lic money was loaned to Bethuel Farrand, to aid in his manufacture of silks, of which he had exhibited beautiful specimens. Many wise legislators in our sister states have advocated the passing of laws exempting from all taxation, sheep, and even exempting them from seizure upon execution. All this is undoubtedly founded upon the general policy of fostering our own manufactories-for when they prosper, they prevent the drain of money from the state; they furnish profitable employment for the industry of the state, and they increase and ameliorate the home market for our surplus agricultural products. These are truths which I think our fellow citizens fully understand. Nor is there any ground for the apprehension that our fellow citizens are deficient, either in skill or capacity, when contrasted with the manufacturers of Europe. The annual value of cutlery and other manufactures of iron and steel imported into this state, is immensely great, and yet it is quite - certain that if properly protected, the artists of Michigan could, and very soon would, furnish to us a full supply, as excellent in workmanship, and as low in price, as the same articles now come charged to us, from abroad. The excellent specimen of the workmanship of the Messrs. L. and T. J. White, at their "edge tool manufactory," in the city of Monroe, (which has remained in the executive office for public inspection, and to challenge the public favor, since during the last winter,) sufficiently proves that nothing but reasonable encouragement and protection is requisite, in order to save within the state, a great part of that money which yearly goes out of it for manufactures of iron and steel. While the success which has attended the efforts and skill of the enterprising proprietors of the glass manufactory at Mount Clemens, in furnishing to our citizens, thousands of dollars worth of the articles manufactured there, fully demonstrates that "reasonable protection" is all that is required to enable them to save within the state the amount of the cost of most of the glass ware which is required by our increasing population.

But the protection requisite, to be effectual, must be extended by the action of the national, not the state governments. The individual states have no power to levy impost duties; and since all the most prolific sources of revenue have been taken from the states and vested in the federal authorities, it is vain for the states-especially the new states-to undertake to build up their manufactories by a system of bounties. Not a doubt remains, in my mind, but that a protective tariff can, constitutionally, be established by congress. A just regard to the wishes of a majority of the people of the United States, and to the condition of our whole country, I think, eminently demands that measure. But in expressing and acting upon that opinion, it is certainly proper that great consideration should be given

to the fact, that our friends of the cotton growing states have heretofore been, and probably still are, opposed to such a policy. I am of the opinion that, ultimately, the people of those states will be found to be among the most earnest supporters of a tariff protection; manufactories of cotton will be, by slowdegrees, perhaps, encouraged and grown up among them; and after having experienced the evils consequent upon the breaking up of so many of the cotton manufactories of the Union, in the destruction or great deterioration of their home market, and felt those of an uncertain and a changeful foreign one, they will, I think, of their own good sense, fall back upon the policy of a "judicious tariff of protection." But in the mean time, their feelings and prejudices even, should at all times be respected. And, although the principle, that in republican governments, the will of the majority must govern, cannot be relinquished, yet that will should be exercised in moderation and mildness, lest," feeling power," that majority should "forget right."

With these reflections, already too far extended, perhaps, I respectfully submit the whole matter to the wisdom and good sense of the legislature.

WILLIAM WOODBRIDGE.

Executive Office, January 22, 1841.

To his excellency the Governor of Michigan:

At a general assembly of the state of Connecticut, held at New Haven, in said state, on the first Wednesday of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty.

Whereas, our forefathers having freed themselves from the British yoke, and found by experience, the incompetency of the confederation to protect them in their industry, organized this government for this, amongst other purposes. The government, true to the principles and objects of its organization, has continued to protect domestic industry, thus affording useful employment to millions, diffusing comfort and happiness throughout the land, and producing that social equality among our citizens on which the government itself depends; therefore,

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the state of Connecticut, in general assembly convened, That our senators and representatives in congress be requested to resist, by all constitutional means, every attempt to destroy or impair the protective policy of our government, and to use their exertions to procure the passage of such laws as will effectually protect the labor of this country from the policy and legislation of foreign governments; and that his excellency the

governor be requested to transmit copies of this preamble and resolution to each of our senators and representatives in congress; and also to transmit copies to the executives of the several states, with a request that they lay the same before their respective legislatures, and obtain an expression of their sentiments on the subject.

State of Connecticut, Secretary's office, 1840, ss.

I hereby certify that the above is a true copy of record in this office. In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed the seal of this state, and signed the same.

ROYAL R. HINMAN,

Secretary of State.

}

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,

Tuskaloosa, December 31, 1840.

SIR-Herewith, I have the honor to inclose you a preamble and resolutions of the general assembly of the state of Alabama, responsive to certain resolutions of the general assembly of the state of Connecticut, in favor of a protective tariff. With great respect, I have the honor to be, sir,

Your obedient servant,

His excellency the Governor of Michigan.

A. P. BAGBY.

Preamble and resolutions of the general assembly of the state of Alabama, responsive to certain resolutions of the state of Connecticut, in furor of the protective policy.

Certain resolutions of the state of Connecticut, have been communicated by the governor of this state, to this general assembly, agreeably to a request contained in said resolutions, which express sentiments in favor of what they designate "the protective policy of our government," and contain a request to the senators and representatives in congress from said state, to resist, by all constitutional means, every attempt to destroy or impair said policy, and to use their exertions to procure the passage of such laws as will effectually protect the labor of this country from the policy and legislation of foreign governments. The said resolutions further signify, that it is the wish of our sister state, to obtain from us an expression of our sentiments on the subject to which her said resolutions relate.

It becomes us in courtesy, under such circumstances, to make answers, which we proceed respectfully to do, as follows:

We presume we properly comprehend the state of Connecticut, as intending, by the words "protective policy of our government," in her aforesaid resolutions, a protective tariff, and by the words "labor of the country," the manufacturing labor of this country. So understanding our sister state, we cannot forbear expressing our surprise and regret to find that she should feel it incumbent on her to press this fruitful source of discord and distraction upon the attention of Alabama, and the south at this time-two years in advance of the expiration of that "compromise," which has for a period allayed the fierce and angry passions to which the "protective policy" had heretofore given rise. But, as she has thought proper to call upon us for our sentiments on this subject, we proceed to give them, fully embodied, in the following resolutions, the principles of which we would kindly, but firmly, admonish our sister Connecticut, that we are determined to maintain at every hazard.

Be it therefore resolved unanimously, by the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Alabama, in general assembly convened, That the government of the United States was established in order to form a more perfect vaion, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defence and promote the general welfare, to and among the several separate and sovereign states of this Union, and to secure the blessings of liberty to us and our children, as citizens of said states.

Resolved unanimously. That said government never can establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, or promote the general welfare of this widely extended Union, and the diversified interests and pursuits; therefore, especially in view of the peculiar relations aforesaid, by enacting laws to foster, promote and protect the industry and occupations of one portion of the states or people, to the disparagement, injury and expense of another."

Resolved unanimously, That a tariff, for the protection of manufactures, always was, and always must remain, obnoxious to the objections set forth in the foregoing resolutions, and that consequently, every such measure always has been, and ever will be, in our estimation, unwise, unjust and unconstitutional. Resolved unanimously, That in the solemn and deliberate opinion of this general assembly, a successful attempt to rëestablish the "protective policy," while it cannot fail to alienate the feelings of one portion of our happy Union from another, and provoke fierce political animosities between the north and the south, ultimately and irresistibly tends to a dissolution of the federal compact between those states; that, in view of such consequences, we earnestly and affectionately dissuade our northern brethren from any such attempt.

Resolved unanimously, That the governor of this state be [H. R.] Vol. II.

8

requested to forward a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolutions to the governor of the state of Connecticut, and the governors of each of the other states; and also, copies to each of our senators and representatives, the former of whom are instructed and the latter requested, to use all honorable and proper means, to sustain the principles therein set forth.

J. L. S. COTTRELL,

President of the Senate,

R. A. BAKER,

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

[No. 25.]

Report of expenditures on the St. Clair and Romeo railroad, up to January 1, 1841.

State of Michigan, County of St. Clair, ss:

The undersigned, Thomas Palmer, president, and Horatio N. Munson, secretary of the St. Clair and Romeo railroad company, being duly sworn, do depose and say, that the total amount of expenditures of every kind on said road, up to the first day of January instant, have been, (so far as they can now be ascertained,) about nine thousand three hundred dollars, (9,300 00.)

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and affixed our seals, this fifth day of January, A. D, 1841. THOS. PALMER, [L. S.]

President,

H. N. MUNSON, [L. s.]
Secretary.

Subscribed and sworn to before me, this 5th day of January,

A. D. 1841.

M. H. MILES,

Justice Peace, St. Clair Co., Mich.

[No. 26.]

A petition from the stockholders of the Palmyra and Jacksonburg railroad company.

To the honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Michigan:

The stockholders of the Palmyra and Jacksonburg railroad company, by their board of directors, respectfully petition your