The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-08-05

culably the general prosperity, and augmented the
revenue. All that had been done for them by the
general government was the remission OF about nVe
millions Of duty. He maintained that the United
States had not done enough to encourage those
works, from which il had received so much benefit.
But the proposed measure was not prospective. II
was intended only TO enable those companies which
were at present struggling on, and whose roads
were in an unfinished condition, 10 prosecute their
enterprises to u successful termination IL had
been sometimes asked, why refund 10 States and
interpretations, and not TO individuals who buy
from But that would be impracucable and mpos-
sble. He would refund TO the railroad companies,
because by doing So he would directly benefit IN c
farmer. The producing classes would be all great
ly benefited by the completion OF these easy means
Of transportation. He would say one word TO the
farmers Of the west who were now expecting large
extension Of the foreign market. IL would be al
together impossible for them to realize TO any ex-
tent these hopes without means OF cheap transport
Iation for their agricultural products TO the place OF
shipment. Everything which tended to facilitate
and cheaper the conveyance OF the products OF
Michigan and Illinois to the navigable waters, he
need not saw tended to promote in the most direct
manner the interests of the farmers IN those regions
No resistance should be made 10 this measure even
by the iron interest Of Pennsylvania That State
herself had largely experienced the benefit OF cheap
means of transportation.
Mr. DICKINSON remarked that the State which
he had the honor in part to represent was Interested
in this subject and with the view OF testing the
sense Of the Senate he offered the following amend
ment
.4ud Be further enacted That when any iron In bar.
weighing not les, than my pounds ths nass ara hg S
DOWN for permanent railroad or inclined PLAIN
.ha bs imported into the United States within tbs period
VI year. from the passage Of this act by any State or
Incorporated company shall be admitted TO entry
the giving BY such State or company or Its a..horIsd
agents good and sufficient bonds with suretes TO the salts
action oihe collector OF the port where such IRON may ne
imported for the payment Of the duties ehageable thereon
IN three years from the time Of such imPorauon and
whenever shall be proved to the sasseuoa Of the Sec
rotary Of the Treasury that such iron has been selu
ally permanently laid down for n the original con:
stTucton) any railroad inclined plane authorized
by law to made the United states within the said
rod OF three years said secretary shall cause the bond
gwen on the Importation Of suehiron laid down, or
much thereof as applicable to said iron TO be cancel
lee. and charge. Incurred by such Importation.
Mr.. CASS asked if the gentleman from Maine
was able 10 state any estimate Of the amount which
you'd be abstracted from the treasury by refunding
these duties
Mr.. EVANS replied in the negative, adding that
he supposed the sum would not be great The law
would apply only TO iron imported since the Sd Of
March, l543.
Mr. DAYTON was sorry to differ with his friend
rom Maine on any subject, but in this instance he
was constrained to look on the question before the
Senate in an opposite light TO that IN which he Mr.
EvAssl regarded il. IL was no new question, and
y
called upon to meet IT, The subject was to be re-
garded in two aspects-in the first place. as It APP
pertaned the treasury Of the United Statesi and
IN the next place. as it related the domestic manu-
lectures of the country. Although he did not pro-
Tess TO be Indifferent TO the first consideration, yet
perhaps gentlemen opposite would feel more inter-
est in it, and therefore he commended II TO their par
tIcuar notice. A very considerable sum would be
thus taken from the treasury. The question OF the
senator from Michigan MIR. Cas- was very peril
nent and proper. He was at a loss TO know why
this iron should be regarded "raw material, ," and
such proper subject of exemption from duty.
IL the argument that it was right and proper In
this way to cheaper the Of transportation, he
would ask where were they to stop Why stop at
this or that year?
Mr.. CALHOUN said that he had been informed
on reliable authority that this bill would not injuri-
ously affect the iron establishments Of this country,
as they were not in a condition 10 supply the de-
mand for railroad iron. Neither did he think that
the treasury would be injuriousy affected.
Mr.. CASS said he would not vote for the bill, I'M
less he was furnished with some estimate of, or ap-
proximation to, the amount that would De taken
from the treasury. In the present circumstances IL
appeared to him absolutely necessary that such an
estimate should be made.
Mr.. CAMERON remarked that the senator from
South Carolina Mr.. Calhoun must have been mis-
informed to the capabity Of the iron establish
ments ofthe country. They were quite able to sup
astonshed to find gentlemen ready to support this
BILL which would take, perhaps, million of dollars
out of the treasury, and thought that 1t was some
what inconsistent to advocate this measure, and at
the same time contend for protection to domes-
tic manufactures. He hoped the measure would
be postponed.
Mr.. CALHOUN observed in reply to the re-
mark of the last speaker, that if he were at liberty
to give his authority for the statement which the
senator from Pennsylvania appea ed to doubt, he
would be convinced that his means Of information
we're extensive and accurate, and that his opinion
was not likely to be erroneous.
Mr.. BAGBY briefly stated his opposition to the
BILL and moved to lay it on the table; but at the re-
quest Of
MIR. II. JOHNSON, the motion was withdrawn,
in order to allow him to offer the following amend
ment:
RENTS to West Feliciana Railroad Company duties on
certain railroad iron imported into New Orleans and sunk
and wholly lost while the passage from that port to
Bayou provided shall appear to the satisfaction of
Also allowing the Mexican Gulf Railroad Company on
any outstanding bonds given by said company the
Importation of railroad iron amount equal to all the du
upon certain railroad iron imported by the Nashville
Railroad Company, and laid down by said Mexican Gulf
its Importation for which the United hold the bonds
said Nashville Railroad Company Providt shall salts
ctory appear said iron has been laid down by said
Mexican Gulf Railroad Company and that remission or
OF said duty has been made; find pronidsd fur
rher That the parties entitled the remission, &c. shall
States in the premises.
Mr.. EVANS stated that it would be exceedingly
difficult if not mpracticable, to obtain speedily an
estimate of the amount to be refunded.
Mr.. BAGBY withdrew his motion to lay on the
table.
Mr.. ALLEN opposed the bill with much ear
nestness. He commended that it was unconstitutional
and unjust 1t was taxing the honest, hard-work-
ing farmer for the benefit Of monopoizing corpora
tons.
Mr.. BERRTEN replied. The measure, he ar
gued, eminently calculated to benefit the far
mer whose prosperity depended in a great degree
on the possession or ready and cheap means of con-
veying his products to market He found, by a
newspaper received by last nights mall that in the
interior of Georgia wheat Of the finest quality
only 37I cents Why Because Of the want of
those facilities which these railroads would afford.
Mr.. ATHERToN opposed the bill in forcible
manner.
MIR. BAGBY renewed his motion to lay on the
table; and on that question the yeas and nays were
asked ordered, and taken, with the following results
YEAs-Messrs Allen, Ashley Atherton, Begby, Ben
ton Breese Bright Cameron, Cass Dayton, Dix Fairfield
Hannegan, Houston Miller, Niles, semple Sewer, stur