Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-02-09
Congressional.
REPORT TO CON GEESS.
DUTIES ON IMPORTS.


0ee!l r9efred the nrlWerogs petitions and meme
TtG!s on the subject ofsl9ther protecting o!stttcs
1tPoR imports, report:
nat they commenced their examination Of the,
various subjects referred to them after
the appointment of the Committee was anuounced
TO the House; that they sought in vain from the
documents, referred TO them, for information sutfi-
GENTLY specific upon the subjects embraced in those
documents, to enable them TO determine the effect
OF the existing laws upon the various interests upon
which they were intended 70 operate; or 10 measure
the additional protection which the complaining IL
terests required, their present condition would
warrant the committee in rscomInendine Under
this absence of accurate iniormalion and constant
y busted in searching the yoluminous Executive.
reports from the Treasury Department, and other
state Papers, from which is to be learned the stu
alton OF our foreign trade aud the character and a.
mount OF our foreign importations, aud in obtain
ing from that Department the returns of thar trade
ior the last year, the committee waited until the
peutions ana memorials upon which most deUer-
dence seemedto be placed by the friends OF the pro
tectng system, had reached their hands, through
the only authorised channel to warrant their act
ing upon them, and until about the 2Sth ofDec.
last past when. still finding themselves unsupplea
with the precise facts upon which alone they were.
willing toa upon the important and highly respon-
slbie subjects committed TO their charge thew came
20 the resolution OF submitting their difficulties 10
the House, and of asking the power 10 send for
persons and papers which would enable them t.
determine, with precision and certainty the true
condition or those interests, and especially OF
those manufacturing interests which had preferred
their Claims FOR protection TO the National Legisla-
ture.
This resolution was presented 10 the House on
the iIfst day OF its session, after the COMMITTEES
adopted Il, and, on its passage, no time was lost in
learning the names ofWitneSses for whom itshould
in the opinion ofthe committee be desirable TO SEND
and despatchng suInInonses by mail, to be served
Tins labor being performed, the committee ..
once began their examinations OF such Witnesses
members of the House s. others az We're With,
their reach s. believed to be possessed of yalab1
ana practical information upon any of the subjects
before them. The examination of these witnesses
was not completed, when the arrival of some. at
tenC.E;S under sllrnInoHas. was announced An.r
plication was then Immediately made to the House
for leave to sit during the hours of session
OF the House and nearly every day sinc.
that isave was granted, has been entirely
occupied 10 the almost total neglect of other nbI
and private duties, IL the laboious examination Of
witnesses, pursuant to the resolution under vhirh
the committee were acting 1t is but Justice here
TO remark, that the original expectation of III.
committee, under the resolution offered bv tbe,,,
to the House, was 20 have made an expeditions in
qury into the situation of one or two manufacturers
Interests, rather TO enable them 10 determine What
further protection these interests really required
than with the expectation within the limited tim
which they had allowed 10 themselves for the p,r-
pose, OF being able TO collect and to report TO tie
House, body OF evidence upon several impor-
tant branches OF our domestic manufactures SO d.
gested and arranged TO be of any essential service
correct Information upon these complicated sub
Jects. he amendment, however, which was made
TO the resolution by the House. so as 10 give 30 the
committee the authority g to send f,r and exannioe
pefsons upon oath, in relation to the present CON
dition OF orr manufactures, and 10 report the mi
nutes Oh this examination TO such House >" il win
readily be seen, added greatly TO the labor which
the committee had proposed for themselves a.
by that amendment, il was made the duty of the
committee, should they think proper 10 examine
Witnesses to take their testimony in detail and in
such order os to render it at least pasabiy intel
gioc 10 the House This additional labor was iu
no other way exccpfionable to the committee than
as 1t rendered somewhat doubtful their ability IN
give their report to the House within the time
within which they had signifIed that il would b..
received. But even under this aDDrebension So
DESTROYS were the committee Of full developerneo
OF facts, that the amen led resolution met tneir an
pro5ation; and they entered upon their duties de-
termined if possible, to realize the expectations G.:
the House so far Al least as REGARDED n reno-,
within the time they had indicated.
They have examined little short of 30 wines
ses and the testimony of each, hastily written out
by way OF question and answer, and annexed 10
this report, will show what facts have been col
lected by the examination, as wei as the exfeor
Of the labor which the Committee have performed
The testimony of each witness, after it was taken
has been carefully read over with him. and so cor
rectsd TO meet the full assent Of the witness Z.
to its accuracy.
The leading subjects presented to the committee
for additional protection, iron and several ma
nuiactures Of if, wool and its fabrics hcrnp ana
some OF the manufactures from il, fax and It's ma
nuiactures, and domestic distilled spirits from
grain, particular descriptions of glass and fine and
printed cottons. Upon all these subjects, wines
, ses have been examined and their testimony.
herewith reported comprises the evidence, upon
each subject, which the committee have taken ui-
der the resolution Of the House, and cmbodic;
most Of The information upon which they have act
ed IN determining the features OF the bill Wlicl,
they have agreed upon
The examinations Of witnesses by the COMMITTEE,
were not closed until Saturday night laat, and
Monday ofthe present week was entirely occu-
pied in correcting and arranging the testimony
I taken, and which had not been corrected thus
leaving but two days TO them TO digest their biz.
and prepare this hasfy report Under these cir
cumstances IL caunot be expected that q minute
examination Of the various subjects included in the
Dih prepared by the committee, will be gone into
much less That discussion Of the great question
involved IN the system Of extending protection -
thc languishing interests Of the country, by an il
crease Of duties upon Imports will b. attempted
The former would BE- a task requiring time and
care, combined with extensive research and the
latter even if time were allowed 10 the commit.
tee, is subject much better suited to a discus
sion in this House, than n the report Of one of is
committees.
The committee therefore, do not attempt 10 70
into the reasons which have governed them. 81.
merely 10 give a concise history Of thci- dongs
After examining AT the witnesses who bad a..
tended, pursuant 90 sunmOnses, up 20 gof1rd.I
night last, and also Az the manufacturers and on
err, who, up 20 that time had 90 tie knOgledo.s
ri the committee arrived in this city for tho pur-
pose olgitSg The committee information upon any
OBJ f.lc suhCrfs bnlDrs fh.r- after lrtv- e..-e