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


effect Of this bill Penusy iron might have been
well as 10 con6ne himself to woolens and collons
agree that whether finn the changes which have taken
place in the business of the county not since
tariff Of 1924 there had been such thing going back
That tariff passed without asking obtaining the
sent of Massachusetts, She gave but in lis favor
Her people had up that time addicted themselves mainly
but they then saw that the time come when
they conform themselves TO the will OF the country in
regard domestic manufactures and they accordingly
induced may almost say compelled, to vest large amount
of their capital and labor in that pursuit If there he any in
consistency in having opposed the protection Of manufactures
at previous period, and advocating it at time when cir
cumsances had entirely changed ready TO admit the
change. admit in the broadcast that agreed with
every word in those resolutions but there such thing
necessity Of maintaining the habits and pursuits Of
business men, which they entered into twenty-five years ago
solely in consequence of laws passed by Congress.
And to the increase Of duties in this BILL confined
my observations to those imposed upon raw material In an
this the Senator says that the duty only five per
cent. Well, what of that difference of five per cent is
quite enough to end to many establishments this
country If there were competition from abroad il would
be different thing but when there is competition, and the
British manufacturer pressing his American rival and
when much capital of necessity vested in MATERIAL
loss of five pei cent may he quite enough decide the
petition between us and England Does England pursue
policy like this No; she let's in the material free Of all
duty Her country full of Skill and capital and machine
y and of labor at half the price pay, and against all this
this bill either expects that the American live here
if he cannot means to destroy him. and to say that
disadvantages in competing with greater capital and cheaper
labor, you here add loss on his material
The Senator says that the people in this country
to be greatly benefited by the importation Of cheap coons
and he thinks should import such goods to the amount of
$40, 000 000 Well if do all say is, that there
will be very singular spectacle upon the ocean, for
it certain that last year exported Of such goods the
AMOUNT Of S4500000. Here, then, ships carrying
cottons of the country while other ships bringing
cottons in
Mr.. McDUFFIE said the exports had been of
TONS
Mr.. WEBSTER The Senator is mistaken they were
not exclusively of cotons they Of such bring
seven cents in Boston. Nor there any in the
world to think that while of the country four
five millions of these goods, should the time bring
ten millions in do the Senator's opinion
with disrespect but does appear plain that with such
a capacity to supply demand against the manuac-
lures Of England and all the world likely inn
port the same sort of goods to the amount of ten millions
The Senator has expressed opinion that the farmers Of
this country by which take he means the men employed
in the agriculture of the Northern and Middle States will be
greatly benefited by this bill BECAUSE under the existing law
they heavily taxed for the benefit of their neghbos in the
villages and factories. Now that subject wish 10 put
two questions 10 the honorable Senator ask him
whether at any time the prices Of goods lower the
farmer than at this moment and whether it is well founded
opinion that similar goods be brought here from England
and sold at lower price. The gentleman strong
case in which the daughters Of Illinois farmer cloth
ed in unbleached coons at four cents yard Yes and
why and WHY The immediate answer is, because the
Flour is bringing two dollars barrel in Missouri
writes that repealed the laws of
England may be, good flour can be got at St. Louis for
4 dollar and half a barrel.
Now, this If the Senator right in supposing
that these agricultural products Of farmer in Illinois Mis-
souri, will rise in price from the repeal of the British laws
then he may consistently enough hold the other opinion he
avowed to the introduction Of British goods Bun believe
that will be found to be very great That the effect
Of Sir Robert Pees bill may be TO introduce into the councils
Of Great Britain liberal spirit than has heretofore pre-
vailed have little doubt but that will improve the market
for American -four any sensible degree do not believe
The very repeal of those laws will stimulate improvement in
the agriculture Of England and they rapidly mprov-
ing in all the modes Of tage is obvious that if the price
Of his product continues be lower and importation go on
behoves him to cast about for improve his landed
property
Be it remembered that the English capitalist often him
self landhoder, with his disposal amount
that might to incredible know myself English
landed gentleman who expended hundred thousand dob
lars simply in draining his and in order thereby increase
his crops and similar process going all England
But now, u turning away from this foreign Market
look at the actual state Of farmers at the North and in
the East shall find that his greatest expectation of
for his labor in that market which especially
created and kept by the factories and villages his neigh
borhood might put question this subject either of
the Senators from Pennsylvania and get prompt answer in
the affirmative And any who would look to the Stats
tics annually published may in how large degree the
products Of agriculture enter into the value and constitute
element in the price of manufactured commodities Eng
and member in the other House has gone into very
rate and calculation, showing how much of English ag
rcuura products into the value Of every yard Of Eng
sh broadcloth which import
But will not extend these remarks. to my first
proposition that the Senate PROPOSE by adopting this BILL
submit to great loss of articles used exclusively
the ch while at the time they increase the on
MATERIAL and refuse to bring them down the of
hose in the bill of lS42 Let the people look this po-
and that and then decide which Of the measures
hat justly deserves to be called democratic
Mr. SIMMONS next took the floor. GThe Reporter will
,ndeavo to give sketch Of much he heard,
,u the statistical details he compelled omit lest he should
10 Mr. s. injustice by nsstang matters with which that gem
leman is eminenly familiar
Mr.. D. said that ausion had been made by the honorable
Senator from South Carolina Mr McDuFrIE) to the expect
ID effect of this bill upon the laborng Of the country
md his calculation that although the bill might and proba
Wy would reduce the prices of labor extent that the
reduction price in commodities they consumed
would than make up for that, upon the WHOLE their
condition would be much betteed. Now he wished ask
hat gentleman what commodities he alluded the prices Of
which be much reduced make up the ar
the reduction in the price of his labor What the
.rces And who produced them And how the la
be compensated for reduction of IS per in the
Price Of his labor The consumption of the United States
fifteen hundred millions of which thousand
Millions worth consisted of agricultural products These,
hen constituted thirds Of the consumption of the aborer
Did the bill reduce TO him the price of these articles
Mr. McDUFFIE replied that the bill would have no effect
the prices Of agricultural products when they
ID by those who raised them Nineteen tweniehs Of
agricultural products consumed by those who produced
hem, but Of those which sold the price would be in
reased.
Mr.. SIMMONS. "The price will be increased J" and
where then will be the compensation to the aboer Two