Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-12-10
nes, advocate of the system will not Ar

it will hardly be proposed 10 sid 10 the public
cyreni;turcS BY authorizing the erection Of auv
more public buildings. In no event. however
should such works be- directed without ir,,
subicctius the application for them to a rigid
inunirv into their necessity and propriety: and
when found necessary, the department shoul3
he required 10 submit TO Congress sui;abI.
mans and estimates u the cost, before Il. an
preparation is made.
\ our attention i, particularly invited to TIA,
portion Of the engineer report which refers To
the subject Of marine hospitals. Each Year,
experience adds to the objections which haze
been presented 10 Congress TO the system o:
buldin: and maintaining these hospitals The
relief afforded is rot more ample whilst III.
expense i mitch greater than exists under the
old system The information which is comm.
rcatei OF this subject must attract the Sc,io,..
attention of Congress, and should lead. in Ivy
Judgment To radical change. The amour
now annually drawn from the treasury to SUP
plr the deficiency in the fund for the relief .;
Sick and disabled ,caincn exceeds the sun.
raised ont vi the wages VI the >camcn for Ills
purpose Ii was mol ~ formerly. and the fac.
i, in no small degree attributable To the IN.
creased and unnecessary expenditures growing
ont n' the building and hcrpin. up of marin.
hospitals Besides there j, no fund IL,
hur>cd hv the government which p">>e,>c,
higher claims for i lli-t and economical ~.
pcnditurc than the one under consideration
The law compel. the collection ri this money
from the wages Of the >ramcn. and the govern.
mrnt undertake 10 cypcni II for their hcnc!!,
and protection The tru>; i>a sacred oae AMI
can only be faithfully discharged by Exercising
the creates; care ANA economy in It's d>blrsc-
mcnt. ! renew the Recommendations OF mr.
last report on this subject
deem i, my duty 10 call the attention ii
Congress to the bill for the revision and con.
solldltion ri the rcycnllc laws. rcporte! By TIE
in obedience To 4 resolution Of the House q
Representatives At the las session Of Concrc,,
For the reason, then suggested. | deem j; H..
portan, that the hill should receive the iay0!a
lie action Of Congress NJ the present SESSION
Instead Of that portion Of the bill orig
nay reported regulating the collection i.,.
trct>, and appointment and compensation q.
officers. propose 10 submit. a; III early day =
substitute suggested BY The experience Of an
additional year in this department.. which il J.,
believed will obviat" many existing ncvu
venicnccs and very materially reduce the cA
pcnsc of collecting: the revenue.
In this connection it j deemed proper 10 re.
fer 10 misrepresentation which seems 10 exist.
To some extent. in regard Ia The receipt, and
expenditures AT certain I'n:tS.
While the amount Of foreign merchandise
imported al given point would clearly ind.
cate the necessity for an adequate provision
there for the collection nj the rcvcnuc II by no
means follows that the interests Of the revenue
do not require the services Of officers ~ point,
where icN or no duties are collected 4
iudicio,iS disposition of 4 preventive force j.
Indispensable 10 the collection Of revenue
from imports. Especially is this true il
regard to the United states. along who's
extensive sclboari and frontier bounda
ricS there are 80 many points through which
foreign merchandise nigh; b. thrown into tie
interior free OF duty but tor the vigilance 0!
preventive corps. Upon the principal avenue,
Of trade with torci IN countries, provision has
bccn made hy law. Al ports If entry. FOR tlr
collection Of duties. and NJ those ports OIL!
revenue from customs is mainly collected or
scared. other channels through which 10y
ci:n merchandise might clamdestincly reach the
interior are. of necessity, guarded by proven
tive force. and often AT points where the ey
pcnScS exceed the amount Of collections
Such 1 force could not be withdrawn withou;
leaving the laws and regulations exposed 10
evasion and the public revenue 10 incalcuab!c
loss.
Take the districts Of Champlain and Ee.-
mont on the Canadian frontier rs an illll>tra.
ton. There is 4 large number Of officers sta
toned n various points along the frontier IL
these districts. and the expenses OF collection
exceed by more than onc-half the amount Of
revenue received.
What would be the effect on the revenue OF
a withdrawal of this force from these points
may he perceived BY 4 glance at the connexions
Of those districts. and Of the waters Of Lake
Champlain. with the principal markets and
territory ri Canada East
One Of these stations. Rouse's Point where
large portion 81 Canadian commerce first
enters the United States communicates by
railroads and the river 81. Johns with Montreal
and the st Lawrence. II no preventive force
We're stationed at those points. merchandise Of
provincial and European origin might he in
troduccd into the United states by those
routes and IT various points along the Cana
dian and Vermont frontier. without the posi-
bility of prevention and to the serious injury
NJ the revenue from customs. Where articles
arr taxed by our tariff. but made free By thc
Canadian or where the difference Of dutie, il
Canada and the United States would insure
exported in bond from our own warehouses 10
Canada. to he thrown thence upon our markets
without the payment Of any duty whatever 10
the United States. Merchandise go imported
might supply. TO a large extent, the consump
ton Of New England and New York. in whose
ports 30 large portion Of thc public revenue
is now collected.
1t the ports Of Pensacola in Florida aud
lI.l,o ft,c e ri rig.
Mississippi Oh our Gulf coast. revenue officers
are stationed. but 10 duties Of any considerable
amount collected. But for the presence Of
revenue force at those points. the valuable pro.
ducts of European and West Indian commerce
nigh; lie introduced. free Of duty, into tn
interior through the waters commanded b!
those ports with hardly n possibility Of pre-
ycnlion and to the serious diminuton OF tn
revenue now collected n the ports of VI"
Orleans and Mobile.
other instances Of the necessity Of proven
tive >crricc might be readily suggested, butt
Is not deemed Necessary. 1t Is believed that
the expense Of maintaining it might. a, some
points hc reduced without imIairn: itsutility;
and the Department mas that subject now under
consideration.
At the last Session OF Congress. appropriations
were made ior the purchase Of the best sei
rshtim. liic-boats. to be placed on the coast Of
New Jersey. and tho best litc.boats for use OF.
tie coast d. Long Island. Is the govcrnmcn,
had already provided lcboats for those sta
tons the object of the law was evidently TO a.
certain better boat than those already en-
yloycd. and if found. To- substitute il for tho"
now in use Taking this view Of the subject
appointed commissioner to test the qualities "i
the various kind of boats that had been tDt'
structcG. and which were offered to the govern
mcnt. The report Of til" commissioners ha'
been received within the last frw iays-to'
late for any action Of tie department betor' the
meeting ofcongrcse. 1t is herewith s'ibmiitt''''
marked r. with view Of placing before 'g''
,,rr>s all The In nrnna;inu On the >ilhiect in tlr