The Madisonian., 1840-01-21
TWENTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
FIRST SESSION.
IN SENATE,

lailon to reduction OF postage
BY Mr. CLAY, Of Kentucky From numerous ei,i-
zens engaged extensively IN the Of segars
praying increase Of duty foreign segsrs
Also, a memorial Of commi,,ee # the American
Silk Society, asking the patronage OF Congress in the
Publication and gIs.uous circulation Of the Journal Of
said socie,y
In presenting this memorial, Mr.. Clay said while
up will remark that. in my opinion there is hardly
production in which this country is engaged which is
more important to be duly attended TO at this time than
that OF silk As agricultural product It is appropriate
to all pats Of the country. And among the causes
Winch have occssoed the unexampcd state OF distress
from which no portion Of this wide country is exempt
which has increased is Increasing and wish TO God
could see any hope OF its end--at least among the
fofeign causes Of this remarkable state OF Distress Is
nnques'ionaby that OF purchasing SO much abroad
Sir, We mnst make more at home, and bring less IRON
abroad II we would remove the OF distress and
tins remark il applicable to own productions in
every FORM Of agriculture well Of fabtlcation
And,xh vogsFito siIk ITSELF look at the facts For
years past. the annual amount Of II brought into
this country has been Sl2 900 and one year rose
to 000 and This 900 is for an article
which sny thing for the sdornment and luxury of
man. silk is that article
Sir, country can long Withstand, for which the
nua imports exceed the exports by some $40.000,000
or S50000,000 And, il ! not absolutely power
less if my friends and myself had any power in the d.
rection Of this Government, would impose
duty equal TO the maximum which the compromise act
admits that s 20 per cent this import Of ,500,-
600 III silk. would lay this duty on silk aud with a
yew IN part TO preycn, dangerous excess Of revenue
would distribute the annual proceeds Of the sales OF
the public lands to the States their properly
which they already entitled; and let this fund
sist them to qudae their debts and TO foster those
great interests which Justly dear to them, so far
there is now freedom from debt. | would impose this
duty silk and other luxures and il the lands
not necessary the support Of this Government would
distribute the proceeds 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, and
therefore cannot do otherwise than TO ask that this
memorial be referred TO the Committee on Manufac-
tures, and printed
Mr. CALHOUN said rise 10 make no opposi-
tion 10 the motion, but 10 make lew remarks con-
nected with those topics which are now OF chief i'm
pouancs; and hope that not much more OF this
session win pass before shall go deeply into that
subject. The country is now at a point al which 1t.
has become Of far more in,eres, than ever
Sir, differ in toto from the Senator from Ken
lucky 10 the causes Of distress and, If am not
mistaken, they are The very opposite Of what have
been assigned. Sir, the old condemned system is
funous in every branch and especially 10 the man
utactuting, agricuura and commercial interests
The distress which he ascribes TO the importation Of
silk comes from other causes. We ship our credit,
and bring in goods | would have the very reverse
oi what The Senator has indicated the true policy,
and hope for an early opportunity of pointing out
that policy and thai al an early day we shall look
deep into he subject.
Mr. CLAY This is lille unusual, TO engage
in discussion this subject thus before the time
Sir, have proposed or suggested a revival OF the
tariff further than the compromise allowsl Not in
the slightest degree. l merely proposed duty on
silk, as an article Of luxury, entirely consistent with
the compromise. Sir, what il that proposed
II was simply that The maximum duty Of the COM
promise-tht j., 20 per cent.-should be imposed on
silk, which is in way Incompatible with the COM
promise. -
And how can this njure the manufactures OF cot
ton, snip building, or any thing else; which are now
nearly prostraledl The wooen manufacturer at
the North is almost entirely stopped, and that OF iron
itself Is among the most languishng. How can the
duty on this luxury affect either the manufactures or
agriculture of the country 7 II will benefit them;
for il will directly aid the manufacture Of silk, and
il raw silk is produced with success il becomes mt
object for Importation and il may and greatly in re-
moving that ruinous excess in the balance OF trade,
which will crush Us all, unless the People rise -
their own relief.
And the State debts Z Sir, | should like TO know
by what right the subject of State debts is so FIRE.
quenIly dragged into this Senate and The States are
here chided and censured il under supervi-
sion. Who gives us jurisdiction over them BY
what authority have we the right to say 10 Pennsyl-
vania or Illinois, or any other State you are extrava-
giant you have got into debt; and we will leave
you 10 get out as you can Whence is this right
Who made it the duty of the Federal Government
10 give lectures 10 the States getting into debt 7
Bu those debts have been contracted, and, as the
Senator from South Carolina saws, one effect OF 1t
has been TO enlarge imports, because the means
arising from the State bonds has been thrown into
the channel OF commerce. But II Will be no longer
SO, for that very will now become an obslruc-
tion TO commerce. But those debts exist, and, as
men OF honor and honesty, those who owe them
must pay them; and trust no man here will be so
destitute Of honor and probity as to say they ought
not to be paid They have been contracted, and,our
States have received the benefit and trust and be-
lieve that not State Of this Union will be so lost 10
honor and good faith as not TO pay spch debts. The
IpIt owls nd in he ms hepa hp
foreigner is against us, not as whole, but as divi-
ded into parts separate members of this Conieder
acy, whom here is foreign debt, and consequently
foreign influence.
And what is to be done1 The States have here
proposed nothing, in either branch Of Congress-
But we know the existence Of these debts and the
distress which prevails in these different conmuni-
ties and we know that taxation will be necessary.
Some of the States, right wrong, have contracted
debts to an extent which the People cannot bear; and
if we are not destitute OF all those feelings which
ought 10 belong 10 parent Government, and which,
As such, we should cherish, we ought deeply to sym
pahze with all these suherngs
Well, and what suggestion did makel Was It
to assume these debts No, sir no, sir. But we
are in possession OF an important fund, which, OF
right, belongs TO the States. The States have no
power Of imposing duties on imports for the purpose
of relieving themselves. And what was my sug-
geStion The debts exist, and must be paid, prin-
cipa and interest; and my suggestion was, that we
should give up what belongs 10 the States or, atleas
do what we can Tor them by imposing duties on ar
ticles purely for luxury, and give The States their
own properly, the proceeds Of The public lands,
which would Of itself he sufficient 10 pay the ine-
resi- on a debt of 500 900 900, and | believe the
whole amount OF the State deb.s rs no, much more
than 800 100000 But ! have been drawn into an
exhibition Of these views an occasion when l
had not intended It. merely meant 10 make some
suggestions appropriate on presenting memorial.
The Senator from South Carolina thought ft TO ex-
press what is OF at all extraordinary, III there is
total difference Of opinion between us on this sub.
iect Bu he misstaied me in regard 10 the tariff
and therefore thought IL my duty TO say what have
done on that point, and trust this will with
,hn IN an,lnoy