308 [Senatk 



The importer of silk in this stage of manufacture, when a purchaser 

 calls for a particular color, has only to send the quantity required to 

 a dyer, who colors and prepares it to order at small expense, and re- 

 turns it to the importer in that fully finished and manufactured state 

 which, if so imported in, would pay a duty of $2.50 per pound; 

 and thus, by this defect in the law, it is evident that government 

 loses $2 per pound revenue, and our home industry is deprived of 

 the manufacture, which the law gives to the pauper labor of Europe. 



During the last session of Congress, and prior to the passing of 

 the present act, the bearing and probable effects of the section rela- 

 tive to the duty on raw silk, as now worded, was fully and strongly 

 represented by ourselves and others, manufacturers and growers, to 

 the committee on manufactures and to the comptroller of the United 

 States. These representations were received in such a way as to 

 favor the expectation that the section would be so modified as to se- 

 cure all the objects of the law ; another of which was, to insure to 

 the grower of silk, a home market for the produce of his labor. 

 And we would here ask w'here is the silk grower to find a home mar- 

 ket, if not from the home manufacturer ? And how is the manufac- 

 turer to succeed, if the manufactured article is admitted at the same 

 duty as the raw material ! 



The act was passed without any modification of the section, thus 

 showing that foreign cunning and ingenuity had prevailed over the in- 

 terests of both silk grower and manufacturer — for to no other influ- 

 ence can this extraordinary proceeding be attributed. 



Inasmuch as the silk grower will be burthened in foreign markets 

 with heavy, if not entirely prohibitory duties and charges, and can 

 therefore expect to find a profitable market only at home, and as the 

 consumption and demand can only be increased by encouragement to 

 the manufacturer, it behooves them both, as well as all the friends 

 of home trade, to use every exertion and influence to have the pre- 

 sent tariflf so amended as to impose a proper duty on silk manufac- 

 tured in any way, or to any extent, and also a proper duty upon silk 

 simply reeled from the cocoon and put up in hanks. 



9th. Our experience has proved to us that it only requires foster- 

 ing laws from government, largely and rapidly to increase the manu- 

 facture, and to render the growth of silk universal, and a most pro- 

 fitable branch of domestic industry, inasmuch as its cultivation 

 scarcely interferes wnth other agricultural labors, only the aged and 

 the young of either sex being required to superintend the raising and 

 feeding of this invaluable insect. We believe this business is destin • 

 ed shortly to add millions upon millions to our national treasures. 

 The enterprise is a inighty one i?i ■prospect, and all our legislators 

 should look to its interests. 



We presume the foregoing will serve as an answer to the Circular 

 of the American Institute. 



One, if not both of us, will attend the convention to give any fur- 

 ther information in our power; and for the sake of elucidating our 

 remarks on this unjust law of Congress, will exhibit to the mem- 



