The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-01-09

casual hot. UIrJ
Used the entire trade AT the last session Of Congress,
prepared resolution instrueng the Committee on Com
merce, OF which my friend from New YORK INF. DIM Is
chairman 10 bring in bill 70 repeal the act of 1884
Us consideration at that session could not be obtained
by me. AT this session | modified II To resolution
OF inquiry, and the subject is now before bis com
mittee | am assured by the senator that he IS IA
yorable TO the principle such repeal would maintain
This BILL under discussion. susains thai principle
Il is the principle OF striking of all shackles from trade
and commerce. and allowing to be Tree and unresct
ed except should be made subsevent TO the hnap
cal wants OF the country Above all IT should be equal
The doctrine OF reciprocity Is one that our PRIDE may m
duce TO sustain sometimes TO The prejudice OF the IN
terests OF trade with other nations that can
not from local causes, establish the principles OF free
trade. In such cases, it should not be enforced The
Cuba and Porto Rico trade is such case | would
have been grahed il this bill had contained prov
sion repeating the act OF 1884 1t would have done
justice thus far To southern farmers in the vicinity of our
seapoTs, whose interests are sacrificed by that law for
the northern merchants and vessel But, sir,
without that amendment | will vote for the bill, aud
y on the justice and honesty OF the East North and
West, who desire this bll to mete out TO US the same lib
crafty. | will not suppose that they Will refuse
it. | trust that the Committee on Commerce will
report bill repeating the act OF 1884 forthwith, and
ready passed the House, will not embarTass II by an
amendment repeating the act, though if proposed, shall
feel bound 10 vote for it and even il it is rejected il will
not induce me 10 vote against this bill.
Mr.. DOWNS consider this bill as unconstitutional,
because is partial and sectional in lis operation The
constitution reads:
merce or ravenue to the ports oil one State over those OF
another"
believe that the effects Of this bill will be partial; al
though no, IN terms does, in fact, make difference
between ports of different sections OF the country. Among
the articles enumerated are fruits Now SIR the cape of
Florida, which the gentleman Mr. WEsrCorrl repre-
sen has not the privilege of going abroad for its fruits
the inhabitants of the northern States may into Cana
da they may not get their fruits IRON Cuba SO 1t rs
with New Orleans and Charleston When you say that
fruits introduced from Canada shall pay duty but that
fruits introduced into New Orleans, Savannah or Charles
ton, shall pay duty you make the duty unequal IN the
sections OF the country You give clear preference
that section OF the United States bordering upon Canada
Why sir, if you extend that principle as the gentle
man from Texas would wish, no doubt the honorable
from Texas would find some articles OF commerce
in Mexico which it would be very convenient to have
brought into Texas free Of duty; while II would have
little effect elsewhere, because the articles would be so
difficult OF transportation that they never would be trans
ported beyond Texas When, then, You admit certain
articles upon particular frontier free of duty, you give
the ports OF that quarter decided preference over others
cannot, therefore, vote for the bill and must con
Tess that an astonshed that the senator IRON Florida
should favor a bill which gives greater prefer
against his own State than against any other
State in the Union. concur with him entirely, so far
regards the difficulties of trade with the West Indies by
the States generally situated upon the Cult OF Mexico
and should like to see those duties notified; but GER
tainly cannot go further and favor the abolition OF all
duties in any section OF the country.
1t seems TO me- Mr. President, that the senator from
Illinois Mr. DoUGLAs] has not looked deeply into the
interests of his State upon this subject he usually
does Ii seems to me that if he had, he would have
found that those interests woad have been much better
promoted by removing RESTRICTIONS from southern ports
than from northern ones. One OF the chief exports of
that State is four which Is now taxed IN Cuba from
two hundred per cent and if he would secure moli
fcaon OF our arrangements In that respect should be
very glad of it 1t would be for the benefit OF my
own city, as all the exports must pass through IT, The
city OF New Orleans Is not city OF Louisiana merely bai
OF the whole West Whatever promotes the interest OF the
West promotes its interest also. should like to
arrangement made with Cuba, so that the -four OF the
west might 90 there favorable terms and that would
he A favorable
Illinois than slch arrangements at the north as are pro-
posed in tins bill
But the great difficulty, and one which seems to me
conclusive against the BILL is Jig unequal operation upon
different parts OF the United States 1t was suggested,
Mr. President, BY the honorable senator from Connec
ticut, Mr. NmEs,l that although he had not much
fience in regard TO the benefit which would accrue
our agricultural interests, still he willing to 90 for
the bi because il wonld be advantageous to
and navigation should like to these interests pro-
noted; and these products shipped through the
United States, no doubt 1t will have that effect
But does not the gentleman perceive, al the time,
that 1t will be unequal, giving an advantage to
single section OF the country Suppose that you admit
the productions OF Cuba and Mexico free into New Or
leans would promote the interests of the naviga-
ton of the Mississippi Would ii not double the ireghts
Of steamboats, AT the same time 1t would operate
very unequaiy, and would be against the interests OF the
northern coast
Mr. NILES made an inquiry of the gentleman from
Louisiana, which entirely inaudbe TO the reporter
Mr. DOWNS No, sir, did not bat if the naviga
ton and commercial interest be promoted by this bill and
the subject, and for that reason oppose the bill 1t is
equal that barrel of flour should be allowed enter the
northern portion of the United States from Canada free
that fruit should be admitted free any OF the other
articles enumerated in the bill, while the things
received IN southern ports from Mexico or Cuba should
be charged heavy duty. There is the difference be.
tween the two sections OF the community, and consider
il giving a preference to the ports OF State over
these OF another and therefore prohibited by the
s,ituiion.
Mr. METCALFE will not trouble the Senate with
many remarks 1t seems to me that the sooner we rid
ourselves of the consideration of the bill, the better Ii
appears to that it will be the commencement OF a
SYSTEM the effect OF which would be very greatly To
confuse the operations OF our revenue system i ap-
pears to me that II is partial sectional and local Ii
commence series OF legislation of this character, do
mol know where we are to stops there would he end
to it, For the purpose of testing the OF the Senate
upon this whole subject, move to lay the bill upon the
table.
Mr. DIX | hope the senator from kentucky will
withdraw his notion Objections have been urged to
this BILL which desire To reply 10.
Mr.. METCALFE consented, and withdrew his mo-
ton.
Mr.. DIX. 1t is late. sir there is senator upon
the other side who wishes to speak upon the BILL and
should not be able to finish what have to say before
usual hour OF adjournment | will therefore move that
the further consideration OF the ball be postponed until
morrow.
The question being taken upon the motion TO postpone
agreed and the further consideration OF the bill
was accordingly postponed until Tomorrow
MESSAGES FROM THE PRESIDENT.
message was received from the President of the
United States, notifying the Senate that he had approved
and signed the Joint resolution relative til compensa
ton and mileage Of the messengers employed to elyet
the votes of the several States for President and Vice
President 10 the President of the Senate.
Several messages in writing were also received
EXECUTIVE SESSION.
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