Legislature of Connecticut. GOVERNOR'S SPEECH. Gentlemen of the senate, and Gentlemen of the house of representatives: discounted for his profit-I mean, gentlemen of the N. B. The other two suits were dismissed; and jury, accommodation- and which he had most un-the defendant marched out of court calculating the gratefully neglected to take up, pay, and discharge; costs of the three suits in both courts. and that the bank was compelled to bring three separate suits on this small note, (holding it up to the jury,) one against himself, and one against each of the endorsers-and that these suits were brought in the county court, and judgment obtained; and the defendant was fool enough to appeal to this court, where he must inevitably be cast; and the If I do not greatly mistake, the affairs of our councosts in the three suits will amount to more than the try have, at no former period, displayed more exhidebt; but, gentlemen, it is not the bank's fault-the lirating subjects of contemplation, than at present. defendant has brought it upon himself.-The note The nations with which we are principally connectwas proved, in due form, by one of the clerks of the ed, appear to be convinced of the utility of justice bank, who swore to the defendant's hand writing; in their intercourse with the United States. The and the jury was informed by Mr. Attorney that it causes which menaced future conflicts, are yielding was unnecessary to prove the protest and notice to to the influence of reason and humanity. In regions the endorsers, as the action was brought against the which have been but recently explored, new states maker. The calculation was made, and the jury are forming, under constitutions founded on just told that the bank expected their verdict for $62 principles of civil and religious liberty. Rules for principal, $2 for protest, and $5 89 interest-mak-preventing disputes, and for promoting the settleing the aggregate sum of sixty nine dollars and eigh-ment of vacant territories, have been established, of ty nine cents. which the world has afforded no former examples. The defendant stated, with a mournful counte- Our swarming population is rapidly extending, unitnance, that it was true the bank had accommodated ed by the same language and laws, and by kindred him by lending him the money; that the times were ties of mutual affection and interest. In short, those hard; that he thanked the bank for their kindness; sublime conceptions of the future happiness and yet he did not think it a very great accommodation grandeur of the American nation, which were preto be subjected to the cost of three suits, when the sented by the sages of the revolution, to the admiraact of assembly authorises both the drawer and en- tion of their remote posterity, have been eminently dorsers to be included in one writ; and he hoped to realized, during a single age. As no other people make it appear, that, in this case, the bankers have have been equally distinguished by Divine favor not even accommodated their ownselves. He ad- and protection, we are specially required to manimitted that it was a plain note of hand; that he justly fest our gratitude to the Supreme Being, by a pru. owed the bank $69 89-but that the bank was in-dent use of the inestimable privileges committed to debted to him in a larger sum; and that, as he had our care. entered the plea of set-off, he asked the jury to find The duty assigned to us in particular, is so plain, the issues in his favor. He then took out of his that it cannot be easily mistaken. We are members breeches pocket an old leathern bag, and proceed- of a state, which has long been distinguished as a ed deliberately to untie the string. The eyes of all confederacy of freemen. After a revision of their the audience were upon him. At length he hauled fundamental institutions, the people have decreed, out two small pieces of paper-first opened one, that but few changes are necessary. Accordingly and then the other. Here gentlemen, is the bank's it has been the principal object of that constitution, note for fifty dollars; here is another for twenty dol- which it is our duty to observe and to execute, to Jars-fifty dollars and twenty dollars make seventy define those privileges, which were truly the birthdollars--and as seventy dollars is more than sixty-right of the people, and to guard against either granine dollars and eighty-nine cents, it will follow, of dual or occasional invasions of their rights, by the course, that the bank owes me eleven cents. abuse of power, or the unlimited exercise of legis It was objected, on behalf of the bank, that the lative discretion. Entertaining these opinions, I defendant ought not be allowed this offset; and not, cannot but consider the constitution as a great secuat any rate, unless he proved, that he had the iden-rity to the community. It may now be considered tical notes in his possession at the time of the com- as a point which has been deliberately settled, that meneement of the suit. That if defendant could, Connecticut is hereafter to be governed according at any time offset the notes of banks against suits to a written constitution, established by the will of brought by the banks, that any defendant, after putting off a suit for twelve or eighteen months, might always, by procuring one dollar more than the debt, subject the bank to the costs of two distinct courts. the people. Upon the power to exercise this right, our political liberty essentially depends. Wherever it has been acquired, it can never be lost, without extreme negligence or culpable apathy. The constitution will be altered only as His honor, after inspecting the notes, observed to experience may indicate its imperfections. This the jury, that it appeared from their dates, that the power will be manifested by the people at large, notes had been issued previous to the commence-after mature discussions of the merits of such prement of the suit; and as they were made payable on cise amendments, as may be presented to their condemand, consequently they must have been due at sideration by their representatives. Of course, spethe time the action was brought; and as the notes of culative propositions of a general nature, which. the corporation must be viewed in the same light from their uncertainty, tend to inflame and mislead as the notes of individuals, that the defendant, the community, will, in respect to the supreme law upon proving the hand writing of the president of the state, be hereafter unavailing. and cashier, would be entitled to a set-off-anc consequently the bank being indebted eleven cents to the defendant, they must find a verdict for him. The hand-writing was proved; and the jury, without leaving the box, gave a verdict for the defendant, midst the applause of a crowded court.. . Besides appointing the judges, sheriffs and other officers necessary to the organization of the government, a number of alterations in the existing laws will be requisite. Among these, one of the most important will be the devising of proper regulations. as required by the constitution, for ascertaining the National Interests. Address of the Philadelphia society for the promotion of domestic industry, to the citizens of the United States. No. V. value and amount of the school fund, and rendering] rected to the diffusion of useful knowledge, the enthat precious deposite inalienable to any other use couragement of industry, frugality, and honesty, than the encouragement and support of public and and the promotion of concord among the people. common schools, for the equal benefit of all the peoOLIVER WOLCOTT. ple of this state. As a proportion of the property General assembly, May session, A. D. 1819. belonging to this fund is vested in securities of real estate, from which it cannot be withdrawn without great inconvenience and loss, it appears to be necessary that the office of commissioner should be concontinued. The avails of the fund may, as heretofore, be paid into the treasury, and there appropriated for the support of schools, as the law may prescribe; but it seems to be proper and analogous to our other Philadelphia, May 3, 1819. regulations, that the accounts of the fund should be The friends of domestic manufactures in this counrendered to, and annually settled with the comptrol-try have had to combat a host of objections mainler, in the same manner as other public accounts, tained with great zeal and plausibility, many of and that it should be made the duty of that officer, to which, though utterly destitute of foundation, have present to the general assembly, an annual state- had universal currency. We shall devote the prement, exhibiting every increase, or diminution of sent number to obviate some of them. the fund, with the cases in which they originated. I. The demoralizing and debasing effects of maIt is well known that a considerable part of the ex-nufacturing establishments. tensive grants, sequestrations and devises which were formerly made for the support of schools and religious instruction, have been dissipated and lost, and it is only by establishing invariable rules, and by constant vigilance, that similar misfortunes can be prevented in future. The crime of fraudulent bankruptcy, by which the privileges of an elector become forfeited, has never been defined. A law on this subject appears to be necessary. II. Their injurious interference with commerce, III. The high rate of wages in the U. States. IV. The great extent of our vacant lands, which ought to be settled previous to the erection of manufacturing establishments on a large scale. V. The extortion practised, and the extravagant prices charged by manufacturers during the war. VI. The loss of revenue that would arise from protecting or prohibitory duties. VII. The danger of encouraging smuggling by J. DEMORALIZATION. By our late system, a number of duties and pow-high duties. ers are assigned to the governor and council. Among these, are the appointment of commission- The most specious and generally prevalent arers of sewers, and of turnpike roads, and deciding gument against manufacturing establishments, is on the official bonds to be given by sheriffs: provi-grounded on their debasing and demoralizing efsions on these subjects appear to be required. fects. The honest feelings and the sympathy of the I submit to your consideration, whether it is not humane and enlightened part of the community, expedient to prescribe the number of notaries pub- and the passions and prejudices of the remainder, lic, to be commissioned in the different counties of have in consequence been enlisted and excited to the state. activity against those establishments. The changes Several of our ancient laws have become obsolete, have been rung times without number, on the deor have been annulled by the constitution of the pravity, corruption, and pauperism inseparable from United States, or of this state; and by the repeal or large assemblages of men, women, and children, amendment of various regulations, the statute law collected in a small compass, inhailing a pestiferous has become less definite and intelligible than is de-atmosphere, both moral and physical. The most sirable. As great caution is, however, necessary captivating pictures have been drawn, by way of on this subject, I respectfully invite you to consider contrast, of the purity, the innocence, the healthiwhether it will not be proper to appoint a commit-ness, and the independence of agricultural employ. tee to report a revised code, to a future general as-ments-and the whole has been wound up by desembly. precating the folly and insanity of seducing the ArAs the subject of taxation is very important, Icadian cultivators of the soil into the business of mahave deemed it to be my duty, to prepare a detail-nufacturing, so destructive to their health, their moed view of my reflections on this subject.-This rals, and their happiness. will be submitted to your consideration, by a spe- This objection, like a thousand other common cial message. place assertions, has been almost universally assumAfter a long period of calamity, wise and benevo-ed, and universally admitted, without demur or scrulent men of every country, appear to be uniting their efforts in devising means for diminishing the wants, and improving the condition of mankind. Among the foremost in this honorable combination, the different states of our union, are exerting an unprecedented activity. As the situation and institutions of Connecticut afford facilities for a more accurate application of the latest discoveries and im- But even if these views were correct as regarded provements, than is practicable in states of greater the overgrown manufacturing establishments in Eugextent and more recent establishment, our advan-land, and some other parts of Europe, they would be ces ought to correspond with our advantages. We inapplicable here; as the best friends of manufactures are bound to hope that the period is fast approach-in this country have hardly calculated on any thing ing, when the rank and character of communities further than the home market; and in so wide a will be estimated by no other rule, than by their country as this, if the manufacturers were degraded comparative attainments in moral excellence, and and oppressed by men of great wealth in one distheir success in advancing the means of social hap-trict, they would be able to resort to similar estabpiness. Our exertions ought, therefore, to be di-lishments in another, of which, were manufactures ple. Even the friends of manufactures have hardly dared to doubt its correctness, barely lamenting it as one of the many serious evils inseparable from society in its present state. And had it not been for the investigations of a recent writer, it might have continued for another century to lead mankind astray. Its reign, however, is over. Colquhoun furnishes another table, of the state of pauperism throughout England, which we also annexPer cent on the population. In Cumberland, Cornwall, Lancaster 4 West Riding of York, Durham, 9 (above 1-11) 12 (under 1-8) 6 Cambridge, Devon, Hereford, Hun- 4 Gloucester, Leicester Southampton 2 Norfolk and Northampton 63,1732 Essex and Suffolk 17 (above 1-6). 18 (above 1-6) 20 (1-5) 21 (above 1-5) 28 (nearly 1-4) 12 Counties in Wales, averaging 9 (above 1-11) On the first of these tables Colquhoun makes the following pointed and decisive remarks: "From this comparative statement," it appears, "that, contrary to the general received opinion, the 32,581 numbers of paupers in the counties which are chiefly 140,350 74 9,806 agricultural, greatly exceed those where manufactures 130,081 47 19,154 prevail!!! Thus, in Kent and Surry, where the ag161,142 39 13,167 gregate population is 576,687, there appear to be 115,319 38 15,783 77,770 paupers, while in Lancashire, where the po109,215 62 22,088 pulation is 672,731 the paupers relieved are only 109,620 38 21,025 46,200."+ 95,577 43 13,349 He has not compared the two descriptions of the 63,393 20 7,276 population on the subject of crimes. But the con37,568 15 4,746 trast in this respect, it appears, is equally unfavora288,761 50 23,384 ble to the agricultural districts. However, as manufactures are spread throughout the kingdom, and as all the counties partake to a certain degree of the double character of agriculture and manufac858,892 245 77,661 672,731 371 46,200 rison. But it will answer every valuable purpose tures, it is impossible to institute a general compa239,153 91 22,510 of testing the truth or falsehood of the prevailing 343,001 96 43,674 opinions, that we take a view of six counties, three, 208,557 58 18,845 decidedly agricultural, and three as decidedly manufacturing. In the three manufacturing counties, the offen-merce would be relieved from that superfluous porders are only one out of every 2,500; whereas in tion of citizens who pursue it, and who by the eager the agricultural, they are one out of 1,600; where-ness of their competition in the markets, domestic by it appears that the latter districts have above and foreign, destroy each other's chances of suchalf as many more criminals as the manufacturing cess. in proportion to their population. This is a strong and decisive fact. In the three manufacturing counties, the paupers are only eight per cent. of the population; whereas in the agricultural they are about fourteen per cent. We are tempted to cast a further glance on this table, and to call the attention to a more striking comparison. Yorkshire contains a greater population than the three specified agricultural counties, and yet has far below half the number of offenders, and not two thirds of the number of paupers. Population. Offenders. Paupers 858,892 245 77,661 572 120,477 Yorkshire, Another source of indemnification to commerce for any disadvantage it might suffer from the patronage of manufactures would be the trade in various kinds of raw materials which would be imported from foreign countries for the use of the manufacturers.* An important consideration remains. The diminution of our foreign trade, which is at all times precarious and often ruinous, would be further compensated by the vast increase of the coasting trade, in the transportation of raw materials from the southern to the middle and eastern states, and of manufactured articles from the latter to the former. Norfolk, Kent & Surry, 850,038 We do not deem it necessary to enter into further This result may appear extraordinary and para- detail, or to exhaust the subject. We trust enough doxical. But a very slight reflection on the sub- has been said to prove, that a liberal patronage exject will remove all the paradox, and enable us to tended to manufactures would be eminently benefiaccount satisfactorily for the existing state of things. cial even to the mercantile part of our citizens, not Idleness is as much the parent of poverty and guilt, merely by diminishing the number of competitors as industry is of independence and virtue. In agri- in that department, but by offering profitable emcultural districts there is a considerable proportion ployment to a portion of that capital which has esof the labor of the women and a still greater propor-caped the destruction proceeding from the ruinous of that of the younger people, wholly lost. The state of our commerce since the war. This system latter waste a great part of their early years in to- moreover, would afford commercial men opportunital idleness. Hence arises a fruitful source of pau-hazardous line of business than commerce. ties of providing for a part of their children in a less perism and guilt. III HIGH WAGES. These statements, independent of their overwhelming bearing on the present question, may The high wages said to be given in this country have another very important advantage. They have been used as a powerful argument against enserve to display in strong colors, the danger of trust-couraging manufacturers, and have led many of our to mere assertions, unsupported by facts. There citizens to believe that we would not be capable of is not in the whole range of political economy, a dogma that has been more universally received, or appeared more plausible than the one here combatted, which is now unequivocally proved to be not only not true but the very reverse of truth. manufacturing extensively for perhaps a century to come. This idea has maintained its ground against the strong and palpable fact, that many of our mamufactures have thriven vary considerably, notwithstanding the rivalship of foreign competitors. The II. INTERFERENCE WITH COMMERCE. difference however between the wages in England, Among the opponents of the manufacturing sys-in many branches of business, is far less than is getem, were formly to be found great numbers of nerally supposed. But the argument falls to the those citizens, engaged in commerce, who appeared ground, when we reflect that in most of those impressed with an idea that in proportion as manu-branches depending wholly on manual labor, our factures are patronized and extended, in the same manufacturers have met the rival articles from Euproportion commerce must be impaired. Hence rope with great success. Our batters, shoemakers, a degree of jealousy has been fostered among the saddlers, coachmakers, printers, cabinet makers, commercial, of the manufacturing class of our popula- type founders, ourriers, glovers, smiths, and various tion, as if there were a great hostility between their other classes, wholly debarred of the advantage of respective interests. The most enlightened mer-machinery, have stood their ground far better than chants at present are convinced of the errors of those citizens concerned in branches in which ma these views. It is not difficult to prove, that they chinery is employed, of whom a large portion have rest on as sandy a foundation as the superior purity been ruined. and freedom from pauperism of the agricultural districts. This is a very extraordinary fact, and could not have entered into any previous calculation. The It will not, we trust, be denied, that in every endless variety of millseats throughout the Unit-community the greater the variety of pursuits, and ed States, and the acknowleged talents of our employments, the greater the field for exertion, citizens in mechanical pursuits, would have led to and less danger of rivalship, or of any of them being form a conclusion wholly different. It would have too much crowded. Hence an obvious consequence been believed that whatever we might suffer in caof the destruction of so many manufacturing estab-ses in which manual labor alone was employed, we fishments as, during the war, were in the full should be triumphant wherever water power and tide of successful experiment," has been to divert machinery could be called into operation. TO BE CONTINUED. the capital and industry engaged in them to commercial pursuits, whereby the latter are so much overstocked as to narrow or almost destroy all #An intelligent citizen, who has carefully examinchance of success. Our wharves, our coffee houses, ed the entries into the port of Philadelphia, assures and the assignments in our newspapers, fully prove us that the tonnage employed even now in the imthat commerce is overdone, and that it has unfortu-portation of raw materials, leather, dye-wood, iron, nately become a most precarious profession. Where-lead, &c. &c. is equal to that employed in the imas, were manufacturers properly protected, com-portation of bale goods. 4. An act, entitled "an act in addition to an act 6. An act, entitled "an act supplementary to the The provisions of the first mentioned law are so clear and explicit as to require no elucidation, It is incumbent on the officers of the customs, by the second mentioned law, to observe due vigilance to detect vessels in taking from, or conveying to, the United States, a greater number of passengers than is prescribed by the law. sia, of the city of Hamburg, and of the city of Bre men. In the circular letter from this department, dated the 4th of August, 1818, predicated on two procla mations of the president of the United States, which were issued in conformity with the provisions of the act of the 3d March, 1815, you were instructed to discontinue charging discriminating, or countervailing duties on the vessels of the cities of Hamburg and Bremen, and on mercandise imported in them, of the growth, produce or manufacture of those cities, respectively; and to refund the difference between countervailing and domestic duties, so far as related to the importations in those vessels from certain specified periods. But it will be perceived, that the act of the 3d of March, 1815, and the president's proclamations, issued in virtue of it, do not extend the repeal of the countervailing duties, as to merchandise, further than to goods the growth, produce or manufacture of the cities of Hamburg and Bremen, respectively; whereas, by the act, of the 20th of April, 1818, all the provisions and limitations of which are made applicable to the vessels of Hamburg and Bremen, by the act passed at the last session of congress, the acts and parts of acts imposing discriminating, or countervailing duties, are repealed, not only as respects merchandise, the produce or manufacture of those cities, respectively; but also as respects "such produce and manufactures, as can only be, or most usually are, first shipped from them in their respective vessels." You will, therefore, be pleased to discontinue exacting discriminating or countervailing duties on the goods last alluded to, when imported in the vessels of Hamburg and Bremen, and refund such as have been collected on such goods, since the 12th May, In case the number of passengers exceeds the 1815, as regards the vessels of the city of Bremen, proportion of two passengers for every five tons of and the 13th of November, 1815, as regards the vesthe vessel, but not by twenty passengers, the master sels of the city of Hamburg, being the days, respecand the owner or owners thereof, will severally for-tively, on which the reciprocal measures adopted by feit, and be liable only to the payment of one hun- those cities, commenced operating. dred and fifty dollars, for every passenger over and With respect to the equalization of tonnage duabove the said proportion: but in case the number ties on Prussian vessels, and on the merchandise imexceeds that proportion by twenty passengers, be-ported in them, I have to observe, that the act of sides the fine of one hundred and fifty dollars to the 20th of April, 1818, concerning discriminating which the master and owner or owners will, in such duties, and the act of the 3d of March, 1819, in addievent, be severally liable for every passenger be-tion to the same, can be applied only prospectively, it yond the number allowed by law, the vessel will be being understood that the benefits authorised to be forfeited to the United States, and is to be prosecut-extended to those vessels by the acts mentioned, are ed and distributed in the same manner in which the yet to be reciprocated on the part of the Prussian forfeitures and penalties are recovered and distri-government, agreeably to promise made to that buted under the provisions of the act, entitled "an effect, act to regulate the collection of duties on imports and tonnage." The third mentioned act, which is to go into operation from and after the 30th of June next, reduces the duty heretofore payable on the non-enumerated wines when imported in bottles or cases, from seventy to thirty cents per gallon; and when imported otherwise than in bottles or cases, from twenty-five to fifteen cents per gallon. It also amends the 4th section of the act of the 20th of April, 1818, supplementary to the collection law of 1799, so far as to allow the transportation, coast-wise, of wines and distilled spirits, from the public warehouse, in one district, to those in another district, under such regulations as the secretary of of the treasury may prescribe, without loss of deben ture. When information shall be received that the reciprocal measures have been adopted by that government, you will be advised thereof. In the mean time you are to charge alien duties on Prussian vessels and their cargoes. By the fifth mentioned act the rates of the allowances hereafter to be granted to vessels qualified, agreeably to law, for carrying on the bank, and other Codfisheries, are changed; but the forms and regulations prescribed, by pre-existing laws, to obtain such allowances, are still to be observed, with the exception that vessels above thirty tons, in a certain event, specified in the act, will now be entitled to a bounty of three dollars and fifty cents per ton, although they may have been employed only three and a half months, at the least, in the preceding fishing season. By the fourth mentioned act, the provisions and The sixth mentioned act, with a view to the more limitations of the act of the 20th of April, 1818, con-convenient regulation of the coasting trade, divides cerning tonnage and discriminating duties, in cer- the sea coast and the navigable rivers of the United tain cases, are to be extended to the vessels of Prus-States, into two great districts, and directs with re |