The daily union., 1852-05-07

Duslness, OF 81
eliminating duties, Otherwise, is tax imposed the
consumer and TO be paid by him. in addition to what
wosli otherwise be the cost OF the article consumed
and that for the sole benefit OF The or pro-
ducer. In other words. that il ihe purchaser we're 10
pay duty OF 20 per cent dd oaorem the article pur
chased. the domestic and foreign fabric both would be
enhanced 20 per cent in price TO the consumer which
addition would become perpetual tax, and find itsway
into The pocket Of the manufactures producer TO en-
hance his profits.
No doubt. Mr. President. this idea has been, and is
very honestly entertained and advocated yet think
mistake, and feel well assured that there are facts in
abundance 10 prove il But am not about go into
the argument on this subject at the present time and will
merely notice one or two facts 10 illustrate what have
said
1t is believed sir that all articles OF manufacture pro-
duced IN the United States. iron included the manufac
tureof which may be said to have gained firm footing
and been toslered as to enable them 10 compete with
similar foreign articles, have continually diminished n
price to the present moment, and TO be had less
prices In our own market than in any other market in the
world. In fact the reduction OF price most articles
has been more than double The amount OF protective
duties that have been imposed on similar articles from
foreign countries Certainly This does not look very much
lik taxing the consumer 4F.g.16 f1a
It is truly essential 10 success, and therefore as i'm
porant to all branches OF business, especially manu-
faclures. that skill and practical knowledge should
be obtained by long and close application and thorough
training in regular practical operations, and much
that candidates for Office 10 army and navy should
be trained in military or naval schools, and in the
field shipboad be made practically acquainted with
the duties OF their professions. The evidence OF the
the operative is to be in every city, town, village
and hamlet and on the person Of every citizen, In the
astonishing improvements that have been made IN every
department OF the mechanic arts, and the equally
onshng reduction that has been effected in the cost OF
almost every production. M s s.t syr.t l.sa.
Mr. President, in the very nature Of things it is i'm
possible Tor our mechanics and operatives to compete with
those OF Europe in those branches in which their me-
chanical ingenuity has not been called and developed
Practice necessary We have good mechanical ability
as any country on The gobe and practice and practice
alone, necessary TO its full development When gov
ernment grants TO that ability protection against foreign
competition, II calls il into successful action and
whether in the manufacture OF cloth or iron, or the
construction and management OF steamships, or any
thing else, that talent will not fail to return to the gov
eminent and the country thousand fold for all the pro-
Permit me- sir, TO ask. how our mechanical talent to
be fully developed' How are artisans, eng-
neers and hosts of Others necessary TO the business
to become skilled IN the construction OF large ocean
steamers and their machinery, and in their management
without practice! Yet sir in accordance with the pro-
gress of the age. the skill required for this business will
become as necessary on the railroads have
already become 10 dsplace the mail coach and baggage
wagon on the land. will here Introduce fact to show
what difficulties have had to be encountered, and what
large expenses incurred, in carrying out such under
taking as the Collins line. -a a.#
The main shaft OF large seamer-a war steamer,
= you peaseIwas 10 Dc made IT'S length some .alrly
inches, You at once that that huge mass OF
iron. For such work we had no furnace of sufficient
dimensions and capacy-ihey were altogether too small
for such work. Our hammers far too light; and
res while burning the surface OF the metal scarcely
warmed the centre Our best and ablest forgers
entirely unacquainted with the process of working such
huge Of metal and all, sraIl had 10 learn who
undertook to do it-a had TO learn by practce Expen
ment on experiment failed and resulted in consequent
heavy losses until, by costly Improvement IN the means,
the artisan, by long and determined perseverance,, had
learned 10 perfect his work. -st sr tf
MIR President, permit to inquire who is to be bene
fitted by these experiments these failures, these losses
this long perseverance, and this final SUGGEST The
munity s or will be- as much benefited by them those
who achieved the and paid the cost and minnie
y more And the government-yes, sir, the govern
ment-is or will be- as much benefited as the communal
y And, sir, what have sand OF this massive shaft is
equally applicable to every portion OF that huge machine
the marine engine-whch propels the mammoth ocean
steamer with such mighty speed the Atlantic. and
with which have beaten the ablest mechanics and the
best steamships and steam engines of the old world
And Is this nothing TO our government ls this nothing
| 10 the people OF the United Siates!
MIR. President the period is rapidly approaching when
canvass viii be scarce article the ocean, and when
our steamers will constitute our navy. Then II will be
found that whatever aid our government may have
tended TO our merchant steam marine will not have been
lost nasmuch as by that MEANS they will have enabled
mechanics ani artisans 10 render invaluable aid
which they would not have been qualified TO render
without it,
Sir, The government of the United States is emphat-
cay dependent the community for talent, ingenuity.
and practical skill They have schools other nsu
ons for the purpose OF mechanical instruction and when
builders engineers, other mechanics wanted
the government, like individual employer, at all
times be compelled to seek them where they TO be
had II is certainly them for the interest OF the govern
ment TO foster those enterprises, BY OF which the
very talent and skill required for government purposes
may be the most readily developed and most properly
disciplined
In what school has been reared and qualified race
Of the best seamenin the world and among them fair
proportion OF as bold and sku navgators trod
quartet ef-deck the stormy Atlantic Sir that school
s eastefn hsheres-a business that has long been
osered by the hand OF the government by the payment
OF large sums OF money in the form OF bounty and these
hardy denzens OF the ocean have returned four-fod TO
their government and their country for every dollar thus
bestowed on them. Oar great ocean steamers rare
schools for the purpose OF turning hsrate practical
seanen, practical navgators practical mechanics. and
practical engineers and feel fully assured is not al
hrmDg too much when say there are no insttu.
tons the United States in which all these Professions
except perhaps those OF the aid the navigator
can be studied 10 so great advantage, where practical
knowledge OF high order be readily Obtained
where can become well qualified TO discharge the
And, sir, is this nothing to government lnothng TO
oar country Is matter OF trivial importance TO have
our naval and merchant marine ocered and manned by
the best seamen gators and engineers the world
Is Il matter oil moment TO this government and this
people TO know that they have at their call mechanics
who capable OF beating the world n the construction
and equipment of ships, either for peace or war Is il
foreign nation, fill ships with men reared
IN such school, instead OF those picked up here and
there, without training, without experience, and without
practical knowledge Sir consider the question before
the Senate one that bears directly on this important
subject On It's face Il ~ proposition TO aid the Collins
line OF steamers but, practically, look upon in
which the government and the countfy deeply INFER
ested, for the reasons have stated.
Mr. President, the honorable senator from Virginia
Mr. HuNTgR1 has taken the ground that aid ia This