The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1844-02-21


ulsr interests, raise a camOr that those inter
ests had been neglected. This has been stri-
kingly illustrated in reference to the wool
, growing interest, whose pretended abandon
ment and sacrifice have lately been the subject
, Of dolelul lamentations by the very men who
; thus denied the investigation needed to draw
forth facts Indispensable TO be known, in or
der TO just legislation upon the subject. Take,
for example, coarse wool. How fully and
satisfactory might the investigation, contem-
plated in the resolutions, have drawn forth all
the material facts connected with its manu-
iacture IN this Countrywide extent to which
II IS produced here-the supposed necessity
OF permitting lis impOrtiOn upon nominal
duty for the purpose Of sustaining the estab-
liShmcntS employed in its mdnuiaciure-the
extent to which the productions of those es-
tablishments come in competition with the
finer wooden 1abrics,-and, above all, the chan
ges in the sheep husbandry of other countries
by which fine wool may be substituted for
coarse, with no increase in the expense of pro
duction. How valuable would have been the
body of facts in connection with this subject
ample in details, and well digcs:ed. as they
might have been-which an examination Of
witnesses would have pro5uced. And yet it
was denied by the votes Of the very men who
have, since, pretended to be the exclusive
friends Of the Wool-growiuS interest!
Ii is true, the principal facts in regard to
South American wool were obtained; but AT
a very late period-too late TO make the i'm
preston upon Congress AID the country which
their importance demanded. 1t was not I'M
I'll short time before the tariff bill was re-
ported to the House, that the facts came out
in regard to the extensive production Of fine
wool in South America, and the manner in
which that production had been effected. Ii
happened that Boston paper, 1.-THE Cultiva-
tori was sent me, containing a description of
the fine woods imported from Buenos AyrCs,
duty free, costing less than eight cents; and
suggesting that they had been produced by
crossings of the native South American with
the full bioodcd merino sheep. On reading
the article, the question occurreG-Wh here con
evidence be found of the importation into
South America of number of Meriuo Lucks,
adequate to the production of this alleged re
suit An examination Of the Treasury re-
turns ofour exports gaye an answerto the queS-
ton; for, on running them through for the
previous, ten years it appeared that there were
exported from the United States 10 BucnOs
Ayres, in 1887, 800 sheep, Of the aggregate
value of $4,000, averasin SO each ard in
1893, sol sheep, Of the aggregate value OG
81, SOS, averaging $3.50 each. Ii further ap-
peared that these were the only expectations
Of sheep from the United States TO that coun
try during the last ten years.
/ The value Of the Sheep thus exported
showed conclusvey that they were merino
bucks; and the truth was at once revealed.
that they were sent to South America for the
purpose of producing fine wool-worth,h there,
less than eight cents, and therefore entitled to
an exemption from duty under the tariff of
1882.
Samples Of fine wool thus produced were,
about that time, sent to d Senator from the
West, which | obtained, and exhibited before
the Committee of Ways and Means, aud in
the House OF Representatives in the debate
on the Wool question, in connexion with the
evidence from the Treasury returns just al
luded to.
Ii does not become me TO say what effect all
this had upon the final result; but il it had
any, every one must see how much greater
{ effect would have been produced by even the
same information seasonably brought out
through Committee Of investigation, such
as had been proposed by the resolutions to
which have referred. leave it to candor TO
say with what Fropriety an alleged deficiency
in the protection to wool, by reason Of the
! supposed importation, under the present tar
/ if, Of fine, under the denomination of coarse
wool, can be made a subject of complaint by
those who not oaly did nothing TO obtain a
better protection, but did what they could to
prevent the preliminary investigation and de-
velopenent Of facfs necessary TO Just lcgis-
! latiOn upon the subject.
/ The laying upon the table the resolutions to
- r. -.
sion Of the last Congress. The first stated
session came; and the subject of the tariff
/ having been referred to the Committee Of
/ Manufactures, that Committee through their
Chairman, offered TO the House, the follow
ing resolution, viz:
"Resolved. That the Committee on Manu-
features be authorized to send for witnesses
and take testimony on the subject of the pres
ent tariff laws, their operation upon The inter
ests Of the country, and the alteration which
those interests may require"
After considerable debate. this resolution
was also Laid upon the taLie-in other words, |
the quietus was given to it-by vote in which
the name Of every locolocO north Of Mason &
Dixon's line, who was present. is recorded in
the affirmative; while the name Of every Wing |
present, north of that line. stands in the neg
alive.
Here was a proposition to give TO a Com
mitiec specially charged with the duty of
looking into the effects of the tariff upon the |
manufacturing. and connected interests, pow
or to obtain facts. verified by the oath of wit
nesses-which was put down by the votes Of
men who make extraordinary pretensions Of
friendship for protection, and loudly com
plain that it is not sufficiently secured, especi-
alIy 10 the Woodworking interest.
The Committee on Manufactures was thus
left without the power to secure the attend
ance of single witness, or TO examine under
oath any one who might voluntarily appear
before them. They proceeded, however, to
obtain, by correspondence and from individ- |
uaIs who volunteered their attendance, all the |
information which this imperlectprocess could |
furnish, upon the subject committed to them;
and then, for the purpose Of facilitating and
expeditng its proper arrangementforth the ben
eft Of the house, offered resolution author
izing them to employ a Clerk. This request
was refused-;he motion to lay the resolution
-, a. HI hoiro c.r-iod by n vote. in W hich /