The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-07-15
TwENTY-NINTH CONGRESS,
First Session.
WEDsssoAr, July Is. 1886.
IN SENATE.
The journal having been read

The journal having been read
DUTY ON RAW COPPER
Mr. WEBSTER read and presented the petition
OF Joseph w. Revere and others, OF Boston, anu
Messrs. Hendrick Crother, and others OF New
York, in view Of the proposed duty OF hve per cent
on raw copper praying that 1t may continue 70 pe
admitted free of duty, or else thar duty may DC
laid upon manufactured copper, copper sheathing'
&c.
Mr. w. added that, with view Of placing
in very short and narrow compass his own
testimony of what would be the product OF tins
new tariff bill, he would tomorrow make state
ment 10 the Senate upon that subject in writing.
presented be printed.
Mr.. SEWER moved It's reference to the Co,n-
mitlee on Printing Ordering the printing OF peti-
tons and memorials special motion prae-
tice which ought, he said, TO be discontinued.
Mr.. WEBSTER said itappeared TO him very ex-
traordinary that objection should be made TO the
printing OF this memorial. IL was very short one,
and related TO a most important subject.
Mr.. SEWER said he had seen something OF the
practice which prevailed whenever a great public
measure brought before the Senate. He hsd
noticed that there generally siereoiyped petit
uon got up and sent here 10 be printed for the pur-
pose Of influencing senator's and raising panic IN
the country and he had seen morning after morn
ing consumed in discussion upon those petitions.
But in addition 10 all this, there standing rule
Of the Senate which required that petitions OF this
kind should be referred 10 the Committee on Print
ing. III petitions like this TO be exempt from
the rule they would very soon be overwhelmed
with them; they would have petitions upon every
item in the tariff billpetilions got up for the pur-
pose Of sho wing that the whole country was ruin
ed and that the bill was directed expressly against
every mans particular establishment. There would
be no end to the petitions which would be poured
upon them from thus time until the bill was finally
disposed Of from all classes OF business men, asking
Congress TO protect their particular interests. He
was Tired Of this practice; and, without intending
any dsrespect to the senator he moved that this pc
tition be referred 10 the COMMITTEES on Printing.
Mr. WEBS FER said the honorable senator
from Arkansas must entertain very favorable opin-
ion Of his BILL indeed, IL he thought Il one,
he said he did, which would prove detrimental to
the operations Of every workshop IN the country.
Mr. SEWER. said Il would be so represent
ed; and so IL would be IN regard TO any bill.
Mr.. WEBSTER insisted on the reference Of the
memorial.
Mr. ALLEN said a remark had very frequently
been made that the Senate had refused refer the
tariff bill TO u committee Tor examination. He beg
ged TO call the attention of the Senate the
why that reference was not made which was that
the committee incomplete, and that there was
an equal division Of that committee; but the honora-
BILE senator from Massachusetts disclosed yesterday
still stronger reason, which showed that there was
necessity for the reference Of the bill at all and
the details of the BILL that he would neither propose
nor favor any proposition for amendment because
his objections went to the fundamental principle Of
the bill il self that his objections to the bill were
strong that he would not even look into the details
Well what was there in that for the committee
TO do IL the bill referred, in order to crafty
the SENATOR but to report the fact, which every
ator already knew, that the bill was founded upon
that Objectionable principle--the ad valorem duties
instead OF specific duties That was all. But the
senator seemed to think that there great i'm
propriety-a manifest injustice--done in regard to
this bill by not referring It to committee instead Of
allowing II to take the ordinary course.
Mr.. WEBSTER then said he desired oppor-
tunty Of replying to the remarks of the senator
from Ohio, Mr.. ALLEs.l
Mr.. BAGBY said he would allow the senator
opportunity with very great pleasure, only that he
MR. B. regarded the discussion as entirely irrele-
want, and about to call the senator from Ohio
20 order.
Mr.. B. then presented the memorial of Jehie
Brooks, late Indian agent, praying indemnfcation
,r expenses incurred in the preservation Of public
property the Red river; which was referred to
the Committ,e of Claims.
Mr.. WEBSTER. Am l precluded from reply
ingl
The PRESIDENT. There is nothing before the
Senate.
Mr.. sPEIGHT then moved that leave be granted
the senator to proceed.
Mr.. WEBSTER. Oh, its of no consequence.
Mr.. r. JOHNSON then presented the memorial
OF VIM Wilson & Sons, and other citizens of Bal
timore, Maryland, engaged in the manufacture OF
copper, and trading in that article praying that
copper may remain free of duty, or that manufac-
tured copper may be subject to duty correspond
ing with that which 1t is proposed by the new bill
for reducing the duty on imports to levy the
raw material, and moved that it be printed the me-
mortal was then referred to the Committee Print
ing.
Mr. WEBSTER then remarked that he supposed
1T would now be in order for him to reply to the
senator from Ohio. He then briefly replied to the
remarks Of that senator; and stated that he was in
error in supposing that he (Mr. W. had expressed
his intention not to 60 into any examination of the
principles and provisions of the bill.
MIR. CAMERON presented several petitions from
miners and laborers employed in the coal mines OF
SchuylkIll county, against the passage of the
tariff bill. He said the persons signing these papers
were men who work by the day or by the ton, for
a specific compensation. The business of their lives
had been connected with the coal operations They
we're intelligent and sensible men, and were neces.
sarily acquainted with the subject They say that
the passage of the bill now before the Senate will
destroy their business, shut up their coal pits and
beggar their families. These men speak of their
own interests they give facts, and they cannot be-
lieve that the Senate Of the United States will do
them this great wrong intentionally, if Its members
can be made to understand the subject.
Mr.. G. said he not old man; and yet, in
his early manhood he had passed through what is
now called the coal region of Schuykill county
Then it was entire wildernesss--the land so barren
that scarcely blade of grass would grow upon it
with but one solitary town upon the wayside; dis
tant many miles from another habitation. Now in
this desert has sprung up city and many villages.
The region contains aPopulaton Of 10000 people,
oil prosperous, thriving, and happy--wth school
houses and churches, stores and manufactures
There is now invested there $50, 900 900 dol
fifty miles Of railroad, running through
the ravines of the high mountains, connecting the
different mines-witn fifty miles more OF rail-
roads running under the earth that a railroad
connects this region with the port of Philadelphia,
one hundred miles distant; and that at that distant
point, an average Of one hundred ships dayare now
employed in carrying abroad the coal which these
laborers bring from the bowels of the earth. These
people consumed last year 1851 900 worth of agr-
cultural products drawn from distant and more fer
tile regions. They consumed also 81, 758, 900 worth
of foreign and domestic merchandise or lumber
and timber from abroad they used more than $780,
900 worth, and they pay annually to the owners Of
the mines yearly rent Of over $500, 900.