Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-12-11

upon the material that enters into our manu-
features than upon the manufactured article should
be remedied.
Inc papers accompanying the report of the Sec
rotary OF the Treasury will disclose frauds at
tempted upon the revenue, in variety and amount
so great as to justify the conclusion that it is i'm
possible, under any system of ad valorem duties
levied upon the foreign cost or value of the article
10 secure an honest observance and efectual ad-
OF the laws. The fraudulent devices to
evade the law which have been detected by the vig
lance OF the appraisers leave no room to doubt that
similar lmpositions not discovered, to a large
amount have been successfully practised since the
enactment of the law now in force This state of
things has aready had prejudicial influence upon
those engaged in foreign commerce. 1t has ten
dency to drive the honest trader from the business of
importing, and to throw that important branch of
employment into the hands of unscrupulous and
dishonest men, who are alike regardless of law and
the obligations of 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, impel me to ask the earnest
attention of Congress to this subject. If Con-
gress should deem it unwise to attempt any i'm
Portant changes in the system of levying duties
at this session, it will become indispensable to tho
protection of the that such remedies, as in
the Judgment of Congress may mitigate the evils
complained of, should be at once applied.
AS before stated, specific duties would, in my
oPlnlon' afford the most perfect remedy for this
evil; but, if you should not in this view them
as partial remedy, beg leave respectfully to re-
commend that, instead of taking the invoice of the
article abroad as means of determining its value
here, the correctness of which invoice is in many
cases impossible to verify, the law be so changed
as to require home valuation or appraisal, to
be regulated in such manner as to give, as far
as practicable, uniformity in the several ports.
There being no mint it California; am informed
that the laborers in the mines are compelled to dis
pose of their gold dust at large discount This
appears to me to be heavy and unjust tax upon
the labor of those employed in extracting this pre-
cious metal; and doubt not you will be disposed
at the earliest period possible, to relieve them from
1t by the establishment of mint. In the mean
time, as an assayer's office is established there
would respectfully submit for your consideration
the propriety of authorizing gold bullion, which
has been assayed and stamped, to be received in
T
that the treasury would suffer any loss by such
provision, which will at once raise bullion to its
par value, and thereby save (if am rightly in
tormedD many millions of dollars to the laborers
which are now paid in brokerage to convert this
precious metal into available funds This dis
count upon their hard earnings is a heavy tax, and
every effort should be made by the Government to
relieve them from SO great burden.
More than three fourths of our population are
engaged in the cultivation of the soil. The
commercial, manufacturing, and navigating in
terests are all, to great extent, dependent the
agricultural. 1t is, therefore, the most important
5terest of the nation, and has just claim to the
fostering care and protection of the Government,
far they be extended consistently with the
provisions Of the Constitution. As this cannot be
done by the ordinary modes of legislation, l re-
spectfully recommend the establishment of an Ag-
ricultural Bureau, to be charged with the duty Of
giving to this leading branch of American industry
the encouragement which it so we'll deserves. In
view of the immense mineral resources of coun-
try, provision should also be made for the employ
ment of competent mineralogist and chemist
who should be required, under the direction of the
head of the bureau, to collect specimens Of the
rious minerals of our country, and to ascertain, by
careful analysis, their respective elements and pro-
perties, and their adaptation to useful purposes.
He should also be required to examine and report
upon the qualities of different Soils and the ma
nures best calculated to improve their productive.
ness. BY publishing the results of such expert
ments with suitable explanations, and by the col
lection and distribution of rare seeds and plants
with instructions to the best system of cultva-
ton, much may be done to promote this great ma
tional interest.
In compliance with the act of Congress, passed
on the 23d of May, 1850, providing, among other
things, for taking the seventh census, a superin-
tendent appointed, and all other measures
adopted which were deemed necessary to ensure
the prompt and faithful performance of that duty.
The appropriation already made will, it is believed,
be sufficient to defray the whole expense of the
work but further legislation may be necessary in
regard to the compensation of some of the marshals
of the Territories. 1t will also be proper to make
provision by law, at early day, for the pubica-
ton of such abstracts of the returns as the public
interests may require.
The unprecedented growth of our Territories on
the Pacific in wealth and population, and the con-
sequent increase of their social and commercial
lations with the Atlantic States, seem to render
it the duty of the Government to all it's consi
tonal power to improve the means of intercourse
with them. The Importance of opening ga line Of
communication, the best and most expeditions OF
which the nature of the country will admit be-
tween the valley of the Mississippi and the Pacific
was brought to your notice by my predecessor, in
his annual message; and as the reasons which he
presented in favor of the still exist in full
force, l beg leave to call your attention to them
and to repeat the recommendations then made by
him.
The uncertainty which exists in regard to the va
lidity of land titles in California is a subject which