it the gentleman informs us that the bill is guarded is yet we have not heard one word as to the kind of THE TARIFF BILL. The bill imposing duties on imports was read; and, on question of reading a second time, a division took and 26 being in favor, it was ordered to a second ding. THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1828. THE TARIFF BILL. The bill to levy duties on imports was read a second and Mr. DICKERSON moved its reference to the mittee on Manufactures. BRANCH opposed the motion. [SENATE. Mr. BRANCH opposed the motion. Mr. NOBLE said he disliked the resolution, coming, as it did, on the very heels of the Tariff. He thought the conclusion of the public would be, that the Senate intended to stifle the American System. He wished that the resolution might lay on the table, and allow the Chairman of the Manufacturing Committee to bring out his budget, and weigh the sectional question, and, if possible, do justice to all. He moved that it lay on the table, and let each man march up to the investigation of the subject. He did not wish to hurt the interests of the South or the North, but to deal fairly by all. If the Senate now displayed a desire to go home, when such a measure came before them, the People would mark it with reprobation. Mr. McKINLEY said his objection was, that the resolution not only related to the adjournment, but to a selection of the business; and, on this point, the Senate ought not to act precipitately. The business of the other House had been interrupted by the discussion of the Tariff, and it would also be obstructed here by the same subject. He thought the matter of selecting business ought to be delayed. He moved to reconsider the vote on agreeing to the resolution. Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, said, that, when committees had been formerly appointed to fix upon the business to be acted upon, their recommendations had not been regarded. Each House had taken up the business as it thought fit. From this experience he was convinced that a selection of subjects by a committee would be of no benefit. The Senate was placed in a peculiar situa tion this year. They had completed nearly all their business, and had nothing left but to act upon subjects which would come from the House of Representatives. They had done but little as yet, and much was before It would them, which would require at least a month. be difficult to select those subjects which would be best As to the Tariff Bill, he should entitled to be acted on. He should be willing to give a silent vote upon it. think that thirty days would suffice for its discussion. Mr. CHANDLER said he thought it better to delay acting upon the resolution. Mr. KING said, that, hitherto, all business had been smothered in the other House by the Tariff Bill. On former occasions, when committees had fixed upon the business to be acted upon, instead of taking up those matters which had been matured in one House, they fixed upon new subjects, and, in consequence, bills which had already been acted upon by one body, were neglected. He himself had suffered from this course, last year, from the rejection, by the committee, of bills that had already passed the Senate. A great mass of business had been sent this session to the House, and he wished to see what course they took, before this resolution was concurred in, and, therefore, was desirous that it might be delayed. Mr. JOHNSON, of Ky., said, that, by a reference to the proceedings of Congress, in the year 1824, he found that the Tariff of that year came into the Senate on the 19th of April, and on the 21st, a resolution passed, fixing the adjournment on the 20th May. This resolution was not a decision to adjourn; but a prepara When he had offered a resolution tory step towards it. on a former day, in relation to the same object, he had remonstrance against agitating any such proposition, until the House first made it; and that the Senate ought to wait and see what disposition the House made of the Tariff; and now he was told, that they must wait and see how the House got along with the other business. He hoped there would be no delay in deciding upon this resolution. He would add one word in relation to the Tariff. He presumed it would be fully discussed in the Senate, and that various pro question being taken, it was referred to the Com- been met by a e on Manufactures. ADJOURNMENT OF CONGRESS. resolution of the other House in relation to the adment, having been read and agreed to, and on the tion of appointing a committee, McKINLEY moved to postpone the appointment Monday. VOL. IV. 44 positions would be made to modify it; but he should ma. of business was omitted. If [APRIL 24, 1828 Mr. KING asked whether the reconsideration was unnecessary because the concurrence was improper? The CHAIR said it was so. Mr. BRANCH inquired whether the motion to lay on the table was intended to delay the resolution, or to obtain information? The CHAIR replied that it was to examine the record, and act upon the resolution according to former practice. The resolution was then ordered to lie on the table. BALTIMORE AND OHIO RAIL ROAD. Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, moved to take up the bill authorizing the Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road Company to import iron and machinery. Mr. DICKERSON said he hoped the Senate would not take it up. It was one of great importance, and he con sidered it should not be hurried through. He wished some further time to examine the subject. Mr. SEYMOUR wished there should be more time given for consideration before he was called on to give his vote. There was a bill lying on the table a long time which was taken out of its regular course; it ought in justice to have the preference. Mr. HAYNE said he was averse to the principle o taking up a subject, and then dropping it suddenly. I the bill should be postponed until next week, then the whole discussion must be commenced de novo. He hop ed, for economy's sake, at this period of the session, the Senate would resume its consideration. Mr. SILSBEE offered the following amendment, whic he prefaced by some observations: To add the following at the end of the last section "And shall give bond for the amount of duties in th usual manner, subject to the condition, (to be expresse in the bond,) that, on satisfactory proof being given the Secretary of the Treasury that such iron has bee used in the construction of such rail-roads, such bon shall thereon be cancelled." The amendment was then agreed to. Mr. BRANCH spoke in opposition to reconsidering. Mr. BENTON said he had similar objections to the resolution as those expressed by the Senator from Mas- Mr. MARKS said he did not rise so much for the pu sachusetts. He therefore hoped the motion to recon- pose of opposing the bill, as to explain the motives whic sider would prevail; and that it then might be put be- would induce his vote. There was no certainty that th fore the two Houses in its proper form. They could ad- intended rail road would extend to Pittsburg: it woul journ at any time. But a committee of the kind propos-go entirely south to Pennsylvania. He would be the la ed, were not the best judges of what business ought to man in the world to oppose a measure imparting so muc be done. Each House could better decide on the sub-general benefit. The Legislature of Pennsylvania, la jects as they came up. The opinion of a few individu- session, directed a committee to make a rail-road, exten als, at the close of the session, who would probably judge ing about ninety miles, from Philadelphia. Members a from their own feelings, could not well be relied on to generally influenced by the votes of their constituents settle this question. Mr. B. then moved a substitute for they are the best judges of what is useful and necessary the resolution, in which the portion relative to a choice They are composed of the manufacturing and agricultur portion of the community, and we should be entirely g Mr. WEBSTER said that it appeared to him to be a verned by their opinions. He had no doubt but Pen novel question, and he doubted whether it was the prac-sylvania is as much entitled as Maryland or Ohio to the tice to concur in a resolution of the other House, which advantages of the privilege to make rail-roads. Althoug was not a joint resolution. the roads are not at present so great in extent, yet Pen sylvania will be obliged shortly to make rail-roads as e tensive as Baltimore or Ohio. Several rail-roads wer authorized to be made in Pennsylvania. They were ever where springing up. The capacity of the country fo producing iron was commensurate with this increasing demand for it. Pennsylvania produced iron enough no for its own consumption, leaving a large surplus for th use of other States. If we remitted the duties on th iron and machinery imported for the use of this compan we should, of course, be obliged to do the same for all othe companies, to the manifest disadvantage of the domest Mr. KING asked the nature of the difficulty, and production of iron. The corporation for whose benefitt whether the vote could be reconsidered ? remission was proposed to be made, was rich. They e The CHAIR stated that there was no need of recon-pected to profit largely by the enterprise, or they wou sidering; because the concurrence would have been by not have invested their money in it. The Senator fro appointing a committee. Maryland had chosen to animadvert on the course whi The CHAIR said that it was a question of practice altogether, whether the Senate could reconsider, or whether it was the practice of concurring in a resolution of the House. Mr. WEBSTER said, that it seemed questionable whether the Senate could amend a resolution passed by a vote merely of the other House. He moved to lay the resolution on the table. Mr. FOOT said there could not be a question as to the matter. It was not in the power of the Senate to amend a resolution of the House of Representatives. APRIL 24, 1828.] Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road. [SENATE. for their ships, is included the duty on imported iron; but it was not thought politic to make a distinction between the Government and individuals. We were, by this bill, appropriating money, not for specific objects, but to rail road companies of indefinite number. If this company had objects in view greatly beneficial to the nation, other companies might have objects of little or no public benefit in view. A road of a mile or two miles, for private purposes, would be just as much entitled to the bounty of the Government. Here Mr. B. proceeded to make further remarks on the observations of the Senator from Maryland, [Mr. SMITH.] Pennsylvania has taken in regard to the metropolis of Maryland. During the time that he was a member of the Legislature of Pennsylvania, no hostility was discovered pwards Baltimore. A rail road had been authorized from Tork Haven to Baltimore. This did not indicate hostility. Mr. SMITH, of Mary land, explained. He perceived yesterday, he said, from the looks of the Senator, he was mistaken by him. There were obstructions in the river Susquehannah, which rendered its ascent or descent difficalt. The Legislature of Maryland voted a sum for the improvement of the navigation of the river, but the State of Pennsylvania would not permit it to be applied. Mr. MARKS resumed. This was no proof of the exstence of any jealousy, on the part of Pennsylvania, of the prosperity of Baltimore. He well recollected the ase to which the gentleman alluded. The offer of the State of Maryland was refused because the State of Pennivania was not consulted, and because it was thought violation of her rights to have improvements made in Mr. FOOT said, before he gave his vote, he wished to er limits without her consent. But, subsequently, the ascertain what would be the amount of the duties pro* States had an understanding on the subject. Mary-posed to be remitted? By his own calculations they and gave $ 40,000 towards the improvement of the na- would amount to $450,000. Why should such duties be gation of the Susquehannah, and Pennsylvania gave remitted to companies rather than to the United States? 60,000. Certainly this was no evidence on our part of What was the situation of the stock? It was sold at a cisposition unfriendly to Baltimore. Many of our prin- great advance on the scrip, when sold at all. Most of it pal turnpikes, too, terminate on the Maryland line. was kept up, and withdrawn from market. He would his was no evidence of the hostility with which the gen like to have some reason for the donation. eman accused us. This much he had thought it necesry to say, to obviate the impression which the remarks ade by the gentleman might have produced. I have en anxious to remove that impression, because I know is unfounded. I do know that our people are friendly the State and the metropolis of Maryland, and would ther promote than retard that prosperity. Mr. M. concluded with some further remarks on the policy of the proposed measure. Mr. DICKERSON moved an amendment to the bill, not heard. The amendment, after some remarks from Mr SMITH, of Maryland, was lost. The bill was then reported to the Senate, and the amendments adopted in the Committee of the Whole were agreed to. Mr. HARRISON rose not to make a speech; for he d there was at this period of the session no time for eech making-but to say two words in favor of the bill. e internal improvement of the country, and its agriItural improvement, would be greatly promoted by the oposed rail-road. It was not his wish to throw into the nds of the company any facility for the execution of is work which the general interests of the nation did require. Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, said that the amount of the sum remitted would not exceed 180,000. Mr. DICKERSON asked whether this company was more meritorious than other companies? And whether rail-road companies were more worthy of the protection of the Government than other companies? Were not ships as important to the interests of the country as railroads? Why did we not then remit the duty on iron and hemp imported for the use of ships? Rail roads were about to become numerous in this country. We had the capacity to furnish the iron. The passage of the bill threw the whole property of the iron manufacturer into the hands of British iron masters. He protested against the policy of the bill, but he despaired of defeating it. He asked the ayes and noes on the question. The call being sustained, the ayes and noes were ordered. After some remarks from-Messrs. Foor and CHANDLER, Mr. BARNARD was, he said, as fully persuaded of the Mr. MACON asked whether the remission of the duty lity and importance of rail-roads as was the Senator would affect the toll of the rail-roads? It would be Ohio. The measure proposed would introduce a strange if the people, with the encouragement which the principle, a new and mischievous system into our po- duty gave them, and having iron ore enough for the whole ; a distinction in the distribution of the favors of the world, could not prepare iron enough for home consump wernment between one and another class of men. Such tion. He recollected that before the duty was imposed tinctions, however meritorious the favored party might the iron business was very profitable. If the people were were fraught with evil to free institutions. forced to get their iron here, the planting interest would Whether we exonerated the company or not from the be greatly benefitted. By planters, he meant all persons ty, the tolls which they would charge on the country from Maine to Florida who cultivated their own lands ould be the same. The great argument used by the with their own labor. He disapproved of the fashionable entlemen in favor of the bill was that we have not the ca- term "farmers," as applied to those who owned the soil city to produce iron for our own consumption. The which they cultivated. This bill gave a gratuity to the ount of iron used in the country is 97,000tons, say 100,000; richest men in the country. If the bill did not lessen the this quantity 30,000 tons are imported from abroad. toll of the rail-road, it was of no use to the community. have ourselves inexhaustible quantities of iron ore. Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, was, he said, placed in the single State of Pennsylvania there was ore enough, a dilemma by this bill. He was forced to vote against his and labor enough, to supply the whole Union with iron, doctrines in regard to internal improvements, or to vote were the present consumption increased tenfold. I for the protection of domestic manufactures. If we did dore contend that the ground assumed is not tenable. not remit the duty, we imposed on the company the neLe gentleman from Maryland says the argument here- cessity of waiting till iron foundaries were established; re used against this application, to wit, that the Go- and then of taking the iron at whatever price the iron ment does not remit the duty on iron used for its master should choose to demand. This was a most gross of war, is of no avail, because we use for those pur-violation of justice. There were, no doubt, gentlemen American iron. The argument is rendered the ager by that circumstance; for the fact shows our pacity for producing good iron. I contend that in the which the Government pays for this American iron who had voted for grants of hundreds of thousands of dollars to national roads who would vote against this application. Placed in this dilemma, the safest course for me is, I think, to vote for the bill. SENATE.] Internal Improvements.—Survivors of the Revolution. Mr. VAN BUREN spoke in reply to the question of the Senator from North Carolina. The Senator, said Mr. V. B., asks whether the remission of the duty on the iron imported will produce a corresponding diminution of the toll charged by the company? The company, he replied, were entitled by their charter to charge a certain sum as a toll. There was no reason to believe that they would lessen it. Their object was profit. It would hardly be expected of priyate individuals to become more careful of the interests of others than their own; and corporations, having no souls, could not be expected to be more liberal. The stock of this rail-road company was good stock, and it was owned by our richest capitalists. It was now worth sixteen for one. Private interest was the only motive which actuated men in undertaking these enter prises. They looked to the amount of the dividends they were to receive from the investment; or, in some instances, to the enhancement of the value of their lands. He would repeat, in reply to the Senator from North Carolina, that the remission of the duty would not lessen the tolls. [APRIL 25, 1828. on the table yesterday, the CHAIR entertained no doubt that the concurrence of the Senate in such resolutions, by vote, was not sustained by former practice. The appointment of a committee would be the proper act of concurrence. SURVIVORS OF THE REVOLUTION. On motion of Mr. WOODBURY, the bill providing for certain Surviving Officers of the Revolution was taken up. The following substitute for the original bill, reported by the committee on the subject, being before the Senate: Strike out, after the enacting clause, and insert: "Section 1. That each of the surviving officers of the Army of the Revolution, in the continental line, who was entitled to half pay by the resolve of October 21st, 1780, be authorized to receive, out of any money in the Treasury, not otherwise appropriated, the amount of his full pay in said line, to begin on the day of and to continue during his natural life. "Section 2. That, whenever any of said officers has Mr. HAYNE spoke in reply to Mr. VAN BUREN.- received money of the United States as a pensioner, There was a universal law of nature which applied to this since the day of - aforesaid, the sum so receivcase. Competition, or other causes, would bring downed shall be deducted from what said officer would other the tolls of this rail-road to a reasonable profit. The rail-wise be entitled to under the first section of this act, and roads would consume an additional quantity of iron to the any pension to which said officer is now entitled, shall extent of 20,000 tons yearly. If the duty were not re- cease after the passage of this act. mitted, the price of every article made from iron in the "Section 3. That every surviving soldier in said army, country would be greatly increased. The introduction and non-commissioned officer, who enlisted therein for of this manufacture would employ 300,000 hands; where- and during the war, and continued in the service until as the iron masters, if they furnished the iron, would em- its termination, and thereby became entitled to receive ploy but 30,000 hands. The manufacture of the iron a reward of $80 under the resolve of Congress, passed wanted for rail roads required particular nicety and skill. May 15, 1778, shall be entitled to receive his full monthThe reason why it could not be supplied by our iron ly pay, in said service, out of any money in the Trea masters, was, that they could not furnish iron prepared sury, not otherwise appropriated, to begin on the in the proper manner. The introduction of this princi- day of -, and to continue during his natural life. ple into our legislation was not new. We had made a "Section 4. That the pay allowed by this act, shall, similar remission of duties on books imported, on philo- under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, be sophical apparatus, and on articles employed in manu-paid to the officer or soldier entitled thereto, or to their factures, to the amount of eight millions of dollars. The authorized attorney, at such places and days as said Secompany had advertised for a supply of the iron which cretary may direct, and that no foreign officer shall be they wanted, and but two offers were made, and those of entitled to said pay, nor shall any officer or soldier revery small quantities. It was considered that the iron could ceive the same, until he furnish to said Secretary satis not be furnished in this country. The iron masters in factory evidence that he is entitled to the same, in con. Pennsylvania could not answer the orders which they al- conformity to the provisions of this act; and the pay al ready had. The rail roads were the most important im- lowed by this act shall not, in any way, be transferable provement, excepting that of steam, which had been in- or liable to attachment, levy, or seizure, by any legal troduced in modern times. Whether this work should process whatever, but shall enure wholly to the perso be undertaken by individuals, burdened by the laws of nal benefit of the officer or soldier entitled to the same the country, was the question presented by the bill. by this act. After some further remarks from Mr. VAN BUREN, in reply to Mr. HAYNE, the question was taken on or dering the bill to a third reading, and decided in the affirmative. INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS. The bill making appropriations for internal improvements was returned from the House of Representatives; that House having disagreed to the amendments of the Senate, limiting the appropriations for surveys to such surveys as are already in progress. The bill was recommitted to the Committee of Finance. "Section 5. That so much of said pay as accrued by the provisions of this act before the day of shall be paid to the officers and soldiers entitled to the same, as soon as may be, in the manner, and under the provisions, before mentioned: and the pay which shall accrue after the day of shall be paid semiannually, in like manner, and under the same provi sions." committee, were then proposed; and the question be Several amendments to the substitute proposed by the ing on filling the blank with the "3d March, 1826," Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, said, that when, on a former occasion, the bill had been before the Senate, sums proposed, its disapprobation of the form in which it had expressed, by three several votes, on different the bill was then presented. He had understood, at that time, that, if the Senate did not grant the claim claim again. It was, however, now brought forward, then advanced, they would retire and not urge their and in a manner which rendered it far more objectiona ble than formerly. It was an accession to the pension system of the country, and he believed that the amount of money which it would eventually call for, would far 25, 1828.] Survivors of the Revolution. [SENATE. ed any computation that the committee had made. | useful purpose; and the Senate could not, he thought, also objected that some of the officers were men | refuse this slight token of regard to the honorable pride ealth, and stated that he knew one who was worth of these veterans. The present arrangement would require 900. a sum far less than would have been demanded had these officers been placed on the pension list from the commencement. Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, observed, that the gentleman from South Carolina, [Mr. SMITH] seemed to fear that frauds would be committed under this act; and that unworthy objects would reap the benefits of the bill. But this was out of the question, as no individual could be embraced by this measure, who had not been on the commutation roll, and received the commutation. These individuals could easily be ascertained, so that there was no fear of the frauds the gentleman seemed to apprehend[Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina said, that he had only supposed that other persons would come in. He did not attribute fraud to any one. . BERRIEN considered the objections of the genan from South Carolina applied rather to the conof the friends of the bill, than to the claim itself. B. did not recollect that any pledge was given that claim should not be further urged; but he did reect, that one of the advocates of the bill declared the officers would not consent to be placed on the sion list. He would repeat what he had said be :that he had arrived at a conviction that these offihad an equitable claim on the Government; and therefore, was disposed to acquiesce in any plan, which they should receive it, in a form not revolting heir feelings. As to the objections of the gentlefrom South Carolina, that these officers were men tealth, he would ask if that was a good reason for Mr. SMITH, of Maryland, continued. It amounted to granting the claim? He stated that some of them the same thing. No one could by possibility come in, but large fortunes. I should be happy, said Mr. B. to those for whom the provisions of the bill were intended. w that these men who have served their country so He thought the objection, that some of these officers fully, were in the enjoyment of the blessings of com- were rich, had no application to the bill. There might ence. But it was not so general as to have any effect be one or two instances of the kind; but what had they the large mass of those for whom this bill provided. to do with the aggregate? As far as his knowledge exreply to the objection that this bill would swell the tended, it was not the case. In Maryland he knew that sion list, he would remark, that, as it was a debt for the officers of the Continental line needed the pension. payment of which the faith of the Government was In that State the Cincinnati met every year, and at those dged, the manner in which it was discharged was meetings the death of every member was reported-this of the last importance. As to the supposition that was the case in every State where there were Cincinnati. amount of pension would exceed the calculations of So that the numbers of the survivors could easily be ascerè committee, Mr. B. stated, that the number of offi-tained. Where there were none other means could be s was known, and the apprehensions of the gentlefrom South Carolina would not be realized. Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, replied, and repeated opinion, that it was understood that the bill would again be pressed. tr. HARRISON said, that whatever pledge others ht have given that they would not farther press this m, he did not subscribe to any such pledge. He conred this bill as treated with great unfairness, and obted to in a spirit which looked like illiberality. used to obtain the information required. There could not, therefore, be any difficulty in ascertaining the individuals entitled to the benefits of the bill. He had stated before, that the computation of those who had been in the army three years, at the end of the war had been correctly made, when the pension list was first agitated in Congress. There was no difficulty in making out the list--but the computation was destroyed afterwards, by introducing those who had served nine months. The It was so Mr. CHANDLER inquired if those who received the 4. WOODBURY said in reply to the objections of- commutation were the only class for whom this bill providby Mr. SMITH, of South Carolina, that, at a form- ed. He should like to know why those who served three period, a meeting had been called of the surviving of years, should be preferred to those who served six s of the Revolution, at Baltimore, at which a Commit-years, and retired previous to the close of the war. of Correspondence was appointed, to correspond with former lost, by the depreciation of the currency, no friduals in every State in the Union. This correspon- more than the latter. ice had taken place, and, from the data obtained, the ber of those officers had been found to be about two dred and thirty five-this, with the knowledge of number of officers at the close of the Revolution, rded satisfactory evidence that the number could not entially vary from this estimate. There could be no error in this computation. As to any pledge havbeen given, that this claim should not be urged an, after its rejection, in the form originally propos he knew nothing that could be so construed, with the teption of a remark made by the gentleman from New [MP. VAN BUREN.] He had stated, that they would draw their memorial if the only grant that could be ined was the insertion of their names on the pension And, as stated by the gentleman from South Caroen the other side of the House, the pride of these ants revolted at the idea of being placed on the list sioners as mere paupers, when they considered they had a claim on the Government under a promise rly made by Congress. Under these circumstances, had been projected, on a further meeting of the ittee-still retaining the ground of the rights of memorialists, by which they might be spared from degrading necessity of taking an oath of their poverty act which would have wounded their feelings to no Mr. WOODBURY, in reply, said, that the officers for whom this bill provided, not only lost, in common with all the other officers, the depreciation on their pay, but they also lost the reduction on their half pay. with the soldiers. This bill applied to those only who, having been promised a bounty of eighty dollars, lost not only the depreciation upon their monthly pay, but the depreciation on their bounty. Mr. VAN BUREN made some remarks, on rising, which the reporter could not hear. He thought there would be no end to the objections which this bill was doomed to meet. It seemed to be argued that there was an impropriety in pressing this claim in its present form. And, on this head, he would say a few words. These officers found their claim upon the commutation of the half pay for life which Congress had promised them. There are other considerations, which it is not now necessary to urge. He then detailed the circumstances under which the memorial of the officers had been brought forward, but in a tone of voice, which was not distinctly heard in the gallery. On proposing to the officers the acceptance of a place on the pension list, they said that all who had been driven by dire necessity to that resort, were there already. The present plan did not propose to give what they or their friends considered them entitled |
