The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 21, July 1917 - April, 1918 Page: 25
434 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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The Tariff History of the Republic of Texas
From the standpoint of revenue the bonding system was very
bad, though it might have been needed in the beginning in order
to assist the merchants in starting business. By this system it
was required that two citizens of the county should sign the
bonds. There were a great many failures to pay the duties, and
in a great many cases the bonds were worthless. This is indi-
cated by the relation between the reported returns and the actual
returns to the secretary of the treasury under this system. The
first report of the secretary of the treasury showed a total net
revenue, bonded and paid in, of $278,134.56, up to, September
30, 1838, while only $133,649.88 were paid into. the treasury.
This difference of $144,488.68 included the cost of construction
of custom-houses which was not given, but a large part of it was
bonded.182 The report of the secretary of the treasury for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 1839, showed in suit $40,000 of
uncollected bonded duties,l83 while the report for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1840, showed $188,853.13 as remaining un-
paid from 1838 to 1839.184 There are no reports showing how
much of this was ultimately lost, but it was probably a good per-
centage. The warehouse system was an improvement over the
bonding system, though it caused delay in actual payment of
duties. The returns from sale of goods secured in warehouses
kept dribbling in till 1847, when the report of the treasurer
showed over $50,000 received from customs. This included an
item of $486,37 in promissory notes, bonds, and interest.85
There were other miscellaneous acts for administering the
tariff system. By the act of June 12, 1837, all shipmasters were
required to report and give manifest of all goods on their vessels
within 24 hours on penalty of $500 for failure to report, and of
$1000 for false manifest, with disqualification to again enter the
port.186 After February 5, 1840, they were required to, report
within 24 hours, but were allowed 48 hours to submit a manifest
'82Report of Secretary of the Treasury, in Telegraph and Temas Regis-
ter, November 17, 1838.
s88Ibid., December 18, 1839.
'84Fifth Congress, House Journal, ap. 406.
18Report of the Treasurer, Second Legislature, House Journal, 39.
"Gammel, op. oit., I, 1315.
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 21, July 1917 - April, 1918, periodical, 1918; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101073/m1/31/: accessed March 28, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.