Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-24


by the gentleman from Pennsylvania, mightcom-
pete with ours, we know perfectly well that,
even IN the Liverpool market, the government
of Great Britain having every inducement
to encourage the East India Trade, those cot
tons cannot enter into competition with ours.
An attempt was made, some years ago, TO i'll
troducc East India Cotton into this country
merchants of great skill and experience were
SAID to have lost halfa million of dollars in the
attempt. The rivalry of foreign cotton III this
market with ours, was mere bugbear, not en-
titled to Il moments consideration.
Look ut the operation of this proposed duty,
SAID Alr. III. We are to pay tribute of sixty
thousand dollars a year to kentucky, to cnabls
her TO manufacture baggng. If we go on in
this way with every article of our present i'm
port, what inducements do we leave to Great
britain TO take our cotton? There arc
immense markets open to her, where she can
obtain Cottonin exchange for her manufactures
if we reject them. Brazil alone is capable OF
producing much cotton as the whole United
States proper; and, he argued, if we take away
the inducernent which Great Britain has to re-
cclye our cotton, we shall in the end lose her
custom, &c.
Mr.. III. said he would abstain from entering
at present upon discussion OF the general
principles of the BILL When the bill should be
presented for discussion on its general principle.
he should make it his particular province to
point out the many objections to it, and the cha
ractcr OF the crusade about to be waged against
the interests of that part of the country which
nc had the honour TO represent.
Mr.. Trimble, of kentucky, referring to an
expression used by Mr.. Hamilton i'm the close
ofhis remarks, said he was gratiied that the
House was to havoc revelation on this subject.
He had no Doubt il would have an happy effect
on the minds OF those gentlemen who were OPP
posed to the bill for it appeared that nothing
but Revelation would have any effect upon
them.
If all this idea of the competition of foreign
cottons was bug-bear, Mr. Il. said he should
like to know why that gentleman and others had
been SO anxious to tax East India cotton goods if
1t was not for the purpose of excluding East India
cottonitsclf. FOrthe confirmation of the fact, MIR.
L. SAID he appealed to the arguments which were
usedwhen the Tariff was made up, and the gentle
men from the South asked for this protection for
thelrcotton. Mr.. L. here said, he was vcrywllinp
to yield the floor to the gentleman from New
York, Mr.. Cambrcleng,) who seemed to feel
the effect OF the Revelation which had been spo-
ken of. As TO the Western country, MIR. T.
contended, II enjoyed the advantage of no pro-
tectlng duty on any article. But, when the
gentlemen from the South send us their protcc-
49, >Ss'cii,
IN Inverness aud Dundee bagging, made of the
refuse tow, after the best of the hemp is hac-
kled out. Now, Sir, the Western hemp has
been ascertained, by fair experiment, TO be 10
per cent. stronger than the Russia hemp; and
from that fact, preS,.ne we can make bagrine,
or any thing else, OF Kentucky hemp, as strong
Is can be made from Russian hemp. Notwith-
standing winch, when we purchase cotton from
the South, we are compelled to purchase this In
vcrncss and Dundee bagging Is there any
equality IN that: Notwithstanding which, said
nr. L. we do not ask an exclusion of this arti-
Gle, as they have done in relation to coarse cot
ION goods, but only reasonable tax upon il.
,Noihins could be more fair, more equal, nor
ne thought gentlemen would after due consider
ton allow, more just, than such tax.
Have we not land enough, said MIR. ~. tn
raise hemp sufficient to make all our cotton bag
ging: The lands between the Ohio and Ken
lucky rivers Is sufficient to make twice the
quantity necessary for our consumption We
not only furnished the planters in Louisiana dur
ing the late war with cotton bagging-at very
nigh price, admit-but they could not get il
from amy cher country. We furnished them
oagSing to bale the cotton at New OrIeans-and
we dld another thing; when it was baled, we
stood behind It and defended it. wish to know
rom the gentleman from Louisiana, why we are
to protect their sugar by high duties, and then
to go there and protect them and their cotton
too.
Mr.. T. accounted for the decline oftbe man.
ufacture ofbagging in Kentucky, caused bv tho
low price of the foreign article, bv the circ,,m-
stance that, during the war, Russia exported vast
Quantities OF hemp, Il England, with an extensive
navy then III actual service, had use forit. When
inc peace came, a great quantity of the article
renamed on hand, and was sold by the NOR.
chants at low price to the manufacturers. who
made 1t up into bagging, &c. and furnished if
much cheaper than formerly. But that is nov
all worked up; and last year tolerabJy bioh
price was given for bagging.
Soabundant was hemp in the Western conn
try, that If we impose only such duty as will rive
inc fariner fair minimum price, the farmers
there VIII keep down the maximum to the mini
mum nearly; and Mr.. T. pledged himself that
'ne manufacturers OF the West would suppl; the
"hoie country with bagging at not exceedIpos
cents per yard, IT Congress would grant
them protection, and that they would keen Il
down to that price. But, by layipp = Drpnar
duty, the market must first be made steadv j.,
us character SO that the foreigner cannot dos
Troy the hemp grower and the manufactures
ooth by excessive importations, &C. Baorinr
Wouid be sold cheaper, so soon as hemp was
aioWed tue same protection as was given to the
southern Cotton, &c. as the prices of coarse
cotton had been lowered since higher duties had
been lad on the foreign article, &c.
MIR. Cambreleng, of New York. said be had
not intended TO touch the details of the bill not
at least, until the general question was settled
ana upon that he should offer his objections to
the principle of the bill the object of which
was, prohibition. He, however, felt called ,,non
ny the gentleman from Kentucky; and, altbop~h
not inspired, as had been intirnated. he void
answer the argument ofrcciprocaI i,st;co -