The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-03

dollars and ninety cents. 47,42i.74s 90)
Inc ,oaa eKpenao'ss asmg me same period were
eight dollars and ninety cents, l$43, o02 .ios 90)
The public debt has been reduced since the last
report from the Treasury Department, four hundred and
ninety thousand two hundred and seventy six dol
lars and seventy-nne cents, ($i95,276 79)
BY the 18th section OF The act Of 2sth January ls47,
the proceeds of the sales Of the public lands were pledged
Tor the interest and principal of the public debt The
great amount OF those lands subsequently, granted by
Congress Tor military bouniies will il is believed very
nearly supply the public demand for several years 10
come and but little reliance can therefore, be placed on
that hitherto fruitful source OF revenue.
Aside from the permanent annual expenditures, which
have necessarily largely increased portion OF the public
debt, amounting to eight million seventy-ive thou
sand nine htirdred and eighty six dollars and fifty
nine cents Ss O75 1855 5o) must be provided for within
the next two fiscal years II is most desirable that these
accruing demands should be met without resorng to
loans.
All experience has demonstrated the wisdom and pol
icy OF raising large portion OF revenue for the support
OF government from duties on goods imported. The
power TO lay these duties is unquesonable and its chief
object OF course, repenish the treasury But it,
doing this an incidental advantage may be gained by en-
couraglng the industry OF our own citizens IL is duty
10 avail ourselves Of that advantage.
duty laid upon an article which cannot be produced
in this coualry-such tea cofee-adds to the cost
OF the article and is chiefly wholly paid by the
sumer But duty laid upon an article which may be
produced here stimulates the skill and industry OF
own country to produce the article which is brought
into the market in competition with the foreign article and
the importer IS thus compelled 10 reduce his price to that
at which the domestic article be Sold thereby throw
ing part OF the duty upon the producer OF the foreign
ticle The continuance of this process creates the skill
and invites the capital which finally enable US to pro-
duce the article much cheaper than il could have been
procured from abroad, thereby benefing both the pro-
Queer and the at home. The consequence OF
this is that the artisan and the agrcuurst are brought
together each affords ready market for the produce OF
the other, and the whole country becomes prosperous
and the ability to produce every necessary OF life renders
us independent in war as well as in peace
high tariff can never be permanent. II will cause
dissatisfaction, and will be changed II excludes compeii
ton, and thereby invites the investment Of capital in
manufactures such excess that when change brings
Distress bankruptcy, and ruin upon all who have been
misled by its faithless protection What the manufactu
rer wants are uniformity and psrmanency, that he may
feel confidence that he is not to be ruined BY sudden
changes But to make tariff uuiform and permanent
not only necessary that the should not be altered
but that The duty should not fucrae. To effect this, ali
duties should be specific, wherever the nature of the ar
Gle ~ such as to admit OF IT, Advalorem duties hucuale
with the price, and offer strong temptations to fraud and
perjury specific duties, The contrary, are equal and
uniform in all ports, and at all times and offer strong
nducement 10 the importer to bring the best article as be
pays no more duty upon that than upon Of inferior
quality. therefore strongly recommend modification
OF the present tariff which has prostrated some OF our
most important and necessary manufactures, and that
specific duties be imposed sufficient raise the requisite
revenue, making such discrimination in favor of the in
dustrial pursuits OF our country to encourage
home production without excluding foreign competition.
Its also important that an unfortunate provision in the
present tariff which imposes much higher duty upon
the raw material that enters into our manufactures than
upon.the manufactured article, should be remedied.
ne papers accompanying Inc report oil Inc secretary
Of the Treasury will frauds attempted upon the
in variety and amount great 10 justify the
conclusion that is impossible, under any system OF ad
yaloem duties levied upon the foreign cost value OF
the article 10 secure honest observance and efec
ual administration OF the laws The fraudulent devices
to evade the law which have been detected by the vgi
lance oil the appraisers leave room 10 doubt that SINH
lar mpostions, not discovered, TO large amount, have
been successfully pactsed since the OF the law
now in force This state OF things has already had n
pejudcal influence upon those engaged in foreign
MERGE II has tendency TO drive the honest trader from
the business of importing, and TO throw that important
branch Of employ men into the hands OF Inscriptions
and dishonest men, who alike regardless of law and
the obligations of oath. By these the plain in
tentions oil Congress, expressed in the law daily
defeated Every motive OF policy and duty, therefore.
impes TO ask the earnest attention oil Congress 10 this
subject If Congress should deem il unwise to attempt
any important changes in the system OF evyng duties at
this session II will become indispensable TO The protec
OF Congress may mitigate the evils complained OF should
al once be applied.
As before stated, specific duties would, in my opinion
afford the most perfect remedy Tor This evil but il you
should moi concur in this vew then, partial rene.
dy beg leave respectfully TO recommend that instead OF
taking the invoice OF the article abroad means OF de-
termnng its value heretbe correctness OF which invoice
il is in many impossible 10 veny-the law be
changed TO require home valuation appraisal to be
regulated IN such manner as to give as far as practical
BILE, uniformity IN the several ports.
There being no mint in California, am informed that
the abores in the mines are compelled TO dispose OF their
Eold.dus 81 large discount This appears to me to Be
in extracting this precious metal and doubt you
will be disposed al the earliest period possible relieve
them from IL by the establishment oil a mint. In the
mean time, assayers Office is established there
would respectfully submit for your consideration the pro-
preiy OF authorizing gold bullion which has been assay
ed and stamped to be received in payment OF government
Sles, cannot conceive that the treasury would suffer
any loss by such provision which will AT once raise
bullion par value and thereby (if rightly
nomed) many millions OF dollars to the laborers, which
paid in brokerage TO convert this precious metal
into available funds This discount upon their hard
earnings is heavy tax, and every effort should be made
by The government 10 relieve them from great burden
More than three fourhs OF our population are engaged
in the cultivation OF the soil. The commercial. manu-.
featuring, and navigating interests are all 10 great
tent, dependant the agricultural Ii is therefore, the
TO the fostering and protection OF the government,
far they be extended consistently with the pro
visions OF the constitution As this be done BY
the ordinary modes OF legislation respectfully recon.
mend the establishment of agricultural bureau, TO be
charged with the duty OF giving TO this leading branch
Of American industry the encouragement which well
deserves In view OF the immense mineral resources OF
our country, provision should also be made for the
ploymeGt OF competent mineralogis and chemist who
bureau collect specimens OF the various minerals of
country, and to ascertain by careful analysis, their
specve elements and properties and their adaptation TO
useful purposes He should also be required TO examine
and report upon the qualities Of different soils, and the
best calculated 10 improve their produciiveness
By publishing the results OF such experiments with suit
able explanations, and by the collection and distribution
Of seeds and plants with instructions 10 the best
system OF cultivation, much may be done promote this
great national interest
In compliance with the OF Congress- passed on the
NJ May providinV nth for