The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1852-12-15

ton by fading : ready market for his sur,
plus products, and benefited by being able
10 exchange them, without loss Of time or
expense Of transportation, for the manu-
features which his comfoft or oonvsnisnos
requires
This is always done 10 the best advan.
tage where a portion Of the community in
which he lives is engaged in other Pur.
suits. But most manufactures require an
amount of capital, and q practical skill,
which cannot be commanded unless they
be protected for a time from ruinous com.
petition from abroad. Hence tho neces.
sity Of laying those duties upon imported
goods, which the constitution authorizes
for revenue, in such a manner as to pro-
tect and encourage the labor OF our own
citizens. Duties, however, should not be
fixed at a rate so high as TO exclude the
foreign article, but should be so graduated
a. to enable the domestic manufacturer
fairly TO compete with the foreigner in our
" markets, and. by this competition to
reduce the price Of the manufactured ar
ticle. to the consumer. to the lowest rate at
which it can be- produced. This policy
would place the mechanic by the side Of
the farmer, create a mutual interchange Of
their respective commodities, and thus
stimulate the industry otthe whole country,
and render US independent Of foreign ma
tons for the supplies required by the habits
or necessities of the people.
Another question wholly independent Of
protection. presents itself, and that 10,
whether the duties levied should be upon
the value OF the article at the place Of ship.
ment, or, where it is practicable, a specific
duty, graduated according to quantity, as
ascertaiaed by weight or measure. All our
duties are at present ad valorem. A Ger.
tain percentage is levied on the price Of the
goods at the port Of shipment in a foreign
country. Most commercial nations have
found il indispensable, for the purpose Of
preventing fraud and perjury, to make the
duties specific whenever the article is OF
such a uniform value in weight or measure
as to justify such a 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 resort to
very unsatisfactory evidence to ascertain
what that cost was. They take the invoice
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 importer
pays a part only Of the duties which are
paid by the honest one, and thus indirect
" receives from the treasury Of the United
States a reward for his fraud and perjury.
The reports Of the Secretary Of the Treas.
ury heretofore made on this subject show
conclusively that these frauds have been
practised to a great extent. The tendon.
cy is to destroy the high moral character
for which our merchants are distinguished;
to defraud the Government of its revenue;
to break down the honest importer by q
dishonest competitions; and, finally. to
transfer the business Of importation to
foreign and irresponsible agents. to the
great detriment Of our own citizens.
therefore again most earnestly recommend
the adoption of specific duties. wherever
it is practicable, or a home valuation, to
prevent these frauds.
would also again call your attention
to the fact that the present tariff in some
cases imposes a higher duty upon the raw
material imported than upon the article
manufactured from it, the consequence oil
which is that the duty operates 10 the en-
couragement of the foreigner. and the dis.
couragement Of our own citizens.
For full and detailed information in re-
gard to the general condition Of our Indian
affairs. respectfully refer you to the re.
port of the Secretary Of the Interior and
the accompanying documents.
The Senate not having thought proper
to ratify the treaties which had been ne
gotiated with the tribes Of Indians in Cali.
fornia and Oregon, our relations with
them have been left in a very unsatisfac'
tory condition.
In other parts Of our territory particular
districts Of country have been set apart fol
the exclusive occupation Of the Indians
and their right to the lands within those
limits has been acknowledged and respect.
cd. But in California and Oregon there
has been no recognition by the Govern.
ment Of the exclusive right Of the Indians
to any part Of the country. They ar:
therefore nero tenants at sutferancs, and
liable to be driven from place to place, al
the pleasure Of the whites.
The treaties which have been rejected
proposed to remedy this evil BY a%llotting to
the different tribes districts of country suit
able to their habits Of life, and sufficient
for their support. This provision. more
than any other, it is believed. led to theil
ra;.ct;op. and q q m suhstituts far II has