Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1850-12-06


10 raise the requisite revenue, making such dis
examination IN favor Of the acknowledgements 81
our own country as TO encourage hos1e produc-
ton, without excluding foreign competition II
Is also important thai an unfortuneie provision 10
the present tariff which imposes Eneh higher
duty upon the raw material that eniers into our
MANUFACTURES, than up1n the manufactured artl+
Gle should Be remeded.
The papers Accompanying The report Of The
Secretary Of the Treasury will disclose frauds
attempted upon the revenue, in variety and
amount 20 great, Is to Justify the cnnclnsion that
i i i'm bic, under any system Q. AZ salorem
duses lesied upon the foreign costor salne Of the
artsie, 10 secure an honest observance and AZ
efectual administration Of the LAYS
The fraudulent devices to evade fhelaw, which
have been detected BY the vigilance OF The APP
prsisers, leave no room TO doubt that similar inn
positions not discovered, 10 large amount, have
been successfully practIsed since the enactment
Of the law now 10 force This state Of things
has already bad pr Judicial influence upon those
engaged in foreign commerce
Il has a tendency 10 drive the hnhest trader
,frpn the business Of importing and TO throw thar
important branch OF employment into the hands
Of INSCRIPTIONS and dishonest men, no are alike
regardless OF law and the obligations jot an oath.
By these means the plain intentions OF Congress,
as expressed in the law, are daily defeated
Every motive OF policy and duty therefore mpel
me To seek the earnest attention OF Congress 70
this subject.
IfCengress should deem i unwise to attempt
any important changes in the system OF evymg
duties al this session, il will become 1ndspensa-
BE TO the protection OF the revenue that such
remedies, as in the Judgment Of Congress may
mitigate the evil complained Of, Shouts be at once
applied,
AS before stated, specific duties would. in my
opinion, afford the most perfect remedy for this
evil but, if you should not concur in this view,
then, as partial remedy beg leave respectfully
TO recommend that, instead OF taking the invoice
pi The article abroad as means oil determining
itsvalue here, The correctness Of WHICH invoice
il Is in many cases impossible 70 verify, the law
be 30 changed as 10 require home valuation Or
appraisal, 10 be regulated in such manner as 10
give, as far as practicable, uniformity in the SCI
veFal ports. 'i
There being no mint in California, | am in
formed that the laboreFs in the mines are com :
PEELED 10 dispose Of their gold dust at large dis
count This appears to me 10 be heavy and
unjust tax upon the labor Of those employed Ia
extracting this precious metal; and doubt not
you will be disposed, at the earliest period possi-
be, to relieve hem from il by the establishment
of mint. In the meantime, as an assayer'so Of
fee is established there, wouldrespectfully sub
HlI LOT your FOssiUeIdtlpH Niie PFppflGtA Vi hI-
thoFizing gold bullion, WHICH has been assayed
and stamped, TO be received in payment Of gb
yernment dues. tn
cannot conceive that the treasury would suf
fer any loss by such provisions which will al
once raise bullion 10 its par value, and thereby
save (f am rightly iniormed( many millions of
dollars to the aborers which are now paid in
brokerage to convert this precious metal iaso
available funds. This discount upon their hard
AZ, Il,
be made by the Government TO Felieye them from
SO greata burden.
More 4han three .fourths Of oar population are
engaged in the cultivation ofthe soil. The com
meHcal, manufacturing and navigating interests
are all, TO great extent, dependent ON The agri
cultural II is, therefore, the most important
interest OF the nation, and has just claim TO the
fostering care and protection of Ghe Government,
so far as they can be extended consistently with
the provisions OF Lhe Constitution. AS this cam
NOT be done by the ordinary modes OF legislation:
i Respectfully recommend the establishment OF an
Agricultural Bureau, to be charged with the duty
81 giving 10 this leading branch of AnercanIin
dustry the encouragement which il so well de-
tetyes
In view of the immense mineral resources of our
country provision should also be made for The en-
who should be required under the direction Of the
head of the bureau, to collect specNaens of the va
reus minerals of our country, and Ia ascertain. BY
careful analysis their respective elements and bro
perties, and their adaptation to useful purposes
He should also be required to examine and report
npon the qualities OF different soils and the man treS
best calculated 10 improve their productiyepess,-
By publishing the results Of such apartments with
suitable explanations, and BY theeollec,ion and dis
ributiun OF rate seeds and plants with instructions
asItD The best system OF cultivation. much may be
dehe 10 promote this great national interest.
IN compliance with the act Of Congress, passed
oni7 the 23d Of May, 1850, providing, among other
things for taking The seventh census a superinCen-
deht was appointed, and all other measures adopted
which were deemed necessary 10 ensure the prompt
and faithful performance OF that duty.
The appropriation already made will, il isbe-,
lieyed be sufficient 10 detray the whole expenses Of
The work; but further legislation may be necessary
in regard 10 the compensation Of some Of the mar
shals Of the leritories II will also be proper TO
make provisions by law, at an.earIy day. torsthe
publication Of such abstracts OF The returns the
public interests may require.
The Unprecedented growth Of our Territories on
the Pacific in wealth apd population, and the CON
sequent increase Of their social and comraercialfe
solutions with the Atlantic States seem TO render it
the duty of the Government 70 use all its constiu-
tonal power 10 improve the means Of intercourse
with them.
The importance Of opening a line Of eommnni-.
cation The best and most expeditions of which The
nature OF the eougsry will admit between the val
lev of the Mississippi and the Pacific, Was brought
10 your notice by my predecessor, in <his annual
message; and as the reasons whichAe presented in
favor Of the measure still exist in fun force, beg
leave /. call yonF attention to lhem and to repeat
the Recommendations then made by him. III
The uncertainty which exists in regard to theSva-
iidity Of land titles in California subject which
demands your early consideration. Large bodies
pfAand in thar State claimed under grants Shid
tnhaye been made by authority Of the Spanish and
Mexican Governments. Many Of these have not
been perfected, Others have been revoked and some
arh helieved n he fraudulent