The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-01-07
CONGRESSIONAL.
SPEECH OF HON. r. l. CLINGMAN

I siyes. January q 1855
The House beius IN Committee cfthe Whole on the state
~ the Onion,
\ Nj. CLIyGAAS said
Mr. CHAssxAS win asa the attention of the com;,,ss
Dot % tie subject upon which Iny friend trm SoalL Caro-
anA Nj hxrr] has soqusndy addressed lhe eomui.-
which he has saped carefully bat 10 srother anestinn
which has SOME ilins merits And which hope 10 he
able % present q abe interval thai win alApse prior 10 ,As
usual tune VI aajournuent
ss " rsoollsced that eay day a. thss session
ohsssa PsoPe<uen Suggesting the propriety Of shis
sersrn.asns oassng ~ mediation 70 the bclgss~a
era a EarcPs Tbs following y The propcsiiior Is odl-
4 tied by
oias rssostica requesting le ssss~ns 70 sndrx Ac
ason q sas United stss 70 the powers sagagsd IN the
Where's pssss Il DE Enss Ssa.s. -, ~isA ..ur.
saAs several o the pows<s a E.rsss ass
sss u.s. eoassa.rs ass sssss = 8. . . "a Sss. "a I:
large pcroa Of the civilized wcra and Isin ssdsr ~
peace distant from TO sS..se q eoaic ai.cossssss rsS
the causes OF quarrel between the parties 6ersrent Nd
parpose to interfere fcrchly or in .n unwcme
nevertheess are Of opinion thar the may
neutral and friendly power ,lsrefors. f''''' =
BE ress b As S~asts oad Hoase Of Representative Of
wea view with satisfaction tender q IT, y
he mediation q the United States provided il Should be
10 accordance with the Predelis Of the pnhc in
y object as shas time was simply 10 GET the subject be-
fore TIE Committee Foreign Affairs Of which am
known 10 be member leaving il the discretion that
committee to upon is TO them might seem best
thai subject by the press generally The proposition
heea assaed in quarters and defended with ability
IN others The Of remark has been such thai
desire make short explanation Of my views in relation
to TINS susect and Of the which governed in
making the movement
do not propose 10 speak member the Committee
on Foreign Affairs now, because have the right
der the rules of the House refer ything which o
ours in the committee until ii sA think proper make
r.sg gtsH II iex;ra .f
leccns which doubtless induced gentlemen against
the proposition at the tune when II WAS first moved
Is said IN the FIRST place by obectors to be inter-
yenton part with the affairs of foreign govern
taens II it be fsrrsnfsos it Is precisely s4ch nterven-
ton this government has prsctised from its foundation
livery minister sent abroad in6aence action
OF sone foreign goyrrurnen and 10 induce il regu
late Its action hcnchs and nurc us Ia point
OF fact have ourselves had several Of mediation
submitted 10 which have xccsrs thereby admitting
thai such intervention gentlemen would now
exclude from Offering foreign governments Our min
istes are instructed to interfere with the action Of foreign
governments far il may affect us, and farther
ana hence they not expected 10 look the internal
ton of any government but merely external rela-
iions because in these latter have an interest
Fer example the Emperor OF Russia should deprive
the trade OF the ports of the Black Baltic minis
ter, Mr. Seymour, would I've instructed 10 demonstrate
against IL that inscription should from conflict
between Russia and some other power, why them might
appeal both of the beigerent parties In this parc
lar instance trade Is interrupted in those by the
existing war and our government has right relieve
from srch injury. ii it is practicable for it to do
A gentleman ihr way said, the oiher daJ When
FIRST hrcusii up this proposition that be hoped fhat the
war between Russia and the allied powers would continue
for nifty years take il for granted thai he did express
this benevolent wish laugh from amy opinion that il
must hare laas tae remark TO carry the impression that
the United States would derive some advantage from H.
II viii be conceded oil hands that it viii give US no
glory and no additional territory III be bene-
hed therefore il mus be in pecaniary point Of view
either by increasing exportthat is say enhancing
the value Of what hare 70 or diminishing the price
OF what we have to import purchase.
Let examine this matter briefly the outset OF the
argument, FIRST with reference what have to sell
Our principal article Of export Is cotton and now in
the face OF two short down to less than eight
Ny opinion isand say if with difference the opin
ions cf other genemenha but for the cotton would
probably be worth eleven twelve cents as ii was in
1850 and 1851 say because the supplics do
not think bear greater ratio the present demand Of
the word than did ths crops in the years referred ri
the loss this article alone viii make difference Of
at least forty millions of dollars in The ralua of our
ports and ia point Of fact have doubt that the
aas@ difference Of Twenty-Five to forty millions in this
respect sione besides losses in tobacco aud other articles
Gentlemen Viii 10 perhaps, that breadstus
crsasng vaue but they forget that the drought Of
year 50 destroyed the IN most Of the grangrowing
States that We shall have nothing to spare for the next
twelve months We have then take the chances Of de-
irving an advantage two years hence if should then
happen 10 hare produce sell seo the large and
heavy losses that falling on us
But n point Of fact il the ability Of Europe to pur-
chase that determines the demand for and price Of bread
rtufs took occasion years ago examine the
ports made by committees OF the British Parliament in re-
laon 70 the condition Of the iahcrng population Of Eng
land u appeared that during periods Of distress and
inc the anorng classes compelled give up in
eesion the pressure increased such articles
Indispensable and that for example they FIRST gave up
sugar, then meat after using il for time only
week then bread, and finally they relied upon the potato
alone II appeared from the investigation made that
time, that there disposition 10 consume large
amount Of provisions If they had had the ahtv to obtan
them Necessity the sole of their purchases
II the goes in Europe with lis heavy taxation d.
minSsning the wealth and of the people there
doubt very much whether they Will have the ability
great extent 10 pay for produce even If should
have large surplus Bat II II should prove other
wise, il il probable that this additional demand will
make up for the loss upon the other articles 10 which
I have alluded
Again, specie being rapidly drawn abroad from this
country 70 satisfy the demands Of the gerenis There
cities and extending itself into The interior Of the
country 80 seriously cripple s business transactions
and produce heavy losses 10 the community Stocks OF all
kinds have also greatly fallen in value the etr,nent Cd
many OF the States well Of individual Besides MI
this the shipping insess, has suffered and suffering
4 tren,eiy
Daring the great Napoeonz time, ing to the
fact ths Great Britain excluded from Of the
tneatal ports ships bad the carrying trade Such
howere is ths bat there fart nearly
many foreign ships gagged in trade before the
rnoestng Tie allies the Ia fact while the nnmhei
OF remain about the same, the soiute value
frsighs s likely 10 be diminished that really the who
shipping interest Is langu shng and the value Of ships
twenty thirty per cent less than ii Few month
ago gentleman tshind u,e from the maritime region
says that has diminished ffty per cent Doubtless be
right on this pcipf.