2
ed when they revive. It was a strange doc-
trine, that competition, which, according ‘to_
geut|emen’s own shewing, reduces the price ot
manufactures, should increase the price ofag-
ricultural products. Mr. G. pursuing his ar-
gument, contended that the nianufactuiiiig
interests had an undue ascendancy on this
floor ; they had used systematic means to ob-
tain it; and, among others, had employed a
corpsof writers, who rivalled, in the produc-
tion of books and pamphlets, the multiplying
power of those machines of which they were
the advocates. These literary machines, he
‘said, produced ajuinble ofpairiotic sentiments
_and crude notions on political economy, and
distributed them gratis by pedlars, posts, &.c.
and ilie good people read and believed. Mr.
G. nieutioned, as an instance of the industri-
ous distribution ofthem, that a gentleman in a
Southern State, ‘wholiad sent a quantity of
merino wool to be exchanged for cloth, fotind
in the baleofclotli returned for it, a dozen of
pamphlets on inanufactures and the tarilt'—-
placed there, he presumed, to make up for the
difference of pricecliarged, in the exchange
upon the domestic above the foreign article.
Farmers in the immediate vicinity of large
manufacturing estalilislinients, Mr. G. said,
were pleased in having a ready sale for provi-
sions, and forgot that, for this local advantage
to themselves, the great body of their fellow
agriculturists had to suffer. If palaces had
been erected instead offactories,tlie same case
would occur, and palaces would then be as
popular as factories are said to be now. The
farmers, in other parts of the country, not un-
der the influence of these feelings, got togetli-
er,forined agricultural societies,got up reiiion-
strances and memorials, and then retired to
their homes till some new tariff again excited
them to action. It was time this cotirse should
be changed. The farmers of this country, Mr.
G. said were treated, much like its militia—-
they made a great shew on papei“. especially
in Toasts on the 4th of July-—but, he said,tliey
were toasted, flattered, and despised. Mr. G.
said, that it was four years since a Committee
on Agriculture had been appointed in this
House, to protect the political interests of the.
fariners of this country. The manner in
which this committee was accomniodated was
symbolical ofthe fate of the class of citizens
they had to protect. Until now, while other
committees had spacious and convenient a-
partments,tliis committee had no room in this
bllll(lln_£!, meeting in whatever other coniiiiit-
tee room they could. And even now they
were put into a room more like a dungeon
than any thing else; a room into which a ray
ofthe snii never penetr:itedl_ And, ll1lS_V€ill',.
a majority of the committee were in favor of
protecting manufactures: so that the agricul-
tural interest had, in effect, no coiiiiiiiitee to
represent theiu, &. resist a plan to their injury.
Mr. G. argued that the proposed Tariff was
calculated to produce ruin to a part ofthe Un-
ion ; and denied the riglit ofCoiigi'ess to ru-
in one part of the Union, even were it for the
good ofthe whole. The constitution required
that taxes should be equal. The south had
always been the victim of the policy ofthe
General Government, and reminded him of
an account he had read ofsonie Prince in A_f-
rica, who, whenever funds were wanting for
his excliequer, used to go abroad with _a sort
of bonnet on, ‘$7. whichever way the wind hap-
pened to blow the bonnet, that district of his
empire furnish the ways and means. By sortie
accident or other, the bminrt qf the General
Government always took a direction towards
the South. Mr. G. concluded by observing
that he had heard it remarked that this was
the wisest Congress that had sat for a long
time; but if this bill should pass he should
consider it one of the cases of frequent occur-
rence, iii which the acts ofa public body are
mischievous in proportion to the ability of
those who pass them.
Mr. Taylor, of New-York, then rose, and
said, that, from the observations of gcntleiiieii
since the present debate commenced, a stran-
get‘ might be led to conclude that some des-
perate plot was carrying on against the agri-
culture of this country, and some new princi-
ple started, in the legislative course purstied
respecting it. But nothing was further from
the fact. Intlie tariff of 1816, while articles
for the use of the United States, articles cal-
culated for the improvement of manufactures
and such as were intended to improve the
mode of agriculture, were admitted duty free,
wheat was charged with a duty of 15 per cent.
ad valorem. At an average price of S1 50 per
bushel, this 15 per cent. amounts to 22 1-? cts.
per hushel——witliin 921-2 cents of that now
proposed. This Q I-£1 cents was added to the
former duty, because that duty had not been
found sofficieiit to prevent cousideiableimpor-
tatioris of wheat froiu the Black Sea, but
cheitly iioiii Upper Caiiatla. The ‘principle
on which the duty \\‘}’.S laid, was to secure to
the Aj:.iei'icaii agriculturist the whole of the
American inarl»;e'.. At its former auiount it
failed to do this, and therefore it had been rai-
sed'to the present aznouiit offlii cents.
Mr. Clay rose, not to enter into.tlie discus-
sion, but to reply to the oiiservatioiis of the
gentleman from Va. respecting the Commit-
tee on Agriculture. He said, that when he
had placed at the head of that Committee, a
geinlcuian from N. York, the largest agricul-
Iul‘l£'t'lll the Union, (Gen. Van Rensselaer,) a
gentleman froui Penn. who had ploughed hun-
dredsof acres where the gentleman from Va.
had ploughed one; when he had put on it
other gentlemen who were either themselves
agriculturi-.ts, or the decided friends of agri-
culture—-above all, when the gentleman from
Va. hiinselfa host, was added to the Coiiimit-
tee-—and, he might add, when the presiding
officer of this House was one who had former-
ly ploughed hundreds of acres wiili his own
hands, he did think tlieiiiterests of agricul-
ture were pretty well taken care of here. Not
one Western man had been put mi it. The
Committee on Manufactures, too, consisted
aliiiostentirely of fa'riners-. In the commence-
ment of a‘session,'tbe"occupations ofall the
members cou'ld~ not be known at ouce—the
presiding officer had to exercise a faciiliy
which he had heard was peculiarly possessed
in sortie parts ofthe U. States, he had toguess
a little in the appo'intnient'ofComnrittees—
but he felt some doubt whether the gentleman
from Virginia would have found it easy to
make a better selection. That gentlenian
seemed to think there existed some general
conspiracy against the interests ofagriculture
——-if all who had pctitioiied for tlic'1‘ariff were
to be considered as conspirators, the conspira-
cj; was extensive iiid.:r:'l——(liere l‘«lr.Clay enu-
inerated 17 states.) The whole State of'N:>w
York cn massc was in the plot, so was allPenn-
;.)’lVallla en -iiiassc--iiay, the.rc_ were conspira-
n
X‘
\
tors even in Virginia-—-tlie mischief seemed
to extend throughout the Union'——and, coiisid-
ering its extent, and the character of those
concerned in it, the interests of agriculture
must be in serious danger. ' «
Mr. Tod, of Penn. (Chairman of the Coni-
mittee of Manufactures,) observed,that he had
lived long enough to know, that not much was
ever got by coinplaiiiing—yet he thought he
had soiue ground of complaint in what had
fallen from the gentleiiiau from Virginia. He
had certainly attributed to the committee who
reported the bill more sagacity than belonged
to tlieni——he seemed to think thatthey had
laid this duty as a lure to attract folks—and
he seemed determined to shew that he tinder-
stood trap, and would reject the bait so far as
Virginia was concerned. If Virginia were
only a wlieat raising state, this might be very
-magnanimous-——but it happened that she ex-
posts double the value in tobacco, of all the
flour and wheat not only exported from With-
in her owii bounds, but from all the rest of the
Union beside. The amount of tobacco ex-
ported,(lie spoke without book,) amounted to
about six million dollars a year. The gentle-
man, to shew his contempt for the protection
of this duty, says, take it away altogether—
Virginia don’t want it. But, if he Wants 10
shew his niagnanihiity and his conieiiipt for
protection, let him bring forward it proposi-
tion to allow l0l)a(‘.C0,'s0ln8llllllg that his con-
stituents can understand,‘ to be imported duty
free. This bill only proposes to change the
ad V7llOl‘el1]t0’fl specific dirty, and what abus-
tle is created——what a trap is laid. Yetlhis
is the only country in the civilized world, that
has not a specific dtity on wheat. The a-
mount iinported, even seaward, is not so very
small—three cargoes will probably amount to
20,000 bushels; so much of tlieiiiarket was
lost to our farmers—and those that bought it"
made money by the importation. Now the
gentleman contends that it is a rule of trade
to buy where we can get cheapest-let-him
bring this principle home to the famier. Let
that gentleirian ask the yeoiiianry oftliis coiiii-
try, wlicther we shall bring wheat. froui Dant-
Zlt: because we can get it clieapei'——tliey will
soon answer him. Yet this could but fairly
bring up and test the general principle of
the bill with respect to manufactures—lead,
wool, iron, are as plenty in this country, and
as necessary in their place, as wheat, and why
not as deserving ‘of protection? The gentle-
man says", that the Committee on Agriculiiire
should all be aiiti-niiiiiufactiire nieii-—aud be-
cause they are not, he says they are enemies
to agriculture—if so, it was certainly good
generalsliip,to put them down in a dark place
where they can do it no harm.
Mr. P. P. Barbour, of Va. said he had not
the least pretension to any thing like wit-—it
did not belong to him. Still less, could he
lay any claim to skill in trapping‘ : Whether
as trapper, or trappee, he desired to enter his
protest against having any thing to do with it.
Sir, said Mr. B. it happens that my native
State is richer in almost every thing than in
moneys The great embarrassiiicnt under
which she labors, is the want of capital, from
whence it happens that tnanyoftlienterclizints
ofVirginia are mere factors for the mt=.rcliants
of New York. Tobacco, which swells the
nominal amount of the exports of Virginia,
belongs, in fact, to the exports of N. Carolina
——bccau.se that state, as was very truly and ve-
ry handsomely said the other day, is “ iron
bound,” as respects her coast. I also am willi-
out book,yet I think I can comenearer, with-
in flor 3 millions, at least, tbantlie gentleman
from Peiiiisylvania did. The fair average of
tobacco is about 85 the hiiudred. This, ac-
cording to the geutleniau’s first statement,
would require Virginia to produce one limi-
dred and twenty millions of poiiuds oftobac-
co annually. But whatever it amount to, I
have not introduced any proposition respect-
ing it. Tobacco has notliing to do with our
present discussion. Besides, the chief part of
the tobacco raised in Virginia, is raised South
ofJames River—and I reside North of that
River—iu my district the great staple is wheat:
and in wliatever affects that article, my con-
stituents are - immediately concerned. I rose
with the purpose of showing that the proposed
duty is iiicflicient as an encouragement to ug-
riculture, and gives to it the form of protec-
lion without the reality.
' Mr. Tracy, of N. York, said, that altboiigli
the duty now proposed, might not, in the o-
pinion ofthe gentleman from Virginia, be of
any service to that State, there were gentle-
men oii this floor, who represented otheridis-'
tricts of the Union, which grew far greater
quantities of ivlieat than "the district from
which that gentleman came, and whose opin-
ions were worthy of respect. He thought that
no duty could be more reasonable than tliai
now under discussion,(uuless the bill had been
mount of wheat imported from the North and
the Sotitli ofEurope, from the Baltic and the
Black Sea, was inconsiderable ; but, had
the gentleman from Virginia reflected a mo-
ment, he might have foiiud one of the finest
wlieatcountries in the world,inimediately ad-
jacent to the State of New York, a country
from which wheat can be bro’t in abundance
to compete in the same market with that of
the geutleman’s own district, and undersell
him. To his personal knowledge, 5000 bush-
els were iinported by a single miller at Roches-
ter the last year. It sold in Canada at from
58 to 4.’) cents the bushel—its transportation
to Rochester cost from 15 to 20 cents, and it
sold there at 70 to 75 centsa bushel, while
that raised in the State ofN.York was selling
at a dollar. It was floured at Rochester, and
sent to New ‘York, to compete with the wheat
from Virginia and Maryland. As soon astlie
great canal shall be finished to Lake Ei'ie,an-
other large district of Upper Canada will be
brought into the field of competition, and its
-wheat will go to that city without a single rod
ofland transportation. For himself, l-ie felt
so entirely satisfied that the policy on which
the present duty was founded, was a correct
policy, that he intended to move the adoption
ofa duty on imported flour. Of this article,
large quantities came in from Canada, and it
was sold at Rochester at $92 a barrel, and he
believed had, at one time, brought but SI 75,
and this, with a duty of 15 per ct. ad valorem.
A single merchant, in Upper Canada, had
sent to Oswegb, last year, 8000 barrels, and it
went to N.York for exportation. Was it sound
policy thus to give away to strangers the ben-
efit oftlioseiuvaluable facilities ivliicli our own
citizens had attained at so great a cost?
Mr. Jllurvin, of N. York, (a iuember ofthe
Committee of Manufactures) said, that since
there had been some speculation as to the nio-
hives of the Committee in putting this iteui in
h.
intended for revenue.) He knew that the a-‘
the bill he would state the circumstances tin-
der which it was done. A meeting of highly
respectable agriculturists was held in Queen’s
County, on L. I. and resolutions were passed
‘by them, recommending an increase of duty
on several articles of agricultural production ;
and among oth'ers,tlie present article of wheat.‘
And since the duty would, in the opinion of
the committee produce no injury,they thought
it due to the citizens of that very respectable
meeting, to comply thus far with their recom-
mendation. Much wheat was iuiported last
year—iiiuch more will be imported next. Be-
fore the great canal was begiin, wheat was of
the same value on both sides ofLakc Oiital'.io.
When wheat was worth 31 19. at Albany, at
Rochester it was worth only 50 cents. The
opening of the canal had raised it at once 50
ceiiis. The price in Canada experienced an
equal rise. Was it good policy to give this
advantage to strangers and rivals, who had
contributed nothing to the expense ofthe ca-
onr own citizens feels a rise of50 cents, that
oftlieir coinpetitors will get only 2:’) cents rise.
And if they still prefer to use our canal, they
will come into our market under that differ-
ence in our favor, and our revenue will at the
same time be augineiited.
Mr. Hayden, of N. Y. replied to Mr. Bar-
bour, and stated that the quaiiiity of flour im-
ported was greater than that gentleman seein-
ed to imagine. Nor was it brought over the
Lake, as he had snggested,fcr milling merely.
It was within his knowedged that a single iii-
dividual, an enterprising merchant miller at
Rochester, had imported the last season 4697
bushels. He did not doubt that, in ten years
from this time, there would not be less impor-
ted into the single town of Rochester than
250,000 bushels. So that, looking iuerely at
the m'aniifacturiiig interest ofhis own district,
he should view the proposed duty as iujiirious;
but, regarding the agricultural interest, he be-
lieved it would be very beneficial. It must be
remembered. that iliis wlicat, when insured,
went to coiiipeie with that of the southern
states. To give some idea oftliis trade upon
ilie frontier, he stated that the exports froui
Rocliesier alone, during the last year, had a-
mounted to upwards ofa million ofdollars.
Mr. l”Vcbsl.cr oflllass. said, that it was neces-
sary, on this subject, to legislate with great
of measures proposed for adoption. linported
Wlieztt now pays 15 per cent. ad vulorem. N.
York exports great quantities of the articles
to facilitate its traiisportation, she has, at vast
expense, constructed a great canal. The iii-
liabitants of Canada, finding this the most di-
rect route to the ocean, come the same way.
To meet the expense ofthat great public work,
a large amount of tolls is required. The Ca-
nadians are glad to pay these, in addition to
the 15 per cent. duty. Now, he should certain-
ly conceive, that a transit trade of this des-
criptioii,would be highly beneficial to the state
of N.York, while the duty paid upon it would,
at the same tiuie, aid the Treasury ofthe U.
States. The wheat is brought into the state,
not for coiisuuiptioii, but for exportation. The
coiisiiiiipiion is is a foreign market. The N.
York wheat growers would not have that mar-
ket, by denying their canal to the Canadian
wheat grower. The Canadian wheat would
still reach the same market, by way of the St.
Lawrence, at perhaps a small addition of ex-
pense on the transportation. By admitting it,
the state of New York not only gains the toll
and storage, but the manufacturing of it into
flour, and the shipping of it to a foreign mar-
kct. The U. States’ Treasury,tlie State Trea-
sury, and the manufacturing and counnercial
interests, were all gainers by its fraiisit.
Mr. Ingham, of Penn. said, that the argu-
ment of the gentleman from Mass. liad ptit
the question on a new ground. The question
now presented to us, was, whether the U. S.
will promote the cultivation of its own territo-
ry, or ofthe territory of Upper Canada ? He
proposes to admit the citizens of Canada to
an equal participation with ourselves, in all
our facilities for trade, while our citizens are
kept out ofCan:ida, by laws that meet and
prohibit them at every step.
The honorable gentleman from Virginia
disregards this duty, and is willing at once to
give it up. If there were no existing ditty,
this might seem very iiiagii'aiiiiiioii.~i ; but wliat
(l()(‘,f=. the gcnilouinn give tip? A duty oft’. l-El
cents, in addition to 2°.’ 1-£2 already laid. This
is all that he would give up, supposing ever
so uiucli wheat to be imported ; but he tells us,
there is none imported, or next to none ; he
therefore gives up notliing,or next to nothing.
The geutleiiian refuses a proposal to take off
the duty on tobacco, because other states, he-
sides Virginia, are interested in raising it;
but, are not other states concerned in raising
wheat, too? Virginia has not the exclusive
dominion over the growing of wheat; and,
could she look beyond her own boundary for
any thing else than political power, she might
have discovered that her neighbors have some
interest in such a duty, if she has none.
Mr. Vance, ofOhio, said tliatlie was, tin-
liappily, able to speak froui personal experi-
ence on this subject. He knew, for he had
felt the existence and operation of Canadian
rivalry. He had shipped large quantities of
flotir and pork, and when he got to a market,
had been there put down by the competition
ofCan:idian shippers. The whole ofthe mil-
itary posts of the United States, on the North
Vtfest ofthe Ohio, had been supplied almost
exclusively-by the people of Upper Canada.
The gentleman froui Mass. says that this flour
is not for American consuinptiou; and lie is
therefore willing to strike out the duty. But,
it is a fact, that the British Government have
for years past supplied the Aiiierican army
with all its flour. \Vlien Itook flour to the
posts, hoping to find for it an American mar-
ket, I found that the contractor uniformly
(ll'C\V his supplies from my neighbours on the
other side of the lines. Upper Canada is in
this respect a much more lf)l‘l1ll(lill)l8 rival to
the U. States, than gentlemen seem to con-
ceivc. It is now, and will be more and more
so, one of the greatest wlieatgrowing coun-
tries in the world.
Mr. Buchanan, of Penn. spoke in favor of
the duty. Let the Ca~nadi:in grain giiowers go
down their own river. While our own farin-
ers are struggling for a market, shall we bring
strangers into that market on a cheaper foot-
ing than they could otlierwise get there, by
otir facilities.
Mr. .ll1cLa1i.e, of Del. differed froui the gen-
tleman from Mass. The question is not,w'lietli-
er thestate of N. York will-be benefittcd in
her manufactures and her canal, by the flour-
ing and transit ofthe Canada wheat, because
"her own grain can as well be floured and car-
rial? If we lay this duty, while the wheat of
deliberation, and examine the probable effect-
‘ vied as that of Canada. The quanlity of wheat
grown in our country must always be regula-
ted by the demand in the foreign market. If,
then, by facilitating the transit, you bring
Canada wheat iiitotliat foreign market, just
so far you discourage and diminish the growth
ofAmericaii grain. Isit sound policy to build
our revenue on the growth ofa rival and neigh-
boring state ?——ou the encouragenient of for-
eign, in the place ofdoinestic agriculture?
Mr. P. P. Barbour felt himself constrained
to make some reply to a remark that had fal-
len from the gentleman from Pennsylvania.
lie snidsonietliing about my claiming for Va.
an exclusive dominion over the growing of
wheat. I never advanced any such claim. 1
said, that wheat was a great staple in that part
ofthe state froui which I came—and I said no
more. But the gentleuiaii farther said, if]
rightly heard and understood him, that ifVir-
ginizi ever looked beyond her own coir/iincs for
any llting‘ but political power, she might have
seen that her neighbours were interested in
this duty. As a Virgiiiinn, born and iiurlured
‘within the bounds of that state, I should be
lackiiig in a dirty, which is even prior to the
duty I owe to this House, did I not vindicate
her character froui such an aspersion. lVliat
is iliere in the conduct of Vir;.'..~.iia to merit
such a reflection ? Ifslie has enjoyed, at any
time, in this confederacy, iuore power than
has been enjoyed by other states, whence was
that power derived ? Wlieiice did she obtain
it? From the free consent of the people oftliis
Union, as expressed on this floor, and else-
where; in part, from the consent of Pennsyl-
vania lierself. Did she possess more power
than wasjiistly due to her? He would appeal
to all who heard him, whether these U. States
were not indebted to Virginia for many and
signal benefits? It was Virginia that laid the
very foi_indatiou of the federal government;
and, ever since its formation, that share of
political power, which her sister states have
granted to her, li'-is been exercised for the hen-
efit aiid prosperity of the whole confederacy.
He did think the gentleman from Pennsylva-
nia might have spared the reflection. lfVa.
gave to the confederacy great men in the field
and in the cabinet, was this to be made a re-
proach ? If her citizens had attained to max-
alted station, who placed them there?
Mr. 1TI.1'fll.ll7Tl. rose in reply. He was not now
inclined to conirovert the statement the,gen-
tlenian had made as to the lofty claims and
merits of Virginia. He did not think it pro-
perly belonged to the present debate, though,
iftliat subject came fairly up for discussion,
he believed it would be found there were two
sides to that question. Who was there but
would say with him that Virginia had looked
over this iiatiou with a view to power ? The
gentleman says she merited it. It maybe so.
I shall say nothing to her disparagemeiit.
shall not dispute that she has given many great
men to the republic, and I approve her gene-
ral political course. But it might be said, it
had been said, though he should not say it,
that sheliad pursued that course with a selfish
view to her own ascendancy. [Here tlieCliair-
man called Mr. Ingliaui to order.}
Mr. Clay regretted, exceedingly, the course
the debate had taken. it was certainly alto-
gether unnecessary. lVliy should gentlemen
indulge in such a course of reflection ? It had
no connexion with tliesiibject beforetlieflouse,
and he hoped it was iioiv over.
Mr. ./1rchersaid,lie wished toinqiiire wlieth-
er he had heard the gentleman rightly, when
he said‘ he did not mean to say any thing to
the disparagcnient of Virginia ?’
Mr. Inglurm replied, that he could scarcely
conceive a motive for such an inquiry. He
had certainly expressed liiniself very distinct-
ly. He had said that he was not disposed to
dispute the claims of Virginia, or to say any
thing to her disparagemeut.
Mr. }l"ebslcr resumed the course of debate.
He said, since the very extraordinary discus-
sion to which they had been listening, was at
length at an end, he hoped the House would
now return to the question properly before
them. He thought the argument adduced for
the duty, was ofa singular kind. It amount-
ed to this: Our wheat rots upon our hands in
stacks and in sac!-'.s. \\'e cant sell it———wedont
know what to do with it——and now we must
take care lest any body else should bring any
here. The gentlenien think, that, to leave
the duty without increase, will encourage the
settlenie.nt~ of Canada. As to encouraging
the settlement of Canada, does not that gen-
tleniau know, that there are inducements on
our side of the line, against which no sort of
competition can fora moment he presented ?
The arguincut amounts to thi.s—if you don’t
give otir own citizeiis a duty of more than lb
per cent. they will go over to the Canada side.
Why, let them go tlieu. If this is all that
keeps them, they are certainly unfit to be cit-
izens of this republic. The gentlemen say, if
you keep out the Canada wheat from our ca-
nal, our wheat will find a foreign iiiarket.——-
Why, sir, so will the Canada wheat. The
bushel of wheat that grew on one side of the
line will very probably meet in tlieWest Indies
the very bushel that grew opposite to it on the
other side. You cau’t keep it otit. The true
qiiestiou is, whether the expenses of going
round by Montreal and Quebec will so raise
its price in the foreign market that the gain
upon the wheat ive sell there will more than
compensate us for the loss of the ad valorem
duty,the trzuisit toll, and the commercial coni-
iiiissioii and charges for the shipment? Gen-
tlcuieii are afraid the Canada wheat will be
consumed in New York. Why, sir, it makes
not a cent of odds if it is ; because so iiuicli
more of our own wheat will be exported in
the place of it.
Mr. Clay said, the Canada flour is certainly
eaten somewhere, either in the U. States or in
a foreign market; ifin the U. States, then so
much ofoiir own is displaced, and,to its whole
amount, it is an injury to the American wheat
grower; if in a foreign market, then, lfthat
market was great enough to cousunie both all
theCauada wheat and all ours,tlie gentleinan’s
argument might hold. But, sticli is not the
fact. Ours and the Canada must compete for
the same consumer. \Vliy,tlien, bring the
Canada wheat to that C".!lSll|ll€l' any clicapcr,
by the use ofotir canal ? Wlierever the Cana-
da wheat goes, go wlierc it may, it takes the
place of so much Aiiierican wheat, ii'lietlier at
home or abroad. Besides, ifyoii cut off their
flour from the use of our canal, you keep it at
home for all that portion of the year that the
St. Lawrence is closed with ice, while our ca-
ual is open. The Britisli warehousing system
did not apply to this case. Gentlemen did not
seem to be aware ofthe advantage ofthe liouie
consumption. The city of New York alone
did not consume less than 800,000 barrels of
flour aiiiiually. - lfCaiiada_floiir comes to N.‘
York for coiisuniptioii, so much "American is
excluded. _No inatter, says the gentleman
from Massachusetts, because so iiiticli more
Anlel'lOil.ll- goes abroad. Very true : iftliere‘
was a market ready abroad to receive ii—but:
this is not the case ; and therefore it is a dead
loss to the American farmer. Such was the
fertility ofthe Canadian peninsula, between
Lakes Erie and Ontario, and so cheap were
the lands sold by the British government, that
the settler there could afford to uudersell the
farmer of the United States, whose land costs
liiiu ten times as much.
The Couiiiiittee then rose.
I'.’ouse q/' lZepi'c3eiztatives, Fcb. 28th..——i\lr.
Fuller of Mass. moved to strike out the pro-
posed increase ofduty on bariran. He spoke
at some lengtli in favorof the niotion,coiitun-
ding that the duty would be iiiexpedieiit, be-
cause it would seriously affect the reveuue—~
because the.inaiiiifactories ofiron require but
a small capitol, no ingenuity, and little skill ;
and because those which are properly mana-
ged are in a flO|Il‘l$lllI1',{ condition,and need no
protection; in proofof which he referred to
the great state of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Bucluman, ofPa. rose and remarked
that the geutleuian from Mass. had been most
uiiforiuuate in his reference. The extensive
forges in his district are almost in ruins ;‘.the
markets whit-li they once afforded to the pro.
duce of the f;iruier are broken tip; and nu-
less some protection is extended by the gov-
eriimeiit, these iiiannfzxctories must be aban-
doned. The geiitlenian was entirely mistak-
en in supposing no capital is required in this
braiich of industry. On the contrary, a very
large capital is needed,and great risks are ne-
cessarily incurred. The gentleman was equa|-
ly mistaken with respect to the quantity and
nature of the machinery e.inplo_ved, al](_l?j_l]e
skill required. In fact, the inanufacture ofi-
ron required great resources of all kinds, and
called into action, ingenuity, enterprise, and
industry.
Mr. .Malla.r_t/. ofVt. then rose and occupi-
ed the floor until 4o’clock, in expressiiig his
seiitiments in favor ofthe general principles
ofthe bill. When the House adjourned.
Senate, .:l'lurch. l.—-Mr. LLOYD, of Massa-
cliusetts, presented the petition ofthe Vestry
ofClirist’s Cliurcb, in the city ofWasliington,
stating that they have been at considerable
expense in the purchase of a lot of land, and
the location of a burying ground, a portion of
which has been devoted to the interment of
members ofthe Government, who have de-
ceased witliiii the city; that the fences a-
round the same, which protect the graves and
the iiioimnieiits are now going to decay; and
that the Church has not the means to repair
them; they tlierefore pray the aid ofCongrcss,
in effecting this object. Referred to the com-
mittee oii the District of Coluuibia.
The Clerk of the House cauie in with a
uiessage, informing the Senate of the death
ofthe I-lon. Witt. Lee Ball; wliereupon it was
resolved, thattlie members ofthe Senate at-I
tend his fiiucral to-niorrow, and wear crape
thirty days. Adjourned to the 3d.
Ilouse of Representatives, Jllarch l.-—-Im-
mediately after the .louri‘itil of Saturday was
read, Mr. A. Stevenson of Virginia, rose and
remarked, that it became his painful duty to
announce tlieideatliofliis frieud'aiid colleague,
the Hon. \VlLLI.-1M Lei; BALL. Yesterday
iiioriiiiig it pleased Almighty God to relieve
him from the vicissitudes and cures oftliis life,
and to translate his spirit ton happier state of
being. The awful stilliiess prevailing in the
House at this iiioiueiit, was more expressive
of the poignant regret and deep sorrow which
was felt at the loss ofone ofiis most estima-
ble members, that it was in the power of lan-
guage to convey; and it was aluiost unneces-
sary to ask, that the last ti'iliute,, of respect
might be paid to the reinains of his frieiid.—-
He had been intimate with him from boyhood
and knew well the soundness of his understan-
ding, the integrity of his cliarzicter, and the
manly virtues ofliis heart. He was persuad-
ed that the House would fully accord with
him in bearing testimony to the purity of his
principles, totlie fidelity with wbieli be dis-
cliarged his duties, and to his private audpuh-
lic wortli. Peace to his ashes: would to God
they could sleep in the land of his Fathers.
On motion of Mr. Stevenson, a corniiiittee
of 7, consisting ofiiiessrs. Stevenson, P. P.
Barbour, Newton, Mercer, M’Coy, M’Kee,
and Floyd, were appointed to superinteud the
.fuuera|. it was resolved that the members
would attend the funer:il,&r. wear crape 30 days.
[No business was transacted on the 9.d.]
Senate, March 3.—-Mr. Van Buren present-
ed the memorial ofthe society of Shaker s, in
New-York, stating that they have religious
scruples against the performance ofmilitary
services, and praying to be exempted there-
from. Referrcd to committee on the militia.
House of Representatives, March. 3 —Mr.
Hamilton, frotn the committee on military af-
fairs, reported a bill ‘to atithorize the. Presi-
dent to cause to be issued to Alden Partridge
fixed amunition, &*.c.’ which was twice read.
The House again went into a discussion of
the tariff bill, on the motion ofMr. Fuller .
strike out the duty of S1 12, per cwt. on ha‘
iron. Mr. Brnivn, of Penn. opposed the mo-
tion, and advocated the duty in a speech a-
bounding with the practical details ofthe sub-
ject, stated from his own knowledge and ex-
perieiice, as imister and proprietor of exteri-
sive iron works in that state.
M r. Breck, of Penn. spoke in reply ; oppo-
sing, in general, the principle of taxiugtlic
raw materials actually employetl in our own
manufactures. He illustrated the effects of
such a system, not only on iron, but henip,an(l
wool, and went into extensive calctilatioiis in
support of his positions. ~ . - -
He was succeeded by Mr. Stewart, of Penn.
who uiovcd an auienduicnt to the bill, propo-
sing an additional t:ix on the descriptions of
iron in the item under consideration, of25 cts.
a year, for iliree years to come. He support-
ed his amendment by a speech, in which he
took a general view of the state of the iron
factories, the fatal operation of the ’I‘arifi' of
18m, upon them, and the advrintages arising
from an elfectiial protection, towards which
his aiueiidiiieiit looked. The question being
put the anieutlment was negatived. iVlr.Fiil-
ler’s motion was also iiegativeil——66 to 73.
House qf Representatives, Jllarch 41h.-—Nlr.
.Gazl;t,l's from the couiuiittee to wlioui was re-
ferrcd the mt-‘ll]()l'l1ll of Dr. James Smith, on
Vacciiiatioii, made a report on that subject,
_accompanied by a bill to ‘ encourage Vaccin-
aiion,’ which provides for tire appoiiitment,by
the Prcsitleiit, ofa Central agciit with subortli
uatc Agents in each State '."rnd Tcrritorv, for
4
Norwalk Chronicler