Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-12-08

the government of the United States has been ma
terialy aided by the good Offices of che King of
the Netherlands, the only European power hav-
ingany commercial relations with Japan.
In passing from the survey of onr foreign rela-
tions, invite the attention of Congress to thecon-
dition of that department of the Government to
which this branch of the public business is eptrpst-
ed Our intercourse with foreign powers has of
late years greatly increased, both in consequences
of our own growth and the introduction of many
new States into the family of nations In this way
the Department Of State has become overburden,
ed, 1t has, by the recent establishment OF the
Department of the Interior, been relieved of some
portion OF the domestic business. If the residue
of the business of that kind, such as the distribu-
ton of Congressional docnments, the keeping, pub
fishing and Distribution of the laws of the u United
States, the execution of the copyright law, the
subject of reprieves and pardons. ane. some other
subjects relating to interior administration should
be transferred from the Department of State, it
would unquestlonubly be for the benefit of the pub
| lie service.
I would also suggest that the building appropria-
ted 10 the State Department, is not fire proof that
there are reasDnsto think there are defects in its
construction, and that the archives of the Govern
ment in charge of the Department, with the pre-
Curious collections Of the manuscript papers of
| Washington Jefferson. Hamlinton, Madison and
/ Monroe are exposed to destruction by fire. A
similar remark may be made of the building appro-
priated to the War and Navy Department.
/ Tho Condition of the Treasury is exhibited in
the annual report from that department.
i The cash receipts into the Treasury for the fs-
cal year endingthe 30h of June last, exclusive of
trust funds were 49, 728, 1856 dollars and 80 cents,
and the expenditures for the same period, likewise
exclusive Of trust funds, were 46, COZ, 696 90 of
which 9 455, ,615 SO account of the princip.
al and interest of the public debt including the ast
installment of the indemnity to Mexico under the
treaty Of Guadaloupe Hidalgo, leaving balance of
$146, 80, 1887 in the Treasury on the first day
of July last, Since the latter period further pur
chases of the principal Of the public debt have been
made to the extent of $2,456, 40, and the surplus
in the Treasury will continue tobe applied 10 that
object whenever the stock can be procured within
| the limits, as to price, authorized by law.
/ The value of foreign merchandise imported du-
ring the last fiscal year was two. hundred and sew
: en- millions two hundred and forty Lone thousand
one hundred and dollars, $780,, ,2401 1919
and the value of domestic productions exported
was one hundred and forty mine millions eight hun
dred and sixty thousand nine hundred and
eleven dollars, ($149 86l .911:( besides 1900
/ 600 two hundred and four thousand aid twenty
Elk dollars, ($17, ,204 ,026) Of foreign merchandise
exported; making the aggregate of the entire ex-
ports one hundred and sixty-seven millions sixty
| five thousand nine hundred and thirty-seven dol
lars, ($167, ,065,937) exclusive Of the above there
seven Thousand two hundred and eighty five dol
lars, ,($425o9, 252} in specie; and imported from
foreign ports five millions two hundred and sizty
two thousand six hundred and forty three dollars,
| f$5, ,262, ,643.l -..-
! In my first annual message to congress l called
your attention to whHtseenled to me some defects
in the present tariff and recommended such modi-
! fcatiOns as in my judgement were best adapted to
remedy its evils aud promote the prosperity of the
country. Nothing has since occurred to change
my views on this important question.
Without repeating the arguments cortsined
in my former message in favor Of dscrimina-
ting. protective duties, l. deem il ny duty to
call your attention to one or two other consid-
eralions affecting this subject. J he first is the
effect Of large mportations of foreign goods up
on our currency. Most o: the gold of Califur>
nla rs fast as it is coined find. it4 way directly
to Europe in payment for goods purchased. In
the second place, our manufacturing estah-
lishmepts are broken down by competition with
foreigners, the capital invested 10 them is ioSt,
thousands Of honest and industrious citizens are
thrown out of employment, and the farmer 10
that extent is deprived OF home market for the
sale of bis surplus produce. in the third place.
the destruction Of our manufactures leaves the
foreigner without competition in our market.
and he consequently raises the price Of the ar
| ticles 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 exertion by finding ready
market for his surplus products, and being bene-
flied by being able to exchange them, without loss
of time, expense of transportation, for the man
ufacturas which his comfort convenience requi-
res. This is always done to the best advantage
| where portion of the community in which he
lives is engaged in other pursuits. But most man
ufastnres require an amount of capital and prac-
! tica skill which cannot be commanded. unless
they be protected for time from ruihous COM
/ petion from abroad. 4
/ Hence the necessity of laying those duties up
on imported goods which the Constitution author
| ICES for revenue, in such manner as to encourage
the labor Of our own citizens. Duties however
should not be fixed at rate SO high to exclude
the foreign article, but should be so graduated as
to enable the domestic manufacturer fairly to COM
pete with the foreigner in our own markets. and
/ by this competition to reduce the price of the
article to be consumed to the lowest rate at which
it con be produced. This policy would place the
mechanic by the side of the farmer, ,ereate mutu-
al interchange of their respective commodities,
and thus stimuate the industry of the whole
country, and render US independent of foreign
notions for the supplies required by 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 ar
tcle at the place of shipment, or where it is prac-
ticable, specific duty, graduated according TO
nuantity, as ascerained by weight or measure.
All our duties are ad vaIarem. A certain percent-
oge is levied on the price of goods at the port Of
shipment in foreign country. Most commercial
nations have found it indispensable for the purpose
otpreventing fraud and perjury, TO make the duties
specific whenever the article is eff such a uniform
value in weight or measure af to justify such
putty. Legislation should never encourage dis
honesty or crime. 1t is impossible that the reve
nue. officer at the port where the goods are enter
ed and the duties paid should know with certainty
,,,oot ,bav cost in .ha foreipn countrv Y at the