The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1850-12-11

The total expenditures during the same pc.
Rod. were $4,000, los 90.
The public debt has been reduced, since the
lss. annual report from The Treasury Dspart.
nen,, S495,276 20.
By the l9.s section Of the oct Of 2Ssh Jan.
lS47 the proceeds Of the sales OF the public
tsads we're pledged for the interest aud princi
pal Of the public debt. ne great amount Of
sp,1 ,"a, s. by Congress
nearly supply the p9 Sshand for several
years TO come. and ~ h 8 reliance can there
lore. bs placed on tina. Hitherto fruitful source
Of revenue.
Aside from the permanent annual espend,.
lures, which have necessarily largely increas
ea. a portion OF the public debt, amounting to
Ss075,9S6 SO. mus. be provided for within
the ucxt two fiscal years. Il most desirable
thu. these accruug demands should be me,
without resorting TO new loans.
ali experience has demonstrated the wis
dom and policy of raising large portion OF
revenue, for the support Of Government from
duties on goods imported. The power to 10y
these du:ies is unquestonable, and its chief
object, Of course, is to repenish The treasury.
But if, 10 doing this an incidental advantage
be gained by encouraging the industry OF our
own citizens, i, is our duty TO avail ourselves
Of that advantage.
4 duty laid upon an article WHICH cannot
be produced in this country-such as tea or
cpf' adds TO the cost Of the article, and IS
chiefly or wholly paid by the consumer, But
duty laid upon an article which may be pro.
dgcej here, stimulates the skill and industry
Of our own country to produce the same ar
,icie, 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 up
on the producer Of the foreign article. The
continuance Of this process creates The skill.
and invites the capital, which finally enable
US TO produce the article much cheaper than
il could have been produced from abroad,
thereby benef,ing both the producer and the
consumer at home. The consequences Of THIS
is, that the artisan, and the agriculuris,, are
brought together each ahrds a ready mar
kel for the produce of the other, the whole
country becomes prosperous; and the ability
to produce every necessary of life renders
u, Independent in war as well as IN peace
high tariff can never be permanent. II,
will cause dissatisfaction. and will be changed.
Il excludes competition, and thereby invites
iha iuvestmen, OF capital IN manufactures TO
snch al excess, that when changed II brings
distress, bankruptcy and ruin, upon all who
have been msled By lis ialhless protection.
What the manufacturer wants is uniformly
and permanency, that he may feel couh-
III he ia nj N ne suuuP n
changes. But to make a Tariff Uniform aud
pei Tnanent, II IS only necessary mat Ine Ia"
should not be altered, but that The duty should
not lIctusle. To effect this, all duties should
be s9ecific, wherever the nature Of the atii
Gle is such as to admit of it. Ad valoren
duties filcluale with the price, and cfier
strong temptations TO fraud and PERJURY -
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 do
Is upon that, than upon one Of inferior quail
rs. | therefore strongly recommend mod
ihcation Of the present tariff, which has pros
uated some OF our most impor'an, and ne
cessary manufactures, and that specific du
ties be imposed sufficient 10 raise the rcquls
revenue, making such discrimination IN favor
Of the industfia! pursuits nf our own country
as 10 encourage home production, without ex
Guiding foreign competition. II ls also I'm
portanl that an unfortunate provision in th'
presen, tariff which imposes much highe
duty upon the raw material that enters int
our manufactures than upon tne manuIaciur
ed article, should be remedied.
The papers accompanying the report of tn
Secretary Of the Treasury viii disclose fraud
attempted upon the reveuue, in variety an
amount so great, as to Justify the conclusio
that it is impossible. under any system Of q
valorem duties levied upon the foreign cost o
value Of the article, TO secure an honest OF
servance and an efIsctuaI administrator {
The laws. The fraudulent devices 10 evad
the law, which have been detected by the :,
GLANCE of the appraisers, leave no room
doubt that similar impostlons 20, dlscovefe'
to a large amount, have been successful
pfactsed since The enactment OF the law no
ia force. This state Of things has alread
had preiudicial influence upon those eng
ged in foreign commerce. II has the tender
CIV TO drive the honest trader from the bus
ness of importing, and to throw that Impo
taBt branch Of employment into The hands
unscrupuous and dishonest men, who are
like regardless Of law and the obligations
On oath. By these means, the plain int
tions of Congress, as expressed IN the Ia
are daily defeated. Every motive of pol'
and duty, therefore, mpe me to ask the ga
nest attention Of Congress on this subject.
If Congress should deem 1t unwse 10 aiten
any important changes in the system OF lev
ing duties at this session, it will become
dispensable 10 the protection Of the reven
that such remedies, as in the judgment
Congress may mitigate the evils complain
Of, should be at once applied.