The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-12-13

ded, pursuant to the provisions of the ac of Con.
gress Of the oath OF MAY, 1928. 1t is 10 be
hoped, that this measure will impart fresh i'm
/ pulse to commerce between the two Govern
ments, which, Of late, and especially since our
acquisition Of California, has, 10 the mutual adj
vantage of the parties, been much augmented.
| Peruvian guano has become so desirable an
article to the agricultural interests of the United
States, that it is the duty of the Government to
employ all the means properly ID its power for
| the purpose of causing that article to be impor
| ted into the country, at reasonable price. No
thing will be omitted on my part towards accom-
! plishing this desirable end. ! am persuaded
that. in removing any restraints on this traffic,
| the Peruvian Government will promote its own
| best interests, while it will afford proof os
| 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, which has recently been
made public, will it is believed, have beneficial
effect upon the relations Of the two countries.
| The relations between those parts OF the ls>
land of St. Domingo, which were formerly col
onies of Spain and France respectively, are sill
in an unsettled condition. The proximity Of
that Island to The United States, and the delicate
questions involved in the existing controversy
there, render it desirable that it should he per-
manently and speedily adjusted. The interest
Of humanity and OF general commerce also de-
mards this, and as intimations Of the same sem
timents have been received from other Govern
ments, it is hoped that some plan may soon be
devised to effect the object in manner likely to
give satisfaclion.-Th Government of the Uni
ted States will not fail, BY the exercise OF all
friendly Offices, to do all in its power to put an
I II tb hoe
| tween the different parts of the Island and to
secure to them both the benefits of peace and
commerce.
/ refer you to ihe report of the Secretary of
the Treasury, for detailed statement of the FL
nances. The total receipts into the Treasury
for the year ending the 30th of June last, were
| $47, ,42l ,748, 80.
The total expenditures during the same peri
cd were $43,O2l ,689. Thepublic debt has been
reduced since the last annual report from the
Treasury Department $465, ,276 80.
BY the 9th section ofthe act o! the 29tll jan
uary, l847, the proceeds OF the sales OF the
public lands were pledged for the interest and
principal of the public debt. The great amount
of those lands subsequently granted by Congress
for military bounties, will, it is believed, very
nearly supply the public demand for several
years to come. and but little reliance can, there.
fore be placed on that hitherto fruitful source o
Government revenue.
: From the permanent annual expenditures
which have necessarily largely increased, por
ton Of the public debt, amounting TO $S,075,
$50 SO must be provided within the next two
, fiscal years. 1t is most desirable, that the &C
crung demands should be met without resortIns
to new loans.
| I1o- ar,cfrn ad fhn NFlcnOn
and policy of raising large portion of the mean:
! for the support of Gov ernment from duties or
, goods imported. The POW er TO lay these duties
IS unquestionable, andits chief object, of course
is TO repIenish the Treasury; but if in lime, ar
incidental advantage may be gained by encour
/ aging the industry o. our own citizens, it is on
{ duty to avail ourselves of that advantage.
| A duty laid upon an article which cannot b
5 produced in the country. such as tea and cof
fee, adds to the cost ofthe article and is chiefly
e wholly paid by the consumer; but Guty Ian
! upon an article which may be produced here
, stimulates the skill and industry of our owl
= country to produce the same article, which j
: brought into the marketin in competition with tn
/ foreign article. The importer is thus compelle
/ to reduce the price at which the domestic ar
|, ticle can be sold, thereby throwing part Q
: the duty upon the producer and consumer a
t home. The consequence of this is, that tn
q artizan and agriculturist are brought together
: each affords a eady market for the production
e of the other. The whole country becomes pros
e perons and the ability to produce every nee
t ersary of lie renders us independent in war a
n well as in peace.
n A high tariff can never be permanent. II wi
cause dissatisfaction and will be changed;i 1t ez
clndes competition, and thereby invites the N
vestment of capital in manufactures to such e1
cess that when changed, it brings distress, bank
:, rupicy and ruin upon all who have been msie
a by its faithless protection. What the manufac
t turer wants is uniformity and permanency, thi
n he may feel confidence that he is not to be ruiz
It ed by sudden changes But, to make ataritt un
form and permanent, il is not only necessary tn;
o the law should be altered, but the duty shou.
!. not uctuate. To effect this all duties shou d
u specified, wherever the nature OF the artic
;, such as to admit of it ad valorem duties fnetI
, ate with the price, and offer strong temptation
g TO fraud and perjury. SPECIFIC duties, on ~
contrary, are equal and uniform IN all parts, an
!, at times, and offer strong lnducement 10 q;
II importer to bring the best article, as he pays
D more duty uponth that than upon one OF an inierle
(, quality. /, therefore, strongly recommend
d modification Of the present Tariff which ht
,f prostrated some Of our most important and NJ
cessary manufactures and that specific duties
h imposed sufficient to raise the requisite revenu
making such discrimination in favor OF the indu
=. trial pursuits Of our country, as to encourag
I. home productions without exc uding foreign con
= petition II is also important. that an unfortlt
y ate provision in the present Tariff, which Impos
- a much higher duty upon raw material that e.
ters into our manufactures, than upou the ma
le ufactured articles, shou d be modified.
Il The papers accompanying the Report Of II
is Secretary of the Treasury will disclose trau'
t. attempted upon the revenue, in variety and
I'd mount SO great as TO justify the conclusion, tn
b. IT is impossible. under any system OF ad valore
duties, levied upon the foreign cost, or value
or the article, temsecure an honest observance al
"a an effectua ninstration of the laws. ~
!. fraudulent devices to evade the aw which ha
II been detected by the vigi ance OF the Appralse
: leave us no room to doubt that similar mpositio
: Ito be discoyered) to large amount. have be
e successfully practised since the enactment OF :
go law now in force. This state of things has
u. ready had prejudicial influence upon those 6
be gagged in foreign commerce, because i has
ed tendency to drive the honesttrader from the bn
nd ness of importing, and 10 throw that lmporta
MS branch of employment into the hands OF unsci
puIous and dishonest men. who are alike regai
IN less of law, and the Obligations of an oath.
he these means. the plain intentions OF Congre'
10 as expressed III ike law, are daily defeated.
Every motive of policy and duty. thereof
imuels me TO ask the earnest attention OF &c
lct gress to his subject. If Congress should dee