The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1827-02-14
25QI&ttCaI.
Mr.. DAVIS's SPEECH.

Mr.. DAVIS said, he did not rise for the pur-
pose OF entering INTO the discussion .! the
question, whether il Was sound policy 10 pro-
tea iuuIsIIS ITaIIon. ',4WUltsv..
had been often dgItated in and out oil this
House, and ii would be worse than d vain and
irultless effort for Inn to attempt TO throw airy
light upon su3ject which had been SO ex
hausted. He would therefore pass at once TO
the subject Immediately before the Commit
tee, and suhmIt his views upon the propriety
OF adopting the proposed measure. A bill,
said he, is on the table, which proposes mod
hcaton OF the Tariff OF 1924, so far as it re-
ates to the COLLECTION Of duties upon woollen
fabrics. The law of 1894, SAID Mr.. d. has
justly been called a law OF compromise, for
various conflicting interests and opinions met,
and were adjusted i'll its provisions, and can
dour requires me to concede, that the provis-
ions of this act should not be disturbed for
slight causes.
Ii therefore becomes necessary, said Mr.. d.
to inquire into the causes which have given
rise 10 this oil, aud to ascertain whether those
conc, rled IN the wocllen trade are seeking
some exclusive Advantage Tor themselves, or
only TO be placed on the footing intended by
Congress. What, then, do the memorialisis
represent? They declare that mauy OF the
factories hoye suspended operations that the
greater portion of the residue are only running
part Of their machinery that all the bust
ness which has been done for many months
past, mas been done at a loss that this branch
OF industry ls now tailoring under the most
fearful embarTassments, aud Is kept alive ex-
clusiYely 10y the hope of legislative interposi-
ton ior It's preservation. Is this a true repre-
| sent-tiUn Ii has been said by the gentleman
from south Carolina, (Mr. Mitchei,) that ne
doubts whether it be so. 1 he high anc hon
orabie character OF many of the menorlailsts
is Z sufficient guarantee Tor its substantial ac-
curacy Out, satd Mr.. d. we need not rest Oh
this proof, tor There are macy witnesses ON this
| floor, who can vouch for the verify OF the
statements. They can bear testimony that
great dependence prevails, and that the man
u.aCturers and wOol-growers are justly alarmed
at the impending rum which threatens the IN.
II II were not SOL, sad Mr.. ID. beieved
the applications were made to this House TO
crafty an irordinate lust Tor gam, or, as the
gentleman from Newly orli, (Mr. Cambre-
eng had mslnuaigd, they were a gang OF
spectators, who have made case OF distress
to excite the sympathy OF this House--hcu
would say to them, your memorials, like
most petitions that come to this House, may
|
But, said Mr.. d. knowing as do, from per-
sonal observation, that the manufacturers are
writing under the most appalling embarrass-
ments, lee! it TO be my duty TO bea: testlmo.
| ny TO their distress, and to declare to this
| Government, that unless it affords them pro-
lection, ruin must and will overtake them.
Now, sir, what are the causes Of these em-
barrassments? How Is it that the mauulac-
turers have been so deceived IN their hopes
and expectations? They looked for protec
ton under the law of 1924, and it was uu-
doubleday intended by Congress TO give them
clear and decided advantage over foreign
manufacturers OF 33t per cent. but the law
has failed of fulfilling expectation. England
is our great rival and competitor in the wool
len trade. The United States has usually
been the market, next to her own, which was
most important TO her. Her manufacturers,
therefore, make every effort to retain It. At
the time when the tariff OF 1924 went into
operation, all wool imported into England,
(and she imports vast quantities. was subject
to, and paid duty Of sixpence sterling on the
pound by subsequent modification OF her
tariff, this duty was reduced to a penny
pound on all wool which should cost over
shilling, and half penny on all wool costing