Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-12-11

given by any regulation of commerce or revenue to
the ports of one State those of another Under
our ad vaorem system such preferences are to some
extent inevitable, and complaints have often oeen
made that the spirit of this provision has been VIOLA
ted by lower appraisement OF the same artcies at
one port than at another.
An impression strangely enough prevails to some
extent that specific duties necessarily protective
duties. Nothing can be more fallacous Great Brit
ain gories in free trade, and yet her whole revenue
from imports is at the present moment coecteo IN
der system of specific duties. 1t is striking 1act
in this connection that in the commercial treaty OF
23rd january 1860, between France and England one
OF the articles provides that the ad valorem outes
which it imposes shall be converted into speclnc du
ties within six months from its date and these are 10
be ascertaned by making average of the prices Tor
SIX months previous to that time The reverse OF tne
proposition would be nearer to the truth, because
much larger amount OF revenue would pc c0necteo
by merely converting the ad vaorem duties OF TAR
LIT into equivalent specific duties TO this extent the
revenue would be increased and in the same proper
ton the specific duty might be diminished.
Specific duties would secure to the American man
ufacer the incidental protection to which MS Is iay
entitled under revenue tariff and to this surely no
person would object. The trainers OF the exlstng
tariff have gone further, and in liberal spirit have
Disseminated in favor of large and useful branches OIL
manufactures not by raising the rate of duty up
on the importation of similar articles from ABROAD put
what is the same in effect, by admitting articles Tree OF
duty which enter into the composition OF tner 1ap
RIGS.
Under this present system it has been often truly
remarked that this Incidental protection decreases
when the manufacturer needs it most and increases
when he needs it least and constitutes sliding scale
which always operates against him. The revenues OF
the country are subject to similar fuctuaton. In
stead of approaching steady Standard as would be
the case under system of specific duties, they SINK
and rise with the sinking and rising prices Of articles
in foreign countries It would not be difficult for
Congress to arrange system Of specific duties which
would afford additional stability both to our revenue
and our manufactures and without injury or injustice
Al vv,rrvh< No
plished by ascertanng the average value of any Civ
article for series of years at the place of expora
ton, and by simply converting the rates of ad vao-
rem duty upon it which might be deemed necessary
for revenue purposes, into the form of specific duty
Such arrangement could not injure the consumer.
If he should pay greater amount of duty one year,
this would be counerbalanced by lesser amount the
next and in the end the aggregate would be the
I desire to call your immediate attention to the
present condition of the Treasury so ably and clearly
presented by the Secretary in his report to Congress-
and to recommend, that measures be promptly adopt
ed to enable it to discharge It's pressing obligations
The other recommendations of the report are well
worthy of your favorable consideration
herewith transmit to Congress the reports of the
Secretaries of War; OF the Navy OF the Interior and
of the Postmaster General. The recommendations
and suggestions which they contain highly valua
| BILE and deserve your careful attention.
The report of the Postmaster General details the
circumstances under which Cornelius Vanderbilt, on
nv request agreed in the month of July last to
nv the mails between our Atlantic and Pacific
coasts Had he not thus acted this important inter
communication must have been suspended, at least
for season. The Postmaster General had no power
to make him any other compensation than the posta
ges on the mail matter which he might carry. 1t was
known, at the time, that these hostages would fal
far short of an adequate compensation, well o.
the sum which the same service had previously cost
the government. Mr.. Vanderbilt, in commendable
spirit, was willing to rely upon the justice of Con-
gress to make mp the deficiency; and l. therefore, re-
commend that an appropriation may be granted fol
| this parpOse.
I should do great injustice to the Attorney Genera
were to omit the mention of his distinguished ser
vices in the measures adopted and prosecuted by hin
for the defence of the Government against numerous
and unounded claims to land in California, purport
| ing to have been made by the Mexican government
previous the treaty of cesson. The successful op
position to these claims has saved to the United States
public property worth many millions of dollars, ant
to individuals holding title under them to at least al
equal amount.
1t has been represented to me, from sources which
I deem reliable that the inhabitants in several por
lions of Kansas have been reduced nearly to state
starvation, account of the almost total failure
their crops whilst the harvests in every other portion
of the country have been abundant The prospect be
fore them for the approaching winter is well calcua
ted to enlist the sympathy of every heart The dest
tuition appears to be general that it cannot be re
leved by private contributions, and they are in suc
INDECENT circumstances as to be unable to purchas
the necessares oflife for themselves refer the sub
iect to Congress- If any Constitutional measure TO
their relief can be devised would recommend its
doption.
/ cordially commend to your favorable regard tn
interests of the people of this District. They are EN-
inently entitled your consideration, especially since
unlike the people of the States they appeal to n
WV y 1'-'''' ~'>''p' 'A''' JAMES BUCHANAN.
Il WASHINGTON CRY Sd December 1860.