The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-12-09

were forty.three million two thousand one hundred
and sx'y-eight dollars and ninety cents (Si3 OO2-
| 16s 90)
The public debt has been reduced, since the last
annual report from the Treasury Department, four
hundred and ninety-tive thousand two hundred and
seyenty-sx dollars and seventynine cents, (S49j,.
| PIG 79)
By the 10Th section of the act of 2slh January.
lS47 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
bountles, will, it is believed very nearly supply
the public demand for several years to 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 sew
| enty-hve thousand nine hundred and eighty-six
dollars and titty-njne cents (SS 075 1856 5g) must
| be provided for within the next two fiscal years
! 1t Is most desirable that these accruing demands
| should be met without resorting to new loans.
All experience has demonstrated the wisdom and
policy OF raising large portion OF revenue, for the
support OF Government from duties on goods i'm
| ported The power to la: these duties IS unques-
uonable and its chief object, of course is TO repen-
/ lsh the treasury. But II, in doing this, an incl
dental advantage may be gained by encouraging
the industry OF our own citizens, it is our duty to
avail ourselves Of til advantage.
| A duty laid upon article which cannot be
! produced IN this country-such tea or coffee
adds to the cost of the article, and is chiefly or
| wholly pad by the consumer But duty laid
! upon an article which may be produced here slim
uiateS the skill and industry of our own country to
produce the article, which is brought into the
| market in competition with the foreign article and
! the importer Is thus compelled TO reduce his price
to that, at which the domestic article can be sold,
| thereby throwing part of the duty upon the pro-
ducer OF the foreign article. The continuance of
this process creates the skill, and invites the capi-
tai, which finally enable us to produce the article
| much cheaper than it could have been produced
from abroad, thereby beneftng both the producer
and the consumer at home. The consequence of
this is, that the artisan and the agriculturalst al e
| brought together, each affords ready market for
the produce of the other the whole country be-
comes prosperous and the ability to produce every
necessary OF life renders us Independent in as
well as in peace.
A high tariff can never be permanent. 1t will
cause dissatisfaction and will be changed. 1t ex-
cudes competition, and thereby invites the invest
ment OF capital In manufactures to such an excess,
that when changed it brings distress, bankruptcy
and ruin upon all who have been misled by its
tathess protection. What the manufacturer wants
is uniformity and permanencv, that he may feel a
confidence that he is not to be ruined by sudden
changes. But to make tariff uniform and perma-
nent, 1t is not only necessary that the law should
not be altered but that the duty should not fuctu-
ate. 10 effect this, all duties should be specific
wherever the nature of the article is such as to ad-
nit of it. Ad valorem duties huctuate with the
price, and offer strong temptations to fraud and per-
jury. Specific duties, on the contrary, are equal
and uniform in all ports, and at all times and offer
strong inducement to the importer to bring the
best article, as he pays no more duty on that than
upon one OF inferior quality, | therefore strongly
recommend modification of the present tariff,
which has prostrated some of 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
OT OK1rn to
! courage home production, without excluding for.
eign competition. 1t is also important that an un
fortunate provision in the present tariff which i'm.
. poses much higher duty upon the raw matera
that enters into our manufactures than upon tn
manufactured article should be remeded.
Z The papers accompanying the report OF the Sec
y retary OF the Treasury will disclose frauds attemp
ed upon the revenue in variety and amount 5
great as to justify the conclusion that it is impos
sible under any system of ad vaIorem duties eviet
upon the foreign cost value of the article to Sc
! cure an honest observance and an edectua admin
! Istratlon OF the laws. The fraudulent devices tC
!, eVade the law, which have been detected by the
vigilance OF the appraisers leave no room to doub
that similar lmpositlons, not discovered to large
amou I, have been successfully practiced since the
. enactment of the law now in force This state o.
! things had prejudicial influence upon those en-.
! gagged in foreign commerce. 1t has tendency to
drive the honest trader from the business of i'm.
! porting, and to throw that important branch O
, employment INTO the hands of unscrupulous ant
dishonest men, who are alike regardless OF law anC
, the obligations of oath. By these means the
, plain intentions OF Congress- as expressed in the
] law, are daily defeated. Every motive of policy
, and duty, therefore, impe me to ask the earnes
! attention OF Congress to this subject If Congress
! should deem 1t unwlse to attempt any important
changes IN the system of levyng duties at this ses
sIon 1t will become ndisp nsabe to the protection
OF the revenue that such remedies, as in the Judge
ment o Congress may mitigate the evils complaineC
/ OF, should be at once applied,
= As before stated, specific duties would, in m
Opmlon afford the most perfect remedy for thi
evil; but, if you should not concur in this view
then, partial remedy, beg leave respectfulI,
to recommend that instead of taking the invoice O
the articles abroad a means of determining il
value here, the correctness of which invoice it is
many cases impossible to verify, the law be 81
changed as to require home valuation or appraisa
to be regulated IN such manner to give, far a
r practicable, uniformity in the several ports
There being no Mint in California am Informe,
that the IaborerS in the mines compeled to dis
pose of their gold dust at large discount. Thi
appears to me 10 be heavy and unjust tax upon TIN
labor Of those employed in extracting this pTecOu
metal; and ldOubt not you will be disposed at tn
earliest period possible, 10 relieve them from it b
the establishment of Mint. In the mean time a
an AsSayers office is established there would re
specttully submit for your consideration the pfOpr
ETY. OF authorizing gold bullion which has been as
saysd and stamped, to be received in payment
Government dues. | cannot conceive that tn
Treasury would suffer any loss by such a provision
which will at once raise bullion to its par value
4 and thereby save dt am rightly informed) man
mIllIOns OF dollars 10 the labuTers which are nov
paid in brokerage TO convert this precious metal il
i | TO available funds. This discount upon their haT
0 earnings is heavy lax, and every effort should
# made by The government to relieve them from
o | great a burden.
= More than three four,hs of our population al
p. engaged IN the cultivation of the soil, The cor
e | meFciaI, manufacturing, and navigating interest