Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-24
,Twcniy-sccomd Comgress.--sc,,. 4.
IN SENATE.
Tu-siQu, Deccwbc,. 2Ofh


Mr.. wilkins pursupnt notice, obtained leave and in
toduced bill provide tar the abstraction OF the claims OF
certain American citizens Tor spolalions committed prior
olSoo. IL wa, read the first time and with the nnoni
OF the Senate, second time by s title, and
referred a Select Committees consisting ct Mcssrs viii
kins Webster. Chambers, Brown, and Dudley
Mr.. Holmes submitted the following solutions which
he prciaccd by remarks at some length:
ResOred, That the President OF the United States be
requested to to be communicated to the Senate, the
number of vessels and their tonnage and cargocs which
have cleared from ports in the United States
port place in the British American Colonies, since the
Presidents proclamation Of the 9th October is3Odisin
gushing those, if any, which cleared Tor such port or
place, ''and markct-or for British port or place, and
some other port pacc-distmguiShing also American
foreign tonnage and also the entries of all vessels
from any British colonial port with their cargoes, the
above rrocInmaonlistingu the tonnage above,
and designating the British port place from whence the
cargoes were imported.
Resolved, That the President be requested to inform
the Senate what amount OF American and foreign tonnage
Distinguishing hen has been cleared for, and entered
from, the Swedish and Danish West Incs, the Pre-
:dcnts proclamation, of the 9th October, 1880, with the
Kind and amount of the cargocs.
Resoiped, That the President be requested to inform
the Senate, whether, since his proclamation of the 9th
October 1880 British vessels have cleared from the United
States for port in the British Continental Colonies in
America and have sailed directly to the British West In
dies by virtue of cearanccs previously obtained
tom Houses in those Continental Cooncs thus perform
ing voyages crcuitous papers, but in fact direct
Resotred That the President be requested inform the
Senate what the duties paid on British and American
vessels and respectively their cargocs i'm British norris in
the West Indies, and tho other British American Colonies
distinguishing between the West Indies and thr other
Colonies and between American and British We ses and
tho produce ofthe United States and ofthc Colonies.
81 motion of Mr. Smith, the foregoing resolutions were
ordered TO be printed.
The report made yesterday by Mr. Smith, from the
Committee on Finance upon the subject of further
ducton oil the duty ON Tea up for considerations
The report concluded with resolution in substance
that was ineXpcdcn at this time, the subject
Mr. Webster said that he did rise oppose or ex-
ovpt 10 me Reporter the Committee He would not say,
all circumstances considered that the public interest might
not be promoted by ts adoption. 1t subject, how
ever, OF grave, and he would say urgent importance
The act OF May 1890 had provided for partial reduction
OF duties certain articles; there duties still exist
ing which from the state OF the revenue may be proper
y dispensed with. II it intended chat further re-
ducuon OF the duty Tea should he made, he thought
there should be, il important TO the various interests
concerned that it should be done al oncc-There WAS
large quantity of Tea, in bond in Custom Houses If
the contemplated reduction of duty was now made il
could be done upon principles of equality Justice
towards those who were deeply interested than perhaps
any other time. He should therefore have been graed
II the Committee on Finance had reported in favor an
Immediate reduction II was late in December.
Tho act of 1880 this subject would be operations
the great quantity of Tea in the Custom Houses rendered
important that the subject should receive prompt
decision and that the importers and should not
be left IN suspense the which would probably
DC pursued mere II law should now be passed, the
dealers could regulate and adjust their prices prcdcated
upon the provisions of such law. He had particular
purpose in rising. He dissented from the views contain
cd IN the letter OF the Secretary of the Treasury
Committee In his opinion considerable reduction of
the duty on Tea should he made, that immediately
He did not desire should be considered the Senate
unanimously acquiesccd in the Treasury or
the Committee, on this subject.
Mr. Smith called for the reading of one of the memorials
which elected the report.
After the reading Mr. Saith said that the Senate would
now be enabled better TO understand the views of the
mittee In May 1890 passed reducing the duty
On lea me mcrnora'sts, surprising that the present
congress might make further reduction, anxious that
law should pass with this object, might made TO
take effect conemporan sousy with the act of May 1880
Owing TO the unccain legislation of Congress heretofore
the importers OF Tea had sustained loss of near So 600
600 lic would be decidedly in favor of act for fur
taer reduction which should take effect the time dies
mated IN VIC memorials but 1t was impossible that such
act could be carried through Congress before the first
Jau The population of importers who before the
committee, were themselves satisfied that there
sufficient time TO comply with the views of the
lists 1t was his opinion that further reduction, if
entire abolition OF the duty Tea might be made,
RS The cXngushmen of the public debt had been
pli'hed Such course due to the importers, the
country generally. Indeed he had last year reported in
favor of an entire abolition of this duty. lie would go far
Their than required by the mcmoralsts them
selves He did consider that the Secretary of the
treasury had given any positive opinion the subject
lie had not sufficient time examine it, or its particular
bearing on the estimates which nc has submitted 10 Con-
pose modification of the farff lie alluded to the re-
sPcctive duties of the Committees Manufactures and
on Finance, touching this subject, ard said if the Senate
would instruct the latter TO act the entire subject they
would endeavor TO do promptly.
Mr. Clay and said, that when the report was pre-
sened by the Chairman OF the Committee he understood
that gentleman TO say the Committee had come to the re-
solution that further reduction of duties tea was in
cXpedicnt The Committee appear only to have de-
ayed the subject with intention TO propose reduction
at some future time which they deem more suitable than
the present The intention the mcnoralsts from, New
York. to which he disposed assent was TO ave the
reduction OF the duty take place the Janry next
bu tiS was not the exclusive time TO which the
raSts confined their petition. Their object was have
the reduction take place early possible if could
not be effected at the time first mentioned the first of Feb
riaTy even the first of March meet their wishes
The tea which Is bond, would have remained i'm the
custom House until that act should take effect it was
not before the first of February March and thus the OBJ
Ject oil the memorial would be substantially answered.
Mr. T. SAID tins not the most important object of the
ncmorialists Their principal motive presenting them
was TO ascertain the sentiments of Congress- relation TO
further reduction ot the duty and this point they were
lett totally in suspense by tho report of the committee
Mr. e. sold, in answer 10 the gentleman from MARYLAND
that no gent who had reflected the subject as
ed with the principal interest of the country would believe
mat total reduction OF the duty 10 effect
the payment OF the national debt It was impossible TO
consider the reduction of the duty this article alone
without involving she great and important question of the
tariff IN general which embraces the leading interests of
The country within its scope The unmportant as well as
the important articles included in the tariff must come in
TO consideration. The articles which were protected as
wen as those which unprotected by present sys
ten oil policy, must up for their due share of our
considerations; and il would be impossible examine ono
article separately without taking into consideration the
connection which bore with others, which were equally
SUBJECT TO the duties without considering the whole
system oil protection and Of the country But if
heTe was any article which might bc considered separate
~ sald hF C.ha article Tea an article which MIGHT
ne cosderch as one the necessaries life The gen
uehah VINO submitted tie report said he did NOT intend
70 announce the determination Of the committee much
less OF the Senate, as being indisposcd to Grant further
reduction To this explanation lac Wa. moi d,sposcd IN Oh