Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Cables,

Fer every cable, whole shot of 5 inches in circumference to 7 inches

Do. half shot of like dimensions

Do. whole shot of 7 to 10 inches
Do. half shot of like dimensions

Do. whole shot of 10, and not exceeding 12 inches in circumference.

Do. whole shot of 12, and not exceeding 14 inches in circumference

Do, half shot of the dimensions of the two last mentioned
Do. whole shot of 14 and not exceeding 15 inches

Do. half shot of like dimensions

Do. whole shot of 15 inches

Do. half shot of like dimensions

**Goods, vares, merchandise, or other articles not herein enumerated, per had

.

[blocks in formation]

- 2 6 0

- 12 - 6 0

i

14 O

Alum, in bars

- 20 0

in cuks

- 10

[ocr errors]

- 24

O

- 12 0

- 32 0!

-16 0

20

In all cases where the distance exceeds 1-2 a mile, and not 2 miles, 1-2 in addition to be allowed.

Rates of Porterage.-For any distance not exceeding 1-2 a mile, 12 1-2 cens; over 1-2 a mile, and not exceeding a mile, 25 cents, and in that proportion for any greater distance. For carrying a load pon a hand-barrow, for any distance not exceeding 1-2 a mile, 25 cents; over 1-2 a mile, and not exceeding a mile, 4 cents; and in that proportion for any greater distance.

Hand-cartmen.-For any distance unt exceeding 1-2 a mile, 182-4 cents; over 1-2 a mile, and not exceeding a mile, 311-4 cents; and in that propertion for any greater distance.

Harbour Master.

The office of harbour master was created in 1908, y legislative enactment, with power to regulate and station ail vessels in the harbour, or at the wharfs, to accommodate vessels wishing to discharge their cargoes, and to decide promptly all disputes connected with the foregoing subjects. Resisting his authority subjects to a fine of 50 dollars and costs, for the benefit of the New York hospital.

Fas-On vessels unloading, 11-2 cent per ton. Vessels paying foreign duties and tonnage, detilde; which must be paid within 48 hours after arrival. Seloopers and sloops in the coasting trade, 2 dollars. For adjusting any difference respecting situation, 2 dollars. Pilots must register their vessels, names, and places of abode, in his office; and are obliged to put to sea whenever ordered by him. The penalty for refusing is 5 dollars and loss of licence.

Pilotage.

There are 9 branch and 9 deputy pilots, and as many registered boats. Rates of Pilotage-Every pilot who shall take charge of any vessel to the eastward or southward of the White Buoy on the eastern ridge rear the bar, and conducts and moors safely such vessel to a proper wharf, or from the city to the southward or eastward of said buoy, is entitled by law to the following rates, to wit:- For vessels of the United States, and those who are entitled by treaty to enter upon the same terms as American vessels, the sums which follow:Every vessel drawing less than 14 feet, 1 dol. 50 c's. per foot; do. drawing 14 feet, and less than 18, 1 ul. 75 cts. per foot; do, drawing 18 feet or upwards, 2 dols. 25 cts. per foot. The same rates of pilotage to be allowed for any vessel that may be piloted any where within the Hook, whose master or owner does not wish the same to be brought to the city wharfs. Half pilotage only to be allowed to any pilot who shall take charge of a vessel to the westward of the White Buoy. No pilotage whatsoever to be given to any pilot, unless he shall fake charge of a vessel to the southward of the upper Middle Ground, nor unless such vessel shall be of 70 tons Lurden, provided the usual signal be not given, in which case half pilotage is to be allowed. Between the 1st of November and the 1st of April, inclusive, 4 dols. additional to be allowed for vessels of 10 feet water and upwards; if less than 10 feet, 2 dols. One fourth additional to be given to the pilots who shall take charge of vesels out of sight of the light-house. For every day any pilot shall be required to remain on board, 3 dols. per day. Foreign vessels not entitled by treaty to enter on the same terms as those of the United States, to pay 1-4th additional to the pilots, and also 5 dols. over and above the foregoing rates of pilotage.

Wardens of the Port.

Vessels and goods arriving in a dainaged state, and required to be sold by auction for the benefit of underwriters out of the city of New York, must be under the inspection of the wardens, who may be required to certify the cause of the damage, and amount of sale and charges.

Fes-11-2 per cent. on gross amount of sales; and for each survey on board of any vessel, at any store, or along the docks or wharfs, 3 dols. on damaged goods; each survey on huil, spars, rigging, &c., 5 dols.; each certificate, 1 dol. 25 cts.; ditto of distress of said vessel. 2 dols. 50 ct.; same services for vessels paying foreign duties and tonnage, deutic.

Quantity of Goods to compose a Ton. Extract from the By-Laws of the New York Chamber of Commerce. Resolved. That when vessels are freighted by the ton, and no spe. eia! agreement is made between the owner of the vessel and freighter of the goods, respecting the proportion of tonnage which each parti cular article shall be computed at, the following regulation shall be the standard of computation:

That the articles, the bulk of which shall compose a ton, to equal a teu of heavy materials, shall be in weight as follows:-1,56% lbs. of coffee in casks, 1,830 ditto in bags; 1,120 lbs. of cocoa in casks, 1,307 ditto in bags.

952 tbs, of pimiento in casks, 1,110 ditto in bags.

8 barrels of flour, of 196 lbs, each.

6 barrels of beef, pork, tallow, pickled fish, pitch, tar, and turpentine.

20 cwt. of pig and bar iron, potashes, sugar, logwood, fustic, Nica. ragua wood, and all heavy dye woods, rice, honey, copper ore, and all other beavy goods.

16 evt. of coffee, cocoa, and dried codfish, in bulk, and 12 cwt. of Zried codfish in casks of any size.

6 cwt. of ship bread in casks, 7 cwt. in bags, and 8 ewt. in bulk. 200 gallons (wine measure) reckoning the full contents of the casks

ef oll, wine, brandy, or any kind of liquors.

22 Lushels of grain, peas, or beans in casks.

36 bushels of ditto in bulk.

36 oushels of European salt.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

do. if the keys are packed in hogsheads, extra

allowed for the hogshead is

[blocks in formation]

8

- 10

actual.

6 per cent. actual.

6 per ceal

12

4

12

8

100 lb.

6 per cent

5

- 10

- 3 - 3

[blocks in formation]

10

[ocr errors]

15 per cent

- 12

4

- 19

10

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

We have derived these statements from the New York Annual Register, for 1831; The Picture of New York the Consul's Answers to the Circular Queries, and private communications.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Prices at New York.-The following statements of the wholesale prices of some of the principal articles of exportation at New York, are taken from the New York Price Current for the 17th of September, 1836.

[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

do.

0

0

0

Naval Stores

Petersburgh, do,"

[ocr errors]

0 0

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Scratched and fine, do.

8 50

Middlings, hue, do.

- 8 0

Rye flour, do.

0 0

Indian meal, do.

5 0

per hogshead

[blocks in formation]

. 22 50 -23

Furs-Import duty,-dressed, 12 1-2 per cent. ad valorem : undress

Pitch, do.

[blocks in formation]

0 0

2

[blocks in formation]

8 25

Rosin, do.

[ocr errors][merged small][merged small]

6 25

[blocks in formation]

0 0

[blocks in formation]

0

[blocks in formation]

6 50

[blocks in formation]

6 0

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Pork, mess, do.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

0 35
0 8 1-20 21
0 85
1 0
1 12 1-3 - 1 50
0 85 -1 37 1-2

- 0 20 - 0 40
0 20 - 0 30

- 0 12 1-2 - 0 18

Grain-Import duty, Wheat 25 cents per bushl., other sorts free.

Wheat, Virginia, per bushel

North Carolina, do.

Rye, Northern, do.

1 50 - 1 75

1 87 1-2 2 0

12 1-2-115

white, Long Island & Jersey, do. 1 12 1-2

[ocr errors]

Corn, yellow, Northern, do.

[ocr errors]

12 1-2 - 1 18
1 18

Southern, do.

- 1 0 - 1 12

Barley, North River, do.

- 0 74

Oats, Northern and Southern, do.

- 0 48

0 0
0 62

cargo, do.

Hog's lard, per lb.

Butter, Goshen dairy, do.

West, do. do.

shipping, do.

Philadelphia

Cheese, American do..

Hams, smoked, do.

[blocks in formation]

[The Tables omitted in this article are comprehended in those which have been added to the articles IMPORTS AND EXPORTS, and SHIPS.-Am. Ed.]

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]

Bills of Exchange.-By a revised law of the State of New York, the following damages on bills drawn or negotiated in this State, and protested for non-payment, are allowed, viz.

Bills drawn on the States of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia,or district of Columbia, 3 per cent. North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, or Tennessee, 5 per cent.

Any other State or territory of the United States, or any other place on or adjacent to this continent, and north of the equator, or any British or other foreign possessions in the West Indies, or elsewhere on the Western Atlantic Ocean, or any port or place in Europe, 10 per cent.

Such damages shall be in lieu of interest, charges of protest, and all other charges incurred previous to and at the time of giving notice of non-payment, but the holder of such bill shall be entitled to demand and recover lawful interest upon the aggregate amount of the principal sum specified in such bill, and of the damages thereon, from the time at which notice of protest for non-payment shall have been given, and payment of such principal sum shall have been demanded.-Sect. 19.

If the contents of such bill be expressed in the money of account of the United States, the amount due thereon and of the damages herein allowed for the non-payment thereof, shall be ascertained and determined without any reference to the rate of exchange existing between this State and the place on which such bill shall have been drawn, at the time of the demand of payment or of notice of nonpayment.-Sect. 20.

If the contents of such bill be expressed in the money of account or currency of any foreign country, then the amount due, exclusive of the damages payable thereof, shall be ascertained and determined by the rate of exchange or the value of such foreign currency, at the tíme of the demand of payment.--Sect. 21.

TARIFF OF THE UNITED STATES.-Notwithstanding the unprecedented progress of the United States in wealth and population, their foreign trade was nearly stationary for the 10 years ending with 1830! And yet, considering the spirit of commercial enterprise by which the people, particularly in the New England States and New York, are animated, and their skill in navigation, it might have been fairly presumed that the growth of their foreign trade would, at least, have kept pace with the development of the internal resources of the country. That it did not do so is wholly owing to the policy of government. Not satisfied with the extraordinary advances their constituents had made in numbers and wealth, Congress seems to have believed that their career might be accelerated by means of Customhouse regulations!-by giving an artificial direction to a portion of the public capital and industry, and turning it into channels into which it would not naturally flow!

No one who has the slightest acquaintance with the condition of America—who know

that she is possessed of boundless tracts of fertile and unappropriated land-that her population is comparatively thin, and wages high-can doubt for a moment that agriculture must, for a long series of years, be the most profitable species of employment in which her citizens can engage. There can be no question, indeed, that such branches of manufacture as are naturally adapted to her peculiar situation, will gradually grow up and flourish in America, without any artificial encouragement, according as her population becomes denser, and as the advantage which now exists on the side of agriculture becomes less decided. But to force, by means of duties and prohibitions, the premature growth of manufactures, is plainly to force a portion of the industry and capital of the country into businesses in which it will be least productive.

Such, however, has been, for a lengthened period, the policy of the American legislature. The exploded sophisms of the mercantile system, though renounced by every statesman in Europe, acquired a noxious influence in congress, and were put forth with as much confidence, as if their soundness neither had been, nor could be, questioned! From 1816 down to 1832, the object of the American legislature was to bolster up a manufacturing interest, by imposing oppressive duties on most manufactured articles imported from abroad. Now, it is obvious even had the articles produced in America through the agency of this plan been as cheap as those they superseded, that nothing would have been gained by it; for, to whatever extent the importation of foreign articles may be diminished, there must be a corresponding diminution in the exportation of native American products; so that the only result would have been the raising up of one species of industry at the expense of some other species, entitled to an equality of protection. But the "American system" was not so innocuous. Instead of the goods manufactured in the States being as cheap as similar ones manufactured in Europe, they were admitted to be, at an average, from 30 to 100 per cent. dearer! The extent of the pecuniary sacrifice that was thus imposed on the Union has been variously estimated by American writers; but we have been assured by those who have the best means of knowing, that it may be moderately estimated at from 50,000.000 to 60,000,000 dollars, or from about 11,000,000l. to 13,000,000l.! And this immense burden -a burden nearly three times as great as the whole public expenditure of the republie—was incurred for no purpose of public utility, and was productive of nothing but mischief. The whole effect of the scheme was to divert a certain amount of the national capital from the production of cotton, wheat, rice, tobacco, &c., the equivalents sent to foreigners in payment of manufactured goods, to the direct production of these goods themselves! And as the latter species of industry is nowise suitable for America, a tax of 13,000,000l. a year was imposed on the Union, that the manufacturers might be enabled to continue a losing business. We leave it to others to determine whether the absurdity of the system, or its costliness, be its more prominent feature. That its influence was not more injurious, is solely owing to the smuggling it occasioned. With a frontier like that of America, and with a half or more of the population hostile to the tariff, it would have been worse than absurd to suppose that it could be carried into full effect. But it had enough of influence to render it in the last degree prejudicial-to occasion a great rise in the price of many important articles-to cripple the trade and navigation of the country-and to throw a considerable part of it into the hands of foreigners, who carried it on in defiance of the law.

It is difficult, however, to say how long this perverse system might have been maintained, but for its political effects. It was principally patronised by the Northern States. We believe, indeed, that it is quite impossible to show that they either did or could derive any benefit from it; but, at all events, it is quite certain that it was highly injurious to the Southern States. Their staple products are cotton, tobacco, and rice, of which by far the largest portion is exported to foreign countries: and the planters speedily found that every restriction on importation from abroad occasioned a corresponding difficulty of exportation. This led to a disunion of interests, and to strong remonstrances against the tariff by the Southern States. These, however, were disregarded. Provoked by this treatment, South Carolina took the decisive step of refusing to enforce the customs acts; and threatened, if coercion were attempted, to repel force by force, and to recede from the Union! This was a death-blow to the tariff. Congress now saw, what all sensible men had seen long before, that it was necessary to recede; that, in fact, either the tariff must be modified, or the integrity of the Union be brought into jeopardy. A law was accordingly passed on the 14th of July, 1832, which directed a considerable deduction to be made from the duties on various articles after the 3d of March, 1833; and a subsequent act, commonly called "Mr. Clay's New Tariff Bill," was passed on the 2d of March, 1833, providing for the future gradual reduction of the duties. These judicious acts restored tranquillity; and, there can be no doubt, will be, in every point of view, highly beneficial to the republic.

We subjoin the act of the 22d of March, 1833, and the explanatory letter of Mr. M'Lane, Secretary 10 the Treasury.

Mr. CLAY'S NEW TARIFF BILL,

To modify the Act of the 14th of July, 1832, and all other Acts imposing Duties on Imports. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in congress assembled, that, from and after the 31st of December, 1833, in all cases where duties are imposed

on foreign imports by the act of July 14, 1832, entitled "An Act to alter and amend the several Acts imposing Duties on Imports," or by any other act, shall exceed 20 per cent. on the value thereof, one tenth part of such excess shall be deducted; from and after the 31st of December, 1835, another tenth part thereof shall be deducted; from and after the 31st of December, 1837, another tenth part thereof shall be deducted; from and after the 31st of December, 1839, another tenth part thereof shall be deducted; and from and after the 31st of December, 1841, one half of the residue of such excess shall be deducted; and from and after the 39th of June, 1912, the other half thereof shall be deducted. Sect. II. And be it further enacted, that so much of the second section of the act of the 14th of July aforesaid, as fixes the rate of duty on all milled and fulled cloth, known by the name of plains, kerseys, or Kendal cottons, of which wool is the only material, the value whereof does not exceed 35 cents a square yard, at 5 per cent. ad valorem, shall be and the same is hereby repealed. And the said articles shall be subject to the same duty of 50 per cent, as is provided by the said 21 section for other manufactures of wool, which duty shall be liable to the same reductions as are prescribed by the 1st

section of this act.

Sect. III-And be it further enacted, that until the 30th of September, 1842, the duties imposed by existing laws, as modified by this act, shall remain and continue to be collected. And from and after the day last aforesaid, all duties on imports shall be collected in ready money, and all credits now allowed by law, to the payinent of duties, shall be and are hereby abolished, and such duties shall be laid for the purpose of raising such revenues as may be necessary to an economical administration of the government; and from and after the day last aforesaid, the duties required to be paid by law on goods, wares, and merchandise, shall be assessed upon the value thereof at the port where the saine shall be entered, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law.

Sect. IV. And be it further enacted, that, in addition to the articles now exempted by the act of the 14th of July, 1832, and the existing laws, from the payment of duties, the following articles imported from and after the 31st of December, 1833, and until the 30th of June, 1812, shall also be admitted to entry free from duty; to wit, bleached and unbleached linens, table linens, linen napkins, and linen cambrics, and worsted stuff goods, shawls, and other manufactures of silk and worsted, manufactures of silk, or of which silk shall be the component material of chief value, coming from this side of the Cape of Good Hope, except sewing silk.

Sect. V. And be it further enacted, that from and after the said 30th of June, 1812, the following articles shall be admitted to entry free from duty; to wit, indigo, quicksilver, sulphur, crude saltpetre, grindstones, refined borax, emery, opium, tin in plates or sheets, gum Arabic, gum Senegal, lac dye, madder, madder root, nuts and berries used in dyeing, saffron, turmeric, woad or pastel, aloes, ambergris, Burgundy pitch, cochineal, camomile flowers, coriander seed, catsup, chalk, cocculus Indicus, horn plates for lanterns, ox horns, other horns and tips, India rubber, unmanufactured ivory, juniper berries, musk, nuts of all kinds, oil of juniper, unmanufactured rattans and reeds, tortoiseshell, tin foil, shellac, all vegetables used principally in dyeing and composing dyes, weld, and all articles employed chiefly for dyeing, except alum, copperas, bichromate of potash, prussiate of potash, chromate of potash, and nitrate of lead, aquafortis and tartaric acid. And all imports on which the 1st section of this act may operate, and all articles now admitted to entry, free from duty or paying a less rate of duty than 20 per cent. ad valorem before the said 30th of June, 1812, from and after that day may be admitted to entry, subject to such duty, not exceeding 20 per cent. ad valorem, as shall be provided for by law. Sect. VI-And be it further enacted, that so much of the act of July 14, 1832, or of any other act, as is inconsistent with this act, shall be and the same is hereby repealed: provided that nothing herein contained shall be so construed as to prevent the passage, prior or subsequent to the said 30th of June, 1812, of any act or acts from time to time, that may be necessary to detect, prevent, or punish evasion of the duties on imports imposed by law; nor to prevent the passage of any act prior to the 30th of June, 1812, in contingency either of excess or deficiency of revenue, altering the rate of duties on articles which, by the aforesaid act of the 14th of July, 1832, are subject to a less rate of duty than 20 per cent. ad valorem, in such manner, as not to exceed that rate, and so as to adjust the revenue to either of the said contingencies.

Circular to Officers of the Customs.

Treasury Department, April 20, 1833. The 7th section of the act of the 14th of July, 1832, entitled "An Act to alter and amend the several Acts imposing the Duties on Imports," provides, that in all cases where the duty which now is or hereafter may be imposed on any goods, wares, or merchandise imported into the United States, shall, by law, he regulated, or be directed to be estimated or levied upon the value of the square yard, or any other quantity or parcel thereof, and in all cases where there is or shall be imposed any ad valorem rate of duty on any goods, wares, or merchandise imported into the United States, it shall be the duty of the collector, within whose district the same shall be imported or entered, to cause the actual value thereof, at the time purchased, and place from which the same shall have been imported into the United States, to be appraised, estimated, and ascertained, and the number of such yards, parcels, or quantities, and such actual value of every of them as the case may require; and it shall, in every case, be the duty of the appraisers of the United States, and every of them, and every other person who shall act as such appraiser, by all the reasonable ways or means in his or their power, to ascertain, estimate, and appraise the true and actual value, any invoice or affidavit thereto to the contrary notwithstanding, of the said goods, wares, and merchandise, at the time purchased, and place from whence the same shall have been imported into the United States, and the number of such yards, parcels, or quantities, and such actual value of every of them as the case may require, &c. &c.

The 9th section of the same act provides, “that it shall be the duty of the secretary of the treasury, under the direction of the President of the United States, from time to time to establish such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the laws of the United States, as the President of the United States shall think proper, to secure a just, faithful, and impartial appraisal of all goods, wares, and merchandise as aforesaid, imported into the United States, and just and proper entries of such actual value thereof, and of the square yards, parcels, or other quantities, as the case may require, and of such actual value of every of them; and it shall be the duty of the secretary of the treasury to report all such rules and regulations, with the reasons therefor, to the next session of Congress."

The 1st section of the act of the 24 of March, 1833, entitled "An act to modify the Act of the 14th of July, 132, and all other Acts imposing Duties on Imports," declares, "that from and after the 31st of December, 1833, in all cases where duties are imposed on foreign imports by the act of the 14th of July, 1832, entitled 'An Act to alter and amend the several Acts imposing Duties on Imports,' or by any other act, shall exceed 20 per cent. on the value thereof, one tenth part of such excess shall be deducted," &c.

It is believed that by this provision, and as necessary to the execution of the law, all duties imposed by any act of Congress upon foreign imports are substantially regulated by, and are directed to be -estimated and levied upon, the value of the square yard, where that is the form, and upon some other quantity or parcel in cases where the duty is not imposed by the square yard; and that consequently the authority conferred by the 9th section aforesaid must necessarily be exercised, for the more effec tual execution of the said act of the 2d of March, 1833.

The following rules and regulations are therefore established, under the direction of the President

of the United States, for the purpose of securing a just, faithful, and impartial appraisal of all goods, wares, and merchandise imported into the United States from and after the 31st of December next, and for the just and proper entries of the actual value thereof, and of the square yard, parcels or other quantities, as the case may require.

In all cases of ad valorem duties under the act of the 14th of July, 1832, or any other act, the regulations at present authorised by law, for ascertaining the actual value, will remain unaltered. With respect to those articles liable to a specific duty, or other duty than that of ad valorem, the actual value thereof at the time purchased, and place from which the same shall have been imported into the United States or in the country wherein the same may have been originally manufactured, or produced, as the case may be, will be appraised, estimated, and ascertained, and the number of yards, or square yards, tons, pounds, gallons, bushels, or other parcels or quantities, and such actual value of any of them as the case may require, and just and proper entries thereof be made, in the same manner and according to the same regulations, as are required by the said act of the 14th of July, 1832, and other acts now in force in regard to articles paying ad valorem duty; and in all such cases the same verification of invoices and other proofs will be required and produced as are at present authorised in respect to articles liable by previous acts to an ad valorem duty. The value of all such articles being thus ascertained, the proportion which the duty now paid by such articles bears to the said value will be calculated, and from the excess thereof beyond 20 per cent. there will be deducted, from and after the 31st of December next, 10 per cent.; that is to say, where such proportion shall be equal to 50 per cent., there shall be deducted 10 per cent. upon 30 per cent., or 3 dollars; and from and after the 31st of December, 1835 the like deduction shall be made from the same excess, or 10 per cent. upon 30 per cent., being 3 dollars more; and in the same manner, at the several periods specified in the said act of the 2d of March, 1833, until the 31st of December, 1841; from and after which, one half of the residue of such excess will be deducted, and the other half thereof from and after the 30th of June, 1842.

From the proportion of the duty thus ascertained upon the wines of France, in addition to the said 10 per cent., there will also be deducted such further per cent. as will be necessary to preserve the discrimination in favour of such wines, stipulated in the convention between the United States and his Majesty the King of the French, concluded at Paris on the 4th of July, 1831, and authorised by law.

It may be proper to observe, that all manufactures of cotton, or of which cotton shall be a component part, will be appraised, estimated, and ascertained, and the number of yards, square yards, or otherwise, parcel or quantities, and of such actual value thereof as the case may require, will be ascertained, and just and proper entries thereof made, according to the foregoing regulations.

It is believed that the value of foreign imports referred to in the act of the 2d of March, 1833, is not the assumed value on which the duty upon all manufactures of cotton, or of which cotton shall be a component part, is directed to be estimated under the act of the 14th of July, 1832; viz. of thirty cents, if not dyed, coloured, painted, or stained, though valued at less than 30 cents; and of thirty-five cents, if dyed, coloured, painted, or stained, though valued at less than 35 cents the square yard. This value is merely artificial, and assumed by previous laws as a means of augmenting the ad valorem rate of duty, imposed for the purpose of protection, upon such articles; and the amount of the duty, although ascertained by the adoption of the minimum principle, is the proportion which the sum collected by the government bears to the actual value of the article; and, therefore, a quantity of such cottons, costing in fact 80 dollars, but valued for the purpose of the act of the 14th of July, 1832, at 240 dollars, really pays a duty of 75 per cent. upon the true value thereof.

The act of the 24 of March, 1833, however, proceeds upon a different principle, and aims at a different purpose. It obviously intends to make an equal deduction from the duty on all foreign imports, and ultimately to reduce it to a rate not exceeding 20 per cent. upon the real, and not an assumed, value of the articles imported. This last purpose is explicitly stated in the last clause of the 5th section, which provides "that all imports on which the 1st section of this act may operate, and all articles now admitted to entry free of duty, or paying a less rate of duty than 20 per cent. ad valorem, before the said 30th of June, 1842, from and after that day may be admitted to entry, subject to such duty, not exceeding 20 per cent. ad valorem, as shall be provided for by law." And the 1st section, which has been already referred to, expressly provides for the deduction, after the 30th of June, 1842, of all excess of foreign imports above 20 per cent. on the value thereof, which shall have been imposed by previous laws, and to which they may then be subject.

The object of thus establishing a general ad valorem duty on foreign imports, and of equalising_the rate, can only be attained by calculating the duty on the real instead of the assumed value. This purpose is more particularly manifest from the last clause of the 3d section, which provides, that from and after the 30th of June, 1842, “the duties required to be paid by law on goods, wares, and merchandise, shall be assessed upon the value thereof at the port where the same shall be entered, under such regulations as may be prescribed by law." Each of these clauses relates to the actual value of the foreign import, and they differ only in estimating that value; previously to the 30th of June, 1842, the value in the foreign port being taken, and after that time, the value at the port of entry. The object of neither can be accomplished at any period, by adhering either to the nominal value assumed by previous acts, or to the rate of ad valorem founded upon such assumption.

In all importations of manufactures of cotton, therefore, or of which cotton shall be a component part, after the 31st of December, 1832, the value thereof will be ascertained in the manner aforesaid; and from the amount which the rate of duty under the act of the 14th of July, 1832, or any other act, shall exceed 20 per cent. on such value, the deduction required by the act of the 2d of March, 1833, will be made according to the foregoing rules.

Though these rules and regulations will not go into effect until the 1st of January next, they have been thus early adopted and made public, for the purpose of giving timely notice to the manufacturers and merchants, and all others concerned; and especially as to the verification, by the consuls abroad of the invoices of importations to be made after that time.

Drawback. All articles subject to duty imported into the United States, not having been landed more than 3 years, are allowed a drawback of the duties, on exportation of the same (except foreign dried and pickled fish, and other salt provisions, and chain cables). Credits. When the duty on an article of which wool is not a component part does not exceed 200 dollars, it must be paid in cash without discount; when it exceeds 200 dollars, a credit of 3 months is allowed for the 1-2, and of 6 months for the other 1-2, reckoning from the date of the vessel's entry. Duties on wool, and all manufactures of wool, to be paid in cash without discount.

Discount-When the duties on any article, except wool and woollen manufactures, exceed 200 dollars, and they are paid in cash at the time of entry, the porter is entitled to a discount of 4 per cent. Leakage and Breakage.-On spirits, 2 per cent.; ale, beer, and porter, in bottles, 10 per cent.; all other liquors, in bottles, 5 per cent.

Restrictions. No goods to be imported in vessels less than 30 tons burden. No beer, ale, and porter, in casks of less capacity than 40

LOUIS M'LANE, Secretary of the Treasury.

gallons, beer measure; or, if in bottles, in packages less than 6 dozen. No distilled spirits in casks of less capacity than 90 gallons, wine measure, except brandy, which may be imported in casks of any capacity, not less than 15 gallons.

Tonnage Duty-On American vessels, and the vessels of Den. mark, Central America, Netherlands, Hamburg, Bremen, Lubeck, Prussia, Sweden, Norway, Oldenburgh, Russia, Austria, Brazil, Hanover, Papal Dominions, Portugal, and Sardinia, from whatever port or place, and on French vessels coming from Martinique and Guadeloupe, free. On French vessels from other ports, and on all other foreign vessels (except as above enumerated) coming from ports where Americans are permitted to trade, I dollar per ton; and from ports where Americans are not permitted to trade, 2 dollars and 50 cents per ton.

On Spanish vessels, coming direct from Spain, 5 cents per ton. Free Goods.-The following, among other articles, are admitted free of duties:-Antimony, almonds, aloes, annotto, amber, ambergris, argols, arrowroot, arsenic, assafoetida.-Balsams, barilla, bees'

« AnteriorContinuar »