Washington telegraph., 1850-12-25

the Island af st d mnimgo, which were
formerly colonies of Spain and Frarce
respectively. are still in an unsettled cou
di,ion. The proximity Of that Island to
the United States, and the delicate ques
,ions involved in the existing controversy
there, render it desirable that il should
he permanently and speedily adjusted
The interests of humanity and Of general
commerce also demand this, and as in
thnatiOns of the same sentiments have
been received from other governments, i,
Is hoped thai some plan may soon he de-
vi>ed TO etfect the object in a manne,
likely II give satisfaction. Tie govern.
,neut of the United States will not fail
10y The exercise Of all friendly offices, to
do all 1t its power 10 put an eud TO the
destructive war which has ragged between
the different parts of the Island, and to
secure to them both the benefits of peace
and commerce.
l refer you to the report of the Secre.
tary of the Treasury, for detailed state.
ment of the Finances. The total re.
ceipts into the Treasury for the year end
ing the 30th of June last, were S47,421.
745 30.
The total expenditures during the same
period were S43,O21, $50 The public
debt has been reduced since the last an
nual report from Ihe Treasury Depart
,nent, S46J276 80.
by the 10Th section Of the act Of the
20th January. 1917 the proceeds of the
sale of the public lands were pledged for
lhe interest aud principal of the public
'iebt. The great amount Of those lands
subsequently granted by Congress for
,niIitaiy bonnties. will, it is believed, very
nearly supply the public demand for
several years TO come, aud but little re-
lance can, therefore. be placed Oh that
hitherto fruitful source of government
revenue
From the permanent annual expendi-
lures which have necessarily largely in
creased, a portion of the public debt,
amounting to $S.O75,9 SO must be pro-
vided for within the next two fiscal years.
1t is most desirable that the accruiny de-
nands should be met without resortine
10 new loans.
All experience has demonstrated the
wisdom aud policy o: raising large por
ton of the means for the support of gov
er'l"ent from duties on goods imported.
lhe power to lay these duties is unques-
tIonable, and its ciief object. OF course.
Is 10 repleni>h the Treasury; but if, in
time, an Incidental advantage may be
gained by encouraging the industry OF
our citizens, it Is our duty to avail our
selves Of that advantage.
A duty laid upon All article which can
not be produced in the country, such as
tea and coffee, adds to the cost of the
article, ard is chiefly or wholly paid by
the consumer; but duty paid upon an
article which may be produced here.
stimulates the Skill and industry of our
own country TO produce the same article,
which is blouYht iutO :he market in com
petition with the foreign article The
importer Is thus compelled to reduce The
price at which the domestic article can
Ire sold, thereby throwing a part of the
duty ppon the producer and the consumer
at h"u,e. The consequence of this is.
that The artisan aud the a1riculturst are
brought together; each affords ready
.,arket for the productions of the other.
The whole country becomes prosperous,
aud the ability to produce every neces-
>ary OF life renders Us inde pendent in war
as well AS in peace.
high tariff can never be permanent.
1t will cause dissatisfaction and will be
changed; 1t excludes competition, aud
thereby invites The Investment of capital,
lii manufactures TO such an excess, that
when changed II brings distress, bank
ruprcy and ran. upou all who have been
.nI>Ied by its iaithies, protection. Wha,
tne manufacturer wants Is uniformity aud
per,nauency. that lie may feel con
ndeuce that he Is not 10 be ruined by
sudden changes. But, to make a tariff
uultorn aud permanent, il j, not only
necessary that the law should be altered.
out the duty should not fuctuate. To
effect this, all duties should be specific,
wherever the nature OF the article is such
Us to asilnit of 1t: ad valorefn duties
iluctuate with the price, aud offer strong
temptations to fraud aud perjury
Specific duties, OIL the contrary, are equal
and uniform in all parts, aud at all times,
and otter "a strong nducenent to the i'm
porler TO bring the best article, as he pays
no more duty upon tina; than upon one OF
All inferior quaiIly. l, therefore. strongly
Recommend "a modification Of the present
IarIff, which has pro>rated some of our
most important and necessary manutac-
turers, aud that specific duties be imposed
sufficient to raise the requisite revenue,
making such discrimination i'll favor OF
the industrial pursuits of our own coun-
Try. as to encourage home productions
without excluding foreign competition
1t Is also Important, that All urJOrtunate
provision i'll the present tariff, which I'M
poses a much higher duty upon the raw
material that enters ialo our manufactures,
thau upon the manufactured articles,