APRIL 9, 1828.] Tariff Bill. [H. OF R. fearlessly undertaken, confident of success, notwithstand. Inishes the pressure on the wheels, and, thus regulating ing the extensive Morass just alluded to, and the locali. their revolutions, travels at the rate of one, two, ten, or ties of Liverpool, which being surrounded by lofty hills, twenty miles an hour, or stops entirely, at will; and, by renders it necessary to tunnel more than two miles, so the same process, a train of pleasure wagons, containing that the train of cars pass under the town, and, without thirty or forty persons, fly through the air, the conductor entering its streets, discharge their loads on the quay seated in front, regulating their speed by the pressure of along side of the ships destined to receive them. The time his foot on a board, which communicates with the wheels. required on the canal is 36 hours--on the rail road but 34. These are facilities afforded in a descending course. To On the Leeds road, each locomotive engine propels 27 ascend, a single horse, by way of experiment, has drawn wagons, carrying 90 tons, or two hundred and one thou-up twenty-seven persons; but the usual number is four. sand six hundred pounds. Mr. B. then proceeded to state to the House the result of his own observations in the United States, with the exception of the rail way car at Charleston, South Carolina, which is thus described: "Rail way Car.-In consequence of the disappointment expressed by several citizens, who had not witnessed the car in motion with a load of cotton, arrangements are made to exhibit its operations a few days longer. The car weighs upwards of one ton, and is now loaded with 47 bales of cotton, averaging in weight upwards of 300 pounds each. The road, commencing on Wentworth street, ascends, during the first 90 feet, in the proportion of 224 feet per mile. The remainder is on a level. It requires 16 horses, 16 drays, and 16 hands to convey the cotton to the spot; yet, one car, one horse, and one hand, in addition to the weight of the car, is sufficient to move it with facility. The total weight, including the car, is between 15 and 16,000 weight; notwithstanding, a single horse draws it with apparently less exertion and fatigue, than either of the 16 horses employed to bring it up, un. derwent." At Salem, there has been in operation, for several years, an inclined plane, by which a brig of 200 tons is, in the space of a few minutes, drawn out of the water, by a single horse, with masts and spars standing, and placed on her appropriate position, on land, to undergo the necessary repairs of caulking, sheathing, &c. In Boston and New York three horses are found sufficient to accomplish the same object, with ships of the largest class, which must be considered an almost incredible exertion of power. On the Genesee river, near Carthage, where the elevation is 250 feet, the ascent over the tops of forest trees, a single horse elevates and descends twenty barrels of salt and twenty of flour, at the same moment. At the citadel of Cape Diamond, on the St. Lawrence, near Quebec, the British are constructing most extensive works, calculated to make that fortress as impregnable as the Rock of Gibraltar; and, to carry up the necessary materials, an inclined plane ascends three hundred and forty-eight feet the cars appear from the river to be creeping up a dead wall, so perpendicular are its banks. On the rail road at the Quincy Quarries, one horse draws twenty two tons, and such has been the effect of this operation, on the prices of building materials, that a house can now be constructed of solid granite, of which there are several in Boston, and the cost does not exceed brick at four dollars per thousand. teen, with which he travels six or seven miles an hour, with less fatigue and exertion than, on an ordinary turnpike, two persons are conveyed. The effect on the price of transportation is to reduce the rates 5-6th; that is, a ton of coal which previously cost 60 cents, is now transported for 10 cents; and it is contemplated to reduce this rate by constructing a parallel track, on a range of mountains behind the present road, which, declining in the direction of the coal works, will enable the empty wagons, after being elevated by water-power to its summit, to descend by their own gravity, and thus horses be dispensed with altogether. Three distinguished and intelligent citizens, interested in the success of rail-roads, having made an able report on the subject, Mr. BARNEY submitted the following, in exemplification of his remarks : The committee, after a careful examination of this work, do not hesitate to state to the Board, that it is on so simple a plan, that mechanics of ordinary skill would be fully competent to the construction of one similar, and in every respect equal to it, at the same time it appears to be extremely well adapted to the object for which it was intended. The loaded wagons, each carrying 1 tons of coal, descend in brigades of 6, 8, or 10, connected together by iron chains, each brigade being attended by two men These wagons descend from the summitlevel to the top of the inclined plane at the river, a distance of 8 miles, in 30 minutes, exclusive of a few minutes consumed in greasing the wheels on the route. On arriving at the inclined plane, the loaded wagons are let down, one at a time, by a rope, worked upon a horizontal shaft, which is regulated by a powerful brake, and each loa led wagon as it descends, draws up an empty one. In this manner they pass a loaded wagon down, and an empty one up the inclined plane, each travelling a distance of 700 feet in 45 seconds, which is at the rate of 12 miles an hour, and the operation seems to be performed with great ease and safety. The empty wagons are returned to the coal mine by horses, each horse drawing from 3 to 4 of them up in 3 hours, that is, at the rate of 3 miles an hour, and each wagon weighing from 1200 to 1500 lbs. The average acclivity of the road, including the whole distance, from the top of the inclined plane, being about one degree. The committee were taken up the road by one horse, drawing an empty wagon, and two cars conveying 14 persons, the whole weighing about 23 tons, at the rate of 4 miles an hour, and they descended in the same cars, with the same persons, in 45 minutes, (exclusive of the The Mauch Chunk rail road was commenced and com- time lost by detention, from meeting wagons returning pleted last Spring. It is nine miles in extent, leading to the mine.) Part of the time the cars, for a short dis from the coal mountains to the Lehigh river, and over- tance, ran by their own gravity, at the rate of more than comes, in this nine miles, an elevation of three hundred 20 miles an hour, and they ran one entire mile in 3 mifeet more than the Erie Canal, in three hundred and six-nutes and 15 seconds, which is at the rate of 18 miles ty two miles, where the whole elevation and depression is but six hundred and eighty six feet. Nothing can surpass the astonishment of a traveller, on beholding a train of ten or eleven wagons, each carrying a ton and a half of coal, gli ling down the side of a mountain, propelled by the power of gravity, and controlled in its velocity by a single individual, who sits in the sixth car, with check-strings, attached to pegs on a cross bar, in front of him, by means of which lie increases or dimi an hour; on other parts of the road, where there are sharp turns, or but little descent, the speed of the cars was reduced to 4, or even 3 miles an hour. I am aware that many of the benefits anticipated from rail-roads have already been accomplished by canals. But the one possesses this indisputable advantage over the other; and in the comparison which I am about to draw, I avow the most friendly disposition towards a great and important work which has long engrossed the attention H. OF R.] Tariff Bill. [APRIL 9, 1828. of this House, and undergone a thorough investigation Mr. CONDICT replied, and explained that they were by some of its most distinguished members. I allude to sometimes made from hammered and sometimes from the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. I look upon that pro-rolled iron. ject as not only rational, but easy of accomplishmentconnected with a rail-road on the middle section, let canals, on each side, be constructed to the base of the mountains, and then, in conformity with the plan of the Board of Engineers, the rail-road connect them together. But it is self-evident, that rail-roads possess decided advantages. Mr. MERCER, apprehending that his silence might be considered as an acquiescence in what Mr. BARNEY had said, as to the relative advantages of canals and railroads, expressed his dissent from this part of that gentleman's speech, but expressed himself as very friendly to rail roads. He opposed the duty on iron, as operating not to prepare the nation for war, but, on the contrary, impair its resources for that emergency. The question was then taken on the amendment of Mr. STEVENSON, and decided affirmatively, by yeas and nays :-Yeas 117-Nays 71. So the House determined to extend the duty to bolt In all the valleys contiguous to, or shaded by mountains, the navigation is obstructed by ice, from the month of November to the middle of April, embracing that precise period of the year, when the leisure of the farmer enables him to send his produce to market-and freshets in the spring, exhausting the resources of all mountain tor-iron. rents, leave them, in midsummer, a diminished stream, Mr. MALLARY now moved the following amendment, scarcely sufficient to float a feather, or to drown a fly-on which he demanded the yeas and nays, and they were while a rail-road can be used every month in the year. ordered by the House : To canal across lofty mountains must be considered as "Strike out of 20 section from the 1st to the 6th paragraph a physical impossibility. It is at their base that an ade-inclusive, and insert : quate supply of water can ever be found-to search for it at their summit, is to look to the Heavens, and depend on the clouds: for, on no other dependence can you rely. "1st. On all unmanufactured wool 40 per cent. ad valorem, until the 30th June, 1829, afterwards five per cent, per annuna in addition, until the duty shall amount to fifty per cent. "2d. All manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be If the despots of Europe and of Asia, with the resour-bombazines, hosiery, caps, gloves, mits, and bindings, the aca component material, except blankets, worsted stuff goods, ces of Empires at their unlimited control, with a dense tual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall not population and myriads of famished subjects, willing to exceed fifty cents the square yard, shall be taken and deemed labor for a groat a day, have not been able to complete to have cost fifty cents the square yard, and charged with a any canal where the summit level has exceeded 700 feet duty to be paid and collected, of forty per cent. on such cost, above tide water, it cannot be anticipated that, in this until the 31st day of June, 1829-after which time, five per Republic, where there can be no forced contributions of cent. per annum in addition, until the duty shall amount to either labor or money, that a scheme, involving an ele-fifty per cent. vation of 2,400 feet, embracing an expenditure of twenty-component material, (excepting as aforesaid) the actual value 3. All manufactures of wool, or of which woo! shall be a eight millions, can ever be accomplished by voluntary of which, at the place wheure imported, shall exceed fifty cents contribution; or that the resources of the nation can be te square yard, and shall not exceed two dollars and fifty cents levied on, to make the experiment. fifty cents the square yard, and charged with the amount of the square yard, shall be deemed to have cost two dollars and duty on such cost, and in the manner as is in this section before provided. It is contemplated to transport travellers on the rail. road, at the rate of three cents per mile-in England they pay one penny sterling, or two cents. Flour, which now costs 14 per barrel, will be transported for one dollar and twenty-five cents, and the mail, which requires 4 days, will be delivered in 30 hours-while the greatest profitable speed, on a canal, cannot exceed 3 to 4 miles an hour. I wish to be understood by the word profitable, that, to travel at a faster rate, would be destructive to its banks-on a rail-road, the momentum being given, the requisite amount of draft-power diminishes as the motion is accelerated, until it attains the rate of 13 miles an hour, and becomes almost nothing; a car moving at this velocity resembles the vessel in the Games of Eneas, and is borne along by its own impetus. Should I have trespassed unreasonably on the attention of the House, my apology must be found in the interest of my immediate constituents, and the nation at large, in the success of the undertading, which this bill most deeply compromises. The present duty on iron, drilled and bored as is required, is 25 per cent. on its cost, of 9 to £10 sterling, equal to about $10 per ton-the proposed duty is $37 per ton, and the consequent increase on 15,000 tons, required by the Company, amounts to the enormous sum of four hundred and five thousand dollars, which, unless the Government should remit in whole or in part, is calculated to paralyze the exertions of the Company, and retard, if not to arrest forever, this great work-so justly the pride of its projectors. Mr. CONDICT spoke briefly in reply, and in defence of the amendment, concluding his remarks by a de. mand for the yeas and nays; which were ordered by the House. Mr. WHIPPLE thought the amendment useless, as bolts, he believed, were usually made from hammered iron. “4th. All manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component material, except as aforesaid, the actual value of and fifty cents, and not exceed four dollars the square yard, which, at the place whence imported, shall exceed two dollars shall be deemed to have cost four dollars the square yard, and be charged with the amount of duty on such cost, and in the manner as is in this section before provided. "5th. All manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be that just offered by Mr. MALLARY: graph, and insert: Instead of the present duty of 33 1-3 per cent. ad valoJune, 1829, and after that time, a duty of 5 per cent. per anrem, a duty of 40 per cent. ad valorem, until the S0th day of num, in addition, until the whole amount of duty shall be 50 per cent. ad valorem: Provided, That all manufactures of wool, except flannels and baizes, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall not exceed 33 1-3 cents per square yard, shall, instead of the present duty of 25 per cent. ad valorem, be charged with a duty of 30 per cent. ad valoduty of 5 per cent. per annum, in addition, until the whole rem, until the 30th day of June, 1829, and, after that time, a amount of duty shail be 40 per cent. ad valorem.” Mr. BUCHANAN advocated his amendment in a short speech, stating his objection to the introduction of minimums, and his belief that this amendment would be equivalent, in its effects, to the minimum system, as reported in the bill. Mr. CONDICT expressed his preference of an ad valorem duty to the plan of minimums; but, not believing that such a duty could be fairly collected, he was opposed to the amendment of Mr. BrcHANAN. Mr. OAKLEY wished to know, why there would not be as much difficulty in collecting an ad valorem duty on wool as on cloth ? Mr. MALLARY replied and explained. The importation of wool was in the hands of American merchants; that of cloth was managed by foreign manufacturers and their agents. Mr. MALLARY then said, that, being disposed to take such a course as would lead to the most beneficial result that could be obtained, and, considering the bill, with Mr. BUCHANAN'S amendment, as decidedly preferable to the bill as reported by the committee, and having little hope that his own amendment would carry, without that now proposed by the gentleman from Pennsylvania, he consented to accept Mr. BUCHANAN's amendment, as a modification of his own. [H. OF R. the amount of their invoices. This cannot be done with so much facility by the American as by the foreign merchant, who consigns goods to his agent here. The former buys at regular market prices and can only evade the duty by downright fraud and perjury. I do not believe that many would commit this offence, and the course of events proves that they do not, because we are told, and I have no doubt truly, that a very large portion of our importation business is now done by foreign merchants. There must be some special reason for this. It cannot be that our merchants are less intelligent or en terprising or skilful in their business than those of other countries. What then is the cause? Is it not that our revenue system gives to the foreigner some advantage which the American does not, and cannot enjoy? And that our system does give such advantages is most ob vious. We have departed from the original plan of laying duties on the value of goods at the place whence imported, and we now take the cost at the place whence exported with the addition of 10 per cent. if from this side of the Cape of Good Hope, as the valuation on which to impose the duty; by which the foreign merchant has the opportunity of making his invoice at home, which it is said, and I have no doubt with truth, he Mr. FORWARD said he did not rise to make a speech. makes on the nett cost of manufacturing the goods, He was anxious to substitute an ad valorem duty, for the without any addition for manufacturers' profit or merminima proposed in the bill. The argument in favor of chants' profits, which are both added to the price of minima, is, that they will prevent frauds upon the revenue. the goods imported by the American merchant. That This argument has been repeatedly urged here, as if it some advantage may be obtained in the invoice withwere well founded. It has just been reiterated by the gentle-out perjury or positive fraud by many contrivances man from N. Jersey, [Mr. CONDICT.] If I understand the which are in the power of the foreign merchant and purport of what he said, it was this: that if your laws fixed not in the power of the American merchant, cannot the duties upon the value, goods would be invoiced be- be disputed. The goods of the former will then pay a low their real cost. Sir,in both cases the duty will be assess- less duty than those of the latter, and hence it is that ed upon the cost abroad. The difference is, that under the our importations are so generally done by foreigners; and minima, it will be assessed agreeably to the cost of the the higher we raise our duties the greater advantage square yard. This cost must be ascertained in the same they will have, unless we provide a remedy. Having way in both instances. What means have you then of de- traced the disease to its source, the remedy may be tecting fraud in the one case, that you have not in the specifically applied, and I have no doubt of a cure. other? None, sir-The opportunities to practice frauds have only to lay our duty on the value of goods at are equal. But the temptations are not so. If there be the place where imported instead of accepting the inany temptation to act fraudulently to avoid a proper as- voice of the cost at the place whence exported. This sessment of an ad valorem duty, it is ten fold greater to would at once put an end to all the advantages now posescape a fair assessment of duty upon the square yard, assessed by the foreigner in making up the account of the proposed by the bill. Varying the invoice from the real cost but a single cent, would, in many instances, make an immense difference in the amount of duty. Why, then, not adopt a fair ad valorem duty, which every body understands, instead of those minima, about which there is such a great variety of opinions, that no two gentlemen in the house seem able to agree, precisely, as to their practical operation? Mr. INGHAM said he agreed with his colleague who had just spoken that the minimum scheme of duties was liable to many objections, and that, as proposed by the gentleman from Vermont, or even in the bill, it afforded no security against fraudulent importations; on the contrary when the points on which the duty was estimated were fixed so far apart as proposed in the amendment which had just been offered, this scheme increased the temptation to fraud and perjury because the inducement to commit those crimes would be in a compound ratio of the amount of gain and the security against detection, and when an importer by lowering his invoice two cents on the yard could make a gain of 90 cents, the interest was too great, and the security against exposure too cer tain, to be resisted, where there was any laxity of integrty. Whatever there may be of fraudulent importations, the cause is not in the ad valorem system; it lies much deeper, and when we are about to apply a remedy for an evil we ought first to ascertain the true cause of it. The duties imposed have been so high as to make it a considerable object with importers to reduce We cost, and if any advantage were to be gained at the Custom House, the American merchant who is on the spot would be more likely to get it; at all events the means of fraudulent invoices will be taken away, and the superior advantage which the American merchant enjoys, in making sale of his goods, will soon enable him to reclaim this lost trade, and our duties would be fairly levied on the true value which is actually paid for by the consumer. In this measure consists I am fully persuaded a much bet ter protection for our manufactures than excessive high duties, which will be evaded, if it is within the compass of human ingenuity to do so. It will also restore our mercantile business to the hands of our own merchants—I submitted a proposition at the last session by way of instruction to the Committee of the Whole on the woollen bill, with a view to carry into effect the principle I have stated, but it was decided by the then Speaker to be out of order to move such an instruction, and the majority, bent upon carrying that bill and nothing else, soon after superceded my motion to recommit by the previous question. I was not now about to renev that proposition, but if it should appear to find more favor, I will take another oc casion to submit it. There cannot be a doubt that the ad valorem principle is the most equal and fair of any other, because it imposes a tax upon every individual in society, in exact proportion to his consumption, but it is liable to be evaded, and whenever that occurs, it throws the business of importation out of the hands of honest men into the hands of rogues; hence the specific duties are preferred; and when these are based on the value, as well as the quantity of the goods, the evasion is prevented and the equality of the ad valorem system is preserved. There is some difficulty in doing this on goods which vary so much in price as woollen goods do, but I am very sure it may be effected, and will be done when nothing but the particular interests involved in the question shall be permitted to control the votes of members. It was not my intention when I rose to say more on this point than reply to the observations of the gentleman from New Jersey, who supposed that the minimum plan proposed by the gentleman from Vermont, [Mr. MALLARY] had a very peculiar efficacy in the prevention of frauds upon the revenue, which in my judgment instead of remedying that evil will increase an hundred fold, and in a very short time put the remnant of our importations into the hands either of foreigners or the most fraudulent of our own. The closer these minimum points approach each other, the less will be the temptation to fraud, in which the bill is greatly to be preferred to that project which imposes the same duty on goods at $2 50 that it does on those at 51 cents, and imposes a tax upon the consumption of the latter article of 200 per cent., while the former pays but 40 per cent. such a measure cannot fail to multiply frauds to an incalculable extent. I rose however, for another purpose, which is to state what I believe will be the effect of the progressive duty proposed in the amendment as now modified. It is proposed to commence at 40 per cent. and increase at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, until it rises to 50 per cent., which with the additions will amount to 56 per cent. There can be no doubt but that the certainty of a higher duty next year will induce a heavier importation this year than would otherwise be made, and the same thing would take place the following year; hence the country would be inundated with goods in the hope of a profit that could not be realised, to the great injury of the manufacturer, whose relief would be postponed until this glut of importations could be consumed. Whatever duty we lay we ought to do it at once. I shall therefore move to strike out that part of the amendment which proposes a progressive increase of duty; the reason for this motion need not be more fully stated, and I think that every real friend of the manufacturer will perceive that it is for his interest that it should be adopted. On this motion, Mr. BARNARD demanded the Yeas and Nays, and they were ordered by the House. Mr. STORRS opposed Mr. INGHAM'S amendment, not believing that it would be attended by the injurious consequences he apprehended. Mr. WICKLIFFE, referring to a declaration of the manufacturers, at the last session, that thirty three and a third per cent. if collected, would be a sufficient protection, wished the Chairman of the Committee on Manufactures to state why 40 per cent. was not sufficient now. Mr. DAVIS, of Mass. opposed the amendment of Mr. MALLARY as now modified, contending that the effect of the joint duties on wool and woollens, would be to leave the manufacturer an additional protection of only 1 2-3 per cent. Mr. BUCHANAN replied to Mr. DAVIS, and advocated the amendment as modified but objected to the amendment proposed by Mr. INGHAM. Mr. MALLARY repeated, and farther explained his reasons for accepting the amendment of Mr. BUCHANAN, and opposed the amendment of Mr. INGHAM. Mr. DWIGHT followed on the same side, insisting, that if the progressive increase of duty should be stricken out, the American factories, already embarrassed, would have to stop, and thus, the whole American market [APRIL 9, 1828. would be thrown into the hands of the British manufac turer. Mr. INGHAM said, it was due to the proposition he had submitted to inake some reply to the gentlemen who had spoken against it. He was aware of the impatience of the House for the question, and would be as brief as possible. I have not made this motion, said Mr. I. without due deliberation and reflection; it is made from the conviction of my best judgment after the observation and experience of some years, as to the operation of our laws and movements in this body, whenever we act, or propose to act upon subjects which involve speculations of any kind. The proposition is distinct and simple, and I had not the least idea of provoking a general debate upon the policy of the protecting system; but it is very conveni. ent for gentlemen when they cannot answer an argument upon a particular point, to make assertions as to the effect of a motion, and then let off a general speech against it, in which they may avoid very conveniently any discussion of the subject under consideration; but there is a wide difference between assertion and proof-between assumption and argument. The proposition I have submitted does not embrace, or propose to fix any rate of duty whatever, that has been or may be proposed in the bill. It was simply to try the sense of the House as to the policy of a progressive increase of duty upon woollen goods as a means of protecting domestic manufactures. Should my motion prevail, it will be in the power of a majority to fix the permanent duty at whatever rate they please; the motion ought therefore to have been considered as a distinct proposition, to be judged of by its own merits; it was certainly not obnoxious to the imputations which some gentlemen have attempted to cast upon it. The principles on which I have defended it, are as true and unanswerable as any axiom in mathematics. What are they? That any legislation which promises to advance the price of goods at a future day, will, in the mean time induce those engaged in importing, to bring in an increased supply, to be ready for the advance of price. Can any thing be more plain? Is not grain the sole object of the importer, and will not the sup ply always be furnished in proportion to the expectation of gain? And surely we can do nothing that will hold out a stronger inducement to furnish a superabundant supply, than to provide that, one year hence, the duty shall be raised; every merchant who imports the day before the increased duty takes place, can afford to sell per cent. lower than he who imports one day after; the orders for goods by our own merchants, and the consignments from abroad, will then be made with reference to that date. And not to know that an increased quantity will be ordered more than would have been, if no change in the duty was to take place, is to be ignorant of the most common operations of the human mind upon the most common affairs of life; speculation never stops at the precise point of safety; it acquires an impetus in its progress which always carries the adventurer beyond that point; but you encourage it still further, by promising at the end of another year there shall be a further increase of 5 per cent. which, with the first 5 per cent. will pay the merchant for keeping his goods on hand a whole year, to get the benefit of the second rise, if the first does not suit him. The gentleman from New York, Mr. STORRS says, that he will be the loser by this operation, and supposed a case to prove his position, viz: that after he had kept the goods a whole year he he would gain but 5 per cent. But if you suppose what you please, you may make any thing you please follow― and such is the character of his supposition. I will, however, suppose that the merchant understands his business, and will import in such manner and at such time as will best suit his interest; if so, he will have a full supply of goods before the first of July, 1829, which will be [II. OF R. It is worse than folly to suppose that the exclusion, even if cent. Total increased duty on wool 23,000 $66,500 brought into market 5 per cent. better than if subse quently imported, and if these goods should not sell with in the year, they will have another 5 per cent. advantage over goods subsequently imported after the first July, 1830, and, in the mean time, if the stock should be reduced within the first year, a much heavier importation will take place in the second, than would have done if there had been no progressive duty. Can gentlemen deny these positions? If they do, they must maintain that the progressive duty presents no hope of an increase of price, and upon this supposition I would be glad to know what benefit they hope to derive from it for the manufacturer. They do hold out the hope of increase, and that hope will be indulged by the merchant who can avail himself of it much more rapidly than the manufacturer, and he will get the benefit of it, if any can be obtained; this eagerness, however, pervading so many minds not acting in concert, but each in secret, all direct. ed to the same object, must produce the same effect, that all other speculations have done, do a great injury to the country as well as those engaged in them, especi- which deducted from $586,666 gives $520,166 as the ally the manufacturer. Nothing is more essential to his clear annual gain to the manufacturer, if the amendment welfare than a steady market. According to my creed, I have offered should be adopted, and this upon the sup. a moderate, profit with a steady market is better for him position, that he pays every cent of the increased duty on than the highest degree of excitement you can imagine, wool and not one pound more wool is grown in the United subject as it must be to great fluctuations, for depression States, which is the most favorable supposition for the must succeed excitement. We are not without experience argument of the gentlemen from Massachusetts, who have as to the effect of a prospective increase of duty upon im- made this demonstration that can be imagined, which is portations. Ir. 1824, we increased the duty 30 per cent. about 63 per cent. on the whole importation. Gentlewith a prospective increase to 33 1-3 one year after, and in men who make such pathetic appeals are no doubt sin. 1825, the importation of woollens amounted to 12 millions cere, but they are laboring under a delusion. The gen. instead of 8 millions, which is about the regular consump-tleman from Massachusetts, [Mr. DWIGHT] told us that he tion: some other causes may have combined to make so believed, in the sincerity of his heart, that the amendment very great an increase, but this was a material cause — I have offered would prostrate the whole manufacturing It is also ascertained, that the importations of the last year industry of the country, and give to British capitalists, are considerably greater than the consumption requires. the monopoly of our market. I have no doubt the gen This is unquestionably attributable to the discussion of tleman does believe it, because he has said so; but I am the woollens bill at the last session, and the movements persuaded that this belief is founded much more on the of the Harrisburg Convention, &c. which are watched in feelings of his heart than the operation of his judgment. England as well as here. These facts are notorious and As to the attempt, which has been frequently made here undeniable, and yet gentlemen assert that my motion to and elsewhere, to excite a prejudice in the public mind strike out this progressive duty will ruin the whole against those who are opposed to monopoly and prohibmanufacturing interest of the country; but they have not itory duties, by representing them as friendly to British, offered a single argument, or any thing like an argument, rather than American interests, the object of it is too obto shake the position on which I have rested the motion. vious to require any further exposure. I feel that I am not The gentleman from Massachusetts, [Mr. DAVIS] has at- obnoxious to it;it does not stick to me; and I am willing that tempted a reply by excepting to other parts of the bill, all my public acts and private opinions should be canvassviz the progressive duty on wool. I am not responsible ed for proof against me, and most especially during that for that, nor is it now under consideration; but I will period when we were engaged in war with Great Bri say that as to the benefit to be derived from it to the wool tain. I cannot but observe that it is not a little remarkagrower for 2 or 3 years to come, I would prefer to have it ble that most of this high-toned profession of patriotism stricken out; but being a wool grower myself, I shall make and anti-British feeling that we hear is from those who, no motion on the subject of wool, either to increase or when we were engaged in war with that country, had so diminish the duty upon it. So far, however, as the pro- little sympathy for their own, that they could not even regressive duty may produce an increased importation for joice in our victories. I cannot but consider it a disingenuthe next 2 or 3 years, it will be rather for the bene- ous attempt to mislead the judgment of those who can be fit of the manufacturer than his injury, for when the wool misled by exciting a prejudice that is unwarranted. As to is brought here, it will be sold, whether at a profit or not. myself, I know it is not true, and I throw it back with It was not my intention when I rose, to say a word whatever odium it may have, upon those from whom it about the amount of the duty, as it was not involved in the comes. The subject before the House is a mere domes. question now pending; but I will take this occasion to tic regulation, and one which requires to be considered deny what has been so often asserted, that a duty of 40 with calmness, and no such imputation from any such quarper cent. affords no additional protection, or that it plater shall deter me from doing what I believe to be my duty. ces the manufacturer at the feet of the foreign competitor. Gentlemen say it has been demonstrated, that it gives the American manufacturer but 1 2-3 per cent. in addition to the present duty. I aver that, although there have been such assertions, there have been no such demonstrations. Their whole argument is based upon the idea, that the duty on the wool is the measure of the increase of price, than which nothing can be more fallacious. The whole value of American wool is estimated at about $14,000,000 -the whole importations are ascertained to be $400,000. VOL. IV.-142 Mr. BATES, of Massachusetts, denied that any such effect would follow, and remonstrated against making 40 per cent. the maximum of protection. Mr. WEEMS said, he had not intended to offer one word on the subject then under consideration; that he had considered the whole project, the bill reported, the substitute offered by the honorable Chairman of the Committee, together with all the amendments, "as an unclean thing," which he felt it was not his privilege to touch or handle. But the House had been so long wool |