Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1852-12-16

(Sl2, 50I 2S5) in specie; and imported from foreign
ports five milliods two hundred aud sixty-two
thousand six hundred aud forty-three dollars, 49,,
262, 6i3.)
In my first annual message to Congress, called
your attention TO what seemed TO me some defects
in tine present tariff, and recommended such mod
fcations as in my judgment were best adapted 10
remedy its evils and promote the prosperity Of
the country. Nothing has since occurred TO
change my views on this important question.
Without repeating the argument contained in
my former message, in favor Of Discriminating
protective duties, deem il my duty 10 call your
attention 10 one or two other considerations Affect
ing tn subjec. The first is, the effect Of large
lmpottations Of foreign goods upon our currency.
Most Of the gold Of California, as fast as It'll
coined, finds lis way directly 10 Europe in payment
for goods purchased. In the second place, as our
manufacturing establishments 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 surplus produce. In the third
place, the destruction of our manufactures leaves
the foreigner without competition in our market, |
and he consequently raises the price of the article
sent here for sale, as is now in the increased
cost of iron imported from England. The pros
perty and wealth of every nation must depend pom
It's productive industry. The farmer is stimulated
to exertion by finding ready market for his sur
plus products, and benefited by being able TO eX
transportation, for the manufactures which his
comforts or convenience requires. This is always
done 10 the best advantage where portion Of the
community in which he lives is engaged in other
| pursuits. But most manufacturers require an
amount of capital and practical skill which cam
not be commanded, unless they be protected for
| time from runous competition from abroad
| Hence the necessity of laying those duties upon
imported goods which the Constitution authorizes
for revenue; in such manner as to protect and
encourage the labor OF our own citizens. Duties,
however, should not be fixed at rate so high as
to exclude the foreign article, but should be so
graduated as 10 enable the domestic manufacturer
| fairly TO compete with the foreigner in our own
markets. and by this competitor to reduce the price
OF the manufactured article to the consumer to the
lowest rate 1T which it can be procured. This pol
icy would place the mechanic by the side of the
farmer: create mutual interchange of their res
pectve commodities, and thus stimulate the indus
| Try OF the whole country, and render us ndepen-
dent OF foreign nations for the supplies required
by the habits or necessities of the people.
Another question, independent of protec-
ton, presents itself, and that is, whether
the duties levied should be upon the value
Of the article at the place of shipment, or,
where 1t is practicable, specific duty, grad
uated according to quantity, as ascertained
by weight or measure. All our duties are
at present I'D valorem. A certain per CEN
tage is levied on the price Of the goods at
the port OF shipment in foreign country
, Most commercial nations have found it in
disPensible. for the purpose of preventing
fraud and perjury, to make the duties specific
whenever the article is of such uniform
, value in weight or measure as 10 Justify
such duty. Legislation should never en-
courage dishonesty or crime. tits impossi-
/ bic 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 ac-
cordIng TO such cost. They are therefore
r compelled 10 resort 10 very unsatisfactory
evidence to ascertain what that cost was.--
They take the invoice of the importer, at
e tested by his oath, as the best evidence OF
D which the nature Of the case admits. But
every one must see that invoices may be fab
ricaied, and the oath which il is supported
: false, by reason of which the dis honest i'm
. porter pays part only Of the duties which
are paid by the honest one, and thus re-
{ ceives from the treasury Of the United
States a reward for his fraud and perjury.
The reports Of the Secretary Of the Treasll-
: ry heretofore made on this subject show
concusively that these frauds have been
2 practiced 10 great extent. The tendency
: is to destroy that high moral character for
which our merchants have long been dis
, tinguished; TO defraud the Government OF
= its revenue; to break down the honest i'm
porter by dishonest competition; and final
ly 10 transfer the business Of importation 10
4 foreign and irresponsible agents, to the great
t detrimcnt Of our own citizens. | there
lore again most earnestly recommend the
i adoption OF specific duties, wherever it i,
' practicable, or home valuation, to prevent
e these frauds.
5 would also again call your attention tc
. the fact that the present tariff in some cases
e imposes higher duty upon the raw ma e.
rial imported than upon the article manuiac.
tured from it, the consequence of which is
that the duty operates to the encouragement
Q of the foreign and the encouragement of our
: own citizens.
5 For full and detailed information in re.
y gard to the general condition of our Indian
e affairs, ! respectfully refer you to the re.
port Of the Secretary Of the Interior and the
= accompanying documents.
e The Senate not having thought proper t.
# ratliy the treaties which had been negotiated
z the tribes Of Indians in California and Ore
I; gon, our relations with them have been lief
s in very unsatisfactory condition.
$ In other parts of our territory particular
= districts Of country have been set apart fo
: the exclusive occupation oithe Indians, anC
al their right TO the lands within these limit
IS has been acknowledged and respected. Blu
:. in California and Oregon there has been NJ
pr recognition by the Government OF the ex
ID elusive right of the Indians TO any part of tn
A country. They are therefore mere tenant
J. at sufTerance, and liable to be driven from
in place to place, at the pleasure of the whites
The treaties which have been reiecle,
s. proposed to remedy this evil by allotng t
If the different tribes districts of country suita
I'd bic to their habits of life, and sufficient 70
J. their support. This provision, more thai
E. any other, it is believed, led TO their reiec
Ia