on 
1871.] 20 ‘ [Carey. 
ples, and the largest practical acquaintance with the details which enter 
into the several subjects of inquiry, alone could give. 
The work done by him, outside of that which his own pen has reported, 
was of itself, and independently, worthy of permanent record. The 
Secretary of the Wool Manufacturers’ Association, Mr J. L. Hayes, an 
eminently capable witness, thus speaks of his agency and influence in 
harmonizing the conflicting interests of the agriculturists and manufac- 
turers of this staple industry of the nation: ‘“‘ The conferences between 
the two committees (representing the respective parties) commenced in 
January, 1865, and were continued without much pause for six months. At 
the outset the two committees were widely apart in their views, and the 
traditional jealousies became at once apparent. Here the weight of char- 
acter disinterestedness, and moral power of Mr. Colwell came into play. 
He was personally present at many of these conferences, and I am con- 
vinced that the harmonious arrangement finally made was mainly due to 
his influence. This influence was perfectly unobtrusive, but both parties 
had absolute reliance upon Mr. Colwell’s integrity and wisdom, and a 
mere hint from him was suflicient to give a right directiou to our coun- 
cils. Some of the suggestions which he made were of great practical 
value.’ Of one of these this gentleman says: ‘‘It has been in operation 
five years, and it is a constant surprise to manufacturers and growers 
that so brief an act, affecting so many really distinct branches of indus- 
try, should cover so much and operate so wisely.’’ Again he says: ‘‘ The 
bill, of which the chief features are due to Mr. Colwell’s suggestions, is 
wonderfully sustained ; its practical working is really remarkable for its 
success, * * * but the influence upon our own industry is by no means 
the chief object. The wool tariff is the key to the protective position in 
this country. It secures the agricultural interest and the West.” 
His treatment of this subject, and the reports upon trade, production, 
prices and national finance, place him, in my judgment, highest among 
the authorities in our history in whatever combines knowledge of facts 
and soundness of economic principles. Quite sure am I that there is not 
so much of practical value and guiding principle to be learned even in 
that great storehouse of economic literature which he has given to the 
University. The earnest and intelligent student of the industrial and 
commercial policy of our country who may give to these reports the at- 
tention that is their due, will find himself prepared for a safe, clear and 
satisfactory judgment upon all of the many questions therein embraced. 
Incidentally, but necessarily, intermixed with the history and statistics 
of our national industries, an unusually effective examination of the 
theories of free trade and protection finds a deservedly prominent place in 
these reports ; and the predominant claims of labor upon the care of gov- 
ernment and the regard of the community is the pervading spirit and 
ruling impulse of all that he here has written. His heart was in this mat- 
ter, and his philosophy most happily corroborated his philanthropy. The 
key to all his economic doctrines isin such simple self-proving proposi- 
tions as these: ‘The highest condition of national welfare depends upon 
