DEC. 23, 1830.] Armory on the Western Waters. [H. of R. The committee then rose, and reported the bill as measure from that quarter. He had declared his unwilamended; and the amendment was agreed to. lingness to entrust the President with the proposed selecMr. CARSON said he felt a disposition to oblige his tion. From what had heretofore taken place, it was evifriends; and of all the committees of the House, there was dent this House would never come to an understanding none on whose report he would sooner rely without ex- on the subject. The work was admitted to be necessary, amination, if he could do so for any committee, than that and he saw no prospect of its ever being commenced unof which the gentleman from South Carolina was chair-less the power proposed by the present bill was given to man. But he could see no necessity for the erection of the President. He had every confidence in the officer referthe armory proposed; arms could be purchased much red to, and did not doubt that he would select such a site cheaper by contract than they could be made at the ar- as would be for the public good. As to what had fallen mories, and enough could be manufactured at Pittsburg to from the gentleman from North Carolina, [Mr. CARSON,] supply the whole Western world. At six dollars each, relative to the greater cheapness of arms furnished by the sum of $500,000 would purchase 80,000 stand of arms; contract, he pretended to no knowledge on that point. But and as steamboats were always running from that point to he would remark, that there were now two armories bethe various sections of that country, and arms could be at longing to the nation; and he presumed that, if arms could all times conveyed where wanted by these vessels, he have been had to greater advantage by private contract, should be willing to sell the armories now in existence, they would have been abolished long since. The public and give the citizens an opportunity to manufacture arms and private manufactories, he was convinced, could not, for the nation; and he had no fears that an ample supply altogether, furnish enough to supply the wants of the could not be had. The expenses of these armories were country in time of war; and he was confident, if the genvery great, consisting of the pay of artificers, the pur. tleman had been in his section of country during the last chase of materials, &c., while articles of as good manufac-war, he would have seen the necessity there was for both ture, and at a much cheaper rate, could be had of individuals. soldiers and arms. He might be incorrect in his views; but, so forcibly did the subject strike him at this time, that he should be compelled to vote against the bill. Mr. CHILTON again rose, and observed, that but for the remarks of the gentleman from Ohio, [Mr. IRVIN,] he should have contented hinself to have voted without Mr. DRAYTON spoke at some length in reply to Mr. adding a word to what he had said before. But, said Mr. CARSON. He thought that no public work erected was of C., my honorable friend is greatly in error, in supposing more importance than the national armories. The theory the remarks which he has attributed to me, to have fallen of the gentleman who last spoke, was plausible; but, if the from me. If that gentleman misunderstands me, the House should adopt his views of the matter, the practice House, I hope, does not; and my constituents and the counwould be found to be injurious. The Government had try, I am determined shall not. Did I say, sir, that I was two armories, which manufactured a certain number of opposed to the location of an armory in the West? No, arms every year. If individuals should establish them- sir; I said the very reverse-I said I was decidedly friendselves, and manufacture as good articles, and sell them at ly to the object, but had no confidence in the means by a lower price, he doubted not they would find for them a which it was proposed to be obtained; and that the genready sale. But it was necessary that the United States tleman should so widely have mistaken me, is a matter of should possess armories, that the nation might be supplied surprise. The only difference between us consists in this, with arms of a good quality and uniformity of construc- that he is willing to appropriate, while I am not-he is tion. Mr. D. referred to the events and the disasters of willing to submit the whole destinies of the West, so far the late war. The militia could not procure arms in suf- as relates to this matter at least, to the final arbitrament ficient quantity; some were armed--some were not-some of the President, while I am not. He seems to think the had muskets, but no bayonets--and others were, more or Executive the safest repository of this power, while I less, in want of complete arms. He spoke from his own freely admit I do not-I cannot. The gentleman has observation, when he said that in many cases their arms almost exhausted our language in seeking for epithets were defective, and unfit for service-on several occasions sufficiently strong to express his confidence in the Executhey had burst in the hands of the soldiers while they tive, for which I certainly would not censure him; but he were in the act of discharging them. Those arms turned will not be surprised when I assure him that I had hitherout of the national armories were known to be good, to supposed his confidence to be just about as strong as uniform, &c. my own. Whether, however, his confidence be great or SON. The yeas and nays were ordered by the House; but, before the question was put, a motion for adjournment was made; and The House adjourned. Mr. JOHNSON, of Kentucky, also replied to Mr. CAR-small, of one thing I am sure: it is, that the friends of the He spoke of the great necessity there was for a bill should expect but little aid from a vetoed State; for manufactory of arms in the Western country, and said it as well might her hopes, in relation to this matter, wither was useless to dwell upon the importance of having at all and fall victims to the veto policy, as in a late and very times ready a plentiful supply of arms. He stated a num- memorable instance, to which I have alluded. I have only ber of accidents that had occurred during the late war, to ask of the House, that when the question be taken, it from the use of arms of an inferior quality, and remarked be taken by yeas and nays. on the great advantages that resulted from the establishment of armories of a national character. He spoke of the plan at present pursued at those institutions. The arms were all of a uniform make; so much so, that they might all be taken to pieces, and the parts thrown promiscuously together to the filling of a large room, and yet there would not be the least difficulty in putting them together. There were now two armories--suppose a third should go into operation--three would not be too many for a state of peace; but, in case of war, how great the necessity for the erection of that now contemplated--it would be found that the three would not supply arms fast enough for the wants of the country. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11. Resolved, That the Secretary of War be directed to communicate to this House whether the existing laws do not provide for a greater number of cadets at the United States' Military Academy, than is consistent with the objects for which it was established; and, if so, that he do report a plan and organization for that academy, corresponding with the alterations and reductions which may be Mr. IRVIN, of Ohio, commented upon what had fallen from the gentleman from Kentucky, [Mr. CHILTON,] and said he had not anticipated opposition to the proposed deemed expedient. H. OF R.] Duty on Sugar. [JAN. 11, 1831. Mr. WICKLIFFE, from the Committee on the Public time, the House and the world would see the nature and Lands, reported a bill "to authorize the President of the character of the resolution, in favor of which they refused United States to change the location of the land offices to hear a single word. in the United States." The bill was read twice, and Mr. W. explained the object of the committee in reporting it; he hoped it would be ordered to be engrossed to-day for a third reading to-morrow. Mr. SEVIER objected to thus pressing the bill through the House. If the gentleman persevered in the course he had proposed, he [Mr. S.] should be obliged to vote against it. Mr. WICKLIFFE said he had no disposition to press the subject on the House at this time, and he would move its postponement to this day week. The motion prevailed. DUTY ON SUGAR. Mr. HAYNES, of Georgia, submitted the following resolution; and remarked, on offering it, that, as the subject of it was interesting to every part of the community, he hoped it would not be denied the courtesy of a consideration. Resolved, That the Committee of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reducing the duty on brown sugar imported into the United States from foreign countries. Mr. RAMSEY inquired if a similar resolution had not already been offered at the present session. The SPEAKER replied, that there had been so many resolutions offered, he could not take it upon himself to answer the question. Mr. CONDICT demanded the question of consideration. Mr. HAYNES asked if he could have an opportunity to modify the resolution, before the question of consideration was put. The SPEAKER answered in the affirmative. Mr. HAYNES then modified his motion, to read as follows: Mr. DENNY renewed the demand for the question of consideration. Mr. CAMBRELENG called for the yeas and nays on the question, and they were ordered by the House. Being taken, they stood as follows: YEAS.--Messrs. Alexander, Allen, Alston, Anderson, Angel, Archer, Armstrong, John S. Barbour, Barnwell, Barringer, Baylor, Bell, James Blair, John Blair, Boon, Borst, Brodhead, Brown, Cambreleng, Campbell, Chandler, Claiborne, Clay, Coke, Conner, Craig, Crockett, Crocheron, Davenport, W. R. Davis, Deberry, Desha, De Witt, Draper, Drayton, Dudley, Earll, Foster, Gaither, Gordon, Hall, Halsey, Hammons, Harvey, Haynes, Hinds, Holland, Hoffman, Hubbard, Jarvis, Jennings, Cave Johnson, Perkins King, Lamar, Lea, Lecompte, Lent, Lewis, Loyall, Lumpkin, Martin, Thomas Maxwell, McCoy, McDuffie, McIntire, Mercer, Mitchell, Monell, Nuckolls, Patton, Polk, Potter, Rencher, Roane, Wm. B. Shepard, Aug. H. Shepperd, Speight, Sprigg, Standefer, Wiley Thompson, Trezvant, Tucker, Verplanck, Wayne, Weeks, C. P. White, Wilde, Williams, Wilson.--89. NAYS.--Messrs. Arnold, Bailey, Noyes Barber, Bates, Bockee, Burges, Butman, Cahoon, Chilton, Clark, Condict, Cooper, Cowles, Crane, Crawford, Creighton, Daniel, Denny, Duncan, Eager, Ellsworth, George Evans, Edward Everett, Findlay, Finch, Gilmore, Gorham, Green, Grennell, Gurley, Hawkins, Hemphill, Hodges, Howard, Hughes, Hunt, Huntington, Ihrie, Ingersoll, Thomas Irwin, W. W. Irvin, Johns, Richard M. Johnson, Kendall, Kennon, Kincaid, Adam King, Leavitt, Leiper, Letcher, Lyon, Magee, Mallary, Marr, Martindale, Lewis Maxwell, McCreery, Muhlenberg, Overton, Pearce, Pierson, Ramsey, Reed, Richardson, Rose, Russel, Sanford, Scott, Sill, Smith, Stanbery, Sterigere, Strong, Sutherland, Swann, Swift, Taylor, Test, John Thomson, Tracy, Vinton, Whittlesey, Edward D. White, Yancey, Young.--85. Whereas, without a considerable diminution of revenue, the public debt will, in a very few years, be redeemed and discharged: And whereas the end of republican government is the prosperity and happiness of the people: And So the House determined to consider the resolution. whereas this end cannot be more certainly promoted than Mr. HAYNES then rose, and said he was glad, notwithby a system of taxation which shall leave the largest por- standing the rule which, however wisely adopted, was in tion of the products of labor in the pockets of the people: its operation so well calculated to abridge the liberty of And whereas the necessaries of life should, as far as prac-speech, that the House had extended to the resolution ticable, be exempted from taxation: And whereas brown just offered the courtesy of consideration. He was wilsugar has become an art cle of great and necessary con- ling to have rested the subject solely upon the resolution sumption among all classes: And whereas the present first offered, and, but for the apprehension of a refusal to duty on that article, imported from foreign countries, consider it, should not have modified it by the addition of bears an unjust and extravagant proportion to the original the preamble. But, as the House had, somewhat unexcost in foreign markets: And whereas there is good pectedly, afforded him the opportunity of presenting a reason to believe that the tax collected by the Govern- few observations to its attention, he would not permit that ment, upon its importation, amounting to one million four opportunity to pass away wholly unimproved by him. hundred and thirty-four thousand nine hundred and sixty- When he had the honor to bring this subject to the conone dollars and eleven cents, is less than half the sum sideration of the House at an early day of the present taken from the pockets of the people under the operation session, he had extended his proposition to the whole of the existing duty, the quantity manufactured in the class of sugars, because, whether they had been imposed United States within the year 1830 having been estimat- for the purpose of revenue or protection, he thought the ed at one hundred thousand hogsheads, equal to one hun- time had arrived when the duties ought to be entirely dred millions of pounds, at three cents per pound, pro- abolished. But, in introducing the subject thus broadly, tecting duty equal to three millions of dollars- Resolved, That the Committee, of Ways and Means be instructed to inquire into the expediency of reducing the duty on brown sugar imported into the United States from foreign countries. On this resolution Mr. CONDICT demanded the ques tion of consideration. Mr. MARTIN said, if the gentleman from New Jersey, and others who sustained the tariff policy, were determined to prevent the consideration of this subject, he would suggest that their object could be effected by moving to lay the resolution on the table, and printing it. That motion would prevent discussion, while, at the same he did not consider that the Committee of Ways and Means would be necessarily restricted in their inquiry to the mere question of repeal; but if, in their wisdom, it should be determined that a partial reduction of the duties was all the exigencies of the country would permit, they would be authorized to go so far, and no farther. For his part, he had formerly believed, he now believed, and ever should believe, that the true end of Govern ment was the happiness and prosperity of the people; and for the furtherance of this end, it was essential that the necessaries of life should be subjected to the smallest amount of taxation which the public exigencies would permit. JAN. 11, 1831.] Duty on Sugar. [H. of R. Whatever might have been the original use of the arti-imported into England, in the former year, was seventycle of sugar-if it was first a medicine, and then a luxu- three shillings and four pence one farthing the hundred ry--it had become an article of essential necessity, as weight, and, in the latter year, but thirty-one shillings and was proven by the estimated consumption of the present one farthing. Surely this could not be ascribed to its year, at one hundred and fifty millions of pounds. Nor manufacture here. Nor does it appear that the price of in this character is its use confined to any particular or either year depended upon a stinted supply in the one, or favored class of the community, but runs through every an excessive importation in the other, as a considerable degree and condition in life. Nor is it any answer to surplus was exported in each. this assertion to say, that some twenty-five or thirty thou- And here he would repeat, substantially, what was said sand dollars of revenue has been derived from their con- during the discussion of the East India sugar duty in the sumption within the years 1815 to 1829, inclusive. And House of Commons, in 1823, by the late Mr. Huskisson, here he would remark, that, notwithstanding the laws of one of the most able and practical statesmen England has the country are accessible to all, it is important that the ever produced, and whose death may well be lamented public mind should be enlightened upon the existing tax in that country as a great public calamity, that, whenever on sugar. But, before proceeding further with the sub- there is an excess of import over consumption, the price ject, he would beg leave to remark, that how much so- of the article must be regulated by the markets of the ever gentlemen might sneer at the proposition, that, under world. He said, that a proposition of such obvious truth our system of revenue, the taxes are paid by the pro- did not require the aid of illustration or argument from ducers, no proposition was, to his mind, more clear and him. Not only had the British market exercised an influundeniable, as consumption must necessarily be regulated ence on the price of the article, but the French market by production. By an examination of the tariff of 1816, also. And here he was not prepared to speak so defiand reference to the annual reports from the Treasury nitely as to the price in France, as he had done of EngDepartment upon the commerce and navigation of the land. Nor was it important for him to do so, as the inUnited States, since that period, it would be found that fluence exercised by the French market on the price of the duties imposed upon the import of lump and refined sugar originated principally from the partial exclusion of sugars and sugar candy had amounted to prohibition; the article. It must be well known to every member of thus effectually depriving the consumer of any choice this House, that, during the wars of the French revolu whatsoever between the foreign and domestic articles. tion, the sugar colonies of France were cut off from the Nor is this all; for inasmuch as the consumption of brown sugar among the poorer classes is much greater in proportion to their means than among the wealthy, the tax falls most heavily on those who are least able to bear it. And here he would take the occasion to remark, that, although he still entertained the opinion, under the influence of which his resolution of the 13th of December was offered, the advice of friends, and the hope of a more favorable consideration, had induced him to narrow that resolution to its present shape. But who seeks for the repeal or reduction of taxes? Not the receiver, but the payer of taxes. mother country, and that although the commerce between those colonies and the mother country entered for several years very largely into the American carrying trade, yet the interpolations of national law, brought to operate upon neutrals by the principal belligerents, at length destroyed that trade entirely. Accustomed to the use of sugar, the French people were not willing to forego this necessary article of consumption, and their ingenuity soon furnished a substitute in the sugar extracted from the beet. The culture of the beet, and the extraction of sugar from it, had grown to such an extent before the general pacification of Europe in 1815, that the GoHe regretted that he had no specific information as to vernment imposed a high duty on foreign sugar for the the price of sugar in foreign countries when the tariff of protection of the domestic. This system had not been 1794 was imposed. But, if he had been correctly in- abandoned since the recovery of the French sugar coloformed, the foreign cost of brown sugar imported into nies in the West Indies. Thus it was probable that a this country at that period was not less than eight to ten considerable portion of the sugar manufactured in those cents per pound. If this be true, it is the obvious infer-colonies was necessarily thrown upon the great market of ence that Government did not then intend, by a tariff of the world. He said, if the facts and inferences upon which two cents per pound, to impose a duty which should ope- he had thrown himself, were true, and he did not think rate as more than twenty or twenty-five per cent. ad va- they could be successfully controverted, the price of sugar lorem on the original cost of the article. But, as the arising from its manufacture in this country, so far from foreign cost has considerably declined since that period, regulating, had been regulated by the markets of the thereby increasing the relation of the duty to such cost, world. But, before dismissing this branch of the subject, if the duty of 1794 had not been increased by the act of he would observe, that the price of sugar in the English 1816, it would now operate at the rate of forty to fifty market could not have been influenced by any variation of or sixty per cent. ad valorem on the original foreign cost. the duty, as that fluctuated between twenty-seven and thirty But, by raising the duty, in 1816, to three cents per pound shillings the hundred weight, making a difference of but on brown sugar, its ad valorem operation is till greater, three shillings the hundred weight between any two years being not less than one hundred per cent. In the dis- of the period to which he had referred. Nor can it be cussion of this subject, we might be told that the ave-doubted that the high duty in Great Britain considerably rage price of sugar had declined in consequence of its lessens the amount of sugar consumed there, and particu manufacture in this country, and, therefore, sound policy |larly in Scotland and Ireland, thus leaving a much larger requires the continuance of the present duty. If gen- quantity for the supply of other markets, and consetlemen would take the trouble to inform themselves on quently lowering its price in those markets. But we this subject, he was satisfied they would find that such might derive instruction on this subject, by a reference an assertion was wholly without foundation. For his part, to the treasury reports upon the commerce and navihe had been at some pains to obtain information, the result gation of this country from 1821 to 1829, inclusive. of which was, that the price of sugar imported into Eng- During that whole period, it would be found that the land, from the year 1814 to 1823, inclusive, had under- foreign cost of brown sugar imported into the United gone an astonishing diminution, no part of which could States had not varied more than about half a cent per be ascribed to its manufacture in this country. By a re- pound, and that not by a uniformly declining price. Nor ference to a statistical work on the population and re- will it fail to be observed, upon an examination of the sources of Great Britain, which he had examined, it reports referred to, that the importation of brown sugar would be found that the average price of brown sugar paying duty, was greater in 1829 than in 1821, and not H. OF R.] Duty on Sugar. [JAN. 11, 1831. much less than the average annual importation of the the raw sugar from which it was made. In fact, that the whole period. Nor might it be improper for him here to article alluded to as thus receiving drawback, was not remark, that there was a considerable annual exportation worth the average price of brown sugar, and that little, with the benefit of drawback from 1821 to 1829, inclusive. if any, loss of quantity had probably been sustained by If it could be necessary for him to go further to account converting the one into the other. This, he said, he unfor the gradual decline in the price of sugar throughout derstood, had undergone judicial investigation, and the the commercial world within the last fifteen years, it would court had been compelled to decide that the article came be sufficient to advert to the large amount of labor re- within the technical meaning of refined sugar, under the leased from the purposes of war about the commencement law. But, although this was an abuse, he would not leave of that period, and the consequent diminution of its value the subject without a passing notice of the protection in all the productions of human industry. But, as the afforded to bona fide refiners of sugar in this country. By kindness of a friend had furnished him with the means the tariff of 1816, the duty on refined sugar imported of doing so since the commencement of his remarks, he into this country is twelve cents per pound. He believed would state some additional facts bearing upon the pro- that one hundred and seventy pounds of raw sugar were bable causes of the diminished price of sugar within the generally estimated as equal to, or sufficient for, the manulast few years. He had brought down the price of sugar facture of one hundred pounds of refined. imported into Great Britain to the year 1823, and was He did not know precisely how it was estimated in this now prepared to trace it to 1828, at the close of which country. He knew that this was considered to be the it was twenty-seven shillings the hundred weight. Nor standard in Great Britain, and, as he understood five cents was this occasioned by diminished duty--the duty having per pound to be the drawback allowed on the exportation been permanently fixed at twenty-seven shillings the hun- of American refined sugar, presumed the English and dred weight, or one hundred and twelve pounds. He American standard did not materially vary. What, then, was also prepared to state specifically the effect which said he, is the consequence? That the refiner of sugar the protection afforded in France to sugar extracted from in this country receives a drawback to the whole amount the beet had produced on the consumption of West In- of duty on what he exports, and a protecting duty of dia sugar in that country in the year 1827--the con- seven cents the pound on all that is consumed in the sumption amounting, in a population exceeding thirty country, He did not pretend to know what is the cost of millions, to no more than one hundred and thirty-two mil- refining, but, to his mind, the tax appeared to be enorlions of pounds. But, when we consider that the whole mously disproportioned to the value of the article upon consumption of sugar in France, and the British empire which it is laid. But, in discussing this subject, it is in Europe, equals six hundred millions of pounds annu- necessary that we consider its influence upon some of ally, (the consumption of England alone, in 1823, having the various and important interests of the country. We been estimated by Mr. Huskisson at three hundred and have been told by the Secretary of the Treasury, in his sixty millions,) and reflect on the immense additional annual report upon the finances, that the navigation of quantity necessary to supply all the countries of the world the country is in a most languishing condition. This must which consume the article, it must be manifest, that its be manifest, if we look at the diminished value of our ex manufacture in the United States exercises a very insen- ports and imports within the last five years. If he was sible, if any, influence on its price either at home or not mistaken, though he had not very recently examined abroad. But our own commercial history furnishes an the subject, he believed that both exports and imports instance of the decline in the price of brown sugar within had declined in annual value within that period about a few years, as remarkable as any that has been men- thirty millions of dollars each. He said, although, for his tioned, and that, too, without any possible reference to its part, he had no doubt the evil just adverted to had a manufacture in this country. If gentlemen will examine much deeper root, he was prepared to believe, and did the prices current of Philadelphia for the years 1804 to believe, that a due proportion of the depression under 1807, inclusive, they will find that, from June of the for- which American navigation now languishes, may be justly mer to the same month of the latter year, the price de-attributed to the restriction imposed by the existing duty clined from twelve and one-half to nine cents per pound, on sugar, upon our intercourse with sugar-making coun and that, too, at a period when our foreign relations with tries; and for evidence of the partial effects of these the most powerful maritime nation in the world threatened restrictions on American trade and navigation, he would serious interruption to our foreign trade, and consequently refer gentlemen to the correspondence between General a diminished import of sugar. He said, that a strong Von Scholten, the special minister from Denmark, and additional argument against the presumption that the the Secretary of State, which had lately been communi price of brown sugar in other countries had been in-cated by the President to Congress, and printed by order fluenced by the manufacture of that article in this, was, of the House. He had not troubled the House with the that the price of white clayed sugar, an article not of inquiry whether the duty imposed by the act of 1816 American manufacture, had experienced a corresponding was intended for revenue or protection, or partly for both. decline. He had ascertained by an examination of the This was unnecessary, as he had expressed the opinion Philadelphia prices current, from 1803 to 1807, inclusive, at the outset, that whether designed for the one or the that, in the former year, this article was quoted in that other, repeal or reduction was now necessary. In inves market at seventeen and one-half cents per pound, and tigating the effect of this duty on American navigation, in the latter at but thirteen and one-half, a difference of he had looked over a part of the annual report on com four cents per pound in the short period of four years. merce and navigation for the year 1829, for the purpose And although he had no means of ascertaining the cost of ascertaining the true state of the matter. Upon a in the foreign market, it could but be presumed to have careful examination, he had found, that, although been considerably higher than the average of the six ports for that year to the Swedish, Danish, Dutch, British, years ending with 1829, within which, notwithstanding and French West Indies, British American colonies, there was some variation in the prices of different years, Cuba, other Spanish colonies, Brazil, and the West Ing he did not believe the average would be found to exceed dies generally, amounted to fifteen million three hundred seven and one-half cents per pound. As the operation and two thousand and eighteen dollars, yet the imports of a part of the system of duties on sugars, he would amounted to no more than ta clve million six hundred state what he had no doubt was true, that, in some instances, and seventy-four thousand three hundred and forty-two much more drawback had been allowed on the exporta- dollars, showing an excess of exports over imports of two tion of refined sugar, than the duty previously paid on million six hundred and twenty-seven thousand eight our ex JAN. 11, 1831.] Duty on Sugar. [H. OF R. hundred and seventy-six dollars. As the value of the price, or duty off, can, at the present moment, be bought exports was estimated in the home market, and of imports at a considerably lower price in our Northern markets, in the foreign, it is difficult to reconcile the excess of the than the domestic in the market of New Orleans. If this former over the latter, upon any principle consistent with be the fact, would not the article, if the duty should be profitable trade. But the subject seems to present further materially reduced, come as cheaply from the West Inillustration when we compare the amount of tonnage dies, or, indeed, more so, than from New Orleans? But, engaged in this business, which entered and departed in the remarks which he had submitted upon the subwithin the same period. This comparison shows an ex-ject as connected with the navigation of the country, he cess of seventy thousand one hundred and thirty tons of had not adverted to the recent recovery of the direct shipping departed, over that which entered during that trade with the British West India islands. He could not year. He had not attempted an accurate estimate of the speak advisedly on the subject, but had no doubt a reforeign tonnage engaged in this trade within the period duction of the duty on brown sugar would have a most under consideration, but did not believe it would materially salutary influence on the advantages to be derived from vary the result. But, if we include the trade with Hayti, this acquisition. which shows a considerable balance of imports over ex- But, in advocating the reduction of this duty, it was ports, it will reduce the general balance against us to but not to be considered that he looked to that reduction as little less than two millions of dollars. He said, further likely to destroy, or essentially diminish, the manufacture comment on this subject could not be necessary. And of brown sugar in this country. The enormous profits here he said he could but regret that the information which he believed were now reaped by persons engaged called for by an honorable member from North Carolina, in this manufacture, might well bear some reduction[Mr. CONNER,] at the last session of Congress, and that and, when we consider the languishing condition of other which had been called for by a resolution which was agricultural pursuits, ought to be made to bear it. What offered by himself since the commencement of the pre- is the general condition of agriculture throughout the sent, had not yet been received from the Treasury Depart- country, it is not necessary to state, nor the large portion ment. And although he came not here as the eulogist of of our people who derive their subsistence from its hard any man, it would become him to say, that if the informa- earnings. He must again express his regret for the want tion sought for by the resolutions to which he had alluded, of more specific information on the subject. In the had been within the power of the able and diligent head absence of such information, he must rely upon an estiof that department, he had no doubt it would, before mate of the sum necessary to purchase and supply with now, have been communicated to this House. He re- the necessary stock, machinery, and subsistence, for one gretted the absence of this information, particularly as year, a plantation for sixty hands, and the probable prowe are without any specific data upon which to estimate duct of their labor, as a standard of the profits of this the amount of capital employed in the culture of the cane pursuit. The estimate he would first offer was one said and the manufacture of sugar in this country, and the to have been made by an individual who has had some annual profit which it affords. It has been stated that the practical acquaintance with the business, as conducted in quantity manufactured in this country in the year 1830 one of the sugar colonies of France. He said he did not amounts to one hundred thousand hogsheads, or one intend to rely solely on this estimate; but, after presenting hundred millions of pounds. Assuming the amount im- it, he would offer others to the notice of the House, ported in 1829 as the standard of importation of 1830, which, he was persuaded, would be found not to present and it may be taken for granted that the consumption of a picture too favorable to the manufacturer of brown the present year cannot fall short of one hundred and fifty sugar in this country. The estimate to which he had millions of pounds. If this estimate be correct, it is not referred, puts down the sixty hands at an average of three difficult to arrive at the amount of contribution levied hundred dollars, making an aggregate of eighteen thousand upon the whole mass of consumers by the operation of dollars. Five hundred acres of land at ten dollars per the present unequal and most burdensome tax on this acre, five thousand dollars; dwelling, negro, and other article. In his view of the subject, there was no doubt houses, works, tools, steam engine, &c. at twenty-three the consumers were taxed at the rate of three cents per thousand dollars; one year's subsistence, including incipound upon the whole consumption of one hundred and dental expenses, at four thousand dollars-making a total fifty millions, making an aggregate of four millions and a of fifty thousand dollars. Taking the quantity of land half of dollars for the present year; thus showing that cultivated in cane at three hundred acres, and the average this tax, which carries into the treasury but one million product of sugar at twelve hundred and fifty pounds per and a half of dollars, puts the sum of three millions into acre, will be three hundred and seventy-five thousand the pockets of the American manufacturers of brown pounds. The quantity of molasses at eighty-four gallons sugar. If he should be asked how he arrived at this con- per acre, will be three thousand seven hundred and clusion, he would answer, that he had been informed, and did not believe the fact could be controverted, that the difference between the short price and the long price of sugar in our greatest commercial city was precisely the amount of the duty of three cents per pound. fifty gallons of molasses. Estimating the sugar at five cents the pound, and the molasses at fifteen cents the gallon, the gross revenue will be twenty-two thousand five hundred dollars, from which deduct three thousand dollars for yearly expenses, and it will leave, of nett inAs his remarks might, perchance, attract the notice of come, nineteen thousand five hundred dollars, or about other eyes than those of commercial men, he would state, thirty-nine per cent. upon the whole investment. Mr. II. that the short price was the price without the duty, and said, although the estimated average value of slaves in the long price the price including the duty. So that, as other States might seem to justify the average assumed no foreign sugar regularly imported can be consumed in for the gang of sixty, yet, as the estimate might, by some, the country without paying the long price, the duty is be considered too low for Louisiana, he would add ten necessarily paid on all so consumed. It might be object- thousand dollars to the estimated cost of the establishment; ed, that domestic sugar is lower in the market of New and then, assuming the same annual product from it, if Orleans than the average price of foreign sugar in the he had made no mistake in the calculation, the nett profit Atlantic cities on which duty has been paid; but he ap- would exceed thirty-two per cent. But suppose we set prehended no essential difference will be found between down the capital invested at one hundred thousand dolthe prices of the foreign and domestic articles in the lars, instead of fifty, and calculate upon the same product, Atlantic cities above referred to. And he has been in- the profit will be near twenty per cent.; and if we add formed, and believes, that foreign sugar at the short half a cent per pound to the estimated value of the sugar, |
