Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1846-08-01

privilege OF exchanging the products OF their labor IN mar
kets where they could get the best price, law directed
against American industry On the contrary, it law
in favor of nineteentwenteths Of the people of the United
States Il bill to benefit the people who resided in the
valley of the Mississippi, all Of the Potomac, the
great body Of the people in the Middle States and fact the
people of all the States of the Union except and
Rhode Island Mr.. Med believed that in New York and in
Pennsylvania there honest farmers who suffered by
the existing upon where there laborer bene
flied by and yet they told that this bill against
the labor Of the country. Were the friends OF this bill
grant, what seemed to be assumed the other sde
were no aborers in the United States but those in the fac
tories what became of all the farmers of the country, and all
their sons and daughters What the interests of all
these in comparison with the interests of the three hundred
housapd aborers in factories Yet all must be subjected
taxation for the benefit of this small number. They form
ed an aristocracy abores and Congress make all
who did belong to that privileged class tributary to their
support And now because the friends OF this bill were in
favor of restoring to the great masses OF our agricultural POI
puaon who could not meet and act IN concert the rights OF
which they had been deprived by the manufacturers, they
be charged with passing aristocratc BILL He re-
PEELED the charge, and insisted insult to the agrcu
aborers of this country say that there labor
deserving of protection but those who in the factories
Mr. Med. said that he had recently gentleman from
Boston, who had lately returned from Illinois, and who told
him that he there the daughters of wealthy farmer dress
in ocks made of unbeached cotton, such got from
Liverpool for four yard and this in country where
farmer twenty thirty would raise annual
plus Of five hundred bushels Of grain Under that great
accomplished in England by Sir R. Peea
mans life but in the history Of the civilized world and which
Mr. Med looked upon the greatest Of all the of
modern timeshe would venture say that in ten years from
this time exports the value Of fifteen millions would from
the valley Of the Mississippi England and would surn in
the shape Of manufactured goods half the price were
now paying
Mr. Med said that copy Of the resolutions adopted in
Boston, and TO which he had before REFEREED had been
handed him. he would ask that they should be read They
contained such admirable and such phlosophc EXPOSE
ton of the doctrines Of free trade, that Mr. Med. willing
this bill should to the country with these resolutions ap
pended to it.
Before they read however, he wished add one word
the subject Of He entertained strong and
decided that subject but had hitherto fobone TO
press them. He believed that this bill would produce quite
much obtained under the act of s42
Although articles the duties reduced in amount
the greater received the mpoaons of wooens and
cottons would more than make up for all
Take the article Of woplens they paid duty of 40
per We imported six Millions and manufactured in
the United States twenty millions making in all thirty
millions The Senator from Massachusetts would not deny
that the reduction Of the duty from 40 to 80 per cent the
imported goods would reduce the price in the American
ke The reduction Of 10 per cent the six millions i'm
ported would occasion loss to the Treasury of six hundred
thousand dollars provided the amount of imports remained
the same.
Now look at another view Here were six millions of inn
ported wooens and twenty four millions of domestic which
were be effected by this tariff The reduction the six
millions from abroad per cent the reduction on SINH
lar goods made the United States would be the same The
total loss them the Treasury, the thirty millions would
be three millions of dollars. But allowing Imports to in
from six nine millions the result would be nearly
the same millions, at 80 per cent, would give two
million seven hundred thousand dollars, while six millions
40 per would give millions four hundred thousand
dollars Here, them would De gain of three millions i'm
poaton the wooens To those goods which the min
mums applied the increased importation would be great
that impossible TO calculate it. Mr. Med said he had
piece of cotton sheeng which fit for the of any
gentleman which in Manchester but cents while
goods Of the same fneness Lowell fourteen
chnuId ka tn hat he the
from the abolition Of these minmums could
tell but it would be than sufficient to compensate for
any falling off in the from other parts of the BILL
Mr. DAVIS here inquired whether the specimen of cotton
which the gentleman had alluded of the kind called
plain white cotton
Mr. McDUFFIE replied it was plain white cotton, SO
inches wide.
Mr. DAVIS said he understood the gentleman say that
this species of goods could be got in Manchester for cents
while at Lowell they would a. Now, ithappened that
the British manufacturers of these goods years ago had
gone before the British Parliament with petitions that the duty
might be taken off and in support ofha prayer
they had stated that all that species Of cotton goods made
in the United States cheap aud cheaper than could
be made in Great Britain, and after full hearing and in
vesgaon into the facts of the tho duty cotton
thereupon repealed Now, Mr. D. presumed these
understood their business and knew at what rate they
could make plain white cotons
Mr. McDUFFIE said he did not what they said, the
fact he had stated and moreover he knew that
descriptions Of they able in South
Carolina beat Boston and Lowell and England boot and
make profit Of 40 per cent laugh.
Mr. Med here called for the reading Of the Boston resou
tons, and they read accordingly.
Mr.. WEBSTER said that he did not doubt that which
had been read by the Clerk might be account
il went Of what was done the Meeting question but
if were could be the whole account because he knew
there another resolution adopted the time and
which had not been read and to which Mr. WIS attention
had been frequently called in that chamber Whether he had
drawn these resolutions made any speech that &C.
casion he could not tell but he yielded ALL and the
gentleman might consider him having drawn every of
these resolutions and argued their favor before the people
Boston.
But now, (said Mr.. W. the first thing have say in
reply that the honorable Senator from South Carolina will
readily admit that such is the nmy Of nature that
honest may sometimes change his opinion nay MORE
that he may change his opinion in three years well
thirty years Now, think that the greatest and the abes
speech heard against the annexation of Texas
the Governor of the State of South Carolina while still
greater speech in favor Of annexation delivered by the
Senator from South Carolina. Much laughter adduce
this merely proof that honest may change his
opinion. Moreover, rightly remember, the Senator from
South Carolina once Of the powerful advocates
this country contained for internal improvements.
Mr.. McDUFFIE. Yes, and have never changed my
opinion since on the question Of power,
Mr. WEBSTER. Son the question of power ," And
why then the Senator jealous in favor Of barren
power which, according to him. ought to be exercised
A laugh
Mr. McDUFFIE was understood to say that he bad only
argued in favor of appropriations for survey.
Mr. WEBSTER Again the gentleman was be-
ieve, very favorable to Bank of the United States
Mr. McDUFFIES reply was not audible in the gallery.
Mr. WEBSTER. Then stand before the Senate as but
,ordng the proof with the gentleman himself that an
honest man may change his opinion.