Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1852-12-09

quires that they should levy the duty
according 10 such cost. They are there
fore compelled to resort to very unsalis'
factory evidence to ascertain what thai
cost was. They take the invoice of the
! importer. autested by his oath, us the bes
evidence uf which the nature of the ca sc
admits. But every one must see that the
invoice may be fabricated, aud the oath BY
which IL Is supported false, ny reason OI
winch the dishonest importer psys a parl
only ut the duties which are paid by the
honest one, aud thus indirectly receives
from the treasury of the u. S. a reward
tor his fraud and perjury. The reports
OF the Secretary of the Treasury hereto
fore made on this subject show cOuch,..
siVely that these frauds have been prac,i
ced to great extent. The tend .ncy ia IN
destroy that high moral character E,r
which our merchants have long been dis
tinguished to detraud the Government of
its revenue; to break down the honest i'm
porter by dishonest competition, and, fnal~
ly. TO transfer the business of importation
to foreign and irresponsible agents, to the
great detriment of our own citizens
therefore again most earnestly recom~
mend the Adoption of specific duties,
wherever it is practicable. or home val>
uation. to prevent these frauds.
LwOnld also again call your attention to
the fact that the present tariff in some ca
ses imposes higher duty upon the raw
material imported. than upon the article
manufactured from it, the consequence of
which Is that the duty operates 10 the en-
enlargement Of the fore,guer and the dis
couragement Of our own cilizens.
The President next calls the attention
OF Congress- to our various Indian tr ibes,
and then passes to the, report of the Gem
eraf Land Office. During the fiscal wear
S,522,9 acres of public lands have been
surveyed, $50 OIL do. soki, 5 2Ol ,314 do.
located with bounty land warrants, and
lis, 6S2 10. located with other certificates.
1.-THE subjects of printing the census-the
Boundary Commission-tne Asylum for the
Insane in the D. sIrict-ihe interests of the
District ut Columbia-the defence of the
frnniier, and the approvriati DTS for foItifica-
lions, are here considered at some lemgih.l
Measures have been taken to carry in,o
effect the law of the last session making
provision for the Improvement of certain
livers and harbors, and it is believed that
the arrangements made for that purpose
will combine efficiency with economy
Owing chiefly to the advanced season when
the act was passed. little has We been done
In regard to many of The works beyond
making the necessary preparations. With
respect To- a few of the improvements. the
sums already appropriated will suffice to
complete them, but most Of them will re-
qnire additional appropriations. trust
that these appropriations will he made. and
tnat this wise and beniicent policy, so aus
picously resumed, will be continued
Great Care should be taken, h.,wever to
commence no work which is not of suffi.
cient Importance to the commerce of The
country to he viewed as national ia its
character But works which have been
commenced should not DO discontinued
until completed, as otherwise the sums
expended Will. in most Cases, b9 lost.
The report from the Navy Department
will inform you OF che prosperous rondni'1
of the branch of the public service CONS
united to IFS charge. It. presents, TO your
mary topics. aud Suggestions
Of which ask your approval IL exhibirS
an unusual degree Of activity in the operas
tons of the Department during the pas,
year. The preparal iuns for the Japan ex.
pedition, to which | have a. ready alluded
The arrangements male for the expiration
aud survey of the China Seas. toe North
ern Pacific and Behring's Straits-the in>
cipient measures taken towards IL recon-
noissance of the continent of Africa enst-
ward OF Liberia the pfeDaration tor all
early examination of The trihulaRies, of the
River La Plata, which a recent decree of
the provisional chief Of the Argentine
Confederation has opened to navigation
all these enterprises, and the means by
which they are proposed to be accomplish
ed, have commanded my foil appreciation,
and have no doubt will be productive of
most useful resalts. y
laY0 officers ct the navy were heretofore
inefiOcted to explore the whole extent of
the AmazonsKyer from the confines of
Peru to its baotssR. The return Of one of
them has placed in the possession of the
Government an interesting and valuable
account of the character and resources of IA
country Astounding in the materials of
commerce. and which, it opened to tiie in
dusiry of the world. will prove an mex.
haustAble fund of wealth. The report of
this exploration will DO communicated To
you as soon as it is completed.
Among other subjects offered TO your
notice by the Secretary of the Navy, |
select for special commentator, in view
OF it's connection with tie interests Of the
navy, the plan submitted by him for the
establishment OF permanent corps Ut sea-
men. and the suggestions he has pIesenieE
for the re organization OF the Naval Acad-
envy.
Your attention is respectfully called to
the report of the Postmaster General for
the detailed operation OF his Department
during the last fiscal year. from which it
will ba seen that the Receipts from hostages
tor that time were less by $l,43l ,696 than
the preceding fiscal year, being "a decrease
Ut about % per cent.
This dltnlnutioA is Attributable to the re-
ducllon 10 the rates OF postage made by
the act of March 3, 1851. which reduction
took effect At the commencement of the last
fiscal year.