Workers in Iron. they will again bring forward their claims before Congress at their next session, in a shape calculated to command the attention of that body, and to ensure the blacksmiths a "happy issue" out of all their difficulties. SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT. [21st CoNG. 2d SESS. only say that it is a censure which they are perfectly willing to share with the petitioners, and with the great masters of the science of political economy, whose labors have enlightened the world. The notion that "high duties reduce prices," and, at the same time, afford protection to the domestic manufacturer, involves a paradox too gross to be believed by any one not blinded by interest, or laborSince the above report was prepared by the committee, ing under what the committee must consider as a most a memorial has been referred to them, signed by a large extraordinary delusion. It is an idea resting, as far as the number of "the citizens of the city and county of Phila- committee can perceive, on no better foundation than the delphia, engaged in the manufacture of iron, and of those great reduction in prices which has taken place of late friendly to the production of it in this country;" and six years in all descriptions of manufactures--a reduction incopies of the same, signed by a number of the citizens of fluenced by other causes than the operation of a tariff of New Jersey, have also been referred to them. This me- protection, as is fully proved from the fact that it has exmorial, it appears, has been "got up" in opposition to tended indiscriminately to every part of the civilized world, the foregoing petition of the blacksmiths, the statements and has been produced in at least an equal degree upon and arguments of which it strongly controverts; and the articles which have received no protection. How it is memorialists conclude with "a deprecation of any reduc- possible that the high duty on iron should have reduced tion of the present rate of duties upon iron." The com- the prices, and be calculated to reduce them still further, mittee have bestowed on these memorials that respectful while it is asserted that "a removal of the duties would attention which is due to the representations of every be the entire destruction of every iron establishment in portion of their fellow-citizens. They have examined the the United States," is to the committee utterly incompreground assumed by the blacksmiths, and, having compared hensible. With respect to the sarcasms in which the petithe reasoning urged on both sides of the question, are tioners have indulged in reference to Mr. Sarchet, who is satisfied that there exist no such errors, either in the facts stigmatized as a "foreigner from the island of Guernsey, or arguments relied on by the blacksmiths, as to shake the laboring under the most violent of all prejudices-an confidence of the committee in the soundness of their English prejudice," the committee feel themselves, in views, or the correctness of their conclusions. Having justice to Mr. Sarchet, bound to declare that they have already occupied so much space in presenting their views never, in the whole course of their experience, come of this question, they will now only advert to a few topics across an individual possessed of more practical knowledge introduced into this memorial, which seem to require com- of the subject, of clearer or more liberal views, freer from ment. With regard to the surprise expressed by the prejudice of any description, or more entitled to implicit memorialists, that, after such "decisive acts of the last confidence. Though a native of the island of Guernsey, session of Congress," in relation to the claims of the he has resided for near thirty years in the United States, blacksmiths, an attempt should be again made, by the during the whole of which period he has been distinguishsame individuals, "to disturb the interests of the ironed for his industry, intelligence, and probity. manufacturers," the committee feel themselves compelled But, whatever may be the demerits of Mr. Sarchet, it to declare, that, even if Congress had adopted the most will not be pretended that the three hundred American decisive acts in reference to these claims, it would furnish mechanics, who, by joining in the petition, have given no just ground, either of surprise or complaint, that Ame- their sanction to its contents, are not as much entitled to rican citizens, believing themselves to be aggrieved, should respect and confidence as the memorialists themselves; continue to urge their just claims while any hope of relief nor can the country fail to see the very different ground shall remain. The "decisive acts" alluded to, however, on which the parties to this controversy stand; the one consisted merely in a report of the Committee on Manu- claiming for their industry nothing but freedom from refactures, which never received the sanction of either straint, and the other asking for protection; the former branch of Congress. When it is asserted that the object seeking only relief from oppression, and the latter insistof the blacksmiths is "to withdraw the protection extend-ing on securing to themselves the fruits of that oppression. ed to the manufacturers of iron," to "build up a new There is a wide difference, too, in the reliance to be placed fabric on its ruins," and to deprive this country of the in their respective statements, (without intending to imonly mode by which a supply of cheap iron can be pro- peach the character of any of the parties.) The blackcured, it is manifest that the memorialists have not under-smiths, in pointing out the inequality of the existing duties stood either the true objects of the petitioners, or the upon raw and manufactured iron, speak from their own means by which it is proposed to attain them. It is impos- personal experience, and a thorough practical knowledge sible to conceive that the petitioners could have any other of the subject, while the memorialists have candidly acobject in view than that which they have avowed, viz. the knowledged that they are not sufficiently conversant securing an abundant supply of cheap iron: for it is by with the details of the subject to judge whether or not this, and this alone, that they can ever be enabled to enter there exists a just proportion between the duties upon into successful competition with British workmen "in the bar iron and those upon hardware." manufacture of the various articles of hardware;" and if The allusions to "English prejudices," &c. &c. which this be a "new business," it is one that cannot, in the run through the memorial, cannot be misunderstood. They opinion of the committee, be entered upon too soon, or are the appeals too often and too successfully made to that prosecuted too earnestly; and, whatever may be the views very prejudice which the memorialists affect to condemn. of the petitioners, the committee can hardly imagine an "American industry" is the delusive phrase artfully emobject of greater "national importance," than to raise up, ployed by those who choose to consider their own industry by the operation of a system of just and equal laws, which as exclusively American, and who attempt to conceal, unshall leave labor free to seek its own employment, a band der the mask of patriotism, an exclusive devotion to their of hardy and industrious mechanics and artisans, consti- own peculiar interests. The true American system, in the tuting, as they must, the strength and pride of their coun- estimation of the committee, consists in free trade and untry, and who, if they cannot present themselves with restricted industry; and they cannot bring themselves for "clean hands," will assuredly come with pure and honest one moment to believe that the capital and industry cmhearts. If these men have justly incurred censure in sup- ployed in the fabrication of cotton and woollen cloths, or posing that cheap iron would be more certainly obtained in digging iron ore from the mines, are more strictly Ameby enlarging the field of competition, the committee can rican than that employed in raising cotton or wool, in building ships, carrying on commerce, or even converting smiths, and that, with regard to such as they have contrairon into hardware. Nor can they bring themselves to dicted, they have not succeeded in maintaining their believe that either of these interests is more entitled to positions. Take, for example, their estimate of the quarprotection than the others, or that any of them can have tity of iron now annually produced in the United States. the smallest claim upon the country, except that their By a conjectural estimate, founded on no satisfactory data, labor and capital should be left free to seek their own employment, and to secure their own reward, without being burdened with unnecessary taxes. John Sarchet's statement, January 31, 1831. they have assumed that 120,000 tons of iron are now an nually produced in this country; but when the Committee on Manufactures of the House of Representatives made a The complaint made against the repeated applications "personal examination" of this subject in 1828, calling to Congress to reduce the duties, "as one of the devices before them experienced iron masters, they could not obemployed to impede the progress and extension of the tain information of more than 30,000 tons; and Mr. Sarchet manufacture of iron in this country," is so manifestly un- informs us that a gentleman, who not long since travelled founded and unjust, that the committee are only induced through the United States, for the express purpose of as to notice it as a manifestation of "the temper and spirit" certaining the truth on the subject, estimated the whole which animate the petitioners on this occasion. It is alto. production at only 35,000 tons; and yet the memorialists gether inconceivable that the mechanics and workers in have not hesitated to put down at a venture the quantity of iron could have the least desire, much less " employ de- iron made in the United States at 120,000 tons. The comvices" of any kind, to prevent the production of cheap mittee will not pretend to decide the question, but certainly iron in this country, since their own interest, as well as the weight of authority is against the memorialists. The the welfare of their country, is alike to be promoted by committee are sensible that they have already consumed obtaining the largest supplies of this material, and at the too much time on this subject, and they will therefore cheapest rates. It may be true that these repeated appli- conclude with the expression of a decided opinion that the cations "create alarm in those already concerned in the iron masters, and others concerned in these petitions, have iron mines;" and it would no doubt be extensively grati- presented no new facts, and urged no arguments, that fying to them to be allowed to consider "the faith of the shake the positions assumed by the blacksmiths, or which Government" as so far "pledged" to this system of pro- go to show that a reduction of the duty on raw iron ought tection as not to suffer its stability ever to be questioned. not to take place. But the petitioners may be assured, that, so long as this system is felt by a large and respectable portion of their fellow-citizens as a burden unjustly imposed upon them for the benefit of the manufacturers of iron, so long will At a meeting of the select committee of the Senate, to the applications for its modification continue to be urged whom was referred the petition of certain citizens of Phiwith untiring energy and zeal. It may be worthy of their ladelphia, "mechanics employed in various branches of consideration, therefore, whether it would not be to their the manufacture of iron," praying for a reduction of the advantage to obtain that "security and permanence" for duty on the raw material used in the various branches of their establishments, which they consider as "essential to their manufacture, John Sarchet, one of the petitioners, their success," by consenting, at once, to such a reasona- was called before the committee, and, on his examination, ble reduction of the duty as would remove all just grounds said: That he is a chain and anchor manufacturer, and for future complaint; and it may be also worthy of their generally engaged in the ship-smithing business, in Philaconsideration, as patriotic citizens, whether they ought delphia, where he has carried on that business for the last not even to make some sacrifices to that spirit of discon- six years. He has been for thirty-five years engaged in tent which so extensively prevails throughout the United the blacksmith's business; has resided in Pennsylvania for States in reference to this system. The appeal which the the last fourteen years, and is well acquainted with the memorialists have made, in order to enlist other interests course of the iron business there. The effect of the adin their cause, by suggesting that the mechanics' petition ditional duty of $7 a ton, imposed by the tariff of 1828 on "has been got up for the purpose of destroying the whole rolled iron, was most severely felt by the workers in iron. system of a protecting policy, and that it lays the axe to It amounted to an addition of twenty per cent. on some the root of the entire system," contains a clear develop-qualities of iron in which they worked: he alludes to Engment of the plan by which this system is maintained, which lish common iron. [The witness here produced speciall admit to be extremely imperfect, and, in many of its mens of several descriptions of iron manufactures, and parts, grossly oppressive and unjust. It is a system main- also of the raw material of which they were made. tained by a combination, founded on the mutual support first consisted of two iron bars, the one punched for railof what is called an "entire system," but which is in fact roads, and the other plain, of the like quality; the next a a mere collection of exorbitant duties, indiscriminately chain, and a piece of the iron rod out of which it was imposed on raw materials and manufactured articles, with- made.] The witness then stated that the duty on the out any method or system whatever--a combination which bar, thus prepared for railroads, was, when laid, twentyresists all modification or improvement, which seeks to five per centum ad valorem; the cost of such iron in shut out inquiry, and would ever stifle complaint. As the England, at the cash cargo price, was £5 5s.; and £5 10s. memorialists have quoted the opinion of the President of at six months. In Wales, Staffordshire iron was worth the United States on one branch of this subject, we will 10s. a ton more. The expense of punching it was about quote, for their instruction, his opinion on the very point 25s. a ton; equal, at the usual rate of exchange, to $5 50. now under consideration. In his opening message to Con- The fair average price in this country, therefore, of this gress, the President specially warns us against that desire punched iron, would be about $50 a ton; while the cost of to sustain a general system," by "purchasing the sup- the plain bars, out of which it was made, would be about port of different interests;" and strongly denounces "those $70 a ton. The first cost being £5 58., and the duty $37 acts of majorities, founded not on an identity of convic- a ton, it followed, therefore, that railroad iron could be tion, but in a combination of small minorities, entered into imported at $20 a ton cheaper than the bar iron out of for the purpose of mutual assistance in measures which, which it is made; and it is, therefore, impossible to preresting only on their own merits, could never be carried." pare railroad iron in this country now. The committee are inspired with fresh confidence in the correctness of the views they have taken on this subject, from the fact that the memorialists have not attempted to contradict any of the material facts stated by the black The Since the year 1828, there has been a fall in the price of iron in England, from £8 to £5 10s. a ton, which has operated to increase the duty, in consequence of its being a specific duty. Hammered iron is made in England, and Workers in Iron. [21st CONG. 2d SESS. some of it is imported into this country. Reeves and high duty. The duty of three cents a pound on chain caWhitaker, and Mark Richards, of Pennsylvania, have im- bles can afford no protection to the American blacksmith, ported it. It costs, duty included, about $78 a ton. lieves it to be a mistake to suppose that the quality of iron Their industry can only be protected by bringing down Be- while the duty on the raw material is as high as it now is. depends on the process of hammering or rolling, by which the duty on the iron, so as to enable them to procure the it is prepared; thinks it depends chiefly on the purification material in which they work at as cheap a rate as the maby fire; the oftener it is heated, and the harder it is pressed,nufacturers of other countries. This would also encourage the better it will be. Before the witness came to Philadelphia, he followed labor. the consumption of iron, and increase the demand for their his business in Ohio. He came to the United States in iron was well fitted for several uses, as stated in the blackThe witness here stated, that, though American 1806, and went to Ohio in 1807, where he remained ten smiths' petition, yet it was not adapted to the manufacture years. He is a native of the island of Guernsey, where he of chain cables; in proof of which, he produced a chain followed his business until he came to this country. witness knows of no railroad iron having been used for other of American iron: the former had been in use for The cable, one part of which was made of English, and the other purposes than railroads, either before or after the six years, and the latter for only three; and yet, as might passage of the law granting a drawback. In relation to be seen on examination, while the English part of the the chain and rod, before alluded to by the witness, he chain was still good, the American had been nearly corsaid that a ton of the chain could be imported into this roded through with rust. country at $40 65 cheaper than the rods out of which it is to be so well understood in this country, that American manufactured, allowing the same for manufacturing in each captains, who were aware of it, would hardly take a cable This difference was beginning country; the duty on the former being 33 cents per lb., made of American iron. (equal to $78 40 a ton,) and on the latter 25 per cent. ad told him he would not take a chain cable made of Amerivalorem. There is a difference, however, in rating such can iron as a gift. The witness here exhibited a horseAn experienced whaleman lately chains as this, in New York and in Philadelphia: in New shoe imported from England, a ton of which would cost York, it is rated as a chain, which pays a duty of 25 per just about the same thing in this country as the iron out of cent. ad valorem; while, in Philadelphia, it is called a which they are made. chain cable, and is charged at three cents a pound. There iron bedscrews. He exhibited, also, some English is no doubt, however, that it ought to be charged as a this country. If witness should buy the iron to make a It is impossible now to make such in chain, and not as a cable, since it is too small to be used gross of such screws, and were to throw in his labor and as a cable for any but oyster boats, while its proper and fuel for nothing, he would be glad to pay upwards of one general use is for topsail sheets and ties, for hoisting goods dollar out of his own pocket to have them taken off his up, &c. &c. This is a half-inch chain, and made of Eng-bands. lish common iron: the price of the rods in England is knitting needles, and confirmed all the facts stated in the The witness next exhibited a bundle of English about £6 58. per ton, cash, cargo price. There is a loss blacksmiths' petition in relation to them. The witness of from 12 to 20 per cent. in manufacturing rods into then, referring to the petition, said he had carefully exchains; 12 per cent. may be taken as the average loss in manufacturing iron: this, of course, increases the duty on the raw material in proportion to that on the manufactured article. amined all the facts and arguments therein contained, as well as those contained in the former petitions on the same subject, and that he now confirmed all the statements conThe average price of such iron, imported in large bars, which may have taken place in prices since they were tained in them, with the single exception of the variations up to two inches, would be from $73 to $75. The witness drawn. After an investigation of the whole subject, and here produced a bolt, which, he said, was imported in a careful examination of the present condition of the iron bars: it cost $78. He had made it into rods in this trade in this country, and especially of all classes of percountry, and it cost the witness $105; if made in Eng-sons concerned in the production and manufacture of iron, land, would not have cost more than $85. Thinks the it is his decided opinion, that, if rolled and hammered iron expense of converting bars into rods in this country were admitted into the United States at a moderate duty, would be about $20 a ton: he has paid $25 for five- or duty free, it would be greatly for the advantage of all eighths, and $30 for half-inch. It is much cheaper to the parties concerned. make the bolts or bars originally, than to roll it into witness again referred to the reasoning contained in the In support of this opinion, the bolts or bars afterwards, as this would require a second petition, of which he entirely approved. He stated, also, heating. It would just make the difference between an among other things, that he had no doubt that a low duty expense of $4 44 and $20. The witness here produced on the raw material would so much increase the consumpa shovel, finished, with the exception of the handle, and tion of iron in this country, as to compensate the owners stated that the duty on this article, and also on fryingpans, of mines, by the increased demand, for any diminution and other articles made of sheet iron, is 25 per centum ad which might take place in the price; that, though old, valorem; and that a ton of such articles can be imported worn out, and worthless mines, which may be now worked, into this country at $34 62 less than the materials of which in consequence of the high duty, might be abandoned, the they are made; so that it is, of course, impossible to make rich mines of Pennsylvania and elsewhere could be worked such articles in this country. If the duty on iron were with increased activity and profit. Witness said he knew reduced, he thinks that the duty on chains could also be that a good mine could be worked profitably in America reduced in a short time, without injury to the chain makers. without protection, from the fact that mines were worked If it were raised, as suggested by one of the commit- at Trois Rivieres, in Canada, where the duty on foreign tee, [Mr. DICKERSON,] the only effect would be to drive iron was only five per cent. chain cables out of use in this country, and to introduce that, from a calculation founded on the Treasury reports, The witness further stated, cordage as a substitute. He knows that the present it appears that 47,000 tons of hardware were now annually high duty has already produced that effect, to some ex-imported into this country; and he had no doubt that, if tent. The ship owners would be driven, too, to supply the raw material was cheaper, 35,000 tons out of these their ships with chain cables abroad, in the place of hemp 47,000 would be manufactured in this country, which cables carried out from this country, which would be cut would greatly increase the number of workers in iron, and up for junk; and where the duty had been paid on a chain give a new impulse to the industry of the country. In cable, another would be procured in England, and the old answer to a question submitted by one of the committee, one be turned over to another ship. Believes this has [Mr. DICKERSON,] whether an additional duty of one cent already been done in some cases, in consequence of the per pound on all manufactures of iron would not remedy the evils of which the blacksmiths complained in their pe-bles, but use iron all over the rigging, to an extent untition, the witness said that it unquestionably would not; known in American vessels. Witness believes there has that the only effect of such a duty would be to lessen the been some improvement in the rolling mills in this country consumption of iron, and, indeed, to drive it out of use, of late years. These mills are not generally owned by wherever hemp, or wood, or any other substitute could the iron masters. These mills would be worked more be found for it. The witness here stated that he consi-profitably, if the raw iron could be bought cheaper. The dered the existing laws of the United States, in relation to witness thinks, that, on the whole, as much money is paid iron, imposing, as they do, a duty of from 159 to 280 per for the manufacture of iron in England as in this country. cent. on the raw material, and 25 per cent. on the manu-He made a calculation on chains, in Liverpool, six years factured article, to be exactly of the same character as if ago, and found that witness paid here one dollar for work, Great Britain should impose a duty of from 150 to 280 per which cost there seventy-five cents. In puddling iron, &s. cent. on raw cotton, and 25 per cent. on cotton manufac- a ton is the present price in England. Iron is generally tures. Great Britain encouraged her manufactories, by made into bars by two distinct classes of persons. In admitting the raw material at a low duty, or duty free; some parts of England, a vein of iron ore, four inches and, to encourage our mechanics, we should do the same. thick, will be worked for several hundred feet; it yields The witness believes that ninety-nine hundredths of the from 27 to 33 per cent. His information on this point is hardware imported into this country is made of English derived from books. If the duty on iron was reduced as common iron, such as he exhibited a specimen of in a rod prayed for by the blacksmiths in their petition, the Ametwisted, when cold, by himself, into a knot, which he con- rican workers in iron would enter into competition with siders as establishing its good quality. Such iron cost in the foreign manufacturers, and he has no doubt that emWales £5 58. cash, cargo price. It is stated in the Treasury ployment would be given to 50,000 mechanics beyond report that 3,000 tons of this iron are annually imported into those now employed in the United States; and this in adthis country. The witness here presented a specimen of dition to the multitude of persons who would be employ hoop iron, punched, and said that the whole cost of this ed by or through them, such as coal diggers, laborers, article, duty included, would be about $57 a ton, but the farmers, &c. &c. Thinks cut and hammered nails would duty alone and the raw material would be $78 40; the then be furnished cheaper than at present. If witness whole cost would be from $120 to $125. Understands, could get his iron free of duty, he would contract to furhowever, that the Treasury Department has decided that, nish cut nails at 3 cents per lb.; they now sell for 51, to constitute this article manufactured iron, the hoops He could make wrought nails at an amount less by the must be riveted; he thinks this must be wrong: for if the duty, that is to say, at five cents less than the present price. increased labor of the foreign workman is to have the ef. He made lately for a railroad half a ton of such nails at fect of lessening the duty, this would be tantamount to the 11 cents; they were made mostly of Juniata iron, and could prohibition of any American labor being besto ed on such have been furnished at $4 20 per cwt. less, but for the articles, which must certainly be contrary to the intent of duty on iron. These nails would have been imported, if the law. The witness proceeded to give another reason they could have been got from England in time. In all why an increase of the present duty on manufactured iron Philadelphia, he knows of but two hands now employed could not answer the purpose of the blacksmiths, that in making wrought nails. The witness is confident if iron nothing short of a due proportion between the duty on was admitted at a low duty, or duty free, there would be the raw material and the manufactured article would an- a more abundant supply of the article, both in peace and swer any purpose; and as the duty on the, raw material in war, and the capacity of the country to furnish articles was now from 159 to 280 per cent., an equivalent duty of iron of every description, from cannon down to nails, could not possibly be imposed on hardware; and if it were, would be greatly increased. If there are now a hundred the articles so taxed could not be generally used. The thousand persons, as he believes, employed in the black present duty on rolled iron was $37 a ton. To impose an smith's business in this country, there could be added at equivalent duty on the manufactured article, so as to put least 50,000 to the number; there would be an increased the blacksmiths on a footing with the iron masters, would demand for iron of every description; the good American require three times that amount, say $111, or 159 per mines would yield much larger quantities; and most of the cent. These duties, however, never can be equalized, hardware now made in England would be manufactured while one is an ad valorem and the other a specific duty; in this country. There is a much larger number of perboth ought to be an ad valorem duty--a low duty, and sons interested in the manufacture of iron than in working that of equal amount. the mines. From the testimony of the iron masters be To show the effect of high and low duties on the con- fore the Committee on Manufactures of the House of Resumption of iron, and on the number and skill of the presentatives, in 1828, (see report No. 115, p. 57,) it ap workmen employed in the manufacture, the witness refer- pears that but eleven thousand persons in all were e red to a French work, entitled An Inquiry into the Mines, ployed in preparing and making bar iron; and this includes reviewed in the London Foreign Quarterly Review for Octo- wood choppers, coal burners, &c. &c., and of this num ber, 1830. He there finds that the quantity of iron annually ber three-fifths are employed in the country, entirely out consumed in France is 175,000 tons. In England, the of the reach of competition. But, of this number, not consumption of cast iron alone is 700,000 tons; the ave- more than 3,000 are mechanics; and to give these people rage consumption in proportion to population is as 13 to 1; a bounty, 100,000 blacksmiths are oppressed, and the adand in the same ratio will be found the skill of the me-dition of 50,000 to their number prevented, which would chanics. The witness has seen a lady in France holding add immensely to the power and resources of the country, up the foot of a horse, while the blacksmith (if he could in peace and in war. The witness says he has travelled be so called) was hammering on the shoe. Witness attri- extensively, and seen much of the world, but he has ne butes both the small quantity of iron consumed in France, ver seen any blacksmiths so poor, or carrying on a less and the want of skill in the manufacture, to the high duty prosperous business, than those of the United States at this on the raw material, which is three or four times as high time, which is owing, as he confidently believes, to the in France as in England. Thinks, if the duty on iron were high duty which they are compelled to pay on iron, which reduced in this country, the consumption of chain cables not only increases the price of the raw material in which would be doubled. In France, wood is one of the great they work, but lessens the demand for their labor. Whe substitutes for iron. Hemp is another. Leather is also in the island of Guernsey, the witness, by the labor of his much used, and stone, (as for bridges.) French ships use two hands, realized £500 sterling by the time he was hemp cables, while English ships not only use chain ca- years of age. Thinks this could not now be done in the United States. Witness knows of an Englishman, whose Indian corn at fifty-one and fifty-two cents per bushel; name he thinks was Wood, who came to this country last from which I conclude that labor rated at about the same spring, for the purpose, as he understood, of establishing as at this time. An extract from the said books is now a manufacture of iron; but, after examining the state of handed to the chairman of the select committee of the things, he went back, having found, that, under the pre- Senate. sent high duty on the raw material, Great Britain was the place for making iron, and manufacturing hardware for the United States. That gentleman had travelled through the country, and estimated the quantity of iron made in the United States at 35,000 tons. raw state. INCREASE OF PAY OF CAPTAINS IN THE NAVY Mr. DonSEY, from the Committee on Naval Affairs, to The witness has understood that Mark Richards has lately imported a quantity of hoop iron with holes, the duty on which as iron, "in part manufactured," would be one thousand dollars less than the iron of which the hoops are made. Mr. Richards has declared, that, rather than pay the duty on hoops as raw iron, he will re-export them. It That, in the infancy of the Government, when the nawould be a bounty to foreign labor if the duty should be tional treasury was oppressed with a heavy debt, and the reduced according to the quantity of labor bestowed upon resources of our country for the purposes of national rethe article. Hoop iron has generally been imported in a venue had not been fully developed, statesmen of unIn the duties which have heretofore been im- questionable patriotism, and eminent political sagacity, reposed on iron, the iron masters have only considered them-sisted the policy of creating a permanent national navy, selves, and have regarded the mechanics no more than if under a belief that the expenses thereof would be too they were nonentities. Boiler iron is made principally in oppressive on the people, and who also feared that our Wales, Staffordshire, and Scotland. Witness has for-vessels of war could not contend, with any expectation of merly imported many tons of stovepipes, by which he conquest, with the old navies of Europe, and predicted, saved sixty dollars a ton. He considers the law clear; and, that, whenever they should put to sea in time of war, if a higher duty had been imposed, he would have resist they were destined to flatter the pride, and to increase ed it. Has not imported any stovepipes for the last ten the fleets, of our enemies. years. The witness here explained why boiler plates ought to be imported duty free, or at a very low duty. Boiler plates are now generally made of American iron, which he thinks render them weaker than the English boiler plates, in consequence of the former being more To raise the funds necessary for this purpose, an addishelly, or liable to scale off. When boiler plates are im- tional duty was laid on the importation of certain enumeported from England, in consequence of the high duty of rated articles, and a loan was authorized, reimbursable seventy-eight dollars a ton, thinner plates are imported from the proceeds of these duties. In 1797 and 1798, than are used for similar purposes in England. The con- the cruisers of France entered within our jurisdictional sequence in either case is a greater liability to explosion limits, captured the vessels of her enemy, and committed in steamboats and steam engines, to the great loss of property and of life, and the diminution of safety and comfort To repress these lawless acts of aggression, Congress in travelling. Since 1817, there has not been a single in- provided for a further increase of our navy. The pres stance of the bursting of a steamboat in England, and not sure on the national revenue had not then been lessened, one on the St. Lawrence, while in this country, since the neither had those doubts and fears as to the policy of creopening of navigation in the year 1830, there have been no ating a permanent navy subsided. These acts did not less than fifteen or sixteen. If steam engines could be look to such an establishment. They owed their origin procured cheaper in this country, their number would be to the immediate necessities of the nation for maritime greatly increased, and they would be applied to a variety defence, and were to be inoperative if peace should be of uses from which they are now excluded in various restored. The depredations committed on our commerce, and the wrongs inflicted on our seamen, by the corsairs of Algiers, at length induced Congress, in 1794, to provide for the building of a few vessels of war. spoliations on our commerce. branches of manufactures, and especially of iron. Wit- This indisposition towards a permanent navy, the temness would himself have had one in the establishment un-porary character of the service, and the necessity for the der his care, if the duty had been less, and many others in immediate addition to the public burdens which this inPhiladelphia would have done the same. The witness, crease of our naval armament imposed, must have inand those who are acting with him, come here, not to ask a favor, but sheer justice; and, while looking to their own interests, they are equally mindful of the interests of the whole country. JOHN SARCHET. Subscribed and affirmed to before the subscriber, a justice of the peace of Washington county, District of Columbia, February 7, 1831. ROBERT CLARKE. NOTE by Mr. SARCHET. I find by the books of James Drinker, of Philadelphia, that he exported iron to England in the years 1771, '2, and '3; that bar iron is charged in the said books at twenty shillings per cwt., Pennsylvania currency, or $2 66 2-3 cents, equal to $53 33 1-3 cents per ton; that the same iron sold at £15 10s. sterling per ton in Bristol, England; that pig iron is invoiced at $22 and $22 66 2-3 cents per ton; that best common flour sold, according to said books, at $2 35 cents per cwt.; superfine at $3 134 cents per cwt.; that wheat sold at one dollar per bushel by the quantity, VOL. VII.--P duced Congress to have graduated the navy pay as low as practicable consistently with the public service. No certain and regular addition has since been made to it. The brilliant achievements of the navy during the late war produced a revolution in the public opinion in its faof fostering its growth, and that the pay of its gallant offivor. The nation became convinced of the expediency cers was too small; and Congress, by the act of 1815, vested in the President a discretionary power of enlarging it twenty-five per cent., whenever the nature of the service in which the navy should be employed, should, in his judgment, require it. At the close of the late war the public debt had been much increased. An anxiety for its prompt reduction pervaded the community. A system of general retrenchment was adopted by Congress, and the discretionary power vested in the President by the act of 1815 was withdrawn by the act of February, 1817. The committee submit, herewith, a tabular statement, showing the navy pay from 1794 until the present time. |