Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-01-19

sylvania, (Nfr. Stewart and Mr.. Denny )and to allay their
very lively %sensibiity, that a majority of the Committee
OF Commerce were, unfortunately, of the same views with
themselves on the general subject to which this resolu-
ton referred. The nature OF the enquiries in the resolu-
ton was strictly and properly commercial. But the gen.
pcmcn Were very much afraid (and there lay the point Of
anxiety about the matter) lest the people Of the U. States
should discover how far they had been deceived by the
substitution of the system of minimun,s for ad ralorem
duties. MIR. c. said he was not at all surprised that gem
uenen should be extremely anxious TO hide from the peo-
pie the fact that, instead of 10 per cent. adj valorem on GER
tain descriptions of woollen goods, as laidby the law, they
were, i'm fact, paying from 10 TO 100, and $50 per cent
Nor was he surprised that they should be equally anxious
to conceal another fact, viz: that persons purchasing arti-
cles, whose original cost was 81 and 1 cent, were Obliged
to pay the same duties as upon those whose cost was So so.
The effect OF the system went TO reverse every rule of
@Nahon; 1t was adverse TO every principle of rcpublicanism
and every rule of Justice. For himself, he was indiner-
ent to which OF the committees the resolution should go, he
had all confidence in the justice, candor, and fidelity of the
gentleman (Mr. Adams) at the head of the Committee on
Manufactures, and he was sure the facts would be brought
out. But he could tell the gentlemen, that whatever dis
position should be made OF the resolution, the inquiries con-
tanned in it should be answered, in spite of all they could
Ito TO smother the information. lie should, himself, lay on
The table statements containing all the facts the gentleman
wished TO elicit, and then he should see, by taking the
Yeas and Nays, who would vote to refuse the printing of
them, and withhold the information from the American
People.
The fact ought to be pcrpetuated by an official record,
that duties varying from % TO $50 per cent. adj valorcm.
were paid where the law intended 10 and 40; and none
knew the fact better than the gentleman who wished to
stifle the enquiry. All he asked, at this great and impor-
tant crisis, when those who had had the benefit of this sys-
TEN oil duties Tor forty years were not content, but sought
to impose it forty years more upon the People, was, that
the American People should know how far they had been
deceived.
Mr.. Dearborn rose in reply, and said that the gentle
man from New York, had made an averment TO the House
which was variant from the fact. The gentleman had said,
that those who opposed the reference of the resolution TO
the Committee on Commerce, did not desire the informa-
ton sought should be obtained. The gentleman was much
mistaken if nc supposed that those who were favorable 10
the protecting system, desired the continuance of the mi
nlmum duties. When that mode of laying duties was ut
first proposed, ii had indeed been predicted, that the prac-
] q an.cf xynnlI n cpnb nZ sla -N.,l~ -.. r NJ W
had asserted it now TO be; but, in practice, so far from this
proving TO be the result, the very reverse took place; so
mat instead oil paying loo or 100 per cent. as the gentle
man sad, The importer more frequently paid no more
than 10 or 20 per cent. The importers Clr. ID. observed)
knew perfectly well how to quadrate their prices in the in
voice, TO the minimum duties; and he asserted that no
goods, since the minimum system had been enacted, had
been invoiccd beyond one or two pence over the points of
minimum value fixed by the law. They took very good
care not TO be caught importing goods charged midway
between those points.
If the investigations which had been made were entitled
TO the least degree OF credit, the duties actually paid, so
lar from being eXorbitant, were far beneath what thelaw
intended. All the friends of the protecting system were
well acquainted with the fact that by the Intervention OF
fraudulent invoices, goods were brought down under mini
NUNS 10 which they did not belong, and thus made TO paw
a duty far less than that provided by the law. All who
were concerned in manufactures were perfectly willing,
nay, they expected, that the ridiculous system of mini
NUNS should be abolished. Ii gave little or no protection
TO the manufacturer its operation was onerous and OPP
pfessivc. lie was surprised that the gentleman of New
York should venture the declaration that on certain de
%scriptions of wconen goods 100 and $50 per cent. duty was
pdlU. Ill might III tncOTN appear 10 be true. Dnt in
practice and in lact,it was far from being so. For himself,
he was very Indifferent 10 which committee The resolution
was sent. The information might he obtained in various
ways; from the Committee on Commerce, the Committee
on Manufactures, or the Secretary of the Treasury. He
had no doubt that the information was all, at that moment,
within the City of ashington; and he cared not how il was
reached. He thought, indeed, that the Committee on
msnuI s It,. r% vas the most appropriate source from which
the reierence. Wv "i' Vet hui'oi""' e" =" - Junction OF
Mr.. Davis, of Mass. observed, that no great benefit
could accrue either to the House or the country from the
inquiry proposed by the resolution. The Committee of
Commerce were TO inquire and report to the House, as 10
what: the rate per cent. actually paid on certain descrip-
tons of goods designated in il, and whether certain other
goods were not, in effect, prohibited our shores. Now, if
the Information sought wercsin the Department, if it was
IN the possession OF the proper organs of the governments,
tue proper course was TO apply there Had the Commit.
tee OF Commerce a~nySonicia statements TO make to this
House which were not in the Department? Had that
COMMITTEE any mode OF obtaining statements sanctioned
10y Uiicial authority, which was not in the Department.;
NO. cy mad monotone at all. The application TO them
. was, therefore oil little utility. But it had been said by his
wsfthy friend from New York, (Mr. CambreIene1 that il
was very indifferent TO him where the resolution was sent;
the information was at hand, and il could and should he
brought into this House. Ii was n proverbiaI remark. that
it was the hit bird that nuttercd: and when he saw that
gentleman spring from his seat the moment il was pro-
posed to transfer the reference of this resolution TO another
committee, he could not but think Of that saving. Why
was the gentleman so uneasy? What inspired him with
such a heat oil zeal' He would state the reason TO the
House.
At this point Of the debate,
MIR. y" hittlescy moved that the House proceed 10
the business on the Speakers table, and to the orders of the
day.
The motion was carried, Ayes IS, Noes 81.
ASSISTANT ENGINEEE.
Mr.. Vance called up the second reading Of a Joint re-
solution, abolishing the Office of an assistant in the Corps
of Engineers.
The resolution, he stated, had received the unanimous
assent OF the Committee who reported il; and farther he
would state what might appear very extraordinary, the
resolution had the assent OF the individual himself CGen.
Gadsden) who now filed the office which it proposed TO
abolish.
The question being put the resolution was unanimously
ordered 10 its third reading tomorrow.
MIR. Polk now moved to suspend the rule of the House
whichsappropriatcs this day to the consideration of pri-
vate bills, in order to move TO take up the apportionmcnt
bill.
MIR. Wickline said he wished to understand from the
friends of the number 5000 in the apportionment bill, if
they would allow a motion TO be made for discharging the
Committee of the Whole from that bill.
MIR. Adams said he hoped the gentleman from X entucky
would have permission TO make the motion he desired
The House had spent two days in very Improbable de-
bate upon that bill, and he wished TO see it brought to an
end, and the bill reported in blank.
The question being taken, it was lost, less than 2-3ds in
its favor. Ayes 81, Noes 90.
The House proceeded TO the consideration Of the bill
Tor the relief Of George Inpis Of New York and alter
considerable debate, the question on engrossing the bill.
and reading il a third time, was decided in the negative.
and the bill was rejected.
The House Iep a1;o.rnoJ 10 ATo.J-.