SENATE.] Duty on Alum Salt. [FEB. 8, 1831. only means that the Postmaster General has put them so able, faithful, and efficient, as he is. Their aim is aside, and removed them a distance from him, as unfit to higher; through him they wish to reach the man who be associates with him in the administration of his depart- keeps them out of power and place; but in this they will ment, then he may have acted in good taste and no fur-fail. "The gods take care of Cato," and a just Provitherance of the public interest. dence, and an honest people will protect and defend the defender of his country against all unjust assaults of his enemies. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8. DUTY ON ALUM SALT. The Senate will not expect me to notice the poetry of the gentleman from Maine. My business is with dollars and cents--post offices, and post roads, and this is a poor subject for poetical display. It requires the imagination and genius of the gentleman from Maine to strew flowers over post roads at this inclement season of the year. I will, however, notice his delicate and classical story re- Mr. BENTON rose to ask leave to introduce a bill to specting the public "meat cellar," and make the true ap-repeal the duty on alum salt. He said that this kind of plication. As I understand it, this "cellar" belongs to the salt was not manufactured in the United States; that it people of the United States; the gentleman and his friends was indispensable in curing provisions, and had to be were once placed in it to take care of it; the people were bought at whatever price it might cost. He said that the of opinion that they were not faithful sentinels; they uses of salt, and the injury done to the community by turned them out, and have placed others in, who they be- taxing it, had commanded the attention of the British lieved were more faithful, and the gentleman and his Parliament, and occasioned a committee to be appointed friends are now endeavoring to break in, but the people in the year 1818, whose labors were a monument to their will not let them. The gentleman further remarks, that honor, and a title to the gratitude of their country. They when men are seeking for power, any means are resorted had taken the examinations in writing of more than seto for the accomplishment of their object. Did the gen- venty witnesses, comprehending men of the first charactleman recollect that it might be said that he was illustrat-ter in every walk of life, of whom he would mention Lord ing the truth of his doctrine by his own example, and Kenyon, Sir Thomas Bernard, Sir John Sinclair, Arthur that the tendency of his whole conduct in this whole pro- Young, and Sir John Stanley, whose testimony, with the ceeding went to show that there were no morals in poli- reports of the committee, extended to four hundred folio tics? The gentlemen exclaim there will be no report made pages. He would read some parts of their testimony, and by this committee. If there be none, the fault shall be believed that the Senate would perform a great service to theirs, not ours. I hope a report will be made, one that the American people if they would direct a committee to will silence calumny and seal the lips of slander. I have make an abstract of the whole, and publish some thousand admitted that by means of misrepresentation some men copies for distribution among the people. have been removed, whom it would have been better to Mr. B. then began to read a part of the extracts which have retained, and the gentleman from Maine may have he had made, when he was interrupted by Mr. Fooт, of known some one instance of that kind; and such is his Connecticut, who made several points of order, one of imagination, that whenever he hears of a removal, let the which was, that Mr. B.'s motion was not seconded. The cause of removal be what it may, he supposes that it has VICE PRESIDENT said that it was not usual to have motions been done improperly, and from a spirit of proscription. seconded in the Senate; that the rule was a formality He reasons like the medical student; he was taken by his which had not been attended to in practice; but, if any preceptor to see a sick patient; the patient had become Senator made it a point, the rule must be enforced. worse, and the doctor charged the family with their having B. then appealed to the Senators from the south of Mason given him eggs to eat, which had increased his illness; and Dixon's line to furnish him a second. Several rose, the fact was admitted; the doctor again prescribed and and, observing among them Mr. WOODBURY, of New returned home; the student was curious to know how his Hampshire, he gave him the preference, because he was preceptor had come to the knowledge of the fact that his from the north of Mason and Dixon's line, and because patient had eaten eggs; the preceptor told him he had he had been the first to open the campaign against the seen the shells under the bed. On the next day the stu- salt tax several years ago. He said that the report and dent was sent to see the same patient, and found the man speeches of the Senator from New Hampshire against the dying, and informed his preceptor that the man had eaten salt tax would remain as monuments to his honor when a horse; the preceptor said that was impossible; the stu- his own poor exertions were forgotten; and he took pride dent persisted in it, and upon being asked the reason why and pleasure in paying this tribute to him, and making it he thought so, he said he had seen a bridle under the bed; more fully known in the West, that he was only the foland whenever the gentleman from Maine sees a bridle, or lower of that distinguished and patriotic Senator, so justly a change of postmaster, a horse or a Yankee, in his imagi- dear to the whig republicans of all quarters of the Union, nation, has been devoured. in waging a war of determined hostility against the salt tax. Mr. The other objections of Mr. Foor being disposed of, Mr. B. went on to read, or state, the extracts to which he referred. EXTRACT. The gentleman charges this administration with flinching. He who is now at the head of this Government never learned the art of flinching, nor will he permit those who act under him, either in the field or cabinet, to do so; and the gentleman will learn this, should the Chief Magistrate entertain the same opinion I do in rela1. From Sir John Sinclair's evidence.--I was once at tion to the call made on the Postmaster General to assign the farm of a great farmer in the Netherlands, a Mr. Mesthe causes which have produced the removals of postmas- selman, at Chenoi, near Havre, where I was surprised to ters. I have said that I thought that neither the Senate see an immense heap of Cheshire rock salt, which he said nor the committee have the constitutional right to make he found of the greatest use for his stock. He said, first, this demand. Should the Chief Magistrate think so, of that, by allowing his sheep to lick it, the rot was effectualone thing I am certain, that he who never suffered his ly prevented; secondly, that his cattle, to whom he gave own private rights, or the rights of his country, to be in- lumps of it to lick, were thereby protected from infecvaded, will not permit an encroachment upon the rights tious disorders; and the cows being thus rendered more of his official station. healthy, and being induced to take a greater quantity of Sir, we cannot mistake the object which gentlemen liquid, gave more milk. And I saw lumps of this salt, to have in view; they cannot desire to sacrifice the Post- which the cows had access, in the place where they were master General, a man so amiable and honest, an officer kept. He also said, that a small quantity pounded was [SENATE. found very beneficial to the horses when new oats were accelerates and promotes the quantity of milk given by given them, if the oats were at all moist. He milch cows. [In another place Mr. C. says that the use gave them great lumps, that they (the cattle) might lick of salt prevents the ill taste which the feeding on certain when they chose. One of the most important weeds and vegetables imparts to the milk.] It prevents uses of salt, as connected with agriculture, is, that it pre- the rot in sheep, and the effect of hoving, when stock are serves seed, when sown, from the attacks of the grub." fed on turnips or clover. Salt renders daIn a communication to me from Sweden, by maged hay palatable and nutritious; and, if applied in difBaron Schultz, he says, the salt destroys the different sort ficult seasons, prevents an undue fermentation and heat in of worms found in the bodies of sheep, but in particular the stack. Chaff and straw would be rendered available the liver worm. to a much greater extent than at present by the application of salt. It would be a most valuable ingredient in the preparation of warm food for stall-fed cattle in the improved system of soiling; and, from my experience of its EXTRACT. 2. Arthur Young's Testimony.--Did you ever try salt in the feeding of your cattle? Do you think that it would be beneficial in preventing the rot in sheep? * Yes; but chiefly with sheep; and I found the sheep as-salutary effects, I should consider the free use of it, as a tonishingly fond of it. condiment, the greatest boon the Government could bestow on the husbandman. I consider the advantage from salt, in feeding my stock, on a farm of eight hundred acres, worth about one thousand pounds per annum, would exceed three hundred pounds per annum! (that is, add a third to the annual value of the farm.) I found it so in the years when my neighbors' sheep were generally affected with the rot; my sheep escaped, and my land was quite as wet as my neighbors'. Do you think, considering the advantages in health, fattening, and the power of using inferior food in the feed- The probable consumption of salt for sheep and cating of cattle and stock in general, that the free use of tle may be taken as follows, to wit: salt would be an advantage equivalent to seven shillings a head to the farmer? I should think it would be worth a great deal more. think it is invaluable. In short, let my answer be what it would, it would be under the mark. Per annum. I Dr. Young then gave his opinion that the stock in Eng-30,000,000 sheep, land would be increased in value above three millions sterling, nearly fifteen millions of dollars, by the free use of salt. He estimated the stock in England to be- Horses, EXTRACT. 14 lbs. the stone. Stones. 1,421,000 cows, 2,000,000 young cattle, 4 4 3 not estimated, 88,826,000 1,500,000 head 3. Testimony of William Glover, superintendent of the cattle of the Hon. Mr. Curwen, M. P. This deponent began to give salt to the cattle under his care the 19th November, 1817, and from that time till now the cattle have had salt, as follows: 40 milch cows and breeding heifers, each 4 ounces per day; 30 oxen, 4 ounces each per day; 27 young cattle, each 2 ounces per day; 26 calves, 1 ounce each per day; 48 horses, each 4 ounces per day; 444 sheep, 2 ounces each per week. The advantage of salt for sheep appears to this deponent to be great; as he says none of the stock have died in the sickness since they commenced giving salt; and they have had none in the rot; in other years they lost some of the ewes and wethers in the sickness. And this deponent says that he has now kept the cattle at Schoose farm ten years, and they were never so long without sickness. 1,200,000 horses, 6. Lord Kenyon's evidence before the committee.-By the information which I have been able to collect, I am induced to consider salt, when sparingly applied, as an admirable manure, especially for fallows and arable land; and, when mixed up with soil out of gutters, or refuse dirt or ashes, to be very valuable also on grass lands. My own experience convinces me that it is very powerful in destroying vegetation if laid on too thick, having put a large quantity of refuse salt on about one-fourth of an acre of land, which, after two years, still remains quite bare. A land surveyor of high character in my neighborhood, 4. The affidavit of thirty-two farmers. considers that the use of salt would be likely to be very We, the undersigned, being farmers, and the owners valuable in destroying the slug, wire worm, snail, &c. of land in the neighborhood of Workington, do hereby which often destroy whole crops. He also remembers certify, that we are acquainted with and witnesses to the that salt was used largely in the neighborhood of the fact of Mr. Curwen giving salt to his cattle and horses, Higher and Lower Wiches in Cheshire, before the duties with their food, at the Schoose farm and at Workington; were raised to their present height. With respect to its and that we are desirous of using the same for our live value for cattle, horses, and sheep, I am informed that it stock if we could obtain it without difficulty, and at very highly thought of, both as nutriment, and as used cheap rate. medicinally, internally and externally. Its value also is extremely well known for rendering bad and ill-gotten 5. Testimony of Mr. Curwen, M. P.--In regard to hay more nourishing and more palatable to cattle than cattle, I have under-estimated the quantity, because, if even good hay. salt could be had at a moderate price there is no animal I would give less than six stone, (14 pounds to the 7. Evidence of Mr. Kingston.--In reply to your que stone,) each per annum. Iries, as an agriculturist, I have no hesitation in saying that believe if salt were in general use for cattle it would salt, if freed from duty, would become one of the most amount to 340,000 tons--about 14,000,000 bushels useful and general articles of manure that ever was thought "The importance of the free use of salt to agri- of, if properly composed, by mixing it with mud of any culture can scarcely be estimated too highly. Salt con- kind--the cleanings of ditches and ponds, the surface of tributes not only to the health of cattle and sheep, but coarse ground thrown into heaps to rot, blubber, &c. I SENATE.] Duty on Alum Salt. [FEB. 8, 1831. am also persuaded, that if it could be afforded to be use of salt was to be ascribed the circumstance of four sprinkled on the layers of hay, when making into the rick, times the number of sheep having been reared on a stein catching weather, it would prevent its heating and rile common, than would otherwise have subsisted on it; getting mouldy. I had once some small cattle tied up to and that the wool of these flocks is not only the finest in fatten, which did not thrive, owing, as the bailiff said, to the whole country, but bears the highest price of any in the badness of the hay, of which they wasted more than France. The fineness of the wool of the Spanish sheep they ate; but, by sprinkling it with water in which some salt had been dissolved, they returned to eat it greedily. I am free to say, a proper quantity of salt would prevent cattle from being hoven by an excess of green food. EXTRACT. 8. Mr. Thomas Bourne's examination.-The committee understand you are a merchant, residing at Liverpool? I am. Can you speak as to the probable effect of the repeal of the salt duties on your trade? It would be a good thing, in my opinion, for the country at large, and also the manufactures. Have you any knowledge of its being used in food for animals? Yes, to horses in particular. Has it a good effect? Yes. Then do you not suppose, if the restrictions were taken off, it would come into more general use among the farmers, for stock of all kinds? It would in that instance; we used to have five horses in our rock salt mine, and those horses always appeared in good condition, though very much worked." Were they liable to less disorders than those out of the mine? EXTRACT. is also attributed, in a great measure, to the free use of salt. It is not, therefore, I presume, an extraordinary position to say, that, by a proper use of common salt, the same quantity of forage might, on many occasions, be made to go twice as far as it could have done, in feeding animals, had the salt been withheld from them! EXTRACT. 10. Mr. Charles G. Cothill, examined.--What is your profession? Answer. A bacon and provision merchant, residing in Judd street, Brunswick square. What is the nature and amount of your business, and how far has it been affected by the salt duties? Answer. About fifty years ago my father established a manufactory in Vine street, and expended £10,000 in adapting the premises for the curing of bacon and the salting of pork. Our annual returns were about £50,000: it is now diminished to less than £1,000 annually, in consequence, as I apprehend, of the very high duties on salt, as our trade has diminished progressively as those duties have increased. Do you not consider that the breed of hogs has also diminished, in consequence of this increase of duty on salt? Answer. Very materially; and, as a further proof of what I state, we had a very extensive trade of £200,000 a prac-year in hogs; now not £10,000. What effect, in your opinion, would a great reduction of the salt duties produce in your business? Answer. I conceive it would restore our trade: we should then be able to supply the West India markets, and other colonies, with salted pork, cheaper and better than any other country. What is the quantity of salt used upon 100 weight of pork, to make bacon? Answer. In a manufactory of bacon, about 12 pounds; to cure a small quantity, about 17 or 18. EXTRACT. 9. Evidence of Mr. W. Horne.--There are very few farmers who are not aware of the importance of salt in preserving hay, and restoring it when damaged; many of those whom I have conversed with on the subject, have used it for these purposes, and it would generally be resorted to, to the extent of ten or fifteen pounds to the ton of hay, if the duties on salt were repealed. Lord Somer11. Testimony of Sir Thomas Bernard.--I ventured ville has furnished most satisfactory information on this to suggest that a tax on salt was fundamentally wrong in subject; and I know, from respectable authority, that it principle, because it presses most on the class least able to is a common practice in the United States of America to bear the weight--because of its immoral tendency--and sprinkle salt upon hay when forming it into ricks. We because it deprives the nation of benefits, beyond measure also learn from Lord Somerville, that Mr. Darke, of Bree- greater than the whole produce of the impost. The salt don, one of the most celebrated graziers in the kingdom, duties are about a million and a half sterling per annum, mixed salt with his flooded mouldy hay, and that his Here- (about seven millions of dollars.) The poor use most salt ford oxen did better on it than others on the best hay he in proportion to their wealth; a cottager in the country ten had; and he was convinced the hay had all its good effects to one in proportion to a nobleman in town. I have learnt from nefits of which the nation is deprived by the salt duties, Mr. Sutton, of Eaton, in Cheshire, that he would give are not easily appreciated, or even numbered. In agrithirty tons (120 bushels, of 56 pounds each,) of salt a culture and rural economy alone, the loss in feeding cattle, year to his cattle, being fifty cows, if the duty were re- sheep, and hogs--in restoring damaged provender--in pealed. In many parts of the United manure, and in the effect on wages, may, without extravaStates of America, salt is generally given to cattle. gance, be supposed to exceed the whole value of the tax. The excellent condition of the horses Equal, perhaps, would be the gain to our manufacturers in the rock-pits of Cheshire, may be adduced in favor of of woollen, linen, glass, earthenware, soap, &c. &c. &c. its benefit in fattening cattle and keeping them in health." by the unrestrained use of muriate and carbonate of soda Many counted that they can attribute the longevity of their and muriatic acid, of which our salt mines and ocean afford horses to the good effects of salt. Mr. Hadfield, of Li- supplies absolutely inexhaustible. from the salt. * But the be verpool, furnishes an instance in his horse, thirty years Mr. B. having read, or stated, these extracts, to show old; he constantly gave it rock salt to lick, placing it in the use of salt in agriculture, said there were many other his manger. Mr. Young has furnished us, in the annals witnesses examined, to prove that alum salt, which the of agriculture, with a most interesting and satisfactory English usually called bay salt, because it was made by statement (obtained from the Memoirs of the Royal Acade- solar evaporation, out of sea water in the bay of Biscay, my of Sciences at Paris) on the effect of salt in fattening and other bays, was indispensable to the curing of provi cattle. From this report it appears, that to the unlimited sions, for long keeping, or for exportation, other articles FER. 8, 1831.] Duty on Alum Salt. [SENATE. connected with agriculture, as cheese, butter, bacon, more without encroaching too much on the time of the pickled beef, and pickled pork; and that the English Go-Senate, he said he would introduce the testimony of some vernment permitted alum salt, under the name of bay salt, American witnesses to the same points. He had seen the to be imported both into England and Ireland duty free, statements of the English witnesses last winter; and, being for these purposes, even when the domestic manufacture desirous to hear what Americans would say on the same of common salt in England far exceeded the home de- subject, he had, in the course of the last summer, admand, and furnished millions of bushels for exportation. dressed certain queries to some friends and acquaintances He also stated that the committee of the House of Com- in the Western States, and had received from many of mons had examined the first physicians of Great Britain, them communications of so much interest and value, that to prove the effect of a deficiency of salt in the provisions he should lay them before the Senate; and, first, would of the poor on their health, and that these physicians uni- exhibit the queries for the better understanding of the formly testified that many diseases of the poor, and espe-answers. The names of his correspondents, he said, cially in children, were the effect of using vegetables not would be known to the members of the Senate from the sufficiently salted, and fish and meat not sufficiently cured. States in which they reside; some will be known to the He also stated that the committee had extended their Senators from many States; and some to the whole body examination to the use of salt in various manufactories, of the Senate. and had established, by proof, that a variety of useful Queries on the state of the salt trade in the Western States. manufactures required the abolition of the salt duty. On this point, he read extracts from the examination of Samuel Parkes, Esq. an eminent chemist of London, as follows: ЕХТПАСТт. 12. Examination of Samuel Parkes.--What is your profession? 1. Whether the trade in salt is monopolized? and, if so, at what works? and over how many States do the sales of these monopolists extend? 2. The practices of the monopolists, if any, to enhance the price of salt, and to prevent competition? 3. The prices of domestic and foreign salt in your neighborhood, and the freight of foreign salt from New I am proprietor of the chemical works in Goswell street, London, and of other chemical works in Maiden Orleans? lane, Islington. Can you acquaint the committee what are the manufactures most affected by the salt laws? 4. Whether the monopolists have established depots of salt in different States, and appointed agents to sell their salt, and restricted the sales of each depot to its district? How far are the depots apart in your State? The manufactures of mineral alkali, crystalized soda, muriatic acid, hard soap, distinguished from soft soap, 5. Whether the salt manufacturers have entered into Glauber salt, Epsom salt, magnesia, and sal ammoniac, are agreements with the monopolizers to restrict the quantity all materially affected by the duty on salt; but as common of salt made at the works? to confine the sales to the mosalt, or one or other of the component parts of common nopolists? and to stop working wells and furnaces for salt, is made use of in the composition of a great variety pay? The meaning of the phrase "dead wells," and the of articles that are employed in our manufactures, it is rent of such wells? difficult to answer that question with precision. 6. Whether salt is sold in your neighborhood by weight Respecting soap, I have only to observe, that common salt or measure? If by weight, how many pounds are allowed is absolutely necessary for the manufacture of hard soap; to the bushel? and how much a weighed bushel measures? for however plentifully potash may be produced, large 7. In selling by the barrel, is due allowance made for quantities of common salt must be employed with it, or the weight of the barrel, and for the loss of salt in drying? the soap will be only temporarily hard; it will have no last. If not, what is the difference between the real and nomiing consistence. Salt is employed largely in the nal quantity in the barrel? preparation and manufacture of a great number of other articles that might be enumerated; and in a short time I have no doubt they would all be benefited by the reduction of the duty on salt. How does the price of salt affect the soap boilers? The cheaper it is, the cheaper they will have it if they buy it. Do you know any other (manufacturing) purposes for salt? Yes: it is used in very large quantities by dyers, when it can be had cheap; and in a great variety of other ways. With respect to the salting of hides, I learn from further inquiry, that the butcher usually applies five pounds of salt to every ox or cow hide which he has occasion to lay by, or to send to the tanner at a distance. Crystalized soda (made of salt,) is much used in washing. Four hundred tons are annually made at the Long Benton works only. You have stated that, during the last six or seven years, it has increased from one to four hundred tons. Yes. This at the Long Benton works only? Yes. Which is made from salt duty free? Yes. They have an exclusive privilege. When Mr. B. had finished reading these extracts, and expressed his regret that, out of seventy witnesses and four hundred folio pages of testimony, he could read no 8. Whether the monopolists sell for money, or country produce for ready pay, or upon credit? and whether the price is higher or lower since the monopoly? 9. Do the monopolists rise and fall in their prices according to the presence or absence of competition? and what salt competes with them? 10. Do they realize great gains? 11. Whether the domestic salt is fit for pickling beef and pork, for curing bacon, and preserving butter, for exportation, or consumption in the South, or long keeping? 12. Whether beef and pork, put in common salt, will be received for the use of the army or navy? 13. The necessity and expense of repacking beef and pork in alum salt, in New Orleans, which has been put up in domestic salt? 14. The necessity and advantage of giving salt to horses, cattle, sheep, and hogs? Whether salt is not indispensable to stock in the Western States? Whether there is not a great difference between inland and maritime States in this respect? The reason of that difference? How much salt per head, and how often per week or month ought it to be given to each kind of stock? and whether the farmers in your section of the country are prevented, by the high price and scarcity of salt, from giving as much to their stock as they need? 15. The use and advantage of salt in preserving hay, fodder, and clover? In restoring them, after being da maged by wet? St. Louis, July, 1830. SENATE.] Duty on Alum Salt. [FEB. 8, 1831 Communication from G. T. C. MCCLANNAHAN, Esq. of ally; but I am further informed that the lease is out, and Jackson county, North Alabama, October, 1830. the works are to go into active operation to compete with Your first query-the trade of salt is entirely monopo- White, he having let them lie idle heretofore; these are lized here by James White, of the Holston salt works,"dead wells," but the number of dead wells he has I am in Virginia. I cannot exactly tell to what States these unable to inform you. works furnish salt, but it is to be supposed to the western 6. Salt is sold here by weight, fifty pounds to the parts of Virginia, eastern part of Tennessee, a part of bushel; and fifty pounds (the bushel) of the salt which I North Carolina, the northern part of Georgia, North Ala- tried, (without pressing,) measured 1,188,595 215 solid bama, and some in South Alabama, &c. &c. inches, making 4 gallons 1,432 quarts, dry measure, d d Query 2d-Colonel J. White has a depot at this place, which is but very little over half a measured bushel. a mile and a half from Tennessee river, down which Therefore, when salt is two dollars the fifty pounds, we stream he boats his salt. And if any person else brings have to pay at the rate of three dollars and sixty-six and salt here to sell, they immediately undersell that person a half cents the measured bushel. This is oppression in a and ruin him. The people sometimes get their salt from free country-this is the fruit of the tariff. Nashville, when they have a convenience of doing so, and 7. In selling by the barrel, the weight of the barrel, it comes much cheaper, after paying land carriage one and the net weight of salt, is sometimes, and most comhundred and thirty miles, than White's salt; but no per-monly, placed on the barrel; but the weight of the barson dares to compete with him here; because he can,rel is marked much less than its real weight. at his will, undersell any person who pays a land carriage They make no deduction for the drying of the salt. of one hundred and thirty miles; and therefore instantly One barrel I particularly weighed out, and it lost twenty break them up. One thing is yet to be told, which will pounds; and I am credibly informed that some have lost convince any man of the sin and oppression of this mo- as much as fifty. nopolizing system. This same James White will carry his 8. The monopolists here sell for money, or cotton at salt by us down to Ditto's landing, ten miles below Hunts- the cash price, which is the same thing as money. They ville, haul it out to Winchester, Tennessee, which is fifty- do not credit their salt. There is always two prices for five miles of land carriage, and sell it there so much lower cotton here--a cash and discount price. Merchants, in than he will here on the river take it out of his boats, taking in cotton for their accounts, give more for it than that some of the planters, who are able to take their they will in money; and this is called the discount price. wagons and cross a very bad mountain, (part of the Cum- The salt gentlemen sell their salt for cotton, at the cash berland,) haul their salt over from Winchester, which price. The remaining part of the query I know nothing is forty-five miles from this place. Is this not oppressive about. to the poor? Would not this governmental monopolist 9. The monopolists have fallen here, since they find wring from the distressed orphan, widow, and war-worn that people would go to Nashville for their salt, if they soldier, all their earthly sustenance? And yet the Con- did not. But they know at what price to keep it up; gress of the United States--this boasted land of liberty they know the planters cannot take the trouble to go one and equal laws, countenances such oppressive acts. Why hundred and thirty miles to Nashville, to get a little salt: does Mr. White not sell as low here on the river as at and they know that no person dares to compete with them, Winchester, after carrying his salt one hundred and twen- as they could instantly reduce the price of their salt, and ty miles, fifty-five by land, and that, too, the very same thereby ruin their competitor. salt? The answer is obvious. At Winchester there is 10. They certainly must realize great gains, or they some competition; it is not so far from Nashville, where would not give nine or twelve thousand dollars annually for foreign salt may be obtained. And this is why he sells it one manufactory, to let it lie idle. Why does not Cenlower there than at this place. gress lease all the salt works in the United States, and We are here fenced in with almost impassable moun- let them lie idle, and then knock the duty off of salt, if tains, at a great distance from any commercial depot, and they wish to encourage the manufacture of salt, by filling without the means of shunning the exorbitant exactions of the pockets of the manufacturers? It would be much these vampyres, who take the bread from the mouths of better for the people. They would be great gainers by our children with the calculating coldness of an Arab; purchasing the salt works, and demolishing them, or let and these acts are legalized by a Congress of freemen. ting them out at a small rate, and then striking the duty We are glad to hear the stern voice of indignation at this from salt. oppression, uttered by some of the patriotic republicans of that body; and we should glory in being among the most persecuted victims, if by that means this most pernicious system of monopoly could be overturned. Query 3d-We have no foreign salt here for sale; two years ago some gentlemen brought a few bushels from Nashville, and sold it for one dollar and eighty-seven and a half cents per fifty pounds, underselling the salt gentlemen here at that time. The domestic salt has got lower than it was four years ago. Then it was two dollars and fifty cents, now one dollar and eighty-seven cents to two dollars. The freight from New Orleans to Nashville is one cent per pound, as I am informed by a merchant of this place, and from Nashville to this place one and a quarter cents per pound. 4. There is a depot here, and another at Ditto's landing, as I am told, for selling salt. These places are about fiftyfive miles apart by land. The remaining part of the question I do not know any thing about. The remaining queries, I am in hopes, will find abler persons to answer them than I. Communication from a meeting of the citizens of Madison county, Alabama, 8th of November, 1830, the subject proposed by Dr. William II. Glasscock, and authenticated by the signatures of Thomas Miller, President, and Charles A. Jones, Secretary. Answer to 1st. The salt consumed here is almost ex clusively obtained from Col. James White's manufactory, of Virginia, and sold by his agents in East Tennessee, a part of North Alabama, and West Tennessee. To the 21. We can give no definitive answer. 3d. The price of domestic salt is one dollar and twenty five cents per bushel, by the barrel, or one dollar and seventy-five cents by the single bushel. Foreign salt sells at about the same. The freight of salt, from New Orleans to Huntsville, is about one cent and three-fourths per pound. 4th. Colonel White has salt deposited in different parts of this State, and others, at various distances from each other, say ten to fifteen miles. 5. Colonel White, as I have been informed by good authority, leased the Preston salt works, in what is called 5th. Preston's works were for some time discontinued New Virginia, for nine or twelve thousand dollars annu-for--say ten thousand dollars per annum. |