The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-08-26
The Tax
On Pins and Needles!
I'm the Senate Aug. Sd,

IN lhe senate Aug. sd,
Mr. Benton moved TO strike out from The middle
of the 10Th line, section 9th, page 3, the follow
ing PASSAGE
son pound pins, 20 cents per pound; on sew
ing, ambouIlng, darnins, netting, knitting, and all
other kinds Of heedes, duty Of 20 per cent. ad
yaorem.'
Mr. B. observed that his motion was to strike out
the duties on pins, solid headed pins needles, knit
ting needles, and darning needles; and said that
here was tax upon articles of universal use, and
for the purpose of protecting TO little pm factories
in the United States--Onc in Connecticut, at Der
by; the other in New York, at PoughkGcpsic. G.
These were the only two pin factories that he
knew of in the United States and they could rot
be called domestic manufactures, for they only
worked up foreign wire made of foreign meal
Out Of this foreign wire they made cubheaded
hin, like our headed nail; which was rough
and tore the cloths. The round headed pin was
not made by them; yet all round headed pins must
be taxed, in order TO pamper two little factories
which employed themselves in cutting up foreign
wirc and sharpening one end Of ii while blocking
head upon the other. Thus universal taxation
of pins was 10 take place in these United States;
and this was one of the changes obtained by the
late elections The people were promised chan
gcs and they were getting them aud getting them
with vengeance. Under Mr. Van Bureaus ad-
ministmtiOn, there were sevcnty-iuur millions of
dollars worth of free goods--goods entering into
the daily consumption of the people, Now, all is
taxed, except what the manufacturers use. Here
is bill fifty -four pages of taxes; and in reading
it over, it seemed that every thing that entered in
TO human consumption was taxed and for fear
anything might be forgotten, there was reserve
n precautionary sccton--a sort of net TO catch
al that was floating by--nnd which placed duty
of 20 per ccniun on all the articles which were not
named in the bill, 1t seemed to be to catch all
that was forgotten; so that if he succeeded in his
motion, these pins and needles would still be tau
ed; they would fall into the net. BIT ne would
make a motion 10 place them in the free list, if
successful IN striking them ont of the bill. lie
would try and fish them ont of the net.
Mr. b, said he was born since the Revolutionary
war, but soon enough after it to hear mothers of
families talking about the prva,ons the war ,and
especially the wants of pins, and the necessity Of
using horns TO rlsten their cloths. lie had, there
fore, great aniipalhy to taxing pins; an article
which every body must use. lie had heard the late
John Randolph say that while Il dollar bankno
was disgusting thing in his eyes. which he would
not touch; yet brass pin was respectable object,
which he took care Of This arose from his r%vo-
lutonary feelings, when he was accustomed TO
see fine lady using thorns in place Of pins and
rcwarding kiss 10 the child that should find pin
and hing it TO her
Mr. i. said he did not wish TO see people scnt
back to thorns again as substitute for pins. lie
then took up needles. lie said that needles were
used by enthusiastically white women who sew
ed for their living--and who, of all the descrip-
lions Of laborers in our country, were the most
poorly paid. he believed that the white wo-
man in the United States, who sewcd for her lv-
ing, got the poorest pay which the labor Of the
country exhibited yet here was proposition to
make it still poorer The Federal Government
pounces down upon them, and taxes the nsiIu-
mcnt of their Labor. 1t taxes the needle in their
hands, so that they shall not sew n stitch without
paying Il tax TO the Governmcmt--nnd that, to help
10 make up foI the loss of the land revenue. Mr.
Mr. l.. believed if this tux on needles was cont nu-
cd, the Wing party would be scwcd up. Mr. b.
then took up the article of knitting needles and
said il was hard to tax the old ladies' who still fol
lowed the laudablc custom of knitting their own
stockings Bad as this was, he saw sliIl worse was
to ioow-lhat of taxing darnng needles; so that
the frugal mother could no longer darn the heel
and toe of her childrcn's stockings without paying
a tax 10 this splendid Federal Government und or
its magnificent u hig rule.
SrS MAJ GALL DEMOCRATS.
rvr ME- FIVE. }ALL WINGS