Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-11


millions hundred and twenty eight thou
sand three hundred and eghty-six dollars and eighty
nine cents and the expenditures for the
period likewise exclusive Of trust funds forty
six millions thousand eight hundred and nnety-sx
dollars and twenty cents 46 007 89620 Of which nine
millions four hundred and fftyfve thousand eight hun
hundred and fifteen dollars and eighty three cents
($9 455 8l5S3) account Of the principal and in
erest of the public debt including the last nstalment Of
4 the indemnity to Mexico under the treaty of Guadalupe
Hdalgo leaving balance of $l4 632 81 in the Trea
sury the first day Of July last Since this latter period
further purchases of the principal Of the public debt have
been made to the extent of two millions four hundred and
fty-six thousand FIVE hundred and fory-seven dollars
and forty nine cents 2 456, 49 and the surplus in
the Treasury viii continue to be applied to that object
whenever the stock be procured within the limits
] to price authorized by law
The value Of foreign merchandise imported during the
last fiscal year two hundred and millions two
hundred and forty thousand hundred andon dollars
($207 240 10 j and the value Of domestic productions
4 exported hundred and fortynine millions eight
hundred and thousand nine hundred and eleven
dollars $149 861 9l1 y besides seventeen millions two
4 hundred and four thousand and twenty-sx dollars
$l7 204 026) Of fovegn merchandise exported; making
the aggregate of the entire one hundEea END
dosrs S167 O65 exclusive Of the above there
exported forttwo millions five hundred and
thousand two hundred and eighty dollars 2S5
doars in specie and imported from foreign ports fve
millions two hundred and thousand six hundred
and forty. three dollars, ($5, ,262, ,643.)
i In my first annual message to Congress called your
attention what seemed to defects in the pre-
sent tariff and recommended such notifications as inmy
judgment best adapted to remedy its evils and
mote the prosperity of the country Nothing has since
to change my views this important question
Without repeating the arguments contained in my for
message in favor Of discriminating protective du
ties deem my duty call your attention to
other considerations affecting this subject The frs
is the effect Of large mportatons of foreign goods upon
currency Most of the gold Of California as fast as
is coined finds its way directly to Europe in payment
for goods purchased In the second place, manu-
featuring establishments broken down by competition
with foreigners tie capital invested in them is lost thou
sands Of honest and industrious citizens thrown out
of employment and the farmer to that extent 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 market
and he consequently raises the price of the article sent
here for SALE 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 benefited by being
able exchange them without loss of time expense
of transportation for the manufactures which his
fort 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 manu-
factures require amount of capital and practical skill
which be commanded, unless they be protected
for time from ruinous competition from abroad Hence
the necessity Of laying those duties upon imported goods
which the Constitution authorizes for revenue, in such
manner protect and encourage the labor of
citizens Duties however, should not be fixed at rate
high to exclude the foreign article, but should be so
graduated to enable the domestic manufacturer fairly
compete with the foreigner in markets, and
by this competition to reduce the price of the manufac
tured article to the to the lowest rate at which
it can be produced This policy would place the mecha
mic by the side of the farmer create mutual interchange
of their respective commodities and thus stimulate the
industry of the whole country and render independent
of foreign nations for the supplies required by the habits
| or necessities OF the people. Is
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 it is practicable specific duty
graduated according to quantity, ascertained by
weight All our duties at present ad ua
lore certain per centage is levied the price Of the
goods the port shipment in foreign country Most
commercial nations have found indispensable for the pur
pose of preventing fraud and perjury to make the duties
specific whenever the article is of such uniform value in
weight measure as to justify such duty. Legisa-
ton should encourage dishonesty crime 1t is
impossible that the officers at the port where the
goods 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 therefore compelled to resort to very
unsatisfactory evidence to ascertain what that cost
They take the invoice of the importer, atesed by his
OATH the best evidence Of which the nature of the
admits But every must that the invoice may be
fabricated and the oath by which it is supported false
by Of which the dishonest importer pays part
only of the duties which paid by the honest one and
thus indirectly receives from the treasury Of the United
States reward for his fraud and perjury The reports of
the Secretary of the Treasury heretofore made this
subject show conclusivey that these frauds have been
practced TO great extent The tendency is to destroy
that high moral character for which merchants have
long been distinguished; defraud the Government Of
its revenue; to break down the honest importer by
dishonest competitions and finally, to transfer the bust
Of importation to foreign and irresponsible agents. to
the great detriment four citizens therefore again
most earnestly recommend the adoption Of specific duties
wherever il is practicable home valuation, to pre-
vent these frauds.
would also again call your attention to the fact that
the tariff in n dutv
upon the raw material imported than upon the article
manufactured from it the consequence Of which is that
the duty operates to the encouragement Of the foreigner
and the discouragement of citizens.
For full and detailed information in regard the gene
raj condition Of Indian affairs respectfully refer
you 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 with the tribes Of In
dians in California and Oregon relations with them
have been left in very unsatisfactory condition
In other parts Of territory particular districts of
country have been set apart for the exclusive occupation
Of the Indians and their right to the lands within those
limits has been acknowledged and respected. But in
California and Oregon there has been recognition by
the Government Of the exclusive right Of the Indians to
any part Of the country. They are therefore te
suerance and liable TO be driven from place
place at the pleasure Of the whites
The treaties which have been rejected proposed to re-
medy this evil by aottng to- the different tribes districts
Of country suitable their habits Of life, and sufficient
for their support This provision than any other
believed led to their rejection and substitute
for it has been adopted by Congress- II has not been
deemed advisable to attempt 70 enter into new treaties OF
permanent character although no effort has been spar
ed by temporary arrangements to preserve friendly rea
tiopu uxu,th thar