Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1828-01-08

on protecting Until they can make II or a0--,.ol
Tor one; will never consent that my constitu-
ents shall pay such tax in order to produce such
an enormous profit. II may be, Sir, that the re-
presentations arc true ii they are, is 20 the adj
vantage OF the manufacturer that taetruth should
appear by such testimony as will give it credence.
NOW, Sir, how is IL proposed 20 legisate On our
own information and that which we may chance 10
obtain from interested sources. Gentlemen give
us their opinion. have the utmost respect for it.
but want to know on what il is founded; it can
not be from practical knowledge, il must be there
fore from information; but want that information
on oath wantit in the shape of evidence and as
much as Regular judicial testimony is superior TO
hcarsay, so,pluch is the evidence, which the Com
nuec desire topbtain, superior TO that wh:cl, the
House now POSSESSES
The bill which passed this House, the last scs-
sion strongly shows how useful this mode of OBJ
tanning information would have been. Wool I'M
DER ten cents cost was LEFT uDtaaed because II was
supposed that little OF il entered into the fabric of
coth; yet the Information given by the gentleman
from Pennsylv aria, shows, that the quantity i'm
ported of that species the last year was more than
iour times that OF the higher priced. Then we ac-
,eu from general information, perhaps from the al
legation OF those intcrcScd 10 deceive us LII we
iau tested TINS by cross examination on OATH the
truth would have appeared, and we should never
have passed bill SO ungenerous to the farming in
tercs,.
As TO the delay, do not apprehcnd ii. All the
;iorina'ion wanted can be procured in few weelss
advantages
obtained from il would more than compensate for
any disadvantage attending it.
out the practice Is new Too new, sirl Too rare
IN our legislation. All our laws particularly those
.oI\ .ne protection OF commerce or manufactures,
would be better, more stable more wise ;f we
had sooner rcsorted 10 H. But tbouph new IN ne
we Know its effects. The Parliament of Great
Dsi'din, sitting III the most commercial town of
EUROPE wnere information may be procured on
.'5 euDject Dy every member, at his will, does
inf ,,nts.@ AZ.
course Not an alteration is made in any De-
p'rtnieht until witnC sses have been examined and
cross-cxamined before an open committee. and
u4.u examinations reduced 10 writing and sub
" -..eu 10 'he House We have in our Library
otty or nifty folios filed with these examinations
u FOUND necessary there, how much more so
| mere, where we are shut out from all informa-
,ion but that which we can procure by letters
rom distance, without the sanction of an OATH
frequently from interested persons and without the
advantage of cross-exarninaton to elicit tI,e trtI,
suppose, as may be the case that the representa-
IONS we have received are true; certainly the
truth VIII appear, and be more convincing, when
Supported by legal proof, than by loose opinion If
is resolution do not pass, il win be said that the
truth was concealed; that the parties feared to he
brought to their oath. But, if it pass. and tho
statements should prove correct, we NAV then
sote Gohscientiousiy, because we shall vote with
knowledge OF the facts before US.
solution. ~ '-o &c
MIR. Oakley now expressed his apprehension.
,hat me House was in danger of being premature
y ,ii'oweu IN the discussion Of the general sub
ject. The question now to be decided was on the
adoption OF the amendment, and on this point. he
nao supposed, when he offered the amendment
that there would have been but one opinion. If,
sara MI o., you grant the power asked shall or
idii no, 'ne OBJECT OF granting il be expressed in
tie Iesoiuion: That Is the question, and the sole
question before the House; but as the amendment
oiiered appears to involve some gentlemen in DIFF
hcuty, and IS especially disapproved of bv a mem
perol the committee opposite, ORR Stevenson,) /
van no" "ithdTaw 1t, and if in order, viii move
another In ITS place. Mr. o. then moved 10 strike
out the whole OF the original resolution moved by
MT. MaliaTy, after the word & Resolved and in
lieu thereof, insert the following amendment:
lnat the Committee on Manufactures be i'm
powered to send for, and TO examine persons ON
oath, concerning the present condition of our man
utactures, and TO report the minutes of sucb az,
animation to this House,
Mr. Stewart thought that this amendment
was substantially the same as the other. As a
friend 10 the policy otprotecng the home interest
OF this country, he had hoped that the House
would, by this time, have received from the Com
mittee OF Manufactures, bill, rather than a reso
muon Tor inquiry. He had hoped so especially,
"neh ne perceiycdt the anxiety manifested ON this
sunlcct, by so large portion ofthis community
lAr. Stewart was here called TO order by
Mr.. hCDuiile, on the ground that he was dis
cusslnS the original proposition on question of a.
Inendnen', when admitting that the amendment
did not 90 TO change the character Of the original
resolution. The CHAI7 did Iot sustain the ohiec-
ton OF Mr.. McDuiIieI
Mr. Stewart then proceeded to observe, that
the power asked by the committee was not onIv
novel and extraordinary, hut wholly unnecessary
ne honorable gentleman from louisiana had ask
ca, with much emphasis, whether the House would
deprive Its own committee Of information which
they considered necessary to right discharge of
Their duty! To this question he answered No: but
he would in turn inquire, whether this committee
naa not all the ordinary means of obtaining such
information as was indeed necessary! Had thew not
the same means that all other committees had and
inlgnt not every other committee Of the House ask
ior TINS power with equal reason? Did they not
possess more information on the subject of manu-
features, than had ever been accumulated before!
~ an they not all the facts which had been colec-
'en by their predecessors! Certainly. But he would
ask iurher, what has this committee done? Irthey
want further information have they addressed let
Iers 70 such persons as able TO furnish IL? Could
there be any doubt, that if they did ths full and
correct answers would be received? For himself he
had none, but would be glad 10 know If the letters
iad been written. The committee, said MIR. $.
have the reports Of those who Introduced the tariff
Di oil 1916 that Of 1921, and that of 1871 which
vas reported by the committee on the ninth dsv of
ne next month. Ny colleague (Mr. STEVE III, sor5 y
says that ne wants Information, and has referred
ne House TO certain facts in statement relative 10
he importation OF wool: but where did the gentle
nan get that statement? lie got it from the Treasury
export Does hc want the committee to be clothed
With power TO send for Treasury reports Sir. +
before confer such power as j. now asked for,
hoilt be glad TO know how il is 20 be exerted for
what end, ami TO what extent? For whom are
hese gentlemen going 20 send Isit for the man !
1acturcrs? If il Is, viii they not also send for
the various Chambers Of Commerce in our ATTAIN /.
lie Cities (foF presume witnesses are TO be heard
Dn both sdes) and Sir, must they not send to the
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