The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-12-15

seven millions two hundred and forty thousan'
, one hundred and one dollars, ($2O7, 240, ,l01 !;
and the value of domestic productions exported
, was one hundred and forty nine millions elgh
hundred and sixty one thousand nine hundred
and eleven dollars, ($l49, Sol ,9lI y beside.
seventeen millions two hundred and four thous
and and twenty-six dollars, (Sl7 ,2o4 ,026 y o
foreign merchandise exported, maxim the ag-
gregate Of the entire exports one hundred anc
sixty seven millions sixiy-fve thousand min,
4 hundred and thirty seven dollars, ($l67 ,065 ).
/ 937 y exclusive of the above there ex port-
ed forty-two millions FIVE hundred and sever
tn ,usand two hundred and eighty five dollar.
i ($42, ,507 ,2S5) in specie; and imported from
foreign ports FIVE millions two hundred anG
sixty two thousand six hundred and forty three
dollars, ($5, ,262 ,643l
In my first annual message to Congress
called your attention to what seemed to me
some defects in the present tariff, and recon-
mended such notifications as in my iudgncn,
were best adapted to remedy its evils and pro-
mote the prosperity of the country. Nothing
has since occurred to change my views on this
/ important question.
i Without repeating the arguments contained
in my former message, in favor of discrmna-
ting protective duties, deem it my duty to call
your attention to one two other considerations
affecting this subject. The first is the effect Of
large importations OF foreign goods upon oul
currency Nest of the gold Of California, 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-
lishments are broken down by competition 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 home market for
the sale of his produce. In the third place, the
destruction of our manufactures leaves the for
eigner without competition in our market, and
he consequently raises the price Of the article
sent here for sale as is now seen in the increas-
ed cost of iron imported from England. The
prosperity and wealth of every nation must de-
pend upon its productive industry. The farmer
is stimulated to 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 man.
utactures which his comfort or convenience
requires. This is always done to the best ad-
vantages where portion Of the community in
which he lives is engaged in other pursuits
But most manufactures requires an amount Of
capital and practical skill which cannot be com.
manded, unless they be- protected for time
from ruinous competition from abroad Hence
the necessity of laying these duties upon lmpor-
ted goods which the constitution, authorizes for
revenue, in such manner rs to protect and
encourage the labor of eur own citizens. Du-
ties, however, should net be fixed at rate so
high to exclude the foreign article, but should
be so graduated as to enable the domestic man.
ufacturer fairly to compete with the foreigner
in our own markets, and by this competition to
reduce the price of the manufactured article to
the consumer to the lowest rate at which 1t can
be produced. This pslicy would place the me-
chanic by the side of the farmer, create a mutu-
al interchange Of their respective commodities,
and thus stimulate the industry of the whole
country, and render ss Independent Of foreign
nations 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
article at the place Of shipment, or, where it is
practicable specific duty. graduated according
to quantity, as ascertaned by weight or measure
! All our duties are at present adoai0rem. A
certain per centage is levied on the price of the
goods at the port of shipment in foreign coun.
try Most commercial nations have found it
indispensable, for the purpose Of preventing
| fraud and per rury, to make the duties specific
whenever the article is Of such uniform value
in weight measure to justify such duty.
Legislation should never encourage dishonesty
or crime It is impossible that the revenue off
ficers 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 ac
cording to such cost. They are therefore com
| PEELED to resort to very unsatisfactory evidence
| to ascertain what that COS, 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 It is supported false, by reason Of which
J,b pnrta ,arf ty>f fho
duties which are paid by the honest one, and
thus indirectly receives from the treasury OF the
U. States a reward for his fraud and perjury -
The reports of the Secretary of the Treasury
heretofore made on this subject show conclu-
sively that these frauds have been practiced to
great extent. The tendency is to destroy
that high moral character for which cur mer.
chants have long been distinguished; to defraud
the Government of its revenue ; to break down
the honest importer by dishonest competition
and, finally, to transfer the business of importa-
ton to foreign and irresponsible agents, to the
great detriment Of our own citizens. /, there
fore, again most earnestly recommend the ado.
ption of specific duties, wherever it is practica-
BILE, or a home valuation, to prevent these
/ frauds.
would also again call your attention to the
| fact that the present tariff in some cases impos.
es high duty upon the raw material imported
than upon tho article manufactured from it, the
consequence of which is that the duty operates
to the encouragement of the foreigner and the
discouragement of our own citizens.
For full and detailed information in regard to
the general condition of our Indian affairs
respectfully refer you to the report of the Sec
retary of the Interior and the accompanying
! documents.
i The Senate not having thought proper to
| rltify the treaties which had been negotiated
with the tribes Of Indians in California and
j Oregon, our relations with them have been left
in very unsatisfactory condition.
/ In other parts of our territory particular dis.
tricts of country have been set apart for the
exclusive occupation of the Indians and theiI
right to the lands within those limits has been
acknowledged and respected. But in Califor-
MIA and Oregon there has been no recognition
by the Government of the exclusive right of the
Indians to any part of the country. They are
therefore mere tenants at sufferahce, and liable
to be driven from place to place, at the pleasure
OF the whites.
! The treaties which have been rejected pro-
posed to remedy this evil by allotting to the
different tribes districts Of country suitable te
their habits Of life, and sufficient for their sup
port. THIS provision, more than any other, it /:
;, believed, led TO their rejection; and as no sub
stiute for il has been adopted by Congress, il
enter into new treaties Of permanent character
although no effort has been spared by tempora
ry arrangements, to preserve friendly relations
;. with them.
If it be the desire of Congress TO remove then
from this country altogether, or to assign te
them particular districts more remote from the
settlements Of the whites, it will be proper tc
set apart by law the territory which they are t.
. occupy, and to provide the means necessary fol
removing them to it. Justice alike to our owI
citizens and to the Indians requires the promp
attention Of Congress to this sub ject'
The amendments proposed by the Senate, tt
the treaties which are negotiated with the Slou,
Indians of Minnesota, have been submitted t.
the tribes who were parties to them, and hav,
received their assent. A large tract of valuable
territory has thus been opened for settlemen
and cultivation, and all dangers of collision will
these powerful and warllke bands has been hap
PLY removed
/ The removal of the remnant of the tribe o
Seminole Indians from Florida, has long beer
a cherished object of the Government, and it il
one to which my attention has been steadily di
rected. Admonished by past experience ot thu