The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1851-01-08

cheaply gained, and they become, in their
own eyes at least, most efficient Custom
House officers. E .
But the best evidence we have that no
frauds Of any magnitude have been Perpe.
trated under the present tariff IS Me
amount of revenue derived from it--which
is greater than ever before received, est!'
mated by the Secretary for the year end
ing next June, $45,O0O,O00 After beng
ruined by the fruit and Banana trade, and
swamped with 1000 fraudulent Invoices,
it is really surprising that the Secretary
should have ventured upon so large esll.
mated receipts from customs the present
wear. as $45,OOO,OOO! Facts and results
are truly stubborn things, and they knock
all theories on the head, in double quick
| time. The truth is, all the great frauds
thai have ever been committed on our rev.
enue were under the old system OF sPeclihc
or mixed rates OF duty. Under such. the
frauds consist in classifcation-in weight
| in the number Of square yards, and the
innumerable devices which that comPllca-
ted system opens the door to. The home
valuation would be still more, for 1t would
| be no system at all What is the home
, value? Why surely it is based on the
, foreign value, In apprasing merchandise
!. under such system, you must first know
the foreign value, and then add or deduct
/. 10 90 OF 80 per cent for the home val
t ue, for The home price or value, 1t must De
recollected, is on certain goods, for months
i together less than the foreign yalue-there
!. fore this ought to be reduced to the nome
value as we'll as raised. This would be
$ come simply a system Of additions ant
reductions, but the additions would b.
q made TO such articles as would beneh
some favorite lord Of the loom.
The fact is, these Tariff Wings wan
more protection. and are not homes
il enough to endcavor to secure 1t IN alree
X way. They cry out fraud-fraud IN rel
9 erence to the present Tariff. and show
=. revenue Of $45,OOO,ooo. They ask 10
,e specific duties 10 prevent frauds, and gl.y,
of them the opportunity Of making tarll
they would charge specific duties upon
to few articles only, 10 swell the revenues
a handful Of manufacturers 1t WIN
recollected that few years ago (lo4S
s. Mr.. Fillmore, as chairman Of Commute
of WAYS and Means, introduced a tarl
n. bill, and for which Mr.. Corwin and eve'
other tariff man voted. This was mike
a tariff, specific and al valorem, the nun
IS. ber of articles on which ad valorem duti'
At we're assessed outnumbering, if we mi
en- take not, those charged with specific d
he Ties. If the ad valorem system was
er. dangerous 10 the revenues and the mora
cir of the country, why was it not reJect'
:" altogether? Simply because it IS the mo
,at simple, natural and just system sPecl'
on duties being laid only Oil such articles
Of. would benefit and increase the proteceatl'
At to manufacturers. Under that law I'm
1al goods were charged with sd valore
bv rates, cotton goods with specific. Line
or. were not manufactured with US, ana
" thoughts of fraud never entered the min
r Of the trainers. Coltons were manuii
e. tured, and the object of specific dut
IN. was to give them excessive Protec'ie
And that is the sole object now' ana
aP-. that frauds are more easily perpetra'
OF under the ad valorem system than a
nef. o,har o " AID VALoREM