Appendix, B.: Names of the Members of the Free Trade Convention, Appendix, C.: Imports and Exports of the United States,

Which assembled in Philadelphia, on the 30th of September, 1831, at the Musical Fund Hall, and continued in session until the 7th of October, as taken from the printed Journal in pamphlet form, of which copies were furnished to each member.

Note.—For the early years the aggregate of the value of imports does not appear on the official statement, and has been estimated at different amounts by different persons; and thus that column will not always correspond with former reports. But the difference will not be found so great as to affect materially any general result. [In former reports it is stated, that prior to the 1st of October, 1820, the official returns do not show the value of imports. Previous to 1796, the returns of exports did not discriminate between domestic and foreign productions.—Author.]

remarks on the foregoing table.

It will be perceived that from the year 1789, to the year 1807 inclusive, the foreign commerce of the country experienced a gradually progressive increase. This was emphatically in the United States, the period of free trade. Scarcely an article was burdened with a duty higher than fifteen per cent.; and although numerous spoliations were committed during this period, by the British and French, who between them, captured upwards of a thousand vessels, yet the profits of trade and navigation were sufficiently inviting, to encourage our merchants to extend their operations.

On the 18th of April, 1806, the non-importation law was enacted, having a prospective operation.

On the 22d of December, 1807, a general embargo was laid, which continued until the 1st of March, 1809, when it was repealed by the passage of the non-intercourse act, which remained in force, until the 18th of June, 1812, when war was declared against Great Britain. The effect of these successive measures is shown in the table.

The restoration of peace consequent upon the treaty of Ghent, of 24th December, 1814, the news of which reached New York on the 11th of February, 1815, set commerce again in motion; and had it not been for the restrictive system which was commenced in 1816, and continued by successive enactments in the years 1818, 1824, and 1828, the imports and exports at this day would probably have exceeded two hundred millions of dollars.

In 1833, the compromise act was passed, providing for a gradual reduction of duties; and since that period, it will be perceived, there has been a great augmentation of trade, swelled in amount, it is true, in particular years by speculative excitement, but exhibiting for the last six years so great an excess over the six years immediately preceding, as to prove incontestibly the beneficial effects of a reduction of duties.

For the use of those who may wish to calculate the rate per head of the imports or exports at different periods, the following table is given of the population of the United States at the several periods mentioned.

The census of 1840, which has not yet been completed, it is supposed, will give about 17,000,000 as the present population.—Author.

This prophecy was fulfilled in the year 1833.

This direct tax was laid on the 25th of March, 1831.

The North American Review took the restrictive side of the question in January, 1830, the month in which this article was written.

The author of this Report was Henry Lee. Esq., the gentleman who received the vote of South Carolina, for the Vice Presidency of the United States, in 1832.

The author of this Exposition was Mr. Calhoun, late Vice President of the United States.

John Sarchett, of Philadelphia, is the individual here alluded to.

This is a truth well known in reference to cotton. The English manufacturer is seldom obliged to pay more for it, than the American manufacturer of the Northern states, and what little difference does at times exist, is of trifling account.

In June, 1834, Congress reduced the weight of pure gold contained in an eagle, from 247 1-2 to 232 grains, retaining its equivalency to ten silver dollars.

Since the reduction of the duty on the wine of Madeira, the exports to that island have been as follows—

This statement shews an increase, but one so small, as to prove, incontestibly, the difficulty of restoring a commerce once lost.

By the annual Commercial Statement of the year ending on the 30th September, 1829, subsequently published, it appears that the quantity of flour exported to England, Ireland and Scotland was 221,176 barrels, equal to 1,105,680 bushels, besides 4001 bushels of wheat. 251,564 bushels of corn, and 130 barrels of Indian meal—being less than the one-tenth of what was imported.

Fifty kilogrames are equal to one hundred and ten and one-quarter pounds avoirdupois.

The following are the amounts of imports and exports to and from all parts of the world, as furnished by the Reports of the Secretary of the Treasury. Prior to 1821 the value of imports was not given.

Imports from 1821, when the value was first shown by the custom-house returns

The width of this cloth is usually about a yard and a half.

This address was written by the late Henry D. Sedgwick, Esq. who was present at the meeting.

The total value of cotton goods shipped to India, from the United States, during the years 1826-’27-’28-’29, was $12,710.