Washington telegraph., 1850-12-25


TO be discovered) to a large amount.
have been successfully practised since the
enactment of the law now in force.
This state of things has alwas had pre-
judicial influence upon those engaged in
foreign commerce, because it has a ten
/ dency to drive the honest trader from the
business of importing. and to throw that
important branch Of employment into the
hands Oh unscrupulous aud dishonest men,
who are alike regardless of law, aud the
obligations of an oath. BY these means.
the plain intentions of Congress, as eX-
pressed in the law, are daily defeated.
Every motive Of policy aud duty. there
fore, impels me to ask The earnest atten-
ton OF Congress to this subject. If Con-
gress should deem it unwlse to attempt
any important changes in the system of
duties at this session, it will become in.
dispensable to the protection of the reve-
nue., that such remedies as, in the judg-
ment of Congress, may mitigate the evils
complained of. should at once be applied.
| AS before stated, specific duties should,
In my opinion. be remedy for this, but,
if yon do not concur in this view, then.
as partial remedy. beg leave respect
fully to recommend that, instead Of taking
the invoice Of the articles abroad, as a
means of deciding its value here, the cor
rectness Of which invoice it is, in many
instances. impossible to verify-the law
TO be so changed AS to require a home
valuation or appraisal, to be regulated in
such manner as TO give, as far as practical
bic, uniformity in the several parts.
There being no mint IN California, /
| am informed that the laborers in the
mines are compelled to dispose OF their
gold dust at large discount. This ap-
pears to me to he an uni ust and heavy tax
upon the labor of those employed in ex-
tracing this precious metal, and, doubt
not, yon will be disposed, at the earliest
| period possible, to relieve them from il,
| 10y the establishment of mint. In the
mean time, as an Assayer's office is
established there, would respectfully
submit TO your consideration the pro-
priety of authorizing gold bullion, which
has been assayed and stamped, to be re-
ceived in payment for government dues.
[ cannot conceive that the Treasury
| would snffer any loss by such provision
which will at once raise bullion to its par
value, and thereby save, if am rightly
informed, many millions Of dollars to the
| laborers, which are now paid in brokerage.
to convert this precious metal into valua-
bic funds. This discount upon their hard
earnings is heavy tax, and every effor.
should be made by the government TO
| relieve them from this burthen.
More than three fourths of our popula-
ton are engaged in the cultivation of the
soil. The commercial, manufacturing
aud navigating interests, are ALL TO a
great extent, depe endent upon the agricul-
| lural. 1t is, therefore, the most impor-
tant interest of the nation, and has just
| claim TO the fostering care aud protection
of the government, SO far as they can be
extended. consistently with the provisions
of the Constitution. As this cannot be
done by the ordinary modes Of legislation.
| respectfully recommend the establish.
! ment OF an Agricultural Bereau. TO be
charged with the duty of giving to this
| leading branch of American industry the
! encouragement it SO we'll deserves. In
view of the Immense mineral resources
of our country, provisions should also be
made for the employment of compe-
| teut mineralOgist and chemist, who should
| he required, under the direction of the
| Bu.eau. TO collect specimens of the varl-
| Gus minerals of our country, and to ascer-
tain. by careful analysis, their respective
elements aud their adoption to useful pur.
| poses. he should. also, be required to
examine and report upon the qualities Of
different soils, aud the measures bes; CAL
culated 10 improve their productiveness.
| XIV
| suitable explanations, and by the colec-
| tion and distribution of rare seeds and
| plants, with instructions as 10 the best
system Of cultivation, much may be done
| to promote this great national interest.
In compliance with the act Of Con-
gress passed on the 23d of Nav, 1850,
| providing, among other things, for taking
| the seventh census, a superintendent was
| appointed, and all other measures adopt
ed which were deemed necessary to in.
sure the prompt and faithful performance
of that duty. The appropriation already
made, will, ii is believed, be sufficient 20
deiray the whole expenses of the work.
but further legislation may be necessary
III regard 70 the compensation OF some of
the Marshals of the Territories.
| 1t will also be proper to make provi-
sion by law, at an early date, for the pub
J lication of such abstracts of the returns
as the public interests may require.
The unprecedented growth of our Ter
ritories on the Pacific, in weaItI, and pop
uiation, and the consequent increase of
their social and commercial relations
with the Atlantic States. seem to render
1t the duty OF the government 20 use all
its constitutional power to improve the
means of Intercourse with them. The
Importance of opening line of commu-