Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-12-16

y
occurred to change my views on this
question.
Without repeating the arguments
contained In my former message, in
favor OF discriminating. protective
duties, | deem it my duty TO call
your attention to one or two other
considerations affecting this subject.
The first is, the effect of large impor-
tations OF foreign goods upon our
currency. Most Of the gold of Cali
fornia, as fast as it is coined, finds its
way directly to Europe, in payment
for goods purchased. In the second
place, as our manufacturing estab-
Iishmenis are broken down by CON-
petition with foreigners, the capital
invested in them is lost, thousands of
honest and Industrious citizens are
thrown out Of employment, and the
farmer TO that extent is deprived Of
a home market for the sale Of his
surplus produce. In the third place,
the destruction OF our manufactures
leaves the foreigner without compe.
tition in our market, and he conse-
quently 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 10 exertion by
finding ready market for his surplus
products, and benefited by being
able TO exchange them, without loss
of time or expense Of transportation,
for the manufactures which his com.
fort or convenience require. 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 manufacturers require
an amount Of capital and practical
skill which cannot be commanded,
unless they be protected for a time
from. ruinous competition from a.
broad. Hence the necessity Of lay
ing those duties upon imported goods
which the Constitution authorizes
TOR revenue, in such a manner as 10
protect and encourage the labor Of
our own citizens. Duties however
should not be fixed ut a rate so high
as to exclude the foreign article, but
should be so graduated as to enable
the domestic manufacturer fairly 10
compete with the foreigner in our
own markets, and by this competi-
tion to reduce the price Of the manu-
factured article to the consumer to
the lowest rate at which il can be
produced. This policy would place
the mechanic by the side oil the
farmer, create mutual interchange
of their respective commodities, and
thus stimulat, the industry Of the
whole country. and render US inde-
pendent Of foreign nations tor the
supplies required by the habits or
necessities Of the people.
Another question, wholly inde-
pendent 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, a specific
duty, graduated according to quanti-
ty, as ascertained by weight or meas
ure. All our duties are at present
ad valOrem. A certain per centage
is levied on the price OF the goods
at the port of shipment in foreign
country. Most commercial nations
have found it indispensable, for the
purpose Of preventing fraud and
perjury, 10 make the duties specific
whenever the article is of such
uniform value in weight or measure
as to Justify such a duty. Legisla-
iion should never encourage dis
honesty or crime. |; is impossible
that the revenue officers at the pot
where the goods are entered and the
duties paid should know with cer-
tainty 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 resort to very unsatis-
factory evidence TO ascertain 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 il is supported false,
by reason of which the dishonest i'm
porter pays a part only Of the duties
which are paid by the honest one.
and thus indirectly receives from the
treasury OF the United States re-
ward for his fraud and perjury
The reports Of the Secretary OF the
Treasury heretofore made on this
subject show concIusively that these
frauds have been pracliced TO a great
extent. The tendency is TO destroy
that high moral character for which
our merchants have long been destinS
.:-LI. 20 dafraud tha Government