UNIVERSITY CALIFORN SPEECHES. THE IMPORTANCE OF A CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE.* The resolution, that the 30th Rule of the Senate be amended, by adding thereto “a committee on agriculture," being under consideration, MR. WOODBURY observed, that he should vote for the resolution. now before the Senate, notwithstanding the strong opposition to it which had been manifested. Yet he would not have risen to offer any remarks upon its passage, but for the circumstance that, on Wednesday, he had voted against the amendment proposed to the Committee on Manufactures, and, consequently, without explanation, an inference might be drawn, by some, of inconsistency between the two votes. That amendment, however, was resisted by him upon the sole and identical principle which, in his opinion, operated with the greatest force in favor of the present resolution, -the principle of inexpediency in referring the subjects of manufactures and agriculture to the same committee, an inexpediency as great as to continue to refer commerce and manufactures to the same committee. All the arguments so eloquently urged on that day, by the gentlemen from Massachusetts and New Jersey, for a separate committee on each of the two last subjects, applied in equal vigor for a separate committee on agriculture. Not that he believed the interests of all these cardinal branches of industry were not inseparably connected, for he cordially united with the gentleman from South Carolina in that particular; but it was a connection in their importance to society, and in favor due from the government: nor that he believed they were not sisters, as happily expressed by the gentleman from Maryland, * A speech delivered in the Senate of the United States, Dec. 9, 1825. but sisters, chiefly, in the affections of this House. They could be received separately, and, like those sciences having one common bond, must be examined in detail; - peculiar talents could, in distinct committees, be brought to bear on the investigation of each; and, by a proper analysis and scrutiny of subjects of legislation, the same utility is attained as by a proper division of labor in the common affairs of life. That there was no employment for such a committee, had been again pressed by the ingenious gentleman from Maine; but, in addition to the answer given by the mover of the resolution, he would suggest, that all questions of direct taxes on land, all internal duties and excises, and all imposts, no less than questions of foreign and internal commerce, have a powerful, and often an immediate influence, on the interests of agriculture. And, in a territory like ours, of between two and three millions of square miles, with twothirds of its population exclusively engaged in agriculture, with annual exports from agriculture of about forty millions, and with, probably, fifteen millions of our duties paid, in the end, by the tillers of the soil, who consume, and not by the merchants, who import, it is impossible not to find subjects peculiarly proper, in some stage of their progress through this House, to be referred to such a committee. True it is, that the subject, as heretofore, might be referred to other committees; and it is equally true, that all subjects whatever might be referred to a committee of the whole House. True it is, also, that the duties of such a committee are not specifically defined; nor are the duties of any other committee, but depend on the express object of the committee, and the nature of subjects coming before Congress. If those concerning agriculture are now small, he hoped the prosperity of it would long keep them small. But that her interests were daily touched, directly or indirectly, and might be considered by reports of other committees being referred to the committee before any final measures are taken, will be manifest by adverting, not only to the effect of the tariff, as before named, on some kinds of produce, but to the duties on sugar, as affecting the agriculture of that section suited to the cane; on hemp, as affecting another section; on woollen and cotton goods, as affecting the produce of other sections; tobacco, another. As a strong illustration how agriculture may be affected by duties on articles consumed merely, and not grown here, something more than half a million in value of salt is annually imported, paying a duty of twenty cents per bushel; and a large proportion of it being consumed by the farmers of the North, this duty is a tax on them. The hardy yeomanry of the country may ask, in time, to be heard on these and similar topics and, though groaning under no such tithes and poorrates as to require for relief the cumbrous system of British Corn Laws; though not wont to be so clamorous as those engaged in some other pursuits; though not thundering at your doors so often with petitions, memorials, and remonstrances; yet they have the |