Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1860-12-06

| tnelhSclNeS luuepeuutHI.
Besides, specific duties best conform to the
reqnsition in the constitution that no prefer
ence shall be given by any regulation of COM
mercc or revenue to the ports OF one State
over those of another" Under our ad valor-
EN- system such preferences are to some extent
| inevitable, and complaints have often been
made that the spirit of this provision has been
violated by lower appraisment of the same
articles at one port than as another.
An impression strangely enough prevails 70
some extent tha: specific duties are necessarily
protective duties Nothing can be more faI
lacious Great Britain glores 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
| the 23d of January, 1860, between France
aud England, one of the articles provides ad
ydorem duties which il imposes shall be convert
! ed 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 wOnld be nearer to the truth, be
cause q much larger arnount of revenue
would be collected by merely converting the
| ad vaorem dulles Of tariff into equivalent
specific duties. To this extent the revenue
would be increased and in the Same propora,
ton 9he specific dnty might be diminished
Specifc dnties would secure to the kmeri-
can manufacturer the incidental protection 10
which he is fairly entitled under revenue tar.
, if, ard t6 this surely no person world object
The trainers of Tie existing tariff have gouc
further, and in liberal spirit have discrimi-
mated in favor of large aud useful branches Of
our manufactures, not hJ raising the rate of
duty upon the importation of similar articles
from abroad, but what is the same in effect,
by admitting articles free of duty which enter
into the composition of their fabrics
Under the present system it has been often
truly remarked that the Incidental protection
decreases when the manufacturer needs il
most, and increases when he needs it least,
0nd constitutes sliding scale which always
operates against him. The revenres Cf the
country are subject 10 similar fuctuation In
stead OF approaching a steady standard, as
woal1 be the case under system of specific
duties they sink and rise with the sinking and
rising prices of articles in foreign countries 1t
would not be difficult for Congress to arrange
a system Of specific duties which would afford
additional stability both to oar .e7enue aud our
manufactures, and without injury or injustice
10 any interest Of the country. This might
he accomplished by ascertanng the average
value Of any given article for series o! years
at the place OF eZpCrtatIon, aud by simply
coHve. ting the rate OF ad valOrem duty up0n
it which might be deemed necessary for rev
enue purposes, into the form Of specific duty
Such an arrangement could not iujure the con.
>umcr. II he should pay greater amouGt c'
duty one year, this would be countcrbaIanceG
by lesser amount the next, and in the end
the aggregate would be the same.
| desire to call your immediate attention to
the present condition of the Treasury, so abl7
and clearly presented by the Secretary in his
report to Congress and to recommend that
measures be promptly adopted to enable it to
dj charge its pressing obligations. The other
recommendations of the report are we'll worthy
Of your favorable consideration.
/ herewith transmit 10 Congress the reports
of the Secretaries os War, Of the Navy, of
the Interior, aud of the Post Master General
The recommendations and suggestions which
/ they contain are highly valuable, aud deserve
/ Your careful attention.
The report of the Post Master G cnera de-
tails the circumstances uuder which Cornelius
Vanderbilt, on my reQGeSt, agreed, in the
between our Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Had
be not thus acted this important inttrcom
muuication must have heen suspended, at least
for a season. The Postmaster General bad 80
power to make him any other compensation,
than the poStage3 on the mail matter which
he might carry. 1t was known ct the
! time that these postages would fall far short
of an adequate compensation as well as
Z n no m IYh IL ia baI
ously cost the Government Mr. Vanderbilt.
in commendable spirit, was willing to rely
upon the justice of Congress to make up the
deficiency and l., therefore, recommend that
an appropriation may be granted for this pur,
pose.
should DO great Injustice to the Attorney
General we're t3 omit the mention of his dis
tiuguished services in the measures adopted
and prosecuted by him for the defense of the
Government against numerous aud unfounded
claims to and in California, purporting 10 have
been made by tbh Mexican Government pre-
vious TO the treaty Of cesson: The successful
opposition to these claims has saved to the
| United States public property worth many
millions Of dollars, and 20 individuals holding
title uader them to at least an equal amount.
1t has been represented TO me, ffCnE sources
which deem reliable. that the Inhabitants in
several portions Of Kansas have been reduced
nearly to state of starvation, on account Of
the almost total failure of their crops, while
the harvests in every other portion Of the
country have been abundant The prospect
before them for the approaching Winter is
we'll calculated to enlist the sytnpathes Of ev
cry heart. The destitution appears to be so
general that it cannot be relieved by private
nntrihntinns md tkeu are in such inlirnnt cir