The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1851-12-06

Ne. s-.2s-S
) The foregoing facts, however, seem
| to show ncontestibly that no such re.
suit has followed the adoption of this
) policy. On the contrary, notwithstand.
} ing the repeal of the restrictive corn
laws in England, the foreign demand
for the products of the American farmer
; has steadily declined, since the short
crops and consequent famine in a por.
ton Of Europe have been happily re-
placed by full crops and comparative
abundance Of food.
In my last annual message, to which
respectfully refer, stated briefly the
reasons which induced me to recon-
T mend modification of the present tar
if, by converting the ad valorem into a
specific duty, whenever the article i'm
ported was of such a character as to per-
NIT it, and that such dissemination
should be made in favor Of the indus
trial pursuits of our own country, as TO
encourage home production without ex-
GLIDING foreign comp etition.
The numerous frauds which continue
to be practised upon the revenue, bv
false invoices and undervaluations. con-
stitute an unsnswerable reason for adort-
ing specific instead Of ad valorem duties
in all cases where the nature of the
commodity does not forbid it. A strk-
ing illustration of these frauds will be
exhibited III the Report of the Secretary
,of the Treasury, showing the custom
house valuation of articles imported I'M
der former law subject to specific du-
ties, when there was no inducement 10
differentiation, and the custom-honse
valuations OF the same articles, under
| the present system OF ad valorem duties,
SO greatly reduced as to lea no doub,
ofthe existence Of the most fragrant a.
buses under the existing laws.
This practical evasion of the present
law, combined with the languishing con-
dition of some Of the great interests of
the country, caused by over impol tations
and consequent depressed prices, and
with the failure in obi ming foreign
market for our increasing surplus of
breadstufs and provisions, has induced
! me again TO recommend modification
Of the existing tariff.
! In my last annual communication to
Congress | recommcrd-d the establish
mrnt of an A gricultural Bureau. and
take this occasion again TO invoke YOUR
favorable consideration of The subject.
! Agriculture may justly be regarded as
the great interest Of our people. Four
fiIths of our active population are en-
ploycd in the cultivation of the soil, ard
! the rapid expansion of our settlements
over new territory is daily adding to
the number Of those engaged in that vo-
cation. Justice ard sound policy, there
fore, alike require that the Government
should use all the means authorized BY
the constitution 10 promote the interests
and weltare Of that important class OF
our fellow citizens.
and yet it is singular fact that
whilst the manufacturing and comm,r-
cial interests have engaged the at "nt.o
of Congress during large portion OF
every session, and our statues abound in
provisions for their protection and en-
enlargement, little has yet been done
directly for the advancement of agricu,-
ture. 1t is is time that this reproach 10
our legislation should be removed; and
sincerely hope that tn" present Con-
gress will not close their la bors without
adopting efficient means to supply the
omissions OF those who have preceded
them.
An Agriculture! Bureau, charged with
the duty Of collecting and disseminating
correct information as to the best modes
Of cultivation, and the most etliect,lai
means of preserving and restoring til"
fertility OF the soil, and of procuring
and distributing seeds and plants and
other vegetable productions, with in.
structions in regard to the soil, climate,
and treatment best adapted to their
growth, could not fail to be, in the Ian
guage Of W ashington, in his last annual
message to Congress, a every cheap in.
strument Of immense national benefit"
Regarding the act of Congress ar-
proved 2Sth September, 1850, granting
bounty land to persons who had been
engaged in the military service of the
country, as great measure of national
Justice and munihcence, an anxious de-
sire has been felt, BY the officers en-
trusted with lis immediate execution, to
give prompt effect to its provisions.
All the means within their control
were, therefore, brought into requisition
to expedite the adjudication OF claims,
and am grat6ed to be able to state that
near one hundred thousand applications
have been considered, and about seventy
thousand warrants issued within the
short space ofnine months.