The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-12-09

'"nos, ~cte iorty-eA hilliiOnS seven thousand
eight hundred and ninety-sx dollars and twen-
" cents, (S46 007, S96.20; } Of which nine mil
mons four hundred and fIty.fve thousand eight
hundred and fifteen dollars and eighty.three
GENTS s,455, 8l5.S3l was on account OF the
princlpal ana interest of the public debt, in
Guiding the last lnstalment of the indemnity to
Mexico, under the treaty Of Guadalupe Hidal-
20, leaving balance of Sl4,632, 1867 in the
treasury ON the first day of July last Since
TINS latter period, further purchases of the
principal of the public debt have been made to
the extent OF two millions four hundred and
hfty-six thousand five hundred and forty-seven
dollars and forty-nine cents, (S2,456, SAT. 49,l
and the surplus in the Treasury will continue
to be applied to that object whenever the
stock can be procured within the limits. as to
price, authorized by law.
The value of foreign merchandise imported
during the last fiscal year was two hundred
and seven millions two hundred and forty
thousand one hundred and one dollars,
(S2O7, 240, l0I J and the value of domestic pro-
auctions exported was one hundred and forty
nine millions eight hundred and sixty-one
thousand nine hundred and eleven dollars,
(Sl49,S6l ,9ll J besides seventeen millions two
hundred and four thousand and twenty-six dol
lars, ISL, 1904, 026) of foreign merchandise ex-
ported making the aggregate of the entire ex-
ports, one hundred and sixty-seyen millions six
ty-hye thousand nine hundred and thirty even
dollars 1857, 065, 937 J exclusive of the above
there was expoK led iorty-two millions five hun
dred and seven thousand two hundred and
eighty-fye dollars (S42, 507 2s5) in specie and
imported from foreign ports five millions two
hundred and sixty-two thousand six hundred
and forty-three dollars, (S5, ,643)
In my first annual message co Congress
called your attention to what seemed to me
some defects in the present tariff and recon-
mended such notifications as in my Judgment
were best adapted to remedy its evils and pro-
mote the prosperity of the country. Nothing
has since occurred to change my views on this
important question.
Without repeating the arguments contained
in my former message, in favor of discrimina-
ting, protective duties, deem it my duty to
call your attention to one or two other consid-
eratlons affecting this subject The first is
the effect of large impOrtations of foreign goods
upon onr currency Most of the gold of Cali
fornia, fast as it is coined, finds its way d.
rectly to Europe in payment for goods pur-
chased In the second place, as our manufac-
turing establishments are broken down by COM
petition with foreigners the capital invested in
them is lost thousands of honest and industri-
GUS citizens are thrown out of employment 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 our manu-
features leaves the foreigner without competi-
tior in our market, and he consequently raises
the price of the article sent here for SALE as is
now seen in the increased cost of iron imported
from England The prosperity and wealth of
every nation must depend upon its productive
industry. The farmer is stimulated to exer-
ton by finding a ready market for his surplus
products, and benefited by being able to ex-
change them without loss of time or expense
of transportation, for the manufactures which
his comfort or convenience requires This is
always done to the best advantage where a
portion of the community in which he lives is
engaged in other pursuits. But most manufac-
lures require an amount of capital and prac-
teal skill which cannot be commanded. I'M
less they be protected for time from ruinous
competition from abroad. Hence the necessi-
ty OF laying those duties upon imported goods
which the Constitution authorizes for revenue,
In such manner as to protect and encourage
the labor of our own citizens Duties however,
should not be fixed at a rate 80 high rs to ex-
clude the foreign article, but should be so grad
uated as to enable the domestic manufacturer
fairly to compete with the foreigner in our own
markets and by this competition to reduce the
price OF the manufactured article to the con-
sumner to the lowest rate at which it can be
produced This policy would place the me-
chanic by the side of the farmer, create mu-
tual interchange of their respective commodi-
ties and thus stimulate the industry of the
whole country, and render us independent of
foreign nations, for the supplies required bv
the habits or necessities of the people.
Another question, wholly independent of pro-
lection, presents itself and that is, whether the
duties levied should be upon the value of the
article at the place Of shipment or, where it is
practicable, specific duty, graduated accord.
ing to quantity, as ascertained by weight or
measure All our duties are at present dd "a
loren. certain per centage is levied on the
price of the goods at the port of shipment in a
foreign country. Most commercial nations
have found it Indispensable, for the purpose of
preventing fraud and perjury, to make the
duties specific whenever the article is Of such
uniform value in weight or measure as to
justify such duty. Legislation should never
encourage dishonesty or crime. 1t is impossible
that the revenue officers at the port where the
goods are entered and the duties paid should
know with certainty what they cost in the
foreign country. Yet the law requires that
they should levy the duty according to such
cost. They are therefore compelled to re-
sort to very unsatisfactory evidence to ascer-
tain what that cost was. They take the in
voice Of the importer attested by his oath, as
the best evidence Of which the nature of the
case admits. But every one must see that the
invoice may be fabricated, and the oath by
which it 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 receives from the treasury of the
United States reward for his fraud and per-
jury. The reports of the Secretary of tho
Treasury heretofore made on this subject show
onclusyely that these frauds have been prac-
tioed to great extent The tendency is to
destroy that high moral character for which
our merchants have long been distinguished
to defraud the Government of its revenue to
break down the honest importer by dishonest
and finally, to transfer the bust
ness OF importation to foreign and irresponsible
agents to the great detrment of our own
citizens. ] therefore again most earnestly rec
ommend the adoption Of specific duties, wher-
ever tits practicable, or home valuation, to
prevent these frauds
would also again call your attention to the
fact that the present tariff in some cases i'm
poses higher duty upon the raw material inn
ported than upon the article manufactured
from it, the consequence of which is that the
duty operates to the encouragement Of the
foreigner and the encouragement of our own
citizens
For full and detailed information in regard
to the general condition of our Indian affairs,
| respectfully refer you to the report Of the
Secretary of the Interior and the accompanying
documents.
The Senate not having thought proper to
ratify the treaties which had been negotiated