restoration to power will have on the pros- Lieut. Col. Watson, of the Baltimore Volun pects of an amicable settlement of our diffi-teers; and Brevet Major Barbour, Brevet Major culties, it is impossible to tell, though the McCall, Capt. Morris, Capt. Field, Lieutenants general impression is that it will be favorable. Irwin, Hazlitt. Haskins and Woods, all of the regular army; also Capt. Williams, of the Corps of Topographical Engineers; Lieut. Terrett; Capt. Since the above sketch was written, and MeKavett, 8th Infantry; Capt. Battlem, 1st Tennesthe first edition of this Almanac was put to see Regiment; Lieut. Putnam, ist do.; a Lieutenpress, considerable progress has been made ant in a German company; and Lieut. Graham; in the War, but we have only space to state Lieut. Armstrong, Ohio Regiment; Capt. Gilesa few of the more prominent facts connected pie, of the Texas Rangers. with it. The Mexican force is supposed to have Gen. Kearney reached Santa Fé the 18th been about 11,000, and their loss 1,000. (of August, and took formal possession of the Gen. Wool, who had been ordered to Scity, without meeting with any opposition.-march at the head of about 3,000 troops upon He hoisted the American flag, and, by au- Chihuahua, arrived at Monclova, the Capital thority of the President, declared New Mex- of Coahuila, on the 30th of October, and took ico a part of the United States, and appointed military possession without opposition. Monthe following Civil Officers for the Govern-clova is a town of about 5,000 inhabitants. ment of the Territory. Governor, CHARLES In the Gulf, our Squadron has made another) BENT; Secretary, Don Aduciano Vigil; abortive attack on Alvarado. On the 23d of Marshal, Richard Dallam; U. S. District At-October, Commodore Perry, with the United torney, Francis P. Blair; Treasurer, Charles States steamer Mississippi, Vixen, McLane, (Blummer; Auditor Pub. Accounts, Eugene and several other vessels, arrived at the mouth Leitensdorfer; Judges Supreme Court, Joab of Tabasco River, and captured the town of Haughton, Antonio Jose Otero, and Charles Frontera, two steamers and several other vesBaubien. Such of the Alcaldes of the small sels in port. The next day he arrived with towns, and officers of Santa Fé, as chose to his fleet at Tabasco, a town about 70 miles up take the oath of allegiance to the United States, the River, and demanded a surrender, which were continued in office. Gen. K. left a was refused. A few shots were exchanged strong garrison at Santa Fé; ordered a por- between our Marines and a handful of Mexi tion of his force, under Col. Doniphan, to join can soldiers stationed at Tabasco, and the Gen. Wool at Chihuahua; and with a small town was soon in the possession of the Comforce started himself for California. modore; but, finding the military possession The whole of California is now in the pos- of the place of little or no importance, he session of the United States, having been tak- withdrew, destroying such Mexican vessels en with very slight opposition. Com. Stock as he could not conveniently take with him. Ston, Commander in-Chief of the Pacific Squad- He left the mouth of the River under blockron, has declared himself Governor of Califor- ade. During this expedition the following nia, and has issued a sort of Constitution or vessels were captured and manned: AmeriCode of Laws for the government of the Ter- can bark Coosa; Mexican schr. Telegraph ritory. steamers Petrita and Tabasqueno; hermaphGen. Taylor, with force of about 7,000 rodite brig Yunante; schrs. Laura, Virginia, men, arrived before Monterey on the 19th of Tabasco, and Amanda; American brig PlySeptember, and, after a bloody siege of three mouth. The following were burned: Mexi(days, Ampudia, the Mexican Commander, can sloop Campeachy, brig Rentville, a towScapitulated, under the following terms: That boat and a schooner. Lieut. C. W. Morris and Sthe Mexican officers should be allowed to three seamen were lost during the expedition. Smarch out with their side-arms; the Cavalry On the 14th of November, Com. Conner Sand Infantry with their arms and accoutre- took possession of Tampico without opposiments; the Artillery with one battery of 6tion, the Mexican troops having previously pieces and 21 rounds of ammunition; that all evacuated the town. The possession of this other munitions of war and supplies should place is considered important. be turned over to the Americans; that the Santa Anna arrived at Vera Cruz in AugMexican Army should be allowed 7 days to ast, having passed our blockade by consent? evacuate the city; that the Mexicans should of President Polk. He was received home be allowed to salate their flag when hauled from exile with great demonstrations of joy. (down; that there should be an armistice of and the revolt against Paredes's Government Seight weeks, during which time neither army became general throughout Mexico. Paredes should pass a line running from the Ranco-left Mexico an exile, and Santa Anna was Snada through Linares and San Fernando. chosen General-in-Chief of the Mexican Ar The American loss in killed and wounded my. He is now (December) understood to in this siege was a few less than 500. Among be at San Luis Potosi with a large forcethe American officers killed and mortally some say 30,000 men-awaiting an attack wounded were the following: from Gen. Taylor. Thus matters now stand.) BINGEN. BY HON. MRS. NORTON. A SOLDIER of the Legion lay dying in Algiers, There was lack of woman's nursing, there was dearth of woman's tears; The dying soldier faltered as he took that comrade's band, And he said, "I never more shall see my own, my native land; "Tell my brothers and companions, when they meet and crowd around, My heart leaped forth to hear him tell of struggles fierce and wild; I let them take whate'er they would-but kept my father's sword; "Tell my Sister not to weep for me, and sob with drooping head, To listen to him kindly, without regret or shame; And to hang the old sword in its place, (my father's sword and mine,, "There's another--not a sister;-in the happy days gone by, Oh! friend, I fear the lightest heart makes sometimes heaviest mourning! My body will be out of pain-my soul be out of prison.) I dreamed I stood with her, and saw the yellow sunlight shine On the vine-clad hills of Bingen,-fair Bingen on the Rhine! 'I saw the blue Rhine sweep along-I heard, or seemed to hear, AD VALOREM DUTIES. EXTRACT FROM MR. WEBSTER'S SPEECH ON THE TARIFF OF 1846. IN SENATE, JULY 25. Mr. President: I now proceed to that branch of possible. Standing here in his place Mr. Buchanthe subject to which I propose first to call the at-an said: Stention of the Senate. The proposition of this "I am (said Mr. B.) not only opposed to any unibillis to collect all duties and customs by an uni- form scale of ad valorem, but to any and all ad valoversal ad valorem assessment-not an equal as-rem duties whatever, except where, from the na-) (sessment, it is true, but still a system of ad valo-ture of the article imported, it is not possible to (rem duties, entirely. Now that has not been the subject it to a specific duty. Our own severe expeSpractice of the Government, at any time since its rience has taught us a lesson on this subject which (organization. In every administration, from that we ought not soon to forget. I cannot refrain from (of Washington down, a contrary system has al-adverting to some of my reasons for this opinion. "Our ad valorem system has produced great (ways prevailed. And the desire of those who frauds upon the revenue, while it has driven the (have successfully formed and administered the regular American merchant from the business of (laws in this respect, has been, uniformly, to car-importing, and placed it almost exclusively in the (ry the principles of specific duties as far and as hands of the agents of British manufacturers. The (fast as circumstances allowed. That I take to American importer produces his' invoice to the col(have been the policy of the Government from lector, containing the actual price at which the imthe first; and it has been the sentiment of all ports were collected abroad, and he pays the fair (connected with the Government, so far as I know. and regular duty upon this invoice. Not so the British agent. The foreign manufacturer, in his inought, perhaps, to make an exception in the voice, reduces the price of the articles which he incase of Mr. Clay. I said here, the other day, that tends to import into our country to the lowest posI had never heard a public man advocate a system sible standard which he thinks will enable them to of ad valorem duties. The newspapers say (per-pass through the Custom-House without being seized haps correctly,) that I was mistaken; that Mr. for fraud. And the business has been hitherto manClay had made remarks favorable to that idea, aged with so much ingenuity as generally to es in 1842. I was not in the Senate at that time, and cape detection. The consequence is, that the BritI did not know that such such sentiments had the Custom-House, on the payment of a much lower ish agent passes the goods of his employer through ever been expressed by him; and if they are duty than the fair American merchant is compelled correctly reported, I am very sorry that such to pay. In this manner he is undersold in the marsentiments were expressed by him. ket by the foreigner, and thus is driven from the competition, while the public revenue is fraudulently reduced. Mr. CRITTENDEN here said, will the Senator pardon me while I interrupt him for a moment, in order to offer an explanation? Mr. Clay's re"Again; ad valorem duties deprive the American marks had reference solely to home valuation. manufacturer of nearly all the benefits of incidental Mr. WEBSTER proceeded. Ah! that explains business of the country is depressed, as it is protection where it is most required. When the the whole matter, and it is a great relief to my at present, and when the price of foreign articles mind. I am very much obliged to the honorable sinks to far less than their cost, your duty sinks in Senator. Mr. Clay's proposition, then, was, "If the same proportion, and you are also deprived of you will bring the article here, and value it here, revenue at the time when it is most needed. Sindependent of the foreign invoice, why then I "Our own experience, therefore, ought to have will take that system of valuation." Well, that convinced us that, whenever it is possible, from Sand this are wide as the Poles apart. That qual- the nature of the article, we ought to substitute speSification of the principle makes it sensible, at the same upon the same articles, notwithstanding least, and far less objectionable, as a revenue the constant fluctuations in prices. They afford a measure. A home valuation, by judges of our steady revenue to the country, and an equally Sown appointment here, is one thing; but a valu steady incidental protection. When commodities Sation founded on foreign invoices and the state-are usually sold by weight or by measure, you may ments of foreign costs, and on foreign oaths, is always subject them to a specific duty; and this another and quite a different thing. I am glad to ought always to be done. find, therefore, that Mr. Clay's authority stands "Let us, then, abandon the idea of a uniform horSexactly where it should stand on such a ques-duties be high or low, let us return to the ancient izontal scale of ad valorem duties; and whether the tion as this-in strict conformity with his know-practice of the Government. Let us adopt wise Sledge, his experience, and his character. discriminations; and, whenever this can be done, cific for ad valorem duties. These continue to be Sir, in the same year, (1842) the present Secre- impose specific duties." (tary of State, in a speech in the Senate, reasoned Now let me say, sir, that it is proper for us, be(in the strongest language upon the entire neces-fore we go on this new and untried system, to (sity, the absolute necessity, of carrying the prin- consider the opinions of practiced and experi ciple of specification in laying duties as far as enced men who have gone before us. On the WEBSTER'S SPEECH. 28th of February, 1817, the House of Represen-And here is the circular which, in consequence tatives, on motion of Mr. Ingham of Pennsylva of that, Mr. Crawford addressed to the collectnia, came to this resolution: "February 28, 1817. ore: [Circular. On motion by Mr. Ingham"TREASURY DEPARTMENT, 25th May, 1818. Resolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be 6: As the revenue of the United States is now directed to report to Congress, at the next session, exclusively derived from imports and tonnage, and such measures as may be necessary for the more from the sale of the public lands, it is extremely effectual execution of the laws for the collection of important to render both systems as perfect as the the duties on imported goods, wares and merchan- nature of human institutions will permit. The certainty with which SPECIFIC duties are col dise." In answer to this, Mr. Crawford, the then Sec-lected give them a decided advantage over duties retary of the Treasury, after having recom- that the most important change which can be made in laid upon the VALUE of the article. It is probable mended various new provisions for the preven- the SYSTEM will be the substitution of SPECIFIC for ad tion of fraud, said: valorem duties upon all articles susceptible of that) "Whatever may be the reliance which ought to change. be placed in the efficacy of the foregoing provis- Sensible of the importance of this change, the ions, it is certainly prudent to diminish, as far as House of Representatives, at the close of the last practicable, the list of articles paying ad calorem du- session, adopted a resolution directing the Secretaties. ry of the Treasury 'to report,' &c. In complying with this resolution, I must avail) myself of the experience which you have acquired) in the discharge of your official duties. "The best examination which circumstances have permitted, has resulted in the conviction that the following list of articies, now paying ad valorem duties, may be subjected to specific duties." To place this Department, as well as the House Then follows the list, amounting to seventyof Representatives, in a situation to judge of the one in all. Here, then, in answer to the call of as you may suppose to be susceptible of it, I will propriety of making the change upon such articles the House, as to what measures ought to be thank you to present them in the form of the stateadopted by Congress for the greater security of ment annexed [not preserved] to this communica-) the public revenue, Mr. Crawford, at the end of tion, showing the original cost of the article, the a series of suggestions, amounting I think to expense of freight, commissions, and insurance, twenty-two, adds: "After all, the true course is the rate of ad valorem duty now paid, and its to go, as far as possible, on the line of specifie du-mount in the form of a specific duty, and the specific ties. At the next session of Congress, having duty proposed to be laid upon it. received the foregoing intimation of Mr. Crewford's opinion. Mr. Ingham moved another resolution, as follows: "April, 20th, 1818. "On motion by Mr. InghamResolved, That the Secretary of the Treasury be directed to report to Congress, at their next eesSsion what farther improvement it may be practica(ble to make in the tariff of duties upon imported goods, wares, and merchandise, by charging spe cific duties upon articles which are now charged with daties ad valorem. 1 am, &c. &c. [Signed.] WM. H. CRAWFORD. P. S. Is it practicable to subject cloths of wool, cotton, or flax, &c. &c. to specific duties, by combining the number of threads, in a given extent, with the weight of the cloth? It is asserted by some of the English manufacturers to be entirely? practicable by the aid of magnifying glasses constructed for that object. [Circular.] TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Nov. 11th, 1817. SIR: The House of Representatives having, by resolution, required the Secretary of the Treasury TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Feb. 8th, 1819. to refer to Congress, at the next session, such meaSIR: In obedience to a resolution of the House of sures as may be necessary for the more effectual exRepresentatives of the 20th of April, 1818, directing cution of the laws or the collection of the duties the Secretary of the Treasury to report to Con- on goods, wares and merchandise, I have to regress at its next session what farther improvement quest that you will inform me whether, in the dieSit may be practicable to make in the tariff duties charge of your official duties, any important deupon imported goods, wares and merchandise, by tects have been detected in the existing provisions. As it is is only by experience that any system of Schurging specific duties upon articles which are now charged with duties ad valorem,' I have the revenue can be brought to approximate to a state honer to submit the enclosed list of articles, exhibit- of perfection, it is important to collect into a gening the original cost, the freight, insurance and com-eral mass the practical experience of the intelligent missions, where it has been practicable; the present officers employed in superintending the immediate ad valorem duty reduced to a specific form; and execution of the system. You will therefore have the goodness, in pointing) Sthe specific duty which it is conceived may be imposed upon them, respectively, consistent with the out existing defects, to present to the Departments the provisions best calculated, in your opinion, to public interest. It is probable that this list may be considerably effect the object contemplated by the National Leg extended, should the subject receive no final dispo-An early attention to this subject is requested. sition during the present session. I have the honor to be Your most obedient servant, WM. H. CRAWFORD. islature. I am, respectfully, &c. [Signed.] WM. H. CRAWFORD, &c." Naw, sir, what is the great fact that makes ad valorem duties unsafe as a general principle of i The Hon. the Speaker of the H. of Reps." WEBSTER'S SPEECH. all Governinents where the system of ad valorem the habit of making importations of certain ar duties in any degree prevails, and the value is ticles from the North. In these articles they ascertained upon the invoices or proof from found themselves constantly undersold by the abroad, it is the notoriety of a thousand such dealers in New-York, They could not undercases of fraud that has led to the adoption of this stand the reason of this for a long time, but last general rule, and raised it even into a principle, spring the secret came to light. They had or-S as I have mentioned. My honorable friend from dered a small amount of hardware to be sent to Maine (Mr. EVANS) must have satisfied the hon-them, and in due time the goods came, and two orable chairman and the Senate, as well as every invoices came with them. In one invoice the body else, of the number and the notoriety of the cost was stated at 958 thalers, in the other at 1,402.5 cases of fraudulent under-valuation, because he And the letter accompanying these invoices says: enumerated instances, and hundreds of instances, You find herewith duplicate invoices of the in which goods were seized and forfeited for un-greatest part of your order, &c. The original I der-valuation. I know no limit to that list of send by Havre packet. You also find herewith an cases; and, sir, since this subject has come up, invoice made up in the manner like [that which] the and since persons out of doors have heard the most importers of your country require-perhaps to declaration of the honorable chairman, my desk save some duty.' Shas been laboring under the weight of cases and Now, sir, these original invoices, the false and facts communicated from various portions of the the true, and the original letter which I have commercial community. I will state only a read, are now in my hand, and any gentleman few, out of hundreds. Here is one, and here is who may feel disposed, may look at them. Of the proof: course, Messrs. Gray & Co. carried both invoices "A merchant orders goods to be shipped from to the Custom-House, because they were honoraFrance and entered at New-Orleans, for the West-ble merchants, and the duties were assessed on ern trade, with the understanding that he is to have the higher invoice. And by this time these gen(them at the foreign cost, with the duties and tlemen were no longer at a loss to account for charges added. the low price at which this description of merA shipment was made with and forwarded to the chandise had been selling in the city of Newpurchaser, amounting to..........6,829.93 francs. York. At the same time the invoice forward ed with the goods to New-Orleans was.... Difference.. $316 94 out of $1,300 94. But now, sir, take not a single case, but the re5,258.00 francs. sults of long experience. I am about to read & letter, not addressed to me, but placed in my ..1,571.93 francs. hands, from a gentleman well known, I presume, The goods were valued therefore, in the entry, at to both the Senators of New-York, and to other $316 94 less than they were to the purchaser, and members. This letter, I think, will startle the the purchaser was actually charged for the duty on honorable chairman. It must open to his mind this $316 94 as paid to the Government, amounting quite a new view of things. to $95 10, Both the Government and the purchuser were, therefore, cheated out of that sum. "TROY, July 14, 1846. LE GRAND CANNON, Esq. Sir: Agreeably to This transaction occurred in the Spring of 1846, and I send you a copy of the correspondence in your wish, I avail myself of this opportunity to give which these facts are stated, and not denied; but manufacturing business, hoping it may tend to an you the benefit of my experience in mercantile and (the French house attempts a round-about justification for putting the foreign cost to the purchasers improvement of the bill, now pending in the Senate, for the collection of duties. I hope Members (at a greater amount than the entry invoice. J. D." This transaction occurred this very year. And able results which I anticipate, which are, that the of Congress will have the same views of the prob here, sir, is another, communicated by a most system of ad valorem duties does give the foreign highly respectable merchant of my acquaintance. importer and manufacturer a very undue advantage Hear the letter: over the American importer. This will be apparent "BOSTON, July 17th, 1846. from my own experience, which I give you anDEAR SIR: I am informed that a respectable nexed. My brother and myself were brought up Shouse in this city received an invoice of European in the town of Manchester, and well acquainted goods from a foreign house, the amount of which with the manufacturers and manufacturing. At the was about $2,000, and that after entering the goods age of twenty years it appeared very evident to at the Custom-House by the invoices, they received me that we could finish goods and import goods another invoice valuing the same goods at about into New-York about ten per cent. lower than the $8,000, with a letter, stating that the first invoice American merchant; and with this conviction I was to levy duties by, and the second to sell by. agreed to come out to New-York and dispose of The consignee here, who is also an importer, not the goods, and leave my brother to finish and forbeing willing to be a party to the fraud, deposited ward the goods. (both invoices at the Custom-House, where they were yesterday. "The result was equal to our expectations. We imported our goods ten per cent. cheaper than our I have no doubt of the authority from which I re-competitors, and by the ad valorem duties we paid ceived this information, but I do not wish to be nearly five per cent. less duties; so that, in twentyquoted for it. two years, we made nearly a million of dollars, I have thought that you might be pleased to know while nearly all the American merchants failedthis fact, as the fraud is so great, and the perpetra- Now, I reason, what has been will be; and should tor beyond the reach of any penal statues of this the present tariff bill pass, it will give the foreign country. Your most obedient servant, Hon, D. WEBSTER, Washington. manufacturer a decided advantage, and tend to reduce the rate of duties lower than is anticipated.And I cannot avoid expressing my decided opinP. S. I hear that Mr. Lamson is the consignée." lion in favor of specific duties, as then the foreign Sir, one case more. A highly respectable firm manufacturer would pay the same duties as the in Boston (Messers. George H. Gray & Co.) have American importer. Signed, been dealers many years in hardware, and in BENJ. MARSHALL.” 1 |