ufacture itself or from some other object which may be deemed more convenient.
The measures, however, which have been submitted, taken aggregately, will for a long time to come rather augment than decrease the public revenue.
There is little room to hope that the progress of manufactures will so equally keep pace with the progress of population as to prevent even a gradual augmentation of the product of the duties on imported articles.
As nevertheless an abolition in some instances and a reduction in others of duties which have been pledged for the public debt is proposed, it is essential that it should be accompanied with a competent substitute. In order to do this, it is requisite that all the additional duties which shall be laid be appropriated, in the first instance, to replace all defalcations which may proceed from any such abolition or diminution. It is evident at first glance that they will not only be adequate to this but will yield a considerable surplus. This surplus will serve—
First. To constitute a fund for paying the bounties which shall have been decreed.
Secondly. To constitute a fund for the operations of a board to be established for promoting arts, agriculture, manufactures, and commerce. Of this institution different intimations have been given in the course of this report. An outline of a plan for it shall now be submitted.
Let a certain annual sum be set apart and placed under the management of commissioners, not less than three, to consist of certain officers of the Government and their successors in office.
Let these commissioners be empowered to apply the fund confided to them to defray the expenses of the emigration of artists and manufacturers in particular branches of extraordinary importance; to induce the prosecution and introduction of useful discoveries and inventions and improvements by proportionate rewards judiciously held out and applied; to encourage by premiums, both honorable and lucrative, the exertions of individuals and of classes in relation to the several objects they are charged with promoting; and to afford such other aids to those objects as may be generally designated by law.
The commissioners to render to the legislature an annual account of their transactions and disbursements; and all such sums as shall not have been applied to the purposes of their trust, at the end of every three years, to revert to the treasury. It may also be enjoined upon them not to draw out the money but for the purpose of some specific disbursement.
It may, moreover, be of use to authorize them to receive voluntary contributions, making it their duty to apply them to the particular objects for which they may have been made, if any shall have been designated by the donors.
There is reason to believe that the progress of particular manufactures has been much retarded by the want of skillful workmen. And it often happens that the capitals employed are not equal to the purposes of bringing from abroad workmen of a superior kind. Here, in cases worthy of it, the auxiliary agency of Government would, in all probability, be useful. There are also valuable workmen in every branch who are prevented from emigrating solely by
