JAN. 24, 25, 1826.]

Ohio School Lands-Seamen in the Merchant Service-Discriminating Duties.

been referred to by both of the preceding speakers) and in support of the opinions then advanced against the propriety of passing the bill.

Mr. HOLMES submitted his reasons for favoring the passage of the bill, and for entertaining opinions in regard to it somewhat variant from those he had heretofore advanced.

Mr. ROWAN also added some remarks to those he before submitted, to shew that the consent of Congress was erroneously asked for, was unnecessary, and, therefore, the bill inexpedient.

[SENATE.

"in addition to an act, entitled an act concerning discriminating duties on tonnage and impost."

“Be it enacted, &c. That, upon satisfactory evidence being given to the President of the United States, by the Government of any foreign nation, that no discriminating duties of tonnage or impost, to the disadvantage of the United States, are imposed or levied in the ports of the said nation, upon vessels wholly belonging to citizens of the United States, or upon the produce, manufactures, or merchandise, imported in the same, from the United States, or from any foreign country, the President is here

Mr. HARRISON spoke in support of the bill and in re-by authorized to issue his proclamation, declaring that the ply to those opposed to it.

Messrs. MACON, CHANDLER, and EATON, successively made some remarks adverse to the propriety of passing the bill.

foreign discriminating duties of tonnage and impost, within the United States, are, and shall be, suspended and discontinued, so far as respects the vessels of the said foreign nation, and the produce, manufactures, or merchandise, Mr. EATON moved an amendment limiting the mini-imported into the United States in the same, from the mum price for which the lands should be sold.

Mr. ROWAN moved the re-commitment of the bill, deeming a report from a Committee, that Congress have no power to interfere, sufficient for the purpose desired by Ohio.

3

Mr. COBB moved to accompany the re-commitment with instructions to inquire into the right of the United States in the case, and to report a bill if it should be found the United States possessed any right over the subject.

After much further discussion, all motions to amend were lost.

Mr. HAYNE suggested an alteration of the phraseology of the first section, so as to give the consent of Congress, instead of authorize the State to sell; but the suggestion was not adopted.

The bill was then ordered to a third reading by a large majority.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 24, 1826.

SEAMEN IN THE MERCHANT SERVICE.

said foreign nation, or from any other foreign country; the said suspension to take effect from the time of such notification being given to the President of the United States, and to continue so long as the reciprocal exemption of vessels belonging to citizens of the United States, and their cargoes, as aforesaid, shall be continued, and no longer."

Mr. LLOYD, of Massachusetts, said, the object of the bill was to clothe the Executive with the authority to proffer to any foreign nation who would reciprocate the same liberal conditions to the United States, an entire equality of commercial intercourse; in other words, that the vessels and merchandise of foreign Powers, agreeing to this condition, should be admitted into the ports of the United States on precisely the same terms, and be subject to no other or higher rates of duty, whether of tonnage or of impost, than the vessels and cargoes of the citizens of the United States. This, it would be perceived, when acceded to, amounted to a complete removal of the system of discriminating duties with the parties agreeing to it. The report, he said, which had been made by the Committee of Commerce, laid on the tables of the MemMr. HOLMES, of Maine, rose, and said he wished to bers of the Senate, would give the general reasoning on offer a resolution in regard to an alteration in the law the subject, and more especially would the minute statewhich provides for the government and regulation of the ments accompanying it, furnish precise data, on which seamen employed in the merchant service. The acts on gentlemen could correctly form their opinions as to the that subject provided, Mr. H. said, that every ship or vessel belonging to the citizens of the United States, of the ed, and of passing or rejecting the bill. Most gladly, he expediency of adopting the course of policy recommendburthen of 75 tons or upwards, and bound on a voyage, said, he would leave the subject on this ground, but he should be provided with a chest of medicins, accompa- had been informed, in the position in which he stood, as nied with proper directions for administering them. By Chairman of the Committee, that something more was exthe provisions of that act, the apothecary was to furnish a chest of medicines, and to put up proper directions with pected from him; and that other elucidations of the bill it. Mr. H. thought it was unsafe to leave it to the discre- vor, then, as briefly as in his power, to comply with, and, should be given. These expectations he would endeation of the apothecary what should be an adequate list of in doing it, attempt to trace the origin, progress, and efthe medicines necessary for a voyage. The apothecary fect, of the discriminating duties, adverting, in his recould sometimes substitute spurious medicines, at others, marks, to three or four more marked eras in the commerhe might get rid of a quantity of trash which was old and cial history of the United States; shewing the relative worthless. It was equally to the benefit of the owner as amount of the foreign trade at the different periods referof the seamen, to have a good chest of medicines fur-red to; the proportion of it enjoyed by the citizens of the nished; and there being no inspection for medicines, he was convinced that much injustice was frequently done to the crews of merchant vessels, in consequence of there being no further regulation on this subject. He, therefore, moved the following resolution:

Resolved, That the Committee on Commerce be instructed to inquire into the expediency of making further provision for furnishing the merchant vessels with medicine chests, and for their being properly provided with medicines suitable and necessary for each voyage. This resolution was agreed to.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 25, 1826.

DISCRIMINATING DUTIES.

The Senate proceeded to the consideration of the following bill, reported by the Committee on Comunerce,

United States, and that part of it occupied by foreign navigation; also, the present state of this trade, and the from the Treasury Department in 1824. He would then advert to the effect to be produced by the passing the bill, on the commerce of this and other countries, and leave it to the better judgment of the Senate for its de

amount of it exhibited at the date of the latest returns

cision.

The discriminating duties, he said, were coeval with the Government, being among the first acts after its adoption; the effect was salutary and beneficent in a high degree; at this time the navigation of the United States was in not only a depressed, but nearly a prostrate state. We had, before the adoption of the Federal Constitution, scarcely recovered from the impoverishment and exhaustion of the war for Independence; we had no common

SENATE.]

Discriminating Duties.

[JAN. 24, 1826.

would not test the operation of the discriminating duties. But he had now reached the period when the evidence to be derived from their existence could be perceived, and their influence estimated. The war with Great Britain was terminated by the Treaty of Ghent, in December, 1814; the peace of Europe had been secured not long before, by the Treaty of Paris. The Temple of Janus was now closed, and each nation would thereafter re-occupy its former commercial habitudes, resume its colonial relations, and cultivate its own resources to the extent of its means and ability.

head to protect our rights or property in foreign countries; alien duties abroad were laid on our navigation, which we had no power to retaliate; for, if one State retaliated these duties, and the others did not follow her example, her situation was only changed from bad to worse-as it drove the little foreign trade she might have from her ports to those of the States where no duty was imposed. The consequence was, we could not compete with foreign navigators; they taxed our vessels, but we could not tax theirs; and this inequality was decisive against us; the consequence in a little while would have been, that the whole, or nearly the whole, carrying trade of the United As soon as this state of things was known in the United States, even for our own products, would have been in States, and intelligence had been received of the Treaty the hands of foreign navigators. At this period the Ge- of Ghent, the Government of the United States, accomneral Government was most happily adopted, and the dis-modating itself to the change of circumstances, and acting criminating duties were imposed; the effect was electri- up to those liberal principles of equal trade, which the cal; the merchants and navigators of the United States late President of the United States, a few years since, in saw the whole revenue of enactions of the Government his message to Congress, correctly stated had ever characbased upon the interest with which they were most nearly terised its proceedings, from the first commercial treaty connected; they felt they had a Government, not only it had formed, that with France, in 1776-passed the act able, but willing, to protect them; and that the counter- of March 3, 1815, repealing the discriminating duties on vailing duties would place them in some degree on a foot- vessels and merchandise, so far as regarded the produce ing with other nations; from this moment the navigation and manufacture of such foreign nation, to which the vesand commerce of the United States most rapidly expand-sel belonged, as show'd abolish, in their ports, all discrimied, increasing in a ratio unexampled in the records of any nating duties on American vessels and merchandise. This other People. In 1789, the whole tonnage employed in act, at the time, attracted no great attention; it was conthe foreign commerce of the United States, was only sidered, in some degree, as embracing an abstract propo234,000 tons, of which more than 100,000 was in foreign sition, which might or might not be realized; but shortly navigation; but in the short space of 17 or 18 years the after, to wit, in July, 1815, of the same year, a Convention tonnage employed in the foreign trade of the United was formed with Great Britain, by which it was agreed States had swelled to no less an amount than 1,200,000 that the same, and no other or higher rate of duties should tons, giving an increase, in this short space, of more than be payable on the vessels of the respective countries, enfive fold, of which not nearly one-half, as in 1789, was in tering the ports of the other, with their cargoes, being of foreign navigation, but only 86,000 tons, out of 1,200,000 the growth, produce, or manufacture, of either, than on tons; giving an increase of the American tonnage, nine their own vessels when entering such ports. times over-it having increased during this time from This was reducing theory to practice; the American about 120,000 tons to 1,100,000 tons. This was the se-ship owners and navigators became somewhat alarmed; cond period to which he should allude. But this highly they very naturally concluded, that, as a large mass of our gratifying state of prosperity for the commerce and navi-imports were of British manufactured goods; as these gation of the United States, he could not contend, arose were procured from, and shipped by British manufacturers exclusively, or principally, from the imposition of discri- or merchants; that, if British ships could come into the minating duties; nor did it arise mainly from them; it ports of the United States, precisely on the same terms arose from other and more powerful causes; from the po-as American ships, that a fellow-feeling between the Brilitical events of the times; from the wars of the French tish merchant and ship owner would arise, and that the Revolution, which soon followed-which continued for greater part, if not the whole, of the importations from twenty years, embracing in their vortex within that time, Great Britain to the United States, would be made in Briall the navigating States of Europe; deranging and over-tish shipping, to the exclusion of American navigation; turning their commercial systems, and, when engaged in such also was the impression of the British ship owners; war, sweeping all their shipping from the ocean, with the for they prepared to put some fine ships into the trade; single exception of Great Britain, whose naval preponde-two, he believed, went into the trade with Boston; our rance enabled her to protect her mercantile marine. In merchants knew British ships could be constructed on this state of things, the commerce of the world was al-about the same terms as American ships; but, as they last most entirely thrown into the hands of American mer- longer, in the end, they might be cheaper. The British chants and ship owners; and this, to the greater extent, oak being more durable than the American oak-he did was the source from which the unexampled success of not mean the live oak of the country, which is the best American commerce and American navigation had arisen. material for ship building in the world-but it is too At this period, he said, the two great combatants of Eu- scarce, too costly, and perhaps too heavy, for the purrope were struggling for their political existence; and a poses of mercantile navigation. They also knew, that, great object on each side undoubtedly was, to gain pow-in time of peace, the wages of American seamen were oneerful auxiliaries, or allies, in the contest. This motive, third, or one-half, higher than the British; that, although increased by a jealousy of, the unrivalled prosperity, and provisions were generally cheaper in the United States growing power of the United States-and perhaps also than in Great Britain; that as we gave our seamen more by something of cupidity to reap a part of the profitable indulgencies and comforts, especially in port, that the cost business they were prosecuting-probably led to that se- of subsistence was also probably dearer. These were disries of wrongs and insults, captures, and plunderings, to advantages the American ship owner knew he had to conthe amount of not far short of one hundred millions of dol- tend with, but he did not shrink from the contest; he lars, with which the United States were visited; and breasted himself to meet it: also put fine ships into the which, from necessity, first led to remonstrances, which trade, taking more care than usual to select active, vigorproduced nothing; to measures of restriction, and with-ous, spirited young men, to command them, who would drawal from the ocean, which were scarcely more effi- never strike a topsail while a mast could carry it. The cient, and, finally, eventuated in a war with the more pow-result was, before the end of a twelve-month, it was pererful of the maritime belligerents. ceived the American ship would perform nearly three

These two eras, he said, for a reason before assigned, trips to the other's two; and that goods, shipped by the

former, would be received more frequently, and enable the importers better to supply the market than by British ships; the consequence of which was, the latter quitted the' trade, and we have now the whole of it in American vessels.

This, he said, was to his mind conclusive; and this was the period when the first suspension of the discriminating duties had taken place. He would trace further the operation of the act of Congress of 1815. The convention with Great Britain was for four years. In 1818, it was renewed for ten years, and is now in existence. In that year a treaty was also formed with Sweden, embracing the same provision, and for the same period. This principle has been still further extended, by diplomatic arrangements with Russia, Prussia, Norway, Oldenburg, the Hanse Towns, France, and Sardinia. Negotiations, it is understood, are depending, in relation to it, with some other of the Powers of Europe, and the States of South America, and will, probably, issue in the same result.

[SENATE.

While, with Russia, Prussia, Turkey, the Levant, the Austrian ports in the Mediterranean, Africa, the East Indies, China, Hayti, South America, generally, the Western Pacific, and the Northwest coast of America, the trade was | all our own.

This, then, is the third period, 1815-16, and the principal one, in connexion with the next era, or 1824, on It remained to show what would be the effect if the bill which a correct estimation may be formed of the effect of became a law, and was reciprocated by other nations. the discriminating duties. It was a time of peace, and The effect would be, to throw wide open the gates of they were unaided. In 1816, the whole amount of ton- commerce; all nations agreeing to a reciprocation, would nage employed in the foreign trade of the United States, have the right to send their vessels into the ports of the was 1,300,000 tons; of which 258,000 were in foreign United States from every region of the globe, laden navigation. Part of this had to come in under the disadvan- with every commodity, of every description, they chose tage of the discriminating duties. What did not come in to put on board of them; for, in our policy, we wisely on equal terms with American shipping, had this quantity prohibit nothing; and here other nations would have the of foreign navigation increased in 1824, when the ton-advantage of us: for they prohibit many things, as conmage duty had been taken off from the vessels of nearly nected with their manufactures, their treaty stipulations, all the navigating Powers of Europe? Let the same re- or the privileges of their chartered companies. While cord answer. The amount of tonnage employed in the we, on our part, should have the right to go to their foreign trade of the United States, in 1824, the latest to ports from every other country, and to carry to them, on which we have returns, had fallen off, owing to the causes equal terms, whatever their own vessels could carry. before-mentioned; but it amounted to 935,000 tons. What | More than this, for he meant to shew the effect plainly. proportion had foreign ship owners of this, when relieved If the principle were met by the European Powers having from the tonnage duties? Not nearly one-half, as in 1789; | colonies, and was carried into effect in extenso, we should not more than one-fifth, or 258,000 tons, as in 1816. No, have the right to go to the colonies to furnish them with Sir, they had not a tithe, a tenth part, having only 89,000 | their supplies, purchase their productions, and transport tons out of 935,000; and this is decisive: it shows that, them in onr vessels, even to the ports of the mother on a fair field, and a clear stage, your merchants and navi- | country. This, he would be told, would never be realized. gators, on equal terms, are able successfully to compete Be it so: we lose nothing by making the offer. If rejectwith any nation on the face of the carth, with or without | cd, we stand where we were; and, at any rate, it is hodiscriminating duties. This, however, is only the state-norable to us, from the manly independence, as well as ment of the tonnage employed: it does not show the the perfect reliance it manifests, we place on the ability, amount or value. Pursuing the inquiry on this head, we the energy, and the industry of our navigators and citihave authentic information at command. It is to be de- zens. But it is far from impossible that this trade, at rived from the annual report of the Secretary of the some future day, not very distant, may be opened. More Treasury; and, notwithstanding the predictions which liberal ideas than characterized former times, are enterhave been made of the general distress which was to tained by the political economists of the present day; pervade the United States, in consequence of the balance this is, at least, the case in England, where it seems to be of trade being against us; the high price of exchange; perceived, that a widely extended commerce, superabunthe exportation of specie, and the sale of American stocks dant supplies in the market, with a low rate of duties, in Europe, so far is this from being the case, the coun- more invigorates national industry, increases consumption, try, generally, is in a state of great prosperity. Specie, stimulates to exertion, and enlarges even the revenue, than where the laws have their force, and credit is good, hard- can now flow from a narrow, illiberal, restricted state of ly bears any premium. American stocks stand higher markets, with a high rate of duties. Great Britain is actthan any other foreign stock in European markets; and ing upon this principle: for, within the last year, she the portentous balance of trade, so far from being against has reduced the rates of her tariff very greatly, and has us, is, in fact, a million of dollars in our favor; the exports, increased her revenue, it is said, £500,000 in a quarter by according to the Secretary's account, being ninety-two | doing it. More than which, some of the British statesrmillions of dollars, and the imports only ninety-one mil- men, half a century since, pronounced the colonies a millions. This spectre, he hoped, had vanished forever; | stone about the neck of the mother country, and that they and this account was the more cheering, as it appeared that, of these ninety-one millions, eighty-six millions were transported in our own navigation; shewing the sympathy which exists between the tonnage and the value. This result, he said, if it did not give every thing that could be desired, as there was a little residuum stiil possessed by foreign navigators, gave, as he believed, if foreign nations were to have any concern in it at ail, as much as any rational man could either anticipate or expect.

cost more than they produced. The sune doctrine seems now to be in fashion: for, in the last number of the Edinburg Review, an eloquent writer does not hesitate to declare the monopoly between the mother country and the colonies, to be a reciprocity of injuries, and not of advantages; and the colony trade, instead of a source of wealth, a source of poverty, vexation, and disgust. If this is the fact, why then should it not be opened? Of the good ef fect on the colonies there could be no question; they

Discriminating Duties-Accountability of Officers.

[JAN. 24, 1826.

made from it, which, when it reached this market, or any other to which we have access, would operate as a bounty to our manufacturers. This, he repeated, other nations would not desire.

would constansly obtain, in abundance, supplies that are turer, who must seek his remuneration from the fabric
indispensable, at the lowest possible rate at which a mer-
cantile profit could afford them; and, from the competition
for their productions, would sell them at the highest price
they would bear; thus, doubly benefitted, they would
hold up both hands for a free trade with the United
States.

water.

The

This would be the effect of the bill, if adopted. It trade by discriminating duties;-it was an interest, little There was no other interest, the growth of which, also, would not be retarded by a depression of the foreign might be said, after this unreserved and most favorable known or noticed, but ere long, was to have no rival in exposition for the United States, that the proffer not only any other quarter of the globe. It was carried on silentwould not be met, but that the existing arrangements ly and obscurely-the statistical tables gave no account would not be renewed. The exposition he had made of it; you had no right to take an account of it; you was no secret; our statistical accounts gave it; he did had no right to pry into the value of one neighbor's surnot fear a renewal of discriminating duties, and the re- plus wheat which he exchanges for another neighbor's surtaliating system. Our situation secured us from them. plus sugar or tobacco;-this is a family concern. It was beginning to be understood by European states- interest to which he alluded, was the invaluable coasting men, that we had other imposing interests now, beside trade of the country, neither known nor valued, in any our navigation engaged in foreign trade. interest, into which we were driven by necessity, contra- course of your coasting vessels? Follow one of them : We had a new degree compared with its merits. What would be the ry to our inclinations, for our predilections were for the take any starting point, geographically the City of WashOur resources were turned upon ourselves, from ington; follow her down the Potomac, skirting the Chesthe late war, and the aggressions which preceded it. apeake, passing your Southern trading cities, entering We went into this interest reluctantly, Invita Minerva, the Gulf of Mexico, ascending the majestic stream of the without previous skill or experience. It has, however, Father of rivers, ascending still higher the equally maprospered and expanded nearly equal to the navigation.jestic Missouri, passing into the great lakes, descending It has almost literally, like Jonah's gourd, sprung up in to Erie, entering, if you please, the noble canal of the a night, and bids fair soon to overshadow the whole state of New York, and passing along the centre prong building. In the short space of fifteen years the cotton of the future trident of Neptune, stopping at the great manufacture for articles of common use owns no supe- emporium of the Western World, the city of New York; rior; these manufactures find a market in every region, or, if not stopping thus shortly, follow her round the canal and the impress of the names of the American manufac- at the Falls of Niagara, which a short time will place there, turers, on those which are sent from other countries, to into Ontario, thence down the St. Lawrence, coming recommend them, shews we have nothing now to acquire round the Northeastern border of the United States, and in the quality we make, from the descendants of the in front of the principal commercial cities, returning to Arkwrights, with all their skill, their experience, their the Potomac, after having performed a circuit of eight or immense establishments, and their capital; and from the ten thousand miles; of a space which, before the lapse hold this interest is taking, no intelligent man can visit of many years, will be studded with trading towns and this country without perceiving that, if this disposition populous settlements; and this trade is exclusively your continues, and is improved, in a half or a quarter of a own: not a single ton of foreign shipping is employed in century, if he is desirous of finding other Manchesters it: it is yours in war as well as peace. and Leeds, and Lyons and Rouens, he may look for you may prosecute it, under a covered way, from Maine them, and possibly find them, as readily in the Middle to the Mississippi and the lakes, wholly beyond the reach and Eastern States, as in France or Great Britain. This of an enemy, except for a small portion of it on the CaIn a few years is an interest which an embarrassed or crippled foreign nada shore. What is this trade now? The returns give trade would not keep back, and an interest which the as employed in it for the past year 700,000 tons. Docs leading nations of Europe have no desire to encourage. this shew its value? Nothing like it. This is only the We are also secure from the effect of discriminating du- capacity contained within the wooden walls of the vessels ties from others, by our ability to retaliate them, as well that are registered and enrolled for the coasting trade. as by the character of our trade. What is it? From Eu- These vessels perform ten voyages on an average in a rope, we import principally articles of luxury, by habit year, taking a cargo each way. needful for our comfort, but which, if necessary, we can five voyages in each year with full cargoes; then you do without; or, if needful, do better-procure for our- would have seven millions of tons of productions transEstimate them at a half; selves. What is the character of the articles we export? ported in a year between the different ports and inhabiArticles of necessity. Such is, when wanted, our bread tants of the country. This would give some idea of its stuffs; such is our great staple, cotton. It is a necessary, importance, and this is the commerce that is most invalas it supplies subsistence to the multitudes in Europe uable to us. who depend on it for their means of industry. It might increase it; this other nations also would not desire; powbe said, it could be procured elsewhere. This apprehen- er is relative; nations are strong as others are weak. An interruption to our foreign trade would sion, once entertained, had passed away; even the productions of the vegetable kingdom would not thrive un-mittee, from all the reflection they had been enabled to der the united and malignant influences of the plague, the scimetar, and the bow-string. In time of peace, no one would go to the den of the lion, with the mouth of it strewed with carcases, when his object could be effected better and more securely elsewhere. He had no fears of the competition of the Pasha of Egypt. Cotton could not, in time of peace, be brought from India, where the quality was much worse, under thrice the freights from the United States. In South America we might have a competitor; but if, with our skill, our experience, our nearer proximity to the markets of consumption, we could not compete with supplies from that source, we would deserve to suffer. Discriminating duties on this article mustments to this bill, amongst them, recommending the advance the price, which must be paid by the manufac- striking out of the following (3d) section. The Committee on Finance had reported some amend

In con

give, were unanimously of opinion, that the policy re-
This subject he would not pursue further. The Com-
commended by the Executive in his message at the open-
ing of the session, was a wise and judicious one.
sequence of this, they had presented the report before
referred to, accompanied by the bill on the table, which
they hoped would meet the approbation of the Senate.
be engrossed and read a third time.
The bill was then, without further debate, ordered to

countability of public officers."
ACCOUNTABILITY OF OFFICERS.
The Senate then took up the bill "to secure the ac

Accountability of Officers-Amendment to the Constitution.

"That no person shall be appointed a collector or re-no disposition on the part of the Chairman of that comceiver, or to any office which entitles him, in any way, to mittee, to urge the subject at this moment, it would perreceive, and makes it his duty to account for public mo-haps be well to postpone it for a short time. He should neys, who shall, at the time of such appointment, be in- therefore move that it be postponed to, and made the order debted to the United States." of the day for Monday next.

Mr. HOLMES opposed striking out the section, at considerable length, and called for the Yeas and Nays. The Yeas and Nays were then taken, and the Senate refused to strike out the section by the following vote: For striking out-Messrs. Berrien, Bouligny, Eaton, Edwards, Hayne, Johnston, of La. King, Knight, Mcll-grounds on which they supposed the amendment could be vaine, Mills, Seymour, Smith, Van Dyke-13.

Mr. BENTON said, that, in making their report on this subject, it was the design of the committee to accelerate the consideration and decision of it. The committee had before them two modes of proceeding; one was, by submitting a resolution, and, when called up for discussion, for the Chairman, or some other member of the commit

The Senate sat to-day, but no public business of impor- tee, to rise, and explain the reasons in support of it. The

The Senate met this day, but no business of general in- Senate, and in every way the best. It was thought that terest came up: the Senate adjourned to Monday.