investment Of capital in manufactures to
such excess, that when changed it brings dis
tre5i, bankruptcy, and ruin, upon all who have
been ns!ed by It's falthlcss protection. What
the m nutncturcr wants, is uniformity and per
man2nry, TINT he may feel a confidence that
he IS not to be ruined by sudden changes.
Bat to make a tariff uniform and permanent,
it IS not ony nee essnry that the law should
no. be altered, but that the duty should not
4uc;ulte. To effect this, all duties should be
specific, wherever the nature of the article Is
sucn as to admit of it. Ad valorem duties
dGctulte with the price, and offer strong temp
,-,!2n3 70 fraud and perjury. Specific duties
on TIE contrary, are equal and uniform in all
ports, AM at all time. and offer stro e indu-
cement t. the importer to bring the best arti-
Gle, Us h nays no more duty upon that than
upon one Of inferior quality. therefore strong
r
t4r.I, which ms Frustrated some Of or most
i.upottlnt ana necessary manufactures, and
tA.t speci; duties be imposed sufficient to
raise the requisite revenue, making such dis
crminltloI N favor Of the Industrial pursuits
o; orr own country As to encourage home pro-
d ctoN, wlthou; pyecludn5 foreign COMPETE
ton. 1t is also important that an unfortunate
provision N the present tariff, which imposes
a mach higher duty upon tn, raw material
mt cnt2rs INTO ont manufactures than upon
tn manufactured article, sholld be rcm2di-d.
me papers accO.T jlnying the report of the
Secretary Of the Treasury w.ll disclose frauds
attempted upon the revenue, in variety and
amount so great, as to Justify the conclusion
that 1t Is impossible, under any system OF ad
vnOrcfn duties levied upon the foreign cost
or value Of the article, to secure an honest OBJ
scrvancc and an eltactual admin istration of
the laws. Tho fraudulent devices to evade
the law, which hnvo been detected by the VI
gilencc Of the appraisers, leave no room TO
doubt that similar impoSitio1s, not discovered
to q largo umount have been successful ly
ptactI5ed since the enactment of the law now
IN force. This state Of things has already
hi p72iudicial influence upon those cngqc-
= III !oteiyn commerce. Il ae9r ...i icy
. at'Vc the honost trader from d. .."l- -
III .porLin .sand to throw thutiW.p'rr. h.2... j.:
Of employment into the hands % u9s,.nra s
AM dishonest men, who are Uu,a reg. ... -
Of .aw and the obligation of an oath. by these
means the plain intentions of Congress, IL ex-
! pressed in tho INV are dnjly defeated. livery
motive OF policy snd duty, therefore impel me
| to nsk the earnest attention of Congress to
tins subject. If congress should deem I'M
wise 10 attempt any nportlnt changes in the
system Of ieyying duties at this session it will
become indispensable to the protection of the
revenue that such remedies, as in the judgment
afCongress may mitigate the evils complained
, OF, shond be ut once applied.
| As before stated specific duties would, in
nv opinion, afford the most orect medy
for this evil, but, if you should not concur in
! this view, then as u partial remedy, beg
leave respectfully to recommend that, instead