Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-03-17

question, that n periina-
cos adherence 10 her opinions likely TO be with
similar feeling on the part of other States. That il she
was excited upon this subject would others be also
ad mat her elevation in the Union would not be Icssened
by the mamie sation OF concaory spirit of which
this itself sprung, and by which only boz
preserved. One remark may be INDUCED in without v
ing offence The resolutions TO which have alluded are
said TO have passed unanimously. Now SIR strange as il
may appear at the first glance is nevertheless true that
perfect unanmy in any debeatiVe body any subject
interest," Is the strongest evidence that the subject has
not been properly examined This is not original idea
with me. 1t claims its origin from the venerated
Lowndes, who, while he lived reflected much honor
on the State OF his nativity, and gave the promise of lie
OF so much usefulness TO the United States. IL
long alter had taken my seat for the first time in the
other House. that proposition 10 amend the Constitution
came there TO be discussed The Legislature Virginia
had acted upon with perfect unsny and every tunc
tonary OF the Governments far my obscrv alton
tended, approved the decision of the legislature. Sir,
had approved it myself; but my opinion thoroughly
amendment. expressed 10 Mr. Lowndes the alterations
which my opinion had undergone and my astonishment
the uanmity which had prevailed in the Legislature
ne then let tall the remark which have quoted, and
added, that mems opinions liable differ their
watches, and that differences wouldincvaby arise fds-
cusslon and due debcraton were resored to- ann asked
oy gentlemen around, what proposition il was alluded
to. have no hesitation in answering 1t contemplated
the distrctng the United States for the election of mem
bers of Congress and electors of President and Vice Pre-
sient, than which, nothing would go farther strike
oil existence the federate feature of the Government
VIII go so far as to that the proposition which
formerly received the unanimous support OF the General
Assembly, was again submitted 10 its decon would be
v.
return TO the resolutions of Pennsylvania In 1894 -
an excise was laid domestic distilled spirits, which
operated with some severity the people OF that State
and what was her course She protested against it, I'D
must say, with much Justice vioatory OF the principle
of equality which the Union rested The exactions OF
the Government fell upon her citizens with force
than those of any other State. Nor did they content
themselves with merely pctioning and protesting They
resoted to more decisive measures and Tor time set the
law at open defiance. express no censure upon this
conduct-looking at the subject that party feeling
has ceased TO operate but say that their complaints
but too well founded. The act levied unequal
acons and fell with the greatest ioce upon Pennsylva-
mia. submit ii 10 honorable Senator's say il there is
not striking similarity between the existing system and
the whiskey tax LII that was partial, also is this; IL
that levied unequal exacions the acquisitions Of
this grossly and palpably unequal And yet sir the
excited the citizens of Pennsylvania arms, while this
nvokes 10 its support all her power and all her influence.
The deteoraed from her interestths advances that
interest at the expense of others make no CONNIE
but submit the subject TO the deliberations the calm and
dspassonate deliberations OF her representatives here and
elsewhere.
When the Senate adjourned on yesterday was about
enter into an examination OF various items on the list of
protected articles, with the purpose making good the last
branch OF the proposition, that we buy dear will not
fatigue the Senate by going through the entire list of the
taxed commodtiesthe process would be altogether
tedious for is place, however profitable such invest
CATION might be-ba shall coneut myself by looking into
four branches OF the SYSTEM the results of which will
to illustrate the whole take, for this investigations
iron, sugar, cottons and wooens and unless have de-
ceived myself, will show not only the oppressive charac-
ter OF the taxes they impose individuals but the
nous burden which they devove upon the whole COM
the fact Mr.. President in investigating this particular
subject that the manufacture OF iron begann this country
at period long anterior 10 the revolution find that iron
was exported TO England as early the year l77I, y,
g. from Philadelphia, and sold in Liverpool S53 SO B
cents per ton, including the charges of ansportaon
and other incidental charges. Mr. Tyler here read a
statement TO sustain this fact appended to the examina-
ton of Mr.. Sarchc taken before Committee Of the Sc
nate at the last session. The fact is also undeniable
that this branch ofndusy successfully prosecuted at
early period Of our history and that considerable for
tunes were made at it. Mines were opened, and worked
arr cf,,llt IN, Nigrip opII
land, is known TO have built up large fortune by the
iron business and at this moment successful
iy at the Irois Ryicres, in Canada, under duty of but Il
per cent ad valorem These facts would seem prove
after the most conclusive the tax is entire
graui,ous and unnecessary They aided by the
fact that this pursuit was commencedn the u States at
time certainly early it was in England, and that tbe
iOnmaster in this country had the field OF competion
fairly open to him, anfcear of all mpedmcnts The
truth is, that without agency he possesses
the monopoly OF the interior and is secured thereby ~
market great extent andimmense value. Thatmonopoy
arises from the position the nes and the great cost Of
transporting over land so heavy article iron.
friend, in whose statement have the most implicit COR
hdence, has informed me that the cost OF transporting
ton of iron from the works in northwestern Virginia tothe
seaboard, would not fall short of $50 This monopoly so
entire, that sells at higher price the vicinity Of
the mines than at distance of hundred miles from
them; and it is the foreign importation which alone pre-
vents IL from becoming monopoly OF the oppres-
sve character The foreign iron presses in upon the lin
its of the ironmaster whenever his prices are cxorban
and forces him TO content himself with omevhat re-
duced price. The whole struggle Of the ironmasers OF
Pennsylvania and New Jersey is extend their monopo
y TO the seaboard; and in order 10 do this the duty must
necessarily be sufficiently great cover all the expenses
Of transportation to the Atlantic markets. Hence Rus
and Swedish iron is subjected the duty of 22 40
cents the tom and English TO still heavier charge Of
$37 the ton The latter bears great a disproporon
TO the prime cost almost 10 amount 10 prohibory
duty while the former is scarcely affected by IT, In 1910
when the population Of the country but 1000 900
there were imported 6 600 tons andin 1880 the importation
equal TO 30 900 IONS increasing ratio nearly equal
TO population. The Inquiry naturally as TO the
of thisundimshed importation of ussan and
ron Notwithstanding the high duty added the heavy
charges of transporting it from great distance Sir IL
is found in the fact, that iron OF the quality and
suited TO the purposes TO which this is applied made
within the United States, or, at most, but very small
quantity inquired into this matter, of the Senator from
New Jersey (NIr. Dckcron) the gentleman who has had
the almost exclusive management Of the subject who
largely engaged In the business. His answer was
brief and sentenious but full Of ph and mefnent"we
shall make IT," Now, sir, is il not ntoerable that ths
heavy tax of 22 40 cents per ton should be continued on
the community for indefinite period under The promise
that or later, there viii be made, in the United
States, iron OF quality equal to that imported from abroada
did not stand in need Of the information from the honora-
bic Senator. The New York price current had assured
that the Russian and Swedish iron Indispensable
necessary or our consumption. there found that il sold
100 the ton being equal 10 advance of dollars in
the ton over irons which excess of price would long
since driven out Of the market if proper subss
iute had been found for in the domestic article.
The tariff has had the effect Of Keeping up c price Of
this article Notwithstanding ,he great fall which has taken
place in foreign prices make good this assertion, by
referring 10 the report Of the committee appointed New
York by the Tariff Convention IN 1890 bar iron sold on
the Atlantic seaboard al 500, the tori in 1880, II sold in the
market at from So 10 800 while the price in the
terror, speak more particular OF the NORTHWESTERN por