Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1840-01-31
Tmtutp=sirtb CongrrSS.
In SENATE, JAN. 16

the manufacture OF segars, paying an in
crease of duty on foreign segars.
Also n memorial of committee OF the
American SILK Society. asking the patrons
epe of Congress IN the publication a. graz
,ui,ous cir cu alton Of the journal of said
society.
IN presenting this memorial. Mr. CLAY
said, while am up VIII remark that, in
nv opinion. there is hardly n production
m which this country Is engaged which is
more important to be duly attended to OF
this time than that of silk. AS an agri.
cultural product it is appropriate to all
parts of the country. And among the
causes which occasloned the uneXampled
state OF distress from which no portion Of
this wide country Is exempt, winch has
increased. is increasing, aud wish to God
] could see any hope OF lis end at least
among he foreign CAUSES OF this remarka.
BILE state of distress, is unqnesllonably that
of purchasing 80 much abroad # we would
remove the causes Of distress; and this
remark Is applicable to our own produc
tons ~ every form Of agriculture. as well
as Of fabrication. And, IN regard to silk
itself look at he facts For seven years
pnst, the annual amount Of it brought INTO
this country has been Sl2 500 000 aud one
year it rose to S2oo00.0o0 and this
sic 500, 900 is for atucIc which " any
Thing is for The adjournment aud luxury Of
man. silk Is that artlclc.
Sir, 10 country can long withstand, for
which the annual imports exceed the eX
ports by some $40 600 600 or $50 600 600
And, if was not absolutely poweress, if
my friends aud myself had any power IN
the direction Of this Government. would
tomorrow impose duty equal to the
maximum which the compromise act adj
mlts that is 90 per cent. on this import OF
dc 500 600 IN silk. would lay tins du
" on silk and with view. in part, to
prevent dangerous excess Of revenue, !
would distribute the annual proceeds of
the sales Of the public lands to the States
as the r own properly, 10 which they are
already entitled aud let this fund assist
them to lGndate their debts, and to foster
those grcat interests which are Justly dear
to them, so Tar as there is now freedom
from debt. would impose tins duty on
silk and on other Injuries, and If he lands
are not necessary tn the support of this
Government, | would distribute the pro
ceeds Of the lands among the States who
are entitled to them. But we. or at least
] am not IN the condition to do what
have suggested, aud there fore cannot dc
otherwise than 10 ask hat this memora
be referred 10 the Committee on Manufac
lures, and printed.
Mr.. CALHOUN said: rise to make
no opposition 10 the motion, but to make a
E.. Il az ,h
which ore now of chief Importance ant
] hope that not much more OF tins session
will pass before we shall go deeply int,
that subject. The country is now at
point at which it has become Of far NOR,
interest than ever
Sir I differ in toto from the Senator
from Kentucky as To the causes of d.stres
and, II am not ms, aiken, they are tn
very opposite OF what have been asslgne q
SIR, the old condemned system is rulnou
in every branch and especially to the man
ufacturng, agricultural, and commercIa
interests. The distress which he asctIbe
10 the Importation OF silk comes from 9th
er causes. We ship our credit, and brn
in goods. ! would have the very revers
of what the Senator has Indicated as h
true policy. and hope for an early oppor
portunlty Of pointing out thai policy, an
that at an early day we shall look deep int
the subject.
Mr. CLAY. This is a little unusual, t
engage IN discussion on this subject thu
before the time. Sir, have proposed o
suggested revival Of the tariff tur,he
than the COMPROMISE allows ? Not IN tn
slightes, degree. merely proposed d,
~ on silk, a. an article OF luxury, enlrel
consistent with the compromise. Sir whi
was II that proposed, 1t was simply ,hi
the maximum duty Of the compromise. the
Is, 20 per cent should be imposed on sill
which Is in no way Incompatible with tn
compromise.
And how can his njpre the manuGat
lures OF cotton, ship building or any thin
else which are now nearly Frustrated
The wOolen manufacturer at the North
almost entirely stopped, and that of iron /
self is among the mos, languIshing. Ho
can the duty on this luxury affect enhC
the manufactures or agriculture of III
Couulryi II viii benefit them for it wi
directly aid the manufacture of silk, and
raw silk Is produced with success, 1t b.
comes fit object for imporalion, and
may pid greatly IN removing that IuIno,
excess IN the balance of trade, which W
crush Us all, unless the People can rise
their own reliei.
And the State dcbls' Sir, / should iii
TO know by what right the subject
State debt Is so trequeurly dragged n
this Senate, and the States are here child,
mud censnred as # under our SUPERVISE
Who gives Us jurisdiction over them?
what authority have we the right TO say
Pennsylvania or Illinois or any other STA
you are exravagant; you have got in
debt; and we viii leave you to gel on,
you can: Whencels this right WI
made It the duty of the Federal Cover
ment to give lectures to the States on ge
ting into debt? But those debts have be,
contracted, and, as the Senator from
Carolina says, one effect of it has been
enlarge our imports, because The inca
arising from the State bonds has be-
thrown into the channel of commerc