Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1850-12-12

two countries, which of late, and especially
since our acquisition of California, has, to the
mutual advantage of the parties, been much
augmented.
Peruvian guano has become so desirable an
article to the agricultural interest the United
States, that 1t is the duty of the Government to
employ all the means properly in its power for
the purpose of causing that article TO be i'm
ported into the country at a reasonable price.
Nothing will be omitted on my part towards ac-
complishing this desirable end. am persua-
ded that in removing any restraints on this
traffic the Peruvian government will promote its
own best interests, while it will afford a proof
of friendly disposition towards this country,
which will be duly appreciated.
The treaty between the United States and
His Majesty the King OF the Hawaiian Islands,
wsicn has recently been made public, will, it
Is believed, have beneficial effect upon the
relations between the two countries.
The relations between those parts of the Is-
land of ST Domingo, which were formerly col
onies of Spain and France, respectively, are
still in an unsettled condition. The proximity
of that Island TO the United States and the del
lcate questions involved in the existing contro-
versy there render it desirable that it should be
permanently and speedily adjusted. The inter-
ests ofhumanity and of general commerce also
demand this; and, as intmations of the same
sentiment have been received from other Gov
ernmenls, it is hoped that some plan may soon
be devised to effect the object in manner like
ly to give general satisfaction. The Govern
ment of the United States will not fail, by the
exercise Of all proper friendly offices, to do all
IN Its power 10 put an end TO the destructive
war which has ragged between the different parts
of the Island, and to secure 10 them both the
benefits Of peace aud commerce.
| refer you to the report of the Secretary of
the Treasury for detailed statement Of the
finances
The total receipts into the Treasury, for the
year ending 30th of June last, were forty seven
million four hundred and tweniy-one thousand
seven hundred and f,riy-eight dollars and nine
ty cents, .Sl7 7,42l,7 ,7lS 90)
The total expenditures during the same pc
riod were foriy.three million two thousand one
hundred and sixty-cighi dollars and ninety cents,
(Sl3, ,002, ,lGS 90)
The public debt has been reduced, since the
last annual report from the Treasury Depart
menl. four hundred and ninety-five Thousand two
hundred aud seventy-six dollars and seventy
nine cents, (si95, ,276 19)
By the 18th section of the act of 2Sth Janua-
ry, 1917, the proceeds OF the sales Of the public
lands were pledged fir the interest and prlnci-
pal OF the public debt. The great amount Of
those ands subsequently, granted by Congress
for military bountIes, will, 1t is believed, very
nearly supply the public demand for several
years 10 come. and but little reliance can, there
fore be placed ON that hiiherto fruitful source
Of revenue.
Aside from the permanent annual eApendi-
tures. which have necessarily largely increased,
a portion of the public debt, amounting to eight
millions seventy five thousand nine hundred and
eighiy-six dollars and iiliy-nine cents (Ss ,07j,
9e6 59) aust be provided for within the next
two fiscal years. 1t is most desirable that these
accruIng demands should be met without resort
ing to new loans.
All exp rieGce has demonstrated the wisdom
and policy OF raising large portion of revenue,
for the support Of Government from duties on
goods imported. The power TO lay these du-
ties is unquesllonable, and lis chief object, of
course, Is 10 replenlsh the treasury. But 1t,
in doing this, an incidental advantage may be
gained by encouraging the industry of our own
citizens, ii is our duty 10 avail ourselves of that
advantage.
A duty laid upon an article which cannot be
produced III this cOuntry-such as tea or coffee
adds TO the cost of the article, and is chiefly
or wholly paid by the consumer. But duty
laid upon an article which may be produced
here, stimulates the skill and industry of our
own country to produce the same article, which
is brought into the market in competition with
the foreign article, and the importer is thus
compelled 10 rednce his price TO that at which
the domestic article can be sold, thereby throw
ing part of the duty upon the producer OF the
foreign article. The continuation of this pro-
cess creates the skill, and invites the capital,
which finally enable Us TO produce the article
much cheaper than it could have been procured
from abroad, thereby benefitng both the pro-
ducer and the consumer at home. The cOnse-
quence of this is, that the artisan, and the ag-
rcuturist, are brought together, each affords a
ready market for the produce of the other, the
whole country becomes prosperous; and the
ability to produce every necessary OF lie rem
ders us Independent in war as well as in peace.
A high tariff can never be permanent. 1t
will cause dissatisfaction and will be changed.
it excludes competition, and thereby invites the
investment of capital in manufactures TO such
excess, that when changed 1t brings distress,
bankruptcy, and ruin, upon all who have been
misled by its fathless protection. What the
manufacturer wants, is uniformity and perma-
/ HtuCy ttdt Hc uud1 ieei CoHHutuCS thus nc 10
not to be ruined by sudden changes. But to
make tariff uniform and permanent, it is not
only necessary that the law should not be alter
ed, but that the duty should not fuctuate. To
effect this, all duties should be specific, wber-
ever the nature of the article IS such as to ad-
NIT of it. Ad valoren duties fluctuate with
the price, and offer strong temptations to fraud
and perjury Specific duties, on the contrary,
are equal and Uniform in all ports, and at all
times, and offer strong inCucement to the lal-
porter to bring the oest article, as he pays no
more duty upon that, than upon one Of inferior
quality. | therefore strongly recommend a
modification of the present tariff, which has
prostrated some of our most important and
necessary manufactures, and that specific du
ties be imposed sufficient to raise the requisite
revenue, making such discrimination in favor
of the industrial pursuits of our own country
as to encourage home production, without ex
cuding foreign competition. 1t is also lmpor-
tant that an unfortunate provision IN the pres
ent tariff, which imposes much higher duty
upon the raw material that enters into oul
manufactures than upon the manufactured ar
ticle, should be remedled.
The papers accompanying the report OF the
Secretary of the Treasury wllldlsclose fraud sat
tempted upon the revenue,ln variety and amour
so great, as to Justify the conclusion that 1t II
impossible, under any system OF ad valoren
duties levied upon the foreign cost or value
the article, to secure an honest observance anc
an effectual administration of the laws. Ih'
fraudulent devices to evade the law, which hav'
been detected by the vigilance of the apprais
: IN In ht hot inn lar IN