The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-28

of Ihe United States. n they had not competition
from abroad il would be different thing. But
when you tax the raw material and admit the manu-
featured article free or at lower rate OF duty II
anybody will 90 into the manufacture under these elf
will very soon be found that the tax on
the material of hye per cent which the honorable
member from South Carolina considers small mat
ter--a very small matteT--is enough 10 decide the
competition between the American and the English
manufacturer. England lets in the commodity free.
She is full Of skill and capital. Money can be got
at much lower rate of interest than here, and labor
at less than half price. How, then, can you expect
the American manufacturer 10 be able 10 compete
with England, when, with all these Disadvantages
against him, you tax his raw material and admit the
commodities Of his rival at low rate OF duty How
Is he contend not only against cheaper capital and
cheaper labor hat also against tax on his raw ma
tsriall He cannot do it, Now the gentleman
says--and he has right 70 the oplnlon-he
says that the laborng classes will be benefited
by the cheaper price Of such cotton al he uses. lie
slated the other day. that he thought there would an
importation Of ten millions Of that sort OF cotton IL
that should happen there would be a very singular
sight exhibited upon the ocean. For, the statistical
tables show that in the OF last year, the Unit
ted States exported carried out Of the country, and
sold four and half millions Of the same sort OF
cotton.
MIR. McDUFFIE. The coarse article
Mr. WEBSTER. Essentially the same. The
Il an article costing six or seven cents IN Boston,
like the article expected to be imported, is exported
IN such quantities, Is there any reasonsble fouDda'
uon for the opinion that ten millions OF the same
goods would be imported This is matter of opln-
ion. will not say that the expectation is ground
less, because | will always treat the honora-
BILE members opinions with the highest degree
Of respect. But il appears TO me perfectly
plain that all descriptions Of articles alluded TO by
the honorable member since they are exported IN
such quantities, cannot be expected to be Imported
10 such an extent he inclined TO anticipate.
Sir, the honorable member has expressed the opin-
ion, that the farmsrs--by which suppose he means
the persons employed in the agriculture OF the
norih--we usually distinguish between farmers
and plsnlers-will be greatly benefited by the BILL
He supposes that they are now taxed for the ben
eft OF their neighbors, the mechanics and manuac-
urers. Now, sir the question being asked, and the
answer will be declslye-were prices ever lower
Were they ever lower TO the farmers than they are
now3 Is il a well-founded opinion that manu-
featured articles could be produced, and brought
here from England, below the present rates in
this country The senator stated very
strong case apparently case Of the daughter of
an Illinois farmer, who was clad in cotton cloth not
worth over four or FIVE cents a yard-and why
And why, sir' That only advances the discussion
one stage. The evident answer to that question is
because there no market of consumption for the
grain on her fathers farm. That is the proximaIe
cause. Flour is now two dollars barrel in Mis-
SOUR; and under the repeal Of the eom.laws we
have reason to believe that good -four at st. Louis
will as a correspondent in that part Of the world
writes me, not be above a dollar and half bar
rel. Well il the gentleman is right in supposng
that these agricultural products will rise up to a
great price in consequence Of any recently occurring
event, he may hold very well to the other
opinion, that the introduction of English
commodities at such rate as will bring
them in here in great quantities should be
adopted. | can only say in respect TO that,
that in my judment it is great fallacy.
do not doubt that the repeal OF the corn-laws may
have beneficial effect in extending liberal sentl-
ments and liberal spirit amongst nations. But that
il is to relieve the American market of the surplus
grain, do not believe. The people Of England
will not consume more bread. Englandis annual
ly increasing her agricultural products. Agriculture
is improving. The English landlords are imProv-
ing. their stock with profusion Of expenditure al
most incredible in this country. Last year one OF
these proprietors expended hundred thous.
and dollars in draining his estate in order to
increase the product Of wheat. II you look,
sir, to Pennsylvania, to New York, TO Mary
land, as well as the New England States,
you will find that the farmer looks for remu-
neratng profit in the sale of his products among the
mechanics and manufacturers Of the towns and vii
lagos. Look to the statistics, and you will see how
much Of agriculture goes with every product OF
manufacture in the United States OF that England
herself is an example. An honorable member from
Pennsylvania Of the other House has gone into that
with perfect accuracy and precision, SO that need
not dwell on it. | will not extend these remarks.
But with regard to my proposition, you must sub
NIT to great loss Of revenue on the Injuries have
mentioned, at the same time that you reduce the
wages of labor by taxing the raw material. "Now
look this picture, and on that" and let the coun-
try decide.
the senator from South Carolinai and when he
concluded the cries of Question question:" were
general from both sides of the chamber.
The PRESIDENT. Is the Senate ready for the
question:
Mr. ARCHER then rose and said: | wish to state
two facts-not TO the Senate, but to the country,
where the statement may have effect First. The
question now before has not been made by the
Senate but has been put upon 1t by the committee
Secondly. The bill is put upon its passage after dec.
aratons have been made from all parts OF the cham
Der that it is entirely defective and radically bad.
The question was then taken upon the motion to
discharge the committee from the further considera
lion of the bill, with the following result:
YEAs-Messrs. Allen, Ashley Achison, Atherton, Beg
by, Benton, Breese, Bright, Calhoun Cass, Chalmers
Iarnagn Lewis, McDunie PenDybacker, Rusk, semple
Sewer, speisht rurney, Wescott and Yulee-2s
NAYs-Niessrs Archer, Barrow Berrien, Cameron
cliey John NJ Clayton Thomas Clayton Corwin. Crit
endsn Davis Dayton Evans Greene Huntington johnson
Of Maryland Johnson of Louisiana Mangum, Miller More
Webster, and Woodbridge-N
So the motion was adopted, and the committee
discharged.
The bill, therefore, being again before the Senate
as in committee of the whole
Mr.. WEBSTER renewed his motion to strike out
the latter clause of the 9th section of the BILL or the
entire section.
Several senators: "The whole, )" "the whole"
Mr.. WEBSTER modified his amendment so as
to strike the whole Of the 9th section; which is
in the following words
'sSEc, . find be IL further enacted That if upon the
examination Of any parcel package, or quantity Of
goods of which entry has been made, the appraisers
Of the United States shall be of the opinion that
the same are UNDERMINED by the owner, importer
consgnee, or agent, with the intention Of defraud-
ing the revenue Of the United States, it shall be
lawful for the collector within whose district the same
may be entered, the sanction Of the Secretary OF the
Treasury first being obtained, if, in his opinion, the
same shall be advisable, to take such goods for the
use Of the United States. And such collector shall
cause such goods to be sold at public auction within
twenty days from the time oftang the same, IN the
manner prescribed by law for the sale of un'
claimed goods; and the proceeds of such sale