USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections: containing I. The Reformation in France; the rise, progress and destruction of the Huguenot Church. Vol I > Part 40
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No. 17, April 20, 1818. This act affected duties only on 13 articles.
No. 18, March 3, 1819. This act related only to wines, fixing rate of duty 20 cts. and 25 cts. a gallon.
No. 19, May 22, 1824. This was an amendatory act, changing the whole system of duties on imports. It consisted of specifics, ad valorems, compounds, and minimums; in addition to cotton yarn and cloth, and thread, the minimum system extended to Leghorn hats and bonnets; hats or bonnets of straw, chip, or grass; the ad valorem ranged from 12 to 50 per cent. The anti-tariff feeling now commenced in the cotton States.
No. 20, May 19, 1828 This act changed the rates of duties named therein-specific, ad va- lorem, compound, and minimums, and extended the latter to the manufactures of wool, which was divided into four classes : 1st. Not exceeding in value 50 cts., shall be deemed to cost 50 cts. 2d. Goods exceeding 50 cts. and not over $1.00, shall be deemed to cost $1.00. 3d. Those exceeding $1.00, and not exceeding $2.50, shall be deemed to cost $2.50. 4th. That shall exceed $2.50, and not exceed $4.00, shall be deemed to cost $4.00, and thereon to pay a duty of 45 per cent .; and wool was taxed 4 cts. per pound; 40 cts. ad valorem for one year, 45 for two years, and, thereafter, 50 per cent in addition. The votes were, house, 105 to 94 nays; the votes were, senate, 26 to 21 nays. The sentiment among members of the same State in all parts of the Union differed; some favored and others opposed.
No. 21, May 24, 1828. This referred to wines, the duties ranging from 10 cts. to 50 cts. per gallon.
No. 22, May 20, 1830. This act reduced the duties on coffee, tea, and cocoa, these rates being specific.
No. 23, May 29, 1830. This act reduced rates on molasses to 5 cts. per gallon, and allowed duties as drawbacks on spirits distilled from foreign materials.
No. 24, May 29, 1830. This act applied to salt, reducing duties to 15 cts. for 56 pounds.
No. 25, July 13, 1832. This act applied to French wines, to carry out a treaty concluded July 4, 1831. Duties, specific.
No. 26, July 14. 1832. This act was to alter and amend several acts imposing duties on imports. The free list was made larger, and many articles were subjected to a compound duty, specific and ad valorem; the latter ranging from 5 to 50 per cent., and the mini- mums now only applied to cotton cloths, twist, yarns, and thread.
No. 27, March 2, 1833. This act affected but few articles, relating to hardware, copper, and brass, seven articles.
No. 28, March 2, 1833. This was an act, entitled, "An Act to Modify the Act of July 14, 1832, and All Other Acts Imposing Duties on Imports." commonly known as "Henry Clay's Compromise Act." The object was to make a gradual reduction of duties to a hori- zontal base of 20 per cent., ad valorem standard. This was the effect of the Nulification
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He spun both warp and filling on the same frames (then styled the " Water Frames," or the " Arkwright Patent"), up to 1803. His manufacturing at this time and for several years
attempt of South Carolina, made by Mr. Clay for pacification. A gradual reduction of all duties in excess of 20 per cent. was as follows: One tenth of such excess, December 31, 1833; one tenth, December 31, 1835; one tenth, December 31, 1837; and another tenth, December 31, 1839; and then half of the remaining excess over 20 per cent., December 31, 1841; and the balance of such excess, December 31, 1842, which now left only one uniform tariff of duties of 20 per cent. This act for a time terminated the jealousy of the South, until it was revived again by the agitation of the slavery question.
The influence of the South now prevailed in Congress, and with a design to humble the North, by depressing its industrial pursuits, as the following act will show.
No. 29, September 11, 1841. This act related somewhat to drawbacks, but also fixed the range of duties on many articles at only 1212 per cent., soap at 20 per cent., and ex- tended largely the free list; the whole act, as might have been expected, was regarded in England with great favor, striking a severe blow to American manufactures. It was passed by the influence of the South as a retaliation for the high tariffs of 1828 and 1832.
A reaction in public sentiment was created by the sluggish state of all kinds of indus- trial affairs, and a partial return to the system of encouragement to American industry was now effected as follows:
No. 30, August 30, 1842. Establishing again specific, minimum, compound, and ad valo- rem duties, the latter ranging from 1 to 50 per cent.
No. 31, July 30, 1846. This act gives ad valorem duties exclusively, for the first time ranging from 5 to 100 per cent., and was the result of the Southern influence.
No. 32, March 3, 1857. This act also adopted the exclusive ad valorem plan, and reduced duties ranging from 4 to 30 per cent., and also extended largely the free list; this was about the last legislative act carried by the South as a retaliatory measure designed as an offset to Northern interference with the slave institution.
No. 33, an act which took effect, April 1, 1861, favored manufactures; it embraced several principles-ad valorem, specific, compound, etc., exhibiting the influence of Northern minds, having originated at the point when culminated the strife for power in the government between the North and South.
This was a contest between slavery and freedom, or slave labor and free labor. The South, failing to secure a predominance in the government by the failure to elect their choice for chief magistrate, resorted to the force of arms, and by the result the power of the North was greatly strengthened.
The changes in the tariff since have been mainly governed by the necessities of the country and not by sectional interests, however much they favor the interest of manu- factures.
Although the question of free and slave labor has been definitely closed, yet not so the question of labor with that of capital.
The tendency at the present time is to bring into opposition those who produce from the soil and those of the manufacturing interest. At present this latter question appears at the West and South, to be uniting under the name of "Grangers," for the purpose, as set forth, to oppose railroad monopoly; but the under current is tending against the tariff system as a source of protection to the manufacturing interest.
Incidental protection to manufactures is unavoidable, so long as our national debt con- tinues at its present magnitude, and it must be much reduced before any considerable change in our present tariff can be made; still, the tendency of the time is to raise a new issue of a local character, which will be likely to create sectional animosity between the West and North. The tendency to railroad monopoly is a serious evil, and will no doubt command the especial attention of all political parties; but this, so far as relates to fares for passengers, will not be so essential as affecting the great producing interest.
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later was confined to the spinning of yarns; all the cloth woven at this period was by families, a process long existing as a necessity for preparing clothing for domestic purposes.
As the yarns accumulated on his hands, Mr. Slater availed himself at a later period of this family process, making cloth by hand-loom, which was about the time he erected his works at this place. This mode was soon superseded by the inven- tion and introduction of the power-loom, operated by water, introduced into the United States by the Waltham Manufac- turing Company, in the year 1814, but did not generally pre- vail until eight or ten years later.
Up to 1798 he operated the first old mill, at Pawtucket, in company with William Almy and Smith Brown; but through his connection with the family of Oziel Wilkinson, whose daughter he married, October 2, 1791, he introduced into his cotton business Timothy Green and William Wilkinson, who had married his wife's sisters, and his father-in-law, who formed a new company in this business, and erected the second cotton-mill at Pawtucket, on the east side of the river, Mr. Slater furnishing one half of the capital.
The Wilkinson family possessed a natural genius for the science of mechanics, and at the time Mr. Slater made his acquaintance with them, the elder (Oziel Wilkinson) was a blacksmith; but having an inventive mind, he had introduced the manufacture of steel from iron, known as blister steel, and
As that the high rates of freight which may prove a severe burden in making exchanges between the sea-board and the interior, will continue to be a source of ill-feeling between the Eastern and Western sections of the country, and particularly for the reason that the capital engaged in that great enterprise is owned mostly at the East.
On reflecting upon this subject, with a view to a remedy for reducing the cost of trans- portation, the idea has been suggested that roads should be constructed exclusively for the transport of products to and from the interior to the sea-board, with double tracks, to be free for the use of any and all parties at a very moderate rate of toll to run upon them. These roads to be operated only at a speed of eight to ten miles the hour, which would be a great saving of expense of repairs to the roads, and also in the cost of running trains. Such roads should be owned by the general government; and were the repairs of such roads to be exclusively at the expense of the government it would save tolls, and greatly reduce cost of transportation.
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through his knowledge and the skill of his sons he derived much aid. His family consisted of three daughters, married as aforesaid, and five sons-David, Daniel, Isaac, Abraham, and Smith Wilkinson-all engaged in the business of cotton manu- facture.
Oziel Wilkinson, his two sons-in-law, before named, and his five sons, with James Christie and William Rhodes, united, in 1806, and formed the Pawtucket Manufacturing Company, on the Quinebang, at the place then known as "Cargill's Mills." They bought here, in 1806, about 1,000 acres of land, and invested, in the two following years, sixty thousand dollars.
At the time of the commencement of the British war in 1812, Mr. Slater had arrived at a degree of success in the cotton manufacture, that enabled him to reap great advantage from the high price of fabrics, consequent upon closing the markets of the country against European goods.
He had previously (in 1806) invited his brother, John, to come to this country, who came and united with him and his partners, Brown & Almy, and erected the cotton-mill at Smithfield in the years 1806 and 1807, each having one fourth interest.
It has been seen by the foregoing purchases of the farm lands and water-power by Mr. Slater at Webster, and his ad- vancement here in both the wool and cotton manufacture, his perception regarding the future result was ample. He fore- saw that a rapid advance of population would follow: conse- quently as rapid an advance in the surrounding lands ; further- more, it enabled him to control the principal affairs of the place, and to prevent any intrusion upon his plans.
As has before been stated, one object in establishing mills in this interior was to introduce his yarn for weaving into cloth. While at Pawtucket his manufacture was principally yarn for sale, but now his plan was to produce cloth. The process for effecting this was to consign his yarn to country
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traders, and they to introduce the same among the wives and daughters of farmers and mechanics, to be woven into cloth.
This plan was successful; it was deemed a favor by the female department of families to obtain this yarn for weaving, as it enabled them to earn the means to pay the merchants for their necessary supplies. Each merchant distributed these yarns over a tract of six to ten miles from his store. The usual price paid for taking away the yarn and returning it in cloth was 4 cents per yard for & yard wide plain cloth; 6 cents for 4-4th wide do; 6 cents for & wide stripes; 8 cents for & wide plaids ; 10 cents for & wide bed-ticks; and 122 cents for 4-4th wide do. This business continued from about 1812 to 1823.
The power-loom introduced in 1814, as before stated, did not supersede the hand-loom in this connection until about ten years later. But the carding, spinning, and weaving in families for domestic purposes was not displaced by the power-loom for many years after factories had ceased to employ the hand- loom for weaving their yarns.
The weaving of woolen yarn, by the manufacturers of wool cloth, by the hand-loom was continued till about 1823, when it was generally abandoned by substituting the power-loom for weaving these fabrics.
The persons employed by manufacturers for weaving woolen cloth by the hand-loom were generally English operatives, who, as a class, were ignorant about all things but their trade of weaving, and much inclined to intemperance, which introduced a class of population about each establishment no ways credit- able to morals or respectable society. When the power-loom was introduced this class regarded it as an infringement upon their rights, and in many instances their opposition caused a serious disturbance of the peace.
This disturbance was but another example of what is some- times called " Conservatism." All progress is but change front
34
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past usefulness to new or better theories or principles, and is generally the product of that which is most valuable either in science or art.
It is worthy of remark in connection with an historical sketch of the life and labors of Samuel Slater, that a remark- able coincidence exists between the time of his coming to America, to found the system of manufacturing of cotton wool by machinery propelled by water-power, and the perfecting of the mode of culture of the cotton-plant, its commencement as an article of export as an American product, and the invention of the cotton-gin by Eli Whitney.
The date of Mr. Slater's coming to America is nearly iden- tical with the first exports of raw cotton as an American prod- uct, and not till about that time had the process for cultivating the cotton-plant been so successful as to make it an object to continue its growth to any considerable extent, nor could that cultivation have ever been largely increased as a profitable source of industry without the invention of the machine by Eli Whitney, or one of a similar character, to fit and prepare the cotton at little expense so as to admit of its extensive use for manufacture or export.
Thus it is clearly seen that it was by these contemporane- ous results that the product from the cotton-plant has become a vast source of wealth and industry ; not alone applicable to those who cultivate the soil, but to those who toil or invest in manufacturing establishments, for converting this fibrous ma- terial into many valuable forms of both elegance and utility, and to those " who go down to the sea in ships," dotting every ocean and inlet with the universal emblems of commerce.
There were some small lots of cotton cultivated in South Carolina which appear among her exports as early as the year 1748, and some in 1754, and again in 1770 ; but the perma- nent establishment of the culture of cotton in this country was not until about 1787, from which period may be traced the
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continuous and rapid increase of this staple, as a product of the Southern States of this Union.
While the year 1791 may be taken as the date for the com- mencement of the manufacture of cotton under the present system for the operation of machinery by water-power ; the year 1793 is given as the date of Mr. Whitney's invention of the cotton-gin.
Thus within a period of six years the grand practical prin- ciples were established, that brought into existence in the United States the vast industrial pursuits, the production, manufacture, and commerce, resulting from the cotton busi- ness.
Samuel Slater was born in the town of Belper, in the county of Derby, June 9, 1768, and entered upon his service with Jedediah Strutt, June 28, 1782, about the age of fourteen years.
Eli Whitney was born at Westborough, Worcester county, Massachusetts, December 8, 1765. He presented his petition for a patent of his invention the 20th of June, 1793-Mr. Jefferson, then the Secretary of State, and the seat of gov- ernment being at this time at Philadelphia-but the patent was not obtained until several months later.
He was a graduate of Yale college in 1792, married Hen- rietta, daughter of Pierpont Edwards, 1817, and died, Janu- ary 3, 1825. Two daughters and a son survived him.
Samuel Slater was not only the founder of the cotton man- ufacture in this country, but, unlike many who are able to dis- cover a principle, or to introduce an important discovery or invention, yet often are not competent to conduct the business or principle to a practical and successful issue, he possessed those qualities, and a persistency of purpose that enabled him to take the lead in the manufacturing business of the country, and to sustain this reputation by actual results, up to the time of his death, which, as before related, occurred in 1835.
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But in the midst of this high state of prosperity he had great misfortune and grief, in the loss of his beloved wife, in 1812, then in the 37th year of her age.
The children by this marriage, which was solemnized the 2d of October, 1791, were as follows :
William Slater, born, August 31, 1796; died, January 31, 1801
Elizabeth Slater,
" November 15, 1798;
November 4, 1801
Mary Slater, " September 28, 1801; 66 August 19, 1803
Samuel Slater, 66 September 18, 1802; 66
July 14, 1821
George Bassett Slater, 66 February 12, 1804; 66 November 15, 1843
May 23, 1805; 66 January 23, 1838
John Slater, 66
Horatio N. Slater, 66 March 5, 1808;
William Slater,
October 15, 1809; 66
1844
Thomas Graham Slater, " September 19, 1812; 66 September 1825
Mrs. Slater (Hannah Wilkinson) died soon after the birth of her last child. After about five years Mr. Slater married his second wife, Esther Parkinson, of Philadelphia; the ceremony was performed by Rev. Joseph Pilmore, rector of St. Paul's church in that city.
She was the widow of Robert Parkinson, who had been an acquaintance of Mr. Slater many years, and this lady had known his former wife, who esteemed her very highly. The following is Mr. Slater's letter proposing this marriage :
" NORTH PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, September 23, 1817. " Mrs. Robert Parkinson, Widow, Philadelphia :
DEAR MADAM-As the Wise Disposer of all Events has seen fit in His wisdom to place you and me in a single state, notwithstanding, none of his decrees have gone forth which compels either of us to remain in a state of widowhood.
"Therefore, under these and other circumstances, I now take the liberty to address you on a momentous subject. I have been inclined for some time past to change my situation in life, and have at times named you to my brother and sister for a partner, who have invariably recommended you as suitable, and have fully acquiesced with my ideas on the subject. Now, if you are under no obligations to any one, and weighing the subject fully, you should think that you can spend the remainder of your days with me, I hope you will not feel reluctant in
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writing me soon to that effect. You need not be abashed in any degree to express your mind on this business, for I trust years have taught me to receive your reply favorably, if my understanding has not. I have six sons to comfort you with; the eldest is about fifteen years ; he has been at Oxford about a year (not Oxford in England) ; the youngest is in his sixth year; I believe they are all compos mentis, and they are as active as any six boys, although they are mine. Cousin Mary is now down from Ludlow on a visit; she has a noble corpulent son about six months old. I should have divulged my intentions to you months past had not my brother given me to understand that he expected you daily on this way on a visit.
" Probably you may consider me rather blunt in this business; hope you will attribute that to the country that gave me birth. I consider myself a plain, candid Englishman, and hope and trust you will be candid enough to write me a short answer, at least, whether it be in the affirmative or negative; and should it be in the negative, I stand ready and willing to render you all the advice and assistance in my power relative to settling your worldly matters.
" With due respect, as a friend and countryman, I am, dear madam, your well-wisher,
"SAMUEL SLATER. " N. B .- Hope you are a Freemason as respects secrets."
Mr. Slater, in this letter, exhibits his character very truth- fully. He says, very truly :
" I consider myself a plain, candid Englishman."
He was frank and direct in his letters, and in his actions, naturally benevolent and kind of heart, and particularly to his countrymen, to whom he was always ready to give good advice, and often pecuniary aid. His disbursements in this way were free from ostentation, and often in private, and generally with words of kindness and encouragement.
It is proper to remark further respecting the manufacturing interest in this town, that, as heretofore, it having been the chief source of growth and prosperity, there has never been a time when that business was so extensively carried on as now ; and it is believed under the entire control and ownership of Samuel Slater & Sons, by which style the business has been conducted since, as before Mr. Samuel Slater's decease in 1835.
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The product of these mills, both cotton and wool manufac- tures, it is understood, exceeds annually over three millions of dollars. And while the firm buys all its raw material and at- tends exclusively to every department of the productive power, they have their own warehouse in New York, where they dispose of all these various manufactures. There is one chief head, Horatio N. Slater, Esq., who directs all and keeps a close and careful supervision of every department of this complicated but nicely diversified system of business. By passing through the various parts of this establishment, any person accustomed to seeing and managing business methodi- cally will readily discover that great exactness prevails in all its parts, and so wonderfully adjusted, that the numerous parts shall combine, with that perfection which shall produce com- plete results in the most economical manner.
The design is to produce goods of the best and most perfect quality of the description intended to be made, and in that re- spect they have so well succeeded, that their manufactures have a known reputation as such in every market of the country, enabling them to dispose of their product with great facility and at remunerating values.
From the commencement of the cotton manufacture by the founder of this branch of domestic industry, the policy has been nothing for show, but all for utility ; thus you witness no vast piles of brick and mortar and elegant displays of archi- tecture, but plain works suitably adapted to produce the best results in the business there to be conducted. Such has here- tofore been and is now the character of this immense estab- lishment.
There are three grand compartments in this business-as conducted-known as the east, the south, and the north villages.
The east is the place of residence formerly of Mr. Samuel Slater, and now of Horatio N. Slater, Esq. It was here that
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Mr. Slater, through Mr. Bela Tiffany, as before stated, began his first operations, which, during the past sixty years, have increased to their present magnitude, and since radiated and produced the other villages, as before described.
As before remarked, when Mr. Slater made here his first purchases, it was but the outskirts of three towns-Oxford, Dudley, and Thompson ; and, as Mr. Tiffany wrote in his let- ter to Mr. Slater, when he made his first visit for examination, with a view to establish the cotton business here, "The prin- cipal objection is, in my opinion, that it is the most benighted part of the globe."
All that was then to be seen (in 1811) was a few small farms, which were but poorly managed, and a grist-mill, saw- mill, and blacksmith shop, as the extent of the improvements of this water-power, and that only to a very moderate , extent.
As then seen, all the territory in the vicinity evinced a poor quality of soil, and very rocky, giving a barren and unpro- ductive appearance. In most instances the original growth of the forests had been cut off, leaving a scattered and unsightly undergrowth, all betokening unthriftiness and general lack of enterprise. But to the present beholder a wonderful change has come over all the former dilapidated state of this region. Much of the change respecting the general face of the lands has taken place within the last ten or fifteen years. Now, instead of the unsightly and repelling aspect formerly ex- hibited, everything connected with the farm lands of this firm, and that includes all the territory surrounding the three villages and the intermediate vicinity, constituting several thousand acres of ground, all is found in a high state of cul- tivation, exhibiting good taste in all the arrangements. In- stead of the small lots into which this vicinity had been divided by unsightly walls, piled promiscuously to dispose of the superabundance of stone that covered these grounds, may be
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