The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1852-12-14

or measure. All our duties are NJ present oo
palorum. Acertain per oentage Is lowed on
the price Of the goods at the port OF shipment
in forcsgn country. Most commerciai ma
tons have foupd it indispensable. for the put-
rposo of preventing fraud and pcrjure, TO
make the duties specific whenever tho articles
is of such uniform valur in weight or meas
uye as to. justify, such a duty Legislation
should never encourage dishonesty or crime.
1t is impossible that, tho revenue officers ot the
ports where the gouds are entered and the o''-
ties paid should know with certainty what they
cost in the foreign country. Yet the law re-
quircs that they should levy the duty accor-
ding TO such cost They are therefore COM
PEELED to resori to very unsatisfactory evidence
to ascertain what that cost was. ihey take
the invoice of the importer, attested py MS
oath, as The best evidence of which the nature
of the case admits. But every one must see
that the invoice. must be fabrituted, and THO
oath by which it 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 tho
treasury of the United Statos reward Tor his
fraud and purjury. aafai rel a
The reports of the Secretary of the Treas
ury heretofore made on this subject show com
clusvely that these frauds have been praetlced1
to great extent. The tendercy is to destroy
that high moral character for which our mer-
chants have long been distinguished; to de-
fraud the Government of its revenues; to break
down the honest importer by a dishonest COM
petition; and, finally. to thansfer the business
of Importation to foreign and irresponsible
agents, 10 tho great detriment Of our own cit
zens. therefore again most earnestly recon-
mend the adoption Of specific duties, where
yer ii is practicable, or home valuation, to
prevent there frauds. og 70
would also again call your attention to tho
fact that the present tariff in somo cases i'm
poses higher duty upon the raw material
imported than the article manufactured from II,
the consequence of which is that the duty
operates to the encouragement of the foreign
or and the encouragement of our own citl-
zens.
For full and dctested information in regard
TO the general condition Of our Indian affairs,
l respectfully refer you to the report you To
the report of the Secretary of the Interior and
the accompanying documents.
The Senate not having thought proper 10
ratify the treaties which had been negotiated
with the tribes of lndions in California and
Oregon, our relations with them have becn
left in a very unsatisfactory condition. =.
In other parts of our territory particular
districts of country have been set apart for
the exclusive occupation of the Indians, and
Iuclr rlgnC 10 tne JANUS WltHlH JiOSe minus h"S
been acknowledged and respected. But in
California and Oregon there has been no re-
cogntion by the Government of the exclusive
right of the Indians to any part of the country.
They are therefore mere tenents at suferon-
ce, and liable to bo driven from place 10 place,
at the pleasure of tho whites. s,5 ,t
The tresties which have been rejected pro-
posed 20 remedy this evil by allotting 20 the
different tribes districts of country suitable to
their habits of life. and sufficient for their
support. This provision. moro than any other
it is believed, led to thor support. This pro-
vision. more than any other, it is believed. led
to their reflections: and as no substitute for it
has been adoeted by Congress, it has not boeh
deemed advisable to attempt to enter into now
treaties of permanent character, although on
effort has been spared by temporary arrange
ments to preserve friendly relations with them.
If it be the desire Of Congress to remove
them from tho country altogether, or TO assign
to them particular districts moro remote front
the settlements of the whites. it will be proper
to set apart by law the territory which they
are to occupy, and to provide the means neccs-
sary for removing them to it. Justice alike to
our own citizens and 10 the Indians requires
the prompt action of Congress on this subject.
The amendments proposed by the Senate,
to the treaties which was negotiated with the
mitted to the tribes who were parties to them
and have received their assent. A large tract
of valuable territory has thus been opened for
settlement and cultivation, md all danger Of
collision with these powerful and warliko Bands
has been happily removed.
The removal of the remnant of the tribo of
Seminole Indians from Florida has long been
cherished object of the government and y
is one TO which my attention has been stcadilcd
directed. Admonished by past experience as
the difficulty and cost Of the attempt to re-
move them by military force, resort has been
had to conciliatory measures.
BY the Invitation of the Commissioner of
Indian Affairs, several of tho principal chiefs
recently zisited Washington, and whilst hero
acknowledged in writing tho obligation of
their tribe to omove with the least possible de-
lay Late adices from the special agent of tho
Government of the Government represent that
they adhere TO thoir pros ise. and hat a coun-
Gil of their people has been called to mako
their preliminary arrangements. A general
emigration, may therefore be expected at an
carly day. --s1 sIIA
The report from tho General Land Offico
shows increased activity in its operations,
The survey of the nosthern boundary of
Iowa has been completed with unexampled
despatch, Within the last year 9,522,953
ocres of public land have been surveyed, and
9.032, ,463 ocroc brought into market.
10 the last fiscal year there werc s1Vi
sold l,55s,07l acres.
Located with bounty land war tss
rants, 3,2Ol,3l4 "
Located with other certificates l15,6s2 "
Making total Of 4,370,087
In addition there were tt1et> ~
Reported under swamp land R o9g
grants 81 5,2lo,lss Q"
For rinternal improvements, rail- 78aecf 80
roads, Sc, ~ 3025.920 :"
Making an aggregate Of l3,l15,l75
Being an increase in the amount of lands
sold and located under land warrants of $685.
220 acres over the previous year.
The whole amount thus sold, located under
Il nd warrants renorfed uuder swa,,,n land