Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1852-12-23

Another question wholly Independent
of protection. presents itself, and tha, is
whether The duties levied should be up
on the value of the article at the place
OF shipment, or when il is practicable.
specific duty graduated according To
quantity as ascertained by weight or
measure. All our duties are at present
advancing. A certain per cen,age is
levied on the price of the goods al the
port Of shipment in foreign country
Most commercial nations have fouad il
indispensable, for The purpose of prevent
ing fraud and perjury. to make the du.
ties specific whenever the article is Of
such uniform value in weight or meas
ure as TO justify snch duty. LegisIa-
lion should never encourage dishonesty
or crime. ......
|, is impossible tha, the revenue Off
GERS at the port where The goods are en-.
tered and the duties paid can know with
certainty what thew cost in the foreign
country. Yeti law requires that they
should levy the duty according 10 such
cost. They are, therefore, compelled to
resor. to very unsatisfactory evidence to-
ascertain what that cost was. They
take the invoices of the importer, attest
ed 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
i, is supported false; by reason Of which
the dishonest importer pays part only
of the duties which are paid by the hon
est one, and thus indirectly receives from
the Treasurey of the United States re-
ward for his fraud and perjury.
The tepor.s of the Secretary of the
Treasury, heretofore made on this sub
jec;. show conclusively that these frauds
have been pracliced TO great extent
The tendency is to destroy that high mo,
al character for which oar merchants
have long been distinguished, to defraud
The Government of its Revenue, TO break
down The homes, importer bv dishon-
est competition. and, finally, to transfer
the business of importation TO foreign a.
irresponsible agents, 10 the great detrl.
ment of our own citizens. l., therefore.
again most earnestly recommend the a
doption of specific duties wherever It is
practicable, or home valuation to pre-.
vent these frauds. .-l ..
l would, alec. again call your attention
to the fact that. the present Tariff, in
some cases. imposes higher duty upon
the raw material imported than upon
the article manufactured from il. The
consequence of which is that the duty
operates to the encouragement, of the for
elgner and TO the disconragemeni of our
own citizens.
For full and additional inform alton
in regard to the general condition of our
Indian affairs, respectfully refer you To
The Repor. of the Secretary Of the Inter,
ior, and the accompanying documents.
The Senate not having thought proper
to ratify the treaties which had been ne
goliated with The tribes Of Indians in
California and Oregon, our relations with
them have been left in very unsa.isfac
tory condition. In other parts of our
Territory, particular Districts of coun
try have been set apart for the exclusive
occupation of the Indians. and their rigE,
TO the land within those limits has been
acknowledged and respected. But IN
California aud Oregon there has been no
recognition by the Government Of the
exclusive righ. of the Indians io any OF
the country. They are, therefore, me e
tenants at sufferance, and liable ID be
driven from place to place at the pleas
ure OF the whites.
The treaties which have been rejected
proposed to remedy the evil by allotling
To The different tribes, districts of country
suitable 10 their habits of life and sutfici
ent for their support. This provision.
more than any other, II is believed, led
to their rejection and as no substitute for
j, has been adopted by Congress. 1t has
not been deemed advisable 10 attempt t.
enter into new treaties of permanen,
character although no efforts have been
spared by temporary arrangements I,
preserve friendly relations wiih Them.
II i, be the desire Of Congress to re-
move them from the country altogether
and to assign 10 them particular districts
more remote from the settlements of the
whites, it will be proper TO set apart by
law the territory which they are To oc.
cupy and to provide the means necessary
for removing them. Justice alike To our
own citizens aud TO the Indians. requires
'he prompt action Of Congress on this
subject.
The amendments proposed by the Sen
ate to the treaties which were negotiated
with the Sioux OF Minnesota have been
submitted To the tribes who were parties
to them, aud have received their assent.
A large trac. of valuable territory has
been opened TO settlement, and cultivation,
and all danger Of collision with their
powerful and warlike bands has been
happily removed.
The re noval Of The Seminole Indians
Of Florida has always been cherished
object of the government, and il is one
to which my attention has been steadily
directed. AdmonisheG by pas. expert
ence of the difficulty and cost of ,he a,
tempt 10 remove them by military force,
resort has been had to conc.lia,e meas
ures. BY the invitation of the commiss-