DEC. 20, 1831.] The Tariff-Duties on Teas. [SENATE. be the fact, there is a small quantity of tea in the hands of mass of the teas already in the country, as well as to futhe retail dealers, it might not follow that the prices either ture importations, the reduction would operate with great of that now in bond, or of that ordered for importation, equality, and prevent that injustice which often happens would fall in proportion to the reduction; whereas, the to holders and importers of commodities from sudden importer can suffer neither loss nor inconvenience from reduction of duties. He believed there was quite time the operation of a law, with a view to which his business enough to have accomplished this desirable object, if it has been regulated for more than a year past. had met the concurrence of the treasury, and had received the prompt action of the committee. The department is not satisfied-though upon this point I do not wish to be considered as expressing a positive But the Secretary of the Treasury had expressed the opinion-that it will be expedient at any time to reduce opinion that no further reduction of duties in this article the duties on teas materially lower than the rates of Janu- ought to take place; and his [Mr. W.'s] main object in ary next. These duties will not be sufficiently high to rising was to prevent that opinion from being received affect, in any sensible degree, the consumption of the as the unanimous opinion of all those who might be called article; and though diminished upon an importation equal on to act on the subject. He, for one, certainly was quite to that of 1830, from $2,049,342 02 to $898,974 46, as of another way of thinking. He thought that a further will be seen in the accompanying statement, yet they and a very large reduction of duties on teas ought to be will always be a safe source of revenue. In a general re-made, and to be made as soon as might be consistent with vision of the tariff, Congress will find a great convenience justice and equity to the dealers in the article. It is imin drawing the revenue from as few articles as may be possible that this question should not come before Conconsistent with the interests of the community, instead of gress. It would certainly be agitated. The golden opbeing subjected to the necessity of spreading it over portunity for disposing of it, as it seemed to him, in a numerous commodities; and there are cogent reasons why manner satisfactory to all interests, had been presented, any further reduction on teas should await such general and had been lost, and he greatly regretted it. revision of the existing duties as the state of the finances and public expenditure may call for. The memorial is herewith returned. Mr. SMITH called for the reading of one of the memorials, in order that the Senate might better understand the object the memorialists had in view. One of the me Any further reduction which it may then be found ex-morials was then read by the Secretary. pedient to make, may be readily adapted, both in amount and in time, to the interests and convenience of the importers. I have the honor to be, with great respect, your obedi ent servant, The Hon. S. SMITH, LOUIS MCLANE, Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Senate. A STATEMENT exhibiting the quantity of tea imported during the year 1830, after deducting that which was exported entitled to drawback, and the duties thereon, calculated at the present rates, at the rates payable after the 1st January, 1832, and at the rates proposed by certain importers. Bolita Souchong Hyson Skin Hyson and Y. Hyson Imperial 1830. Mr. S. then observed that, in May, 1830, an act was passed reducing the duties on teas to about one-half of the then existing duty, to take effect from the 1st of January coming. Now, said Mr. S., the object of these memorials is to have it settled, that if any reduction of the duties on teas be made, that such reduction shall take effect simultaneously with that provided for under the existing law. The petitioners have shown to the committee, said Mr. S., that the holders of teas have suffered to the amount of two millions of dollars, in consequence of being kept in a state of suspense by Congress tampering so frequently with the subject, no law having effectually taken place till May, 1830, although the proposition to reduce the duties on teas had frequently been agitated. When the memorials were referred to the committee, they took up the subject with the most favorable impressions, and with the fullest intention to bestow on it the speediest action; but, on mature deliberation, it had been consider Quantity in Present duty New duty when Duty proposed that it would be impossible, at this late period of the 2,812,646 40 1,125,058 40 18 73,246 50 136,623 00 25 86,156,268 82,049,342 021 500,276 28 6 168,758 76 68,311 50 10 27,324 60 8898,974 46 299,847 68 month, to act on it so as to get a bill through both Houses of Congress before the 1st of January. A very respectable deputation from the memorialists, said Mr. S., attended the committee, and they had been perfectly satisfied that the objects they had in view could not now be carried into effect. Many gentlemen of the other House, and some of this, remarked Mr. S., would not consent to act on a bill of the nature contemplated by the memorialists, without going into the whole subject of the tariff. Under these circumstances, the committee had been compelled to report, as they had done, that it was inexpedient at this time to act on the subject. He [Mr. S.] The report being read, was in favor of a considerable reduction of the duties on Mr. WEBSTER said that he did not rise to oppose the teas, to take effect after the public debt shall have been acceptance of the report. Under all circumstances it paid. He did not differ materially with the gentleman might, he thought, be as well to accept it, and put the from Massachusetts: he agreed with him that a further matter at rest. Nevertheless, he was of opinion the com- reduction of the duties was necessary; he would even remittee ought to have come to a different conclusion.duce the duties to a greater degree than asked for by the The present moment was exceedingly favorable to a fur-petitioners themselves. The Senator from Massachusetts ther reduction of duties on teas. By the provisions of the disagreed with the Secretary of the Treasury. The Seact of 1830, a considerable reduction is now to take place cretary, said Mr. S., had given no opinion on the subject. on the 1st of next month, and is to apply to teas already The committee had addressed a letter to him, stating the imported, but then in bond, as well as to teas imported views of the memorialists, and the necessity of an immeafter that period. In consequence of this provision of diate answer. An answer had been returned the very law, nearly all the teas in the country were now in bond, next day; and what did the Secretary say? and if a further reduction of duties be intended, this seems the very time to give it effect, or, by applying to the great "The department is not satisfied-though upon this point I do not wish to be considered as expressing a posi SENATE.] The Tariff-Duties on Teas. [DEC. 20, 1831. tive opinion that it will be expedient at any time to re-object; but he thought the committee might have acted duce the duties on teas materially lower than the rates of immediately on the subject of the memorials without inJanuary next." convenience or injury. He did not wish to prevent the introduction of the bill which the chairman of the committee had proposed in relation to the total reduction of the duty on this article. How far the Secretary was in favor of a reduction of duties on teas, he could not say; but he, for one, would be willing to take off the duties altogether, not only on teas, but on many other articles not necessary for the encouragement of American industry. He had no concealment of his views as to the tariff; he was prepared, or nearly so, to report a modification of it, though he did not know if the Committee on Finance had a right to interfere with the subject. It was their appropriate duty, to be sure, but the business had been taken from under their control since the year 1828, and confided to the Committee on Manufactures. If the Senate would confide the business to the Committee on Finance, he would pledge himself that a bill would be speedily reported for the reduction of the duties on articles of importation. But that Senator had stated as his individual opinion, and not that of the committee, that the reduction of the duty ought not to take effect until the liquidation of the national debt. He [Mr. C.] would, in reply, observe, that if the Senator did intend to defer it until the whole debt, including the three per cent., was paid, he might perhaps have to wait much longer than he supposed. It could, said Mr. C., be easily shown that it was not necessary to effect the payment of the entire debt by the time proposed, to retain any part of the duty upon tea. The debt may be discharged by the 4th March, 1833, and the duty be now reduced or repealed in toto. He hoped, Mr. CLAY rose, and said, that when the report was however, that few would be found willing to sanction the presented by the chairman of the committee, he under- improvident project of paying off a capital yielding only stood that it was against any further reduction of the du- three per cent. by the appropriation of a capital worth six ties on tea, in conformity to what seemed to be the opi- per cent., and raising this capital by an unnecessary connion of the Secretary of the Treasury. The committee, tinuance of burden from which the consumption of the he was glad now to learn, only thought it impracticable country might be relieved. The report submitted yesto effect the reduction by the 1st of January, but were terday by the committee being now explained to settle in favor of reducing the duty. The intention of the me-nothing but that a bill could not be got through the two morialists from New York and Philadelphia, to which he Houses to take effect on the 1st of January next, he was was disposed to assent, was to have the reduction of the not disposed, with that explanation, to call for any expresduty take place on the 1st of January next. But this sion of the opinion of the Senate, but would acquiesce in was not the exclusive time to which the memorialists con- any disposition of the report. fined their petition. Their object was to have the reduc- Having placed a different construction on the report, tion take place as early as possible. And if it could not especially after perusing the accompanying letter of the be effected at the time first mentioned, the 1st of Febru- Secretary of the Treasury, he had intended to make a ary, or even the 1st day of March, would meet their proposition, which he would not now submit. Whilst he wishes. The tea now in bond, with the exception of was decidedly in favor of a substantial preservation of the occasional parcels taken out for immediate consumption, system of protection, he was ready to concur in any meawould have remained in the custom-house until that act sure of relief to the country not inconsistent with it. should take effect, if it was not before the 1st of Februa- And he did not think that the object of paying off the ry or March, and thus their object would be substantially whole public debt by a precise day in the year 1833, attained. This, however, said Mr. C., was not the most ought to delay, for one moment, the repeal of duties important aim of the memorials. The principal motive in on objects not falling within the scope of that system. presenting them was to ascertain the sentiments of Con-Having made this explanation, he would not further trougress in relation to a further and definitive reduction of ble the Senate. the duty, with the view to the regulation of their commer- Mr. HAYNE said, if gentlemen had suffered the quescial operations, and on this point they were left totally in tion to be taken on this report without debate, he would suspense by the report of the committee. No gentleman, have been content to give his silent vote in its favor. The continued Mr. C. in answer to the Senator from Mary: only question presented by the report was, whether it was land, who has reflected on the subject, as connected expedient to pass a bill greatly to reduce the duties on with the financial interests of the country, would believe teas, to take effect on the 1st of January next. He conthat a retention of the duty was necessary to effect the curred with the committee, that such a measure would not payment of the national debt by the day which had been be expedient, even if it were practicable. But, said Mr. designated by the Secretary of the Treasury. H., as gentlemen who have addressed the Senate have not It was impossible to consider the reduction of the duty confined themselves to this question, but have gone into on this article alone, without examining the great and im- an explanation of some of their views with respect to the portant question of the tariff in general, which embraced proposed modification of the tariff, (a modification of some the leading interests of the country within its scope. sort being admitted on all hands to have become necesThe unimportant as well as important articles included in sary,) it was perhaps proper that he should also express the tariff must come into consideration. Those which his opinion, in order to "exclude the conclusion" that were protected, as well as those which were unprotected, there was a general concurrence in all the views which by our present system of policy, demanded their due share had been presented in the report, or by the gentlemen of our consideration. It would be impossible to examine who had favored the Senate with their sentiments. It was one article separately, without taking into consideration certainly desirable that there should be no misunderstandthe connexion which it bore with others which were ing on this subject, either here or elsewhere, and he was equally subject to duties, nor without considering the most anxious that, so far as his own views were concerned, whole system of protection and revenue of the country. and, perhaps, he might add, the views of those with whom But if there were any one article which might be consi- he usually acted on such questions, gentlemen should dered distinctly, that article was tea, which, if we take its not delude themselves with the belief that any modificaalmost universal consumption into view, must be regarded tion of the tariff would be at all satisfactory, which should as one of the necessaries of life. The gentleman who not be effected on the broad principle of perfect justice submitted the report stated that he did not intend to an- and equality. The chairman of the committee [Mr. nounce the determination of the committee, much less of SMITH] had told us that he was not only prepared greatly the Senate, as being indisposed to the granting of a further to reduce the duties upon tea, but upon all other articles reduction. To this explanation he was not disposed to which did not enter into competition with our manufac DEC. 20, 1831.] The Tariff-Duties on Teas. [SENATE we can decide wisely or justly as to the extent of the reduction to be made upon each. tures; he spoke of imposing upon such articles what he was pleased to call pro forma duties, while the obnoxious articles, by which I presume he meant the protected arti- There was another remark which fell from that gentlecles, were to remain subject to other, and, of course, man, in which he [Mr. H.] entirely concurred; it was, higher-perhaps the existing-rate of duties. The gen- that it was more important that the proposed reduction of tleman had referred, in illustration of his views, to a bill duties should take effect at an early day, than that the reported by himself last year for the reduction of ten mil- public debt should be extinguished on the 4th March, 1833, lions of taxes. Against the scheme embraced in that bill, as suggested by the Secretary of the Treasury. He was Mr. H. felt himself bound, now and at all times, to enter one of those (as was well known to the Senate) who had his earnest and decided protest. What was that scheme? been, for years past, constantly pressing for the speedy Why, that from all articles of luxury the taxes should be extinction of the public debt. But this was not because taken off entirely, while from articles of absolute necessity he considered the small amount which remained of that they were to remain undiminished-articles consumed by debt as any very grievous burden on the country, but the rich were to come into the country duty free, while because he hoped that when the public debt should be articles consumed by the poor were to be burdened with extinguished, there would no longer remain any excuse exorbitant taxation. The rich man was to drink his costly or apology for keeping up the enormous duties under wines, and his family to be arrayed in fine silks, without which those whom he represented, as well as the people paying one cent towards the expenses of the Government, of other portions of the country, had been borne down. while the poor man was to be heavily taxed on the coarse But if the question was presented to him, whether the woollens which were to shield himself and his family from taxes should be kept up for two years longer, in order to the winter's cold. Now, could a system of taxation, rest-extinguish the debt, on a given day, or be immediately reing on such principles, be seriously defended? Could it duced, he should go for the reduction, even though the be tolerated in a free country, and a liberal and enlighten- payment of the debt should be made in three annual ined age? He trusted not. There is another objection to stalments instead of being entirely paid off in one year. this scheme, which was to his mind equally conclusive-The most important consideration, in his estimation--more it was, that by it the duties were to be taken off from what important, he was persuaded, at this time, than all others was called the unprotected articles-articles, too, of gene- put together, was, that there should be an immediate reral consumption, (and which, according to the acknow-duction of the public burdens, and that the duties should, ledged principles of political economy, and the common as speedily as possible, be brought down to the lowest consent of all mankind, are the proper subjects for taxa- amount necessary to provide for the expenditures of the tion,) and the entire revenue of the country was to be Government, on proper and constitutional objects. Until raised upon the protected articles-upon cottons, woollens, this is done, it is in vain to hope that the people will ever and iron--articles of necessity, on which enormous duties be reconciled to the operation of this system; and should are now imposed--duties which operate as a heavy tax on we be able to effect it, the causes of discontent will be recertain portions of the country, and certain branches of moved, and peace and harmony will once more be happily industry, and as a bounty to other portions of the country, restored. and other branches of industry. Mr. CHAMBERS said he did not perceive a possible Against a system so unjust, unequal, and oppressive, the advantage to either of the several interests alluded to in tax-paying people of the United States, those who receive debate, which could arise from a vote of concurrence no portion of the bounties of the protecting system, the with the committee. The report adopts no opinion; sugpeople of the Southern States, those whom he in part re-gests no course of policy; invites no commitment by the presented on this floor, must forever protest. Let not Senate in regard to the continuance or reduction of the any gentleman lay the flattering unction to his soul," duty on teas. As now explained by the chairman, it asthat these people would be satisfied with any arrange-serts the fact, that such an act as the memorialists ask for, ment of the tariff which shall not go the full length of cannot be pressed through Congress within the period bringing down the duties to the true revenue standard, limited by the memorial. The committee did not intend the raising no more money from duties than may be ne-it to have any influence whatever upon the question of a cessary for the just purposes of Government, and to raise partial or total repeal of the duty. In this view of the this amount from duties to be arranged on fair and equal subject, it would accomplish the object of the committee, principles a reasonable ad valorem duty on all articles to allow the report to lie on the table, as effectually as to protected or unprotected-a system which shall be based adopt it by the resolution now before the Senate. on the great principle of equal benefits and equal bur- trary course might have the effect to embarrass the Senate dens. Such a system, and such only, could ever recon- in its future action upon this subject, by a technical applicile the people to the operation of the tariff, or quiet the cation of the rule which prohibits the consideration of a discontents which had sprung out of the existing, unjust, subject a second time, after a previous disposition of it the and oppressive system. same session. The committee say it is inexpedient now There was one remark made by the gentleman from to legislate, thereby, it seems, intending the interval beKentucky, [Mr. CLAY,] which met his hearty concurrence; tween the report and the 1st of January; but it may well it was, that this system could not be satisfactorily arranged be contended at a future day, that now will apply to any by taking up a single article-as tea, for instance--and part and all of the session. He certainly anticipated the acting separately upon that. The gentleman laid down appearance of this question at a future period of the sesthe true rule, when he said, that, to determine the reduc- sion, and wished to avoid any possible difficulty from the tion proper on any given article, you must take a compre- rule. A con hensive view of the whole system. Nothing can be clearer, There were, however, more important considerations said Mr. H., than that, in order to decide what reduction to urge the propriety of the disposition he proposed to ought to be made upon tea, you must also inquire what make of the report. The committee set forth the nature reduction should be made upon wines, silks, and spices. and object of the memorial, that they had addressed a It was utterly impossible to determine the reduction pro- letter to the Secretary of the Treasury, inviting a discloper to be made upon these articles, without also taking sure of his views in regard to the probable effect on the into consideration what reduction should be made upon finances; they refer to his letter in answer, which is given cottons, woollens, and iron. We must take a large and at large, and conclude, without entering into any argu comprehensive view of the whole subject, and examine ment, that it is inexpedient now to legislate upon the every article, whether protected or unprotected, before subject. In his letter, the Secretary gives an opinion in VOL. VIII.--2 SENATE.] The Tariff-The British Colonial Trade. [DEC. 21, 22, 1831. positive terms, that it is not expedient to reduce the duty Government here to the minister at the court of St. on tea before March, 1833, and an opinion, not positive, James; given, sir, in terms and in a temper which may that the policy of reducing it at any time thereafter is, at very properly become the subject of public examination least, questionable. He was pleased to hear the chair-and comment here; I say, sir, of public examination and man of the committee unequivocally dissent from this last comment. opinion. For himself, he was directly opposed both to the positive opinion, and the opinion not positive; but he did not rise to discuss that matter. His object was, to leave the way open for a future discussion, unprejudiced by what should be done with this report. There is at least a large portion of the commercial community, who have felt, and seriously felt, the inconvenience of the present arrangement. The resolution submitted by the gentleman from Maine asks for important information on the subject; but there are some particulars which, Upon this statement, then, he submitted to the commit- if known, would enable the Senate to understand more tee, whether the publication of their report, with the clearly the effect which the present arrangement has had letter of the Secretary, which, although not adopted in on our commerce, and which are not embraced in the terms by the language of the report, is yet referred to as call. The resolution does not ask the President to state a document proper to be considered, and against the the months in which such clearances were respectively doctrines of which no exception is taken-he submitted made, and whether from British colonial ports or British to the Senate, whether the putting forth such a paper West India ports, which it is equally important that the would not be likely to create the belief that the Secreta- Senate should understand as the particulars mentioned in ry's argument and reasons were the foundation upon which the resolution. Immediately on the annunciation of the the conclusion of the committee rested. And whether, arrangement entered into by Mr. McLane with the British if the Senate were to vote its concurrence, it would not negotiators, a bill was entered into the British Parliament, be received as an acquiescence with the opinions of the the object of which was to enhance the duties on those Secretary. As the actual state of opinion in the Senate articles of commerce which were carried by our vessels was probably of a character quite opposed to such acqui- to the colonies, which would, if adopted, produce an imescence, and as such an effect on public sentiment was not portant change in the trade to the colonies, and serious designed or desired, he would propose what seemed to injuries would result to the commercial interest. be the effectual means of preventing it. He therefore moved to lay the report with the memorial on the table. The report was laid on the table accordingly. the table: WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21. THE TARIFF. Mr. POINDEXTER laid the following resolutions on 1. Resolved, That the Committee on Finance be instructed to inquire into the expediency of fixing a rate of duties on foreign imports, not to exceed on any article imported into the United States more than twenty per cent. ad valorem, and not to reduce the duty on any article so imported below ten per cent. ad valorem; and to arrange such duties, having regard to all the great interests of the country, so as to produce a nett revenue of not less than fifteen millions of dollars annually. 2. Resolved, That the said committee be further instructed to inquire into the expediency of giving effect and operation to said system of duties on the 30th day of June next. THE BRITISH COLONIAL TRADE. The resolutions offered yesterday by Mr. HOLMES, asking further information of the President of the United States, in relation to the British West India colonial trade, were taken up. The State of Maine exported a great quantity of lumber (and ship timber) to the British colonies previous to this arrangement, in her own vessels; but since that time the trade had been almost exclusively carried on by British merchants in British vessels. This was true with regard to most articles exported from the New England States, with the exception of live stock, which was still exported from Connecticut, and perhaps some elsewhere, in American vessels; therefore the object of the resolution, as proposed to be amended, is to learn in what employment went into operation. Before this arrangement, our ships our ships had been engaged since the commercial treaty went a longer and more circuitous voyage than those of England; but our profits were also much greater, by trading with the British colonies through the neutral ports, than those of British vessels employed in the direct trade. Mr. W. said he conceived the information requested by the resolution insufficient to enable the Senate to ascertain had upon our commerce, and submitted the following the precise bearing which the present arrangement has amendment, which was agreed to by the gentleman from Maine, and adopted as part of the resolutions, as follows: "And state the months in which such clearances were respectively made, and whether from British colonial ports or from British West India ports;" Which amendment was inserted immediately following the words "since the President's proclamation, 5th October, 1830." After some conversation between Mr. HOLMES and Mr. SMITH, the resolutions were laid on the table, on the promise of the latter gentleman to call them up again to-morrow. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22. Mr. WEBSTER said the resolution asked information on a subject which was as yet involved in uncertainty, and on which further information was highly necessary and important. He made these remarks as a preface to an amendment of the resolution which he was about to propose. Some time since, measures had been taken, and negotiations entered into, the object of which was to place our commercial intercourse with the British Ameri- The resolutions submitted yesterday by Mr. POINcan colonies on terms of reciprocal advantages. This DEXTER, were, on his motion, ordered to be printed. negotiation had failed; and the endeavors to make such Agreeably to notice given, Mr. POINDEXTER asked arrangements and fix the duties on either part on some and obtained leave to bring in a bill concerning Martha equal basis, so that the duties imposed on American vessels Randolph, daughter and only surviving child of Thomas entering the British colonial ports should be no higher Jefferson, deceased; which was twice read, and referred than those imposed on their own vessels, were then inef- to a select committee, consisting of Mr. POINDEXTER, Mr. fectual. The object of that proposed arrangement was CLAY, Mr. TYLER, Mr. HAYNE, and Mr. WEBSTER. for the benefit of commerce as well as navigation. The British Government not consenting to comply with terms which that administration conceived just and necessary, Mr. SMITH, agreeably to his promise of yesterday, the navigation was, by direction of the Executive, aban- called up for consideration the following resolutions of doned; since which period an arrangement has been Mr. HOLMES, as amended by Mr. WEBSTER. completed, in conformity with instructions given by the THE BRITISH COLONIAL TRADE. Resolved, That the President be requested to cause to Resolved, That the President be requested to inform the Senate what amount of American and foreign tonnage (distinguishing them) has been cleared for, and entered from, the Swedish and Danish West Indies, since the President's proclamation of the 5th October, 1830, with the kind and amount of the cargoes. [SENATE. be communicated to the Senate the number of vessels, and own, and documents selected for the purpose. It came their tonnage and cargoes, which have cleared from any on the Senate by surprise: few, if any, Senators were preports in the United States to any port or place in the pared to answer. This was the course pursued by the British American colonies since the President's proclama- Senator from Maine: he did not wait for the information tion of 5th October, 1830, and state the months in which which the resolutions required, but took his own views, such clearances were respectively made; and whether which might be right, or might be wrong. He has profrom British colonial ports, or British West India ports-duced figures to show a great loss to the navigating distinguishing those, if any, which cleared for such ports interest. He may be right. Mr. S. said he had not exand place, "and a market," or for a British port or place, amined his figures, nor had he time to examine them. or some other port or place; distinguishing, also, American The answers to the resolutions may show a different refrom foreign tonnage, and also the entries of all vessels sult. Mr. S. would not pretend to say that they would; from any British colonial port, with their cargoes, since but he would say that he had seen statements made from the above proclamation; distinguishing the tonnage as wrong documents to make out a case, which statements above, and designating the British port or place from proved to be entirely unfounded when the true documents whence the cargoes were imported. were applied. The Senator from Maine has shown a large amount of tonnage employed in the trade to the neutral islands, whilst they were the entrepot for all the islands, deducting from which the tonnage employed since the arrangement made with Great Britain, he derives an immense loss to our navigation, and concludes that the bargain has eventuated to our great injury. But, Mr. Resolved, That the President be requested to inform the President, no fair trial has been made: the proclamation Senate whether, since his proclamation of the 5th of of the President, opening our ports, was issued on the 5th October, 1830, British vessels have cleared from the October, and probably went by the packet of the 8th. It United States for any port in the British continental may have arrived in England in thirty days. Some days colonies in America, and have sailed directly to the British ought to be allowed for the British Government to make West Indies, by virtue of clearances previously obtained up their despatches to their minister here, and to the from custom-houses in those continental colonies, thus island and North American colonies. A passage to the performing voyages circuitous on paper, but in fact direct. United States of five or six weeks, at that season of the Resolved, That the President be requested to inform year, would be considered a fair one. We may, therethe Senate what are the duties paid on British American fore, presume that it took three months, which would vessels and their cargoes respectively, in British ports in bring the receipt to the 8th January, when our rivers the West Indies and the other British American colonies, and many of our harbors were obstructed by the ice, distinguishing between the West Indies and the other which continued until the 1st March, so that we can only colonies, between American and British vessels, and the count on seven months of open trade. Our merchants produce of the United States and of the colonies. were not prepared for this trade: it had been stopped for Mr. SMITH said that he had no intention to oppose the a long period, and had been diverted into other channels. adoption of the resolutions; they would probably elicit The merchants had, before they could commence, to information, which might be desirable to the Senate. He arrange their correspondence, procure vessels properly thought that the third resolution might be withdrawn, fitted for the trade, and assort their cargoes. A merchant although he would make no motion on the subject. He does not enter at once into a new branch of commerce; it merely submitted the idea to the mover. That resolution takes him some time to arrange his business, mature his supposed a case, on which the Secretary of the Treasury plans, and to be well satisfied with the prospects held can have no information. It supposes that a captain shall out, before he engages in a commerce that is new to him. present a manifest, on oath, to the collector of a port, Is it then fair or candid, said Mr. S., to compare such a say of New Brunswick, declaring that he has on board of trade of seven months, with a known and established trade the vessel he commands five hundred barrels of flour, to an emporium such as St. Thomas, for twelve months? although he has not a single barrel; but he has bribed the Besides, St. Thomas was a great entrepot for all the tide-waiter to report that he has on board the quantity islands, and the neighboring continent. Droghers went represented in his manifest. He obtains a clearance for there from other than the British islands, some from the Jamaica, and proceeds to a port in the United States, say out-ports of Porto Rico, and perhaps from the French Alexandria; he there takes on board his vessel exactly islands; many of our vessels touched at St. Thomas, and five hundred barrels of flour, clears out for Jamaica, and not finding a good market, proceeded, as is very common, immediately on getting to sea destroys his American clear- to Porto Rico, to all the ports of St. Domingo, to Cuba, ance, and makes his entry in that port under his British and even to the Spanish main. Besides, the consumption clearance, and thus cheats his own country of four-fifths of St. Thomas and St. Cruz (Danish islands) is equal, if of the duty, say four hundred dollars, and defrauds our not greater, than any of the British windward islands. navigation of the carrying of that quantity of flour. Now The simple clearances for the neutral trade were no cri all this may be done at the risk of vessel and cargo, and teria on which to form a judgment of the actual bona fide of being punished for perjury, for thus defrauding the navigation that had been employed in it. The trade is revenue. But, sir, he must be not only a rogue, but a now understood, and we shall be better capable of formfool, if he shall communicate the trick he has played on ing a correct judgment on the subject next year. Mr. S. his Government to the collector of Alexandria; without which disclosure, he [Mr. S.] could not perceive how the Secretary of the Treasury can be informed of the transaction. However, said Mr. S., if the Senator from Maine wishes that it shall go to the Secretary, I shall make no opposition. Mr. S. proceeded to remark, that a mode had been introduced by a celebrated gentleman, which was said to be parliamentary. It was, that a Senator intending to introduce a resolution, prefaced it with a speech, which be had considered and prepared with calculations of his knew, he said, that the trade was daily increasing, and would, he thought, continue to increase. This fact is undoubted, that every shipyard in the United States has been fully employed in the building of vessels during the present year, which afforded strong presumptive proof that the opening of the colonial trade had not operated unfavorably to the navigation of the country. It is equally well known that very few of the shipyards had full employment prior to the arrangement having been made. Many of the vessels that have been built, and which are now building, are intended for the West India trade; and |