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JAN. 24, 1833.]

The Tariff Bill.

[H. OF R.

call the attention of the committee, is that of iron. My average, at least 500 dollars more than in England, owfirst business under this head will be to show that the duty ing to the cheapness of iron in Great Britain. It is stil! on foreign iron has not raised the price to the consumer, dearer in the United States than in France. but that it has caused a very considerable reduction. STATEMENT C,

Showing the effects of a tariff of prolection on the article of iron at Pittsburg and Cincinnati.

In the years 1818, '19 and '20, bar iron in Pittsburg sold at from 190 to 200 dollars per ton. Now the price is 100 dollars per ton.

In the same years, boiler iron was 350 dollars per ton. Now at 140 dollars per ton.

Sheet iron was but little made in those years, and sold for 18 dollars per cwt. Now made in abundance, and sold at 84 dollars per cwt.

Hoop iron, under same circumstances, was then 250 dollars, and is now 120 dollars.

Axes were then 24 dollars per dozen, and are now 12 dollars.

Scythes are now 50 per cent. lower than they were then--as are spades and shovels.

Iron hoes were in those years 9 dollars per dozen. Now a very superior article of steel hoes at 4 to 4 dollars. Socket shovels are made at 4 dollars by the same individual who, a few years ago, sold them at 12 dollars per

dozen.

Slater's patent stoves, imported from England, sold in Pittsburg at 350 to 400 dollars. A much superior article is now made there, and sold for 125 to 150 dollars. English vices then sold for 20 to 22 cents per lb. Now a superior article is sold at 10 to 10.

Braziers' rods in 1824 were imported, and cost 14 cents per lb. or $313 60 per ton. Now supplied to any amount of to diameter, at 130 dollars per ton.

Steam engines have fallen in price since 1823 one-half, and they have one-half more work on them.

The engine at the Union rolling mill, (Pittsburg,) in 1819, cost 11,000 dollars. A much superior one, of 130 horse power, for Sligo mill, cost, in 1826, 3,000.

In 1830, there were made in Pittsburg one hundred steam engines.

In 1831, one hundred and fifty will be made, averaging 2,000 dollars; or 300,000 in that article alone.

A two horse power engine costs 250 dollars; six horse, 500 dollars; eight to nine horse, 700 dollars. These last are the prices, delivered and put up.

Here it is asserted that a six horse power steam engine costs 500 dollars more in France than it does in England, and that it is still dearer in the United States than in

France. Now it so happens, that in the United States, at Pittsburg, a steam engine, of that power, can be put up, ready for action, for the identical sum of 500 dollars. Prices of Iron at Cincinnati.

100, 105, 110. The fall in prices has been nearly as follows: 1814 to 1818, bar iron 200 to 220 dollars per ton--now 1826, bar iron assorted, 125 to 135 dollars

1827,

do

120 to 130

do.

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The duties on iron imported into the United States were, in 1804 to 1812, 15 per cent.; double war duties from 1812 to 1816. In 1816, duties, rolled iron, 30 dollars per ton: hammered, nine dollars. The law of 1816, fixing the duties at these rates, ruined many of the manufacturers, and compelled them to abandon their works. By the act of April 20, 1818, the duty on hammered iron was raised to 15 dollars. This, in some measure, revived the manufacture, and many who had abandoned, resumed their operations. The foreign manufacturerer, to keep possession of the market, offered his iron at a less price; so that there was an actual decline here. In 1824, the duty on hammered iron was raised to 18 dollars, and in 1828 to $22 40. These additions to the duty had no permanent effect in raising the price. The foreign manufacturer could not advance his prices beyond those of 1824, because the American iron maker supplied the market at those rates; and iron at a duty of $22 40, sells at less than it did at one of nine dollars. The foreign manufacturer has been compelled to take the additional duties from his profits, and these deductions from his profits have been paid into the treasury of the United States, without adding to the price paid by the American consumer.

The following table shows the operation of the additional duty levied since 1818 on hammered iron alone. Tons.

1818, imported of hammered iron 13,931

At least 600 tons of iron made in Pittsburg are manufactured into other articles before it leaves the city, from steam engines of the largest size, down to a threepenny nail. Eight rolling and slitting mills, of the largest power, 1819, are in the city of Pittsburg, five of which have been 1820, 1821, erected since 1828. Thirty-eight new furnaces have been erected since 1822, 1824 in the western parts of Pennsylvania, and that part of Kentucky bordering on the Ohio river; most of them

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Duties. $208,950

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16,160

242,394

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1823,

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1824,

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since 1828.

1825,

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Being an increase of nearly 200 per cent. in two years. The above facts were furnished by members of the committee residing at Pittsburg, who vouch for their accuracy.

One fact there stated suggests the following remarks to the committee:

To the report of the select committee of the Senate of the United States, on the subject of iron, is appended, among other papers, one in which it is stated that "it is now ascertained that the superiority of England over France is entirely due to the cheapness of iron: a six horse steam engine, for instance, in France, costs, on the

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1829, 1830,

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29,202

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estimated 29,202

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2,716,920

H. OF R.]

STATEMENT E.

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But this aspect of the case is not the beginning of the evil which the community are doomed to suffer from this rash, The following calculations were made by Hardman precipitous, and blind legislation. The annual product of Phillips and George Valentine, and are derived from the iron in the United States is estimated to be worth thirteen average returns submitted to the committee from two million three hundred and twenty-nine thousand seven counties, those most extensively engaged in the manufac-hundred and sixty dollars, which, if the business fails, is ture of iron in Pennsylvania, namely Centre and Hun-stricken out of existence, and is so much clear loss every tingdon, and have been carefully verified by a comparison year to the wealth of the nation. You deprive, moreover, with returns from 73 furnaces and 132 forges.

For each ton of bar iron and castings made, the following agricultural produce is found to be consumed: 20 bushels wheat and rye, average, at 75 cents $15 00 57 lbs. pork

43 lbs. beef

10 lbs. butter

2 bushels potatoes

ton hay

5 66
4 66
124
30 66
$7

For every ten tons of bar iron, one horse is employed one whole year, worth 100 dollars, and experience shows that the mortality among horses so employed is, per annum, one in seven, and constitutes a charge per ton of For fruit and vegetables, of which no return has

been made, we feel justified in putting down

mers.

twenty-nine thousand two hundred and fifty-four laborers and mechanics of the employment by which they earn their daily bread for themselves and families! You deprive one hundred and forty-six thousand two hundred 285 and seventy-three souls of subsistence, until those on whom 1 72 they depend can seek a new channel for their labor. In 1 25 the mean time there must be great and universal suffering. 60 You throw out of circulation eight million seven hundred 3 50 and seventy-six thousand four hundred and twenty dollars in wages paid to the laborers. Is this all? No, sir. You take from the farmers four million four hundred and ninety dollars, which they receive annually from the iron manufacturers for agricultural products!!

1 43 Now, how will these arrangements work? What is to become of the twenty thousand laborers who are to be 100 thrown out of the iron employment? At least nineteentwentieths of them will be driven into agriculture, which 27 35 is already able to overstock the market. The farmers Which, multiplied by the quantity of bar iron and castings, will be deprived of a market where they have been able will give the sum of 3,415,850 dollars, paid by the iron to send upwards of four millions worth of produce. Thus manufacturers, and those employed by them, to the far-will this ruinous policy cut upon the farmer like a twoedged sword. The supply of agricultural products will The same returns enable them to state that every five be greatly increased, and the demand for them diminished tons of iron, as above made, requires one able-bodied man to an amount of at least four millions. Sir, if a more ruinthroughout the year, or, in the whole, 24,979; and, as ous state of things could be devised for the farmer, Panit appears that, upon an average, each one of these has dora, the goddess of evil, must do it. And why are our four dependent upon him, it follows that 124,895 persons establishments to be broken down? Why are our citizens are supported by this branch of industry, in its first stages; low at the feet of British power? Is it that we are to get to be thrown out of employment? Why are we to be laid and the average of the wages of the workmen being fully one dollar per day, or say 300 per annum, they receive iron cheaper? No! For we get it cheaper now than we for wages, in the whole, the large sum of 7,493,700 dollars ever have before. Are we to get better iron? No, We for the labor of one year. get better iron now than we ever did before. Why, then, sir, in the name of Heaven, is this sweeping desolation to be brought upon the country?

The expense of transporting this iron to the different markets, by land and water, may be estimated at an average of ten dollars per ton, amounting to 1,248,940 dollars; The same remarks will apply to all our manufacturing the whole of which is distributed among those engaged establishments. Iron is left in a better condition than in the transportation and coasting trade of the country, any of them, and those who are best acquainted with and subdivided among those who furnish subsistence to that subject say it cannot stand if the present bill pass. the many persons employed, and in furnishing means for

this branch of the business.

These facts show conclusively that the consumer gets a better article, and at a lower price, than he did before protection was extended to this branch of industry. Aggregate of iron made in the United States.

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If iron cannot stand, then, what is to become of woollens and other interests, which have a protection so far below that of iron? Why, as a matter of course, they must be prostrated immediately, and at once. I will, therefore, attempt to show the committee the amount of capital in a few other branches of American industry, and which, if this bill pass, might as well be thrown into 112,866 the ocean. I will also show the number of persons em191,536 ployed, and the number dependent upon these institu13,329,760 tions for the bread they eat. As it will not be in my

29,254 power to review every branch, I will take a few which 146,273 will bring the question home directly to every man's 8,776,420 bosom and fireside. 4,000,490 But before I leave this subject, as the manufacturers are charged with making most enormous profits, let us look a little into the accusation.

This, sir, I feel warranted in saying, falls very far short of the full amount of this business. There are several furnaces and forges, within my knowledge, which do a very considerable business, and which are not here enumerated.

The aggregate value of all the iron manufactured in one year in the United States is $13,329,760 Deduct from this the pay to the workmen

But, sir, take the iron business as here stated, and abol-and laborers ish it, and what will be the effect upon society? You de. stroy one hundred and twelve thousand eight hundred and sixty-six tons of bar iron, and one hundred and ninety-one

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8,776,420

4,553,340

Deduct amount paid to farmers, for agri

thousand and thrty-six tons of pig iron. Do you think cultural products
this would not be likely to raise the price of iron to the
consumer? I will not answer this question, but will leave

4,000,490

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it with the American farmers and mechanics to judge. subject to the wear and tear of machinery, and all con

INDEX TO THE DEBATES IN THE SENATE.

American State Papers, a proposition for extending the
subscription to a continuation of the work; reso-
lution ordered to be engrossed, and was after-
wards passed, 786.

Calhoun, Mr., his resolutions declaratory of the nature and
powers of the Government, 191, 750; laid on the
table, 785.

Chaplain, the Rev. Mr. Pise appointed, 6.
Commercial statements, a resolution for printing the an
nual statements of commerce and navigation was
taken up, 6; agreed to, 7; considered and laid
on the table, 10.

Constitutional powers, Mr. Clayton's resolution on the
subject, 231.

Crimes, a bill supplementary to an act for the more effi-
cient punishment of crimes against the United
States, 12.
Cumberland road, a bill for continuing this road from
Vandalia to Jefferson, 51; taken up, 119; re-
sumed, 359, and bill ordered to a third reading;
bill passed, 486.

District Code of Laws, ordered to be printed in the re-
cess of Congress, 786.

Documents in the State Department, a resolution for em-
ploying temporary clerks for copying documents
in relation to the French treaty of indemnity, 79;
taken up, 122; agreed to, 123.
Duties on imports, a bill further to provide for the col-
lection of imposts, 150; taken up, 280, and or-
dered to be engrossed; bill passed, 688.
Endless life, a petition for land from persons who pro-
fessed to have discovered endless life, referred,

98.

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Force bill. (See Duties.)
Frauds on the revenue, a resolution for inquiring into

the expediency of making further provision for
the protection of the revenue, 11, agreed to;
bill taken up, 244; ordered to be engrossed,
601; passed, 688.

French spoliations, a bill to provide for the satisfaction of
claims due to certain American citizens, 5; re-
ferred; reported with an amendment, 12; a bill
reported and taken up, 98; agreed to, 99.
Government, on the nature and powers of, (see Mr. Cal-
houn's resolution,) 191, 750.

Interest to States, a bill providing for the final settlement
of the claims of States, 6.

Lands, public, notice given by Mr. Clay of his intention
of again bringing forward his bill for disposing
of the public land, 5; bill introduced, 6, and re-
ferred to the Committee on Public Lands; bill
reported with a proposed amendment; taken up,
61; ordered to a third reading, 231; bill passed,
235.

the amendments of the House to the bill were taken
up, 809, and agreed to.

a bill granting a township to Indiana, Illinois, Mis-
souri, and Alabama, a township each, for the pro-
motion of female education, 82; State of Ohio
added; laid on the table.

patents, a bill describing the mode by which land
patents may be signed, 150; bill passed, 150.

VOL. IX.-e

Light-houses, a bill was received from the House on the
last evening of the session, and read a first time;
but Mr. Grundy objecting to its being read a se-
cond time, and as it could not be so read at that
time but with unanimous consent, the bill was,
of course, rejected, 812.

Louisville and Portland canal, a bill to authorize the pur-
chase of the private stock in, 359; laid on the
table, 360.
Members, a list of the, 1.
Military orders, a resolution calling upon the President
for copies of the military orders given to the
forces in South Carolina, 377; postponed, 378;
resumed, 405; agreed to, 433.

Missouri

canal, a bill granting land to enable the State to
open a canal in the Big Swamp, 12.
Order, points of, 300, 480.
Pension agency at Decatur, a bill for the establishment of,
809; laid on the table, 810.

Postage, a proposition for introducing a bill to reduce
the rates of postage, 27; discussed; agreed to,
40.

Powers of the Government, three resolutions defining
these powers, 191, 750; laid on the table, 785.
six resolutions offered as substitutes, 192.
President pro tempore balloted for; Mr. White, of Ten-
nessee, elected, 2.

his acknowledgments to the Senate, 3.
President's message received, 3. (See the Appendix for
a copy of it.)

veto on the bill of last session, providing for the
final settlement of the claims of States for inte-
rest on advances to the United States during the
late war, 3; laid on the table, 4.
Presidential election, a day fixed for counting the electo-
ral votes, 359; the votes counted, and Andrew
Jackson was declared to be elected President,
and Martin Van Buren Vice President, 487.
Printer to Congress, the resolution for his election taken
up, 587.
Proclamation, a copy of the President's, in relation to
South Carolina, called for, 99; proposition laid
on the table, 100; agreed to, 104.
Revenue. (See Frauds on, and Duties.)
Secretary of the Treasury called upon for a detailed state-
ment of articles of foreign growth or manu-
facture on which, in his opinion, the duties ought
to be reduced, &c., 8; agreed to, 27.
Senate called to order by the Secretary, 2.
Sheathing copper, a bill to amend the act to amend the
several acts imposing duties on imports, ordered
to be engrossed, 661.

South

Carolina resolutions, in reply to the President's
proclamation, 80.

Spanish claims, a resolution instructing the Committee on
Foreign Relations to inquire into the expediency
of obtaining evidence deposited in the State De-
partment, 38; agreed to.

Special order, a resolution for changing the hour of taking
it up, agreed to, 359.

Standing committees appointed, 4.
Tariff, a resolution introduced calling on the Secretary
of the Treasury to furnish the project of a bill
for reducing the duties on imports, in conformi-
ty with the suggestions in his report, 6.

Tariff, a bill to modify the various acts imposing duties

on imports, 462; the bill reported with amend-
ments, 601; the bill taken up and discussed,
690; laid on the table, 785.

resolutions, offered by Mr. Webster, 483; laid on
the table, 492.

the bill from the House to modify the existing ta-
riff, was received, and both bills were ordered
to lie on the table, 785; the bill from the
House taken up, 786; consideration resumed,
787; bill passed, 809.

Treasurer's annual report of the state of the finances, 3.
Votes of absentees, an unsuccessful motion to permit
their names to be recorded, 688.

Yeas and nays, on considering the resolution for a reduc
tion of duties, 16.

resolution for the reduction of the rates of post-
age, 49.

on amendment to the resolution calling on the
Secretary of the Treasury for a statement of fo-

reign articles on which the duty may be reduc-
ed, 50, 59, 60.

on postponing Mr. Clay's land bill, 81, 122.
on postponing the force bill, 187.

on the land bill, 229, 230, 231, 232, 235.
postponing the revenue collection bill, 246, 404.
striking out the 3d section of the revenue bill, 483.
references of the bill to modify the tariff, 486.
on the passage of the Cumberland road bill, 486.
on amendments to the revenue collection bill, 518,
519, 595, 601.

on a question touching the election of printer, 588.
engrossing the revenue collection bill, 601.
on the passage of do., 688.

on striking out the 2d section of the bill to mo-
dify the tariff, 724.

on adding a 9th section to the bill, 724.

on striking out the 3d and 6th sections of do., 724.
on adding a new section to do., 725.
on the passage of the bill, 809.

INDEX TO THE NAMES

OF THE SPEAKERS IN THE DEBATES IN THE SENATE, ALPHABETICALLY ARRANGED.

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on his bill for modifying the tariff, 462, 476, 480,
484, 690, 692, 694, 695, 696, 699, 701, 710,
711, 713, 716, 718, 722, 726, 729, 749, 785,
786, 807.

Clayton, Mr., from Delaware, on the reduction of post-
age, 29, 30.

Mr. Calhoun's resolutions, 237.

revenue collection bill, 378, 518.

bill to modify the tariff, 693, 697, 698, 700, 709,
716, 717, 722, 726, 786, 800, 802.

Dallas, Mr., from Pennsylvania, on the revenue collection

bill, 414.

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land bill, 112, 174.

force bill, 174.

Mr. Calhoun's resolutions, 192, 240, 785.

revenue collection bill, 263, 403, 462, 488, 591,
661.

calling for copies of military orders, 405, 406, 408,
409, 430, 432.

modifying the tariff, 484, 485.
Hendricks, Mr., from Indiana, on reduction of duties on
foreign goods, 60.

Hill, Mr., from New Hampshire, on public lands, 193.
the bill for modifying the tariff, 703.

Holmes, Mr., from Maine, on printing commercial state-

ments, 7, 8, 9.

on a reduction of duties, 15, 19, 51, 52.

a reduction of postage, 30, 36, 49.

Spanish claims, 38.

copying documents in State Department, 80.
revenue collection bill, 348, 367, 413.
modifying the tariff, 474, 479, 483.

electing public printer, 588.

the bill modifying the tariff, 697, 702, 708, 709,
713, 718, 749, 805.

Kane, Mr., from Illinois, on a reduction of postage, 41.
on public lands, 61.

copying documents in State Department, 123.
modifying the tariff, 479, 699, 724.

revenue collection bill, 590.

King, Mr., from Alabama, on a reduction of duties, 13,
16, 59.

on a call for the proclamation respecting South Ca-
rolina, 99.

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on a reduction of duties, 20, 24.

French spoliations, 99.

revenue collection bill, 360, 401, 402, 405.
modifying the tariff, 701, 716.

Webster, Mr., from Massachusetts, on Spanish claims, 38.
on French spoliations, 98, 99,

land bill, 122.

Mr. Calhoun's resolutions, 237, 240, 774, 785.
revenue collection bill, 404, 405, 409, 412, 413,
461, 518, 553, 590.

modifying the tariff, 478, 693, 709, 722, 723, 726,
727, 801.

Wilkins, Mr., from Pennsylvania, on the force bill, 183,

184.

on Mr. Calhoun's resolutions, 243.

the revenue collection bill, 246, 403, 413,460,461,
488, 590, 592, 687.

calling for copies of military orders, 409.

on modifying the tariff, 693, 694, 713, 720.

Wright, Mr., from New York, on modifying the tariff,
708, 717, 718, 726, 806.

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