The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1828-01-30
Extract Of letter to the Editor of the Spy,

0"le" WASHINGTON, Jan. I8.
Dear Sir-The Committee on Manufactures
have commenced an examination of Manlaac-
turers who have come here from distant parts
OF the country. Such proceedings as are wit
messed by those who have been examined are
perhaps unparalleled in the annals of legislation
Five Of the Committee are found to be hostile
! to the protection of our manufactures, and
were placed on the same for the very purpose
of Juggling the friends of the American system
out OF their rights, by every artifice and intrigue
their talents are capable Of 1t has taken two
days to examine a witness, sent for by the enc
MES to the bill, because his testimony was not
such they expected. In this examination,
the most ridiculous questions were put by the
enemies OF the measure, that ever disgraced
the human understanding. Mr. Stevenson, of
| Pennsylvania, went very thorough into the in
! qulry respecting manufacturing, even to the
actndlng Of qailts; which, by the way, the
manufacturers do not understand themselves at
the present day, as the aoihdjag Of quilts was
better und rstood by our grandmothers in the
golden days OF the one spindle operation, than
III the present times of improvement There is
manufacturer on the stand to-day, who was
| yesterday under the inquisitorial examination
of the Committee, and is to undergo further ex-
animation this day The object of this mode of
examining manufacturers is, to prOcrastinate
)
manufacturers here cannot be examined in time
to report a BILL or that it may be said that a
majority Of this Committee are not satisfied with
! the evidence, though of the most positive and
respectable character.
One grocer has been examined about the cost
! of molasses in the West Indies. who informed
the Committee that it was from 5 to II cents ;
and that the other expenses were about 90 cents
more. The object Of the hostile part of the
Committee is, to raise the duties on molasses,
which already amounts to from one hundred to
four hundred per cent by calculating freight
and expenses and on iron perhaps something
more, and on hemp and on wool, an extravagant
increase, while the manufactured woollens will
be made no better in point of protection This.
undoubtedly, is the calculation. By this man
agement they will bring the south to vote for
Il bill which protects the southern productions
and to vote for an increase of duty on wool.
while they perfectly understand that the de-
ceptlve friendship to the wool growers, will be
entirely imperative, as the raw material will be
of but little value, if the manufacturers wool
len bill should be rejected 1t is reported here
for fact, that majority of the Committee have
decided that Mr. Schenk, of New York. and
Mr.. Dickerson, of Ohio, two of the most extern
sive and intelligent manufacturers in the coun-
try, should not be called on to gvei :heir tes-
tlmony. There are many woollen manufactur-
ers here largely engaged in the business, who
will not be called on to make statements before
| the Committee as the information they ma v
/ furnish will be unpalatable to the gentlemen S
taste. In fact, the manGuyering of a majority
of this Committee makes the good people stare,
as it is so barefaced, the most common under
standing is capable of detecting the deception
1t is well understood that the New England
delegation will be willing to protect any and all
great interests as we'll as the woollen and there
FORE for the purpose of playing off this special
fraud upon the people. the bill will be loaded
/ down with all the protection that may be asked
/ for, for other interests, while the woollen man.
ufacturer will be neglected. This is what is
understood by the managers in this place
Well, what next The northern Representa-
! tives finding the woollen bill defeated by in
! trigue, will of course vote against it. Then
these managers will set up the hue and cry,
| that the northern members will only support
bill for their own immediate interest, but will
vote against any protection on iron, hemp, mo-
lasses or other articles, the productions of other
sections of the country. These great men will
! find themselves much mistaken in supposing
the people will be managed in this way for q
/ length of time An indignant community must
3 and will set things to rights, or we are a ruined
nation ] wish the sovereign people could only
see for themselves the movements of the polti-
cal juggers, who are playing off the farce of
/ legislation, for offices which furnish the loaves
and fishes Will the Pennsylvanians be satisfi-
ed with the wanton sacrifice of their interests by
these sycophants and office asprants or will
I they arouse from their lethargy and shake of
their drowsy security before it ends in the hor-
rors of an incubus Will the people of the
great State of New York, who are alive to the
great interest of wool growing and manufactur.
ing, be cozened out of their rights, by the wire
pulling gentry' No, they will not; for the
time has arrived that the people begin to under.
stand the black deeds that are perpetrated, un
der the disguise of friendship to their interests
The game has been played too long, and The
moves and lodges begin to be known by the
people as well as by the jugglers themselves