• it4» hM» m %. • •-- ••• IK Cornell University Library The original of this book is in the Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/details/cu31924030229557 Cornell University Lrbrary HJ6082 .A2 1824 Papers relative to the tariffs published 3 1924 030 229 557 olln Overs PAPERS REI^ATIV*: TO C0€red, % life Miome (d CJ^mmom, te be Prmitd, AMERICAN TARIFFS. PAPERS RELATIVE TO THE TARIFFS PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES IN THE YEARS 18 2 4 AND 18 2 8. PRESENTED TO THE BOUSE OF COMMONS, IN PURSUANCE OF THEIR ADDRESS TO HIS MAJESTY OF THE 18th JULY 1828. f Ordered, 6y The House of Commons, to be Printed, 25 July 1828. 5-8. bid. > PAPERS REALTIVE TO TARIFFS LIST OF PAPERS Relative to the Tariffs published in the United States, in the Years 1824 and 1828. 1824. Extract of Despatch from H. U. Addington, Esq. to Mr. Secretary Canning ;| ^ ^ Washington, February 3, 1824 ....J ■Extract of Despatch from H. U. Addington, Esq. to Mr. Secretary Canning ;| ^^-^^ Washington, February 36, 1824 - - - - - -'- ■ "J —Extract of Despatch from H. U. Addington, Esq. to Mr. Secretary Cannmg;! Washington, March 13, 1824 ------"''. 'J^ —Extract of Despatch from H. U. Addington, Esq. to Mr. Secretary Canning;! Washington, April 22, 1824 ..-- ----"J ■Copy of Despatch from H. U. Addington, Esq. to Mr. Secretary Canning;"! jj^j^j^ Washington, May 30, 1824 One Inclosure - - . - - -J THE TARIFF OF 1824 <> 6.— Copy of a Despatch from H. U. Addington, Esq. to Mr. Secretaiy Canning ;"1 ^^ Washington, May 30, 1834; with three Inclosures J viz. 1 Letter from Mr. Addington to Mr. Adams, dated Washington, May 5, 1824 ;1 Inclosing Despatch from Mr. Secretary Canning to Mr. Addington, of J- n March 13, 1824 J 2 Report of Committee of Commerce of May 22, 1824; with four Annexes - 12 viz. 1 Letter from Mr. Stratford Canning to Mr. Adams, of Nov. 25, 1822 14 2 D° ■• - - D° - - - of March 17, 1823 - - ibid. 3. — Letter from Mr. Addington to Mr. Adams, of November 20, 1823 15 4 D° . . D° - - - ofMarch4, 1824 - - - - 16 3. — Extract of Statement respecting importation of Iron into the United States - 17 7. — Copy of Letter from Mr. Stratford Canning to Mr. Adams, of November 26, 1821 - ibid. 1827—1828. 1 . — Copy of Despatch from Mr. Vaughan to Viscount Dudley ; Washington, Aug. 13, 1827 31 3 Copy of Despatch from Mr. Vaughan to Viscount Dudley; Washington, Oct. 21, 1827 22 3. — Copy of Despatch from Mr. Consul-General Baker to the Earl of Dudley ; Washing-"! ton, November 9, 1837; inclosing -..-.. . .Jo 1. — Account of proceedings of Harrisburg Convention . - . . . 25 4 Extract of Despatch from Mr. Vaughan to the Earl of Dudley; Washington, Decern-"! „ ber 13, 1827; inclosing -- ...--. .j ^^° 1 Extract of Report of Secretary of the Treasury of the United States - - ibid. 5. — Extract of Despatch from Mr. Consul-General Baker to the Earl of Dudley ;"! „ Washington, December 18, 1827 --.-... ..j"^3o 6 — Extract of Despatch from Mr. Vaughan to the Earl of Dudley; Washington, 1 January 5, 1828 .-- ... . . . .J ^37 7 — Extract of Despatch from Mr. Vaughan to the Earl of Dudley; Washington, Fe-"1 .,., bruary 9, 1828; inclosing - - - - . . .j 'o'". 1. — Report of Committee on Manufactures to the House of Representatives - 138 2 — BOl which accompanied the Report - -- - - - - - 143 8 — Extract of Despatch from Mr. Consul-General Baker to the Earl of Dudley ;\ Washington, February 16, 1828; inclosing - . . _ _J 146 1 — Amendments proposed by Mr. Mallary, respecting Wool and Woollen "I Manufactures --...... .r ^47 9 — Extract of Despatch from Mr. Consul-General Baker to the Earl of Dudley ; Wash-\ . ington, March 10, 1838; inclosing - 1. . - - . . .r 'bid. 1 — Statement drawn up by Mr. Cambreleng on Mr. Mallary's Amendments - ibid. 10. — Extract of Despatch from Mr. Consul-General Baker to the Earl of Dudley; Wash-") ington, April 5, 1828 ----...,...(• 150 11. — Copy of Despatch from Mr. Vaughan to the Earl of Dudley ; Washington, April 27 "1 1828; inclosing ... .j" 151 1 — Minutes of Evidence taken before the Committee on Manufactures - - 153 2 — Report of the Committee of Ways and Means 210 13 — Extract of Despatch from Mr. Consul-General Baker to the Earl of Dudley Wash-"! ington. May 7, 1828 .j 237 13— Copy of Despatch from Mr. Vaughan to the Earl of Dudley; Washington, May iq,"l 1828; inclosing - - - . . . . . . -^ ^^j 238 1.— THE TARIFF OF 1828, AS ENACTED BY CONGRESS - - ibid. 2 — Comparative Statement of Duties ------.. 24.2 14 — Copy of Despatch from Mr. Consul-General Baker to the Earl of Dudley • Wash-1 mgton. May 24, 1828; inclosing '. . r H4 1 — Statement of Commerce and Navigation of the United States during the veart 1827 - - . . . . " _ -^ I 245 2 — Statement of Commerce and Navigation between the United States, and each! class of His Majesty's Dominions, during the year 1827 . .f 246 15.— Extract of a Despatch from Mr. Consul-General Baker to the Earl of Dudley Wash-1 ington, June 11, 1828 ■' ' _} 247 PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 1824. N°l. H. U. Addington, Esq. to Mr, Secretary Canning. EXTRACT. Washington, February gd, 1824. R. March 15 /24. — " THE Tariff Bill, or " Bill for imposing additional Duties on Imports,'.' N" i. wiU shortly be brought before the House. As far as I have been able to collect the general opinion, I should be led to suppose that it will pass, at least the Lower House, though not without a severe struggle, and with considerable modifications : but there seems to be a belief that it may be stopped in the Senate. " Many petitions from various parts of the Eastern States, praying for an in- crease of the duties on Iron, and sales at auction, both aiming principally at British commerce, have within the last month been presented to Congress. "I thought it desirable, a short time prior to the opening of Congress, to call See Annexe 3 to the attention of the Secretary of State, already so often called in vain, to the ?''^°^"''^ ^' '^ subject of the unequal duties levied in the United States on British rolled Iron, ^" " and to desire the interposition of the good ofBces of the Government with Congress for procuring an alleviation of those duties." N*2. H. U. Addington, Esq. to Mr. Secretary Canning. EXTRACT. Washington, February 26th, 1824. R. April 26 /24. — *• IN the House of Representatives the Tariff Bill has been under consider- -nto „ ation for nearly a month. Every item is disputed step by step by the opponents of that measure ; the consequence of which is, that hitherto not above four points have been carried, and that by a small majority of about SO voices, *' Upon this subject, as it bears on the feelings and interests of the various parts of this Republic, as well as on its commercial relations with foreign coun- tries, and especially Great Britain, I shall take a more suitable opportunity of expatiating hereafter." N'3. H. U. Addington, Esq. to Mr, Secretary Canning. EXTRACT, Washington, March 13, 1824. R. April 26 1 2/^.. — *' THE House of Representatives have, with little intermission, been ^o occupied in the discussion, item by item, of the Tariff Bill, which struggles on ^' with difficulty, and is not yet nearly arrived at its termination. " Foreign spirits, cotton and woollen goods, iron and many other articles of minor note, have already come in succession under consideration, many of A S which 1824. N»3 continued. See Annexe 4 to Inclosure N° 2 in N* 6. 4 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS which have provoked a discussion of from two to ten days each. Some have been carried in their original form, some modified, and some absolutelj rejected. " I lament to say, that the unequal duties levied on British rolled Iron, are continued in the new project, of which the particular clause relating to them has already passed the House. Having reason, however, to suppose that this was in some measure attributable to an omission on the part of the Executive to recommend the subject in a proper shape to the House, in conformity with a request to that eflfect made by me to the Secretary of the State, prior to the opening of the Session, I have thought it my duty to address a * second letter to that Minister, in which I have urged the expediency of an intervention on the part of the Executive with the Senate, recomending an amendment by that body of the objectionable section whenever the Bill shall be submitted to their consideration." N°4. H. U. Addington, Esq. to Mr. Secretary Canning. EXTRACT. Washington, April 22d, 1824. R. May 26 ji^. N" 4. — " I HAVE the honour to inform you that the Tariff Bill, having been before the House of Representatives ten weeks, was, after a very hard struggle, carried by a majority of five voices on the l6th instant, and is at the present moment before the Senate." N° 5. (with one Inclosure.) H. U. Addington, Esq. to Mr, Secretary Canning. SIR, "Washington, May 30, 1824. R. June 28/24. N'5, THE new TariflFof Duties on goods imported into the United States from Foreign Countries, having now passed both Houses of Congress, the Lower on the 16th ult., and the Upper on the 13th inst., after having engaged their atten- tion above three months, I have the honour to inclose a copy of that document as it has been published by authority in the National Intelligencer ; and I now proceed to give you some account of its progress through those assemblies, as well as to present yoj with as clear a view as I am able of its bearing and operation on the various component parts of this Republic. The interests of this country relatively to this Bill, may be broadly classed under three heads : the Shipping and Commercial, the Manufacturing, and the Agricultural. Of these, the former is almost altogether opposed to it; the second is equally decided in its favour, and the third decided in sentiment ; the growers of produce adapted to the foreign market being hostile, and those of articles calculated for internal consumption friendly, to it. The first, or shipping and commercial interest, comprises a considerable por- tion of the New England States and the Atlantic coast. The second, or manufacturing interest, embraces parts of Pensylvania, Ne\y York, New Jersey, and of the Eastern and Western States. That portion of the third, or agricultural interest, which is opposed to the Tariff comprises parts of Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia and Louisiana', being the principal growers of produce, such as cotton, rice, tobacco, &c. cal- culated tor the foreign market. On the other hand, the measure is supported by PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES 5 by a very powerful branch of this interest, especially the grain growers, com- 1824. prehending Pensylvania, New York, the Western States, and parts of New v,____^_L England. ... ^'5, Of these conflicting interests, those opposed to the Tariff appear greatly to contimed. overbalance their adversaries in numbers and substance ; but the advocates of it have the advantage in point of activity and the energy of feeling conferred by present distress. This is more especially the case with the Western States, a considerable portion of whose principal proprietors, having heretofore engaged largely in losing speculations in the purchase, mostly on credit, of national lands, find themselves at the present moment involved in a state of serious embarrassment ; and being also deprived of the war market for their produce, which they once enjoyed, as well as of the forced circulation of specie resulting from the government expenditure in their country, they are disposed to catch at any chance which offers for the amelioration of their condition. This chance they consider to be held out to them in what they call the encouragement of the home market, by the imposition of heavy duties on articles of importation from abroad ; and, under this impression, they have been induced to advocate, and press with the utmost eagerness and energy for, the adoption of that system. It has been opposed with no less warmth by the Southern States, who see in the establishment of it the immediate diminution, and possibly eventual annihi- lation of the market for their staple produce, cotton. Virginia and Maryland are also affected in the same way, though to a less extent, in the market for their tobacco. In addition tO' these grounds of Opposition, the general increase in many articles of consumption, more particularly affecting the Southern States (especially woollen and cotton goods, as furnishing clothing for their slaves) which must necessarily result from the additional duties imposed under the new Tarifi^ forms also a sufficient motive for resistance to a scheme, by which the ease and affluence of the proprietors will be materially disturbed. The opposition offered by the shipping interest is bottomed on broader and more public grounds. They contend, that as an export trade cannot exist alone, the general interests of the Republic must in time suffer irretrievable injury from the death-blow thus inflicted on the main, though indirect, arm of her defence, and the principal support of her national honour, her mercantile navy. The opponents of the bill in its original shape maintained also that the principal portion of the public revenue being derived from the Customs, the measure proposed, by diminishing most, and annihilating a part, of those sources of receipt, would irrecoverably embarrass the national finances, and compel a recourse to a system of internal taxation, or excise, to the very name of which the citizens of this Republic have in general an insuperable aversion. The arguments used by the advocates of the Bill, it is unnecessary that I should recapitulate in detail. Independence of foreigners, eventual increase of the revenue, an extended internal market proportional to the extension of population resuhing from the encouragement of internal industry, whether agricultural or manufacturingj consolidation of the public credit, and prosperity accruing from a reliance on internal resources, have been the principal topics insisted on in the debates. The example of Great Britain has been adduced as the main support of the g,rguments used on either side, both parties admitting with equal zeal and admiration the fact of her unrivalled prosperity, but each ascribing it to those grounds which best suited their own line of reasoning. The recent measures adopted by her for the liberalization of her external commercial system, and her emanfcipation from -her ancient system of restriction, are pretty generally ascribed by the advocates of the Tariff to a desire to inveigle other nations into an imitation of her example, with the intention, as soon as they shall have embarked sufficiently deeply in her scheme, of turning short round upon them, and resuming, to their detriment, her old system of protection and prohibition. This scheme, they affirm. Great Britain will, by her superior means, be enabled to ejcecute without hazard to herself The discussions on this question in the House of Representatives, protracted as they were, were conducted with temper and forbearance. Towards the close 578. A3 of 6 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1824 of them, every effort, direct and indirect, which ingenuity cO"ld Revise, was }rZ-^ resorted to for the defeat of the measure by its opponents, ^^e ma priti^ which, at the commencement, had been generally from twenty to thrtXin N° 5. favour of the several items under consideration, were, towards the concision continued. ^^^^^^^ ,^ f^.^^ ^^^ ^^ twelve. A proposition for the adjournment of Con^^^^^^^^^ at an early day, being an indirect attempt to arrest the f"!^f/ Pf^^J^f,^^^^^^^ Bill, was negatived by the casting voice of the Speaker. The BiU was camea to a third reading by a majority of three voices and finally passed the Lowei House by a majority of five, almost every member of the House, sick or well, being present. c i. t3-u u h It is unnecessary that I should report in detail the P/^f f «\°f f .^ J^" *^^^^^^ the Senate : it would be little else than a repetition of that which I have already stated. Every item of note was discussed separately, and on almost all tne most material heads, such as woollen and cotton stuffs, wines, foreign spirits, &c. a very material reduction was effected in the duties as at first proposed, in fact, the Bill is scarcely recognizable as the same which was originally submitted to Congress, and frort. one destined for the protection of internal manufactures and industry, it has, in its progress through the Houses, dwindled down into a mere Revenue Bill. . . „„ It finally passed the Senate on the 13th instant, by a majority of four voices ; and having been returned to the Lower House for their acquiescence in the amendments introduced into it, to some of which that House objected, while they assented to the major part of them, a conference was held between a certain number of members appointed on both sides, and a compromise of differences finally acceded to, each party conceding a little to the other. The Bill having been since invested with the President's signature, has passed into a law. . n r • I have only to add, that had no restrictions on the importation of foreign grain existed in Europe generally, and especially in Great Britain, I have little doubt that the Tariff would never have passed through either House of Con- gress, since the great agricultural states, and Pensylvania especially, the main mover of the question, would have been indifferent, if not opposed, to its enactment. I have the honour, &c. The Right Hon. (signed) H. II. Addington. George Canning, &c. &c. &c. Inclosure in N" 5. BY AUTHORITY. [PUBLIC ACT.] AN ACT to amend the several Acts for imposing Duties on Imports. Inclosure in N° 5. ^^ it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That from and after the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-four, in lieu of the duties now imposed by lav\^ on the importation of the articles hereinafter mentioned, there shall be levied, collected, and paid, the following duties, that is to say : First. On sail duck, oznaburgs, burlaps, and ticklenbergs, a duty of fifteen per centum ad valorem. On all manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, except worsted stuff goods and blankets, which shall pay twenty-five per centum ad valorem, a duty of thirty per centum ad valorem, until the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight himdred and twenty-five, and after that time, a duty of thirty-three and a third per centum ad valorem : Provided, That, on all manufactures of wool, except flannels and baizes, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall not exceed thirty-three and a third cent per square yard, shall be charged with a duty of twenty-five per centum ad valorem. ' Second. On all manufactures, not herein, specified, of cotton, silk, flax, or hemp, or of which either of these materials shall be a component part, and on all manufactures ,of. silk, or of which silk shall be a component material, coming from beyond the Cape of Good Hope, a duty of twenty-five per centum ad valorem; on all other manufactures of silk, or of which silk shall be a component material, twenty per centum ad valorem : Provided, That all cotton cloths whatsoever, or cloths of which cotton shall be a component material, excepting nankeens imported directly from China, the original cost of which, at the place whence imported, with the addition of twenty per centum, if imported from the Cape, of Good continued. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 7 <3aod Hope, or any place beyond it; and of ten per centum, if imported from any other 1824. place, shall be less than thirty cents per square yard, shall, with such addition, be taken and deemed to have cost thirty cents per square yard, and shall be charged with duty accordingly. And that all unbleached and uncolored cotton twist, yarn^ or thread, the In^^osure in N" 5. original cost of which shall be less than sixty cents per pound, shall be deemed and taken to have cost sixty cents per pound, and shall be charged with duty accordingly. And all bleached or colored cotton yarn, twist, or thread, the original cost of which shall be less than seventy-five cents per pound, shall be deemed and taken to have cost seventy-five cents per pound, and shall be charged with duty accordingly : Provided, also. That the provisions of this Act shall not apply to, or be enforced against, importations of goods from ports or places eastward of the Cape of Good Hope, or beyond Cape Horn, before the first of January next ensuing. Third. On wool unmanufactured, a duty of twenty per centum ad valorem, until the first day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five ; afterwards, a duty of twenty-five per centum ad valorem, until the first June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six ; afterwards, a duty of thirty per centum ad valorem : Provided, That all wool, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall not exceed ten cents per pound, shall be charged with a duty of fifteen per centum ad valorem and no more. Fourth; On all Leghorn hats or bonnets, and all hats or bonnets of straw, chip, or grass, and oh all flats, braids, or plats for making of hats or bonnets, a duty of fifty per centum ad valorem : Provided, That all Leghorn hats and bonnets, and all hats or bonnets of straw, chip, br grass, which, at the place whence imported, with the addition of ten per centum, shall have cost less than one dollar each, shall, with such addition, be taken •and deemed to have cost one dollar each, and shall be charged with duty accordingly. Fifth. On japanned wares of all kinds, on plated wares of all kinds, and on all manufac- tures, not otherwise specified, made of brass, iron, steel, pewter, lead, or (in, or of which either of these metals is a component material, a duty of twenty-five per centum ad valorem. On bolting cloths, fifteen per cent ad valorem; On hair cloth and hair seating, thirty per centum ad valorem ; ~ On marble, and all manufactures of marble, thirty per centum ad valorem ; On all paper hangings, forty per centum ad valorem ; On coach laces, of cotton or other material, thirty-five per centum ad valorem ; on all other laces, twelve and a half per centum ad valorem ; On lead, in pigs, bars, or sheets, two cents per pound ; On leaden shot, three and one half cents per pound ; On red or white lead, dry, or ground in oil, four cents per pound ; On Brussels, Turkey, and Wilton carpets and carpeting, fifty cents per square yard ; On all Venetian and ingrain carpets or carpeting, twenty five cents per square yard ; On all other kinds of carpets and carpeting, of wool, flax, hemp, or cotton, or parts of either, twenty cents per square yard ; On oil cloth carpeting, and on oil cloths of every description, a duty of thirty per centum ad valorem; On all other carpets and carpeting, mats, and floor cloths, made of tow, flags, or any other material, a duty of thirty per centum, ad valorem ; On hemp, at the rate of thirty-five dollars per ton ; On tarred cables and cordage, four cents per pound ; On untarred cordage, yarns, twine, pack thread, and seines, five cents per pound ; ' On cotton bagging, three cents and three fourths of a cent per square yard ; On iron, in bars or bolts, not manufactured, in whole or in part, by rolling, ninety cents per hundred and twelve pounds ; /. • i On round iron, or brazier's rods, of three sixteenths to eight sixteenths of an mch diameter, inclusive ; and on iron, in nail or spike rods, slit ; and on iron, in sheets, and hoop ' iron ; and on iron, slit or rolled, for band>iron, scroll iron, or casement rods, three cents per potind ; On iron spikes, four cents per pound ; On iron nails, cut or wrought, five cents per pound ; On tacks, brads, and sprigs, not exceeding sixteen ounces to the thousand, five cents per thousand ; exceeding sixteen ounces to the thousand, five cents per pound ; On iron or steel wire, not exceeding number eighteen, five cents per pound ; over num- ber eighteen, nine cents per pound ; , ^ , „ , On square wire, used in the manufacture of stretchers for umbrellas, twelve per centum ad valorem ; On anvils and anchors, two cents per pound ; , , , ,. i l n On iron cables or chains, or parts thereof, three cents per pound ; and no drawback shall be allowed on the exportation of iron cables or parts thereof; . On mill cranks and inill irons, of wrought iron, four cents per pound ; On mill saws, one dollar each ; On blacksmiths hammers and sledges, two and a half cents per pound ; On muskets, one dollar and fifty cents per stand ; On rifles, two dollars and fifty cents each ; ■On aU other fire arms, and on side arms, thirty per centum ad valorem ; On cutting knives, scythes, sickles, and reaping hooks, spades aadshotels, of iron or steel, thirty per centum ad valorem ; '578. -^4 8 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS ^^1824^ ^^On ^crews of iron, weighing twenty-five pounds, or upwards, thirty per centum ad Jnciosure in N» 5. gn screws of iron, for wood, called wood screws, thirty per cent ad valorem : continued. On vessels of cast iron not otherwise specified, one and a half cents per pound : Un all other castings of iron, not specified, one cent per pound • On all vessels of copper, thirty-five per centum ad valorem • ' On quills, prepared or manufactured, twenty-five per centum ad valorem ; On slates and tiles, for building, twenty-five per cent ad valorem • On black lead pencils, forty per cent ad valorem ; On tallow candles five cents per pound ; On spermaceti candles, eight cents per pound ; On soap, four cents per pound ; On lard, three cents per pound ; On wheat, twenty-five cents per bushel ; On oats, ten cents per bushel ; On wheat flour, fifty cents per hundred weight ; On potatoes, ten cents per bushel ; On coal, six cents per heaped bushel ; On corks, twelve cents per pound ; On prunelle and other sAoes or slippers of stuflf or nankeen, twenty-five cents per pair: On laced boots or bootees, one dollar fifty cents per pair ; ^ ^ On hnseed. rape seed, and hemp seed oil, twenty-five cents per gallon; Un castor oil, forty cents per gallon ; r & > On beef and pork, two cents per pound ; On hams, and other bacon, three cents per pound ; On butter, five cents per pound ; On vinegar, eight cents per gallon ; On alum, two dollars and fifty cents per hundred weight On refined saltpetre, three cents per pound. On blue or Roman vitriol, four cents per pound • On oil of vitriol, three cents per pound ; ' On Glauber salts, two cents per pound ;' On Epsom salts, four cents per pound ;' On camphor, crude, eight cents per pound ; On camphor, refined, twelve cents per pound • On copperas, two dollars per hundred weight • On Cayenne pepper, fifteen cents per pound • ' On ginger, two cents per pound ; On chocolate, four cents per pound ; On currants and figs, three cents per pound • huodred ,q„ar. feet ; and if above ten inches bv tae ve J l" '""' '"? "''y «""• P" hundred square feet: provided that all wfndLJl.- •™'■=^>n size, four dollars Jer ch.rge.ble\vi.h the hi'ghest n..e of" utrherebytp'J'''''''' "■ '"*^' ""<=«• " "e «ntr.SinroS';„:t!-f :of r,.x"to";T^^^ s '°"z w ^'»« ■• On apothecaries' vials, of the rannpitJ of ft,.,„ the sam^, above four oun^^es, tV^ 2cfe JSig 'S^S%:tl''irJ^''^' ^^ ^^^^^ ^ cents per groce ; ^ &"'■ ounces, one dollar and twenty-five .n°3.™lo"r:rd°u';of ^ p°e°' St'- """ """ "" P™""' -^. » aWition .hereto duf/of tjX'e-nful'r '" «»'^ ""P""^. •">ec.or„f seven hundred and seventy-five ; and also m airin I ^ "™! *? ""> J'" »»= thousand Eng,.h. four cents per volume,' except books printed'inT.'?' '" r'"", '*"S"»e<» «S Sler-ptS." "'"''■ "^»^»»»^' '^^'-"^^-tr'^^T2,n^^iZa\^^: .-?nVitnLp°e°'';;„:5r ''°°°''' "'"-^ "'"'^ <■" P»"°'i^ *» in sheets or boards cent, per ponnSf '^'"' "'' ''»'' l""*. and wrappingVper; of all kind,, th^e On al other paper, fifteen cents per pound • Adntyoftwelveandahalf percent,™ .4 i per centnm ad valorem on all article, not herein specified a:!d PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 9 and now paying a duty of seven and a half per centum ad valorem ; with the exception of ] 824. patent adhesive felt, for covering ships bottoms, which shall be admitted free of duty until ^ / June thirtieth, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-six. t i ■ n« Sec. 2. And be it further Enacted, That an addition of ten per centum shall be made to rmtinued ^' the several rates of duties hereby imposed upon the several articles aforesaid, which, after the said respective times for the commencement of the duties hereby imposed, shall be imported in ships or vessels not of the United States : provided, that this addition shall not be applied to articles imported in ships or vessels, not of the United States, entitled by treaty, or by any act of Congress, to be admitted on payment of the same duties that are paid on like articles imported in ships or vessels of the United States. Sec. 3. And be it further Enacted, That there shall be allowed a drawback of the duties by this Act imposed upon the exportation of any articles that shall have paid the . sairie, wjthin the time, and in the manner, and subject to the provisions and restrictions, prescribed in the fourth section of the Act, entitled, " An Act to regulate the Duties on Imports and. " Tonnage," passed the twenty-seventh day of April one thousand eight hundred and sixteen. Sec. 4. And be it further Enacted, That the drawback allowed bylaw on plain silk cloths, shall be allowed, although the said cloths, before the exportation thereof, shall have been coloured, printed, stained, dyed, stamped or painted, in the United States. But, whenever any such cloths so imported, shall be intended to be so colored, printed, stained, dyed, stamped or painted, and afterwards to be exported from the United States, with privilege of drawback, each package thereof shall, before the same shall be delivered from the public stores, be opened and examined by an inspector of the customs, and the contents thereof measured or weighed, and the quality thereof ascertained, and a sample of each piece thereof resei-ved at the custom-house; and a particular account or registry of such examina- tion, describing the number of pieces in each package, their weight or measure, and the samples thereof reserved, "shall be entered in the books of the custom-house ; and after such examination, said goods shall be repacked in the original package, and, the said original package shall be marked with a custom-house mark. And whenever any such goods, being thus colored, printed, stained, dyed, stamped or painted, shall be entered at the custom- house for exportation and drawback, the same shall be so entered in the original package, marked as aforesaid, and not otherwise, unless the person so entering the same shall give satisfactory evidence to the collector or naval officer, or one of them, that such original package has been lost or destroyed by accident ; and no such application for drawback shall be made, except on the contents of entire packages ; and, upon application for such entry and drawback, the contents of the packages so offered shall be examined by an inspector of customs, and measured or weighed, and compared with the original entry, registry and samples ; and if, upon such comparison and full examination, the collector shall be satisfied that the contents of each package are the same identical goods imported and registered as aforesaid, and not changed or altered, except by being colored, printed, stained, dyed, stamped or painted as aforesaid, then the person so entering such goods shall be admitted to the oath prescribed by law, to be used in cases of application for exportation of goods for the benefit of drawback, and shall thereupon be entitled to drawback, as in other cases : Provided, That the exporter shall, in every other particular, comply with the regulaltions and formalities heretofore established for entries of goods for exportation, with the benefit of drawback. And if any person shall present for exportation and drawback any colored, printed, stained, dyed, stamped or painted silk or nankeen cloths, knowing the same not to be entitled to drawback, according to the provisions of this Act, or shall wilfully mis- represent or conceal the contents or quality of any package as aforesaid, the said goods so presented or entered for drawback shall be forfeited, and may be seized by the collector, and proceeded with, and the forfeiture distributed, as in other cases. , Sec. 5. And be it further Enacted, That the existing laws shall extend to, and be in force for, the collection of the duties imposed by this Act, and for the prosecution and punishment of all offences, and for the recovery, collection, distribution and remission of all fines, p^oalr ties and forfeitures, as fully and effectually as if every regulation, penalty, forfeiture, pro- vision, clause, matter and thing, to that effect, in the existing laws contained, had been inserted in, and re-enacted by this Act. Sec. 6. And be it further Enacted, That the provisions of the second section of the Act of Congress, entitled, " An Act to regulate the Duties on Imports and Tonnage," approved April twenty-seventh, one thousand eight hundred and sixteen, shall extend and enure to the benefit of the schools and colleges within the United States, or the territories thereof, in the same manner, and under the like limitations and restrictions, as is provided in said Act, with respect to seminaries of learning. H. Clay, Speaker of the House of Representatives. John Gaillard, President of the Senate, pro tempore. Washington, May 22d, 1824 :— Approved. James Monroe. 51^' B 10 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1821. N"6. Sec Sub-inclosure in Inclosure N° i. _c\°^ .^•=^" „^° V^- v"^ r^*" ,Nl^ ,^° See N° 7. N" 6. — With Three Inclosures. H. U. Addington, Esquire, to Mr. Secretary Canning. Washington, May 30th, 1824. R. June q8, 1824. SIR, IMMEDIATELY on the receipt of your despatch of the 3d of March, relative to the additional Duties levied on the United States on British rolled iron, I waited on Mr. Adams, and agreeably to your instructions, commu- nicated to him the substance of it. Mr. Adams informed me that he had already communicated the contents of Mr, Rush's despatch abovementioned to the Committee on Commerce of both Houses of Congress, and requested me to give him a copy of your despatch^ for the same object, observing that he was desirous, that the gentlemen of Congress should know the full extent of the consequences which might result from a perseverance in their refusal to meet the wishes of Great Britain. I did not hesitate to accede to the Secretary of State's request, and trans- mitted to him accordingly a transcript of the paper desired, accompanied by a letter from myself, of which I herewith inclose a copy. They were imme- diately communicated to the Committee on Commerce. On the 12th instant, a casual debate on the subject of the duties on iron arose in the Senate, iu the course of their deliberations on the new Tariff, Mr. Rufus King proposed to amend the clause respecting those duties, which run thus : — " On Iron, in bars and bolts, not mantifaciured in whole or in part by rolling, ninety cents per 112 lbs.," by striking out the words in italics Upon this a corrected proposition was submitted by a senator from New Jersey, which went, in lieu of striking out the above words, to add to the whole clause the following words : — *' And all iron manufactured in whole or in part by " rolling, sliall be hereafter prohibited." These propositions gave rise to some discussion, in which it was suggested, that as this subject affected treaties existing between the United States and Great Britain, it was worthy of a separate discussion, and both amendments were accordingly withdrawn. The subject has not since been agitated in the Senate. In the House of Representatives, a report on this subject was, on the 22d instant, submitted by the Committee on Commerce, which had been appointed to inquire whether any law existed in the United States, in contravention of the convention of 1815, concluded with Great Britain. In this Report, of which a Copy is herewith inclosed, it will be perceived that the Committee do not. give any positive answer to the proposition submitted to them, but desire to be discharged from the further consideration of it, on the grounds, first, that other nations are subject to precisely the same charges on the article in dispute as Great Britain, supporting their allegation by information derived from the report of the Secretary of the Treasury, by which it appears, that in 1823, of 104,531 cwts. of rolled iron imported into this country, 29,703 cwts. were imported from Sweden and Russia, and 74,828 cwts. from Great Britain. (See inclosed Extract.) Their second article denies the similarity of rolled and hammered iron ; and the report concludes, by indulging in some general reflections on the pro- hibitory system enforced in Great Britain against the introduction into her dominions of certain articles of American manufacture. The first allegation upon which the Committee mainly rest their reasons for not recommending a compliance with the demand of the British Government, certainly affects one material point of the arguments used by Mr. Stratford Canning in his able memorial of the 26th November 1821, and re-produced by me, in my last letter to Mr. Adams, namely, that in which it is asserted, that the duties levied on rolled iron, did in point of fact, affect and operate as a discrmiinating duty against Great Britain alone. I must confess that I was ignorant PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 11 ignorant of the fact of rolled iron being the produce of other countries besides 1824. Great Britain, that article having escaped my notice in looking over the Secre- ^ — — --^ tary of the Treasury's Report on the Commerce of the United States. . n« g. I have, &C. continued. (signed) H. U. Addington. Inclosure, N" 1 in N* 6. Mr. Addington to Mr. Adams. Inclosure N" 1. in N" 6. SIR, Washington, May 5/24. AGREEABLY to your desire, as expressed to me yesterday, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith the copy of a despatch which I have recently received from His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, relative to the unequal duties levied in this country upon rolled iron, the manufacture of Great Britain. In this despatch you will perceive, Sir, that I am instructed to press this subject once more, and in the most earnest manner upon the attention of the American Government ; and to represent to them, that in case a claim founded upon the clearest grounds of right and equity be still disregarded by the Legis- lature of the United States, it must become a question for the consideration of His Majesty's Government, whether injustice to the interests of Great Britain it may not be expedient to act upon the principles laid down by the United States themselves, by considering their cotton, which stands in precisely the same relation to that of other countries, as the iron of Great Britain to foreign iron as a manufactured article, and subjecting it, as such, to a higher rate of duty than is charged on other cotton which has not been cleansed by machinery. I trust. Sir, that the Legislature of the United States, by catldidly admitting the validity of the claim advanced by Great Britain, will spare His Majesty's Government the pain of taking a measure, which, however just, would not be resorted toby them without unfeigned reluctance, and as a step called for by an imperious sense of justice to the interests of His Majesty's subjects. The equalization of duties desired by the British Government, is of com- paratively trifling importance to this country, but of very serious moment to the interests of Great Britain, inasmuch as those duties directly affect one of her staple commodities ; and surely, Sir, it were much to be regretted that, by persevering in a course by which, independent of its injustice, the United States in general are so little benefited, the Legislature of this country should hazard any diminution of the friendly feelings and good correspondence which subsist between the two nations, by forcing Great Britain (for it would be a matter of positive compulsion) into the adoption of measures which, however undeniably equitable, might yet tend to create in the United States sentiments of a character Opposite to those which at present so happily animate both people in their relations with each other, and which it is the earnest desire of His Majesty's Government to perpetuate by every legitimate means. I have, &c, (signed) H. U. Addington. Sub Inclosure in Inclosure, N* 1 in N" 6. SIR, Foreign Office, March 13, 1824. IN consequence of renewed applications from the persons engaged in the Sub Inclosure N' iron trade of this Kingdom, His Majesty's Government ha,ve again had under '" ^° ^• their consideration the difference of duty levied in the United States on rolled and hammered iron, the produce of Great Britain. The British Government had hoped that the message sent by the President of the United States to the Congress in the year 1822, and the very strong facts, B 2 and 1824. Sub-inclo8ure, ■N* 1 in N° 6. cuntimted. S««N»7. 12 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS and arguments repeatedly urged by Sir Charles Bagot and Mr. Stratford Can- ning, during their several missions in America, against the existing discrimi- nation in the duties on those articles, would have produced their just ettect ; but as this unfortunately does not appear to have been the case, I have to instruct you to bring this business again before the American Government, and to represent to them the injury to which the iron trade o*/'"f ,P°""J'"^ continues to be exposed by this measure, and the injustice of withholding that relief to which they in effect admitted our claim by the message ot the ITe- sident referred to. You will observe, that if the principle which appears to have led the Congress to delay the repeal of this discriminating duty were admitted, it niight, with equal justice, be applied by His Majesty's Government to the article of American cotton imported into this country, as compared with that brought from the East Indies or South America; for the cotton of the United States being cleaned and separated from the seeds and husks by a process requiring machi- nery, becomes, (if this principle is to be acted upon to its fullest extent,) by parity of reasoning, as much in truth as the rolled iron, a manufactured article, when compared with the cotton of the other countries above-mentionedj this last article being imported nearly in the same state in which it is gathered, without undergoing any process for the purpose of cleaning or separating it from the seed, &c. In pressing therefore the American Government to come to a conclusion on this subject, in conformity with the repeated representations addressed to them from hence, I have to request that in addition to the very able reasoning con- tained in the notes of your predecessor to the American Government of the 31st of March, and 26th of November 1821, on this subject, you will urge this argument also, and that you will apprize them, that if contrary to our just expectation, the existing inequality of duty on rolled and hammered iron be not removed, it must become a question for the consideration of His Majesty's Government, whether, in justice to the interests of this country, it may not be expedient to act on the principle laid down by the United States themselves^ by considering their cotton as a manufactured article, and subjecting it as such to a higher rate of duty than is charged on other cotton, which has not been cleaned by machinery. I am, &c. H. Addington, esq. &c. &c. &c. (signed) George Canning. Iiiclosure N" i , with its Sub inclo- surc, was also annexed to this Report. Inclosure, N° 2 in N" 6. — Four Annexes. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE. May 22d, 1824. THE Committee on Commerce, to which has been referred a resolution, " Instructing them to report to this House whether any law exists, in contra- '' vention of the provisions of the convention of the 3d of July 1815, made " between this country and Great Britain ; also, to inquire into the expediency " of countervailing, by law, any duties or port charges on American commerce " and tonnage, which Great Britain may lay thereon, in her colonies or else- " where," respectfully submit the following REPORT : That, having bestowed on the first part of the resolution the consideration due to its importance, take leave to state to the House, that no law has been passed by Congress which contravenes or violates any provision of the conven- tion subsisting between the United States and Great Britain. They regret, however, to find, that an opinion is entertained by the British Government that the Act of Congress, passed the 27tb of April 1816, entitled, " An Act " to regulate the Duties on Imports and Tonnage," in imposing a higher duty on iron manufactured by rolling than on hammered iron, contravenes the provisions of that convention, on the ground that the duty operates exejusively on iron manufactured by that mode in Great Britain. Were the facts PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 13 facts on which this opinion rests established, the Committee do not think they 1824. would, giving to the convention either a strict or liberal construction, warrant ^ the inference. T„.inc„r^ From the views taken on this subject b;^ the Committee, they are rau-ch ^"cmUnnJdf' gratified in being relieved from the necessity of going into a long and elaborate argument on that point, by stating that the facts set forth and relied on by the 'British Government, to support the position taken by it, will not enable it to maintain, successfully, that position, as will satisfactorily appear by reference to the report of the Secretary of the Treasury of the llth of February 1824, stating the imports into, and exports from, the United States. That report informs the Committee, that iron, manufactured by rolling, is an import into the United States, not only from Great Britain, biit also from Sweden, Russia and other countries. During the last fiscal year, ending the 30th of September 1823, 27,700cwt. of iron, manufactured by rolling,; was imported from Sweden, and 2,003 cwt. from Russia, which iron was subjected to the payment of one dollar and fifty cents per hundred weight. J These facts, therefore, evidently and conclusively show that iron, manufac- tured by rolling, is not, according to the position taken by the British Govern- ment, a manufacture exclusively British. One among many reasons which influence the Congress to impose a higher duty on rolled, than on hammered iron, was the inferiority of die former to the latter, in use and quality. Mr. Stratford Canning, in his letter to Mr. Adams, Secretary of State, Novem- See N"?. ber 26, 1821, says, " any difference of use or quality, resulting from the " mode of manufacture, may indeed constitute afair ground of distinction; but " there is every reason to believe that no such difference exists in the present " instance." That a difference in use and quality does exist, which Mr. Canning admits to be a fair ground of distinction, is known to every blacksmith and to every man who has used it. Every man of judgment gives the preference to hammered iron, because it is freer from dross or impurities than the rolled, and because whatever articles are made bf the former are not only better but more durable. The allusion made by Mr. Canning to Mr. Whitney's saw gin^ and his comparison of that machine to the machinery employed in rolling iron, is an ingenious effort to get over a puzzling difficulty, by attempting to make things similar which have in them nothing common to each other on which to found a similitude. It is known, and it not unfrequently happens, that the importance of the interest threatened to be attacked produces a solicitude for its security which often occasions its advocates, more zealous to preserve it from injury than judicious in their defence of it, to surrender, unwarily, the vantage ground. Aware of this, the Committee have given to the suggestion, or allusion of Mr. Canning, all the consideration it merits ; and have satisfied themselves, on investigating it, that it does not support him in the argument he founds on it. The machinery employed in rolling, or manufacturing iron, requires, to use it properly, expert and skilful workmen, disciplined in that businesss, and also the constant and vigilant attention of an intelligent super- intendent to make the mode of manufacturing iron sycceed. But Mr. Whitney's saw gin, how happy soever the invention may be, or how much credit soever it may reflect on his genius, is so simple in its construction, so easily worked and managed, that negroes, in the southern states, are employed to work it, and the effect of its operation is not to produce a change in the use or quality of the cotton by that mode of separating the cotton from the seed ; for, after the process is completed, the cotton is as much a raw material as iron ore is when taken from the mine. The ports of the United States have been open, generally, to the introduction of British manufactures, before and since the convention, on principles of amity and liberality ; and the Committee are not a little surprised to find that the Government of the United States should be charged with giving to the con- vention an astuteness of construction incompatible with its provisions, especially when the ports of His Britannic Majesty in Europe are closed against the in- troduction of the staple article of the Eastern and Middle States, Will the Government of Great Britain allow the importation into Great Britain of cotton and wool cards, and cut nails, manufactures of the United States, on th^ , 578. B3 ground 14 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1824. V, Inclosure, N" 2 in N* 6, continued. ground that those articles are manufactured exclusively in the United States, by machines, the invention of ingenious citizens ? or does it allow, on any terms, the importation of those articles into Great Britain ? The statutes of that king- dom will give the answer, and tl^e commentary. In short, on which side soever the Committee look, they see the industry and enterprize of the citizens of the United States subjected, by British policy, to prohibitions or restrictions, that are not retorted by the Government of the United States, on the industry and enterprise of British subjects. From the views which the Committee have taken of this subject, they cannot recommend to the House any alteration or modification of the Act of Congress, imposing a higher duty on iron, manu- factured by rolling, than on that prepared by the hammer. As to the second part of the resolution, the Committee respectfully state, that although the commerce and navigation of- these United States, with the British West India Islands, experience many embarrassments, and are subjected to high duties and charges, to which the commerce and navigation of those islands are not liable in the United States ; yet the Committee forbear, at this time to recommend the adoption of any countervailing measure, as the points of difference, in relation to this subject, are in negociation between the two Governments. The Committee having performed the duty assigned them, respectfully sub- mit to the House the following resolution : Resolved, That the Committee be discharged from the further consideration of the resolution referred to them. Annexe 1 to the Report of the Committee on Commerce. SIR, Washington, Nov. 25, 1822. Annexe j. THE approach of another Session of Congress, induces me to remind you of the correspondence which I had the honour of addressing to you last year, by the express commands of my Government, on the subject of the unequal duties levied on rolled and hammered iron, according to the Tariff which is now in force. Being aware that the correspondence in question has been com- municated officially to Congress, and that the consideration of it by that Assembly has been deferred, only in consequence of the great pressure of business at the close of the last Session, I confine myself at present to requesting your good offices, that, as far as depends upon the executive Government, this matter may be brought, in the course of the ensuing Session, to a just and satis- factory conclusion. I beg. Sir, that you will. The Hon. John Q. Adams, ^c. &c. &c, &c &c. &c. (signed) Stratford Canning. Annexe 2. Annexe 2 to the Report of the Committee on Commerce. SIR. Washington, March 17th, 1823, NOT having the honour to hear from you during the late Session of Congress, or smce its close, respecting the equalization of the duties on British rolled and hammered iron, imported into the United States, on which subject 1 have frequently had occasion to address you, it becomes my duty to request a communication of the intentions of the American Government on this point, for the information of His Majesty's ministers. The message which was sent down to Congress last year, by the President of the United States, ^gether with the correspondence relative to the duties on rolled and ham! mered iron, attorded a reasonable expectation, that the many strong facts and fwT^r'/'^Pl^^^-'^^y V^^'^ ^S^^"'* 'h^ existing discrimination in thi duties on LeS^kt nr^' ,"? ."' ^"°^'^ P'^'^"""'^ *^"'- J"^t ^ff^'^t' ^"'^ that the American l-egislature would hasten to pass an Act for placing the duties in question on a footing PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 15 a footing consistent with a fair and equitable construction of the Commercial Treaty. . In ignorance of the circumstances, if any, which may have prevented this expectation from being realized, I cannot but hope, Sir, that your occupations will a,dmit of my being honoured with an early 'answer to this letter. I avail myself, &c. &c, &c. (signed) Stratford Canning. 1824. Annexe 2. continued. Annexe 3 to the Report of the Committee on Commerce. SIR, Washington, Nov. 20th, 1823. IT is now seven years since, in pursuance of instructions from His Majesty's Secretary of State, the first representation was submitted by the British minister resident in this cfipital, to the government of the United States, against the unequal and unjust duties laid on the British rolled iron, imported into the United States. Since that time the subject has been repeatedly brought under their conside- ration, as well as under that of the supreme legislative body. It has been presented in so many lights, and all the arguments in support of the claim advanced by the British traders, to be exonerated from those duties, have been so often, and so unanswerably pressed, that it would be presumption in me to attempt to add any thing in support of a cause advocated by persons so much more capable by their weight and ability, of doing justice to it, than myself. I feel therefore. Sir, that, as far as regards the discussion of the merits of the question, I cannot do better than refer you to Mr. Stratford Canning's letter, to yourself, dated Nov. 26th, 1821, in which the subject is handled with a clearness and soundness of logic difficult to surpass, and which must carry conviction to every candid and unprejudiced mind. Setting aside then, all further argumentation of the question, I shall content myself with appealing, which I do with confidence, to the feelings of integrity and justice, which animate the Government of this country, for the exertion of its powerful influence with the Legislature, in order to procure the revision of an Act passed under an erroneous impression, or rather total misapprehen- sion of the subject. That Act is manifestly contrary to the spirit, indeed to the letter of the con- vention concluded in 1815, between Great Britain and the United States, in which it is stipulated, that like duties shall be reciprocally leviable upon like articles. No mention is therein made of the specific mode of manufacturing those articles. By imposing an extra duty on rolled iron, between which, and that produced by hammering, it is now proved, that if there exist any difference in quality, that difference is in favour of the former, a shackle is placed on the hands of genius and invention, and a premium offered for the discouragement of science. But surely. Sir, this war against useful innovation and improvement is alto- gether unworthy of a nation distinguished by its love of novelty, by its rapid progress in the arts, and by the native vigor, and inventiveness of mind of its inhabitants. If Great Britain, instead of allowing in her own markets to the Manufactures of the United States, a fair and free competition with those of other nations, were by a forced construction of the terms of her conventions, to burden with oppressive duties such of the articles of the former, as being the produce of the creative talents of their citizens, evinced in the superiority of their machinery, enjoy thereby an advantage over " the like " wares of other countries, would she not render herself justly obnoxious to the imputation of injustice and illi- berality ? And yet, Sir, this is but the course which the United States have adopted with regard to the iron manufactures of Great Britain. But I am persuaded that this course is not accordant with the genuine feelings B4 of Annexe 3. 1824. Annexe 3, cotttinued. 16 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS of the country: that the duties in question were originally imposed by Con- gress, under a misapprehension of the real merits of the case ; but those merits being once well known, and duly appreciated, as they must now be, the appeal made to the candor of a body so distinguished by integrity and hberahty ot sentiment, as the Congress of the United States, will not be urged in vam ; and that the inventive genius of Great Britain will be allowed to secure to her manufacturers those honest profits to which they are so justly entitled. I have only to add, Sir, the expression of my hope, that you will lose no time in submitting to Congress, as shortly after its convocation, as may be expedient, the aoplication now made in behalf of the British iron merchants, and that you will lend it the powerful aid of a recommendation from the Government, that the subject may be taken by that body into their immediate consideration. The Honble John Q. Adams, &c. &c. &c. I have the honour to be, &c. &c. &c. (signed) H. U. Addington. SIR, Annexe 4 to the Report of the Committee on Commerce. Washington, March 4, 1824. Annexe 4. I TAKE the liberty of calling your attention to a letter which I had occasion to address to you on the 20th of November last, (to which I have not as yet had the honour of receiving an answer), in which I requested the interposition of the executive Government, with the Houses of Congress, for the purpose of procuring an equalization of the duties on British iron. In a conversation which, posterior to the date of that letter, I had the honour of holding with you, I received an assurance, that although no step in further- ance of the above object had, at that time, been taken by the Government, yet, as soon as the question of the Tariif should be brought under the consideration of the Legislature, my wishes should be attended to. It was with no small mortification that I learnt, yesterday, that the subject of the duties on iron, had already been brought to an issue unfavourable to the just demands of the British Government; and that without any formal inter- vention in favour of those demands having taken place on the part of this Government, with the House of Representatives. I have also been assured that, had such an intervention taken place at the proper time, the point desired would, in all probability, have been carried. I have now therefore the honour of addressing you once more upon this subject, and of submitting a request, in the name of His Majesty's Govern- ment, that the President will be pleased to recommend to the Senate the consideration of this matter, in order that, according to the express terms of the commercial treaties existing between the two countries, the iron manufac- tures of Great Britain may be placed upon a footing of strict equality with those of the nations, which in the existing state of things, enjoy an undue advantage over the former. I have the honour to be, &c, &c. &c. The Honble. John Q. Adams, &c. &c. &c. (signed) H. U. Addington. PUBtlSHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 17 Inclosure, N° 3. in N' 6. EXTRACT. Statement of Manufactures of Iron imported into The United States. 1824. In Bars and Bolts, Fig Iron. Castings. V R M Manufactured bj Rolling. Otherwise. Value. Value. '■' Cwi. Dollars. Cwt. Dollari. Russia - - - Sweden - - - England, Man and "1 Berwick - -J Scotland - - - 3,003 27,700 74,828 114,013 419.958 14,225 484 354,614 1,233,826 184,451 955 30,278 19,297 11,488 1,277 76,552 32,806 Inclosure, N» 3 in N» 6. N'T. Mr. Stratford Canning to Mr. Adams. [Referred to in N" 6.J SIR, Washington, November 26, 1821. ON the 31st of March I did myself the honour of writing to you with re- ference to the discriminating duties laid by Congress on imported rolled and hammered iron. It is under the special instructions of my Government that I now return to a subject which has been repeatedly pressed upon your notice, in full persuasion that sooner or later the legislature of the United States would recognise the propriety and justice of repealing the exceptionable duty. I do not feel myself at liberty to draw any inference unfavourable to this expectation from tfie silence with which you received my former letter. I ab- stained on that occasion from going at large into the merits of the question, conceiving that an exposition of certain facts capable of being verified, would be sufficient until the meeting of Congress should furn,ish a fit occasion for examining the whole subject in a more complete and deliberate manner. You will remember. Sir, that the facts which I then stated, and to which I again solicit, your attention, were calculated chiefly to remove the erroneous impressions entertained by some persons in this country with respect to thp real nature of British rolled iron, and the process of that manufacture. It had been asserted, that in rolling iron, according to the practice of Great Britain, the metal was only twice heated, and so rapidly converted into bars, as not to .allow of its acquiring those qualities which are supposed to be imparted to it by the most laborious operation of hammering. It now appears, from the testi- mony of many respectable individuals, acquainted with this important branch of industry, that the iron is heated no less than three times, that it is refined with such effect as to lose 7I- cwt. per ton, in passing from the state of pig iron to that of merchant bars ; and further, that it is cut into pieces after the first rolling, and filed so as to cross the grain when again heated and rolled. In the qualities of rolled, as in those of hg,mn]ered iron, there may be an .occasional difference resulting from the nature of the ores employed in itg composition. The British iron masters use a great variety of oi:es, the different niixtures and combinations of which have doubtless a considerable effect in producing, a better or an inferior article. But to suppose that any difference is piade in the quality or manufacture of British iron when destined for* the ■ 578. C _ foreign N-7. 18 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1824. foreign market, other than when it is kept for home consumption, is an errof ^ which cannot be met with too distinct and positive a denial. N' 7. This notion, groundless as it is, has however been brought forward, with others conhmed. gqually erroneous, to prevent an equalization of the duties on imported iron. It has even been alleged, that while rolled ironjs exported from Great Britain for the use of foreign countries, the British import large quantities of hammered iron from the north of Europe foTtheir own use -and that in shipbuilding thrs latter article, owing to its superior quality, is indispensable, In.replvto these assertions, I appeal with confidence to the accounts of British and Foreign bar iron employed in Great Britain at three successive periods within the last sixteen years. In 1806, in 1814, aud m 1820, the re- spective quantities of the former were 101,877, 137,365, 136,642; and those of foreign bar iron, 27,411, 11,635, and 6,242. To confirm the results suggested by this statement, it may be added that in Ireland, where a strong prejudice is known to have once prevailed in favour of foreign iron, -the cort- sumption which -in 1807 wiis 5,690 of British, and 3,229 of Foreign, was m the year 1820, 474 of thei latter, and no less than 13,073 of the former. For the manufacture of steel, and for that alone, the Baltic iron has some advantage over British, and whatever quantity of it is imported into Great Britain is either converted into, steel, in which way it is at present almost exr clusively used, or re-exported to those countries where the nature and pro- perties of British rolled iron are as yet imperfectly undersood. Concerning the particular point of ship-building, the abstract which follows of the respective quantities of British and Foreign iron employed at different times by H. M. Navy Board, must of itself carry conviction to every impartial mind. : Years. Foreign. British. 1806 - - - 457 - - - 1,345 1810 - - 289 - - - 1,668 1815 - - 82 - - - 1,743 1820 ... 51 - - - 1,824 The truth is, that except for making steel, any superior fitness for which is clearly an accident of nature, and not the effect of hammering, English bar iron is at least equal to that of Sweden and Russia. It is used throughout Great Britain in the most important constructions in her manufactories, dock yards and military establishments. It is prepared exactly in the same manner for exportation, as for domestic consumption. It is never finished by a single rolling, except at a very few works where the metal has been previously formed by hammering. It rarely happens indeed, that the iron-master knows, at the time of manufacturing, for which market the iron is destined, and when he is apprized of this circumstance, a sense of his own interest, the interest of the trade, would alone restrain him from sending an inferior manufacture to the Foreign market. It is, in short, the greatest of delusions to imagine that the consumers of iron are interested in giving a preference to the process of hammering over that of rolling. The Baltic manufacturers have doubtless their reasons for adhering to their former practice, but so far from their deriving any claims to superiority from that circumstance, it is well known to persons familiar with the trade, that their iron would be improved rather than deteriorated by the application of the rolling machine. This being the case, it would be absurd to defend the discriminating duty on the ground of its preventing the manufac- ture of rolled iron in the northern countries of Europe. Even in the counter-statements which have been made upon this subject, it is admitted, that not only the ores of England may be equal to those of other countries, but also that the process of rolling only requires to be repeated, in order to place it on a level with that of hammering. Allow me, Sir, to remark, with reference to this admission, that in the present state of your legislative enactments, the British iron imported into the United States might pass under the roller any number of times without being relieved, on that account, from the pressure of which I complain. The PUBLIS HED IN THE U NITED STATES. Id " The difference of value or of cost, at whieh the rolled and hammered iron 1S24«. may beprepared for sale,, can surely present no argument in favour of the dis- v '-..^^-— criminating djuttes. ^ That difference, whatever it niay be,, is a natural result of N" 7. labour-saving, inadhinery ; it Is thp just reward of ingenuity employed with coni^ued^ success inlthe Service. of mankind. Science and inventive genius are peculiar to no soil ; all nations have an interest in their progress, and to grudge them a fair remuneration, would ;be no! less uniworthy of the character, than foreign to the views'of an enlj^hte'npd Legislature. . _ , , I.have now, iSir, replied, and I trust Conclusively, to such parts of the expla- natory statement, which ybu communicated to Mr. Antrobiis in your letter, dated the 31st May 1^0', as werfe grounded, how justly I leave to yoiir candour, on the principle of expediency. It remains for me to take a more cdmprehieri' sive view of the cas6, as involving iti iny belief a breach of agreement, uninten- tional no doubt, but not therefore less prejudicial to- His Majesty as a contract-^ ing party, nor calling the less fdr a seasonable amendinent. ;" ] By the second Article of the Convention of Commerce, subsisting between the two countries, it is declared that "No higher or other duties shall be imposed " on the importation into the United States of any articles, the growth, produce, oi* " manufacture of His Britannic Majesty's territories in Europe, than are or shall *' be payable on the like articles, being the growth, produce, or manufacture of any " other foreign country." To secure certain stipulated advantages, reciprocally, to both the contracting parties, is the general object of the convention ; to secure to the produce and manufacturers of Great Britain, a fair unshackled competition in the markets of the United States with all articles of a similar nature imported from other foreign countries, is the plain indisputable object of this particular clause. But how can these objects be considered as fully or adequately effected while British bar iron is made to pay on its importation into the United States, double the amount of duty levied upon the same article when imported from Russia and Sweden. I am aware of the distinction which has been drawn between rolled and hammered iron, and of the assertion founded on that distinction, that so long as all importations of hammered, and all impor- tations of rolled iron are subject respectively to the same rate of duty, Great Britain has no right to complain. But Great Britain being the sole exporter of rolled iron, the discriminating duties do in fact operate to her prejudice, and in point of principle, it will not be difficult to show that the articles in question are truly and essentially like articles, such as cannot with any colour of reason be excluded from the benefit of the Treaty. You will readily admit, Sir, that like articles in the sense of the convention must necessarily be such as are similar to each other in their leading charac- teristic properties. On any other supposition the clause in question is an idle form of words, and contrary to the very end and purpose of the treaty ; a door would be opened to arbitrary interpretation in one of its principal provisions. Now the process, or mechanical operation by which an article is manufactured, can surely never be reckoned among its properties. Any difference of use or quality, resulting from the mode of manufacture, may indeed constitute a fair ground of distinction ; but there is every reason to believe that no such differ- ence exists in the present instance. It has been shown, on the contrary, that for the ulterior purposes to which bar iron, as such, is applicable, the rolled is equally good with the hammered ; that both the one and the other are sent to market in the same stage of manufacture, and that the only difference between them is one of a retrospective nature, not affecting the identity of their present state, but relating solely to the process by which they are brought to the same point. To borrow an illustration from language, two words of similar meaning in common acceptation would surely not be deemed the less synonimous because they might be traced to different roots, or had passed through different modes of formation. I further entreat you. Sir, to observe with what facility the same distinction may be extended to other articles of commerce. Even the chief staple of your southern states might, upon the same principle, be discriminated in British ports, from the cotton of the Brazil or the Levant, for no other reason than because it had been prepared by Mr. Whitney's ingenious and useful machinery. Examples bearing upon either party might easily be multiplied ; I have taken C 2 this 20 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS i 1824. this because it was the most obvious, In fact, the same natural productions — ' are common to so many different countries, while the means of improving them N" 7. are varied according to the vast diversity of local resources, that even of those continue . articles which barely rank as manufactures, few might not be brought within range of the same distinction which is now applied, unwarrantably, I think, to bar iron. That a latitude of interpretation thus tending to nullify one of the principal clauses of the treaty should have been contemplated by those wha framed it, is utterly inconceivable. Yet this, Sir, is the conclusion to which we must come, if it be admitted that rolled and hammered bar iron are not like articles ; an admission which, taking the fair and natural meaning of that phrase, would surely be equivalent to saying, that what is bar iron when ham- mered is not bar iron when rolled. It is with regret. Sir, that I have found it necessary to take up so much of your time on this subject ; but I feel persuaded that you will appreciate its importance, and that it will receive from the American Government an early and equitable revisal, to the end of relieving by law the importations of British rolled iron from the present discriminating duty, and thereby fulfilling the obligations of the Commercial Treaty. I embrace this opportunity. Sir, &c. &c. &c. (signed) Stratford Cannings ' PUBLISHED IN THE. UNITED STATES. 'M ] 827— 1828. N"l. Mr. Vaughan to Viscount Dudley. Washington, August 13, 18€7. R. Sept. 13/27. MY LORD, DURING the last Session of Congress, an Act, imposing additional duties upon woollen goods, of British manufacture, imported into the United States, -passed the House of Representatives, but it was afterwards lost in the Senate by the casting vote of the President. It was alleged in support of that measure, that the Tariff of 1824< no longer afforded the protection to the American manufacturer which it was intended that it should have afforded, as by a reduction of duties upon the importation of wool into Great Britain, the British manufacturer was able to supply himself with the raw material upon better terms than when the rate of duty was fixed by the Congress. In the month of May last, the Society for the promotion of Manufactures and Mechanic Arts of Pennsylvania, invited the States to appoint delegates to a general convention, to meet at Harrisburg on the £50th July, to take into consideration the state of manufactures. In consequence of this invitation, 97 delegates, from thirteen out of the 24 United States, assembled at Harrisburg, in Pennsylvania, on the 30th of July last. The best account which I have yet been able to procure of the proceedings of this convention is contained in Niles' Register, a copy of which I have the honour to inclose. It appears that the convention appointed committees, to prepare a memorial, to be presented to the Congress, and an address to the people of the United States, to consider of the state of the manufactures of iron, hemp, glass and printed cottons ; to examine the commercial intercourse between the several states ; and to inquire into and to submit to Congress such facts as they may be able to collect, showing the injurious effects of the revenue laws upon domestic industry, ^ It may be collected from the Report of the Committee of cotton goods, that there has been a diminution of about four millions of dollars in the value of cotton goods imported into the United States in the last year of 1826, as compared with the preceding year of 1825. That the cotton manufactures of the country employ annually '175,000 bales of cotton, and that as the capacity of the country to supply a quantity of cotton goods sufficient for the consumption cannot be doubted, the government should be required to increase the minimum of duties to 40 cents the square yard. In the Report of the Committee upon the expediency and necessity of further protection to the manufacture of iron, it is stated, that 28,000 tons of the 70,000 tons consumed annually in American manufactories, are imported from foreign countries. As the United States possess the material and the means of manufacture to any extent, the committee are of opinion, that the Congress should be required to raise the duty upon hammered bar iron, from 90 cents, the present rate, to 112 cents the hundred weight. A long Report was made by the Committee upon the manufactures of hemp and flax, and I have the honour to refer your Lordship to the Report which is contained in the inclosed* paper. The committee upon the best means of encouraging the manufacture of glass, declined offering any resolution to the convention. 578. C 3 Before 1827—1828. N°l. *See Inclosure ifi N'3- 22 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827 — 1828. Before the delegates to the convention of Harrisburg separated, on the ■>_^ ^ J 3d August, they signed a memorial, a copy of which is to be found in the m- -j^„ . closed paper, which is to be presented to the two Houses of Congress by their . ' President. The committee appointed ..to draw up an address to the people of u/« m%ie . ^^ United States, required further time in order to accomplish that object, and 5?e Inclosure in ^^ address will be made by them after the separation of the delegates. The memorial of the convention to Congress sets out with declaring, that the imperfections of the Acts of Congress, and the countervailing measures of the British Government, have rendered it necessary ta call /or the interposition of the legislature. That 40 millions of dollars are employed as capital in woollen manufactures. A rate of duties is detailed in the memorial, which it is thought would be sufficient for the protection required. A duty of one cent per pound on hammered bar iron, arid a corresponding advance on the present duty apon steel, is pointed out, in the memorial^" as necessary for the protection of those manufactures. Tlie protection ofmanu^ factures of hemp and flax, of cotton goods, of distilled spirits, is recommended, but left to the discretion of Congress. The proceedings at Harrisburg indicate a strong desire to see the United States independent of a supply of manufactured goods from Europe, particularly Great Britain ; and hence, to hasten that period, the domestic manufactures are to be protected by heavy duties upon the importation of articles, which it is supposed can be manufactured in the United States. The Southern States oppose the encouragement of the manufactures of woollens, which have sprung up in the Eastern States, as it must increase the price of articles with which they have hitherto been suppHed by the British. I have the honour to be, &c. (signed) Cha' R. Vaughan. N°2. Mr. Vaughan to Viscount Dudley. Washington, October 21st, 1S27. R. Nov. ighT. MY LORD, N° 2 IN my despatch of the 13th of August, I had the honour to call your Lordship's attention to the proceedings of a convention which met at Harris- burg in Pennsylvania, on the 30th of July, upon the proposal of a Society for the promotion of Manufactures and the Mechanic Arts, in order to represent to the Congress of the United States the necessity of encouraging domestic manufac- tures, by imposing upon articles imported from Europe, a duty in addition to the one already imposed by a Tariff published in 1824. A pamphlet has been recently published by subscription, amongst the mem- bers of the Harrisburg convention, containing an address draiv/n up by a com- mittee of that convention, and signed by Mr. Niles the chairman, who is 'the editor of the Weekly Register, published at Baltimore, and accompanied with an Appendix, containing documents which have been diligently collected in support of their views. The address contained in the pamphlet, is meant to be a respectful petition to Congress, and an exposition of the wants and wishes of a large majoi'ity of the people of the United States, respecting an increased protection which the members of the Harrisburg convention conceive ought now to be afforded to domestic manufactures. The only observations which it appears to me are worthy of notice in this laboured address, are those which contain statements of the value of several branches of commerce last year. It is asserted that the whole exports of the products of the United States, ast year, to Great Britain, amounted in value to twenty million four hundred and PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. S3 and thirteen thou$and two hundred and sixteen dollars, (jS" 20,413,21 6), of 1827—1828. which eighteen million six hundred and four thousand and ninety-four dollars, *- .^ ■ .. ■ ^ (S 18,604,094) were on account of cotton and tobacco. ^« 2 The ya;lue of the imports from Great Britain during the last year, are stated continued. at twenty-six million one hundred and thirty-one thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine dollars, (^26,131,969.) The principal object to be obtained by assembling a convention at Harrisburg, Was to enforce upon the Congress the necessity of jpassing a Bill, which failed ill the last session by the casting vote of the President of the Senate,' for im- posing an additional duty on the importation of woollen goods. The Tariff established in 1824, imposed a duty upon theffl of about thirty-foiar per cent, in order, as it was stated, to enable the manufacturers of the United States to enter into competition with those of Great Britain. As, however, the British Parliament consented soon afterwards to reduce the duy upon foreign wooj, when imported into Great Britain, from six-pence to one penny per pound ; and to reduce likewise the duties upon olive oil, rape seed, indigo and logwood; the duty imposed upon woollens imported from Great Britain into the United Sta.tes, fixed by the Tariff of 1824, at about thirty-four per cent, did not amount to a protecting duty to the manufactures of the country, beyond one-half of the sum contemplated by Congress. It has been suggested by the opponents of the system advocated by the Har- risburg convention, that the proper manner of meeting the reduction of duties on foreign wool in Great Britain, was to reduce the duty opon the foreign wool imported into the United States, and which at present amounts to from forty to forty-five cents the pound. The suggestion above mentioned was unanimously disapproved of, because the result would be to sacrifice the interest of the land-holder and agricul- turalist, to those of the manufacturer. I observe that in the address of the committee of the Harrisburg convention, it is recommended that an additional duty should be laid upon hammered bar iron; previously to the Tariff of 1824, it was subject to a duty upon its im- portation of seventy-five cents the hundred weighty and since that to ninety cents.. The committee likewise recommends an increase of the duty upon coarse cotton goods, when imported, of from thirty to forty cents the square yard j and they assert in their address, that coarse cottons and calicos are now manu- factured at a cheaper rate in the United States than in Great Britain. I am sorry that 1 have not yet succeeded in obtaining a copy of the pamphlet published by the committee of the Harrisburg convention, and that 1 can transmit only to your Lordship, .a copy of the address and of the appendix to it, as they are given in the two last numbers of Niles' Weekly Register* which 'For these Pa e t have the honour to inclose. I shall use my best endeavours to procure these see inclosure in papers in the form of a pamphlet; but I do not think it advisable to delay N°3. calling the attention of His Majesty's government to the proceedings of the Committee, as they are regarded in this country with great interest. I, have the honour to be. The Viscount Dudley, &c. &c. &c. &c. &c. (signed) Charles R. Vaughan, N* 3. — ^With One Inclosure. Mr. Consul General Baker to the Earl of Dudley. Washington, November 9, 1827. i?. Dec. 18/27. MY LORD, IN consequence of the delay occasioned in preparing one of the accompanying -j^. g papers, the authentic account of the proceedings of the General Cenvention for ' ^^ ■ C4 the 24 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS' 1827—1828. N*2, continued. the encouragement of Domestic Industry, held at the beginning of last August' at Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, has only just been printed j and although the proceedings were partially made public at different times, I thought it right to defer noticing them until the appearance of the full and authorized statement which I have now the honour to enclose for the informa- tion of His Majesty's government. The importance of the subject will be shewn by a reference to the reports of what passed during the last Session of Congress, respecting the relief so loudly, but at that time so ineffectually demanded, by the growers and manu- facturers of wool, who contemplate a renewal of their efforts with increased energy at the session about to commence. This indeed formed the chief object which the meeting had in viev/, in furtherance of which a memorial was agreed upon to be presented to both Houses by the President of the Conven-, tion, and an appeal directed to be made to the people generally, calling upon them to foster and protect domestic industry, and more particularly the two interests in question. Before stating the precise points embraced by the prayer of the memorial, it may be proper to premise a few words in explanation of the nature of the convention, which owed its immediate origin to a resolution passed in May last by the Pennsylvania Society for the promotion of Manufactures and the Mechanic Arts, recommending the friends of the agricultural and manufacturing interests in the different States of the Union to assemble for the purpose of ap- pointing, each, at least, five delegates, to form a general convention at the place designated. Representatives were accordingly sent from all the New England States (those from Maine however did not attend), and from the five, middle States, while two only of the Western States, Ohio and Kentucky, (the former of which is peopled from New England) accepted the invitation, and Virginia alone, of the Southern States, was represented; the number of States assembled amounted therefore to 13, or a bare majority of the whole. The convention thus composed remained in session at Harrisburg five days, separating on the 3d of July, after adopting the memorial to Congress, and authorizing the address to the people as above mentioned. The chief promoters of these proceedings were the growers and manufac- turers of wool, (but chiefly the latter), who were however obliged to incorporate in their memorial measures in favour of other branches of domestic industry, viz. manufactures of iron and steel, and of flax and hemp, together with dis- tilled spirits, fine cotton goods, and printed cottons ; but these are mentioned more slightly, and said not to be in such " crying" need of immediate assist- ance as wool and woollen goods, the capital employed in which is stated to have amounted to SO millions of dollars, but to have lost one half its value. The principal relief solicited by the memorial in support of these two in- terests is the establishment of minimum values for the estimation of duties on wool and woollen manufactures, and that the duty on the latter should be levied according to the square yard. As respects raw wool, the duty, when it costs more than 8 cents per lb. in a foreign country, is proposed to be 20 cents per lb. increasing annually 2^ cents, until it reaches 50 cents. The present Tariff, it will be recollected, taking two values of wool, above and below 10 cents, makes the duty on the former 30, and on the latter 15 percent ad valorem when imported in American vessels, or in foreign vessels on the same footing. The minimum values recommended in the case of the woollen manufactures are four, viz. 50 cents, ^2. 50., S'^- and $6., with a general duty upon all classes of 40 per cent ad valorem, to be increased to 45 in July 1829, and to 50 per cent after July 1830. According to the existing Tariff the duty on woollen goods, when valued at or below 33 i^ cents per square yard, is 25 per cent, and in the case of all superior values, 33i per cent ad valorem when im- ported in American vessels, or in foreign vessels enjoying the same privileges. It will be seen that the minimum values inserted in the Bill of the last session were three, viz. 40 cents, J 2. 50., and J'4., to which an intermediate one of ,51. 50. was afterwards added, which was thought to render the .effect less unfa7 vourable to the importing merchant. This is omitted in the scale recommended by the PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED SIATES. g5 the memorial, the addition of the last minimum of $6. not appearing to be an 1827-^1828. equivalent, from its not affecting the lower priced goods, and as an increase of ' -^ ' duties is also desired, whereas the former measure looked only to a continuance N° 3 of the existing one. The propositions of the meitiorial, if adopted, will operate continued, more prejudicially than the Bill which passed the House last session, and which, it was supposed, would prove of a prohibitory nature. The address to the people which accompanies the account of the convention was prepared by a committee which was authorized to continue its labours aftef the separation of the convention, and to annex them as part of the proceedings. This task was chiefly performed by the chairman, Mr. Niles, an editor of a weekly paper, published at Baltimore, and distinguished for its zeal in support of American manufactures, the encouragement of which, by high duties has been denominated the American system. Some parts of the address have been marked, which appeared more worthy of attention from their explaining the ppiiits stated in the prayer of the memorial to Congress. An appendix of con- siderable length is annexed to the appeal, containing a collection of statements and facts, with statistical tables, and other information in support of the mea- sures recommended by the convention, and such additional particulars as could be obtained from the members individually, in relation to the state of agricul- ture, navigation, internal trade, and different branches of manufactures. It will be recollected that the Bill of last session, after passing the House, was lost in the Senate by the casting vote of the President, , Since that period the opponents of the manufacturers have exerted them- selves, particularly in South Carolina and Virginia, in endeavours to increase the nuinber of their adherents, and in preparations to resist, with the aid of the mercantile interest from the Northern and Middle States, the measures about to be pressed upon the attention of the approaching Congress. I have, &c. (signed) Anty St. J. Baker, Inclosure in N" 3. GENERAL CONVENTION, of Agriculturists and Manufacturers, and others friendly inclosure in N» 3. to the encouragement and support of the Domestic Industry of the United States'. „ ,. ' . * Monday. July 30, 1827. GeneTalCMv''entiw AT a meeting of Delegates from the several States of Connecticut, Delaware, Kentucky, at Harrisburg, Maryland. Massachusetts, New York. New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia, convened at the capitol in Harrisburg, on Monda:y the 30th day of July 1827, On motion of Mr. Carey, Joseph Ritner, esq. of Pennsylvania, was called to the chair^ and. On motion of Mr. Roberts, J. C. Wright and Redwood Fisher were appointed secretaries, pro tempore. The names of delegates appointed from the different States being called^ the following gentlemen appeared and produced the certificates of their appointment, viz. Connecticut .-—Henry Watson, Gideon Welles, Thomas S. Perkins, James M' Clellan, John A Taintor, Lemuel Hurlbut, Francis M' Lean. . Defaware:— Dr. A. Naudain, Andrew Gray, John Higgins, Philip Reybold. Kentucky: — John Harvie, George Robertson, Richard H. Chinn, James Cowan. Maryland:— Uezokiah Niles, Edward Gray. James Sykes. William Meeteer, John Patterson. Frisby Tilghman, Otho H. Williams, Franklin Anderson. Massachusetts :—Beza\ee\ Taft, jun., James Shepherd. Joseph E. Sprague, Abbot Lawrence, Samuel D. Colt, Jonas B. Brown, Joseph Strong. ' New York: Eleazer Lord, Peter Sharp, James Talhnadge, Robert Denniston, Abraham- H.Schenck, Samuel M. Hopkins, George Tibbits, David Russel. Richard Keese, Ebenezer B. Sherman, John B. Yates, John Brown, Alvan Stewart, Peter S. Smith, Jesse Buel, Enos T. Throop, Francis Granger. Cyrenus Chapin. , „ • , . New Hampshire :^-Sa.mvie] Bell, Ichabod Bartlett, Ezekiel Webster, Samuel Smith, Asa ATot Jmew .-—Isaac Andruss, Robert G. Johnson, Looe Baker, Philip Fine, jr., William Halstead, jr., Charles Kensey, John Colt, Abraham Godwin, jr., James Matlack. i Ohio .--^ Thomas Ewing, David Begges, John M'llvaih, Bezaleel Wells, William R. Dickenson. James Wilson, John C. Wright. „, , „ „, , ^ ■ pennst/lvania .-—Charles J. Ingersoll, Matthew Carey, Charles Huston, Walter Forward, _"o, D Jonathan 26 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 18S7— 1828. v^ J Inciosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the GeneralConvention at Harrisburg, continued. Jonathan Roberts, Daniel Montgomery, Joseph Patterson, Joseph Ritner, James Todd, William Clark, David Townsend, Samuel Baird, William P. Maclay, Alexander Reed, Redwood Fisher. Rhode Island: — Ashur Robtins, James Rhodes, David Wilkinson, JohnFamum. Vermont .-—William Jarvis, Rolhn C. Mallary, Elijah Paine, William Hall, Henman, Allen. Virginia : — Samuel Sprigg, Jesse Edgington. Mr. Carey then moved that the convention proceed to the election of president ; .vi^here- upon Joseph Ritner, esq. of Pennsylvania, was unanimously elected president of the convention. On motion of Mr. Williams, it was resolved, That two vice-presidents be appointed; whereupon, Jesse Buel, esq. of New York, and Frisby Tilghman, esq. of Maryland, were unanimously elected vice-presidents. On motion, it was resolved. That two secretaries of this convention be appointed ; where- upon William Halstead, jr. of New Jersey, and Redwood Fisher, of Pennsylvania, were unanimously elected. On motion, it was resolved. That the resolution of the Pennsylvania society for the promotion of manufactures and tlie mechanic arts, passed on the 14th of May 1827, recommending the call of this convention, be read ; and it was read accordingly in the words following, viz. " Resolved, That the Pennsylvania society for the promotion of manufactures and the mechanic arts, do earnestly call on the farmers, manufacturers and the friends of both branches of industry, to hold conventions in their respective States, as early as convenient in the month of June next, to appoint at least five delegates from each state, to meet in general convention at Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on the thirtieth day of July, to deliberate on what measures are proper to be taken in the present posture of their affairs." On motion, it was then further resolved. That the foregoing resolution be referred to the following committee, viz. Messrs. Tibbits, Hopkins, Perkins, M' Lean, Naudain, Gray, Niles, Williams, Andniss, Johnson, Ingersoll, Forward, Sprigg, Edgington, Robertson, Cowan, Shepherd, Smith, Webster, Brown, Wells, Wright, Rhodes, Wil- kinson, Paine, Jarvis. The convention adjourned until to-morrow morning at 10 o'clock. Tuesday, July 31. The names of the delegates being called over by the secretary, John Manning of New Jersey, and William S. Young of Delaware, appeared and took their seats in the con- vention. The minutes of the proceedings were read and approved. The committee to whom was referred a resolution from the Pennsylvania society for the promotion of manufactures and the mechanic arts recommending this convention, report in part: " 1. Resolved, That the wool growing business, and the manufacturing of woollen goods, require the further interposition of Congress, so as to afford a more effectual pro- tection to those branches of industry. " 2. Resolved, That a committee of nine persons be appointed to prepare and report to this convention a memorial to Congress, embracing the leading facts, circumstances and causes which have brought upon the farming interest and the manufacture of woollens, the existing embarrassment and depression, and suggesting the measures to be adopted as a remedy. " 3. Resolved, That a committee of nine persons be appointed to prepare aad report to this convention, an address to the people, embracing the leading facts and causes which have brought upon the farming interest, and some of the manufacturing interests, the present embarrassments, and suggesting such measures proper to be adopted as remedies. " 4. Resolved, That a committee of nine persons be appointed to consider and report upon the expediency and necessity of further protection to the manufacture of iron, with facts and circumstances requiring notice. " 5. Resolved, That a committee of nine persons be appointed to consider and report, as to the propriety of providing further protection to the growth and manufacture of hemp and flax. " 6. Resolved, That a committee of nine persons be appointed to consider and report upon the expediency of providing further protection to the manufactures of glass. " 7. Resolved, That a committee be charged with the object of further protection to, printed cottons, and of an additional square yard duty on cotton goods, and to report to this convention." , Ordered, That this report be read a second time. Thereupon, the first resolution was read a second time, and unanimously agreed to. . The second resolution was again read, and ordered to lie on the table. The third resolution was read a second time, and ordered to lie on the table. . The fourth resolution was agaid read, and agreed to. The fifth resolution was read a second time, and unanimously agreed to. The sixth resolution was again read, and agreed to. The seventh resolution was read a second time, and unanimously agreed to. " Resolved unanimously, That the president be authorized to appomt all committees." Mr. Niles PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 27 Mr. Niles offered the following resolution: " Resolved That the general committee, already appointed, be instructed to inquire into v and report, what measures are necessary to the protection of the manufacture of American ""■' ' coPPf^- , Inclosure in N" 3. Which resolution was read and agreed to. Proceedings of the 1 he second resolution reported by the general committee, which, had been ordered to G^neralConvention lie on the table, was again taken up and agreed to. ' at Harrisburg, The third resolution was also taken up and agreed to. continuedi Mr. Huston offered the following resolution : " Resolved, That the general committee already appointed, be instructed to inquire into and report the expediency of further protection to domestic distilled spirits." ' Which was read and agreed to. Mr. Malkry offered the following resolution : " Resolved, That a committee be appointed to report on the state of trade between different parts of the United States with each other, as far as it is concernedin the different productions of this country." Which resolution was read, and agreed to. The convention adjourned till 4 o'clock. In the Afternoon. The following committees were announced by the president : Committee -to prepare a memorial to Congress. Messrs. C. J. Ingersoll, Wells, of Ohio, Granger, Sykes, Tibbits, Reed, Carey, Brown, Sprigg. Committee to prepare an address to the people of the United States. Messrs. Niles, Hopkins, Ewing, Chinn, Sprague, Patterson, Edgington, Naudain, Paine. Committee on the subject of Iron. Messrs. Williams, Wilkinson, Keese, Kinsey, Forward, Biggs, Hurlbut, Allen, Sharp. Committee on the subject of Hemp. Messrs. Colt, of N. J., Chinh, Roberts, Wilson, Denniston, Taintor, Harvie, Clark, Rhodes. Committee on the subject of Glass. Messrs. Lord, Todd, Wilkinson, Patterson, Freeman, Yates, Strong, Allen, Andruss. Committee, on the subject of Printed Cotton, and Cotton Goods. Messrs. Carey, Lawrence, Gray of Md., Sherman, Smith, Schenck, Harvie, Higgins, Shepherd. Committee on the subject of Commercial Intercourse between the States. Messrs. Mallary, Anderson, Sharp, Baker, Dickenson. The convention adjourned until to-morrow morning at ten o'clock. Wednesday, August i. The convention met. The minutes of the proceedings of yesterday were read and approved. Mr. Tibbits, chairman of the general committee, reported the following resolution : " Resolved, That a committee of nine persons be appointed to inquire into, and submit to the Congress of the United States at the next session thereof, such facts as they may be able to collect, tending to shew the injurious effects on domestic industry of the existing revenue laws of the United States, and the practice under them." Which resolution was read and ordered to a second reading. Resolution read a second time a,nd agreed to. Mr. Bartlett offered the following resolution : ' "Resolved, That the committee on the subject of trade with the different parts of the tountry, be instructed to ascertain and make a statement of facts, in relation to the effect &f domestic manufactures upon the navigation and commercial interests of this country generally." Which resolution was read, and unanimously agreed to. Gn motion, it was ordered that the name of Abner Lacock be placed among the names of delegates to this convention from Pennsylvania, instead of John Todd esq. who was absent. The president announced the names of the following gentlemen, under the resolution reported by the chairman of the general committee, viz. "" Messrs. Lord, Patterson, Fisher, Sprague, Lawrence, Stewart, Watson, Townsend, Smith, of N. Y." Convention adjourned until four o'clock, p. m. In the Afternoon. Mr. Carey, from the committee to whom was referred the resolution relative to the further torotection of cotton goods, made report as follows, viz. • c^78. D2 The 1827— 1«28. Inclosure in N" 3. l>roceeding9 of the General Convention at Harrisburg, conlinutd. 28 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS •• The committee appointed to consider the resolution offered to the convention on the protection of cotton goods, have bestowed on it that degree of attention to which its importance entitles it, and beg leave to report : " That the manufacture of cotton goods, is of primary national importance, in various Tjoints of view; as it affords a market for 1 75,000 bales of cotton annually, being nearly one-fourth part of that staple, which, in point of value, ranks the highest among the staples of the United States ; as by withdrawing that large portion of the staple from the foreien markets, it might necessarily prevent the gluts, and diminish the consequent depreciation of price so ruinous to the planting interest ; as it furnishes an mdispensable article of clothing, doubly valuable in point of durability, and at half the price of that with which we were formerly supplied ; as it gives employment to millions of capital, and thousands of individuals who would be otherwise less profitably employed ; as it has greatly increased, perhaps doubled the coasting trade, by the transportation of the raw material, as well as the manufactured article; as it furnishes to commerce a valuable article ot export, more uniformly profitable than any other of our exports. " The importation of cotton goods into this country, in the years 1825 and 1826, was as follows : a e- • 1825. 1826. Printed goods - - - 7.7^*8.830 . - - - 5,056,725 Plain - - - 3,326.208 - - 2,260,024 Hosiery - - - 545,915 " " " 404.870 Twist - - - - 201,549 - - - 175.143 Nankeens 450,243 - - - - 304.980 All other articles . - - - 375.771 - " " 14^.292 X 12,509.516 S. 8,348,034 12,509,516 S. 20,857,550 " The capacity of the country to supply itself with the printed and other cotton goods above ■stated, and at cheaper rates, as it has done in the case of very nearly all the coarse muslins, cannot be doubted. We feel a national, and we hope a laudable pride, in stating, that although the manufacture of printed cottons is as yet almost in its infancy, it has extended already to about 500,000 pieces, of 28 yards each, annually, equal to 14,000,000 yards. " It would be a work of supererogation to enlarge on the high claims of such an important branch of industry on the attention and fostering care of the government : and your com- mittee fondly cherish the hope, that, at no distant day, sound policy will irresistibly press on the legislature of the United States the necessity and advantage of extending the protec- tion under which it has risen to its present state of perfection and magnitude, by increasing the minimum to forty cents per square yard, as originally reported by the then secretary of the treasury. " Resolved, That it be respectfully submitted to the consideration of Congress, to impose adequate duties for the protection of printed and other cotton goods, by increasing the present minimum or square yard duty." The convention then adjourned till ten o'clock to-morrow morning. Thursday, August 2. The convention met pursuant to adjournment. The minutes of yesterday were read and approved. Mr. Williams, from the committee on the subject of iron, reported as follows : — " The committee appointed to consider and report upon the expediency and necessity of further protection to the manufacture of iron, — Report : That they have had the subject under mature consideration, and are of the opinion, that the manufacture of iron is a most important national concern, and that in a country possessing the raw material and the means of manufacturing it, the supply of iron should never be permitted to depend upon foreign production. That the United States possess the material and means of manufacture to any desired extent is known to every one; yet, of the 70,000 tons of bar iron believed to be consumed in this country, not less than 28,000 tons are annually imported, thereby retarding an increase of the home supply, and causing injurious fluctuations in the market. " In considering this subject, the committee have been led to conclude, that a small increase of duty on bar iron imported, would not only have a tendency to encourage and increase the domestic manufacture, but really have effect in its operation to furnish the article cheaper to the consumer, in consequence of the additional assurance afforded that the home market shall be secured for the home supply. . They therefore respectfully recommend an increase of duty on hammered bar iron, so that the same may be 112 cents per hundred weight, instead of 90 cents, the present rate of duty. They further recommend, that the committee charged with the subject of wool and woollens, include in their memorial the subject of bar iron, for the protection thereof, as herein suggested." Mr. Tallmadge moved, that this report be referred to the committee appointed to draft the memorial to Congress, with instructions to adopt the subject matter in the memorial. Mr. Todd moved to amend this motion by adding to it the following words, " and also to recommend t>UBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. m Tecommend a further protection, and that the duty on all rolled iron, pig iron and castings, 1827 — 1828. and manufactured iron, such as cutlery, hardware, and all other kinds manufactured in the » ^ i United States, be so increased as to anord adequate protection to American industry," t 1 ' N" ^ The question being taken on this amendment, the amendment was disagreed to. "'^ "^"f^ The question then recurring, on the motion of Mr. Tallmadge, the same was agreed to. Proceedings of the Mr. Lord, from the committee on the subject of glass, reported as follows : at Harrisburg, " The committee appointed to consider and report upon the expediency of further protec- continued. tion to the manufacture of glass, — Report; " That they have bestowed on it the attention due to a subject of so much importance. It appears from the treasury statement submitted to Congress for the year ending 30th Sep- tember 182&, that there was imported into the United States that year, glass of various descriptions, to the amount of 513,945 dollars, besides about 300,000 pounds weight of glass, of which the value is not given. This may be regarded as a moderate sum, com- pared with the value of the whole quantity of glass annually consumed in this country, the balance of which is supplied by our own manufactories. Still, the importations of the above year exceed those of the year ending 30th September 1825, by about 150,000 dollars, and exceed those of the year next preceding by about 100,000 dollars. It is, however, to be observed, that of the importations of the year ending September 1826, there was of window glass, the most essential article, as being of most universal consumption, only the value of 73,850 dollars ; of the other kinds, 140,131 dollars value was imported in a crude state, which is cut or otherwise manufactured in this country, and affords employ- ment and profit to a very considerable amount. Of the balance, a very large proportion was imported from the continent of Europe, in exchange for such of our productions as can be advantageously exported thither. " Were this the only view to be taken of the subject, it might appear from the amounts of glass still imported, and the increase of imports since 1824, that further protection to our own manufacture would be expedient. But information has been laid before the committee from several of the principal glass works of the country, both east and west of the moun- tains, that no further protection is at present desired. Whether this opinion prevails generally among those concerned in the manufacture of glass, or whether such further duties as should materially diminish the quantity of window glass now imported, would occasion a reduction in the price of that important description of the article, the committee are -not able to state ; and as it is not in their power to obtain general and satisfactory information respecting these and some other views of the subject, they are of opinion that it is not expedient to propose any measure or the adoption of any resolution affecting the matter referred to them. " They, therefore, respectfully ask to be discharged from the further consideration of the subject." . 1 , P J , Mr. Tallmadge moved to refer this report to the committee appointed to draft an address, to the people of the United States. Which motion was agreed to. Mr. Niles offered the following resolution, which, at his request, was laid upon the table, for the present, viz. r j 1. " Resolved, That the reports of the several committees to which are now referred the consideration of various subjects of domestic industry, be referred to the committee appointed, to draft a memorial to Congress, with instruction that the interest of the wool growers and manufacturers (which are in a very depressed condition,) shall be made the chief and leading object of the memorial, and the other branches of industry shall be respectfully recommended to the favourable consideration of the Congress of the United States." Mr, Lord moved. That this convention recommend to their fellow citizens to petition Congress for the establishment of a home department of the general government, to be charged with whatever relates to the statistical internal trade, arts, manufactures and various productions of the country. Which resolution was, at the request of the mover, ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Lord moved. That- the report of the: committee on cotton, be recommitted to the committee who made the report, for the purpose of amending the same. [The report, as it was amended, is given m the preceding page.] Which motion was agreed, to. , - ,. j ' Mr. Meeteer moved. That a committee of finance be appomted. Which motion was agreed to, and thereupon the president appointed Messrs. Meeteer,, Roberts and Fisher, said committee. Mr. Forward offered the following resolution:— " Rfesolved That it is the opinion of thS members of this convention, that the manutae- turing- of iron, including cutlery, wood, screws and wire, are objects of great national importance, and deserve further protection from the government." Which resolution was, at the request of the mover, laid upon the table. Convention adjourned till three o'clock, p.m. In the Afternoon, ' mTcoU from the committee on the subject of hemp, reported as follows : « The committee to whom was referred the subject of the growth and manufacture of hemp and flax, beg leave to report the result of their investigation. ^^ ^^ 578. ^ 3 1827—1828. Inclosure in N° 3. Proceedings of the GeneralConvention at Harrisburg, continued. 30 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS " It appears from the Treasury report of 1827, that in the year ending the 30th September 1826 the amount of imported articles, manufactured out of flax, not subject to 25 per cent duty,'w - - - ^2,757/>8o All other paying duty of 25 per cent ^^^%'^a Manufactures of hemp - - i,738'.o40 All other except cordage - - - - - - - 4°>909 Of cotton bagging, there was imported 2,204,822 yards, valued at - 274>973 Of cordage, twine, packthread and sein twine, there was imported in the same year 1,949,915 lbs., of which 325,641 lbs. was twine, pack- thread and sein twine, valued at 62,827 dollars - - - - 147420 Of hemp, unmanufactured, there was imported in the same period 88,116 cwt. " 551,757 And of flax imported, no return can be found, but from a pretty correct source it is estimated at 600,000 lbs., valued at - - - 72,000 Total Value of cotton bagging, cordage, twine, hemp and flax - S i,o^^>^5^ " The committee cannot state the precise quantity and value of each article imported last year ; but from the Treasury report referred to, it appears that the cost of sailcloth imported, was 856,474 dollars, and estimating the bolt of said cloth at the average cost in Russia, of 15 dollars per bolt, it would give 57,100 bolts, as the importations of that year, of that single article, which would require 1,884,000 pounds of hemp or flax for the manufacture of it, valued at 226,000 dollars. " Take for .data the following schedule of the imports from Russia only, in the year 1822, viz. 40,554 bolts heavy sailcloth, the average quantity of hemp or flax required to make it, would be 7 Z6s. 1,621,760 45,767 bolts raven's duck, would require ----- 915,34" 37,194 pieces of sheeting --- ._--- 723,880 151,620 archines broad diaper - - - . - - 575,810 3>983 narrow ------- - a,ooo 20,247 broad linen ...----- 20,120 92,082 narrow -------- 21,000 20,981 drilling - 24,000 492,824 crash - 280,000 '■ 5,864 huckubuck 2,900 Total Amount of hemp and flax - - 4,186,810 which would cost 523,350 dollars, and bring into cultivation at least 13,800 acres of land for its growth. " From the increased importation of sailcloth since 1822, which is eight per cent, it would, taking the foregoing estimate made on the importation from Russia in 1822, as data, require at least 4,521,700 pounds of flax, valued at 542,600 dollars, and the use of 15,000 acres of land for the growth of the raw material for the manufacture of those articles from Russia alone; to the manufacture of cotton bagging that was imported in 1826, it^would require at least 3,300,000 pounds, or 1,473 tons of hemp, valued at the same rate as in the Treasury report, viz. 1 25 dollars per ton, would give an amount of 1 84,1 25 dollars, and would require the cultivation of 8,000 acres of land to produce it. " From the foregoing items, the following estimate is made of the quantity and value of the raw material requisite for the manufacture of the hempen and flaxen fabrics imported into the United States last year, together with the quantity and value of hemp and flax, in the raw state, imported in the same period, viz. For sailcloth, ravens duck, and other coarse articles imported from Russia alone, it would require 4,521,700 lbs. of flax and hemp, valued at ----- ,y. 542,600 For cotton bagging, requiring - - 3,300,000 hemp . - - 184,000 For cordage, twine, &c. - _ - 1,949,915 hemp and flax - 147426 Of hemp in its raw state, was imported 9,869,000 lbs. - - - 551,757 Of flax, estimated at - - - 600,000 lbs. - - _ 72,000 Hemp and Flax - - 20,239,915 lbs. X 1.497,783 requiring the cultivation of nearly 50,000 acres of land for the growth of the raw material, giving employment directly to 7,000 hands to manufacture it, and indirectly to very many more. " In the foregoing estimate, the quantity and value of the raw material is not included, which is requisite for the manufacture of various articles of hemp and flax, included in the Treasury report of the amount of the value of the imported articles manufactured from these materials, the committee, confining themselves, in bringing to the notice of this convention nothing but the most prominent articles of the coarser fabrics, and such as cjin be je^dily manufactured, and the raw material grown in our own country. But though the, coarser article is principally alluded to in this report, yet the finer a^Tticles of linen ,m,anufactjire, of shirtings, of sheetings, sewing and shoe thread, and all the articles of finer fabrics of hemp and flax, would be materially promoted, and the manufacture of them encouraged by a judicious protection. " Of the ability of the manufacturers of this country to meet all demands for the manu- factured articles M hemp and flax, not only for our ovm consumption, but also for expor- tation, there can be no doubt in the mind of any person of common observation, when he . looks PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 31 looks to what has been done in the manufacture of cotton, iron, nails, glass ware, and many jggi^ 1828. " There are in the United States seven estabhshments, containing 2,620 spindles for spin- ^''~~Z mng of flax, which, if fully employed in the manufacture of sailcloth, could make 19,500 ^"'=^"^"''« '" ^ 3- bolts of duck annually, requiring 870,000 pounds of flax, (for it is of flax that it is made Proceedings of the in this country,) the cost of which would be 104,000 dollars, and when made intoduck, would f'eneralConvention sell for 273,000 dollars, yielding to the industry of the country 169,000 dollars, and giving ** Harnsburg eniployment to about 650 hands, exclusive of those employed 'in the agricultural branch. conttmed. If, within the period of five or six years, we are enabled to make more than half the sail- cloth which is consumed in the United States, surely no fears need obtain that the demand for both the Americas cannot be supplied by our own manufacturers, provided that protection which is absolutely necessary for the preservation of the existing establishments, and the encouragement for the establishment of new ones, is afforded. " To show the necessity of further protection to this branch of national industry, or rather more properly speaking, what ought to constitute a branch of it, it is remarked that sail- cloth or duck is only subject to a duty of fifteen per cent ad valorem, (the same duty as is imposed on the raw material. flax.) Previous to the revision of the Tariff in 1824, the duty on a bolt of duck, with custom-house charges, amounted to two dollars and twelve cents per bolt; in the bill imposing a new rate of duties as sent from the House of Representatives to the Senate, a duty of twenty-five per cent ad valorem was imposed on dl goods manu- factured of hemp and flax. The Senate, however, disagreed to this iteta of the Tarifi"; s6 far as related to cotton bagging and sail cloth, a compromise took place, the duty on cotton baggiijg was fixed at 3 1 cents per square yard, and a duty of only 15 per cent ad valorem imposed, on sailcloth, which, with custom-house charges, will only amount to one dollar and eignty-seyen cents per bolt, even on the best kinds of Russia duck, thus placing the manu- facturer in a worse situation than he was in, previous to the revision of the Tariff, by a reduction of at least twenty-five cents per bolt. " Small as this protection is, still the manufacturer is in a measure deprived of a portion of it, by the evasion of the laws relative to drawback, as sailcloth is sometimes shipped in vessels bound on long voyages, entered for the benefit of drawback, a landing certificate procured, but the canvass is made up and used on board the ship by which it was exported, and the duty on the importation is returned to the shipper, under the idea that the article was landed and left behind in some foreign port. " In England the manufacturer of canvass is directly protected, inasmuch as every English ship, whether naval or commercial, is clothed with British manufactured sailcloth ; and if a merchant vessel should, during her voyage, be compelled to use any foreign sailcloth to replace the sails worn out or destroyed, the captain is obliged,. on his return to an English port, to enter all sailcloth so used, and pay the regular import duty on it, even though the duck may have been in use eighteen months, and worth little or nothing. This protection is secured under heavy penalties, and gives to the'English manufacturer the opportunity of not only supplying the canvass necessary to navigate the ship, but also what may be neces- sary to meet the wear during the voyage. But our ships, as it is well known, frequently leave our ports with barely a sufficient stock of sails to carry them across the Atlantic, and, when arrived out, they are supplied with foreign duck, thus depriving the manufacturer of the supply. " Should the old cry of monopoly b^ raised by the objectors to any further revision of the Tariff, and ■ the charge of fostering and pampering overgrown establishments and their pro- prietors, be reiterated, the answer is ready ; they are referred to the effect of competition in the manufacture of coarse cottons, of window glass, nails, and other articles, which are now furnished to the consumer at lower prices than when they were imported from England under the old Tariff. An adequate protection, and one which would not prove injurious to the revenue, wofild at once give life and activity to the several establishments, which are now either wholly suspended or are only enabled to sustain a precarious existence, by the limited orders for the supply of the United States navy, only two establishments being now engaged in the manufacture of sailcloth. Give employment even to the existing manufac- tories, and it would encourage the groWth of hemp and flax to a very large extent. Nothiiig but a steady certain demand is wanting for the raw material, such a demand as shall not be affected and rendered abortive by overwhelming shipments from Europe of the manufactured article, to induce the agriculturist to produce an adequate supply for all the wants of the country ; and thus in a measure a,fford some relief to the excess of the wheat, rye, corn and tobacco crops, by bringiug^into cultivation a long neglected product of our soil. " The poUcy of protecting the manufactures of sail cloth and other articles of vital im.; portance, will be confessed by all those who have the true interests of their country at heart, and who i;ecollect the exorbitant prices paid for sail cloth, and other indispensable articles, at the commencement of and during the last war, when duck sold for from 40 to 54 dollars per bolt — an article indispensable to the commerce of the countiy, as also for its defence and glory. " The committee, therefore, beg leave to report to this convention, that they consider a further protection to the grower and manufacturer of hemp and flax, highly expedient and called for by a due regard to the vital interests of this country ; and that it is right and proper, that such representations of the facts relative thereto, should be, made by this con- v^tion to the next Congress, as shall produce so desirable an event." Mr. Tallmadge moved to refer this report to the committee appointed to draft a memorial to, Congress. Which resoliition was unanimously agreed to. K--g_ D 4 Jeremiah .32 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1 827 1828 Jeremiah Morrow, a delegate frpm Ohio, appeared and took his ^^^V^.'re.r whS'was IH'ZJ — lo^o. j^^ Mallary, from the committee on commercial intercourse made a leport wnicn was Inclosure in N" 3- " ^V. Mallary then moved, That the report be referred to the committee appointed to draft Proceedings of the »„ address to the people of the United States. , - , ^ General Convention Mr. IngersoU moved. That the motion of Mr. Mallary should be postponed for the present, at Harrisburg, The motion of Mr. Mallary was postponed. ^ .■ , ■„ u e a ;„=ortpH continued. j^r. IngersoU, from the general committee made a report, which will be found msertea Which report was read and ordered to a second reading. ' The first section being read a second time, and while the same was under consideration, me convention adjourned, until to-morrow morning at 8 o'clock. Friday, August 3. The convention met at 8 o'clock, a.m. The minutes and proceedings were read and approved. ■ The president laid the following letter before the convention : Sij Hallowell, Maine, July 26, 1827. We inclose you a copy of the doings of a meeting of the people from different parts of this state, that you may, (in case of our not being represented) be apprized of the views and feelings of the friends of the '•• American system" in this section of the United States. Notice has been given to such of the delegates as were not present at the meeting, but sucU as have returned answers, are unable to attend. We regret that the meeting in <,his state had not been held at an earlier day, that gentlemen could have had time to prepare tor so Jong a journey, and so interesting an investigation as will be had at Hamsburg. You will be at liberty to make such use of the inclosed as your better judgment may direct. Your obedient servants. Jesse Robinson, "I Sanford Kingsbury, > Committee. S. G. Ladd, J The president of the convention to he held at Harrisburg, on the 30th July 1827. " At a meeting of manufacturers, wool-growers and friends of the agricultural and manu- facturing interests of the state of Maine, held at Hallowell, in the county of Kennebec, on the 19th inst. for the purpose of selecting delegates to the general convention to be holden at Harrisburg, in the state of Pennsylvania, on the 30th instant, and to take such other mea- sures as may be thought expedient, to elicit and diffuse all information necessary to indicate the most effectual means of protecting and sustaining the growth and manufacture of wool and other prominent staples of the country. " Hon. Jonathan Page, of Brunswick, was called to the chair, and William Clark, esq. of Hallowell, appointed secretary. " A committee having been appointed to report a preamble and resolutions, to be con- sidered by the convention, submitted the following, which were unanimously accepted : " Whereas a large majority of the people of this state are engaged in the pursuits of agri- culture, and the raising of sheep and growing of wool, are among the most prominent of these pursuits : and whereas the abundance of water-power and mill-sites in our state have already attracted a considerable portion of capital, which has developed itself in the erection of manufacturing establishments of various kinds : and whereas, until recently, the sentiment has been almost universal in our country, that Congress has the constitutional power and would be disposed to exercise it, whenever the exigencies of the country should require it, of giving suitable encouragement and protection to the agricultural and manufacturing interests, not exclusively, but in common with other great interests : and, whereas, we believe the time has arrived, when the encouragement held out to the growers of wool and the manufacturers of that article, by the Act of Congress, passed in 1 824, should be fairly realized, and that it is important that the efforts of the friends of the " American system," which encourages domestic industry, and internal improvements, should be concentrated. " Resolved, That this convention feel a deep interest in the protection and encouragement of woollen manufactures, and the growth of wool in the United States, and cordially approve the bill passed by the House of Representatives during the last session of Congress, having for its object the promotion of the manufacturing and agricultural interests of the United States. " Resolved, That this convention approve the proceedings of the " Pennsylvania Society for the promotioa of Domestic Industry and Mechanic Arts," in notifying a general con- vention to be holden at Harrisburg, on the 30th instant. " Resolved, That it is expedient to elect five delegates to attend the general convention to be holden at Harrisburg, on the 30th inst. and the hon. John Holmes, of the county of York, gent. Jedediah Herrick, of the county of Penobscot, gent. Joshua Wingate, of the county of Kennebec, William Ladd, esq. of the county of Cumberland, and Bryce M'Lellan, esq. of the county of Somersett, w€re elected for this purpose. " Voted, That Gen. Jesse Robinson, Hon. Judge Kingsbury and Gen. S. G. Ladd, be requested to give the above named gentlemen immediate notice of their election, and should any PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 33 any one or more of them decline accepting the appointment, that they be authorized to 1827-^1828. appoint others in their stead. v. ^ " Voted, That Gen. Jesse Robinson, of Hallowell, in the county of Kennebec, William Ladd, j^^ , ^ ■ j^. .^ esq. of Minot, in the coun^ of Cumberland, Calvin Selden, esq. of Norridgwark, in the "'^ °*"''^ '" •5- county of Somersett, Gen. Jedediah Herrick, of Hamden, in the county of Penobscot, Thomas Proceedings of the Eastman, esq, of Palermo, in the county of Waldo, Josiah W. Seaver, of South Berwick, in ^e«eral Convention tJie county of York, and Parker Cleaveland, professor of mathematics and natural phi- ^ ^"J^""^^. losophy, at Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, in the county of Cumberland, be a committee for the purpose of correspondence and collecting such statistical information as may relate to the department of agriculture and manufactures within this state, and for communicating such digests thereof, as they may deem useful and interesting to the members of the next session of Congress from this state. " Resolved, That the secretary notify each of said committee of correspondence of their appointment, by transmitting them a copy of these proceedings. > " Resolved, That the record of the proceedings of this convention be signed by the chairman and secretary, and that the secretary give publicity to the same in the several neiivspapers. ,1 ntru- ni 1 o l " Jonathan Page, Chairman." " Wtlham Llark, Secretary. ° Hallowell, J uly 1 9, 1 82 7 ." The president also laid before the convention a communication from the president and directors of the Linen Company of New York. Mr. Lord moved. That the reading of this communication be dispensed with, and that it be referred to the committee appointed to draft an Address to the People of the United States. Which resolution was agreed to. Mr. IngersoU, from the committee, reported a memorial to Congress, (inserted at the close of these proceedings,) including the following propositions : " 1st. On all raw wool costing ten cents in a foreign country, to be levied a duty of twenty cents per pound, and to be annually increased two and a half cents per pound, until it shdl reach fifty cents per pound. " ad. AH goods composed of wool, or of which wool is a component part, (except lilankets, stuffs, bombazines, hosiery, mitts, gloves, caps, and bindings,) costing not more than 50 cents per square yard, to be taken and deemed to have cost 50 cents per square yard, and forty per cent ad valorem charged thereon, until the 30th of June 1829, and forty-five per cent ad. valorem, until the 30th June 1830, and fifty per cent ad valorem thereafter. " 3d. All goods composed of wool, or of which wool is a component part, (except as afore- • said,) costing in a foreign country over 50 cents per square yard, and not exceeding two dollars and fifty cents per square yard, to be taken and deemed to have cost two dollars and fifty cents per square yard, and the duty to be charged as in the preceding section. " 4th. All goods composed of wool, or of which wool is a component part, (excepting as aforesaid,) costing in a foreign country more than two dollars and, fifty cents, a,nd not exceeding four dollars per square yard, to be deemed and taken to have cost four dollars per square yard, and the duty to be charged as prescribed in the second section. " 5th. AH goods composed of wool, or of which wool is a component part, (excepting as aforesaid,) costing more than four and not exceeding six dollars per square yard, to be deemed and taken to have cost six dollars per square yard, and the duty to be charged as prescribed in the second section. " 6th. Upon all goods composed of wool, or of which wool is a component part, (excepting as aforesaid,) which shall cost in a foreign country more than six dollars per square yard, the duty to be charged as prescribed in the second section." Which memorial and resolutions were read, and the resolutions ordered to a . second reading. - Mr. Wright moved to postpone the further consideration of the first resolution for the present, which was agreed to. Whereupon, Mr. Stewart offered the following resolution : " Resolved, In the opinion of this convention, it is desirable that the Congress of the United States pass a prospective law, at its next session, which, by its progressive operation, shall exclude all foreign wool, except wool under ten cents per pound, from and after the 4thday of July 1831. Which resolution was ordered to lie on the table. -The consideration of the 1st resolution accompanying the memorial presented by Mr. logersoU, was resumed — when Mr. Todd moved to amend the resolution, by striking out twenty and inserting fifteen ; the ; question being taken on this motion, the amendment was not agreed to, Mr. Lord moved to amend the resolution, by striking out the word " ten," and inserting " seven." Mr. Sprague moved a division of the question, and th^t the question on striking out the word " ten," be first taken. Which motion was agreed to, and the word " ten," stricken out. Mr. Sprague moved, that the blank should be filled w^ith nine cents, which motion wass not agreed to. Mr. IngersoU then moved to fill the blank with the word " eight." The question being taken, the blank was ordered to be filled with " eight." 578. ■ ' E The 34 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS ■tOQij 1828. '^^^ question then recurring on the first resolution, the same was unanimously agreed to. ^ J The 2d resolution was then considered and unanimously agreed to, as were also the 3d, . „„ 4th, 5th, and 6th resolutions. iDclosure in JN 3. ■jyjj. gprigg offered the following resolution, to be added to those presented with the Proceedings of the memorial, " also such additional duty upon imported blankets as will give ample encou- General Convention raggment to the manufacture of the same," — .which resolution was unanimously agreed to. *t^^™?J|J: Mr.Tallmadge offered the following, as an addition to the last resolution, " also such CO tntte means as may effectually prevent frauds from false invoices and otherwise." Which addition was unanimously accepted. Mr. IngersoU offered the following resolution : " Resolved, That it be respectfully submitted to the consideration of Congress, to impose a duty at the rate of one cent per pound on hammered bar iron, and a correspondent increase of the duty on steel ; also that such increased duties may be imposed on the manufactures of iron and steel generally, as shall be adequate to their complete protection." Which resolution was read and unanimously agreed to. Mr. IngersoU then offered the following resolution : " Resolved, That it be respectfully submitted to Congress, to extend further protection to hemp and flax, and the various manufactures thereof, in the United States, by the imposition of such duties thereon as may be proper and effectual." Which resolution was read and unanimously agreed to. Mr. IngersoU then offered the following resolution : " Resolved, That the committee on the address be charged with superintending the pub- lication of the proceedings of this convention," Which resolution was read and agreed to. Mr. Ewing offered the following resolution, viz. : " Resolved, That it is expedient, so far as may be consistent with the interests of the country, to discourage the importation of foreign distilled spirits, and also to discourage the distillation of spirits from foreign articles." Which resolution was read and agreed to. Mr. Lawrence offered the following resolution : " Resolved, That the committee appointed to draft a memorial to Congress, be requested to notice in that instrument, printed and other cotton goods, in the same manner as hemp, flax, &c." Which resolution was, at the request of the mover, ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Meeteer, from the committee of finance, made report as follows : " The committee appointed to devise ways and means necessary to meet the expenses incurred by this convention, ask leave to report, " That the expenses of printing, door-keepers, &c. which will be 'incurred while the con- vention is in session, will be about - - - - - - -^100 " Ten thousand copies of the Address to the Citizens of the United States, and such other documents as may be necessary to print for distribution, the committee believe will not cost less than -- - - - - - S 400 ^500 " No other method presents itself to the committee for raising this amount, than a contri- bution in advance, by each delegation, equal to five dollars each member, this sum to be reimbursed by a collection in their respective states. The quantity of printing included in the estimate of 400 dollars cannot now be determined, but may be so graduated as to cover the whole sum. The committee would recommend that, after paying the expenses incurred in this place, the balance be placed at the disposal of the committee for preparing the Address tQ the Citizens of the United States." The convention adjourned until 3 o'clock, p. m. Three o'clock, p. m. The convention met. Mr. IngersoU moved the consideration of the memorial to Congress. The memorial was read and unanimously agreed to, and ordered to be signed by the members of the convention. [See the memorial below.] Mr. Lawrence moved to take up the report of the committee on printed cottons. The report was taken up and read, whereupon Mr. Lawrence moved to add to the report the following resolution — " Resolved, That it be respectfully submitted to the consideration of Congress to impose adequate duties for the protection of printed and other cotton goods> by increasing the present minimum or square yard duty." Which was unanimously agreed to. Mr. MaUary moved, That the report as to commercial intercourse between the states, and all the documents collected by the convention, be referred to the committee appointed to prepare an Address to the People of the United States. Mr. Niles, from the committee to prepare an Address to the People of the United States, made the following report : The committee to whom was referred the duty of preparing an Address to the People of the United States, on the causes and objects of this convention, and in relation to the sub- jects presented to its consideration, and discussed and approved thereby, respectfully beg leave to report — That, having made some progress in the performance of the duty assigned, it PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 35 it became manifest, that the leading purposes of their appointment could not be accom- 1827 1828. plished in a manner satisfactory to themselves, respectful to this convention and its y__ [ ^ constituents, and useful to the great cause of domestic industry, within the short period - • v» during which our sittings will probably be continued. The want of copies of the reports Enclosure in N"3. of 'the various committees, and of a large and interesting body of statistical information yet l^rooeedings of the in the possession of individual members of this convention", with reference to books and General Convention papers not attainable at the present moinent, and other retarding circumstances, superadded ^^ Harrisburg, to the needful attention of the committee to the general business before the convention, continued. have, all together, induced your committee respectfully to suggest a continuance of their appointment after the adj ournment of the convention, that all things may be the more carefully considered, and the matters of fact already collected be collated and published, with such strict exairiinations as shall appear due to our own character and the goodness of our cause, with a proper respect for the public intelligence and that frankness and courtesy which we would extend to our opponents ; some of whom have grievously mistaken our views, and depre- ciated their own right peaceably to assemble and petition for a redress of grievances, in the condemnation of our motives in advance of actions to show what these motives were, if any of the reasoning and dispassionate public truly apprehended that this assemblage was improper, and that the persons here met to carry into eflfect the will of their constituents, were capable of doing wrong to any of the people of this republic, to subserve their own purposes, and of aiming at a, power to act upon the consideration of the national legislature, in any other way than a decent but decisive expression of the desires of what they believe to be a large majority of the people of the United States, should have, influence over their representatives in both houses of Congress, in the support of principles comprehended within what is commonly called the " American system." It is manifest to your committee, that the growers and manufacturers of wool are suffering great pecuniary loss and ruinous embarrassment, from the pressure of circumstances which threatens the general destruction of interests whose annual product, in sheep and manufacr tiires of wool, would amount to the suim of fifty millions of dollars, and probably had reached that value. The committee cannot believe that these circumstances are of a teiri- pbrary character. They think the time has arrived, when the vast capital, exceeding eighty, and perhaps amounting to the great sum of one hundred millions of dollars, vested in or variously applied to the breeding of sheep and manufacture of woollens, will be exceedingly diminished and lost to the national wealth, and a very numerous population dependent on these branches of national industry be dispersed, if protection, by the national legislature shall be longer delayed ; for it is an unquestionable fact, that many of our best and most economi- cally conducted woollen factories are really losing' concerns ; not affording even the ordinary interest obtained on capital^ — ^not earned in this business, but diverted to it from other pursuits, that it might have circulation and be made useful to its possessors and the public. The committee, seriously impressed with the importance of the facts suggested, (and their general accuracy cannot be denied,) are exceedingly desirous that they should be laid before the public in such manner, that the deep interest involved in them cannot be mistaken by an intelligent people ; and theiy are also particularly solicitous to show the immense loss which would be sustained by the agricultural interest, in the want of the market which our manufactories supply, and in the increased competition in agricultural pursuits, which would inevitaljly ensue, were the manufacturers driven, by want of employment in the factories, to the only employment which would then be left them, that of raising their own bread. They would also exhibit the intimate relation which exists between the growers of grain and wool and the manufacturers, and point out the vital importance of the home market, inconse- quence of the restricted foreign demand, principally caused by prohibitory- laws, and the resolution of foreign nations to protect themselves. At the moment of preparing this brief report, the committee learn that, by the adoption of the duke of Wellington's amendment of the corn bill, the people of Great Britain will not be allowed, any farther than they have here- tofore been, to consume our bread stuffs, though tendered without cost, the establishment of the minimum and the rate of duty imposed, amounting to a general prohibition. We have many valuable facts to illustrate the importance of the market produced by our manufacturing establishments, one of which only shall be mentioned at present, as fairly representing their ordinary operation. In 1 823, the Great Falls company commenced its establishment at Somersworth, N. H., and at this time there are between 1,400 and 1,500 persons engaged in the business of the company, or subsisted by those directly employed by it ; and these persons actually consumed, in the year which ended with the first of last month, no less than 1,931 barrels of flour, and 6,059 bushels of corn, received from the states south of the Hudson. What has taken place at Somersworth, presents a fair sample of the close relations which bind agriculture and manufactures together ; and, united, they aid and extend the commerce of the country. .These and other highly interesting matters concerned with the business of other manu- factures than those of woollen or cotton goods, (especially the making of iron,) which demand a thorough investigation, that they may be laid before the public, with infor- mation of the domestic demand which they furnish, and the internal commerce between the states which they support, are well calculated to astonish those who have not re- flected upon such subjects. The probable amount of flour and corn exported from the middle to the eastern states, and therein consumed, is far greater than the whole quantity shipped to foreign ports ; and it is confidently believed, that the growth of domestic manu- factures has greatly increased the tonnage of the United States, without diminishing, in the least degree, th^ revenue thereof, but rather tending to increase it, in the increased con- sumption of certain articles not the growth or pi?6ductof our own country. 578. ^ E 2 These 36 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827 & 1828 These imposing facts, with others bearing upon or connected with them, and relatmg to ' ^ the population and wealth, the progress of happiness and real independence of this nation, ^ '. ^ ' must be brought into view, and, if presented correctly, will require much time and undis- Inclosure in N°3. ^^^y^^^ reflection, to give them the adamantine character of truth which belongs to them. Proceedings of the The difficulty, nevertheless, of performing this great duty to our country, is much augmented GeneralConvention jjy ^jjg ^^nt of a home department, in which should be collected and arranged information at torrisburg, ^f ^^^ internal concerns of our country, a knowledge of which we regard as absolutely continued. necessary to a correct legislation for the people of the United States. The facts, however, developed by the different committees of the convention, and the information brought into it by individual members, we have reason to believe, when brought together, will do more to demonstrate the means and resources, the wants and acquirements of our country, than any other collection of facts yet offered to the public. With these general views, the committee beg leave to offer the following resolutions. Which report being read, Mr. Niles then offered these resolutions : " Resolved, That the committee be allowed further time to prepare an address to the public, in support of the domestic industry of our country, accompanied by statistical tables and other authentic statements, tending to elucidate the principles for which we contend ; and that they be authorized to cause the pubhcation thereof, (as their own report on behalf of this convention,) so soon as it shall be possible to prepare the same in a satisfactory manner. " Resolved, That the committee shall have possession of the various reports of the several committees of this convention, that they may digest, arrange and publish the facts furnished therein, so far as they shall appear necessary and proper. " Resolved, That each member of this convention, possessed of statistical facts relative to the numbers and product of sheep, of factories of all sorts, or matters relative to the valuable and rapidly increasing commerce between the states, and whatever else, in their opinion, may extend useful information to the people in regard to the products and concerns of agri- culture and manufactures, be requested to reduce the same to writing, and hand them to the chairman of the committee." Which resolutions were severally read and agreed to. Mr. Bell offered the following resolution : " Resolved, That the thanks of this convention be presented to the honourable Joseph Ritner, for the impartial and very able manner in which he has presided over their delibera- tions, and also to Jesse Buel and Frisby Tilghman, esquires, vice presidents, for their useful co-operation with the president in assisting him to discharge the duties of his station." Which resolution was read, and unanimously agreed to. Mr. Robertson offered the following resolution : " Resolved, That the thanks of this convention be presented to Hezekiah Niles, Mathew Carey, and George Tibbits, esqrs. for their early, constant and eventually useful exertions in promoting the great cause of American industry and internal improvements." Which resolution was unanimously agreed to. Mr. Williams offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted ; viz. " Resolved, That the thanks of this convention be tendered to William Halsted, jun. and Redwood Fisher, esqrs. for the diligent and faithful discharge of the arduous duties imposed on them as secretaries to this convention." Mr.Tallmadge offered the following resolution, which was unanimously adopted ■ " Resolved, That this convention do tender their thanks to the state of Pennsylvania, for the free use of their splendid hall, with which they have been accommodated during their meeting." Mr. Ingersoll offered the following resolution : " Resolved, That the memorial to Congress be presented to that honourable body, by the president of this convention." Which resolution was unanimously agreed to, Mr. Todd moved. That the proceedings of this convention be signed by the president and vice presidents, and attested by the secretaries. Which was unanimously agreed to. The convention then adjourned sine die. t in-. t> ■ i . •' Joseph Rttner, President, T? ■ u rri r. rVice Presidents. William Halsted, jun.T « , • ^'"'^^ Tilghman, f D J J !?• I. f Secretaries. Hedtvood luher, J The following is the Memorial to Congress, as it was adopted and signed by the Convention : TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. The Memorial and Petition of their Fellow Citizens, the undersigned, assembled at Harris- burg, in the state of Pennsylvania, Respectfully shows. That the imperfections of the acts of Congress intended to foster the woollen interests osf these United States, together with the countervailing measures of the British government, have PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 37 have reduced that interest to need the early and effectual interposition of Congress to 1827—18^8. support it. ' ^ ^ Fortjr millions of manufacturing capital, together with forty millions of farming capital, , ^ /" . „„ composing this great national concern, for want of adequate protection, have lost half their , lu^Iosure m N 3. value. , Proceedings of the It is in the power of Congress to relieve it from present distress and jeopardy, to prevent GeheralCorivention its utter ruin, which is imminent, and to render it of the first importance to the general ^^ Harrisburg, welfare of these .United States. , ■ iontmwd. Your petitioners might present their views, in extensive considerations of the subject. Deprived by natural circumstances of concerted action, and almost of common cause, in this respect the weakest interest of the country, your petitioners have been induced to meet together, from various distant places, for the purpose of exchanging sentiments personally, and uniting on this occasion in a petition to Congress for that justice, which no doubt will be promptly dispensed, as soon as your honourable bodies are convinced that the country stands in need of it. Your petitioners disclaim all sectional and merely individual views. They would not venture to approach the constituted authorities of the country with this memorial,- if not satisfied that its representatives have uniformly recognized the interest in question as of Srimary national importance. Wherefore they respectfully but earnestly solicit your onourable bodies, to save, to protect and promote, what has uniformly been treated by . government as one of the principal^lements of the independence, prosperity and greatness pf this republic. Without further argument, but trusting to the wisdom and patriotism of Congress to devise and enact such laws as the exigency requires, your petitioners submit themselves to your judgment, in full confidence that the representatives of the people will promptly apply that legislation, which is indispensable to sustain, preserve and advance the agriculture and manufactures, on which more than half the citizens of these United States depend for their livelihood, and the whole country for its prosperity. Not presuming to suggest the details of such an act of Congress as would put a stop to the ruinous fluctuations which for the last nine years have distressed the farmers and manufacturers of the United States, striving to make head against the foreign legislation which deprives them of their own markets, your petitioners nevertheless, with the utmost deference, submit to the superior wisdom, and uncontrolled disposition of Congress, the following rates of duties, as calculated to accomplish that purpose ; viz. 1 St. On raw wool, costing over eight cents in a foreign country, a duty of twenty cents per pound, to be increased annually two and a half cents per pound, till it reaches fifty cents per pound. 2d. All goods composed of wool, or of which wool is a component part, (except blankets, stuffs, bombazines, hosiery, mitts, gloves, caps, and bindings), costing not more than fifty cents per square yard, fo be taken and deemed to have cost fifty cents per square yard, and forty per cent ad valorem, to be charged thereon until the thirtieth of , June eighteen hundred and twenty-nine, forty-five per cent ad valorem until the thirtieth of June eighteen hundred and thirty, and fifty per cent ad valorem thereafter. 3d. All goods composed of wool, or of which wool is a component part (except as aforesaid), costing in a foreign country over fifty cents per square yard, and not exceeding two dollars . and fifty cents per square yard, to be taken and deemed to have cost two dollars and fifty cents per square yard, and the duty to be charged as in the preceding section. 4th. All goods composed of wool, or of ^vhich wool is a component part, (except as aforesaid), costing in a foreign country mure than tw:o dollars and fifty cents per square yard, and not exceeding four dollars per square yard, to be deemed and taken to have cost four dollars per square yard, and the duty to be charged as in the second section. 5th. All goods composed; of wool, ox of which wool is a component part (except as afore- said), costiiig more than four and not exceeding six dollars per square yard, to be deemed and taken to have cost six dollars per square yard, and the duty to be charged as in the second section. - . 6th. All goods composed of wool, or of which wool is a component part (excepted as aforesaid), which shall cost in a foreign country more than six dollars per square yard, to be . charged as in the second section, 7th. The adequate protection of woollen blankets is respectfully submitted to Congress, so as to secure their manufacture in the United States. 8th. It is respectfully submitted to Congress, that adequate measures should be taken to prevent the frauds on the revenue, by which American manufactures are believed to be seriously injured. Your petitioners beg leave further to state, that although not in such crying need of your immediate assistance, there are other materials of general welfare, which would amply repay in public benefits, such adequate protection as it may be deemed proper to beStow on them, by appropriate and judicious legislation. Inexhaustible quantities of iron abound, where coal is also to be found in inexhaustible quantities. Your memorialists respectfully submit, that a duty of one cent per pound on hammered bar iron, and a corresponding advance on the present duty on steel, are necessary for the com- plete and permanent estabhshment of the manufactures of iron and steel. Flax and hemp, with their products, may be obtained in such quantities as to supersede the use of foreign flax and hemp and the manufactures from them, if protected from the large importations of those articles from foreign countries. 578. E 3 The 38 PAPERS RELATING TO TARIFFS lg2y 1828. The further protection of a large capital in distilled spirits, is also respectfully recommended y ^ J to the consideration of Congress, as important to the grain-growing states. . , -NO, Further protection to cotton goods and printed cottons, is invited by the success of the Inciosure in JN 3, course cottons, which, like every other article adequately protected by law, has becomp Proceedings of the cheaper and better than similar manufactures formerly brought from abroad. GeneralConvention atHarrisburg, Signed at Harrisburg. Pa. August 3d, 1827. cmUmed. Connecticut :— Henry Watson, Gideon Welles, Thomas S. Perkins, James M'Clellan, John A. Taintor, Lemuel Hurlbut, Francis M'Lean. De/aware:— A. Naudain, Andrew Gray,Wm. S.Young, John Higgins, Phihp Reybold. Kentucky:— John Harvie, George Robertson, Richard H. Chinn, James Cowan. Maryland:— R. Niles, Edward Gray, James Sykes, Wm. Meeteer, John Patterson, Frisby Tilghman, Otho H. WilUams, F. Anderson. Massachusetts :— Bezaleel Taft, jun., James Shepherd, J. E. Sprague, Abbot Lawrence, Samuel D. Colt, Jonas B. Brown, Joseph Strong. New York:— E.Lord, Peter Sharp, James Tallmadge, Robert Denniston, A. H. Schenck, S, M. Hopkins, George- Tibbits, David Russel, Richard Keese, E. B. Sherman, John :B. Yates, John Brown, Alvan Stewart, Peter S. Smith, Jesse Buel, Enos T. Throop, Francis Gi-anger, Cyrenus Chapin. New Hampshire:— Ichahod Bartlet, Ezekiel Webster, Samuel Smith, Asa Freeman. New Jersey .—Isaac Andruss, R. G. Johnson, Looe Baker, Philip Fine, jun., Wm. Halsted, jun., Charles Kinsey, John Colt, A.Godwin, jun., James Matlack, John Manning. Ohio .-—Jeremiah Morrow, Thomas Ewing, David Begges, John M'llvain, Bezaleel Wells, Wm. R. Dickinson, James Wilson, John C. Wright. ' Pennsylvania : — C. J. Ingersoll, Mathew Carey, Charles Huston, Walter Forward, Jonathan Roberts. D. Montgomery, Joseph Patterson, Joseph Ritner, James Todd, Wm. Clark, David Townsend, Samuel Baird, Wm. P. Maclay, Alexander Reed, Redwood Fisher, Abner Lacock. Rhode Island: — James Rhodes, D.Wilkinson, John Farnum. FerwioH^-— William Jarvis, R. C. Mallary, Elijah Paine, William Hall, Heman Allen. Virginia : — Samuel Sprigg, Jesse Edgington. IVo^e.— The Hon. Samuel Bell, of New Hampshire, and Ashbur Robbins, of Rhode Island, members of the senate of the United States, and members of this convention, did not affix their signatures to the Memorial, ADDRESS of the Committee on behalf of the General Convention of Agriculturists and Manufacturers, and others friendly to the Encouragement of the Domestic Industry of the United States, assembled at Harrisburg, 30th July 1827. Pkefatoey Remarks. In the preceding journal it is stated, that Messrs. Niles, of Maryland, Hopkins, of New York, Ewing, of Ohio, Chinn, of Kentucky, Sprague, of Massachusetts, Patterson, of Pennsylvania, Edgington, of Virginia, Naudain, of Delaware, and Paine of Vermont, wer'e appointed a committee to draft an Address to the People of the United States, in behalf of the general convention assembled at Harrisburg, on the recommendation of the Pennsylvania Society for the promotion of manufactures and the mechanic arts. When the committee was raised it was expected that the address would be forthwith prepared, and laid before the convention for its approbation ; but after free and frequent communications between the members of the committee, it became manifest that the duty assigned them could not be performed in a satisfactory manner during the probable period to which the sittings of the convention would be extended ; and besides, the various papers or documents, reports of other committees, and a copy of the intended memorial to Congress, were not acted upon until a very late hour, and, of course, not in possession to guide or instruct this committee. And, as these things were considered, and the subject in general examined, their views became more and more expanded, as to the plan of the address, and the matters which ought to be set forth before the people; — and it was agreed, that the im- portant statistical facts and useful information which had been elicited in the various public discussions and proceedings, and friendly communications between the members, should be, as far as possible, preserved, and other like or corroborative facts be collected and published for general instruction, to show the principle and practical operation of the protection affijrded to the domestic industry of the country. With this conclusion, it was rendered certain, that several weeks of calm consideration and earnest research would be necessary to give effect to the designs of the committee ; and hence they offered the brief report inserted in the journal, and asked time to prepare the address, as is stated in the resolutions which accompanied that report. The committee then further considered the subject at large, and seemed generally agreed as to the manner of the address, and charged the chairman with the task of collecting, arranging and preparing the matter, though he himself would gladly have yielded up thfet honour to more than one of his distinguished colleagues, and with entire confidence in their better abihty to accomplish the wishes of the convention, and follow the instruction of the committee. The chairman then found himself placed in a highly responsible situation, for, though the harmony of design in the address might be preserved, it was not practicable to obtain the advice and assistance of the other members, dispersed in eight different states. It PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. §9 It was with no small degree of anxiety, approaching to fear, that the chairman proceeded to 1827 1828 the performance of the duty assigned, and it is with much, diffidence that he now presents i 1 the results of his labours to the people, in the name of the committee, and on behalf of the convention. He has been beset with difficulties from the beginning, which no other than ^"'^^°*"'"e in N" 3, a writer on statistics can at all appreciate ; for, Except as to the boundaries of our country. Proceedings of the the numberings of the people at the several censusses, and the amount of our tonnage with General Convention statements of exports and imports, there is little of an official or national character to appeal ^^ Harrisburg, to, when one would speak of the resources or the wants of our country. Hence the dispersed continued. condition of facts, and the liability to error;— hence the perpetually enlarging views and con- stant suggestion of new matter, the interlocking of things with things, supported by and supporting one another — altogether sufficient to intimidate almost any man, zealous to sustain principles approved, and resolute in searching after truth, which has been aimed at, though it would be presumptuous to suppose that, in making more than ten thousand references, mistakes as to facts, or clerical errors, have not been committed, in b. first general collection like that now offered to the public — ^which is also diffiisive and desultory, and would have required much additional time to have been digested and prepared, in the man- ner best suited to exhibit the force of .the numerous items which bear upon the great matter under consideration, to wit, the necessity and expediency of protecting the domestic industry:; and more undisturbed reflection than it has been within the power of the chairman of the committee to bestow, perpetually called off to other and personal concerns, irresistibly demanding attention. One word upon the manner of preparing the work. It was thought expedient to throw into the address (properly so called) only general arguments in favour of the measures recom- mfended by the convention, leaving the facts, or practical statements which might support them, to be referred to in an Appendix : by this proceeding, the first is divested of the tediousness of detail, and the last may be used for the simple support of propositions advanced, to the relief of the reader, and, perhaps, a better understanding of the subjects offered to the reason of the people. So far, by way of explanation, the writer, in justice to the convention, his particular col- leagues and himself, has thought it proper to go. Earnest investigation is invited, and there is no desire to avert liberal criticism, either on facts or opinions, feeling conscious that they are honestly presented, and being blessed with a disposition to acknowledge wrong when informed of error, with that frankness and courtesy which should exist among gentle- men zealous for the good of their country, though radically differing as to the best means of promoting the general welfare. ADDRESS. The ever-restless thirst for knowledge in man, leads him to measurements of the volumes of waters discharged by the rivers, to the weighing, as it were in a balance, the Alps and the Andes, to an establishment of the courses of the planets, and a determination of the eccentric ranges of comets through the immensity of space, as though he would gauge space itself, and reduce it to human ideas of the extent of matter ; and yet the study of himself, the ascertainment of those qualities given to render himself and his fellow men happy, are fatally neglected, and the capacities of the human race, to walk erect, the image of God, are chiefly given up to the warm visions of speculators, or cold calculations of tyrants and masters : to the former, to indulge some pretty theory, or beautiful notion, fitted to other conditions and circumstances of society ; and to the last, that it may be counted how many must be slaughtered to win a battle in the field, or how great burthens man can bear and still exist to labour, and groan out " a weary life of servitude and shame." Practical effects are less regarded by those philosophers than the pleasantries of fancy; and tyrants measure men by a common standard like Procrustes, and with a simple view to ascertain the uses which can be made of them, to forward ambition, gratify lust, feed prodigality, or administer to the cravings of avarice. Now and then an enlightened ruler appears, and exerts himself to ameliorate the condition of his people, to make his slaves more comfortable ; but the im- position of iiew burthens always treads upon the heels of improvement, and it remains a matter of doubt, in numerous cases, whether good or evil predominates, as what is called civilization, proceeds. ■ But man, in this republic, is placed under different circumstances. It is the genius of our institutions that he should stand ei'ect, cast his eyes towards the sun, and acknowledge no sovereign but the dread Sovereign of universal nature — the author and preserver of all things. Under him, and him only, he ordains and establishes rules for himself, and im- provements of his condition are followed by unalloyed benefits. His accumulations of private wealth pass into the public treasury with his own consent, and he is not a simple pioneer for the happiness of others. It is true, that he often does, or suffers wrong to be done; that he is blinded by prejudice or whirled away by party, and led into acts by his feelings that reason would forbid ;— ^still his aim is private prosperity and public honour, an exaltation of his own character, and an advancement of the power and glory bf his country. The manner best suited to accomplish these original and supreme purposes of all civil associations, is a fair and proper subject for discussion " at the bar of the public reason;^' ancl as, the human mind is instructed, it follows, that persons may differ in opinion and still ' be friends, and a disposition to ascertain truth is encouraged. Thus proceeding, the majority will respect the wishes of the minority, and possess a spirit of conciliation ;, and the latter more cheerfully accept the decisions of that which must be the governing principle 578. E 4 under 40 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure in N° 3.' Proceedings of the GeneralConvention at Harrisburg, continuerl. under every republican Bystem; and controversies on questions, when conducted with a rightful forbearance and mutual respect, are always calculated to improve the judgment, and amend the heart. To collect facts, compare ideas, reconcile conflicting opinions, and investigate the fitness of their adaptation to existing circumstances; taking things as they are, and not as we would that they were, to repeal laws found defective or injurious, and enact others rendered necessary by changes of condition, we elect or appoint congress and assembly men, reservmg to ourselves a general right of instruction as to their proceedings, in such manner as v/e think most expedient to give effect to our will ; and this is an unalienable povyer vested m every free people. To cause the more convenient and certain operation of this power, we have specially reserved uncontrolled authority in ourselves to assemble together, in large or small bodies, or through delegates charged with the execution of our will, and of conferring and consulting with one another, without the fear of reproach or apprehension of responsi- bility, further than our own actions, when assembled, may incur, through the force of public opinion ; and this broad principle, at once the origin and the fruit of republicanism, is one that only tyrants will deny, or the madness of party reject. On this proud base it was, that delegates selected in a majority of the states assembled at Harrisburg, in the central state of Pennsylvania, to deliberate upon such measures as should appear most expedient to give ■ a new impulse to the prosperity of the United States, and defend the industry of the people against the restrictive and prohibitory acts of foreign governments, and the injurious and ' fraudulent proceedings of their subjects. Nothing was transacted in a corner;— the whole ' acts of the convention are before the public ; — the results of the experience of practical men,, chiefly agriculturists, are developed, and a respectful petition to Congress was agreed upon, setting forth and submitting to the national legislature the wants and the wishes, as they believed, of a large majority of the American people. The convention offers no plea of jus- tification for its assemblage ; the members could not dishonour the character of citizens by supposing that any was required of them. The meeting was held for well-known and freely avowed purposes, and exhibited a splendid triumph of principle over party, and of a signal ' regard for measures, not men. And the moderation and temper of all will show the belief of the members of that convention, in the verity of the saying, that " truth is a victor without violence." In the want of a home department, in which as in our own " plummet-found" Mississippi, rolling the congregated waters of millions of supplies to a common reservoir, might be found collected the uTultitudinous facts necessary to a correct understanding of the internal affairs of our country, and a wise legislation concerning them ; in the general deficiency of know- ledge in political economical subjects, and of the desire to obtain it from the absence of professorships in our superior schools, to lead the mind of youth to contemplate and add up the sum of production and consumption, and investigate the wants of this nation and its means of supply ; it is to be regretted the convention had not remained in session a consi- derable time, that the dispersed and important facts, in the possession of as respectable a body of practical men as ever was assembled, might have been fully gathered and pre- ' served for public instruction ; but the sparse items mutually communicated, and in part retained, may act like " a little leaven," and " leaven the whole lump," if liberally received and rightfully used. It was the great united and allied interest of agriculture and manufactures, in their actual effect upon the state of society, that the convention was charged to consider— with more immediate regard, however, to the growth and manufacture of wool; and for the purpose of really obtaining that degree of protection which is seemingly extended by existing laws, but actually denied, or rendered only partially effective, by the counteraction of foreigners, and in the ingenuity and ability witJi which they violate the principle supposed to be esta- ^ blished, for the protection of American farmers, manufacturers and merchants. It is believed that more than eighty millions of dollars are embarked in the wool business at the present time ; and many millions more would have been invested, but for the rapid and ruinous depreciation of value in the capital so employed. We think that there is no other country in which so great an interest as this would have been so much neglected. But this neglect arises in part from an ill-founded spirit of jealousy, built upon sectional feelings, and in part from peculiar opinions, some of which are antiquated, some very new, and others having more regard to things as they should be than to things as they exist. Great mistakes have been caused by the last, and they are defended, because that European writers on political economy, like other manufacturers, have sent forth their products for foreign use. Adam Smith, for example, presents many sound propositions and matters of deep interest, though not, perhaps, always defensible ; and his countrymen, with the peculiar adroitness of merchants, recommend his doctrines for our adoption, but will not permit them to influence their own actions. They restrict trade in every way that it will bear ; their whole legislation is directed to their own peculiar advantage, and we do riot blame them for that ; but they desire others to open their ports unreservedly, and practise the principle of " free trade," alleging that commerce is best left to its own regulation ! and supplies of foreign breaa are refused to their own people, though often half-starved because of the unnatural price of pro- visions. The chapter on British restrictions and prohibitions in the Appendix will, no doubt, receive the attentive consideration of the reader, and sustain all that we have said, and more. But the principle of protecting the domestic industry has been adopted in most nations; and exists wherever a prosperous people are found. Without it, misery must prevail, and no pjore than a grade of happiness beyond that which pertains to savage life ca,n be expected — men PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. u xnen being clothed in skins, and having their homes as if in dens and caverns. There ate 1827— 1818. na It is admitted, that the power to " regulate commerce" is granted. How shall it be shown that ships may be excluded, and their cargoes received? If Great Britain and France prohibit the use of our vessels in their ports, and exclude our products, how is it possible that, in prohibiting the use of British and French ships in our ports, we may not exclude cargoes of British and French goods ? The constitution of the United States was made for the farmers, manufacturers and mechanics ; not for the merchants, the last being only a small portion of the whole. If there is power to protect property in ships and their cargoes, there must be power to protect property vested in lands and workshops. If the interests, or business, of one class of persons may be protected under the guns of our national vessels of war, and in the most distant seas' — the interests of other classes, quietly seated at home, on the " mountains of Vermont, or in the swamps of the Patapsco," * may certainly claim the same paternal care of the general government ! But we have adverted to this subject of protection, not because we thought it worthy in itself, of remark, or needed authorities to support the general principle of it. They are abundant, and some of them may be found in the Appendix. Washington and Franklin, Jefferson and Hamilton, Madison and Monroe are all on our side — and we have other names that will compare with those of any of the new interpreters of the constitution! But we took up this matter for the purpose of bringing out some important facts bearing upon the general subject before us, which we think claim, and will receive, the sober consideration of our fellow citizens. It is exceedingly to be regretted that, from circumstances, local or temporary, matters of a sectional character should have been introduced into discussions on the principle of pro- tection, and that some appear disposed to deny unto others, what may not only not be inju- rious, but what shall not be manifestly advantageous to themselves. This is regugnant to the first Dr. Cooper, in his late speech at Columbia. The numerous manufacturing establishments on the Patapsco, and the great water-power of that stream, one would suppose, were irreconcilable with the idea oi svtamps. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 43 first rules of the constitution, in which compromiges and concessions abound — and these 1827 1828. must exist in every society, in every family, if peace and prosperity are expected to enduye y i in them. Weshall not do more than allude to these things, being indisposed to rally to . .^„ our support any aid not to be derived from the justice of our cause, or bring into, this contest '"closure in N 3. other disputed questions of right. There is no disagreeing interests in the people of the Proceedings of the United States involved in this matter. We defy the evidence of those injuries, to any other iGeneralCoovention branch of industry, which prejudice and passion have imputed to the encouragement of ^' Harnsburg, . .domestic manufactures ; and the people are happily getting into a frame of mind to reject .continued. declamation and ask for proof. We offer experience in opposition to theory — practice against speculation. A large majority of the people of this country, are as if they had no foreign market for their productions, and must have a home one. Without it, the farmer must make his clothes, the taylor his shoes, the blacksmith turn carpenter, and the mason make watches, •or do without the things respectively desired. — But, by different pursuits, not only a greater degree of perfection is obtained, but the profits of all parties are enhanced, by the inter- change of commodities. The agricultural commodies of the middle and western states, such as grain and its manufactures, have their chief market, for the surplusses raised in the eastern states, and some of their mineral productions, partly manufactured, pass east and south. •The south supplies all with cotton, sugar, tobacco and rice, and receives manufactures in ■ payment for these articles — ^and thus an internal commerce is carried on, compared with which the foreign trade is of no great importance, except in cotton only, unless so far as it ■ serves to regulate, as it is regulated by the internal trade. The satistical tables from jbhe treasury department, in which are collected all the items, great and small, of the for^gn trade, exhibit large amounts, and we see and understand them; but were such tables pub- lished of the home trade, the aggregate would exceed five hundred, instead of the fifty millions of dollars. Few persons have ever thought upon this subject, much less ventured -to calculate it. And yet it is every man's concern — a business that belongs to the heart and home of all persons. On the White mountains of New Hampshire we find the sugai; of Louisiana^ and in the plains beyond the Mississippi the cotton cloths of Rhode Island are domesticated — the products of the bowels of the land in Pennsylvania and Virginia, supply the workshops or give fuel to the furnaces and factories of New York— wool from Ohio finds a market at Boston — lead from Missouri and Illinois seeks all our cities, and the cottoja of South Carolina is met with every where. All these working together, constitute the pros- perity and power of the United States ; and we earnestly recommend our readers to the article on " internal trade " in the Appendix. There is much in it that wiU surprize the most of them, as we ourselves confess that we have been, in considering the fapts collected. The diversity of opinion that we have entertained since the expediency of protecting inanu- factures was first broadly broached, soon after the conclusion of the late war with Grpat Britain, introduced by the wrongs and violences of the government of that country, and r.endered riecessary by our own wants displayed during the continuance of the contest by embargo, non-intercourse, and finally, by arms, had its original formation at a distant period. Persons do not shake off the prejudices of education and the force of habit, with a change of the form of their government — with the transfer of allegiance from one power to that of another. These have duration long after the political ties are sundered by which those prejudices or habits were formed. In all old governments, some certain set of notions prevail in eccle- siastical as well as civil affairs, which become constitutional, and acquire the force of determinate principles, the right of them being hardly questioned. Nothing else than some ■great act of oppression can bring them into doubt, and reformation of abuses proceeds ■slowly. Europe has been deluged with blood, and the rivers of Asia choaked with carcases of the slain, because of religious opinions — and secular revolutions have proceeded to the extent of wholly changing the principles of governments — ^but still the nations remained : " the dog returned to his vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowino- in the mire"— revolution failing to produce reformation. Hence it is,13iat great communities of men, enlightened and deeply thinking on many subjects, adopt others, the policy oftheirgoweramewfs, either in religion or politics, as things not to be inquired into. Thus, in many parts of Germany, and even in Switzerland, the birth place of Tell and theatre of his glory, men are hired for soldiers with the same requisitions and under the same circum- stances that Mexican mountaineers hire mules for the bearing of burthens, and without greater discretion in the first than there remains to the last ; except that the former assault and murder those who never wronged them or their country, at the command of a master, and the latter are iherely taxed animals, contributing in proportion to their natural strength — each being equally machines. And, though at times, as in Spain, not long agp, liberal ideas may seem to prevail ; yet the people of that country regretted the absent despotism of absolute monarchy, and sighed for a restoration of the " holy inquisition." Such is prejudice, the force of habit, and power of education. Though the pcint of these remarks applies less to our own country, than to any other that ever was governed by a king, because of the early spread of knowledge and diffusion of correct ideas of the rights of man ; still, to a certain extent, it is applicable, though fifty-one years have passed since the declaration of independence ; for some feel as though they were not wholly relieved of allegiance to the king of Great Britain. The body is emancipated by a single struggle, but generations appear necessary to emancipate the mind. Witness the slow proo-ress which a practical understanding of the republican system make^in the new governments of the south. Indeed it may be said of ourselves, that we had nOt formed a nah'owfl^ c^arac^er anterior to the late war. , . , p ,. . , . , Chatham, the illustrious Chatham, the great friend of political rights, had no idea of permitting a feeling of indepetidence to grow up in this country ; no willingness that our fathers ■' __Q F 2 should u PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS Inclo^uie in N° 3. I'roceediiigs of the General Convention at Harrisburg. ■coniinued. Iggy 1828. should ascertain their own strength ; and for these reasons it was, that " America should not ,_; - / be allowed to manufacture a hob-nail," with his approbation. By this severe and selfish policy, he intended to keep us hitched to the car of England's king. This was the grand principle on which the " mother country " acted. The governors and judges, and soldiers and clergy, and all others sent hither in the pay or under the patronage of the king, were instructed to encourage us in hewing wood and cultivating the earth, and in sending all our raw products " home ; " and to discourage the estabhshment of workshops, or the manufacture of any thing which could be supplied by importations. One can hardly believe to what an extent the aristocracy of that day carried the British policy. It is less than twenty years since, that the last of the race died in Maryland, a foolish old man, who yet continued to ship his tobacco to a factor in England, as before the Revolution, and to receive from thence .supphes of the most trifling articles for his family use; such as tea, sugar, coffee, pepper, mustard, and all farming utensils and articles of clothing, packed up and forwarded as they had been at the period of the first settlements in the state. And the force of this policy may well be esteemed, when it induced such a man as Thomas Jefferson, who had passed through all the trials of the revolutionary war, and witnessed the suiferings of his brethren, for the want of such supplies as domestic mancfactures would have furnished, to give an opinion, in 1785, that our " workshops should be kept in Europe." But after that, he frequently recommended the establishment of them at home; and, in 1816, when the necessity of protecting them began to be examined, he wrote his famous letter to Benjamin Austin, the whole of which is inserted in the Appendix — saying, that he who now was " against domestic manufactures, must be for reducing us to a dependence on that [any foreign,] nation, or be clothed in skins, and to live like wild beasts in dens and caverns ; " adding, " I am proud to say that I am not one of these." But had foreign nations, and especially Great Britain and France, continued to treat us with tolerable decency in the reception of our products, and a liberal exchange of commo- dities, extending to us also the courtesies that belonged to us as an independent nation ; it is very possible that Mr. Jefferson, and tens of thousands of others friendly to the protection of domestic industry, would have retained their old opinions all the days of their lives. But his opinions were changed by causes like those which had brought about the American revolution ; and renewed acts of oppression and violence assured him that the work was incomplete, unless " the manufacturer, being placed by the side of the agriculturist, might wrest the weapon of distress from the foreign hand which had so long wantonly wielded it." There was another cause which had a powerful effect to prevent the establishment of manufactures, and lead the judgment of the people captive. That was our eager desire after comrherce and navigation, and the full employment and fair profits on labour that they afforded, because of certain peculiar, but temporary circumstances, under which we were placed. We inherited from England a love of them, and, because they furnished " a nursery for seamen " to man her fleets, she did not much discourage us in them, and we had hardly be- come settled down under a regular government, before the French revolution broke out, and opened a way for the fullest gratification of our desires to be merchants and navigators. In the disordered state of things which followed that awful and mighty event, our ports became places of deposit for the supply of many nations, and our ships the carriers of all sorts of commodities to them. Our exports rose from 19 millions in 1791, to 67 millions in 1796, and reached the enormous amount of 108 millions in 1807. In the first six years' of our govern- ment, we exported about as large an average amount of staple articles as in the last six years, cotton excepted ; which was unimportant in the earliest period, and, indeed, of no great value until, the year 1798. [See the large Table of Exports in the Appendix.] ARTICLES EXPORTED. TOBACCO, PLOUE.. RICE. BEE F& FORK. hhds. bis. tierces. bis. 179*. 101,272 619,681 99,980 &o»552 1753 112,428 824,464 141,762 112,736 1793 59>947 1,074,639 134,611 113,669 1794 76,826 846,010 116,486 150,308 1795 61,050 687,369 138,526 184,343 1796 - - 69,018 725,194 131,039 166,402 480,541 4,777,357 762,454 817,009 1821 66,858 1,056,119 88,221 133,474 1822 82,169 827,865 87,089 165,962 1833 99,009 756,702 101,365 116,947 1834 77,883 996,702 113,229 133,303 1825 75,984 813,906 97,015 173,734 1826 64,098 857,820 111,063 161,880 466,001 5,309,114 567,982 885,300 But PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 4.5 But after 1807, because of the British orders in council and French decrees, these nations 1827 — 1828. being jealous of our prosperity, or resolved to make us take a part in their quarrel, oui v:____-.^^. J commercial prosperity was arrested by the embargo and other restrictive measures ; and the . , ' . ^o exports, which amounted to 108 millions in that year, were valued at only 22 millions in ^"^■'"^"''^'" ^ 3- ■1808, foreign and domestic articles included. They reached 61 millions in 1811, and then Proceedings of the came the war of 1813 ; but in 1817 and 1818. the British pOrts being open to our flour and General Qonverition the export of cotton being heavy, they rose to 181 millions for these two years; and the next "arnsburgh, •two following, the British ports being shut, they fell to 140 millions; 21 millions of the ^ontmuta. diminution being in the value of vegetable food only. I>uring the restrictive measures of 1808 and following years, the idea of extending manu- factures began to prevail ; the war of 1812, showed the necessity of them, and much capital was vested in certain establishments. Peace followed early in 1815, commerce revived and the farmers, as well as the planters, flourished again ; vast quantities of rival manufactnres were imported, and our factories fretted out a weary life for a little while, and then many- were stopped and their owners ruined. Soon after this the British ports were shut, and capital vested in lands depreciated not less than 60 or 70 per cent, and one wide calamity was spread over all the states north of the Potomac and Ohio. Partial relief came by the meagre and reluctant Tariff of 1 824, and the home market measurably supplied the want of a foreign one ; and it was hoped that the principle of protection had been fully acknow- ledged. But the law of 1824, being defective in several essential particulars, has been counteracted by the policy, ingenuity and frauds of foreigners, assisted by our auctions and credits allowed on the payment of dtities; the 30 per cent, intended for the protection of the woollen manufactures, hardly operates as more than 10 per cent upon the real foreign value of such articles imported " to order ; " and this extensive interest, for a year or two past, has been, and now is, standing on the verge of destruction. Sheep are hardly worth the rearing, and cloths hare been, sold for less than their stock cost the American makers of them. But, out of the triumphant success which has attended some branches of manufacture, great good has arisen, not only on account of profits gained to the country, but in changes . of public opinion ; the body of the merchants being now satisfied that manufactures increase instead of diminish foreign commerce ; adding much to our tonnage, and swelling the amount of our exports ! The dreams of speculators, too, as to their effect on the public revenue, have not been realized ; for that also has increased, and, as we believe, because of the Tariff; for persons will purchase more freely of the luxuries or comforts of life as their means are , extended ; and a manufacturing village of five hundred individuals, consumes more taxed articles than an agricultural population of two thousand. The East may now be said to have joined the Middle and West in opinion, but the South still holds back. The necessity of shaking off" old prejudices has not yet appeared to the people of this part of the United States, and the continued reception of their cotton abroad, with the consumption of their sugar at home (the foreign being virtually excluded so far as the home supply extends), places them out of those difficulties which their brethren of the grain-growing states " encounter ; and they do not appreciate the importance of the home market as they ought. There is a trite saying, that " seeing is believing, hnt feeling is the naked truth." We would that they should believe without feeling ! But the tobacco of Virginia pays a duty of 66 cents per pound in Great Britain, and the probability is, that even of this great staple of that state, less is consumed in that country than is used at home. Unfortunately, however, while foreign commerce is so much attended to, we have to grope about, each one for himself, to ascertain the many times more deeply interesting things which belong to the home trade. The time will come when the planters shall feel as the farmers do feel ; when they will find no more favor in British eyes than the growers of wheat. And, if the use of their cotton was prohibited in a foreign country, would the people of South Carolina be willing to receive and consume the cotton goods manufactured in that country ? Can they purchase of those who will not buy any thing of them ? Bread is as much a material that enters into the value of manufactures as cotton. Baltimore exports nearly 200,000 barrels of flour annually to the states east of the Hudson, vvith large quantities of Indian corn, whiskey, &c. the whole freater in value than her domestic exports to all foreign places; and there is no doubt that irginia sends to Baltimore and places further north and east, a much greater value in coal, flour, tobacco. Sec, than is that of her exports to all the rest of the world. To Great Britain, the whole, or very nearly the whole of her products exported for consumption, is 14,000 hhds. of tobacco,* valued at ^^ 1,160,000, according to the treasury tables of the last year. It is nothing to the cotton planters that nearly one-fourth of their whole crop has its market at * Except some cotton for a year or two past. It is probable that the flour and coal sent to Bal- timore, New York and Boston, and other ports, may produce a greater value to Virginia than all her domestic products exported to foreign places ! An extensive and intelligent dealer in coal at Baltimore, calculates the supply of this place, from Virginia, at 600,000 bushels ; and, as it costs about i8 cents per bushel at Richinond, the value is ^g" 1,080,000. We have no information on the probable amount received at New York and ports further east, but suppose it must amount to a great deal more than is consumed at Baltimore. The British official returns of 1825, show the consumption of only 14,510,551 lbs. of tobacco, equal to 12,000 hhds. of i,2oe lbs. each ; but perhaps, for evasions of the duty, 14,000 hhds. may be allowed. On the 12,000 hhds. which costs in our country less than ^1,000,000, the British raised a revenue of $9f 510,000 ! the duty being 66 cents per lb. 578. F3 46 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS jg2Y 1828. ^* home,* with one half of their rice, the whole of their sugar, and three-fourths of the , ' , naval stores and lumber of North Carolina ? Will any one believe that the domestic demand for Inclosure in N° T cotton has no effect on the price, seeing that its manufactures go into the foreign exports of our country — and that cotton yarn and coarse cotton goods are cheaper in the United States Proceedings of the than in England ? Is competition "the soul of trade," specially denied its effect on this tHarrisbu"" solitary article? No, no; were all the cotton mills of this country suddenly destroyed fey " con^m*^' ^''®' *^^ P"'^^ °^ cotton would be at least one cent less per lb. than its present low rate, and muslins, now selhng for 1 2 J cents, would advance to 25 cents. Let the skilful in figures calculate the effect of this reduction on the whole quantity of cotton produced in the south. It will amount to three millions a year — or twice the sum which is paid for revenue, (we cannot say ■protection, for it is not), on all the woollen goods imported, for which protection, in reality, is asked. On reference to the appendix, these things will fully appear. What injury hath attached itself to the progress and prosperity of manufactures ? We mean in practice, not in theory, being the representatives of practical men. Should we indulge ourselves in bringing up the past prophecies of alarmists, to compare them with the results calculated by the deeply-thinking men on the other side, how would the fantastic images of fancy stand beside the substantialities of truth ! But we wish not to offend—to make any appear ridiculous. This, however, we shall say — that the prophecies of the enemies of the system have entirely failed, whilst the calculations of its friends have been more than realized. The progress of manufactures in the United States cannot have bad effects upon the public morals, pubhc virtue or public revenue ; upon private conduct, private happiness, or private profit, so long as our political institutions remain as they are, so long as land is plenty and labour in demand ; so long as taxation, tythes and poor rates shall not send the worthy and industrious supperless to bed. And to calculate results here by results in Great Britain, is precisely as absurd as it would be to measure the energies and efforts of a free people by those of a nation of slaves. We do not mean to regard the British as personal slaves, but that they are politically so, because of the burthens imposed upon them, and which they must pay, we think will not be disputed ; and taxes are collected and tythes gathered at the point of the sword. When such is the state of things with us, and every pro- ductive adult male is required to pay ;|!'ioo a year for the support of government, then may manufacturers become the degraded things which they are in England ; but, if Colquhoun is to be relied upon, even these are more virtuous and better provided for than the agricul- turalists, both crimes and paupers being far less numerous in the manufacturing than in the agricultural counties. f What harm hath the much-abused Tariff of 1 824 rendered to any of the people of the United States? Has one barrel of flour, one bushel of corn, one gallon of whiskey, one pound of tobacco or rice, one piece of timber, or aught else that we have for export, not been exported because of it ? one pound less of cotton '| required of the planters, or one less of * The latest general statement of the importation of cotton into Great Britain that we can lay our hands upon at the present moment, is one made out last year, showing the business of the six pre- ceeding years. The whole imports of 1825 were 820,929 bales, as follows : United States - - - 423,248 Brazils - - - 193,942 East Indies - - - 60,484 Egypt .... 111,023 West Indies, &c. - - 32,232 820,929 In 1822 not a single bale of Egyptian cotton was received in Great Britain, and in 1823, only 2,538 bales ; in 1825, 11 1,023 bales. This cotton ranks with that of New Orleans as to quality and price, or, indeed, is rather better. The East India ranges at from 1 \d. to 2 6?. cheaper than common uplands, and is almost exclusively used for the manufacture of such coarse goods as are manufactured at our own mills ; and directly interferes luith our product to the tuhole amount used in Great Britain, especially/ when American cotton bear» a liberal price, and then its importation is greatly INCREASED. But for the protection afforded, a large quantity of the cotton cloths consumed in the , United States would be of British manufactures of their own East India cotton. Actual sales at Liverpool, during the week ending Aug. 25, 1827, were — Boweds 5 7-8 cf. to 7 J — Surat and Bengal 4I d. to 4| d. The stock of cotton in all the British ports, was estimated as follows, at the latest accounts from Liverpool : American - bales 278,020 Brazilian - ... 75,550 Egyptian .... 53,640 East Indian 81,540 West Indian, &c. ... 11,320 500,070 t The criminal oiFences charged are as 40 to 100, and number of paupers as 1 to 2, in favour of the manufacturing districts. X It is a fact worthy of high consideration indeed, and which should not escape the observation of any one, that our own manufacture of cotton is chiefly added to the general use of our oivn production ; because that a large part of such coarse goods as we make are made in England out of the inferior material PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 47 of sugar consumed ? Has our tonnage declined, or our seamen been less employed ? 1827 — 1828. H as the price of any article been enhanced to the consumer, because of the additional duty i / laid by the Tariff for the purposes of protection? We say no to all these sweeping questions, j , ,-' N"9 and to each of the parts of the first, and demand a reason why clamorous denunciations of the Tariff should be indulged as they are. But it is in vain that we invite our opponents to meet Proceedings of the ns with their facts. The - grievances talked about are not reducible to demonstration by ^ene''al Convention figures, and the most of what we have heard upon the subject, except in the language of co"?'tt^ melancholy prophecy, may be understood by this doggrel — " I do not like thee, Dr. Fell, " The reason why I cannot tell ; " But this I know, and that full well, « I do not like thee, Dr. Fell." The people of our country are not prepared to accept the like of this iri place of argument. Prejudices will give way ; and the spirit of party having exhausted itself, our fellow- citizens, will demand some reason for such dislikes. They will not be so unjust as to hate what is not shewn to harm them. It is not in the American character to hate without reason ; it is better fitted to love without cause, being generous, and disposed to judge favourably of men and things. On the other hand, the benefits of the protecting system which we proclaim, being sub- stantial, seek the severest scrutiny, and perpetually gather strength by investigation. Try it, prove it, test it as you please ; its advantages only are shewn ; and, like fine gold, the acids neither diminish or disfigure them. And, while we set forth the thousand benefits of protection, to commerce and navigation and manufactures, and of agriculture through them, we ask one case, a tangible case, one that we can grapple with, from our opponents, of a generally disadvantageous description, to be arrayed against the benefits which we extol. Let them assume the affirmative of the questions that we have just asked. If there is any one, they have easy access to it — the statistics concerning foreign commerce being abundant, and in the hands of every man. Let us see the oppression of the " monopolies," that they speak of so fluently. Let them bring forward their cases of " extortion," and confinn their oft-told tale about the " picking the pockets of the many for the- benefit of the few." Can these things be, and nobody know them ? Shall facts so important to be fiscertained, rest alone on declamation ? Shall such imposing national interests be combated only with blind prejudice or honest mistake, the madness of party or the want of reflection? We offer numerous facts to the people, and earnestly invite the most rigid examination of them. We shew practical results from past transactions — they offer chiefly wild and frightful visions of the future. The people are called upon to hew down the good tree and lose its fruits, though yet only in the vigour of its growth, because an " evil eye" hath been cast upon it by some foreign magician and dealer in old clothes.* May we prefer the dogmas of those who have studied man and philosophy in the closet, to the experience of others who have mixed with society, and examined him for themselves ? A herd of these closet-philosophers is less valuable than he who shall cause two blades of grass to grow where only one was formerly produced. With these general remarks, imperfect and brief when compared with the solid foundations or vast range of the subjects referred to, we shall proceed to mention some of the points of the protecting system and encouragement of manufactures, the triple-sisters of internal improvement and natural allies of the greater interests of agriculture,— confidently appealing, to the various statements and facts offered in the Appendix .for ample support of all that we shall say ; only soliciting a disposition in the reader to seek for truth, believing that he will certainly find it. The combined operations of agriculture and manufactures have invariably caused an increase of population in every nation and state, or part of a nation or state, using commerce as the handmaid of both. And, as population is the origin of national power and wealth, it should be the first consideration of a statesman, unless, the extent of country is small and the people already overflowing. By these operations knowledge is extended, the comforts of life increased, and moral, as well as natural strength, advanced. On the other hand, when a country is purely agricultural, and especially if possessed by planters, the population must be sparse, and the want of concentration materially obstructs the progress of knowledge, and acquisition of physical and moral power. The first abounds with small freeholds, begetting a spirit of independence and exalting the character of man, as lord of the soil. Habits of industry and frugality are encouraged, because the profits of them are immediately felt by large numbers of the people in their own persons. Early marriages take place in conse- quence, for large families are rather desired than feared. Education is of easy access to all, for school-houses abound, and children become profitable at an early age — ^idleness, the parent vice, being disreputable. As wealth accumulates, roads and bridges and canals are projected and constructed, and new factories estabhshed, for capital is plentiful — and one new business begets another in geometrical proportion, causing a general reduction in the price of commodities, through increased perfection in the arts of producing then^. ^ All material of the East Indies. Some years ago, when American cotton was high, the writer of this saw a large quantity of East India cotton in one of our manufactories, and was informed that the duty o/ three cents per pound could be advantageously paid upon it, when American cotton was, as he thinks, 1 8 or 20 cents per lb. [Repeated to be remembered.] ■. * Before the Tariff of 1 824, a large part of the negro cloths imported from England were made out of old clothes, torn into tatters by machinery, and reduced again to something like wool. 578. F4 ■i-S PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS Iggy 1828. -^^^ t^eae things necessarily take place in lightly taxed and liberally governed nations, ^^ ^ being agricultural, manufacturing and commercial. But in the reverse, the population J "^ must be thinly scattered, wealth is acquired slowly because of the sluggish circulation Iifclosure in N° 3. ^f money, schools are few and far between, social intercourse is difiBcult and information Proceedings of the not easily obtained ; internal improvements are not made, unless partially, because of the General Convention ^ant of condensed power in men and money to make them, these being dissipated by at Harrisbuig, spreading over a wide surface ; and perhaps the most of all is this disadvantage, that a fevy continued. ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ ^^^ many very poor ; some well-informed persons, and numerous adnUs> male and female, who cannot read and write. We ask those who have knowledge in these matters, and are wiUing to speak of tliem, whether or not these things are so. A purely agricultural region of country cannot abound in a wholesome happy and numerous popula- tion; but when joined to and aided by other pursuits, agriculturalists are, perhaps, at once the best and the happiest of all classes of society — " the peculiar deposit for substantial and genuine virtue." The protection of domestic industry has not only built up the commerce and navigation of the United States, but continues to increase both; "it adds to the public revenue, by furnishing the means of purchasing taxed commodities; it has reduced the cost of articles by exciting the domestic competition ; it has probably added 50 per cent to the internal and coasting trade within the last five years ; it has opened new markets for flour and grain, equal to the whole foreign export of these articles; it has caused greatly increased supplies of mineral substances and of coal; it has countervailed, in part, the restrictions and prohibitions of Europe, and will place us on an equality with all nations in matters of trade, if persevered in and extended : in short, it has subsisted a large part of the people of the United Stales, giving employment to millions on millions of active capital, and become indispensable to the well being of the republic. Without its aids, we should be poor and miserable as the Portuguese, whose work- shops are in their ally, Great Britain. It is incorporated with all that we enjoy in the comforts of private life, or possess in national reputation or power. These are broad, but, we think not, bold assertions — and capable of fullest demonstration and undeniable proof. But having already extended this address to a greater length than was desirable, we shall make a general reference to the Appendix for the support of the momentous facts asserted, and to maintain many other collateral and very important matters submitted in vindication of our principles, and to demonstrate the expediency and necessity of urging the entire establishment of them, for the common benefit of all the people of all these United States, as capacity is shewn to sustain the protecting system by domestic competition. The primary object of the meeting at Harrisburg was to consider the present state of the growers and manufacturers of wool, and some remarks on this subject may be particularly expected from us ; and having, as we hope and believe, sustained the principle and explained the policy of protection, and denied the possible existence of monopoly when competition is not forbidden by natural c2Mses, such as soil and climate — this part of our duty will be the more easily accomplished, and we shall proceed immediately to it, after introducing to our readers the following strong and appropriate extract from a report made to the senate of Pennsylvania, on the 14th of February 181 7 : " Man and all his works are helpless in infancy. The noblest then require the protection and nourishment of a parent. Seeing establishments in their greatness, we are apt to forget the humble beginning from which they have risen ; but when traced to their origin, it will be found that in every enlightened government they have been its nurslings in their infancy. In such governments, manufactures have been the favourite and almost peculiar objects of their protection ; the history of all the manufacturing nations is full of proofs, that whenever a manufacture is in its infancy, it is protected by duties, bounties, and premiums on the article ; privileges, protection and encouragement, to the artisan ; until the manufacture has progressed so as to supply the wants of the country. Then the exportation of the raw mate- rial, the importation of the manufactured article, the emigration of the workmen, and the communication of the knowledge of the art, are prohibited under severe penalties, in some cases extending to the forfeiture of life. The history of none of these nations can furnish an instance of a manufacture being left to take care of itself, or of its success when unaided by government. The committee can discern no good reason why this nation should not follow in the path which has been lighted by the experience of others, and more especially where our own teaches us the immense advantage flowing from manufactures to the places where they have been estabhshed." The report concluded with the following resolution : " Resolved, by the senate and house of representatives of the commonwealth of Pennsyl- vania, in general assembly met, that our senators in congress be instructed and our members in the house of representatives requested, to use their endeavours to have such measures adopted, as will effectually protect aud encourage the manufactures of the United States." Had the object of this resolution been accomplished in 1817, we might now have exported 15 or 20 millions of dollars in manufactures, instead of six millions annually; the fee of Pennsylvania, under her practically wise policy, would have been worth 100 millions of dollars more than it is, and her population would have increased in hundreds of thousands, however rapid as it has been, compared with that of several of the old states. The low condition of the woollen manufactures in this country at the commencement of the late contest at arras with Great Britain, was shown by the humiliating request preferred by the secretary of war to Congress, that existing laws might be repealed so far as to allow the importation of 6,000 blankets for the Indian department ! We believed then, and believe SQ still, that this suggestion was made, that blankets might be obtained from Great Britain for the preservation of our soldiers, when raised and marched to attack the British colony of PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED St ATES. 4& bT Canada ! But the laiw was not repealed ; and it Will not be regarded as a wild speculation j 827—^1828. to express an opinion, that we lost more men by the want of woollen clothing and other ;"^ - Supplies, during the war, than by battle and all other fair exposures to danger that attended • -vr. o jhe military life. We might dwell long upon this distressing and disgraceful fact-— (we call Inclosure in N* 3. ii disgraceful, for a wise policy would have prevented its occurrence), and relate instances of Proceedings of the feufFering which happened on the Niagara frontibr, that, even at this day, would chill the General Con ventioi) blood of every friend of his country and of man; but we present it, simple and unadorned, ^' Harrisburg,, to the sober reflection of the people, that they may determine whether they will permit the continued. like terrible waste of human life, and cruel dissipation of the means of our country to support is dear-bought independence, even to happen again. The wants .of the nation and of individuals, caused the establishment of some woollen manufactories, and an extended business- in the few which had existed previous to that time ; but they could supply only a small 'part of the general demand : and something very much like smuggling, if it did not approach towards treason, was rather countenanced than condemned, that a trade might be kept up with an enemy employed in the conflagration of bur villages on the maritime frontier, and who had introduced the tomahawk of the savage into civilized warfare on our northern and western borders. ' And here, perhaps, an opportunity is best presented to speak of a rude indiscriminkting and vulgar prejudice which had its origin at this period — the alleged extortion of the manu- factures, such as that they demanded 1 2 or 14 dollars for a yard of cloth which they could have afforded to make for 6 or 7; and these same illiberal or thoughtless persons felt some- thing like pleasure in the ruin of the manufacturers which followed the close of the war; because of this alleged " extortion." Admit, for the sake of the argument, that the facts proclaimed were true, and what then ? Who charged the farmers with extortion when flour was at 13 or 14 dollars per barrel, and whiskey at 65 or 70 cents per gallon, in 1817 ? Who is wicked enough to rejoice that flour has since fallen to less than 5 dollars, when delivered at oiir sea-ports, and whiskey been sold at no more than 20 or 22 cents ? Who was so base! as to be delighted when farms that cost from loo to 150 dollars per acre, were knocked down by hundreds under the sheriff"s hammer, at from 20 to 30 dollars per acre, and tens of thousands of valiiable individuals were suddenly cast from an abundance of all the com- forts of life into stinted allowances of the most common food — that worthy men were hired as daily labourers on the lands which they had owned ? We should like to look such a man in the face, if one there is, that we -might avoid him as a person infested with the plague/ for a liberal intercourse with thatman would be the contamination of all just feelings, and a sign of the departure of all good principles ! Would we not have called the farmers fools, Arrant fools, in 1817, if they had sold their flour for five dollars a barrel, (which it appears that they can make it for) when they could just as easily obtain fp'urteeii '? Indeed, we should suppose that persons acting thus had, by some calamity, been deprived of the use of their reason ! And the cotton planters and others are so situated. Cotton is now made by less than ten cents per pound, it was even lately sold at almost thirty cents per pound"; but who was stupid enough to prefer a grave charge of "extortion" against the cotton planters? There was not one man so silly to be found in 'all the country ! nor one who abused the tobacco planters for receiving ,1^185 per hogshead in 1816 ! How then is it that some have made a law to regulate the prices and profits on woollen goods, and are willing to leave flour, cotton, every thing'else to the natural effects of supply and demand? We will suggest the reason why — it is caused by our old prejudices, fanned by the agents of British' manufacturers and merchants, and was kept in flame by a horde of domestic venders of British tapes and bobbins, some of whom openly rejoiced at the defeats and disasters that we met with in the last war, that it might terminate, a«(f they again have British goods to selL* ThSir business was with Great Britain, and so were their hearts. These men had much influence on society by their intercourse with all classes of people ; and when charged with demanding exorbitant profits for themselves, were always ready to throw the ' dollars in 1814 ; the wages of the people employed were twice the present price, and those inclosure in N° 3. of the principal workmen three times as high, for experienced persons were, few ; all the Proceedings of the ^y^ stuns and other foreign materials were four or five times their present average value. General Convention ^'^^ ^^^ ^^^^ °^ machinery and implements at the same extravagant terms. Almost sill at Harrisburg, commodities were at great prices ; flour in 1811, 1812, 1813 and 1814, averaged about -.■ imore than a year or two, and the advance will wholly fall upon those most able to bear it — . . • nm the v^ealthy. It may be due to candour to observe, that this increase of the minimum is "«^'''*"'"^ '" ^ ^' not sought for by the manufacturers Jms^ now ; they more apprehend domestic competition Proceedings of the than foreign rivalry; indeed, they defy the latter, but for the reason that, as the convention General Convention believed, the effect would be to extend the business of manufactures generally, and furnish ^^' ^^^f^^^J^ ' the people with better articles at more reduced prices. Such, at least, was the motive^ which led to this recommendation; and it would much increase the use of our own finer cottons, for which the British substitute that of Brazil, &c. There will be found in the Appendix many brief notices of other interesting branches of industry, which the committee did not feel themselves authorized to bring out in this address. Sbmfc of them have strong claims on the public support, especially such as hats and bonnets in imitation of the Leghorn, laces, gloves and artificial flowers. These may afford neat and pleasant and profitable employment to dear, lovely and interesting, but comparatively helpless females, at their own homes, iii the bosom of their families, by the side of their little children, in the company of their mothers ! From some rough estimates that we have seen, the four articles named would fill up all the spare time of 1 00,000 womea and girls, if the home market was insured to them. There is a distressing want of employ- ment for many times that number of such as would gladly labour, in businesses suited to their particular conditioft and sex; and their several small earnings, amounting to millions. in the whole, would be as a clear gain to our country. There is much feeling, much interest to society, much of all the best motives that can influence human actions, in a consideration of these things. We would that the widow's heart might be caused to leap with joy, and that the tears of honest poverty were brushed from tlie orphan's cheek, in independence gained through patient industry, and a willingness to earn an honest and respectable sup- port; and in keeping families together, aged parents or helpless little ones, whom ,to separate, mighfrender violence to feelings which even the untutored Indian would respect. Virtue is not an inheritance of the wealthy — nay, it rather resides in the cottage than the palace ; but beset with all the ills which dependence inflicts, it is then that virtue is tried, and proved as it were in the furnace of aflliction. " Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil," is a" prominent part of the wisest petition ever offered up to the fountain OF ALL GOOD, and it operates as a command upon all that we should help one another; but it is especially the duty of ma/i to exert himself in behalf of woma», and yield that protection which " nature and nature's God" designed him to bestow; that the venerable matron, when called upon to resign her spirit to Him who gave it, may have the last, best conso- lation this world can afford, in a well founded hope that the children of her care, her orphan daughters, may prosper and be happy, and, obtaining an honourable subsistence by the labour of their own hands, cause her own memory to be respected in the manners of their life. Sweet is such consolation to the heart of a parent; but dear, of earthly things most dear, is it to the heart of a departing mother! The committee has thus zealously endeavoured to fulfil the directions and explain the views of the convention, with a sincere desire to ascertain truth, and present it in familiar terms to their fellow citizens for action upon it. The result is with them, for the national legislature will receive its impulse from their judgment. If it shall be their good fortune to invigorate the strong, help the weak, and arrest the minds of the wavering ; or by the presentation of authentic facts or well digested opinions, to dissipate prejudices, and place principles on the. high ground which belongs to them, that they may be seen and under- stood by the American people — and allay the ardency of party feelings, by showing the great national interests that are common to all parts of this republic, and all parties — the committee will, indeed, be gratified ; but if, on the other hand, they shall fail in all these, the consciousness willbe left that they have striven to deserve success, and that will console them for time and labour lost in this^riY attempt at a general developement of the resources of our country; and there will be some merit, perhaps, even to fail in such an effort , to subserve the public intelligence. We have only to add, that we have spared no pains to keep out of consideration particular regard for sectional interests, except so far as parts of our country, the most populous, may be more particularly concerned, and not even then in known opposition to the interests of others. The will of the majority ought to prevail; but the minority have also interests and feelings that must be respected by all who respect themselves as they ought. It is our serious belief, that the protection of the vast capital vested in manufactures, and the greater capital involved in the allied pursuits of agriculture, and the property and persons employed in commerce and navigation, interior and exterior, is as much for the benefit of the planting* interest of either or any other, in the reduced price of articles for domestic consumption, and in an increased demand for the productions of the earth. If \ye have mistaken these things, we have honestly erred, and ask for information, which we hope will be given with that regard for moderation and justice which should mark the course of honourable men, zealous of good works, and engaged to advance the public and private welfare of our beloved country and countrymen. For the Committee, H. Niles, Chairman. .rr 78. ■ <^3 54 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. ADDENDUM. """"' ' Extracts from Mr. Everett's speech, delivered at Boston, at a meeting of the citizens for Inclosure in N" 3. the purpose of considering the propriety of appointing delegates to the convention at Proceedings of the Harrisburg. General Convention [Some parts of this speech would have been engrafted in the address, had it not been ^t Harrisburg, entirely overlooked until the vsrhole was completed ; the extracts are added to coroborate continued. what we, of ourselves, had stated on the subjects to which they refer, and exhibit new views.] " The object of the law of 1828 (the " TariflF law," as commonly called) said Mr. E. as I have already had the honour to state, was to enable the American manufacturer of woollens to enter into competition with the British manufacturer. Consequently the duty was calculated on the then existing state of the manufacture in that country. At that time the duty on all wool imported into England was sixpence sterling per pound. In the course of the year 18Q4, and by a law to take effect at the end of that year, this duty was reduced to one penny a pound on all wool imported into England. The object of this reduction, as stated by its advocate in the British Parhament, is worthy the attention of this meeting. In the debate on the subject, Mr. Robertson, a respectable commercial member, ' begged leave to call the attention of the House to the state of America, in order to show the expediency of taking off the duty on the raw materials. The population of the United States, before they were declared independent, amounted to two and a half millions ; at the present day it amounts to ten millions. The population of South America might be taken, at a low estimate, at seventeen millions, and if they went on increasing in the same ratio as the United States, they might be expected to amount to sixty miUions in forty years.' And now. Sir, for the inference from this statistical survey of North and South America : ' Here was an immense mart for our low priced cloths of which this country might avail itself, if the impolitic duties on the raw material were repealed.' " Such were the reasons, Sir, for reducing the duty from six pence sterling per pound to one penny. But even this reduction was not enough, and the following year a further abatement of the duty of a half-penny a pound was made on all wool, of which the price was less than one shilling sterling the pound. Mr. Huskisson gave the reason of this reduction in the following words: ' The duty is now one penny a pound on all foreign wool. It has been stated to me, that even this rate of duty presses severely upon the manufac- turers of coarse wooUens, in which we have most to fear from foreign competition, and that considerable relief would be afforded by reducing it to one half upon all wool not exceeding the value of one shilling sterling per pound.' " Now, Sir, continued Mr. E. taking twenty cents a pound to be the average price of the kind of wool in question, the duty upon it, after these two reductions, is but 4 per cent of its value ; before the reduction it was 48 per cent. The manufacturer in England has conse-: quently received an advantage of 44 per cent on his wool, But the wool is estimated to be in value about a third part of the cloth — consequently the manufacturer has gained 14^ per cent on the fabric of his article, by this reduction of the duty. on wool. " But as the English manufacturer is the competitor against which the law of 1824 intended to protect the American manufacturer, this 14|- per cent must be deducted from the 33^ per cent, laid by the American law on the foreign fabric, And, in effect, the duty for the encouragement of our own looms is thus brought down to i8y per cent. " But this is not all. Other reductions were made in 1825, with the same avowed object of the duties on articles of great importance in the woollen manufacture. The duty on olive oil was reduced from 15/. 13 s. sterling, the ton of 252 gallons, to yl. The duty on rape seed was reduced, I think, from ten pounds to ten shillings per last. The duty on indigo which was indeed but small before, was reduced to 20 per cent. The duty on logwood was reduced from qs. ^d. sterling, I think, said Mr. E. to 4s. 6d. the ton. The amount of all these and some other reductions were stated by Mr. Huskisson, at from 1 to 2 per cent in the manufacture. I believe it is nearer twice that amount. Taking it, however, at two per cent in addition to the 14-^ per cent already mentioned, it reduces the effective duty in this country on foreign woollens to i6y per cent, that is, just one half. " Now, I ask, said Mr. E. whether if the duty of 334. per cent laid by the law of 1824, was but an inadequate protection for our woollen manufactures, (and I have already said it was probable, at its best estate, inadequate,) whether a reduction of one half was not a death blow to the manufacture. " Here then is a strong case, fairly made out, and no more connected with the principles of political economy, than with algebra or metaphysics. Unless the American people think it just and fair, that the laws passed by the American Congress for the protection of Ameri- can industry should be repealed by the British Parliament, and that for the purpose of securing the supply of our market to the British manufacturer to the end of time, it was the duty of Congress to counteract this movement. I say, continued Mr. E. it was incumbent on Congress, as the very least they could do, to raise the duty of 1824 to fifty per cent, for so much had the British legislation lowered it. And had this been done, the foreign article would not have been enhanced to the consumer, beyond its old price, because what was added to the duty would have been taken from the cost." Then follows an able argument in favor of a duty upon wool imported into the United States, though Great Britain received it almost duty free. He said — " It was repeatedly said last winter, that we ought to begin at the other end. If the British government lowers the duty on wool imported into England, the American govern- ^nent ought to lower the duty on v/ool imported into America. This, it is true, would meet thqt PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 55 the difficulty, as far as the manufacturer alone was concerned ; butprecisely the same objec- 1827 1828. tion reverted. Why should we allow the British Parhamentto repeal the law which we have ^> s., ' passed for the protection of our farmers. In 1824, the American Congress saw fit to give the inclosure in N" 3. farmer the benefit of a progressively increasing duty rising to 30 per cent on imported wool, p ,. ^ , ' The British government immediately thinks fit to lower this duty on wool 44 per cent. GeneralC^^ ° f^ Why should we deprive the American wool-grower of the promised benefit of this law, at Harrisbure because Parliament has laid a heavy burden on the Enghsh wool-grower ? No, Sir ; the continued. farmer has the same right to his protection that the manufacturer has to his : and to lower the duty on imported wool, would be merely to transfer the burden, and sacrifice the grower to the consumer of wool. Sir, said Mr. E. I would not agree to this sacrifice. It is indefen- sible in principle, and in effect doubly pernicious. I say doubly pernicious, for it is the interest of the manufacturer that the raismg of sheep should prosper in the country ; while it is the best effect of the whole policy that it encourages that branch of husbandry. It was said, rather sneeringly, on the floor of Congress, last winter, that the measure proposed was one for the relief of the Boston and Salem capitalists. Sir, said Mr. E. it has escaped my observation, if that respectable class of citizens are the most zealous supporters of these measures. Still more do I err, if there is any branch of industry in which the profits are more equally divided, or more widely scattered than this. The raw material bears an unusually large proportion to the whole article. And this raw material is not raised by costly machinery from the bowels of the earth ; it is not cultivated on large plantations, which none but the rich can own and carry on. It may be brought to market by the middling farmer ; by the poor man. The man who can do nothing else to add a few dollars in cash to his bare livelihood, can keep a few sheep ; the land which will produce scarcely any thing else will support them. Of this land, there is not a little in New England. Even in England, where the husbandry is better perhaps than in any other part of the world, with the excep- tion of Flanders and Lombardy, the raising of sheep is the farmer's main-stay. His flock is the basis of his operations. His flock supplies him all his comforts ; his flock educates his children; his flock ekes out all the deficiencies of the rest of the establishment; above all, his mutton and his wool enable him to stagger under that heavy burden, which I trust in heaven will never be laid on the shoulders of the American farmer, a cash rent per annum greater than the fee simple price of improved lands in many parts of this country." In another part, Mr. Everett said, — " I am not anxious to conceal. Sir, that in the change of feeling which has taken place in this community, on the subject of manufactures, I have participated. There was a time, and that not long ago, when not merely an indifterence, but a positive unfavorable impression was felt in this community on the subject of manufactures. The accounts of the corruption of morals, and prostration of health, of the overworking and underfeeding of the British fac- tories, (accounts in themselves too true, I fear,) were repeated with a kind of melancholy relish. Men wrought themselves up to the belief, that by the necessity and nature of the case, a manufacturing establishment was a voluntary penitentiary, an earthly pandemonium, into which, under the gripe of stern necessity, — driven by the lash of stern necessity, the wretched inmates were fain to condemn themselves. There is too much reason to believe in the truth of these accounts in the countries to which they relate. But experience and observation have taught us all, that the case is very different here. After having examined the chief establishments for manufactures on the seaboard, I can truly say that I have never seen in one of them an individual, whose countenance, dress, or manners denoted over- working, underfeeding, or worse morals than those of his neighbours in the other pursuits of life." G.4 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFF^ o en OO c o 3 O 00 c CS ^'J 00 J3 «% tn o :^ o C3 «3 ffi "" O CS Ol I^ TS CD ^-^ (4-1 a o o to Q< c Ci, o CS 'Hj u 2 lU o ts s S c y W o D 0) « 4-> j= o ■*-J o c as en -a (U ^ o T3 o -D u -< ti CD to a o •4-> X -3 (D ■a G a ^ a. <; J3 4-i t4-. o ^ O t— I H < ^ D PL, o fx, m JZ ■*-> t4-l o in c/i W OS O o ca fr o CO 00 3 o O CI OO o- SO h-I o H "O, H O O; OO >-3 <•, [- o o o H o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o q q o o d o d o" 00 o o CO MCO O OO CO ei ooooooooooo ooooooooooo ooqqqqoqooo oood^dddddo ._ OC^OOOl-l'Or-ir-OOlrHOOO oooooooooo gooooooooo qqqqoooooo vj o d" o d cT d" >^ lo ^ *• « «5 t-. o CO rt 7; c^ o q ooooooooooo OOOOOOOOOOO 00 qqqqqqo o o ^dooooddodd ri r^«5 OJCO CO kO rH CO i> T-I^C^CIrHrH lH.-(r-l O O O d CO 00 o o o o vo d 000000000000000000000000000 000000000000000000000000000 o o qqqqqqqo_^o^qQ qqqqo qqq o_^o^o o o o dddddddd doo uidddddduiddddddviditi oooooooooc»Ot>.rHoo vnoo c^co^o oi>o»o>o»oo>oo»o-*co CO coco r^ CO C« O CO ■* coco ■^ClC^t-l 1j->OOCOr1rt »o -■ i> o> o •<*- c^ »ooo oioto 0105051H00 r^coi> ■^t-oo w to co co 05 COCO CO »0 -^CO '^ I> Ol-*- IflCO C^O0OO'ooicooo '>^- >oco ^ 05 CTC»>0 oiCTCOcqO 'i-OCO"*cor-' l-lT^»o>0'-| 00 i> ' 00 r- rt cioo CO r^ coco Oj-^^t^ei ■ or>« ■*0> 00»0.-i001V3r<00>OI>iHCOOCO O5-HC0 O »0 « lO ^ rH O I>CO OOOOOrnr^ rnOSCl di> ■oo !?i -M- r^ loco 00 01 >o -^ Tj^ c^_ ■^■■+ rH CO t;. CO C^ CO O CT) c<_oo vj ■* '^ "^ ^^ '9 "v "v ^ "^ "^^ r^ coco" di t^ -^ o '-"o >ooo ef cT 02 ■+ ri r-co CO coco rH vocD o -H coco oo-^t~.cocoi>-^>r5«n iim WCllO CICO00i-o co O CO ■<*- CO rl- 02 -^CO 02 t^ Tt- « O -< CO i> "J; q (35 0500 q 10 o CO *ocq ^o 1^ -j co" ■.CO rH »0 ■^^ rH l->»O0 r^ V^ rH lo ClCOi>.rHOO(MlOC1 ' CO lo »o c» rH CO c» 00 -d-co c* COlOI>>OI>.>nM00t> O dcd" rTcd" d" ■* cT d" ■# •>? ■^ r^CO O CO CI rH 01 CT 000 ' t^rHinr-.eioO'i- kooo ■ oo o »o rn O'-i rH>nc?ii>.OrHe rH V5 lOOO CO 13 o CO >o »o \o d ■^ ri" ci"oo"cd" >o t-i ■* -^ d , rH rH rH Q-jtO Ol O , rH CO -^OO rH CO rH rH rH * ooo coco IT) oi CO O CO tJ- Ol IC O200 ■+ rH l> t(- O CO CO CO <31 O rH !>. r)- OjtO O CO rn CO CO 05 rn t-H■*Tt-(^^ rH rHCOoooo "''T.^'^'^'i't tC CO >o CO »o t^ocTcdcd" iS >o -Ted" 'f »o CT rnCO l>»OrH rH «00 ^OCOVit^rH T^ WC*-^ 0ICTO^Clt>» C^^COClrH Th rH »0 r^ rH O rH t^OO O) CO rH t^ COCO Ol O 01 rH ■ t^ CI COCO CT CO 00 Vi 01 CO O CO ■# »o -^co" CO rJ" t^ ^ cd" CICOrHdCIOIrHrH rH , CI CO 01 CO O 02 cS 00 CO CO CO en q «" CO OO 0503 LOCI O >00 Ol^OCOd O^OrHCO — 'O'+Ol OCO "^i^'+t^O'+O 050S I>CO OOrnO't-OrHlOOlCOrHrH lO CO rT CO of cii " 'f-cd rJ e? ■# (ftcdoo >o ^ •OOO d CO lO >O00 rH O CO -+00 1^ rhCO rHrHT^ CIrHlOCiCO COOO rj- <0 rH O CI to VO rH •o O loco rf- 00 co oi coco 00 'o o" ic »o O 01 T^ O rH I CO « CO CO t^OO CO rH Oi I Ol I Tl- CO colo rHc l>CO >oco OiOjci^'^r^c^qcooi^oo (jjco oo oi_ o d oTcd" >o ^ CO »o ^f cd" cS r4"oo'" t>cd -^ >O00 rH CO ■* lO lO CjIOO -^01 rH CO C3i O rH;*!-^ ClrHlOrHiO 01>OCOrHrH O) 03 loco CO I> O t^ 01 t1- rH r^oo O CO >o rT di >o vj 1 Oi t^ ■st- O V5 t^ loco C31 O to 00 -d-OO O r- COOO I ■ • rH r^ T^oo oooi'^cocicor^aicirHiot^'^ 03r^ kOOO r^OO Cl lO rH rH^ CO O t^CO l>; O »0 CO CO cd"r<"otfoo"r^>oo'''^^ditor^co(3"oi" >oco 05 ■+ r^co COOO Thoo CO lo rH Tt- oi -+00 . . . 00 i> rHCO 01 COrHH^ C0t>.C0C1 "11 00 ■ OO -!^CO rH CO I> C^CO I> 01 rn ■+ >0 -^CO rH 01 01 COOO CO 01 t^ OCO rH to t^ '^ '^ '^'^ O CO lO O 01 oT r^ r^ COOO CO or (3 ri o5 01 rH O OJ O O 01 01 r^ ■+ o Tt-oo >o^too tot^^rHco O CJC1 C^I>.OlTt-»CtorH -d-rH OOOOO qO CO-sJ-CtOl^rH Ojq COCO rn 01 rn C5 cd"rH'co-^or»o'^di ^cd"oo" oi"ocr rT cT to tJ- t^CO COOO m CO CI Hd- O "^hOO CO UO rHCO 01 COrHTJ- OI-^-OlrH Is-" 1 e(a) Hamp achuse e Islar ecticut ii-< Main New Mass Rhod Conn ■ CO CO O CO CO CO CO ■ o CO to ■*- OS cd" 00 ^ CO 01 CO to 01 05 CO en ;— b C2 O es C|- « o ^ be" C8 g rrt U3 o & Oh CJ rC-fi 13 '^ tn - a O t3 :§ 0--S rd J (U rC T3 CS U ^" Bi 2 C8 13 S>^ ,. c " O •" a> o r rC 00 o ■" rH -Z! iH O S- HJ ^ fe'*' -o g fi' ^- I m 5,250,000 7,920,000 7,650,000 9,445,000 8,332,000 14,232,000 2,221,000 8,515,000 15,108,000 9,652,000 3,080,000 2,324,000 2,683,000 17,529,000 24,106,000 22,628,000 31,334,258 21,081,769 22,308,667 20,157,484 24,035,058 20,445,520 21,947,401 36,846,649 25,025,214 Value — Dolls, Barrels, 101,272 112,428 59,947 76,826 61,050 69,018 58,167 68,567 96,070 78,680 103,758 77,721 86,291 83,343 71,252 83,186 62,232 9,576 53.921 84,134 35,828 26,094 5,314 3,125 85,337 69,241 62,365 84,337 69,437 83,940 66,858 82,169 99,009 77,883 75,984 64,098 6,220,000 6,209,000 6,000,000 6,341,000 6,572,000 5,476,000 833,090 3,774,000 5,048,000 2,150,000 1,514,000 319,000 232,000 8,235,000 12,809,000 9,320,000 9,867,429 7,636,970 7,968,600 5,648,962 6,222,838 6,282,672 4,855,566 6,115,623 5,347,208 619,681 824,464 1,074,639 846,010 687,369 725,194 515,633 567,558 519.265 653,052 1,102,444 1,156,248 1,311,853 810,008 777,513 782,724 1,249,819 263,813 846,247 798,431 1,445,012 1,443,492 1,260,943 193,274 862,739 729,053 1,479,198 1,157,697 750,660 1,1 77.036 1,056,119 827,865 756,702 996,702 813,906 857,820 Vnlue— Dolls, RICE. Tieri Value— Dolls. Whole Value of Vegetable Food exported. a re O ^13 m r—i O S P 13^ • -r-^ f the General Convention at Harrisburg, continued. POPULATION, A great variety of interesting comparisons might be made out of the facts presented and calcula- tions offered in the foregoing table, showing the several censusses ; but we shall avoid them as far as it is possible, without neglecting to exhibit what ought to be known and seriously considered by every citizen of the United States. Some general remarks on population, ^s affected by manufactures and commerce, may be found in the Address. It is manifest, that a large majority of the people approve the protecting system, though different opinions have existed as to the extent and objects of it. Their principle, however, is the same ; and the majority is increasing in power with wonderful rapidity, and will increase more rapidly hereafter, because of the more and more extended range of profitable employment and increased comforts. We shall offer a few figures to illustrate our assertions ; not in a spirit of unfriendliness to either of the states named, but with a hope that the people thereof will not shut their eyes against the demonstration. Virginia, especially, great in her territorial Hmits, rich in her soil and minerals, and also well supplied with water-power in her new and vigorous western counties, is as well fitted to support a dense and wealthy population as any state in the union ; and indeed there are few more prosperous districts of country than those in that state wherein manufacturing establishments exist, and flocks of sheep whiten the hills, or give animation to the vallies. Tlie surface of the whole state' is 70,000 miles, that of Pennsylvania 44,900 square miles, that of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Vermont about 34;ooo ; the whole of the states named having only one-eighth more territory than Virginia alone, and perhaps a less quantity of naturally good land. 1790. Free Whites. Total. Militia.* Reps, in Congress. Pennsylvania - , - - Virginia - - - - 424,099 442,117 434,373 747,610 84,800 88,400 13 19 In favour of Virginia 18,018 313,237 3,600 6 1820. Pennsylvania ... Virginia 1,018,985 602,974 1,049,398 1,065,366 203,400 1 20,400 26 22 In favour of Pennsylvania - 416,011 1,400,000 1,150,000 83,000 4 1880 (supposed). Pennsylvania - ... Virginia 1,360,000 680,000 272,000 1 34,000 28t 19 In favour of Pennsylvania - 580,000 , 250,000 1 38,000 7 The lands, lots and houses of Pennsylvania, as ascertained and assessed in 1815, by authority of the United States, for payment of the direct tax, was .... jft" 346 633,880 Like valuation in Virginia, including that of the slaves, was .... 263,584'6oo In the same year the lands, lots and houses of Connecticut, whose territory contains\ about 4,700 square miles, were valued at - - - . - . .f 00,000,000 Those of South CaroUna, including her slaves, and with a territory of 28,000 sauarel miles, at ■: . . .[ 74,ooo,ooo In that year Virginia and South Carolina had 32 representatives in Congress, and Pennsylvania and Connecticut 30. It is presumed, that the rule of assessing, being in obedience to one general instruction from the treasury of the United States, was about the same in all cases, perhaps greatly under the then sellinjr value of the property. But that has no effect on the comparative view. GENERAL VIEW OF THE FOREIGN COMMERCE OF THE UNITED STATES, 1826. Importations. Articles free of duty, such as specie and bullion (6,880,966), raw hides and furs, (worth 2,825,536), wood, tm, copper m pigs and plates, (worth 1,087,930), models, specimens, animals for breed, antimony, zmc, &c. &c. , . . j;- 12 567 760 Merchandize paying duties ad valorem aq'ti o'oQn • - - d" specific duties - - 29,693,378 84,974,477 Of all which the value of 4,196,357 was in foreign vessels ; about a 20th part of the whole. Of the preceding amount there was exported the value of Jl" 24,539,612, as follows: Articles free of duty, (specie and bullion 4,098,678) - ... j;* 5,135,108 paying ad valorem duties - . - ... ii'376,'536 • specific duties - - 8ii27'968 24,539,612 * ^"f.-^'^ ^eing supposed capable of bearing arms, which is the usual allowance. t Katio in each at 50,000, for the " federal " number, which includes three-fifths of the slaves. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 59 The following shows the Value of the Import, Export and Consumption, of some of the principal Articles : Hides and skins - Furs - - - . Specie and bulhon Copper - .. . Wood Manufaeturea of wool of cotton - - ' - of silk ------ of flax - . - of hemp, except cordage, twine, &c. of iron and steel - - . . of leather - - . . . of glass (all sorts) . . . of brass - . - . . of wares - . . . Laces 'Wool (raw) ... Carpeting .... Cotton (bagging) Wines . . - . Spirits Molasses ^ - - . Teas- - . . . Coffee - . . . Sugar .... Spices .... Indigo - . - . - ton, in bars, bolts, anchors, &c. Salt Paper .... Hemp .... 2,204,822 1/ds. 3,436,460 galls. 3,718,252 _ 13,843,045 - 10,108,900 lis. 37>3 19,497 - 84.-902,955 - 1,151,700 lbs. - 45565,720 bushels 1,216,379 lbs. . 88,116 cwi. . Whole Import. 2,825,526 338,955 6,880,996 1,087,930 713,72c 7,886,826 8,348,034 8,104,837 2,987,026 1,787,755 2,831,243 410,745 511,423 332,561 1,634,581 659,904 449,725 545,148 274,973 1,781,188 1,587,712 2,838,728 3,752,281 4,159,558 5,311,631 * 594,568 1,979,519 2,620,000 677,058 250,264 551,757 Export. 364,672 40,903 4,098,678 133,040 459,600 441,382 2,226,090 3,234,720 1,453,721 472,334 267,813 10,055 48,727 18,545 159,881 207,379 2,957 11,898 2,248 366,485 296,523 16,419 1,308,694 1,449,022 1,742,034 * 578,729 712,080 168,164 8,603 ♦432,126 438 Con^u motion. 2,460,854 298,052 2,782,288 954,890 254,126 7,445,444 6,121,944 4,870,117 1,533,305 1,315,421 2,563,431 400,696 462,696 314,016 1,474,700 452,525 446,768 533,250 273,725 1,414,703 1,291,189 2,822,309 2,443,587 2,710,536 3,569,597 15,839 1,267,439 2,459,836 668,455 551,319 The whole value of the articles imported, at their value in foreign countries, was 84,794,477 Deduct exportations .-.-.-.... 24,539,612 Articles of domestic product and manufacture exported Apparent Balance against the United States . Consumption - ^60,254,865 53,055,710 7,199,155 Which in part is earned in freights, or made up of profits, caused by increased values of goods variously transported from place to place,, or is yet owing. 1827—1828. '■ ' Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, tontinued. Exportations — ^Domestic Articles. Fish, oil, sperm, candles — products of the sea Furs, ginseng, all sorts of lumber, navalstores, ashes — products of the forest Beef, pork, tallow, lard, hides; butter, cheese, live cattle — ^products of animals Flour, wheat and other grain, potatoes, apples, rice ..... Tobacco ............ Cotton ...-.-.-..-.. Indigo, flax.seed, hops ...-.-.... Manufactures Articles not distinguished in their returns ----... ^1,473,388 3,951.250 3,098,860 7,527,357 5,347,208 25,025,214 254,462 5,852,733 525,710 53,055,710 The Quantity and Value of some of the principal Articles of domestic produce exported, were — Whale and other fish oil Spermaceti candles . • . Staves, heading, shingles, boaiJds, plank, hewn timber, &c. - Masts, spai-s, oak bark, and other dyes, and manufactures of wood Naval stores ...------- Beef (72,886 bbls.) tallow, hides, horned cattle - Butter and cheese --------- Pork (88^994 bbls.) hams, bacon, lard, hve hogs Horses and mules - Wheat Flour 652,401 gali 836,280 lbs. 735,399 tts. 3,353-no. - 45,166 bushels 857,820 Us. - i" 183,343 388,104 2,011,694- 319,212 733,430 207,765 1,893*429; 247,543- 38,676. 4,121,466 * These items show, that some of the imports of the preceding year passed into the exports of 1826, but the general consumption may still be shown in the last column. 578. H2 60 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 18^7—1828. ^ _ ' Inclosure in N° 3. Proceedings of the GeneralConvention at Harrisburg, continued. Indian corn - . - . . meal Rye flour, rye oats, or pulse Biscuit or ship bread . - - Rice ...... Cotton Tobacco . - Hops - - . - Wax - - . Spirits from grain ... Candles - - - - Soap - - . . . SnufF and tobacco manufactured Nails ... . . Spirits from molasses Manufactures of Iron - . - Gunpowder - - - Manufactures of leather and saddlery morocco, &c. Hats - - - - 505,381 bushels 158,653 bis. - - 111,063 tierces 204,535,415 lbs. 64,098 hhds. - 388,718 tti. - - 474,832 - - - 212,970 ffflfe. - 2,062,22576*. 1 6,089,408 - J - 651,334/64. - 194,364^0/4. 1,107,565 lbs. 384,955 622,366 144,668 251,728 1,917,445 25,035,214 5,347,208 100,668 206,001 143,966 722,417 210,134 52,959 70,212 121,275 174,273 653,570 43,834 272,431 631,060 1,138,125 Manufactures of wood, including coaches, &c. ------ D" - - cotton, piece goods - - - . . - ^g° The foregoing presents a general view of the state of the foreign trade of the United States, in regard to the principal products of agriculture and manufactures, exported or imported. Tlie whole tonnage employed in the foreign trade in the year 1826 (including the repeated voyages), was as follows : — tuns 942,206 105,654 American - .-..- --.- British 69,295, French 14,970, Hanse-towns 5,855, Swedish 3,664, all else :i,8go Grand Total - - 1,047,860 So that more than nine-tenths of all the tonnage employed in our foreign trade was American. We shall now proceed to take a particular view of our commerce and navigation with Great Britain and Ireland, as principally showing the absolute necessity either of encouraging and enlarging the internal trade between the states, or of more extensively mamifacturing for ourselves. LIST of ARTICLES, or their Value, imported into the United States from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, for the Year commencing on the 1st day of October 1825, and ending on the 30th day of September 1826. Articles' free of duty - D° - paying duty ad valorem - D° - paying specific duties Total, dollars - Euglaud. 628,544 21,116,395 2,617,264 Scotland. 1,694 732,592 362,486 Ireland. 75=9 615,223 57,052 34,362,203 1,096,772 672,994 1,096,772 672,994 - - 26,131,969 Some of the classes which made up the preceding amount, were — Cloths and cassimeres costing less than 33 \ cents per square yard D" - d° - - more than 33 j- cents - . . Flannels and baizes ------- Blankets Hosiery, gloves and mits, &c. - Worsted stuff goods All other manufactures of wool, paying 33 \ per cent duty Total woollen manufactures - 1826. 109,204 4,080,455 561,121 484,553 173,780 1,123,780 482,041 7,014,934 - Same, 1825. 138,645 4,778,843 1,059,387 813,268 355,745 2,271,983 792,075 10,209,045 Printed and coloured cottons White cotton goods - - - - Hosiery, gloves, mits, &c. Twist, yam and thread Nankeens - - - All others pajdng a duty of 25 per cent Total cotton manufactures 4,042,647 1,659,890 242,256 168,091 3,275 101,992 6,578,151 7,180,497 2,926,007 364,526 197.969 10,639 289,878 10,969,516 PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 6)1 Linen, and other manufactures of flax ... Manufactures of hemp, except cordage ... D° - - of iron and steel .... P" - - of leather, including saddles and harness China, earthen, japanned, plated and gilt wares Carpeting Cotton bagging ... Spirits from grain Spirits — other - - . Beer, ale and porter - - . Cheese - - - . . Gunpowder - - . . White and red lead - - - Lead, bar, sheet and pig Shot - - ... Copper rods, bdts, spikes and nails Nails, tacks, brads and sprigs Iron — spikes .... cables and chains mUl saws .... anchors ... anvils - . • hammers and sledges - castings . . . - brazier's rods ... sheet and hoop - slit and rolled for band, &c. in pigs - ... bar and bolt-rolled hammered ... steel ... Salt - - . - . Potatoes ..... Paper of all sorts Window glass . - . - Boots .... 2,035,712 sq.yds. 65,656 gals. - 46,598 - - 68,966 - - 14,569 lbs. - 62,968 - 1,707,102 - - 1,899,0127 - - 93>945 - - 17,675 - - 30,016 lbs. 375,323 - - 1,499 no. 18,626 lbs. - 404,809 - . 22,153 - 1,040,928 - 887,121 _ - 2,171,940 - - 2,143 - . 32,352 cia. - 88,360 - - 9,947 - 15,347 - - 2,445,015 bushels 23,636 - 191 pair i* 1,837,765 423,879 2,635,151 159,870 1,448,199 541,914 254,465 34,412 30,382 62,206 2,940 15,363 122,740 86,974 4,8oi 4,581 26,845 986 25,996 6,096 1,467 24,372 1,683 45,164 22,851 80,753 3,921 64,046 221,553 33,492 213,190 441,879 12,003 12,957 64,673 794 J'2,140,351 308,979 3,136,627 286,810 1,409,103 511,940 * 614,400 58,587 54,742 59,108 2,840 11,658 146,441 1 11 7,543 1 7,033 28,832 50,966 1,028 30,073 6,012 2,211 34,457 4,460 56,050 12,267 54,160 33,791 221,301 16,342 192,012 346,715 5,970 11,589 57,582 177 The importation from Great Britain was 10,581,297 dollars less in 1826, than in 1825; the excess of the latter year being caused by the wild speculations in cotton, and the consequently forced sales of British manufactures to pay damages. It was that surplus which brought about much derange- ment in the manufacturing business of the United States, &c. 1827—1828. Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the General Coavention at Harrisburg, contitmed. LIST of ARTICLES of Domestic Growth or Product, exported from the United States to Great Britain and Ireland, during the Year ended 30th September 1826. Whalebone Spermaceti candles . - - Staves, boards, plank, hewn timber, &c. Masts and spars .... Oak bark and other dye ... Manufactures of wood ... Tar, pitch, rosin and turpentine Pot and pearl ashes . - - . Skins and furs - - . - 8,674 lbs. 351 - 1,211 tons - Ginseng Beef, 36 bbls. Pork, 26 bbls. Flour Indian corn Biscuit Apples - Eice Indigo - Cotton, sea island - hides 25,790 no. hams 309 lbs. - 18,355 ibis. - 16,765 bushels 95 bbls. 3,225 - ■ 20,521 tierces 1,512 lbs. 5,112,848 - 1 other 127,736,004 - J 26,134 hhds. 114,633 SuiAeZ* - , - - - - 334,932 lbs. - 22,954 - - 1,350 - - - 33,000 - - 15 toits, - Tobacco Flaxseed Hops ... Wax - - - Beer, porter and cider Spirits of turpentine PTg iron - " 7 All manufactures of iron Carried forward $ 2,443 148 . 103,442 15,955 30,131 4,089 169,443 111,184 405,919 2,136 126,255 271 73,334 12,788 217 7,667 266,195 965 15,829,651 2,774,443 143,553 85,137 7,410 233 2,127 450 135 20,337,717 * 4,273,394 square yards in 1825. f 2,223,469 lbs. and 119,724153. . 578. H3 G2 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure in N°3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, continued. Brought forward Spirits ..--.------- Piece goods -------- ... Wearing apparel Books, maps and chaits -- Paints and varnish --.- Marble and stone (manufactures of)- Articles not enumerated — manufactured ------ — ~— raw produce --------- The whole shows a Total Value of Of which The products of the Planters in cotton, tobacco, rice and indigo, amounted to The products of the Fisheries, in whalebone and candles . . - - The products of the Forest, in staves, masts, bark, naval stores, skins, furs, ginseng," pot and pearl ashes, &c. - . - The products of the Farmers, in beef and pork, hides, flour, corn, biscuit, appleSi" flaxseed, wax and hops, &c. -,- - j The products of Manufacturers of wood and iron, spirits, piece goods, maps, spirits"! of turpentine, cider, &c. . - . - - - j 20,337.717 30 664 30 4.217 160 9.791 1,824 58,783 20,413,216 18,871,254 2,59.1 838,210 313,079 23,066 20,048,200 The balance made up of American gold and silver coin, 125,542, medicinal drugs 35,065, and other small articles, chiefly of raw produce, not enumerated. The apparent balance against us, in this year's business, nearly six millions, was made up by foreign articles (in the raw state) exported by us, in freights earned, in some goods returned, in 1^785,580, paid m specie, or in new debts incurred. In 1825 we imported British goods of the value of In 1826 the same ... Difference - S 36,710,000 26,130,000 - ^10,580,000 In 1825 our cotton, tobacco, rice and indigo, exported to the United Kingdom, was valued at In 1826 the same Difference S 33.042,000 18,871,000 ■ ^14,171,000 ■ J'30,463,000 15,829,000 The cotton exported to Great Britain in 1825 was 131,000,000 lbs. In 1826 - - - - - - 134,000,000 _ - - How great the amount of the distress caused by these fluctuations in the value of imports and exports ! AH sorts of regular business were unhinged, and made the sport of the caprices or follies or crimes of the old world, our own markets not being secured to ourselves, as they secure theirs for their own preservation and safety. REVENUE. The Revenue of the United States,, as estabUshed by the result of the operations at the treasury, does not appear to have been at all dependent on the protecting policy The desire to purchase is regulated by the ability to obtain desirable articles 1791 1795 1800 1805 1810 1815 i8i6 1817 1818 1819 1820 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 Products of the Customs. '^4,399,472 5,588,461 9,080,932 12,936,487 8,538,309 (restricted trade.) 7,282,942 d". 36,806,874 26,283,348 17,176,385 20,283,608 15,005,612 13,004,447 17,589,761 19,088,433 17,878,325 20,098,713 23,325,475 six and a haSlll^n. ^^^^ ^^ 1^%^' the years of 1825 and 18.6, produced nearly andT82i^wr teen^^^^^^^ '^T ^^^ !l'^' \^'^ r^"*^^° "^'"^""^ "^^'^ ^^an in 182J dutiable Uod.^hSo^ -^ r" attested truth, that 500 manufacturers consume more dutiable goods than 2,000 agriculturists, as well from the necessity imposed of using greater qu^tities PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. &S quantities of coffee, sugar, tea, &c. as because of the means furnished, in the ready money payments made, to purchase these things, as well as silks, and other articles of luxury. Any one who shall visit a manufacturing village on a Sunday, will have no doubt about this. We have reference to persons whose subsistence depends on the labour of their own hands, not to proprietors of factories or owners of farms. The reader will not fail to mark the falling off of the revenue in the calamitous years of 1820 and 1821, when the prostration of out mamif'actures was consummated, by British policy and American neglect. The following table shews the imports, exports and consumption of foreign merchandise in the United States, and is a valuable commentary on the predicted ruin of the revenue because of the Tariff of 1824 : 1827—182,8. Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, continued. TOTAL IMPORTS. Re-exportaiions. Foreign Mercliandize . consumed in the Dnited States. 1821 . - . . 1822 . - . . 1823 - - - . ^62,585,024 83,241,541 77,579,267 ^21,302,488 22,286,202 27,543,622 ^41,282,538 60,955,339 50,035,645 Total for Three years - $ 223,405,832 J" 71,132,310 j;- 152,273,522 1824 .... 1825 .... 1826 .... ^80,549,047 96,340,075 84,974,477 ,1' 25,337,157 32,590,643 34,539,612 j;" 55,2 11,890 63,749,432 60,434,865 Total for Three years - J- 261,863,599 ^82,467,412 J- 179,396,187 But — employment and cash payments for labour, beget ability to purchase, and desire always treads upon the heels of means. Mr. Cambreleng asserted, that we should lose " two millions" of revenue, if the bill of 1824 was passed into a law. But the consumption has increased at the rate of nine millions a year, the average of three years, and the revenue has been proportionably augmented. PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION. We shall now proceed to offer some desultory views of the far more important matters which belong to our living at home, and, though many items submitted will surprize most readers, we cannot do any thing more than assist in the formation of a general idea of the bearing and extent of the internal or domestic trade. Indeed, if we had, like many other countries, collected facts to shew the various aggregates, the human mind would still be at a loss to comprehend the amounts exhibited in the figures presented. Still, by comparison, useful conclusions might be drawn, and the people become wiser by ascertaining, and more resolute in supporting, their own best and vital interests. The committee feel the difficulties which beset them in this part of their duty ; but, if the " Gordian knot" cannot be untied for the want of official details, they will venture to attempt the cutting of it by offering pro- babilities to their fellow citizens of the United States, that every free and reflecting man may judge for himself on the reasonableness of them ; and we shall enter upon a bold calculation of aggregate values of the whole consumption — premising that we intend to keep below our individual opinions as to what are the real amounts. What is the probable value of commodities required to feed and clothe the people of the United States, at present 12,000,000, and to furnish them with the usual conveniences and comforts, which they possess and enjoy ? Dr. Thomas Cooper, now the learned president of the college of South Carolina, about 15 years ago, offered the following calculation as to the subsistence of persons in the United States : For one man— 8 J bushels of grain at 125 cts. - - - 10 62 J 365lbs. of meat - G - - - - -21 go Whiskey or other drinks - - - - 15 00 Fuel, vegetables, and many small articles - 7 47 J Annually ^55 00 On this calculation, that distinguished gentleman concluded, that the " yearly produce of our agriculture was worth 640 milhons of dollars," — saying, " how the boasted PANEGYRICS ON FOREIGN TRADE dwindle into insignificance when SET IN COMPETITION WITH THIS." But as yet no allowance had been made for the clothing of the people, the subsistence of their horses, &c. ik.c. The estimate is much too large ; still the amount is exceedingly great, as we shall shew below. H 4 Mr Colquhoun, 64. PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 18x7 loizb. ^j. Colquhoun, one of the ablest and best informed statistical writers that ever lived, the ^^ ^-^ ' population of Great Britain and Ireland being 17,000,000, (181a), estimated the consumption Inclosure in N° 3. of grain at 9,170,000 quarters of wheat, and 25,780,000 quarters of oats, barley, rye, peas. Proceedings of the and beans. The weight of these articles being about 13,984,000,000 lbs. allowed for each General Convention person 822 lbs. per annum, including grain used for drinks, and the food of horses and other at Harrisburg, animals, the whole being equal in its value to 11 bushels of wheat; but yet excluding continued. potatoes, turnips, cabbages, parsnips, carrots and the many other vegetable articles, with hay and grass, produced for the supply of man and his domestic animals, horses, cattle, sheep and swine, &c.; whereas Dr. Cooper allowed the equivalent oi 20 J bushels of wheat for the supply of bread and drink to every person, without consideration of the food of animals fed on grain or grass. The doctor's estimate was a great deal too high, (though the average price of provisions was iriore than it is now), exceeding both in the amount or quality pro- duced or required. But we have reliance upon Mr. Colquhoun's statement, not only because we highly respect his judgment, but on account of the valuable authentic statements to which he had free access in compiling his great work on British statistics. At the time when Mr. C. wrote, the people of his country, pretty generally, consumed us much as their wishes required, of bread-stuffs. They did not exist on " half a pint of oatmeal per day," for each person, as Mr. Peel has declared in Parliament, that large portions of the working- classes did exist upon, a little while ago. The 9,170,000 quarters of wheat, and the 25,780,000 quarters of other grain consumed in Great Britain and Ireland, were valued by Mr. Colquhoun at 73,734,291 pounds sterling, or 327,000,000 dollars, equal to 15 dollars 57 cents for the bread and drink of each person, including the cost of grain given to the domestic animals, but excluding all other vegetable productions. It must be observed, how- ever, that the price of grain is rriuch higher in Great Britain than it is in the United States, and values of it in our country may not be placed in opposition to its values in the other, except to shew the capacity of either to meet the other in some common market, with the respective products of their labour for sale ; and in that, ultimately, the cost of subsistence will regulate the prices and profits on commodities : and hence, as in cotton goods we do manufacture cheaper than the British, so we contend that we shall supply all other goods, when scientific power has the same action here that it has in Great Britain. That it will have such action — that our countrymen are as ingenious and as industrious as the British, no one can doubt. As yet, we have excelled them in every thing which we have fully attempted to do. But this is a digression- — its matter belongs to other considerations than those just now before us : still the facts suggested should always be in recollection. But the habits of the people of the United States are very different from those of the people of Great Britain. They have talked about roast beef — we eat it, and whenever we please. We speak generally. Meat is not one-fourth the price with us that it is with them, and our labouring people have it twice, if not three times a day, and not in measured quan- tities. We, therefore, must needs make a calculation for ourselves. It will not amount to much more than one-third of President Cooper's supposed value of subsistence, (in, some degree because of the present reduced price of agricultural products), and, proportionably, fall far short of Mr. Colquhoun's. Hence the moderation of our estimates will appear. We are 1 2,000,000 — and our calculations are at the present price of commodities. So many persons using bread, or all other sorts of vegetable food, including rice potatoes, &c. equal, in the whole, to one pound of wheat flour per day, worth 2 cents on an average at the [home] markets for it — 365 days _ . . ^97,600,000 The same, usmg meat of all sorts, and salted fish, with milk, butter, cheese, lard, eggs, &c. all the products of animals, in all, equal to 1 lb. per day, or three cents, for 365 days ---_.. 131,400,000 Whiskey, beer, cider, &c. 20^000^000 ^249,000,000 Two hundred and forty-nine millions of dollars worth of food and drink, for subsistence or use of twelve millions of persons, allows for each, in these agricultural products, the value of only 20 dollars and 75 cents per annum, or 40 cents per week. Then comes the necessary clothing, and some facts with a good deal of observation and reflection, have induced us to establish these minimums. Woollen goods, of all sorts, or of which wool is a component part, including all articles for men and women's wear, with blankets, rugs, carpets, &c. at $q for each person . . _ _ -,§'70,000,000 Cotton, linen, silk and hempen goods, of all descriptions, required for personal or family use, the same ---.-. 70,000,000 Manufactures of hides and skins — shoes, boots, saddlery, harness, &c. 250 cents each person . - . - ' . . . 30,000,000 Hats, 100 cents each person - ---... 12000000 Other small items of clothing, ornamental or useful, and various materials to make garments of the cloth above estimated, with hats, caps, bon- nets, &c. for women, 8cc. .... . 20,000,000 ;i8' 2 02, 000,000 And we have 202 millions to clothe and supply 12 millions of people, or J' 17 for each and PLfllLiSHED IN THE UNITED STATES. m arid every individual*— togfether ^37. 75; for the essential articles of food and clothing, and i §27 1828 certain parts of household furniture, or ^226 a year, for a family of six pfersons — about equal to the product of a common labourer, at 75 cents per day, admitting that his wife and chil- ~~^^^ ^ dren do nothing towards earning a livelihood, but prepare the victuals and clothes which he In<:losure in N 3. brings into the house. Proceedings of the But hundreds of thousands of famihes expend many times this sum, annually. Indeed, General Convention 'it is not equal to the average support of our paupers^ under favourable circumstances, the ^''- Harrisburg, products of the labour performed by them being valued at its market price. Slaves may not continued. cost quite so much, except household servants. The average, however, must be below the real cost. Let the most rigidly economical farmer count up the market value of the wheat and other grain and vegetables, of cattle, hogs arid sheep that he kills and appropriates for family use, the wool, flax, &c. that he lays aside, with the cost or value of labour expended in carding, spinning, weaving, making. Sec. and it will be found far exceeding what we have allowed for the bread stuffs, and meats, and drinks, and clothing of his family. We say nothing about groceries, in general, they being chiefly imported. But these aggregates, great as they are, make a small part only of the cost of the subsistence and clothing, arid other necessaries, comforts or conveniences of the people of the United States, as derived from their own fields and forests, workshops and manufactories, our riiechanics and other labourers, and for the support of their horses and other animals not immediately entering into the quantity of rneats consumed, in which class we include loorking oxen, milch cows, and sheep kept only for their increase or wool. There were 255,645 horses returned for Pennsylvania, in 1810 ; 349,623 for New York, in 1825; and there are now about 55,000 in Verntont, with 40,000 oxen used for draft. We paay then conclude that there are about 3,000,000 horses and oxen, used for agricultural purposes, in aid of human labour, for service in waggons or other carriages, or kept forriding. Their average actual cost must be 25 dollars per head, for grain and hay, not counting the value of the grass consumed by them. They cost from three to five times that sum in our cities and large towns, or for those used in stages or worked severely in waggons. 3,000,000 horses, &c. at 25 dollars - . . ^75,000,000 The three items given, may constitute the chief consumption of agricultural products obtained by cultivation, and the first manufactures of certain of them, by millers, spinners, weavers, (chiefly in families), and tanners and shoemakers, and saddlers, &c. But to these must be added — The products of the Forest, in fuel, lumber of all sorts, for carpenters, millwrights, wheel- wrights, waggon and plough makers, cabinet makers, ship carpenters,, boat builders, and very many other trades. This includes, of course, the value of the labour of mechanics, or other working people, continually added to the changing character and different uses of the riiaterials passing through different hands. The products of Earth, for the supply of brick makers, masons, glass makers, potters and pther trades, employing great numbers of persons. . The product ofMineriUs, 8fc. for castings, forging and making works of iron, especially by blacksniiths (whose bills form a large item in the farmers' accounts), machinists, white- Sfliiths, cutlers, nailers, scythe makers and various other branches, lead smelters, and the many preparations of that metal and its mixtures, and in the making of copperas, alum, &c. in chemical articles, worth several millions a year ; in the supply of vast quantities of coal for fuel ; and in other materials and ways too proUx to detail. The products of the mines and minerals by different workmen and artists in the United States, in their various adap-^ tations to use, are not of less value than J' 120,000,000 a year. ■ After these great branches we have hundreds of others, convenient, useful or necessary. Among them are road-makers, (or repairers), bridge builders, canal diggers, &c. then 'tailors^ paper makers, printers, coach and carriage makers, with merchants, and seamen, waggoners and boatmen, but we cannot pretend to recapitulate them, whose labour gives a mighty value to the numerous articles made or furnished or transported by them, and all indispensable to the well-being of society, in diffusing their innumerable social and public benefits. Besides these, the products of our orchards and sugar plantations, not omitting those of the tobacco fields', being in general use among us, must be added to the thousands of items which supply the wants or gratify the desires of civilized man. ; What is the aggregate annual value of all the products of our agriculture, of our forest, of our mines of our earths, of our manufacturers, of our mechanics, of our commerce and navigation, and of transportations on our roads, rivers, canals and coasts ? Really it is a matter of such magnitude, and which, after the most careful calculation and deliberate reflection, must depend so much on opinion, that we fear to pronounce upon it. But, as something shoi\ld be stated to give a summary view of the probable, or possible value of the internal * In the Edgefield S. C. proceedings against the Tariff, it is asserted that the clothing of slaves costs ten dollars a year. Dr. Cooper, in his Emporium, calculated the cost of clothing a " labouring man" ' at 35 dollars a year. . tt ,. , ^ ' + In all only 74 cents per week. The average expense of supportmg the poor at Hartford, Con. iS 43 cents weekly, besides the consumption of some agricultural products raised by their own labour : 125 dents is allowed for adult paupers, and 62 1 for children, by the town of Providence, R.I. We allude to these cases, aS', perhaps, being among the best managed in the United. States, as to value itoiisui^^dorWasted. 578. I 66 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827 — 1828. internal trade or domestic commerce of our country, we shall venture upon the presentation V , of an estimate, in bringing forward the preceding items and adding such others as may present themselves to make up the aggregate. Inclosure in N° 3. Proceedings of the l'^^ vegetable and animal food and drinks of 12 millions of people, are supposed to have General Convention at Harrisburg, contimitd. an annual value of Articles of clothing and for family uses ------- Support of horses, &c. ------... Other products of our agriculture, such as fruits, sugar, tobacco, &c. con- sumed -._---.---__ Products of the forest, in lumber and wood of all sorts, for fuel, the building and repairing of houses and ships, and all other things for which such products are used, including all the increased values given to them by labour, from a felling of the trees and transporting of the timber, to the adaptation thereof to its numerous purposes by the various artists, manufacturers and mechanics working in wood, or if simply used for fuel -_.--.- .-__ Manufactures of earth ; such as for bricks, glass and family utensils, in- cluding all the values added by labour, to roads, canals, &c. - - - Manufactures of minerals of all sorts ; from the digging of the ore or gathering and transportation of the material, to include all the values given by labour in furnaces and forges, and by all workers in metals, from anchors or cannon for ships of the line, to the making and using of horse shoe nails or any lesser article, and in the mining and transportation of coal, &c. ------ ,.._ Miscellaneous productions of various staples for manufactures, including the increased values of labour employed in hundreds of different trades, embracing the mechanic arts* already estimated - - - - - Products of all the fisheries, and of commerce and navigation, foreign and coasting, other than the values of the latter supposed to be included in the transportations above referred to, and all other items - . . $ 249,000,000 202,000,000 75,000,000 20,000,000 200,000,000 60,000,000 1 20,000,000 1 00,000,000 40,000,000 J" 1 ,066,000,000 This aggregate is much below the real values of labour and production in the United States. It affords less than go dollars for each person. Slaves have produced 400 dollars to the hand in cotton planting and sugar growing, unassisted by machines, except in ginning ; and families, even of slaves, to subsist themselves, provide clothing, pay interest on capital vested in them, and refund other expenses incurred on their account, must earn an average value about equal to what we have supposed as general for all the people of this country. But, when we regard the capacity to produce which is acquired by " scientific power," and have reference to the interest on money, which should be yielded for its expenditure in mills and machinery, as well as in land and slaves, it will, we think, appear that an average value of 90 dollars for every person cannot be the whole production of our fellow citizens. The steam engines of Great Bntain, even in 1820, were computed at the poiver of 320,000 horses, or 2,240,000 men independent of the increased productions of this wonderful acquisition of capacity, and of the machinery moved by it, with the usual extent of water-power super- added. The various machinery used in that country has been generally estimated as enabling one man to do the work of one hundred and fifty without such machinery ; and hence the great apparent production of persons engaged in manufacturing and mechanical professions, though their individual wages may not be very high — interest on capital and power of machinery, with the facility of convenient tools, passing into the whole value earned. In- stance these well authenticated cases ; 505 men employed in the furnaces and forges of Centre county Pennsylvania, turn out iron worth ^"366,000, (see article " Iron") the cost of the pig metal being deducted from the value of the forged iron, yields ^^720 for each person employed. But these first manufactures of iron are not among the most seemingly pro- ductive efforts of personal industry. The operation of scientific power upon them is weak, compared with that which it exerts over the finer and more delicate fabrics. Take these calculations made in England, being about the mean result of different learned and practical estimates on the subject. It is computed that when there were 350,000 persons operating in the British manufactories of cotton, that these produced commodities equal to what it would require the labour of fifty-three millions of persons to produce, if unassisted by machines. The wages of the 350,000 at 1 s. per day, for 300 days in the year, would amount only to 5,250,000/. ; but of the latter, at the same rate, to 780 millions of pounds sterling, or more than 3,463 millions of dollars ! These items are drawn from the London Quarterlu Review. But such effects of scientific power are universally acknowledged, and, indeed, cannot * The values of these are of very difficult estimation, and chiefly supposed, though we have some data: these are among them, one jewellery establishment in Philadelphia employs 116 persons, and the jewellery made in that city and New York may be taken at the value of two millions. In Pro- vidence, the great seat of the cotton manufacture, three hundred persons are employed in this business, and the value of the commodities is put down at more than six hundred thousand dollars a year. Under the " miscellaneous" head many additional articles are mentioned. ' Soap and candles are % valuable item. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 67 cknnot be denied. Britain transports cotton from India, manufactures it and sends it back at a profit ; though India a little while ago was the great seat of its manufacture, though the price paid for labour there is a small part indeed of the price paid in Britain, and the East Indians are not wholly destitute of machines ; American cottons are exported to Canton ! Every person forty years of age, recollects the cheap muslins of India ; belter goods of British or American manufacture are now sold at less than one half the amount which those of India produced, notwithstanding the general value of money has much depreciated in the period alluded to. But we shall offer another and familiar example on the.seemingly produced value of labour. At the present very low freights, a vessel of 200 tons, if fully employed in the transportation of goods out and home, might earn 4,000 dollars a year, and being navigated by eight persons, would show an apparent gain of 500 dollars for each hand ; yet the vessel thus employed would yield only a small profit to her owner, expenses being deducted and interest on capital allowed. These things, with hundreds of others which might be stated, certainly demonstrate that the ninety doltarsper annum per heady which we have brought out, is far short of the real value produced by the American people. It is probable, equal to 120 or 130 dollars per head. But of this we feel confident, that the. aggregate values, at the seUi7ig price of commodities, is more than one thousand millions a year. This is the home trade or internal business, without reference to exports or imports, which nearly balance one another and would not affect the amount. We have no further remark to make upon it, except to requote the exclamation of Mr. President Cooper, 'f HOW DO THE BOASTED PANEGYHICKS ON FOREIGN TRADE DWINDLE INTO INSIG- NIFICANCE WHEN SET IN COMPETITION WITH THIS ! " ■ Regarding it as a matter of much importance that the probable cost of subsisting and supplying the people of the United States, with the amount of their earnings, should be established so far as it is possible that they can be ; we add the following miscellaneous items which variously support the general propositions, or are inseparably connected with them. They especially intend to show that we have not exaggerated the amount of earnings, and these earnings are either in the consumption or added to the wealth of the nation, no matter which. We add another reference to the opinions of Dr. Cooper, and some valuable items extracted from Cdlquhoun's Statistics of Great Britain and Ireland. The proprietor of a plantation in Alabama, lately stated to the editor of the " Boston Courier," that 50 field hands would produce 62,500 lbs. of clean cotton ; but that there tvould be also 30 other slaves, old people and young children, together 80, equal 780 lbs. to each person; and if at lo cents per lb. equal to 78 dollars production, besides raising corn, bogs, cattle, &c. enough to feed the slaves. The product of slaves in raising the sugar cane is now rated at from 250 to 300 dollars. I The wages of females in the flannel factories at Amesbury, Mass. is 50 cents per day ; of the males one dollar. The wages of girls 14 years old and upwards, at Lowell, average more than 150 cents per week and their board. The price of boarding at the manufacturing village on the Chickopee River, in Massachu- setts, is 117 cents for adult females, and 150 for males per week. Manufactures generally, as several times urged and repeated that the fact maybe fully impressed on the mind of every one, even in the coarse cotton business for example, trebles the value of the material. Thus a pound of cotton worth 10 cents, will make cloth worth 37 cents ; 400,000 lbs. of cotton, which will employ 300 persons, chiefly females, for a year, and costing' ^40,000, will yield (by the aid of power looms), cloth worth 1 50,000, at its present reduced price and show an earning of 366 %for each person, as well for the pay- ment of their own wages as for interest on capital, tear and wear of machinery, and the subsistence and profits of the mechanics and others variously employed to keep the works in operation. Such are among the eflFects of capital vested in machinery. Now it would take the labour of Si^feld hands, each producing 1,350 lbs. of cotton, to give a value in the raw material equal to that added by 300 women and children, through scientific power. Thus the labour of a child 14 years old, stands opposed to nearly that of three men, under the worst circumstances that can be presented for the sake of a comparison in favour of the former. But this difference is not the profit of the manufacturers individually, because of interest paid and expenses incurred ; yet certainly it is a profit to the country, proportioned as the products of a child (that otherwise might not earn any thing) is to that of three men, This is an important proposition, and its principle cannot be avoided. It is scientific power placed in opposition to manual labour ; and as about 22 per cent of the population* of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, TNl ew York, New, Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland, were returned as engaged in manufactures by the , imperfect statements of 1820, and as it is probable that at this time more than 33 per cent of the labouring people of these states (to say nothing of the growers of wool, 8{;c.) are subsisted by manufactures, the magnitude of their products, aided as they are by the m6st approved machinery, may be conjectured. The population of the states named at the census of 1830, will show a gross amount of 6,063,000 citizens, and the tobacco, cotton, and sugar planting states of "Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi, will not have more than 2,395,000, and the states of Kentucky, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, though yet young, and only as yesterday redeemed from the wilderness, being grain growing states, are as deeply interested in th? success 1827—1828. I ^^ y Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, conlinued. * Reported as employed in agriculture, manufactures, and commerce. I 2 68 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, continued, . success ot manufactures as the class of states first named. But the planters of cotton and^ sugar are as much benefited by the TariflF as any other of the people. The wages in well regulated factories into which small children are not admitted, varies: considerably according to location and the branches of business attended to. The wages t of men range from five to twelve dollars per week ; those of girls and women, from 1 J tc three dollars ; sometimes more. Weaving by power looms is the most profitable employment of females. The annual average wages paid at Paterson, N. J. to persons in the shops and factories, is 1 52 dollars, about one-fifth of the whole being men, and nearly two-fifths children ; the rest women. A late Albany paper says, our mechanics are all at work witli high wages ; a mason earns from 12 to 16 shillings a day ; a common labourer gets 7 s. and a dollar a day. [The New York shilling is 12 J cents.] Mr. Macdonnel, a British writer, in his treatise on "Free Trade," says that it will cost a London mechanic, with a wife and four children, 78 1, or 346 dollars per annum for* subsistence; but that a French family may live as well in Paris for 32 /. 18s. The taxes on the articles consumed in the family of the London mechanic, is estimated at 4/. is. 3d, or 1 8 dollars. Lately, at Norwich, England, veal was at 20, beef at 19, and mutton at 15 cents per lb. our currency. Sixty years ago the medium price of provisions were thus established by the celebrated Arthur Young — bread ^ d. butter Q\d. cheese 3 J 728 65,756 The total tonnage employed in the trade of the United States in 1789 (except a few states from which there were no returns) was : American Foreign Total 279,588 158,145 437,733 In the year i8i<5, the account stood, thus — American. From British possessions in Europe - - - 1 34,1 98 W. Indies and N. American colonies 102,128 Total, tons - But in 1825 and 1826, the amount was as follows ; 236,336 British. 100,840 111,949 212,789 England - - - Scotland - - - Ireland - - - Gibraltar British W. Indies - N. A. Colonies 1825. 1826. America. British. r American. British. : 128,789 7,519 17,985 14,129 101,604 60,295 38,251 4,916 3,204 6,907 6,179 172,588 5.837 13.937 9,398 97.231 74,396 39,124 6,261 4,370 . 7,738 8,420 330,321 59,457 373.387 65,913 By the act of March 1816, the discriminatory duties were all taken off British vessels fand their cargoes from Europe), entering or departing, and the British tonnage was within me ninth part as great as the American. The same regulation existed in the last two years, and the aggregates were — Tons. 703,608 American British 578. Difference in favour of American I4 125,370 678,238 The i 827— 1828. Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the Genei al Coii vention at Harrisbiirg, continued. 72 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure in N° 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, continued. The British, in the two years of 1825 and 1826, being only a little more than what thei'r same tonnage was in one year (1816) ; whereas the American shows an annual increase of 115,000 tons for the average of 1825 and 1826, as compared with 1816. Such is the effect of the competition of a free and Hghtly taxed people with Great Britain, which ever has been the most famous of all the nations of the world for her commerce and navigation, for the enterprize of her merchants, and the skill and courage of her shipwrights and seamen. Let the reader make a pause here, and reflect a little. As to scientific power, we have already proved in the lower price of cotton yarn in the United States than in England, that our spindles are worked the cheapest. This is so because of the reduced cost of subsistence, and more moderate taxation ; and the fact is, that a cotton mill of any certain number of spindles, and doing a certain quantity of work, will cost the proprietor less for wages and taxes paid, and other expenses incurred, in our country than in Great Britain. The same remark may be applied to all other protected manufactures. If, after such a display of the capacity of the American people, whether in manual labour or by the use of scientific power, to compete with those of Great Britain, it should be asked', why protection is sought that wool may be grown and cloth manufactured in the United States, and other branches of industry be further encouraged — we have the answer at hand; Let there be done for them what has been done for navigation and the manufacture of coarse cottons, and like results will follow. Protection has caused the constellated flag to fly in every sea, and, under this honourable emblem, goods are transported more promptly and cheaply than under any other, bearing our cotton manufactures to the most distant regions, where they are sold at more moderate prices than the Celebrated and long established manu- factures of England, which we have driven, or are driving, out of every market into which ours are admitted, on payment of the same duties as theirs.* And thus it must be with wool and woollens, if a like wise policy prevails in respect to them, and our country will furnish immense supplies of the raw material and manufactured article to pass into the foreign market, and add their annual millions to the wealth of the United States. Why should this not be so ? We know of no reason against it. It will be so. Like causes will Jiot fail to produce like ejects, until it pleaseth HIM who created to destroy theworld. It may be well here to add, that in 1 820, the bill to restrict the trade with the British West India ports, as they restricted our trade to these ports, was passed in the house of repre- sentatives 94 to 25, and with only one dissenting vote in the senate ; and the bill to tax French vessels as the French government taxed ours (18 dollars per ton), was passed without discussion or division in either house ! So far has the principle of protection been extended in regard to navigation — a fine commentary on the ndicxxlous sayi7ig of " let us alone." INTERNAL TRADE— OR COMMERCE BETWEEN THE SEVERAL STATES, &c. AMONG the committees raised in the convention was that, on motion of Mr. Mallary, " to report on the state oftrade between different parts of the United States with ea«h other, as far as it is concerned in the different productions of this country," and instructed, on the motion of Mr. Bartlett, " to ascertain and make a statement of facts, in relation to the effect of domestic manufactures upon the navigation and commercial interests of the country generally." In the almost total absence of official papers relating to the momentous concerns embraced in the inquiry and instruction, the zealous and intelligent committee, of which Mr. Mallary was chairman, could do no more than hastily collect, or receive, some isolated statistical facts bearing upon the subjects submitted, and present them — rather with the view of exciting attention to the internal trade of the United States, than of exhibiting a regular or digested statement of items ; and the report,"with the few inaterials which had been furnish ed, were referred, en masse, to the committee on the address, to be used as they should think proper. Thus Mr. Mallary's important suggestion has led us into an extensive collection of facts and well«supported opinions ; and caused no small expenditure of time, labour and patience, that its object might be accomplished, so far as it was practicable for us to do it. This committee believes that no part of thfe duty assigned them is so important, and cer- tainly not so difficult, as the preparation of the facts disclosed, and cflUection of others relative to the commerce between the states — that any thing like a tolerably correct view of its importance may be suggested to the public ; but they do not shrink from an attempt to do that in which it will be honourable even to fail— for however imperfect the statements must necessarily be, many truths will be brought out and preserved, and set thousands. to thinking who never yet have reflected upon our incalculably valuable home-trade, and its vast superiority * Many of our readers are aware of the jugglings of British ministers and agents in Mexico, Buenos Ayres, &c. to keep our cottons out of these markets. In one of the new republics, they even went so fai- as to attempt the exclusion of all coarse cottons, even iheir own, that they, might keep out ours. We recollect the fact distinctly, though we cannot at present possess ourselves of the particulars. And it is perfectly notorious, that, they often endeavour to seH- their goods as being American—that they have stamped and marked them as ours. But the cheat is easily detected by the inferiority of tJie fabric, and greater coarseness and less strength of the materials used. , " PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 73 superiority over the foreign commerce of the country. The people have made a common 1827 1828. v^ mistake on these subjects. Those of Baltimore had only a faint idea, indeed, of the value of .^ the trade of the Chesapeake Bay, until its waters were covered by the enemy during the late indosure in N° i war : they then began to calculate its importance by feeling the want of it : and now, „ standing on " Federal Hill," one may almost at any time count from 50 to 150 vessels under gThp 1 r^^ T sad, bay craft and coasters, wafting the products of our rich interior or supphes from the at Harrisburr" valley of the Susquehannah to every point, or laden with fuel or provisions or other articles continued seeking a market with us. We are extensively, and with reasonable accuracy, informed coHcerning our foreign trade, and the legislative discretion of the nation is directed by the tables furnished by the treasury department ; but we know less of our own domestic affairs than of those of Great Britain, France or Germany, wherein the wisdom of rulers is dis- played in regarding things at home. But we hope a change in this respect, and that the American people will hereafter be better informed of their own means and resources to preserve their independence. We shall iiot be able to offer much other than desultory facts and calculations, without present possibility of arranging them methodically, that aggregates may always appear, and also be compelled to give them without much regularity of classification ; but out of these partial and imperfect statements, something like a general idea, we hope, may be formed of the importance of the subjects before us ; and we shall carefully avoid exaggeration, being resolved that out mistakes, or misapprehensions, shall rather tend to diminish than increase the apparent amount of the commerce which exists between the several states composing the Republic. The wheat flour inspected in Baltimore for three years, was as follows : — Barrels. Inspected in 1824 ----- . 522,770 1825 509,736 1826 596,346 -1,628,852 Exported to foreign places 1 824 - - - - 296,796 1825 - - - 212,885 1826 - -. - - 177,599 687,280 941.572 Consumption, 300 barrels per day - - - 328,500 3)613,072 Annual exports, coastwise ----.-. 204,357 The consumption is put down as the general, and, indeed, concurrent opinion of the principal dealers, and they cannot be materially mistaken. Of the whole quantity exported coastwise, a very small proportion is sent southwardly. We have no data to ascertain the quantity of Indian corn which annually obtains the same direction, except in the actual consumption at some of the manufacturing establishments ; and large supplies of this article are derived from Virginia. At Newburyport, Mass, up to the 28th July, in the present year, 100,000 bis. of flour and 20,000 bushs. of com were received from the south; and at Somersworth (village), N. H. 1,931 barrels of flour and 6,059 bushels of Indian corn, of southern product, were consumed in the last current year. From many like facts made known to us, the committee think it may be assumed, that while more than 350,000 barrels of flour are annually exported eastwardly from the Chesapeake, there is also exported about 800,000 bushels of corn. The flour imported into Boston was as follows ; 1825 - - - 261,113 bbls.lof both which about 130,000 bbls. 1826 - > - 284,822 J were sent abroad. Of these imports, 119,920 barrels were from Baltimore, and 91,000 from Virginia, chiefly received from Alexandria, in 1826; the remainder from Philadelphia and New York. It is supposed that nearly 200,000 barrels of Virginia flour are annually exported to the New England states, through Baltimore, Alexandria, &c. — an amount one third greater than the whole export to the British West Indies, when the trade was unrestricted. From July 1826 to July 1827, Rhode Island imported 127,150 barrels of flour, nearly all which ppissed direct to the manufactories. In the last year, 15,000 barrels from the mills at Troy, N, Y., were sent to the borders of Vermont, &c. with other quantities broughf; down the' canal. In the same year, 36,000 barrels were shipped at Albany direct for the New England states. The inland and coastwise trade in flour passing from New York eastwarc^ is Very large. This article from different places, is received at, perhaps, ev«ry one of the numerous ports of the New England states, and spread along the whole coast from Eastporl, in Maine, to Fairfield, in Connecticut. In 1825, it was believed that 1,000,000 dollars were lost on the flour exported to Chili and Peru, and other places bordering on the Pacific. Many cargoes did not pay the freight. The whole quantity exported that year was 813,906 bbls.; of which 242,568 to South America, the greater part first to Rio Janeiro, and a market. Judging by the imports at Boston Providence, Newburyport, and the inland trade from New York, we have reached 578! K the 74 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827 — 1828. ^^^ conclusion, that the present rate of consumption of flour, received from other states, i» V ; not less than 800,000 barrels a year in the New England states, with about 2,000,000 - , ' . "„ bushels of corn, and other bread stuffs. A very intelligent gentleman, speaking, on this Inclosure in IS 3. g^bject, observed — Proceedings of the " The consumption of flour in Massachusetts has increased as ao to 1, in six years,. GeneralConvention and is continually increasing, and is now about 280,000 barrels a year. Instead of rye and at Harrisburg, Indian bread, which was formerly almost exclusively used, wheat is now thought of, even ccmmuea. ^y |.]^g poorer classes, as indispensable to their comfort, as well as more economical — beheving they can buy their bread stuffs by labouring in manufactories, cheaper, than by tilling land for it." » Exports of Flour — 1826. Swedish West Indies --..---. 10,751 bbls. Danish d" 61,078 - Dutch d° - ...... 17,032 - British d° 133.619 - Cuba d° .... . . 129,233 - Great Britain and Ireland -.....- 1 8,357 ~ Gibraltar ... ... .. - 27,083 - British North American Colonies ..... 71,269 - Hayti - - - 4^.993 - Mexico -.--- ... 16,857 ~ Colombia ... . .... 34.451 - Brazil - - - - . - 175,094 - Buenos Ayres - - - - - 12,654 ~ Chili - - - ... - 22,221 - Peru ..-.- -._ . 1^^187 _ West Indies, generally - - I5>i85 - To the dominions of any other power, less than 10,000 barrels. Whole export 857,820 barrels, valued at ^'4,121,466. From what has been already stated, it must appear that the bread stuffs of the farmers of the middle and western states, have their chief market in the eastern districts of our country. Flour and com are transported even into the interior of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut, and large quantities reach Vermont. Our belief as before expressed, is, that not less than 800,000 barrels of flour, and 2,000,000 bushels of corn are exported eastward from the grain growing states, to supply the riew demands for food caused by the industry exerted in various manufactures in New England, and which the latter would be unable to purchase unless paid for in goods. Many stage-owners and innkeepers of the interior, feed the horses kept by them upon southern corn. These imports of flour and corn, may be valued at 5,000,000 dollars, and employ vessels to transport 130,000 tons annually, on which a freight is earned, yielding subsistence to many seafaring persons, and others interested in navigation, ship building, and its numerous subordinate branches. The whole foreign export of last year was 857,820 barrels of flour, and 505,381 bushels of Indian corn, together valued at J'4,506,421, or half a million less, in value to the agriculturalists, of the grain-growing states, than their own unvalued and almost unknown eastern market ; so much have they kept their eyes fixed upon foreign trade, that they over-looked that trade which is at home, though greater than the other ! 385,535 bbls. of flour, 44,057 beef and pork, 31,175 salt; 1,500,000 bushels of grain, chiefly wheat; 17,905 beans and peas; 761 tons of clover seed; 120 of wool, 841 cheese;, 1,126 butter and lard, 159 hops, 143 furs ; 9,145 boxes of glass ; 1,608,030 gallons domestic spirits, were among the articles which passed inward on the New York canals during, the last year. The whole number of boats and rafts was 1 8,950 : of tons, inward, 242,368 ! The tolls paid amounted to .§' 771,780. 10 cts. We have no late statements of the amount of the trade on the Ohio, Mississippi, &c. but in 1823, not less than 300,000 barrels of flour, 75,000 d° whiskey, 50,000 d° of pork, 12,000 hhds. of tobacco, 22,000 hhds. and boxes of bacon, 100,000 kegs of lard, &c. &c. valued at 3,590,000 dollars, passed the Falls of the Ohio, descending ; iron and many articles manu- factured, were not included in the amount. What is the annual value of the descending trade of all the western waters at this time ? Yet vast quantities of produce and ofmanufaC' tured articles are transported across the mountain, and large supplies of glass are thus con- veyed from Pittsburg, &c. via Baltimore and Philadelphia, even to the New England market ! There were, last year, about one hundred sail of brigs and schooners plying between our ports on lake Erie, and the other upper lakes, with seven steam boats. The tonnage will be increased 50 per cent in the present year, and be doubled before the expiration of 1828 ; and trebled or quadrupled when the great Ohio canal shall be finished. Many will soon be required for the navigation of lake Michigan. All this business, except what was carried on by four or five little vessels, has grown up since the termination of the late war, in 1815, There are also many vessels on lakes Ontario and Champlain. Nothing can show the present and greatly increasing value of the trade between the states more satisfactorily than these general remarks and results; but we shall add many, parti- culars, that the mind of every one may more easily grasp at the magnitude of the subject. And when we consider the numerous voyages that are made by the vessels employed in our coastmg trade, its vastly superior importance over the foreign must strike every reflecting individual.. The internal trade, in its repeated voyages, transports very many times more tons PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 75 tons of goods than the foreign, which will undoubtedly appear because of the vast amount 1827—1828 of articles required for the home supply over the foreign demand. ' The following Table shp^ys the growth of our invaluable coasting trade. There was a great p"° "^"'^'^ '" ^' apparent* falling off in registered tonnage employed in the foreign trade, in 1818, six years ^^''''ceedingsnfthe before the passage of the Tariff bill, but there has been an increase of nearly 1 00,000 tons since t^ij^ ■ *r "°^®" " ^hattime. In 1800, the enrolled and licensed tonnage was only 281^622 tons; in 1805, * ^lontkix'd 391,025 tons; in i8io, 440,512 tons. The official tables are not yet made up later than 1825. The present probable amount is more than 800,000 enrolled and licensed tons. A Comparative View of Registered, Enrolled and Licensed Tonnage of the United States, from 1815 to 1825, inclusive. REGISTERED Enrolled TOTAL YEAR. TONNAGE. and Licensed Tonnage. Tonnage of each District. "" 1 TONS AND 95-THS 1815 854>2Q4 74 513,833 04 1,368,127 78 1816 , 800,759 63 571,458 85 1,372,218 53 1817 809,724 70 590,186 66 1,399,911 41 1818 606,088 64 609,095 51 1,225,184 20 1819 612,930 44 647,821 17 1,260,751 61 1820 619,047 53 661,118 66 1,286,166 24 1821 619,896 40 679,063 30 1,298,958 70 1822 628,150 41 696,548 71 1,324,699 17 1823 639,920 76 596,644 87 1,336,565 68 1824 669,972 60 719,190 37 , _i,3«9,l63 02 1825 700,787 08 722,323 69 ,1,423,111 77 Treasury Department, Register's Office,"! Feb. 24, 1827. J Joseph Nourse, Register. Regi5ter with a population of about 12,000,000, we exported of similar articles only the value t 1 j j^o ^ ^22,683,288. The year 1 796 is the first in which the value of articles exported was given. "'^ "^"'^^ " . See the Table page 57. As production has increased with population, the vast amount for Proceedings of the the interml trade is apparent, as well as the comparatively reduced means that we have to general Convention purchase foreign goods. at Harnsburg The Average Exports for six years, 1801 to 1806— Cotton - - - - - $ 7.132,838 All other articles ----- 34,799,760 Total domestic exports . . _ 42,000,000 1819 to 1824 — Cotton ------- 21,670,978 All other articles 27,330,931 Total domestic exports - _ - 49,000,000 So that while the business in cotton has advanced in an average sum of 14 millions a year, the like value of other articles exported has been reduced nearly 7 millions. About only one-sixth of the people of the United States, have any more direct interest in the cultivation of cotton, than the cultivators of cotton have in woollen manufactures. The product for export, therefore, of the first is equal to 11 or 12 dollars per head, even of the slaves ; but that of the other no more than about 2 dollars and 75 cents for each of the people. If the first can live by ihe foreign trade, it is certain that the last cannot. They must have an interior trade by which they can participate in ihe foreign trade of the other, or decline the latter altogether. Sugar is another great staple, and its cultivation is local or " monopolized " by a small part of our country, at present chiefly confined to Louisiana, but about to be extensively produced in Florida. The last year's crop was about 50,000,000 pounds, 50,000 hhds. or 25,000 tons to be transported coastwise, or by river navigation, for consumption. It is an article of general use, as much in the east as in the south. In the last year we also imported — 76,016,015 lbs. brown sugar, worth _ - - $ 4,573,407 8,883,940 lbs. white or clayed ----- 737,924 84,899,955 5,311.331 21,146,856 exported - 1,742,034 73.753.099 lbs. consumption - - - - - $ 3.569.299 Which shews that the whole consumption is more than 120 millions of pounds. All this quantity will speedily be produced in the state and territory named, and the " bounty" upon it, in the shape of a duty that must exclude the foreign article, will amount to nearly four millions of dollars a year. We call it a bounty, because the cultivation is and must be local — there cannot be any general domestic competition to reduce the price, as in every other product or manufacture of our country. The cotton region is of vast extent, wool may be grown in every state, and factories may be established almost in every spot where people are to be found to work in them ; but it is not thus with sugar. And how are the other states to purchase sugar of Louisiana, if Louisiana refuses to encourage and protect their industry? It is impossible that they should. And, on that account, and because of the severe and direct loss of revenue, and of the foreign trade which the exclu- sion of foreign sugars must cause, in the sale of such articles as are prohibited to the con- sumption of Europe, unless Louisiana supports a tariff which benefits other states, she must expect and will obtain a reduction of the duty upon her " monopoly," sugar. This is inevitable— the public necessity will require it. Nearly all the sugar imported is paid for in bread, stuffs, meats, manufactures and lumber and fish exported. Forty-four milHons of pounds are received from Cuba only, and the people of that island received of us domestic articles of the value of 3,749,658 dollars, and foreign articles to the value of 2,382,774 dollars in 1 826— together 6.132,432 dollars; or nearly a twelfth part of the whole foreign business of the United States, the gross exports being valued at 77,595.322 dollars. We shall give a summary statement of our commerce with Cuba, and compare it with that which exists between the United States and Europe, except in cotton, tobacco, and rice. Whole Export of Domestic Products to Cuba, 3,749.658 dollars. In part composed of— ° ^"" Fish, oil and spermaceti candles 2b8,43» Lumber of all sorts ."^'^''^Tr Manufactures of wood - 82,1 bb Naval stores 5.419 Skins and furs io,»20 Beef - - - 83,153 Butter and cheese - - J^7."oi Pork, hams and bacon, lard and hogs 698,^03 Horses and mules - - -- - - - ■ 6.300 129,223 bbls. flour - 0^0,035 Carried forward - - $ 2,135,243 578. K 3 78 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, continued. Brought forward - - $ 2,135,243 Indian corn --- ...._- 39,1 68 meal - ....... 6,865 Biscuit or ship bread - - - - - - -18,104 Potatoes - - - - ... 22,617 Apples - - 3>999 Rice . - - . ... . 398,738 Tobacco, 955 hhds. - 59468 Household furniture - 78,162 Coaches and carriages - ... - - 22,400 Hats . - - - ... 104,020 Saddlery - - ... - - 31,858 Beer, porter, whiskey, &c. - - - - - - 33.9 81 Leather, boots and shoes - - , - - 185,635 Candles and soap - - - 205,045 Snuff and manufactured tobacco - - - - - 5,346 Linseed oil and turpentine .... - - 4,399 Cables and cordage - - - - . - 8,857 Iron — ^nails - - - - 65,045 Gunpowder - _ _ - - - 29,754 Copper and brass manufactures - - - 1 7»447 Medicinal drugs -- 23,700 Wearing apparel, combs, brushes, and very many small of manufactures - - - articles 128,910 $ 3,529,842 Leaving only 219,816 dollars for all other domestic articles; and, deducting rice and tobacco from the whole amount, the sum of 3,291,452^ is in the product of the grain growing and manufacturing states. Cuba also furnishes a market for about one tenth of all the foreign articles which we have to spare out of our exchanges or trade with other countries, in aid of our navigation. We shall now present a view of our trade with all Europe, except in the articles cotton, tobacco and rice, but otherwise including the whole products of our forests, fields, work- shops and factories, and of the fisheries. Russia - 6,462 Prussia 5.943 Sweden and Norway - 15.094 Denmark - 18,318 Netherlands - - 228,730 Great Britain and Ireland - 1,542,723 Gibraltar - . - - - 336^603 France - - - - -, 524.549 Germany - - 198.696 Spain 146,875 Portugal - - - 88,479 Italy and Malta - . _ . 71,266 Trieste, &c. - 9,388 Turkey, Levant, &c. - - - - 46,897 Europe, generally - 857 Whole exports to Europe, 1826 ^3.239475 Now, the exports to Cuba, except in cotton, tobacco, and rice, were valued at ^"3, 291,452 — leaving a balance in favor of Cuba against all Europe of .^51,977., The trade with Hayti, despised Hayti, is of the same character as that with Cuba ; and in the last year, in domestic products amounted to ^['1,252,910, equal to the whole of our exports to Russia, Prussia, Sweden and Norway, Denmark, Spain, Portugal, &c. indeed all Europe, Great Britain and France excepted ! and leaving out the cotton and tobacco, only, sent to the Netherlands and Germany. We have dwelt at such length on these things that the merits of them cannot be mis- taken, that " he who runs may read." If, as before observed, the whole sugar consumed in the United States was of domestic production, (as it soon will be at the present duty upon the foreign article), an apparent deficiency in the revenue of 4,000,000 dollars annually would take plac6, and the trade with Cuba be reduced, from whence we now import 46,000,000 lbs. about one fourth of which is exported to purchase articles in Europe, which the people of that quarter of the world will not give us in exchange for our own commodities. Let this be observed. ' But the whole value of woollen goods imported in 1826, as returned and paying duty, was only 7,886,826, or of cloths and cassimeres, no more than 4,546,714 dollars. The duty on this last sum, if all paid, is only 1,650,000 dollars; and if our manufacturers of such goods were protected even to the total exclusion of the foreign articles, the revenue would suffer nearly in the same amount that it does in the protection actually, and at this time afforded, to the cultivation of sugar ! or only about one third as much as the latter protection will PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 79 will amount to when the cultivation shall be extended to meet the present Aojwe demand. 1827 1828. These things are true. Examine them by the official documents. How do we " gape at V ^ ~ ^ - > gnats and swallow camels !" The duties levied upon sugars are prohibitory, so far as the i„ciosure in N' q domestic industry can supply the home demand;; but the duties asked for on cloths will not p ,■ . . be Exclusive— not prohibitory, but protecting • yet the amount of protection granted to ™'=eeaiugs of the a few sugar planters in Louisiana, but to say the whole people thereof, about 75,000 is at*HaT-isburr° equal to that which, as the enemies of the Tariff contend, is asked for by the farmers and continmil. manufacturers and citizens of a majority of the states, enlisting the feelings of six or sfeyen millions of the, people of the United States. See the Population Table. We wish to be understood clearly. We have no sort of a desire to reduce the duty upon sugar,; the cultivation of which is a monopoly in this country ; but are really impressed with a belief that, if the duty on sugar was one and a half cents per lb. instead of three cent^, that, while the revenue would be increased by the greater consumption of the foreign article, the demand for our agricultural products, such as flour, beef, pork, &c. and many manufactures, would be nearly doubled, in the increased trade which that reduction of duty would give rise to, in the enlarged market aflForded for the productions of Cuba and other West India islands, &c. We hope that every one of our fellow citizens will reflect upon these facts and remarks presented. We shall urge them no further. AU matters of trade, to be just and endurable, must be reciprocal — else man, in one climate or condition, will be as the servant of his fellow in another. There is no natural necessity for this, and discre- tion or suffering- mMsf regulate purchases by sales. The Indian perishes who exchanges his coats of fur for looking glasses- or whiskey; he must obtain, at least, some blankets in lieu of his furs, or become a victim to his folly, and miserably expire. Iron and its manufactures, until after it passes the state of bar or rolled iron, may, with- out any great stretch of the imagination, rather be regarded as the representation of agri- cultural products than of manufactures, for the reason that so large a proportion of the value of the article is derived from the cost of subsisting the makers of it, and for supplies of fuel and transportations. We have few facts to shew what is the extent, of the homei trade in castings and bar-iron, and how far it affects the coasting and inland trade of our country. Its different transportations, however, by land and water, must amount to more than 300,000 tons, and the value of the home product, in castings and bar-iron, may be roughly computed at 25,000,000 dollars. The furnaces, forges and rolling mills of Penn sylvania were given as producing a value of more than three millions in 1810, which value, it is reasonable to believe, is now two or three times greater than it was then. We have no satisfactory data on this subject. The whole home manufacture of iron, in all its various branches and departments, and changes of character and usefiilness, great and small, subsists a vast number of persons, and constitutes a mighty item in the national pro.- duction. Nearly 2,000 tons of pig and bar-iron, chiefly the product of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, worth 114,500 dollars, were received at Providence, Rhode Island in the past year, and frincipally used in the neighbourhood of that place, for the cotton and other factories, t is estimated that 30,000 tons of domestic bar-iron are used in all the New England states, worth 3,000,000 dollars. One factory in New Hampshire consumes 1 ,200 tons annually. The supplies are principally derived from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and some from Maryland. This material is extensively used in all the manufactories ; 4,000 tons are annually made or used at Wareham, Mass. Many machine shops use several tons a month. The numerous works of iron at Baltimore and in its neighbourhood, including manufactures of machinery, amount to several hundred thousand dollars a year. Large quantities of iron ore have been transported east from Baltimore, or its immediate neighbourhood, and payment for the rude material, perhaps, made in the very articles fabricated from it ! The value of the ore was a clear gain to Maryland. This business has employed many tons of shipping. The trade in domestic spirits is of much value. We have ascertained the quantity received at Baltimore, but the facts which relate to this article are nearly as scarce as those which belong to iron. All the grain growing states produce whiskey, in the want of a mar- ket for bread-stuffs, and because of its easier transportation. In New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and Kentucky are the chief manufactories of it. We know little of its distribution. The greater part not used in the states named, perhaps, passes south ; a large quantity, however, is sent east. Lately, one forwarding house in Troy, New York, received, by the canal, 900 hhds. of Ohio whiskey, for the eastern market, and it is supposed that, during the present year, a million of gallons will pass from the same state with the same destination. About four millions of gallons of foreign spirits are imported ; but it may be supposed that the sea-coast transportation of domestic spirits employs many times as much tonnage as the foreign trade in spirits employs. Inspections of domestic distilled hquors at Baltimore for the years stated : Large Casks. Small Cnsks. Gallons. l8^4 - - 1825 - - - - 1826 - - - - 2,986 39,868 1,494,640 7.714 61,790 2,625,100 7.494 63.753 2.619,991 3)6,739»73i Annually - - - 2,246,577 578. K 4 I^a''g« 80 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Hairisburg, cmtinutd. Large casks at too gallons and small casks at 30 each. Some part of the liquor contained in the large casks is New England rum — say a 25th part ; all the rest whiskey, except some apple and peach brandy. The quantity consumed, or exported, east or south, cannot be ascertained ; but the various transportation employs many tons of shipping ; and a large number of waggons atid horses, and their drivers, with many Susquehannah boatmen, &c. The Pennsylvania canal commissioners, in a report made during the last winter, esti- mated that 157,000 tons of vegetable and animal or mineral productions, worth 5,430,000 dollars, descended the Susquehannah to the tide during the year 1 826 — flour, grain, bacon, whiskey, &c. &c. Ten thousand barrels of flour and 3,000 barrels of whiskey, have sometimes reached Baltimore in a single week, with large quantities of lumber, &c. An ark has arrived at Port Deposite, (the head of the tide), laden with whiskey and pork, from Owego, in the state of New York, a distance of 315 miles, in four days, Lancaster county, Pa. sent to the Baltimore market, by way of the river, about 5,500 casks of whiskey, and 15,000 barrels of flour, in the last season ; and from Mifilin county, in the same state, there was exported, in the same year, 68,950 bbls. of flour, 210,000 bushels of wheat, 8,500 barrels of whiskey, 1,450 barrels of pork, 500 tons of iron, 400 barrels of oil, &c. &c. This trade is rapidly increasing, and by it the farmers of the interior of Pennsylvania and New York send large supplies eastward, via Baltimore, &c. A considerable part of the descending trade of the Susquehannah does not reach the tide by the channel of the river, being arrested at various stopping places, and taking new directions ; and large supplies are sometimes deprived of their natural channel, by sudden fallings of the water of the river and its tributaries, which are navigable only in the time of floods. The glass manufactories cause exceedingly great transportations of raw materials, which would, without them, be nearly valueless. We have before us statements of the consumption of three of these factories at Boston. The annual supplies of one of them, " The New England Flint Glass Company," are as follows : 336,000 lbs. of pig lead from Missouri at 6 cents. 200 tons of sand from Pennsylvania, ^4 100 tons of pot clay from New Jersey, j" 7 6 tons of bar iron from Pennsylvania, S^oo 50 tons pot and pearl ashes, from New Hampshire Vermont, ^90 - ... 2,700 cords of wood from Maine, ^3 400 chaldrons of coal from Virginia, J" 10 300 tons of coal from Pennsylvania, ^6 ^■20,160 800 700 600 and 4,500 8,100 4,000 1,200 ^"40,060 The whole import of raw materials and fuel for these three establishments employs about 11,860 tons of vessels in their various voyages or trips. They subsist upwards of 900 persons, including the families of the workmen ; and export, coastwise, about 3,000 pack- ages, worth ^100,000, of their manufactures annually, to New York, and other ports south. Besides the articles named, the proprietors receive in exchange or purchase, large quantities pf flour and grain, for the immediate supply of the working people and themselves. One house in Baltimore, which also sells a large quantity of various goods manufactured in the neighbourhood, and in several of the adjacent towns in Pennsylvania, received, during the last year, 4,257 packages of goods by water from the eastern states, of many difieren° sorts and descriptions. The quantity of Schuylkill coal transported from Philadelphia to New York, Boston and New Haven, in 1826, was 10,000 tons, which gave employment to 140 sloops and schooners, averaging 70 tons each ; 7,000 tons of the above were shipped to New York by the New York and Schuylkill Coal Company, and all sold previous to cold weather. It is presumed that 2 1 ,000 tons would have been consumed in New York, had the supply been equal to the demand. The quantity of coal sent down the Schuylkill canal to the 13th of August of the present year, was 15,130 tons, and it is presumable that as much more may be calculated upon by the close of the season. The New York and Schuylkill Coal Company have for- warded one third of the above quantity to New York. Large quantities of coal descend the Susquehannah, and Richmond is famous for her exports of coal. Three glass factories at Boston consumed, within a year, 40,000 bushels of Virginia and 7,000 of Pennsylvania coal. The latter begins to be used in famihes in the interior of New England. Providence receives 12,000 dollars worth of coal from the states just named. From various accounts, it appears that about 25,000 tons of Lehigh and Schuylkill coal were sent coastwise last year ; and it is probable that that quantity may be doubled in the present, and furnish 50,000 tons of freight in this new business. We sought an exhibit of the trade of Richmond in coal, but were told that there is no way of obtaining any thing like a correct account of it. '-' ■ The PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 81 The following Nummary statements have been furnished as to the suppUes of Lehigh and Schuylkill coal, received at Philadelphia. The Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company received from their mine on the Lehigh, in 1835* - - - - - - 18,000 tons. Consumed in Philadelphia .,.--- 9,400 Sent coastwise - - _ . . . 15,800 Received from the mines in 1826 _ - _ - 31,280 Consumed in Philadelphia _ . - - - 1 2,500 Sent coastwise ____... 15,200 A ton of coal is about equal to a ton measurement, say 40 cubic feet. A ton contains 28 bushels of 80 lbs. each. The capital of the company is one million of dollars; it commenced bringing coal to market in 1820, when 10,205 bushels overstocked it. ■ The population of the village of Maueh Chunk and its vicinity, Vi-hich is dependent on the business of the company for support, is now upwards of 1,300 A railway, nine miles in length, has recently been constructed from the mine to the landing at Mauch Chunk. 1827—1828. Inclosure in N° 3. Proceedings of the General Conveation at Hairisburg, continued. Number of bushels sold by the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company each year. 1820 - - 1821 - - ' Q JO f-No anthracite in market, except from Lehigh. The demand in these years did not equal the J'supply, as a quantity remained on hand at the I end of each winter. being the entire stock on hand, were sold by 31st December, in addition to about 200,000 bushels brought from Schuylkill and Susque- hannah, and the demand not fully supplied. In 1826, the shipments from Mauch Chunk were - - - - 31,280 tons, or 875,840 bushels, Schuylkill 16,265 d" - 4.55,420 d" 1822 - • - - 68,320 d" 1823 - ■ - - 163,042 d° 1824 - - - 267,145 d° 1825 - - 795>ooo d- Statement of Trade on the Schuylkill Canal in 1826. Descending;. Tons. Ascending. Tons. Coal - - - 16,767 Store goods 2,670 Flour, 21,245 bbls - - 2,023 Iron, and cast iron - 198 Grain and seeds - . - 724 Plaster of Paris 908, Live hogs _ - 8 Lumber - 776 Whiskey - - 420 Empty flour casks, kegs, & hogi sheads 18 Iron ore - - 2,541 Litharge - - - 11 Butter and lard - - 41 Sand - - - - 72 Marble and stone _ - 1,207 Household furniture . 39. Pot ash _ 8 Melons and other vegetables - - 25! Nuts - * - 3 Bricks - - - - - 105 Tallow . - 6 Oysters and sea fish - 29 Iron _ - - - - 122 Salt fish - 100 Wood and bark - - - 54 Marble ... - 10 Lumber . - 1,492 Machinery - - r - - ■7 Potatoes - - 16 Virginia coal _ . . - 1,478: Fruit - - - - - 1 Logs - 500 Store goods Total - - 128 Total t 25,561 6,943, Many thousand tons of rags, paper, books, binders boards and wrapping paper, are transported from place to place. The quantities used exceed the belief of any, except persons well acquainted with the various branches which employ tens of thousands of working people. The value of the paper making, printing, paper stamping and book binding businesses, including, of course, the publication and sale of books, we think must amount tq between 20 and 25,000,000 dollars a year. Those worthy and enterprising pubhshers at Philadelphia, Messrs. parey, Lea & Carey, lately issued one work from the press, (Scott's Life of Napoleon), for which they used iwenty-five tons of paper. There are about 50 paper raUlsin Massachusetts, six of which have machines for making paper; they directly employe 13 or 1,400 persons, consume about 1,700 tons of rags, junk, &c. and manufacture tg the, value 0/700,000 dollars a year. We suppose that the whole paper manufacture in. the United State's, including the stamping of it, may amount to between six and seven niillions. a year, and employ 10 or 11,000 persons. Great quantities of rags have been imported frorii Germany and Italy, but our own people now generally begin to save them, and their value probably is two millions a year. So much for old rags ! One paper mi!| at Pittsburg employs 190 persons. The mills built by the Messrs. Gilpin, on the Brandywine, in Delaware, form one of the largest paper-making establishments in any country. The works are capable of consuming one ton of rags per day, worth 100 dollars. By the machines,' ' a sheet * In addition to this quantity a considerable stock was on hand from 1824, the whole of which was sold in 1825. : 578. L S9 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARlFfS 1827—1828. V / Inclosure in N° 3. Proceedings of the General Convention Ht Harrisburg, conihiutd. a sheet of paper might be made an hundred miles long if it were convenient to reel it and preserve it, as it passes from them. It issues in a continued ^heet, and is afterwards cut tw the sizes desired. At Providence, on the authority of Mr. Pearce, more than 3,000 [three thousand] coasting vessels entered in the year 1 826, from all parts of the United States, conveying to and from cargoes of various goods ! It is stated that a factory, working up 100,000 lbs. of wool, will require for the work and the workmen, the following domestic and foreign suppHes, besides meats ; 4,500 lbs. indigo, 20,000 lbs. dye woods, 1,500 lbs. madder, 100 boxes best soap, 250 bbls. of flour, 10,000 lbs. iron, steel and nails, 35 hhds. of oil, with sugar, tea, coffee, salt, &c. and 40 hhds. of spirits. The whole cost of such articles amounts to about 37,000 dollars, and their weight is 85 tons ; besides wool, fuel, &c. The quantity of wool requisite to supply the existing manufactories is estimated at 30,000,000 lbs. There is, likewise, a sufficiency for household wants. Much wool is sent coastwise. Large parcels are received from Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky and western Virginiai. A single house in Steubenville has forwarded about 150,000 lbs. in one year to Boston. The transportation caused by the growth and manufacture of wool makes a large business. In the making of cloth, one pound of dye stuff, oil, soap or other articles of foreign product, is used to every pound of wool, and many tons of these articles are annually consumed, employing a much larger number of ships and vessels, than the goods themselves produced would require for their transportation. Employment in this business, as well as in all others, begets ability to purchase ; and through profits earned, the people are enabled to gratify ihsiv fancy instead of being confined to a simple supply of their wants. A prosperous com- munity will consume twice or thrice as much of many sorts of costly goods as a distressed one. Every man with a family has practical knowledge of this fact. Besides, we have added new materials of the value of six millions of dollars a year to the foreign trade by our manufactures, a sum greater than the worth of any other species of such export, cotton excepted. This value passes into the most advantageous trade that we have ; with Mexico, South America, Cuba and Hayti, and directly aids our navigation in several thousand tons, as well by the outward as the homeward voyages, laden with the bulky products of these countries, such as sugar, coffee, molasses, hides, dye-woods, copper, &c, for the profit or comfort of our manufacturers, or the supply of fresh materials for their industry to operate upon, which pass again, in new shapes, into our exports in continual progression. And this is the more interesting, because all that the world will purchase of our agricultural productions we at present snpply. Europe, especially, will not take any thing more of us than she does now ; but the products of our agriculture are rapidly in- creasing ; the interior is approaching the sea board by canals and roads, and pouring out its abundance. Human ingenuity cannot devise any way in which this abundance can be rendered valuable, but by converting it into goods ; that flour, beef and pork, &c. may be exported in the form of cotton and other cloths, and manufactures of iron, vi^ood, wool, leather, &c. Sec. We meet with the following article in the " New Bedford Courier," and adopt it as being probably correct. Do all the cloths and cassimeres imported employ 1 8,000 tons, of shipping ? Certainly, not, and by a large amount. [See a subsequent page.] " In the manufacture of woollens, oil is an indispensable ingredient, and previously to its passing through its first stage on the cards, it requires the application of from three to five gallons of spermaceti oil to every hundred pounds of wool. The quantity varies according to circumstances, dependent on the details of the business. " At the lowest estimate, the fleeces of the flocks now in the country require nearly forty- three thotfsand barrels of oil, the product of 20 ships of 300 tons each. But as the sheep yield their fleeces every year, and the ships perform their voyages but once in three years, to supply the oil necessary for this object, sixty ships, measuring 18,000 tons, must be employed, manned by 1,320 seamen and victualled with 7,800 barrels of beef and pork, and 9,000 barrels of flour, besides vegetables, &c. &c. involving altogether a capital of J" 1440,000. Of this amount, not less than ^"60,000 is paid in duties to government. " In my estimates, I have purposely omitted every calculation touching the additional quantity of oil necessary to keep machinery in motion and light the buildings, because I wished to simplify the subject as much as possible, and show merely that every addition of 230,000 sheep to our stock, immediately calls for the outfit of a ship of the first class, to provide for the one thing needful before their fleeces can be converted into broad cloth. " Others can easily imagine, and if they please demonstrate, that the labour of mechanics and artificers necessary to provide for this subordinate branch of the woollen manufacture, must concentrate no small population in the "districts, which circumstances have pointed out to be the best adapted for the prosecution of the whale fishery." Large quantities of tobacco and rice are sent north of the Potomac, for consumption or foreign export. New York exported 50,610 tierces of rice in the first nine months of 1824 and 1825. Of the quantities consumed we have no certain information; but of tobacco we must suppose that the domestic demand is as great as that of Gi-eat Britain, taxed as it is at 3 s. sterling per pound— put down at 14,000 hhds. The breweries of Troy, New York, annually send 1 2,000 barrels of beer, southwardly. Those of Albany, and chiefly for the same markets, consume 300,000 bushels of barley, with hops, &c. Naval stores are chiefly obtained from North Carolina, and paid for in manufactures. Furs PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 83 .' Purs and pettrifes mostly reach the Atlantic states from the extretae regions of the west, 1'827 1828. via the lakes or the Mississippi, and are paid for in manufactures. Large quantities of hats ^ / are exported south. . , in N* i. Copperas and alum are made in great quantities at several places ; 10,000 tons of the "'^°®'""®"' former at Stafford, Vermont, and some at Steubenville, Ohio, and Baltimore, &c. The Proceedings of the^ product of other works not stated. About 350 tons of alum are made at the Cape Sable ru*"^^- Z'"^^'* '"" works, near Baltimore, and the quantity will soon be increased to double that amount. continued. Much is also made at the great chemical factories in Baltimore. These articles are distri- buted through all the states of the Union. The means of their production are fully equal the requisitions of the home demand. Some thousand dozen chairs were exported within a year past from Baltimore, to Mexico, South America, Cuba and Hayti, One thousand dozen were sent in three vessels which left Baltimore on the 10th June last, on voyages round Cape Horn, with a large quantity of mahogany furniture, worth, perhaps, as much as the chairs. All the products of the mechanics. A New York paper says ; a gentleman who left Albany a few days since, at six a. m. and arrived here at seven p.m. counted two hundred and twenty sloops under way, or lying in the stream waiting for favourable wind or tide, between the former place and the state prison dock. A late Albany Gazette observes, " A gentleman counted yesterday morning upwards of twenty sail of eastern vessels lying in port. Some were of the first class of schooners. There cannot be a better evidence of the abundance of our market, or of our prosperity. " Indeed in what place in the United States can Boston, Salem, New London, Norwich, Fairfield, Providence, or any of the towns ' along shore,' obtain lumber, domestic spirits, grain or ashes, with more certainty, or at better rates, than at Albany?" The following items are interesting as to some of the exports of Kentucky, and its supplies to the internal trade of the country. Passed the Cumberland Gap — Horses and mules - - N° Hogs - - - - Steers - - - - 18J4. Dollars. A 4,005 - 360,450 58,011 - 406,011 412 - 18,689 1%AS0 1825. Dollars, 5,038 422,850 63,036 - 441,252 1.393 - 41.790 905.892 About one-half as much as the preceding amount passed east by the Kenawha route, in addition. Large quantities of bacon and pork descended to New Orleans, and thence were transported coastwise. Lead, and its manufactories, furnish employment for shipping to a considerable extent, and the business has nearly increased to the whole domestic demand. Shot and other preparations of lead will speedily pass into our list of exports, and form a handsome item. At the new mines on the Fever River, 700,000 lbs. were smelted in the month of June last. Almost any desired quantity may be obtained at these mines, and from those in Missouri. Many hundred tons are used in the glass and shot factories. However, there was imported in the last year 5,849,100 pounds of bar, sheet and pig lead, 93,945 lbs. shot, 1,817,991 lbs. •white and red lead, dry or ground in oil, and 34,841 dollars worth of manufactures of pewter and lead, together valued at 429,631 dollars, all which we ought to make at home, having the ore as rich and as abundant as to be found in any other country, and which, in its river navigation to New Orleans, or through the lakes and canals, or transportation coastwise, as well as its manufacture, will employ and subsist many thousands of persons. Hay, to the amount of between 2 and 3,000 dollars, was last year shipped at Albany, New York, direct to New Orleans. The exports of salt, gypsum, &c. from the same city to many places, are very large. • , . aiu r ^u ^u , ^■ About 25,000 bales of cotton are annually received at Albany from the southern states. The small county of Green, Pa. exports 60,000 dollars worth of hogs, besides bacon, chiefly to Baltimore, with many horses and cattle. Washington county, in the same state, exports 50,000 dollars worth of cattle annually. , . ,, There are many cotton and powder mills m Kentucky. About 1,000,000 yards ot cotton bagging worth 250,000 dollarS, are annually made. Hemp and yams and cordage to a large amount are sent to other states. The exports of Kentucky in horses and mules, hogs, whiskey and other animal and vegetable productions of the farmers, are valued at S4 000,000 a year. Eastern cottons are in general use, and preferred to foreign goods. Delaware has about 50,000 sheep, 1,000 of which are Merino and 500 of the Bakewell breed— the residue variously mixed. This state exports 6,000 head of fat cattle, worth ^o dollars each, annually to Philadelphia and Baltimore ; with great quantities of flour and grain • paper to the amount of 35.000 dollars ; tanners and quercitron bark to the value of % 000 dollars, to Philadelphia and New York; 6,Q00 dollars worth of castor oil to Balti- more- pleasure carriages to Maryland valued at 15,000 dollars; much lumber of all sorts; and more than 1,000,000 dollars worth of cotton and woollen fabrics, and gunpowder, &c. Leather is also a considerable article of the domestic trade . , . 1 r Providence imports 36,785 bales of cotton, 95,360 bbls. of flour, 200,000 - bushels of K^g L 2 I«dian 84' PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. ^>- ^ J Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, continued. Indian corn, 4,300 bales of wool, 200 lbs. each ; 4,000 dollars worth of clay-pots, 5,000 dollars in spades and shovels, 3,000 dollars in iron ore, with large quantities of rye, oats, beef; pork, butter and cheese, and iron and coal, 8ic. mentioned in other of these remarks. The various manufactures in the city of New York, which are exported to other states or pass into the more immediate domestic consumption or use, are estimated at ^18,500,000 a year, Though the statement before us is given only as an approximation to the real value of the products, we believe that the industry of the manufacturers and mechanics yield millions more, at the sale prices of articles made by them, excluding builders of houses and others not generally employed in making things for pubhc use or purchase. All the chief cities manufacture largely. Philadelphia (within the city and liberties) perhaps to the amount of 25 millions, and exclusive as above; there are about 5,000 looms in this city, which, at one dollar only per day for each loom, for 300 days, is l ,500,000 dollars ; the products of the breweries is equal to 300,000 dollars, of the umbrella factories 400,000, and so on ; these are mere specimens. Baltimore may be said to exist by her manufactures ; without them she would be " poor indeed." Many millions are produced in Boston. To give an idea of the variety of fabrics, we shall partially copy the list before us of the manufactures of New York, just above referred to — say, ships and other vessels, castings of iron, works of iron for vessels, steam engines, fire engines, &.c. carriages, saddlery, manufac- tures of leather, cabinet and other furniture, carpetting and floor cloths, glass and glass wares-, upholstery, stone, wooden and tin wares, stoves, millwright work, hats, cotton and wool- cards, umbrellas, paints, inks, combs, clothes, (ready made), brushes, glue, whips and canes, snuff and tobacco, marble, steel, shot, candles, soap, beer, ale and porter, spirits, refined sugar, books, maps, &.C., musical and nautical instruments, engravings, jewelry, pencils, plated ware, millinery, pocket books, types, printing presses, varnishes, copper, manufactures of cotton, wool, flax, hemp, &c. Among the exports from Newark, 8cc. in Essex county. New Jersey, annually, are 4? 400,000 worth of shoes, 100,000 of carriages, 5,000 of coach lace, 10,000 of chairs, 50,000 of cider, 5,000 of cider brandy, 5,000 of cabinet wares, 20,000 of hats, 10,000 of jewellery, 100,000 of sadlery, 230,000 of paper, and 10,000 of carpenter's planes. Berks county, Pennsylvania, had a population of 4(1,275 in 1820, and now contains 150 grist mills, 130 saw mills, 252 distilleries, 25 oil mills, 17 fulling mills, 13 carding machines, 3 carding and spinning machines, 8 clover seed mills, 68 tanneries, 6 tilt hammers, 4 sickle manufactoi'ies, 1 slitting and rolling mill, 1 boreing mill, 10 paper mills, 7 furnaces, 17 forges, 1 woollen factory, 4 breweries. Upwards of 500 hands are ernployed at Reading, the capital of the county, in the manufacture of wool hats, which generally find a market in the south. The exports of flour, wheat, rye and corn, &.c. are very large. About 5,500,000 feet of lumber annually descend the Connecticut river from New Hampshire and Vermont, worth 540,000 dollars ; 300 tons of copperas pass to market by the same channel, and 120,000 gallons of gin, with 200 tons of soap, stone and great quantities of slate; also 100 tons of peas, beans and flaxseed, 150 tons of pork in barrels. Cattle are chiefly driven on the hoof, and much pork is transported over land. Sugar, cotton, rice, tobacco, naval stores, much flour, salt, (a portion of the manufacture of North ,Carolina),1&c. &c. ascend the river for New Hampshire and Vermont. But the manufacturing estabhshings at Dover afford a large market for the people of several of the counties of states named; and the greater part of the trade from the valley of the Connecticut centres at Boston and Portland. There are among the many manufactories in New Hampshire : The following is a brief view of four of the establishments. 1. The Dover factory, using 728,000 lbs. of cotton, and preparing to use 1,000,000. It will then employ 1 ,000 persons, and the printing of goods, about to be added, will employ 600 more — Total 1,600. It will consume 3,500 gallons of oil for hghts, and much Lehigh coal, to heat the four cotton mills, which are 450 feet long and five stories high, &c. There is a rolling mill and nail factory at this place using 1,200 tons of iron. The capital expended is 1,500,000 dollars. 2. Great Falls factories at Somersworth, consuming 234,000 lbs. of cotton and about to use 457,000. Coal is used to heat the buildings, and in the melting and manufacture of iron into machinery, &c. Much oil used for lights. There is a woollen factory capable of making 400 yards of broad cloth, and 200 yards of carpetting per day, requiring 1,000 lbs. fine and 600 of coarse wool daily. Its capacity is only about one-third exerted at the present time, using 500 lbs. of fine and 150 of coarse wool. This establishment commenced in 1822; the capital expended is 1,000,000 dollars. Among the imports are 2,000 bbls. of flour and 6,000 bushels of southern corn, with much iron, sugar, rice, tobacco, &c. from various states. There are used at this factory 9,000 lbs. indigo, 9,000 lbs. madder, 40,000 lbs. dye-wood, 3,500 lbs. copperas, 4,000 lbs. alum, 800 lbs. cream and crude tartar, &c., and at present employs 230 persons; viz. 70 men and 160 women and children, the latter chiefly boys. When in full operation will require 450 workpeople. AH the machines were made by Americans, and ii-i2ths of the persons employed are native citizens. Other buildings of equal extent are erected ; and, if the state of the woollen business will admit of it, 2,000 lbs. of fine wool may be daily used in the whole, (besides coarse wool), and about 850 persons be speedily employed at this place in making cloth. 3. The Salmon Falls factory at Somersworth, capital 240,000 dollars— and makes 40,000 yards of broad cloth annually. It consumed last year 1 1 0,000 lbs. fine wool. The materials used at this factory at their cost, including the wool ; viz. indigo, madder, logwood, cam- wood. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. S5 ijfood, fustic, oil, twine, silk, tapes, woad, bran, glue, teasels, bark, fuel, copperas, red argol, 1827—1828. vitriol, alum, aqua fortis, soap, glue, leather, brooms, &c. &c. 8cc. amounted the last year to \ J ^61,106. 32. ~ ^-''TTj^ ■ 4. New Market factory— rapital "00,000 dollars, uses 300,000 lbs. cotton, employs 400 '"'^"'^"'^^ '"^ ^ 3- persons, and makes 1,200,000 yards of cloth. Proceedings of the There are 19 other establishments in New Hampshire ; but the four named are larger than at Hwrisburr" the average of the rest, though some of these are extensive. continued. ' A General Statistical Account of the Manufacturing Establishments in Paterson, New Jersey ; together with several other Mechanical employments more immediately con- nected with them, by the Rev. S. Fisher ; extracted from the Paterson Intelligencer of the 25th July 1.S27. THE whole amount of capital vested in these establishments, in buildings, machinery, fixtures, 8cc. is S757>95^- ^^^ Establishments are as follows : 4 Turners' shops, employing 22 hands. 1 Millwright, d" 6 hands. 1 Millwright and machine shop, d° n hands. 3 Other machinists, d° 84 hands. 1 Cutlery and shear factory, d° 3 hands. 1 Wool carding establishment, d° 2 hands. 1 Iron and brass foundery, d° 13 hands. Iron consumed annually in this foundery, is - - - - - 448,000 lbs. Brass _ - - - 16,500 lbs. Total iron and brass - - - 464,500 lbs. Estimated value of the above, 13,300 dollars. Iron castings of various descriptions made annually 397,000 lbs. Brass . . - _ _ . - 15,000 lbs. Total of iron and brass - - 412,000 lbs. - 1 Rolling and slitting mill and nail factory. Amount of iron consumed annually, 896,000 lbs. Estimated cost, 40,320 dollars. Nails manufactured annually, 851,200 lbs. There are 1 5 cotton factories, employing _ _ - . 24,354 spindles. There are also 2 flax or duck factories employing - 1 ,644 Total cotton and flax spindles 25,998 The raw cotton consumed annually is - - 1,843,100 lbs. The quantity of flax, d° - d" - - - - 620,000 lbs. Total cotton and flax . - - . 2,463,100 lbs. The medium cost of the above is 302,167 dollars. — — — — There are in operation in the factories. Power looms ------- .__. 281 Hand looms -- -- ,.-- -go Exclusive of the above, there are employed in the town hand looms - - 339 Total hand looms - - 389 Whole number of looms - 670 Cotton yarn of various Nos. spun annually 1,630,000 lbs. Linen yarn - . - - - 430,000 lbs. Total cotton and linen yarn - - - 2,060,000 lbs. The whole amount of cotton and linen duck made in the place annually is 638,300 yds. D° of cotton cloth of all other descriptions - - - - 3.354j500 yds. Total of cotton and linen cloth - - 3,992,800 yds. Besides the yarn made into cloth in Paterson, there are exported from the place prin- cipally to New York and Philadelphia, annually, 797,000 lbs. of yarn. In the above view of the different establishments, no account is taken of the stock used, or of the work produced in the several turning and machine shops, which forms a large item in the business of the place. 578. L 3 Hands 86 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 18^7—1828. Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, continued. Hands employed in the above shops and factorres, are 381 men, 386 women; and 686 gills and boys. Total 1,453. The annual pay of these hands is 221,123 dollars. These manufactures and factories give employment to a large number of mechanics. The present white population is 6,236. The increase since 4th July 1825, is 1,155 J births, 252 j deaths, 147 ; excess births, 107. [To show the various trades and business to which such establishments give subsistence, we add the following not embraced in the preceding items concerning Paterson ; 28 black- smiths, 55 shoemakers, 43 tailors and tailoresses, 46 milliners and mantua makers, 21 phy- sicians, lawyers, notaries, justices, &c. ; 104 carpenters, 50 masons and about 175 other mechanics, actually employed ; 90 storekeepers of various business, &c. ; and there are two banks, two printing offices, two breweries, two bakeries, two livery stables and ten hotels, &,c. ; all employing persons not stated. What better can exhibit how the various classes of society are dependent on one another than this authentic statement? We have also the pleasure to notice that there are in Paterson, seven places for public worship, eight officiating clergymen, 1 1 schools, with 633 scholars, with four Sunday schools, at which 435 children are instructed, and that an infant school is about to be estabUshed. There is also a philosophical society which meets weekly, for the acquirement and diffusion of knowledge, zealously attended by the young men.] The bank of the United States, during the year, which ended on the 1st July last, sold domestic bills of exchange to the amount of seventeen millions of dollars ! This item ' powerfully assists in the formation of an idea of the importance of the interior trade of our country. About 12,000 boxes of glass, manufactured at Pittsburgh, Wheeling, &c. west of the mountains, have been annually forwarded to the eastern states, especially to Boston, and without interfering with the extensive glass works there. Thus the west sends grain and coal and earth and metal, to the east. The transportation of gunpowder, and the materials to make it, employs many tons of vessels. The domestic manufacture is more than equal to the demand. We imported only 63,299 lbs.; in 1826, and exported 1,107,565 lbs. Mills are to be found in many of the states, but the establishment of Mr. E. I. Dupont, on the Brandywine, is believed to be one of the largest, on public or private account, in the world ; and a better and a stronger powder is not made any where. The works extend almost two miles along the romantic stream ; a large population is collected, beautiful buildings erected, and fertile garden spots, or indeed, fields made, where a rabbit 25 years ago could not have passed, because of the magnitude and multitude of the rude and hard rocks which composed the surface. The" Boston Courier" of September 27, says, a single mercantile house, on Long Wharf, has sold, since the first of January last, thirty-seven tttousand barrels of Gennessee flour; of which less than 300 barrels have been disposed of coast-wise ; the remainder has been sold, to country traders, and chiefly to those in the manufacturing villages. Another house has paid since the 1st of April, one hundred and fifty thousand dollars for American wool, purchased of farmers and wool growers belonging to the New England states and New York, and sold out again to the manufacturers of New England. The Boston and Canton Factory Company imported during five months preceding the 1st of May last, one million pounds of Smyrna wool; all of which is used in its own factory, in the manufacture of what is called negro cloths. [This wool is equal to about 450 tons, and possibly exceeds the weight of all the foreign cloths and cassimeres imported into Boston in the same time, and so affects the commerce and navigation of the United States.] We shall offer two other enumerations of facts to exhibit the business wihch manui facturing establishments create, and the active and large circulations of money which they cause. The Union Manufacturing Company of Maryland, whose mills are on the Pataosco, immediately employ more than 400 persons, and afford subsistence to about 1,000, who are located on their premises. Nine-tenths of tliesc employed would be idle, except for some works of this description, and the rest, who subsist plentifully, and are well clothed, would be scantily fed and clothed. The appearance of these people and their manners, their intelligence and virtue, compared with the classes from which they were drawn, are as strongly marked in their favour as though they belonged to different races of men and women, About 120 of the 400 are females weaving with power looms ; these average more than 10 dollars per month, and the price of boarding each is 125 cents per week. Their grade is much above that of servants employed in families; their earnings much more, living better, and time more at their own command, and they are always advancing in knowledge. Five hundred thousand pounds of cotton, are annually consumed at this establishment j its weight is almost 230 tons, and perhaps 120 tons of the goods which it produces goes into the foreigTi exports of the United States. Twelve hundred barrels of flour, 500 cwt. of Indian meal, and 30,000 lbs. of bacon, besides what is brought upon the premises by individual purchasers, are among the articles disposed of at this factory; with 10,000 dollars v/orth of sugar, coffee, molasses, tea and other foreign groceries, and 18,000 dollars worth of British and other taxed goods, in addition to some articles and supplies obtained at the stores in the neighbourhood, all which have been established in consequence of this factory. The PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 87 , The probability is that all the people employed and subsisted at or through these works, 1 097 -i ego annually consume more than 30,000 dollars worth of taxed goods ; though the children vl_/ \ collected there are in the proportion of three tx) one compared with their gross number in the ^-"_ United States, such places being the asylums of widows and old persons encumbered with lu^osure in N" 3. large families, too proud to enter into the poor houses, and not ashamed to do what they Proceedings of the can to obtain an honest livelihood for themselves. The supplies of working people for this General Convention and all the other establishments round about Baltimore, are drawn from the poorest of the ^' Hamsburg, community, who soon cast off their miserable looks and ragged habiliments, and assume the continued. appearance of comfort ; and hundreds and thousands who never would have known the difference between A and Z, had they remained at their old homes, learn to read and write, and become respectable young women, worthy wives and good mothers. Many of them •who are expert and economical, accumulate handsome little sums of money, with which to begin the world when married, whose parents never had so much before-hand in the whole course of their lives. The morals of the females at such establishments, whether from the necessity of preserving order, or whatever cause, are incomparably superior to those of their own class, running wild through the woods, or loitering in the streets, ragged and filthy, victims of laziness, lewdness, intemperance and disease. The Warren Factory, we believe, is more extensive than the Union ; there are also near Baltimore, the Thistle, the Savage, the Patapsco, the Powhatan, and the Washington, for the manufacture of cotton, and under, at least, equally good regulations as the establish- ment which we have particularly spoken of, its items being at hand. And further, there is a great establishment in the city, lately much enlarged, for the spinning of cotton, and making cotton canvass, &c. and more than 400 persons are employed therein, the chief part of whom reside in 70 or 80 two-story brick tenements belonging to the establishment, and the whole would make a large village, if detached from the city ; there is also the Lanvale Factory within the limits of the corporation, and perhaps others in the neighbour- hood that we do not j ust now recollect. The following summary notice of the business transacted at and in consequence of T)upont' s powder mills, is drawn from an authentic source, and pleasingly shows more of the effects of domestic manufactures. This establishment was made in 1803, and since then up to the 1st of June last, 9,718,438 pounds of powder have been manufactured thereat. Had this been imported, and at the average price of not less than 21 cents per pound, as its actual cost in England or France, the whole sum to have been paid away would have exceeded two millions of dollars, all which except for the cost of the raw materials, has been kept at home. Now this and other establishments furnish large quantities for exportation, much capital being involved in the manufacture ; and the domestic competition keeps down the cost to the consumer ; foreign powder, at the present time being from 26 to 30 cents per lb. without profit to the merchant, while the American, with at least the same good qualities, sells at from 1 6 to 20 cents ; and if the home manufacture was stopped, the price of the foreign article would immediately rise to from 32 to 36 cents. Before the war, which estabhshed the domestic powder works, the price wdiS fifty cents, or more than double its present rate, and chiefly for the profit of •foreigners. In this state of affairs, the policy of allowing a drawback of duties on imported gunpowder, may well be questioned. Why be the mere agent of seeking a market for the foreign product, when we have a better one of our own to supply the demand ? Self-pre- servation is the first law of nature. Further, we may remark that crude saltpetre, one of the principal raw materials for the manufacture of gunpowder, is now taxed with a duty of 1 5 per cent. Saltpetre is not manufactured in this country in time of peace, except in very small com- parative quantities, and should not, if it could, as it is of great importance to keep for time of war, all that the country may contain. The duty of three cents per lb. on refined salt- petre, wtiich was laid by the Tariff of 1824, acts on the contrary, as an encouragement to industry, and has already had the good effect of every other encouragement to domestic manufactures. There are now several large establishments for refining saltpetre, and the price which, when imported and previous to the duty, had never been less than ten cents per pound, is now reduced to 7 | cents per pound. The product of Dupont's mills for several years past has been from 6 to 700,000 lbs. With the new mills lately added, the quantity manufactured in the present year is expected to exceed 800,000 lbs. The materials imported for making the quantity is 712,000 lbs. of crude saltpetre from the East Indies, and 94,000 lbs. of brimstone from France or Italy — together weighing more than the manufactured article ; and because of the greater length of the voyages for the chief article, employing three times more tonnage than the manufactured article, if imported from Europe, would do ! Besides, there are employed at this factory — Men. Overseers, clerks, and powder makers, &c. ... 99 Blacksmiths ----- ---3 Millwrights ----- - 8 Carpenters _.-_.---- 6 Masons ---- 5 121 Add j coopers for making casks - - - - > - 17 Tinners to make cannisters 2 140 . 57.3. L4 " Then 88 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827 — 1 828. "^^en there are waggoners and shallopmen, to transport the materials and gobds'to and ffo, t^ ; persons to supply the coopers with wood, 8cc. and many, at certain seasons, are engaged in . gathering and preparing the wood of willows. See. for charcoal. It is moderate to suppose Jnciosure^in N° 3. that 600 persons are subsisted by this factory, independent of the farmers furnishing their rl^^l,^n°'' ° .-^ particular supplies because of its existence, the foreign and coasting; transportations caused tjeneral Convention u tu- «. i_i- i_ . • . 1 ^i >. n ^ *^ at HaTisburff ^ estabhshment is not less than 1,200 tons annually. contimeL There is another thing worthy of remark which belongs to this establishment, and many others ; several of the working people suffer their earnings to accumulate until they amount ^ to several hundred dollars, proceed to the west, and become cultivators of their own fields. This is an evil that attends manufacturing in America, as a British manufacturer would say the frugal and deserving are placed in the road to independence; but who would arrest their progress? — No one. Eveiy liberal proprietor, like Mr. Dupont, encourages and care- fully guards the interests of such men, though he may now and then lose one of his best workmen by it; the example is precious to those who remain, and the account is far more than balanced in favour of human nature. We have thus briefly and imperfectly noticed certain of the chief things, arid a few of the minor articles which make up the domestic trade of our country, and are not without hope that many who shall reflect upon what is stated, will be much surprised at the real import- ance of this trade, which, because of our familiarity with it, we have so generally regarded as a secondary concern! It is strange to observe the transmutations which this commerce causes. Bread from Baltimore, iron from Philadelphia, lead from St. Louis, travel east, and return in the shape of cotton or woollen cloths, wine glasses or tumblers ; these again are changed or interchanged to and fro times without number; and there is a perpetual reciprocal trade between those who have articles to sell and are willing to buy, and each furnishes the other on cheaper terms than foreigners would supply them at ; and in these we see a happy union between agriculture, manufactures and commerce ; the production of the first subsisting the second, and the prosperity of the second joining itself to the first to increase commerce, both foreign and domestic ; and thus an active circulation of value is kept up, which preserves the vitality of all parts of the union. During the present year the chemical preparations at Baltimore will have a value of about 400,000 dollars, and some of these will be found in the neighbourhood of the Rocky Mountains, and at Eastport, at the' Saut de St. Marie, and Tallahassee — in every state. So with the great staple of Pennsyl- vania — her iron ; so with various manufactures of Massachusetts. Maine wants the cotton of Alabama, and the latter wants the wool and woollens of Maine. The small states of Rhode Island and Delaware have no apprehensions of their great neighbours, Pennsylvania and Massachusetts, but throw out in every direction, and without restraint, the various products of their industry, and receive whatever is convenient or comfortable for themselves. A common " starry flag" floats over the navigation which each keeps up with the other, and our lakes and rivers are enlivened by the same emblem of liberty and light, of union and strength, the pledge also of safety. The silence of our forests is broken by the hum of domestic trade, and the " bowels of the land" witness our industry; the great " land ships" of Pennsylvania, &c. penetrate the interior in eveiy direction, and our coasting vessels visit every inlet from the sea. Foreigners have no "regulation" over this trade; it is inde- pendent of " British orders in council," or " French decrees." It is our own — the source of wealth, the parent of population, and grand nursery of soldiers and seamen. In conclusion. With respect to the domestic navigation which the mutual supplies and mutual wants of the different parts of our country require, and the foreign trade which our manufactures furnish, we again remark, that the whole concern is our own. The ships are built by our own mechanics, navigated by our own seamen, and all subsisted by our own farmers. These great businesses are daily increasing. If further protection be afforded as reciprocity is denied by Great Britain and other European countries in their trade with us^ the coasting trade, which has risen from 281,622 tons in 1800, to 722,326 tons in 1825, will probably amount to more than a million in 1830, and our whole coast will be bordered by vessels, navigated by a hardy race, whose march is " on the mountain wave," able and willing to chastise the insolent who shall approach our shores with hostile bearing towards us. The fact certainly is, that manufactures have already, though yet in their infancy with us, very materially increased the tonnage and seamen of the United States. AUCTIONS AND CREDITS ON DUTIES. THE Auction system, assisted and supported as it is by the allowance of long credit on moneys payable to the United States for duties on goods imported, is an important and iniquitous agent, indeed, by which foreign manufacturers and merchants operate agaip?;t the rightful interests of our own, and cause that unsteadiness in the market which unhinged all regular business, and produces incalculable di£Giculty; and besides, it is the conduct through v/hich smuggled or fraudulently entered foreign goods are forced upon the con- sumption, without, as we can discover, any counteracting benefit to any of the people of this country, the auctioneers alone excepted. A full discussion of this subject cannot be allowed on the present occasion; but we shall present some of the prominent facts and effects that belong to it, and leave the consideration of them to our readers and the public. The following Table was laid before the House of Representatives by Mr. Baldwin, chairman of the committee which had reported a bill for laying a duty on sales at auction, in the session of Congress of 1819-20. It was made up with great care, and may be relied upon : STATEMENT PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. sy STATEMl^NT of Merchandise imported into New York, from in the Year ending on the 31st December Great Britain and Ireland, 1819. Whole N* Number Number Proportion of Packages imported. f\Tt ttnfoiTtn on Amerirfln nn l^e»rf*tiTTt on xureigu Account. Account. Account. Dry goods of cotton, woollen, linen. silk. Sic. 8cc. _ _ _ 32,958 24,659 8,299 3-4tbs. Earthen and glass ware - - - 8.713 6,820 1,893 7-9ths. Window glass boxes 8,975 7,223 ■1,752 4-5ths. D" - - - crates i,o8i 806 275 3-4 ths. Black glass bottles hamp. 1,410 776 634 3-5ths. D" - - - baskets 520 320 200 3-5ths. D° - - - crates 493 465 28 i6-i7ths. D° - - - matts 299 299 None. The whole. D° - - - gross 500 500 None. The whole. Paint . - - - kegs 4,679 3,079 1,600 i3-20ths. Tin boxes 5,295 3.700 1,595 7-ioths. 1827—1828. \ ^ J Inclosuie in N° 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, co7itinued. The Credits alhivedfor Duties on Goods imported, are as follows : If from the West Indies - Europe - East Indies On salt - 6 and 9 months. - 8, 10, and 12 months. - 8, 10, and 18 months. - 9 months. Spirits, wines and teas are stored for 12 months, and may be taken out in parcels, on securing the duties. Just about three-fourths of the dry goods, &c. received at New York, in the year stated' (and which, in all probability, has rather increased than diminished in the proportion), were on account of ybrejg^ manufacturers or merchants, and chiefly sold at auction on foreign account for foreign profit, the credit on the duties furnishing a capital to foreign adventurers to forward yet more and more foreign goods. What a, foreign affair is all this ? The effect of this business upon that of the regular merchants and manufacturers of the United States, may be well imagined. In the very city of New York, the great commercial emporium, three-fourths of the European trade is directly in the hands of persons who owe neither moral or political allegiance to our country; who pay no taxes, rent no houses, employ no mechanics, expend no money among us, unless that which is paid to the auctioneers may be so considered, though that conies at last from the consumers, and the whole proceeding is unnatural and monstrous, and highly destructive of the interests of the United States : A great business, equal in its amount to 20 or 30 millions of dollars a year, is cast into the hands of persons whose primary consideration is to cheat us, individually if they can, and defraud the public revenue in any way and in every way that it is possible for them to do it. We allude to the owners of the goods. It is not necessary to suppose that the auctioneers are less honest persons than their neighbours, to support this proposition. It is their avowed business " to sell goods as they receive them ;" they guaranty nothing except in special cases ; and whether an apparently hlue cloth be really of a dirty red colour, or a piece of goods shall contain only 25 yards when its customary length is 28 or 30, makes not the least difference to them : they pay no regard to invoices used at the custom-house ; they never inquire how the goods were imported, or feel responsible further than as they are delivered to thetn. Such is the auctioneer's business. Good bargains and bad bargains, honest importations or fraudulent ones, indigo dyes or logwood dyes, long measure or short measure, or cloths made wholly of wool, or in which cotton is used, and to be sold as if all wool — are the same to them. The " fish of their net" is the commissions that shall be paid them; and if dealers with them are deceived, the auctioneers only laugh at the fraud, or gravely advise the dealers to '• keep their eyes open.^' But it is the foreign owners who cause these depre- dations upon us. It is their business to make the most out of us that they can, without the fear of God or love of country to check them. The delicate relations of" wife, children and friends," the value of public reputation and private character, and respect for the law, with the many other important considerations which lead or induce native or even resident traders to honesty, have no weight with these foreign adt'enturers — these bold gamblers in our market. Should they be so placed that " scorn might point her slow unmoving finger at them " for the baseness of their conduct, they retire, and boast, " at home," how they cheated the Yankees and their government : and such is the spirit of trade, that thousands of mer- chants who would not dare to attempt a false entry at a custom-house in their own country, feel no 5ort of compunction at robbing the revenue of a. foreign one. A sense of honour or regard for fame, acts in the first case, but pounds and pence, dollars and cents, have entire rule over them in the other. Nay, so far has this rule been -carried, that "respectable" merchants have fitted out vessels, and armed them to resist, even to committing actual 57 s. M murder, 90 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827 — 1828. murder * the laws of foreign nations at peace with their own, that a trade might be forced V ^^ , which the laws forbade ! This is the principle on which foreign goods are brought hither on Inclosure in N" 3. foreign account, and sold at auction— ifo violate the laws is praiseworthy— if successful And ProceedinRs of the' ^^ smugglings and false invoices, with short measures and short numbers in these goods, it General Convention ™^y ^^ ^^^^^^ supposed that their fair valuation for duty is reduced at least 25 per cent, which at Harrisburg, affects the revenue in one-fourth of its amount, rendering it one-fourth less than it would continued. be were this business in the hands of regular responsible resident merchants, as, without the use of the auctions, it chiefly would be. And, while the goods would be sold as cheap by the latter, the profits would remain to be added to the stock of the national wealth, instead of being transferred to a foreign country with a celerity that few persons have a just idea of, except those who immediately suffer in consequence of the hostile foreign operations. But, allowing that the foreigner is indisposed to violate our laws, and shall deal fairly with us, (a* he would consider it,) he has a great advantage over our regular merchants. A large part of the goods sent to the United States on foreign account, is by the manufac- turers themselves. Suppose they are invoiced conscientiously, and at their cost — the manu- facturer's profit, (that which pays interest on his capital or compensates his own labour or application), with various costs attending the shipment, are deducted, and these, together, will amount to about 16 per cent. We cannot do so well, however, as to adopt the following extract from a publication made at New York, by a much respected member of the general convention at Harrisburg, whose knowledge of the subject assures the correctness of his statements : — " It is notorious to every merchant, and results inevitably from the nature of the case, that a less amount of revenue is paid on goods imported on account of foreign manufacturers, and sold at auction, than would be paid on the same goods if imported by American mer- chants ; because the foreign manufacturer, as a matter of course, invoices the goods at their cost, or less than their cost to him, and pays duties only to that amount : whereas, the American importer pays the foreign manufacturer a profit, generally of ten to fifteen per centum, and pays likewise a commission of 25 to 5 per cent for purchasing the articles, and then pays duties on the total amount, including the commission. Suppose the difference to be 16 per cent, which, by those acquainted with the subject, will be deemed a moderate calculation, and it results that, in 1823, on three-fourths of the goods paying an ad valorem duty, (that being the proportion stated to be imported on foreign account), the amount on which duties were levied was less by about six millions of dollars, than it would have been had the same goods been imported by American merchants. On this sum, at an average of 25 per cent ad valorem, a greater amount of duties, by a million and a half, would have been paid into the treasury by American importers than was paid by the foreign importers. This sum, then, was gained by foreigners, over and above what would have been gained on the same goods by American importers, supposing they paid the foreign manufacturers their profit at the place of manufacture, and finally sold the articles in our markets at the same price for which they were actually sold on account of the foreign owners. In a word, this sum has gone into the pockets of foreigners instead of going into the treasury of the United States ; and that, too, without occasioning, or being attended by, any benefit to this nation, in any respect, directly or indirectly. It is lost to the people, as well as to the treasury. This proportion of the price paid by the people for the goods, instead of being retained in the country and paid into the treasury, has been carried out of the country as part of the foreigner's profits. The same thing has taken place, on an average, it is believed, to a larger amount than is given above, every year since the war. This matter may be illustrated as follows : An American merchant orders British goods to the amount of £. 1,000 sterling, say - - - .S'4»444 45 Commission for purchasing them, 2 J per cent - - - - - - 11111 Charges for packages, storage, 8cc. &c. before they are shipped, say 4 per cent 1 77 77 4^733 33 Duties at the custom house, at 25 per cent ad valorem, 10 per cent bemg added to the invoice ....._.__ 1,301 67 Total 3,035 00 Suppose the same goods to be shipped to this country by the British manufacturer, on his own account. It is for his interest to invoice them as low as he can, and he will not fail to put them as low as the cost of manufacturing, say at least 10 per cent less than his selling price at the manufactory. The same goods will then be invoiced at £. 900 sterling, or -.._- ...^ 4,000 00 He pays no commission for purchasing. The packages, and other charges accruing before the goods are shipped, do not in general amount to more than half as much, as in the case of American importers, say 2 per cent - 80 00 4,080 00 Duties, at 25 per cent ad valorem 1 o per cent being added to the invoice - 1,122 00 ^"5,202 00 The * This term is a strong one, but we do not choose to mitigate it , when life is taken, as it often hath been, in forced trades, it is murder. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 91 The diiFerence between this total and that in the case of the American importer, is JfSss, 1827 1828. or 16 percent. The absolute gain of the foreigner, in the item of duties, is J'lyg 67, or v r 1 6 per cent, on the amount of duties paid by him. Inclosure i N° q But, suppose the manufacturer to send another invoice of these goods, (to be used by his p agent, if necessary, in selling them), in which he includes his usual profit, and enters them ''°=s^'|ing8 o' *^ at the selling price at his manufactory, viz. £.1,000, or - - - - ^4,44445 atXrrisburr Add charges and duties paid on the invoice, by ■nrhich they were entered at continued the custom house, as above --.------ 1,203 00 5,646 45 And suppose the goods, to sell, in either case, for the same amount in this country, for example, an amount which would leave 5 per cent profit to the American importer, 5 per cent on Ji'6,035 is ^'301 75, making the total sum received for the goods aS'6.336 75, which, instead of leaving 5 per cent leaves 12 J per cent, additional profit to the foreign manufacturer, viz. - 690 30 -^6,336 75 If, then, the charge for freight and the expense of selling the goods in this country, are the same in both cases, the account between the people of this country, and those of England, will stand as follows : If these goods are imported by the British manufacturer, the people of this country pay to England for them, the difference between the duties, ^1,122, as stated above, and the total amount of sales, $6,3^6 75, which is, ------ ^5,214 75 If imported by an American merchant, this country retains in duties ,1" 1,301 67, and in profits to the importer, ^301 75, and pays to England, only - - . - - ^4.733 33 Which is 10 per cent less than in the other case. Taking 1823, as showing a fair average of imports, and it appears that this country pays to foreigners, about Jl' 3,600,000 a year more, for that quantity of goods which is imported on foreign account, than it would pay for the same goods were they imported by American merchants. " It will be admitted that the above is a very moderate calculation of profits to the foreigner; for it is very certain, that if the total amount of sales be not such as to leave 5 per cent to the American importer, no importations whatever could be made on American account, whereas, one fourth part of the whole quantity is still stated to be imported by American merchants. " The above statement may suffice to shew the advantage which the foreigner has over the American importer, and to account for so great a portion of the business having passed into the hands of foreigners. But this advantage is rendered available, almost solely, by the auction system. Were the foreigner subject to the same risk, delay and expense, as the American, in selling his goods in this country, viz. the risk and delay of selling them on a credit at private sale, and the expense of a warehouse, clerks, taxes, &c. &c. ; instead of sending the goods from the ship to the auction room, paying a small commission for selling, and receiving indorsed paper, or rather cash for the indorsed paper received by the auctioneer; the respective importers would be much more nearly on a level than at present. In short, were the foreigner's goods entered at tlie custom house, at the same price as the American's, and then sold at private sale, the American would not be driven from the business, but could sustain the competition ; and with respect to the revenue, were the foreigner, instead of selling his goods at auction, where no invoices are exhibited, and thereby avoiding the pos- sibility of its being found out what sum he paid duties on, to sell like the American, at private sale, and on a credit, he would be obliged to shew the invoices by which he entered his goods at the custom house, and they would be compared with invoices of the like goods imported by Americans, and it would be seen whether they were put at the selling price at the place of manufacture, or at 10, 15, or 20 per cent less. The American's invoice would then be taken as the standard by which goods ought to be valued for entry at the custom house. At present, the amount of goods imported on foreign account is so great, as to form the general rule of valuation by the appraisers; and the American invoice, though 10 or 15 per cent higher, is but an exception. Indeed, so long as the foreigner sells his goods at auction, and his invoices are not exposed, the service of the appraisers is of small benefit. A hasty examination of one package in fifty, of goods paying an ad valorem duty, will avail only in the most flagrant cases of fraud and deception. " The evils of this system may be counteracted by a high duty on sales at auction. What the revenue loses in duties at the custom house, on goods imported on foreign account and sold at auction, it may, at least, in some good degree, recover, by a duty on the sales. Whether 10 per cent will be sufficient to produce the effect, can only be known by expe- rience. When the advantages are considered which foreigners derive from these sales, in the facility and dispatch with which they are made, in the perfect security of pay which the system provides, and in the concealment which they afford to the frauds of the owner, as to the quality, measure, &c. of his goods ; and when it is considered that the system is sup- ported by immense capital, that it has all the attributes and advantages of a monopoly, that it has engrossed the greater part of the business, and deranged and ruined every thing like competition in the regular and sober forms of trade at private sale, it may well be doubted whether 10 per cent will be sufficient." We have but little to add. Many will be surprised at the magnitude of this subject. 578. M 2 They 92 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFES 1827 — 1828. I'^ey "ever supposed that three-fourths of the business between the United States and 1 ^ J Europe centered at New York, was in the hands of foreign adventurers. Their advantages Inclosure in N" 3. '^^e'" ^"^^ native, or resident merchants, are manifest. The obligation of an oath is notJ'eit''lnj Proceedinrs of the *^^^* ^""^ "'"'^^^ ^^ reflect that a manufacturer at Leeds or Manchester, may send his Generul Convention °^" ^°^^^ ^° ■'^^^^ ^°''^' ^'^^ ^^^^ ^^^" returns in cash in the space of ninety days, that he at Harrisburg, ^^Y re-invest the proceeds, and remit another parcel to New York, for sale, before the_/i>sf continued, payment of duties on the former lot skill become due, and that his capital may be thus increased to three times its original amount, if he stands well with the auctioneer, the ruinous effects of the system must be apparent to every one. We lend the foreigner capital that he may reduce our revenue, and assist him, or his agent, (and their interests are the same) to carry on a traffic which, it is believed, drains our country of three and a half millions more than would be paid were that traffic secured to its natural and rightful channel, in the American merchants, on their own account. The nation deservedly has faith in these. They are a body of high-minded men, and, not being smugglers or frau- dulent, will exhibit their invoices fairly at the custom house, and to all who shall deal with them, if required : but the auctioneer has no original invoice, or if he has, it is for his own guidance in making the sales, not for the instruction of the purchaser. This injurious state of things will continue so long as our laws are unaltered, and the auction system, with credits on duties, are allowed to remain. In all other countries, except in' Colombia, we believe, the duties on goods imported are paid before they pass into the public supply. There is good and evil attending our practice. It was intended for the benefit of our own people ; but we see that it is converted into a benefit for aliens, to benefit Tvhom is to damage ourselves, and especially our merchants and manufacturers. We see very clearly the disadvantages under which the former labour, and it is shewn that the 30 per cent for example, levied upon foreign woollens, iox protecting the home manufacture of them, may be reduced to sixteen per cent, even by a conscientious Englishman or Frenchman, sending his own goods hither for sale by auction, to say. nothing of what may be additionally effected by the thousand tricksof trade. And "on a review of the whole subject, the mind is easily brought to the conclusion, that ad valorem goods imported on foreign account, pay, at least, upwards of twenty-fme per cent less of duty, than would be paid were they imported by honest American merchants, feehng the obligation of an oath, and zealous of a good name among their fellow citizens. Specific duties, in all possible cases, it is the opinion of the committee, should always be laid, so much per pound, gallon, bushel, or yard. In some cases, this manner of laying a tax must act with more severity than in others ; for instance, on a pound of sugar that will fetch only seven or eight cents in a retail store, the duty is the same as on that which sells for twelve. It is said to be the business of the importer to attend to this matter, and that it is best left to his own regulation. Perhaps it is so. We shall not dispute it. We only desire that the like rule may be applied in all other practicable cases. There is no reason why a square yard of cloth may not pay a certain duty, than that a pound of sugar shall, and this can be regulated by minimum valuations. It cannot be regulated otherwise ; and even with these, some frauds may still be committed. But, instead of one in fifty, one in every ten packages of goods imported should be promptlt/ examined, and if a mianifest cheat was discovered, the whole cargo should be inspected at the expense of the consignees, or at that of the ship and its owners, extending it to confiscation in certain attempts at fraud, to the amount of all goods shipped for the concern implicated. But if these examinations were made at our own expense, the increase of revenue would pay the cost of it, and many bold rogues become honest from necessity, or pay severely for their speculations. In short, the merchants and manufacturers desire protection, and do not seek prohibition. The first are seriously injured by the sales at auction, as well as the last. They break ia upon the regular business of both, without any advantage whatever to the consumer of the goods sold. j\nd if the duties nov,' imposed on foreign goods were really paid, we have the authority of some of the best informed on thd subject, for saying, that the manufacturer* would not be moved ; and for believing, that woollen cloths would soon enter into the exports of ouv country in the Same manner that those of cotton have done, for that the protection afforded would build up a competition, able and willing to supply the home demand as cheap as that of England is supplied. And why should not this be so ? Cotton goods and * We shall not locate the following anecdote, but have entire reliance on the substance of the facts stated : " Several years ago, a wealthy and honest American merchant, unexpectedly received a large consignment of British goods, and from a house with which he had not been accustomed to do business. To make use of his high and honourable name to carry on a fraud, the papers were all made out with the greatest apparent regularity, and he was directed to sell the goods to the best advantage, &c. He did so, as he thought, and promptly, the advance obtained on the invoice being higher than usual. But he had only just finished the delivery, when an agent came on, puffing and blowing with haste, bearing an order for all these goods. He was informed of the good sale made. " On your invoice .'" said the Englishman, half scaj-ed to death. " Surely," replied the merchant, <' how else could I sell them ?" " Why, that invoice ivas only intended Jbr entering them by." It is not worth while to detail the rest. The agent was pretty nearly kicked out of doors, and the pur- chaser of the goods made a little fortune upon them, much to the satisfaction of the merchant. The agent had left England before the departure of the goods, to be privately present at the very arrival of the ship, ready to present his order as soon as the duties were secured, but was, by some accident, detained on his voyage until the speculation was closed. And then he went back again, revolving some new cheat to make up this grand robbery of himself or his employers." PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED S'lATES. 93 and many other peotected articles made among us, are cheaper to the American consumer than like British goods are to the British consumer, and must be so, as long as bread and meat is one half less with tis than in Britain, and taxation in the KiiiGnom is tenor ttuelve times , , • -^lu more onerous than in the republic. These are fixed principles, sophistry may distort, but it "^ °*"'^^ '" ^ ■^ is not in human power to overthrow them. They are based upon immutable truth. Let Proceedings of the fraudulent foreign adventurers be whipped out of our markets. We have talents and enter- prize, and capital enough, to do our own business. And, in the worst, if the public revenue mmt be defrauded, let us have the poor satisfaction of knowing that the amount of the fraud is not lost to our country for ever : that it may be expended in the building of houses or purchase of lands, for the benefit of our mechanics and property-holders, and remain a part of the nation's wealth. 1827— 1S28. General Convention at Harrisburg, continued. BRITISH TRADE AND PROHIBITORY LAWS, &c. The British "free trade system" forbids the importation of every article which the British soil or la,bor can produce, except in some such articles, as, from superior capital or other causes she makes cheaper than other nations. To an application from the British minister for a reduction of duties,- pari passu, with that of Great Britain, the French director of the customs, M. de St. Criq, sagaciously rephed : — " The systeni adopted by England is admirable, because it endangers none of her manvfac- tures. And we, when we are as forward as England, will be as liberal. But until then, WE MUST STAND FAST BY OUR PROHIBITOET SYSTEM." The British Corn laws are prohibitory, unless there is something near a famine in the country. That the taxes on the lands may be paid, the price of grain raised on them is forced up to the highest practicable bearing. As British bread stuffs and meats go into the manufacture of British goods, (not one pound of our own being permitted to the consump- tion, though it were given for nothing\ the result is that, in using such goods, we certainly pay taxes to support the British government ; indirectly to be sure, but absolutely. England will not give us buckram for bread, or pieces of bobbin for barrels of beef. The late 'Charleston memorial well says, " if nations will not buy they cannot sell ; " so those who can- not sell, xhe farmers of the United States, cannot buy of Great Britain, who buys nothing of them. But we shall now speak particularly of the British com laws, though, indeed, it is useless to spend much more time upon them than to say they are prohibitory : but some may wish to see the fact demonstrated ; we shall gratify them, being willing to support every propo- sition so that the right and reason of it cannot be mistaken or misrepresented. Until lately, except the average price of wheat in England was 80 s. per quarter, that is 10 s. or 222 cts. per bushel, foreign wheat, oats, barley, &c. were not at all allowed for the domestic consumption. Mr. Canning, in his bill, submitted on the 1 st of March last, pro- posed that the absolute restriction should stop when the average price was 65s. with a scale of duties so that at that price a barrel of flour would pay 140 cents, rising as the price of wheat declined to 5,5 s. when it was to pay a duty of 416 cents ; and then a barrel of flour costing 5 dollars at Philadelphia or Baltimorei with the duty added, without charge for freight, &c. would cost the British consumer ^9. 14, or eighty-three per cent duty ad valorem. And this was thought liberal, even on " the staff of life," — bread; of which the labouring poor ought to eat more than the unproductive rich, that they may work the more to support the drones which abound in the national hive. But the bill which passed Parliament just before its late prorogation, and received the royal assent, is scaled as follows, on the quarter of wheat, barley, and oats : WHEAT. BARLEY. OATS. Home Price. Duty. 72 s. 71S.> 70s. 69 s. 68 « 67.?. 66 s. 65s. 64 s. 63 s. 62 s. 61s. 60s. 59 s- 58s.- 56 s. 54 s. 53 «• 52 s. 51s. 50 s. IS. od. 2s. 8d. 4s. 8d. 6s. 8d. 8s. 8d. 10s. 8d. 12 s. 8d. 14 s. 8d. 16s. 8d. 18s. 8d. 20 s. 8d, 22 s. 8d. 24 s. 8d. 26 s. 8d. 28 s. 8d. 30 s. 8d. 32 s. 8d. 34 s. 8d. 36 s. 8d. 38 s. 8d. 40 s. 8d. 42 s. 8d. 44 s. 8d. Home Price. 41s. 40 s. 39 «• 38 s. 37 «• 36 s. 35S- 34«- 33 «• 32 s. 31s. 30 s. 29s. 28s. 27 s. 26 s. LEY. D ^ty- IS. od. IS. lod. 3«- /[d. 4 s. \od. 6s. 4rf. 7*- \od. 9s. 4^. lOS. 10 c?. 12s. /\d. 13s. \od. 15s. 4^. 16s. lod. 18s. 4^. 19s. lod. 21s. /[d. 22 s. lod. ■V Home Price. Duly, 31s. 30s. 29 s. 28s. 27 s. 26s. 25 s. 24 s. 23s. 12s, 22s. 13s 21s. 14s 20s. 15s IS. od. IS. Qd 3s. 3(/. 4 s. 6 s. 7«- gs. Qd 3d. 2d. 3d. 10 s. gd. 3d Qd. 3d. gd. 578. M3 Thus. 94. PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. V . -> Inclosure in N° 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, continutd. Thus, when the average " home price" of wheat is 72 s. or say $1 per bushel, the duty is 1 1 d. per bushel; when at 60s. the duty is 74 cents per bushel; when at 50s. the home price of British wheat being 143 cents, the duty will be 124 cents per bushel, or one half more for duty than the average price of wheat in all the United States. On the 3d July last. at Liverpool, the price was 60s. ; 'S-; the duty 24s. 8 d. according to the preceding scale; so that, said the " Prices Current," " little if any (foreign) will be brought to market." Indeed, the duty was 3s. 1 d. per bushel.* The grain-growing district of the United States, meaning that which can advantageously supply grain for foreign or domestic export, may be said to have been the states of New York, Few Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, three fourths of Maryland, Virginia and Kentucky, and half Tennessee. These states and parts of states, with a gross population of 2,500,000 per- sons, of whom 250,000 were slaves, produced 1,311,953 barrels of flour which were sent abroad in 1802, worth 9,310,000 dollars: but the same states and parts of states, with the addition of Ohio, Indiana and Ilhnois, (the three latter as a wilderness in 1802), having a gross population of nearly six millions in 1826, of whom about 390,000 are slaves, of their production exported to foreign places only, 857,820 barrels of flour, worth 4,121,466 dollars, a diminution in quantity and value of 50 per cent. In 1802, the export of flour yielded for each of the people of the states and parts of states named, the sum oifour dollars, but in 1826 only seventy-three cents; and an aggregrate comparative reduction of value in the sum of 13 millions of dollars; thus: — As 2,250,000 of the people is to 9,000,000 dollars, so is 5,600,000 people to 22,400,000 dollars, which should have been such export, at the same rate; and the value of the export in 1802 being deducted, the comparative loss is 13 milhons. And, as 1,311,000 barrels of flour were conveniently spared in 1802, the increased population would as conveniently have made and spared 3,200,000 barrels in 1826, had there been a profitable demand for that quantity in the foreign market. Of this ther« is no manner of doubt, and that if the medium price for flour, according to the British scale for wheat, say 61s. per quarter, could be obtained, the labour of the farmers in the states named might produce a surplus of more than five millions of barrels for exportation, equal, at the price just given, to the sum of forty-two millions of dollars. What a difference would it make to the people of these states, if, expenses of transportation, &c. deducted, they received only one half of that amount, instead of tne pitiful sum now paid to them, the price of grain being too low, in many places to pay for its transportation to market, though good roads and canals so much facilitate it. But circumstanced as they are, our wheat-growers perfectly understand that a short crop of grain may * A communication in a late number of the New York National Advocate says — The following table exhibits the rate of duties payable on wheat and flour, agreeably to the late corn bill passed by the British Parhament. I have calculated the duties payable on a barrel of flour, in order to divest the subject of the usual abstruseness of British laws. This table forms an admirable comment on the free trade system, to which it is said British statesmen are becoming converts. Though the duties are fixed so high, as to be nearly prohibitory on the great staple of the northern states, it should be observed that this Act only appUes to such grain and flour as were warehoused in Great Britain previous to the 1st July 1827. The importation of grain and flour from the United States, therefore, is again prohibited as usual, and our farmers must depend on the home market. Warehoused Corn Bill. Home Price Duty pel Quarter. Duty jn Wheat Per Quarter. of Eight Bushelj. Flour, per bbl. 196 Jbs. 72 «. IS . od. -s. yd. or iScts. 71 2 8 1 7 35 70 4 8 2 9l 61 69 6 8 4 - 89 68 8 8 5 ^ ^1 16 67 10 8 6 5 1 42 66 la 8 7 71 1 69 65 14 8 8 10 1 9Q 64 16 8 10 -i 2 23 63 18 8 11 3 2 50 63 20 8 12 5f 2 77 61 22 8 13 8 3 04 60 24 8 14 10 1 3 30 59 s6 8 16 1 3 57 58 28 8 17 sk 3 84 57 30 8 18 6 4 11 56 32 8 19 8| 4 38 55 34 8 20 11 4 65 54 36 8 22 1 J 4 92 53 38 8 23 4 5 19 53 40 8 24 6i 5 45 51 42 8 25 9 5 72 50 44 8 26 11 5 98 We presume that the writer has made a mistake, in not computing the British quarter as containing eight PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 95 may yield more money than a large one, because of the weakness of the foreign demand, in consequence of exclusive or prohibitory laws, or the natural condition of things. It is of no importance to us that British lands must produce a certain money amount to the acre, to pay the rents, taxes, tithes, poor rates, 8tc. ; for if the British people will not receive bread stuffs for calicoes, we must make calicoes at home, that our own manufacturers may eat our own food, and our own merchants export flour, pork, beief, Slc. in the shape of cotton, woollen and other goods. There is an old saying, that " hogs are the best sacks to carry corn to market in," and it is so, if the market is distant. Thus, the 1,000 bales of cotton goods which were shipped at Baltimore, in one week, of August just passed, may be regarded as sacks containing the representatives of 14,000 barrels of flour. It is impossible that the people of the district of country named can consume about Ji' 20,000,000 worth of British goods (their proportion of the amount imported last year,) when Britain received of the products of their country only the sum of 1,500,000 dollars. The want of reciprocity is too glaring to be endured. The great states of New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio, will not be trifled with thus. They and others will " correct the procedure," with the aid of the states further east and west, which are quite as much aggrieved as they. But this is not a local matter; the whole people of the south, protected in their sugar and cotton, have an equal interest in the general system. They will need its exertion as much as the grain-growing parts ever did. The wealth which is pouring into the lap of Louisiana, depends upon the preservation of it. And, if Britain wishes that we should purchase the products of her industry, she must, yes, must, purchase the products of ours. We do not find gold ready coined in our woods, to glut the appetites of those who would compel us to purchase of them, though they will not buy of us. Were the British ports open to the reception of our grain, at a fair rate of duty, the fee of Pennsylvania would be worth an hundred millions of dollars more than it now is, and her 1,200,000 freemen would rejoice, while the sweat poured down their manly brows, in the fatness of their fields, the capacity of their barns, and just reward of their honest and honourable labour. We do not speak without thought. Pennsylvania can supply mil- lions of bushels more of wheat than she does, and the labour and the land is the same, whether it sells for 75 or 300 cents the bushel. But, as Pennsylvania cannot command a market abroad, she will demand one at home ; and her rich hills, whitened by sheep, shall make up the reduced value of the products of her luxuriant valleys. She has been the Atlas of this policy, and will support it with all her strength. She has prospered by it, and will hot give up the interest which she has in the millons on millions which are at stake on the success of internal improvement and domestic industry. Other states are not less resolute than Pennsylvania — but she has been the pioneer in the " system," and deserves precedence for her steadiness of purpose. Pennsylvania well knows the truth of what Anderson on Industry eight bushels of 70 lbs. each, (our weight of a bushel of wheat being 60) ; and that, therefore, the amounts in the last column are a little too high. We rate a bushel of wheat at 60 lbs., and regard the fair price of a barrel of flour as equal to that of five bushels of wheat, allowance for loss of weight and for miller's profit on labour. Then If 560 lbs. be 1*. or 22 cents, 300 lbs. are equal to 12 cents, nearly; and If 560 lbs. be 44 «. Sd.; or 993 cents, 300 lbs. are equal to 532 cents. [These are the first and last items ; the latter duty exceeds the first cost of flour in the sea-ports of the United States.] The paper just above mentioned has given the following exhibit : Prices of wheat, per bushel of 60 lbs., in various parts of the world, in May and June 1827. America. Norfolk, Va. May ^"1 16 cents. New York, June 20 90 Montreal, Canada, June ...... go Cincinnatti, Ohio, June 50 Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, June 44 North of Europe. London, June 20 - $'^19 Antwerp, May 30 » 21 Hamburgh, May 25 87 Bremen, May 25 81 Dantzic, May 7o Settin, June 15 73 Copenhagen, May 31 - 72 South of Europe. Nice, June 15 $^ ^^ Milan, May 31 - ' ^ ^% Santander, Spain, May 1 26 France, June 30 1 ^7 Genoa, May 26 1 05 Leghorn, May 31 ^ ^3 Civita Vechi, May 31 §« Naples, May 31 °8 Trieste, June 15 *>3 Odessa, on the Black Sea, May 49 578. M ^ 1827—1828. Inclosure in N' 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, continued. 96 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. ^ -^ ' Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of ihe General Convention at Harrisburg, continued. Industry says, that " No earthly method remains for encouraging agriculture, where it has not reared up its head, that can be considered in amj way efficacwus, but the establishing proper manufactures in those countries yon wish to encourage." The following items are of importance in considering the effect of the British corn laws on the agricultural and commercial interests of the United States. In May 1817, flour was seUing at Liverpool for 17 dollars per barrel, and it was thouo-ht that 1,000,000 barrels had been received in Great Britain during the year which ended°on 1st September, weighing nearly 100,000 tons, and giving employment to 116 ships, of 300 tons each, makmg two voyages a year, and steadily employing 1,700 seamen — our pride in peace, and glory in war, to bear our starry flag around the world. On the 30th September 1817, flour sold at Liverpool for 12 dollars. The ports were shut on the 15th November 1817, and the flour then on hand advanced to 70 shillings, or J" 1,5. 40. per barrel, and an advanced price of grain being continued, that of wheat rising to 86 s. ^d. per quarter, the ports were again opened on the 21st February 1818, with a prospect of reclosing them again in August; but on the 1st July, the fixed average price of wheat was 83s. -id., 3s. id. over the prohibitory valuation. On the 30th August i8i8, the price ranged at 85s. But some time after this the ports were shut, and, if we recollect rightly, they have, except partially, remained closed ever since. Now observe the mighty effect of this prohibitory measure upon the business of the grain growers of the United States, to say nothing about the loss sustained in navigation. Value of Vegetable Food exported: 1817 1818 - J' -22,594,000 19,038,000 ^41,632,000 Difference in two years 1819 - 4f 10.473.000 1820 10,848,000 2 J, 32 1,000 20,311,000 ^41,632,000 This difference in value, ten millions of dollars a year, was not caused by over production in the United States, or any other fair business matter, causing a reduction in the value and quantity of our exports ; but by reason of an absolute prohibition ; British wheat being less than 10 s. sterling per bushel of 70 lbs. We hear much of the distressed condition of the cotton planters, because of the present low price of their commodity, and sincerely sympa- thise with them ; but the market is, and always has been, open to them, and they have had the good with the bad, either through the unforced operations of trade, or on account of a spirit of speculation which cannot be controlled, and ought not, perhaps, to be interfered with, as the following statement will show ; and also demonstrate the important and im- posing fact, that large crops of cotton are no assurance of profit to the planters ; thus in ] 8i8, ninety-two millions of pounds produced one-fourth more than two hundred and four millions in 1826 ; and twenty-eight millions less of pounds in 1825, yielded eleven miUions of dollars more than the export of 1826. Exported 1818 - - 92 millions lbs. worth ^31,000,000 1825 --76------ 36,000,000 1826 --64------ 25,000,000 But a much larger number of the people of the United States have their great products excluded — the populous manufacturing and navigating states of the east, and grain-growing states cf the middle and west, have no market in England, though from the time of the closing of the British ports to the present day, the average price of grain in the United States has been one-half less than its price in Great Britain.* Some of our fellow citizens of South Carolina have lately been much excited about the " wool bill," which, if passed even in a prohibitory form, would not have excluded near so large a value of British goods as Britain has excluded of American flour, wheat and cornj and in discussing it, they have used language of fearful import, and dangerous tendency. We shall not speak of them and their proceedings as it has pleased them to speak of us and ours ; it is to the reason, and not the passions of men that we would appeal. We have no party political object to accomplish — but urge the further adoption of well-known measures, built upon long enter- tained opinions. Nor shall we dwell upon the power to support or oppose those measures, or become so negligent of the duties which we owe to our God and country, as to suggest an exertion of strength except at the polls, for or against that which we regard as of essential importance to the prosperity of these United States. Indeed, we feel willing to submit the whole question to the high minded and generous, though ardent, and (as we apprehend) prejudiced people of the south, in a consideration of the following proposition, and which will have practical operation before many years, for the cultivation of cotton may be extended to almost any amount, and the people of many countries can make it cheaper than we are able to do. Suppose * We speak advisedly. On the 2Jst day of March 1826, (about the middle of our " treasury year,") the price of wheat at Liverpool was qs. 6d. to 10s. say gs. gc?. per bushel, of 7olbs. more than three cents per lb. Our exports for the year ending 30th September 1826, show a value of »W 38,676 for 45,1 06 bushels, at the ports of shipment, or at the rate of one and a half cents per pound. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 97 Suppose that Great Britain, supplying her manufactures (no matter how) with cotton at 1827 — 18S&. 20 cents per pound, were to exclude South Carolina cotton, though it might be. furnished at y j I o cents per pound ; what would a citizen of South Carolina think of' a British agent who should indogure in N° ^ recommend the consumption (in South Carolina) of British cotton goods? We know what our ^ , ' warm-hearted countrymen would say, they would pronounce the British agent to be an J'°'=^s750,ooo dollars. The United States received about 10,716,000 dollars, or one-third of all which England sent abroad. Again: take hardware. In 1819, she sent to Russia, £.67,000; to Germany, £.87,000; to Prussia, £.9.000, to the United States, £.460,000. In 1824, to Russia, £. 20,000 ; to Germany, £. 74,600 ; to Prussia, £. 3,000 ; to the United States, £.488,000. 1827—1828. _j Imports, 1824 - 1825 - Exports, 1824 182.5 Imports and Exports. £. 40,412,300 From the United States - 4i.737>6o9 82,149,909 - 5.459.736 3,925,608 56,234,663 63,225,272 119.459.935 9.385,344 6,141,450 7,141,285 13,282,735 In favor of Great Britain 37,310,026 Against United States - - 3,897,391 So there was a balance of more than 1 7 millions of dollars against the United States, notwithstanding all our cotton, tobacco, &c. sent to Great Britain. In his famous speech of April 28, 1825, proposing a slight modification of the corn la^s, Mr. Huskisson said — • " The government had come to the resolution of releasing the bonded corn, which had been warehoused six years, and of enabling the owners to bring it into market." '. " He had always understood that the great desideratum in this important question, was to provide for the steadiness of price, and guard against excessive fluctuations of it from the vicissitudes of trade." He said that a " national bankruptcy" was talked of in 1822, " when com was as low as 38 s. per quarter." — (Say 90 cents for the American bushel.) " In two years the price of com had varied from 112s. to 385. per quarter. Such a fluctuation in price, deprived the business of the farmer of all security, and converted the business into mere gambling." " We can manufacture cheaper than any other country ; but every other country can grow corn cheaper than we could." [Therefore the export of manufactures should be encouraged, and the importation of corn be restricted or prohibited !] Many further like remarks might be added — but these are sufficient. The " free trade" of Mr. Huskisson is exactly such as we contend for on behalf of the United States. The corn bill, limited as it was, was virtually rejected in the House of Lords, lest " the Americans should deluge the country with their fine, corn." Let us then act that our country may not be deluged with British goods. We appeal to every American feeling, on behalf of the American farmers ; and the appeal will not be in vain. Britain extends her principle so far that the woiJcing of the iron mines in Nova Scotia, was forbidden in 1825, the crown claiming the whole of them ! 578. Na The Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, continued. ^00 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. The new " Custom House BiU," as it is called, contemplates the prohibiting a variety of ^ ^ , articles on entry in British ports, except in British ships, or ships from the country from Inclosure in N" 3 '^'^^^^ ^"^ goods are imported, and the London papers say- Proceedings of the " ,f *^^° t!*? ,*^^ preference given as it ought to be, to British ships, or ships of the General Convention ^?^'^'^P J™™ ^hich the goods are imported. Here is a proper and vigorous blow dealt to at Harrisburg, *"^. ^t^^ carrymg trade. This is a return to the old, wise, and salutary system under ■continued. T-'^ .-., country so long flourished. We have not the slightest doubt but that Mr. Hus- kisson will be compelled to retrace his steps in the same manner, and to return to the former principles of trade in every respect, except as to high prohibitory duties, which otter impediments to trade and encouragements to fraud and smuggling, we have always been foremost in praising him." The operation, will be that if we export flour to Peru and there obtain some of the articles which Britain is pleased to take in exchange for her goods, we must send it thither in British ships, though our cost for freight might be one half less than the British. The whole annual proceeds in Great Britain of the manufactures of cotton, wool, flax and leather have been estimated at 85 millions of pounds, of which the cost of the materials was 22, leaving 62 millions for labour and profit. If Britain imported that amount for one year, what would be the situation of the country 1 In 1825, French goods to the value of £.1,790,561 were imported into Great Britain, the duties on which amounted to £.1,605,796. The British duty upon steel is £. 20 or ,§'88. 80. per ton, but on bar iron required for making steel, only 30 s. per ton. While American rice pays a duty of 15*. per cwt. duty, that from the East Indies pays 5 s. or two-thirds less. But, while Britain thus restricts the importations, she does quite as much to encourage exportations, by drawbacks, bounties, premiums or alloioances. Mr. Baldwin, in his speech delivered in the House of Representatives, when the Tarifi" bill of 1 820 was under discussion, speaking of their drawbacks, &c. said — " It is somewhat singular that our system of imports, which is avowedly for the double purpose of revenue and the protection of our own manufactures, should have overlooked this provision, which is indispensable for the latter. The house will at once perceive that if the foreign export bounty equals our impost duty on the same article, the duty is only a tax on the consumption of our own citizens ; the foreign article comes into the market on the same terms as the domestic ; this is fully exemplified in the article of linen. The British government pay the exporter 25 per cent bounty ; ours charging the importer 25 per cent import duty, it thence becomes duty free. At the present duty of 15 per cent the importer has a clear profit of 1 o per cent, after paying our duty. This is, certainly, left- handed protection to manufactures. Hence it is, that, without enquiry into the cause, we are told, you are unreasonable ; no duties will satisfy you. The great reason why many of the present ones are incompetent is, that they are checked and rendered unavailing by this artful and masterly system of bounties and drawbacks. It is the time secret by which to account for the immense wealth and power of a nation whose population but little exceeds our own. She is too wise to trust to imposts as the sole source of revenue ; commands her own consumption, draws the chief support of her government by an excise on her manu- factures, they afford materials and open new sources of commerce ; her system of bounties enables her artificers to undersell other nations in their own ports, while her political economists mislead us by their speculative and ruinous theories. The article of linen fully illustrates her policy. Though her taxes and expenses are enormously oppressive on the people, yet the makers of linen pay none, no excise on their materials or manufacture ; to encourage this fabric, which unites the three great interests of agTiculture, commerce and manufactures, she wisely apportions the burthens of her government, so as to leave this unembarrassed. This accounts for the cheapness of the article at home, and added to the enormous bounty on the export, gives the true reason for underselling us. Let the British abolish this system, let an article pay the same price for home consumption as for exportar tion, it will then be seen there is nOt much diiference between manufacturing here and there. One article pays an enormous excise, another none ; let them be equalized and neither have an export bounty ; in the aggregate it will be found that we could meet them in market, if not without any, with a small rate of protecting duty. Let cottons, woollens and linens', pay the same excise as glass, beer and spirits, and cost to the consumer in this country as much as they do in England ; you would be called on for little further protection to our industry. The manufacture of these articles pays no part of the expenses of their govern- ment, is burthened with no taxes, because they are the sources of their greatness, the machinery by which they draw to themselves the resources of all nations who purchase them; retaining us, their commercial, naval and political rivals, in a state of colonial vassalage. It would be right and fair to aim at once at this system, by adding to the ad valorem a specific duty equal to the bounty paid and drawback of excise allowed on the exportation. Then our duties might be called protecting ones, and be said to afford eflScient protection to our manufactures ; then the competition would be, on national and individual grounds, a fair one ; but the committee, aware that this is the first attempt to introduce such a principle into our code, that it would not be prudent to attempt too much at oncei only propose to consider the bounty and drawback as a part of the original cost on which the duty is to be assessed. To exemplify this, on linen a duty of twenty-five per cent would only counteract the bounty ; we recommend the addition of only one fourth of that amount. It is not to introduce a war of legislation, but in some measure to countervail the association PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 101 association of their system ; increased duties will be inoperative, when they are evaded by increased bounties. I hope these principles will meet the approbation of the house ; if they do not, all our laws will be in vain ; we had better say at once to those who want protection, " Let things regulate themselves." BRIEF NOTICES OF THE OPERATION OF PROTECTION. The following shows the difference in the amount of duties paid under the old revenue Tariff and that of 1824, intended for the protection of certain domestic manufacturers, as well as for revenue. Rates of duties payable, the 10 per cent added at the Custom-house being regarded. Before 1824. After 1825. Woollen manufactures (average) per cent Cotton cloth - - _ _ _ Linen manufactures - - _ _ Iron, in bars, hammered, per cwt. These four, we believe, are the only, or at any rate the principal, items about which there is much contention, and they embrace a large part of the manufactured goods which we import. But the relation which the different rates of duties have, even apparently, had upon manufactures of cotton, we cannot tell ; for though the duty was not altered, the minimum was advanced ; however, this we do know, that the price of cotton goods has been reduced at a rate far exceeding any reduction in the value of raw cotton ; and that all such goods made in the United States are cheaper than the same sort of goods in Great Britain, so that this item is out of all controversy. The other three stand thus, according to the impor- tation of 1826: 27 J 36 § 271 27 J t6i , 271 75 90 Goods and their Value. Cloths and cassimeres - ^4,546,714 Linens - " - - 2,987,926 Bar iron, hammered, cwt. 467,51 5 Duties payable under Duties payable under the old Tariff. the new Tariff. 1,250,346 35 493.007 79 350,636 25 2,093,990 39 Increase 1,667,131 46 821,679 65 420,763 50 2,909.574 61 2,093,990 39 815,564 22 1827—1828. ( f Inclosure in N* 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, continued. Now, if the population of the United States be 1 2 millions, as we suppose that it is, the "advanced revenue, Jl' 815,564, is equal to six cents and eight mills for every individual; and, as eight millions of the 1 2 are located in these states which desire to have a protecting Tariff, or have acknowledged the principle of it on numerous occasions, it follows that the other states, paying into the treasury, at 5 cents 4 mills for each person (admitting that their numerous slaves consume as great an amount of foreign goods as other individuals), will pay the whole sum of 271,853 dollars, less than a fifth part of the prohibitory protection affbrded to the sugar planters of Louisiana alone, by the Tariff. But we deny that the price of articles has been enhanced by the Tariff of 1824, and demand proof.* And if these six cents and eight mills are really exacted of the people every year — will they " calculate the value of the union," because of that "enormous" requisition on the profits of their labour? This sum is all that can be said to be levied for protection ; the most resolute declaimer cannot make more of it ; but we deny that one protecting cent is collected on woollens, as shown in the • The following are some of the articles really protected, with the price anterior to the Tariff and since : Before. Since. Coarse cotton, average from 1815 to i97i 60 10 22 1,300 1,100 45 10 6 1,500 15 40 to 50 20 n 3 5 7 26 to 30 We might add much to this list. It is offered only as a specimen. Let the enemies of the system show an opposing one, as imputable to the Tariff of 1824! They cannot. 578. N3 102 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. the article on the " Auction system," &c. yet if the whole is collected, what a small ^^ — -—^^ ; aflFair is it, compared with the vast compromise of power in the constitution ! Inclosurein N' q Having in another place spoken of the protection afforded to navigation, we shall just p /*■ refer to it here,-and in regard to a single article. oTnerdConvention ^^^ present crop of cotton, it is supposed, will amount to i/)oo,ooo bales* say at HarrisburK 360,000,000 lbs. If so, at least 280 millions of pounds will be for exportation to foreign continued, places, 120 millions of which foreign export will first be transported coastwise. As by protection we have, as it were extinguished foreign competition, and prohibited the coasting trade except to our own vessels, about g-ioths of the cotton sent to Europe will be carried in American ships ; let us then see how the freight acccount will stand: 9-] oths of 280 millions of pounds is 252 millions, at | d. sterhng per lb.\ ^ f. the lowest charge for freight, is 787,500/. or . - - .J tj» 349o,50o 1 20,000,000 lbs. coastwise, at | cents ...... 900,000 ^4>396,600 Which shews the cost of labour and subsistence in navigation, and interest for capital vested in ships. Now this great sum remains to the people of the United States, as carriers of their own article to market, and are the planters injured by it? The freight is cheaper, because our navigation has been protected. It has been as high as 1 J d., and generally at 1 d. per lb. for cotton.t By reference to Lloyd's debates of Congress in 1789, pages 109-10, it will be seen that Mr. Tucker, of South Carohna, prophecied against the discriminating duties on tonnage J — he " could not consent that it should bear heavy on certain states, while part of their burthen is received by others as a bounty." He said that the duty laid upon foreign ships must be repaid by the " southern members of the union ;" that freights would be raised, and the " whole go as a bounty to benefit the owners of American ships ;" and he thought that Charlestone alone would pay a " bounty of 30,000 dollars a year to our eastern brethren." He moved a duty of 20 cents per ton, only, which he thought would be " a liberal encouragement," and though " at the expense of a few states," he was willing to assess it. How remarkably near does the language of the present day follow that of old times, as though experience had done nothing for us ! as if practice was rejected that theory might be supported? But the first constitutional congress did not agree with Mr. Tucker. While the duty on American ships was fixed at 6 cents per ton, foreign ones were to pay 50; and, in 1812, the latter was raised to 150 cents per ton — this was intended as a revenue measure; but in 1817, an Act passed levying a duty of two dollars per ton on all foreign vessels entering the ports of the United States from any foreign place to which our vessels were not (ordinarily) permitted to enter. The present duties are 6 cents per ton on Americaa vessels, and loo cents on foreign, unless specially provided for on reciprocity obtained. There is also 10 per cent more duty payable on goods imported in foreign vessels, not specially provided for, as just above stated. At Savannah, during the year which ended October 1, 1827, there arrived 155 ships, 152 brigs, 238 schooners and 104 sloops, besides state coasters, all American vessels; and 15 ships, 11 brigs, 6 schooners, and 6 sloops, British; with 3 French ships and as many brigs, and 1 Spanish schooner. Thus even at this famous port for the shipping of cotton, the foreign competition was hardly felt. Why not 1 We know that British ^hips are seeking employment, and hear loud complaints of the want of it. They may enter our ports on the same * The bale of cotton is not a determinate quantity. We are told that it may be generally esti- mated at about 400 lbs. Others rate it at three hundred. Probably this difference in opinion arises from the use of the article from different parts of the United States. f Will any one pretend to believe that, if the American superiority in navigation was destroyed, the price of freights on cotton would not advance from one to three farthings sterling per pound.' Certainly not. -But say only one farthing, and the difference against the planters would be one-third of the above aum of ^3,496,500 or J" 1,165,500, or more than^ar times the sum apparently levied upon all the people of the planting districts or states, for the protection of the great manufactures of cotton, wool, iron and flax ! There is no " getting out " of this. It is plain arithmetic. And the cost of the freight of cotton to its market in Europe, affects that article in the hands of the planters, exactly as the transportation across the mountains to Baltimore, affects the price of Ohio tobacco at home. The producer miist pay, or lose, the cost of the carriage, in the reduced price of his com- modity at its market. This is unavoidable necessity — as much so in its operation as that of ginning the cotton. We recommend these facts to the serious consideration of the planters of cotton. They will bear any test that can be applied to them. We reiterate it, and with pride in support of our principles, that the steadily encouraged and highly protected navigation of the United States, is the safest, most expeditions aad cheapest in the world ; and add, that the planters as freely partake of all the benefits derived from these desirable qualities as the ovoners of the ships ; that, instead of paying a " bounty to their eastern brethren," they receive, at the very lowest calculation that cah be allowed, half a cent per pound more for their cotton than would be obtained was the transportation of it dependent on the owners oi foreign vessels. The whole duty paid on the bagging and rope for a bale of cotton, admitting that the price of the articles is advanced because of the duty (which, how- ever, does not appear), is equal to about ihs fiftieth part of one cent per lb. X In 1791 the merchants of Glasgow prophecied differently ; they said that the discriminations adopted would, " in time, give a decided superiority to the American shipping ;" and they prophecied -truly. It has possessed that superiority for several years, and needs no other protection than its flag, and the navy — with the resolution of the government and people of the United States to claim and receive reciprocity for it on every occasioi}. So much for the " BOUNTY." PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 103 same terms as our own. Why do they not come? Their ships are more numerous than ours, and their boasts of seamanship have filled the world ! They come not because our navigation is better and cheaper than their own. — Protection has destroyed competition. Again — In the year 1 826 there were imported Cloths and cassimeres worth ----- J" 4,433,870 Flannels and baizes ----- 586,823 Cloths costing less than 33 ^ cents, the square yard - 1 1 2,844 Let us see what employment this business gave to our navigation. Admit that the average cost of the goods included in the first item shall have been only 75 cents per square yard — of the second 30 cents, and of the last 20, and, the result, in square yards, will be as follows : Yards. $ 4>433.ooo at 75 cents for each square yard - - - 5,540,000 586,000 at 30 1,950,000 1 1 2,000 at 20 ---..-. 560,000 Square Yards - - 8,050,000 And further, suppose that these goods, even including the flannels, weighed 1 lb. to the square yard, then the whole weight was about 3,600 tons. They did not weigh nearly so much, but we take the extreme in favour of them, and the result is, that this business would employ only six ships of about 300 tons each, making two voyages a year. The weight of all the woollen goods imported was considerably less than 5,000 tons, or only one half the weight of foreign dye stuffs, soaps, &c. used in our woollen factories, specially excepting foreign wool, of which one establishment has imported 450 tons of the coarsest sort, in nine months of the present year. And, as it is probable that at least 30 millions of pounds of wool are worked up in the United States, requiring more than 3 gallons of oil for every 100 lbs, we have 900,000 gallons, the procurement and transportation of which, because of the greater length of the voyages of the vessels, will employ thrice as much tonnage, admitting that only two thirds of the whole quantity is spermaceti, and the other third olive, the first being used for common wool, and the last for the finest and best. And further, as a matter of fact and without speculation — Mr. Dupont's powder works require 712,000 lbs. of crude saltpetre from the East Indies (the voyage to which is equal to three European), and 94,000 lbs. of brimstone from Europe ; this is equal to the employment of 1,000 tons of shipping in European voyages, or, in itself, one fifth of the tonnage employed in the transportation of woollens ! These plain facts are recommended to those who fear the loss of our navigation. The British understand them perfectly well — they know what it is to purchase raw materials and sell manufactured goods ! It is this that has raised up their navigation, and caused the boast, that " The winds and seas are Britain's wide domain, And not a sail tvithout permission spreads." But this has been contested, and the modest pretension hath yet to be established ! pro- vided our own navigation, and especially the coasting trade, goes on to increase, as it is increasing, because of the progress made in our manufactures ; and if the speaker of the House of Representatives and president of the Senate, shall be metaphorically seated upon a sack of wool or bale of cotton, to represent the care which the national legislature is resolved to bestow upon the combined operations of agriculture, manufactures and commerce, sup- porting and supported by one another. We have an interesting notice of the price of " negro cloths," as published in the " Charleston Courier." It speaks to the understanding of the people. Cotton goods, cotton bagging and negro cloths, the great themes for discussion in the south, are cheaper because of the protection afforded to the domestic manufacture of them, and better than such articles formerly were. " It is well known that our system is not one of choice, but necessity. It is because we . cannot, without constant wars, prevent the exclusion of our agricultural products from England, that we are by self preservation driven to render ourselves independent of her for every day clothing, and at the same time raise up a population of operatives to consume the produce of our agriculture. But as it has been confidently asserted that we have suffered, and papers in the interior have spoken of " the little the Tariff has left us," I beg leave to show that it has taken nothing, and therefore that little is all we ever had. " In the autumn of 1815, when the country had been destitute for a long time, negro cloths (say such as Welch plains, 7-8ths of a yard wide,) averaged by the sale of that time, from 75 cents to $ 1 per ya«-d. In i8i6, they sold at 70 a' 90 cents per yard. Since that Pieriod, the same description of goods have sold as follows: 1817 1818 1819 i8ao 1821 1822 1823 1824 1825 1826 Welsh plain, 7-8ths yard-wide, sold at 60 a' 80 f„ JO Jo «« «' Q« 5,78. d" - > - - d" - - - 60 a' 80. d» - d" - - d" - - - 60 a' 80. d" - d" - - d° - - - 56 a' 78. d» - d" - - d" - - - 58 a' 78. d" - d° - . d" - - - 60 a' 80. d» - d° - - d» - - - 50 a' 70. d- - d" - - do - - - 50 a' 68. d° - d" - - d" - - - 50 a' 70. d" - d" - N4 - d° - - - 50 a' 70. 1827-1828. Inclosure in N° 3. Proceedings of the General Convention at Harrisburg, continued* It 104 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the GeneralConvention at Harrisburg, continued. " It is, however, to be remarked, that the consumption of British manufactured negra cloths during the last four years has materially decreased, and the importers have not heen able to sell any quantity of them at prices to cover cost; and the retailers say that they make a far greater profit on the American manufactured coarse cloth than on the British." We shall proceed to make some remarks on the facts above given from the " Courier." Mr. Huskisson, president of the Board of Trade, when justifying the treaty with Prussia, asked, " How could we successfully enter into competition with the woollen manufacturers, ^x. of the United States, if any change be made in the shipping by which the raw material comes to this country ? " Must we be " brayed in a mortar," before we shall comprehend that British " free trade '' doctrines are manufactured for exportation, as " negro cloths " were in Yorkshire, out of old clothes, and glued together to make them seem substantial ? But as to these cloths. The present lowest selling price given in the " Courier" is 50 cent« per yard. By the Tariff of 1824, all cloths costing less than 33 1 cents per square yard in a foreign country, are deemed to have cost that sum, and charged with an ad valorem duty of 33y per cent on that valuation ; aiad thus a yard of 7-8 ths cloth costing, say 25 cents, (and woollen cloth costing less than that can hardly be worth the making up into garments), pays about 12 J cents per running yard duty ; say that frieght and charges brings it up to 40 cents ; and yet, though the lowest price is 50 cents, the importers have not been able to " cover cost" upon it, though having an apparent profit of 25 per cent, and whole amount imported last year was only in the pitiful sum of ^'112,844. There must be some reason for these things — they cannot happen by chance. The reason is this, the establishment of the minimum at 33 f cents, excluded the Yorkshire cloths made out of old clothes and other flimsey materials, and encouraged the home manufacture ; so that the average value of such goods, which was 70 cents per yard, in 1817, 1818 and 1819, has been reduced, for the last three years, to 60 cents ; in a sum as equal to the whole amount of the duty levied on such goods, one-seventh less in price than heretofore, though, as is. stated, one-fourth more valuable because of their quality. One factory in Massachusetts can annually make J" 500,000 worth of these cloths, or four times as much as the whole importation, taking the average of 1825 and 1826. If the people of the south will look at these things, they must find that negro cloths, as well as cotton bagging, about which so much has been said, have been rendered cheaper because of the slight protection afforded to them. The planters of cotton are protected by a duty of 3 cents per lb.; by which they profit in the exclusion of the East India product, whenever our cotton advances to 16 or 17 cents per pound; for if at 18, the . Bengal article, paying the duty, may be advantageously used for numerous purposes in our own mills. And the time will come when the duty upon raw cotton will probably be increased to 5 cents per pound, to shield our planters from the cheaper cultivation of Greece, Egypt, &c. which, being close to the great European markets, will have many advantages over ours, and not be subject to that uncertainty and hazard which has rendered so much service in protecting us against the influx of East India cotton in the distance of Surat and Calcutta from these markets, and the consequent diflSculty of affording or receiving informa- tion of the production, demand, or price of the article. We have shown in its proper place, that the revenue from foreign commerce has hand- somely increased in the last two or three years, and we fully believe that it would yet more rapidly increase, were all the foreign cloths now imported made at home. There is nothing paradoxical in this. The duties upon such goods would, of course, cease ; but others would be introduced in greater quantities than at present, and more than supply the deficiency, because of increased means in the people to gratify their desires to possess costly articles. Manufactures exceedingly advance the value of real property. We offer the following cases by way of examples : The ground occupied -by a certain manufacturing establishment on the Brandywine, in Delaware, pays 320 dollars in annual taxes to the state and county. Not many years ago, only one dollar a year was paid on account of the same land ; and not much more would be paid now, were that manufactory and the improvements caused by it, destroyed and the water power lost. This particular establishment is far from being the most extensive on the stream spoken of. Taunton is a little village in Massachusetts, in which extensive manufactories have re- cently been erected. The following extract from the newspaper published in that place will shew the immediate effects which have been produced. ' " Real estate has advanced in the immediate villages and upon water privileges, nearly four fold within the last four or five years. From 500 to 1,000 dollars are now obtained for building lots in the best sites, having sixty or seventy feet front. Some of the town's land was sold the other day, for nearly 5,000 dollars, which five years ago would not have brought 1,200." The Columbia, South Carolina memorial of 1823, against the proposed Tariff of, (and which was chiefly adopted in) 1 824, asserted that " the diminution of the customs cannot, by any fair mode of calculation, be estimated at less than one half ; leaving seven millions instead of fourteen. The remaining seven must therefore, be raised by direct tax." Well, the Tariff law was passed, and the products of the customs have increased from 13 millions in 1821, and 17 millions in 1823, to 20 millions in 1825 and 23 millions in 1826. Further, the whole value of the importations in 1823, was 77 millions, but in 1825 after the Tariff, 96 millions, and 85 millions in 1826, and a " direct tax" hath not been -thought of by any body. What next ? IRON. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 105 IRON. Iron and its manufactures imported in the Treasury, year 1826, were as follows : Side arms and fire arms, other than rifles and muskets - - $ 111,207 Cutting-kriives, scythes, sickles, reaping hooks, spades and shovels - 81,457 Screws weighing 24 lbs. or upwards - - - - - - _ - 958 called," wood screws" - - - - - - -'- 82,285 Other articles not specified, (cutlery, ironmongery, 8cc.) - - -2,551,336 1 8,1 88 muskets 65,689 158 rifles _--__ 1^841 765,660 lbs. iron and steel wire - . . . _ _ 90,401 Tacks, brads and sprigs ------_.. 4,135 230,996 lbs. nails, [probably all wrought] - - _ _ 23,739 34,426 lbs. spikes --. 1^328 413,766 lbs. chains and cables, and parts thereof - - - . 29,140 Milt cranks and mill irons ___. ___ Q\ 1.499 mill saws 6^076 46,680 lbs. anchors -----_.__ 2,502 407.344 lbs. anvils -.-_.. . . 24^560 Hammers and sledges for blacksmiths ---.__ 1 ^683 i»432,976 lbs. castings 55,526 498,404 lbs. braziers rods ----- - - 23,600 240 lbs. nails or spike rods slit - _ . _ . ly 2,407,867 lbs. sheet and hoops - - . . _ . 88,438 2,458 lbs. slit or rolled for bands ------ 3,946 34,092 cwt. in pigs 67,004 88,741 cwt. bar and bolt, rolled --__.- 223,259 467.515 cwt. bar and bolt, hammered - - - - 1,590,350 36,525 cwt. steel 384,325 $ S.5i4>873 1827—1288. Inclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the GeiieralConvention at Harrisburg, continued. The preceding statement, is offered to show how nearly the domestic production reaches ,the home supply. In respect to many articles, the imports exhibit that our manufactures are nearly equal to the demand. The chief things in which we are deficient are side arms, and 'articles of ironmongery, including cutlery, iron and steel wire, sheet and hoops, hammered bar iron, and steel, and the manufacture of some of these is increasing. Wood screws, mill-saws, anchors, &c. will not probably be required from abroad much longer ; but ham- mered bar iron, steel, and the manufactures included in " other articles not specified," are large in amount, and the greater part of the whole may, and will, be made as cheaply in the United States, if assured of protection against influxes of foreign production. The chief part, indeed nearly the whole of the 5,514,873 dollars paid for the iron imported, is paid to Great Britain, except on account of hammered bar iron, of which the value of i ,398,090 dollars was received in the last year from Sweden and Russia, (three-fourths from the former), the whole value of our exports to which countries were as follows : Sweden and Norway Russia Domeslic Articles S 126,034 11,044 S i37>078 Foreign. 88,489 163,604 252,093 Total. 214,523 174.648 389,171 This official view of the trade which the United States carries on with Sweden and Russia, should certainly induce us to attempt the whole manufacture of hammered bar iron for our- selves, and not remain dependent on those nations for so large a quantity of an indispensable article, seeing that they take so little from us in return. To " buy cheap and sell dear," is a favorite saying with certain economists ; but how buy at all unless we can selP. Why buy, when we can make as cheaply for ourselves ? The following particulars are authentic and interesting, and many others of lil^e character will be met with in difierent parts of this appendix. " TJie^e are in Centre county, Pennsylvania, 7 blast furnaces, capable of producing 8,600 tons, and actually producing 7,400, and employing 275 hands; and 9 forges, capable of producing 2,490 tons, and actually producing 2,050 ton, and employing 230 hands. The annual value of these manufactures is as follows : 7,400 tons castings at ^ 30 S 222,000 2,050 d° bar iron - 100 205,000 Employing 505 hands, nearly all able bodied men, and probably subsisting at least 2,000 There are also three rolling mills in this county, but the proceeds of them are not stated ; and a manufactory of " wood screws," at which was made last year .10,700 gross. A speci- men exhibited to the convention showed them to be of the first quality and the price was said to be low. , 578. " ^^^ 106 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure in N° 3. Proceedings of the GeneralConvention at Harrisburg, continued. The furnaces of Huntingdon county, Pennsylvania, annually make about 6,000 tons. Mr. Murray, of Clinton county, New York, stated in the convention, which met at Albany on the " Woollens Bill," &,c. that Essex and Chnton counties, in that state, supplied 2,000 tons of bar iron, and were capable of making 6,000 tons ; and that an investment of about S 100,000 in the iron business furnished employment that fed 600 mouths, consuming 5,000 bushels of grain, 400 barrels of pork, &c. the products of the farmers. Rhode Island imports about 19,200 tons of cast and bar iron, annually, from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The site of Mount Pennfurnace, near Reading, Pa. was a wilderness five months ago, and now from 20 to 25 tons of pig metal are made weekly, giving value to that which was valueless, and employing many persons in a new business. The iron manufactures of Maryland are extensive. General Ridgley's works near Balti- more are well known because of the superior article which they supply. Ore abounds in the neighbourhood of Baltimore. Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Kentucky, all abound in iron ore, and have large manufactories of it. Ore is also plenty in several other states, and is manufactured in them. Inexhaustible quantities of iron ore are found in Kentucky, there are 7 or 8 furnaces and about 15 forges in operation in this state. The primary markets, after supplies of the neighbourhood, are at Pittsburgh and Cincinnati. As much machinery is exported from as is imported into the United States. In the manufacture of steam engines, from 150 horse power, or upwards, if required, to the most delicate adjustment of a spindle or power-loom, we rival, if we do not excel, any other people, and our artists work as cheap as any. Much of the most approved machinery used in some of our factories is also of American invention, and improvements are made upon nearly all the models imported. We are independent of foreign workmen for these things; and can give as much knowledge as we receive, in cotton and woollen and other machinery. The engine of 100 horse power built in Pittsburgh, and used to raise water to supply the summit level of the Union canal, cost, with its iron pumps and machinery only -$ 5,000. It is capable of raising 650,000 cubic feet of water 94 feet in 24 hours. Among other manufactures of iron, we may notice one of mill-saws, at Philadelphia, of such superior quality and moderate price as already nearly to have prohibited the impor- tation from Europe. One furnace at Barrington, requires 1,200 bushels coal daily, to keep it in operation; and nearly five tons of pig iron are made every day ; 100 hands are employed. The " Sterling Company" in the city of New York, at a late date, employed 300 workmen, assisted by three steam engines, and working up five tons of iron per day, besides large quantities of copper, brass, &c. Anchors, chain cables, steam engines and other machinery were made here. In Lincoln county. North Carolina, there are four furnaces and ten forges, which in 1823, made about 900 tons of bar iron, and 200 tons castings. There are also extensive works in Stokes and Surry counties. It is every way sound policy in the people of the southern states to establish and encourage manufactures for themselves. We have no local views on this subject. It will, besides, increase the exchanges between the states and promote domestic competition, for the common benefit of all consumers. At Taunton, Massachusetts, 1,200 tons of nails are made annually, and 300 tons of plates, hoops and machinery. At Pittsburgh, there are seven rolling and slitting mills, eight air foundries, six steam engine factories, one wire factory, &c. Some of these are very large establishnients ; one of them has two engines of 1 00 and 1 20 horse power ! A rolling mill on Esopus creek. New York, is fitted to manufacture 200 tons of iron weekly. In Morris county. New Jersey, there are seven rich iron mines, several furnaces, two rolling and slitting mills and about thirty forges. The ore of some of these mines has all the desirable qualities of the Swedish, and when the Morris canal is made, will be worked very extensively. Iron abounds in the north of Ohio. It is stated as probable that 1,000 tons of pig iron were forwarded to New York, via the Erie canal, during the past season, from Painesville, where the ore is said to be so accessible as to cost at the works no more than 150 cents per ton. Three furnaces were at work, and three others, with as many forges, were building some time ago. The manufacture of steam engines is a very large and rapidly increasing business. Many mechanics begin to use those of one or two horse power, the cost of which is a trifle. The cotton and rice planters will soon have them to clean their cotton and rice, and there will be thousands of them scattered through our country in a very few years. Much printing will be performed by steam power. We have no means by which to arrive at the certain value of the iron manufactures of the United States. Some of the items were thus given in the returns of the marshals for 1810 — Products of furnaces - - - ^2,981,277 bloomeries -._-._. 226,034 forges 2,874,063.. trip hammers - - - - - - - 327,898 rolling and shtting mills ----- 1,215,946 naileries iA7^>^39 gun-smiths - - - 593.993 steel furnaces - - - - - - 144,736 The PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 107 The aggregate values, as stated in 1810, were probably one lialf short of the real values 1827—1828. at that time. The returns of 1820 are so defective as to be useless for any general purpose, v 1 and were rightfully suppressed. • N' o The following remarks from a late British paper are interesting : inclosure-in ^ 3. There is not one branch of exports from this country, which has not been seriously Proceedwigs of the reduced during the last three years, with the exception of iron and steel. The increased ^«neralConveuUon exportation of the raw materia;l, has long been known to the manufacturers of Sheffield, * con^mael' and believed by many to have been very injurious to the trade of the town. This opinion will be rather confitmed, than otherwise, by an examination of certain returns that were made to Parliament, during the last session, in which it appears, that the exports of iron and steel, during the three years ending January 1827, had increased from £.851,578 ster- ling, to £.1,107,724; while manufactured hardware and cutlery, during the same period, had diminished from 214,000 cwt. to 192,000 cwt. An increased exportation of iron and steel, to the amount of upwards of £.250,000 sterling, in the short time of three years, affords a strong evidence of a disposition on the part of foreign nations to engage m the manufacture of cutlery and hardware. — Sheffield Courant. [For some further remarks on iron, as connected with the internal trade, see that head, in the preceding pages.] COTTON. The Cotton manufacture in the United States has advanced with irresistible energy, being protected by the national govemrfient, to the incalculable advantage of all parties — planters, manufacturers and farmers ; the first, in supplying the material, and the last feeding the people employed in making cloth, &c. In 1808, there were only about 8,000 spindles ; all in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut, and not more than 300,000 lbs. of cotton tvere used in them. In the present year the mills will use about 70,000,000 lbs. and before 1 830, upwards of one hundred millions, unless some suicidal policy should be adopted by Congress. What a market is thus created ! The goods made by our own mills are the cheapest and best in the world. They have driven like British goods out of every market accessible to us as to them, though our great rival has attempted to counterfeit our goods, in numerous instances, to deceive the people of Mexico and South America. Some small parcels of our goods have been smuggled into England, by way of experiment, and were sold at 2i good profit. A thousand bales were exported from Baltimore to foreign places in one week of the last month of (August) ;* large quantities are shipped to the Mediterranean, and many bales have been sent to Cantdai They would drive the like British or India goods out of Calcutta, were their importation thereat liberally allowed ! There is nothing more than sober truth in these statements ; but how wonderful are the changes that have taken place ! The following amount of the foreign exportation of domestic goods from the port of New York, published in the " Statesmen " is highly interesting : In 1824 the shipments from New York to foreign ports, were - 763 packages. 1825 - - - - .1,630 f 1826 ^ . - - - 1,757 d 1827 viz- 8 months preceding Aug. 31 2,077 ^° *' Should the shipments of the remaining four months of 1827 keep pace with the pre- vious part of the year, they will amount to 3,125 packages, about 500,000 dollars value, and from a single port, be it remembered. The kind of goods exported, it should also be remembered, are those that have been protected by government. The finer goods we do not export, nor even manufacture our own supplies." It is supposed that about 4 or 4 i pounds of raw cotton, is the average daily amount used for each person employed in our cotton mills, the weavers not being counted. The bale of cotton, some weighing much more and some less, may be generally taken as a quantity *^^^uch cotton printing is doing at several places. Taunton, Massachusetts, and Dover, New Hampshire are among the most famous; at the first named, 2,000 pieces are printed weekly, and the quantity is increasing ; much also is printed at the Warren factoiy, near Baltimore, at which to between 900 and 1,000 persons are subsisted. These prints are all of coarse cottons ; * These bales contain about 700 yards, the average value may be put down at 75 dollars, and the raw cotton required for the manufacture, at aoo lbs. Let us see the result of this ordinary operation, c -,rnn« 1,000 bales at 75 dollars ■ •& 75>ooo Deduct the value of 200,000 lbs. of cotton at 10 cents - - - 80,ooo S 55,000 Teavine 'J'J.ooo dollars actual profit on domestic labour, or for capital ernployed, and a clear gain to thTf amount to the country, as not one cent's worth ess of value would have been exported had to tnat a™"" ^jgg^ ^ade^ and there is a considerable diiFerence on account of fi'eight, because ^f^'sp^oneer vovages of the vessels carrying out the goods. 01 tne longei ^^^j. ^jj^yj. g POO bales of cottons have been exported from Baltimore since the first of AprilCto countries beyond Cape Horn, besides m^any havp been sent to Mexico, Brazil, &c. " 578. ^ ^ 108 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS J 327 1828. cottons ; but the finer fabrics will be made, and sold cheaper than at present, if the minimum ^ ' 'j is advanced as suggested. Great preparations are making to extend this business. r~j ^'T ^„ Six hundred and twenty-five thousand lbs. of cotton are annually manufactured in Oneida inciosure in JN 3. g^mity^ ]\few York. The product of labour employed in the manufactories is estimated Proceedings of the at 300,000 dollars a year. There are many other besides those of cotton ; but not much GeneralConvention jg ^ojug i^ tjig woollen business. Bt Harnsburg, j^^ ^^g^ ^^ American vessel was seized by the officers of the customs at Liverpool, for having on board eight bales of cotton, supposed not to be of the growth of the United States. Large quantities of American manufactured cotton goods are exported from New York to Canada, and the people are supplied with cottons cheaper than they can import them from England, the import duty of 1 5 per cent being honestly paid. During the year ending on the 1st October 1827, there was exported from Petersburgh, Va. 36,780 bales of cotton, to wit, 16,094 coastwise, and 20,686 to foreign places. Some part of this quantity was the product of North Carolina ; but not a bale of Virginia cotton was exported a little while ago. Cotton is cultivated in Indiana and Illinois, but not extensively. Its quality is said to equal that of Tennessee. Its manufacture has commenced. Fifteen thousand yards of cotton cloth are wove daily at Lowel, Massachusetts. Greece, with the islands, emancipated and under a settled government, is capable of supplying cotton, perhaps, nearly equal to the usual production of the United States, and at a much lower rate, because of the more moderate cost of labour. The quality also is* excellent. Large quantities were heretofore manufactured in, as well as exported from Greece. British supplies were drawn from the Levant, assisted by some from the West Indies, previous to 1790. It is asserted that the crop of cotton in the United States exceeded 900,000 bales in 1826,* and the present year's crop, (without accident) it is supposed will amount to 1,000,000! If the price shall yet further fall, though it does not appear to yield the planter an average of more than 8 cents, let not the Tariff be blamed for it ! The more we export of this great commodity, the less it generally brings us, as may be seen by a refer- ence to the large table of exports and imports in a previous page. The year's crop being, usually successful, and the quantity a million of bales, we fear that not more than six cents can be realized for it. The increase goes far beyond the increasing demand. Much is said in some of the cotton growing states about making bagging out of cotton, to reduce the excess, and because of the duty upon the imported article. The cost at Dundee of foreign bagging is about 14 cents; the duty is 3I cents per square yard, equal to 4 1 cents per running yard, or only at the rate of 33 per cent, an amount moderate enough for " pro- tection." The Natchez " Ariel," speaking of the complaints against the present high price of bagging, because of the failure of the hemp crops in Kentucky last year, observes, " We have seen the article bring 50 cents per yard, when there was no Tariif, and again 15 cents after the first duty was imposed. It must also be recollected, that the bagging now made in Kentucky, is fully 10 cents per yard better than it was in the years previous to 1820 or 1821. " We have a duty of 3 cents per lb. on cotton, and the same on sugar, and have not the growers of hemp and wool a fair claim to the same encouragement?" Cotton bagging, of domestic manufacture, though protected by a duty of only 25 per cent, finds its way to most of the cotton growing states from Kentucky. A writer in the Charleston Courier, (of the 9th Oct. 1827), says that one house in that city sold 2,000 pieces in a single month of the season for using it, and at a lower price than the foreign. The bale rope used is chiefly of Kentucky hemp, being cheaper at the places of its produc- tion than the Russian at Riga. After all that has been said, the volumes of words that have been uttered on this subject, no proof has been offered that the price of cotton bagging has been advanced one mill per yard because of the duty levied by the Tariff of 1824. Indeed, the increase of duty, if really any, except to assure the payment of that which was assessed by the old revenue Tariff, is so small on the yard, as to require a nice calculation to discover the operation of. The debates in Congress in 1789, 1790, &c. show that the duty on cotton was levied to encourage the domestic production of it. We see it stated by another writer in the " Courier " opposed to the preceding, that it takes five yards of cotton bagging and 3 lbs. of cordage, for each bale of cotton, the whole duty or tax upon which is 37 cents. Of this amount, not more than 8 cents, at the utmost, can be pretended as having been leviedybr|)roto- ligent and best practical farmers in the world, it was stated, as is believed to be within bounds, when it " is asserted, that the grain growers are indebted to the wool growers, for ten cents on every bushel of wheat sold in that county this season." Because of a reduced supply of wheat and a greater demand for it. By actual enumeration there were 161,000 sheep in Washington county. Pa. last year. By strict examination of the consumption in 50 families in Washington county. Pa. who use no foreign woollens, or other cloths than what they make out of their own wool, it appears that 5 lbs. are required for each person, annually. And allowing 6 lbs. the whofe supply of the home market would require nearly 70 millions of pounds, the product of about 30,000,000 sheep. The ability to produce this quantity of wool, and support 30 millions of sheep, cannot be questioned. At present, however, the people cannot afford to consume so much cloth as the wool of 30 millions of sheep would make ; and they are, generally, com- pelled to do with less than is used by the well clothed and comfortable farmers of the county named. At the last state census there w ere about 350,000 sheep in Dutchess county, Wew York. The present number is supposed to exceed 450,000. Many of the best breeds and finest fleeces. It is calculated that the farmers of this county in the past year, after supplying their families, had 500,000 lbs. of wool to sell, which at an average of 40 cents, produced them the sum of $ 200,000 ; the household manufactures being estimated at 100,000 dollars more ; and yet the sheep raised does not appear at all to interfere with the quantity of grain produced ; indeed, rather to improve the capacity of the soil to yield more. Such seems to be the practical result in this county, as detailed in the Poughkepsie Journal. Three towns in Maine, containing about 5,000 inhabitants, and from 75 to 100 square miles of territory, wintered last season, 11,531 sheep, producing 3 lbs. of wool each, and having 8,770 lambs this season. Some of these sheep are of the fine woolled breed. From various details, it is believed that the sheep last wintered in Maine amounted to between 800,000 and 1,000,000, and that the present stock is 1,300,000. Mr. Davis, in his speech in the House of Representatives, on the 31st Jananury last, esti- mated that the amount of wool worked up was 32,000,000 lbs. and that 3,200,000 yards of broad, and 32,000,000 of narrow cloths were annually produced, and about 100,000 persons are directly or indirectly employed in this business. We gather this opinion also, that more than 100 millions of capital were vested in the growth and manufacture of wool; and he put down the sheep at fifteen millions. The island of " Rhode Island," 14 miles long and less than 3 wide, has more than 30,000 sheep upon it. There are about 200,000 in Berkshire county, Massachusetts. Many in the western parts of Virginia ; one gentleman in Ohio county has more 3,000 ; he sold his crop of wool to Mr. Rapp, at Economy, for 2,400 dollars. There are in the state of New York about four millions of sheep, between two and three millions in Pennsylvania, a million in Vermont, &.c. It has been calculated that the manufacture of wool, (including the various mechanics and labourers employed,) in the New England states, subsists about 20,000 families, or 1 20,000 persons, and that these will consume the surplus products of 40,000 families of agricultura- lists — together about 360,000 individuals. If this is thought extravagant, reduce the manufacturers one half, and throw them into the production of agricultural articles, and what would be the effect? A great market would be destroyed, and an already glutted one further ■ overloaded. Not one cent's worth of our farmers produce is prevented foreign exportation because of the factories. The value made up hy these, then, is a clear gain to the nation. The home-made negro cloths are cheaper and better than the British, and steadiness in the market is mainly desired for them. Each slave is supposed to be allowed six yards. One establishment at Canton, in Massachusetts, has made 600,000 yards annually, and is pre- pared to make 1,000,000 ; 500 bales of coarse wool was received there from Smyrna, which had been paid for in domestic cottons exported. A carpet manufactory, in Jersey City, (owned in New York,) has a capital of 400,000 dollars, and employs 100 hands, making 2,500 yards weekly. The spinning and prepanng the yarn employs another 100 persons. Messrs. B. Wells & Co. at Steubenville, have a flock of sheep amounting to about 6,500. The fabricks manufactured by them are equal to about 50 yards broad cloth dady, averagmg 2 lbs. of wool to the yard, worth S 3- 50- We have tabular statements of the purchases of wool for this factory for each of the years from 1820 to 1827, from which we take the follow- ing items : — PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 113 In 1820, none of the 1st quality; 5,8672(1 quality; 5,097 7-8ths, &c. and total 38,202 lbs. 1007 looo wwasbed wool. V__ ■ In 1825, 3,841 lbs. 1st quality; 20,813, 2d quality; 25,086 7-8ths, and total 90,524 lbs. /"i ^"^^"77"^ unwashed wool. Inclosure m N" 3-. In 1826, 3,491 lbs. 1st quality; 13,682 2d quality; 17,688 7-8ths, and total 69,673 lbs. Proceedings of the part washed on the sheep. GeneralConventioa In 1827, 2,586 lbs. 1st quality; 11,910 2d quality; 17,408 7-8ths, and total 74.660 lbs. at Harrisburg, washed on the sheep. conitnued. The chief value of this statement is to show the progress made in the growth of fine wools. No common wool has been purchased for the factory since 1822; all the sorts are becoming finer, and the finest improving. The cotton and woollen cloths made in New York were valued last year at from 15 to 18 millions of dollars. A great deal has been said against even the lowest minimum [only 40 cents] proposed in, the woollens bill that was before Congress at its last session, and certain persons have represented that it would operate severely on the poor. They do not state that there is already a minimum at 33|. cents, and that in 1824, no less than 21, of the 24 members of the Pennsylvania delegation, then present, voted to raise the minimum to eighty cents. Many more yards of flannel are now manufactured in the United States than were im- ported a few years ago, according to the returns at the custom houses. In five towns in Massachusetts, within a space of 17 miles square, 2,100 persons are employed in making flannels, and operating on a capital of 950,000 dollars. It is supposed that all the woollen goods imported into Boston in a year, would not fuliy laden mie ship of 400 tons. But the neighbouring manufacturers give employment to many thousand tons of shipping, transportitig articles in and out, foreign and coastwise. The woollen manufacture in Great Britain employs about 1,250,000 persons ; and, after supplying the home demand, the export averages the value of more than six millions of pounds sterling ; more than the average of all the exports of the United States, cotton excepted. • There about forty millions of sheep in Great Britain and Ireland, and the annual product of wool is estimated at 140 millions of pounds. We can easily feed 50 millions of sheep in the United States; and there is no doubt that we shall export millions of pounds of wool, raw or wrought, before many years. Our bread and meat must, in this way, obtain a market. HIDES AND SKINS. The product and manufac- pendent we are on foreign powers, for every national, as well as domestic purpose, the greater and more stable will be the public felicity. By the increase of domestic manu- factures will the demand for the raw materials at home be increased, and thus will the dependence of the several parts of our union on each other, and the strength of the union itself, be proportionabli/ augmented." Extract from Mr. Monroe's Message of^d December 1822. " Satisfied I am, whatever may be the abstract doctrine in favour of unrestricted com- merce, provided all nations would concur in it, and it was not liable to be interrupted by war, which has never occurred, and cannot be expected, that there are other strong reasons ' applicable to our situation and relations with other countries, which impose on us the obligation to cherish and sustain our manufactures. Satisfied, however, I likewise am, that the interest of every part of our union, even of those benefited by manufactures, requires that this subject should be touched with the greatest caution, and a critical knowledge of the efiect to be produced by the slightest change. On full consideration of the subject, in all its relations, I am persuaded, that a further augmentation may now ]fe made of the duties of certain foreign articles, in favour of our oivn, and without afl^ecting, injuriously, any other interest." Extract from Mr. Monroe's Message of December 2, 1823. " Having communigated my views to Congress at the commencement of the last session, respecting the encouragement which ought to be given to our manufactures, and the prin- ciple on which it should be founded, 1 have only to add that those views remain unchanged, and that the present slate of those countries with which we have the most immediate political relations and greatest commercial intercourse, tends to confirm them. Under this impres- sion, I recommeadu review of the Tariff, for the purpose of affording such additional protection to those articles which we are prepared to manufacture, or which are more immediately con- nected with the defence and independence of our country." Answer of Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Austin. " Monticello, January 9, 1816. " You tell me I am quoted by those who wish to continue our dependence on England for manufactures. There was a time when I might have been so quoted with more candour. But within the thirty years which have since elapsed, how are circumstances changed ? We were then at peace — our independent place among nations was acknowledged. A commerce which offered the raw materials in exchange for the same material after receiving the last touch of industry, was worthy the attention of all nations. It was expected, that those especially to whom manufacturing industry was important, would cherish the friendship of such customers by every favour, and particularly cultivate their peace by every act of justice and friendship. Under this prospect the question seemed legitimate, whether with such an immensity of unimproved land, courting the hand of husbandry, the industry of agriculture or that of manufactures, would add most to the national wealth ? And the doubt on the utility of Ainerican manufactures was entertained on this consideration chiefly, that to the labour of the husbandman a vast addition is made by the spontaneous energies of the earth on which it is employed. For one grain of wheat committed to the earth, she renders twenty, thirty, and even fifty fold ; whereas the labour of the manufacturer falls in most instances vastly below this profit. Pounds of flax in his hands, yield but penny weights of lace. This exchange too, laborious as it might seen, what a field did it promise for the occupation of the ocean — what a nursery for that class of citizens who were to exercise and maintain our equal rights on that element ? This was the state of things in 1 785, when the Notes on Virginia were first published ; when the ocean being open to all nations, and their common rights on it acknowledged and exercised under regulations sanctioned by the assent and usage of all, it was thought that the doubt might claim some consideration. But who in 1 785, could foresee the rapid depravity which was to render the close of that century a disgrace to the history of civilized society ? Who could have imagined that the two most distinguished in the rank of nations, for science aad civilization, would have suddenly descended from that honourable eminence, and, setting at defiance all those laws established by the Author of nature between nation and nation, as between man and man, would cover earth and sea with robberies and piracies, merely because strong enough to do it with tem- poral impunity ; and that under this disbandment of nations from social order, we should have been despoiled of a thousand ships, and have thousands of our citizens reduced to Algerine slavery ? And all this has taken place. The British interdicted to our vessels all Jiarbours of the globe, without having first proceeded to some one of hers, there paid a tribute PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 121 & tribute proportioned to the cargo, and obtained a license to proceed to the port of desti- iggy IS'^S nation. The French declared them to be lawful prize if they had touched at the port, or v '. been visited by a ship of the enemy's nation. Thus were we completely excluded from the • ni» . ocean. Compare this state of things with that of 1 785, and say, whether an opinion founded ""^ osure in 3. in the circumstances of that day, can be fairly applied to those of the present. Proceediugs of the We have experienced what we did not then believe, that there exists both profligacy and General Convention power enough to exclude us from the field of interchange with other nations ; that to be " amsburg, independent for the comforts of life we must fabricate them ourselves. We must now place the manvfacturer by the side of the agriculturist. The former question is suppressed, or rather assuines a new form. The grand enquiry now is, shall we make our own comforts or go with- out them at the will of a foreign nation. He, therefore, who is now against domestic manu- factures, must be for reducing us either to a dependence on that nation, or be clothed in skins, and to live like wild beasts in dens and caverns. I am proud to say, I am not one of these. Experience has now taught me that manufactures are now as necessary to our independence as to our comfort — and if those who quote me as of a different opinion, will keep pace with mie in purchasing nothing foreign, where an equivalent of domestic fabric can be obtained, without regard to difference of price, it will not be our fault if we do not have a supply at home equal to our demand, and wrest that weapon of distress from the hand which has so long wantonly wielded it. If it shall be proposed to go beyond our supply, the question of 1785 will then recur, viz. Will our surplus labour be then more beneficially employed in the culture of the earth, or in the fabrications of art ? We have time yet for consideration, before that question will press upon us ; and the maxim to be applied will depend on the circumstances which shall then exist. For in so complicated a science as political economy, no one axiom can be laid down as wise and expedient for all tinies and circumstances. In- attention to this is what has called for this explanation to answer the cavils of the uncandid, who use my former opinion only as a stalking horse to keep us in eternal vassalage to a foreign and unfriendly nation. I salute you with assurances of great respect and esteem. ^, , t- ^ Benjaram Austm, Jisq. ^ We have but few comments to make, but pray the reader to run his eye hastily over what has just been presented. General Washington generally recommends the system, and with special view to the public service. Mr.Jeffierson places manufactures with agriculture, as the " great pillar of our pros- perity ;" he recornmends jsro^ertion and suggests prohibitions. Mr. Madison, who took a more distinguished part in the formation of the constitution, and, probably understood its principles better than any other person. General Hamilton ex- cepted, is very clear as to the power of protecting manufactures ; he in 1810, recommended a TARIFF " to guard their infancy," and considered them as a source of national inde- pendence, and suggested in 1815, that they would pass into the " external commerce" of our country. Little did he anticipate, however, it may be presumed, that in the short space of eleven years the value of them exported would exceed that of flour or tobacco ; but he was fully aware of the danger of suffering our factories to decline through the " excess of imported merchandize." Mr. Monroe speaks of the " home market" — of the dependence of the several states upon one another and the strength of the union, as brought about by manufactures, and follows Mr. Madison in recommending a "review of the Tariff" to afford them "additional protection." But, after all, Mr. Jefferson's letter to Mr. Austin is the most resolute and conclusive.^ " Shall we make our own comforts or go without them at the will of a /omgw wai/ora ?" t' He who is now against domestic manufactures must be for reducing us either to a depen- dence on that nation, or be clothed in skins, and to live like wild beasts in dens and caverns." He was not one or these ! We conclude these irresistible opinions, in favour of the comUtutionality of our principles, with the following extract of a letter from the " father of the constitution," and ex-president of the United States, dated Montpelier, October 10, 1827, addressed to the editor ot the « Lvnchburg Virginian," who had ascribed certain opinions to him concerning certain con- stitutional points, of no other importance, on the present occasion, than is shewn in the extract which clearly expresses his opinion, that the power of the general government always has been, and may rightfully be, exerted to protect the national industry, and duties .'be laid for other objects than of revenue only. Extract of a Letter from Mr. Madison to the Editor of the Li/nchburg Virginian. " It is true that I have not approved the proceedings of the general assembly of the state, which would limitthe power of Congress over trade, to regulations havmg revenue alone for E object; that I have in occasional conversations, been led to observe, that a co« the general assembly, as tending to impair the confidence and cordiality of otherCrts of tie union, agreeing with Virginia in her exposition of the cor^s itutipn on other points. In expressing these, ideas, however, more respect has been felt for the patJ^rsensibilities of the" legislative body, and for the talents and good. mtentions^^of 578. ^ - 122 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827- - 1828. members, personally or otherwise known to me to be particularly entitled to it, than might V 'j be inferred from the tone of the publication. I must observe also, that though it is true that Jnclosure in N° •? ^ ^^^^ spoken of the power of Congress, in its. enlarged sense, over commerce, as a primary nc osure in 3. ^^^ known object in forming the constitution, the language of the statement is inaccurate, Proceedings of the ^^ jg^^^ ^^ \,^\'av susceptible of a construction embracing indefinite powers over the entire f;;;r;;^"''"«"''°" resources of the country." ^ cmti^wd '^^^^ branch of our subject shall be closed by adding the resolutions, introduced by Mr. Giles, now governor of Virginia, and adopted by the legislature of that state at its last session, without oifering a single remark upon them. " Resolved, That this general assembly, in behalf of the people and government of this state, does hereby most solemnly protest against the claim or exercise of any power what' ever, on the part of the general government, to make internal improvements vwithin the limits and jurisdictioa of the several states, and particularly within the limits of the states of Virginia ; and also against the claim or exercise of any power whatever, asserting or involving a jurisdiction over any part of the territory within the limits of this state, except over the objects and in the mode specified in the constitution of the United States. " Resolved, In like manner, that this general assembly does hereby most solemnly pro- test against any claim or exercise of power whatever, on the part of the general governnaent, which serves to draw money from the inhabitants of this state into the treasury of the United States, and to disburse it for any object whatever, except for carrying into effect the grants of power to the general government, contained in the constitution of the United States. " Resolved, In like manner, that this general assembly does most solemnly protest against the claim or exercise of any power whatever, on the part of the general government, to pro- tect domestic manufactures, the protection of manufactures not being amongst the grants of power to that government, specified in the constitution of the United States; and also against the operation of the Act of Congress, passed May 22d, 1824, intituled, ' An Act to amend the several Acts imposing duties on imports,' generally called the Tariff Law, which vary the distributions of the proceeds of the labour of the community, in such a manner as to transfer property from one portion of the United States to another; and to take private property from the owner for the benefit of another person, not rendering public service,— as unconstitutional, unwise, unjust, unequal and oppressive." MISCELLANEOUS. Every article of American manufacture which, accidentalb/ or designedly, has been protected:, is cheaper because of that protection, and has become an article of export ; such as cotton goods, nails, hats, boots, shoes, glass, chemical preparations, paper and other things. Manufactures promote intelligence among the people, which, it has been well said, is " the soul of liberty." Bozrahville, in Connecticut, is a new manufacturing village, its inhabitants are a " church-going and reading people." The number of families in the village are 18, adults about 90; the weekly and other periodical papers taken at this place, are dthout four for every family, and nearly one for every adult inhabitant. What a volume of instruction is there in this little fact ! The morals of the people employed at Lowell (and about 800 of them are females, an^ all over 14 years of age,) are highly spoken of, and no doubt excellent. Every person employed in the factories is required to attend public worship, for the support of which each pays 37 I cents per quarter. There are three religious societies at Lowell, and this contribution is paid over to either, at the discretion of the work people. Its object is chiefly to prevent pretences of wanting a seat. Sec. Population more than 3,000. There are several schools for children, between 4 and 14 years old, and Sunday and other schools. A visit tq the Sunday schools of any large and well regulated manufacturing establish- ment in the United States, cannot fail to warm the heart of every friend of man, and in beholding the healthiness, cleanliness and comfort of the children; we would be willing to trust the whole matter to the moat prejudiced and bitter of our opponents, if they would only reflect upon the subjects presented. The whole capital invested in manufactures, great and small, in the United States, inde- pendent of property in sheep and lands to feed them, lands for the supply of minerals and fuel, &c. may be estimated at 300 millions of dollars. The annual produce at 400 millions, and they subsist more than two millions of people, not including co-operating agricul- turalists. Colquhoun on " Indigence^" says, that the British agricultural counties exceed the manufacturing counties in paupers, as 2 is to 1, or 100 per cent; in criminal cases 60 per cent ; in poor rates 150 per cent. Declaimers against the- immorality apd poverty which manufactures cause, wUl do well to look at this, though it is fatal to their theory, being practical, and even in England. The following list takes in some of the chief things which are manufactured in the United States to a profit, at cheaper rates than the imported articles, many of which are included or passing mto the exports of our country, conclusively showing their moderate prices. Leather, and manufactures thereof, of all sorts. Cotton goods in great variety. Much woollen goods, especially of household manufacture ; negro cloth. Wood work of all descriptions, from ships of the line to common sitting chairs, and minor articles. Flannels, PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. im Flannels, we'bbing, coach trimmings, including laces. jgg-y j-gmg Hats, paper, books, types, printing and other presses, printers ink and ink powder, l L _^ globe*, pencils, tvater colours, map& and charts. '^. Many articles of metals or earths and mixtures of them; such as common castings of ^"<='**s"''« '" ^°3' iron and numerous articles of wrought iron^ among them the best finished and most efficient Proceedings of the machinery of all descriptiions ; chain cables, nails^ brads and tacks, screws, mill and GeneralConvention cross-cut saws, shovels^ spades, sickles^ scythes, hoes, ales, straw knives, adzes, hammers, *' Hairisburg, m-uskets, rifles, cannon and ball, 'goorf locks, latches, many articles of cutlery, buttons^ comnwsd. brass wares, articles of copper, brass, lead, tin, silver^ goldj plated saddlery, lamps, japan ware, ti& ware< cotton and wodl cards, fetone and earthen ware, copperas and alum. Plain and cut, and window glass, thermometers and other scientific instruments, musical instruments, umbrellas, quills, women's hats and bonnets. Soap, candles, glue, whips, paint stuffs, carpenters planes, other mechanical tools, combs of iall sorts, brushes of every description, refined sugar. Chemical preparations generally, oils, except olive, paints generally. Copper will soon be sufficiently manufactured. Goal at Pittsburgh, Wheeliiig, 8cc. (which, are great 'seats of manufacture, and about to' become vertr populous places), cOsts but little more than one cent per bushel, delivered at the dobrs of the various factories. One farmer in Connecticut, estimates that *phefa his mulberry trees, ^oo in number, ^hall have come to maturity, that the females of his family, will annually make three hundred pbUilds of silk. They made 50 lbs. of silk last year, by about 100,000 worms, without ffeeling any loss of labour. Silk will be extensively produced in the United Stated, especially ih the South. ' The vine and the olive tree ought to be added, to the agricultural productions of the south, to exchange with the middle aind east for their manufactures, &c. The horses and the hogs of the United States consume ten times the amount of all the bread-stuffs that we export, and the single city of New York, with a supposed population of 200,000, atmualiy cotisumes vegetable food equal to 365,000 barrels of flour, or 1 lb. for each, per diem ; and 54 millions of potihds of meat, at three-fourths of a poUnd for each person, eqUal to, 109,400 head Of cattle, at 506 pounds each, together worth between 4 and 5 millions of dollars. Abundance of the carbonate of zinc has been discovered in Missouri, near the Mississippi river. Brass is formed of copper and zinc. The glass manufactures of the United States are worth more than three millions annually. The capital invested is large. The supply, except for looking glasses, may be said to have reached the demand, and a considerable quantity will Speedily pass into, our exports. The cutting and otherwise ornamentirig of glaSs, is perfectly understood and extensively practised among Tis. One factory at Cambridgeport, Massachusetts, makes 20 tons of glue annually. We have some respectable manufactories of porcelain. About 4bo,ooo barrels of salt were supposed to have been manufactured in western Pennsylvania, in the year I826. Great quantities are made in New York, at Syracuse, &c.' 149,000 barrels, of 5 bushels each, were inspected in the month of July last. Western Virginia, Tennessee, and other parts aboUnd with salt works ; and much is made on thte coasts of Massachusetts, North Carolina,. &c. But in the year, 4,564,720 bushels, valued at 677,058 dollars. Were imported ; 429,932 of the value from England. It is calculated that there are in Massachusetts fifteen millions of square feet of salt works, capable of producing about 450,000 bushels of salt per year. Most of those works are in Barnstable county, along the sandy borders of Cape Cod ; though many are to be found further north and some on the southern coasts. We have put down the supply of hats at 14 millions. The manufacture has been protected- — ^We export them to a handsome amount every year; and use as good and as cheap hats as any other people. The value of this manufacture is much underrated ; we might have supposed it 20 millions, though many of a certain description of our population do not wear many hats. Hatters are to be found in all parts of our country. Many new canals are projected in New York, and some of them will be made pretty soon; the progress of improvement is wonderfully rapid. Several of the beautiful. little lakes' in that state are supplied with packets or steam boats, and the amount of trade- already upon them is large. A vast quantity of water power is yet unemployed on the Mohawk and other rivers, and at the outlets of the lakes. The capacities of this great state are not yet nearly ascertained. Pennsylvania is making great efforts in the same way, and with tbe prospect of great success in an encouragement of the industry of her citizens. The hats, bonnets and caps, or works of grass and straw, subsist about 25,000 persons, nearly all females, in Massachusetts only, and produce a value of more than 800,000 dollars a year The whole value of this manufacture is probably worth about i ,500,000 dollars. We imported 555,189 dollars worth of these in 1825, and 338,634111 1826; a handsome; reduction. The manufacture of lace is carried on extensively in Rhode Island, and in the adjacent, states. It employs many females. The quantity imported last year Was valued at J" 657,927 ; in 1825, Ji' 977,807. No doubt the reduction was partly caused by this beautiful employ- ment of our own worthy and industrious females : who, in the ingenious and delicate, operations of this manufacture, will soon rival, if not excel, all others. Six hundred young: 578. Q 2 ■ ' lad.es 124 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. ^ , ^ ) Iiiclosure in N" 3. Proceedings of the GeneralConvention at Harrisburg, continued. ladies are employed in this business at Newport, Rhode Island only. There are several other large establishments in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, &c. Leather gloves, for men or women's wear, should all be made at home, as being a neat family employment for females ; and our manufacturers of leather would supply the material as well and as cheap as the British, was there a demand for it. These three branches of industry might employ 100,000 otherwise helpless and destitute females ! —glad to make 50 cents, or less, per day and subsist themselves, in any fitting employment for them, in the midst of their children, or at the fire side of their mothers ; widowed and in want, and finding consolation chiefly in the hope that their daughters may earn an honourable subsistence for themselves, when the parent stock is removed to " another and a better world." A large proportion of the artificial flowers now used, are the work of the hands of our fair countrywomen ; and we hope that a proclamation of this fact will not prevent the sale of any ; because they are not imported from France, but subsist widows and orphans at home. The manufacture of combs in the United States amounts to two or more millions of dol- lars a year; 100,000 dollars worth are annually made at Leominster, Massachusetts, and 40,000 dollars worth at Westbrook, Maine, and together employing 200 persons. It is supposed that when the Ohio canals are finished, the state will export 500,000 barrels of beef and pork, and 300,000 barrels of flour, and have 3,000,000 sheep ; but what foreign demand is there for these things, and what good will the surplus production render to the people, if a home market is not created? Nay, it will chiefly tend to distress the farmers of the old states. Ohio will also soon raise 10,000 hhds. of tobacco. The weight of the beef and pork, flour, iron, wool and tobacco which Ohio will be able to send to markets out of the state, in two or three years, if there is a good demand, will exceed 100,000 tons, for the inland trade, by canals and roads or river navigation. , It has been estimated that upwards of 50 miUions of bushels of grain were raised in Ohio last season, or more than ,50 bushels for each inhabitant ! Ohio forwarded 1 ,600 hhds. of tobacco to Baltimore market last year ; chiefly by trans- portation over the mountains ; some via the Erie canal and New York ! Two large schooners intended for the West India or coasting trade, are building at Cincinnati, with several steam boats. Orders had been received there from South America for twenty printing presses, and the necessary type. There were 286 arrivals at the port of Sandusky, on lake Erie, during the last year. Twelve years ago this place was a part of the original wilderness. In twelve more, it will be a large city. There are many manufacturing establishments in North Carolina, such as furnaces and forges. There is much water power in this state, and it produces cotton and rice, and has abundance of iron ore ; and no part of the union is better fitted for rearing sheep than the " upper country," or rich western part of it. North Carolina will become a great manu- facturing and wool growing state, and increase her population and wealth as she advances in these things. She unites, in herself, perhaps, greater natural advantages than any other state. The returns of 1810 gave to her a production in manufactures amounting to ^'6,653,152, and in 1820, the imperfect returns showed that 11,844 persons were ernployed in them, and probably subsisting 60,000 persons. The whole export of naval stores in 1826, was 46,337 barrels of tar and pitch, and 96,157 of rosin and turpentine, together 142,494 barrels, worth J' 254,491. Now 15,000 barrels of naval stores are worked up annually in the distilleries of Boston, only, besides the tar and pitch used in the cordage factories and ship yards. The home consumption of these stores is several times greater than the amount of the foreign export. A late Rutland (Vermont) Herald says. An extensive bed of manganese of the purest kind, has recently been discovered in Chittenden, in this country, on the farm of Wolcott H. Keeler, esq. We are informed that about 50 tons have already been dug. It is said to be worth about $ 50 per ton. Providence has a considerable share of ybreign commerce. From the 1 st of January to the 27th August of the present year, there arrived at that port 27 vessels from Havannah, 8 firom Matanzas, 11 from other West India ports, 1 from Canton, and 12 from different parts of Europe. The manufacturing town of Reading, Pa. has only 774 dwelling houses, large and small ; but the assessed value of the property in the borough is J' 1 ,698,885, ecjual to 2,200 dollars for every head of a family, supposing one to each house. The assessable property is in lots and houses. What other than a manufacturing town can compare with this ? • Two hundred and fifty stages, hacks, gigs or waggons, passed a certain inn on the road between Albany and Troy in one day of June 1 826 ; and appears not to have been considered more than the average number. These cities are great seats of internal trade, and the latter also, of manufactures. There are about 150 acres planted with the vine in York county, Pennsylvania; some also in Lancaster, Adams, Cumberland, Westmoreland and Chester. The crop has been profit- able, and the cultivation is extending. In good seasons, the product is equal to about 1 5 barrels of wine to the acre. About. a million of bushels of salt .are annually manufactured on the Kenawha, Virginia; There were in New York in 1825, 2,264 grist mills, 5,195 saw mills, 121 oil mills, 76 cotton factories, 189 woollen factories, 28 cotton and woollen factories, 1,584 carding machines, 170 iron works, 164 trip hammers, 1,129 distilleries, 2,105 asherieS; and the domestic PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 125 domestic (household) manufactures of woollen, cotton and linen cloths amounted to nearly 1 827 1828 ^4,500,000 yards in that year. Several large manufacturing villages have been built since \ 1825, and the cotton and iron manufactures have greatly increased. ~ ' ^ ^ We believe that the navy of the United States is entirely supplied with American canvass ; ^""''^""■e la N° 3. as are very many of our merchant vessels. It has been preferred by the navy board, at all times Proceedings of the composed of practical and long experienced seamen, as better than the foreign. And such is GeneralConvention the extent and excellence of our present factories at Paterson and elsewhere, that, though ^' "^''"s«'"''g' during the last war canvass was sold for one dollar per yard, it might, in another such ^*'" *'^ crisis, be sold at one third of that price, though possessing much greater durability than the imported article. It is to the public spirit of the navy board that the estabhshment of this important manufacture is attributed, and especially to its veteran president, Rodgers. There are between 40 and 50 steam boats that ply between New York and the adjacent places, east, north, west or south. Many thousand passengers arrive or depart daily; sometimes as many as four hundred in a single boat ! The village of Dunkirk, on lake Erie, had 36 inhabitants in June 1 826, but in last June 325 ; the effect of a new internal commerce. The light-house at this place is to be lighted with natural gas. It is proposed to light the city of Pittsburgh with Seneca oil. It is found in abundance floating on the surface of some of the creeks ; and said that it might be furnished at 25 cents per gallon, if a market was opened for its use. New Bedford is described as very flourishing. About 100 vessels and 2,000 seamen, it h thought, are employed in the whale fishery, (supplying oil for the factories ;) and the town contains 6,000 inhabitants. , It is stated, that 4,000 looms are in daily operation in Philadelphia, weaving the stronger or more difficult stuffs than those made by the power looms ; and computed that the whole annual value of labour and profit caused by them is about 1,500,000 dollars a year. The houses occupied and articles consumed by the labourers, make up no small item in the con cerns of the property-holders and agriculturalists of that city and its vicinity. One concern has shipped from the wharfs on the Schuylkill (Philadelphia,) one hundred cargoes of coal during the present season. Twelve or fifteen sea-vessels are often seen load- ing or discharging at them, at one time, , The quadrant of G-odfrey, the cotton gin of Whitney, the application of steam to navigation by Fulton, and the card-making machine of Whittemore, are among the most important events in the progress of power, and mastery of science over matter and space. The canals of New York are happily called " rivers of gold" from the west and the north. Excess quantities of British woollens have lately been thrown into our market, as if to complete the prostration of our manufactories, and sold at very reduced prices. The Pennsylvania convention of the 27th June last, in their address to the people of that state, said, " Pennsylvania has well nigh ceased to export to Europe, any thing, the growth of her fruitful soil ; her exportations, excepting manufactures, are reduced almost to the coasting trade ; the manufactures of the eastern states, which last year consumed upwards of six hundred thousand barrels of the flour of the middle states, being their principal market. In- the mean while the citizens of Pennsylvania buy abroad large quantities of woollens, hardwares, silks and cottons, incurring hopeless debts, or paying for them at the most ruinous disadvantages. In the midst of natural influence and habitual industry, penury and degradation are inevitable, unless the citizens of Pennsylvania use their own means to pro- cure at home the clothing and commodities they require. , This rich and athletic common- wealth must be reduced like a spendthrift to want and wretchedness, unless it ceases to depend on others, for what, with proper attention, it can do for itself. " Those alone who never practise frugality, recommend that as a remedy. No doubt it is a virtue, without which all therest are unavailing. But it avails nothing to be frugal, when nothing can be sold, for saving is worse than useless when nobody will buy. " AU the farming states are in the same predicament. Excepting some little commerce among themselves, they have hardly any left at all." The Edinburgh Review, taking deductions from " a careful examination of fa:cts," scruples riot to assert, " that the health, morals, and intelligence of the population, have all gained by the establishment of the present manufacturing system." There is no doubt of this, for however wretched the overworked and underfed manu- facturers of Great Britain may be, pauperism and crime is more than one-half less in the manufacturing than in the agricultural districts. This is the best possible evidence of greater morahty or intelligence, and more abundant means of subsistence, in the former than in the latter. Another result of the progress of manufactures in England is shewn that we hardly expected to have found in that country. According to the Edinburgh Review, in 1780, the period when the improvements in machinery began to extend the cotton manufacture, the average mortality in England and Wales was one in every 40 of the population : in 1810, it was one in every 52, and in 1820, only one in every 58. In Manchester, the deaths were one in 28, in 1770, now only one out of 45. Westmorland, which is decidedly an agricul- tural district, exhibits a proportion of deaths to the entire population, only five per cent less than Lancashire, which is one great workshop, full of populous manufacturing toivns. In regard to morals, the improvement is declared not to be less, crimes of violence being admitted to have greatly diminished since the accession of George III. while the augmented sobriety and ,-g Q 3 cleanliness 126 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS Iftclosore in N° 3. Proceedings of the GeneralConveifttiou at Harrisbui-g, cont^ued. 1827 — 1828. cleanliness of the people are themselves evidences of greater morality. In a purely a^i- • . I cultural district of Norfolk, there were, out of 77 births, in a given period, only 23 legitimate. No such picture of profligacy can be exhibited in any quarter of Lancashire. The " Review " speaks in like terms of the increased intelligence of the people. The better informed manufacturers are more " turbulent" persons than their more miserable brethren in the agricultural districts of England, the slaves, as it were, of slaves, dependent creatures for leases of land; but in the United States what the king and church call " turbulent" we approve, a prying and thinking, or what would therein be called a " saucy populacej" is the glory of repubUcan institutions. Very many passengers from Europe have lately arrived in the United States, at New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore and other places. Among them are numerous manufacturers of first rate ability, in some of the new businesses just commenced or about to be begun. Parties of 10, ao, or more of them, often arrive in a single vessel. The Glasgow Chronicle, in speaking of the sailing of the ship Camillus, from Greenock for New York, with 138 passengers, says " a vast number of passengers offered themselves that could not be taken. Many of the passengers by the Camillus have been sent for, for the express purpose of being engaged in the rising manufactures of the United States. We learn that great exertions have been made in New York and its vicinity, to establish what is termed the Paisley line of manufacture : viz. shawls and trimmings, and scarcely a vessel has left the Clyde for New York these some months by-past, but has either carried out people or materials for this branch of weaving ; and we understand that some of the passengers gone out in the Camillus are engaged to assist in this manufactuTe. Materials for making several harnesses have also been sent out in her. We also learn, that men conversant in calico printing have gone out in this vessel, to assist Jonathan in this branch of bnsinessv Very few passengers are going to the Canadas by the fall vessels ; in fact, the tide of emigration seems to be fairly set in for the United States." That which is said of Lowell, in a preceding page, appears rather to belong to one of the companies, than as shewing the whole extent of the manufactures at this place. A late notice of it in the " Boston Courier," says, that the population is between 5 and 6,000, the cotton mills 9, of about 4,000 spindles each, a great machine shop, and large buildings for dying and printing calicoes, these have a capital of ^"3,400,000 j there is also a sattinet factory, employing 100 persons, all these things are the growth of six years ; a barren wild has been converted into a populous and beautiful town, filled with industrious, happy and prosperous people, well fed and healthy, " patterns of sobriety and good morals." But we must stop. Materials for some pages more press upon us. We canndt, however, ne^ect to state that, at the moment of closing this last page, we observe, that the Lynch- burgh Virginian, of the 25th says, " we have received a second communication from Mr.- Madison, from which we learn, that, in disapproving of the ' proceedings of the general assembly of the state, which would limit the power of Congress, over trade, to regulations having revenue alone for their object,' he designed to give it as his opinion, that Congress has a right to impose a tariff of duties having for its object the protection and encouragement of dome^ic marmfactures." This is the old construction of the makers of the constitution. But these our days" there are persons who affect to know much more of the meaning of in that instrument than those who adapted it. Mr. Madison appears to have written his second letter because of arguments against what, as we thought, he had so plainly stated before, see page 121. The publication of this pamphlet has been delayed longer than many expected, and some wished, but, perhaps, nothing has been lost by the delay. It was intended to be a sort, of a text book for common reference, to which any one, when speaking with his neighbour on the importance of the home trade and necessity of protecting domestic industry, might appeal, and reason upon the facts stated or opinions advanced. It is thus thai. public opinion is settled, good dispositions confirmed, and prejudices removed. For this purpose no degree of labour has been spared, every thing that could be thought of as useful, has been hunted up, and offered with all possible simplicity and frankness ; and the arguments or reasonings on the facts and propositions submitted, were intended more for the use of the people at large, than of persons versed in political economical subjects. Ample time is allowed to examine these things, and the season is at hand when the cultivators of the soil more gene- rally indulge themselves in reading and reflecting upon public concerns. An attempt has been made to meet our opponents in every ground of their attacks Upon us, and thus increase the zeal and influence of our friends ; and the labour and difficulty of collecting facts, has been cheerfully encountered, that practical truth might be exhibited. There are two other causes why the publication should not have been hurried, as in the calling of the convention, or its proceedings, there was not any political object, it was thought the address had better not issue until the autumnal elections were generally over.* In times like the present, when the ardency of party zeal seems as if it would overwhelm every thing, it becomes us, who have been the steady advocates of old principles, to keep ourselves, if possible, even unsuspected of mixing other things with them. The other cause IS, * It has suited the puiposes of some to raise a clamour oil this account, and to denounce the con- vention as unatdJiorized, &c. Of lohom shall the free people of the United States ask leave to assemble in a peaceable way of petition, for a redress of grievances ? But these cavillers censured not the convention of merchants, delegates from the principal Atlantic states, which was held af Philadelphia, in 1820, to oppose those principles wliich the late convention at Harrisbuig approved 1 PUBUSHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 127 is, in an apprehension, grounded upon events which have- happened, that those of whose 1827 1828, restrictions on our trade we so justly complain, seeing the. whole stand taken by the conven- v. _! ____^ tion, might make. a shew of relaxing their systems to divert the attention of our own gov«rn- i~i ^''^""njo ment, and afford new pretences for opposition to. our measures. But the time for action is """^"I^® '" ^ 3- close at hand, and an exhibit of that which is suggested may be hoped to arrive too la,te tQ t^*'°"«°"J?8 °^ 'h« accomplish any bad purpose. We are decidedly the friend* of " free trade," but in its at hI ri h"!*"^'"" reality, not its appearance ; and are unwilling to. allow the business of the United States to cmitinJed depend upon a British order in council, or an Act of Parliament, revok.abJe at pleasure^ aodi as interest guides. ERRATA. Notwithstanding all the care that has been exerted, yet another reading of the preceding pages has detected some few errors which passed through the whole of the present impression, but we shall notice those also which passed through only a part. They are not numerous! and do not, in any case, affect a, principle. Besides these, there are some verbal inaccuracies [Note —The figures which shall be corrected in another edition of the pamphlet. And it may be that there are in the margin refer some errors or mistakes in .accepted authorities for statements made. But it is impossible to the pages as ''they that a compilation like this should be without errors. now stand.] For " William S.Young, one oi the delegates to the convention, from Delaware," read n 26 " William Wallace Young." ^' In page 17, ist col. in the note, read " 108,000 dollars," instead of " 1,080,000." p. 45. . InpagaaG, 1st col. read " 680,000," for" 580,000," as the supposed excessof white p. §8. population in Pennsylvania over Virginia, in 1830. There is also a small error in the supposed number of the mihtia. In page 30, the value of the vegetable food allowed for the consumption of the people of p. 64. the United States, should have been Ji'87,600,000. And in the same page, the different classes of clothing, &c. ought to read " sixty," instead of " 70 millions." In page 31, 1st col. near the bottom, the word, " not" is omitted, after the words p. 66. " mechanic arts." In page 33, in the paragraph beginning with " In 1815," and 3d line from the bottom, it p. 69. should read " 13," and not "15 cents to the manufacturer." In page 34, ad col. 3d line froin the top, for " 310 millions," read " 301 millions." P- 70. These seven are the only material errors yet found out, three are typographical and four clerical. Those in page 30, (happening it wouldrbe. difficult to tell how), affect all the depettdent calculations or results. We shall briefly recapitulate the whole, to disarm any, if such there shall be, who might be illiberal enough to take advantage of two mistakes com- mitted in many thousand references and calculations, however innocent they manifestly are, because of the integers given which produced them. And those who think it worth while will please to make the following alterations with a pen : Say 87,600,000 as above, and 239 miUions as the aggregate of food and drinks for 12 millions of people, being 19 dollars and 91 cents per annum, or 38 cents a week> for each person. Say 60 millions as the cost of woollen or cotton cloths, and 182 millions as the aggregate of clothing, &c. being 15 dollars 16 cents "for each person, per annum, and together, for food, drink and clothing ,^35. 07, or for a family of six persons J'210. 42 per annum, or 61 cents per week for every individual, which is less than the average cost of our paupers. Then the corrections in page 30, being carried to 31, give a total result of 1,036 millions instead -of 1 ,066, and 86 dollars and 33 cents as the aggregate annual average value of the whole production for each person, instead of 90, as also stated in page 32, affecting the amounts in page 33, and rendering 319 millions instead of 329, and ^26. 50. for ^27. 41. on account of every person, for food, drink^ and for the support of horses, &c. ]^° Though so much has been said on this subject, we cannot refrain from pressing our suppositions a little further upon the consideration of the reader, by asking, whether it is possible that all the values of labour, or products of industry, including the gifts of nature in the United States, can be less than .86 dollars and 33 cents for each individual, per annum? This amount includes all the products of agriculture, manufactures and the mechanic arts, and other labour j all the values, for cost on interest, upon all sorts of investments, and every description of value produced by services rendered, for the subsistence and comfort and enjoyment of 1 a millions of people ] Slaves, in the worst possible circumstanQes, must produce mAre, or starve their owners. Twenty slaves, at this rate, would produce only 1,749 dollars, to feed, clothe and supply themselves, and support their master and his family; when, perhaps, the owner of them would feel stinted, indeed, if more than tjiat amount of their products should not come to Ms axon share, for interest on capital vested in houses, land and slaves, and other expenses incurred on account of all. When this near view is taken of the subject, it will appear comprehensible to every one, that we have exceedingly underrated the value of " production and consumption" in the United States, great as the amount seemingly is ; many tens of thousands of families stand at higher rates for the dwellings which they occupy ! a single man renting one room for a store, often pays from 2 to 15 times this rate, say from 150 to 1,300 dollars a year ; and these values must, in one way or another be crea/ek, and by iowe^odj/, or the rents cannot be paid J the storekeeper, though among 578. Q4 t*»e 128 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure in N° 3. Proceedings of the GeneralCoiivention at Harrisburg, continued. the useful classes, produces nothing of himself: IT IS LABOUR. IN ITS MULTI- FARIOUS OPERATIONS, THAT PAYS AND SUPPORTS ALL. Grain will not grow unless the land be planted ; and even gold, the common object of desire and general medium of exchange, must be digged for, frequently, at a cost for labour expended equal to the selling worth of the metal obtained ; and, though without profit to the proprietor, still adding, because of such labour, to the stock of what is called wealth, in accumulations of accepted values. It is by a serious consideration of these things that we may chiefly gather an idea of the extent and value of the home market. END OF THE APPENDIX. N* 4. (with one Inclosure.) Mr. Vaughan to the Earl of Dudley. EXTRACT. Washington, December 13, 1827. R. January 11/28. N° 4. —I HAVE the honour to transmit to Your Lordship the Extract of a Report made by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, which accom- panied the Message of the President to Congress on the 4th instant. In that Report are to be found observations in support of the system of encouraging the growth of domestic manufactures, by increasing the duties upon the import of manufactures from foreign countries. The expediency i» insisted upon of increasing the present duties upon woollen and cotton goods, upon bar iron, and hemp. It is stated, that during six years previously to 1826, the value of cotton and woollen goods imported into this country from Great Britain exceeded one hundred millions of dollars; and that the value of iron and of articles manufactured from iron, amounted to seventeen millions of dollars. The staple commodities which the United States had to give for these foreign manufactures, were wheat, flour, tobacco and cotton. Wheat was ex- cluded from consumption by the laws of Great Britain. Flour was admitted under a duty, exceeding six hundred per cent. Tobacco has been received, and made a source of wealth to British subjects, and returned to the United States enhanced in price four or five fold by British labour. Inclosure in N° 4. Inclosure in N° 4. EXTRACT of Report of Secretary of the Treasury. Estimate of the Public Revenue and Expenditure for 1828. THE value of importations into the United States during the year ending on the thirtieth of September last, is estimated at eighty-one millions of dollars. The exportations for the sanie period are estimated at eighty miUions. When the more exact statistical returns for the year are laid before Congress, as they will be in the course of the session, it will be perceived that there has been a diminution in the imports from China during the present year, as compared with the past. The diminution has been very considerable, both in teas and silks. This fact will show, in the end, the greater excess of importations from Europe during the present year, whence our foreign manufactures are principally derived. The fourth year is now in progress since the passage of the Act of Congress augmenting the duties on imported merchandize. We are therefore at a point enabling Us to speak on grounds more authentic than hitherto, of the effect of that Act upon the foreign commerce of the nation. By com- paring the time that has elapsed since its operation, with an equal portion of time that preceded, it appears that both the imports and exports have, in the aggregate, increased. They stand thus: — Total value of importations for the years 1822, 1823, and 1824, two hundred and forty-one millions of dollars; total for 1825, 1826, and 1827, two hundred and sixty-two millions. Total value of exportations for the three former years, two hundred and twenty-two millions : total value for the three latter years, two hundred and fifty-seven millions. Fractions are dropped both ways. The result is not affected by the re-exportations of foreign merchandise for the same time, which bear a proportion as nearly as may be eqiial, on the basis of importations for the two periods. It will be under- stood, that, in these statements of importations and exportations for a term of six years, those for 1827 are given by estimate only, for a portion of the year ; but it is not believed that there will be any such change in them as to shake the general results. The articles of domestic manufacture exported in 1827, are estimated at upwards of seven millions of dollars ; d sum oreater than that to which they have ever before amounted in any one year. A Tariff PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 129 A Tariff of duties upon foreign productions may, without doubt, be so raised as to affect 1827—1828 injuriously the interests of foreign commerce. To suppose that the Tariff of the United ^ ', States established by the Act of May 1824, is at such a pitch, would be contrary to analogies 7"! ^- x^a . afforded by the history of other commercial nations, and, thus far, to the experience of our ^°<^'°*"J! J^j^ *" own. It is believed, on the contrary, that its rates might be augmented in important par- '^'"' *""* * ticulars, without hazarding any such consequences to foreign trade in its ultimate course and aggregate value; and that a true national policy dictates their augmentation. The increase of our imports and exports since the Tariff of 1824, becomes the more striking from the consideration that, in 1826, there was witnessed in Europe an extraordinary depression of prices. This was followed by a proportionate stagnation in all the operations of purchase and sale. The evil assumed a magnitude productive, in that hemisphere, not only of great individual suffering, but of anxiety in governments. It was at such a moment that we began to reap the benefits of the profitable turn given to a portion of the industry of our own country, by the provisions of the Tariff. Had it not been for the demand of our own manufacturers for some of the agricultural staples of the country, the presumption is authorized, that the fall of prices in Europe, at that period, would have been differently felt by our agricultural classes here. Similar occurrences abroad had, on former occasions, been followed by pecuniary losses in this country, much more extensive and formidable. The increased number, of artizans within our own borders, and greater scope of their operations, evidently tended to leave the agriculturist less exclusively dependent upon foreign markets, than if the latter had been his sole reliance. Nor have the benefits of manufacturing industry ended here. The proof strengthens, that many articles have become cheaper, more abundant., and of superior quality, by the effect of competition among the home artizans, than when derived only from abroad. The opening of new objects of labour, by multiplying the occu- pations of men, has also increased the public prosperity. This has produced an increased ability to buy all articles of consumption, whencesoever obtained. Hence foreign trade has not declined, of which we have the incontestible evidence just stated, whilst new domestic resources in manufacturing labour have been unfolding themselves. As the latter are more amply brought out, it is confidently anticipated that the former will become wider and more enriching in its range. If the new fields of labour have only, as yet, been opened in par- .ticular divisions of the country, other divisions will reap a full measure of benefit. If there can be no dissent to the maxim as between independent nations, that the prosperity of one promotes that of another, it cannot be doubted that different parts of the same nation will derive reciprocal prosperity from the same cause. The United States are distinguished in this respect by a lot as peculiar as it is favourable. Nothing can exceed the inducements to Yarious and subdivided traffic that abound within their own limits. It is here that the economist may hope to see exemplified every essential advantage of the foreign and home trade blended in the same system; moulded by the same poUcy, and freed from the jealousies that have frustrated, and must ever continue to frustrate, the benevolent but impracticable theories of commercial intercourse as between distinct nations. It is not merely that the extent of climate and soil in the Union are adapted to all pursuits that can give activity and fruitfulness to industry under every form. These are but natural advantages. It is the exchange of the products of industry, upon terms the most desirable and the most gainful, throughout so ample an extent of home dominion, that will exalt such natural advantages to the utmost. It is here that commerce may be carried on, freed from every restriction, .and, probably, for the first time, upon a political and geographical theatre so expanded. The appropriate industry of each portion, may go into unfettered action ; of Louisiana and of Massachusetts, of Georgia and of Rhode Island. A vast home trade, resembling foreign trade, as well by intervening distances as the nature of its exchanges, will be prosecuted, whether along the ocean, or the water highways of the interior, untrammelled !by tolls or imposts of any kind, and without even the necessity of custom houses ; or giving to such establishments uses only formal. Such a trade can, only, however, have its proper value by the extensive success of manufactures. There is nothing else can impart to labour in the United States, the necessary variety in its objects, and the necessary regularity and fullness in the demand. There is nothing else can adequately augment and diversify the list of commodities for which the necessities and enjoyments of improved life are ever making calls. There is nothing else will raise up towns on the surface of our territory at every commanding point, without which land can never be made to yield the full amount of which it is susceptible, or the farmer be sure of prices steady and remunerating. It hardlv need be added, how a course of policy that would infuse augmented vigour and briskness into a coasting trade, embracing in its range neariy one half of a continent, would tend to enlarge in all ways, the essential foundations of naval strength. Manufactures are recommended by every consideration that can bear upon the ricbes. the security and the power of the state. The effect upon agricultural prices produced by the perpetual presence of armies in a country, will not too strongly illustrate the extent of the benefit that the manufacturing class renders to the class of farmers. The parallel ends indeed, here, and ends beneficently : for, whilst the soldier does nothing but consume, the manufacturer produces as well as consumes, supplying the farmer with art^ples as necessary as those which he receives from him. Manvfacturing industry advances the intellectual no less than the physical power of a state, by the various knowledge which its complicated pursuits put into requisition. It is the course of industry whi sufficient, both in amount and density, for any operations of manual labour; whilst science, Intlosure in N" 4. ^ applying its inventions to this kind of labour, has abridged its expensiveness. Where continued. a single state of the Union has recently been seen to complete a public work, which, for its great extent and skilful execution, may compare with similar works achieved in any part of the world, it will not readily be believed that the country, of which that state is but a part, can be deficient in the means of prosecuting manufacturing labour, however extended the scale upon which it may be demanded. The completion of such a work, (the New York canal) is of itself a memorial of the highest authenticity, that the nation has reached a point qualifying it for whatever undertaking its true interests point out, and to which other nations have been found equal. As little has the objection to manufactures, founded upon moral causes, any place. That they lead to deterioration in portions of the people, is not to be admitted. Facts, on the contrary, teach, that the freest and most enlightened, as well as most opulent and powerful countries of Europe, are those in which manfacturers bear the greatest proportion to the other productive classes. Their success begets industry, which is favorable to good habits. It begets prosperity, which supplies them with comforts, and' raises up their condition. The remark rests on general results, aside from partial exceptions. It is equally borne out by facts, that countries in which there is an undue predominance of agricultural population, are the poorest, and their inhabitants the most depressed. Sailors, considered as a class, have their lives shortened by the hardships that they undergo. Yet when was this alleged as a reason for extirpating commerce ? In like manner, that co-equal agent in lifting up the condition of nations — manufacturing industry — would be entitled to favour, even if partial evils flowed from it, as these must give way, in the scheme of society, to preponderating good. But, if authentic information justifies the conclusion, that the pursuit of manufactures tends not to deterioration in a people, but the reverse, the policy inculcated acquires new force. The experience of our own counti-y confirms the accounts from others, and we may be allowed to add the hope, that the influence of our political institutions upon individual and social life, will operate to keep up still more the moral tone of this portion of our population, as time multiplies its numbers. Remarks like the preceding are believed to be justified by the success which manufac- turing industry has already attained in the United States, as far as it has received adequate protection. They are conceived to be not less appropriate to the design which is entertained of recommending an increase of that protection where it is most demanded. There is little hazard of a community ever forcing manufactures not adapted to its soil, climate, and all its other capabilities. Still less can the hazard exist, where the powers of legislation are deposited in the hands of those who are imbued with the collective intelligence of thfe community. Every country possesses its physical characteristics, as those stamped by its government, its laws, and the leading wants and tastes of its population. In these lie the causes that make up its inherent capabilities for the pursuit of some branches of industry more than others. Manufactures once established to the proper limit of these, and scope enough will remain for foreign commerce in other commodities that will come into demand. The demand for others never fails to increase, as increasing wealth at home enlarges the capacity to procure them, and superinduces the new artificial desires that crave them. Wealth at home must increase as manufacturing labour increases. Money, as representing wealth, must increase ; since each year that witnesses an increase in the amount of con- sumable goods, must witness a proportionate increase in the medium necessary to circulate them. These are truths too obvious to be dwelt upon, and too important to national prosperity to be disregarded in practice. Amongst the branches of home industry deserving special care at all times, are those which conduce to subsistence, shelter, clothing, and defence. It is intended, on the present occasion, respectfully to recommend to the con- sideration of Congress, as classing under one or other of these primary heads, the expe- diency of increasing the present duties — 1 . Upon woollen goods and foreign wool 2. Upon fine cotton goods. 3. Upon bar iron. 4. Upon hemp. The time that has passed since the TariS" of 1824, has been sufficient to show, that the duties fixed by it upon these articles are not adequate to the measure of success in producing them at home, which their cardinal importance merits. A change, since 1824, in the laws of Great Britain, in regard to those first named, has also rendered almost abortive the pro- visions of the Tariff in their favour. It belongs to the purpose of this Report, which looks to the encouragement of the national industry in preference to any that is foreign, here to state, that, for a period of six successive years, ending with 1 826, the value of woollen goods, and cotton goods, imported into the United States from the country just named, exceeds one hundred millions of dollars ; and the value of iron, and of articles manufactured from iron, seventeen millions. During one of these years, the woollens exported from that country to this, exceeded the amount of those exported to the whole of Europe put together. For the means of exchange against an amount of foreign manufactures so great, the United States have had three principal staples of their soil, viz. wheat flour, tobacco, and cotton. The first of these, the same country has, by her laws, positively or virtually, excluded, during the same period of years, from consumption within her dominions. The second, she has admitted, under a duty of more than six hundred per cent. The third she has received with little scruple. She has known how to convert it into a means of wealth to her own industrious. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 131 industrious pegple, greater than had ever before, in her whole annals, been derived from 1007 looc any-single commodity. This she has done, first, by working it up for her home use upon in^o. the lai^est scale, and next by making it subserve the interests of her foreign trade. Shq "": — ""^-^ ' has sent it over all seas, wherever a market opened, but chiefly back again to us, to be ludosure in N" 4. bought under the enhancements of her own labour, at prices four and five fold those which continue^. she paid us for it. Commerce upon the terms attested by such facts, cannot be pro- nounced just, as between the parties. The conviction is deeply entertained, that the best interests of the nation point to the expediency of reviewing and correcting a species of com- mercial intercourse so unequal. It may be applicable to subjoin, that the woollen, cotton, . and iron goods imported from all other parts of the world, during the years indicated, are found to be but about one-sixth part of the value of those obtained from the country whose laws fall with edicts of exclusion, or with such disproportionate duties, upon the produce of the United States ; not only the articles mentioned, but more that might be mentioned. The complete establishment of American manufactures in wool, cotton, iron, and hemp, is believed to be of very high moment to the nation. All the principal raw materials for carrying them on are at hand, or could be commanded. The skill for imparting excellence to them, would come at the proper time. There would be no want of labour, to which an abundant water power, as well as artificial machinery, would every where be lending its assistance. Capital would be found for investment in them. If their establishment, by the immediate protection of the laws, should, at first, raise the cost of the articles, and, for a succession of years, keep jt up, a true forecast, looking to the future, rather than adapting all its calculations to the existing hour, would not hesita,te to embrace the protecting policy. Nations that would found schemes of solid and durable advantage, ttinst be ready to do so at the peril of temporary privation. It is thp great term of national, as of individual supe- riority and distinction. To buy cheap, is not the only or always the chief good. It is for legislators who have to deal with the practical interests of mankind, to give to abstract propositions the liecessary limitations. Considerations higher than those of present merr- cantile gain, have often swayed the councils of nations ; of nations, whose wisdom in this respect,, we ought not lightly to impugn, anymore than we can at all question their long pre-eminence in prosperity. Need it be said that England had her laws to protect her ton- nage for more than a century, during all which time she .might have employed the tonnage of other states at a price much below that at which she built and used her own ? Need it be added, what results to her maritime and commercial sway have flowed from her resolute perseverance in those laws ? Need it be said that France, conspicuous for positive as for progressive riches, and comforts, and power, still excludes from her territory fabrics that might trench upon the custom of her own workshops, in branches of labour and art believed to be conducive to the national resources, whilst they confer al^o the means of individual thrift ? Shall the many laws of these two great states, at periods when they were laying the foundations of their manufacturing industry, be recounted, all tending to foster it, by inducements the most efficacious ; laws to the essential principle of which they still, in so many instances, systerriatically adhere ? Shall we call to recollection, especially, the ordinance of M. Calonne, which invited to France artificers from all nations, allowing them equal privileges with those they enjoyed in their native countries, and granting them an immunity from duties on the importation of the materials used in their manufactures ; nay more, exempting them and their workmen from all personal or other taxes ? These, with analagous illustrations, as numerous as applicable, will be forborne, as top familiar to. be recapitulated. The protecting laws to our oWn tonnage, our own coasting trade, our own fisheries, still in force, and which first raised up the prostrate navigation of the United States, may supersede other references. These show how the Fathers of the Republic were awake to the wisdom of other times and other nations, knowing how to make it their own. Their recorded opinions attest that they were equally awake to the principle of encouraging manufactures in the broadest sense. If they did not carry it farther into practice, it is because a proper discrimination saw, in the circumstance of that early day, whether as -regarded the state of the world from without, or our own internal condition, no suf- ficient motive for giving to the principle a more extended application. But, if this species of industry should not be prematurely gone into, so neither ought the laws to neglect it too lono-. Excellence is of slow growth. Rarely is it quick or spontaneous in the material, any more than in the moral world. Time is an agent indispensable towards inducting a people into the full knowledge of the manufacturing arts. They are complex; they are difficult. They are to be learned only by stages, throughout a long course of application and efibrta. as mind is evolved by education ; institutions for promoting which, the laws, in the wisest countries, are careful to found and to nurture. When, therefore, neither paucity of popu- lation nor of means any longer hold as reasons for not cultivating these arts among us, and when those external circumstances have passed away which drew nearly all of our popu- lation into commerce or into husbandry, the period for permanently fixing them as an integral interest in the state, seems fully to have arrived. Whilst we repose in tranquillity, the season is auspicious for entering efTectually upon the>ork of establishing those specially ■recommended. Should war happen, it is not easy to state the augmented resources vnth ■which we should meet its exigencies with these manufactures flourishing in perfection, any more than to pourtray the inconvenience which we should know in their absence. It is, therefore, from the connexion of their success with the leading interests of the State, ia peace or' war, that the conviction is felt that it would be expedient to secure their success, «ven at the sacrifice of cheapness to the individual purchaser. . But no such consequence is to be apprehended. If it were a question of fosteriftg manu- factures for which the circumstances of the countiy yielded not th« abundant facilities, as 578. R2 with 132 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS ^gg«, 1828 ^'*^ England when she fostered by her own laws her own tonnage, then, indeed, could 'j success be accomplished only by indefinite forcing, to be followed by indefinite monopoly ""^ in price. Such is manifestly not the case. Manufactures of fine cottons, of woollens of Inclosure in N" 4. almost all descriptions, of iron articles, and of those from hemp, have already arrived at eonttnued. ^ p^j^j^.^ ^^ ^j^^ United States, justifying the conclusion that some additional encouragement from Congress is alone wanting to fix them upon lasting and profitable foundations. This additional encouragement is invoked as a proper oiFsett to the high degree of success which foreign industry has attained in these branches by the effect of capital and skill long pre- existmg in older nations, and long aided by their laws. These are advantages not intrinsic, but accidental. Yet they cannot be countervailed but by efficient legislative aid to our own establishments in the beginning. This aiforded, and there is the strongest reason, from past experience, to feel assured, that American industry and resources, stimulated into full competition, will supply the commodities cheaper in price, as well as better in quality, than they have heretofore come to us from other countries. The competition, increasing with time, will unfold effects more and more useful. Every branch of manufacture brought into successful operation, is apt to become the parent of others. New materials are dis- covered, new combinations of skill struck out, new aptitudes developed. Industry becomes awakened where before it was inactive, carrying the country forward in individual wealth, in general comforts, and in financial power. For promoting the last, durably, all expedients must prove fallacious that are not based upon prosperous labour pervading all classes at home. The consumption of the products of every kind of home labour would necessarily increase with the increasing amount of production, and, under more encourage- ment given to manufactures in the branches recommended, might be expected to yield an excess that would flow into our export trade, augmenting its amount, and the amount of its returns. As regards cotton articles, such is the exuberance of the raw material in the Uniied States, that it cannot be assuming too much to suppose, that the day is not remote when they wjU largely supply other countries of the world with these fabrics. Already they have begun to do so, to some extent, with those of the coarser species. European science, applied to the manufacturing arts, has indeed returned to India, in the manufactured state, the native cotton of India ; but it will be the effect of our own policy if a similar traffic be long permitted to go on between Europe and the United States. That the latter will con- tinue, under all circumstances, to supply Europe with a full portion of raw cotton, cannot be doubted, from the present and growing state of that manufacture in Europe. That they might also be enabled, by the policy recommended, to vie with any nation in sending, even to the markets of Europe, articles manufactured from this material, is an opinion which is believed to rest upon no exaggerated estimate of their manufacturing ability, however dormant it may be in reference to such a result now. That this invaluable raw material, but thirty years ago scarcely known to our own fields any more than to the British loom, is destined to draw out a far greater portion of the productive labour of this country than it has yet put into action, and mark an era in its manufacturing, as it has already done in its agricultural riches, is an anticipation which rational calculations of the future may justify. What is said of our cotton manufactures, may, it is believed, be said with scarcely less confidence, eventually, though perhaps not immediately, of those of wool. The latter, from being more complicated in their whole process, and more difficult and costly in the skill necessary to their elaboration, naturally require more time to be reared to perfection. They claim, on this account, and claim the more imperiously, the immediate and decisive succour of the laws. The opinion that these and other manufactures would come to be afforded to us better in quality when obtained at home, cannot be passed over with only the simple expression of it. It is of a nature entitling it to some further notice. Amongst the disadvantages of manufactures not being more universally established in the United States, we are to rank that of their inhabitants being obliged to use wares of a low quality from abroad. It is known that a long list of articles is sent to us from both England and France, if not from other countries, which, in those countries, would be rejected by a large class of con- sumers. Furthermore, it is true, that an article injured in the making, in reference to the highest character of workmanship, will, notwithstanding, be sometimes shipped to this market, in the hope of finding for it bidders, that could not so readily be commanded in Europe. If it be said, that the wealth of this country, does not, at present, yield a class of purchasers for European articles of the highest workmanship, the answer recurs, that, by multiplying our own workshops, we should, at the proper time, be supplied with like articles. It ought not to be supposed, that the resources of our own country, and the ingenuity of our own workmen, could not, . under adequate incentives, supply them as excellent in quality and as perfect in finish, as those made elsewhere. And, although it may not now be convenient, to any considerable class of consumers in this country, to make a call for articles of this highest stamp of manufactured excellence at the foreign prices, it is fully believed, that the rivalry of numerous artizans at home would raise up skill to a point that would produce such articles ; whilst it would bring down the prices to limits that would piit them into circulation. It has not escaped observation, that, in American manu- factures that have already, by the aid of the laws, obtained a preference to the foreign, there is no inferiority as compared with the best standards of the same species of manufactures, produced and consumed in the foreign country. By opening full scope to the competition and talents of our own artizans, the standard of excellence as well as the faculty of dis- crimination, would be raised to a higher tone than when the oue is formed and the other exercised, as is now too often the case, upon the secondary productions of other countries. In appropriate connexion with these remarks, it may be stated as a fact also known, that the PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. iss the raw cotton of the first quality and price, which is sent from the United States to Europe, jggy^ 1828 is not that which is returned to the United States, when manufactured. On the contrary, ^ ^ it is this species which is, for the most part, retained for consumption in Europe ; whilst mo fabrics, wrought from the inferior raw cotton, are sent off to foreign markets generally, and I"<=logure in N 4. to those of the United States amongst the number. Further legislative assistance to manu- '^"^ '""^ "■ factures at this juncture, coming, as it would, after an interval that has left time for the judgment of the nation to pass upon the good effects of the Tariff of 182^, as far as it has proved adequate, would impress the conviction, at home and abroad, that the manufacturing system was to be incorporated with the well-understood and durable policy of the nation. Besides other advantages from this conviction, we might reasonably expect to witness that of seeing a new class of emigrants come to the United States. They would consist not merely of unemployed journeymen from foreign workshops, however useful these may be ; but, in all probability, of master manufacturers of capital and standing. How valuable emigrants of this description would prove ; how they would help to quicken the progress of the country in manufacturing skill and general riches, is attested by the experience of all. nations, the wisdom of whose laws has superadded such emigrants to their own population. The effect of their coming would not be to injure our own manufactures. It would benefit them. It would increase their numbers. It would raise more speedily the whole class by blending it more thoroughly with all the other interests of the State. The foreign artisans, whom Britain sedulously drew to her shores at an early day, fully-peopled as the whole of her circumscribed territory then was, in comparison with ours now, rank among the causes that first and most prominently elevated her condition among nations. The effects of their ingenious industry exerted a meliorating influence upon social life, by investing it with new. means of accommodation and embellishment, and was soon followed by the largest additions to the rural and commercial prosperity of Ihe whole island. That the productiveness and perfection of English agriculture, at the present day, is owing to the size and power of her manufacturing classes, is a truth not disputed. It is these classes to whose hands the harvests of her soil are carried, whether gathered from its surface or extracted in exhaust- less mineral wealth from beneath it, and who become the customers of it all — the ready, constant, unfailing customers. There is an inducement to increased legislative protection to manufactures in the actual internal condition of the United States, which is viewed with an anxiousness belonging to its peculiar character and intrinsic weight. It is that which arises from the great extent of their unsold lands. The magnitude of the interests at stake, in this part of our public affairs, ought not to appal us from approaching it. It should rather impel us to look at it with the more earnest desire to arrive at correct opinions on any course of legislation that may affect, primarily or remotely, an interest so full of importance. The maxim is held to be a sound one, that the ratio of capital to population should, if possible, be kept on the increase. When this takes place, the demand and compensation for labour will be proportionably increased, and the condition of the most numerous classes of the community become improved. If the ratio of capital to population be diminished, a contrary state of things will be the result. The manner in which the remote lands of the United States are selling and settling whilst it may possibly tend to increase more quickly the aggregate population of the country, and the mere means of subsistence, does not increase capital in the same proportion. It is a proposition too plain to require elucidation, that the creation of capital is retarded rather than accelerated, by the diffusion of a thin population over a great surface of soil. Any thing that may serve to hold back this tendency to diffusion from running too far, and too long, into an extreme, can scarcely prove otherwise than salutary. Moreover: the further encouragement of manufactures by legislative means, would be but a counterbalance, and at most a partial one, to the encouragement to agriculture by legislative means, standing out in the very terms upon which the pubhc lands are sold. It is not here intended to make the system of seUing off the territorial domain of the Union a subject' of any commentary, and still less of any complaint. The system is interwoven beneficially with the highest interests and destiny of the nation. It rests upon foundations, both of principles and practice, deep and immoveable : foundations not to be uprooted or shaken. But our gravest attention may, on this account, be but the more wisely summoned to the consideration of correla- tive duties, which the existence of such a system, in the heart of the State, imposes. It cannot be overlooked, that the prices at which fertile bodies of land may be bought of the government, under this system, operate as a perpetual allurement to their purchase. It must therefore be taken in the fight of a bounty indehbly written in the text of the laws themselves, in favour of agricultural pursuits. Such it is, in effect, though not in form. Perhaps no enactment of legislative bounties has ever before operated, upon a scale so vast, throughout a series of years, and over the face of an entire nation, to turn population and labour into one particular channel, preferably to all others. The utmost extent of protection granted to manufactures or commerce by our statutes, collectively, since the first foundation of the government, has been, in its mere effect of drawing the people of the United Stales into those pursuits, as nothing to it. No scale of imposts, no prohibitions or penalties, no bounties, no premiums, enforced or dipensed at the custom house, has equalled it. It has served, and still serves, to draw in an annual stream, the inhabitants of a majority of the states ' including amongst them, at this day, a portion, not small of the western states, into the settlement of fresh lands, lying still farther and farther off. If the population of these states not yet redundant in fact, though appearing to be so under this legislative incitement to emigrate, remained fixed in more instances, as it probably would, by extending the motives to manufacturing labour, it is believed that the nation at large would gain in two ways : 1 st, by 578. R 3 t^« 134 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827 — 1828. the more rapid accumulation of capital ; and next, by the gradual reduction of the excess X. I of its agricultural population over that engaged in other vocations. It is not imagined that Inclosure in N" 4 ^* would ever be practicable, even if it were desirable, to turn this stream of emigration continued. aside; but resources opened through the influence of the laws, in new fields of industry, to the inhabitants of the states already sufficiently peopled to enter upon them, might operate to lessen, in some degree, and usefully lessen its absorbing force. The eye of legislation, intent upon the whole good of the nation, will look to each part, not separately as a part, but in conjunction with the whole. The rapidity with which, after all, a civilized popula- tion, founding new and sovereign communities, will grow up in those exuberant portions of territory, presents considerations favourable to the main policy inculcated. This population, carrying with it the wants and habits of society, will create a demand for manufactures, which must, at least for some time, be supplied from other sources. It will hence form the natural market of purchase and consumption, for those produced in other parts of the Union, rather than in foreign countries. By this intercourse, we may hope to see multiplied the commercial and pecuniary ties, which it is fit should grow up and be cherished throughout the whole Federal family, superadding themselves to all other ties, and harmonizing and compacting the elements of a great empire. Should it still be apprehended, by any, that evils will be generated in a state of society where large manufacturing classes co-exist with a full population, to such minds the reflection must prove consolatory and re-assuring, that, in the public lands, a check to these evils will be at hand for ages to come. This immense domain, besides embodying all the ingredients, material and moral, of riches and power throughout a long vista of the future, may therefore also be clung to, under the various springs and conjoint movements of our happy political system, as a safeguard against con- tingent dangers. Its very possession is conceived to furnish paramount inducements, under all views, for quickening, by fresh legislative countenance, manufacturing labour throughout other parts of the Union. It is a power to be turned to the account of manifold and trans- cendent blessings, rather than reposed upon for aggrandizing too exclusively the interest of agriculture, fundamental as that must ever be in the state. Agriculture itself would be essentially benefited ; the price of lands in all the existing states, would soon become enhanced, as well as the produce from them, by a policy that would, in any wise, tend to render portions of their present population more stationary, by supplying new and adequate motives to their becoming so. And, as it is the laws that have largely, in effect, throughout a long course of time, superinduced disinclinations to manufacturing labour, by their over- powering calls to rural labour, in the mode of selling off" the public domain, the claim of further legal protection to the former kind of labour, at this day, seems to wear an aspect of justice, no less than of expediency. Finally, the great plans of internal improvement, so wisely in prosecution, or contemplated, in different portions of the country, will lose much of their object and value, if activity be not imparted to manufacturing industry. The increased facilities of conveyance, which these plans are intended to effect, presupposes, as their basis, the necessity of transferring the produce of the country from place to place. How such transfers will be increased by multiplying the products of manufacturing labour, is apparent. New resources for this kind of labour may be expected to rise up, as these plans are in progress, whether by bringing to light occult treasures, or by affording, through improved transportation, the means of use to those already known. And then, as manufacturing enterprize, acting upon a greater variety and abundance of materials, shall be seen to enlarge its spheres, how much more reciprocally beneficial will not its exchanges become with the produce of the land ? It is this state of things that will emphatically bind together the farmer, the manufac- turer, and the merchant, in one indissoluble connexion. Towns and villages may be expected to rise up, in good time, under such a policy, lining the borders of our canals, as of our natural streams. Scenes of stirring industry will strike upon the eye, flowing from various and subdivided labour, the aggregate results of all which will stand out in the advancing cultivation and embellishments of the earth, and extended prosperity and happi- ness of our people. This is the broad policy suited to a nation, destined by natural gifts to reach the heights of civilization and power. Such a nation rejects, as too confined, the counsels that would limit her to the walks of agriculture, of commerce, or of manufac- tures, singly ; seeing that her resources and aptitudes, of all kinds, confer upon her the warrant of pre-eminence in each. Unless, in this combination, we have beheld no state enjoy any other than an imperfect or transitory greatness. Whilst the efficient encouragement of manufactures is earnestly dwelt upon as conducive to the fiscal strength and general prosperity of the Union, the claims of foreign commerce ■press not less forcibly upon our attention. Each interest is alike entitled, within proper bounds, to the fostering superintendence of the legislative power. Amongst the expedients for augmenting the foreign trade of a country, otherwise than in the exports of its own pro- ductions, none are believed to be more important than the warehousing system. It was this system that greatly contributed to the commercial riches of some of the European states of the middle ages, and that is now enlarging the commercial dominion of nations of the present day. The situation of the United States locally ; the number and position of their ports along so extended a line of coast ; the tonnage of which they are actually in possession, with the commercial experience of their people, point them out as peculiarly fitted to derive advantage from this system, and serve to recommend for it more liberal enactments, than any of which it has yet been the subject. By our laws, as they now stand, the merchant is compelled to re-export, within a twelvemonth, the foreign commodity which he has im- ported, or lose the benefit of drawing back the duty he has paid upon it to the government. Hence PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 1,35 Hence h« loses all opportunity, after this limit of time, of sending the commodity to seek 1827—1828 foreign markets, when the market at home may fail. The restrictions put upon him, in this <____ 1 respect ought, it is conceived, to be < done away, by extending the time during which he ^ might exercise the right of re-exportation. It is not believed, that the increased quantity of ^"closure in N*4. foreign merchandiziB, which such an alteration in the laws might be the means of bringing eonhntced. to the country, would interfere with the interests of home manufactures, under the protection claimed for the latter, and the guards with which they might be surrounded. The result might be expected to prove otherwise. At present, whenever a redundancy of foreign goods is seen in the country, as wiU happen occasionally in all trading countries, from the impossibility of adapting, precisely, the supply to the demand, the excess, if not sent abroad within the year, is thrown upon the home market at whatever reduction of price. This operates to the injury both of the home manufacturer and the importer. By enlarging the time of re-exportation, with privilege of drawback, such excess, whenever existing, would be more likely to seek a vent in other countries, and with improved chances of finding it profitable. More especially might the prospects of this trade, in re-exportations, be increased, if no transit duty existed on foreign merchandise passing through our ports; the necessary charges being also kept at the lowest possible point. This is a policy which the wisest commercial nations have observed. An increased trade in re-exportation, by increasing the carrying trade of the United States, may be expected to increase then- tonnage ; thus giving new activity to ship building, so highly important and valuable a branch of manufactures to the country. The aspect of the jtimes recommends to favourablie consideration the alteration in the drawback system proposed. Political and commercial revolutions occurring all around us, remind us of the expediency of reviewing our own com- mercial laws, in points where these revolutions have affected, or may affect the operation of them. We have seen the principal part of this continent change the relations which it held to Europe. We have seen, as the effect of this and other causes, ancient channels of trade deserted, colonial monopolies give way, and another system open. A new commercial era is begun, of which this hemisphere is to be the principal scene. We have beheld the nations of Europe watching the course of these changes, and accommodating their policy, especially the warehousing policy, to the new commercial wants and contingencies which have grown up, or are anticipated. We have seen above all, the leading commercial power of Europe, whose wakeful eye is abroad throughout the commercial woridi extend this very policy, under new and advantageous facilities, to her insular positions in seas close to our borders. This she has done with the purpose, not concealed, of availing herself of these changes, and of meeting, in the spirit of fair commercial competition, similar measures, which she naturally supposed would go into effect on the side of the United States, No such measures have been taken by the United States. In the midst of the changes adverted to, our own commercial legislation remains, so far as any bearing upon this hew commercial era is concerned, at the point where it stood more than five-and-twenty years ago. The single exception is in the Act of the last session of Congress, authorizing the importation of brandy in casks of smaller size than was permitted by the Act of 1799 ; an Act obviously designed to improve our export trade in this article, to the new states of this continent. The merchant, like the manufacturer, and other interests of the state, requires, at proper times, the assisting hand of legislation ; regulation, in one form or other, being the great end of Government, and useful or bafflirig to individual enterprise, as it is wisely or improvidently exerted. Should the wisdom of Congress deem an alteration in the laws, with a view to enlarge the privilege of re-exportation, expedient, an authority to build additional warehouses, in some of the principal seaport towns, would be a necessary adjunct to the alteration. The local accommodation for merchandise that must go into store, under the existing laws, is insuf- ficient, larger and better constructed edifices are required, even for the present wants of our commerce, and would become altogether indispensable under an extension of the ware- housing system. A commerce which yields to the national treasury a revenue of twenty millions of dollars a year, under a Tariff far more moderate, even since 1 824, than that which has marked the career of any great state of modern times, is entitled to adequate and liberal provisions for the machinery necessary for carrying it on. Its local establishments should have reference as well to the security of the revenue, as to the reasonable accommo- dation of the merchant, and the prompt dispatch of business. It is, probably, not too much to affirm, that of the foreign merchandise, which, under the present commercial code of the Union, is deposited in warehouses, more than one-half is unduly exposed to depredation, to frauds, and to fire, from the nature and insecurity of the present buildings. They are, besides, too often situated in places remote from the custom houses and other commercial establishments, and inconvenient, otherwise, to the transaction of daily commercial business. Under circumstances such as these, the propriety of drawing the attention of Congress t6 the defects of the warehousing system, seems sufficiently justifiable. Where interests are multifarious, as in free, populous, and opulent communities must be the case, the hand of Government must be variously extended. Sometimes it is widely apphed to the effective regulation of some of these interests, and sometimes it becomes as necessary to lighten its pressure upon others. Not only is it recommended to lessen the restriction which our laws have so long imposed upon the merchant in an extensive branch of the foreign trade; but it is also conceived that there are articles entering into the hst of our imports, the duties upon which it would be expedient to reduce. Amongst these, it is thought proper to mention teas and wines as being prominent. The use of tea has become so general throughout the United States, as to rank almost as a necessary of life. When to this we add, that, there is no rival, production at home to 578. R4 ' b^ 136 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. be fostered by lessening the amount of its importation, the duty upon it may safely be regarded as too high. Upon some of the varieties of the article, it considerably exceeds one Inclosure in N» 4. hundred per cent, and is believed to be generally above the level which a true policy points continued. Out. A moderate reduction of the duty would lead to an increased consumption of the article to an extent that, in all probability, would, in the end,' benefit rather than injure the revenue. Its tendency would be to enlarge our trade in exports to China ; a trade of pro- gressive value, as our cottons and other articles of home production (aside from specie) are more and more entering into it. It would cause more of the trade in teas to centre in our own ports, the present rate of duty driving our tea-ships not unfrequently to seek their markets in Europe ; not in the form of re-exportations, but in the direct voyage from China. It would also serve to diminish the risk of the United States ultimately losing any portion of a trade so valuable, through the poUcy and regulations of other nations. The duty upon wines is also believed to be higher than a wise commercial and national policy dictates. The experience of our own, as well as other countries, has shown that high duties upon wines do not prove beneficial to the revenue. General experience also shews, that the consumption of wine tends to diminish the use of ardent spirits. These are in- ducements for keeping the duties upon wines low. They are strengthened by the con- sideration, that, by lowering them, we shall increase beneficially our trade to the countries whence we obtain wines. Some of these countries are unable to take our productions, unless their wines be received as an equivalent. They are, at the same time, prepared to take them, untrammelled by positive or virtual prohibitions. It seems but just that we should take freely the productions of nations that take ours freely. But, in point of fact, the present rates of our Tariff favour most, in many and essential things, the productions of nations that favour ours least. The rate of duty upon wines is not only in many instances very high, but very unequal as regards the different descriptions of wines, and the countries producing them. The whole subject is thought to demand revision. Upon the superixjr wines of France, upon those of the Rhine, upon those generally of Spain, Portugal, the Italian States, and perhaps some other countries, the duties, it is believed, might be ad- .vantageously brought down. The manufacture of wine in the United States, does not at this juncture, comprehend any such large interest as to interpose serious objections to the policy recommended. The opinion may also be hazarded, that, in proportion as the taste for wine comes to prevail over that for ardent spirits, under the encouragement of low duties upon those imported from abroad, will a better basis be laid for the prosecution, at a future day, of this branch of industry at home. Its prosecution might go on, hand in hand with lower duties on foreign wines, even at the present time ; a very small amount of capital being necessary to the production of wines at home. N'5. Mr. Consul General Baker to the Earl of Dudley. EXTRACT. "Washington, December 18, I827. . R. January 24/28. N* 5. — I HAVE the honour to transmit the extract of a Report of the Secretary of the Treasury on the state of the Finances, which was presented to Congress on , V the 10th instant. .^ Independently of the view taken of the revenue, the following are the chief -_ manufactures made their report, and presented a billfor the increase of duties on manufactured articles imported into the United States from foreign coun- tries, in order to afford due protection to similar articles now manufactured in this country. The committee in their report state, that after having been authorized to send for persons and papers, they had consented to recommend it to Congress to pass a bill, which should enact the payment of the following duties, instead of . those imposed by the Tiariff established in 1824, namely, a duty upon wool of foreign growth of seven cents the pound, and, of forty ppr cent ad valorem, to be gradually and annually raised until it should amount to fifty per cent. Woollen goods to pay, when rated at the place of exportation, at fifty cents or half a dollar per yard, sixteen cents the square yard; rated at any sum below a dollar, to pay forty cents the square yard ; above a dollar and belbw "a dollar and a half, to pay one dollar; and from a dollar and a half to four dollars, to pay forty per cent at valorem ; and all woollens above four dollars, to pay forty-five per cent ad valorem. The rninimum of duty upon cotton goods it is recommended to increase from thirty to thirty-five cents. .The duty upon iron by the new bill, will l)e one ■pel' cent on bars oi: bolts manufactured by rolling ; ba;r iron thirty-Steven dollars per ton ; and upon knives, spades^ ^c. ah ad valorem duty often per cent. •578. S Manufactured 138 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. tontinued. Manufactured hemp and flax is to pay forty-five dollars per ton, with an augmentation annually until it amounts to sixty dollars. Sail-cloth to pay nine cents the square yard. Imported distilled spirits and molasses to pay ten cents per gallon. I have the honour to inclose a copy of the report of the committee, and of the proposed bill, as they have been given in the newspapers. . Enclosure N* i, in N* 7. REPORT TO CONGRESS. Duties on Imports. Indosure N* 1, Mr. Mallary, from the Committee on Manufactures, made the following Report, ill N" 7. accompanied by a Bill (N° 132) in alteration of the several Acts imposing Duties on Imports. The Committee on Manufactures, to which have been referred the numerous petitions and memorials on the subject of further protecting duties upon imports — Report : That they commenced their examination of the various subjects referred to them, imme- diately after the appointment of the committee was announced to the House ; that they sought in vain, from the documents referred to them, for information suflSciently specific upon the subjects embraced in those documents, to enable them to determine the effect of the existing laws upon the various interests upon which ftiey were intended to operate j or to measure the additional protection which the complaining interests required, or their pre- sent condition would warrant the committee in recommending. Undfer this absence of accurate information, and constantly busied in searching the voluminous Executive Reports from the Treasury Department, and other state papers, from which is to be learned the situation of our foreign trade, and the character and amount of our foreign ithportations, and in obtaining from that department the returns of that trade, for Ihe last year, the Com- mittee waited until the petitions and memorials upon which most dependence seemed to be placed by the friends of the protecting system, had. reached their hand, through the only authorized channel, to warrant their acting upon them, and until about the 28th of December last past, when, still finding themselves unsupplied with the precise facts upon which alone they were willing to act upon the important and highly responsible subjects committed to their charge, they came to the resolution of submitting their difficulties to the House, and of asking the power to send for persons and papers, which would enable them to determine, with precision and certainty, the true condition of those interests, and more especially of those manufacturing interests which had preferred their claims for protection to the national legislature. This resolution was presented to the House on the first day of its session, after the com- mittee adopted it, and, on its passage, no time was lost in learning the names of witnesses for whom it should, in the opinion of the committee, be desirable to send, and despatching summonses by mail, to be served. This labour being performed, the committee at once began their examinations of such witnesses, members of the House and others, as were within their reach, and believed to be -possessed of valuable and practical information upon any of the subjects before them. The examination of these witnesses was not completed, when the arrival of some, attending under summonses, was announced. An application was then immediately made to the House for leave to sit during the hours of session of the House ; and nearly every daiy since that leave was granted, has been entirely occupied, to the almost total neglect of other public and private duties, in the laborious examination of witnesses, pursuant to the resolution under which the committee were acting. It is but justice here to remark, that the original expectation of the committee, under tbe resolution offered by them to the House, was to have made an expeditious inquiry into the situation of one or two manu^ jacturing interests, rather to eiiable them to determine what farther protection these interests really required, than with the expectation, within the limited time which they had allowed to themselves for the purpose of being able to collect and report to the House, a body o;f evidence upon several important branches of our domestic manufactures, so digested and arranged as to be of any essential sei-vice to the House or to the public, as a Source of cottect information upon these comphcated subjects. The amendment, hdwevery which was made to the resolution by the House, so as to give to the committee the authority " to send for and examine persons upon oath, in relation to the present condition of our manufactures, and to report the minutes of such examination to this House," it Will readily be seen, added gi'eatly to the labour which the committee had proposed for themselves; as,, by that amendment, it was made the duty of the committee, should they think proper to exam-ine witnesses, to take their testimony in detail, and in such order as to render it at least passably intelligible to the House. This additional labour was in no other way excep- tionable to the committee than as it rendered somewhat doubtful their ability t6 give their report to the House within the time within which they had signified that it would be received. But even under this apprehension, so desirous were the committee of a full developement of facts, that the amended resolution met their approbation ; and they entered upon their duties, determined, if possible, to realize the expectations of the House, so far at least as regarded a report within the time they had indicated. They PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 130 Tkeyhave examiHed little short of thirty witnesses, and the testimony of each, hastily ■written out by way of question and answer, and annexed to this Report, will show what facts jiave been collected by the examination, as well as the extent of the labour which the ccHaomittee have performed. The testimony of each witness, after it was taken, has been carefully read over with him, and so corrected as to meet the full assent of the witness as to its accuracy. The leading subjects, present to the committee for additional protection, are iron and several manufactures of it, wool and its fabrics, hemp and some of the manufactures from it,^ax and its manufactures, and domestic distilled spirits from grain, particular descrip- tioas of glass, and fine and printed cottons. Upon all these subjects, witnesses have been examined, and their testimony, herewith reported, comprises the evidence, upon each subject, which the committee have taken under the resolution of the House, and embodies most of the information upon which they have acted in determining the features of the bill which they have agreed upon. The examinations of witnesses by the committee were not closed until Saturday night last, and Monday of the present week was entirely occupied in correcting and arranging the testimony taken, and which had not been corrected, thus leaving but two days to them to digest their Bill, and prepare this hasty report. Under these circumstances, it cannot be expected that a minute examination of the various subjects included in the Bill prepared by tiie committee, will be gone into ; much less that a discussion of the great question involved in tJie system of extending protection to the languishing interests of the country, by an in- crease of duties upon imports, will be attempted. The former would be a task req\iiring time and care, combined with extensive research ; and the latter, even if time were allowed *o the committee, is a subject much better suited to a discussion in this House, than in tlje report of one of its committees. The committee, therefore, do not attempt to go into the reasons which have governed them, but merely to give a concise history of their doings. After examining all the witnesses who had attended pursuant to summonses, up to Satur- day night last, and also all the manufacturers and others, who, up to that time, had, to the knowl«lge of the committee, arrived in this city, for the purpose of giving the committee information upon any of the subjects before them, and after having spent the day, on Monday of the present week, in the correction and very hasty arrangement of the testimony taken, the committee proceeded to consider and arrange the terms and provisions of the bill they should report, and a reference to it is made for the detailed information as to what have been their conclusions. The first subject which will be found in the Bill, is that of iron, and considering the im- portance of the article, as one of both national and individual necessity, the changes in the present rates of duty are comparatively very light. An increase upon " iron in bars, not manufactured, in whole, or in part, by rolling," of from ninety cents upon 112 pounds, to one cent per pound ; upon " iron in bars, manufactured in whole or in part by rolling," of ^7 per ton of 2,240 pounds; and upon " pig iron," of 12 J cents per 112 pounds beyond the present rates of duty ; are the most material changes upon this article. Some amend- ments in the existing law, when evasions of the present duty have been discovered to exist by defects in the wording of the law, and some additions of duty upon particular descrip- tions of iron, and upon particular manufactures from it, complete the provisions on this subject. The next subject in order, is that of wool and woollens. To these subjects the greater part of the testimony of the witnesses has been directed, and the Committee have used every effort in their power to obtain precise information as to the facts as they do actually exist in relation to the interests both of the wool grower and the manufacturer of wool. The real importance of these subjects to those sections of the country where wool is grown, and in which the manufactories are located, the feeling which has for some time agitated the public mind throughout the whole country, in relation, on the one side, to the necessity of further protection to them, and, on the other side, to the iiijurious effects which such a measure would have upon the puchasers of woollen fabrics, have all conspired to induce this exertion on the part of the committee. They have therefore made the examinations of the witnesses, upon those subjects, as minute as possible, and, perhaps, in some instances, they may appear tediously so. Indeed many of the questions put to the witnesses will afford abundant evidence that the committee had not sufiicient practical knowledge upon the subjects before them, to enable them to make a series of interrogations, the answers to which would place the testimony taken in the clearest light. And when the members of the House shall have examined the evidence relating to the manufacturer of woollen goods, the committee cannot doubt they will be entirely convinced that none but a person intimately acquainted with the various operations, could have drawn out a series of questions upon this subject, susceptible of clear and intelligible answers. The time of the committee did Bot authorize even an attempt to do this, and, therefore, the examinations, and particularly of some of the witnesses first examined, will appear, as they were really taken— the oi^e answer, in many, if not in most instances, suggesting the subsequent question. It will also be found, upon an examination of the testimony, that the manufacture of woollens is hardly su§ceptible of being reduced within the limits of exact mathematical calculation, so as to enable the committee to arrive, with this kind of certainty, at the amount of duty which will furnish full protection, and at the same time, will not go beyond that point. Certain positions, however, they believe to be proved by the evidence they have taken, which furnish great assistance in approaching to correct conclusions, 578- S 2 1827—1828. Inclosure N» i, in N" 7. continued. u 140 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosurc N" I in N° 7. continued. f„lW '^^'^*'°'^*° ""manufactured wool of domestic growth, the committee consider it to be ^uiy proved that the present prices, in our markets, are unusually lo^v, and the sales very fnt ' f f ■ ^"^"^^^ '^'■^ produced by the combined influence of the large impor- taxions ot toreign wool, and the excessive importations of foreign woollen goods. Contrary 10 tne opinions of some of the witnesses, the committee are strongly convinced that the provision ot the present law, permitting the introduction of foreign wool, costing not exceeding 10 cents per pound in the foreign market, at the almost nominal duty of 15 per cent ad valorem, does admit wool, paying this duty, and invoiced at and below this price. Which, m quality and use, materially conflicts vvith the common native wool of this country. This opinion is strongly corroborated by the presentation, by one of the witnesses, to the committee of five difierent specimens of foreign wool, imported into and during the last *all, selling in the Boston market,- at from 6 cents to 14 cents per pound. The Foreign' invoices ot all these, wools were at a price not exceeding 10 cents per pound, and conse-^ quently paid but a duty of 15 per cent ad valorem. At least two of these specimens of wool, the committee believe, when properly cleansed, would clearly appear to be equal in quality to the common native wool of the United States; and' the very rapid increase in the importations of these low qualities of wool, since the passage of the Tariff Bill of 1824, furnishes the strongest reason to conclude that they are supplying the demand, and answering the uses which the coarse' wools of our country would, in most cases, well supply; and that the foreign article is sought, because, by means of the very low duty it now pays, it can be obtained at a less price than the domestic. There are also strong reasons fof believing that, by importing several qualities of foreign wools in the grease and dirt, they are invoiced at a price not exceeding 10 cents per pound, when, if the same wools were cleansed, as the foreign wools usually are for the market, they would necessarily be invoiced at a much higher price; and that, in this way, the spirit of the law of 1824 is, to a very considerable extent, evaded. The law of 1824' imposed upon wool, costing in the foreign market a price exceeding 10 cents per pound, a progressive duty, commencing at 20 per Cent ad valorem, and ending at 30 per cent ad valorem. This duty reached its maximum on the first day of June 1826. The question then, as to the manner in which these low priced wools could be effectually reached, without imposing an exorbitant duty upon the higher atid finer qualities, was first to be determined. And the Bill, herewith reported, will shew that the conclusion of the committee has been to impose a specific duty of 7 cts. per pound lipori all foreign wool, without regard to its quality, and to retain, at the same time, the ad valorem duty, with a proposition to increase it from 30 per cent, the present duty, to 4(> per cent, and to make it progressive, at an increase of 5 per cent per annum, to 50 per cent, and applicable to all kinds of wool : these alterations, if adopted by Congress, will operate, proportionably, more heavily upon the coarse than ilpon the fine wools. But the committee sufl!er little apprehension from this fact, because they consider it satisfactorily proved that the capacity of this country to produce wool, is only to be limited by the demand for the article ; that the manufactures they have examined are using much the largest share of the finer wools ; that the coarse wools of this country are little sought, because foreign wools of a coarser quality, and answering the same uses, are procured at lower prices; and that, in the assortment of the wools of this country, for the purposes of manufacture, a larger share will fall within the low ranges, and will fairly supply the place of the coarse imported wools. And the committee will not disguise the fact, that it has been their inten- tion, in the bill they should report, to extend every protection, which the nature of the case would admit, to the grower of American wool. If they have not done this, they have erred in judgment, and have not accomplished their own intentions. If the duties they have proposed upon unmanufactured wool are too high, and shall thus prove injurious to. the manufacturer, and not beneficial to the farmer, then they have mistaken their proportions which the relative cost of the wool and- the fabric will warrant, and have thus been led into unintentional error. ' In relation to the additional protection required by the manufacturers of woollens,, the committee have found themselves most in need of specific information. The law of 1 824, imposing additional duties upon imports, was, at .the time of its passage, no doubt, believed, by those who framed, and by those who supported it, sufficient, both in its provisions and in the amount of its duties, to afford a fair protection to this important national interest. But experience has shown that this belief was fallacious, and that the operation of this law has disappointed both those who passed it, ;and those who sought its passage. Former laws had also been. passed, with the same intentions, and had failed to realise the expectations of those who acted, under them. The knowledge of these facts it was which induced the committee to propose a mode, heretofore untried in this government, of obtaining precis'e information upon which to legislate. They have been indulged by the House in making the experiment, and, although the information collected may not be as precise and detailed as a greater allowance of time, and a wider range, of examination, might have made it, the committee do beheve that certain positions may be assumed from the testimony^ as fully proved, which will afford much aid in determining the defects in the existing, laws, and in applying the proper remedies to those defects ; and they cannot but hope that this infor- mation, coming from persons intimately acquainted with the subjects of; which th,ey speak, and given under the solemn sanction of an oath, will have greater weight than the ordinary information upon which former Jaws upon these subjects have been passed. , The foUawing positions, as relating to the manufacture of woollen goods, the committee believe themselves warranted in deducing, from the evidence they have taken, and they depend upon the evidence and opinions of the witnesses for the soundness of them : — 1st. That PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 144 • ist. That the manufacture of woollen goods in this country, is, at this time, a business labouring ubder severe depressions, and attended with loss more severe upon the finer qualities. . ' 2d; That these depressions are owing, in a very great degree, to the excessive and irregular importations of foreign woollen goods, into our markets; thus causing a fluctuation in, and an uncertainty of price for those goods, more injurious to the American manufacture than even the depiression of price which these importations produce. . 3d. That the differences between the prices of wool, of the same quality, in this country and in England, is at the present time about fifty per cent in favour of the latter country. '4th. That the cost of the raw wool in this country is about one-half of the cost of the febric, when prepared for the market, as a general rule applying to most kinds of cloths. 5th. That, if the cost of the wool and the cost of the foreign materials used for dying, were the same in both countries, the process of manufacturing the wool into cloth, fitted for the market, can be performed as cheap in this country as it can in England. 6th. That the present duty upon woollen goods does not furnish the desired protection, ^nd that no reasonable duty can be effectual, unless it be a specifiic square yard, instead of an ad valorem duty. , With a general reference to these, positions, so far as they could be made applicable to the subject, and with a proper regard to the whole body of the testimony taken, the committee have proceeded to detail their propositions for the alteration arid increase of the duties. upon woollen goods. The law of 1824, with certain exceptions, enumerated in the Act, imposed a duty of £.'25 per centum ad valorem upon all foreign woollen goods imported into this coun- try, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, should not exceed thirty-three and one-third cents per square yard ; and a duty, after the 30th day of June 1825, of 33^ per centum ad valorem upon those costing more than 33 1. cents per square yard. The exceptions ffom the duty of 33^ per cent, were blankets and worsted stuff' goods, upon which a! duty of 25 per centum ad valorem was imposed ; and from the goods paying a duty of 25 per centum ad valorem as costing less than 33^ cents per square yard, were excepted flannels and baizes, which were to pay a duty of 33 ^ per cent. The committee have proposed to change all these ad valorem duties upon cloths, to specific square yard duties, making the same exceptions which are made in the Act. of 1824. Some of these exceptions the committee have left unaltered, and others they have proposed a small increase of duty upon. The article of blankets now pays a duty of 25 percent ^d valorem, and they propose to increase this duty to 35 per cent. This they have done, because they think the testimony warrants them in the belief, that if the manufacture of blankets is encouraged in this country, they can be made here as cheap, in reference to the quality of the blanket, as they are now imported, land that, in this manu- facture, a consumption may be found for large quantities of our native wool. The committee also consider blankets an article so essentially necessary for a soldier, as to become an object of national policy, and a necessary for which we ought not to be dependant upon any foreign c'ountry. •The. propositions of the committee as to the alteration ind increase of duties upon woollens, generally, are as follows :— 1st. Upon all manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall not exceed 50 cents per square yard, a specific duty of 16 cents upon every square yard. 2d. Upon all manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, the actual value of which, at.the place whence imported shall exceed 50 cents per square yard, and shall not exceed $ 1 per square yard, a specific duty of 40 cents upon every square yard. 3d. Upon all manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall exceed $ 1 per square yard, and shall not exceed $1. 50. per square yards, a specific duty of $1 upon every square yard. 4th. Upon all manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, the actual value of which at the place whence imported shall exceed $1. 50. per square yard, and shall not exceed ^j?" 4 per square yard, shall be deemed to have cost ^4 per square yard, and at such valuation shall be charged with and pay a duty of 40 per centum ad •' ■, ' Kth. Upon all manufactures of wool. Sec. the actual value of which, at the place where imported, shall exceed J" 4 per square yard, shall be charged with, and pay a duty of, 45 per centum ad valorem. It will thus be seen, that the propositions made by the committee, if adopted, will give a considerable increase upon the present rates of duty, in any event, and may give a very large increase, if the importations should be not regulated by the rates of .the duty. Should they be so regulated, the intermediate spaces would be left entirely to be supplied by the American manufacturer ; and this, it is believed, would not only furnish him a market for. the great body of his cloths, but would enable him to compete with the foreigner, even at the prices at which the minimum principle does not operate extensively to increase the duty. The committee have not gone to the extent proposed by many of the memorials, in the regulation of these duties, but they have gone to the extent to which, from the evidence taken by them, they believe the prosperity of our woollen manufactures require. Hemp and flax, and some of the manufactures from them have next claimed the c.on- sideratipn of the committee. The evidence which they have collected upon these subjects, .though by no. means voluminous, in their, opinion, satisfactorily proves, that large, sections. 1327—1828. Inclosure N° 1, continued. of 142 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS Inclosure N* i, in N" 7. continueiii 1827 — 1828. of the country are capable of producing either kind of the raw material above men- \ I turned, to any extent. So far as the committee have been able to learn, the state of Kentucky seems to paid the most attention to the culture of hemp, and, at this time, to- possess the most extensive manufactories of the article of any state in the Union ; while the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey seem, as yet to take the lead in the growing and manufacture of flax. Yet, there cannot be a doubt, but that the soil of either of these states, as well as of many, and perhaps, most of the other states, is well adapted to the growth of either hemp or flax, and that they only need the consumption in duck, cordage, &c. of our extensive commerce, and of our growing navy, to these branches of agriculture^ an encouragement which would soon make the raw materials, articles, not of import, but of export, and would supply the wants of our own country with as cheap and as valuable a fabric as is now obtained from foreign hands. »Indeed, if there are any articles, the produce of agricultural and manufacturing labour, which, more than others, would seem to claim the fostering care of government, not as a matter of policy merely, but as a matter both of interest and independence, hemp and flax would seem peculiarly to belong to them. These are materials, the growing of which, brings' into profitable use, not only the fertile lands of the country, but the active labour of the husbandman, and the manufacturing of which, into the fabrics of most extensive utility, would seem to be so simple and easy, as not to require the aid of foreign skill in its accomplishment. And, to our commerce in peace, and to our navy in war, as well as to the common uses of all classes of society, materials and fabrics of more prime necessity cannot be named. The committee cannot here refrain from directing the attention of the House to the testi- mony of a very intelligent manufacturer of flax, which will be found to compose a part of the evidence herewith reported. From the facts stated by him, it would seem that the- alleged inferiority of the American hemp and flax, when compared with the foreign, arises, not from any inferiority of either of the materials as grown in this country, but from not pulling or harvesting the crops at the proper time, and from giving them a dew, instead of a water wet. The committee solicit particular attention to this part of the evidence they- have taken, and hope it may attract the particular notice of the farmers of the country generally. The principal additions which the committee have proposed upon these articles, are upon the unmanufactured materials and upon sail duck. The increase proposed upon raw hemp, is ^10 per ton, and that upon raw flax is ,^'9 per ton; and both are made progressive, until the duty shall be ,||6o per ton upon each; it now being ,^35 upon hemp, and 15 per cent, or about equal to ,§'36 per ton upon flax. The proposition is to change the duty upon sail duck, from an ad valorem duty of 15 per cent, to a specific duty of 9 cents per square yard, and to regulate the drawback upon the article. The next subject in order, though not second in importance to the agricultural interests of the country, which has occupied the attention of the committee, in the draft of the Bill they now submit to the House, is that of a further protection to the domestic spirits dis- tilled from grain in the United States. And here the committee feel bound to inform the House, that it is not with any view to benefit the manufacturer of this description of ardent spirits, that they have at all entertained the subject. It is the interest, and solely the interest, of the farmer who grows the grain from which these spirits are distilled, which renders it a subject at all worthy of the consideration of Congress, as connected with the' protection of the industry and substantial interests of the country. But, if the most extensive farming interests of these United States, the grain growing interests of almost every section of the country, are subjects of importance, then, surely, the protection of domestic spirits, distilled from grain, cannot be unimportant. For it is a fact, too well and too generally known to require a repetition by the committee, that this manufacture has, for a number of years now last past, afforded a,lmost the only market for the coarse grains in the interior of the country. These grains are of so bulky and so heavy a nature, compared with their present market values, that they will not bear transportation beyond a very limited distance, even when water communication is afforded ; and where this means of transpor- tation is not enjoyed, their ability to reach a market is restricted within extremely narrow limits. But did not even this insuperable difficulty exist, it is equally certain that our large market towns do not, and have not offered even a tolerable market for these grains in kind, for some years last past, nor do the committee see that there is any prospect they will do so while our foreign relations remain as they now are, But convert these grains into spirits, and a partial market is aflPorded, not profitable, it is true, to the enterprise of the farmer, but better than an entire loss. The committee refer the House for evidence to support these positions, to the testimony of the witnesses who have been examined upon this subject. A perfect remedy to th& farmer for these evils, they do not beheve to be within the reach of Congress. But partial reUef would seem to be very plainly presented. Our tables of imports, for the last six years, show a very regular annual importation of foreign spirits from grain and other materials, varying from 5,000,000 to 6,000,000 gallons, a very small share of which is re-exported, and the residue is consumed in the country, and, consequently, to that extent, limits the demand for the domestic spirits. The committee are aware that the time has been when the whiskey, of this country would have been a very unacceptable exchange for foreign spirits toi the higher classes of consumers. But they do not believe that that objection can, at this time, be alleged. Such has been the advance in skill and experience in the art of distilling spirits from grain, that the whiskey of this country has become a very palatable and a very fashionable, as it no doubt is the least injurious liquor. The committee therefore cannot suppose PUBIISHED m THE UNITED STATES. 143 ^oppose that the comforts, or even the luxuries of our citizens, will be much restricted or materially affected by such an increase of duty upon foreign spirits as will reduce the , quantity imported. But as inseparably connected with the subject of foreign spirits is that of spirits distilled in our own country from foreign materials. Although the committee have no means of ascertaining the quantity of this kind of spirits, at present distilled in the United States, yet, from the large importations of the material from which it is made, there is. strong reason to conclude that the number of gallons must be somewhat greater than the whole number of gallons of foreign spirits imported. — The importation of molasses into this country., for the last six years, has ranged from 11,000,600 to nearly 14,000,000 of gallons. By an examination of the import tables in the treasury oflBce, it is ascertained that out of the 13,000,000 imported during the last year, more than 11,000,000 were carried into ports east of the port of New York, not including the latter port. — It would hardly seem probable that the quantity consumed in the domestic way, in this section of the union, could so far exceed the consumption of other sections of the country, where sugar and molasses are not manufactured, as this proportion would indicate^ and therefore, it is presumed, that much of the molasses taken into our eastern ports, is used for distillation. — This conclusion is rendered still more natural,, when it is known that in that section of the United States, are located the most extensive distilleries of rum from molasses. The spirits, thus produced, interferes equally with foreign spirits,, with the demand for the spirits produced from domestic materials ; and, as the committee have proceeded upon the principle in relation to iron, wool, hemp, and flax, that the domestic article, where it either exists, or can be ■produced in sufficient quantities, should be preferred to the foreign, even for the use of our own manufactures, so, in the case of molasses, they propose to apply the same rule. The committee have ho means by which they can even calculate the quantity of grain now annually distilled in the United States, or the quantity produced by such distillation. But they hazard nothing in the assertion that the coarse grains are now grown in these States, in sufficient quantities to furnish to them a full supply of ardent spirits, if the demand was in no other manner supplied ; and they refer to the testimony which has been given before them, to show, both the present depressed prices of these grains, and of the spirits produced from them, and also, to shew that the quantity of these grains can be increased in different sections of the country, to answer any demand, if demand could be created. With these facts before them, the committee have proposed, in the bill they report, to increase the present duty ten cents per gallon upon all foreign spirits imported into the country, and to increase the present duty upon molasses five cents per gallon. By a reference to the table of domestic exports, it will be seen that a part of the spirits distilled from molasses in this country is exported ; and the law, as now existing, aflows, upon these spirits so exported, a drawback of four cents per gallon. An examination of these tables will show that most of these spirits, so exported, go to the same markets with our domestic spirits distilled from grain ; and, with this drawback, operating as a bounty upon their exportation, they must, according to the relative values of the two kinds of spirits before exportation, have the advantage, in the foreign market to which they both go, over the spirits from grain, of just the amount of this drawback. The committee hare, therefore, proposed a repeal of the provision allowing the drawback. The subject of glass has also been proposed as a matter of examination before the coni- mittee, and two very intelligent witnesses, living in sections of country remote from each other, have been examined in relation to it. A reference to their testimony will show that the present protection to window glass, of smaller size than 10 by 14 inches, is abundant, and that most other descriptions of glass are in the same situation. In this these witnesses both agree, and they are both practically acquainted with the manufacture of various descriptions of the article. But one of the witnesses proves that the denominations of window glass exceeding 10 by 15 inches, is not sufficiently protected, and the committee have proposed an alteration in the present duties upon these sizes of window glass. The only other material alteration which the committee have proposed in the existing laws regulating our duties upon imports, is an increase of the minimum upon cottons, from 30 cents, at which it now stands, to 35 cents. The object of this has been to reach a finer description of cotton cloths ; and, for the evidence upon which they have recommended this alteration, they refer the House to the testimony of the witnesses who have been examined upon the subject of cottons, herewith reported. «. ^ , • Should there be found errors in this report, the committee have to offer tor their excuse the very short time which has been allowed to prepare it ; and they would gladly have avoided accompanying their bill with any report, but for the fact, that their request to be allowed to examine witnesses, has excited some feeling in the House, as well as in the country, and they have felt it a duty they owed to themselves to give this detailed history of the manner in which they have discharged the important trust. 1827— 18S8. Iiiclosure N" 1^ in N« 7. continued. Inclosure, N" 2, in N* 7- NEW TARIFF. Mr.Mallary, from the committee on manufactures, to which was referred sundry memorials, netitions and' remonstrances, in relation to an increase of the Tariff of duties on imports, by way of protection to home manufactures, made a report in detail, containing the exami- nations made by the committee, of persons under oath ; and accompanied by the following 578. S4 ^'1^' luclosure N' 2, in N" 7. 144 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure N° 2, in N" 7. continued. bill ; which bill was twice read, and committed to the committee of the whole House on the state of the Union. " A Bill in alteration of the several Acts imposing Duties on Imports. " Be it Enacted, &c., That from and after the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, in lieu of the duties now imposed by law, on the importation of the articles hereinafter mentioned, there shall be levied, collected, and paid, the following duties ; that is to say. First. On iron, in bars or bolts, not manufactured, in whole, or in part, by rolling, one cent per pound. Second. On bar iron, made wholly, or in part, by rolling, thirty-seven dollars, per ton. Third. On iron, in pigs, sixty-two and one-half cents per one hundred and twelve pounds. Fourth. On iron or steel wire, not exceeding number fourteen, six cents per pound, and over number fourteen, ten cents per pound. Fifth. On round iron, or braziers' rods, of three-sixteenths to eight-sixteenths of an inch diameter, inclusive ; and on iron in nail or spike rods, slit or rolled ; and on iron in sheets, and hoop iron ; and on iron slit or rolled for band iron, scroll iron, or casement rods, three and one-half cents per pound. Sixth. On axes, adzes, drawing knives, cutting knives, sickles or reaping hooks, scythes, spades, shovels, squares of iron or steel, bridle bits of all descriptions, steelyards and scale beams, socket chisels, vices, and screws of iron, for wood, called wood screws, ten per cent ad valorem, in addition to the present rates of duty. Seventh. On steel, one dollar and fifty cents per one hundred and twelve pounds. Sec. 2. And be it further Enacted, That from and after the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, there shall be levied, collected and paid, on the importation of the articles hereinafter mentioned, the following duties, in heu of those now imposed by law : First. On wool unmanufactured, seven cents per pound ; and also, in addition thereto, forty per cent ad valorem, until the thirtieth day of June, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine ; from which time, an additional ad valorem duty of five per cent shall be imposed annually, until the whole of said ad valorem duty shall amount to fifty pei* cent. And all wool imported on the skin, shall be estimated as to weight and value, and shall pay tjie same rate of duty as other imported wool. Second. On manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, (except blankets, worsted stuff goods, bombazines, hosiery, mits, gloves, caps, and bindings,) the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall not exceed fifty cents the square yard, there shall be levied, collected, and paid, sixteen cents on every square yard. Third. On all manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, except as aforesaid, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall exceed fifty cents the square yard, and shall not exceed one dollar the square yard, there shall be levied, col- . lected, and paid, a duty of forty cents on every square yard. Fourth. On allmanufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, except 'as aforesaid, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall exceed one 'dollar the square yard, and shall not exceed two dollars and fifty cents the square yard, there shall be levied, collected, and paid, a duty of one dollar on every square yard. Fifth. ^11 manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, except as aforesaid, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall exceed two dollars and fifty cents the square yard, and shall not exceed four dollars the square yard, shall be deemed to have cost, at the place whence imported, four dollars the square yard, and a duty of forty per cent ad valorem shall be levied, collected and paid, on such valuation. Sixth. On all manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, except as aforesaid, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall exceed four dollars the square yard, there shall be levied, collected, and paid, a duty of forty-five per cent ad valorem. Seventh. On woollen blankets, hosiery, mits, gloves, and bindings, thirty-five per cent ad valorem. Sec. 3. And be it further Enacted, That from and after the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty eight, there be levied, collected and paid, on the importa- tion of the following arricles, in lieu of the duty now imposed by law : First. On unmanufactured hemp, forty-five dollars per ton, until the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine, from which time, five dollars per ton in addition, per annum, until the duty shall amount to sixty dollars per tori. Second. On unmanufactured flax, forty-five dollars per ton, until the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine, from which time an additional duty of fivp dollars per ton, per annum, until the duty shall amount to sixty dollars per ton. Third. On sail duck, nine cents the square yard. Fourth. On molasses, ten cents per gallon. Fifth. On all imported distilled spirits, ten cents per gallon, in addition to the duty now imposed by law. , mi /■ Sec. 4. And be it further Enacted, That trom and after the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, no drawback of duty shall be allowed on the exportation of any spirit distilled in the United States, from molasses ; no drawback shall be allowed on any quantity of sail duck, less than fifty bolts, exported in one ship or vessel, at any one time. And in all cases of drawback of duties claimed on cordage manufactured from foreio^n hemp, the amouijt of drawback shall be computed by the quantity of hemp used, PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 145 ,-used, and' excluding the weight of tar, and all other materials used in manufacturing the. cordage. ' I Sec. 5. And be it further- Enacted, That from and after the thirtieth day of June one thou- sand eight hundred and twenty-eight, there shall be levied, collected and paid, in lieu of the duties now imposed by law, on window glass, of the sizes above ten inches by fifteen inches, five dollars for one hundred square feet : Provided, That all window glass imported in. plates or sheets uncut, shall be chargeable with. the same rate of duty; on phials and, bottles, not -exceeding the capacity of six ounces each, one dollar and seventy-five cents. per gross. 1 Sec. 6. And be it further Enacted,. That all cotton clotlis whatsoever, or cloths of which cotton shall be a component material,. excepting nankeens imported direct from China, the criginal.cost of which, at the place whence imported, with the addition of twenty per cent, i^ imported from the Cape of Good Hope, or from any place beyond it ; and often per cent, if imported from any other place,- shall be less than thirty-five cents the square yard ; shall, Tvith such addition, be taken and deemed to have cost thirty-five cents the square yard, and. charged with duty accordingly. Sec. 7. And be: it further Enacted, That in. all cases where, the, duty which now is. or hereafter maybe imposed, on any goods, wares or merchandises, imported into the United States,, shall, by law,, be regulated by or be directed to be estimated, or levied upon the value of the square yard, or of any other quantity or parcel thereof; and in all cases where there is or shall be imposed any ad valorem rate of duty on any goods, wares or merchandises, imported into the United States ; it shall be the. duty of the collector within whose district the same shall be imported or entered, to cause the actual value thereof, at the time and, place from which the same shall: have been imported into the United States, to be appraised, 'estimated, and ascertained, and the number of such yards, parcels, or quantities, and such actual value of every of them, as the case may require : and it shall, in every such case, be the duty of the appraisers of the United States, and of every of them, and of every other person who shall act as such appraiser, by all the reasonable ways and means in his or their power, to ascertain, estimate, and appraise the true and actual value; any invoice or affidavit thereto, to the contrary notwithstanding,- of the said goods, wares, and merchandise, at the time and place from, whence the same shall have been imported into the United States ; and the number of such yards; parcels or quantities, and all such goods, wares and merchandises, being manufactures such actual value of every of them, as the case may require ; of wool, or tvhereof wool shall be a component part; which'shall be imported into the United States in an unfinished condition, shall, in every such appraisal, be taken, deemed and estimated, by the said appraisers, and every of therri, and every person who shall act as such appraiser, to have been, at the time and place from whence the same were imported into the United States, of as great actual value as. if the same had been entirely finished: And to, the value of the said goods, wares, and merchandise, sa ascertained, there shall, in all cases where the same are or shall be charged with an ad valorem duty, be added all charges, except insurance, and also twenty per centum on the said actual -value and charges, if imported from the Cape of Good Hope, or any place beyond the same, or from beyond Cape Horn ; or tea per centum if from any other place or country ; and the said ad valorem rates of duty shall be estimated on such aggregate amount; any thing in any act to the contrary notwithstanding : Provided, That in' all cases where any goods, wares or merchandise, subject to ad valorem duty, or whereon the duty is or shall be by law regulated by, or be directed to be esti- mated or levied upon, the value of the square yard, or any other quantity or parcel thereof, shall have beeii imported into' the United States, from a country other than that in which the same were manufactured or produced, the appraisers shall value the same at the current value thereof, at the time of such last exportation to the United States, in the country where ihe same may have been originally manufactured or produced. Sec. 8. And be it further "Enacted, That in all cases where the actual value to be -appraised; estimated and ascertained, as hereinbefore stated, of any goods, wares or merchan- "dise, imported into the United States, and subject to any ad valorem duty, or whereon the duty is regulated by, or directed to be imposed or levied on the value of the square yard, or' other parcel or quantity thereof, shall by ten per centum exceed the invoice value thereof, in addition to the duty imposed by law on the same, if they had been invoiced at their real Value,' as aforesaid, there shall be levied and collected on the same goods, wares and mer- chandise, fifty per centum of the duty so imposed on the same goods, wares and merchan- dise, when fairly invoiced : Provided always. That nothing in this section contained shall be so construed to impose the said last mentioned duty of fifty per centum for a variance "between the bon& fide invoice of goods produced in the manner specified in the proviso to the section of this Act, and the current value of the said merchandise in the country where "the ■ same 'may have been originally manufactured or produced. And further, that the fjenaltyof fifty per centum, imposed by the thirteenth section of the Act, intituled, " An Act " supplementary to, and to amend the Act, intituled, ' An Act, to regulate the collection of " duties on imports and tonnage,' passed the second March 1799, and for other purposes," approved March first, 1823; shall not be deemed to apply or attach to any goods, wares or merchandise,' which shall be subject to the additional duty of fifty per centum as aforesaid, amposed by this section of this Act. i ::Sec^9. And be it further Enacted, That it shall be. the duty of. theSecretary of the.Trea- sury, under the direction of the President of the United States, from time ;tQ«time,"t9 establish such rules and regulations, not inconsistent with the laws of the United Statesj as Tthe President of the United States shall think proper, to secure a just, faithful and impartial appraisal of all goods, wares and merchandise, as aforesaid; iihported into the United States, ■ .78^ T and 1827—1828; Inclosure N° a,, in N" r, continued. 57 146 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 18^—1828. Inclosure N" 2, in N" 7, continued. and just and proper entries of such actual value thereof, and of the square yards, parcels; or other quantities thereof, as the case may require, and of such actual value of every of them : And it shall be the duty of the Secretary of the Treasury to report all such rules and regulations, with the reasons therefor, to the then next session of the Congress." Mr. Martin, of South Carolina, stated, that the clerk employed by the committee to take down the testimony, was well acquainted with all the papers containing it, and more com- petent than any other person to arrange them. In taking the testimony, the order of subjects had not been observed ; but each witness was examined on all the subjects on which he was called to answer, and then dismissed. This caused the testimony to be deficient in that orderly arangement which was desirable ; and he thought the information would be presented with greater clearness, if the testimony should be classified ; the testimony of all the witnesses on one subject being placed together, and then that relating to another subject. The clerk had been instructed by the committee, and was prepared and fully competent to attend to the duty of such collocation. Mr. Martin concluded by moving, that the testi- mony be printed under his superintendence. Mr. Taylor objectisd to this motion, as it was not in order to alter any testimony once reported to the House by one of its committee. Mr. Martin asked if the gentleman could possibly suppose he wished to have the testimony altered ? Mr. Taylor disclaimed any such meaning ; all he said referred to interfering with the order or arrangement of the testimony, as coming from the committee to the House. The motion was negatived. Mr. Buchanan moved for the printing of 3,000 copies of the report and testimony. Mr. Martindale moved 6,000, and Mr. Buchanan having withdrawn his motion, that of Mr. Martindale prevailed, and it was ordered that 6,000 copies be printed of the bill, report, and all the testimony. Mr. WicklifFe moved, that the communication and documents from the Secretary at Wat- respecting the six militia men of Tennessee be laid on the table and printed. The motion was agreed to. The House then proceeded to the consideration of Mr. Chilton's resolutions- A motion was made by Mr. Cambreleng, to take the previous question by Mr. Cambreleng, but it was not sustained. Yeas 80, Nays 92. After some debate the House adjourned. N° 8, with one Inclosure. Mr. Consul General Baker to the Earl of Dudley. EXTRACT. Washington, February 16, 1828. R. April 12/28. j^o g — SOME amendments to the bill increasing the Tariff, as originally reported, were on the 13th instant submitted to the House by Mr. Mallary, the chairman of the committee, in his individual capacity, with a view to their consideration, whenever the bill should be called up. They relate altogether to wool and woollen manufactures, and substitute for the first six paragraphs of the second section of the original bill six others, the effect of which will be, with regard to wool, to impose upon that article, when valued at more than eight cents per pound, a specific duty of twenty cents, increasing annually two and a half cents until it amounts to fifty cents. The original bill imposed a specific duty of seven cents generally, with an additional ad valorem duty of forty per cent, increasing annually after 1829 five per cent, until it should amount to fifty per cent. With regard to woollen manufactures, the effect of the amendments will be to make the scale of value for estimating the duties upon all such manufactures (with certain exceptions afterwards provided for) to be 50 cents, S^- 50., ^4., and J' 6, instead of 50 cents, ^1, ^'2. 50., and Sa, and to impose a duty of forty per cent ad valorem, increasing after 1829 five per cent, until it amounts to fifty per cent. The original bill omits the minimum values of .Si and S6, and establishes for the firSt three classes (viz. those valued at 50 cents, .^1, and .^2. 50.) specific duties of I6, 40, and 100 cents per square yard, and ad valorem duties of forty and forty-five per cent upon the two last, viz. those valued at $4>, and exceedi g J'4. The exceptions above mentioned consist of woollen blankets, hosiery, mits, gloves and bindings, which are not included in the amendments, the proposed duty PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 147 duty remaining as originally reported by the committee at thirty-five per cent 1827 1828. ad valorem. v _ I beg leave to inclose a copy of these amendments. It will be perceived N' 8 that they make the duties much higtker than those in the bill, according with tontimied. the views of the ultra Tariff party, and being framed upon the model recom- mended by the Harrisburg convention. Inclosure in N" 8. THE TARIFF BILL. Mr. Mallary submitted the following amendments, to be proposed to the bill in alteration of the several acts imposing duties on imports ; which were committed to the committee ofthe whole House on the State of the Union, to which that bill is committed. " In section second, strike out the Jirst, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth paragraphs, «ind in their place insert : First. — On all wool unmanufactured, the actual value of which, at the place whence im- ^orted,^ shall exceed eight cents per'pourid, twenty cents per pound, until the thirtieth of June eighteen hundred and twenty-nine, after which time, a further duty of two and one- half cents per pound per annum, in addition, until the whole duty amounts to fifty cents. Second. — All manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, (except blankets, worsted stuflF goods, bombazines, hosiery, mits, gloves, caps and bindings,) the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall not exceed fifty cents the square yard, shall be deemed to have cost fifty cents the square yard, and charged vi'ith a duty of forty per cent on such valuation, until the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight huni dred and twenty-nine ; after which, a duty of five per cent per annum, in addition, until the whole amount of duty shall be fifty per cent. Third. — ^AU manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, except as aforesaid, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall exceed fifty cents the square yard, and shall not exceed two dollars and fifty cents the square yard, shall be deemed to have cost two dollars and fifty cents the square yard, and charged with the amount of duty, and in the manner before in this section provided. Fourth. — All manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, except as aforesaid, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall exceed two dollars and fifty cents the square yard, and shall not exceed four dollars the square yard, shall be deemed to have cost four dollars the square yard, and charged with the amount of duty in the manner before provided in this section. Fifth. — All manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, except as aforesaid, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall exceed four dol- lars the square yard, and shall not exceed six dollars the Square yard, shall be deemed to have, cost six dollars the square yard, and shall be charged with the amount of duty, and in the manner as is before provided in this section. Sixth. — All manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, except as aforesaid, the actual value of which, at the place whence imported, shall exceed six dollars the square yard, shall be charged with the amount of duty, and in the manner before pro vided in this section." Inclosure in N" 8. N° 9, with one Inclosure. Mr. Consul General Baker to the Earl of Dudley. EXTRACT. Washington, March 10, 1828. R. April 12/28. I AVAIL myself of the departure ofthe present messenger to transmit the copy of a statement, printed by order of the House, which has been drawn up by Hr. Cambreleng, of New York, one of the representatives of the mercantile anterest, showing the prohibitory effects of the higher scale of duties proposed by the amendments of Mr. Mallary, communicated in my despatch ofthe l6tli £)f February. Inclosure in N" 9. 20th Congress, 1st Session. [Doc. N» 143.] House of Representatives. DUTIES ON WOOLLENS. - ; STATEMENT, made by Mr. Cambreleng, of the Duties, ad valorem, which would be charged on Woollens of various Descriptions, under the Amendment proposed to be made by Mr. Mallary to the Bill N° 132, according to the 2d, 3d, and 4th provisions of that Amendment. February 18, 1828 ; Read, laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed. THE Amendment proposes an ad valorem duty of 40 per cent after the goth June 1828 ; 45 per cent after 30th June 1829; and of 50 per cent after 30th June 1830. Under the second provision, all manufactures of wool, or of which wool shall be a component part, the ^■78 T 2 «cf«a^ N°9. Inclosure in N° y» 148 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS .1827—1828. actual value o( which at the place whence impprted, .sh^W not exceed fifty cents the square V ^ J yard, shall be deemed to have cost fifty cents the square yard, and the ad valorem duty Inclosure in N" o charged thereon. • •' .cwUmu»i. ' The following calculations are made'^from the only datum that can be obtained, viz. the actual cost at the place where purchased. The rates of the duties, ad valorem, thus ascer- tamed, are less than they would be, to make the calculations on the actual value at the place whence imported, accordmg to the provision in the amendment. The calculations are made at 50 per cent ad valorem, by the following rule : A running yard of cassimere, ,27 inches wide, at 2 s. 3 tf. sterling, with an addition of one-third, to make the value of the square yard, would be 66f cents, which it is proposed to estimate at - *^ ^ . ,j - , - , „ , . 250 cents Add tor charges at the port of shipment 2 per cent - - - 5 255 Add 10 per cent - - - - - _ . - 25. 50 ' At 50 per cent ad valorem, is ---..__ 280. 50 140 J cents on a square yard of cassimere, of the value of only 66 f cents, being actually tqual to a duty of a fraction less than 214 per cent advalorem. The second provision would embrace the following description of woollens : Plains — width 27 inches, cost lod. to is. 6d. sterling. — An article of great consumption by sailors, boatmen, fishermen, and labourers. , Proposed duty: on the finest, 63 per cent; on the coarsest, 1 1 4 per cent ad valorem. The quality principally consumed costs 1 s. and would pay a duty of 95 per cent. ■: Paddings — 27 inches wide, cost 5 d. to is. — A stiff coarse cloth for collars ; sometimes worn by labourers. Proposed duty: on the finest, 95 per cent; on the coarsest, 227 per cent. The quality principally consumed costs 8d. and would pay a duty of 143 per cent. , . . Flannels — 27 inches wide, cost 6d.to 2s. — An article of universal consumption. The finer qualities would come under the next provision. Under this, the proposed duty would he,' on the finest, 56 per cent; on the coarsest, 168 per cent. The principal consumption is among the labouring class, at 1 s. would pay 95 per cent. Backings and Baizes — 42 inches wide, cost 6d. to is. 3^. — For lining the pea-jackets of sailors and boatmen, and the great-coats and round jackets of farmers, mechanics and labourers, and for table and floor cloths, 8cc. Proposed duty : on the finest,' 1 1 8 per cent ; on the coarsest, 295 per cent. The principal consumption is for lining of jackets and great coats, a,tgd. which would pay a duty of 196 per cent. Baizes — 18 inches wide, cost 1 s. to 2s,— rFor.floor cloths. Proposed duty: on the finest, .74 per cent; on the coarsest,' 168 per cent. The quality principally consumed costs about -is. 6d. and would pay a duty of 112-j per cent. ' Serges — 27 inches wide, cost 7*?. to lid. — For the finest, 1 03 per cent ;, for the coarsest, 162 per cent. These are used as baizes for lining jackets, greatcoats, &c. and for. the same purposes that coarse flannels are used. The principal consumption of . this article would be at gd. sterling; duty 126 per cent. Caroline Plaids — 27 inches wide, cost 6 J. to gd. — Proposed duty: for the finest, 126 per cent; for the coarsest, 168 per cent. This is an article composed of cotton and worsted, and would pay the higher or woollen duty. The consumption is very great among the farming, mechanic, and labouring interests; and it is not, at present, manufactured in any part of the United States. The quality principally consumed costs yd. sterling, and the proposed duty on it would be 162 per cent. f Drab Kerseys — 27 inches wide, cost is. to 5s. — The qualities coming under this provision would pay, on the finest, 56 per cent ; on the coarsest, 95 per cent. It is used for great coats, jackets, and trowsers, by farmers, mechanics, sailors, boatmen, and labourers. Swatisdown — 27 inches wide, cost Sd.to 3 s. — Proposed duty under this provision :. on the -finest, 56 per cent; on the coarsest, 142 per cent. It is not manufactured in the United States. Used by the farming, mechanic, and labouring interests. The quality principally consumed costs about 1 s. 2 J. sterling, on which the proposed-duty would be 78 per cent. Toilinets — 27 inches wide, cost 8tf. to 5s. — The quality principally consumed would come under the next provision. Under this, the proposed duty would be, on the finest, 56 per cent; on the coarsest, 142 per cent. This article is consumed by all classes. Kersetfnets^—2'j inches wide, cost 8 J. to is. ^d. — It is composed of cotton and wool, but would pay the woollen duty. The proposed duty would be, on the finest, 76 per cent; on .the coarsest, 142 per cent. This article is used by all classes for summer dresses, and the quality principally consumed costs about 1 s. and would pay a duty of 95 per, cent. Coatings — 50 inches wide, cost is 8d. to 5s. — ^These would come under this and the next provision. Proposed duty under this, on the finest, 56 per cent; on the coarsest, 105 per .cent. Consumed _ by the farming, mechanic, and labouring interests, and for women's ;^ cloaks PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 149 -cloaks, and coats. The priacipaljconsumption is by the farmers, mechanics, and labourers, 1827 1828 of a quality which costs about 2s..6d. on which the proposed .duty would be 70 per cent. \ - *> Flushings and Lionshins- — 48 inches wide, cost \s.^d. to 3s. — Proposed duty : on the Inelosure in N" r finest, '56 per cent;' on the coarsest, 101 per cent ad valorem. These articles are used for ' continued^ great coats, jackets, &c. and- are worn by farmers,^mechanics,-labourers, sailors, fishermen, and boatmen. Pelisse Clofhs-^^^ inches wide, cost 2s. 6d. to"3s. 4'|rf. — Worn by all classes. Under this provision, the finest quality would pay 56 per cent ; the coarsest 76 per cent. Broad. Cloths — ^45 inches, wide, cost is. rod. to as. ^d. — ^The most inferior would come under thjs provision ; bul- the mass of broad cloths would come under the next proposed •duty under this, on the finest, 65 per cent;, on the coarsest, 86 per cent. This quality is used by mechanics, sailors, fishermen, boatmen, and labourers. ■' ; The third provision of the amendment provides that all woollens, over 50 cents, and -under $^. 50. cents the square yard, shall be valued at the latter rate. This provision would -embrace most of the woollens now imported, viz. Flannels — from is. 3|d. to 2s. sterling. — Under this provision would pay 237 per cent on the finest ; 280 per cent on the coarsest. Drab Kerseys — is. 8 ^° fine -------- 66 88 I>* superfine .------56 The duties now existing vary from 25 to 33 1 per cent. There is a minimum, of 33 1 cents per square yard, on some woollens, but it applies to a ^very small proportion of them. N'lO. Mr. Consul General Baker to the Earl of Dudley. MY LORD, British Consulate General, "Washington, April 5, 1828. jR. May 19/28. THE Bill increasing the Tariff of duties on imports was yesterday taken from before the committee, which has been for a long time engaged in its con- sideration, and was reported to the House. The chief decisions which were made in the committee, were the rejection, on the 27th ultimo, by a majority of 24 votes, of the ultra scale of duties on wool and woollen fabrics, contained in Mr. Mallary's amendment, inclosed in my despatch of the l6th February, and the rejection of amendments offered by Mr. Sprague, of Maine, to strike out the duties on hemp and molasses. Three amendments were successful, viz., an increase of the duties on foreign spirits, from 10 to SO cents per gallon, pro- posed by Mr. Buchanan, of Pennsylvania, for the benefit of the agricultural interest j a modification of the duties on carpets, and the introduction of a duty on cotton bagging. A great variety of other propositions were made during the progress of the discussion, (it is said, indeed, that no less tharii 20 were negatived just before the committee rose,) but it appears unnecessary to particularize them, the whole question being still subject to the final decision of the House. I have honour to inclose a printed copy of a report made on the 12th ultimo, by the committee of ways and means, in the House of Representatives, on the state of the finances, but which is almost exclusively devoted to the question of the Tariff, and contains a very minute examination of the different scales of duties proposed. It replies in a very full manner to the argument and state- ments used in the finance report of the secretary of the treasury, on the subject of promoting American manufactures; and shows, that the extension of the prohibitory system, as recorumended by the secretary, would destroy nearly one-half of the foreign commerce of the United States, endanger the demand for the chief staples of export, and by diminishing the revenue, postpone the liquidation of the debt, and finally substitute a system of internal revenue with all its inconveniences and vexations, in place of the present system of duties upon foreign merchandise, I have, &c. The Earl of Dudley, &c. &c. &c. (signed) Anthony St. J. Baker, PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. ui N* 11, with two Inclosures. The Right Honourable Charles Richard Vaughan to the Earl of Dudley. Washington, April 27th, 1828. R. May 20/28, MY LORD, ^ ' THE Bill, imposing additional duties upon the importation of goods of foreign iggy ig^S ^lanufacture into the United States, passed in the House of Representatives on y 'j the 22d instant, on a division of 105 to 94, leaving a majority in favour of the vt. Bill of eleven. ^ JN 11. , This measure has occupied the attention of the House of Representatives ^most exclusively, for the last two months. I have the honour to inclose a copy* of the Bill, as given in the newspapers, and which has been already twice read in the Senate, and referred to a committee on agriculture, and it is sup- posed that it will meet with great opposition on its progress through that House of Congress. The first section of the Bill fixes the duty on iron in bars or bolts at one cent per pound, instead of 90 cents for one hundred and twelve pounds. Rolled iron is to pay a duty of 37 dollars per ton, and certain sorts of cutlery ten per cent ad valorem in addition to the present duty. The second section of the Bill regulates the duties upon the importation of wool and woollen goods. Wool, which now pays a duty of SO per cent ad valorem, is to pay 50 per cent. Woollen goods, which now pay 33 -f- per cent ad valorem, are to be rated according to the new Bill, as follows : — When valued, at the place whence exported, at 50 cents the square yard, to pay 20 cents upon the yard; at 33 i^ cents, to pay 14 cents; at from 50 cents to one dollar, 40 cents the square yard ; at one dollar, and not exceed- ing two dollars and a half, one dollar the yard ; at from 2^ dollars to four dollars, to pay 40 per cent ad valorem; and when exceeding four dollars, to pay 45 per cent ad valorem. Blankets and hosiery are rated at a duty of S5 per cent ad valorem, and carpets at 70 cents the square yard. With regard to cotton cloths, there is only one provision, contained in the seventh section of the Bill, which enacts, that all cotton cloths, though valued at the place from whence imported, under 35 cents the yard, shall be always rated as of the value of 35 cents. The other sections of the Bill regulate the duties which are to be paid after the month of June next, when it is to be carried into effect, upon hemp, flax, molasses, imported distilled spirits, glass, slates; and contains directions for the manner of estimating ad valorem duties. The " Tariff Bill," as it is called, does not differ essentially from the *Bill • See Inclosures ia reported to the House of Representatives by the committee to which was ^"7' Preferred, at the commencement of the session, all the papers presented to Congress in favour of and against an increase of duties on foreign manu- factures. The committee was appointed by the speaker, and composed of a majority of members opposed to the present executive government, and when their Bill was presented to the House, it was considered by the supporters of the manu- facturing interests in the United States, as contrary to the recommendations of the Harrisburg convention (to which I had the honour of calling your Lord- ship's attention in my despatches of the 13th August and 21st October of the last year (and a mockery of the wants and demands of the manufacturers.) In order to render it more palatable to the latter, several amendments of the Bill were moved, during the long discussion which it underwent, but they were rejected. The repeated divisions upon those amendments showed that the majority against them was composed of the representatives from the southern states, a majority * This copy is not annexed ; as the Bill will be found, together with the amendments made in it by the Senate, in Inclosure N" l, in N' 13. 578. T 4 152 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. »■ ^ ' N'n. continued. *See Inclosure in N°4. a majority of those from the western states, . of. eighteen to five of the repre- sentatives of Pennsylvania, and of an equal division of those of New York. The' representatives of the southern states consider the Bill as calculated to oppress and to tax the south, for the benefit of certain manufacturers established in the north-eastern states'; and Major Hamilton, of South Carolina, went so far as to threaten a dissolution of the Union, should the Bill finally pass into a law. On the 15th instant, a majority of one hundred and nine to ninety-one voted for the engrossment of the Bill, previously to the third reading, when it was observed, that several members, in constant intercourse with, the President, and in the confidence of the government, voted in the minority and forthe'rejection- of the Bill, as perfectly inadequate to satisfy the manufactiarers, or to meet the wishes and views of the executive. . . ' ' . I have the honour to inclose a copy of the minutes of evidence taken before the committee, which will explain the state of the rising manufactures in this- country which the government is anxious to promote, and which, it appears," are not in a state to compete in their own market with British manufactures,' but by the imposition of duties upon imported articles, amounting to a pro- hibition. The President, in his message to Congress at the opening of the session, abstained from recommending the increase of duties upon the import of foreigrL> manufactures ; but, amongst the documents which accompanied his message, there was a report by Mr. Rush, the secretary of the treasury (*a copy of which I had the honour to inclose in my dispatch of December 13th of the last year), in which he enters fully into the expediency and necessity of adopting measures for the promotion and protection of domestic industry. One argu- ment adduced by Mr. Rush is, that the productiveness and perfection of English agriculture is owing to the size and power of the manufacturing classes. ' The report of Mr. Rush has been answered by Mr. M'Duffie, in his report to the House of Representatives, as chairman of the committee of ways and means, and I have the honour to inclose a copy. The Revenue of the United States, for the year 1827, is stated in Mr. M'Duffie's report, to have amounted to 21,686,7412 dollars. That the balance in the treasury at the close of the preceding year was 5,358,686 dollars, leaving a sum total applicable to, the service of the year 1827, of 27,045,428 dollars. The Expenditure of the year 1827, amounted to 22,331,218 dollars, so that a balance was left in the treasury, applicable to the service of the year 1828, of 4,714,210 dollars. • , , The Public Debt on the 31st December 1827, amounted to 67,435,489 dollars, and it is calculated that if the revenue should not diminish, the whole debt will be redeemed by the sinking fund in the year 1835. The favourable state of the revenue^ Mr. M'Dufiie. reminds the House, has been entirely produced by. foreign commerce. That the imports in the year 1827, were less than those of 1825, by fifteen millions of dollars, which he attributes to the experiment which was made of a new Tariff bill which was passed in 1824; Mr. M'Dufiie states, that the House must expect that in- creased duties upon British manufactures will fall in equal proportion upon the revenue, and that a risk will be incurred of losing the, best market in the world, for cotton, the produce of the Southern States, I have, &c. (signed) Chas. R. Vaughan., PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 153 In closure N* 1 in N* 11. 1827—1828. MINUTES of EVIDENCE taken before the Committee on Manufactures, First Session of I"clos"i-e N" i in N** 1 1 the Twentieth Congress. Ordered to be printed, 31st January i8i28. NAMES OF PERSONS INTERROGATED. Hon. Richard Keese. John Mitchell. WiUiam Russell. Charles A. Wickliffe. Nathaniel Garrow. Jeromus Johnson. James Clarke. Mr. Simon N. Dexter. Benjamin Bakewell. Hon. Aaron Tufts. Mr. James Shepherd. William Phillips. John Travers. Joseph Jackson. Mr. Abraham Marland. Joseph Marshall. WiUiam W. Young, WiUiam R. Dickinson. Abraham Schenck. James Wolcott, junior. Jonas B. Brown. Joshua Clapp, Benjamin Poor. Theodore Chase. Eleuterre I. Du Pont. Joshua W. Pierce. John SiddaU. Andrew Way :— 28 persons. Friday, December 28, 1827. Present: The Honourable RoUin C. Mallary, Chairman; — James S. Stevenson, Lewis Condict, Thomas P. Moore, Silas Wright, junior, WiUiam Stanberry, and WiUiam D. Martin. On motion, Ordered, That the Chairman of the Committee, at the earliest opportunity, offer to the House the following resolution : " Resolved, That the Committee on Manufactures be vested with power to send for persons and papers." The Committee adjourned, to meet to-morrow, in case the House meetj otherwise, to meet on the 31 st instant. Monday, December 31, 1827. Present: The Honourable RoUin C. Mallary, Chairman;— James S. Stevenson, Lewis Condict, Thomas P. Moore, Silas Wright, junior, WiUiam Stanberry, and William D. Martin. The House not having met on Saturday, and there being no opportunity to present the resolution of the 28th instant, Ordered, That it be presented this day. And then the Committee adjourned until to- morrow morning, ten o'clock. Tuesday, January 1, 1828. Present : The Honourable RoUin C. Mallary, Chairman ; — James S, Stevenson, Lewis Condict, Thomas P. Moore, Silas Wright, junior, WiUiam Stanberry, and William D. Martin. On motion. Ordered, That, for the purpose of expediting the obtaining witnesses, each member of the Committee be authorized to furnish to the Chairman the names of two witnesses, for whom subpoenas shall be forthwith sent*. And then the Committee adjourned, to meet again on Friday next. Friday, January 4, 1828. Present: The Honourable RoUin C. Mallary, Chairman; — James S. Stevenson, Lewis Condict, Thomas P. Moore, Silas Wright, junior, William Stanberry, and WiUiam D. Martin. On motion of Mr. Wright, Ordered, That a subpoena be issued for Simon N. Dexter, and be addressed to him at Summit Bridge Post Office, Delaware ; to be examined in relation to the manufacture of woollen goods. ^ On • Under the authority ai the above resolution, James S. Stevenson requested a subpoena to be issued for Frederick Rapp, of Beaver county, Pennsylvania ; to be examined by the Committee in relation to Wool and the manufacture of wooUen goods; which was forwarded ad January 1828. • Mr. Wright requested a subpoena to be issued for William Phillips, of the State of New York ; to be examined in relation to woollens ; which was issued on the 2d January. . Mr. Mallary requested subpoenas to be issued for Aaron Tufts and James Shepherd, of Massachusetts ; to be examined in relation to the manufacture of woollen goods. 578. u 154. PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS ■1827—1828. Inclosure N° i in N" 11. continued. On motion of Mr. Moore, Ordered, That a subpoena be issued for the Honourable Caleb Stark, and be addressed to him at Pembroke, New Hampshire; to be examined in relation to the manufacture of woollen goods. ; On motion of Mr, Stevenson, Ordered, That a subpoena be issued for Benjamin Bakewell, and be addressed to him at Pittsburg, Pennsylvania ; to be examined in relation to the manufacture of glass • and generally, as to other manufactures. ' 1 ' On motion of Mr. Martin, Ordered, That a subpoena be issued for Josiah Pomeroy, ■ and be addressed to him at Pittsfield, Massachusetts; to be examhied in relation to the manufacture of woollen goods. On motion of Mr. Condict, Ordered, That a subpoena be issued for John Travers, and be addressed to him at Pat- terson, Essex County, New Jersey ; to be examined in relation to the manufacture of canvass. On motion of Mr. Condict, Ordered, That a subpoena be issued for Joseph Jackson, and be addressed to him at Rockaway, Morris County, New Jersey; to be examined in relation to the manufacture of iron. On motion of Mr.. Martin, Ordered, That a subpoena be issued for Abraham Marland, and be addressed to him ai Andover, Massachusetts ; to be examined in relation to the manufacture of woollen goods. On motion of Mr. Stanbury, Ordered, That a subpoena be issued for Joseph Marshall, and be addressed to him at Hudson, New York ; to be examined in relation to the manufacture of cotton goods. And then the committee adjourned until Monday morning, ten o'clock. Monday, January 7, 1828. t Present: The Honourable Rollin C. Mallary, Chairman; — James S. Stevenson, Lewis Condict, Thomas P. Moore-, Silas Wright, jun. and William Stanberry. The committee after some desultory conversation, relative to the matters referred for their consideration, adjourned until to-morrow moi-ning, ten o'clock. Tuesday, January 8, 1828. Present: The Honourable Rollin C. Mallary, Chairman; — James S. Stevenson, Lewis Condict, Thomas P. Moore, Silas Wright, jun. and William Stanberry. Ordered, That Thursday next be assigned to take the examination of such witnesses as may then be in attendance. On motion of Mr. Stevenson, Ordered, That the chairman request, by letter, the attendance before the committee, on Thursday next, of the Honourable Richard Keese, a member of the House of jRepresentatives, from the state of New York, and of the Honourable John Mitchell, a member from the state of . Pennsylvaiiia, for. the purpose of communicating such information as they may possess^ upon the subjects of the committee's inquiry. / Ordered, That, for the convenience of the committee, the witnesses be introduced and examined separately. And then the committee adjourned until Thursday morning, ten o'clock. Thursday, January 10, 1828. ' Present : The Honourable Rollin C. Mallary, Chairman ; — James S. Stevenson, Lewis Condict, Thomas P. Moore, Silas Wright, jun., William Stanberry, and William D. Martin. TESTIMONY IN RELATION TO IRON. The Honourable EicAard Keese, of Keesville, Clinton county. New York, admitted and sworn. Mr. Keese, by permission of the committee, presented an estimate, which he considers to be a fair calculation of the operations of a forge, engaged in the manufacture of bloom iron, situated twelve miles from the ore bed, and the same distance from a pla«e of transportation by water, and requests that the same may he received, and made part of his evidence in the present examination, viz. ' " A. fair PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 155 - '" A fair Estimate of the average Business of the Manufactures of Bar Iron, in the 1827 1828 Gounties of Clinton and Essex, in the State of New York, in the shape of an account s 1 current. One. Forge and Water privilege, with capacity to make Seventy-five Tons . , ^ ^, annually. incioture IN i D inN'u. 225 tons rock ore, raised from the bed, and lying upon its bank, worth, per ton, six dollars - ^1,35000 c. Carting the above ore, say 12 miles, to the forge, worth two dollars per ton ---... .... ^^q qo 37,.50o bushels of coal, deliveried at the coal house, in good order, ; worth 4 1 cents per bushel -------- 1,687 5^ Bloomer's wages for making 75 tons of iron, and boarding themselves, Worth, per tony 18 dollars -------- 1,350 oo The wages of one common labouring man the whole year, to measure coal, wash ore, and make small repairs about the forge, 8cc. &c. boarding himself, worth, per day, 1 dollar, ----- oqo 00 Blacksmith's bill, timber, work, of mechanics in making repairs for the year, over and above what the man can do, worth per ton, 3 dollars 2285 00 Insurance against fire on buildings and machinery, 1 | per cent on ,2,000 dollars, which is their estimated cost - - - 3000 Citing .75 tons of iron from the forge to the lake, say 12 miles. worth two dollars per ton ----- --150 00 Wharfage, storage and freight, of 75 tons of iron to the city of New York, by water, a distance of about 300 miles, worth, per ton, six dollars - -- - - - - - - - 450 00 Commissions on sale and all other charges at New York, worth 5 per cent - - 337 50 S 6,330 00 Cr. By 75 tons of iron in the city of New York, worth, per ton, 90 dollars 6,750 00 Balance - - $ 420 00 In the operation above detailed, the business indispensably requires nearly the whole time of one proprietor in procuring the materials, keeping the works in operation, supplying the workmen, teams, &c. with necessaries, marketing the iron, &c. &c. in the course of which business considerable personal expenses, as well as time, are in- curred, and this item would be estimated much lower than its value at------- - - 500 00 The capital invested in the water privilege and dam, may be fairly estimated at 2,000 dollars ; the interest upon which, at 7 per cent per annum, is - - -- - - - -- - 140 00 The capital invested in the forge, machinery, coal houses, arid bloomer's houses, may be set down at 2,000 dollars ; which, considering its perishable nature, ought to pay at least 14 per cent, but I will here carry it out at 7 per cent ------ - 14000 $ 780 00 The bloomer's house is usually furnished by the proprietor, without rent. By real loss upon superiiitendence, and simple interest upon capital 360 00 By the above balance brought down . - - - . 420 00 $ 780 00 This loss is, and can only be, made up to the proprietor, by the fact that he is a farmer, x>y a merchant, and by the sale of his produce or his goods, at an ordinary profit, to pay his Jiands, arid for his stock and team work he may be reimbursed." Question. How long "have you been engaged in the business of making bar or bloom iron, -•and. when did you abandon that business '\— Answer. I sold put my interest in the estabhsh- Jment last May. I was engaged in it for about seven years before that time, and since then have ceased to be interested in the iron business, , o t • What description of iron is that of which you speak; is it bloomery or other .'—It is bloomery ;. I have never been engaged in the furnace business, or in making refined iron. ' -What was the worth of bar iron, hammered from blooms, at your factory?— It was gene- rallv worth from 80 to 85 dollars per ton of 2,240 pounds, cash price, less 25 cents per ton, 'for taking it to the rolling mill, which may be considered its market ; if carried twelve miles, 'it would cost two dollars per tori. •n') ht * 4- i, * t ua Into what was your bar iron converted at the rolling mill?— Most of what I rolled was made into nail plates and other manufactures ; some has been rolled to order ; the narls have "been most usually sold atthe works for country use ; say about two hundred tons pdr year; some, however; has been sent -to New York. 57,8. - V-2 . Into 156 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure N" in N° 11, continued. ci^'^Y^t^ Other articlss is the iron of your neighbourhood generally manufactured?— York ^^'^ constitute the principal manufacture, and are then sent to New Is the protection on nails suflBcient? — It is quite an ample protection. How much iron have you usually made in the year ?— I had but one foree. and usually made about 75 tons. ^ V ^^^^ ^^^ bought iron in your neighbourhood ?— I have bought for a company in New York, during the last season, about 60 tons of the bloom iron, for which I paid from 80 to 85 dollars per ton. What does it cost a purchaser in New York, when he purchases in your neighbourhood ? I purchased last winter, the best bloom iron at 85 dollars per ton ; my commission was two per cent, and the freight from the mill to New York was $>], 25. per ton. Can you form any estimate as to what quantity of iron is usually manufactured in your section of country? — About 3,000 tons are manufactured in the neighbourhood of lake Champlain, in the States of New York and Vermont; I speak of bar iron before it is con- verted into other articles. Have those manufactures increased or diminished within the last ten or twelve years ? — - During the late war there were several very important establishments erected, and they did well; in i8i6, and for a few years afterwards, they declined ; within the last two or three years ,they have revived again very considerably, except two large establishments, one at Vergennes, the other called the Elba works, which have not been revived. Some new works have been erected. Do the location of the works, in regard to the facilities of procuring the raw material, and the means of manufacturing, affect the value of the capital employed "^ — They do, in pro portion to the price of transporting the raw material, fuel, &c. Are there any furnaces or forges in operation in your section of country, propelled by steam ? — None; they all go by water. Is it a fair average that three tons of the ore, in your section of country, will make one ton of iron ? — It is, if the ore be of the best kind. If it be inferior, it requires more, but that additional quantity does not effect the estimate, because the ore costs less. Is 500 bushels of coal the usual quantity necessary for making a ton of iron ? — It is, if the ore be such as is referred to in the first part of my last answer. All our ore is converted directly into bar iron at the forge, without the intervention of a furnace. Is J' 2,000 a fair estimate for the water privilege, lot, and dam; and are ,;^ 2,000, in addition, an equivalent for buildings, forges, &c. ? — These are fair estimates. Such an esta- blishment, with two fires and one forge hammer, will make 75 tons of iron annually. What is the capacity of the country to furnish ore ?— The quantity of ore within forty miles of my residence, appears to be wholly inexhaustible, and would seem to be enough to last the United States for centuries. The water power is very great, and much of the country still a wilderness, furnishing materials for great quantities of coal, but that may ultimately fail. Have the expenses of manufacturing iron increased of late? — I do not think they have for the last five years. There have been variations in several of the items of expense, but I think the average about the same. From your knowledge of the manufacture of iron, do you think that hoop iron is suffi- ciently protected? — I think that it is sufficiently protected. Is there sufficient protection to boiler and sheet iron ? — I have been inclined to think it would not be bad policy to attbrd further protection to thin sheet iron. The boiler iron I do not think requires it. I draw this conclusion from the fact, that all, or mostly all, we use, is manufactured in the United States. Do rolled and slit nail and spike rods, require further protection ? — I think not ; there is a kind of hammered iron, resembling the spike rods, imported from Russia. They interfere with the nail and spike rods, and affect their prices. I consider it an evasion of the revenue laws, because they are entered as hammered bar iron. The duty on this article I think should be increased, or provision made to prevent the evasion of the existing revenue laws, by placing them on the footing of nail and spike rods. Do you know of any establishment for bar iron which was not a losing concern to the owner, from the close of the war to the revision of the Tariff ?— Answering the question in general terms, I would say, I know of none, except it was so situated as to be protected by a home market, which the foreign article could not well reach, by reason of the cost of transportation. Does your experience enable you to form an opinion as to the necessity of an increase of dutv on hammered bar iron ?---0n this subject I am of opinion that it would be prudent to increase the duty to one cent per pound. More than that, I think would be impolitic, both for the country and the manufacturer. I am friendly to manufactures, but I am opposed to any sudden high increase of duties, upon the principle that such a course would be preju- dicial to those interested in manufactures, and to the community. Were any manufactories of bar iron, engaged in that solely, conducted profitably between 1818 and 1824? — I know of none that succeeded well, who had to compete with the foreign article. As^ friend to the permanent interests of our manufactures, do you deem it advisable that the manufacturer should be reasonable in his requisitions for protection?—! do ; I think the manufacturers ought to be moderate and reasonable in asking for protection. Adjourned until to-morrow morning Ten o'clock. PUBLISHED IK THE UNITED STATES. 157 Friday, January ii, 1828. The Hon. Mr. Keese again admitted ; and further Examined. _ Question. When you speak of the price of bar iron at ^80 to ^85 per ton, do you include small bars?— Answer. I speak of that from two to four inches in breadth, and half an inch to an inch in thickness, or of square iron, from an inch and a quarter to three inches square. If you drew small bars, either square or flat, for any particular purpose, did you sell fot a higher price ?— We did; iron bars of an inch square would be five dollars per ton higher than coarser iron. Is there any hammered bar iron made in your section of country from pigs '' — I know of none. The estimate you have furnished supposes you to make 75 tons per year. How many men would it take to dig the ore, draw it, cut the wood, prepare the coal, and deliver the coal, do the labour of the forge, and such other services as are incident and necessary? — From the best estimate I have been able to make, I am of opinion it would require seven- teen labourers, able bodied men. If the forge was at the ore bed, would it not follow, as a consequence, that the second item of your estimate, of $ 45°, for carting the ore, would be deducted from the cost of making the seventy-five tons ? — It would. What is coal worth at the coal bed?— It is worth from three and a half to four cents per bushel. Those who buy in that way, generally pay about that price, depending upon its distance from the forge. In your estimate furnished to us, where you say that iron is worth at the forge from ^'86 to S 85 per ton, are we to understand that this is independent and exclusive of the item of S}-50. for carting it to the lake, of J" 4. 50. for freight, wharfage, &c. and ^3. 37. for commissions on sales ? — You are so to understand it. Is the bar iron of your section of country considered as valuable in price and quality as the bar iron made on the Juniata, in Pennsylvania? — I think that which we call the Peru iron, in point of tenacity, is equal to any in the world ; but from the reputation of the refined iron made on the Juniata, I am inclined to think it more valuable for many uses. The Honourable John Mitchell, of Bellefonte, Centre County, Pennsylvania, admitted and sworn. Question. Are you now, or have you been, engaged in the manufacture of iron ? — Answer. 1 have been, but am not at this time. I was engaged in it nine or ten years. WJien did you cease to have an interest in such works? — Some time in the year 1815. Have you an intimate knowledge of the iron business in your section of country ? — I think I have as good as any one can be supposed to have, who is not an immediate manager of such an establishment. In what kind of iron were you engaged in the manufacture ? — Both in pig metal and bar iron. What quantity of bar iron do you suppose is manufactured in your section of country? — In the counties of MifHin, Huntingdon, and Centre, I estimate the quantity of bar iron at 4,000 tons, (of 2,240 lbs.) per annum. What quantity of other iron do you suppose is manufactured ? — In the counties alluded to, I estimate the quantity of pig iron and castings, at 8,500 tons, from which the 4,000 tons above mentioned are manufactured. The remainder is sold as pigs and castings: 6,000 tons of pig iron will produce 4,000 tons of bar iron ; and it is sometimes a part of the contract with the workmen that they shall make it yield that quantity. An. estimate of the sum total of iron annually manufactured in Pennsylvania: Bar iron, 21,800 tons. Cast metal, 47,075 tons ; of which 32,700 tons are used in the manufacturing of the bar iron ; 14,375 tons are made into castings, a part in air and a part in blast furnaces. What is the value of the bar iron at the works ? — There is but little sold for cash at ihe Works. It is most usually bartered or exchanged, and the fixed settled price is then one hundred dollars per ton. It is sometimes sold for cash at the works, when the necessities of the holder compel him to take less ; but this is so seldom done that there is no fixed cash price. What is the ordinary price of pig metal at the furnace ? — It is ^'26. 67. ordinarily : it is so when the barter price of bar iron is J" 100 per ton. Where is the bar iron sent for a market? — A small part is sent to Baltimore and Phila- delphia ; a still smaller proportion of the whole quantity is manufactured into rolled sheet iron, nails, and wood screws. The remainder is generally sent westward ; and I think the ■quantity sent to the west constitutes two-thirds of the whole manufacture. The surplus of pig metal comes to the south, principally to Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington city. What is the expense of transportation to Baltimore ? — It is about ten dollars per ton. What is the cost to Philadelphia? — I presume it will cost twelve dollars per ton. What is the cost to Pittsburg? — From twenty-five to thirty-five dollars per ton. Jf it is taken partly by water, as it may be done, at some seasons of the year, it will cost twenty- five dollars; if carried altogether by land, it will cost thirty-five dollars, and this lattef price varies in proportion to the price of horse feed. .578. U3 Where 1827—1828. ^ ^^ ^ inclosure N" i in N° u. continued. ^5B PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS •1827—1828. Where is the western market ?— Pittsburg is the market for all that goes westward, N / ^J<=^Pt when some of the iron masters go down the river and establish iron stores, where ■Iiiclosure N<" i ^^Y ^^^^ o^* '" ^^^^^ quantities, by the short ton, and at better prices. Some others seek ■in N" 1 1. i^^^ market on the river, without making such establishments. •continued. What is the price in Pittsburg ?-^The price in Pittsburg varies from loo to u*; dollars per ton. What are the prices in Baltimore and Philadelphia ?— In Baltimore and Philadelphia they Vary from $ 85 to $% per ton ; I think it sold last spring at ^95. . What quantity of iron was manufactured in the counties of which you speak, from the years 1815 to 1820 ?— There were as many forges built in 1820 as there are now', but they were not all in operation ; there were 450 tons more manufactured in 1827 than there were in 1820 ; I speak of bar iron. From the present state of the business, do you think it likely that the business will in- crease ?--I think not ; the scarcity of timber in the neighbourhood of ore beds, will prevent any considerable increase ; there may, perhaps, be*an increase of 60b tons per year. What is the product annually of each finery fire? — ^The estimate is generally 100 tons ; some make it ; many do not. What is the expense of making a ton of bar iron from the pigs ? — I have made an esti- mate, including all the expenses, except the household expenses of the proprietor; it amounts to Sjs, and in this is included the price or value of the pigs, worth J' 26. 67. per ton ; all the bar iron made in our section of country is made from pigs. Which is the most expensive process to make bar iron, from pigs or by bloomery ? — I can- not speak with certainty, from my own knowledge or experience, as there are no bloomeries in our- section of country; but have always considered that the bloomery was. most expensive. Do you think further protection necessary to sheet iron or boiler iron ? — I know of no reason ^hy a further protection sliould be afforded, to boiler iron ; as to sheet iron, I should say. it affords a reasonable profit ; but if additiond.1 protection should be afforded to bar iron, then sheet iron may require it, by reason of the increase of the price of the article from which it is now made ; at present they do not require it. ^ Do you think nails require further protection ?— I think not ; but they may, on the con- tingencies referred to in the last answer. Has there been any variation in the price of nails since ] 820 ?— The prices have varied but little for the last six or seven years ; the average price is from seven to ten cents per pound, and they are generally sold for home consumption; we consider the price as reasonably low. Where are the works of which you speak situated ? — They are on the waters of the Sus- quehannah and Juniata ; when the article goes westward, it bears the name of Juniata iron ; the quality is the same. Are there any works going by steam ? — None ; they are all propelled by water. ' Wha,t quantity of iron is manufactured into nails in your section of country ? — I think about 100 tons are converted into nails. Have the expenses of manufacturing iron increased since 1820 ?^I think not; I take it that the expense is about the same. Have you satisfied yourself, whether a further protection is necessary on hammered bar iron ? — I think a small protection, such as would not interfere too much with the. agricul- turist or farmer, is necessary. • What do you think that protection should be? — If there were an addition of five dollars fer ton, it would enable the manufacturer to meet the fluctuations in the prices, without, think, pressing too heavily on the agriculturist. As a friend to the permanent interests of our manufactures, do you deem it advisable that the manufacturers should be reasonable in the protection they ask ? — I am friendly to inanufactm-es, but am of opinion the protection should be reasonable; not sudden or extravagant. When you say, that you think it would be well to lay an additional duty of five dollars per ton on bar iron, are you to be understood as expressing the opinion, that that additional duty is necessary to enable them to carry it on with a reasonable or fair profit ? — I do not think that such additional duty would be giving him an unreasonable profit, considering the capital employed. Can the manufacturer carry it on at the present rate of duty, with a fair or reasonable profit? — The only profit which the manufacturer receives on what he now manufactures> and brings to Baltimore and Philadelphia, arises from his exchanging the iron for goods, and retailing them to- his workmen and others. What profit does he make on that which he sends to Pittsburg? — What he sells at ■$ 100 per ton, he makes nothing on ; his profit on what he sells above that price is in pro- portion as it exceeds ^ 100 per ton, because it costs him that sum to get it there ; this profit Arises from sales of merchandize and provisions made to his hands at an advance, and which he supposes to be equal to the expenses of his family ; these expenses are not, however, con- sidered in the estimate I have made on the cost of making a ton of iron. " i Can you undertake to say, to wbat extent the foreign article interferes with that of the home manufacture, at Pittsburg? — I cannot. I have no knowledge whether any of the foreign article is brought to the Pittsburg market. How many tons of ore are required to make a ton of pigs ? — ^That depends very much upon the quality of the ore, or perhaps more upon the manner in which it is gleaned. 1 am pf opinion, the average is from two and a half to three tons. How PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 159 How ma&y bushels of coal are consumed in making a ton of pigs? — There is much difficulty in answering this question, by reason of the uncertainty in the working of a furnace. But the average, I think, may be stated at 220 bushels. How many bushels of coal are consumed in making a ton of bar iron from pigs ? — One hundred and seventy-five bushels is the computed average for making and drawing a ton of bar iron from pigs. The quantity will sometimes vary by reason of the quality, of the coal. What is the price of furnace coal and forge coal at these factories ?— Forge coal is worth §ix cents per bushel, when delivered at the forge. The furnace coal is worth five cents. ■ What is the cost of a ton of ore at the works ? — The price varies very materially, de-> pending upon the facilities of raising it at different banks and the distance from the furnace. I thiak thfe average about $^ per ton. ' . What quantity of pig iron will make a ton of bar iron ? — One and a half tons. On motion of Mr. Moore, Ordered, That a subpcena be issued for W'illiam W. Young, Wilmington, Delaware, to be examined on the subject of woollen goods. Adjourned until Monday morning, teii o'clock. •Monday, January 14, 1828. The Hon. Mr. Mitchell again admitted, and further examined. Is the present low price of nails owing to. importations, or is it owing to domestic com- petition? — I am not aware that those imported reach that section of the country, and conclude that the low prices are occasioned, by domestic competition. Are wood-screws manufactured in your section, of country, and to what extent? — There is one manufactory of wood screws, in Centre county. At present they make a quantity merely to. keep the hands together; and it is a losing concern. The machinery in that establishment is competent to furnish 150 groce in every twenty-four hours.- This establish- ment completes the screw, taking the iron. in the pig. Do you know the price ? — I do not. They are sent to the seaport towns, and sold at about the same the foreign article commands. I have no doubt they are there retailed, and again sent back to the same quarter of the country. Tuesday, January 22. Joseph Jackson, of Rockaway, Morris county. New Jersey, admitted, and sworn. , Question. Are you now, or have you heretofore been, engaged in the manufacture of iron '; if ye^a, how long, and of what kind ? — Answer. I am now engaged in the manufacture of bloomery iron, and have been engaged in it nearly all my life> and since the year 1808, have been carrying on the business on my own account. What is the worth of bar iron from bloomery at your factory ? — It has been, on the avei- rage, at our place, worth ^^75 per ton for the last year. In 1826, it was worth, on the average, about ^ 80 per ton. In 1 825 it was again worth about S 75 per ton. Our ton is 2,240 pounds. Do you manufacture your bar iron into any other articles ; and if you do, what are they ? — I have a rolling mill in which we roll the iron into rods from |- inch to 3 inches in diameter. The various squares from | to 1 inch spike and nail rods, slit band iron, scroll irons, &c. &c. Scroll iron is a small kind of hoop iron of from | to 1 J inch wide, and from No. 1 to 14 wire gauge in thickness.. Are there other iron works in your section of country ; if there are, what articles do they manufactiire, or into what do they convert their bar iron? — There is one very large estab- lishment in my neighbourhood doing the same kind of business with my works, and which is said to roll one thousand tons of iron annually, but I cannot say whether it does so much. Connected with this establishment is a factory of hoop iron for small hoops, and a furnace for smelting and drawing bars of iron from scrap iron. I know of no other rolling mill in my county, except my own. Connected also with this large rolUng mill there is a manufactory of chain cables, which they make from their own iron, and roll at their own works. This company has but one forge and two fires for their rolling mills. Within a circle' of thirty miles diameter, and embracing my works, there are 81 forge fires now in use. Each forge has usually two fires and one hammer. In the same circumference there are about thirty forge fires now abandoned and out of use, all of which went out prior to the year i8i8. These works were not abandoned from bad location, nor from their want of ore, coal or water power, but from the very low price of iron, which at that time ranged in New York, as low as from ^60 to $65 per ton. Do you transport your iron by land or water; and what is the cost of carrying it to market ?— Our nearest water transportation, in carrying our iron to the New York market, is 22 miles from my works. The distance then by water to New York is about 21 milesj and the average cost of land and water transportation of a ton of iron from my works to New York, is J' 3. 75- What quantity of iron will a forge fire make per year ?— The average through the county, has been called 25 tons, made by each forge fire ; but some fires have made as much as 35 tons in one year. : . 578. U 4 How 18^7—1828; \ ^ > Enclosure N" 1* hi N" n. Conthmedi 160 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. \ > Inclosure N" i in N" 11. continued. How many tons of ore is necessary to make a ton of iron ; and what is the cost of that ore per ton ?— The average quantity is 3 tons of ore to one ton of bar iron. The ore is worth, on the average, $d^ per ton at my forge. What quantity of coal does it require to make a ton of iron ; and what is that coal worth at the forge ?— The average is about 800 bushels of coal to make one ton of bar iron from the ore, and coal is worth 5 cents per bushel, delivered at the forge. Our coal is made o nearly all descriptions of timber in the country, such as oak, chesnut, &c. Have you bought iron in your neighbourhood; and if you have, at what price ?— I have bought at my rolling mill, for the last three, years, an average of about -200 tons of bar iron, annually, and have paid from ^'75 to $%o per ton. This iron, together with what I make in my own forgeS, I roll in my mills, and sell in the New York market. What are the prices of bar and rolled iron in New York ? — When iron is worth J' 75 at my works, it will average about $%o in the New York market. Rolled iron, from | to | inch diameter, would be worth about J' 110 per ton j f inch and upwards, would command about ^'100 per ton; scrolls and small squares ,;^' lie per ton; hand and nail rods ^'100 per ton. What do you pay the bloomer for his labour in making a ton of iron ? — We pay the bloomers for making a ton of bar iron ^16. 50. and they find themselves. The coal costs ^42. 50. and three tons of ore cost $11. Has the business of making iron increased, or diminished, within the last two or three years, in your section of the country, and to what extent? — It has increased, and some new works have been erected, though very few of the old, which had gone down, have been revived ; partly, because they have fallen into the hands of men who do not yet offer them for sale. Are there any furnaces in your section of country ; and, if any, how many ? — There are, within the district of country before spoken of, two furnaces now in operation, and there are six in ruins, and not now in use. I cannot state the causes which stopped five of these furnaces; but the sixth, called the " Hibernia Furnace," stopped about l8i8, and, I think, from the same causes which destroyed the forges before spoken of. The two furnaces now in use are employed in various castings, but, I think, make no pig. They have cast some ballast. What is the capacity of the country to produce iron ? — We consider the ore in that country inexhaustible, and that not more than one-half of the water power is now advantage- ously employed. The ore is of the first quality, easily accessible, and generally within from 20 chains to 10 miles of all the forges. The streams have fine falls, and are but httle impeded by frost or drought. The quantity of wood for coal is now abundant, and a large share of the country is so broken and rocky, that much of the land, when the wood is taken off, will be left to grow another crop of timber. Have the expenses of manufacturing iron increased within three or four years last past? — No ; I cannot say they have. There has been very little alteration. Is hoop iron sufficiently protected ? — At the present rates of duty, hoop iron is sufficiently protected. Is sheet iron sufficiently protected ? — It is. Do nail and spike rods require further protection ? — It is requisite to amend the law, by inserting the word "rolled," in describing nail and spike rods in the law; and the protection should be extended to rods of | inch diameter, inasmuch as a description of rolled rods are imported which the law does not reach. Does your experience enable you to form an opinion as to the necessity of increasing the duties on hammered bar iron ? — I am fully persuaded that the duty of 1824 aided in helping us to meet the Russia and Swedes iron in the market, but it is not sufficient. A small addition would enable us to come into the market on equal terms, but we cannot now do it, I think the manufacture of bar iron must decfine, unless it is further protected. I think it may be wiser not to increase the duty higher than to one cent per lb. at this time. If the business of manufacturing bar iron is as bad as you represent it; and if others in your neighbourhood have failed in it, how have you been able to sustain yourself; and why have you continued the business ? — I have been able to sustain myself, because I carry on a farm, and the manufacturing establishments furnish a good market for my farming produce. I also keep a store, and pay for a share of the labour of my workmen out of the store, and get a profit on my goods. I have also a grist mill, and a saw mill, which have aided me in my buildings, &c. ; but estabhshments, unconnected with these or like advantages, have failed. My rolling mill also enables me to do more business, and upon which 1 get a little profit, and I have continued to hope for better times. I have also some government contracts, which have assisted me, not so much by an advance of price, as by a sure market for a large quantity ; which enabled me to proceed with certainty, and with- out being subjected to the fluctuations of the market for the manufacture. Do you know that there are Other establishments in the state of New Jersey, for manu- facturing iron in bars, castings, and pigs; if so where? — There are other extensive iron establishments in what is called West Jersey, which have not been referred to in my former examination. I think the establishments for castings and cast iron are more extensive in that section of my State, than in the section to which I have referred ; but the present extent of the bar iron establishments in that section, I cannot state. In 1824, their extent, that section of New Jersey, and in the section to which I have referred, differed very in little. Since that time, I have no means of determining the state of the bar iron establish nients in West Jersey. Are PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 161 Are there, in that section of New Jersey, extensive beds of iron ore ; if so, of what quality, and extent? — 1 have no personal knowledge as to'this question ; but my information is, that the quantities of ore in West Jersey are very abundant, and that the qualities are good for castings, but not so good for bar iron by bloomery process. What is the average value or cost of a water privilege, lot, dam, and forge, with two fires, together with the necessary coal houses, and other out-buildings, in your section of country? — By a list, furnished by me, in 1817, to the Honourable ' Lewis Condict, and which has not materially varied since, there were then, in Morris county, fifty-one forges in operation. The capital employed was j;'470,ooo. There were manufactured, during the year i8i6, in bar iron, i;240 tons, which was supposed could have been extended, with the works then in operation, to 1,847 ^ons. The average cost of each fire would be ^9,215, which includes "the lands then "attached to the different establishments used for the purposes of making coal only. The farm knds, meadows, &c., are not estimated in the above. A water privilege, lot, dam, and forge, with two fires, will vary very much, owing to its loba'.ion, and convenience for building, .and distance from the iron mines and New York; my estimate would be Ji' 4,000. In 1816, the number of men was 1,855 employed as labourers in the manufacturing of bar iron, in Morris county only. What is the expense of roUing a ton of bar iron, into iron of an inch square ; and what weight will the ton of iron lose in being converted into such square iron ? — It will cost to roll one ton J' 14. 87.; the loss is, as near as I can estimate it, 3 per cent on ^1*80, Ji'2. 40: — Total, Ji'l/. 27. Two tons a day constitute the average work ; which yields a profit, on rolling, of J!" 2. 73. per ton, equal to J' 5. 46. per day, on an establishment worth ^20,000. Have you examined the estimates and calculations attached to a petition and memorial of the inhabitants of the counties of Morris, Bergen, and Sussex, in your state, dated iSth January 1 828 ; if yea, are those estimates and calculations substantially correct ?■ — I have examined these estimates, and find them in every material particular correct, and I refer to them as a part of this answer. " A Statement of Facts and Estimates, showing the nature, extent, and results of the Iron making business, as conducted in that section of the state of New Jersey, referred to in the preceding memorial. First. The Nature of the Business. The iron making business in this section of country is principally conducted by persons who have severally commenced their operations by the purchase of a tract of land, embra- cing the necessary water power for propelling the works, and affording a sufficient quantity of timber to supply them with coal for a number of years. In the improvement of such tracts, the first step is the erection of a dam ; a forge, or iron mill, which usually contains two fires ; two pair of bellows ; one hammer, anvil, and the harness connected therewith ; two water wheels to move the bellows and ore stampers, and one for the hammer ; a coal house ; a smith's shop; and dweUings for the owner and workmen. The business then proceeds in the employment of the necessary workmen, such as wood choppers, colliers, teamsters, and forgemen, and the preparation of teams for carting the coal, ore, and iron. It is the practice of the owners, in the prosecution of their business, to furnish to the workmen at the works, such suppUes of provisions and other necessaries as they may require. Second. The Extent of the business and Facilities for enlarging it. 1 St. The amount of iron actually made per annum, so far as the same can be ascertained ■by the returns from the different forge owners, is 2,750 tons. 2d. The amount of capital invested, embraces the following items, viz. Cost of erecting ■ 1 10 forge fires, now in operation at an average expense, including machinery, dams, and coal houses of ^1,500 each, - - - • J" 165,000 00 Amount invested in woodland, allowing each fire to require 750 acres, for its support in producing its proportion of the 2,750 tons, made in all equal to 82,500 acres, at an average price (the water privileges included) of j' 10 per acre, - - - _ - - ... 825,00000 The expense of teams, tools, &c. for each fire, is Jl' 500 - - - - 55,000 00 Cost of houses for the accommodation of workmen, allowing to each fire five houses, at i' 200 each, ^'1,000 " " .' :, ; " 110,00000 Amount of floating capital necessary to conduct the business, ^ 500 tor each fire, - - - - ..-..--- 55,000 00 1827—1828. Inclosure N" 1 in N° 1 r. continued. 1,210,000 00 3d The number of workmen employed in the business, allowing each to fire to require two forgemen, two colliers, two cartmen, one coal stdcker, five wood choppers, and a (jar- penter and blacksmith, equal to one hand, are 13 to each fire, numbering, in all. 1,430 work- men, who, with their families, of four persons each, make the number of souls dependent upon the business, 5,720. , mi • ■ 4th. The faciHties for extending the business, are ample. Ihere are now m operation, as appears by this statement, no forge fires, producing, on an average, about 25 tons each 578, X P^"^ 162 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. pel- annum. Were sufficient encouragement afforded, it is presumed that these fires would be made to produce 35 tons each per annum, instead of the present quantity, and that a number more of equal abihty would soon be put in operation, all of which could be fully supported with charcoal and ore, the materials now used in the manufacture. Iiiclosure N" 1 in N° 11. continued. Third. The Results of the Business and Details of the Manufacture. To make one ton of bar iron, it requires 3 tons of ore, at an average cost ^5 per ton - - - _ 10 loads of coal, at ^4 per load ------ The additional expenses are. Stocking 10 loads of coal, at is. _----. Small repairs of forge, per ton ------ Wages of workmen, for making, per ton - Average expense of cartage, and freight to New York, per ton - The average price of American bar iron in New York, for most of the time during the last eleven years, has not been greater than it now is, viz. ,^'70 to 80 per ton. In the above estimate of cost in making one ton of iron, it is assumed that the coal and ore are purchased by the manufacturer at the current prices. If, however, the coal is made upon his own premises, and the ore raised from his own mine, the following estimate will show the result : - 4*15 00 - 40 00 - 1 25 1 50 - 16 50 6 00 .^•79 25 - S7 50 Cost of cutting 20 cords of wood for one ton of iron, at 3 s. per cord Cooling 10 loads of coal, at 12 s. per load - - . - . Carting - d° - - at 8 s. per load - - - Stocking - d° - - at 1 s. per load - - - - . Raising three tons of ore, at 12 s. per ton - - - _ - Carting - d" - - at 8s. ,- Wages for making one ton of iron ---..- Small repairs of forge, per ton ------- Cartage and freight to New York, per ton - - - - - Should an allowance be made in the last estimate, for the value of the standing wood used in making the coal, and of the ore in the bed, the following sum should be added to the amount of this estimate, viz. 20 cords of standing wood, at 4 s. per cord - - - - - -Jl'iooo 3 tons of ore in the bed, at 12 s. per ton - - - - - - 4 50 - 15 00 - 10 00 1 26 - 4 50 - 3 00 - 16 50 1 50 - 5 00 ^64 25 Amount of last estimate added ^14 60 64 25 ^78 76 It is perceived that the foregoing estimates include no account of interest of capital in- vested, decay of works, expense of management, taxes, I5cc. ; nor is any provision made for risks or losses, although the business is greatly exposed to the hazards of both. Were these items estimated there should be an addition of ;iJ'io to ,^15 per ton, to each of the foregoing estimates. It will also be perceived that, in this statement, no estimate has been submitted of the amount of capital invested in mines, or the cost of opening them, from the impossibility of arriving at any thing satisfactory respecting them. It can only be stated that there are fifty mines in this district already opened, fifteen of which are at present worked, and that the quantity of good ore is presumed to be inexhaustible. This statement is, moreover, strictly confined to facts and estimates, in relation to manu- facturing of bar iron, without any allusion to furnaces, of which there are several, or to rolling mills, of which there are four in the district ; three situated at Dover, and owned by Messrs. Blackwell and M'Farlan, of the city of New York, which annually convert into rolled iron 1 ,000 tons of the manufactures of the district ; and the other at Rockaway, owned by Colonel Joseph Jackson, is capable of rolling about 400 tons more." These estimates state that there are three rolhng mills situated at Dover. In reference to them, in my examination, I have considered these three mills only as one, as they all belong to the same owners, and are connected with our establishment. Will you give the committee the alterations which you think judicious, in the present rates of duty upon the different descriptions of -iron, upon which, in your opinion, an alter- ation of duty is required ? — The following, in my opinion, are the alterations which should be made in the present rates of duty : On iron, in bars or bolts, not manufactured, in whole or in part, by rolling, one cent per pound. On PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 163 ■ On round iron or brazier's rods of three-sixteenths to twelve-sixteenths of an inch dia- taeter, inclusive ; and on square iron, rolled or slit, of one-fourth to three-fourths of an inch diameter, inclusive ; on iron in sheets, and hoop iron, and on iron rolled or slit for band iron, scroll iron, or casement rods, three cents per pound. On all other kinds of iron, in bars, flat, square or round, manufactured, in whole or in part, by rolling, two cents per pound. 1827—1828. TESTIMONY IN RELATION TO STEEL. Thursday, January lo. By the Hon. Richard Keese. Question. Have you aby knowledge of the manufacture of ^eel? — A7iswer. The duty on steel should be increased, but I do not personally know any thing about the manufacture of the article. I think it the policy of the government to protect the article, although I think it would raise the price at first. Friday, January 1 1 . By the Hon. John Mitchell. Question. Would it be beneficial or injurious to the manufacturing interests of the country to increase the duty on steel ? — Answer. I should say that it would be injudicious to increase the duty until it is better ascertained whether the quality necessary for use can be made here ; and I doubt whether the quality of iron be such as will make it so good as that imported ; if it be, we have not yet acquired proficiency in making it. Tuesday, January 22. By Mr. Joseph Jackson. Question. Have you any knowledge of the manufacture of steel ? — Answer. No ; I have no practical knowledge upon the subject. Would it be good policy to increase the duty on steel ? — My opinion is, that the duty on steel is at present sufficient. I speak with reference to my section of country ; and I do not think it would benefit that section to increase the duty. I cannot judge of the policy of doing it. Inclosure.N" 1 inN" 11. continued. TESTIMONY IN RELATION TO WOOL. Tuesday, January 15th, 1828. Present: The Honourable RoUin C. Mallary, Chairman; — James S. Stevenson, Lewis Condict, Thomas P. Moore, Silas Wright, junior, William Stanbury, and WilUam D. Martin. The Honourable Nathaniel Gairow, admitted and sworn. Question. Is the growing of wool a considerable business with the farmers in your sec" tion of the country ? — Answer. It is. ^ . , /. Where is the surplus of their wool marketed ?^t is sold partly at Onskany factory, and some is sent to Rhode Island; but there is no good market for it; many farmers now have on hand the fleeces of the last year. . „, a t , ,j Is the number of sheep increasing or diminishing in your section ot the country i — i should the stock is. rather on the decline. Wednesday, January 16th, 1828. Simon N. Dexter, admitted and sworn. Question. What has been the average number of pounds of wool manufactured annually in the factory referred to, for the last three yeaxsl— Answer. About 60,000 pounds annually for the last three years; I know this from my knowledge of the purchases, all of which have been manufactured, except a deduction for some sent to the Clinton factory. What proportion of this wool was imported, and what of domestic growth; and is it usually purchased in the fleece ?— We have worked no foreign wool in that time, except one lot of Saxony, which was probably from 3,000 to 6,000 lbs. ; our purchases have been mada exclusively from the farmers and in the fleece; the Saxony wool cost more than a dollar per pound. , , , j r- ^, t, r ^ -, What has been thequality of the wool mostly purchased for the use of your factory; and what have been the average prices per pound paid at the factory for the last three years ?— The wool has been generally from three-quarters to full-blooded Merino ; some little of the half-blood may have been purchased three years ago ; it was, however, but httle; in 1825 the wool averaged 65 cents, but it was not so good as some bought since, for jvool has been •constantly improving; in 1826 the average may be set down at 50 cents per pound; diiring 1827; I would say the average has been 35 cents, for a better quality than that which costs 65 cents in 1825. ^ ^ _ j^^^ . 164 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Into how many parcels or qualities is each fleece of wool assorted at the factory, fw the > ^ , purpose of manufacture ; and what will be the difference in value between the best and Inclosure N" i P°oi^^st quality from the same fleece ?— I am not an operator in wool, and cannot speak iii N" 1 1 . positively ; but I think there are six distinct qualities or classes into which the wool is continued. assorted after it is purchased ; to suppose a lot of loo pounds of prime wool, "at 35 cents, there is probably five pounds of the best quality, called 'picklock, and this is worth J'l. 40. per lb. ; the second quahty is called superfine, and of this there will be something like i2lbs., and this I presume to be worth 65 cents per pound; of the third quality, called fine wool, there will probably be 40 lbs., and this is worth about 40 cents per lb ; the fourth class or quality is, I think, called downright, of this there will be about 40 lbs., and worth about 20 cents per lb. ; the small .remainder is very inferior, worth from 6 to 8 cents per lb., and is exclusively used for hsting, &c. ; I now speak in reference to the prices and value in 1827. Are you in possession. of the fact, that there are large quantities of wool annually im- ported ? — I am aware that there are large quantities of wool imported. Does not the importation of foreign wool give an advantage to the woollen manufacturers situated near the seaports, over those situated more in the interior, like yours, by enabling them to procure foreign wool at lower rates than you can? — I think those situated on Ihe sea coast have advantages in that particular, but they are not very important. If wool can be imported so low, as materially to diminish the wool-growing business in your region of country, will not this operate injuriously to the interest of your factory? — It is certainly to the interest of the factories, generally, in the interior, to encourage the growing of domestic wool. Do you find any difficulty in procuring as much domestic wool as is wanted at your factory, or have you a surplus ? — There is a surplus of domestic growth. What is the average price of the common domestic wool of your section of country ? — Very little is raised which is not crossed, in a degree ; but the lowest prices of that brought to the factory for the last year, has been from 18 to 20 cents per lb.; there is some grown among the farmers, even coarser than this, but I do not know that its price would vary materially from this ; this wool forms only a small share of the wool raised in the country, and most of it is raised in the back settlements, and for domestic use ; about one-eighth of, the wool purchased at the Oriskany factory is of this quality. ♦- Thursday, January 17th. Simon N. Dexter, in continuation. Question. Of the wool imported, is the largest quantity of the coarse or fine qualities? — Answer. Of the coarser qualities, I believe, Friday January 18th, 1828. Hon. Aaron Tuffts, admitted and sworn. Question. What has been the average number of pounds of wool manufactured annually in the factory referred to, for the last three years ? — Answer. The quantity has been about 40,000 pounds annually, since we commenced operations ; I find that we purchased from 1st June 1826 to first July 1827, 45,532 pounds of wool. What proportion of this wool has been imported, and what proportion of domestic growth, and is it usually purchased in the fleece ? — Of the last purchase, there were of domestic wool, 34,938 pounds ; of foreign wool there were 1 0,594 pounds ; the domestic wool is all purchased in the fleece ; the foreign wool is partially assorted, but not sufficiently so ta work up. What has been the quality of the wool mostly purchased for the use of your factory, and what has been the average prices per pound paid at the factory for the last three years ? — Between June 1826 and July 1827, the average price of American wool, purchased by us, was thirty-seven and three quarters cents ; it was the intention to purchase none inferior to three-quarters Merino, though it is likely ail was not so good as that ; we intended to purchase from three-quarters to full-blood, or the best quality ; during the same period, the average cost of foreign wool was thirty-eight and a half cents; I do not think the foreign purchase so fair as the domestic growth, but there was less waste in cleansing it. Into how many parcels or quahties is each fleece of wool usually assorted at the factory, for the purpose of manufacture ; and what will be the difference in value between the best and the poorest quality from the same fleece ? — Some fleeces make more parcels than others ; we never make more than nine parcels at our factory; some fleeces make not more than two ; the finest parcel, which is called picklock, is worth a dollar and twenty cents per pound ; of this there is but little ; the ninth, or lowest quahty, would not be worth more than ten cents ; I am not sufficiently acquainted with the character or quantity of the intermediate qualities to fix their respective prices ; for I am not a practical operator, Saturday, January 19. Hon. Aaron Tuffts, in continuation. Question. — Is the growing of wool a considerable business with the farmers in the neighi- bourhood of your factory ; and is there a sui"plus of domestic wool in your neighbourhood, over and above what is demanded by the manufacturers in the same section of country? — Answer. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. i65 Answer. The growing of wool is a considerable business with the fanners of my neighbour- 1827 1828. hood, but they do not furnish a twentieth part of what is demanded by the manufactories «- ^ ^ ^' in the vicinity. The factories in that section of country, are generally supplied with ,^yool inclosu N° from Connecticut, the western parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New in N" n York, and a small quantity from Pennsylvania. I have seen large quantities of wool from conti?tueJ. Ohio, in the Boston market, but I never bought any of it. Are you a wool-grower ; and if you are, what number of sheep do you own, and what number of pounds do your flocks yield ? — I am a wool-grower, and own about 500 sheep. My flock consists of fine woolled sheep, but do not yield quite 2 | lbs. wool per head, on the back, well washed. Has wool depreciated materially in price, within the last three years ; if so, to what is the depreciation to be attributed ? — It has depreciated very considerably. I attribute the depreciation to the low price of woollen goods. Are you apprized of the fact, that large quantities of wool are annually imported, and does not this tend to depreciate the price of the domestic wool ? — I am. I do not think this tends in the least to depreciate the price of domestic wool. The reason I assign for this opinion, is, that the manufacturer now pays so high a price for wool, as to render his busi- ness unprofitable and bad, and, of consequence, if none was imported, we could pay no higher price. What are the usual qualities of wool imported ? — Various qualities are imported. Some has been sold in Boston as low as 6 cents per pound, and from that to the finest Saxony wool, which has sold as high as. ^1. 60. Considerable quantities of the intermediate grades are also imported. The largest quantity imported, sells from 10 to 16 cents per pound in Boston. Is the number of sheep increasing or diminishing in your section of country? — They increased very rapidly until the year 1826 ; since which time many of the farmers have dis- posed of their flocks, and others seem disposed to do so, in consequence of the low price of wool. On the whole, I think the stock is diminishing. Is there as much wool grown in Massachusetts, as is consumed in the woollen manufac- tories of that state ; if not, what proportion of the whole quantity do you think is imported, and what proportion is grown in the state ? — All the wool grown in Massachusetts furnishes but a small proportion of what is manufactured in that state. . I think fully one-fourth of what is there manufactured, is imported. The state may furnish one-twelfth, but this is mere conjecture. As I have already stated, the principal supply is from the neighbouring states. Is it, in your opinion, important to the farming interest of your state to discourage the importations of foreign wool ? — It is, in my opinion, of no consequence, unless you can enable the manufacturer to furnish the farmer a market. What quantity of the domestic wool, stated by you to have been purchased in 182^, by the factory in which you are concerned, was supplied from sheep owned by you? — My' own shearing of 1827, formed no part of what was furnished to the factory in which I am con- cerned. I have it still in hand, I supplied the factory in 1826, with 800, or 1,000 pounds. Where manufacturers of woollens are wool-growers also, but grow less wool than they manufacture, are they not interested in keeping down the price of wool, as they are buyers, not sellers of wool ? — To a sole proprietor of a manufactory it would be ; but to a joint proprietor it would depend upon the preponderance of interest in the one branch of business or in the other. What proportion in cash does raw wool bear to the present price of the fabric, estimating that cost at 35 cents per lb..? — My opinion is about one half. What is the present difference between the price of wool in Europe and the United States, of the same quahty ? — I am not an importer, and therefore derive my information from those who are, and I have often understood from them that the prices are from 60 to 70 per cent higher in this country than in Europe, of wool costing over 10 cents per lb. in Europe. This would not apply to the wool under 10 cents. What is the price in the American market, of the common domestic wool, in the fleece ? — The common domestic native wool in the fleece is worth in our markets, or delivered at our factories, from 20 to 25 cents per lb. We do not purchase that kind of wool. From your knowledge of the different quahties of wool used by the American manufac- turers, will foreign wool, costing abroad 8 cents, and under, come in competition with domes'tic wool ?— I should think not. [The witness presented to the Committee several samplesof wool, with the following explanation: Barbary wool — present price in Boston, 6 cents per lb. 1. Smyrna, d° - - d° - - 12 2. d° - d" - - d" - - 9i Russia - d" - d° - - 13 1 Adrianople, d° - - d" - 14 The "Russian sample, and N" 1. parcel of the Smyrna, he thinks have been washed— 4he Of what kind of wool are the fabrics made, commonly called negro cloths, and where is it produced?— They are usually made of the Smyrna, Buenos Ayres, and Adrianople wool, I tnink, though I have never made any of these cloths. Did the deputation, of which you were a member, advocate an mcrease of duty on imported wool, or did they discourage such increase?— I believe that a majority of the deputation and I do not know but that all of them were in favour of an increased duty, 578 ' • X 3 provided 16& PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. L Inclnsure N° i inN" 11. continued. provided such an increase of duty could be imposed upon the manufacturers of wool, as tb attord a market for the wool; and also, provided the duty on wool should not take place immediately. This was my wish, and I think it was that of Mr. Bates ; and, upon these conditions, we did advocate an increased duty on imported wool. Have you not understood that, at the time Great Britain repealed her duty on imported wool, she also repealed her duty on the exportation of wool ; and are not our manufacturers now able to obtain wool from Great Britain cheaper than they could whilst her import and export duties stood as they did prior to the repeal in 1 824, independent of the change in our duty? — I am aware that England, when she repealed her duty on imported wool, also repealed, in whole or in part, the duty on wool exported. I think the repeal of the British duty on exported wool, cannot affect the price of wool imported here, because we can obtain it from other European countries, and because the United States have increased their duties on imported wool. Other things being ec^ual, we could have imported wool cheaper from England, after the export duty was repealed. I believe that not a pound of wool, of British growth, is ever brought into the United States. I never saw any. Great Britain sends here wool of Saxony, Spain, and other countries. Why is German and Spanish wool imported from England, in preference to importing it from the countries where produced ? — It is likely that the repeal of their duty caused larger shipments to England than were necessary for their consumption, and it was, of consequence, exported to this country. Monday, January 21, 1828. James Shepherd, admitted and sworn. Question. What has been the average of pounds of wool manufactured, annually, in the factory referred to, for the last three years I — Answer. I cannot state as to any time previous to 1st January 1826. From the 1st January 1826 to 1st July 1827, the quantity manufac- tured was 1 02,1 59 pounds of wool of all descriptions. What proportion of tliis wool has been imported ; and what proportion of domestic growth ; and is it usually purchased in the fleece ? — Our purchases, for the period of time mentioned in the last answer, were as follow : Of American wool 13,500 at 65 cents. 53,714 - 53 — 3,205 - 45 — Making a Total of - - 70,419 lbs. Saxony wool Spanish D° 8,104 ^t 114 cents. 11,386 - 95 — 12,250 - 85 — Total of Foreign Wool, of 31,740 lbs. The prices, as above stated, are the average prices of the purchases, both as to quantity and price, and in the order of time, during the several half years embraced within the period of eighteen months, except the Spanish wool, which was purchased at one time, and cost the price set down. My purchases of American wool have always been in the fleece. What has been the quality of the wool mostly purchased for the use of your factory ; and what has been the average prices per lb. paid at the factory, for the last three years ? — It has always been my object to purchase the finest wool, foreign and domestic, which the market would afibrd. I have purchased very little native wool of the low or inferior quality. The quality and average prices have been stated in my answer to the last interrogatory. Into how many parcels or qualities is the wool usually assorted at the factory, for the purpose of manufacture ; and what will be the difiierence in value between the best and poorest qualities ? — I have divided the American wool into the following parcels, viz. pick- lock, prime, and N°' 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ; then livery, listing, head, neck, fribs, and skirting. Some foreign wool we purchase assorted, and some in the fleece — Saxony particularly. Of this, such as is bought in the fleece is assorted into four parcels, denominated 1, 2, 3, 4 qua- lities. Spanish wool is purchased assorted into qualities, marked R., F, T, and S. Since the 1st July last, I have been in the habit of buying American wool, assorting, and selling it assorted, picklocks, at $\ per lb.; prime, at 90 cents; N° 1, at 80 cents; N° 2, at 70 cents ; N" 3, at 55 cents ; N° 4, at 40 cents ; N° 5, at 35 cents ; N° 6, at 25 cents ; and listing, at 20 cents. The profits upon this business have netted me about five per cent for the last six months. The relative quantity of the several parcels, when assorted, depends on the quality of the wools. Is the growing of wool a considerable business with the farmers in the neighbourhood of your factory ; and is there a surplus of domestic wool in your neighbourhood, over and above what is demanded by the manufacturers, in the same section of country 1 — It is a very extensive business, but there is a large deficiency, in the section of country in which I re- side, in the quantity grown, and what is wanted for manufacturing. That part of the country is supplied partly by imported wool, from other parts of Massachusetts,, from others of the New England states, and from New York. Are you a wool-grower ; and if you are, what number of sheep do you own ; and what number PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 167 number of pounds of wool do your flocks yield ? — I am a wool-grower, and have now from 1,200 to 1400 sheep, yielding about three pounds of wool each, on the average. Has wool depreciated materially in price within the last three years; if so, to what is the depreciation to be attributed? — It has depreciated in price during that time. In 1825, I sold my wool to our factory at 75 cents per pound. In 1826, I sold to the same at 63 i cents per pound; and in 1827, 1 sold in the Boston market, at 55 cents per pound. The wool was well washed, and in good order, and shorn from a mixture of some Saxony, some full blooded Merino, and some crossed breed, constituting, on the whole, as good a flock as any other in the country. This depreciation in the price of wool has been occasioned, as i believe, by a diminution in the price of cloths. Are you apprised of the fact, thatlarg^e quantities of wool are annually imported; and does not this tend to depreciate the price of the domestic wool ? — I am aware that large quantities of foreign wool are imported. I considered the duty laid on foreign wool, by the Act of 1824, as striking at the foundation of the manufacturing system. I ajn opinion, that if the duty laid, on foreign wool had not been more than one-fourth what it was, wool- growers and martufacturers would have both done better. I am of opinion also, that the imported wool has no effect on the price of domestic wool. I prefer the latter whenever I can procure it, to any that is imported. What are the usual qualities of wool imported ? — Of late, the importations have been more of the coarsest quality than of any other. The coarse wools are for carpet work, negro cloths, &c. Fine wools are also imported from Germany and Spain. Middlings are from Portugal, the Netherlands, Russia and South America. I bought at the auction sales this fall a quantity of coarse Russia wool, at 13 oents per pound, and would sell it at the same price. Is the number of sheep increasing or diminishing in your section of country ? — The number is diminishing fast. Is there as much wool grown in Massachusetts as is consumed in the woollen manufacto- ries of that state ; if not, what proportion of the whole quantity do you think is imported, and what proportion is grown in the state ? — There is not, nor can I form an idea what proportion is brought from other places, compared with what is grown there. I doubt whether Massachusetts furnishes more than one-third of the domestic wool which she manufactures. Is it, .in your opinion, important to the farming interests of your state to discourage the importations of foreign wool ?— I do not think it is. What quantity of the domestic wool, stated by you to have been purchased in 1827, by the factory in which you are concerned, was supplied from sheep owned by you? — I furnished none in 1827. I supplied the factory with my whole crop in 1826, which was about 3,200 pounds. Where manufacturers of woollens are wool-growers also, but grow less wool than they manufacture, are they not interested in keeping down the price of wool, as they are buyers, not sellers of wool ? — No, I consider not. What proportion in cash does raw wool bear to the present price of the fabric, estimating ihat fabric at ,^1 per yard ? — ^Wool costing from 20 to 75 cents, is half the price of the fabric. When it costs more than 75 cents, the price of labour does not increase, and the value of the fabric is increased in proportion to the price of wool. What do you understand to be the present difference between the price of wool in England and the United States, of the same quality ?; — If wool be sold here, it commands 50 per cent in addition to its price in England, and this is the lowest price at which it can be sold to cover all expenses. Some sales have been made here at a higher price. I cannot say what is the comparative price of American wool to an American manufacturer, compared with the price which an English manufacturer would have to pay for it there, because the wool manu- factured by them severally is never the same. Do you know the relative prices at which wool can be furnished from the port of Cadiz, in Spain, to the manufacturer in Manchester, in England, compared with the prices at which it can be furnished to the manufacturer of Boston, in Massachusetts?— I da not know! What is the price in the American market of the common domestic wool of native growth ? —The price is about 25 cents per lb. From your knowledge of the different qualities of wool used by the Amencan manufac- turers, will foreign wool, costing abroad eight cents, and under, come into competition with domestic wool ?— No ; it cannot. j, ,. . Of what kind of wool are the fabrics made, commonly called negro cloth ; and where is it produced ?— -A great proportion of that kind of cloth is made of wool from the Nether- lands ; some from South American wool, but this is not found as good. What was the average annual expense of keeping your sheep during the years 1825, 1826 and 1827 ?— One dollar and fifty cents per head. This would be the fair average for thg three last years. Having stated that the average price paid by you for American wool was 45 cents, what was the highest, and what the lowest prices you gave in 1827, for domestic wool ?— The highest price was 55 cents, and the lowest 30 cents ; this was all clean washed wool ; we bought none of the native wool. Do you believe that laying a considerable duty on imported wool would be injurious to the interest of the woollen manufactures of your section of country ; would it tend to force the woollen manufactures into those sections of the United States where wool can be grown to more advantage than in Massachusetts ?— I do believe a considerable duty on imported wool 1827—1828. Inclosure N" 1 in N" 11. toniiimed. 57»- X would 168 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARUFS 1827—1828. Inclosure N" i in N" n. continued. would be injurious to the manufacturers of woollens in my section of country ;• but I do not think it would tend to force the American manufacturing establishments from us, to other sections of the country. Tuesday, January a8, 1828. William Phillips, admitted and sworn. Question. What has been the average number of pounds of wool mauufactured annually, in the factory referred to, for the last three years ? — Answer. I cannot state the precise' amount during that period; previous to 1827, we usually manufactured from 8,000 to 12,000 pounds. The operations of the present year, commencing in July last, will consume about 25.000 pounds. What proportion of this wool has been imported, and what proportion of domestic growth ; and is it usually purchased in the fleece 1 — We have worked no imported wool within the last three years. Our consumption has been exclusively of domestic growth, purchased in the fleece most usually. What has been the quality of the wool mostly purchased for the use of your factory ; and what have been the average prices per pound, paid at the factory, for the last three years ? — We have worked full blooded Merino, and from that down to half blood. A small quantity of native wool only has been used. In 1825, the average price was 53 cents, or nearly that; in 1826, it cost about 38 cents ; in 1827, we procured it for 37 cents. These prices were paid for wool washed on the sheep, and delivered at the factory. Into how many parcels or qualities is the woo! usually assorted .at the factory, for the purpose of manufacture ; and what will be the difference in value between the best and poorest qualities ? — We generally divide it into five parcels ; 1 will not undertake to fix the prices or value of the several parcels, when assorted. -. Is the growing of woo! a considerable business with the farmers in the neighbourhood of your factory ; and is there a surplus of domestic wool in your neighbourhood, over and above what is demanded by the manufacturers in the same section of country ? — -It is an extensive business in Orange county. Are you a wool-grower ; and if you are, what number of sheep do you own ; and what number of pounds do your flocks yield ? — I am a wool-grower, and have between 6 and 700 sheep. It is generally estimated that they will yield three pounds each : but I think two and three-quarters pounds is a more correct one. IVIy brother, who has some connexion with me in business, has from a thousand to twelve hundred head of sheep. They yield, in wool, I presume, about the same proportion, and the wool of both flocks is worked up in our factories. Has wool depreciated materially in price within the last three years ; and if so, to what is the depreciation to be attributed ? — It has depreciated, and I attribute it to the low price of cloths. Are you apprised of the fact, that large quantities of wool are annually imported ; and does not this tend to depreciate the price of the domestic wool ? — I am aware that large quantities of wool are imported ; and it must have a decided effect on the price of the wool grown in this country; but, until cloths sell better, we could not give no more for domestic wool than we now give ; yet the manufacturers, generally, would consume a much greater quantity of domestic wool, if there was a sufficient supply, and if there were no importations of foreign wool. Is the number of sheep' increasing or diminishing in your section of country? — I am of opinion that they are decreasing; those who have small flocks will not keep them. Is it, in your opinion, important to the farming iiiterest of your state, to discourage the the importations of foreign wool? — I think it important to the farming interests of New York to discourage the importations of foreign wool. Where manufacturers of woollens are wool-growers also, but grow less wool than they manufacture, are they not interested in keeping down the price of wool, as they are buyers, not sellers of wool? — I think not; for the manufacturer is interested in keeping wool at a fair price, or he cannot procure it. What pro'portiori in cash does raw wool bear to the present price of the fabric ? — It cost something less than the expense of manufacturing it. What is the price in the American market of the common domestic wool of native growth? — I think the price is from 18 to 25 cents. It is used principally in families. Could you afford to pay the farmer a higher price for wool, should the foreign fabric be admitted into our markets as it has been for two years past ? — I could not. What was the average annual expense of keeping your sheep during the years 1825, 1826, and 1827 ?— It is worth J"! . 50. per head for the grown sheep, and 75 cents for the lambs. Having stated that the average price paid by you for American wool was about 37 cents, what was the highest and what the lowest prices you gave in 1827, for domestic wool? — The highest was 41 cents, the lowest 28 cents. Wednesday, January 23. Abraham Marland, admitted and sworn. Question. What has been the average number of pounds of wool manufactured, annually, in the factory referred to, for the last three years;? — In 1825, I manufactured about 34,000 pounds PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 169 34,000. pounds of wool; and in 1827, 1827 1828. .pounds of wool; in 1826, I manufactured about I manufactured about 51,000 pounds of wool. . What proportion of this wool has been imported, and what proportion of domestic growth; and is it usually purchased in the fleece ?— In 1825, one-half was imported ; in 1826, a rery small share, say one-fourth; and in 1827 none was imported. About one-fourth of the •domestic wool I use, is purchased in the fleece, the residue is pulled wool assorted ; but none of the pulled wool I use, is suitable for making broad cloths or kerseymeres, and not 60 good for sattinetts as fleece wool ; but the relative prices of it in the market is usually higher than fleece wool. What has been the quality of the wool mostly purchased for the use of your factory ; and what have been the average prices per pound, paid at the factory, for the last three years ? — My intention has been to purchase various qualities of wool ; about one-half of the whole has been first quality lambs wool, and the price of this, in 1825, was, on the average, about 52 to 55 cents per pound. In 1826, the same quality was about 40 cents : and in 1827, the same quaUty was about 35 to 37 1 cents per pound. The next kind is what we call first quality spinning wool ; then second quality lambs wool ; and then fleece wool sheared. These last three qualities are used in about equal quantities. The price of the spinning wool was, in 1825, from 40 to 42 cents per lb. ; that of the second quality lambs woool, was from 30 to 33 cents per lb. and the fleece wool was about 40 cents per lb. In 1826, the first quality of spinning wool was about 35 to 27 h cents per lb. ; second" quality of lambs wool, 28 tp 30 cents per lb. ; and the fleece wool about 37 cents. In 1827, the first qua,lity of spinning wool was about 30 cents per lb. ; lambs wool 25 cents per lb. ; and fleece wool from 25 to 27 cents, native fleeces. Can you state the species of wool of which worsted stuff" goods are made? — In England they use a long staple wool called " combing wool," some of it 14 inches loiig, and mostly grown in Lincolnshire. The long part of this wool is almost exclusively used in the manu- facture of worsted stuff goods. The short part of it is combed out and called " Nrles," and, being mixed with other wool, is used for blankets and other coarse goods. I have always understood that the English are much averse to sending any of this breed of sheep to other countries, and strive to keep them exclusively at home. I have never heard of this breed ■ of sheep being in this country ; nor are worsted stuff goods manufactured in this country, to my knowledge. Can you give correct information as to the species of wool most suitable for the manu- facture of good blankets ; and have we in the United States a suitable wool for making' them ? — ^There is no wool more suitable for the making of blankets than the native wool of this country ; but it has always borne too high a price to warrant the manufacture from it. During the late war I manufactured blankets for the United States' army, together with coarse kerseys, and other coarse fabrics, from the native wool of; this country, because the blankets and other fabrics bore a good price, and would warrant the business. I. do not think the manufacture of blankets is carried on to any extent in this country at present.. The process of making blankets is very simple, easy, and cheap, the cost of the wool being a considerable share of the cost of the fabric. If you could get native wool at ten cents a pound, could you afford to make and sell blankets equal in quality to the imported, at their present selling price ? — If I could get native wool now at ten cents per pound, I could make blankets at this time, and compete with the foreign article at the present selling prices, and make a fortune by it. But, at the present prices of the native wool, which I think may be stated at from 25 to 28 cents per pound, I cannot compete with foreign blankets. Is the growing of wool a considerable business with the farmers in the neighbourhood of your factory ; and is there a surplus of domestic wool in your neighbourhood, over and above what is demanded by "the manufacturers in the same section of country? — It is not in the neighbourhood where I live, and there is no surplus of wool beyond what is demanded by the manufacturer ; on the contrary, there is a very lg,rge deficiency. Are you a wool-grower ; and if you are, what number of sheep do you own, and what number of pounds do your flocks yield ? — I am not a wool-grower Has wool depreciated materially in price within the last three years ; and if so, to what is the depreciation to be attributed ? — It has depreciated in price; and the reason I would assign is, that the large importations of foreign woollen goods have reduced the prices of cloths, and disabled our manufacturers to pay higher prices for the article. We have always paid as high prices for our wool as we could afford. Are you apprized of the fact, that large quantities of wool are annually imported, and does not this tend lo depreciate the price of the domestic wool?— I do not think that any imported wool comes into competition with the wool I use at this time ; I formerly bought for the same use wool imported from Jutland, until the same kind of American wool fell in price; there is' now Jutland wool of the same kind in the Boston market, which does not sell readily; but I think that the importation of this Jutland wool assisted to reduce the price of the American, and that this would again be purchased, if American wool of this kind should risfe in price ; if it does not, I think this Jutland wool will remain on hand ; I should also think that there are other kinds of wool imported, which come into competition with some kinds of domestic wool. What are the usual qualities of wool imported ? — ^I am not much acquainted with the qualities of imported wools at this time. Is the number of. sheep increasing or diminishing in your section of country-?— I should thbk thev are diminishing ; and I would assign, as one reason of the fall in the price of 578. ^ ■ "^ y pulled Inclosure'N" 1 in N° II. continued. 170 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS Inclosure N" in N" 11. continued. 1827 1828. P^^^^d wool, that so many sheep and lambs are killed; and this is the wool pulled from the ^_ ' skin after the sheep are killed. Is there as much wool grown in Massachusetts, as is consumed in the woollen manufac- tories of that state ; if not, what proportion of the whole quantity do you think is imported, and what proportion is grown in the state ? — There is not any thing like it ; I cannot tell the proportions of foreign and domestic wool worked in the state ; the larger share of the wool I use is grown in the states of New York and Vermont, and a smaller share in Mas- sachusetts and New Hampshire. Is it, in your opinion, important to the farming interest of your state, to discourage the importations of foreign wool? — I should think it was a matter of interest to the farmers of my state ; but at the same time I should think it important to the country, that a corre-^ sponding duty should be imposed upon imported woollen goods. Where manufacturers of woollens are wool growers also, but grow less wool than they manufacture, are they not interested in keeping down the price of wool, as they are buyers, and not sellers, of wool? — I should think they were. What proportion in cash does raw wool bear to the present price of your fabric? — In the coarse goods I make, the cost of the wool is about one-half the cost of the fabric ; in the finer fabrics it is not quite so much. What do you understand to be the difference between the price of wool in England and the United States, of the same quality ? — I am \inable to say. I understand it is much lower in England. Could you afford to pay the farmer a higher price for wool, should the foreign fabric be admitted into our markets, as it has been for two years past ? — We could not, under the present duties. What were the highest and lowest prices which you paid for wool in 1827 ? — The highest price I paid last year, was about 37 ^ cents per pound, and the lowest price 20 cents per pound. ■ Do you think that laying a considerable duty on imported wool, would be injurious to the interest of woollen manufacturers in your section of country; would it tend to force the: manufactories into those sections of the United States where wool can be growji to more advantage than in Massachusetts ? — It would, unless there was a corresponding increased duty on imported cloths ; if this should be the ease, I think an increased duty on wool would not injure the manufacturer ; and if at all, it would injure him but a very short time, as there would very soon be a domestic supply ; I think an increased duty on wool would not have a tendency to remove the manufacturers from Massachusetts, because the trans- portation of wool from the different parts of the country is so cheap. Friday, Januaiy 25, 1828. William W. Young, admitted and sworn. Question. What has been the average quantity of wool consumed for the last three years in your factory ? — Answer. The greatest quantity of clean wool used by us, in any one year, has been about 30,000 pounds, and this was previous to 1825. In 1825, I do not think we. worked more than 15,000 lbs. In 1826 and 1827, not more than 12,000 lbs. in each year, but with the capacity to consume double that amount. At the close of the year 1 825^ we began to feel a depression in the business, and to curtail it, as we anticipated a further de- pression ; we should have closed our business entirely, but we did not like to discharge our hands, and turn them out of doors without employment ; during the time subsequent to the. close of the year 1825, we made it part of our business to put our mill gearing into com- plete repair ; the machinery we did not repair ; we then contemplated turning our mills to some more profitable use, in case the woollen business should not improve. What proportion of this raw material was imported, and what proportion was of domestic production ? — We have never kept an exact register of purchases so as to distinguish between, foreign and domestic wool ; but I believe the wool worked at the factory during the whole time, since 1813, has been about half foreign and half domestic wool. What were the relative qualities and prices of the raw material consumed in your factory ?. — It has always been our intention to purchase the finer qualities of wool, and we h^ve adhered to that intention as far as practicable. In 1825, we paid for what is called full- blooded American Merino in the fleece, entirely unwashed, or in the yolk, an average of 40 cents per lb.; for coarse German wools, cleaned upon the sheep, in the fleece, from 16 to 20 cents per lb. ; these last were very coarse wool ; the 40 cents for the Merino in this state is equal to 80 cents per lb. for the same wool cleaned. In the same year we purchased a. lot of Merino wool from one particular flock, which was considered better than the average lots, and for which we paid in the same state 50 cents per lb. ; the Merino wool generally wastes about one-half in weight by cleaning. In 1826, we purchased a very small proportion of Merino wool, and for that we paid an average price of about 33 y cents per lb. In the same year we purchased some Saxony wool, for which we paid on the average, for the whole year, about J" 1 . 5. making the purchases at auction and at private sale ; these wools would lose about 25 per cent in cleaning. In the same year we purchased some Spanish R wool, and paid an average of about 66^ cents, taking the whole year. These purchases were also made at auction, and at private sale; these wools would lose about 12J per cent. in cleaning. In 1827, we purchased no unwashed Merino wool of any extent, but we purchased a con- siderable proportion of Merino wool, washed upon the sheep, for which we paid 35 cents per lb ; the wool would lose in cleaning about 33 per cent. We purchased also Spanish R wool, for which we paid on the average 573 cents per lb. ; this would loose about l2i per cent in cleaning. We also purchased Portugal R. wool, for which we paid 31 J cents per PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 171 per lb.,; this would loose in cleaning, according to our estimate, 40 per cent. We purchased also, from Pennsylvania, a lot of Merino wool of two qualities, 1st and 4th, called clean and assorted, for which we paid, 1st quality, $1. 25. per lb. and for 4th quality, q? cents per lb. 1 j 01 Are you a wool-grower; and if so, what does it cost you per head, per annum, for keeping your sheep ?— We do grow wool, and keep one hundred and fifty head of Merino shdep. We give the use of one hundred acres of land to an individual for keeping, taking care df, and shearing our sheep, but cannot say what the use of the land is worth; this person pay's the taxes upon the land, and is bound to keep the flock equal to its present number, and is Entitled, as compensation, to one-third of the increase; to us the keeping of sheep is a losing business. Is the grbwing of wool a considerable business with the farmers in your section of country? —It is not a principal business with our farmers. Is there, in your section of country, a surplus of domestic wool, over and above what is required by the manufactories in the same district ? — There is not a sufficiency grown for oottsumption. What proportion of the wool manufactured in your district of country is foreign, and what proportion is wool of the growth of the United States ?— I think they are manufactured in the proportions of three poundsof American to otie of foreign. From what States in the Union is the deficiency of domestic woiol, manufactured in your section of country, obtained ?— That which is not supplied from our own neighbourhood is obtained mostly from Pennsylvania and Maryland; some is also obtained from New Jersey. Has domestic wool materially depreciated in price within the last three years ; if yea, to what causes do you attribute the depreciation ?— American wool has certainly depreciated in price, and the cause I take to be the want of demand, because the manufacturer cannot buy. Is the number of sheep increasing or diminishing in your neighbourhood? — I think there has not been much alteration, but I think rather decreasing for the last three years. , What proportion in cash does the present cost of wool bear to the present cost of the fabric, as manufactured at yout factory?— The calculation is, that cassimeres, of all colours except blue, must bring double the price of the raw material to secure the manufacturer against loss; blues must bring from twenty-five to thirty-five cents, according to the price of indigo, the yard; more than double the raw material, to prevent loss. What is the present price in the American markets, of common domestic Wool of native growth ? — I am not able to state the price. Do you know the present difference in price of wool, of the same quality, in the British and in the American markets ? — Relying upon the best information I have received from England, the price of wool in 1826, was, for English Merino, from one shilling to one shilling and nine-pence ; the same in grease, one shilling ; South Downs, one shilling ; best Spanish, two shillings and nine-pence to four shillings ; Spanish Segovia, one shilling arid nine-pence to three shillings ; Spanish Seville, from one shilling and two-pence to one shilling and six- pence; best Saxony, from three shillings to seven' shillings; second and third Saxony, one shilling and sixpence to three shillings ; Austrian, fine, two shillings and nine-pence to six shillings. These were the prices in July 1826. If large purchases were made, there would be a deduction of something like twenty per cent. Scotch lay wool, from three and a halft pence to four-pence ; Cheviot wool, mixed, sixpence to seven-pence ; white, eight-pence to ten-pence ; York wool, grown in England, nine-pence to ten-pence ; next quality, eight- pence to nine-pence; wet, seven-pence to eight- pence. These prices are taken from the letter of an English manufacturer, of late date. The difference in price is from sixty to seventy per cent. Is it important to the farming interest of your state, to discourage the importation of foreign wool ? — I do not think it important to the farming interests of the state of Delaware, to discohfage; at present, the importation of foreign wool, although it maybe so in future. Can the American manufacturer afford to pay a higher price for domestic wool than that article now cbmniands, while the' present price of cloth continues ? — They cannot. Does the importation of foreign wool contribute to depress the price of domestic Wool jn our markets ?i-^I dO not feel competent to give a definitive answer ; but if cloth brought a good price, wool would bein demand. Are you in possession of the fact; that considerable quantities of wool are imported ?— There are laro-e quantities of coarse and other wools imported, but the quantity I cannot tell. Does riot tSe importation of wool give an advantage to the WOollen manufacturers having establishments near the- sea ports over those situated in the interior districts where wool is grown?— I should think not. „,.,,,,• ^ ^ o What are the usual qualities of wool imported into Philadelphia? — German, baxony, Spanish, Portuguese, Smyrna, South American, of high and low prices. I do not recoUect any other kinds. Do you believe that laying a considerable duty on imported wool, would be injurious to the woollen manufacturers neatf the sea ports?— It would be injurious, unless they are pro- tected ; but if they are perfectly protected, so as to give them the -whole market, it would be of no 'consequence what duty was imposed on wool.. ■ Where woollen manufacturers are wool-growers also, but manufacture considerably more than they procure from their own flocks, is it not advantageous to them that the price of ,.,-,-,1 eKi„MlSp Inw- as thev are buvers. and not sellers of wool? — It is advantageous to 1827—1828. *-, ^'- Inclosure N" i in N'o n. continued. wool should be low, 578 as they are buyers, f: every 179 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827— Inclosure N" ic N' u. coiitinutd. 1828. ^^^''y manufacturer to obtain his raw material as low, and to sell his fabric as high, as he , can ; but I believe the growing of the wool, and the manufacture of it, are incompatible in the same person. William R. DicJdnsm, admitted and sworn. Question. What has been the average quantity of wool consumed, for the last three years, in your factory ? — Answer. We have used about 35,000 pounds of wool each year, for the last three years, washed upon the sheep's back, as an average of the whole time, though the amount consumed by us has been somewhat increased in each year. What proportion of this raw material was imported, and what proportion was of domestic production? — All domestic. What were the relative qualities and prices of the raw material consumed in your factory? — In the quantity before supposed to be the average consumed, the quahties would be about the following, viz. 3,000 lbs. of common native wool ; 8,000 lbs. common and half Merino ; 12,000 lbs. of three-fourths and seven-eighths Merino; 15,000 lbs. of full blooded Merino. These aggregate amounts are greater than the proposed average, but the proportions I. believe to be about correct. In 1825, the price we paid at our factory for native common wool, in the fleece, washed upon the sheep's back, was 30 cents per pound ; for one-fourth blood Merino, 30 cents per pound; for one-half blood, 35 cents per pound; for three-, fourths blood, 45 cents per pound ; for seven-eighths blood, 60 cents per pound ; for second rate full blood, 95 cents per pound ; and for first rate full blood, J" 1 . 25 cents per pound. In 1826, we paid for common wool, 30 cents per pound; for one-fourth blood, 30 cents per pound ; for one-half blood, 35 cents per pound ; for three-fourths blood, 40 cents per pound ; for seven-eighths blood, 50 cents per pound ; for second rate full blood, 95 cents per pound ; and for first rate full blood, ^ 1. 25 cents per pound. In 1 827, we paid for common wool 20 cents per pound ; for one-fourth blood, 25 cents per pound ; for one-half blood, 30 cents per pound ; for three-fourths blood, 35 cents per pound ; for seven-eighths blood, 45 cents per pound ; for second rate full blood, Co cents per pound; and for first rate full; blood, 85' cents per pound. During these years, we have been in the habit of manufacturing the finer qualities of the wool, and of marketing the coarser'qualities in the Eastern markets. Are you a wool grower ; and if so, what does it cost you a head per annum for keeping your sheep ? — I am a wool-grower, and so is my partner in the woollen manufactory; I own between 3 and 4,000 sheep; my partner owns about tlie same number that I do, but his flocks are not connected with mine ; I estimate the cost per head of keeping sheep, in the part of the country where I live, at one dollar ; I feel sure that it does not exceed that sum ; the farmers of the country can keep sheep cheaper than T can. Is the growing of wool a considerable business with the farmers in your section of country? — It is with a great number of the farmers in my neighbourhood, and especially since the passage of the Tariff Bill of 1824. Is there, in your section of country, a surplus of domestic wool over and above what is required by the manufactories in the same section ? — There is an excess, which has been constantly increasing until the last year ; ray partner and myself have, for the last three years, sent to the Eastern markets from 30,000 to 50,000 pounds annually : I speak from recollection, not having any data to refer to for this statement ; most of this wool has been sent to Boston, and has been of the coarser qualities, upon which we have invariably lost money until the last year, when I think we shall have saved ourselves ; thia wool is grown in Western Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, Ohio, and a small share in Kentucky. Has domestic wool materially depreciated in price within the last three years ; if yea, to what cause do you attribute the depreciation ? — It has depreciated materially, and particu- larly the finer qualities ; I ascribe the depreciation to the large importations of foreign, woollen goods and foreign wool ; also to the depression of the woollen business in England, and to the increase of woollen manufactures in countries other than England, including our own ; I speak more particularly with reference to what I think has aifected the price of wool in my section of country. Is the number of sheep increasing or diminishing in your neighbourhood ? — The number of sheep was rapidly increasing in my section of the country for the last three years until the last year ; but some of the owners of sheep seem now to be disposed to diminish their flocks ; the whole number of sheep at the present time is greater than it was one year ago. What proportion in cash does the present cost of wool bear to the present cost of the fabric, as manufactured at your factory? — I am not myself a practical manufacturer, but am familiarly conversant with the details of the business ; from that acquaintance, and froni the bestof my judgment, I would estimate the cost of the wool to be one-half of the cost of the common and middling qualities of cloths, when prepared for the market ; and as you go to the finer cloths, the proportionate cost of the wool increases. What is the present price in the American markets, of common domestic wool, of native growth ?— It is worth 20 cents per lb. when washed upon the sheep's back. Do you know the present difference in price of wool of the same quality in the British and in the American markets? — I do not. Is it important to the farming interests of your state, to discourage the importation of foreign wool ? — In my opinion it is important, by laying an effective duty upon foreign woollen cloths and foreign wool ; and without such a duty upon woollen fabrics, an increased duty upon wool would be of no benefit to the wool-growers of our state. Can the American manufacturer afford to pay a higher price for domestic wool than that article now commands, while the present price of cloth continues ?-^I think not. • Does conlitmed. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 173 Does tlie importation of foreign wool contribute to ; depress the price of domestic wool in i oary 1 giPS our markets .? — It certainly does, in a great measure, inasmuch as the quantity of any ^ '. article in the market, and the demand, regulate the price. Are you in possession of the fact, that considerable quantities of wool are imported ? — I be- Inclosure Is" i lieve the fact to be so. in N° ii. Does not the importation of wool give an advantage to the woollen manufacturers having establishments near the sea-ports over those situated in the interior districts, where wool is grown ? — I cannot make up a correct opinion upon the question. ' Do you believe that laying a considerable duty on imported wobl, would be injurious to thfe woollen manufacturers liear the sea-ports? — I think it would be a serious disadvan- sage, unless a corresponding protection was given to the manufacturer ; but if that should be done, the injury v?ould be temporary ; in the West, these alterations would not, in my opinion, be so much felt. Where woollen manufacturers are wool growers also, but manufacture considerably more than they procure from their own flocks, is it not advantageous to them that the price of wool should be low, as they are buyers, not sellers, of wool ? — It certainly is not the interest of any American manufacturer to so depress the price of domestic wool, as to drive the farmer from due attention to his sheep ; his flocks should increase (to say the least) with the manufactories ; the same principles of national itidependence being involved in both cases. We ought at all times to have a full supply of the raw material at home, to guard against the contingency of war. Can you speak with confidence as to what section of the United States is best adapted to the growing of wool to the greatest advantage? — My opinion is, that the finer wools can be most plentifully and cheaply grown in Western Virginia, Western Pennsylvania, in parts of New York, and in the Northern part of Ohio. Have you any wool grown in your section of country, equal to the best imported Saxony or Merino wool? — For my own part, I have no hesitation in saying, that we have Merino wool in the West, as fine as the best Saiony wool which I have ever seen^ and I have exa- mined many fine parcels. I have the testimony, too, of Mr. Woods, our wool stapler, who served a regular apprenticeship in England of seven years, and who has continued in the business of wool stapling ^n England (where he handled the finest Saxony samples) and in the United States, for the last twenty years. The quantity, however, is small, not amountiiig to more than three or four thousand pounds out of a parcel of eighty or a hundred thousand pounds; it is increasing annually, and will increase, if the business is.properly encouraged. The Saxony sheep is but an improvement on Spanish Merino, by climate and attention ; and the climate of my section of the country is equally favourable to the improvement of our Merino breed. Within the last thirteen years, I have discovered a decided improvement in the staple of our wool from our full-blooded Merinos. Abraham Schenck, admitted and sworn. Question. What has been the avterage quantity of wool consumed, for the last three years," in your factory ? — Jnswer. I cannot tell the quantity of wool we have used for the last three years; but, from the 3d June 1826 to the 3d June 1827, by the account from our books, it appears that we consumed 70,400 lbs. of Merino fleece wool, as washed upon the sheep. In 'the same tinie, we consumed about 5,000 lbs. of coarse Buenos Ayres wool, for listings, headings, and the like. What proportion of this raw material was imported, and what proportion was of domestic production? — It was all domestic wool, except the 5,000 lbs. of coarse wool mentioned in the last answer. What were the relative qualities and prices of the raw material consumed in this factory ?■ — The quality of the wool we use is purchased as full-blooded Merino, and for which we pay an average price of 40 cents per lb. This wool is assorted at our factory into the following qualities, and valued at the following relative prices ; viz. — Taking 80,000 lbs. which we have actually purchased at this average price, it will stand as follows : — 400 lbs. pick lock, valued at ^ 1 . 11,600 lbs. No. 1, - ,f - 36,000 lbs. 2, - „ 24,000 lbs. 3, - .. . . 8,000 lbs. 4, or livery. The 70 000 lbs. used between the 3d June 1826 and the 3d June 1827, was purchased at higher prices, and cost us an average .price of 42 1 cents per lb. ; the average cost of the Buenos Ayres wool was from 8 to 12 cents per lb. accordmg to my best recollection. I have, no data from which to speak on this point; but, upon the others, I speak from certam information, . n ■, • Are you a wool grower ; and if so, what does it cost you per head per annum, tor keepmg your sheep ?~I am not. ., , „ • \- ,• . >, • Is the growing of wool a considerable business with the farmers in your section ot country? —It is. j1 think the county in which I reside has 300,000 sheep, from the best information I have been able to obtain. . ■ Is there in your section of country, a surplus of domestic wool over and above what is .^78.' Y 3 required 20, amounts to - S^So 00 60, - - 6,960 00 40, - 14,400 00 34. - - 8,160 00 25. s 2,000 00 32,000 00 174- PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. required by the manufactories in the same section ?— There is in my county a very>lai^ s _■ ^ ■> one ; I have been informed, and believe it to be true, that some of the farmers have now four . . crops on hand unsold. "^nNM 1 ' ** proportion of the wool manufactured in your district of country is foreign, and what continued. proportion is wool of the growth of the United States ?— I can only answer in relation to our own factoiy ; all the wool we consumed between the 3d June 1826 and 3d June 1827, was domestic, except about 5,000 pounds of very coarse wool. We have lately purchased a quantity of Spanish wool in the New York market, to be worked in our factory. Has domestic wool materially depreciated in price within the last three years ; if yea, to what causes do you attribute the depreciation? — It has depreciated in price materially; and the reason I assign is, that the low price of wool in foreign markets, enables the foreign manufacturer to send his manufactured articles into our markets at a lower price than for- merly ; and also to send foreign wool at a lower price than domestic wool of the same quality has been selling at. Is the number of sheep increasing or diminishing in your neighbourhood ?— I should think they were rather diminishing than otherwise ; but they may be about stationary. What proportion in cash does the present cost of wool bear to the present cost of the fabric, as manufactured at your factory ? — I have not the data with me to furnish a satisfac- tory answer to this question. What is the present price in the American markets of common domestic wool of native growth ? — ^I do not know ; but, from the best information I have, it is from 20 to 25 cents per lb. Do you know the present difference in price of wool of the same quality in the British and in the American markets? — The only information I have, is the fact, that in October last we purchased, in the New York market, 30 bales of Spanish wool, at 72 cents per lb., which cost, in London, in the preceding August, two shillings and one penny sterling, or 46 cents per lb. ; making a difference of 26 cents per lb. upon the very same wool. Are you in possession of the fact, that considerable quantities of wool are imported ? — • I know there were large quantities imported the last year. Is it important to the farming interests of your state to discourage the importation of foreign wool ? — I think it would be. Can the American manufacturer afford to pay a higher price for domestic wool than that article now commands, while the present price of cloth continues ? — No, he cannot afford to pay the price now asked for it. Saturday, January 26, 1828. James Wolcott, jun. admitted and sworn. Question. What has been the average quantity of wool consumed for the last three years in your factory ? — Answer. In 1825 we consumed about 70,000 pounds of wool; in 1826, about 72,569 pounds ; and in 1827, about 60,000 pounds. What proportion of this raw material was imported, and what proportion was of domestic production? — In 1825, I think about one-fourth, part of the wool consumed was imported. In 1826, we used 54,767 pounds of American wool, which averaged us about 45 cents per pound; 9,688 pounds of Saxony, the average cost of which was 80 1 cents ; 7,211 pounds of Spanish, the average cost of which was 35 cents ; and 903 pounds of Italian, the average cost of which was 32 J cents per pound. The whole averaging 48^ cents. What were the relative qualities and prices of the raw material consumed in your factory ? — In 1825, wool cost us higher than stated in my answer to the last question, but I cannot give the rate with accuracy. In 1827, commencing in July, better wool than we gave 45 cents for in 1826, was purchased by us at 40 cents. The same quality of wool is now worth, in the Boston market, at least fifty cents per pound. Is the growing of wool a considerable business in your state with the farmers ? — In some of the western counties of the state it is, but not generally so. Has wool materially depreciated in price during the last three years ; to what is the depre- ciation to be attributed ; and is it owing in any material degree to importations?— It has depreciated since 1825. I attribute this to the depreciation in the price of woollens. The importations of wool effect the reduction in part. Are you apprized of the fact, that large quantities of wool are imported ; and does not this tend to depreciate the price of the domestic wool? — I am apprized of the fact. The importation of wool does tend to reduce the price of domestic wool. Is there as much wool grown iu Massachusetts as is consumed in the woollen manufac- tories of that state; if not, what proportion of the whole quantity do you think is imported, and what proportion is grown in the state? — There is but -a small part of the wool grown in the state of Massachusetts, manufactured there. I cannot answer the other part of the question satisfactorily. Is it important, in your opinion, to the farming interests of your state, to discourage, by further duties, the importation of foreign wool? — It is important to them, and to our farmers generally. The nation ought to encourage the growth of wool; which can only be. done by efficient duties on wool and woollens. What is the price in the Eastern markets of the common domestic wool of native growth . — At this time, from 20 to 25 cents. Do you believe that laying a considerable duty on imported wool would be mjurious to the interest of the woollen manufactures iu your section of country; and would it tend- to force PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 175 force the woollen manufacture into those sections of the United States where wool can be grown to more advantage than in Massachusetts ?— It would be, if the mannfactvired articles were not further protected. The latter part of the question I cannot satisfactorily answer. Jonas B. Brovm, admitted and sworn. Question. What has been the average quantity of wool consumed for the last three years, in your factory 1—:- Answer. In 1825, we used about 70,000 pounds of wool ; in 1826, about 90,000 pounds ; in 1827, we used about 124,000 pounds of wool. In 1826, we finished a new factory, which was commenced in i8!24. What proportion of this raw material was imported, and what proportion was of domestic production ?— In 1825, about one-fourth of the quantity used was foreign wool. In 1826 and 1827, about the same proportion ; the remainder was of domestic growth. What were the relative qualities and prices of the raw material consumed in your factory ? — ^We consumed wool varying in price from 37^ cents to 1 dolkr 65 cents; about three-fourths of the whole we used was of American growth, and varied from 37 1 to 60 cents. The foreign wool cost us from 60 to ;^i. 65 cents. Are you a wool-grower? — I am not. Is the growing of wool a considerable business with the farmers of your state ? — Amongst the western portion of them it is. Has wool materially depreciated in price during the last three years ; if yea, to what is the depreciation to be attributed ; and is it owing, in any material degree, to importations? — It is considerably lower than in 1825. There are two causes, one is the depreciation of the price abroad, and the other the unprofitable condition of the woollen manufacturer at home. It is in part owing to importations, because, if there were none imported, it would be some- thing higher, unless the manufacturer could not buy at all. Are you apprized of the fact that large quantities of wool are imported ; and does not this tend to depreciate the price of the domestic wool ? — I am apprized of the fact that large quantities are imported, and I have previously said it does. What are the usual qualities of the wool imported ? — Coarse and fine wools are imported principally. The coarse wools are worth from 10 to 15 cents. In the Boston market the usual prices of the fine wool are from 60 to ^ 1. 65 cents. Is the number of sheep increasing or diminishing in your section of country? — I am not able to determine. Is there as much wool grown in Massachusetts as is consumed in the woollen manufac- tures of that state; if not, what proportion of the whole quantity do you think is imported, and what proportion is grown in the state ? — ^There is not as much grown in the state as ie consumed. I do not know the proportion, but think it inconsiderable, compared with the whole quantity consumed in Massachusetts. Of the quantity manufactured in the state, I should think not quite one-fourth part is imported. I cannot state what proportion is grown in the state. , Is it important, in your opinion, to the farming interests of your state, to discourage, by further duties, the importation of foreign wool ? — I think it is. Where manufacturers of woollens are growers of wool also, but grow less wool than they manufacture, are they not interested, on a financial calculation, in keeping down the price of wool, as they are buyers, not sellers, of wool ? — They are not so much interested to keep down the price of wool, as those who grow no wool ; and those who grow no wool, think their interest lies in protection to the wool-growers, as well as to themselves. What do you understand to be the present difference between the price of wool in England and the United States, of the same quality ?— I have not been concerned in any importations myself, but I believe the general diffierence is about 60 per cent between the cost in England and the sale price in the Boston market. Do you know the relative prices at which wool can be furnished from the port of CadiZ;, in Spain, to the manufacturer in Manchester, in England, compared with the prices at which it'can be furnished to the manufacturer at Boston, in Massachusetts? — I cannot tell. What is the price in the Eastern market, of the common domestic wool of native growth ? ^From 20 to 24 cents; quarter blood, about 30 cents; half blood, 37 1; three-quarter blood, 42i; and full blood, 50 cents per pound. From your knowledge of the different qualities of wool used by the American manufacturers, will foreign wool, costing abroad 10 cents and under, come into competition with the do- mestic wool ?— I think not. ., ,, J , . , J , ,j. • • • . ., Do you believe that laying a considerable duty on imported wool would be inmnous to the interest of the woollen manufacturers of your section of country; would it teiid to force the woollen manufacture into those sections of the United States where wool can be grown to more advantage than in Massachusetts ?— I think it would be injurious. Unless there should be a considerable duty also laid on manufacture of woollens. The circumstance alone of •wool being cheaper in one section of country than in another, would not, I think, force the manufacturer from one section to another of the country, Joshm Clapp, admitted and sworn. Question. What is the average quantity of wool consumed for each of the last three vt^iXsl—Anstoer. I cannot speak for a longer term than two years^. Prom November 12, 1 825, to November' 12, 1 826, we used 41 ,602 lbs. wool. During the same time the succeed- ing year, we consumed 43,729lbs. 578. i 4 ^"^* 1827—1828. V ^^ . i Iticlosore N* 1 in N° 11. continued. 176 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827— 1S28. ^ — ^_^ ■ Iiiclosure N° i in N" 11. continued. What proportion of the wool used, was imported, and what part of domestic growth ?— In the first of the years spoken of in the last answer, we used 10,176 lbs. of American wool, and of Saxony, 31,426 lbs. In the second year, we used 39,863lbs. of American wool, and of Saxony and Spanish, 3,886 lbs. What were the relative qualities and prices of the raw material consumed in your fac- tory?— In the first year we i)aid, on an average, about 62 cents for the foreign wool, and about 50 cents for the American. In the second year the foreign wool averaged 50 cents and the domestic 34 cents. Is there a sufficient quantity of domestic wool grown in the United States, to supply the wants of the domestic manufacturer ? — So far as I am able to form an opinion, I do not think the quantity grown is sufficient. In what sections of country is the domestic wool gi'own, that is sold in the Boston market,? — It is grown in Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio ; considerable quantities have been received from the latter state of late years. Has domestic wool materially depreciated in price within, the last three years ; if so, to what causes do you attribute that depreciation ?^The price has fallen ; and I attribute the fact to the embarrassed state of the manufacturers, and to the importation of foreign wool. I think the diminution in price has been about 33^ per cent. Is the number of sheep increasing or diminishing in your neighbourhood ? — I think they have remained for some time at about the same number. , . What proportion, in cash, does the present cost of wool bear to the present cost of fabrics, made at your factory ?• — I think the cost of the wool constitutes about one-half the cost of the cloth. ■ What is the present price in the United States markets of common domestic wool of native growth ? — I take it to be from twenty to twenty-five cents. Do you know the present difference in price of wool of the same quality in the British and American markets? — J think wool of the same quality is from 60 to 75 per cent higher in America, than in England. Is it important to the farming interest in your state, to discourage the importation of foreign wool ? — I think it is important to that interest, that importation of foreign wool be discouraged. If foreign wool should be excluded, would domestic wool bring a better price, if foreigii fabrics are admitted under the present duties ? — I should think not. Do you know that considerable quantities of foreign wool are imported ? — I am aware that large quantities are imported. I am myself a large importer of that article. What kinds of wool are imported, and from what places ? — Almost every kind of wool is imported. Very coarse wools are received from South America and Smyrna, and these form the largest proportion. Fine wools are brougJit from Germany, Spain, and England. I cannot pretend to speak distinctly of the different proportions. Do the coarse wools, costing under eight cents per pound in the foreign market, come in competition with any kind of domestic wool ? — They do not.. Do you know of any manufacturing establishment using exclusively the coarsest foreign wool ; and what kind of fabrics do they produce ? — I know of one establishment at Canton, Massachusetts, which uses that wool exclusively, and there nlay be others. The cloth which they make is called and known as negro cloths. Does not the importation of wool give an advantage to the woollen manufacturers having establishments near the seaports, over those situated in the interior, where wool is grown ? — So long as they use foreign wool, I think the manufacturer near the seacoast has an advan- tage over him in the country. If domestic wool be used, I think the advantage is in favour of the factory in the interior, because that wool is generally cheaper in the country than in the market towns. Do you believe that laying a considerable duty on imported wool would be injurious to the woollen manufacturer near the seaports ? — I do not think it would affect him, as to pur- chases ; because, at the present price of fabrics, he would not buy it at all ? Benjamin Poor, admitted and sworn. Question. What is the average quantity of wool consumed, for the last three years? — Answer. I cannot answer as to the quantity used with sufficient certainty, to answer any valuable purpose. What proportion of the wool used was imported, and what was of domestic growth ? — We used a fraction more than half of foreign wool in 1827. I cannot speak as to any other year. Are you engaged in the importation of foreign wool, and woollen goods; if so, from what places? — We have been engaged in the importation of foreign wool from Germany; we have not imported any from any other place. What has been the price of wool in foreign countries for the year 1827, compared with the prices of the same quality of wool in the American market ? — It has, in my opinion, been from 70 to 80 per cent higher in the American market than in Europe, during the past year. Do you know that American wool has been sent to England to be manufactured ; and what was the result ? — A quantity of wool was sent to England for manufacture ; a part of the same had been sold at Boston at 50 cents ; theoriginal accounts of manufacturing it are in my possession, and I found the same wool was valued in England at 23J cents. Is PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 177 Is importing wool a profitable, business; and do the importers find ready sales for it ? — 1827—182^ 5^ It.has been a profitable business for some time past, say at least for 1827 ; but it is attended with uncertainty, like other mercantile pursuits.. During the past year, the sales have been very ready. We have sold, as auctioneers, about 360,000 lbs. of foreign wool, and about 108,000- lbs. of domestic wool. Inclosure N° i inN" 11. continued. > Ekuterre Irenee Dupont, admitted, and sworn. Question. What has been the average quantity of wool consumed in this factory for the last three years? — Answer. According to the best estimate I can make, (not having the books to refer to,) we have consumed for the last three years, on the average, about 40,000 lbs. of wool each year. Formerly we carried on the business more extensively than we now do, and consumed a larger value of wool each year, the wool we then used being finer. What proportion of this wool is of foreign, and what of domestic, growth ? — The wool used in our factory, for the three last years, has been almost all domestic wool. We have, during this time, used some Smyrna arid some South American wool for negro cloths ; this' wool being of the coarsest kind. What is the general quality of the wool you work; and what have been the average prices paid for it, for the last three years? — ^The most of the wool we have used has been the native wool of this country, and the residue coarse Smyrna and South, American 'wool. In 1825, we paid about 35 cents for pulled wool, which we mostly used ; in 1 826, I cannot say what price we paid ; in 1827, we paid for the same kind of wool, from about 25 to 30 cents' per pound; I think the price has gradually fallen from 1825 to this time; I think we hav6 paid from 16 to 22 cents for the Smyrna wool, and about the same for the South American wool. Are you a wool-gVower ; if yea, what is the average expense to you, per head, of keeping your sheep, and what number do you keep ? — I am a wool grower, and now keep about a hundred sheep ; I formerly had about 1,200 sheep ; I purchased a farm to keep thedi upon, and have never estimated, therefore cannot state the expense per Head of keeping them. The raising of sheep has been to me a losing business to a great extent. Is the growing of wool a considerable business with the farmers in your section of country ? — It is very limited. Is there in your section of country a surplus of wool, over and above what is required' for the manufactories in your section of country ? — I think there is no surplus; but there is, on the contrary, a deficiency. What 'proportion of the wool manufactured in your section of the country is of foreign growth, and what of the growth of the United States ? — I cannot tell. From what states in the Union is obtained the deficiency, if any, of the domestic wool manufactured in your section of country ? — We get our own from Baltimore and New York, as we use principally the pulled wool; but we have also obtained fleece wool from the western parts of Pennsylvania; the wool purchased in Baltimore and New York is of domestic growth. Has domestic wool materially depreciated in price within the last three years ; if yea, to what cause do you attribute that depreciation ?— It has depreciated in price, and I consider the cause to be the depressed situation of the woollen manufactories. Is the number of sheep in your section of country increasing or diminishing at the present time ? — It is decreasing ; the discouragement is so great, that the farmers pay very httle attention to their flocks. What proportion does the present cost of wool bear to the present cost of the cloth or fabric, as a general average?--! am not a sufiiciently practical manufacturer of wool to answer that question. What is the present price in the American market of common domestic wool of native growth ? — As near as I can tell, without reference to pur books, I should say from 20 to 25 cents per pound for the fleece wool, and frord' 25 to 30 cents per pound for the pulled or skin wool. • ■ 1. t> • • i Do you know the present difierence in price of wool of the same quality in the British and in the American markets ? — I have no knowledge'on the Subject. Are you in possession of the fact that large importations of raw wool are annually made mtd this country?— It is a fact generally known. r , • Does not the importation of foreign wool give an advantage to the manufactlirer who is located near the sea-board, over those located in the interior, where wool is grown?— I think xi may'give a small advantage, but that advantage is fiilly counterbalanced by others which the interior manufacturers possess, of other descriptions, over those situated upon the sea-board. Joshua W' Pierce, admitted, and sworn. Question, What has been the average quantity of wool consumed in this factory for the last three years "i— Answer. Our books are not made up to a later date than 24th November 1826; but from the average consumption before, that date,, and from my acquaintance with the business, I should say, including the whole of the year 1827, we have consumed, on the averao-e for the last three years,, 100,000. pounds of wool each year. What proportion of this wool is of foreign,and what of domestic, growth?— From the best calculation I can make from facts now within my knowledge, I should judge that the foreign wool consumed in our factory, on an average for tlie last three years, woiild be 43 per cent uDon the whole consumption \ it cannot vary materially from that ratio. • » ^578. Z What 178 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS What is the general quality of the wool you work ; and what have been the average 1827 — 1828. prices paid for it for the last three years ?— We have for the three last years purchased and •- — — — V r-^ used a variety of qualities of wool, and our extremes in price in 1825, were from 90 cents to 22 Inclosure N" 1 cents per pound for foreign wool, as nearly as my memory will enable me to speak ; in this in N° 1 1. year our fine wool was Spanish, and the coarse was, I think, Adrianople. We paid this year continued. for our domestic wool from 25 to 62 \ cents per lb. according to my recollection. In 1826, we paid from 12^ to 96 cents for our foreign wool ; the fine this year was Saxony, and the coarse Portuguese. For our domestic this year, we paid from 20 to 55 cents per lb. The domestic wool which we purchased this year at 55 cents, was better than that we purchased the preceding year at 62J cents per lb. In 1827, we paid for our foreign wools from 61 to 74 cents per lb,, it being all fijie Saxony wool. For our domestic wool this year we paid from 1 7 to 45 cents per lb. Are you a wool-grower ; if yea, what is the average expense to you, per head, of keeping your sheep, and what number do you keep ? — I am not. Is the growing of wool a considerable business with the farmers m your section of country ?— Not in our immediate neighbourhood, but a good deal so in the upper counties of the state in which I reside. Is there in your section of country a surplus of wool over and above what is required for the manufactories in that section of country ? — There is not a surplus, but a very great deficiency. What proportion of the wool manufactured in your section of country is of foreign growth, and what of the growth of the United States? — I should judge the quantity consumed in that neighbourhood is more than half of it imported from foreign countries. From what states of the Union is obtained the deficiency, if any, of the domestic wool manufactured in your section of country ? — Principally Vermont and New York, except such part of it which comes from our own state, and a very little from Maine. Has domestic wool materially depreciated in price within the last three years ; if yea, to what cause do you attribute that depreciation ? — It has very considerably ; I should say from 25 to 30 per cent. I attribute the depreciation to the overstock of foreign cloths in our markets, and to the consequent depressed price of woollen cloths. Is the number of sheep in your section of country increasing or diminishing at the present time? — I have no means of judging with accuracy, but from what I have heard I should think they were decreasing. What proportion does the present cost of wool bear to the present cost of the cloth or fabric, as a general average ? — My judgment would be that on the bulk of cloths similar to those we make the cost of the wool would be about one-half of the cost of the cloth when finished. What is the price in the American market of common domestic wool of native growth ?-r- I have no means of judging, except by the prices which we pay ; they are from 1 7 to 20 cents at this time. Do you know the present difference in the price of wool of the same quality in the British and in the American markets?— I do not know except from information, but from infor- mation upon which I can rely, I believe the difference of price to be about one-half ; as part of this information, I refer to facts detailed in papers now in possession of Benjamin Poor, a witness now before the committee. Are you in possession of the fact, that large importations of raw wool are annually made into this country ? — I do know the fact as a subject of general notoriety. Does not the importation of foreign wool give an advantage to the manufacturer who is located near the sea-board, over those located in the interior, where wool is grown ? — In the mere cost of his wool I think it does ; but that advantage is more than counterbalanced by the facility of procuring labour, and the cheapness of living in the interior. TESTIMONY IN RELATION TO WOOLLENS. Friday, January 11, i8?8. The Hon. John Mitchell, further examined. Question. ARE the woollen cloths used in your section of the country mostly foreign or domestic? — Answer. They are mostly imported. Why are they preferred ?• — ^They are considered the cheapest. Would an advance on the cost of low price cloth, such as is used by the labouring classes in the iron district, be injurious to the owners and workmen of those' districts ?— I do not know that it would affect the owners or proprietors of those works, because they would secure that additional cost by an increased price on the goods ; but I think it would be prejudicial to the workmen, because it would enhance the price which they now pay. This state of things might not exist when the quantity manufactured at home becomes sufficient to answer the demand; the price of labour is now fixed, arid that price would not be raised in proportion to the increased price of goods, Wednesday, January 16, 1828. Simon N. Dexter, further examined. Question. Where do you reside? — Answer. At Whitesborough, Oneida county, state of New York, Are PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 179 , , Are you now, or have you lately been, concerned in the manufacture of wool ; and, if yea, for. wtat length of time, and in what capacity? — I have been for seven or eight years en- gaged in the . manufacture of wool at Oriskanyj Whitestown, New York, as an acting, director of an incorporated company ; for about four years of that time, I have been the ad- ministrator of John Sharp, who left at his death a very considerable wool factory, called the Clinton Factory, which, in my characier of administra.tor, has been partially under my care. This last is situated in Paris, Oneida county. Mr. vGeorge Hutton was co-partner of Mr. Sharp, and is still interested as a parlnfer in the business, but owns no part of the factory ; he is the acting man in the factory. I administered on the estate of Mr. Sharp as a creditor.-. What is the name of the establisbinetit in which you are, or have been concerned ; where is it situated ; and is it an incorporated company, or an individual iiiterest ? — The factory in which I am concerned, and of which I am a director, beloiigs to an incorporated company, by the corporate name, I think, of the " Oriskany Woollen Manufacturing Company." What is the amount of capital invested in the manufactory of which you speak ? — There were 2,000 shares at one hundred dollars each, this was the nominal capital ; the last pay- ment on the. shares was made about three years ago, and that payment increased the sum paid in, to forty-seven dollars and fifty cents, making the capital, actually vested, amount to ninety-five thousand dollars. The company purchased a water privilege from the Oneida Manufacturing Company, for which they gave ,$■ 3,000. and for this, stock was issued to that amount ; it had cost the Oneida Company S i.ooo ; three hundred shares ^speaking in round numbers) were forfeited, after paying about ten dollars on each share ; this leaves the capital paid in, eighty-three thousand seven hundred and fifty dollars. Some wool may have been taken in payment of the last instalment, at cash price. The charter was renewed two or three years ago, and the stock, by that act, was reduced to fifty dollars per share. When was the manufactory first put into operation ; of, if an incorporated company, under its present charter? — ^The company commenced its operation some two or three years pre- vious to the late war; I think, in i8io.- Has it continued in operation from the time it was first Started, to the present time; if no, at what times, and for what causes, has it ceased its operations ? — It has continued con- stantly in operation since its first estabUshniient, except at short periods, for the purpose of making repairs. What is the average expense, per lb. of cleaning, assorting, picking, oiling, carding, and converting the wool from the state in which it is purchased, into rolls or batts ? — I am hot sufficiently acquainted with the detailed operations of a factory, to give a satisfactory answer to this question. What is the average expense per lb. of converting the rolls or batts into yarn, and of cleansing, sizing, and preparing the yarn for weaving?— I am obliged to give the same answer to this as to the last question. What kinds of cloth do you usually manufacture ?— We manufacture, principally, narrow cloth, called kerseymeres, of about 31 inches wide, when finished ; we also make some broad cloths from the two higher qualities of the wool. What quantity of wool is required to make one yard o£ each of the descriptions of cloth made at your factory ; and what is the width in the flannel, of each description of cloth ? — • It requires from 14 to 1 6 ounces of wool well washed (and it is in this state we buy it,) to make a yard of kerseymere ; this is made of the third and fourth quahties, called fine and downrights. Sometimes a small proportion of this same species of cloth is made of the superfine or second quality. It requires about two pounds of wool to make a running yard of broad cloth ; this cloth, when it comes fi-om the loom, is from a| to 2 ^ yards in width,. and it shrinks to 1 1 and if yards in fulling and finishing ; the weight of the cloth, when finished, including the hsting, is about the same as the quantity of wool necessary to make it, exclu- sive of, the weight of the wool used in making the list. What is the cost of Wea,ving each yard of each description of cloth, at the works referred to? — ^We hire female weavers (girls), who board themselves, and are paid three dollars per wteek. Each one attends to one power loom, and perhaps to two. Each loom weaves about 75 yards per week of kerseymere. , . , s • j .i, • What is the cost, per yard, of washing, fuUmg, dymg, and dressmg, and otherwise fitting for the market, each yard of each description of cloth before described?— I cannot answer this question. ^ ^ .1 r . c What is and has been, for the three years last past, the value, per yard, at the factory, of each description of cloth so made?— I cannot say that we have any market price at the factory In 1825, our best kerseymeres brought at auction in New York (where we sell almost exclusively), two dollars per yard. I speak of blues, made of the third quahty of wool Some did sell as high as two dollars and thirty cents. None sold for less than two dollars. The nett proceeds did not exceed two dollars per yard. The second quality of mixtures and drabs, and other colours (not blue), varied from $1. 35-/0 ^1. 65. the yard, sold in the same manner, netting us on an average about^i. 45.' In 1826, the best quality brought from ^1. 30. to ^1. 55- and netted us about^i 40. The second quality sold at from 80 to 90 cents, and netted us about 80 cents. In 1827, the best quality sold, in the same manner, from^i. 55- to ^1. 75; but few were sold at the price last men- tioned and the nett sales may be put down at ^'1. 60. The second quality sold, in the same manner, at from 82 to 120 cents, and netted about 95 cents. It may have been f\tm jL ^pn^K Would vou now contract to furnish a quantity of second quality kerseymeres, described 578' Z 2 by 1827—1828. 1 ^^ Inclosure N" i in N" 11. continued. in N" 1 1 continued. 180 . PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS IgW 1 828. ^y y"'^' ^* 9o ^^^^^ P^'^ y^'^'^ ^~^ wouW not feel authorized to make a contract at th at price, ^^_ ' , but I would undertake to furnish the article at one dollar per yard, to a limited extent- At ^^ ''^ ^ 95 cents per yard, I would not contract to furnish a single yard. I believe there would be ^"^l^^xTo^.T * a.loss at that price. At one dollar there would be some profit, say about 5 per cent, enough, perhaps, to pay expenses, &c. but not enough to cover wear and tear, and pay interest on the capital invested. I would contract at this price only because we want money. Dp you expect to sell your kerseymeres of the second quaUty at a price higher than $y per yard, under the present rates of duty?— I do not expect to sell the second qaality at more than ,;^i under the existing duty on the imported article. How many hands do you employ in the Oriskany Factory, on the average? — I think we have from 80 to 100 commonly employed, but cannot speak with certainty as to the precise number. Have you ever made any dividends on the capital employed in your factory ? — One was made about five years ago. It was a dividend of two dollars upon a share payable in goods. There may have been one other, but I am not positive whether there was or not. Have you known any dividends made on the stock of the Clinton factory? — 1 have not known any, and am very certain there has been none. 'That was an incorporated company, and was sold by the original owners to Mr. Sharp, and the stock was pledged for the payment. The stock of that company orignally consisted of 1 ,000 shares, of J^ 100 each, nominally, upon which either J? 35 or ^40 had been paid in, all of which was expended in the water privilege, buildings, and machinery, as I am informed by the old stockholders. About seven or eight years ago. Sharp bought all these shares for J' 5 each, except about forty, owned by Thomas Hart, and was to pay in goods for all the shares, except the stock of Ephraim Hart, for which he was to pay in money, oil a long credit, and perhaps also to two other persons. Do you know the cause of the depression of the stock of the Clinton factory ? — I do not know any other cause than the general depression of the woollen business; but I had not then been connected with that factory, and my information is derived from casual observa- vation, and the information of the then stockholders. I know of no mismanagement or losses by bad debts to that factory, nor have I heard of any. Taking the factory at what it cost Mr. Sharp, do you consider the carrying it on an advan- tage or a loss to the persons now owning it? — They have not realized much .profit. When Mr, Sharp died, he left a large stock on hand. The terms on which that stock was laid in have operated to their disadvantage. Another cause why they have not done well, is the want of capital. But they have been enabled to pay considerable debts. If Mr. Hutton, who is an active and judicious man, were there, with a small capital, the concern would do better. It is even now advantageous to the parties, because it enables them to keep every thing ready for better times. They have worked wool on shares; and I think that a better business than buying the material. Do you believe that under the existing revenue laws, a factory located as the Clinton factory is, possessed of fair capital, and conducted with skill, judgment, and industry, would yield seven per cent for the capital employed ? — I do not believe it would , yield any interest at all. What officers or agents are employed by the Oriskany Woollen Manufacturing Company,, and at what wages to each oflicer or agent ? — The ofiicers of the company are five directors', who receive each ^2 for every attendance at the meetings of the Board ; the number of these meetings averages about four annually ; the Board appoints froni its own body, a president,, secretary and treasurer; the president and secretary receive nothing as compensation; the. treasurer receives ^50 per annum over and above his pay as a director; a superintending, agent, who is paid ,$ 800 per annum, and is furnished with a house and garden, rent free ; and a clerk of the store, who receives about ^10 per month, and is boarded. What is the average number of hands, other than those named in the last answer, em-: ployed in the Oriskany factory ; what are the descriptions, as men, women boys, girls, and what their wages ? — That company employs in its service one head carder, at a salary of ,$ 400 per annum, who boards himself, as do all the hands employed in the factory, except three apprentices, who receive board and clothing ; one machinist, at ^ ,1. 50. per working day ; one, superintending weaver, at J' 1. 37 i. per working day ; one principal fuller ; one presser, &c. ; two hands in the finishing room, and one dyer, each at ,$1. 25, per working day; ten hands in the spinning and carding rooms ; two assistant carders, and one assistant in and about the dying-house, each at J" 1 per working day ; and one watchman, also at Jl" 1 per day, for every day ; one fireman, at about 80 cents per day, and two or three labourers,, getting wood, &c. at about 75 cents per day each; these include all, the labouring men I can now recollect ; one girl to letter the cloth, at ,$ 4 per week ; twenty-four women and girls, at ^ 3 each per week ; and eighteen or twenty women and girls, at ,$ 2, 50. each per week ; the residue of the hands are young boys and girls, whose wages will vary from $ 1. 25. to ^ 2 per week each ; the whole number employed will range from 8a to 100 ; also- an assorter of wool, at about $^0 per month, and an assistant assorter, at about ^,^'20 per month ; these I did not before recollect. What are the usual working hours of the hands employed in the Oriskany factory ? — The working hours, summer and winter, are, I think, eleven in number ; they commence work at five o'clock in the morning in winter, and, I think, in summer also ; the leisure for breakfast and dinner is thirty minutes each ; but at what hour they break offfor breakfast I cannot say; for dinner it is at twelve o'clock M.; each person employed is held to work eleven hours for a day's work ; if any works less time, it is deducted ; if more time, he is paid extra PUBLISHED IN THE UnItED STATES. 181 eitrain proportion to the time -iwhen there is a hurry, the hands are induced to work one and two hours over the regular time each day, for which they are compensated. ' Should there be no change in the preseiit duties on imports, do you believe that the owners of the woollen manufactory at Oriskany of which you have spoken, would stop their factory? — No, I do not believe they would stop, unless compelled to do so; I think they wo^ld struggle on, in hope of bfetter times. ' ' Can you readily increase your machinery, so as to require an additional supply of wool ? We h ave an abundance of water power, and can readily put in operation machinery to make double the quantity of cloth we now make, if the market Vpould warrant it. At what distance in the interior is your factory from the city of New York?— About two hundred and fifty miles. [Adjourned until to-morrow morning, ten o'clock.] Thursday, January 17th, 1828. Mr. Simon N. Dexter, again admitted, and further examined. ' Question. Has any of the capital paid by the stockholders of the Oriskany manufacturing company, as appears from your former answers, been withdrawn from the business of manu- facturing at any time, and for any purpose 1— Answer. None of the capital paid in has been withdrawn. .Were you and the other directors of the Oriskany factory, of opinion, when the Tariff of 1824 was adopted, that it afforded a sufficient protection to woollen goods ? — I was not of that opinion, and I believe the directors generally were not ; I thought at the time, that the amendments in the Senate of the United States to the Tariff Bill, rendered the pro- tection insuflBcient to the cloths we were manufacturing. Did not the directors of that factory, immediately after the passing of that Act, invest an extensive amount of capital in the raw material, and increase the number of their labourers? — They did not ; we called for an instalment upon the shares that year to pay our debts; but we did not buy an unusual quantity of wool; generally in the summer, soon after slieaxing, we, buy a supply for the year ; we did no more that year, to my recollection; the instalment above-mentioned, I think, was called for before the passage of the Tariff Bill of 1,824, 3i?d I think, in July or August 1823, and made payable in or about January, 1824; but it might have been the year after. Can you state what was the cost of the establishment at Oriskany, when it was put into operation, and also the nett amount of sales annually ? — I cannot state the cost of the establish- ment when it went into operation. The first call upon the shares, of ^37. 50., had been paid in when I became a stockholder, which was from eight to ten years since; the factory was then in full operation ; I cannot tell the precise nett amount of sales of the factory annually ; we sell a great many cloths for wool ; the residue of our cloths are nearly all sold in New York; from the 1st November 1826 to 1st November 1827, I believe the whole amount of sales would be from Jl" 45,000 to J' 50,000. I think the amount of sales was probably 4? 10,000 less the preceding year; the quantity of cloth sold being about the same, but the qiiality rather better in the latter year. In 1827, the wool bore 'a less pri6e, but labour, dye stuffs, &c. were about the same in these two years. ■ Has it always been under the same management and direction that it is now ; and have the stockholders in this company generally expressed themselves satisfied with its manage- ment ? — ^The stockholders did complain of the management of the affairs of the company, and about seven or eight years ago the direction was changed, when I came in as a director; and soon after that time the agent was changed ; since then there has been no change of the direction, except by resignation. In or about August 1825, the agent was again changed, from a conviction, bn the part of the directors, that he had not sufficient energy or skill to promote the interests of the company. You have §aid, that the company kept a store at the factory ; do they sell largely of their own fabrics to their labourers and to others, at good- profit, and to what extent? — A large proportion of the labour at the factory has heretofore been paid at their store; the company ^ keep a general dry goods and grocery store, and have sold to the labourers at the usual profit of country trading stores-; the company are now endeavouring to change this practice, and to pay cash for labour, but have not yet effected it; the practice is, to give the labourer a' due bill, which is current at some of the neighbouring stores, for goods, as well as at the company's store, which bills are redeemed at the factory, in their cloths. The company da not now pay any more cash for labour than formerly; the agreement with the hands generally is to pay one half cash, but the proportion of cash paiid is usudly not more than from one- third to two-fifths; the profits, if any, made by the company at the storej go into and form' a part of the profits of the factory. ' Are there different patents or descriptions of machinery for spinning wool ; if yea, what patent or description is used in the Oriskany factbry, alid what patent or description is COh- oonsidered preferable? — We have a patent machine for spinning at Oriskany, called a " Brewster ;" we spin warp on this machine, and consider the mode a very good one ; the^ machine, however, is subject to get out of repair ; we also spin a part of the warp, and all the filling, in the usual mode. [The Honourable Mr. Storrs, a member of the House of Representatives from the state of New York, appeared in the committee room, and' signified a wish to the committee to propound to the witness then under examination (Mr. Dexter), before he should be finally . --g, Z 3 dismissed 1827—1828. ■* ^ / Inclosure N° t iuN° 11. continued^ 192 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827- -1828. Inclosure N° i in N" 11. continued. dismissed by the committee, certain interrogatories relating to subjects before the com- mittee ; whereupon it was , Resolved, Th-at the chairman be directed to address a note to Mr. Storrs, informing him that any interrogatories which he should please to deliver, in writing, to the chairman, by ten o'clock to-morrow morning, to be propounded to Mr. Dexter, would be considered' by the committee, and be put to the witness, if the committee should so order. [The examination of Mr. Dexter was then resumed.] Have not manufactories which have been put into operation of late years, commenced with machinery, improved very far beyond the machinery of those factories which com- menced ten or twelve years ago, and have the former great advantages over the latter from that cause ? — ^They certainly have advantages ; at the Oriskany manufactory we have made several improvements, and have in some instances discarded old machinery, to make room for other of a more improved sort. Mr. Betijamin Bakewell, admitted, and sworn. Question. Would such an increase of duty as would cause a material rise on low-priced cloths, and other low priced woollen goods, injuriously affect the interests of the manufac- turing classes, the artizans, mechanics and labourers of your city ?— Answer. A heavy duty on the lowest priced woollen goods would operate oppressively upon the poorer classes of persons referred to in the city of Pittsburg, as woollens are indispensable for clothing in that climate ; the reasons for my opinion are, that the person who has worn a fine coat may pay the same price and obtain a coarser one, but that the man who has worn that of the lowest price, must pay more to procure a coat, or have none. Have there been, and are there now, any woollen manufactories at or near Pittsburg ? — There are none in the city of Pittsburg of any considerable extent ; there is one of conse- quence at Steubenville, at about forty miles from Pittsburg ; there is one small woollen factory in the city, and one at about four miles distance ; there is also one of considerable extent at Economy, about eighteen miles from Pittsburg. Has the price of cotton and woollen goods varied for six or seven years past? — Being entirely out of the line of either business, I cannot answer the question. We are governed in our prices of these articles by the Eastern prices ; and if these articles have, during the time, varied in price at the East, they would, as a consequence, have varied with us. Who would be most likely to be benefited to the greatest extent by an increase of duty on woollen goods, the manufacturer, the workmen, or the community generally ? — If it be accompanied with an increase of the duty oh wool, -I think the farmer would be benefited. As to the duty on woollen goods alone, I should think the manufacturer would reap the most of the benefit, although the business becoming better, it would benefit the work- men also ; as, by the success of the master, the workmen would also do well. Friday, January i8, 1828. The Honourable Aaron Tuffts, admitted, and further examined. Question. Where do you reside ? — Answer, In the town of Dudley, county of Worcester, state of Massachusetts. Are you now, or have you lately been, concerned in the manufacture of wool; and, if yea, when or how long a time, and in what capacity? — I am now, and have been, concerned in the manufacture of wool. I began the business in which I am now engaged in 1824, and have been interested ever since as a proprietor and agent of our establishment. ' What is the name of the establishment in which you are or have been concerned, where is it situated, and is it an incorporated company, or an individual -interest ? — It is usually called the " Tufi'ts' Manufactory," and is situated in the said town of Dudley. It was not an incorporated company, practically, until the. first of July last, though we obtained an act of incorporation the last winter. On the first of July last we assumed the name of the. " TuflPts' Manufacturing Company," which is the corporate name, and since that time should be considered a corporate company. What is the amount of capital employed in the manufactory of which you speak ? — The capital actually employed is J' 40,000. Previous to the. first of July last, the capital employed by the persons interested was about J' 40,000, of which about two-thirds was property actually paid in by the individuals interested, and the remaining one-third was by a loan to the company, paying an annual interest of six per cent. When was the manufactory first put into operation ; or, if an incorporated company, under its present charter? — In the summer of 1824. The latter part of this question I have answered in my answer to the third interrogatory. Has it continued in operation from the time it was first started to the present time ; if no, at what times, and for what causes has it ceased its operations ? — It has ; but from June 1826 to June 1827, it was not carried on so extensively. During 1825 we hada con- tract with a contractor to supply clothing for the navy, and then found it necessary to employ others to do a portion of the work. After that time, we used our own machinery. What is the average expense per pound of cleaning, assorting, picking, oiling, parding, and converting the wool, from the state in which it is purchased, into rolls or batts ? — I am not prepared to answer this question, for the reason assigned in the latter part of my last answer. I believe no separate accounts of these processes are kept. What is the average expense per pound of converting the rolls or batts into yarn, and of cleansing. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 1S3 cleansing, sizing, and preparing the yarn for weaving?—;! am, for the same reason, unable to answer this question. What kinds of cloth do you usually manufacture ?—Cassimeres and broad cloths, exclu- sively, except when engaged in the contract for furnishing the navy contractor, as before- mentioned. What quantity of wool is required to make one yard of each of the descriptions of cloth made at your factory ; and what is the width in the flannel, of each description of cloth ?^- We estimate 2| pounds of wool (in the state we purchase it) for a yard of broad cloth. One half the quantity is estimated for the yard of cassimere. It would be more likely to require less for the cassimere than go over that estimate. When the broad cloth comes from the loom it varies in width from io| to ii| quarters. The cassimeres from the loom average from 5 J to 6 quarters. The broad cloths, when finished, are usually from 6 to 7 quarters. The cassimeres frOm 3 to 3I quarters. What is the cost of weaving each yard of each description of cloth manufactured at the works referred to ? — We hire weavers by the yard, and pay according to the quahty : broad cloths from 9 to 15 cents, cassimeres from 6 to 11 cents, per yard; the weaver finding himself, and his duty is to attend exclusively to the loom. Our broad cloths are wove partly by the hand, and partly by the power loom. The cassimeres are all wove in the hand loom. And then the committee adjourned until to-morrow morning, ten o'clock. Saturday, January 19, 1828. The Hon. Mr. Tuffts, again admitted, and further examined. QueUion. What is the cost, per yard, of scouring, fulling, dyeing, dressing, and otherwise preparing for the market, each yard, for each description of cloth before described ? — I cannot answer this question, for the reason heretofore assigned. What is and have been for the last three years, the value, per yard, at the factory, of each description of cloth so made ? — We never sell any of consequence at the factory, and there are no settled prices at that place. Our sales are generally made in Boston at private sale. The goods we sold in 1 825, were from 25 to 30 per cent higher than the sales at any time since. I speak from memory entirely. My impression is that our broad cloths sold, on the average in 1825, at three dollars per yard, nett, after deducting the commissions on the sales. The cassimeres, in the same year, sold, after the same deductions, at from ;^'i.25. to J'i.30.per yard. From 1st June 1826 to 1st July 1827, the broad cloths average about two dollars, nett sales, and the cassimeres about 80 cents, nett sales. The qualities and colours did not vary materially from the cloths sold in 1825. The sales spoken of were at the wholesale prices. Are there different patents or descriptions of machinery for spinning wool ; if yea, what patent or description is used in the factory of which you speak, and what patent or de- scription is considered preferable? — There are different kinds of machinery used in spinning wool. One is called brewsters the other are jennies. We use the latter, and they are generally considered preferable. We have never used the brewster ; and they have been laid aside by many as inferior to the other. What officers, agents, clerks, and superintendents, are employed in the factory of which you speak, and what wages or salaries to each ? — We employ a clerk whose wages, beside his board, in 1825, were J* 200, and in 1826, were J* 250. I have acted as ager>t myself, and I shall charge the company ,,§' 1,000, annually, for my services. The three other pro- prietors are constantly employed in the business, and should, in my opinion, charge the company, each, /H'soo annually. No adjustment has actually taken place, but this, in my opinion, would be the just rate of compensation. ' What number of hands are employed in the same factory ; what are their descriptions ; as men, women, boys, and girls, and what wages are paid for their services ?^The number has varied from fifty to sixty. At this time, there are 27 able bodied men, including the three proprietors, 19 women, and 7 children, from 11 to 15 years of age. Most of the men work by the piece, and there is some difficulty in fixing their daily wages ; but in estimating their monthly wages, I find that the average of their daily wages is not far from 73 Cents, and they find themselves. In the same way I come to the conclusion, that the women and children receive for their labour $'2. 33 J. per week, and they board themselves. What are the usual working hours of the hands in your factory? — In the summer, they usually work from sunrise until sundown, except when at their meals, which consume -about 1 1 hours. This continues about six months. During the other six months, they usually work from sunrise in the morning until 8 o'clock in the evening, allowing, the same time as before for meals. Have there been any dividends made upon the stock of your manufactunng company at any time; if yea, at what times and to what amount?' — We have made no dividends, nor has any thing been withdrawn as profits ; but, in bringing up our accounts of manufacturing to 1st July 1827, we found we had sustained a loss of a little rising ^5,000, without any allowance' for interest upon the capital. The factory does some custom business, which is not taken into the manufacturing account. This business done by the factory, would diminish, to some extent, the loss before stated, but to what extent I have no means of ascertaining. The above loss is ascertained from the balance of the accounts of wool pur- chased by the company, and manufactured on their own account, and the whole loss I think occurred during the year 1826, and that part of 1827 up to 1st July. I think no loss Was sustained prior to 1st January 1826. The custom business we do is a fair business. The. 578. Z4 interest 18S7— 1828. Inclosure N° 1 in N° II. continued. 18i PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure N° l in N" 11. continued. interest upon that part of the capital borrowed by the company, is paid out of the business, and is brought into the account to make the sum before stated. The . factory is kept insured which we charge : aiid there was a loss from bad debts of about J" 700. The residue of the los3 cannot be accounted for, but by the badness of the business. Did you attend the committee on manufactures, at the last session of Congress, as one of a deputation; if so, by whom were you deputed; who were associated with you; and for what purpose was the . deputation sent here? — I did attend at the last session of Congress, as one of a deputation from the manufacturers of wool and wool growers of Massachusetts. Mr. Bates, now of the House of Representatives, and Mr. Brown of Boston, were my only associates. The deputation was sent to represent to the Congress of the United States the depressed state of the woollen manufacture ; the consequent low price of wool; the gxeat influx of foreign woollen goods, as connected with that subject; and to obtain furtther protection to the wool-growers and manufacturers of woollens. The deputation did appear before the committee on manufactures of the House of Representatives. Is your machinery moved by water power ; and if so, does it ever fail from drought or frost ? — It is : and we have no impediment from drought or frost. The reason I assign for our freedom from trouble by frost, is, that our factory is situated at the outlet of a pond, formed mostly by springs, and the wheel does not collect frost. Is there, in your vicinity, any machinery for the manufacture of wool, now unemployed, and to what extent ? — I beheve there is ; but I have no means of ascertaining to what extent. I think, however, to a considerable extent. Of the capital employed in your establishment, what proportion did the real estate, buildings, and machinery, form ? — I should think the real estate, buildings and machinery, were, when we commenced business, worth, rising Ji'. 10,000; of which the machinery pro- bably, constituted ,$ 5,000. Has not real estate generally suffered a great deterioration in value, as well as every other , species of property, within the last two, three or four years ? — I should not think that within the time referred to there had been a deterioration of the property mentioned in the ques- . tion, in my section of country. The reason I assign is, that there are in that neighbour- hood a large number of cotton and woollen manufactories which consume the produce of the farmers in that section of country, as well as large quantities of flour and other pro- visions, brought from the Southern and Middle States. , In making your estimate of losses, do you value your real estate, buildings, &c. at what , they costj or at what would be a fair price for them now, compared with the relative value of other property ? — ^We value the buildings at what would be their depreciated value by natural decay ; and we also value the machinery with reference to its natural wear. Our , manner of valuation is, to deduct the estimated wear, casualties, and natural decay, from . the cost, to arrive at the present value. These estimates enter into the account, in making up the profit and loss account. What quantity have you usually manufactured in the year ; and do you generally find ready sales at those prices which the articles command? — It would vary from 5,000 to 6,000 yards of broad cloths, and from 15,000 to 17,000 yards of cassimeres. In 1825, the sales were quite ready. In 1826, they were very dull. In 1827, at the prices the articles commanded, they were pretty ready, but the prices were no better; except that in some instances the sales were made upon shorter credits. The profits, in 1827, have been better than in 1826. In 1827, we did more work on contract than we did in 1826, which further mended the business. Did you manufacture the same articles the last year, as in the first year of your operations ; or did you manufacture yarn, 8cc. in 1826 and 1827 ? — They were of the same kind. , Were not manufacturers of woollens doing a better business previous to 1824, than they, have done since ?— I am not competent to answer the question ; as at that time I was not engaged in the business. On the passage of the Tariff" Bill of 1824, I thought the business, would be placed on a permanent footing ; not anticipating that the British would repeal their wool lav/s, or evade the payment of the duties, and so deprive us of the benefits of that bill ; and but for the repeal of their laws, and the evasions of the duties, my opinion is that the present duties would furnish sufficient protection. Are there not many manufacturers who began at an unfortunate period, and whose in- vestments have been so injudicious, that no increase of duty can restore their losses? — I am, not personally acquainted with any, in my section of country, who are in that situation. Are not many of the factories which are now suffering and complaining, founded on bor-. rowed capital? — I do not know that fact. I think, generally, that in Massachusetts, it is otherwise. Can you say what number of companies have been incorporated in Massachusetts within the last four years, and the extent of their capital ?— rl cannot. There have been some incorporations during that time of woojlen manufacturing companies, but I cannot state the, number. I should think it has been small. A number of companies, before concerned in manufacturing, as joint partners, have within a few years obtained apts of incorporation, for the convenience of doing their business. Are there not at this time many, and if yea, how many applications, before the legislature - of Massachusetts, for the incorporation of cotton or woollen manufacturing companies ? — I was, when I left Massachusetts, chairman of the committee on manumctures, of the senate of that state, and had in my hands as such, I think, four applications for liew charters , for manufacturing companies, one of which was for the manufacturing of carpets ; the other, three were for manufactures of cotton. The woollen application was from a company who. had been some time engaged in the carpet manufacture. ■ Did PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 185 In closure N" i cnntinved. Dvd you sign any petition to the last Congress on the subject of woollen goods; if you 1827 182S did, was that petition for an increase of duty, or did it only pray for the security of the present duty, by changing it from an ad valorem to a square yard duty ? — If I signed any, and I think it probable I did, it was for a square yard, instead of an ad valorem duty ; and my impression is, that it was intended for the purpose of securing the payment of the fexisting duties principally. The effect of a change from an ad valorem to a square yard duty, would, in my opinion, necessarily be to increase the duties, and so far as that con- sequence would follow, I was, last winter, in favour of an increase of duty, as I believed this to be the only effectual mode of securing the payment of the present duties. I did also think that a further increase should be made equal to the effect of the repeal of the British import and export duties upon wool. How long has the oldest woollen factories, within your knowledge, been in operation ; and have they from time to time increased their capital ? — I beheve the oldest woollen factory of any considerable extent, in Massachusetts, is Colonel Shepherd's, of Northampton. Colonel Shepherd himself is here, and can give an account of this establishment. Is it not a fact that small establishments, under the immediate care of the proprietors themselves, have generally done better business than incorporated or joint stock companies ? — My opinion is, that woollen manufactories, like all other branches of business, do best iinder the immediate superintendence of the proprietor. I do not now recollect but one in IMassachusetts which is not superintended by some person interested as part proprietor, if not sole owner. I think woollen manufactories of medium size and capital, generally, do the best. Do the Massachusetts maimfacturers of coarse cloths and cassimere feel the effect of mutual competition ? — I should think not, to any great extent. In the article of sattinetts, domestic competition has been felt, and the reason I would assign is, that the square yard duty upon cottons has excluded the foreign article, and hence the domestic costs but about one-third of the former price. Has any part of the machinery, added to your factory since you commenced operations, been paid for out of the business of the factory ; and, if so, to what extent ? — None of it has been paid for out of the business of manufacturing to any considerable extent. Can you form any opinion what quantity of woollens are consumed in the United States ; or have you any opinion of their estimated value, compared with what is imported ? — -I think that four-fifths, at least, of all the woollen goods consumed in the country, are of domestic manufacture. I should think the whole value of consumption in the United States would be equal to ,J' 50,000,000. Can you form any opinion as to the relative value between the amount manufactured and that imported ? — I think that the relative values and quantities of domestic woollen goods, and those imported, will not materially vary from each other. Monday, January 21, 1828. Colonel James Shepherd, admitted, and further examined. Question. Where do you reside ? — Answer. In the town of Northampton, Hampshire county, Massachusetts. ^ Are you now, and have you lately been, concerned in the manufacture of wool? — I am now concerned in that manufacture, and have been so concerned since the year 1809 : in the first place as principal owner, afterwards as a member of a company ; then for a time again as sole owner ; and, in 1826, as a member of a company ; but during the whole period as the active superintendent of the manufactory. ' What is the name of the establishment in which you are or have been concerned ; where IS it situated ; and is it an incorporated company, or an individual interest ? — The company was incorporated in 1809 or 1810, by the name of " The Northampton Cotton and Woollen Manufacturing Company," but the business was not carried on under that charter at all, either as an individual or copartnership interest, until 1826, when the charter was renewed, the capital increased, and the name changed to " The Shepherd Woollen Manufacturing Company," since which time the business has been done under the charter. What is the amount of capital invested in the manufactory of which you speak ? — The capital now actually employed is ^130,000, of which ig" 80,000 is vested in real estate and machinery, and Jl* 50,000 is active capital. When was the manufactory first put into operation; or, if an incorporated company, under its present charter ? — We acted under the present charter first on the 1st January 18265 but the same establishment, without a charter, has been in operation since 1809. Has it continued in operation from the time it was first started to the present time ; if no, at what times, and for what causes, has it ceased its operations? — It has, until 1st January 1827 ; but for about fifteen or eighteen months immediately after the close of the late war, the factory ceased to manufacture cloths from its own stock, and manufactured the wool of others upon contract. On the 1st January 1827, on bringing up our account, we found we had sustained great losses, but we concluded to go on for six months longer, to see if there ■would not be a change. We therefore continued to the 1st July 1827, and found there was a continued loss ; and we then determined to suspend operations, and did so, except to close the then existing business and contracts. What is the average expense, per pound, of cleaning, assorting, picking, carding, and Converting the wool, from the state in which it is purchased, into rolls or batts? — We make no such divisioii of labour, and therefore have no account for these separate charges. Our 578. A a ■ process 186 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure N" i in N" 1 1 . continued. process is, first, assorting, for which we pay the man who assorts it i f cents per lb. ; but a< there is -a superintendent of this branch, who is paid, we estimate the whole cost of assorting at 2 cents per lb. The expense of roving, which comprises oiling, carding, roping, &c comprises all the expense, from sorting to its delivery to the spinner, for which w"e pay b cents per lb, for fine work, and for middling, 5 cents. "We do no coarse work. Spinning IS the next process, and for this we pay for the finest of warp 14 cents per lb. ; and for filling of the same quality, 7 cents per lb. For the second quality of wool, 1 2 cents per lb. • ana for the fining of the same quality, 6 cents per lb. For the third quality of warp, lo cents per lb. ; and for the filling of the same quality, 5 cents per lb. For the fourth quality, which is the lowest we spin, 8 cents for warp, and 4 cents for the filling. Some machinery has of late been brought into operation, which diminishes the expense of spinning the third and fourth qualities, as here classed, fifty per cent, or more. We have for some five or six years past, used these machines to spin these qualities. Others have used them for the finer qualities of spinning and think well of them. Our machines are five or six years old, and great improvements have since been made. The machinery in use at our establishment, although good, is more expensive than that which is used by many others, because the one requires the labour of a man, whose wages are higher than the wages of girls, who attend the others. Machinery for the lower sorts are called the " brewster." We use the jennies for the finer qualities. What is the average expense per lb. of converting the rolls or batts into yarn ; and of cleansing, sizing and preparing the yarn for weaving ?— The last answer has given the whole expense to the yarn; warping and dressing follow next after spinning, and for these we have put into use newly invented machinery, which has lessened the expense 75 per cent, and reduced these items collectively, to 1 i cents per lb. for fine broad cloth twelve quarters wide. What kinds of cloth do you usually manufacture? — Broad cloths and cassimeres. What quantity of wool is required to make one yard of each of the descriptions of cloth made at your factory ; and what is the width in the flannel of each description of cloth ? — During a period of six months, I find the average quantity of American and Saxony wool to be 2 J lbs. to a yard of broad cloth ; when made of Spanish wool, 2 lbs. is sufiicient. We make a finer and lighter quality of cloth than many other manufacturers. It requires about half the quantity of wool to the yard of cassimere, which is about 5 i quarters in width, when it comes from the loom. The broad cloth, when ready for market, is 7 quarters wide ; the cassimere from 26 to 28 inches. what is the cost of weaving each yard, of each description of cloth manufactured at the works referred to ? — ^We have paid two prices ,• before the power looms came into use, we paid from 18 to 28 cents per yard ; since the power looms have been put into operation, the weaving in these looms cost but 1 cents per yard, for weaving broad cloth ; the cassimeres cost half that price. What is the cost per yard of scouring, fulling, dyeing, dressing, and otherwise preparing for the market, each yard of each description of cloth, before described ? — One man is able to scour all the cloth of our establishment, and we pay him ,^21 per month, including his board ; it formerly cost double that sum. The fuUing requires a man and a boy ; the man is paid Ji'32 per month, and the boy $ 16 per montli, including their board. Raising or knapping, which is commonly called gigging, comes next in the operation. This requires one superintendent, who receives ^ 26 per month, and six dollars per month for his board ;, and 9 young men, who receive on an average J" 14 per month, and their board included. There is also a teazel setter, whose duty it is to prepare the teazels for knapping, who receives ^10 per month and his board, which is ^6. The cloth is then ready for shearing, which requires one superintendent at $ 32, and seven girls at ^^ 8 per month, includ- ing board ; and these attend to 20 pair of shears. There are seven other girls employed in burling, linting and marking the <;loth, who receive also $H per month, board included. A pressman and a boy are also necessary ; the man receives ,$ 24, the boy ^14 per month, inclusive of board. All colours, except black, are dyed as soon as the wool is assorted ; black is dyed after the cloth undergoes the process of fulling. The prices for dyeing vary. Blue costs 60 cents per yard ; blacks, and all other colours, 1 cents per yard. What are and have been for the last three years the values per yard, at the factory, of each description of cloth so made ? — Our cloths are not sold at the factory, but in the Boston market. I have not an account of our sales with me, and therefore cannot speak with accuracy, but from recollection, I should think we sold our first quality blue broad cloths, of Saxony wool, at from 6 to 7 dollars per yard, in 1825. The same quahty blacks were sold atthe same prices that year. In 1826, the same qualities and colours were sold at about S5.50. to ^'6. 50. per yard. In 1827, the sales were at about the same prices, but more ready sales, and on shorter credits. The finest cloths of the above description, made of American wool, will average about J' 1 per yard less than those made of Saxony for each year. These cloths are made of the 1st and 2d qualities in the assorting. Prime and picklock are worked together, and are about equal to Saxony. The prices of cassimeres are generally about half those of broad cloths, of the same qualities and descriptions of wool, at the same times. The lowest quality of blue broad cloths made at our factory, sold in 1825, at about .^3 per yard, and the lowest blacks at about $ 2. 50. per yard. In 1826, the same cloths sold at about «S'2- 75- for blue, and about J" 2. 25. for blacks. All the coarse cloths are made of American wool. In 1827, the same coarse blues were worth J'2. 50. and the blacks about ,^'1. 75. Are there different patents or description of machinery for spinning wool ; if yea, what patent or description is used in the factory of which you speak ; and what patent or description is PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 187 is considered preferable ? — ^There are two descriptions of machinery, the one called the ■" jenny," the other a patent called the " brewster." We spin about two-thirds of our yam upon the jenny, and one-third upon the brewster. As to which is preferable, there is a great variety of opinion. It is generally conceded that the brewster is preferable for coarse yams, but for fine yarns. I consider the jenny preferable. What officers, agents, clerks and superintendents, are employed in the factory of which you speak ; and at what wages or salaries to each ? — Myself and brother are the superin- tending agents of our factory, and we jointly receive 2 1 per cent upon the gross amount of the sales, as our compensation for these services. This has been the case only from the 1st January 1826. I cannot tell the amount this per centage will come to annually, as I have not the account of sales, but as nearly as I can calculate, for the eighteen months, from ist Jaiiuary 1826 to 1st July 1827, the whole we shall receive for superintendence will be about 2,300, or 2,400 dollars. We also employ a clerk, at a salary of ^500 annually, and he boards himself. A superintendent of the cards at $'29 per month, including board ; and two superintendents of looms, at ^2^ each, per month, including board. These are all who can be considered as officers. What number of hands are employed in the same factory ; what are their descriptions — as men, women, boys, and girls ; and what wages are paid for their services ? — The whole number employed, is 120. Of these, 32 are men, the average price of whose labour is J' 21 per month ; 16 young men, from 18 to 20 years of age, at J" 14 per month ; 16 boys, from 8 to 12 years of age, at ^6 per month; and 54 girls, or young women, at ,^13 per month. In all these instances, board is included in the prices given, at the rate of j]^ 1 . 50. per week for men, and Jl'i per week for boys and girls. What are the usual working hours of the hands in your factory? — In the summer, the hands work from sunrise until sunset, deducting one hour for the two meals of breakfast and dinner ; this continues for six months. In the six succeeding months, we begin at day light, and work until eight o'clock at night, deducting one hour for the same two meals. Have there been any dividends made upon the stock of your manufacturing company, at any time ; if yea, at what times, and to what amount ? — There have been no dividends made since the company was incorporated in 1826. Before that period Mr. Robbins and myself were alone concerned, and we made it a very fair business from 1809 to 1824, and 1825, was also a tolerable year. Since that time, it has been a losing concern. Was your machinery moved by water power ; and, if so, did it ever fail from drought or frost 1 — It was moved by water power. We never experienced any considerable inconve- nience, either by drought or frost. Is there in your vicinity any machinery for the manufacture of wool, now unemployed ; and to what extent? — My own is idle, but I know of no other in that neighbourhood. We manufactured 250 pounds of wool a day, when in full operation. What quantity of cloths have you usually manufactured in the year; and do you generally find ready sales at those prices which the articles command ? — During the year 1826, we wove a number of yards, equal to 39,600, of broad cloth. Of this quantity, about nine-tenths were broad cloths in fact ; the other tenth was of cassimere Two yards of cassimere is called equal to one yard of broad cloth. In 1825, the sales were ready ; in 1826, they vvere dull. In 1827, the sales were quick, but without an advance of price. On the whole, business was better in the year 1827 than in 1826. The low prices of 1826 induced us to hold back, and we did not sell more than one-fourth of what was wove, and in consequence of it, the sales of 1897 were much larger than those of the preceding year; and we have now nearly sold oflF the stock. . , Were not manufacturers of woollens generally doing a better business previous to 1824, than they have done since ; and were they not then doing well? — They were, as far as my knowledge extends. We were doing a better business previous to the Tariff of 1824, than we have done since. Previous to the Tariff of 1824, 1 think the business was a fair business, and nothing more, for some years. • 1 j i • Are there not many manufacturers who began at an unfortunate period, and whose invest- ments have been so injudicious that no increase of duty can restore their losses ?— I know Are not many of the factories, which are now suffering and complaining, founded on bor- rowed capital ''—Most of the factories, on an extensive scale, are incorporated ; and I think their stock has generally been paid in. Whether the stockholders borrowed the money paid in, I cannot pretend to know. Can vou say what number of companies have been incorporated in Massachusetts, within the last four years, and the extent of their . capital ?— I cannot. In the woollen business, I know of but two or three. Did YOU sign any petition to the last Congress on the subject of woollen goods ; and i you did, was that petition for an increase of duty ; or did it only pray for the security of the present duty, by changing it from an ad valorem to a square yard duty ?— I signed a petition last year, which will best speak for itself; but I suppose it prayed for a specific or square vard duty, as my opinion is, that no other duty will be available to the manufacturers. Ihe reason of this opinion is, the difficulty, if not impossibihty, of deterinming the quality of soods by appraisers. We did think the present duty sufficient, if collected; but the mcreaseof duty on wool in this country, and the repeal of the British duties, destroyed to the manufacturers all the benefit of the Tariff of 1824. The duty upon imported wool, by the Tariff of 1 824, was very injurious to manufacturers. 578. A a 2 1827—1828. Inclosure N" 1 in N" II. continued. 188 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 38^7—1828. Inclosure N° i in N° 11. continued. Is it not a fact, that small establishments, under the immediate care of the proprietors themselves, have generally done better business, thaii incorporated or joint stock companies ? — I cannot say it is, from my observation. The companies with large capitals, in many- respects, have advantages over the small establishments, and are generally able to go into the market, and do better. Do the Massachusetts manufacturers of coarse cloths and cassimeres feel the effect of competition ? — They do so, as far as they are nearly able to supply the market • and if a small amount of the foreign article is thrown into the market, making a surplas, the whole price is depressed, and our manufacturers lose largely, while the foreign manufacturer loses hut little. Do purchasers generally prefer English goods, of the same quality and prices, to the American manufacture ? — They do ; I consider the prejudices more than 25 per cent ao-ainst the domestic article. ° What is the reason given by them for that preference ; do they not complain of the in- feriority of your dyes, compared with the English colours ?— No complaint is now made against our dyes, other than against the blues, by good judges. Our other dyes are as good, or better, than the English. Was the depression in the price of woollens, in the years 1825 and 1826, in any great degree occasioned by excessive importations of the merchants, in anticipation of the expected increase of price in cloths, from the provisions of the Tariff passed in 1824, but going into effect in 1825? — I cannot say that the depression arose from the cause suggested in the question. Of an equal quality of wool, at present prices, in England and the United States, can the English manufacturer make a cheaper fabric than can be made in the United States ; if so, how much cheaper ? — The difference in the price of the fabric would be the difference of the price of wool, in my opinion, as I think we can manufacture it as cheap as they can. Are you acquainted with Josiah Pomeroy, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts ; does he manu- facture woollen goods ; and where does he sell them ? — I am acquainted with Josiah Pomeroy, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and know that he does manufacture woollen goods. The majority of his goods, as I am informed, is sold at West Point, as clothing for the cadets at the military school. I understand that the amount he sells there is about Ji' 6,000 an- nually, which he sells at Jl'4. 25. or $ ^. 50. per yard, The same quality of goods are worth, at New York or Boston, about $2. 75. per yard. In what sections of the country are your woollens generally consumed ? — I should think that three-fourths of all the goods I manufacture are bought by the merchants and merchant tailors of Boston, and sold in that neighbourhood. We sell a few in Philadelphia, and also a few in New York. Is the ad valoi-em duty on woollen goods evaded ; and in what way ? — I cannot answer. Will cloths well finished, and well baled or boxed, on arriving in New York or Boston, require to be brushed or finished over to give them a better appearance ?- They do not require any brushing over. They will retain all their finish, and often are supposed by the voyage to assume a softer and finer feeling. Can you state the amount of your losses from the 1st January 1826, to the time of your stopping business ; and what part of that loss, if any, is to be attributed to the closing of your business at that time ? — We lost between those periods, or rather from 1st January to the present time, ,§'30,000. None of that loss is to be attributed to the closing of our busi- ness. I know of many others who have sustained as great, and even greater losses ; but I do not know of any person in the woollen manufacture who has made any thing within the same period. The cause of these losses I assign to the low price of our cloths in the market. Five hundred dollars would cover all our bad debts. You say that you began to manufacture in the year 1809 ; have you been engaged in any- other business, and what was it, during that time ? — My whole time has been devoted to the manufacturing business, and to keeping my flocks of sheep. What proportion does your present property bear to what you were worth when you began business in 1809? — I have gained in property during that time, but I have made most of the gain by the rise in the value of real estate I had bought, and by my sheep. I believe that I am now worth double what I was when I began manufacturing; but I have made more from lands and sheep than from manufacturing, during the whole time. I sold a share of my stock to my present partners, in 1 825, at its par value, when, a short time afterward, it would not have sold for near as much. ^Vhat is the relative weight between the scoured wool as delivered for manufacture, and the product when finished in cloth ? — To make broad cloth of thick felt, of the usual width of 7-4, I give out eighty pounds of scoured wool; this yields forty-four yards of finished cloth, which weighs fifty pounds, with its listing. The cloth of thin felt requires seventy-five pounds of wool, which makes forty-four yards of cloth, and weighs from forty-four to forty- six pounds when finished. One hundred pounds of unwashed Merino wool, as shorn unwashed from the sheep, usually loses, in the processes of washing and scouring, about fifty pounds ; when washed on the sheep's back, it loses about twenty-five pounds in the What PUBLISHED INT THE UNITED STATES. 189 What other materials, except wool, do you use in manufacturing, and in what quantities ? — In the manufacture of 46,084 yards of broad cloth we made use of the following articles, viz.: 102,159 lbs. wool. 2,056 galls, of olive oil, at 100 cents 8,050 lbs. Castile soap, at 14 cents - 58,450 lbs. dye wood, copperas, vitriol, &c. cost 4«705l lbs. Bengal indigo, at $1. 40. 9,1631 lbs. woad, at 10 cents - - - . 82,425 lbs. 31,740 lbs. of foreign wool used. ^2,056 00 1,127 00 2>403 75 11,293 20 916 35 ^17-796 30 1 14,165 lbs. of articles imported. 1827—1828. V ^ \j Inclosure N" 1 inN° 11. continued. 52,354 weight of cloth manufactured from the above foreign wool, and 70,4 19 lbs. of "American wool. , The witness here desired that his answer to the 26th interrogatory may be corrected, so as to read " one-half," instead of " one-fourth," as stated in that answer, in relation to the duty imposed by the Tariff of 1824 on imported wool. Tuesday, 22d January 1828. William Phillips, admitted, and further examined. Question. Where do you reside? — Answer. I reside in Wallkill, Orange county, New York. Are you now, and have you lately been, concerned in the manufacture of wool, and if yea, •when, for how long a time, and in what capacity ? — I am now, and have been, engaged in the manufacture of wool since 1810 or 1811; I began on a small scale, but increased the establishment from time to time since the late war ; I own three-fourths, and my brother one-fourth ; I have the general superintendence ; the son of my brother is engaged in the same character to a more limited extent. What is the name of the establishment in which you are or have been concerned ; where is it situated; and is it an incorporated company, or an individual interest? — We have not been incorporated ; the factory is known as the " Phillipsburg Factory." What is the amount of the capital invested in the manufactory of which you speak ? — We estimate the whole capital employed at ,^20,000; this estimate embraces the real estate, water privilege, buildings and machinery ; in addition to this, we estimate the active capital at ^11,000. When was the manufactory first put into operation, or, if an incorporated company, under its present charter? — I have already said in the year 1810 or 1811. Has it continued in operation from the time it was first started to the present time ; if no, at what times, and for what causes has it ceased its operations ? — It has been continued in the manner referred to in my answer to the second interrogatory; the principal extension or enlargements were first made in 1815, and again in 1825, 1826, and 1837. What kinds of cloth do you generally manufacture ? — We have made little or nothing else except broad cloth within the last three years. What quantity of wool is required to make one yard of each of the descriptions of cloth •made at your factory, and what is the width in the flannel of each description of cloth ? — It requires 2 f pouiids of the wool when washed on the sheep[to make a yard of broad cloth, including the listing; when the cloth leaves the loom it is from 10 to 11 J quarters in width ; when finished it is from six to seven quarters wide. What is and has been for the last three years, the value per yard, at the factory, of each description of cloth so made? — -We sell but little at the factory; in 1825, we sold in New York our fancy colours at from ^'2. 25. to $^. 75. per yard; the blues from $^. 25. to ffg. 50.; these were the prices at auction, and we considered them fair sales. In the spring of 1826, 1 sold some at auction for $'2.. 25. when I stopt the sales ; in the September follow- ing some of the same kinds of cloths were again offered at auction, and brought only from tf-j' gy. to $\. 81. per yard ; there was a loss that year from 75 to 100 cents on the yard of blue, in 1827, the blues sold from $'i. 25. to ^'2. 50. and the fancy colours from J'l. 75. to S'i, and these are the prices which they now command at auction. Are' there different patents or descriptions of machinery for spinning wool ; if yea, what patent or description is used in the factory of which you speak, and what patent or description is considered preferable? — We use the jenny for spinning; I am unable to say whether it is preferable to the brewster, having never used the latter. What officers, agents, clerks and superintendents, are employed in the factory of which you speak ; and at what wages or salaries to each ? — I am the superintendent, together -with my nephew. I charge nothing to the establishment for my services; but in the esti- ,mate of the value of profit or loss of the establishment, I put them down at Jl'6oo. or Jl'700. No clerk or agent is employed. ' What number of hands is employed in the same factory ; what are their descriptions,^ — as men, women, boys and girls ; and what wages are paid for their services? — ^We usually em- ployed" twenty-five persons during the last summer, and I believe we have now twenty-six ; 578. A a 3 of 190 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS Inclosure N" i inJS' n, continued. 1827 — 1828. of these, eleven are men, at an average of ,^^26. per month ; two men, at ^20, per month; four boys, at Ji" 7. per month ; three women, at J[' 7. per month j one man, at J'30 ; two at ;^20, and three others at J' 18 per month ; board included in all cases. What are the usual working hours of the hands in your factory ? — In the summer, we begin to work at about sun-rise, and continue until about sun-set, allowing half an hour for break- fast, and from one hour to one and a half hour for dinner ; in the winter, we begin as soon as possible after light, and work until about nine o'clock at night, allowing about half an hour for meals. Is there, in your vicinity, any machinery for the manufacture of wool now unemployed, and to what extent ? — I believe that there are some establishments which have curtailed their business, but I do not know to what extent. Have you made any profits, or sustained any losses, by your establishment, for each of the last three years ? — I considered the business a fair one ; in 1826, it was intolerably bad. In 1827, 1 suffered loss by the business, but it was better than in 1826, by reason that the price of wool was lower, and the fabric sold at nearly the same prices. My losses have not been from any bad debts. Should I continue business at present prices of the raw material, and prices of the fabric, I must wholly fail. Has not real estate suffered a great deterioration in value, as well as every other species of property, within the last two, three, or four years 1 — I cannot say that it has in Orange county. What quantity of cloths have you usually manufactured in the year ; and do you generally find ready sales at those prices which the articles command ? — I will not pretend to state the quantity precisely; but I think in 1825 and 1826, we made about 5,000 yards each year ; we are now making at the rate of 10 or 1 1,000 yards per annum. The sales, at the prices which the articles commanded, were ready. Were not manufacturers of woollens, generally, doing a better business previous to 1824, than they have done since? — I considered the business fair, or profitable, in 1815 ; in 1816, it grew worse, and continued to decline until 1818 ; from this latter period, until 1824 the variation was not considerable, and was generally, during that time, about in the same situation. Is it not a fact, that small establishments, under the immediate care of the proprietors themselves, have generally done better business than incorporated or joint stock companies ? — I cannot say that I know of any material success attendmg the one or the other. Do the New York manufacturers of coarse cloths and cassimeres feel the effect of niutual competition ? — The domestic manufacture, as well as the importations, affect the price of the articles manufactured. Do purchasers generally prefer English goods of the same quality and prices, to the American manufacture ? — In the country, I near of no particular preference ; in the cities, the preference is given to imported cloths, as I believe, by the industry of foreigners endea- vouring to excite prejudices against American manufactures. What is the reason given by them for that preference ; did they complain of the inferiority of your dyes compared with the Enghsh colours?- — I am not aware of any objection of this sort by the country people who wear the cloths ; there are objections in the cities, proceeding from the same quarter, that I have referred to in the last answer. Of an equal quality of wool, at present prices in England and the United States, can the English manufacturer make a cheaper fabric than can be made in the United States ; if so, how much cheaper ? — I cannot answer that question, Is the ad valorem duty on woollen goods evaded, and in what way? — I have no certain knowledge on this subject. Will cloths, well finished and well baled or boxed, on arriving in New York or Boston,, require to be brushed or finished over, to give them a better appearance ? — ^They will not. Wednesday, January 23, 1828. Abraham Marland, of Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts ; admitted, and further examined. Question. Are you now, and have you lately been, concerned in the manufacture of wool ; if yea, when, for how long a time, and in what capacity? — Answer. I am a manufacturer of wool ; and in a small way have been ever since 1808 or 1809, principally as sole proprietor of my own works, and on my own account. What is the name of the establishment in which you are or have been concerned; where is it situated ; and is it an incorporated company, or an individual interest ? — It is an individual interest, and situated at Andover aforesaid ; I have no particular name for my factory. What is the amount of capital invested in the manufactory of which you speak ? — The capital which I have invested in this establishment amounts to ^'42,000, of which J!" 11,000 are partly in real estate, in buildings, and in machinery; the residue is active capital. The other part of the real estate, the water privilege, and some of the buildings, belong to another person under whom I hold by a lease. Has your factory been in operation from the time it was first started to the present time; if no, at what times, and for what causes has it ceased its operations ? — It has been constantly in operation. What kinds of cloth do you usually manufacture? — Flannels altogether; in 1825 and 1826, J made a few green bookings, but none before or since of any consequence. What quantity of wool is required to make one yard of the clotJi made at your factory; and PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 191 and -what is the widdi of the flannel when finished? — It requires about 17 lbs. of wool as pmrchased, washed on the skin or on the sheep, to make 46 yards of the flannel, averaging all my qualities of cloth ; my flannels are, four-fifths of them, 3-4ths wide, and the residue one yard wide. What are and have been for the last three years the values, per yard, at the factory of the cloth so made" — ^Wemake very few sales at the factory, and have no market price for them there ; our sales are mostly made in Boston and New York. In 1 825, the average of the sales made was at about ^10. 50. for the piece of 46 yards. In 1826, the average of the sales was i$.ii. the piece of 46 yards ; in these two years the qualities of my flannels were about the same. In 1827, the sales were made at an average of about 13 dollars the piece of 46 yards ; in this year I made more of the fine flannels ; and more of the different descriptions of flannel were a yard wide. A year ago last fall myself, with a number of the manufacturers of flannels at the East, concluded to try an experiment, and to satisfy the merchants that we could supply the country with flannels : we sent to New York, in one lot, upwards of 400 bales of flannels, averaging about 16 pieces, of 46 yards in each bale; an auctioneer was employed, who sold them at auction as rapidly as could be done. These flannels were sold at some loss, but the effect evidently was what we intended; to discourage the importations of the next fall,, and to make a better market for our own flannels. I now expect a re-action will be produced. I am already informed that large importations are to be made the next season, and I intend to reduce my business at least one-third the next year on that account. What proportion does the cost of labour bear to the cost of raw material in the manufacture of blankets ?■ — Every pound of wool on an average can be manufactured into blankets at 6 cents per pound ; in this calculation nothing is included but the labour; nothing is allowed for profit or use of machinery. I take the wool as purchased in the fleece, washed upon the sheep. If additional duties on coarse wools of Smyrna, Buenos Ayres, and Russia, of which blankets are made in Europe, were imposed, could the American manufacturer of blankets, at the present duties, enter into successful competition with the European manufacturer? — I should think not, because I cannot, at the present rates of duty, and present prices of native wool, suitable for the purpose, compete with the foreign manufacturer of blankets in our own market. What number of hands are employed in your factory ; what are their descriptions, as men, women, boys and girls ; and what wages are paid for their services ? — I believe I employ about 70 hands in my factory, beside myself; about 30 are men who are paid wages which will average ^'i . each per day ; about 14 or 15 are women, who are paid the average wages of from Ji'2. 25. to S^- 50- per week ; the residue are boys and girls Irom 8 to 12 years of age, who are paid the average wages of 25 cents per day, except about ten apprentices who are paid about J' 130. per year. The above prices, in each instance, include board ; the above includes my hired help of every kind. Myself and two sons do all the superintendence ourselves. What are the usual working hours of the hands in your factory ? — In the summer time we work 1 2 hours over and above the time allowed for meals, and we fall but little short of that in the winter. What quantity of flannels and baizes have you usually manufactured in the year ; and do you generally find ready sales at those prices which the articles command? — In 1825, 1 made about 2,200 pieces, of 46 yards in a piece, and the sales were dull. In 1826, I made about the same quantity, and the sales were also dull. In 1827, I made about 3,200 pieces, of the same length, and the sales were readier and better. Were not manufacturers, generally, doing a better business previous to 1824, than they have done since ? — I think the business previous to 1824 was better than it was in 1825 and 1826; my business certainly was. Are there not many manufacturers whose investments have been so injudicious, that no increase of duty can resfjore their loss ? — I cannot say that investments have been so injudiciously made; but I know the large establishments have been doing a very bad business, and an increase of duty would help them ; and I think it would be wise to lay a duty which would amount to a prohibition, and give the market to the American manufac- turer; but I do not think that such a duty would restore aU^hese losses, as some are entirely ruined, ' and out of the business ; I think it would restore those who are yet in business. Are not many of the factories which are now suffering and complaining, founded on bor- rowed capital ? — I am unable to answer the question. Did y( ' .11. /-( you did, present d-^j, „, „- „ ^ „ . a petition to the last Congress, praying a change of the duty from an ad valorem to a square yard duty ; and I believe that the petition also prayed an increase of the duty, as well as to secure the collection of the present duty. Is it not a fact, that small establishments, under the immediate care of the proprietors them- selves, have generally done better business than incorporated or joint stock companies ?— I should think the small companies, judiciously conducted, would be likely to do better business than the large companies ; but I know of none who are making money. Do the Massachusetts manufacturers of coarse cloths and cassimeres feel the effect of mutual competition? — I do not think that domestic competition is felt among the Massachu- setts manufacturers ; when there were very few manufacturers in this country, the veiy few 578. A a 4 Sooda 1827—1828. Inclosure N" i in N" n. coatinued. 192 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS (tv. 1827—1828. Inclosure JJ" in N° II. continued. goods taken into the market from our factories did not reduce the price of the foreign goods, and consequently our articles sold better than they now do. The effect of an extension of our manufactories has been, to reduce the prices both of the foreign and domestic article^ and it is between them the competition exists. Supposing the raw material remains at the present prices, can the American woollen ma- nufacturer compete with the foreign manufacturer, under the present rate of duties ? — He cannot. Do not the fluctuations in the price of woollen goods, arising from foreign importations,, add greatly to the embarrassment of the American manufacturer? — Very much indeed. Would not a sufiBcient protection enable the American manufacturer to supply our own markets to the full demand, at steady prices, and at the lowest rate ? — ^There is no doubt of it in my mind. Do you know of any factory carried on either by a single individual owner, or by joint partnership, or by an incorporated company, making a profitable business ? — I do not know a single one which has been doing a profitable business since 1824, taking the whole time to the present. Taking the year 1827, do you know of any woollen manufacturers that have made a profit? — I do think the flannel manufacturers made something in 1827, but I do not think any of the other woollen manufacturers have in that year made any thing ; on the contrary, I believe they all lost money. Have Messrs. Johnson and Sewall a flannel or cassimere factory at Andover, Massachu- setts ; and do they manufacture extensively ? — ^They have a cassimere factory, but not a very extensive one. Have they never told you, they wished no further protection on woollen goods, and ex- pressed to you the opinion, that foreign goods cannot interfere with them, and that they could now sell more goods than they make ? — I think I have heard Mr. Johnson say so j I have also heard him say, he wished his factory had been burned before it had fallen into bis hands, as he had lost money by it; at the time he said he wished no further protection on woollen goods, he was, as he is now, an importer of British goods of all kinds ; they have not lately told me they could sell their goods as fast as they could make them. What was the highest price you have paid for weaving a piece of flannel ; and what do you pay now ? — 1 have paid as high as ^ 3 for weaving a piece of flannel, for which I now pay S '^ 'y if I ^i""^ females to weave, I pay 83 cents for what I pay men ^ 1. What did it cost you to make the flannels per piece, which averaged ^ 1 3 last fall ? — • I cannot tell what these flannels cost me by the piece, because my accounts have not been made up ; but I think I made something on them. Do you not get more for your flannel now, than when you paid a higher price for wool, and a higher price for weaving ? — There have been times when I did not get as much for cloths when I was paying higher prices for wool and weaving than I now do ; but I then sold at a great loss. If wool be the same price here and in England, can the American manufacturer make the fabric as cheap as it is made in England ? — I think we can manufacture wool in this country about as cheap as they can in England, wool being at the same price. Do you get as much for your goods now, as when the duties were lower ; and what were the duties when you made most by your factory ? — I do not get so much for my goods now, as when the duties were lower j but we got the highest prices for our goods when the duties were highest, during the war. Did not the foreign woollen fabric bring a much higher price in the market of this country,, when our duties were lower than they now are ? — It did. Friday, January 25, 1828. William W.Young, of Brandywine Hundred, Newcastle County, State of Delaware; admitted, and further examined, t Question. Are you now, and have you lately been engaged in manufactures of wool; if yea, in what branch, for how long a time, and at what place ? — Answer. I am now engaged in the manufacture of wool and cotton, at the place of my residence, and have been so engaged since the year 1813. The cotton manufactory was commenced in 1821 ; before that time we manufactured wool alone. Is the establishment for the manufacture of wool in which you are interested, an incor- porated company; if yea, by what name; if not incorporated, is it a copartnership, or an individual interest ? — At present it is an incorporated company. The charter was granted in 1825. Before that time it was a copartnership interest. The reasons for obtaining a charter- were, that Wilham Young, the sole proprietor, wished to divide his interest in the esta- blishment, being the greatest share of his estate, among his heirs, and that he could do it better in stock than in the property as it before existed ; and because also, if the company was not incorporated, the necessity would arise, of stopping business to settle the estate, in case of the death of either partner ; whereas, by the incorporation, this necessity would be obviated. The establishment is now entirely owned by the Young family, and the pro- prietors have not changed by the incorporation. W'hat is the whole amount of capital actually invested in the woollen factory of which you speak ; what part of that capital is invested in real estate, buildings, and machinery, and ■what part is active capital ? — The whole capital invested in the woollen manufactory is rising f ,^100,000. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 193 1^100,000.' Of this about ,^20,000, at the present time, is in raw material and manufac- tured articles. Upwards of ^'21,000 is vested in machinery alone. The residue is in real estate, mill gearing, and buildings. Of this residue as much as J' 25,000 is in dweUing houses and other buildings, for the workmen of the factdry, and hands connected with it. Has the factory you speak of been in continued operation since it was first erected ? — It has been in continued operation since 1813, with one exception, of about two months in the years 1815 and 1816, during the discussion of the Tariff Bill of that time before Congress. During these two months we did not work to any extent, but we discharged no hands. What kinds of fabrics do you produce ; and what has been the whole quantity of fabrics made on the average for the last three years ? — ^We confine ourselves principally to the manufacture of cassimeres, and mostly to blue cassimeres. We sometimes make a few pieces of broad cloth to accommodate friends, but not as a business. We also work up our coarse wools into satinets. These we consider deviations from our regular business. I caimot tell the whole quantity of cloths made in each year for the last three years, but we estimate ,that every pound of clean wool will make one yard of double milled cassimeres, and lighter goods in the same proportion. For the three last years we have been every year regularly curtailing our business, as far as practicable, in consequence of the continued diminutions in the prices of cloth. What has been the average market prices of the several fabrics so made, in the markets -where you have sold for the last three years ? — I can only speak with reference to our prin- cipal manufactures, which is blue cassimere. The average price of these in 1825, was about Jl'i. 40. per yard, as well as I can now recollect. In 1826, the prices were not more than $1. 30. on an average, for the same quality. In 1827.. the average was about ^1. 25. per yard, for the same quality of cloths. The sales were more brisk in the fall than -in 1826, or in the spring of 1827 ; but our prices for that article were no better. The coarse cloths called satinets, which we manufactured also, but to no very great extent, sold in the fall of 1827, at a fair price, compared with their prices in 1825 and in 1826 ; the prices for ■which years I do not now recollect distinctly. The reason of the better sales in 1827, I take to be, that the very low prices of these articles in 1825 and 1826, caused a depression of their manufacture to a considerable extent, and therefore the market in the early part of 1827 was not crowded; but these are an article soon produced, and before the close of the season, the large supply in the market again brought down the price : this I think was entirely the elFect of domestic competition. What kind or description of machinery is used in this factory ; and is it propelled by -water, or steam power? — We have used the jenny and the brewster; but in 1826 and 1827, we laid aside the brewster, because it was out of order, and used the jenny alone. I should prefer the brewster for spinning warp, and the jenny for spinning woft. All our other machinery is of the usual and most approved descriptions, and the whole are moved by "water power. What is the whole number of persons employed in the business of this factory, and how many are officers or agents ; and at what wages or salaries, and how many are hands ; what are their relative classes, and what their average wages? — The smallest number we have ever employed since the business has been fairly in operation, has been fifty; that is the number now engaged; we employ no officer or agents; my father, Mr. William Young, attends to the purchases, for which he receives nothing, and also to the sales, upon which, when he makes the sales himself, he receives five per cent ; but when the sales are made at auction, he receives nothing ; and it is at auction most of our sales are effected ; I attend to the internal concerns of the establishment in person, and am allowed J' 800 for my services ; we have a clerk, who receives about ^1 per day for his services in both establishments. There are no other persons employed, except labourers ; of those employed in the factory, twelve are men, who receive from S^to S'] per week; but there is only one who receives S'j, and the average does not exceed SQ. One of those who receives $ 6 per week, has, in addition to that price, a house furnished him ; there are males who receive from 62 | cents to J" 3 per week ; and in this classification are embraced all the male hands under twenty-one years of age ; the females receive from 50 cents to ^3. 50. per week, and in this are included all the females in the establishment; I cannot at this time distinguish the numbers or ages of the males and females ; there are some females who are widows, and have been in the establishment since 1793, and are allowed a house free of rent. We have always extended this privilege to the widows of hands who have been a long time employed, and all are compensated who meet with injuries in the factory. What are the usual working hours* of the hands in your factory? — We expect to get sixty-eight hours per week the year round, and this is all we insist on. Are addirional duties, in your opinion, necessary upon all imported woolleii goods, to ■enable the American manufacturers of woollen goods to compete with the foreign in our own markets ? — My opinion is, that addirional duries are required, and riiat the duty must be changed from an ad valorem to a specific square yard duty, and that no other mode of imposing the duty will be effectual ; so well convinced am I of the necessity of this change, that I will not buy a single pound of wool unril this question is decided, and I will not purchase at all unless some material change takes place in the market ; I think it also a national object, that a proportionate protection should be extended to wool; but this duty, in my opinion, should be moderately increased ; wool below ten cents ought to be admitted nnder a mere nominal duty ; the duty on woollen goods may be immediate and considerable, without danger to other interests ; with capital I can immediately erect buildings and machinery, but it requires considerable rime to procure flockp of Merino and other sheep. Were the manufacturers of woollens in this country doing a better business previous to 578. Bb t»^e 1827—1828. Inclosure N° i in N" 11. continued. 194 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. \ ^^ — ■ Inclosure N" i iiiN" 11. cvniinutd. the year 1824, than they have done since? — I have considered tliat the Tariff of 1824 placed placed the woollen manufacturers in a worse situation than they were before its passage; my reasons for this belief are founded upon the alterations in the British duties on wool, and upon the want of sufficient protection at home ; I do not think that the Tariff of 1824 was sufficient, if there had been no change in the British duties ; the duty should have been a specific square yard duty, and the duty imposed on imported wool, by the same Act, _ rendered the protection of the manufacturer insufficient ; I have lost more since the Tariff of 1824, than I lost in the same space of time before that Act. Does the importation of foreign woollen cloths produce the present depressed price of those cloths in our markets, or is the depression owing, in part, to domestic competition ? — ^ The depressed price of cloths in the American market, is to be attributed as well to the foreign iniportation, as to domestic competition. Do manufactories, with moderate capitals, and under the immediate superintendence of the proprietors, do better than incorporated companies, with large capitals, managed by officers and agents ? — I am unable to speak positively on this subject, but suppose that this, like every other business, will prosper most when managed bj^ the proprietor. Do the manufacturers of woollens in this country feel the effect of domestic competition ? — They have already felt it in the satinet manufacture, as in this article we have no foreign competition ; the low price 6f satinets is wholly owing to domestic competition ; I do not know any otlier branch of the woollen manufacture in which domestic competition is felt to to any considerable extent, except so far as is referred to in my answer to the 27^ interrogatory. Are the fluctuations in the prices of woollen goods occasioned by foreign importations, and do they add to the embarrassments of the domestic manufacturer ?■ — ^There are great fluctuations from that cause, as regards certain articles, and they do add to the embarrass- ments of the manufacturer. You state, that in 1825 you foresaw an approaching depression, and prepared against it; what were the evidences of the approach of the evils you foresaw ? — It was the decline of my sales ; the letters from my agents ; and some information received from a correspondent in Europe. Have you made any dividends on your capital invested in your establishment, or have you lost money by the manufacture of wool? — We commenced business in 1813, and con- tinued it until 1825, under the firm of William Young, Son & Co. A dissolution of the firm then took place, when I gave up all my share in the business, upon being discharged from all responsibility. What I had before received did not amount to fair wages for my services in the factory, and I had been employed the whole time. On the close of the business, the other partners did not receive two per cent upon the capital they had invested, and there were not J' 500 lost by bad debts. Since 1825, the woollen business has been a continual drain upon our mental and pecuniary resources. The losses in bad debts, since 1825, have been very small, but since that time the business has been a losing one; and without resources other than the woollen manufacture to rely upon, we could not have sustained ourselves. Did you do a good business from 1818 to 1824. If you did, at what time was your business most profitable ? — I cannot say. I have not here the means of determining. When did the elder copartner or proprietor of the establishment in which you are inte- rested, commence business ? — In 1813. Has there been a general depression in the price of property, or in the value of labour, within the last three or four years; if so, what is the cause of it? — Landed property has been nearly stationary during the time referred to, but may have been improving a little in my vicinity. I have paid about the same prices for labour for the last three or four years, except in the factories, where we have reduced them in a small degree. Do you pay the same prices for weaving now that you formerly did ? — We do not pay as much now for weaving as formerly, as the power-loom has been introduced, and we now employ women, instead of men to do the work. We now pay for weaving cassimere from 6 to 10 cents per yard, dependent upon the descriptions and qualities of the cloth. Is labour as cheap here as in England : and can the fabric be manufactured here as cheap as there, except as to the cost of the wool ? — I think it can. I believe if I can have the raw material at the same price, I can manufacture cassimere as cheap as it can be done in England. To the foregoing I will add, that our village consists of a population of about 300 souls, more or less ; and, since the establishment of our manufactory, the moral and pecuniary condition of its inhabitants have materially improved. William R. Dickinson, of Steubenville, Ohio ; admitted, and further examined. Question. Are you now, and have you lately been engaged in the manufacture of wool ; if yea, in what branch ; for how long a time ; and at what place?— j4«swer. I am engaged exclusively in the business of manufacturing wool, and have been since May 1819, at my now place of residence. What is the whole amount of capital actually invested in the woollen factory of which you speak ; and what part of that capital is invested in real estate, buildings and ma- chinery ; and what part is active capital ? — We rate our whole capital, vested in real estate, buildmgs and machinery, at ^100,000. It has cost us more than that sum, but we now give it that valuation. I am not perfectly conversant with the relative cost of the different erections, but I should judge from my best knowledge, that, of the J' 100,000 above men- tioned, $ 50,000 are in machinery. I should value the active capital employed at from .l" 40,000 to Jl' 50,000. What PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 195 What kinds of fabrics do you produce ; and what has been the whole quantity made, on the average, for the last three years ? — ^We manufacture broad cloths altogether, and which ■we estimate as being worth from ^2. 50. to ^'10 per yard. These cloths are, when finished, from six to seven quarters wide. We manufacture a few flannels for our store, from the common wool. The principal part of our cloths is from $9,, 50. to ^'4 per yard, at our trading prices. We do not, perhaps, make more than 100 yards of the $\o, cloth in a year. Our late determination has been to make mostly coarser cloths. Our annual yield of broad cloths will be from about 13,500 to 15,000 yards. We work about 3,000 pounds of coarse wool into flannels annually. What has been the average market prices of the several fabrics so made, in the markets where you have sold, for the last three years ? — The average prices for the cloths sold at our store, are the following :— For picklock, ,glio; prime, $^; N" 1, $s; N^a, ^4; W '^, ^3.50.; N°4, ^3; andN°5, J'2. 50. On cash sales made at the store, we deduct 5 per cent from these prices. The prices at which our cloths sold in Baltimore and Phi- ladelphia were, in 1825, from $\ to $\o; in 1826, from Jl'1.30. to ,^'13. 50.; and in 1827, from $1. 10. to J'4. 35. Are additional duties, in your opinion, necessary upon imported woollen goods, to enable the American manufacturers of woollens to compete with the foreign in our own markets ? — Yes. Were the manufacturers of woollens in this country doing a better business previous to the year 1 824, than they have done since ? — I believe they were. Does the importation of foreign woollen cloths produce the present depressed price of those cloths in our markets, or is the depression owing, in part, to domestic competition ? — Both causes operate to produce the effect. Do manufactories with moderate capitals, and under the immediate superintendence of the proprietor, usually do better than incorporated companies with large capitals, managed by officers and agents? — I cannot speak uuderstandingly upon the subject, but my opinion is, that moderate capitals, under the management of the proprietors, do succeed the best. Do the woollen manufacturers of this country feel the effects of domestic competition ? — Domestic competition is a mere drop ; but as the price of an article will always be regulated by demand and supply, and inasmuch as our market is now flooded with foreign woollen goods, the domestic woollen manufacturers are certainly adding every day to the quantity, and assist in reducing prices. Are there fluctuations in the prices of woollen goods, occasioned by foreign importations ; and do they add to the embarrassments of the domestic manufacturer? — ^There are fluctua- tions arising from the importations of woollen goods, and these add greatly to the embarrass- ment of domestic manufacturers. Did you do a good business from 1 818 to 1824 ; if you did, at what time was your busi- ness most profitable ? — We have never found our manufacturing profitable, although we have been reducing the price of the raw material and of labour, and introducing improved machinery every year. I have not the means of determining at what period of time it was the least unprofitable. Has there been a general depression in the price of property, or the value of labour, within the last three or four years ; if so, what is the cause of it ? — There has been a general de- pression in the value of property in my section of country ; and there has also been a general depression in the price of labour in the same section within the last four years. I ascribe these depressions to the flood of foreign goods imported into the country, which might have been manufactured in it. Do you pay the same prices for weaving now that you did formerly ? — We do not pay, in my opinion, one half as much as we paid four years ago. Is labour as cheap here as in England ; and can the fabric be manufactured here as cheap as there, except as to the cost of the wool ? — I do not know the prices of labour in England. Have you made any dividends on your capital invested in your establishment ; or have you lost money by the manufacture of wool? — By examining the papers referred to in the memorial of my partner, Mr. Wells, and sworn to by onr book-keeper, whose state- ments I believe to be true, it will be found that the actual cost of those goods amounts to- .--_. ,§'47,695 02 That the nett proceeds amount to ___--- 39.87 1 48 Showing a loss of -S" 7.823 54 Their different qualities, their relative actual cost, and sales without any deductions for commissions, in the Baltimore and Philadelphia markets, are shown in the following Table; viz. _^____ Average cost. Picklock Prime MM. 2. 3- - 4- 5- - 6. &7. 6.80 5-70 50 30 80 50 3.30 2.00 Sold for in 1825. from 10.00 to 3.50 10.00 - 3.50 6.00 - 2.37 4- 75 - 2- 55 3.50- 1^-25 3-50 - 1. 3-60 - 3.50 - 20 578. 2.00 - 1.00 Bb 2 Sold for in 1826. from 13.50 to 3.50 10.00 - 3.87 6.00 - 2.50 5.00 - 2.25 3.50 - 1.87 3.00 - 2.00 3.00 - 1, 12 2.50 - 1.30 Sold for in 1827. None sold, from 4.35 to 2.50 4.35 - 2.50 3. 87 - 2.00 3.C2 - 1.85 2.50 - 1.95 2.25 - 1.25 i.8o - 1.10 1827—1828. \ — > Inclosure N" 1 inN"!!. ctmtimced. I cannot 196 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS -1828. Inclosurc N° i in N° u. continvtd. I cannot withhold the fact, that many of these cloths were very inferior goods, being old and badly manufactured in all respects. Those which we are now making, are not only vastly- superior, but, owing to our retrenchments and gi-eat improvements in machinery (being the latest and most approved) will be fabricated and offered upon much better terms hereafter, should we continue our operations ; again, we have certainly paid too much commissions, and we shall regulate that matter better for the time to come. We have still further accounts to receive of sales in 1827, which I know will exhibit further losses in our Eastern . sales ; they will amount, probably, upon the woollen manufactory, for the last three years (without any allowance for the services of Mr. Wells and myself,) to at least eight thousand dollars ; to countervail this, however, we have found our flocks of Merino sheep profitable until withia the last year ; and we have an extensive well-assorted retail store, where we sell and barter goods to the amount of .^i'so or Jl' 40,000 per annum. What number of agents, clerks, superintendents and ordinary hands, do you employ in your factory ; what are their classes, as men, boys, women and girls ; what are the average ■wages paid, including board ; and what are the regulations, moral and otherwise, of the hands ? — We employ somewhat more than a 1 00 hands, chiefly females, all of whom find themselves ; there are about 20 boys, from ten to fourteen years old ; we have a foreman in each department. To the latter, we pay from eighteen to twenty-eight dollars per month ; to the females, from five to seven dollars per month ; and to the boys, about four dollars per month. We have a clerk employed, to whom we give ^ll'soo. per annum; and a manager, who superintends all (under the direction of my partner, Mr. Wells) at a salary of S 500. per annum. To common work hands, we pay from twelve to fourteen dollars per month. It is made the duty of the boys to attend Sunday school, otherwise to be discharged; and the strictest attention is paid to the order, morals, and general conduct of every person about the establishment. Do you use water or steam power to move the machinery of your factory ; if steam, what are the advantages which induce you to give it a jDreference ? — We employ steam ; there are various opinions on this subject; my partner, Mr. Wells, who is a practical man, prefers the steam power, all things considered, after an experiment of twelve or fourteen years, and I believe that we should continue to employ it, even if we now had a good stream at our door ; we use it for various purposes. We warm our establishment by steam ; and we find it particularly useful in giving the last finish to our finest fabrics, whilst under the opera- tion of the brush. Our hills are full of the best coal, which we can have delivered at our door for from 3 1 to 4 cents per bushel ; and, by the employment of steam, we obviate the difficulties incident to cold, freezing weather, as well as to freshets. Abraham Schenck, of Matteawan, Dutchess County, State of New York; admitted, and further examined. Question. Are you now, and have you lately been, engaged in manufactures of wool ; if yea, in what branch, for how long a time, and at what place? — Answer. I am engaged in the manufacture of wool, and have been since 1823, though our company was not incorpo- rated, and did very little business, until 1 824, when we obtained an act of incorporation, by the name of the " Glenham Company." During the same year, we filled our factory with machinery, and began business upon a, more extended scale. In 1825, we made other ex- tensive additions to our buildings, and have since gone on, as fast as convenient, to fill up with machinery, though our buildings are not yet full. What is the whole amount of capital actually invested in the woollen factory of which you speak, and what part of that capital is invested in real estate, buildings and machinery, and what part is active capital ? — The capital invested, on the 3d June last, in the factory site, buildings, machinery, and necessary tools, was ^91,531; I cannot say how much of this sum is in buildings and real estate, and how much is in machinery and tools ; at the same time, our capital invested in cloth, yarn, wool, dye stuffs, and other materials on hand, was ^43,383. 98. These statements are made from data, now in my possession, of actual estimates made at that time. What kinds of fabrics do you produce, and what has been the whole quantity made on the average for the last three years ? — I can only answer for one year ; between the 3d June 1826 and the 3d June 1827, we made 30,640 yards of broad cloths, of an average width of full six quarters when finished ; the fine cloths we make are seven quarters wide, but there are few of them. This quantity was greater than that made by us in the previous year, but how much greater I cannot say. What has been the average market price of the several fabrics so made, in the markets where you have sold, for the last three years ? — We sell very few cloths at our factory; nearly all are sold in the New York market. In 1825 and 1827, they bore, in that market, the following comparative prices, viz.: — In 1825, at $2. 50., ^"3. 25., ^4, and ,$5 ; in 1827, cloths of the same quality sold at ^fi. 50., $2, $1. 50., and $^. 50. Has there been a general depression in the price of property, or the value of labour, within the last three or four years, and if so, what is the cause of it? — As far as my infor- mation extends, the price of labour in my county has fallen within four years last past; and my impression also is, that the general value of property has depreciated within the same tmie. The reason I would assign is the depreciation in value of the surplus products of that section of country, of which wool is one, which has heretofore sustained the population. Have you made any dividends on the capital invested in your establishment ? — We have never made any dividends upon our stock; but from the 3d June 1826 to 3d June 1827, we % actually continued. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 197 ■actually lost from- the principal of the capital invested J. 5>50i • 93- which has been assessed 1827—1 R'??? upon the stockholders in proportion to their respective shares, and has been paid in to supply v, J-o~o. the deficiency thus created in the capital; between the 3d June ,1825 and the 3d June 1826, /"! ^^ \ ^ we lost in the same way ^1,795. This sum, with the loss of the following year, was also ^'"r'osure N° 1 assessed upon the stockholders, at the same time with that loss, and was paid in July 1827. '" *'" These losses have been such that exclusive of any allowance to myself as general superin- tendent of the factory, which has occupied a large share of my time, and without any allow- ance, either by way of commissions or otherwise, to my brother, Peter H. Schenck, who is a stockholder, and who has made the principal purchases of materials, and most of the sales of our cloths. Have you adopted the most approved machinery in use in Europe and the United States ? — We have, and some I think better than any heretofore used. Has any of the machinery added to your factory, or have any of the additional buildings erected since 1 824, been paid for out of the earnings of the factory ? — No ; but all these expenditures have been paid for by calls upon the stockholders. • Can you give the committee an accurate statement of the cost, to your company, of a single piece, of any quality, of your, broad cloths, in the year 1825-6, and also in 1826-7, and the prices at which that piece of cloth, in each of those years, sold in the New York market ? — I have not the documents with me to answer this question accurately, but can state, that broad cloths are now made at a much less expense of labour than in 1825, by the introduction of a variety of improved and labour-saving machinery, amongst which may be named the " dressing machine," and the " broad power loom," of American invention. The quality, style, and finish of the cloths, are vastly improved since that period. The value of cloths, the last year, ending the 3d June 1827, appears, by our books, to have been, for grade N° ^, $\. 50. per yard ; N° 3, $1; W 2, $1. 50. ; N° 1, ^'3. 50. Cloths of the same grades, or numbers, as before stated, sold in the New York market, at ^2. 50. S^- 25. ^4, and.Jl'5, in the year ending 3d June 1825. Have you not, also, been extensively engaged in the manufacture of machinery ; if so, is that manufactory carried on by the same company, and the same stock, as the woollen fac- tory ? — We are extensively engaged in the manufacture of machinery. We made between ^1*30,000 and ^40,000 worth, in the year ending the 3d June last. It was principally cotton and woollen machinery. The same stockholders, with one or two exceptions, own the woollen manufactory and the-m^achinery manufactory, but they are distinct establishments, and under different acts of incorporation. The capital of this latter is totally independent of that ■which I stated as belonging to the woollen establishment. Has the manufacture of machinery been also a losing concern ? — No ; but affording a very small profit. Did you, or the company, at any time, and when, sell to Mr- Hone, of the city of New York, a number of shares in your capital stock ; and if so, was the price given above or below the par value ; and how much ? — Messrs. John Hone and Philip Hone joined with us in forming the " Glenham Company." Is Mr. Hone now a proprietor in the capital stock? — Yes. John Hone and Philip Hone. Have you had any conversation with Mr. Hone, at any time within the last twelvemonths, on the subject of increasing the duties on foreign goods ; if you have, be pleased to state whether he has not expressed his entire approbation with the present duties, or declared his -willingness to acquiesce in the present duties ; or, what did he say on these subjects? — I have had conversations with both gentlemen, relative to the present rate of duties, and my impressions have always been, that they are in favour of further protection. Were the prices at which you sold your goods during the last fall better, and the sales more ready, than in 1826? — The prices were not better last fall than they were in 1826. I do not know that the sales have been more ready, Saturday, January 26, 1828. James Wolcott, jun. of Southbridge, State of Massachusetts ; admitted, and further examined. Question. Are you now, and have you lately been engaged in the manufacture of wool ; if yea, in what branch ; for how long a time, and at what place ? — Answer. I am now, and have been so engaged for twelve years, at Southbridge ; and for the last six years have been •engaged altogether in the making of broad cloths. Is the establishment for the manufacture of wool, in which you are interested, an incor- porated company ; if yea, by what name ; if not incorporated, is it a copartnership, or aa individual interest ?— It is now an incorporated company, and has been so for about seven years, under the name of the " Wolcott Woollen Manufacturing Company." It is now conducted by an agent, who has a general superintendence over the whole concern, and this agent receives ^ 1,200 per annum. We have an accountant who receives 700 dollars What is the whole amount of capital actually invested in the woollen factory of which you speak ; what part of that capital is invested in real estate, buildings and machinery ; and what part is active canital ?— The stock, generally, will not sell at more than $50 for ^100 paid The whole amount of the capital is J^' 126,000, all of which is absorbed in the real estate buildings and machinery; of this, there are about 150 acres, with a water power on it: The machinery cost from 30 to 40,000 dollars ; we have no active capital, but we borrow money, on which we pay interest. „ 578. B b 3 ^^^ 198 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. . .^^ ,.> Inclosure N° l in N» 11. continued. Has the factory you speak of been in continued operation since it was erected ? — The : factory has at no time entirely suspended business. What kinds of fabrics do you produce ; and what has been the whole quantity of fabrics^ on the average, for the last three years ?— We make broad cloths only, and the number of yards produced in 1826, was 30,995; of which we sold 25,454 yards, netting us 45*58,774. 18.; the average per yard J'2. 30 J. From the 1st of Januaiy to July 31st, 1827, seven months, we sold 12,534 yards, which netted us ,$ 26,553. 95. the average per yard being two dollars and twelve cents. The greater part of these cloths were indigo blues. The qualities of the fabrics, and proportion of costly colours, were about the same in the respective sales. What quantity of wool, washed on the sheep's back, is required to make one yard of, the cloth made at your factory ; and what is its width when finished ? — About two pounds six ounces, as washed on the sheep's back ; when well washed on the sheep's back, I have found this nearly correct. The cloth we make is six and a half quarters wide. What number of hands are employed in the same factory ; what are their descriptions ; ■ as men, women, boys and girls ? — The number of persons employed at the factory, are 121 ; of these 71 are men, 38 young women grown, and 12 children. The average wages of the men is 75 cents per day. That of the young women 40 cents. The children 25 cents per day. They all find themselves in board, &c. Were not the manufacturers of wool generally doing a better business previous to 1824,. than they have done smce? — Our business has been worse since 1824, except in 1825 as woollen goods have fallen very much in price, say from 25 to 33 y per cent. Can you say what number of companies have been incorporated in Massachusetts,, within the last three years, and the extent of their capital 7 — I cannot tell. Of an equal quality of wool, at present prices in England and the United States, can the . English manufacturer make a cheaper fabric than can be made in the United States? — ^We can do the mere labour of the manufacture as cheap as it is done in England. Can"you state the loss or gain of your establishment for the years 1825, 1826 and 1827? — I can state our loss for 1826, which was an aggregate amount of aS" 23,095. 31. from which deduct ;$ 500 for bad debts, &c. not properly belonging to the manufacturing loss^ This loss was exclusive of interest on capital, in machinery, real estate and buildings, but not exclusive of the borrowed active capital. In 1827 and 1828, we still have found it a losing business, and that no economy can sustain it. The business will not pay its expense, . exclusive of interest on the capital. Jonas B. Brown, of Boston, Massachusetts ; admitted, and further examined. Question. Are you now, and have you lately been engaged in manufactures of wool ; if yea, in what branch ; for how long a time ; and at what place ? — Answer. I have been en- gaged in the manufacture of broad cloths since 1821, at Millbury, and am now engaged in the business. Is the establishment for the manufacture of wool, in which you are interested, an incor- porated company ; if yea, by what name ; if not incoporated, is it a co-partnership, or an individual interest? — -It is, by the name of the " Goodell Manufactory Company." What is the whole of the amount of capital actually invested in the woollen factory of which you speak ; what part of that capital is invested in real estate, buildings and machi- nery ; and what part is active capital ? — The amount of capital invested in real estate and machinery is J" 80,460. 77.; about ^30,000 of this amount is machinery; and the remainder in real estate 'and buildings ; besides the above, we employ more or less of active capital, ranging not below thirty thousand, nor above fifty thousand dollars. Has the factory you speak of been in continued operation since it was first erected ? — It has been in continued operation, but we have not constantly run all our machinery. What kinds of fabrics do you produce ; and what has been the whole quantity of fabrics on the average for the last three years? — In 1827, we made 58,903 yards of broad cloth; in 1826, we made about 42,000; and in 1825, about 31,000 ; in 1825, we made about 12,000 yards of satinets ; in 1826 and 1827, we did not make satinets, because we found it a losing business, owing to the domestic and foreign competition. What quantity of wool washed on the sheep's back is required to make one yard of the cloth made at your factory; and what is its width when finished? — From two and one quarter, to two and a half pounds ; the cloth is over six quarters wide. What are and have been for the last three years, the values per yard at the factory, of the cloth so made? — We make several qualities of cloth; in 1825, about three-fourths of the quantities we made, sold at from 2|t0 3| dollars; in 1826, at from J'l. 75, to $2. 50; in 1827, the same colours and qualities sold at from ^1. 75. to ,$2. 50. About one-fourth of the cloth we made was of much finer quality, and the finest brought in 1825, six dollars ; in 1826, five dollars ; and in 1827, five dollars. What number of officers, clerks, and superintendent^ are employed in the factory of which you speak, and what wages or salaries to each'' — We have one agent as a general superin- tendent, whose wages are one thousand dollars per annum. What number of hands are employed in the same factory ; what are their descriptions, as men, women, boys and girls? — We give direct employment to 150 persons; of these, 72 are men, 53 are boys above 16 years, and 25 are under 16 years of age; we employ no children except boys. Were not manufacturers of wool generally doing a better business previous to 1824 thaa they have done since?— I did better from 1821 to 1824 than I have done since. Gaa PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 199 Can you say what number of companies have been incorporated in Massachusetts within 1 8<5»7 1828 the last three years, and the extent of their capital ? — I think there have been some incorpo- y ~ j rated since that time, but cannot say how many. '"' Was the depression in price of woollens in the year 1826, in any great degree occa- Inclosure N* 1 sioned by excessive importations of the merchants, in anticipation of the expected increase '" I- ^ j' of price in cloths, from the provisions of the Tariff of 1824 ? — There was no depression of "*" *""* " price in 1 825 ; I do not think the depression in 1 826 was owing to excessive importations, in anticipation of higher prices from the provisions of the Tariff of 1824; but that it was partly owing to the revulsion of trade in Europe, and consequent large importation into the United States, added to our increased supply from our home manufacturers. Of an equal quality of wool at the present prices in England and the United States, can the English manufacturer make a cheaper fabric than can be made in the United States ? — I cannot state. Mr. Joshua Clapp, of Boston, Massachusetts ; admitted, and further examuidd. Question. Are you now, and have you for some time past been engaged in the manufac- ture of wool, and at what place or places ? — Answer. I have a woollen factory at Litchfield, in Connecticut, which I rented in November 1821, for five years ; on the expiration of my lease, I declined renewing it, and the owners have allowed me to use it free of rent, rather than suffer it to lie idle, and the hands to be dispersed ; I am also interested in a woollen factory at Northampton, Massachusetts ; the results are about the same in each. What is the amount of capital actually invested in the factory of which you speak ; what part is in real estate ; what part is in machinery, and what part^is actively employed ? — I have no capital invested in real estate at Litchfield, and I am to be understood hereafter as con- fining myself exclusively to that establishment, unless when I expressly speak of the other; I have invested six thousand dollars in machinery, which is in operation with that which I rented, and which I now have free of rent. What kind of fabrics do you produce ; and what has been the wholfe quantity of fabrics so made, on the average, for the last two years 1 — We manufactured broad cloths exclu- sively; in the first year of which I speak, we made 17,293 yards; in the second year, 15,551 yards. Have you made any dividend on the capital invested in your establishments ; or have you lost money by the manufacture of wool? — I still speak of the two last years; from 12th November 1825 to November 12th, 1826, I sold the amount of ^50,987. 50., upon which there was a loss of ^8,995. 35., including commissions; from November i2th, 1826 to November 12th, 1827, my sales wese JI' 53,397. 76., and on these there was a loss of •S' 3.895. 82.; in the first year, the sales of my cloth averaged ^'3.26. per yard, and in the second, .^2.90. Have you examined the Boston remonstrance, presented this session of Congress against further duties on imports? — I have examined it. Are there any manufacturers of wool who have signed this remonstrance ; if so, who and where are their manufacturing establishments? — No one who has signed it is a manufac- turer of wool in the United States ; one of them, William Taylor, receives large supplies of woollen goods from England, and I believe he is interested in a factory in England; George Bond, an auctioneer, who has also signed the petition, it is said, has an interest in a factory in the United States, to the extent of five shares ; I know of no other person who has signed the petition that has an interest in any American woollen factory. Does that petition contain the names of many merchants of Boston, who are importers of woollen goods? — It does not; it may perhaps contain the names of some two or three; I do not recollect more than that number. What has been the decline in the price of woollen fabrics, such as are usually manufac- tured in the United States, from the years 1823 and 1824 to 1827 ?— I think the decline in broad cloths has been from 33-5. to 40 percent. What do you consider the cause of such decline ?— The cause I consider to be the great quantities of domestic and foreign fabrics meeting in the domestic market. What is the difference in the price of labour in the manufacture of broad cloths between Great Britain and this country ?— As far as it regards labour, I believe we can manufacture wool as cheap in the United States' as in Great Britain. What is the value of the best investments in the broad cloth manufactories in this ^^mitry ''—Not over fifty cents in the dollar, and generally less. Are you stiU progressing in your manufactory in Litchfield, and what will be the extent of vour operations this year ?— I still use it, but probably shall rehnquish it in six or eight months, if there is no further protection afforded to manufacturers ; that is my present *'^DidTou find sales more ready hi the fall of 1827 than in 1826, and were not the prices better in the fall than in the spring of 1827 ?— The sales were more ready m 1827 than m 1826 but there was no improvement in prices ; my sales of the last year v^ere made prin- cipaliy in the fall ; I am not aware that there was much improvement over the prices of the spring. There might have been an advance of five per cent, but certainly not more than What officers, agents, or superintendents, have you employed in your establishment, and »t what prices ?— I have an agent or superintendent, to whom I pay 800 dollars per annum, and one clerk, to whom I pay 300 dollars. I have no other of the character mentioned m the interrogatory. ^ ; 578. Bb4 ^^""^ 200 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827— 182S. Inclosure N° l ill N° 11. continued. Were manufacturers doing a good business previous to 1824, or was it better than it has been since that time ? — It was certainly a better business before than since 1825 ; but it never has been a profitable business since I commenced it ; there were periods in which I made perhaps the interest of the money, but that will not do for manufacturers ; the best business, since I have had any connection with it, was a period of time embracing one half of each of the years 1824 and 1825. Do you pay more or less now than formerly for weaving ; what were the highest prices paid for weaving, and what do you now pay ?— We have paid as high as thirty cents a yard for weaving, but we do not now pay more than ten cents the yard. What is the comparative state of morals in New England, between the agricultural and manufacturing population ? — I think the opportunities for moral and religious instruction are decidedly in favour of the manufacturing community; it being one of the first objecte of the proprietors of the large establishments, to provide schools and houses for religious worship. Benjamin Poor, of Boston, State of Massachusetts ; admitted, and further examined. Question. Are you now, or have you been interested in the manufacture of woollen fabrics? — Ansiver. I am interested as a stockholder in a company for the manufacture of wool ; they have two factories, called the Saxon and Leicester factories, in Worcester and Middlesex counties; they were commenced in 1824, and were incorporated iii 1825. What is the capital actually invested in the factory of which you speak ; what part is real estate, what is machinery, and what part is actively employed? — The capital is 150,000 dollars, and has all been paid in, except a 'small sum, upon which the company receive interest, as I believe ; I cannot give a particular detail of the different investments. Can you give any further detailed statement of the operations of the factory to which you refer ? — I am not particularly acquainted with all the internal operations and management of the manufactory ; I live in Boston, and the principal relations in which I stand to the establishment are as purchaser of the raw materials, and salesman of the product ; as to its financial concerns, most that I know will be found in the paper now presented, which is a letter written and sworn to by Henry H. Jones, who is treasurer of the corporation, and ■which I believe is entitled to full credit. " Mr. Benjamin Poor: " Boston, Januai-y 8th, 1828. " Dear Sir : — Your letter of the 5th inst. I duly 'received, in which you request of me, as treasurer of the Saxon and Leicester factory, a statement respecting the affairs of that corporation. " The Saxon factory at Farmingham was incorporated February 4, 1824, and the Leicester manufactory was purchased in July 1824, by several of the proprietors of the Saxon factory and others, and united, by an act of incorporation, February 8, 1825, under the name of the " Saxon and Leicester Factory," for the purpose of manufac- turing wool. " The amount of capital was one hundred and fifty thousand dollars. From the time the factory commenced in 1824, until the 1st of July 1827, there has been a loss by manufacturing of (^'26,394. ^^O twenty-six thousand three hundred and ninety- four dollars and twenty-eight cents. In addition to this actual depreciation of capital, by manufacturing, the stockholders have lost the interest on their amount of stock ; in the above loss no allowance has been made for wear of machinery, which you know is considerable; the last public sale of some of our stock was in June 1827, at ^^505, the share of ^1,000; private sales of seven shares have since been made at ^429 the share. " The result of our six months business, ending the i st instant, has not yet been ascertained; I cannot therefore furnish you with anything decisive respecting it ; the number of persons employed by the Saxon and Leicester factory, are from 230 to 240 ; and the monthly labour is from J!' 3,300 to ^'3,500 at the present time. " Your's respectfully, " Henri/ H. Jones, Treasurer, Saxon and Leicester Factory." " Suffolk, Boston, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. " Personally appeared, Henry H. Jones, and made solemn oath to the truth of the several statements contained in the foregoing letter, according to his best knowledge and belief. Before me, " Charles Ilai/ward, Justice of the Peace." What agents, superintendents and other officers, have the company, who receive pay, other than labourers ; and what are their salaries ? — ^The company have two agents, who receive ,$'1,200, and ^'600; we usually have two clerks, who receive ,i]^'300 each, and a treasurer; who receives J'700. The house in which I am a partner is allowed 2J per cent commission on purchases and sales. Do you find, in selling the goods you make, that domestic competition has a tendency to> afiect the prices ? — Domestic competition certainly has an effect; but the principal com- petition is with the foreign article. When were your prices best ; when did your goods sell lowest ? — I think the best prices were obtained in 1824-5 5 they were lowest in 1826 by 25 per cent. Were your sales more ready in 1827 than in 1826; and were the prices better in the fait than J PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. gol than in the spring of 1827 ? — The prices were lower in 1826 than in 1827 ; but those who IS27 ,1 eob thought proper to meet the market in 1826, found no difficulty in effecting sales. Taking v. io-^o. an average, I am not aware of any material variation between the prices in the spring and '^ fall of 1837 ; some cloths did sell better in the fall than in the spring. Inclosuie N» 1 Do the sales of woollens, at auction, materially affect the market, as well as othfer causes ? '" ^° ' *," I do not think that auction sales produce any material effect on the Boston market, unless ^vntmutu. there be a large surplus on hand. If the stock of your company be estimated at the selling price of the share, would or would it not be profitable stock? — I do not think it profitable even at the selling prices, which are ,1^429 for ilf 1,000 paid in ; nor do I think a manufacturer would act prudently in carrying on the business, if the whole stock was given to him, unless there be further duties laid on foreign goods. Theodore Chase, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, admitted, and sworn. Question. Are you interested in any establishment for the manufacture of wool? — Ansioer.' I am a proprietor in a factory established at Great Falls ; and also in the Salmon Falls factory, at Somersworth, Stafford county. New Hampshire. What is the amount of capital invested in those or either of those factories ; do you superintend their management, or can you give a circumstantial account of their operations? — I am not practically acquainted with the operations of either of the estabhshments ', I; W. Pierce has the management of one, to whose testimony I would refer as to its situation ; that at Somersworth, is under the care of C. C. Wolcott. The paper herewith presented, signed and sworn to by him, exhibits all that I know of the establishment which could be of service, and to that paper I would refer believing it to be entitled to full credit. * Eleuterre Irenee Dupont, of New Castle county, near Wilmington, Delaware ; admitted, and further examine'd. Question. Are you n^w, and have you been engaged in the manufacture of woollens; if yea, at what place, and for how long a time ? — Answer. I am concerned, with my nephew, in the manufacture of woollens, at the place of my present residence, and have been so concerned with him and with my brother, now deceased, since 1810, • we are co-partners, but not incorporated. What is the amount of capital invested in the factory of which you speak ; what share of that capital is active, and what share is vested in real estate, buildings and machinery? — Our capital invested is upwards of ^'70,000, of which I should value the real estate, buildings and machinery -at from 1^40,000 to J|' 45,000 ; but as I am not at this time the active super- intendent of the factory, and have not at this place access to the books, I cannot give a precise statement of the stock in trade. My partner is now the active superintendent of the establishment, and keeps the books of account of the business. What kinds of cloths or fabrics are made of the wool so used ; and what the average number of yards made in each year, for the last three years ? — Of the common country wool we make coarse cloths and kerseys principally for the army ; we purchase some wool of Merino, of which we make satinets. Of the Smyrna wool, of the South American wool, and of the coarsest kind of country wool, we make coarse cloths, and a cloth called " linsey," for negro clothing. I think on an average of the last three years we have made from 20 to 25,000' yards of all kinds of these cloths in each year, but I cannot tell the relative quantities of each without reference to our books. The coarse cloths and kerseys, called army cloths, are about six-quarter yards wide when finished. The satinets and the negro clothing are generally. about three-quarter yards wide, but the linsey is much wider. What has been the average price for the last three years of these cloths or fabrics, in the markets where you have sold? — I think in 1825, the indigo blue array clothing brought us about Jl'2. 30. per yard; in 1826, about $1. 24.; and in 1827, I know the price was just J'2. 12 J. The grey kersey in 1825, I think, brought $1. 35.,- in 1826, ;$i. 25.; and in 1827, I know it brought us Ji' i . 10. per yard. During all the years both kinds of these cloths were of the same quality. The satinets I think, as an average, were in 1825, in the market from 62 J cents to 75 cents per yard. In 1826, I do not recollect at all the prices of these cloths. In 1827, the satinets I know were from 40 to 50 cents in the market. The negro clothing in 1825 brought us from 35 to 40 cents the yard, and in 1827, from 25 to 30 cents the yard. In 1826 I cannot tell the price it brought. We make; little of the linsey, and I cannot state the price at any time. Were the manufacturers of woollens in this country doing a better business previous to the year 1824 than they have done since? — I am not perfectly able to say. The business has always been a losing one ; but my impression is, that there were fewer discouragements to the woollen manufacturer previous to the year 1824, than there are at the present time. Do the woollen manufacturers of this country ieel the effects of domestic competition ? — No- but I wish we might. We dread the foreign, but would be glad to encounter domestic competition, jj^ * The Committee, on consultation, did not conceive themselves justified, under the order of the House, to publish the statement referred to in this answer, because Mr. Wolcott was neither sum- tnoned nor interrogated, and never appeared before them for examination. The evidence of Mr. Pierce is herewith published, and the paper refened to by Mr. Chase, will be found among the papers of the Clerk of the House. «02 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS i827 — 1828. Do manufactories with moderate capitals, and under the immediate superintendence of / the proprietors, usually succeed better than incorporated companies, with large capitals, and Inclosure N° i managed by officers and agents ?— I should not consider a large capital any disadvantage, ia N" 11. ^ut the contrary. But if this is managed by the immediate proprietor, I think it usually continiiie4, ^'^^^ better than when managed by officers or agents. Are there fluctuations in the prices of woollen goods in our markets, occasioned by foreign importations; if yea, do these fluctuations add much to the embarrassment of the American manufacturer ? — I have no doubt there are ; and these fluctuations are the great cause of the embarrassment to our manufacturers. I am confident, if we had competent protection, we should effectually be able to manufacture woollens much cheaper than we now do, and should afford them even below the present prices. Is the machinery used in the factory of which you speak, of the most approved patterns used in this country? — We have not adopted, the late improvements in machinery. The discouragements have been so great that we have not dared to encounter the expense. Our weaving is done by hand looms principally. We had one of the spinning machines, called the brewster, but it got out of order, and we have not put it in repair. We use the jenny entirely. Have any dividends been made upon the stock of the factory of which you speak ; if no, have there been any and what losses sustained for the last three years? — Ours is not a stock company, but a joint partnership between my nephew and myself. We have not, within the time alluded to, made any thing as profits from our woollen manufactory, but on the contrary, the business for those three years has been a losing one, and we could not have continued it, but for the fact that we were at the same time carrying on other business, which enabled us to sustain our losses. In which of the last three years have the sales of cloth been best ; and were they better in. 1826 than in 1827? — My impression is, that the sales were better in 1825 than in 1826. I cannot make a comparison between the sales of 1826 and 1827, as I have no books or papers to refer to ; but I know the prices and sales in 1827 have been worse than they were in 1 825, or before. Without reference to the difference in the price of wool, can the fabric be manufactured as cheap in the United States as in England ? — The woollen manufactory is not yet fairly established in this country, but I know no reason why we cannot manufacture as well and as cheap as they can in England, except the difference in the price of labour, for which, in my opinion, we are fully compensated by other advantages. Our difficulties are not the cost of manufacturing, but the great fluctuations in our home market, caused by the exces- sive and irregular foreign importations. The high prices we pay for labour are, in my opinion, beneficial to the American manufacturer, as for those wages he gets a much better selection of hands, and those capable of and willing to perform a much greater amount ftf labour in a given time. The American manufacturer also uses a larger share of labour- saving machinery than is used in the English manufactories, which very much diminishes the effect of the higher rate of wages upon the actual cost of our goods. Were your sales more ready, and at better prices, in the autumn of 1827 than in 1826? — ■ They were not at better prices, and we have not at any time found ready sales within the last five or six years. With the present price of real estate, the diminution in the cost of building, and the price of machinery, would a new establishment, founded on capital judiciously invested at this time, be likely to do a better or worse business than those erected in 1824-5 or 1826? — The less capital which is required to procure a site, and erect and put in operation the same machinery, the better it would be to the proprietor by the difference in that capital; but I know of no other difference which could exist between a factory erected now, and one erected in 1824-5 or 1826; nor am I able to say, that the prices of real estate, buildings, and machinery, in my section of country, are reduced since 1824 to such an extent as mate" rially to vary the capital required for the same factory. Was not the opinion very generally entertained, on the passing of the Act of 1824, that it afforded a sufficient protection to manufacturers ? — I do not think it has ever been the opinion of a practical man. I have always thought that no other than a specific duty would answer the purpose, because an ad valorem duty is so subject to evasion, that the intention of the law will never be carried into effect. What is the general character and description of the woollen goods shipped from Great Britain to this country, as compared to their other goods made for British home consump- tion ? — Formerly, the importations of woollen goods from England were made by our mer- chants, in the regular course of trade ; now, these importations are mostly made on British account, and a very large share of them are made from the following causes : 1st. That their home market is overstocked, and they had rather sell the surplus at a loss, than to keep it on hand ; and 2d. That the British manufacturer has on hand articles not suited to his home market, or which are of inferior quality, or which are made from secondary materials, and which he presses off his hands, because they will not sell at home, or because he will not hazard the reputation of his factory by putting them into those markets. Those goods, brought to our markets for these causes, and sold at the auctions for what they will com- mand, regulate the price of our own woollen goods. ' Have the effects of employment, and the congregation of a large number of hands in manufacturing establishments in this country, from your experience, been injurious to the morals of the labourers ?— It has not ; but on" the contrary, from an experience of twenty-six years in different branches of manufacturing, I can say that I beHeve the moral and pecuniq.nf § condi^ioa PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. ^03^ condition of the labourers I have employed, have, as a general rule, been materially im- proved,- and this I believe will continue .to be the case, so long as this country offers to labour a safe employment, in the purchase of unimproved lands at a low price, and so long^ as the constitution of the government remains free as it now is. All the children employed in and dependent on our factories, are regularly taught in Sunday schools, until they acquire the rudiments of a tolerable education. Joshua W. Pierce,' of Somersworth, Strafford County, New Hampshire ; admitted, and further examined. Question. Are you now, and have you been engaged in the manufacture of woollens ; if yea, at what place, and for how long a time? — Amiver. I am now and have for the three years last past, been engaged in the manufacture of woollens at the place of my residence. I am a large proprietor and sole agent of an incorporated company by the name of the " Salmon Falls Manufacturing Company." What is the amount of capital invested in the manufactory of which you speak ; what share of that capital is active, and what share is vested in real estate, buildings, and ma- chinery ? — The capital of our company was, by actual appraisement on the 24th November, 1826, J" 362,000. Of that S 140,000 is vested in real estate and manufacturing buildings ; J[' 30,000 in a farm, dwelling houses, store, gristmill, sawmill, and oil mill; ^60,000 in ifiachinery, furniture, tools, 8cc. ; Jl' 131,000 in materials used for manufacturing, stock in the store, cash, provisions, wool, yarn, and cloths. I speak from the inventory of the appraisal taken at the time, in all cases omitting fractions. What kind of cloths or fabrics are made of the wool so used, and what the average number of yards made in each yeai', for the last three years ? — .We make broad cloths only. I should say the average quantity of cloths made for the last three years, would be 40,000 yards each year; but the quantity would be less in 1825, more in 1826, and still more in 1-827. I cannot state exactly the quantity for each year. W hat has been the average price for the last three years, of these cloths or fabrics, in the markets where you have sold? — The same quality of cloth, which in 1825, we sold in the Boston market at ^"4 per yard, we sell now at Jl'3 per yard in the same market ; and the sale in 1827 has been decidedly lower than it was in 1826. In like manner, the same qualities erf" cloth which we sold in 1825, at three dollars in the Boston market, now sells for twb dollars in the same market, and now sells lower than it did in 1826. These statements are about a fair sample of the depression in price of all our cloths. Our sales are almost entirely made in Boston. We sell very little cloth at the factory, and have made small sales at New York and Philadelphia. The sales, at the now reduced prices, are more dull than they were in 1825, at the then prices. Our cloths, finished, will average 6| quarter yards wide. The various descriptions of cloths we make, range from two dollars to five dollars per yard, as we value them. As nearly as we can make the estimate, the cloth which in 1 825 we sold at four dollars, and which we now sell at three dollars, dull sales, actually costs us, when ready for the market, an average of $'2- 50 t^e yard. And the cloth selling in 1 825 at three dollars, and now selling at two dollars, actually costs us that sum. Our cloths are sold by commission merchants, and the sales referred to in this answer are the gioss sales. Were the manufacturers of woollens, in this country, doing a better business previous- to I3ie year 1824, than they have done since ?^-I have no means of jvidging, as I was not engaged in the business until the close of that year. Do the woollen manufacturers of this country feel the effect of domestic competition ?— I do not think they do. The only competition which they experience or dread, is that of the importation of foreign woollen goods. Do manufactories vsdth moderate capitals, and under the immediate superinteiidence of the proprietors, usually succeed better than incorporated companies, with large capitals, and managed by. ofiicers and agents ? — I do not think a large capital a disadvantage, but on the contrary, a decided advantage; but I believe all kinds of business usually succeeds best when under the management and superintendence of those interested in it. Are there fluctuations in the prices of woollen goods occasioned by foreign importations ; if yea, do these fluctuations add much to the embarrassment of the American manufac- turer?— There are, and these fluctuations form the principal embarrasment which the American manufacturer has to contend with. Is the machinery, used in the factory of which you speak, of the most approved patterns used' in this country ?— So far as I am acquainted, it is. Have any dividends been made upon the stock of the company of which you speak; if no have there been any and what losses sustained for the last three years ?— No. There has never been a dividend made upon our stock. On the contrary, we have sustained losses as follow:— In 1825, the books of our company show a gain, between the cost of ail" the materials used, and all the labour, and the whole amount of sales, of ^^6,772. 78. There were purchased by the company, when they purchased the site of the factory, one erist mill, one saw mill, and one oil mill. These the company do not use, but they are rented at the best terms that can be procured; and in 1825, they received in rents for these, and for dwelling-houses, the sum of Ji 1,041. 69. These sums, together make the sum of J'? 814 47 The interest on the capital actually paid in, and employed by the company Slat year, at six per cent, was- ^16,313. 15. Showing, in that year, an actual loss of 1827—1828-; Inclosure N' li in N" 1 V. continued. ;$ 8498. 68. without any allowance for wear and use of machinery, generally calculated to 578. CC2 be 204 1S27— 1828. Inclosure N° i in N* 11. continued. PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS be worth nine or ten per cent ; and of which the company had in actual use, that year, what cost them at fair prices, ^'37,000. In 18^6, the books of the company showed a balance against the factory, after paying for all the materials and all! ^ ^ -^-labour | ^18,103 16 the Deduct from this the rents for that year, upon the property mentioned! above amounting to -_.-__._]■ 1,043 82 And the clear loss will be - - i' 17.059 34 This is without any allowance for interest upon the capital, which was considerably increased in that year, or for the wear and tear of machinery, the value of which in actual use that year, was J" 60,000. In 1827, our books have not been made up, but the same qualities of cloths have sold, in this year, considerably lower than they did in 1 826 : and there must be a large loss, beyond that of the interest upon our capital, and the wear and tear of our machinery. None of these losses have originated from bad debts, and all our sales are guaranteed to us by the commission merchant, for which we pay him 2 1 per cent. This item is taken into the account and forms part of the loss. Our store is kept for the accommodation of the factory, and the hands ; and has afforded, on its own business, a small profit. In which of the three last years, have the sales of cloth been the best, and were they better in 1826 than in 1827 ? — In 1825 they were best; in 1826 they were lower, and in 1827 they were still lower; as will be seen from my former answers. Without reference to the price of wool, can the fabric be manufactured as cheap in the United States as in England? — I think it can. All my information brings me to this conclusion, and one reason I would assign is, that we substitute a much larger share of the labour of females, than they do in England, in the woollen manufacture. Were your sales more ready, and at better prices, in the fall of 1827 than in 1826? — They were more dull, and at lower prices in 1827, than in 1826; and I do not recollect that they altered, materially, in the fall of that year. With the present price of real estate, the diminution in the cost of buildings, and the cost of machinery, would a new establishment founded on capital judiciously invested, at this time, be likely to do a better or worse business, than those erected in 1824, 1825, or 1826? — I was unacquainted with the business, until the latter part of the year 1824; but I am not aware of any material diminution of the value of real estate in my section of country, or in the cost of buildings and machinery, since that time ; and I cannot say that the investments made since that time have not been as judiciously and advantageously made, as they now could be. Was not the opinion very generally entertained, on the passing of the Act of 1 824, that it afforded sufficient protection to manufacturers? — Not having been interested in the woollen business, until after the passage of that Act, I cannot give a very satisfactory answer, as to what public opinion was at the time of its passage. I did think myself, when I became interested in the factory in which I am now interested, that that Tariff Bill would furnish fair protection ; but I very soon found myself disappointed in this expec- tation. The method in which the duty is laid, to wit, an ad valorem duty, cannot in my opinion furnish sufficient protection, from the facility with which woollen goods are invoiced at a price far less than their cost, and from the difficulty, if not impossibility, of detecting the fraud, and arriving at a fair appraisal in this country. I therefore think that the same form of duty, if considerably increased, would not reach the object; but that a specific square yard duty only will give the protection required. I do not think the present duty sufficient, even if no evasions had taken place. What is the general character and description of the woollen goods shipped from Great Britain to this country, as compared with their other goods made for British home con- sumption ? — I have no means of answering the question. Can you give the whole number of hands employed in your factory ; their classes into men, women, boys and girls; and the average of the wages of the whole ? — In 1826, we employed about 200 persons, of whom 60 were men ; 15 boys, from 10 to 15 years of age; 21 girls, from 10 to 15 years of age; and 104 women. An average of the wages of the whole, including superintendents, clerks, and all other officers and hands, who receive wages, is 68 cents per working day, for the year; this includes board. I cannot give an exact account of the number of hands, or wages paid in 1827, but I think the whole number has been somewhat reduced ; and women have been, in several instances, substituted for ihen, which will reduce the average of this year; but how much, I cannot say. What is the whole value of materials you consume in your factory annually ; what part of that value is of foreign, and what of domestic productions ; and what is the value of the provisions consumed annually, by the hands employed in the business of your establish- ment? — Of imported law materials we consume, annually, the value of 33,612 dollars. Of imported manufactured articles, we consume, annually, the value of 391 dollars. Of do- mestic products, including lamp oik we consume 28,525 dollars, making an aggregate of 62,528 dollars. The provisions consumed, annually, by the hands employed in our factory and their families, amount to the value of 1 2,500 dollars ; these persons also use domestic cotton goods to the amount of 7,000 dollars, and imported goods to the amount of 5,500 dol- lars; making together 25,000 dollars. There PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. There. are annually consumed in the factory, of imported raw materials:— 40,000 lbs. wo^l, averaging 60 cents - - $ 24,000 205 6,250 560 247 100 •135 2,850 70 2,500 lbs. of Bengal indigo, 2 dollars 50 cents 4,000 lbs. madder, 14 cents - - - 11,000 lbs. ground logwood, 2| cents 2,000 lbs. camwood, 5 cents - - - 6,000 lbs. fustic, %l cents - - . 2,500 lbs. galls, olive oil, 90 cents 20 doz. flask, d°, 3 dollars 50 cents - Of imported manufactured articles : 1 50 lbs. hempen twine, at 20 cents 150 lbs. worsted harness twine, i dollar 60 cents, ^40 10 lbs. sewing silk, 6 dollars 40 lbs. thread, 92 cents - 50 doz. linen tape, 50 cents Of domestic products : 60,000 lbs. wool, averaging 34 cents 6,000 lbs. woad, 5 cents - _ . 65 bushels bran, 30 cents - . _ 900,000 teasels, 3 dollars - - - _ 2,000 lbs. quercitron bark, 2| cents 350 cords of wood for fuel, 3I dollars - 3,000 lbs. copperas, 3 cents - - - 900 lbs. red argol, 14 cents 500 lbs. blue vitriol, 12 cents 600 lbs. alum, 5I cents - - - 200 lbs. aqua fortis, 1 2 cents 200 lbs. oil vitriol, 8 cents - - - 8,000 lbs. hard soap, 10 cents 300 bbls. soft soap, 2i dollars 9,000 lbs. glue, 14 cents - _ - 500 lbs. harness leather, 26 cents 35 sides thin leather, i| dollar - 20 doz. corn brooms, 1 g dollar - 650 gallons lamp oil, 70 cents 00 00 00 00 00 00 GO 00 - ^30 00 ;ents, 240 60 00 00 36 00 25 00 $ 20,400 00 300 00 20 00 - 2,700 00 45 00 - 1,225 00 90 126 00 00 60 00 33 00 24 16 800 00 00 00 750 - 1,260 00 00 130 00 00 30 00 455 00 1827--182S*. Inclosure N" 1 in N" 1 1. continued. ^'33.612 00 4" 391 00 ^f 28,525 00 ^^■62,528 00 There are annually consumed, by persons employed at the factory and their families, the following articles : Corn, flour, rice, sugar, tobacco and fish, amounting to - ^ 7,500 00 Domestic cotton goods ---____ 7,000 00 Other domestic provisions, and fuel - - - _ . 5,000 00 Of other imported goods, consisting of giroceries, cutlery, hardware, silk and other goods - - _ . _ 5,500 00 J!" 25,000 00 In the above estimate fractions are omitted. Have the books, from which you have taken the several facts and results stated in your foreging answers, been kept under your immediate superintendence ; are they the books of your factory ; have they been correctly kept ; and have the memoranda, from which you have testified, been taken from those books and other authentic sources ? — The books of our factory have been kept by a clerk, whose sole business it is to keep and take care of them under my immediate superintendence ; they have been accurately kept, and as often as they have been balanced, they have been examined and approved by the directors of the company. From these books the extracts have been made from which I have testified, when I have purported to speak from the books ; the other estimates are derived from authentic sources, and are substantially correct. ^4 What is the state of the morals of the persons employed at your factoiy, and how does it compare with those of the same class of persons in other employments in life ? — From all my observations, I believe the morals of those employed in manufacturing, to be as good as those of any other class in society, and there is perhaps a less amount of crime and immo- rality than among the same number of persons engaged in the other common avocations of life. I believe that in almost every instance, one of the first cares among the directors of manufacturing establishments, has bcten to establish schools and places of public worship, and the good effects are every where apparent. 578. Cc 3 506 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure N" i in N° 11. continued. TESTIMONY IN RELATION TO HEMP, FLAX. AND SAIL DUCK. Tuesday, January 15, 1828. The Honourable James Clark, admitted and sworn. Question. WHERE do you reside ? — Answer. I reside near the Tillage of Winchester, Clark county, Kentucky. Is the business of growing hemp an important business with the farmers in your con- gressional district ? — It is an important, but not the principal business of those who reside in that congressional district. What counties are included in your district? — The counties of Clark, Fayette, and Woodford. Are you not acquainted in the counties of Bourbon, Scott and Jessamine, in the state of Kentucky ; and do you not" know that hemp-growing is an important part of the business of the agiiculturists of these counties also? — I am well acquainted in Bourbon, and partially in Scott and Jessamine, and know it to be an important business in Bourbon | and, from information in which I have full confidence, believe it to be important in the other counties also. What has been the market price for hemp, cleaned ready for the manufactory, in your section of the state, for the last three years ?-^I should say that for the two years preceding the last, the average has been ^'4 per iialbs. ; during the last year it fluctuated con- siderably, but presume that the average has been about $ ^ per 112 lbs. Are not the counties above named, and also the counties of Mercer and Lincoln, capable of producing a much larger quantity of this article than they now do, if a steady and fair market was afforded ? — The soil is well adapted to the culture of hemp ; and I think these counties possess a capacity to produce a much greater quantity than they now produce, if a good market and fair prices were afforded. Is the manufacture of hemp, to any considerable extent, carried on in your district ; and if so, into what fabrics principally ? — It is manufactured to a considerable extent in Fayette, and, to a lesser extent, in the counties of Clark and Woodford ; the fabrics into which it is manufactured, are cotton bagging, yarns, and cordage. Have you any means of knowing whether the manufacture of hemp in your district, affords to the manufacturer a fair compensation for his labour and capital employed in the busi- ness ? — I have no means of knowing, except what I have acquired in casual conversations with manufacturers, and my knowledge of the price of hemp ; these conversations have im- pressed me with a firm belief that neither the grower nor the manufacturer receive a fair compensation for the labour and capital employed. Is it not important to the interests of the hemp growers and the manufacturers of hemp in Kentucky, and particularly in the district you represent, to have an increase of duty on imported hemp ? — I think it highly important, not only in the district of country of which I speak, but to every other part of Kentucky, to have an increase of duty on imported hemp. Have you been a hemp-grower, or manufacturer of hemp ; or are you now concerned in either of these branches of business ? — I have not cultivated hemp to any considerable extent,^ and I have never been engaged in its manufacture ; I did grow hemp, but have abandoned it for the last four or five years, because it did not yield a fair profit on the capital employed. Where is your market for cotton bagging? — It is generally sold in Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi. What price does it command in these markets ? — I do not know. What is the quality of the Kentucky cotton bagging compared with that which is im- ported ? — I know nothing of their qualities of my own knowledge, never having seen any of the imported article ; but from conversations which I have held with intelligent cotton growers in the South-western States, the Kentucky bagging is esteemed from one and a half to two cents per yard better than that imported. Have you any knowledge of the quantity of cotton bagging imported, or is your opinion> as to the necessity of a further protection, formed from any information you possess as to the competition between the foreign and domestic article? — I have no precise information as to the quantity imported ; my opinion, as to further protection to that article, arises from the low and unsteady price of hemp, and from the complaints I have heard made by the manufacturers of bagging, that they did not receive a fair return for the capital employed in its manufacture. Has there been a greater quantity of hemp grown in Kentucky, in the year 1827, than in the average of former years ? — I think there was a much greater quantity grown in 1 827 than in any preceding year, and it is to be accounted for from the fact, that the crop of 1 826 bore a higher price considerably than any other crop of which I have any recollection, and because many of the hemp farmers were impressed with the behef that the enhancement of price was attributable to a failure of the hemp crops in Russia, and that no crop would be imported into the United States, subsequently to that failure, before their crops would be carried to market; but I do not undertake to determine whether their calculations were well or ill founded. If your farmers have found the culture of hemp not affording a fair compensation for the labour and capital employed, have they found other objects of more profitable pursuit, and what are the most material of these pursuits ? — I do not say that the culture of hemp has beea PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 207, been abandoned ; if other objects have been found more profitable than its cultivation, it has been on the large farms by the cultivation of grain, and the raising of stock. Tuesday, January 15. The Honourable Joseph Vance, being requested, appeared before the Committee, and on the Chairman's proposing to administer to him an oath to make true answers to such ques- tions as should be propounded, the witness refused to be sworn, alleging as a reason, that he had voted against the adoption of the resolution by the House because he thought it unconstitutional, and that he cannot therefore now submit to the operation of any rule which he believes to be of that character, but that he was willing to answer, as a member of the House, any questions without being sworn ; and thereupon it was ordered, that an entry be made of the foregoing facts on the Journal of the Committee. The Committee having considered the preceding subject, it was Resolved, That this Committee do not feel authorized, under the resolution of the House, to examine the witness unless on oath ; and that, as to any further proceedings thereon, the consideration thereof be postponed. Tuesday, January 22, 1828. John Trovers, of Paterson, Essex County, New Jersey ; admitted, and sworn. Question Are you engaged in the manufacture of sail duck, and if so, from what ma- terial? — Answer. I am engaged in the manufacture of sail duck from flax solely, but am well acquainted with the process of manufacture of the same article from cotton and hemp ; I have made duck from hemp, but in very small quantities, and merely as matter of experi- ment, and believe that I am the only person in the United States who has spun hemp with machinery; the manufacture of duck from cotton is carried on in my immediate neighbourhood. Where is your manufactory situated ; what is the name by which it is known ; and is it conducted by an incorporated company, or by or on individual account ? — In Patersori, Essex county. New Jersey ; it is an incorporated company, and its corporate name is the " Phoenix Manufacturing Company." What is the capital employed ? — The capital actually paid in by the stockholders is abotft S 1 70,000 ; the shares are fifty dollars each, the whole of which has been paid in, except that the amount of the subscription originally was ^['200,000, of which some shares were aban- doned, and the company purchased others, so as to reduce the capital to about the sum above named. The shares purchased by the company were at a very reduced price. How long has your factory been in operation, either by individuals or by the company ?— =• The factory, I have understood, commenced under private individuals sometime in 1814, making no duck, but other linens ; these proprietors continued awhile, and then failed ; the factory was then sold under a mortgage and taken by one individual, who continued the business until 1821, making duck only one year, and that upon a contract with the Navy department. In 1821, I became a partner; the former owner valued the factory at 37,500 dollars in its then condition, and I paid that amount in cash to be employed as active capital, and upon which we proceeded in the business ; our contracts with the Navy were continued until 1822 or 1823, when we had no contract with the government, and became embarrassed; when I advanced the money just mentioned, I took a conveyance of the whole establishment as a security for the advance, and under that security the whole factory fell into my hands. In 1824, the establishment was incorporated ; soon after the incorporation, other individuals joined in taking stock, paying me, in shares of the company, the estimated value of the factory, and it has since been carried on for the benefit of the company, under my sole management. What is the number of officers engaged, and what the number of hands employed in your factory? — I am president of the company, and receive 1,500 dollars per annum, discharging also the duties of superintendent, and one clerk at 400 dollars, who keeps the books of the company; there are no other officers receiving pay. We have 265 hands employed when in full operation, and we have that number now engaged. Of these 109 are men who receive on an average 65 cents per day; of boys there are 42, receiving $1. 37I. cents per week, who are from eight to fourteen years of age. There are 61 women, who receive $1. 37^. cents per week ; and 53 girls from eight to twelve years of age, receiving $\. 37 J. cents per week, all of whom pay their own board. What kind of raw material is used ; what is the quantity manufactured ; and where is it produced? — ^We use flax exclusively; and during the year 1827, we employed 960 spindles, and 200 twisting spindles; the quantity of flax wrought was 382,478 lbs.; the whole of it was imported. The crown flax from Poland constituted the largest proportion; the remainder was imported from Ireland and Russia. From the gross amount of flax already mentioned, there were 237,093 lbs. of clean or hackled flax, and 145,385 lbs. of tow ; the hackled flax is used exclusively for the warp of sail duck, and the tow for the filling. What are the diflFerent kinds of fabrics manufactured, and the quantity of each ? — We made last year 7,010 bolts or pieces, which usually measure forty yards each. As I have not my books or papers, to refer to at this moment, I cannot speak with certainty as to the jelative quantities of duck, cotton bagging and hammock cloth, which comprise all the articles we manufacture ; but I presume it did not differ from 5,800 pieces of canvass, 1,000 of hammock cloth, and about 210 pieces of bagging. The cotton bagging is made of the most inferior quality of tow. The canvass is about jtwenty inches in width ; the hammock g^g C C 4 clotlis 1827—1828. Inclosure N* 1 in N" 1 1. contimied. 208 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure N° i in N° 11. continued; cloths are not confined to any particular width, but depend on contract with the oovernment* which usually requires it to be about forty-four inches ; the cotton bagoing ?s forty-two inches wide. ° What is the cost of the raw material ? — Irish flax usually costs about 13 cents per pound. Russian flax, called " Twelve head St. Petersburg," which is the best quality, costs about 1 1 cents. The Pohsh " Crown flax," which is better than Russian, but not so good as Irish, costs about 12 cents ; I speak of the cost in New York ; I have never used any but Irish flax until last year; the American flax sells at 8 cents. In 1822, I made duck of American flax, but I ascertained, from actual experiment, that it would not answer, and that my credit, as a manufacturer was likely to suffer, and I abandoned it. I am satisfied that the superior quality of the foreign over the American flax, is to be attributed almost exclusively to their preparing it by water-rotting, while in America it is prepared by dew-rotting. In this country, too, it is suffered to grow too long, with a view of saving seed, whilst the foreign is pulled when the bloom falls, and before the bole is formed. I conceive the difference between American flax, pulled when the blossom falls and water-rotted, and that which is pulled after it has seeded and dew-rotted, would be fifty per cent better to the farmer and to the manu- facturer, estimated upon the present prices ; the one gains that much by the quantity and quality of the article, and the latter can afford to give that much more for it than it is now " worth to him. Flax pulled at this time will weigh 33I per cent more than when suffered to go to seed. What is the cost of manufacturing a bolt of duck, exclusive of the cost of the raw material ? — Of one kind of duck made at our factory, the flax required for each bolt is about 65 lbs. ; the cost of manufacturing from the flax and preparing for the market this bolt of duck, will be on the average about ^5.5.; the value of the flax would be, at 13 cents per lb. i$8. 45.; and our asking price in the market for this bolt of duck, is Jl'is. 50. ; but we have great difficulties in making sales at this price. In this calculation of cost nothing is included for commissions on sales for transportation * to market, for interest of capital, for capital, for casualties, for the use of machinery, &c. Sec. Where do you find a mnrket for your different fabrics ? — Contracts with the Navy depart- ment have furnished our principal market, and without this demand we have become embarrassed ; we have made limited sales in New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, for the merchant service; we have sold duck also in New Orleans. In 1826, the amount of our sales in New York was 12,036 dollars 96 cents, as appears by an account current exhibited to the committee. I have not with me an account of our sales in 1827, in New York, and cannot therefore state them accurately. The last contract with the government terminates in May next. As a business, can the manufacture of coarse goods from flax be conducted with any profit Tinder the influence of the present duties on the foreign fabrics ? — It cannot ; the cost of the xaw material, the excessive importations, and the mode of collecting the duty, render it absolutely necessary that the manufacturer of those articles should be protected by additional and specific duties, in order to enable him to do a fair and steady business ; unless, indeed, he should succeed by contingencies upon which no certain or continued reliance can be placed. Why did you not continue the manufacture of sail duck from hemp ? — We discontinued it because the raw material costs as much as the flax, does not make as durable an article, and the waste is twenty-five per cent greater than from flax ; we cannot weave hemp without starching or sizing, the effect of which is to cause cloth to mildew more rapidly ; and we do not starch or size the flax duck at all. In the experiments made by you, did yoa use American or foreign hemp? — I used foreign hemp. Is there the same difference between the durability of dew-rotted and water-rotted hemp, which you have before described between dew-rotted and water- rotted flax? — There is the same difference ; and it exists not in strength, but in the durability of articles manufactured ; those from dew-rotted hemp-certainly decompose, when exposed to the weather, much sooner than those which are made from water-rotted hemp or flax. Do you believe, if sufficient protection were by law extended to the American hemp, and the manufactures from it, sail duck, and other fabrics usually made from hemp, would be produced in this country within a short period of time, in sufficient quantities and at fail- prices ? — I do not think a higher duty on raw hemp would benefit the grower of hemp or increase the consumption ; if the foreign manufactured article paid a higher duty, it would increase the manufacture of the raw material, and thus afford a better price to the grower of the article, and by increasing the consumption, afford a more certain market; if. the American flax were pulled at a proper season, and water-rotted like the foreign, there would now be a demand, if all the factories were in operation, for 950,000 lbs. flax, and for 5,000 ton^ of hemp annually, at a price fifty per cent better than is now paid for the dew-rotted American hemp or flax. Have you any information to be relied on, as to the probable importation of raw hemp and sail duck for the ensuing year ; and if so, from whence is it expected, and of what qualities and material ? — All the information I have on this subject is derived from two letters lately received * After the witness had left Washington, on his return home, he wrote to the Hon. Mr. Condict, one of the comtnittee, a letter, of which the following is an extract, and which, by permission of the committee, is here inserted, dated Baltimore, 24th January 1828: " In my evidence before the committee, in the calculation of the cost of a bolt of duck, ' transportation' was excepted:. I meant it to be included. Will you cause the word « transportation' to be stricken out." PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 209 received from a gentleman in Boston, exclusively engaged in the Russia trade, v>rho writes as follows : " We shall this year have ten thousand pieces more heavy duck, and twenty thousand more ravens from Russia, than in 1826, besides the imperial and London imita- tion duck, both of which are now selling here at lower rates, and are much preferred to ours ; therefore what is here considered better duck, can be had for more than ten per cent less than your present prices, say ^ i6 for N° 1 ." " Russia duck is now coming out much lower than earlier in the season ; the manufacturers there are shipping it on their own account ; and a friend writes me that ' Brusgin says he will yet lay the Phoenix on the shelf;' forty thousand bolts have been shipped last dates to the United States, not including ravens duck. Every piece of ' imperial duck' has been bought on arrival, and large orders will be sent for it in future." I have made it my business to inquire into the subject, and I know of but one house which is engaged in the importation of sail cloths from Russia, except in Boston, and that one is in New York ; this trade is trade almost monopolized in Boston. What quantity of sail cloth is made from cotton in the United States, so far as you know; what are it qualities, and what its cost? — There are about 1,500 bolts of sail cloth manufactured annually in Paterson, New Jersey, from cotton, which usually contain about sixty yards each; there is also a factory in Baltimore, , which I have understood made about the same quantity ; the cloth, when manufactured, costs , rather less -^than what is made here from hemp or flax, and the demand for it is somewhat better; eleven hundred "bolts of that made in New Jersey were sold in Philadelphia, and two hundred in New York last year ; 1 do not believe any of it was sold north or east of New York ; the consumption of it must necessarily increase, and I think it will soon be exclusively used by all river craft and coasting vessels ; if all the craft employed in the North river were to be refitted ■with sails, it would require 828,000 yards. Is it as good for sails, for any and what vessels, as sails made of hemp or flax ? — It is pre- ferred on board fore-and-aft rigged vessels, because they can sail from a half to three- fourths of a point nearer to the wind with it than with hemp or flax sails ; nor does it stretch or shrink so much as the flax canvas. Is it better than sails made of dew-rotted or water-rotted hemp ? — It is better and cheaper than sails made of American dew-rotted hemJD or ftax. What are the relative prices per yard of the several species of sail cloth of which yon have been speaking, in the markets where they are sold? — The imperial duck referred to in this extract, is an imitation of duck made at the " Phoenix mill," from samples procured for the purpose, and sent to Russia. Quality. Weight. Prices, per jard. Cottons. Prices, per jard. Flax. Prices, per yard. Hemp. N" 1 - - lbs. 37 1 41 cts. 38 lets. 3 - - 35 39 371 3 - - 33 f 37 36^ 4 - - 30 35 35 5 - - 27 34 33 i 6 - - 25 33 32 i 7 - - 22 f 32 31 1 8 - - 20 31 30 Russia U. - - 47 _. - about 56 Cts. Ravens - - 16 * — " about 16 The weight is estimated on the supposition that each bolt is forty yards in length, and this statement is believed to be nearly correct. The cotton and flax duck are neither starched nor sized. The Russia duck is all starched, as is also the English. The cotton duck is about 24 inches wide ; the flax is 20 inches wide ; and the Russia 30 inches wide. Is there any diflSculty in manufacturing sail cloth from cotton, which will not be easily surmounted by fair and reasonable patronage or encouragement: or might it be made to an extent which would be limited only by the demand ? — There are no difficulties. It is rather more simple in the manufacture than cotton shirting. Do you know how many sail cloth factories, and factories manufacturing hemp and flax, are now in the United States ; how many are now unemployed ; and what amount of fabrics can they annually produce ?— There are but three factories in operation, two of these are engaged in making sail cloth for the United States navy; the other manufactured various articles from flax ; but I am unable to say what are its pursuits at present. There are six other factories in different states, capable of making sail cloths, which have been suspended. From what I have been told, as to the number of spindles in operation in the United States, they are capable of making 19,132 bolts, or 765,280 yards of heavy duck. If the duties were so increased as to ensure a fair profit, I could make nearly fifty per cent more with the same machinery, than I have heretofore done, and it is likely that there would be some increase at the other factories. . , . ■ ... Is it the practice of American vessels about saihng from America to foreign ports, to clear out for their voyage with old and worn sails, and to supply themselves with sails in foreign ports • thus avoiding the duty upon the hemp or the manufacture, imposed by our laws ?— . I have no knowledge of my own upon the subject ; but I once made application to a captain and owner of an American vessel, to sell him sails for his vessel, and he informed me he was 578. D d 1827—1828, I|iclosure N" i in N" II. continued. 210 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure N° i in N* n. continued. in the habit of supplying his vessel in foreign ports, and declined purchasing of me. I do not know the extent to which this practice prevails, but from what I have heard, I should think it is very frequently done. Are Russia, or other sail ducks, to your knowledge, brought to this country, and after being re-exported with the benefit of drawback, actually worked up to make sails for the same vessels which take them from the American ports ? — I cannot answer this question from my own knowledge ; but I have often heard of instances of this kind, and do believe they are frequent. Have you ever known of samples of your cloth being sent to foreign countries to be imitated, and returned to the United States ? — Our cloth has been imitated in Russia and England from samples sent out for the purpose, by a merchant of Philadelphia and a mer- chant of Salem, and the sample I now exhibit is from a bolt of duck made in England; a parcel of which was actually on sale in Philadelphia, from which I cut this strip as I passed through on my way to this city. I have no means of determining the relative durability of our duck, and the Russian and English imitation, but the imitations are starched; and it is a known fact, that the starch in duck facilitates the mildew and the consequent decomposition of the material of the cloth. Our duck is not starched. For the quality, durability, and character of our duck, I refer the committee to the following certificate ifrom the commis- sioners from the navy of the United States, which was furnished by them to Mr. Vaughn, of Philadelphia, and I request that it may be appended to my answer. " Navy Commissioners Office, 27th January 1820. " Sir : — The commissioners of the navy have received your letter of the 2'2d instant. " The sample of canvass received with it (herewith returned), is similar to the can- vass which the commissioners have annually contracted for at Paterson, New Jersey. " In the year 1815, the commissioners directed a main-topsail and main topgallant- sail for the Boxer, to be made of Mr. Chapman's canvass ; and they instructed Capt. Porter, then commanding the Boxer, to wear these sails with others made of the English and Russia canvass, in order to test their relative durability. The result, as reported by Captain Porter, proved Mr. Chapman's canvass to be greatly superior to either English or Russia. It possessed twice the durability. The enclosed is a piece of the topsail of the Boxer, of Mr. Chapman's canvass, after wearing out the English and Russia canvass. " The commissioners of the navy are decidedly of'opinion that the American canr vass tested by them, is greatly superior to any ever imported into our country. " I am, respectfully. Sir, your obedient servant, " John Vaughn, Esq. Philadelphia. " John Rogers." In what parts of the United States is hemp now produced ; and from what sections of country is the best quality sent to market ? — It is principally grown in Kentucky ; but it is also produced in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York ; the quality of hemp produced in different parts of the United States is generally the same ; the present price of Kentucky hemp in market is about $115 per ton ; the present price of Russia is l^i'jo; the usual price of the first is from $\\oto $115 ; the latter is worth generally about ^^225 ; the difference in price is owing to the different manner of preparing it for market, as has been before stated. In what parts of the United, States do you find flax grown to the greatest extent, and of the best qualities? — It is grown more extensively in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Kentucky, than any other of the states ; I think it is not grown extensively in any other of the states. I think the qualities would be equal to any grown in Europe, if the same time of pulling and the same manner of preparing was adopted in this country that is practised in Europe ; the sample of the largest flax that I have seen or read of, was raised on the rice lands of South Carolina ; a sample was sent to me of 5 feet 1 1 inches in the stalk ; the flax was taken from the ground in time to admit of the sowing a crop of rice in the same season ; the American flax is at present extensively used in making sail and other twine. What duties and changes in the mode of the collection thereof are, in your opinion, necessary to enable the manufacturer to pursue his business successfully ? — The following scale of duties would, I believe, answer ; on all sail duck, 9 cents per square yard, to increase one-half cent per square yard, annually, for four years ; on osnaburgs, ticklenburgs, and burlaps, 5 cents per square yard, to increase one-half cent per square yard, annually^ for four years ; the drawback should not be allowed on less than 50 or 100 bolts of canvass to be exported ; it would, perhaps, be just and proper that sails procured or made up out of the United States, whether in use or not, on board of vessels belonging to citizens of the United States, should be subject to the same duty as may be imposed on sail duck imported into the United States. TESTIMONY IN RELATION TO SPIRITS FROM GRAIN. Monday, January 14, 1828. The Hon. William Russell, of Adams County, Ohio ; admitted, and sworn. Question. HAVE you been engaged in the purchase and sale of domestic spirits, and caa you state the average price ? — Answer. I have bought and the article for twenty years past ; for the last five or six years, the price has varied from sixteen to twenty cents ; sometimea it has exceeded twenty cents per gallon ; I think eighteen cents would be a fair average price. To PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 21 i To what market do you usually send tKe article ? — To New Orleans. Does the distillation of that article afFojd a market to the agriculturist for his grain, and is it important to him to preserve the market 1 — It does afford a market for the surplus grain ; and it is very important to him to preserve and increase it ; it converts the grain into less bulk, and diminishes the cost of transportation. Does the price of whiskey regulate the price of grain, or that of grain controul the price of whiskey ? — As a general rule, the price of grain regulates that of whiskey ; but there are exceptions to the rule. Do you suppose that the western states generally, have capacity and facilities to produce a sufl&ciency of domestic spirits for the entire consumption of the United States ? — I cannot speak with certainty, but think it probable they can distil a sufficiency for all of the United States, with sufficient encouragement, or at fair prices. Is it not part of the farming business of the west, to grow corn for distillation into whiskey? —It is ; they raise as much corn as they can. Is the raising of coarse grain for distillation a good business for the farmers of your state, at the present rates of whiskey ? — I do not think he receives a fair price for his labour in that business, at present prices. Do you consider the low price of whiskey, and great abundance of ardent spirits, as pre- judicial to the industry and morals of the country? — I am not sensible that the diminution produces any sensible effect on the industry or morals of the country ; it was as much used when that article sold at one doUar per gallon, by retail, as at this time ; this state of things, however, may be attributable to the improved morals of the community. 1827—1828. v^ Inclosure N" i in N" n. The Hon. James Findlay, of Cincinnati, Ohio ; admitted, and sworn. Question. What has been the general price of whiskey at Cincinnati for the last four or five years ? — Answer. The shipping price, on ab average, does not exceed 20 cents per -gallon. Is the quantity distilled increasing ? — It is. Is Cincinnati the principal whiskey market for a considerable extent of country? — It is the market for large portions of Ohio and Kentucky. Is the distillation of grain into spirits important to the farming interests of Ohio ?■ — It certainly is. The Honourable Charles A. Wickliffe, of Nelson County, Kentucky; admitted, and sworn. Question. What was the common or general price of whiskey at Louisville, and in the interior of Kentucky, for the last three years ? — Answer. I think the price by wholesale has been from 16 to 20 cents at Louisville ; the average may be fixed at about 18 cents. Much of it has been bought this year, dehverable in warehouses, on navigable streams, at 15 and 16 cents, without a charge for the barrel, which costs the distiller about 75 cents. I speak of merchantable proof whiskey. What quantity of whiskey will a bushel of good sound com yield ? — The average product is about two gallons; some make more, some make less. Is the distillation of spirits from grain important to the farming interests of your state?— It certainly is. In that section of the country in. which I live, and with which I am best acquainted, it forms the largest article of exportation. What share of the whiskey distilled, does the farmer receive for his bushel of corn when distilled ?— He receives one half of the product, which is ordinarily one gallon per bushel. What is the usual price of corn in your neighbourhood ?— The average jnaylDC set down at eighteen cents. Ordered, That the Honourable Nathaniel Garrow and the Honourable Jeromus Johnson, members of the House of Representatives, be requested to attend the Committee to-morrow morning, at 10 o'clock, to answer such questions as may be put to them in relation to the matters of inquiry before the Committee, Tuesday, January 15, 1828, The Honourable Nathaniel Garrow, admitted, and sworn. Question. Where do you residel—Anstver. I reside in Auburn, Cayuga county, New York Are vou now, and have you for some years past been engaged in the distillation of spirits • from grain?— I have been engaged in that business for about twenty-five of the last twenty- seven years. , „ ^ , ■ ■ n t What kinds of grain do you use in your distilleries ?— I use corn and rye pnncipally. I have sometimes used wheat of the second quality. ,.,• ,, Do vou use those kinds of grain separately or combined ; and if combined m what pro- nortions ?— I use those grains (corn and rye) combined, in the proportion of two parts of corn to one of rye. This has been the case for the last fifteen years. If it could be done conveniently it would be preferable that they should be used m equal quantities, but the scarcity of rye prevents that practice extensively. I would not wish to use more than one- 212 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. , ,— — — ^ Inclosure N° i inN° 11. continued. Do these grains, thus combined, yield more spirit than either would separately distilled ? — I am of opinion that one half corn will yield more spirit than corn or rye exclusively. Where is that part of the whiskey, made in your section of the country, and which ia not required for the home consumption, marketed ?— New York is the principal market for all that is not consumed in the neighbourhood. What has been the average price, in large quantities, for the last five years, in that mar- ket? — I cannot speak certainly as to the market price in New York, except for the last two years. During the last season I have sold, on contract, at twenty-seven and a half to thirty cents. The average of my sales has been about twenty-nine cents ; perhaps that is some- what above the market price. The season previous to the last I sold for thirty, and some as high as thirty-three cents, but I made advantageous sales. The price generally was not so good, but I will not undertake to fix the average. My sales have been in casks of thirty-six gallons, which casks costs eighty-seven and a half cents ; and for these casks I received nothing. The whiskey was hydrometer proof. The cost of transportation, including the price of the cask, together with other incidental expenses, is about six cents per gallon. What has been the average selling prices where you reside, for the same time, in any con- siderable quantities ? — I think the average price of this article in the country, has been about twenty-five per cents gallon for last the five years ; but this is what is called country proof, which is fully twelve and a half to fifteen per cent below the hydrometer or market proof. I speak of large sales to merchants, and of my own whiskey, made in copper stills, which has generally commanded a better price than most of the distillations in that section of country. Other manufacturers have, during the same time, sold at hydrometer proof, at the same prices, and even a penny lower, at the same places. What have been the cash prices of rye and corn at your distilleries, on the average, during the same time ? — The average cash price of corn for the last five years may be said to be forty-two cents ; though it has been sold as low as thirty-four cents, and sometimes as high as fifty cents. The average price of rye I take to have been fifty cents. Is there a large surplus of these grains in your neighbourhood dependent upon the distil- leries for a market ? — There is. Is the business of distilling these grains, at the present time, sufiiciently extensive to furnish a fair market for this surplus in your part of the country ? — I should say not. Some ■of these grains are sent from my neighbourhood to a market upon the canals, but I cannot say how much. The quantity depends very much on the price which corn or corn meal bears in New York. Has the farmer, in your section of country, for the last five years, received a fair compen- sation for his time and capital, in the prices at which his coarse grains have sold ? — I think not. There is a general complaint on that subject ; and my own experience, as a farmer, convinces me that the product is an inadequate return for the labour bestowed. Is your section of country capable of producing a much larger surplus of these grains if a market was afibrded, than it now does ? — It is. What quantity of spirits have you distilled during the last year ? — I have distilled, within the last twelve months, from 70 to 80,000 gallons. I shall probably distil as much the ensuing year. I have increased the quantity, gradually, from year to year. , Do you consider the distillation of spirits from grain a fair business in your section of the country? — I do. Do you think a diminution of the price of whiskey will increase the consumption of it, in any grain section of country ? — I do not. TESTIMONY IN RELATION TO SPIRITS FROM MOLASSES AND OTHER MATERIALS. Monday, January 14, 1828. Hon. William Russell, further examined. Question. IS it not important to the farming interest of your state, that the introduction of foreign spirits and of foreign material, for the purpose of distillation, should be discou- raged by additional duties ? — Anstoer. I deem it so. Do you know the quantity of spirits distilled from foreign materials in the United States? — I do not. Hon. James Findlay, further examined. Question. Is it important to the farming interests of Ohio, that the introduction of foreign spirits, and of the foreign material for distillation into spirits, should be discouraged by additional duties ? — Answer. There can be no doubt on that subject. Hon. Charles A. Wicldiffe, further examined. Question. Is it not important to the agriculturist of Kentucky, that the duties on foreign spirits, and on foreign molasses from which it is distilled, should be increased ? — Answer. I think it highly important that the duties should be increased, because the increased demand which would be produced by an exclusion of the foreign article, would be supphed by the domestic production, and thus afford a more extended market. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. gi3 Tuesday, January 15, 1828. 1827 — 1828. Hon. Nathaniel Garrow, further examined. ■>- ^ ...... ... Inclosure N" 1 Question. Is it an object, m your opinion, important to the farmmg mterests of your state, in N° 11, to discourage the importations of foreign spirits and of foreign, materials for distillation, continued. "by an increase of the present rates of duty ? — Answer. That is my opinion. Are there any distilleries of spirits from foreign materials in your section of the country ? — There are none. The Honourable Jeromus Johnson, of the City of New York; admitted, and sworn. Question. Are you now, or have you ever been engaged in the distillation of spirits from .imported molasses ; and if so, when, and at what place? — Anstoer. I am not now engaged in that business; but was from the year 1805 to 1812. The distillery was at the city of ■ Hudson, in the state of New York. What was the average price, per gallon, of imported molasses, at your distillery, during the time you were engaged in this kind of distillation ? — Distillers have always to buy two ■ or three qualities, in order to carry on their business profitably. The price of the most •inferior was then from 28 to 32 cents'. The best of that used for distiUing usually costs from 33 to 36 cents. The quantity of inferior used is much greater than that which is good. In consequence of the inferior quality used in the hot season, the rum produced becomes soured, and so do the cisterns or vats ; then the better molasses is used to prevent the acetous fermentation, and to raise the character of the rum. What is the average quantity of spirits of hydrometer proof distilled from a gallon of molasses? — A gallon of molasses, of good quality, will produce a gallon of spirits, hydro- meter proof. That which is inferior produces less by 5 to 7 1 per cent. Hydrometer proof • is above the custom house first proof 3 per cent. What was the difference of value between a gallon of rum made from molasses, and the ■gallon of molasses? — The difference was 12 | cents per gallon; at this time the distiller can well afford to carry on the business, by receiving from 8 to 1 cents per gallon more for his spirits than he gave for his molasses. Have you the means of forming an opinion as to the quantity of spirits distilled from imported molasses in the United States, at the present time ? — The only opinion I can express is founded on my knowledge of the distilleries in the neighbourhood of New York, at Hudson, and at Albany ; these distil about 350,000 gallons of molasses per year at this time ; ■ I think the quantity distilled in the section of country of which I speak (including Hu son Albany, Jersey city, and Staten island), is less by one half now than in 1812, by reason of the greater quantity of whiskey brought into the market, and to the preference given to that over the rum ; I have no means of forming an opinion as to the quantity of rum distilled from molasses in the United States, other than the facts before related. What is the average price of molasses per gallon, in the city of New York ? — The average ■ price is from 28 to 32 cents. . What is the value of a gallon of rum distilled from molasses, in the city of New York ? — ■ New rum, said to be pure, is worth from 35 to 40 cents ; inferior qualities, made of whiskey and molasses, sell lower by 3 or 4 cents in the gallon. Are there not large quantities of whiskey used with molasses, in the distillation of what is called new rum ? — There are. What is the price of molasses in the West Indies ? — ^The price .varies from 5 to 12| cents. What are the freight, charges, duties, and all other expenses of delivering such molasses in our ports, per gallon ? — Including all expenses, it amounts to 20 cents per gallon over and • above the purchase money; the average weight of 100 gallons of molasses, such as is used in distilling rum, is about 950 to 1,050 lbs. TESTIMONY IN RELATION TO WINDOW AND OTHER GLASS. Thursday, January 17, 1828. Benjamin Bakewell, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; admitted, and sworn. ■ Question. ARE you engaged in any branch of manufactures ; and if so, what is that branch, and how long have you been concerned in it ? — Answer. I am concerned in the manufacture of flint glass, and commenced it in the year 1808, and have been continually engaged in it since that time. Have you had many difficulties to encounter in establishing your manufactory, and have "you surmounted them?— We had at first great difficulties in the labour of searching for the proper materials, and in obtaining suitable workmen ; we have surmounted all difficulties. What have you found, by experience, to be the great requisites to ensure success in the -establishment of American manufactures? — The requisites are, capital, skill, industry, economy, judgment, and a market. ' Is your manufactory advantageously located, as regards the obtaining materials, and have you facilities for distributing your products ? — Our estabhshment is favourably situated for -obtaining the requisite materials, and for distributing our products, having water trans- portation to the market for our manufactured glass ; the materials are the product generally of the country ; there is one exception, that of salt petre, of which we use a small quantity ; 578. D d 3 we (214 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. v-^ Indosure N*^ in N" u. continued. we use from 50 to 60,000 pounds of the Missouri pig lead, annually ; also considerable quantities of pot-ash, say two-thirds, as much as of the lead, in the manufacture of our flint glass ; this latter we get principally from Ohio. To what sections of the Union is your product generally distributed ? — To the south-west and west principally ; some to the north-east part of Ohio. Do you employ many hands, and how many ; and what proportion are men, and what boys ? — We employ directly about 60 hands ; of whom about twenty or twenty-five are boys ; the residue are able-bodied men. Are you able to supply all the demands made on you for your manufactures ? — We are. Are further protecting duties essential to sustain you against foreign competition in your branch of manufactures ? — I think not. Are the manufacturing estabUshments of Pittsburg numerous and varied in their kind, and are they generally prosperous ? — There are various manufactories in Pittsburg, and they are generally prosperous. Do you require a power for moving machinery in your establishment ; and if you do, what power do you use 1 — We do require power in the cutting of glass, and the power used is steam. Is steam power extensively used in Pittsburg for driving heavy machinery ; and is not its first cost and annual expense a great objection to its use 1 — Steam is in general use in Pitts- burg in all manufactories where much power is required, and from the cheapness of fuel, and the skill and cheapness in making steam engines, which our mechanics possess, it is considered the cheapest power, and forms little or no obstacle to the commencement of any establishment, where a moving power is required ; a steam engine which formerly would have cost ,$ 2,000, may now be had for j^'Soo, although the demand for these engines is constantlv increasing. Do your manufacturers, who require a great moving power for driving their machinery, find it more advantageous to locate themselves at Pittsburg, and adopt a steam power, than to establish their manufactories by a water power, at some distance ? — I believe they do ; we have but one establishment (an iron manufactory) located in the country, and the pro- prietors have found the want of water in the summer season so great, as to compel them to supply themselves with a steam engine, and they regret their location ; I think steam power has many advantages over water power ; one of the most important is, that in the use of that power, you have a perfect choice of location, and another is, that in the Western country, nearly all the streams affording water power, fail in the dry seasons of summer, and are also subject to impediments by frost, which steam power is not; steam power may- be increased to any extent at pleasiu-e; and in the neighbourhood of Pittsburg, there is no limitation to the amount of coal ; the price of coal at that place is generally about 4 cents per bushel of about 84 pounds ; you may get it by contract, in advance, at 3 1 or 3 J cents per bushel ; it is the heaviest kind of bituminous coal, and is equal in quality to any I ever saw in England or elsewhere. What has been the relative prices of flint glass during the periods referred to ? — In 1 808 we sold common flint half-pint tumblers at two dollars per dozen ; after the currency of the state became settled, we sold them at one dollar per dozen, and now we sell them at about eighty-one cents per dozen; plain quart decanters, which in 1808 we Sold at six dollars per dozen, we now sell at two dollars and twenty-five cents ; wineglasses, in 1808, were one dollar and fifty cents per dozen, and they now are seventy-five cents per dozen. Has the price of wages been uniform for the last six or seven years ? — In our factory there has been a great uniformity in wages during the time referred to. Is window glass manufactured extensively at Pittsburg ; and what is the price per box of one hundred square feet, of the sizes of 8 by 10 and 10 by, 12 inches, of Pittsburg manufacture ? — It is ; the price per box of 100 feet of 8 by 10 inches, is from J" 3. 80. to ^4; that of 10 by 1 2 inches is about from J'4. 75. to $5. Does window glass require further protection by duty, or is the llow price owing to do- mestic competition ? — ^An increase of duty cannot help it, as the low price is entirely owing to domestic competition. What was the price of window glass in Pittsburg in 1808, and at various periods to this time ? — I cannot answer the question, as I am not concerned in the manufacture ; window glass, by the box of 100 feet, 8 by 10 inches, has been as high as $' 12, but I caniiot fix the time ; it was however when paper money of a depreciated character was in circulation. Saturday, January 26th. Andreio Way, of Washington City ; admitted, and sworn. Question. Are you engaged in the manufacture of window glass ; if so, where is your ma- nufactory ? — Answer. I am engaged in the manufacture of window glass in this city. Do you manufacture window glass extensively ; and if so, what are your present selling prices for the box of 100 square feet, of the sizes of from 6 by 8 to 1.0 by \i1 — I make about 3,000 boxes annually ; we sell for better prices in this city and Baltimore than elsewhere ; the sales are about one-quarter in this city, one-quarter in Baltimore, the rest goes to Phila- delphia, New York and to the Southward ; the selling prices vary occasionally ; a box of 100 feet, 6 by 8 and 7 by 9, will average about ^'5. ,50. and these kinds are most usually sold in New York; boxes of 8 by 10, best quality, sell here and in Baltimore for^f 8; the 'second quality are sold at the same places for $ 6. 50. ; in other markets the same glass will rarely command PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 215 command more than from ^'5. 50. to ^ 7 ; boxes of 9 by n and 10 by 12 generally sell for the same prices, and bring about fifty cents, and from that to a dollar, over 8 by lo. Are you able to supply all the demands made on you for these qualities of glass ?— I am able to execute all orders fully. Are the prices lower than formerly ; and if so, is it owing to importations, or to do- mestic competition ? — They are very considerably lower, and it is owing almost wholly to domestic competition. Does your manufacture of window glass require further protecting duties, or are the low prices owing to domestic competition ? — I do not conceive that additional duties are neces- sary, or would be of any service, except to those who make 10 by 15 glass and larger; I make some of that description, but the quantity is not so large that the duty would be very important to me. 1827—1828. Inclo&ure N° 1 in N" 11. e»ntinued. TESTIMONY IN RELATION TO COTTON CLOTH. Thursday, January 17, 1828. Simon N. Dexter, further examined. Question. ARE you concerned in the manufacture of domestic cotton goods ; and if so, ©f what quality ? — Answer. I am concerned in the manufacture of domestic cottons of the coarser qualities. Is the present, duty on those articles sufficient to enable you to prosper in your present manufacture of cottons ? — Yes, I think it is. What is it that enables you to afford the coarse cottons so much lower than they were afforded at a few years ago ; is it owing, in any considerable degree, to the increase of capital, of skill, the perfection of machinery, and to the diminished price of cotton ? — It is lowing to the improvement in machinery, the reduced price of raw cotton, and to the increased skill in the manufacture. Is not the continuation of the minimum duty on coarse cotton goods the only security on which the manufacturers rely for continuing their operations? — I cannot say that it is; I think the manufacture of coarse cottons in this country is now so well established, that •we could make them if the present minimum was reduced ; I think, if the present minimum •was repealed, that the foreign cottons of this description would, for a time, come in, and would greatly injure for a while all our manufacturers; but this I think would be done at a loss to the foreign manufacturer ; some of our manufacturers would be able, eventually, to sustain themselves, because I think they can afford the article now about as cheap as it can be afforded from England ; this reduction would, however, create a contest between the American capital invested in these manufactures and the foreign, which would, in my opinion, ruin some of Our establishments, and compel them all for a time to sustain themselves at a loss ; for these reasons I do not think the present minimum ought to be repealed. Would a minimum duty on fine cottons probably produce the same results on those goods, as have been produced by the minimum on coarse cottons ? — That is my decided opinion. What are the names of the cotton factories in which you are concerned ? — I am concerned in the" Oneida Manufacturing Society," and in the " Utica Cotton Manufacturing Company; " they are both incorporated companies ; I hold also an interest in the " Whitestown Cotton and Woollen Manufacturing Company," but I have contracted to sell the whole of this interest, and have conveyed and received payment for part of it, and am under an obligation to convey the residue ; this estabhshment makes fine cotton cloths, N° 32 ; the general manufactures of the two other establishments are N» 14 and 15; the last named company makes no woollens ; I am still a trustee of the latter company, but do not consider myself interested in it. Can you state what per cent these factories have made for the last three years on their capital employed, or on the market price of their stock? — ^I cannot; all these establishments originally cost more, in my opinion, than they ought to have cost ; they have since been bought in by other persons at a reduced price ; the Oneida Manufacturing Society, com- menced operations I think in 1809, at which time they paid iti J" 44,000; the company continued business, increasing their machinery, and extending their business from the profits of the establishment, until about 1813 or 1814, when they took an inventory of their original investments, and the additions made, and the whole was valued at Jl' 88,000 ; during this period, I think some dividends had been made, but when or to what amount I cannot say ; subsequently further dividends were made, but to what amount I cannot say ; the capital paid a very good interest until about 1815 ; for about two or three years after that time, I think they made no dividends ; during this period the stock of the company fell from fifty dollars, for which shares has been sold, to fifteen dollars, which is the present price of a share, upon which there had been actually paid ^['22; for the last two or three years, the society have made semi-annual dividends of 75 cents upon each share, and for the last half year there was a dividend af S ^ o" each share ; the above detailed facts will show, that for ■the last three years, with the exception of the half year ending first July last, the dividends have been at the rate of 10 per cent per annum, and for the half year last mentioned, at about 13 per cent per a num, upon the market value of the stock. What kind of cotton wool do you manufacture ? — Principally best Georgia uplands, in the factory last spoken of. , c< t 1 j 1 1. i. Do you know of any factory, or how many, that manufacture the bea Islands, and to what extent^ I believe that the Sea Island cottons are manufactured at the mills of the Messrs. ~ ■ Marshalls. 578. Dd4 216 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827 — 1828. Marshalls and Wolcott, called the York Mills, at Whitestown, in Oneida county, state of , ^ ; New York, for warp ; I am satisfied that there is no other factory in that district of country, , ^, which works this cotton, nor am I certain that this does. in N" 1 1 ^° ^'^^ know of any other machinery capable of working the Sea Island cotton, with continued. ^"^ ^°P® °^ profit to the manufacturer ? — I know of none except the machinery in the factory last mentioned. Benjamin Bakewell, further examined. Question. Have you any woollen or cotton manufactories in your city ? — Amioer. We have one very extensive cotton manufactory in the city, and two more are in contemplation ; the one now in operation is confined to the manufacture of the coarser cottons, such as twisl^ shirtings, sheetings, &c. I had a conversation with the proprietor of this factory after I received the subpoena of the committee, and asked him the description of goods made at his factory ; to which he replied, that they were necessarily confined to the coarser goods, because the fine were not protected ; that although they had made sales at a fair price of all they had hitherto manufactured, yet, when the projected establishments went into ope- ration, if they were still confined to the manufacturing of coarse goodfe, the domestic com- petition would be so great, as to reduce their profits to little or nothing. On the coarse goods he did not think further protection required, but expressed a desire that proper pro- tection might be extended to fine cotton goods. Saturday, January 19, 1828. The Hon. Aaron Tufts, further examined. Question. Are the manufacturers of cotton doing a good business at this time in New England ? — Answer. I think that the manufacturers of coarse cottons, which is tiie descrip- tion of cottons generally made, are doing a good business. Would a minimum duty on fine cottons, proportioned to the present duty on coarse cottons, probably produce the same results upon the fine fabrics, which have followed the minimum duty on coarse cotton goods ? — I should think it would. Do you know of any machinery so improved, and to what extent, as to possess the faci- lities of working to any advantage the fine Sea Island cottons of the South, from which the fine cotton goods are manufactured ? — There is machinery now in operation, in Massa- chusetts, which I think can work the finer cottons ; they have spun as high as No. 70, and I am told, can spin finer. There is now a small establishment in my neighbourhood which uses Sea Island cotton only, and makes thread entirely ; a very large thread factory, I have also understood, is now erecting in the same neighbourhood. Have they done a profitable or unprofitable business ; and can you say what the raw ma- terial costs? — I understood, from the same owner, that they have done a fair business ; I do not know the cost to them of their cottons, as I am not a cotton manufacturer. Have you known any fine cotton cloths wove from this fine thread 1 — I have not. Have not all or most of the manufacturers of cotton goods done a good business, and have not some of them made large fortunes? — The manufacturers of cotton gOods, since the Tariff of 1824, have been considered as doing a very good business; but before that time, they were much depressed. Are they not constantly increasing their capital, machinery, buildings, &c. ? — ^They are, to a considerable extent. Tuesday, January 22, 1828. William Phillips, further examined. Question. Are the manufacturers of cotton doing a good business at this time, in New York ? — Answer. I have conversed with some of them, who have generally represented that their business was good. Wednesday, January 23, 1828. Abraham Marland, further examined. Question. Are the manufacturers of cotton doing a good business, at this time, in Massa- chusetts? — Answer. The general impression is, that they are doing a good business. Thursday, January 24, 1828. Joseph Marshall, of Hudson, New York ; admitted, and sworn. Question. Are you now, and have you been engaged in the manufacture of fine and printed cotton cloths ; if yea, how long, and at what places? — Answer. I have been engaged foi about thirty years previous to August last, in the manufacture of cotton cloths at Manchester in England. In what manufactories of cotton are you now interested, and which of them are undei- y^V'^^'^niediate superintendence ? — I am interested in four different establishments ; one of •which IS at Troy, in the state of New York, where we make cahcoes for shirting and for printmg, m equal proportions. Another is in the neighbourhood of Whitestown, in the same state, where we make nothing; but shirting's. A third is what we call the " Nct^ 2 ^ York cuntiiiued. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 217 York; Mills," and is in the immediate neighbourhood of the last. At those 'mills we make 1 S27 i aoa shirtings and cambric muslins. The fourth is in the neighbourhood of Hudson, New York v___ '^ where we do. nothing but bleach and, print cloths m.ade at ours and other factories. ' ^ What descriptions of cotton do you use; where is it usually purchased ; and what does ^"'^'"sye N" i It cost you at your factories ?— We use chiefly Alabamas and New Orleans, generally pur- '" ^° "' chased by an agent in New Orleans, and Mobile. We consume about 1,000 bales per year, which usually cost us at the factory from 11 to 14 cents per lb. in which is included one cent per lb. for freight and other charges, from those places to our factories. What numbers of the cotton yarn do you spin, and what are the finest numbers or quahties you weave into cloth? — ^We spin from N° 32 to N° 50 at the New York mills, but at Whitestown, most commonly N° 22. At the Troy mill we spin W" 35. The N° 50 is the finest we weave, and that is made into cambric muslin. What qualities of the cloths do you make, and what proportion of the whole cloths made at your factory is printed?— That of our weaving, which is printed, is called the 1,200 reed, and is made of N° 35 exclusively. We print no other number of our own make, but purchase and print considerably from N° 12 to N° 40, but none higher. The pro- portion we print compared with what we make is inconsiderable. At Whitestown we make about 2,000 yards per week ; at the New York mills about 7,000 yards per week ; and at Troy about 3,000 yards ; from all which we print only about 1,400 yards a week. What are the values of the different qualities of cloths made at your factories before, a;nd what after they are printed, in the markets ?— What we make at Whitestown, com- mands 12 J cents in the grey or unbleached state. At the New York mills all is bleached before sale, and they bring 22 cents. The cambric muslins have not been brought into the market. The cotton shirtings made at Troy are bleached and sold at 19 cents; these are made of N" 3.5. That which is intended for printing is worth before it is bleached 12^ cents; this is also N' 35. We purchase about 16,000 yards unbleached, weekly, for bleaching and printing, of the numbers mentioned in the answer to the fifth interrogatory. The prices vary from 6 J to 14 cents the yard. After they are bleached and printed, they sell from 11 to 30 cents the yard. , What is the diflference of expense to the proprietor of a factory, between manufacturing the same qualities of cotton in England and in the United States ? — The buildings can be put up for about the same in Hudson as in England, and for 10 per cent less in Whitestown. The machinery, taken all together, will cost nearly double in this country what it will in England, independently of the propeUing power. There they work by steam, and in this country we work by water ; the first cost of which, with water privilege, &.c. about the same. What is the difference of expense of printing the same patterns and qualities of cloths in the two countries? — The expense of printing is one-third higher here than in England. This arises from the difference of expense in fuel, drugs, and wages. The fuel which cost ,§"27 in Manchester, will, in Hudson, cost J' 120 to do the same business. The 112 lbs. of coal in Manchester cost ten cents ; oak wood in Hudson is four dollars a cord. What is the capacity of the manufactories in the United States, so far as your know- ledge extends, to supply the markets of this country with fine cotton cloths printed and not printed ? — I am not sufiiciently acquainted with the factories of this country to answer that question. What is the difference in price, at which the English manufacturer can afford his fine and printed cottons in the English and the American markets?— The English manu- facturer can afford fine printed or other cottons for the American market, for one-third less than the American manufacturer. It costs the English manufacturers fifty per cent on the price in the English market, to get printed cottons into the American market. On cotton, of one yard wide, made of N° 35 yarn, and in the 1,200 reed, the operative duty is at this time, just 70 per cent, on the cost in England ; the other charges, viz. insurance, boxing, freight, exchange, commissions, 8cc. is 25 per cent. I speak now of the cloth that would cost in England, about 9 J cents per yard. I am enabled to state this with accuracy, having been a large exporter from Manchester. Is there any other printing establishment, besides yours, in the United States ; and if any, to what extent ? — I know of six, each of which print more than we do at this time, and there are many smaller ones. What are the finest cottons which you weave ; is there any factory in the United States that weaves finer or so fine as you do?- -I know of no factory that spins or weaves so fine Do vou know of any factory in. the United States which operates with the Sea Island PQ^^Qjj? J do' not know that there are any such. We used the Santees, sometimes called Sea Island, for a short time, for warp, but found that the Orleans answered quite as well, and it is much cheaper. • , tt •. 1 a . • i • .1. Does not the manufticturer of cottons m the United States, considering the means of payment by the consumer, enable him to use more than he could do if he depended on a foreign supply ?— I am decidedly of that opinion. Is the protection now afforded to coarse cottons, such as to enable you tq sustain a com^ petition with English goods of the same quality ? — It is quite suflScient on coarse cottons not printed ; I speak of that made of N" 25,. or any thing under it. Taking the price at which you can produce coarse cottons or calicoes at your factoiy at Hudson can you print and sell them at such prices as to sustain a competition with English'printed calicoes of the same qualities ?— We dp not produce as much coarse cottons 578. E e as 218 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827 — 1828. ^8 ^^ P™t, but taking that which we buy as the standard, we cannot compete witli the \ ) English manufacturer. , . ^„ To enable the American manufacturer to compete with the foreigner, in printed cottons, inclosure N i ^j,g additional protecting duties necessary ; if so, what addition to the present duty is ^continued required ?— They are ; and my opinion is, that two cents on the running yard of all printed cottons, in addition to the present rates of duty, would furnish a perfectly sufficient protection. What per cent on the cost of the fabric would be produced by an additional duty of two cents on the yard ? — It would be equal to an ad valorem duty of lo per cent as an average. Does your acquaintance with the importation and manufacture of cotton in Great Britain, enable you to form an opinion whether cotton can be packed in bagging made of cottGn> and transported to that country in good order ? — I have been extensively engaged in the purchase of cotton and in its manufacture, and am well satisfied that cotton packed in bags made of cotton, can be transported to England, in as good order as that put up in hemp or flax bagging, and, when well put up, it will command more in the market, particularly if in square bales. One reason for the difference in the price is, that the bag can be applied to a valuable purpose ; another reason is, four pounds are allowed in the hundred weight for tare,, and, as cotton weighs less than hemp, the purchaser will give the preference to that packed in cotton. Do manufacturers or purchasers of cotton in England, find the bag made of cotton of more value after the cotton is used, than that made of hemp or flax ; and if so, to what pur- pose is it applied ? — They do find the cotton bag of more value, because it is again worked up into coarse cotton, and sold for half price ; it is considered too valuable to work into paper, to which latter purpose the hemp bag is usually applied. Is it likely that large quantities of bagging would be manufactured from cotton in England and imported, if it was admitted into this country free of, or at a small duty ; and this would increase, to a great extent, the consumption of the raw material ? — It would not be likely to increase the consumption in England, because the profit would not be likely to pay for the labour bestowed on it. I am of opinion, however, that it might be manufactured in the United States to great advantage; and if this be done to any great extent, it would necessarily lead to a great consumption. I have heretofore contemplated, and have not yet abandoned, establishing a factory for that purpose. I have thought we could make it as good as could be wished. 42 inches wide, and sell it at 14 cents. So far as your acquaintance extends, what is the difference in price of manufacturing labour, generally, in England and in the United States ? — The prices of the various descript- tions of labour required in manufactures are so different, and the prices, both in England and in the United States, in different places and different factories, vary so widely, that it would be very difiicult, if not impossible, to arrive at an exact relative scale of the different descriptions of labour in the two countries, and of the relative prices " of each kind ; but labour, generally, in the manufactories in England is lower than it is in the United States, Saturday, January 16, 1828. Jonas B. Brown, further Examined. Question. Are the manufacturers of cotton doing a good business at this time in your neighbourhood? — Answer. I am not acquainted with the business, but am told they are. John Siddal, of Wilmington, Delaware; admitted, and sworn. Question. Are you now, and have you been engaged with the manufacture of fine and printed cotton cloths ; if yea, how long, and at what places ? — Answer. I have been intimately acquainted with spinning and weaving cotton for nearly forty years. I began in 1814, with partners, near Wilmington, in Delaware, and continued it until 1823, when I had to abandon the business ; we spun from N° 24 to 30, until 1 823, and wove fine numbers for printing ; since that time we spin from N" 5 to 10. We do not weave any, but sell the yarn. In what manufactories are you now interested ; and which of them are under your imme- diate superintendence ? — Since 1823, I have been the agent and superintendent of the factory alluded to in my last answer, with the exception of one year, when I superintended one at Patapsco, in Maryland. What description of cotton do you use ; where is it usually purchased, and -what does it cost you at your factories ? — We use what is called " Georgia Uplands," purchased in Phi- ladelphia; the price has varied; of late its price has generally been from io| to 11^ cents, in which we pay also for bagging and rope ; the freight from thence to Wilmington it is difiicult to estimate, as Ave either draw it in our own waggon, or receive it by water. What number of cotton yarns do you spin?— We spin nothing higher than N" 10 at this time. What are the values of the different numbers ?— The prices from N° 5 to N" 9 are about the same, and are generally from 22 to 23 cents per lb. ; N° 10 will bring a half or a cent more ; but from these prices are to be deducted 6 | per cent for commissions and warranty, and for other incidental charges. What amount of capital is employed in the factory to which you refer 1 — It is from four to five thousand dollars, all of which is invested in machinery. What is the annual quantity of yarn produced by your factory ? — About 80,000 poundsr What is the average cost of the yarn you make per lb. ? — We calculate that the price of the PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 219 the raw material, the exf)ense of spinning, waste, &c. makes it cost us from 19 to 20 cents per pound. What number of hands do you employ ? — We employ generally about forty, of various ages and sexes. Is there sufficient protection, by duties, afforded to coarse cotton goods?— I think the duty on coarse cotton goods quite sufficient to enable the manufacturer to do a fair business. Is further protection required on fine cotton fabrics ? — I do not consider the finer kinds of cotton cloths sufficiently protected ; but if additional protection is granted, it is requisite that it should extend to the grey or brown as well as to the printed or coloured cotton cloths of every description ; or otherwise the finer, kinds of cotton cloths will be imported (in the brown or white state), and printed or dyed in this country. Is it within your knowledge, that cotton and wQollen weavers from Europe are emigrating to the United States ? — Many do come to this country, principally from Great Britain ; some of them, who are the best and most ingenious workmen, return, because they do not find employment suited to their capacity. 1837— 182a Inclosure N° 1 inN" 11. continued. TESTIMONY IN RELATION TO PAPER. Thursday, January 17, 1828. Benjamin Bakewell. Question. HAVE you a manufactory of paper in your city, and do you know whether a further protecting duty is required to sustain it ? — Answer. We have one very extensive manufactory of paper in the city, and another in the vicinity; from a conversation held with the proprietor of the one in the city, after I received the subpcena of the committee, he declared no further duty on paper is necessary. Saturday, January 17, 1828. Andrew Way. Question. Are you engaged in the manufacture of paper ; if so, where is your manufactory established ? — Answer. I am engaged in the manufacture of paper in the vicinity of this , city, on Rock Creek. Do you manufacture paper extensively, and of various kinds ? — I make about 2,000 reams of different qualities per annum. Aire the prices of paper lower now than formerly ; and if so, is this owing to importations, or to domestic competition ? — The prices of some kinds of paper are lower than formerly ; other kind| bear about the same prices, or perhaps those of the best quality are a shade higher than they were eighteen months ago ; I conceive the prices are regulated now wholly by domestic competition. Are you able to supply all the demand made on you for paper? — I find a ready sale for all I make, but this may h€ owing to my advantageous location; I could sell more than I am now able to make. Does the manufacture of paper require further protecting duties, or are the prices regu- lated by domestic competition ? — I think it does not require any further protection by way of duties on the foreign manufacture ; on the contrary, I am of opinion that it is better protected than perhaps any other article of domestic manufacture. Inclosure N" 2 in N" 11. 2dth Congress, 1st Session. [Rep. No. 185.] House of Representatives. OF THE STATE OF THE FINANCES. March 12, 1828. Read and laid upon the Table. Mr. M'Duffie, from the Committee of Ways and Means, made the following Report : The Committee of Wai/s and Means submit the/oUowing Report on the state of the Public Finances. REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE OF 1827. THE actual receipts into the Treasury during the year 1827, as ascertained more precisely from the returns in the Treasury Department since the date of the annual report of the Secretary, amounted to ^"2 1,686, 742. 39. This sum was derived from the sources, and in the proportions following: from the customs, ^19,659,615.53.; from the public lands, c-i 437,549. 92.; from the stock owned by the government in the Bank of the United States, J^ 420,000 ; from arrears of internal duties and direct taxes, S'jg.'j^i. 62.; from re-payment's oif advances made in the War Department prior to the 1st July 1815, Ji" 32,344. 98; and from other miscellaneous sources, ^57,510. 34. The balance in the treasury on the 31st December 1826, excluding the sum of one million of dollars, which consists of debts due to the government by insolvent banks, and cannot therefore with any propriety, be deno- minated money in the treasury, was ^'5,358,686. 18. This sum, added to the receipts of ^,3 E e 2 the Inclosure N* 3 in N" 11. 220 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827 — 1828. the year 1827, will exhibit an aggregate revenue of ;^27,045,423. 57., applicable to: the V I service of that year. Inclosure N° 1 '^^^ actual expenditures of the year 1827, as exhibited in a detailed statement from the re- in N° 1 1 gister of the treasury, containing a comparative view of the expenditures of that and several continued. preceding years, and herewith submitted, amounted to ^"22,331,218. 53. It is here proper to remark, by way of explanation, that the committee have excluded from their statement of the revenue, appHcable to the service of the year 1827, the sum of ^1,204,960, paid by the British Government to indemnify the claimants under the 1 st article of the Treaty of Ghent ; this sum constitutes no part of the national revenue. Upon the same principle the committee have excluded from their statement of the national expenditures, the sum of ^"402,951. 73., paid out of that fund to the claimants, under the award of the commissioners appointed by this government. By deducting, then, the sum of ^22,331,218. 53. the amount of the actual expenditures, from the sum of ^27,045,428. 57c, the amount of the available revenue of the year 1827, it will be seen that there was a balance in the treasury, on the first of January 1828,^ of ^4,714,210. 4. This balance, however, is subject to a charge of Ji'3,980,000, being the amount of the unexpended balances of appropriations made previous to the 1st of January 1828, which will yet be required to accomplish the objects for which the appropriations were originally made. But it is due to a just exposition of the financial resources of the govern- ment, as applicable to objects for which new appropriations may be made, that the committee should state, that our uniform experience warrants the anticipation that there will be, at the close of the present year, as large or very nearly as large a balance of unexpended appro- priations as there was at its commencement. PUBLIC DEBT. The funded debt of the United States amounted, on the 31st of December 1827, to 'S'67,435,489. 54. ; this sum includes the seven millions of five per cent stock subscribed by the government to the bank of the United States, and for which the government holds a full equivalent in stock of that bank. Throwing these seven millions out of the estimate, there remained on the 31st of December last to be extinguished by appropriations of the public revenue, the sum of ^^'60,435,489. 54. of the public debt, consisting of the following descrip- tions, and in the following proportions; viz. three per cent stock, being the remainder of the debt of the revolution, and redeemable at the pleasure of the government, ,^13.296,247. 70.; six per cent stock, redeemable at various periods prior to the 1st of January 1828, and of course now redeemable at the pleasure of the government, iS'25,353,177. 53; five per cent stock, redeemable in the years 1831, 1832 and 1835, principally in the latter year, ,,!!' 5,792,000. 20.; and four and a half per cent stock, redeemable in the years 1829, 1830, 1832, 1833 and 1834, principally in the year 1832, Ji' 15,994,064. 11. To exhibit another view of the public debt it may be useful to state, that exclusive of the stock subscribed to the bank of the United States, and the three per cent stock, there is now redeemable all the six percent stock, amounting to ,f 25,353,177. 53. ; that there will be redeemable in 1829, including the foregoing, stock to the amount of ;i5'26,i 22,845. 61.; that there will be redeemable in 1830, including the foregoing, stock to the amount of ,^26,892,513. 69.; that there will be redeemable in 1831, including the foregoing, stock to the amount of ^"26,911,415. 28.; that there will be redeemable in 1832, including the foregoing, stock to the amount of ,^'37,930,316 ; that there will be redeemable in 1833, including the foregoing, stock to the amount of J'40,1 76,581. 56.; that there will be redeemable in 1834, including the foregoing, stock to the amount of Jl'42, 4 03,945. 53.; and that in 1835, there will be redeemable, including the foregoing, stock to the amount of ,1^47,139,241. 84. It is apparent, from the analysis last presented, that the public debt is in a condition to put the whole amount of the sinking fund in constant and active requisition, without apply- ing any portion of it to the extinguishment either of the three per cent stock, or of the stock held by the bank of the United States. Of the sum often milHons, annually applicable by a permanent law to the payment of the national debt, it required the last year something more than ,$"3,500,000 to pay the current interest. In the process, however, of extinguish- ing the debt, there will be an annual and progressive diminution of the proportion of that fund applicable to the payment of interest, and a corresponding increase of the proportion applicable to the extinguishment of the debt. Taking the (average of the next five years, it may be assumed that ,$'7,250,000 of the sinking fund will be armually applicable to the payment of the principal. It follows, that at the close of the year 1832, a year in which a large amount of the debt becomes redeemable, there will remain to be extinguished of the debt then redeemable at the pleasure of the government, if the sinking fund be faithfully applied, less than two millions of dollars, exclusive of the three per cent stock and the stock held by the bank of the United States. It also follows, that in the year 1835, when the whole debt becomes redeemable, the sinking fund will be adequate to its entire extinguishment, if the stock held by the bank of the United States, and which cannot be justly considered a part of the national debt, be excluded from the estimate. This antipipation, however, is founded upon the supposition that the revenue will not be diminished. Whilst the committee look forward with much gratification to the period when the whole national debt shall be extinguished, as to an era of which history furnishes scarcely an example, the reflection is forcibly suggested that the revenue, by which this extraordinary result will have been produced, is almost entirely the contribution of our foreign commerce — a commerce which, though exposed to great vicissi- tudes, and rendered by our own legislation tributary to other branches of industry, has, notwithstanding. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 221 notwithstanding, carried forward the nation in a career of prosperity, since the late war, for which no parallel is to be found, except in our own previous history, at a period when the wars of Europe threw into our hands the carrying trade of almost the whole commercial w orld, and gave us a market of unprecedented extent for the productions of our soil. ESTIMATE OF THE REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE YEAR 1828, AND FOR FUTURE YEARS. In forming an estimate of the probable amount of the revenue for future years, the portion of that revenue which will be derived from sources other than foreign commerce, is compara- tively so inconsiderable, and so little liable to fluctuation, that the committee propose to confine their inquiries exclusively to the probable income from the customs, and to the effect S reduced, and likely to be produced by the existing and contemplated regulations of the uties on imported merchandize. And in the first place, the committee cannot concur with the secretary of the treasury in the opinion expressed in his annual report, that, " to suppose the Tariff of 1824 is at such a pitch as to affect injuriously the interests of foreign commerce, would be contrary to analogies afforded by the history of other commercial nations, and thus far, to the experience of our own." On the contrary, the committee can see nothing in those analogies, or in that experience, to render it at all doubtful that foreign commerce is injuriously'affected by every imposition laid upon it, even for the purposes of revenue merely j and that prohibitory duties, in the very nature of things, must diminish foreign com- merce to a greater extent than they build up and sustain the substituted productions of domestic industry. The statistical combinations and comparisons from which the secretary deduces the in- ference, that the interests of foreign commerce have not been injuriously affected by the Tariff of 1824, are not less liable to objection than his general reasoning on the subject. To state that the aggregate imports of the three years succeeding that Tariff exceeded the aggregate imports of the three years preceding it, without stating also the notorious and extraordinary cause of that excess, is, in- the opinion of the committee, a mode yf laying premises by no means propitious to a legitimate conclusion. The unexampled speculations in cotton, the great staple of our exports, and the extraordinary rise in its price resulting from those speculations, caused the imports of foreign merchandize in 182,5 to exceed by nearly sixteen millions of dollars their amount in 1824, and by nearly nineteen millions their amount in 1823. To assume that this sudden and extraordinary increase of the quantity of foreign merchandize imported in 1 825, resulted from the increased duties laid upon that merchandize by the act of the preceding year, would be nothing more than a fair illustration of the'secretary's mode of reasoning. The committee might appeal with much better reason to the fact, that the imports of the year 1827 are fifteen millions of dollars less than they were in 1825, as an exempli- fication of the effect of the Tariff of 1824. The just view of this subject however seems to be, that we have not yet reached a point from which the effect of that measure upon foreign commerce can be distinctly seen. In the few years immediately succeeding an increased Tariff of duties, it is to be calculated that the prohibitory effect of the increase will not be very considerable, unless the duties are very high, as in the case of the Tariff now proposed. The breaking up of established commerce and driving it from its accustomed channels, is not the work of a moment. The foreign manufacturer cannot suddenly accom- modate himself to the emergency in which he is placed. He must have a vent for his manufactures ; and until he can either find a new market, or withdraw a portion of his capital from the business of manufactures, he finds it to h& his interest to have a very bad market, rather than none. Hence it is, that the British manufacturer continues to export his fabrics m quantities gradually decreasing, and we shall continue to consume them at enhanced prices, until the domestic manufacturer obtains possession of the home market. Another reason for rejecting the comparative view exhibited by the secretary of the treasury, will be found in the progressive nature of unshackled commerce, particularly in a country growing rapidly in population, and still more rapidly in wealth. A commerce which, in 1822, the first year in the series selected by the secretary, amounted to eighty- three millions of dollars, ought, in the natural progress of population and wealth, to amount, in 1827, the last year of that series, to the still larger sum of at least ninety-five miUions of dollars • and it is this larger sum with which the actual importations of 1827, amounting only to eighty-one millions of dollars, should be compared, in order to ascertain something like the effect of the existing Tariff upon the foreign commerce of the country. It is also worthy of remark, that the importations of every year since 1825, have been considerably increased by the anticipation of an increased Tariff of duties on foreign manu- factures of wool. There can be no doubt that such an anticipation, strengthened into con- fidence by the convention at Harrisburg, has very considerably increased the importations of the last year. . ^ z. , Differing, as the committee do, with the secrietary of the treasury, as to the eltect ot the Tariff of 1824, on the commerce of the country, they are constrained to differ with him still more decidedly, as to the effect of a further increase of the duties on foreign merchandize. And here it may be proper to remark, that the only authority under which the secretary of the treasury acts, in presenting his annual report on the state of the finances to Congress, is a law which expressly enjoins it as his duty to prepare a report " containing estimates of the public revenue and public expenditure, and plans for improving and increasing the reve- nues from time to time." Whether the recommendation of high and prohibitory duties, pro- fessedly and exclusively designed to encourage domestic manufactures, by excluding those 578. ^^3 ^^^^ 1827—1828. Inclosure N" 2 in N° 11. umtinued. 222 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS L 1827—1828. ^ I Inclosure N' a ill N" n. continued. that are foreign, and inevitably tending to impair and diminish, instead of increasing and improving the revenue, be a substantial observance or a direct violation of the authority under which the secretary acts ; and whether it is not calculated to impair the constitutional responsibility of the executive, for the President to devolve upon his subordinate officers the high duty of " recommending to the consideration of Congress such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient,"' — it is the province rather of the House than of the com- mittee, to determine. The committee, without stopping to question the authority of the secretary, felt it to be proper that they should ascertain the precise rates of duty which he deemed it expedient to impose on " woollen goods and foreign wool, on fine cotton goods, on bar iron, and on hemp," and, with this view, directed their chairman to address him a letter of inquiry. The chairman complied with this direction, and received from the Secretary the following project for a TariflPof duties to be laid on the articles in question: •' All foreign manufactures of wool, or of which wool is a component part (except blankets and worsted stuff goods) the cost of which abroad does not exceed fifty cents the square yard, to be deemed to have cost fifty cents, and pay a duty of forty per cent ad valorem, until the 30th September 1829; forty-five per cent until the 30th September 1830; and fifty per cent after the latter date. All manufactures of the same kind, that cost more than fifty cents the square yard, but not more than two dollars and fifty cents, to be deemed to have cost the latter sum, and pay an ad valorem duty as above. All that cost more than two dollars and fifty cents, but not more than four dollars, to be deemed to have cost four dollars, and pay duty as above. All that cost more than four dollars, but not more than six, to be deemed to have cost six, and pay duty as above ; and all that cost more than six dollars, to pay ad valorem duty at the same rate. The duty on foreign wool, costing more than eight cents a pound in a foreign country, to be twenty cents per pound, and be increased two and a half cents annually, until it amounts to fifty cents. " 2d. Fine cotton goods. — I would propose, as expedient under this head, that an additional duty of five cents the square yard be imposed on all printed or coloured cotton goods. " 3d. Bar Iron. — The duty on hammered bar iron to be increased to one dollar and twelve cents the hundred weight. " 4th. Hemp. — The duty on hemp to be increased at the rate of five per cent per annum, until it amounts to forty-eight dollars a ton, instead of thirty-five dollars, the present rate of To remove the disguise which the artificial and arbitrary scheme of valuation recom- mended, has thrown over the proposed Tariff of duties on woollen manufactures, the com- mittee beg leave to present a practical analysis, the result of careful calculation and inquiry, exhibiting the rate of duty ad valorem, proposed to be laid on the various descriptions of imported v/ooUen goods, having reference both to their actual cost at the place of exporta- tion, and to the classes of our citizens, by whom they are consumed. Under the first minimum of fifty cents, will be embraced the following articles, principally used by farmers, mechanics, and labourers of every description, and chargeable with the following duties ; viz. Plains, costing from 24 to 44 cents the square yard, will pay from 63 to 116 per cent ad valorem ; making an average of 89I per cent. The quality principally consumed costs 29 cents, and will pay 95 per cent, Paddings, costing from la to 29 cents, will pay from 95 to 233 per cent; making an average of 1 64 per cent. The quality principally consumed costs 18 cents, and will pay 152 per cent. Flannels. The lower qualities, costing from 14 to 44 cents, will pay from 63 to 198 per cent ; making an average of 131 per cent. The quality principally consumed costs 22 cents, and will pay 126 per cent. Booking and baizes, costing from qI to 23 cents, will pay from 120 to 294 per cent ; making an average of 207 per cent. The quality principally used costs 14 cents, and will pay 198 per cent. Saizes, costing from 1 6 to 33 cents, will pay from 83 to 1 74 per cent ; making an average of 123 1 per cent. The quality principally consumed costs 24 cents, and will pay 1 16 per cent. Serges, costing from 17 to 27 cents, will pay from 102 to 163 percent; making an average of 132 1 per cent. The quality principally consumed costs 22 cents, and will pay 129 per cent. Caroline plaids, costing from 14 to 22 cents, will pay from 126 to 198 per cent; making an average of 1625 per cent. The quality principally consumed costs 1 7 cents, and will pay 164 per cent. Drab-kerseys, costing from 29 to 50 cents, will pay from 56 to 95 per cent ; making an average of 755 per cent. Swansdown, costing from i8 to 50 cents, will pay from 56 to 154 per cent; making an average of 105 per cent. The quahty principally consumed costs 32 cents, and will pay 87 per cent. Kersey itets, costing from 18 to 36 cents, will pay from 76 to 154 per cent; making an average of 115 per cent. The quality principally consumed costs 29 cents, and will pay 95 per cent. Coatings, costing from 16 to 50 cents, will pay from 56 to 172 per cent; making an average of 109 per cent. Flushings and Lion Skins, costing from 29 to 50 cents, will pay from 56 to 95 per cent ; making an average of 75J per cent Pelkse PUi3LISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 223 Pelisse cloths, costing from 37 to 50 cents, will pay from 56 to 74 per cent; making an average of 70 per cent. Broad cloths, costing from 32 to 50 cents, will pay from 56 to 86 per cent; making an average of 71 per cent. Under the second minimum will be embraced, in the opinion of experienced importing merchants, woollen goods, to the amount of four and a half millions of dollars, of qualities consumed by all classes of the community, known by the denominations, and chargeable with the duties following ; viz. Coatings, costing from 50 to 79 cents the square yard, will pay from 177 to 281 per cent; making an average of 229 per cent. Drab-kerseys, costing from 50 to 156 cents, will pay from 89 to 281 per cent; making an average of 185 per cent. Flannels, costing from 50 to 58 cents, will pay from 240 to 281 per cent; making an average of 260^ per cent. Toilinets, costing from 50 to 146 cents, will pay from 94 to 281 per cent; making an average of 187 J per cent. Swansdown, costing from 50 to 88 cents, will pay from 159 to 281 per cent; making an average of 220 per cent. Ladies cloths, costing from 68 to 177 cents, will pay from 78 to 194 per cent; making an average of 1 36 per cent. The quality principally consumed costs 124 cents, and will pay 182 per cent/ . Peliise cloths, costing from 50 to 67 cents, will pay from 197 to 281 per cent; making an average of 239 per cent. ■ . Carpeting, costing from 50 to 66 cents, will pay from 210 to 281 per cent; making an average, for aln.ost all the carpeting imported, of 245J per cent. Cassimeres, costing from 52 to 146 cents, will pay from 95 to 268 per cent; making an Average, for nearly all the cassimeres imported, of 131 1 per cent. Broad cloths, costing from 88 to 132 cents, will pay from 104 to 159 per cent; making an average of 1 1 8 per cent. Broad cloths, costing from 132 to 176 cents, will pay from 79 to 104 per cent; making an average of gig per cent. Broad cloths, costing from 159 to 212 cents, will pay from 68 to 87 per cent; making an average of 77 J per cent. Under the third minimum of four dollars, will be embraced none but fine broad cloths, consumed by the wealthy, costing from 2.50 to 317 cents. These will pay from 71 to 90 per cent; making an average of 80 2 per cent. The fourth minimum of six dollars, will have very little operation, because scarcely any of the imported cloths cost more than four dollars the square yard. ' It will be seen, that, in the foregoing analysis, the committee have translated British into American denominations of currency, and running yards into square yards. It will be also perceived, that, under each minimum, goods of the lowest prices, are chargeable with the highest rates of duty. Another remark may not be improper, by way of explanation. The committee have added two per cent for shipping charges, to the minimum valuation, and ten per cent on the value thus produced, in conformity with what they understand to be the Custom House construction of analogous provisions in the Act of 1816. If, however, the general provisions of that Act, relative to the valuation of goods paying ad valorem duties, should not be construed to apply to the artificial valuation, fixed by the plan of the secre- tary of the treasury, a reduction will have to be made from the rates of duty set down by the committee, of a little more than one-tenth part of those rates respectively, This, however, would render it necessary to add the two and the ten per cent above mentioned, to the actual cost or value of goods in the foreign countrv ; which would increase the duties on goods costing prices a little below the several minimums, to points beyond the rates set down by the committee. For example: goods costing 46 cents, would be raised from the first to the second minimum, and instead of paying 60 per cent would pay 271 per cent. The result would be a great increase of the duties on goods, near and below the mimmums, where the duties are lowest; and a diminution of them, very inconsiderably, m other parts of the scale, where they are so much above the point of prohibition, that the diminution vyould ^^Havhie'^^thurpresented an exposition of the duties on woollen goods proposed by the secretary the committee think proper, as equally connected with the probable legislation of Congress' in a manner affecting the revenue, to exhibit a similar exposition of the scale of duties OTODOsed by the committee on manufactures. Under the first minimum relative to woollen goods, those which cost fifty cents, and under that sum, per square yard, will be subject to a duty of sixteen cents per square yard. It results that. Plains, costing from 24 to 44 cents, will pay from 34 to 67 percent; average, 50 J "^^^Paddings, costing from 12 to 29 cents, will pay from 55 to 133 percent; average, 94 per cent. Flannels, costing from per cent. Backings and baizes, costing nvprpcre 118 5 per cent. „ „ . . , j. Baizes costing from 16 to 33 cents, will pay from 48 to 100 per cent ; average, 74 percent 578. ^ ^ 4 1827--1828. Iiiclosure N'2 in N° 11, continued. 14 to 44 cents, will pay from 34 to 114 percent; average, 74 from 9 J to 23 cents, will pay from 69 to 1 68 per Cent ; »nv from zi8 to 100 ner cent : averaere. 74 r Serges, 224< PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. \ Inclosure N" 2 inN" 11. continued. Serges, costing from 17 to 27 cents, will pay from 67 to 94 per cent; average, 80 J per cent. Caroline Plaids, costing from 14 to 42 cents, will pay from 73 to 114 percent; average, 93 1 per cent. Drab kerseys, costing from 29 to 50 cents, will pay from 32 to 55 percent; average, 43 I per cent. Swansdown, costing from 18 to 50 cents, will pay from 32 to 89 per cent; average, 60 1- per cent. Kerseynets, costing from 18 to 36 cents, will pay from 44 to 89 per cent ; average, 66 1 per cent. Coatings, costing [from 16 to 50 cents, will pay from 32 to 100 per cent; average, 66 per cent. Flushings and lion skins, costing from 29 to 40 cents, will pay from 40 to 55 per cent ; average, 47 J per cent. Pelisse cloths, costing from 37 to 50 cents, will pay from 32 to 43 per cent ; average, 37 J per cent. Broad cloths, costing from 32 to 50 cents, will pay from 32 to 50 per cent ; average, 41 per cent. Under the second minimum, goods costing more than 50 cents, and not more than 100 cents, will be a subject to a duty of 40 cents the square yard. It follows that. Coatings, costing from 51 to 79 cents, will pay from 51 to 80 per cent; average, 65 1 per cent. Flannels, costing from 51 to 58 cents, will pay from 69 to 80 per cent ; average, 74 f per cent. Swansdown, costing from 51 to 88 cents, will pay from 45 to 80 per cent; average, 62 | per cent. Carpeting, costing from 51 to 66 cents, will pay from 60 to 80 per cent; average, 70 per cent. Pelisse cloths, costing from 51 to 67 cents, will pay from 59 to 80 per cent; average, 69 J per cent. There will be a small quantity of drab kerseys, toilinets, ladies cloths, and cassimeres, included under this minimum, which will pay from 45 to 80 per cent, making an average of 67^ per cent. Under the third minimum, goods costing more than 100 cents, and not more than 250 cents, will be subject to a duty of 100 cents the square yard. It follows that. Drab kerseys, costing from loi to 156 cents, will pay from 64 to 99 per cent; average, 81 J per cent. Toilinets, costing from 101 to 146 cents, will pay from 68 to 99 per cent; average, 83 J per cent. Ladies cloths, costing from 101 to 177 cents, will pay from 57 to 99 per cent; average, 78 per cent. Cassimeres, costing from loi to 146 cents, will pay from 68 to 99 per cent ; average, 83 ^ per cent. Broad cloths, costing from 101 to 132 cents, will pay from 75 to 99 per cent ; average, 87 per cent. Broad cloths, costing from 132 to 176 cents, will pay from .57 to 75 per cent; average, 66 per cent. Broadcloths, costing from 159 to 212 cents, will pay from 47 to 63 per cent; average, 55 per cent. Under the fourth minimum, goods costing more than 250 cents, and not more than four dollars the square yard, shall be deemed to have cost four dollars, and be subject to a duty of 40 per cent on that valuation. This provision will embrace all the fine broad cloths, costing from 250 to 317 cents, and will impose duties of from 56 Mo 71 per cent, making an average of 63 1 per cent on the actual cost. The committee will now present a statement, on the authority of the most intelligent and respectable importing merchants in the United States, of the rates of duty now payable on cotton manufactures, and a comparative statement of the duties which those manufactures will pay under the recommendations of the secretary of the treasury, and of the committee on manufactures respectively. The proposed increase of five cents per square yard, recom- mended by the secretary of the treasury, is applicable only to printed and coloured fabrics ; but it is to be remarked, that these constitute more than three-fourths of our present im- portations, as will be seen by reference to the treasury statements. The increase, proposed by the committee on manufactures, of 1 J cents the square yard, applies to all kinds of cotton manufactures. The following are the existing and proposed rates of duty : Prints or calicoes Cotton cassimeres - Ginghams Plate calicoes - Cotton handkerchiefs Cambric muslins Ctimbrics. 6-4 wide Sarsnet cambrics Presfiit duty. Duty proposed by Duty pioposed Ijy (lie Com- the Secretary. niittee on Maiiufactuiea. 45 per ct. 53 45 80 52 J 50 66 1 70 75 per ct 52 1 per ct. 87 62 75 52 i 133 93 871 61 50 58 66 1 78 70 8 It PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 225 " It is here proper to remark, that all the above descriptions of goods are now actually im- ported, and pay at the Custom House the rates of duty above stated, under the head of " present duty." Of course, under the existing Tariff, the consumers of cotton goods now actually pay, for the protection of the domestic manufacturer, high rates of duty on the foreign articles imported ; and still higher rates upon the coarser fabrics supplied by our own manufacturers, in consequence of the exclusion of their foreign rivals. ■ The committee will here make a single remark on the comparative effects upon the revenue, of the schemes presented by the secretary of the treasury, and the committee on manufac- tures, relative to woollens. Though the duties proposed in the latter scheme, are more equally laid upon the different qualities of goods, and are less in amount, this committee regard the difference as being merely a nominal one ; the duties, in both cases, rising with ■very unimportant exceptions, to the point of ultimate, not distant, and in most instances, immediate prohibition. Duties which amount to 56 per cent, will result in prohibition j and those which amount to 281 per cent, can do no more. It is obvious, therefore, that the duties proposed by the committee on manufactures, ranging principally from 60 to 80 per cent, are as effectually prohibitory as the more unmeasured impositions proposed by the secretary of the treasury. If, indeed, a doubt could be entertained as to the prohibitory character of the lowest average of the duties proposed, that doubt would constitute a con- clusive objection to their imposition ; for if the foreign manufacture can be imported and sold, for any considerable length of time, as cheap as the domestic manufacture, after paying 20 per cent for the charges and profits incident to its importation, and 56 per cent duty, making an aggregate of 76 per cent, it would seem to the committee, that no principle of sound policy under any of the conflicting theories of political economy, would give coun- tenance to a measure involving a permanent imposition, so excessive upon the consumers of woollen goods, for the benefit of the manufacturers. ■ It may be asserted, indeed, without any qualification, that duties upon foreign merchandise can afford protection to the rival productions of domestic industry, only by prohibition. A home market cannot be provided for the domestic, but by the exclusion of the foreign production. The direct and necessary effect, therefore, of protecting duties, if they really accomphsh their professed object, is the exclusion of foreign merchandise; at least to the extent that a home market is provided for the substituted articles of domestic industry. But this is not all. In all cases where high duties are necessary to afford adequate pro- tection, foreign commerce must, in the nature of things, be diminished to a greater extent than domestic industry is encouraged. For, in the cases supposed, the encouragement is given to the protected articles, by raising their price at least 56 per cent above that at which similar articles could be imported. A considerable increase of the price of any given article must, upon obvious principles, diminish its consumption. If, therefore, the effect of a protecting duty be to diminish the aggregate quantity of the protected article consumed by the community, it results, as an unavoidable consequence, that, for a given quantity of the domestic production substituted, there must be a still greater quantity of the rival foreign production excluded. In treating as prohibitory, the proposed duties on the great mass of the woollen and cotton manufactures now imported from abroad, the committee, therefore, desire to be considered, as using terms with due consideration, and in their strict and proper acceptation. They now propose to inquire into the extent of this prohibition, and to trace its operation upon the foreign commerce, and upon the revenue of the country. The whole amount of the importations of woollen manufactures in the year 1826, was ,|'8,43i,974. The whole amount of their importations in 1827, was J'8,66 1,740. This statement exhibits an increase of the importations in 1827, beyond what they were in 1826, of J'229,766. In the Tariff of 1824, certain descriptions of woollens were exempted from the general provision of the law imposing a duty of 33^ per cent on woollen manufactures, and subjected to a duty of 25 per cent only. The importations of woollen manufactures, subject to the higher rate of ad valorem duty, and of carpeting, subject to a still higher specific duty, amounted in 1826, to i' 6,571,031, and in 1827, only to J" 6,293,1 60, exhibiting a decrease in the importations of woollens subject to the higher duties of J" 277,871. The importations of woollens, subject to the lower rate of duty, amounted in 1826, to Sk 1,860,043, and in 1827, to ^2,368,580, exhibiting an increase of the importations of this description of woollens, amounting to ,^508,637- When it is recollected that the impor- tations of 1826 were made at the very crisis of the reaction produced by the extraordinary speculations and excessive importations of 1825, a just inference may be drawn from the comparative statement above presented, as to the effect of the Tariff of 1824. If will be seen that the importation in 1827, of woollen goods subject to the higher rate of duty, was less than in the year preceding; whereas, from the natural increase, and recovering state ot ur commerce, as well as from a reference to the importations of woollens paying only 5 per cent duty, a considerable increase ought to have been exhibited. The commi tl rpm^rt in further illustration of the effect of the Tariff of 1824, that the 1827—1828. our 2 The committee will hex^ remark, in further illustration of the eftect ot tne rarm 01 io'^4. th^at the average importations of woollens for the three years preceding it, amounted to ^8,981,936, being an " "• '• bevond the importations of 1827. fall under the amounted in e excess of j;'320,i96 beyond the importations of 1827. The importations of the descriptions of woollen manufactures, which ooeration of the high duties recommended by the secretary of the treasury, amounted n 1807 -to upwards of six miUions of dollars. A recurrence to the analysis presented by th c-omniittee will show that the great mass of woollens embraced in the scheme of duties pro -.„„„j u„/i,. ...,.«fcrv will be chargeable with more than. 100 per cent; a considerable posed by the secretary. be chargeable with more than. 100 per proportion with more than 200 per cent ; and but a small qnantity with legs than 70 per cent^ ■ 578- ^ ^ Iticlosure N° 2 in N° 11. conlinued. Q'i6 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS J 827— 1828. ^ . ' Inclosure N" a in N" n. continued. The committee, therefore, think they are quite within bounds, when they assume five millions as the amount of woollen manufactures that will be excluded, and speedily excluded, if the duties recommended shall be imposed upon the foreign manufacture. They believe it may be assumed, with equal confidence, that a duty of five cents the square yard, in addition to the existing duty on cotton manufactures, will exclude the foreign manufactures to amount of $ 3,500,000. When to these prohibitions, those of raw wool, bar iron and hemp are added, it will not be extravagant to estimate the curtailment of foreign commerce, by the proposed duties, at ten miUions of dollars, within a few years after their imposition* Making eveiy allowance for the increased rate of duties that will be collected on the rer maining importations of the articles under consideration, the committee cannot estimate, the annual loss of revenue resulting from the duties proposed by the secretary of the treasury, at less than ^^ 4,000,000. And here the committee cannot but pause for a moment, to coxir template the singular and extraordinary spectacle of an officer who presides over the finances of a nation, recommending a scheme of revenue, which, at the same time that it will diminish the national income ;,^ 4,000,000 per annum, will increase the burdens of the community beyond all example in time of peace, and fully equal to any in time of war ! It is due, however, as well to the station of the officer in question, as to the magnitude of the national interest involved, that the grounds upon which he places his recommendation should be fairly stated and dispassionately examined. And the committee cannot but express their regret, that the views of the secretary have not been presented in propositions more distinct^ and in language less ambiguous. That they may not however, do injustice to his opinion, as to the effect of the proposed measure upon foreign commerce, they will state it in his own words : " The opening of new objects of labour (says the secretary,) by multiplying the occupations of men, has also increased the public prosperity. This has produced an increased ability to buy all articles of consumption whencesoever obtained. Hence foreign trade has not declined, of which we have the incontestible evidence just stated, whilst new domestic resources in manufacturing labour have been unfolding themselves. As the latter are more amply brought out, it is confidently anticipated that the former will become wider and more enriching in its range." As far as the committee are able to comprehend the specific bearing of the words and sentences just quoted, they interpret them to mean, that the loss which foreign commerce will sustain, by excluding the foreign articles in question, will be amply compensated by the increased importation of other foreign merchandise, which the augmented wealth of the people will enable them to purchase and consume. Believing that this opinion, as to the effect of the proposed Tariff on foreign commerce, is utterly destitute of any j ust foundation, and that it can only find cover under the vagueness and generality of the terms in which it is expressed, the committee will now attempt to remove the veil from it, by exhibiting a practical view of the effect of the proposed increase of duties on the wealth of the nation. Assuming that it will exclude foreign manufactures, or, which is the same thing, give effective protection to domestic manufactures, to the extent of ten millions of dollars, it remains to be ascertained how and to what extent the various interests of the country will be affected by the change. In the first place, then, it is con- ceded that the price of the manufactured articles in questiouj will be enhanced and the only doubt is as to the extent and duration of the enhancement. The present duty upon woollens is 37 J per cent, and the testimony of the persons engaged in the manufacture, allege that it is grossly inadequate. The very lowest duty in the scheme recommended by the secretary of the treasury is 56 per cent, and that it is applicable only to a very inconsiderable portion of the woollens imported ; upon the great mass of them it is double that rate. It is presumed therefore that the manufacturers, while asking duties of from 56 to 281 per cent, will admit that at least 56 per cent is necessary to give them protection, or in other words, to exclude their foreign rivals. If this be granted, it conclusively shows that the price of domestic manu- factures, in order to give them adequate protection, must be raised fifty-six per cent above what the foreign manufactures would cost in our market, if it were not for the duties imposed by the government. The effect, then, of the proposed duties will be, to raise the price of woollen manufactures, as well domestic as foreign, eighteen and a half per cent at least above their present rates, and fifty-six per cent above the price at which the foreign manu- facture could be obtained, after paying all the expenses of importation, and the profits of the importing merchant, if it were not for the duties. It has been estimated that each individual of the United States, upon a general average, consumes annually woollens of the value of six dollars. The total annual consumption of woollens in the United States amounts, upon this supposition, to ^1*72,000,000. But a considerable proportion of this is household manu- facture, made and consumed by the same persons, and consequently not affected, one way or the other, by high duties. If it be assumed that only one-third of the woollens consumed are imported and manufactured for sale, it follows that the consumers of that manufacture will pay an annual tax of ^13,440,000 upon that single branch of consumption, calculating the duty at 56 per cent. Of the ^"24,000,000 of woollens, purchased and consumed, about three millions, it is estimated, will still continue to be imported, under the lowest rates of the existing and proposed duties. It results that the duty of 56 per cent upon J" 2 1,000,000, amounting to ^11,760,000, will be a tax upon the consumers of woollens, for the benefit of those, who make them ; and that the duty on the three millions of imported woollens will be a tax, paid also by the consumers, for the support of government. Assuming that the consumption of cotton manufactures, which, under the proposed Tariff, will be made in the United States, for sale, will be equal to that of woollen manufactures, it will follow, that, as those manufactures will pay an average of duty nearly equal to 56 per cent, the consumers of cotton manufactures will pay a tax for the benefit of the domestic manufacturers. PUBLISHED INf THE UNITED STATES. 227 manufactWers, nearly equal to that paid by the consumers of woollens. The committee will estimate it, however, at only J" 10,240,000. The first step, then, in this process of " inducting" the nation to wealth, is to enhance the price of clothing, one of the primary necessaries of life, to a point involvino- an increase of the annual expenditure of the people for that object, of ^22,000,000, for the benefit of the manufacturers of woollen and cotton goods, in addition to what they will still pay, on imported cotton afad woollen goods, for the support of government. But the effect of domestic manufactures in enhancing the price of the surplus produce of the farmer, is strongly rehed upon as an equivalent for the increased price of those manu- factures. " The effect upon agricultural prices, (says the secretary) produced by the per- petual presence of armies in a country, will not too strongly illustrate the extent of the benefit that the manufacturing class renders to the class of farmers." The committee would respectfully add, that the illustration of the secretary is equally appropriate to show the national expense at which, by the plan proposed, the farmer is insured, if insured at all, a high price for his grain. For it is confidently believed, that an army might be main- tained at an annual expense much below J' 22,000,000, of an extent sufficient to consume as much of the productions of the farmer as all the persons who manufacture cotton and woollen goods for sale in the United States. But conceding to the utmost extent the alleged effect of manufactures in raising the price of grain and wool, it is by no means a clear proposition, that this enhancement of price adds any thing more to the national wealth, than does the enhancement of the price of rnaiiufactures. On the contrary, it seems to the committee that the wealth of the nation is diminished precisely in the proportion that the prices of clothing and food are increased by the artificial means of human legislation. If the mass of the community, who consume manufactures and do not make them, are compelled by the effect of legislative prohibitions to pay 1$ 22,000,000 more for clothing than if such prohibitions had not taken place ; and if the great majority of the -community who consume grain and wool, and do not make them for sale, are compelled in like manner to pay an enhanced price for these articles, while the price Of all other articles remains Unaltered, it is extremely obvious that the wealth of the great body of the people is diminished precisely in the degree that the difficulty of ob- taining food and clothing is increased by the enhancement of their prices. If the sellers qf wool, of grain and of manufactures were the only persons in the community, it might be a question between them, whether the enhancement of the price of manufactures would not be compensated by a corresponding enhancement of the price of wool and grain. But as these constitute a minority of the people in every state in the Union, and a veiy small minority in the Union at large, it strikes the committee, as an extraordinary mode of consoling the majority for the enhanced price of one of the great necessaries of life, to tell them they will have the privilege of paying an equally enhanced price for another. It thus appears that the second step of the process by which it is proposed to enrich the nation, is to increase the difficulty of obtaining bread, che first necessary of life, and wool, a principal element in the price of woollen cloths, by raising their relative prices. The committee regard it as a very clear proposition, that the wealth of the nation cannot be increased by enhancing the price of any of its productions, except the. great staples of exportation. The higher the! price we obtain for these from foreign nations the more un- doubtedly we add to the national wealth. But it is obvious that the scheme of the secretary of the treasury proposes to enhance the price of manufactures, of grain, and of raw wool in our markets only. The attempt indeed, would be impotent to extend the enhancement by our legislation to foreign markets. • With a view of exposing and illustrating more fully the fallacy of the notion that high prices, however produced and by whomsoever paid, constitute national wealth, the com- mittee will suppose the government had the power to promulgate and enforce a decree, raising the price of grain from one to ,two dollars a bushel. Though this would be denounced as an arbitrary stretch of power, it would be no more than doing directly what the secretary proposes to do indirectly. Andwhat would be its effect ? While it would neither increase or diminish the aggregate wealth of the community — and in this it would have a decided advantage over the scheme of the secretary — it would diminish that of the consumers of grain precisely as much as it would increase that of the si'Uers. The delusion which unfortunately prevails on the subject of high prices, is be ascribed to the change which took place in the corn laws of Great Britain in 1819. During the years 1817 and 1818, in the hope of relieving the general distress of the labouring classes, the British government relaxed the general policy of the corn laws, and permitted the free im- portation of grain. . The result was an extension of the market for our grain, and an enhancement of its price almost beyond any former precedent. This was a real increase of the national wealth, because foreigners paid us the enhanced price of our grain. In the erain growing states the prices of lands rose in proportion to the rise m the prices of their productions, and large investments were made by capitalists. When the British govern- ment resumed their antient and established policy in relation to corn, and prohibited in effect its importation from abroad, greafembarrassment unavoidably fell upon the exporters of erain in this country. Real estates sunk from their inflated to a point below' their natural value, and grain to a point below its natural price. In this state of things, it is not surprisina; that the grain selUng farmers should have laboured under the temporary delusion that hi,oao ,000. The foregoing statement is designed for the two-fold purpose of shewing the dependence of the national revenue, upon those branches of our foreign commerce which are sustained, almost entirely, by. the, exports of cotton, tobacco, and rice, and the inseparable connexion, and mutual dependence, which subsists between the export trade in those staples, and the continued importation of those articles of foreign merchandize which it is the design, and will be the effect of the proposed Tariff to exclude. It may be safely assumed, that upwards of Jl' 10,000,000 of the revenue which accrued from imposts in 1826, was derived from mer- chandize obtained in exchange, for the staples in question, and that upwards of five millions was derived from the descriptions of merchandize involved in the scope of the proposed pro- hibitions. It is against the great staples, then, which supply more than one-half of the ordinary revenue of the government, and in a particular manner, against cotton, which supplies more than one-third of that revenue, that the secretary of the treasury directs the ban of a prohibitory pohcy, that will as infallibly destroy the foreign market for those staples, as it will exclude the merchandize with which foreign countries now pay for them. • Before the committee proceed to expose the inevitably destructive effect of the proposed Tariff upon the export trade in cotton, tobacco, and rice, they will submit a few remarks in confirmation of the idea, already suggested, that the principal burden of taxation, even under a mere revenue system of imposts, falls upon those staples, and on the shipping interest and commerce, .dependent upon them. It has been already shown, that the manu- facturing states import upwards of seven millions of merchandize, free of duty. This exemption operates as a bounty in favour of manufactures, not only at the expense of the revenue, butalso at the expense of agriculture and commerce, which must be subjected to heavier charges, to supply the deficiency resulting to the revenue from that exemption. But the committee feel authorized to go still further, and to assert, that the whole of the revenue derived from imported articles, of which similar and rival articles are manufactured in this country, even under the most moderate system of impost duties, is a tax upon agriculture' and commerce; and that manufactures, so far from participating in the burden, are benefited by its imposition. Conclusive practical proof of this will be found in the fact, that the manufacturers would unquestionably oppose a proposition to repeal the whole of the impost duties,, even if the public lands were adequate to supply the government with all the revenue required for the public service. It is only necessary, indeed, to suggest the idea of a repeal of the impost duties, and an imposition of internal taxes, equally bearing upon all the interests of the country, to render strikingly evident the proposition stated by the committee. It cannot, indeed, be doubted that a system of revenue, which imposes no internal taxes. • but is exclusively confined to impost duties, is a tax upon agriculture and commerce, and a bounty in favour of manufactures. And it is while this system of revenue is m operation, tbat the manufacturers, not satisfied with the bounties it provides for them, but making every concession the basis of more exorbitant demands, call upon Congress to add milhons to the annual burdens of agriculture and commerce, in addition to former prohibitions, and to sacrifice, at the same time, four millions of the public revenue, for their exclusive benefit! The committee will now attempt to exhibit the injurious tendency of the proposed Tariff, • in its bearino- upon the commerce and shipping sustained by our southern staples, as well as upon the Agricultural labour and capital engaged in their production. And, in the first Dlace they are of the opinion, that the prohibition of British manufactures will, inevitably, cut off very nearly to the extent of that prohibition, the foreign demand for our cotton. There is no law of trade more deeply fixed, in the very nature of commercial exchanges, than that a nation cannot purchase foreign productions, but by giving its own prodnctions. or its own labour, directly or indirectly, in exchange for them. This is pecuharly the case with those manufacturing nations in which every branch of industry is overstocked with nroductions, seeking a market. Such is precisely the present condition of Great Britain Her very existence is involved in the prosperity of her manufactures, and the prosperity of. these is entirely dependent on a foreign demand for the surplus produced beyond her own consumntion It is the cardinal principle of her commercial pohcy, growing out of the inexorable necessities of her condition, to extend that demand. In this state of things. Ff3 ^'''" 1827—1828. Inclosure N'a in N° 11. continued. 230 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. ■^ .^ Inclosure N°2 ill N" u. coniinuttl. when she has forced her manufactures, through every channel, into all quarters of the world accessible to her enterprise, and furnishing any suitable commodity to give in exchange, what will be the effect of excluding from our markets nearly ten millions of her manufactures ? It will, undoubtedly, throw upon her hands that amount of manufactures, heretofore given, principally in exchange for our cotton, and which will be of no value to her, if she cannot obtain a new market for them. Any market, therefore, will be better than none, and it will be her decided interest to give a high price for raw cotton, to countries that will take, in exchange for it, the manufactures prohibited by our policy, rather than to give even a much lower price for our cotton, when we refuse to take the only production she has to give in exchange for it. When, therefore, we exclude British manufactures by prohibitory duties, no retaliatory acts of British legislation will be necessary to deprive us of the British demand for our cotton, to an equal extent. It will result from those immu- table and self sustaining laws of commerce, which stand ready to vindicate the freedom of trade, and avenge its violation. The committee are aware of the prevalence- of the opinion, that Great Britain must purchase our raw cotton, whether we take her manufactures or not. In confirmation of this opinion, it is said that Great Britain, even now, purchases that staple from us, only because it is her interest to do so, and because we sell it cheaper than other nations; This is undoubtedly true, but it is equally true, that the reason why it is her interest to purchase from us, and why she takes from us double the quantity she takes from the whole world besides, is because we have, hitherto, been her best customers; As long as we continue to take her manufactures, it will be her interest to take ravv cotton from us, but no longeir. The cotton of any country that will take her manufactures, will be cheaper to her than ours, if we will not take them. This obvious principle of trade, connected with the actual state and capacities of thfe other cotton growing regions of the world, will abundantly evince the imminent jeopardy to which the interest of the cotton-growers in the United States will be exposed by the proposed prohibition of foreign manufactures. The principal countries adapted to the production of cotton, besides the United States, are Brazil, Egypt, Greece, and ihe East and West Indies. Most of these have latent capacities, of indefinite extent, for the pro- duction of cotton ; capacities, which only require the stiinulus of foreign demand, foreign capital, and foreign enterprise, to draw them into productive action. It is equally impor- tant to remark, that they are all countries not likely to embark in the business of manu- facture, and in which it will be no difficult matter for Great Britain to diifuse a taste foY her manufactures. They are precisely, then, in the condition to render the proposed Tariff most perilous to the American cotton-grower. It requires nothing but the motive of interest to induce Great Britain to apply all her political influence, her manufacturing capital, and her commercial enterprise, to stimulate the productive powers of Egypt, Greece, Brazil; and the East Indies, to the full extent of her demand for cotton. If we prohibit her nianu- factures, we shall furnish her with that motive. She will establish a trade of profitable exchanges with those countries, and being driven by our own infatuated policy to obtain raw cotton from them, she will cease to purchase ours, to the same extent. Under the peculiar circumstances just stated, it is not presenting the case too strongly to say, that duties upon the exportation of cotton, equivalent to those which it is proposed to lay upon the manufactures taken in exchange for it, would not more certainly, or to a greater extent, curtail the exportation. The committee will now exhibit an estimate of the loss which will be sustained by the gi'owers of cotton in this country. It will be quite within limits to assume, that, of the ten millions of manufactures that will be excluded by the proposed prohibitory duties, six millions are now exchanged for our cotton, and can be exchanged for nothing else. Estimating cotton at ten cents per pound, six millions of dollars will purchase sixty millions of pounds, which is equal to 200,000 bales, averaging three hundred pounds. It thus appears that the American cotton-grower will be deprived, by the proposed prohibitions, of a foreign market for nearly one-fourth of the entire production of that staple, in the United States, amounting, in value, to six millions of dollars. But even this view does not give any thing like an adequate conception of the loss that will be sustained in the annual income of the nation, by depriving the cotton-growers of their accustomed market. The whole of the shipping and commercial capital, employed in transporting this cotton to Europe, and the merchandise received in exchange for it to the United States, will be thrown out of employment. The annual loss that will be sustained by the shipping interest alone, may be estimated at J' 1,500,000 ; consisting of the freight and other charges of the cotton and merchandise mutually excluded. The annual loss that will result to the com- mercial capital now engaged in effecting-the exchange of our cotton for the prohibited manu- factures, may be estimated at ,§' 1,000,000 ; consisting of the profits of the exporting and importing merchants. These sums united, will exhibit a loss of j^ 2,500,000, in addition to that sustained by the cotton growers, and falling almost entirely on the ship owners and mer- chants in the middle and northern states. It thus appears that the growers of cotton, and the ship owners and merchants engaged in its transportation, will sustain an annual aggregate loss of ,$ 8,500,000 at a very moderate estimate, by the direct amputation resulting from the proposed prohibitory duties, in addition to the increased burden they will have to sustain, in common with the rest of the community, from the enhanced prices of manufactured and other articles. But the loss sustained by the country, in consequence of that inflicted on the cotton growers does not stop here. " (If to use the language of the secretary of the treasury) ■ th«re PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. ssi Jere can be no dissent from the maxim, as between different parts of the same nation, that the prosperity of one promotes that of another," " it cannot be doubted/' in the opinion of the committee, " that the ruin of one, by the errors of human legislation,, necessarily involves the injury of another." Both branches of this proposition, introduced by the secretary with a very different bearing,are strikingly illustrated by the large participation of otne^ parts ot the Union, in the prosperity of the cotton growing states, and in' the iniurv th^ are destined to suffer if the proposed Tariff shall be adopted. , Ihe result of inquiries, directed to practical men, and of estimates founded upon their statements, warrant the committee in expressing the opinion, that the cotton-growing states import trom the manufacturing states, a great variety of articles exclusive of the manufac- tures ot cotton, wool and iron, and consisting principally of the productions of the soil, amounting annually to two millions of dollars, at a very moderate estimate. These are all ot them, such articles as the cotton-growing states have every facihty for producing them- selves, and which they can afford to import from other states, only in a prosperous condition ot their principal agricultural pursuit. Even in the present condition of the trade in cotton just views of eoonomy Would seem to dictate the expediency of bmiting the too abundant production of that staple, by diverting from it so much capital and labour as would be sufficient to produce all the articles now imported from other states, of the description just mentioned. ' ^ It IS certain that the proposed prohibitions will, if adopted, render it not only expedient but necessary, for the cotton states, to produce the articles in question, instead of importing them. Another branch of domestic trade, larger in amount, and more extensive in the diffusion of Its benefits than the one just stated, will inevitably fall a sacrifice to the proposed system of exclusion. The committee have reference to the trade in live stock between the western and the cotton growing states, which they estimate after the most careful examina- tion, to. amount to at least the annual sum of ^3,000,000. This trade is exceedingly im- portant to the western states, because they receive in exchange for their live stock almost nothing but money. It is not too much to say, that in this single branch of internal trade, the cotton-growing states afford to the western farmers a more extensive and profitable market for their agricultural productions, than the manufacturers of cotton and wool would furnish in the course of half a century, even if the foreign importation of those manufactures were entirely prohibited. But the benefits of this trade are not confined to the western states. The money received from the cotton states is principally expended in the middle and eastern states, in payment for manufactures. There is no branch, therefore, of our commercial intercourse so diffusive and profitable in proportion to its nominal amount, and the com- mittee speak advisedly in saying there is none that would be so certainly destroyed — utterly and irrevocably destroyed- — ^if the proposed Tariff should receive the sanction of Congress. The capacity of the cotton growing states to produce the live stock they now import from tlie west, is even greater than that for producing the agricultural articles they import from the north ; and the same views of economy which suggest the expediency of producing the latter, instead of importing them, still more forcibly suggest the same policy in relation to the former. In a few years from the passage of the proposed Tariff, the trade in question will have ceased almost entirely. In closing this brief and imperfect view of the destroying operation of the proposed pro- hibitory policy, denominated with singular unappropriateness of language, a protecting policy, the committee cannot but 'pause to make a remark, obviously suggested by the occasion, that it is much easier to destroy than to create wealth by legislation. To effect the former, even folly and ignorance are more than competent. But to accomplish the latter, human wisdom in its profoundest exercise, will be found inadequate. And when financiers and statesmen at the head of affairs, are found gathering up and appropriating the exploded errors of less enlightened ages,, and recommending as a means of increasing the national wealth and reveniie, a policy that will inevitably destroy the annual income, directly and indirectly derived from a single staple, to the extent of more than thirteen millions of dollars, it is difficult to avoid exclaiming in the language of a wise man of another country, " with how little wisdom the world is governed! " Having thus presented an estimate of the loss that will be sustained in a single agricul- tural staple, by the proposed exclusion of the foreign manufactures now taken in exchange for it, the committee propose to inquire how far this loss will be idemnified by the demand which the estabbshment of domestic manufactures will create for the staple in question. That this domestic demand will be any thing like an equivalent to the foreign demand that will be destroyed by the prohibitory pobcy, is one of those extraordinary and delusive antici- pations which belong in a peculiar manner to the artificial scheme of enriching the nation, by substituting for the bounties of nature and the providence of God, the miserable and imr potent contrivances of man. In estimating the comparative extent, present and prospective, of the existing foreign and the proposed domestic market for raw cotton, it must occur to the most careless and incom- petent examiner, that Great Britain, and the manufacturing nations of the continent, manufacture cotton to supply the multiplying uses and increasing consumption of cotton manufactures by the whole civilized world ; whereas our domestic manufactories can only supply the consumption of the United States. It is estimated by intelligent merchants in Liverpool and Havre, that the present consumption of raw cotton in Europe amounts to 1 200,000 bales, which is equal to 360,000,000 lbs. It is a notorious fact, that the con- sumption of cotton manufactures from their extraordinary cheapness, when compared with those made of any other fibre, is rapidly extending on the continent of Europe, not only 578. ' Ff4 ^"^"^ 1827—1828. Inclosure N" in N° 11. cuntinu&l. 232 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827 — 1828. from the increase of population, but also from the new uses to which cotton fabrics are ^^ ^,,,___/' applied. Iiiclosuie N° 2 ^^^^ consumption is susceptible of an indefinite. extension. It has no practical limit, but in N" 11. ^^^^ which is imposed by the refusal of the cotton-growing countries to receive manufactures in coiUinued, exchange for the raw material. The United States now supply three-fourths of the European demand for that material. On the other hand, the domestic manufactories, even after we shall have excluded five millions more of foreign cotton manufactures, will not require more than two hundred thousand bales of cotton, at the utmost extent, to supply the domestic demand of the United States for those manufactures. It thus appears that the cotton growers are to be consoled and indemnified for the loss of markets which now furnish a de- . mand for 900,000 bales of their cotton — a demand which a system of free trade on our part would indefinitely extend — by the miserable substitute of a domestic demand for 200,000 bales; a demand created by legislative restrictions, and, consequently, incapable of being extended in a degree corresponding with the natural and progressive increase of the foreign demand. This comparative view will be illustrated by a more specific reference to the effect which will be actually produced by the contemplated exclusion of foreign manufactures upon the foreign and upon the domestic demand for raw cotton. It has been shown that the proposed prohibition of foreign merchandize, estimated at ,^10,000,000, will have the effect of depriving the cotton-growers in the United States of a foreign market, to the extent of 200,000 bales of cotton. It is apparent, that the substitu- tion of five millions of domestic manufactures of wool for the same amount of the foreign . fabric, will add nothing at all to the domestic demand for raw cotton; it is equally appa- rent, that the substitution of ,$ 3,500,000 of domestic for the same amount of foreign manu- factures of cotton, can have the effect of adding so much only to the domestic demand for cotton, as will supply the raw material for making domestic manufactures of the value of ,^'3,500,000. It is estimated by Mr. Huskisson, that the raw material constitutes only one- fifth of the value of cotton manufactures, taking the average of the various quahties. As those which now remain to be excluded by the proposed Tariff, are of the finer descriptions, it may be safely assumed that raw cotton of the value of ^^700,000, will be sufficient for the making of manufactures of the value of ^3,500,000. Now, estimating cotton at ten cents per pound, and each bale to contain 300 pounds, it follows that the entire addition which will be made to the domestic demand for cotton, by the complete accomplishment of the objects of the proposed Tariff, will be 23,333 bales ; in this calculation, no deduction is made for the effect of the enhanced price of the manufacture in diminishing its consumption, and the still more striking effect of that enhancement, in diminishing the quantitij of the raw material necessary to make a given value of the manufacture of it. Thus it is, that the splendid illusion of increasing the demand for cotton, by adding the domestic to the foreign market, vanishes into the wretched reality of substituting a domestic demand for 23,333 bales, at most, in place of a foreign demand fOr 200,000 ; involving a curtailment of the aggregate demand for cotton, to the extent of 176,667 bales. It remains for the committee to inquire how far the benefits resulting to the manufac- s turers of woollen and cotton goods, and to the farmers who will supply them with raw wool and grain, will indemnify the country for the losses sustained by its other interests. And here it may be proper to remark, that the committee intentionally abstain from any reflec- tions upon the injustice of building up one interest on the ruins of another ; reflections which, however just in themselves, have no necessary connexion with the purpose of this report, which is to ascertain the effect of the proposed Tariff upon the aggregate wealth and the aggregate foreign commerce of the country, and, by necessary consequence, upon its revenue derived from impost duties. What, then, will be the addition made to the wealth of the country, by the diversion of capital and labour to the manufacture of woollen and cotton goods ? It is quite obvious that no part of the capital under consideration will be created by the proposed policy. All that can possibly result from that policy, will be an increase of the profits of the capital already invested in the manufactures in question, and a transfer of existing capital to those manufactures from other employments. That the increased profits of the capital already invested, will make a corresponding increase in the wealth of the manufacturers, is not to be questioned. And, if their manufactures were made for exportation, and foreigners could be compelled, by our policy, to pay the enhanced price, the wealth of the country would be undoubtedly increased in this branch of industry. But, as the profits of the manufacturers will be enhanced only by increasing the price paid by our own citizens for the manufactures- of woollen and cotton goods, it is a self-evident proposition, that the wealth of the nation will be diminished in this particular, precisely as much on the one hand, as it will be in- creased on the other. The only effect of the prohibitory pohcy, in this part of its operation, will be to transfer a given sum, annually, from the planters, farmers, merchants, mechanics, and labourers of the country, to the manufacturers of woollen and cotton goods. As to that portion of the capital of the country which the prohibitory system may transfer from other employments to manufactures, the increase of its profits will be doubtful in point of fact, and still less conducive to the national wealth, than the increased profits of the capital already invested in manufactures. For it can hardly be doubted, that capital now invested in the shipping business, and in the business of foreign commerce, will be thrown out of employment to an extent very nearly equal to the amount of the new investments that will be made in the business of manufacture, in consequence of the proposed prohibitions. Any increase, therefore, which may be made in the profits of the capital thus transferred to manufactures. PUBLISHED m THE UNITED STATES. 23ci ttianufactures, is not only liable to the objection that it is produced by an increase in the 'price of manufactured articles, and consequently paid by our own citizens ; but to the additional objection, that the new employment of capital is produced by the destruction of its natural employment. The community, then, are subjected to the charge of paying the increased price of cotton and woollen manufactures, without any thing like a corresponding increase of the profits of this portion of the capital invested in the business of making them. The committee now propose to inquire what will be the extent of the incidental benefit resulting to the growers of wool and grain, from the proposed exclusion of foreio-n manu- factures, and the substitution of domestic. It is obvious that the substitution of domestic manufactures of cotton for those that are foreign, will add nothing to the demand for raw wool. The substitution of domestic for foreign manufactures of wool, however, will certainly increase the demand for raw wool in this country. Assuming that the raw wool constitutes two-fifths of the cost of the manufactured article, it follows, that the substitution of domestic for foreign manufactures of wool, to the amount of $ 5,000,000, will create a domestic market for raw wool, to the amount of .^2,000,000, if foreign wool be excluded. But at what price will this market be obtained for domestic wool ? It has been already assumed, upon the authority of the manufacturers themselves, that the domestic fabric will cost fifty-six per cent more than the price at which the foreign manufacture could be obtained, if it were not for the impost duty. This price, it is alleged, is necessary to enable the manufacturer to make the ordinary rates of profit. Fifty-six per cent duty upon $ 24,000,000, the estimated amount of woollen goods manufactured and imported for sale, will exhibit J? 13,440,000, as the sum paid by the consumers of those goods, including the wool-growers, ±0 obtain a market for raw wool to the amount of ,;^' 2,000,000, upon which the actual profit will not probably amount to ,;^' 500,000. In estimating the probable increase of the domestic market for grain, resulting from the exclusion of cotton and woollen manufactures, to the extent contemplated, it will be neces- sary to consider the number of persons that are now employed in importing those manufac- tures, in comparison with the number that will be employed in making them. , In the manufacture of cotton and woollen goods, particularly the former, machinery has been so extensively substituted for manual labour, that it may be safely assumed that very nearly as many persons are employed, directly and indirectly, in the importation of a given quantity of cotton and woollen manufactures, as are employed in their fabrication. The facts disclosed by the manufacturers, in their examination before the committee on manufactures, warrant the conclusion, that each person employed in the manufacture of woollen cloth, produces annually, on an average, manufactures of the value of $750. It results that, in the annual manufacture of woollen fabrics of the value of ,$ 5,000,000, there will be employed, of all descriptions, 6,666 persons. In the manufacture of cotton goods, it is believed that the more extensive and efficient agency of machinery renders the number of persons employed jn producing a given value of the manufacture much smaller than is the case of the woollen manufacture ; but as the committee have no authentic statement of facts in this case, they will assume that, in the .manufacture of cotton goods of the value of .^3,500,000, there will be 3,500 persons employed. The whole number of persons, then, that will be employed in making ^8,500,000 of cotton and woollen goods, will be 10,166. Estimating the consumption of grain by each individual, at twelve bushels per annum, the ^hole number would consume only 121,992 bushels, equal in value to probably as many dollars. If it be assumed, that an equal amount of other agricultural productions will be consumed for food, the extent of the market which the farmers will obtain in consequence of the substitution of S 8,500,000 of domestic, for the same amount of foreign manufactures, will be only Ji" 243,984. It is confidently believed, that the persons who would be employed in importing the same amount of manufactures, and in exporting the raw cotton, and other staples, to pay for them, would consume an equal quantity of the productions of agriculture. In any 'possible view of the subject, the increased demand for grain, and other articles of food supplied by the farmer, would be top inconsiderable to be gravely regarded as a matter of national importance. The benefit would be almost exclusively confined to the farmers in the immediate vicinity of the manufactories — as grain and meat are articles too bulky to bear distant transportation by land. It is not to be doubted, then, that the cotton -growing states now furnish a market for the agriculturail productions of the manufacturmg states, nearly seven times more extensive than will be furnished by the manufacturers, in conse- ouence of the proposed prohibitions. And, upon the assumption already made, that the annual amount of cotton and woollen goods that will be manufactured for sale in this couhtrv will be i 42,000,000, it will follow, that all the cotton and woollen manufacturmg establishments in the United States will employ less than 50,000 persons, and consequently will not furnish a market for the grain-growers, half so extensive as that furnished by the city of New York alone, a city which has risen to unnvalled prosperity by the very,foreign commerce it is now proposed to destroy. . Having; thus taken a general view of the efiect which the proposed Tariff will produce upon the different interests of the country ; having shown that the annual income of the planting, shipping, commercial, and farming interests will be diminished millions where the income of the manufacturing and wool-growing interest will be increased hundreds of thousands ; having shewn, in a word, that the contemplated prohibitory duties will destroy ten times as much national wealth as they will create : ' the committee are utterly at a. loss to realize the 1827-^1828. '^ .. Inelosure K°2 in N" u. continued. anticination of the secretary of the treasury, that the capacity of the country to purchase foreim merchandize will be increased by this impoverishment They. are equally at a loss to imao-ine what those new articles of foreign merchandize wiU be, which are to makeup the 578° ^g ^°'' 234, PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 18S7— 1828, V ^~ ' Inclosure N° 2 in N" 11. continutd,' loss that foreign commerce will sustain by the exclusion of cotton and woollen manufactures, and other articles, of the value of J!' 10,000,000. Nor is it anymore easy to conjecture what the domestic productions will be, with which we are to purchase those newly discovered articles of foreign merchandize, yet to be disclosed to us in the fulness of future revelation. With a view of bringing to the test of a practical scrutiny, the singular financial paradox, that the revenue derived from imposts will not be diminished by prohibiting the importation of ten millions of foreign merchandise, the committee will examine the operation of the proposed system of prohibitions a little more in its detail. It is worthy of remark, that, while the argument of the secretary of the treasury is ex- clusively in favor of the policy of excluding foreign manufacturer, his recmnmendation extends to the exclusion of the raiu materials also, which are essential to three important branches of domestic manufactures. While it is earnestly contended that there is too large a pro- portion of capital and labour devoted to agriculture, producing a surplus which foreign nations will not take, and the consequent necessity of protecting our manufactures isstrenur ously urged upon Congress, it is, at the same time, gravely recommended that the productions of foreign agriculture, the free importation of which would be the most direct and natural encouragement of domestic manufactures, be also prohibited ! Without stopping to comment upon the incongruity exhibited by the argument and the recommendation of the secretary, or to expose the inconsistency of complaining that foreign nations will not take our agricultural productions, when those productions — wool and hemp for example — cannot command even our own market, without the aid of prohibitory duties^ the committee will proceed to shew that the policy indicated by the reasoning and the recommendation of the secretary, involves the ultimate and permanent destruction of at least one-half of the foreign commerce that contributes to the revenues of this Government. The importations of foreign merchandise in 1826, excluding from the estimate the portion that pays no duty, amounted, in round numbers, to J!'72,ooo,ooo. Of this sum, sugarj and the manufactures of cotton, wool, hemp, iron, and steel, and the raw material of the four last, amounted to ^30,000,000. All of these are now subjected to heavy protecting duties, and it is proposed to render most of them prohibitory. The manufactures of flax, imported in 1826, amounted to ,^3,000,000 ; and all the reasoning in favour of encouraging domestic manufactures by prohibitory duties, applies, with full force, to this branch of that business. We have not only an unlimited capacity for producing the raw material, but the exclusion of foreign manufactures of flax, even if it should not produce the domestic manu- facture of that material, would cause cotton shirting and other fabrics to be substituted for those of flax, and thus, at the same time, increase the consumption of raw cotton, and extend the demand for its manufacture. If to this we add ^^2,000,000, for the amount of itidigo imported in 1826, under a very low duty — an article which can be produced in the Southern States to an unlimited extent, if adequately protected — it will be seen that ^35,000,000 of the importations of 1826, fall clearly under the ban of the prohibitory system. The principal other duty-paying articles, imported in 1 826, were silks, wine, coffee and tea, amounting to ^17,500,000, and spirits and molasses, amounting to ^4,500,000. The two last enumerated articles should, in the opinion of the committee on manufactures, be subjected to prohibitory duties, with a view to the encouragement of the grain-growers and manufacturers of whiskey in the United States; and this committee can perceive no grounds for a distinction, which v?ould deprive our farmers of protection in this form, while it is granted to other interests in other forms. The remaining importations of 1826, amount- ing to ^15,000,000, consisted of manufactures of wood, leather, glass, copper, and of various other materials ; hats, bonnets and caps, lead, paper and cigars ; salt, spices, fruits, vinegar, cocoa, and various other articles too inconsiderable to be enumerated. It will be perceived that of the articles last enumerated, a considerable proportion fall within the acknowledged principles, and indeed within the provisions of the protecting system. From the foregoing statement, it is apparent that the committee have been quite within limits, in assuming that the extension of the prohibitory system to its legitimate results, and to the point which it must soon reach, if not now arrested, will cut off" one half of our foreign commerce. It is now time to inquire what those articles of foreign merchandize will be, which are to fill up the chasm of our foreign commerce produced by the prohibition of $ 10,000,000 of our present importations. They cannot be manufactures of cotton, wool, iron, hemp, flax; or indeed any of the manufactures enumerated in the above analysis of our foreign com- merce (except wines and silks), for they all of them fall within the principles, and most of them within the existing and proposed provisions of the protecting policy. They cannot be grain, raw wool, hemp, spirits, sugar or salt ; for these are also articles that it is deemed important to protect against foreign competition. Indeed it is obvious that all the great staples of agriculture and manufacture, every thing applicable to the purposes of feeding and clothing mankind, by supplying either the necessaries, the comforts or the luxuries of life, are excluded by the prohibitory policy, with the exception of tea, coffee, spices, cocoa, and a few small articles of a similar kind, some small manufactures of inconsiderable import- ance, and the committee will add silks and wines to the enumeration, though even these might fairly claim a place in the sanctuary of the protecting system. Unless, therefore, this system shall have the effect of increasing the importation of the very articles it excludes, or of leading to the discovery of others hitherto unknown in the annals of commerce, the committee cannot imagine what other foreign articles could be found to supply advantageously the place of those it is proposed to prohibit, even if it were true PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 2S5 true that the increased wealth of the country would " produce an increased ability to buy all articles of consumption whencesoever derived." To assert that the wealth of the country will be increased by the prohibition of imported articles, is at least an intellimble, possibly a plausible proposition ; but to allege that /omg» co?n?werce will not be diminished by pro- hibiting almost the only descriptions of merchandize, with the exception of coffee and tea, which we now import, or ever can import with advantage, is, to make the most of it, an empty and inflated generality, which instantly vanishes at the touch of a practical ^tlsilysiSa But the illusion of this anticipated creation of new branches of trade to compensate foreign commerce f6r the direct curtailment of the proposed prohibitions, is not less effectually dis- pelled by inquiring what are the articles of export of which that trade is to consist? What shall we have to export in greater abundance than we have now? The only answer that can be given, is, manufactures. And it has been confidently asserted that the exports of domestic manufactures will, at no distant period, be equal to the foreign merchandise we exclude to give them^ protection. This is another of those propositions that can only be considered with gravity, while viewed in the abstract. We cannot command our own market, without a legislative protection of 56 per cent, in addition to the natural protection of 15 or 20 per cent resulting from the expense of importing the foreign manufacture; and yet we are to , compete with the most skilful manufacturers in the world, in foreign markets, on terms of perfect equaUty ! But this is not half of the difficulty. To what nations shall we send our manufactures? Shall we find a market for them in Great Britain, France, or any part of Europe ? It would be as reasonable to expect Great Britain and France to export raw cotton to South Carolina or Louisiana. In all the nations of Europe, we shall have to encounter, not only the greater cheapness of their manufactures, but their prohibitory regulations. Shall we export them to the West Indies, or any of the colonies of the European Powers ? We should there meet the prohibitions of their colonial policy, which excludes all foreign; merchandise which the mother country can supply. Where, then, shall we resort ? It will be answered, to South America ; and an appeal will be made to experience to sustain the allegation. Now, it is worthy of remark, that we, who have the cheapest, most fertile, and most various soil in the world, with a climate in every respect adapted to the growing of wool, cannot compete, in our own market, without a protecting duty, either with the wool-growers of England, Spain or Saxony — countries where lands are from ten to twenty times as high as they are in most parts of the United States. And yet it is conceived that we can successfully contend with those nations, in other foreign markets, in the sale of our manufactures. An agricultural nation, incapable of maintaining a competition with manu- facturing nations, in the sale of her natural productions, is yet to prove more than a match for them in the sale of manufactures ! This would be doing wonders, to be sure. But we have yet greater difficulties to encounter. In some of the states of South America, we find discriminating duties unfavourable to us, and favourable to Great Britain. And when we have surmounted this legal discrimination, we find another still more difficult to overcome, growing out of the peculiar character of the productions of South America. The gteat staple of that region, cotton, is precisely what Great Britain desires most to purchase, and this country desires most to sell ; and the same remark is applicable to almost all the pro- ductions of South America. This circumstance alone would give the British manufacturers an overwhelming advantage in a competition with ours, even if we could rival them in the cheapness of our fabrics. These views will be clearly illustrated by reference to the nature of the boasted trade now carried on by our manufacturers of cotton goods with South America. We exported/, in 1826, domestic cotton manufactures, to the amount of J^ 1,138,1 25, and re-exported British manufactures, of the same kind, to the amount of J'2,226,090. In 1827, the export of domestic cotton manufactures amounted to ^i ,1 77,598 ; the amount of British manufactures, of the same kind, for that year, has not been ascertained by the committee. It is apparent from this statement, that we find it more advantageous to re-export British manufactures, after importing them at an expense of 1.5 or 20 per cent than to export our own, and that the exportation of our domestic manufactures increases very slowly. A con- clu«ve refutation is here found, of the inference drawn from this trade by some, that we can manufacture cotton fabrics cheaper than the British. If the fact of our exporting one Knillion of domestic cotton fabrics, proves that we can make them cheaper than the British, the fact of our re-exporting two millions of British fabrics, proves still more strongly that the British manufacturers can make them cheaper than ours. The truth is, that this exportation of domestic and re-exportation of foreign manufactures, proves nothing on either hand as to the relative cheapness of the manufactures. We could afford to export domestic cotton manufactures to South America, to a limited extent, even if they were much higher, because we take in exchange, raw hides and skins, that, to this extent, would be of scarcely any value but for our demand for them. This is the true foundation of our export trade in domestic manufactures, and this is its limit. A survey of the productions and commerce of South America will warrant the conclusion, that the only articles of value and importance produced in that quarter, either for food or clothing, which it is our interest to import, are these raw hides and skins. And thus the vision of indemnifying foreign commerce and tha revenue derived from imposts, for the loss they will sustain by the exclusion of foreign manufactures is finally consummated in the importation of articles that may be appropriately denominated the offal of trade— articles, too, which pay no duty at all, and come directly in competition with our own agricultural productions, in utter contempt of the principles of the prohibitory system! With this striking exemplification of the 1827—1828. ''— — ^^— — ^ Inclosure N" 2 ill N" II. continued. 578. G commercial and financial bearing 23^ PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827 — 1828. l^earing of the scheme of the secretary of the treasury, the committee will conclude their ^ , remarks on this branch of the subject. Jnclosure N'^i It will be perceived by the House that the committee have no farther entered into the ;n N° ] 1 consideration of the proposed duties than was necessary to ascertain their ultimate and perma- airitiinctd. '^®°*' ^^^^^ upon our foreign commerce, and of consequence upon the public revenue. They have not permitted themselves to be seduced by the example of the secretary of the treasury, to depart entirely from the financial view of the subject, and to enter at large into the dis- cussion of the pohcy of protecting domestic manufactures by prohibitory duties; a policy which, whether it be wise or unv^ise, just or unjust, must inevitably impair the productive- ness of our present system of revenue to an extent that will render it difficult to avoid a resort to internal taxes in time of peace ; that this will be the probable fruit of the system of prohibition cannot be disguised, however confidently it may be denied. It has been shown that the proposed exclusion of foreign cotton and woollen manufactures, raw wool, hemp and iron, will diminish the annual income from the customs, four millions of dollars. If to these aTticles be added foreign spirits, molasses and iron manufactures, in conformity with the views of the committee on manufactures, a further reduction of the revenue to the amount of one million and a-half may be confidently anticipated. When it is perceived that a revenue df ^"20,000,000, derived from imposts, is thus subjected to a diminution of Ji'5,500,000, at a single blow of the prohibitory system, a system which our own experience demonstrates to be naturally progressive, making each advance the basis and the instrument of extending still farther its desolating encroachments upon our commerce and revenue, it appears to the committee that only a very ordinary share of forecast is required to foresee the ultimate consequences that must result, at no distant period, from the progress of this system. The anticipation indulged by the committee, as heretofore expressed, that the public debt would be extinguished in the year 1 835, can only be realized by the faithful application of the sinking fund, in conformity with the provisions of the Act of 181 7, by which the annual sum of ^10,600,000 was pledged for the payment of the principal and interest of that debt. The current expenses of the government for the year 1827, exclusive of the public debt, amounted to ;,]^ 12,000,000; and when it is considered that the expenditures for the military and naval service hive been gradually increasing since 1825, it cannot be reasonably expected- that the aggregate expenditures will be less than Jl*! 2,000,000 per annum for the next eight years, exclusive of the national debt. It follows that the current expenditures of the government will amount annually to the sum of ,^22,000,000; for although some branches of these expenditures — the military pensions, for example^ — will decrease progres- sively, this will be counterbalanced by an increase in other branches, and by appropriations of a contingent nature. Even if the present impost duties remain unaltered, it would be unsafe, in the opinion of the committee, to estimate the annual income from the imposts for the year 1828, and the seven following years, at more than was derived from this source in 1827; for even under the existing laws, the progress of our manufactures must still further limit the importation of certain descriptions of foreign merchandize. Estimating, then, the revenue from imposts, in round numbers, at ;,;^20,ooo,ooo, and that from the public lands, bank stock and other sources, at ,^2,000,000, we -have an annual income of ^22,000,000, and an annual expenditure of the same amount. If therefore the contemplated prohibitions of' foreign commerce be adopted, and the revenue derived from the, imposts shall sustain a diminution of .S'5>500,000 per annum, after the year 1 830 — to say nothing of the diminution in the intermediate years, while those prohi- tions are reaching their consummation — it is apparent that between the close of the year i8p,o and the close of the year 1835, there will be an annual deficit of iS'5,300,000, which can only be supplied by invading the sinking fund, and almost entirely arresting the payment of the public dpbt, or by resorting to internal taxes. And at the close of the year 1835, instead of finding the public debt extinguished, and an annual surplus revenue of ^10,000,000 applicable to whatever purposes the public welfare may indicate, we shall find the nation still burthened with a debt which its ordinary revenue will not discharge, until ten years more shall have elapsed. If these views rest' upon any just foundation, it is quite evident that the prohibitory' system now proposed, will postpone the commencement of any such works of internal im- provement as Congress may deem expedient rmtil very nearly the middle of the present century. The committee take it for granted that the pubhc mind is definitively made up aa to the policy of oisburdening the nation of the public debt, with all practicable despatch. It is not to be presumed, therefore, that any attempt will be made to arrest the payment of that debt, by diverting the sinking fund from its plighted purposes, to any other purposes, however important, except for the support of the established institutions of the country. Even therefore if no change shall take place in our foreign relations involving an increase of the national expenditure, there will be no surplus revenue to be applied to any objects of internal improvement, before the year 1845, if the prohibitory duties now proposed shall be laid on foreign merchandize. The only means compatible with the preservation of the established institutions and policy of the country by which any such objects can be effected, in the event just supposed, previous to the year 1 845, will be internal taxes. And as the policy recommended by the secretary of the treasury will certainly lead, and apparently looks forward to the substitution of a system of internal revenue in place of the present system of duties upon foreign merchandize, the committee will close this report with a few remarks on the relative advantages and disadvantages of the two systems. Under our present system of imposts, the collection of the revenue costs less than three and a half per cent on the gross amount ; under a system of internal taxegj it would cost more 2 PUBLISHED IN THE UNJTED STATES. gs? taore than seven per cent, upon the most moderate estimate. The objection to this in- 1827— 1S<>8 creased expense of collection, would not be diminished by the consideration, that it would i \^ ~i grow out of the necessity of having a vast number of excise officers and assessors, scattered x« over the country, clothed with inquisitorial powers, and necessarily intruding their inquiries ^". "SJI" into the private concerns of every citizen. But even this objection sinks into comparative *" ,■ ^,V msigmficance, when viewed in connexion with one which remains to be stated. From the «'«"""' • freat extent of our territory, the sparseness of our population, and the unavoidably unequal isbursement of the public revenue, in a local point of view, a system of internal taxes will always produce, by disturbing the equilibrium of the circulating medium, the most dis- tressing embarrassments in those parts of the Union in which the smallest proportion of the public disbursement shall be made. If the contributions of the people and the expenditure of the government could be locally equalized, so that the money contributed by each county, in the shape of taxes, should be returned to it in the form of government expenditure, there would be scarcely any limit to the financial power of this country. But as the expenditures of this government, are necessarily extremely unequal and partial, the only remedy or corrective is to be found in a system of revenue which makes the points of contribution, as nearly as possible coincident with the points of disbursement; This is eminently the case in a system of imposts. Of the annual expenditure of J'22,000,000 for the support^ the various branches of the public service, and for the payment of the public debLJr is beheved that- more than three-fourths is expended on the maritime frontier, principally in the cities into which foreign merchandize is directly imported. It is obvious, thai, that impostduties are the least burdensome impositions that can be devised for such a country and such •a government as ours. It would not be extravagant to say that a nett revenue of ;^ 15,000,000, raised by internal taxes; would involve, in the expenses of its collection, and in the mode of its operation, a heavier and more vexations pressure upon the people, than a nett revenue of ^30,000,000, derived from imposts. The very nature of our country, and the ends for which this government was obviously created, indicate foreign commerce as the object of our care, and source of our revenue. It was principally to protect foreign commerce that this union was originally formed ; and it may well be doubted, whether the destruction of the former would not put in jeopardy the very existence of the latter, by greatly impairing, both the motive for preserving, and the means of sustaining, our expensive national institutions. The committee, therefore, believe that the representatives of the people are called upon, hot only by considerations connected with the national wealth and revenue, but by every con^ fiideration which gives value to the Union of the States, to reject the recommendation of the secretary of the treasury, and arrest, the progress of a system, the possible consequences of which no American can pontemplate with indifierence. N'12 Mr. Gonsiil General Baker to the Earl of Dudley. EXTRACT. Washington, May 7, 1828. R. June 18/28. —NO definitive step has yet been taken in relation to the question of the N* la. Tariff, which is now before the senate, having passed the House of Represen- tatives on the 22d ult., by a small majority of eleven votes. The three amendments respecting carpeting, cotton bagging and spirits, which, as I had the honour to state in my dispatch of the 5th April, had been successful in the committee of the whole House, were subsequently concurred in with the alteration^ that the additional duty on foreign spirits was made 15 instead of 30 cents per gallon ; and that floor cloths, furniture, oil cloth and matting were annexed to the section relating to carpeting. fiy a majority of a single vote the proposed specific duty on wool was reduced from 7 to 4 cents, the ad valorem duty of 40 per cent being left untouched ; and that on woollen manufactures falling within the minimum value of 50 cents, was increased from 16 to 20 cents per square yard ; at the same time a lower minimum of 33 -f- cents, with a duty of 14 cents per square yard, was inserted. A new section was also introduced, establishing a scale of duties upon slates of different dimensions. The duty on bar iron made, by rolling was extended to bolt iron, which had been accidentally omitted ; and a mistake in putting down the duty on unmanu- factured flax; at 45 dollars, instead of 35, p^r ton, as intended, was corrected. The Bill was read a second time in the senate on the 24th ult., and refei^red to their Committee on Manufactures, who, on the 30th, reported it, with some amendments relating to iron, and to progressive increase of duty on low priced 578. Gg3 ' woollens. 238 PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. continued. woollens, reducing the duty on molasses from 10 to 7 f cents per gallon, and adding a duty of 50 per cent on ready made clothing and vermicelli. As I have already had the honour to mention, the question still remains under consideration in the senate ; but that body has decided by a steady majoi'ity of two votes, to adopt their several amendments, increasing the duties on low priced woollens, which will render the measure more palatable to the manufacturers of that article ; while another chief provision, earnestly desired by the New England States, viz. the lower duty on molasses, has been rejected by four votes. N°i3. ^° \^" .cV°" N' 13, with two Inclosures. Mr. Vaughan to the Eaii of Dudley. Washington, May 19, 1828. R. June 23/28. MY LORD, THE Tariff Bill has been finally passed by both Houses of Congress, and, having been approved by the President, is become an Act of the United States, and I have the honour to inclose a copy of it. Thirteen amendments were made in the senate, all of which have tended to render this Bill less objectionable to the American manufacturers. One of the amendments postpones the operation of the Bill from the 30th June to the 1st September; but that amendment applies only to the first section of the Bill, which relates to the, duties upon iron. The duties upon indigo are not to be exacted before the month of June 1829. With regard to iron an explanation was required in the senate, of the terms used in the Bill, of slabs, blooms, loops, &c., when it was observed, that they were terras used by the British manufacturers to evade the duties imposed in the United States upon rolled and hammered iron, when imported in bars and bolts. By the evidence brought forward in a committee on the Tariff Bill, it was shown, that the provisions of the Bill of 1824 had (as it was apprehended at the time when it passed) affected the revenue of the United States, which is almost entirely derived from foreign commerce. The opposition of the members of Congress from the southern states proved, however, unavailing. The Bill was carried to a third I'eading in the senate on the 12th instant, by a majority of 26 to 21. The growing impatience of the people of the United States to become manufacturers, and to be independent of supplies of manufactures from foreign states, particularly from Great Britain, has brought about the repeal, within four years, of their last Tariff Bill, the enactments of which were suflS- ciently severe in order to make way for more effectual measures for the protection of domestic manufactures. I have the honour to inclose a Comparative Statement of the Duties to be paid under the new Tariff Bill, with the rate of duties now chargeable, which was printed by order of the Senate, on the 30th April last. I have, &c. (signed) Charles R. Vaughan. Inclosure N" 1 in N° 13. Inclosure N° i 2oth Congress, 1st Session. H. E,. 132. "' N" 13. AS AMENDED BY THE SENATE. May 13, 1828. Printed by order of the House of Representatives. The parts stricken out are included within brackets [ ] the insertions are printed in Italics AN ACT in alteration of the several Acts impuoing Duties on Imports. BE it Enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of .America in Congress assembled. That from and after the [thirtieth day of June J frst day of September, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, in lieu of the duties now imposed by law, on the PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 239 the importation of the articles hereinafter mentioned, there shall be levied, collected, and paid, the toUowmg duties ; that is to say : First. On iron, in bars or bolts, not manufactured, in whole, or in part, by rolling, one cent per pound. r j = &co« ^^^ / either, thirty-two cents per square yard. On all patent pm^erf or painted floor cloths, fifty Inclosure N" i *^^"*^ P^"" ^^"^''^ Y^""*^- ^" °" '^^^^^ [carpeting] other than that usually denominated patent in N" I"? floorcloth, twenty-five cents per square yard. On furniture oil cloth, fifteen cents per eunthmed. square yard. On floor matting made of flags or other materials, fifteen cents per square yard. Sec. 3. And be it further Enacted, That from and after the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, there shall be levied, collected and paid, on the importation of the following articles, in lieu of the duty now imposed by law : First. On unmanufactured hemp, forty-five dollars per ton, until the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine, from which time five dollars per ton in addition per annum, until the duty shall amount to sixty dollars per ton. On cotton bagging, four and a half cents per square yard, until the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine, and afterwards a duty of five cents per square yard. Second. On unmanufactured flax, thirty-five dollars per ton, until the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine, from which time an additional duty of five dollars per ton per annum, until the duty shall amount to sixty dollars per ton. Third. On sail duck, nine cents per square yard ; and, in addition thereto, one half cent yearly, until the same shall amount to twelve and a half cents per square yard. Fourth. On molasses, ten cents per gallon. Fifth. On all imported distilled spirits, fifteen cents per gallon, in addition to the duty now imposed by law. Sixth. On all manufactures of silk, or of which silk shall be a component material, coming from beyond the Cape of Good Hope, a duty of thirty per cent ad valorem; the additional duty of five per centum to take effect from and after the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine ; and on all other manufactures of silk, or of which silk shall be a com- ponent material, twenty per centum ad valorem. On indigo, an additional duty of five cents the pound, from the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-nine, until the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and thirty, and from that time an additiorutl duty of ten cents each year, until the whole duty shall amount to fifty cents per pound. Sec. 4. And be it further Enacted, That from and after the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, no drawback of duty shall be allowed on the exportation of any spirit, distilled in the United States, from molasses ; no drawbrack shall be allowed on any quantity of sail-duck, less than fifty bolts, exported in one ship or vessel, at any one time. [And in all cases of drawback of duties claimed on cordage manufactured from foreign hemp, the amount of drawback shall be computed by the quantity of hemp used, and excluding the weight of tar, and all other materials used in manufacturing the cordage.] Sec. 5. And be it further Enacted, That from and after the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, there shall be levied, collected, and paid, in lieu of the duties now imposed by law, on window glass, of the sizes above ten inches by fifteen inches, five dollars for one hundred square feet : Provided, That all window glass imported in plates or sheets, uncut, shall be chargeable with the same rate of duty. On phials and bottles, not exceeding the capacity of six ounces each, one dollar and seventy-five cents per gross. Sec. 6. And be it further Enacted, That from and after the thirtieth day of June one thousand eight hundred and twenty-eight, there shall be levied, collected, and paid, in lieu of the duties now imposed by law, on all imported roofing slates not exceeding twelve ' inches in length, by six inches in width, four dollars per ton ; on all such slates exceeding twelve, and not exceeding fourteen inches in length, five dollars per ton ; on all slates exceeding fourteen, and not exceeding sixteen inches in length, six dollars per ton; on all slates exceeding sixteen inches, and not exceeding eighteen inches in length, seven dollars per ton ; on all slates exceeding eighteen, and not exceeding twenty mches in length, eight dollars per ton ; on slates exceeding twenty inches, and not exceeding twenty-four inches in length, nine dollars per ton ; and on all slates exceeding twenty-four inches in length, ten dollars per ton. And that, in lieu of the present duties, there be levied, collected, and paid, a duty of thirty-three and a third per centum, ad valorem, on all imported ciphering slates. Sec. 7. And be it further Enacted, That all cotton cloths whatsoever, or cloths of which cotton shall be a component material, excepting nankeens imported direct from China, the original cost of which, at the place whence imported, with the addition of twenty per cent, if imported from the Cape of Good Hope, or from any place beyond it, and often per cent, if imported from any other place, shall be less than thirty-five cents the square yard, shall, with such addition, be taken and deemed to have cost thirty-five cents the square yard, and charged with duty accordingly. Sec. 8. And be it further Enacted, That, in all cases where the duty which now is, or hereafter may be, imposed on any goods, wares or merchandises, imported into the United States, shall, by law, be regulated by, or be directed to be estimated or levied upon the value of the square yard, or of any other quantity or parcel thereof; and in all cases where there is or shall be imposed any ad valorem rate of duty on any-goods, wares or merchan- dises, imported into the United States, it shall be the duty 01 the cgllector within whose district PUBLISHED IN THE UNItED STATES. 241 district the same shall be imported or entered, to cause the actual value thereof, at the time purchased, apd place from which the same shall have been imported into the United States, v to be appraised, estimated, and ascertained, and the number of such yards, parcels, or quantities, and such actual value of every of them, as the case may require ; and it shall, in every such case, be the duty of the appraisers of the United States, and of every of them, and of every other person who shall act as such appraiser, by all the reasonable ways and means in his or their power, to ascertain, estimate and appraise the true and actual value, any invoice or affidavit thereto, to the contrary notwithstanding, of the said goods, -wares and merchandise, at the time purchased, and place from whence the same shall have been imported into the United States, and the number of such yards, parcels or quantities, and such actual value of every of them, as the case may require; and all such goods, wares and merthaisdises; b^ing manufactures of wool; or whereof vfrool shall' be a dortif onerif part, which -shall be imported into the United States in an unfinished condition, shall^ in every such appraisal, be taken, deemed and estimated by the said appraisers, and every of thein, and every person who shall act as such appraiser, to have been, at the time purchased, ahd place from whence the same were imported into the United States, of as great actual value as if the same had been entirely finished. And to the valiiie of the said goods, wares and mer- chandise, so ascertained, there shall, in all cases where the same are or shall be charged with an ad valorem duty, be added all charges, except insurance, and also twehty percentiim on the said actual value and charges, if imported from the Cape of Good Hope, or any place beyond the same, or from beyond Cape Horn, or ten per centum if from any other place or country ; and the said ad valorem rates of duty shall be estimated on such aggre^ gate amount, any thing in any Act to the contrary notwithstanding; Provided, That ih"all cases where any goods, wares or merchandise, subject to ad valorem,duty, or whereon the duty is or shall be by law regulated by, or be directed to be estimated or levied upon, the value of the square yard, or any other quantity or parcel thereof, shall have been imported into the United States from a country other than that in which the same were manufactured or produced, the appraisers shall value the same at the current value thereof, at the time of purchase before such last exportation to the United States, in the country where the sanie may nave been originally manufactured or produced. Sec. 9. And be it further Enacted, That in all cases where the actual value to be appraised estimated and ascertained as hereinbefore stated, 6f any goods, wares or merchandize imported, iiito the United States, Etnd subject to any ad valorem duty, or whereon the duty is regulated by, or directed to be imposed or levied on the value of the square yard, or other parcel or quantity thereof, shall, by ten per centum, exceed the invoice value thereof in addition to the duty imposed by law on the same if they had been invoiced at their real value as aforesaid, there shall be levied and collected on the same goods, wares and merchandise, fifty per centum of the duty imposed on the sainegoods, wares aiid merchandise when fairly invoiced : Pro- vided always, That nothing in this section contained, shall be construed to impose the said last mentioned duty of fifty per centum, for a variance between the bon& fide invoice of goods pro- duced in the manner specified in the proviso to the [seventh] eighth section of this Act, and the current value of the said merchandise in the country where the same may have been originally manufactured or produced ; ^wd, further. That the penalty of fifty per centum, imposed by the thirteenth section of the Act, entitled, " An Act supplementary to, and to amend the « Act, entitled, ' An Act to regulate the collection of duties on imports and tonnage, passed " the second day of March one thousand seven hundred and ninety^nine, and for other pur- *' poses," approved March first one thousand eight hundred and twenty-three, shall not be deemed to ap|)ly or attach to any goods', wares or merchandise which shall be subject to the additional duty of fifty per centum as aforesaid, imposed by this section of this Act, ^ec, *o. And be it.fui-ther Enacted, That it shall be the duty of the secretary of the trea- sury, under the xiirectioia of the President of the United States,- from time to time, to esta- bhsh such rules and regulations not inconsistent with the laws of ihe United States, as the President of the United States shall think proper to secure a just, faithful and impartial Appraisal of all goods, wkres and merchandise, as aforesaid, imported into the United States, and iust and proper entries of such actual value thereof, and of the square yards, parcels or other quantities thereof, as the case may require, and of such actual value of every of them : And it shall be the duty of the secretary of the treasury to report all such rules and regu- lations, with the reasons therefor, to the then next session of Congress, 1827—1526. IhcfcsBre K" 1 in N" 13* continued. ^ay 13, i8a8. Passed the Senate. Attest, Walter Lawrie. Secretary. 578. Hh Wi PAPERS RELATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. Inclosure N* 2 in N' 1 3. Inclosure N" 2 in N" 13. 30th Congress, 1st Session, [ 186. ] COMPARATIVE STATEMENT of DUTIES, under the " Bill altering the several Acts imposing Duties on Imports," and the present Rate of Duties April 30, 1828. Printed by order of the Senate of the United States. A COMPARATIVE STATEMENT of the DUTIES under the Bill altering tlie several Acts imposing Duties on Imports and the present Rate of Duties. I PROPOSED DUTIES. PRESENT DUTIES. ON iron, in bars or bolts, not manufactured"! in whole or in part by rolling - - -J On bar or bolt iron made wholly or in part"! by rolling - - " " "J On iron in pigs -...-. On iron or steel wire, not exceeding N° 14. - On iron or steel wire, exceeding N° 14 On round iron or brazier's rods of 3-16 to 8-16 of an inch diameter, and on iron in nail or spike rods, slit or rolled, and on iron in sheets and hoop iron ; and on iron slit or rolled for band iron, scroll iron or casement rods - " " "> On axes, adzes, drawing knives, squares of] iron or steel, bridle bits, steelyards, scale beams, socket chisels and vices - -J On cutting knives, sickles, reaping hooks,"] scythes, spades, shovels, and on iron screws, '> called wood screws ... -J On steel On wool unmanufactured, 4 cents per lb., and] 40 per cent ad valorem, until the 30th I June 1829, and progressively 5 per cent [ per annum, until it amounts to 50 per centj On manufactures of. wool, except carpets,"] blankets, worsted stuff goods, bombazines, (^ hosiery, mits, gloves, caps, and bindings, [ value not exceeding 50 cents per sq. yard J On all manufactures of wool, except flannels and baizes, the value of which shall not exceed 33 •§- cents the square yard On manufactures of wool, excepting as befoj e~| excepted, valae exceeding 50 cents, and f not exceeding ^1 the square yard - -J On d° exceeding ^i, and not exceeding"! ^2. 50. the square yard - ■ ■/ On d" exceeding ^2. 50. ^4 the square yard On d° exceeding ^4 per square yard - On woollen blankets, hosiery, mits, gloves and bindings . - - . On Brussels, Turkey, and Wilton carpets On Venetian and Ingrain carpets and not exceeding! ■} 1 cent per pound J- 37 per ton 62i cents per Ii2lb. 6 cents per lb. 10 cents per lb. - 3j cents per lb. 35 per cent ad valorem 40 per cent ad valorem ;|'1.50. per ii2lb. Specific duty, 4 cents per lb. and ad val. duty progressively, from 40 to 50 per cent. 20 cents the square yard 14 cents the square yard 40 cents the square yard ^ 1 per square yard 40 per cent ad valorem 45 per cent ad valorem 35 per cent ad valorem 70 cents per sq. yard - 40 cents per sq. yard - f go cents per ii 2 lb. or [_ 8-10 of a cent per lb. j;- 30 per ton. 50 cents per 1 1 2 lb. Not exceeding N° 18, 5 cents per lb. Exceeding N" 1 8, 9 cents per lb. 3 cents per lb. 25 per cent ad valorem 30 per cent ad valorem. $1 per ii2lb. On wool under 10 cents value, 15 per cent ad val. over 10 cents value, 30 per cent ad valorem. 33 1 per cent ad valorem. 25 per cent on the mini- mum of 334. cents per square yard. 33-y per cent ad valorem. 33-|- per cent ad valorem. 33y per cent ad valorem. 33 -y per cent ad valorem. 25 per cent ad valorem. 50 cents per square yard. 25 cents per square yard. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. 24>3 PROPOSED DUTIES. On all otlier carpets or carpetings, of wool,1 flax, hemp or cotton . - . -j On all patent floor cloths .... On oil cloth, other than floor cloth On furniture oil cloth .... On floor matting, made of flags or other ma-" terials - . - • - - -^ On unmanufactured hemp, until the 30th of J , June 1829 ^ On cotton bagging, until 30th June 1829 - Afterwards --.--- On unmanufactured flax, until the 30th June I 1829 j On sail duck On molasses .----- On spirits, 15 cents per gallon, in addition to present Duties, which would be, on spirits from grain : 1st proof - - - - - 3d d" 3d d" - - - ■ - 4th d" - . - - 5th d" . - - - - Above 5th proof On spirits from other materials : 1st and 2d proof 3d - f 4th - d" 5th - d- - - - - Above 5th d" . - - - On window glass of sizes above 10 by 15 inches On window glass, m plates or sheets - On roofing slate, not exceeding 12 by 6 inches On - d° - exceeding 12, and not ex.' ceeding 14 inches in length On - d" - exceeding 14, and not ex- ceeding 16 inches - On - d" - exceeding 16, and not ex- ceeding 1 8 inches - On - d" - exceeding 18, and not ex- ceeding 20 inches - On - d" - exceeding 26, and not ex- ceeding 24 inches . On . d° - exceeding 24 inches - On ciphering slates - - ' ' ' On all cotton cloths (except nankeens direct %omChba,) the cost of which, together Sh the addition of 20 per cent if from S Cape of Good Hope, or beyond, and( fo per cent if from elsewhere, shallbe less . San 35 cents the square yard, shall be S af35 cents the square yf'-f^^^ charged with the present duty of 35 P centj 32 cents per square yard 50 cents per square yard 25 cents per square yard 15 cents per square yard 15 cents per square yard 45 dollars per ton, and tiiereafter ^5 a year to be added until it amounts to j^6o p' ton 4 1 cents per square yard 5 cents the square yard 1^ 35 per ton, and there, after $5 a year to be added, until it amounts to 1^60 per ton 9 cents the square yard 10 cents per gallon 57 cents per gallon 60 d' d" - 1827—1828. PRESENT DUTIES. 63 d" 67 d" 75 d" 90 d" d» d" d» d" 53 cents per gallon 57 d" d* - - 63 d" d' - - 72 d° d» - 85 d° d' - - ^5 per 100 square feet ^5 per 100 square feet 4 dollars per ton - 5 d» d" - - 6 d" 7 d» 8 d" d° d" d" d" 20 cents per square yard. 30 per cent ad valorem. 30 per cent ad valorem. 30 per cent ad valorem. 30 per cent ad valorem 1 'S 35 per ton. si cents per square yard. U5 per cent ad valorem. 15 per cent ad valorem. 5 cents per gallon. 42 cents per gallon. 45 d« d". 48 d» 52 d° 60 d» 75 d" d«. d". d". d". 38 cents per gallon. 42 d" d-. 48 d" d». 57 d° d'. 70 d° d". (1$^ per 100 square feet, L if above, 10 by 12. ^4 per 100 square feet 9 d" 10 d" d" - - 33|. per cent ad valorem 35 per cent on the mini- "I mum of 35 cents the I square yard. J \ 25 per cent ad valorem 15 per cent ad valorem. 25 per cent on the mini- mum of 30 cents the square yard. Inclosure N" 2 in N" 13. continued. 578- Hh2 2-ti PAPERS H.EI^ATIVE TO TARIFFS 1827—1828. N' 14. N* 14, with two Inclosures. Mr. Consul General Baker to the Earl of Dudley. EXTRACT. Washington, May 24th, 1828. R. June 27/28, — I HAVE the honour to transmit herewith, for your Lordship's information, the two papers marked (A.) and (B), which have been carefully prepared from the Treasury Report on the commerce and navigation of the United States, for the year ending on the 30th of last September, which was laid before Congress on the 21st ultimo; these papers exhibit, in a condensed form, a view of the general trade and navigation of this country, and more particularly the state of the intercourse with each class of His Majesty's dominions during the period in question. The first, (A.) is a statement of the imports from and exports to each country, with the amount of the American and foreign tonnage engaged" in their carriage. The second, (B.) contains a view of the commerce aind navigation between the United States and each class of His Majesty's dominions respectively in Europe, Asia, Africa, the West Indies, and North America, to which is annexed an Appendix, showing the British tonnage employed between the United States and other countries. Upon a review of the intercourse with each class of the British dominions, it will appear that although the total British imports only exceeded the exports by a trifling amount, yet with respect to the European trade, the excess was almost three millions (^2,818,374.) The colonies therefore tend to promote what is commonly thought an unfavourable balance, and also affect in like manner the tonnage, the proportion which the British bears to tlie American^ being much more advantageous to the &rmer in the European intercourse, than it is in the total trade, in consequence of the colonies being included. The British European trade in 1827 shows an increase over 1826 of more than 4;^ millions (J' 4,306,291) in the imports received by. this country, and 4|- millions (54,557,896) in the exports sent from the United States. The remark which suggested itself last year on the subject of American manufactures, that however great may be the domestic consumption of those articles, their increase is not at present shewn by any considerable augmentation in the amount exported, is fully confirmed by the. statements furnished for 1 827. These exports were estimated in the finance report, which was inclosed in my despatch of the 18th December, at upwards of seven millions of dollars, biit the actual value was only ,$ 6,680,225, including more than one million (J'1,04S,574) of gold and silver coin, which being deducted, there will remain an amount little exceeding 5^ millions (^5,636,651), which does not much vary from the amount in 1826, which, after deductihg in the same manner the gold and silver coin (,§'605,855), gives a value of almost 5^ millions (^5,495,130), the increase, therefore, in the last year, will be very trifling, falling below SlSO/m. (^141,521). The alterations just made in the Tariff, were principally grounded upon the necessity of further encouraging some branches, particularly the woollen fabrics. The exports in question were composed of a great variety of articles, no one being of any considerable amount, excepting cotton goods which rather ex- ceeded, and soap and candles which were rather below, one million dollars. The other chief manufactures exported were carriages and fiirniture, and articles of leather, with iron, glass and wearing apparel, but no woollens except perhaps as clothes. PUBLISHED IN THE UNITED STATES. m^ 18?7— 1828. Inclosure N* 1 in N" 1*. (A.) STATEMENT of the Commerce and Navigation of the United States, during the Year 1837, ^ showing the Value of the Imports from and the Exports to each Foreign Country, and the Amount of the American aijd Foreign Tonnage engaged in the cjirriage thereof; taken from the Official Report to Congress. Year ending September 30, 1 827. VALUE or AMERICAN TONNAGE FOREIGN TONNAGE Impoitsfrom Sxpotts to. Entered, . Departed, Entered. Peparted. Gieat Britain and depen-1 , dencies,exteptingH