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

Such were some Of his views in opposing the reso-
luton.
As TO the bill oflas session. Mr. N. said, the gem
@sman had certainly gone to the tomb for the sub
cct oil his remarks. What done in the last
ongress, could not be brought forward as of much
avail on the present occasion. That bill, the gem
temansays, operated a. fraud on the ayricultu-
raj nterest OF the country. 1t was reported, it
seems, by the committee, from want of know
ledge, and its passage by the House was an eyre
gious blunder. Now, what was the real history of
that matter? The committee were informed, that
In laying the protecting duty, il would be prod,lc-
tive OF injurious consequences, if they made the
duty the raw material and on the manufactured
article to commence at the same time. 1t was
shewn to them, by satisfactory evidence, that there
was an Immense capital which had been invested
in the manufacture OF woollens and was then idle
that there were spindlcs enough standing STILL 10
consume, in twenty -four hours the entire stock of
Gomesuc wool, and that, unless some time were suf
Tered to elapse before the duty on raw wool should
be enforced, serious injury must necessarily ensue
ouch were the views under which that bill
passed. III they were erroneous, il certainly was
not for want of knowledge of the facts. Does the
gentleman suppose that the committee stand in need
OF having tie farmers of this country coming TO
their committee 10 they not cheated BY the
measures ofthis House. Was it necessary for them
TO testify in person, before the committee could de-
terminc whether the duty on the raw material and
on the manufactured fabric should OF should not
be simultaneous? The gentleman's whole argu-
fnent from that bill was inapplicablc, and out of
place. The question which the committee had 10
decide, and on which the House had afterwards 10
pass, was question of cxpcdiency. The House
did pass upon ii, and they fully knew what they
were doing
AS to the statements which the gentleman had
quoted, with regard to the importation of the differ
INEQUALITIES OF WOOL in two successive wears, he
did not see what it proved, did he distinctly
understand for what purpose it was introduced
Gentlemen all knew that much coarse wool had
been imported, and much of it under the value of
ten cents.
! tAt this point the debate arrested by the
Speaker, who announced that the hour allotted for
reports and resolutions had cxpirod.l
On motion OF Mr. Maary, however the rule on
'a Sunlect was for tins day suspended, two-thiFds
OF the House sustaining his motion TO that effect
MIR. Maliary then resumed his speech, and was
proceeding to make some remarks on the effects
the provisions of the tariff bill of 1921 when he
was called to order by MIR. Ingham Of Penn. on
the ground that these remarks had no necessary
conneXion with the amendment.
The Speaker so decided when
MIR: Mallary observed, that the gentleman on
the other side, had not, he believed, been checked
IN a course OF pretty general remarks on the same
subject, and he had supposed that he was at liberty
TO follow his example: but he should certainly sub
nit to the decision OF the Chair; and Mr.. NJ. then
took his seat
Mr.. Livingston said, two objections had been sta
ted to granting the power requested by the reso-
luton First, that it is unnecessary, inasmuch as
tne house and the Committee already possess
by the examinations which the resolution authori-
zes. Secondly, that the inconvenience attending
the delay necessary to procure the testimony will
more than counterbalance any advantage we might
expect In obtaining IT. If the first suggestion be
true, there is end of the question !: it viii be
nuSatory TO give the Committee power to examine
witnesses, to procure evidence which we already
possess; but the manner in which the objection is
made, fear will show conclusiyeIy that we are not
quite so well informed as those who urge il would
nave Us believe. But, however gentlemen NAV be
satisfied with the extent of their own knowledge we
owe something 10 the respectable Committee that
mas asked US for this delegation ofPower. They tell
US That there are material points of the subject on
which they desire TO be informed before thew can
present us such bill as they can recommend To
be passed, and they ask the means to procure it
what answer shall we give them' Shall we say,
we understand the subject perfectly; bring in your
oili as well as you can; we want no information
from you? Shall we reverse the rule of business
in this House, and, instead of employing a com
niee to state facts, and give us their deductions
IRON them, shall we oblge them to bring in bill
without any knowledge Of the subject and supply
the gross deficiency by our superior knowledge
but before we take this course it Is worth inquiry
whether we ourselves possess this knowledge
and 10 what extent? We will take this from the
gentlemen who oppose the resolution, ifanv mem
Der IN tins House possess the information. They
nave IT. and they have not'left It's in doubt as to
the kind OF evidence which they rest their be-
lei What more, say those gentlemen, can be de |
sired Have we not memorials from all the man
uiacturers Do not our tables groan with the |
weight OF their complaints, What more can be |
desired! Something more, in my opinion and i'll
thl5 Is the best evidence-and it must be supposed
10 be SUCH, Tor it has been relied on by ali who
spoke against the resoluton-it is the strongest
argument that could be used in favor Of the mea-
sure proposed. viii believe that many of these |
inenorlaiists arc very respectable people but are
they dsinterested' Their object is 60 obtain a |
protecting duty amounting 10 a prohibition Of all
foreign manufactures. And to persuade US TO tax
the whole community to the amount that such a |
measure necessarily involves, they tell US that
win the present protection, high rs il is their es-
tabshments cannot exist; that it is lJsins. busi-
ness that they are Obliged TO discharge their
workmen; but that, if we will agree to tax the |
rest OF the community, TO enable them TO become
rich, as soon as this object is attained their prices
w,l tail, and we shall obtain their manufactures
cheaper then than we can import them now. But
slr, before yield to this fine reasoning; before
agree TO impose this tax upon my constituents, 1
must be permitted TO say that i want evidence /;
That my duty will not permit me 20 rely on the
pare assertion OF any one, much less on that Of
Interested persons, be they ever so respectable
want to know whether il is true that the manu-
lecturers OF wool are really going 10 ruin with a
protecting duty OF more than fifty Dcr cent I l.
want to know the reason Of this f Il be true and
want to know from what facts the conclusion is
drawn that the same manufacturers which cannot
exist now as we told, with this enormous pro-
leciinS duty, and the corresponding price it pro-
iuces, viii be enabled 20 sell their goods cheaper
II future day, than they be imported without
Ihat cuty long professional practice has fought
me the danger Of relying the testimony ofinter-
ested witnesses, and has also shown me the great
utility OF cross examination. From disintcrested
It'll calculated 10 elicit truh but it is in
for the detection of all those subterfuges
10 which interest resorts, in order to hide the truth