The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1860-12-06

pTtI6ItnCt gwen by
any regulation OF commerce revenue to the ports Of
one State those Of another" Under dd pdl0reR
system such preferences are to some extent inevitable
aud complaints have often been made that the spirit Of
this provision has teen violated by lower appraise
Of the same articles at one port than at another.
An impression strangely enough prevails to some ex-
tenthat specific duties are necessarily protective duties
Nothing be allacious Great Britain glories In
free rade and yet her whole from imports at
the pTesant moment collected under system Of specific
duties 1t striking fact in this connection that in
the commercial treaty Of 23d January 1850, between
France and England Of the articles provides that The
dd paiore duties which 1t imposes shall lie converted
into specific duties within six months from its date, and
these to be asceraned by making average Of the
price, for six months previous to that time. The
Of the proposition would he TO the truth,
because much larger amount OF revenue would be col
ected by merely converting the dd pdlOrem duties Of
tariff into equivalent specific duties. To this extent the
revenue would be increased, and In the proportion
the specific duty might be diminished.
Specific duties would secure TO the American manufac
urer the Incidental protection to which he Is fairly entl.
tied under revenue tariff aud to this surely person
would object. The framers Of the existing tariff have
gone further, andin liberal spirit have Disseminated In
favor Of large and useful branches OF our manufactures
not by raising the rate Of duty upon the importation Of
similar articles from abroad but what the In e
feet by admitting articles free Of duty which enter into
| the composition Of their fabrics.
Under the present system II has been often truly re-
marked that this incidental protection decreases when the
needs most and increases when be needs
II least and constitutes sliding scale which always op-
crates against him. TheIevenus Of the country sub
ect to similar nucluation. Instead Of approaching
steady standard, would be the case under system Of
specific duties they sink and rise with the sinking and
rising prices ofartices In foreign countries II would not
be difficult for Congress TO arrange system Of specific
duties which would afford additional stability both to our
revenue and manufactures and without injury In.
justice to any interest Of the country This might be &C.
compshed by asceranng the average value Of any given
article for series years at the place oexporation and
by simply converting the rate Of dd cdiorem duty upon
1t which might be deemed necessary for revenue purposes
into the form Of apecinc duty. Such an arraQemank
could not injure the consumer. II he should paw a
greater amount duty year, this would be counter
balanced by lesser amount the next and in the end the
| aggregate would be the same.
desire to call your immediate attention to the pres
ent condition cf the Treasury ably and clearly pre.
seniod by the Secretary In his report Congress and to
recommend that measures be promptly adopted to ena.
bic to discharge Its pressing obligations. The other
recommendations Of the report we'll worthy Of your
/ favorable consideration,
Iherewith transmit to Congress the Reports Of the