Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-01-18
CONGRESS-.
FRIDAY, JANUARY IL, 1851.
IN SENATE.


from the Department of War made in com
pspce with resolution of the Senate Of the l4th insau
calling for the copy OF the report recently msae by corps OF
topographic engineers the foundations Of the Lower Mis-
ssspp transmitting raid report which laid the table,
and The motion Of Mr.. Dcwss, ordered to be printed
MEMORIALS AND PEyrgyoNs.
Mr.. MILLER presented memorial very numerousy sign
ed by and other citizens of New Brunswick in the
State Of New Jersey, Interested in the patent laws in avoe
of immediate action by Congress the bill o the amend
Of the pate laws which ordered 20 lie on tue
table.
Mr. EWING PRESCRIBED memorial from citizens Of Pitts
burg, in the S,se Of fennsylvsns, asking that the bill now
before the Senate provide for the better security OF the lives
of passengers board Of vessels propelled in whole or in
part by steam, msy become law which referred to
the Committee on Commerce. ..... * ".+.
Mr.. BORLAND presented memorial OF inhabitants OF
Arkansas asking the establishment of mail route from
Grand Lake Warren, in that State which referred to
the Committee on the Post Office and Post Roads.
RESOLUTION AGREED go.
Mr. HUNTER submitted the following resolution, which
considered BY unanimous consent, and agreed TO:
Resolved That the Secretary of the Treasury be direct
ed report to the Senate the amount standing to the
credit Of the Treasury o. the United States the exp
ton of the last fiscal year in each of the several depos;
tares of the Government Also the Of warrsuts
issued prior to ist Ju, 1850, which the Treasuers
drafts each OF said depostaes unpaid the Soh OF
June 1880 fso the nett amount sect to his draft at the
commencement Of the resent fiscal Also the gross
of trurt funds his credit in ead depoares said
day. Also the the haads of the coectorat San
Francisco the and de then amount Of crafts
prior 10 Isssuly 1859 Also the snount public de-
Positaes a the same period and the then auoant
OF drafts these depossries which outstanding and
issued before lst july 1850.
BOUNTY LXNC ,BILL.
Mr.. BCRLAND gave notice that when the joint resslu-
ton from the House. explanatory of the act relating to mill
tary bounty lands up, be would offer the following
amendment, which he desired TO have printed
Be further eSacted That the regiment of the Arkansas
mounted volunteers, commanded BY Col L. C. Howell which
raised the call of Major Gen. Gaines under authority
of the Secretary Of War; dated May 1886 for SIX months
service the southwestern frontier and which regularly
mustered into the service served the full term and paid
ndhonoraby discharged shall be considered having been
engaged an Indian and entitled to the benefit of the act
of which these resolutions are explanatory.
BILLS INTRoDUoBI ON LEAVE. 49,
MrGWIN, in pursuance of notice, asked and obtained
leave to introduce bill to oreate board of commissioners
for the examination and payment OF claims against the Uni
ted States growing of the conquest Of California which
read first and second time by its title and referred to
the Committee on Military Affairs.
THE Observation-Disclosures OF IMPORTS.
Mr. WINTHROP. l gave noice, some days ago, Mr.
PRESIDENT Of my intention 10 ask leave TO bring bill " to
authorize the appointment of Appraisers large and for other
purposes and am warned by the uncertainties of posi-
ton here that whatever intend to do member of this
body, may well do without any unnecessary delay. In
presenting this BILL therefore, with 10 its reference to
the Committee Of Finance shalus the courtesy Of the
Senate to indulge me in very be explanation Of its cha
racter and design. "...
There those sir in both branches of Congress- and
have reason to think they few, who belevehat the
best interests Of the country call for early and substantial
vision of the existing tariff profess myself to be that
number, and most happy shoudIte if permitted to
while have the honor of here-be the longer
or shorerto cooperate in the passage Of which
SO essential in my Judgment 10 the permanent prosperity Of
he whole, people. ....u' I.r.s - \.
have belief that the evils under which the industry of
the country, in many of its branches is suffering
can be effectively remeded without ystem of
specific and discriminating duties-noderale in their amount
but specific and discriminating in their character Such
remedy, however, am awae is Iot the perogatve Of this
body to originate, and leave it, without hope the
more Immediate representatives of the people.
But there are evils in the present system which may be
aeviated if not cured without altering either the character
or the rate ofShe duties which imposes and which leg
tima.ey within the original reach Of either branch of Con-
gress The losses and Inequalities which result from false
invoices, fraudulent appraisemens, uId intentional
Intentional undervauaons though they may not be entirely
prevented while system Of universal nd rGorem duties is
naa".srnoa a5 nAoubsaaly be checked and diminished
to conslderabedegree BY obvious change in the mac
merry of collection, and by somewhat material modf
cation of the principle of valuation. ~.
No requires to be told that system Of ad rarem dr
ties like that under which whole eveuue collected de-
pends altogether v its execution and efficiency upon honest
aad accurate appasemens In order duties fairly
and equally upon The uae of imported goods plain
y determine in the first place, what the value Of those goods
really Is Fhs, you well know, Mr.. President the pc
cular function of the class Of officers called Appraisers and
long experience, unrag vigilance, and the scrupuous
integrity ""
Now striking FACT that though all duties, with
out exception, ere Gd pare duties and though whole
revenue SYSTEM unlike that Of any other commercial county
the face of the globe appeals thus directly and exclusively
TO the intelligence capacity and vigilance of Appraisers
this class of oce1s both less numerous less well paid and
less systematically organized than any other in
tom house service. There are, indeed but ports
the Union, ceraoly the Atlantic side of the Union, in
which there such persons known the law Ap
prasers while in less than Eneyfve ports the business
is devoped eontngeny upon officers appointed for other
purposes.
La New Yo there two principal appraisers at salaries
OF EACH and about twenty assistant appraisers with
salaries varying from ST. 200 to $500 EACH In Philadelphia
and Boston, there two pncps appraisers 500 each
and two assistants at 200 eich At Baltimore, Charles
Savannah, and New Orleans, there two appraisers
81 500 each These all which the law provides
for in these principal ports any where else, and it will
be perceived that these appraisers, in the large ports
who called daily exercise great and delicate
discretion and who subjected such strong temptations
receive only about the annual compensation with Off
GERS far less responsible and important measurers and
weighers and gaugers. ..
There s, moreover, mode provided for securing any
uniformity Of action among appraisers at the different ports
hee Is room Tor every species both Of individual inequality
and OF local favorsm in the which they pursue.
he constitutional guaranty that preference shall be given
10 the ports OF State those of another is virtually
aorogated Cagoes of the goods shipped the
place. al the same me and by the houses entered
At Boston and Philadelphia New Orleans and New York.
at widely different valuations, and thus subjected TO
widely derent rates OF duty and every where goods Of every
sort are no'oousy admitted apprasements far below
their real value The Treasury thus deprived of small
snare o lis ngau revenue and the greatest encouragement