Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-02-15
The Tariff

5..l The Farm.
At length ground has been broken, and an
effort will be made, with hopeful prospects OF
success, to correct some of the evils OF the
present nefarious system of collecting duties
The od ralorem principle is a bad one, and so
experience has proved, without the sanction OF
precedent, for it is a feature peculiar to our
country alone; it was adopted as an expert
ment-an emanation of the brain ofthat astnte
| fnancier, ROBERT j. WALKER. Time and
experience have demonstrated that the expert
ment has proved Il most signal failure; the Go
ycrnment is cheated Of millions in conse-
onencc of the facilities afforded to impose up
on, and swindle, the collectors Of the revenue /;
and honest importers and dealers are ruined by
the competition of dishonest and perjured IL
walls. Perhaps the evil has not yet reached the
extreme which will imperatiyely demand Il re-
mcdy, the time, however, is coming and IS not
far off, when the great point will be gained,
the change of the present mode OF assessing
the imports from nd valorcm to the specific du-
ties.
In the meantime, bad as the system is, all
must desire, its friends, if they are sincere, as
well as its enemies, to have it carried out In
its integrity, and the duties imposed according
TO the nd yalorem principle honestly assessed.
With this view, the following amendments
have been introduced in the House Of Repre-
sentatiYes.
And be 1t further enacted, That on and after
the frstday of April next, the duties required
by law to be levied, collected, and paid on
goods, wares, and merchandise imported into
the United States, shall be assessed on the
market value thereof, with the addition of
such charges rs are now imposed By law, at
the time and place of export: Prorid.d, That
upon a! descriptions of iron, upon machinery
made wholly or in part of iron, and upon an
chors, chain cables, and anvils, the duties shall
be assessed upon the average prices, with char
ges added, which like descriptions of iron bore
in the principal ports of the country whence
imported during the ten fiscal years immedi-
ately preceding the year of importation; such
values and charges to be ascertained and de-
clared by the Secretary of the Treasury, as the
basis for each succeeding fiscal year.
Sec. 3. And be 1t further enacted, That on
and after the first day of April next, the du-
ties upon window glass and licensed oil shall
be thirty per cent, and on all descriptions of
iron, upon machinery made wholly or in part
of iron, and upon chain cables, anchors and
anrils, the duties imposed shall be forty per
cent: Provided, That any excess of duties
imposed by this act on any railroad iron i'm
ported for the use Of any railroad, and actually
and permanently laid down for the use of such
railroad within one year after the passage of
this act, shall be RENTED by the Secretary
of the Treasury on satisfactory proof being
furnished that such iron was so imported and
laid down.
SEC. 4. And be it further enacted, That on
and after the first day Of April next, the duties
upon all cordagc and yarns, composed wholly
or in part of hemp or grass, upon all manu-
features composed wholly or in part of Sleeps
wool, and upon all refined sugars shall be, res
pectiyely, ten per centum I'D valorem over and
above the rate of duty now assessed by law
on hemp and sleeps wool, manufactured,
and raw sugar.
Sec. 5. And be IL further enacted, That on
and after the first day of April next, raw silk.
indigo and all articles which, on the twenty
ninth day Of July, 1916, were exempted from
duty, shall be admitted free OF duty.
Sec. g.. And be 1t further enacted, That to
prevent frauds by underyalnation, and to en-
sure uniformity in appraisements, there shall
be appointed as now provided for, local APP
praisers-three appraisers at large, who shall
prepare rules for the government of the local
appraisers, visit the several ports of the Uni
ted States, and perform such other duties as
the Secretary of the Treasury may approve and
direct; each of which appraisers shall receive
an annual compensation to be fixed by the Sc
cretary of the Treasury.
Sec. Z. And be it further enacted, That the
periods during which, by existing laws, i'm.
ports deposited in public warehouse may be
withdrawn for immediate expectation of con-
sumption, be and the same are hereby extend
ed to three years.