FINE WOOL SHEEP HUSBANDRY. 57 



very time the average of Saxon wool was not ten cents 

 higher a pound than Spanish, and the product of a 

 Spanish sheep was worth more in market than the 

 product of a Saxon sheep. Even the prices of fine 

 wool did not rise until near the close of 1830. Amer- 

 ican producers of very fine wool have ever fed on ex- 

 pectation, but never attained the fruition of their 

 hopes.* 



I will now trace down an account of the subsequent 

 tariffs, in connection, for the purpose of rendering a 

 comparison of their provisions more convenient. 



The tariff of 1828 produced a vast annual surplus 

 of revenue over the expenditures of the government, 

 and furnished means for a rapid extinction of the 

 public debt. But the latter would be soon paid ; the 

 discontents of a portion of our people against the 

 duties imposed by the law, were loudly expressed ; and 

 a change was felt to be necessary. This was made by 

 the tariff of 1832. 



This made wools not exceeding eight cents per pound 

 in value at the place of export,f duty free ; and im- 



* I trust no former breeder of the Saxons will complain of the tone 

 of these remarks, when I say, " quorum pars fui." I was the 

 owner of sheep before I was a year old, and have remained so since. 

 Thirty -two years ago I became the owner of a pure Spanish flock. 

 Subsequently I purchased some Saxons, and was so gratified with the 

 produce of a few picked sheep, that I bought and bred a flock 

 usually numbering from 500 to 700. They were derived from the 

 most celebrated flocks. I kept them several years, and gave them a 

 fair trial before going back to the Spanish Merinos, which, very 

 fortunately for myself, I had never entirely abandoned. 



f The bill provided that if wools were mixed with dirt or other 

 material to reduce its value to eight cents, the appraisers should ap- 

 praise it at such price " as in their opinion it would have cost had it 

 not been so mixed." 

 3* 



