Mr. FESSENDEN. The idea which prevailed with the committee in establishing these duties can be very readily stated. This item is left where it was before. It has not been changed. We thought the true way to encourage the growing was to increase the manufacture as much as possible, and the bill was framed with a view to that. The commissioner states the facts he ascertained by an examination of the evidence on the subject: “An inquiry respecting the developmentand condition of the flax manufacturing industry of the U.S. lisihnestdittuhteedfoblloywtihneg cpoominmtsi:ssfiiorsnte, rthhaats the revival of did not precedteh, et h flax establishmeint flax manufactories; and 2ndly, that an increased price and an increased demand for flax has beenalmost coexten sive with the extension of establishments for its manufacture. Prior to 1856the best'water’ to ted' flax raised dew rot in readily NewYork or NewJersey could be purchased for 7or ten centsperpound; the same article now commands a ready sale at from 20 to 25 centsper pound. “The increase in price for American hemp is even morestriking. Thus, the averageprice of hempfrom 1840 to 1850ranged from 80 to 100 dollars per ton; but with the establishmentof manufactures for its consumption the price has gradual advanced, until it nowcommandsfromthree hundr to 350 dollars per ton. “But notwithstanding the advanceduring the last ten years in the price of flax and of hemp the quan tity produced has never been sufficient to meet the demands of the American manufacturer; neither has it beenpossiblewithin the last ten years to purchase, at anyone time, anyconsiderableamountof domestic flax, in open market. The fiber of American flax, is in the main adapted only for the production of the coarser yarns and fabrics: a necessarilyfrom the conditionsroefsuitlst cwuhltiucrhe. follows It is shown, then, that under the existin rates of duty, which were lower before 1864, believe, than they are now, the price of American hemp has increased very largely, rising from 80 or 100 dollars a ton to 300 or 350; and the increased price is owing to the increase of manufactures. Now, is it advisable, in view of that increase, to put so heavy a duty as the Senator proposes when the American bemp is not sufficient to supply the market? If you check the manufacture of the finer articles that are manufactured from it, will you not be likely to injure the increase of the growth of hempo The Senfrom Iowa [Mr. GRIMEs] suggests that the production has fallen off on account of the unsettled condition of Kentucky and Missouri; but there is a very great demand for all they can raise at large prices, and they cannot supply the demand, no matter what it is owing to.