Mr. DAVIS. There is a large amount of steamboat tonnage built at Cincinnati, Louisville, and NewOrleans. There is a large amount of foreign tonnage in the form of sailing ships built at Portland and other ports in the East and Northeast. Now, sir, I repeat the question of the Senfrom Missouri: as there are many articles of foreign import upon which duties are paid that enter into the construction of both classes of vessels, how is it that this bill authorizes a drawback upon all the foreign articles that enter into the manufacture of sailing ships, and withholds it only from all the articles of foreign manufacture that enter into the construction of steamboats? The Senfrom Maryland asks whether, even though it be unjust that there should be this discrimination, the fact of this drawback not being allowed upon the construction of western steamboats is a sufficient reason why it should not be allowed upon the construction of eastern sailing vessels. I say, sir, it is sufficient; I say that the system ought to be one of reciprocity; that there is no justice, there is no wisdom, there is no statesmanship in a system that makes such a discrimination, and when that discrimination is established it is a sufficient reason to me to vote against the whole system. Why, sir, is any Senator here ready to vote for high protective duties in the form of taxes positively imposed or drawbacks allowed to a distant section of the U.S. when his section is wholly denied such privileges? Is that the mode in which he is to rePresent his people and the interests of his constituency in the legislation of the Senate 7 No, sir. I respond to no appeal that asks me to vote for any such class of legislation as that. I say that this system of protecting industry ought to be equal, reciprocal, just; and whenever the Senfrom Maryland concedes or establishes that it becomes sectional, I am ready" then and there to vote against the sectional system. Sir, I admit that I have not the broadness, the loftiness of to vote to sustain any such system as that. When legislation becomes class and sectional and becomes limited to a few great and absorbing interests, and ceases to be general and just and universal in its features and spirit, then I declare my hostility to that legislation, and I manifest it by my word and by my votes. I agree with the Senfrom Missouri that the measure under consideration is framed wholly upon this partial and sectional system, and therefore ought to be voted down. It ought not to be imposed upon the people of the U.S.; if it is, they ought to reject it; they ought to send men here who will reform it, and I have no doubt they will.