The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1860-12-13

ei6c duties best conform to the requistion in the
Constitution that no preference shall be given by
any regulation of commerce or revenue to the ports
of one State over those of another. Under our
ad valorcm system such preferences are, to some
extent inevitable, and complaints have often been
made, that the spirit of this provision have been
violated by lower appraisement OF the same artl-
cles at one port than at another An impression
strangely enough prevails to some extent, that
specific duties are necessarily protective duties.
Nothing can be more fallacious Great Britain
glories in free trade, and yet her whole revenue
from imports is at the present moment collected
under a system of specific duties. 1t is striking
fact in this connection, that In the commercial
treaty of Esd January, 1860, between France and
England, one of the articles provides that the ad
valorem duties which it imposes shall be converted
into specific duties within six months from its date
and these are to be ascertained by making an
average of the prices for six months previous to
that time. The reverse of the proposition would
be nearer to the truth, because much larger
amount OF revenue would be collected by merely
converting the ad valorem duties OF tariff into
general equivalent specific duties 10 this extent
the revenue would be increased, and in the same
proportion the specific duty might be diminished.
Specific duties would secure to the American man.
ufacturer the incidental protection to which he is
fairly entitled under revenue tariff, and to this
surely no person would object. The trainers OF
the existing tariff have gone further and in lib
eral spirit have discrimnatedu favor of large and
useful branches of our manufactures-notb by rails
ing the rate of duties upon the importation OF SIM
liar articles from abroad, but what is the srme in
effect by admitting articles free of duty which en-
ter into the composition of their fabrics.
Under the present system it has been often truly
remarked that this incidental protection decreases
when the manufacturer needs it most and increas-
es when he needs it least and constitutes sliding
scale which always operates against him. The
revenues of the country are subject to similar fuc
tuations, instead of approaching steady standard
as would be the case under a system of specific
n 4 .le
arrange a system of specific duties which would
afford additional stability both to our revenue and
our manufacturers, and without injury injustice
to any interest of the country. This might be
complished by ascertaining the average value of
any given article for series of years at the place
of expectation, and by simply converting the rate
of ad valorem duty upon it which might be deemed
necessary for revenue purposes IN the form OF a
SPECIFIC duty. Such an arrangement could not IN
jure the consumer; if he should pay greater
amount of duty one year this would be counterbal-
anced the next, and in the aggregate would be the
same desire to call your immediate attention
to the present condition of the Treasury, so ably
and clearly presented by the Secretary in his re-
port to Congress, and to recommend that meas
ures be promptly adopted to enable it to discharge
its pressing obligations. The other recommends
tons of the report well worthy OF your fayora'
BILE consideration
Herewith transmit to Congress the reports of
the Secretary of War, of the Navy of the Interior
and of the Postmaster General The recommen-
dations and suggestions which they contain are
highly valuable, and deserve your careful atten-
| ton.
The report of the Postmaster General details the
circumstances under which Cornelius Vanderbilt,
ON my request, agreed in mouth of July last, to
carry the Ocean mails between the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts. Had he not thus acted, this i'm
portant inter-oceanic communication must have
been suspended, at least for a season. The Post
master-General had power to make him any
other compensation than the hostages on mail mat
| ter, which he might carry. 1t was known at the
time these hostages would fall far short of an ad
equate compensation well as of the sum which
the same service had previously cost the Govern
ment. Mr.. Vanderbilt in a commendable spirit,
willing to rely upon.the justice OF Congress to
make up the deficiency, and therefore, recommend
that an appropriation be granted for this purpose
should do great injustice to the Attorney-Gene-
raj were to omit the mention of his distinguished
services in the measures adopted and prosecuted
| by him for the defence of the Government against
numerous and unfounded claims to land In Cahor-
MIA, purporting to have been made by the Mexican
| Government, previous to the treaty of cession.
| The successful opposition to these claims has
saved to the United States public property worth
many millions of dollars and to individuals holding
title under them, at least an equal amount.
FAMINE IN KANSAS
| 1t has been represented to me from sources
which l deem reliable, that the inhabitants in
| several portions of Kansas have been reduced
nearly to a state of starvation on account OF the
almost total failures of their crops. whilst the
harvests in every other portion of the country
for the approaching winter is welt calculated to
list the sympathies of every heart The destitutOn
appears to be general that it cannot be relieved
by private contributions, and they are in such
ndignen circumstances as to be unable to purchase
the necessities of life for themselves, refer the
subject to Congress. If any constitutional meas
ures for their aeief can be devised, would recon-
mend its adoption.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.
l cordially commend to your favorable regard
the interests of the people of this district. They
are eminently entitled to consideration, es
pecially as unlike the people of the States, they
can appeal to no government except that OF the
Union,
JAMES BUCHANAN.