Vandalia Whig and Illinois intelligencer. [volume] (Vandalia, Ill.) 1832-183?, 1833-03-06
Nltmola ze9tslastere.
DUTY ON LEAD

peal of the duties now imposed on Foreign Lead;
Mr.. Strobe, said, he was prompted by fold
consideration, to offer the preamble and resolutions
Just read, for adoption In the first place, he knew
III was the anxiens wish of his fellow citizens, whom
he had the honor in part to represent, that the
duty imposed on foreign lead should be retain
ed: And, secondly, that he felt well convinced,
If it reduced its reduction would operate much
to the injury, if not to the ruin of those engaged in
mining and smelling operations. Influenced by such
considerations, and the solemn conviction of his own
mind that such step by Congress would injuriously
affect the interests and welfare of large and merito
rious portion of community; he felt constrained to
advocate the present measure, the hope that Con-
gress might be induced to orbear any legislative ac
ton course Of policy, SO vitality important to
those Immediately concerned; subject in which the
nation at large would feel ike solcitude, if in pos
session of the facts, to the extent, to which the
mines on the Mississippi, are capable of supplying
that article, so Indispensable to national defence.
| Its policy conceived in wisdom, and approved
by experience that when nation possesses the capa-
city to furnish any article of ordinary use, guam
tity more than equal to the domestic supply that the
production or manufacture of such article, ought to
be so encouraged by protective policy, to usti-
lfy continuance of the labour employed to produce
it, this policy directly tends to the encouragement of
domestic industry and enterprise and will lead in the
end, that government which adopts it, to prosperity
wealth and happiness In the years 1923 and 90 the
mines on the Upper Mississippi alone, produced more
Assuming the minimum annual consumption at eleven
millions of poundsit may be said that consumption
increases: but admitting tbs truth Of the propositions
the capacity of the country such that if sufficient
inducements offered, the greatest quantity hereto
fore manufactured IN any one year could be doubled
BY reference to the records of the u S. Superin-
tendent, at Galena, the quantity manufactured in
the year 1926 will be found to exceed eleven millions
and of the next year little upwards of thirteen mil
lions, unless my memory much deceives me-and the
lower mines, as have been informed, produced from
three to seven millions
No country on the globe, has been SO bountifully
provided as ours with every VARIETY of products: ev-
cry thing promotive of individual comfort and nation
al defenceis accessible us, in in exhaustless guam
titles Then the policy to offer such inducements to
individual enterprise, will Justify the exploration
of our natural resources and deveope the hidden
treasures, with which no country richly abounds
is wise and just. And, however much sceptcs and
innovators, Geclam against it, such policy in Eu
rope has stood the test of revolutions and the expert
ence of ages, aud wealth with what happiness and
influence IT confers, has been, and ever will be- the
fruits of its existence and action
l 1t is readily admitted, that when nation is inca
pabie of growing manufacturing article of first
NECESSITY, for the of the people essential to its
own defence then it becomes both polite and
sary to negotiate the most advantageous treaties for
its procurement and at the cheapest rates. But who
SO incredulous to dispute for moment, that the
capacity of the lead mines, the Mississippi SUCH
as would furnish not only lead enough for the Of
the citizens and government of the United States, but
for all Europe besides. The lead mineral country
Extends over an hundred miles square, east and
of the Mississippi river, and the continual discoveries
which are daily making, induce reasonable belief
that it is much broader
All desire Congress to know upon this subject, is
faithful and candid exhibition of facts such none
will dispute. DISSEMINATION and conceament are not
the wca pons would employ to obviate the objections
and reute the arguments of the opposers to the res
ouion.-Grave truth aud sober reason better
weapons in the ascertainment of and effects in
the moral and political world.
Some powerful reasons could be urged upon the
consideration of the Senate, to viudcate the adop-
ton of the preamble and resolution In the spring of
1927 many enterprising citizens migrated from Illinois
and Missouri to those mines, which were till that sea-
son but partially explored They commenced their
labour under favorable auspices, and prosecuted it
With unremtting assiduty till July, when hostiites
with the Winnebago Indians commenced, so that
their mining operations for that were suspend
cd till about the first of October, when they resumed
their occupation, and prosecuted it uninterrupted till
the frs. of May, 1882 In the mean time, about the
middle of the year 1925, the price of lead declined
fell at last low, to discourage many from
continuing their mining and smelling pursuits, until
the fall of the year 1881, when the price advanced ;
but their prospects frightened with the enhanced
value of their staple, and their hopes heightened at
the revival of another favored season of prosperity
tnclT cXultatlOn was SuuucHlJ
dian war, which commenced about the first of May,
1882, and continued until September.
Thus again frustrated in their hopes, after having
endured protracted period Of the deepest Depression
in the business of their accustomed pursuits for
three years, instead of resuming the pick and the
shovel, (the Miners insgnia,) at the call of their
country they flew to arms, organized themselves into
little military bands, and in conjunction with their
gallant ellow-citzens from other parts of the State,
the adjacent parts of the Michigan Territory, and
part Of the regular army Of the United States, met
and conquered the enemy. They contributed as
much in proportion to their numbers, any other
so,ers engaged in their countrys service, to restore
it is to be hoped, permanent peace our borders
In the year 1927 they obeyed their country's call to
arms with no less aacrty and in conjunction with
part of the United States Army, under command of
Brigader General Atkinson, subdued the refractory
Winnebacoes and secured peace.
By the proposed resolutions it IS hoped, congress
may prevailed upon protect the industry OF those
hardy and valorous Miners than whom more mer-
orous community does not exist: patri2tc generous
and hospitable, even to fault, they reiv on the
nagnanimity of Congress for aid, and trust thc' IN
terests will be guarded and preserved from the fatal
consequences of foreign competition, which rednc-
ton repeal Of the duty imposed on foreign
lead would inevitably produce. None but those
who were there in the years of our adversely, occa
stoned by tie low price of lead, and and felt its
whitening and disheartenng influence, can duly APP
probate the condition to which those untoward cir
cumstances reduced us. ! was witness to. and a.
partaker of their distresse; the fraternai feelings
which were mutually cherished, and manifested "a
mong u.s. in that trying crisis of our affairs, have twin