Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-02
MONDAY. MARcH %. 1853.

Mr. HUNTER submitted the following resolution which
was read
Rolrcd That the Secretary Of the Treasury be directed
to repor the Senate at its next annual session. the average
prices annually Of bar ron merchantabe manufactured by
rong bar ron merchantabe manufactured otherwise than
by rolling railroad iron manufactured by rolling and pig
IRON last years preceding 1853 in the foreign
Of production shipment Aso the average prices
nuay Of the descriptions Of iron at New York and Pitts
burg the period with the charges for freight
insurance, and commissions.
Mr. HUNTER asked its immediate consideration 1t
had been suggested TO him by Of practical experience
that good basis for compromise between the
mers and manufacturers Of iron would be 10 establish
point in the price Of the article beyond which duty
should be imposed 1t had been said that il would be
emnenty useful TO ascertain that point upon which the
duty that important article might be taken off with
out injury the manufacturers the hand
sumers on the other and that protection would be afford
ed by the imposition of duties whenever the price abroad
should range below certain point to be established by
law As it was desirable that sort Of compromise
between these two leading interests should be agreed
upon he had submitted the resolution with view to
certain il such project would be possible He thought
texremey desirable that harmony should producedbe be-
tween these two rival interests and where such compro
mise could be made without inictng injury upon the
producers he thought it ought TO be DONE The idea
say the least he considered plausible and without intend
ing to commit himself in its favor, he thought there
sufficient in it to make it desirable that the information
should be obtained in order to fix basis for action here
after.
Mr. BRoDHEAD alluded to the fact that ever since
the years 1916 and lS47 the manufacturers aroad iron
well as Of iron generally had been asking that
compromise might be entered into with view to save
them from ruin and he believed that appeals bad hereto
fore been made to the honorable Senator from Virginia
(Mr HUNTER, but without effect. He Mr.. B. was now
happy 70 perceive however that the honorable Senator
was willing 70 listen to such appeals because it eyinced
at least disposition TO enter into compromise. He
should have been much pleased, however, to have
heard the doctrine avowed two or three years ago.
when those engaged in the manufacture of iron and rail-
road iron IN particular suffering under the disas
trous effects Of low duty
Mr.. HUNTER thought the honorable Senator could not
be aware either OF his purpose his agency in the mat
ter He had submitted the resolution to see whether
something could not be done by which more satisfaction
could be given to the Of iron without
injury upon the manufacturers that was the object az
the resolution, he had stated the time of ito
ducen Ii had been suggested to him that some snos
COMPROMISE might be effected He did not know vbethor
IL could be done not but it be apparent 10 a that
they would have meet the question in all its length and
breadth the next session and he submitted therefore
whether Il would be beneficial in every pont ~
view to obtain such information would enable them 10
act understandingly on the subjects
Mr. H. professed himself to be free trade man to the
extent least Of evyng duties strictly revenue prn
cipos THAT was the lowest duties that would yield suf-
fcency administer the Government upon economical
principles but the time he held that under no
circumstances whether by mproydent legislative inter
ference action Of the Government should the industrial