has been levied by it, upon the products of foreign labor, operating as a bounty to the domestic manufacturer or producer of the same articles, the price of such protected articles must necessarily rise in the same proportion. This is a very common, and we conceive, a very fallacious idea; for it seems evident, that in proportion as you give just and adequate protection to any branch of industry, (take manufactures, for example,) in the same proportion you multiply the labor and capitol invested in them, thus augmenting the supply, and creating a competition at home, in addition to the competition from abroad, which will never fail to exist, under any Tariff that does not reach the point of prohibition; and thus, a reduction in prices is the natural and certain consequence. We hesitate not to affirm, that, if proper encouragement be afforded to home manufacturers, in less than five years from this day, without a rise in the price of agricultural produce, of which there is scarcely a probability, that the Southern States will furnish all the coarser cotton goods necessary for their consumption, on cheaper terms than they can now purchase them; and by the withdrawal of the amount of capital necessary for that purpose, from the cultivation of our great staple, not only enhance its price, but furnish a profitable market, which does not now exist, either at home or abroad, for a vast amount of Southern produce. But we cannot, now, enlarge upon this branch of the subject. We wish, in conclusion, to call particular attention to the charge above referred to, that a Tariff which encourages domestic industry, is a burden upon consumption, or, in other words, increases the price of the articles we are compelled to purchase. No doubt many fine abstractions can be spun in proof of this stale and stereotyped doctrine; but it will be admitted by all, that in determining its truth, facts, which never bear false witness, are better than theories. The actual every day working of the system is that which most concerns the people. Let us then, in the first place, institute a comparison between the prices of the chief articles of common use, many years ago, when American manufactures were in their infancy, and the present prices of the same articles, now that these manufactures have been prosperously established.

Cotton Yarn, per pound, 75 to 100

18 to 25

Thus shewing that the prices of the main articles needed by our

people, have been REDUCED about four-fold, instead of increased, since the establishment of home manufactures.

We will now refer to the practical operation of the Tariff of 1842, upon the prices of cotton goods and leather, articles of such universal use among the laboring men of our country; and it must be conceded that the time which has intervened since the passage of that act, has been much too short, for the full development of its cheapening effects.

The following tables, as well as the one which precedes them, have been compiled from the report of the Committee on Manufactures, in the last Congress.

From which it will be seen that there has been a decided decrease in the price of these essential articles, although so short a time has elapsed since the passage of the Tariff act.

Let us turn our attention to other articles. The price of glassware, for instance, on which the Tariff of 1842 imposes as high duties, perhaps, as on any other articles, we find are much lower than they were, previous to the Tariff of 1842.

And so on, of other descriptions. Window-glass 8 by 10 and 10 by 12, which is largely protected by the Tariff of '42, has since fallen from $2.10 per box to $1.65, and all other sizes in the same proportion. The New York prices are referred to as the standard. We invite special attention to the articles of hardware, which are most largely protected by the Tariff of 1842, and one of chief use by our agricultural population. It will be found that since this act went into operation, they can be bought at least 20 per cent. cheaper than before. Subjoined is a table of the New York comparative prices, before and since the Tariff of 1842.

And so on through the whole catalogue. The same results may

be noted in more Western markets than New York-viz: Cincinnati, Chicago and others.

We will close these statistics, by submitting one general additional table of most of the essential articles used by our citizens, with the reduction of prices at New York and elsewhere.

From facts like these, and not from any general denunciation of the system, will the people be able to determine in their own minds the interesting question, whether or not the Tariff strikes directly at their dearest interests, by increasing the price of the necessaries and comforts of life.

We have thus hurriedly, and we know imperfectly, thrown together our views upon the important questions embraced in this PROTEST. We regret extremely that circumstances were such as to preclude the possibilty of devoting to them a degree of attention fully commensurate with the interest they have awakened in the country. But principles to which we are attached, having been attacked in an unexpected moment, and at the very heel of the session, by the Committee on the State of the Republic, and 500 copies of their report ordered for publication, with a view to distribution, we felt called upon, limited as was our time, to say thus much in their defence, even at the hazard of falling far short of that measure of justice, which more leisure and an abler hand could have awarded to them. R. B. HAUGHTON.

We, the undersigned, concur in the foregoing Protest:

D. G. McLEAN,

JAS. H. T. LORIMER,

THOMAS M. WHITE,
R. A. MITCHELL.

The House returned the Senate preamble and resolutions asking Congress to grant to the State of Florida, St., Francis Barracks for a Seminary of Learning,

Rejected by the House.

The following message was received from his Excellency the Governor :

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Capitol, Tallahassee, Dec. 26, 1845. Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives:

I have approved an "Act to change the name of Theodore C. H. Cohoon to that of Theodore C. Hearn."

Very respectfully, your ob't. serv't.

Also the following:

W. D. MOSELEY.

25

EXECUTIVE OFFICE,

Capitol, Tallahassee, Dec. 26th, 1845.

Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives:
I hereby nominate Domingo Acosta and Ephraim Harrison, as
Commissioners of Fisheries, in Nassau County.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your ob't servant,
W. D. MOSELEY.

Which nominations were advised and consented to. Mr. Mays, from the Committee on Conference relative to the House bill to amend the revenue laws made the following Report: The Committee of Conference on the part of the Senate, appointed to act with a similar committee on the part of the House, to whom was referred the disagreement between the two Houses, upon " a bill entitled An Act to raise a evenue for the State of Florida," have had the same under consideration, and Report:

That the committee, discovering in their deliberations, the only important differences between the two Houses exist in relation to the capitation tax, and the tax upon slaves,-the committee having in view the importance of the subject referred to them-the necessity of the passage of a law at this session which will meet the actual wants of State Government-that no debt may accrue by reason of an insufficient revenue, the committee have been guided in their investigations by that spirit of compromise which loses sight of those difficulties which present themselves unintentionally to our minds, when governed by individual preferences or prejudices. They have therefore, deemed it expedient and proper, to end the conference by agreeing to reinstate the 3d section, stricken out of the bill by the Senate, and adopting the amendments of the Senate appended to said bill, numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, and strike out the 7th section of the original bill. The committee, believing they have come to a right understanding of the subject given them in charge, beg leave to be discharged from the further consideration thereof. All of which is respectfully submitted.

D. H. MAYS, Chairman Com. Senate.
Wm. W. J. KELLY,

Chairman on part of the House.

A bill was received from the House to be entitled An Act to amend an act to organize the office of Treasurer of the State of Florida, which was read a first time.

On motion of Mr. Kain, the rule was waived, and the bill read a second and third time, and put on its passage.

On which the yeas and nays were:

Yeas-Mr. President, Messrs. Bellamy, Bell, Broward, Carter, Forward, Goodbread, Haughton, Kain, Lorimer, Mays, McLean, Mitchell, Priest, & White-15. Nays-None.

So the bill passed. Title as stated.

The following message was received from the House:

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Dec. 26, 1845.

Hon. President of the Senate:

The House have concurred in the report of the committee of conference in relation to the bill to be entitled An Act to amend an act entitled an act to raise a revenue for the State of Florida, &c. Your obt. servt., M. D. PAPY, Clerk Ho. Rep. On motion of Mr. White, the Senate took a recess until 4 o'clock

P. M.

4 O'CLOCK, P. M.

A resolution was received from the House, instructing the Attorney General to proceed against certain associations claiming to exercise corporate privileges, &c.

Which was read a first time, and ordered for a second reading. The House bill to be entitled An Act to suspend so much of the Revenue Laws as restricts the City of St. Augustine to the assessment of not more than 50 per cent. on the State Tax,

Was read a second time.

Mr. Forward moved to amend the bill by striking out the second section, and inserting the following in its place.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, That the taxes levied within the corporate limits of said city, shall be equal and uniform.

Which amendment was adopted.

On motion of Mr. Forward, the rule was waived, the bill read a second and third time, as amended, and put on its passage.

On which the yeas and nays were:

Yeas-Mr. President, Messrs. Bellamy, Bell, Broward, Carter, Forward, Goodbread, Haughton, Kain, Lorimer, Mays, McLean, Mitchell, Priest, and White-15.

Nays-None."

So the bill passed as amended. Title as stated.

The following message was transmitted by his Excellency, the Governor :

EXECUTIVE OFFICE, Capitol, Tallahassee, Dec. 26, 1845. Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Representatives:

I have approved an "Act to establish the office of Register of Public Lands for the State of Florida."

By one of the provisions of this act, it is made the duty of the General Assembly to elect the Register, whose office has therein. been created.

I have deemed it proper to invite your attention to this subject, as it is of the utmost importance that this appointment shall be filled before your adjournment.

The power of appointment to this office is entrusted to the Executive in case of a vacancy, which, it is presumed, was intended to be conferred only in the event of a vacancy that might happen during the recess, by death, resignation, or otherwise; or in case