Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-02-16
CONGRESSIONAL.

introduce the bill for which he had given mo- tice on yesterday, viz. a bill to reduce the dn- ties on Indian blankets aud other Indian goods not manufactured in the United States. In support of the application for the leave he was about to ask, and Tn place of speech, he asked the indulgence of the Senate to the reading of letter from MT J. J. Astor, of New-York, which he had received some two years ago, and which was then printed Dy the order of the Senate. Mir B. then read the following letter from Mir Astor.
 Ne7u- York, Jan. 29, 1929
 SIR: understand Congress have 1t in con to make some change in the sys- tenn of cur Indian Affairs. If so, hope mo- thing will take place to embarrass our trade with them; that the duty of public officers and agents may be so defined as not to leave room for constructions which may authorize acts which will subject and embarrass the traders. It any change was contemplated, would esteemit favor if you would have the goodness to advise me what it is.
 Our traders labor under very great disac!- vantage when they comt in competition with the British, and which l wish to bring before you, In the hope that you may bring the mat ter to the conslderatl5n of Congress. 1t is known thatnone of the woollen goods fit for the Indian trade, such as Indian blankets. strouds, and clothes of particular descrip- tions, are as yet manufactured in this country; we are, therefore, obliged to import them from England; andit sohappens that these are part of the articles paying the heaviest duty. The fngllsh traders have theirs free of duty, which enables them to bring their goods sixty per cent. and more, cheaper than we pay, and they are thereby enabledto un- 'tlersell us. Their furs and skins cost us little more than half;.s much as we have to pay for ours. But, this is not all; they are, by these means, enabled to send their furs here. and actually do come, and undersell the A merican traders. It is unaccountable, that they should be permitted to bring their furs here free of duty; and if we send any to Bri- tish dominions, are obliged to pay fifteen per cent. duty. In Russia, where we used to send some of our furs, a duty has been laid su hgh as to amount to a prohibition; this was done some years ago, to protect their fur com- pany. Nor, caii we send our furs to any couIl-s try, without paying duty; while every nation on earth can send their furs, and do send them, to this country, free of duty. To this it is owing, in great measure, that so many of our companies of Indian traders have been ruined; and very much fear, that unless duty is imposed on foreign furs, the American fur company, (the only respectable one of any capital now existing ill this country will be obliged to suspend their operations. believe am safe when I say, that all our Indian traders, for these twenty years past, with very few exceptions, have been losing time and property in the trade. The gov ernment lost, I presume, millions of dollars, m the Indian trade. WhenI engaged in it, twenty years ago.. I was promised by the ad- ministration, the protection of government, and in fact, more; but regretto say, hither- to, nothing has been done. Will you be SO good as to take the matter under considera- tion! The British traders have. also, an ex-