Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-02-08

Of the latter mode q raising TevenVe ~ eecsc
hss been discussed in countries Than ope you hke
up almost any modern book the Epeih Of finance
you will find they discuss the opsraon Of The high sPecinc
duty upon French wine in diminishing the revenue ana e1
.as.s % ts s s e
Porter in favor Of lower dutes He says the csnsumpaon
then would be much increased and great addition would %
made to the innocent enjoy ments q the "
renea, then Mr. President that this table, % lar from
fraud on the part Of tho importer 10 be taken rather
evidence Of the improvement n the operation OF our rove
nue. laws under the ad valorsm system
But there test Of the accuracy o. our aPPrasemens
which IN INV opinion, certain sill man any YET re-
fersd The Secretary Of The Treasury has given table
Of mports and period Of twenty nine years and
nine months from 1921 to 1880 If you take the sum Of
the imports consumed In TINS country ana OF the specie
bouoht In and deduct from that the of the domestic
from this country and the exports Of Specie the differ
ence between the viii represent the share Of the profits
the export trade and the share Of the fegh which
ceye say this Of imports represents these elements
our imports are valued in the foreign market Now
VIA take periods OF time and show that this Of inn
ports over exports greater at one period than at snoher
greater under tariff than under another sbews OF two
that share OF the feghts and profits upon
exports was greater when the imports greatest
else that the imports more fairly appraised and estimated
nearly according 10 their true value during that period
say nearly according to their us value because there
is no danger of from ovevauat0 That such an ex-
cess must Indicate these facts 10 not TO he doubted
unless we were suppose, what s known not 70 be that
in addition other things we had imported secude: from
abroad, which, not appearing on the books
rendered impossible 10 institute between the
imports Of different periods, VI .a g. "a
Now sir Ihave taken theoube ogoing into
for the purpose Of seeing how works. find that calculating
this principle see able at end o. Ior
upon the export ade together with share of the ffeight
amounts about $40 per cent? but we find this does not
represent the whole Of those profits when we come % look
little more closely into the statistics Of the period During
these years large amount Of gold was produced
in this country, and during that period there steady
current of specie setting in to shoeso in other words
Of Incorporation Of specie from
THE country. The presumption s that could not have
exported our gold while importing that Of others We
should add then the specie item what produced That
is be added because differs from the other productions
of labor respect s capacity for being accumulated In
UNEQUAL proportions by erent countries II is the
monpsopery Of the world It flows through all the avenues
Of commerce, and seeks common level amongst the nations
of the earth who it as currency, each nation having
precisely the proportion due to the relations between It's ex
port and import ade precisely the proportion which the
course Of exchange has given it. Il matters not then whe
ther you import seventy millions, and add 70 1t forty seven
millions produced home whether you import one hum
dred and millions Either result would demonstrate the
same fact in the of trade and indicate the relations
between our exports and imports The amount them Of gold
produced here should be added to show the profits Of trade
Making the calculations upon that basis we shall find,
during the period Of twenty mine and nine mouths that
must add 8l0 per cent, which will make the whole
profits IL Clio per cent Now, take three years under the
tariff of lS46-he years ls47 le4S, and ls49,o how
WOuQ compare
and find that the Of imports without reference to the
specie produced in this country, would give 3lO per ceni
and when add the production Of specie we have 10 $40
per cent? thus showing the great increase Of profit else the
the greater accuracy of apprasement in these three years.
compared wihthe whole period Of wenyn years and nine
months Then take three years under the tariff of l642
the years 1884, lsi5. and ls46and ndhat the whole
Of imports consumed and Of specie over the domestic
exports and the export Of specie whoutfeerence to the gold
produced here only Gil per cent, and adding to it
specie produced would make little short Of ourper cent
And what is the conclusion to be drawn from this result
That under the tariff Of ls42 had very small portion Of
the esh and profits upon the exporade, that there
great frauds the revenue, and great many goods Snug
ged into pors And in point Of fact have doubt
that such the Under that tariff believe that goods
smuggled very large extent and under the pres
tariff goods probably have been fairly valued, and
there have been fewer frauds the than in any pc
riod during the whole twenty years and nine months
draw, them from the tables Of the Secretary very different con-
cusions those which be intended prove by them.
do not mean to say, Mr. President that no frauds
committed the have argued to prove that
they probably exaggerated but there be doubt
that there frauds Fracsed in relation to duties Frauds
probably committed and it Is desirable to diminish them
For although believe the propoonae amount Of frauds is
growing smaller and smaller, and although believe our
system of appraement is growing and more perfect ye
wish TO do every thing that reduce the number Of
frauds the minimum point. am willing do every thing
carry the tariff Of l846 fairly, and without fraud
quality injustice to any believe that the establishment
OF appraisers general would diminish the frauds that arise
ducng more uniformity between the different ports These
appraisers would much better tribunal for the trial Of
of appeals than two merchant apprae who Of course would
be above humanity they did not lean towards those of their
class They often have to act too under personal temp
tation, when they decide matters in which, although
they had any particular interest," yet they would be esab
fishing rule by which very soon they would have to pay
duties themselves.
There is another point Of view in which believe this
board Of appraisers would be emnenty useful One Of the
evils which is complained Of and which think ought to be
remsdied and which believe this provision will remedy,
want Of uniformity in the action Of revenue system be-
tween port and port know that great complaints have
been made on this head Reference made 10 the report
of the Secretary the four neno brought at the
time and from the place 70 Boston, to
New York one 10 Phadelphia and one to Baltimore The
appraisers exchanged opinions in relation to them, and got
something like uniformity in three Of the ports but when
they Baltimore the merchant appraisers said they had
right to deliver their opinion the appeal which should
be final and conclusive They did and appraised the cargo
o. vvu.o,a. o. pa than II had been appraised in the
other ports There great complaints said before, on
this bead II these merchant appraisers produce difference
in favor OF their port by valuation, however small
il will have the effect il it be constant ofchanging some
extent the course of commerce in favor Of their city, Il
is too much, them to expect them to be strictly impartial and
do it. Such is the tribunal We wish how to appoint. The
merchant to be represented npon merchant appraiser
and the Government Is to be represented by one Of the ap-
prasep at large If there be difference between the two
the collector decdes he decides when the merchant
appraisers differ In order this uniformity these s-
prases exchange they to 90 port at one
time and another different time. They are to act
under such regulations the Secretary the Treasury NAV
prescribe not inconsistent with the law and in obedience