Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1821-01-02
CONGRESSXOSAL..
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
Thursday, Moo. 80.
REPORT
ON THE ANTI-TARiFF PETITIONS.


ON THE ANTI-TARiFF PETITIONS.
Mr.. Baldgvin, from the Committee on
Manufactures, delivered the following
report:
The Committee of Manufactures, to
whom have been referred the petitions
ofsundry inhabitants OF Belfast, in Maine,
and the merchants and others of Pch-
mond, in VIRGINIA, Der leave to report
That the general object of these Pc
tltlons is to demonstrate against the
passage OF the bits wnlcA we're reported
to this House at their last session, to re-
gulate the duties on imports and for
other purposes; to regulate the payment
of duties on imported merchandise !;
and imposing duty Oh sales at auction.
AS neither of these bills are row de-
pending before either House of the
Legislature, but have been either ex-
pressly or virtually rejected, i. would, III
an ordinary case, be deemed suficien
answer 10 the petitions to say that her
object had heen already accomplished.
/ : might, too. b 1remed premature in a
committee ofthis House, to whom these
subjects had been referred at the present
session, and who may feel 1t their duty to
-port on some of these bills, similar in
| ielr tendency 30 uooe OF tn last, to
make, any report on the matters en-
| Traced in these petitions, until the COM
! nttee had agreed on recommending
something for adoption. But there
seems 10 Tic committee TO be, in these
! jctitlons, something Of character per-
| city novel, introduced In manner Ii
IS believed, SO totally unprecedented in
le legis ativc history Of the country, 80
vel! as inconsistent with the respect duo
to the Representative of the nation, tina.
it is felt to be duty to notice them now
In abiding TO the foregoing bills, o.
petitioners from Belfast assert, That d
repeal Of the law of debenturc, the Adolf
ton of drawbacks, formed part of tn,
system of those bills, and depict, in glow
! ng colors, the ruinous effects on IL
| commerce OF the country, which won
result, though they make no direct I'M
putation of any intention.
The Richmond Memorial is more ex-
! o!icit, as the House will observe from
he following extract: "IR the next
piace, let us inquire into the justice ana
! policy Of the prohibitory system recon
mended by the advocates for internal
| manufactures, vino may be viewed, in
| .eed, less as the advocates OF nnanuiac-
nres, than as the enemies u foreign
ommerce and navigation; for, to what
other purpose can they have Introduced
| ne Ellis 10 repeal drawbacks OF OK.
Dortations, and to abolish the credits
wen on duties, but to assai! our com
lcrce in the most vital manner AIT.
'ycntually to destroy it {"
In considering these allegations Of the
)rtltou, the, committee feel great regret
= being compelled 10 say, that they are
utterly unsupported by fact, and contra
,icted by the bills referred to, So far as
| 'ey relate to the SUBJECT Of drawbacks.
The present system OF draw oacl.s and
dubenturc was, in all its parts, retained
n both the bills called The Tariff and
Cash Payment, and, in the latter, new
provisions inserted, which were intended
and calculated to afford new and great
facilities TO the re-cXport trade OF the
country. The language of both bills
was clear, explicit, and, to minds disposed
70 examine at all, capable 0! no miscon-
struction. One bill was reported IN
January, the other in March last. Both
were printed by the order Of the House /;
they excited general interest throughout
the nation; were published laborious-
Iy and fully discussed, and would seem,
on the subject Of drawbacks, as little
open to any misconcep,ion as any mea-
surcs ever brought before the public.
How il has happened that those who are
50 much alive to these measures, who IN
duIsc fears tha, they would provo fatal
to commerce, agriculture, and revenue,
should have been SO profoundly ignorant
Of their nature, is, to the committee.
most inconcoivable. Respect for the
petitioners forbids the i.nputation of any
other motive.
1t is 10 be expected that opinions will
be variant as to the operation of impor-
tant measures; friends may be too san
guine as to their good. enemies too easily
alarmed about their bad effects here
must be freedom in their discussion,
both as to their tendency, the principles
on which they are supported, IS well as
the motives OF their advocates. Those
who are interested have right to speak,
by petition or remonstrance TO their re-
representatives., in plain, strong, ans' even
bold language. This right is, and ought
'..4 -''i~ oven wirluu,
t4s e. ,n'