Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-03-15
GOM@MMssI
~ SENATE or THE UNITE

IN The SkNATE OF THE UNITED STATES
FEBRUARY 80 1881.
r. port on the Black -miihs' Pc i,ion. Mr. H,vxr
submitted the following
REPORT:
The Select Committee to whom was referred " the
petition OF upwards OF 300 mechanics ciizen Of the
CT aud county OF Philadelphia, employed 10 the vsr
Gus branches OF the manufacture OF r-:;" and also
he petition OF me Iourneymen blacksmiihs of the city
and county OF Philadelphia employed in mi nu(ac,urio1
anchors and chain cabIe,," report:
That they have examined the subject embraced Il,
these petitions with all the ard after ton which
lie importance demands. Whether the oppressive ops
raon OF the present gh duties upon iron be consider
ed reference 10 the industry of the petitioners or the
burdens iDpoed upon the great body Of the D. opls
the question 10 ono which 10 entitled TO a candid and
thorough invest atioD. OF all the meta, iron eootri
bu,es tho wealth, the comfort aud the mnrov.
nent Of socisiy IL snters most largely into the con-
sumption OF all ranks and condition OF men. I, fur.
Diehes the mechanic with bis tools, the farmer with
the implements OF his bu,baDdry, the merchant with
The OF fitting out his ship, and the manufacturers
With the very instruments Of his wealth and prospect
W The forest falls before the axe: and II Ia IN N.
plough aud the hoe, the spade and the harrow a oiet
Rxs aud the bar that the farmer 4, indebted for
the means OF bringing his 6sids into cultivation and
covering me ~lldefGe'' With golden harvest" 10
OF he operations OF bu'baodry iron the indispen.a.
y 7 II he hu~'7n man; wdbout who's aid
O. "N-'"d IN a vao ttsugR I- 20
aud bafi.h,p, Of his c,ndi,ioo H.
4crS 80 chai1s tor his oxsn and his
.t b To- TIRE tor his VIII" ella br bits aud shoe, for
ht hors Tor locks for his barns and fAsteniox s
Tor ~ 1--WE IluES ana encIOsUres, Tor the
meg took, the sythe and the raw, the Ratchet
cd he su'mer he Gales and the ST. Ell, ards in short
Tor alWos' oil the instruments Of bis pos erty ard
cont "
hof l. al'o ih- very hasis # ulseiures Without
lie omDipofeni aid what would be come Of our girls, mile
aud saw nils. our rice mackiuss our cotton sjos
add sugar mills our wooen and cotton faetoriss
aud even our steam eDgiDesl Oar streams might run
forever, add water be evspoa,ed into sir but The
wheel wotli stand still, ard not shuttle or sp,pdIr
move In obedience TO the will Of man. The es,psn
ter and the oit the uIwrigbt and The wbeeiwrisht
the smith, the currir tbs tahn-r, the paper makes,
and the bookbinder, nay, all who engaged In the
DrehAne arts, r,qgife iron and steel 10 them more
precious than god) for lhs very tools aud 10
OF their trade And look at the condition OF the ship
wright the merchant, and the navigator. Without the
spikes add the rnsis, The chains AZ the bolts quo.
piled by iron, how could your vessels eithsr Of com
asree OF OF war;, be prepared 10 sneounter add over
cone lbs psriIs OF the mighty dsepf Without an an.
cbor, what chip could ride securely Al her nooripy,,
How could your b7sis, wi their vast and CON
PIiesIed machinery, be enabed item the earr.ns Of
yout Highy rvers. bringing together in bsrnoti IN.
intercourse bs ds'an, parts Of our extended country