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

II vas lnnecessaryas Ill uccGiul information \. as
within reach OF the committee without it. lie
hoped the committee had at least made the Trial oil
obtaining this information by correspondence II
they had done this, snd failed TO obtain il, they
would come before this House with better grace.
Tic touse was ROW within few days of the time
when the iorircr hills this subject had beeu re-
ported. 10 begin az such period OF the session,
to send Tor persons and papers, was virtually TO
postpone, and certainly to defeat the whole mea-'
sure
Mr.. buchanan said, as my colleagues (N1r. Ste
venson and Mr.. StewartO have expressed opinions
directly at variance with each other, shall state
my reasons for the vote which intend TO give.
am in favor OF the amendment proposed by the
gentleman from New York (Air. Oakley; not
because 1t varies, in principle, from the resolution
reported by the Committee of Manufactures, but
because 1t expresses, fully and distinctly, the
objects which that Committee had in view.
! II has been stated, and urged by gentlemen, in
this debate, that the vote which may be given i'll
favor OF The resolution, ought to be considered
/ vote against the policy of protecting Domestic
| Manufactures. protest against any such infer
! cree. It's at war with the fact. 1t assumes the
principle, that, because the friends of the rcsolu
! lion wish 10 cast al the light which can be she'd
upon the subect-because they wish 10 act with
knoWledge and dciiberation,-that therefore, they
are opposed TO the protection of Domestic Manu-
lectures. 1t assumes the position, that the desire
to obtain information concerning measure ne ces-
sariy pre-supPoscs hostility 10 it. This is Singu
! A1t A4AONS Vi S.HuIlCIN lSCt cODilucnt, ina,
when the House shall have acquired knowledge
OF all the tacts-and when they shall be spread be-
fore the nation, in an authentic form, shall
pass Bill much more satisfactory 10 ourselves,
and to our country, than do without the in
formation.
! But, it has been stated that the delay which
must follow the adoption of this resolution, will de-
feat the Bill, at the present session. / have been
as;onished 10 hear this argument urged, after the
explicit declaration of the Committee of Domestic
pF tss ,f,ara
sony has soemnly declared, that delay has not been
me object, nor will il be the effect of the measure.
ihey have determined to report Bill during the
next month, and hope they will be enabled 10 do
so, some time before ts close. After such decla
ration upon this floor, will any gentleman again
repeat, that tho intention of the majority of the
Committee is delay? trust not. Upon the ground
OF delay, therefore, there is no for voting
against this resolution. Much .as desire more
information concerning the manufacture Of Wool
tens, II could, for one moment, believe, that the
passage OF this resolution would prevent us from
acting efficiently upon the Tariff, during the pre-
sent session, / should vote in the negative | an
prehend no such result.
Gentlemen have argued, that the power to send
iorperscns TO testify, which the respectable Com
mittee Of Manufactures desire TO Obtain from the
1ouse, Is dangerous, and unprecedented. What
mere bug-bear IS this argument? If two OF
your citizens engage il litigation, no matter how
contemplate the subject in dispute may be, your
laws VIII compel the attendance Of witnesses
Whatever may be the individual sacrifice Justice
must be done between them. And shall il be
SAID, that, when u measure, deeply affecting the
interest of every man in the United States, is be-
lore the Representatives of the People, that it is
the exercise of an extraordinary power, to compel
the attendance of witnesses who can give us prac-
teal information upon the subject? This power
mas never before been questioned, since i have
been member of the House.
For my own part, sincere friend 10 the
nariti and have no doubt that the manufacture of
"oo!lens requires additional projections the great
question is, In what degree, We must know the
| extent of the evil before we can proportion the
remedy to II. Upon this subject nv principles
have never changed. have ever been in favor
OF aiording such protection to our Domestic Man
uaturcs, will enable them to enter into fair and
successful competition with Foreign Manufactures
/ IN our domestic markets. If You 90 beyond this
point, yol reach prohibition & thus afford an I'M
necessary, and unjust protection 90 the manufactu-
| rer at the expense OF the consumer. On the other
hand, II you fall short of it, YOU di5appoint the lust
hopes OF the manufacturer, and withdraw from him
The foundation UPON which he has right TO expect
that he shall stand. 1t IS not easy 10 determine
! the precise point 10 which wo ought TO CO. To err
on the one side, VIII injure the manufachlrer-to
err on the other, will injure the consumer. The
Woollen manufacturers themselves, differ as to
the degree OF protection necessary. How, then
can We decide between them, without calling
them before US, and ascertainng the facts upon
wmch their respective opinions rest? NV coleaguc
! (Alr. StewarO may know the precise degree of
! protection necessary. confess l do not Even
the Committee of Domestic Manufactures are in the
dark upon this subject.
Who are the Manufacturers, that we dare not
| approach them? Shall we be 50 careful ofthcr ac-
communicating we must act bndly, rather than
send for them 10 give US information? Shall yeriIn
the risque of iniurousIy affecting the agricultural
interest and all the other interests of the countrv
rather than send for few of those gentlemen who
are cur petitioners 70 inform as 10 the degree
OF protection which their establishments require.
This would beill-imed and injudicious kindness
II we send Cor them, their expenses must be paid
| by the House Ii certainly cannot be very erie
yous matter for them to spend few DAYS here
during the fashionable season, at the public cx-
pense, when SO many Of our citizens visit Wash
ington voluntarily at their own private cost.
confess, did not understand by what autIIo-
rIty my colleague, (Slr. Stewart,) undertook 20
PROFOUND the questions which ne has done TO
the Committee of Manufactures. They arc not
now upon their trial They are not bound to an
swer such interrogatories. They have asked Won
for power to send for witnesses. They have ex-
posed their reasons for making this request before
you, aud they merely wish to obtain your advice
upon the subject. They will rest satisfied with
whatever may he your discrimination
Before sit down, must say, am glad that NV
colleague (Mr. STEWARD and myself at length
agree upon articles proper 10 be embraced i'm the
Tariff. The ahortive attempt which he made to
amend the resolution, shews, fhat he is now will
ing 10 protect other interests, besides those con-
tlincd in the Wo5en Bill ofthe last Session. Since
that period, new light, from some quarter has
beamed upon bis mind ard who can, therefore,
.cii bui that tie Information sought 10 be obtained
by this resolution may iilunina the minds of others?
AZ Inc last Session, when proposed 10 include in
The Wooilen BILL several of the articles enuInera-
tea IN the amendment which that gentleman has
'is DAY offered, he voted for the previous question
which carried fftft-