PROHIBITORY DU HES.
OFFICIAL iti~:ro_R'i'.'
Letter from the Secretary of the Treasury, trans-.
mitting to Congress a report on the subject of
p,.0y,;_i-Jimig the importation of Cotton, Woolen
and Iron Manufactures, and his opinion of the
effect -such prohibition will have on the Reve-
nue of the United States.
T7_-caeury Dc/zarzmenf, Jan. 27, 1820.
Sm--In obedience to a resolution oftlic House
of Representatives, oftlie 4th inst. directing the
Secretary of the Treasury to inform the House
what reduction, in _ his opinion, it will make in
the Revenue, if the importation of Cotton and
Vioollen Manufactures, and Iron, be prohibilcda
and in what manner the deficit in ilie Revenue
may be supplied, should the prohibition be made,
I have the honor to submit statements oftlie a-
mount of revenue which accrued from those arti-
cles, from the year 1815 to 1818, inclusivc. _
The very great difl'c-reiice in the amount of rov-
enue which accrued during those years, vendors
it difficult to determine what the reduction'.wotild
he, should the prohibition be enforced. It is prob-
able that the deficiency, for a number of success-
ive years, would amount to the average sum of
six millions of dollars.
If an increase of the rate of duty would neces-
sarily augment the revenue in the same propor-
tion, the deficiency might be readily supplied.’-—
But reason and experience forbid the expectation
of such a result. The importance of foreign
merchandizs is regulated by an equivalent for
them. Any increase ofduty diminishes this ca-
pacity. \V hen carried to an extreme, it amounts
to prohibition. But the revenue will frequently
be diminished by an increase of duty, when the
consumption oftlie artfile is not diminished.-—
*vVhenever the‘duty is raised so high as to equal
the risk incurred by an attempt fo introduce'»_du-
iialile '.irticles.illiciily, smuggling: UPON 311 €313"-
. sive and systematic plan, commences. In .that
case, not only their consumption, but the capaci-
ty to pay for them may be increased, whilst the
. ievenue may be diminished.
Coiisirlering the facilities which the extent of
our coasts and froiitiers, and the numerous liar-
bors, bays, inlets, and rivers, by which they are
indented, furnish for the illicit introduction of for-
eign merchantlizc, the settler! policy of the gov-
eriitii<:nt has been to diminish. as far as practica-
ble, the temptation which high duties would fur-
nish to take advantage of ll‘lt.‘:5-B fztclilllt-S. Should
the existing duties be considerably raised, there
is just ground to apprehend lllill. the revenue
would be seduced, rather than augiiwiitctl by the
change. Indeed, there is just reason to believe,
that with the present rate of duty, the practice
ofsmuggliog is gradiially increasing. Any at-
tempt to raise the dcficiency which will be produ-
ced by the prohibition under consideration, by
an increase of duty upon the articles which will
-still be imported, will greatly increase the" ex-
pense of collection. by the necessity which it
would create,- to employ a greater number of_of-
fieers ofthe customs, toguard against smuggling,
and eventually fail to augment the re.-venue to the
required extent. The principal reliance for sup-
plying the deficiency which would be produced
by the adoption ofthe measifrc contemplated by
the resolution, must, it appears to me, be placed
in a system of internal duties, or direct tax.
In aid of either of these modes of augmenting
the revenue, ii small addition might be made up-
. on the rate of duty now paid upon linens, m’dl1tl-
factiit‘es of hemp. stiiff goods, coffee, brown su-
ga= , ‘tea.-, wines, molasses, spices, and other small
ar:ic‘.t-3. If a system of internal duties should
1,1: deemed, at this time, adviseable, an entire. pro-
llll.}ll.lOl’l of ardent spirits might be adopted, with-
out mateiial injury to the re‘.-'eniie, and with man-
ifest advantage to the agricultural in‘.erest. In
mat cifllt. the revgnue which has been hereto-
fore. received from the duties imposed upon for-
eign spirits, might be collected from domestic
spiri's. . _
I have the honor to be your most obedient ser-
vant, VV NI AVV l-“k)R
Ifim. S/tea/rrr aft/ie House 9/" Ra/2rc.s-ezztativcs.
A statement of the Duties arising on Imported
Merchaiizlize, paying an ad valorem duty of 25
per cent. to 30th June, l8i9, of which ¥Vool-
lens and cottons form almost the exclusive ar-
ticles, for the years I8l5, ’l6, ’l7, and ’l8,
with the amount of drawback annually paid on
re-e:-tportation.
..i'mount of duties. ./Imt. Q/'dra=wbacA'. ./Vet ./I/nount.
l8 l5
$317,813.27? 00
l8l6
11,013,142 00
l8 l 7 _
4,967,503 00
1818
6 753,003 00 1 534,307, 00 | 6,2is.7oi oo
Note-—Tiic Treasury recon ds do not afford any
means of ascertaining the amount of duties, so as
to distinguish the wooilens from the various des-
oiptiorts of cottons, whether from India or ‘Eu-
rope ; nor of cotton yarns from cotton piece
Josi-LPH Nouiuzs, Register.
..._¢1--211‘-It-—
Niitv-Yoiut, Feb. 9.
In the legislature, on Thursday, the committee
oti the subject of l-lorse Placing, made their re-
port, recommending a repeal of the present pro-
hibitory act, l)cCat'l‘SC it is operative only as to
that kind of racing which would be least obnox-
ious to the morals of the cominunity, and is in-
effectual in preventing that kind of racing which
induces the greatest immorality. The commit-
tee are of opinion that the practice of horse-ra-
cing, under proper regulations, is of importance
to the improvement ofilie breed. They have
accompanied their report by abill, making it the
duty of the sheriff of the county, or his deputy, to
be present when trials of speed may -take place.to
keep the peace upon the course, and to remove
from the same all gambling tables, Scc. for which
service he is to receive a compensation not to ex-
ceed 5 dollars a day ; and enacting that no race
shall take place without notice thcreofto the sher-
iii‘ of the county.
Sc/zoo! 1v'uncl.4—A bill has passed the Senate
making an appropriation to supply the deficit in
the monies to be distributed to the common
schools, for 1820. The deficit in this fund arose
from the circumstance that the state has received
iiodivideiids from their Banks in New-York ; ow-
ing to the embezzlement of the funds of the bank
189,768 oo 17,523,509 oo
981,791 00 l0,03l,35i 00
l
I
I
l
l
644,653 00 4,322,850 00
good 5.
l
by the clerks and agents ofjt. . The bill proposes
that an appropriation be made from the Treasu-
ry, to be reimbursed from the first monies from
quit rents and escheated lands.
_ AUGUSTA, Geo. Feb. 1.
Exec_utz'on.——On Friday last two negro men,
named Ephraim and Sam‘, were executed in con-
formity to their sentence, for the murder of their
master, Mr. Thomas Hancock, of Edgefield dis-
trict, S. C.--Sam was burnt and Ephraim hung,
and his head severed from his body and publicly
exposed. The circumstances attending the crime
forwliich these miserable beings have suffered,
were ofa nature so aggravated, as imper1o_usly
demanded the terrible punishment which has
been inflicted upon them.
The burning of malt-factors is a punishment
only resorted to,wlien absolute necessity demands
aisignal example. Itmust be a horrid and appal-
ling sight to see a human being consigned to the
flames. Let even fancy picture the scene—tlie
pile—the stake—-the victim—-and the mind sick-
ens, and sinks tmder the oppression of its own
feelings--wliattlieii must bethe dread reality !—
l“l'O!1"l some of the spectators we leaiii, that it was
a scene which transfixed iii" breathless horror al-
most every one who witnessed it. As the flames
approached him, the piercing shricks ofihe un-
fortunate victim struck upon the heart with a
fearful, painful vibration—-bot when the devour-
ing eleniciit seized upon his body, all u as hush-
ed—yet the cryof agony still thrilled in the ear
and an involuntary and sympathetic shudder ran
through the crowd. VVc hope that this awful
(llspeiisatlon ofjustice may be attended w_itli,s,ucli'
salutary effects as to forever preclude the neces-
sity of its repetition. _
The Blakely paper of the 19th ult. states-‘ Cap.
tain Dade’s company of regulars are now ~en-
camped in the rear ofthis town, and are waiting
for orders. 500 more men of the 4th Regiment
are expected herein a few days. Their destina-
tion is yet unknown, but we guess they will ere
long more towards the rising sun. This step
seems to indicate the views of our government in
regard to l.‘7lorida.’
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 8.
On Sunday last, a waggon and two horses, in‘
which was ti man and three women, in attempt-
ing to cross from Burlington on the ice to Penn-
sylvania, the ice broke, and the waggon, horses,
and two of the women went down and were seen
no more. '1‘ he man and woman who were sit-
ting on the front ofthe waggon, jumped off and
were saved.
On VVed1iesday last, the stage driver between
Mountjoy and Lancaster, (Pa.) took into tht
stage, and conveyed to Lancaster, a woman who
was so beniimbed with the cold, that she had fall-
en on her face in the snow by the road side, and
was sinking to sleep to wake no more, when she
was taken into the stage, and thus her life pre-
served.
-_.._jq§.;:.%&————
SOUTH AMERICA.
Extrac! Q/'a letter to the cd:'tor of:/re Democratic
Press.
‘ ST. THOMAS, Jan. 10. 1820.
‘ ‘Va have an arrival to day from M-argaritta,
which brings us positive accounts that l.aln'l:.l_-~l$
taken by the It1Cl8pf:l_1('le[li,_S__ under Gen. St. Mar-
tin-—and that Quito has declared itself indcpen-'
dent—and has sent deputies to Bolivar, at '5t.FcC- L
desiring to be admitted into the Union of Vene-
zuela and New Grenada. -
Bolivar, after establishing a government at St.
Fee, and taking the Spanish General Calsada,wlio
with about 400 men, had retreated into Pop-avzin,
a prisoner with his troops, had arrived with the
main army, which was consider'ably reinforced by
the New—Grena<lians, in the plains of Venezuela.
Bolivar himself made a hasty‘ visit to ./~‘:‘iigostt1i*a,
where he remained only 24: hours; during his
stay he made Geii.-Arismcndi, (who had acted as
Vice President) Governor General of Cumana, to
be taken, and Doctor Zea was re-appointed Vice
President, and is shortly to go to the U. States,
as Ambassador Extraordinary.
Mariano Montilla has arrived here from ,‘v'lar-
gai itta, but is to return again immediately, to take
charge of the expedition now ready at that Isl-
and, the destination of which is a secret.
Marino was with about 5000 men at Maturin,
and there fell sick, which has caused a delay of
his march. and it is feared will be very detrimen-
tal to the final movements of the Independents in
Venezuela.
The provinces of Venezuela and New Grena-
da have taken the name ofilie Republic of Co-
lumbia. The next opporttinity, 1 shall write you
again. I look on the Republic of Columbia as
firmly established. In a few months we shall see
Morillo’s power at an end.’ i
The Baltimore Patriot contains the following
extract of a letter from an English 1Vle1'chant.
' Aucosruna, Nov. 31. ,
‘ Despatches reached here tip to the l5th inst.;7
from Gen. Bolivar, announcing the junction of!
the army under his_ comniand, with the divisions
way here, to inspect the troops of Gen. Marino,
and to put the army of the East in motion, in or-
der that the intended attack on Morillo may take
place the moment the troops can be united. Mo-
rillo at the time the last accounts left him, was
fortifying himself in San Carlos, andtlen. Mo-
reas was in Calaboza, with a small division of
Spanish and native troops. The whole royal force
is estimated at 5000 men, principally natives ; and
the army of Gen. Bolivar, including the English
and Irish troops, will be upwards of 10,000 ex-
cellent troops, and in high spirits_. It is tho~opin-
ion of every one here, that the present campaign
will give liberty to the whole of Venezuela and
New Grenada.
The greatest harmony prevails among the civil
and military,‘ and during the absence of the Vice
President, Gen. Arismendi, who has gone on a
visit to Gen. Marino, Dr.Arbenejo is charged with
the administration oftlie government,and has giv-
en general satisfaction.
The government has purchased the American
brig Ellen, of Philadelphia, and has fitted her for
sea—she carries 16 long l8’s, and 1.50 men, and
is now cruizing off the Bar for the protection of
our commerce, which becomes every day more
important. The number of vessels of allnations
since the first May to the first inst. is 57, among
..
of Gen. P-aez, and Snublctt—-'I‘he latter is on his ,
which are 3 ships from England with troops, mil-
itary stores, arms, and clothing for the Legion of
Gen. Devereaux, 2600 ofwliich have arrived, and
the greater part of them have been landed at Ca-
ricco, and will be under the Command of Gen.
Marino until Gen. Devereaux arrives, and whois
now expected daily.
_ The Brigade of lightyartillery will leave this
immediately for San Diego, for the purpose of u-
niting with Marino. I hope very soon to be able
‘to give some further accounts oftlie operations
in this quarter, and which we are all in hopes will
be decisive.’
_A letter from an oflicer of the United States
frigate Macedonian, dated at Valparaiso on the
fourteenth October, says--‘ 'rVe have been to the
Gulph of Cal-afornia and Guayaquil--Lord Coch-
rane has become a freebooter, and will probably
capture every thing he can get hold of. Proper-
ty is by no means safe, and it is hoped the Amer.
ican govei-nment will direct’ an additional force
in this quarter.’
-&—.
SIDNEY, (New South VVales) Jan. 2.
This country never presented a scene more in-
tercsting to philanthropy and the congenial feel-
ings of Britons, than was exhibited at Paramatia
on the 28th ult. when, in pursuanceiof the invita-
tion of the Governor, the natives . or aborigines
of the territory, assembled together to partake of
the kindness and hospitality held out to them by
Government. At eleven in the forenoon the Gov-
ernor, accompanied by the Lieut. Governor, the
Members of the Native Institution, and several
other gentlemen, entered the circle where these
children of nature were seated. Chairs were
provided for the chiefs of tribes detached and ad-
vanced from the line of the grand circle, which
not only distinguishedthem personally, but shew-
ed the number or strength of their several tribes
which were placed to the left oftheir respe,ctiv'e
chieftains, and consisted of the families of each
of thetn. The number thus assembled was .300.
persons, among whom were some tribes who had
travelled from beyond the Blue Mountains to be
present at tliisfestival and who were distinguish-
able from the natives on this side, by their hair.
being decorated with a number of white feathers,
and the teeth of wild animals suspended in rude
festooiis over their foreheads; their bodies and
faces were also painted with red and white ochre,
which rendered their appearance siiigiilarlyoulre.
There were other tiibes from the north and
south, who had travelled a distance of 100 miles.
After his Excellency had conferred some badges
of chieftainship and of merit on the deserving.
the more interesting part of the ceremony took
place. This was the introduction of _the Native
lnstitutioii into that circle, where they were
shown to their relatives and friends, and gave
specimens of their progress in reading, writing,
aiitl drawing. This latter acquiremeiit seemed’
to delight the elder natives beyond any thing yet
presented to them, which was manifested by
bursts of loud laughter, leaping upwards, and
other wild gesticulations, the spontaneous offer-
ings of uncultivated nature. Wlien these cere-
monies had passed over. the whole of the native
party were regaled with roasted beef and plum-
pudding, and a fair proportion of exhilerating
beverage.-
Suriimofy from [are London /2:2/zeirs;
The Old Bailey sessions terminated in Decem-
ber. Sentence of death was passed upon twenty
eight convicts, and ninety were sentenced to dif-
ferent periods of transportation.
A deacon of a church in Dublin has been de-
tcctetl in purloining from a charity collection;
he was tried for the offence, found guilty. and
sentenced to seven years transportziti‘on. He is
nearly 70 years of age.
The Governor has sent home to England two
women from Botany Bay, who are of too infam-
A man employed in the prevention of smog-
gling on the coast of Sussex,dui-ing the night fell
over the Cliff, a depth of one hundred and nine
feet! and strange to relate, ‘without receiving
any injury.
A novel m'od'e of disposing of an estate, has
been publicly announced at Suffolk. A house
with garden and orchard, is to be raffled for by
one hun~;lred subscribers at five pounds each.
Twenty families, consisting altogether of 70
persons, are about to proceed from Manchester
to the Cape of Good Hope, under the protection
of government.-
Government have ordered all the guns mount-
ed on the fortifications round Sheerness, and oth-
ers that lie dismounted outside the garrison wall,
to be taken into the garrison.
The powder belonging to the dealers in Edin-
burgh, which was deposited in the various maga-
zines in the vicinity, has been removed under an
escort to the Castle.
A new battery is to~be erected in Chester Cas-
‘tle yard,‘ to protect the entrance to the higher
ward, in which are the magazines, store houses
and armory. Several "pieces of heavy cannon
are to be mounted.
The Reformers have held meetings at Man-
‘chester, Westminster, Southwark, Siiiithfield,
Sac. to petition the Prince Regent against giving
his assent to Restrictive Bills. No great distur-
-bances took place at these meetings; a few sedi-
tious flags were exhibited.
' A meeting has been held in VVestminster, M-1'.
Hunt in the chair, for considering measures to
promote frugality, temperance, and sobriety.—
Mr. C0l)bClt_ moved a set of resolutions (which
were carried) pledging the meeting to abstain
from all exciseable articles, and he undertook to
"prepare a plan for the general instruction of the
whole kingdom.
A dreadful accident had occurred at Little
Hare-wood, near Blackburn. It was occasioned
by the explosion of a steam-boiler, at the mouth
of a pit, which they were sinking for coals. The
boiler, weighing four tons, was carried fifty yards
high, and fell sixty~five yards from the place
where it was working. Four persons were killed
and anumber severely bruised. One of the suf-
ferers was blown 80 yards. '
The Gasometer, belonging to an extensive lin-
en works at Leeds, lately burst with a tremendous
explosion, threw down a part of the wall, and
blew off the roof. No person was injured.
A new mode has been prepared in England,
of putting animals to death, which is said to be
ous character to continue residents in the colony ! .
.v
done without pain to the beast, and that the meat
tastes, cooks, keeps and salts better. It is done
by fixed air; tk-'.: animal bleeds freely. A num.
ber of butchers are said to have adopted the new
mode.——.N'. Y. Daily ./Idvcrtiscr.
A gun of an entire new construction has been"
lately exhibited in England. It weighs less than
the ordinary musket, though composed of seven‘
barrels, one of the common length and in’ the
same position, around it, at the breech, are the 6 5
Olhelss of about three inches in length only. The
whole being charged, and the priming for the
whole placed in the magazine liammet, which
P"=5‘~‘1‘V'-‘S ll (lune dry. and yields just sufficient
and no more to each charge, the simple act of
cocking places each of the short barrels success-
ively in complete connexion with therlong one,
and that of shutting the pan primes it, so that 7
discharges may be effected in 30 seconds; -and
iftlie long barrel be rifled, producesthe effect of
zg.rifle gun, without the labour or deformity of tlievr
ball, produced by the ordinary mode ofloading.
It is perfectly safe and accurate, every part being
so guarded as to prevent the possibility ofdan-
ger, error,.or impediment, with great simplicity.
The invention, it appears, is equally applicable to
great guns, pistols,or the arms used for the horse
or coach guards ; in.the hands of gamckeepers it
must also be,a terrific-tvcapon. ‘
Great alarm prevails in the manufacturing
towns in ,Y0l'l£Sl1ll'c, at the frequency of canine
madness. __
A letter from Liverpool of Dec. 30, ‘remarks,
‘Business in general continues very much dc-i‘
pressed, with little hopes of an immediate revi.
val. The country still continues in a general
state of ferment, and the dissatisfied are. kept in
awe by the great number of troops distributed in
eycry part of the kingdom. Lord Russell has
given notice to bring into Parliament a bill of re-
form which has been sanctioned by Ministers ;
but what will be the result no one knows. It is
evldtflt Something must be done, and soon too.’.i
4 A Black Joke.’-An American ship which
lately put into Cowes, reports that Mr. Cobbett,
inselccting the relics ofThomas Paine,in-A'mer_-
ica, has made a great mistake ; for instead ofthe
bones of Paz'7zc’,- he has brought the remains of
a ./‘1"()gro .’--P/ymout/2 /iafzer". if
A victorious old age.—Old Tam Ho-tson, game
keeper to his grace, the Duke of Bticcleugh and
Que-ensb'.:ry at Bowbill Forest, Selkirl~:shire, has
killed within the last fortnight, with the help of
his assistant keeper, l65 hares ;.and in the course
of the season, l73 brace of grouse, ll5 brace of
black cocks,l97 brace of partridges,and 1 l2 brace
of pheasants.
Old Tam (as the late Duke used to style him)
is now fourscore years of age, and yet he part-akpes
.ofthe sports of the field the same as when he was
but 30. He has been upwards of.‘20 years in the
Bucclcugh family, the present being the 3d Duke
he has served ; his experience on the Moors is
of 63 years duration. VVhen about 45, Tam was
allowed by all sportsmen, who knew him, to be
the best shot in Scotland ; and at one period he
was almost as famous ajockcy. In the late Duke’s
time, he rode a match against one of the Duke’s
grooms, and beat him cleverly. At that period
Old Tam was 63. This was the last race he ev-
ar i'ode.—-—Sc‘at’tz's)'z jza/tar’. , ‘V T‘ C
Croa1zz'12g', crying. £.9"c.—-'-A French Surgeon has
published a long dissertation ‘on the beneficial in-
fluence of groaniiig and crying on the nervous
system. He contends that groaning and crying
are the two grand operations by which nature al-
lays anguish ; and that he has uniformly observ-
ed that those patients who give’ way to their nat-
ural fcclings, more speedily recover from acci-
dents and operations, than those who suppose it
is unworthy a man to betray such symptoms of
cowardice as either to groan or to cry._ He, is
always pleased by the crying and violent roaring
ofa patient during the time he is undergoiing at
stirgical operation, because he is satisfied that he
will thereby so sooth his nervous system, as to
prevent fever and ensure a favorable termination.
,From the benefit hysterical and other nervous
patients derive from crying $:c._lie supposes that
‘ by these processes of nature,’ the superabi1n-
dant nervous power is exhausted, and that the
nervous system is in consequence rendered calm
and even the circulation of the blood greatly di-
minished. He rela'.es a case of a man, who, by
means of crying and hawling. reduced his pulse
from 120 to so in the course of two hours. That.
some patients often have a great satisfaction in
groaning, and that hysterical patients often expe-
rience great relief from crying, no person will
deny. As to restless hypochondriachal subjec_t_s_,
the French surgeon assures them that they can?
itiot do better than groan all night and cry all day.
By following this rule, and observing an abstenti-
ous diet, aperson will effectually escape disease,
and may prolong life to an incredible extent.
‘ , [Gazette q/' Health.
"‘-€'9i5“$>- V
The United States Navy consist of 6 ships of
the line—-10frig'-ates, including one steam fiigate
--l3 ships of from him 3;: gun.~;——l4 biigs of
from 12 to 20 guiis—l4 schoont-rs of fmiii one"
to 16 gun.—'. sloop ofono gun-—-with SJ. barges,
galleyis, gun-boats", Szc.
An incident relative to Sfffl/1872 and Jesse Boom
has been related to us, (says the Vet moni Repub-
licap,) which shows that ih-.:ir ininds are not of
tlieifinest texture, if it does not corroborate our
suggestion some weeks ago, that they were either
partially insane, 01 mm comiius men/us. It is sta-
ted, that at their first riieeting, after their long
separation and coiifinement, Jesse would not
speak to his brother. On being asked the reason
of his strange conduct, he said that he (Stephen)
was a d d rascal for confessing what he did,
as it was the cause of all their trouble. On be-
ing reminded that he also confessed the crime,-
he said *Stephcn’s confession made him 01'.‘-1?-I
or he should not have confessed at all.’ .
Synmzcs’ T/2eary.——John C. Symmes has ad:
dressed a letter to the editors of the National lu-
telligchcer, in reply to some observations of a
writer under the signature of Galileo, who says
that Mr. Symmes’ theory can never be demoti-
strated. ' Mr. S. states in reply ‘ that if our nation
will grant an outfit of two vessels, and place them
under my direction, and Galileo will join us, I
feel confident I can convince him, by accular de-
monstration, of the general truth of my theory,
and perhaps lead him in at one pole and out at the
other.’ '
Norwalk Chronicler