Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1852-12-10


attention TO what seemed TO defects in the I
present tariff and recommended such notifications as
in my judgment best adapted TO remedy IFS evils
and promote the prosperity OF the country. Nothing
has since occurred 10 change my views on this lmpor-
tant question Without repeating the arguments con-
tanned in my former message in favor of discrlmlna-
ting, protective duties. deem tiny duty TO call your
attention 10 two other considerations Affecting
this subject The first is, the effect OF large Impora-
tons of foreign goods upon currency Most OF the
gold of California fast il is coined, finds its way
directly to Europe in payment for goods purchased
In the second place, as our manufacturing establish
ments are broken down by competition with foreign.
ers the capital invested in them is lost. thousands OF
honest and industrious citizens are thrown out OF en-
poyment and the farmer to that extent is deprived OF
home market for the sale of his surplus produce In
the third place, the destruction of manufactures
leaves the foreigner without competition in our mar
ket and he consequently raises the price of the article
here for sale, is in the increased cost
of iron imported from England. The prosperity and
wealth of every nation must depend upon ITS produc-
tive industry The farmer is stimulated TO exerton by
finding ready market for his surplus products. and
benefited by being able 10 exchange them, without loss
OF time expense of transI oraon, for the manufac-
lures which his comfort convenience requires. This
is always done TO the best advantage where portion
OF the community in which he lives is engaged in other
pursuits But most manufactures require amount OF
capital and practical skill which cannot be command
ed, unless they be protected for time from rulnous
competition from abroad. Hence the necessity of lay
| ing those duties upon imported goods which the con
stuton authorizes for revenue, in such manner as
to protect and encourage the labor of our citizens.
Duties however should not be fixed at a rate so high
to exclude the foreign article but should be so grad
uaeG TO enable the domestic manufacturer fairly to
compete with the foreigner in markets, and
by this competition TO reduce the price of the manuac-
tured article to the consumer 10 the lowest rate al
which it can be produced This policy would place
the mechanic by the side of the farmer create mutual
interchange of their respective commodities and thus
stimuli of fhn rho1o oDdrn
der independent of foreign nations for the supplies
required by the habits necessities of the people.
Another question, wholly independent of protection,
presents ITSELF and that is, whether the duties levied
should be upon the value of the article at the place of
shipment, or, where il is practicable, specific duty
graduated according to quantity, ascertaned by
weight or All our duties at present cd
cGlorem. certain per centage is levied on the price
of the goods at the port of shipment in fore gn
! try. Most commercial nations have found it ndis-
pensabe, for the purpose of preventing fraud and
perjury, 10 make the duties specific whenever the
1lcle is OF such uniform value 10 weight measure
as 10 justify such duty. Legislation should
encourage dishonesty crime. II is impossible that
the officers at the port where the goods are
entered and the duties paid should know with certain
~ what they cost in the foreign country. Yet the law
requires that they should levy the duty according to
such cost. They therefore compelled 10 resort to
very unsatisfactory evidence to ascertain what that
cost They take the invoice of the importer, at
tested by his OATH as the best evidence of which the
nature of the admits. But every one must see
that the invoice may be fabricated, and the oath by
which is supported false, by reason of which the
dishonest importer pays part only OF the duties which
are paid by the honest one, and thus indirectly re-
ceives from the treasury of the United States reward
for his fraud and perjury The reports of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury heretofore made this subject
show conclusivey that these frauds have been prac-
tced TO great extent. The tendency is TO destroy
that high moral character for which our merchants
have long been distinguished to defraud the Govern
ment OF IFS revenue to break down the honest impor-
fer by dishonest competition and, finally to trans.
fer the business of importation to foreign and respon.
sbe agents. TO the great dermen of citizens.
therefore again most earnestly recommend the adop-
ton of specific duties, wherever it is practicable, or
home valuation, 10 prevent these frauds.
would also again call your attention to the fact
that the present tariff in some cases imposes higher
duty upon the material imported than upon the
article manufactured from it, the consequence of which
IS that the duty operates 10 the encouragement of the
foreigner and the Encouragement of citizens
For u and detailed information regard to the gen.
eral condition of our Indian affairs, respectfully refer
you to the report Of the Secretary of the Interior and
o the accompanying documents.
The Senate not having thought proper to ratify the
treaties which had been negotiated with the tribes
Indians in California and Oregon, relations with
them have been left in very unsatisfactory condition
In other parts OF our territory particular districts oil
country have been set apart for the exclusive occupa
ton Of the Indians, and their right 10 the lands within
It those limits mas been acknowledged and respected
But in California and Oregon there has been no recog
milton by the Government of the exclusive right of the
l. Indians TO any of the country. They are therefore
tenants at suerance, and liable 10 be driven from
J. place 10 place at the pleasure of the whites.
The treaties which have been rejected proposed tc
remedy this evil by alottng to the different tribes dis
cts of country suitable heir habits of life and sui
/, icent for their support. This provision. more than
any other, it believed led to their reflections and as
substitute for it has been adopted by Congress-
has not been deemed advisable to attempt to
l. treaties OF permanent character although M
effort has been spared by temporary arrangements to
S, preserve friendly relations with them.
If it be the desire of Congress TO remove them from
the country altogether, to assign to them particua
districts from the settlements of the whites
II it will be proper set apart by law the territory which
they TO occupy, and to provide the means neces
to sary for removing them TO it. Justice alike to GU
es own citizens and 10 the Indians requires the promp
he action of Congress this subject
er The amendments proposed by the Senate, 10 tn
treaties which were negotiated with the Sioux Indi
ans of Minnesota have been submitted to the tribe
IL who parties to them, and have received their as
sent large tract of valuable territory has thus bee
opened fer settlement and cultivation and ali DANCE
IL OF collision with these powerful and warlike band
th has been happily removed.
n The removal of the remnant OF the tribe of Semi
lie mole Indians from Florida has long been cherishe
s. object OF the Government, and it is one to which m
e. attention has been steadily directed Admonshed
ne past experience of the difficulty and cost of the
H. tempt 10 remove them by military force resort ha
o. been had TO conciliatory By the invatio
IS OF the Commissioner OF Indian Affairs several of tn
e. principal chefs recently visited Washington an
ne whilst here acknowledged in writing the obligation
I'M their tribe to with the least possible delay
Iofo adj he