Amendments to the Constitution, [8 June] 1789 — reading text

the ftrongeit manner b)' the pradlical declaration pi-i hxed to that initrument ; he alluded to the words, '* We the people do ordain and eltablilh." I'here were many things nientioned by fome of the itate conventions which he would never agree to, on any con- ditions whatever rhey changed the principles of the go- ; vernnieni", and were therefore obnoxious to its friends the — honorable genileman from Virgniia, had not touched upon anv of them ; he was glad of it, becaufe he could by no means bear the idea of an alteration reipecl:ing them ; he re- ferred to the, mode of obtainn.g diredl raxes, ji^dging of elecitons, &c. He found he was not fpeaking to thequeftion; he would therefore return to it and declare he was agaiifl: committing itto a feleci: committee; if it was to be committed at all, he preferred a committee of the whole, but hoped the fubjed; - would be pultponed. Mr. Madison. Found himfelf unfortunate in not fatisfying gentlemen with refpe6l«to the mode of introducing the bnluiefs he ; thought from the dignity and peculiarity of the fubjectthat it ought to be referred to a committee of the whole; he had accordingly made that motion firfl, but finding himfelf not likely to lucceed in that way he had changed his ground. Fearing again to be dilcfomfited, he would change his mode, and move the propolitions he had itated before, and the houfe n)ight do what they thought proper with them, lie accordingly moved the propolitions byway of rcfoluti- ons to be adopted by the houfe. Mr,. Livermore objected to thefe propofitions, becaufe they did not take up the amendments of the ieveral itatcs. Mr. Page was much obliged to his colleague for bring. ing the fubjeft forward in the manner he had done. He conceived it to be juft and fair. What was to be done When t lie houfe would not refer it to a committee of any fort,,' but bring the queftlon at once before ihem ? He hoped it woLiid be the means of bringing about a dccifion. i-ylr- Lawrance moved to refer mr. Madifon's motion to the committee of the whole on the Itate of the union. • Mr. Lee thought it ought to be taken up in that com- miriee ; and hoped his colleague would bring the propoli- tions before the committee, when on the itate of'the union, as he'had originaliy intended. A. 1789. Of C O N O R E S S. 447 Mr. Boudinot wiftied the appninttiieut of a feledl coin- mitree ; biu attervvard withdrew his ibutiuu. ^t length mr. L-iwrar.ce's n;otion was agreed to, and mr. Madilon's propolirions were ordered to be relcrred to a committee of the whole. #AdjouriKd. June 9. On motion, refolved, that fo much of the (landing rules and orders, as directs that upon a divilion of the houfe on any quellion, the members who vote in the affirmative ihall go to the right, and thole in the negative to the left of the chair, be reicinded and that in future when a divi- ; (ion is called for, thole in the atHrmative Ihall rife from their feats, and thofe in the negative remain fitting. The houfe, according to the order of the day, refolved committee of the whole houfe, on the bill to icfelf into a regulate the collection of duties impofed on goods, wares, and merchandizes imported into the United States. After fome time fpent therein, mr. ftieaker refumed the chair, and the chairman reported, that the committee had, ac- cording to order, had the faid bill under confideration, and made a farther progrefs therein. The ieverai orders' of the day for tlie houfe to refolve itfelf into a committee of the whole houfe, on the b lis eftahliihing executive departments of war, ot foreign afFa.rs, and of the trealury department, were read, and poltponed. Adjourned. June 10. The houfe refolved iti'elf into a committee of the whole houle, on the bill to regulate the collection of duties im- pofed on goods, wares, and merchandizes, imported into the United States. After fome time fpent therein, mr. fpeaker refumed the chair, and the chairman reported, that the committee had, according to order, had the faid bill under confideration, and made a farther progrefs therfeiif. Adjourned. June II. The houfe refolved itlelf into a committee of the whole houfe, on the bill to regulate the collection of duties im- pofed on goods, wares, and merchandizes, imported into the United States. After fome time fpent therein, mr. 'fpeaker refumed the chair, and the chairman reported, that the committee had, according to order, had the find bill under coniideration, and made a farther prcgrefs. —^Ad- journed.  , 44Si- DEBATES June 12. A. 378OV On luotion. Oruered, that Mr. Vining, Mr. Stone, ainJ Mr. Jacklon, be acided to the committee to whom was re- ferred to prepare and bring in a bill, directing the mode of regiftering and clearing v^Hels, arcerraining their tonnage, and for regulating the coalting trade, pilots, and light- houfes. A melTage from the fenate, by Mr. Otis, their fecretary. Mr. Speaker — j'he fenate have pafltd the bill, entitled, " an act for laying a duty on goods, w<kres, and n)eichan- dizes imported into the United States," with feveral amend- ments, to which they deftre the concurrence of this lioufe. And then li€ withdrew. The houfe refplved itfelf into a committee of the whole houfe, on the bill to regulate the colleclion of duties im- pofed on goods, war^^s, and merchandizes, imported into the United States. Afierlo.ne time fpent tiierein, Mr. S])eak- er refiamed the chair, and the chairman reported that the committee had, according to order, had the faid bill uiKler con{ideration, and tnade a farther progrefs therein. Refolved, that this houfe will, to-morrow, again refolve itfelf iyto a committee of the whole houfe on the faid bill. A.djourned. June 13. The houfe, according to the order of the day, refolved itfelf into a ^committee of the whole houje, on the bill to regulate the collctlion of duties impofed on goods, wares, and merchandizes, imported into the United States. After fome time fpent therein, Mr. Speaker refumed the chalr^ and the chainrian reported that thecomrnitcee had, accord- ing to order, had the laid bill under coniideracion, and made a farther progrefs therein. On motion, ordered, that the committee of the whole Houfe be diicharged frOnj farther proceeding on the laid bill, and that it be committed to a committee of feven. The members elected, Mr. Goodhue, Mr. Fitzfimons, Mr. Lawrance, Mr. jackfon, Mr. Burke, Mr. Liver more, — and Mr. itherman. Adjourned Two other members, viz. John Brown, from Virginia, and Theodore Sedgwick, from MafTachufettS, appeared and took their feats ; the oath to fupport the conltitution of the United States having been firlt adminiitered to them by the fpcaker, purfuanc to a late aft of congrefs. > On motion, ordered, that Mr. Sm.ith of xMaryland, and A.1789. Of congress. 449! Mv. Parker, appointed on Sa- be, added to the coirmittee turday lait, and to whom was committed the bill to regu- late the colleftion of duties impoled on goods, wares, and merchandizes, imported into the United States.. Mr. Scott, from the committee appointed to confider the ftate of the unappropriated lands in the w eftern terri- tory, made a report, which was read, and ordered to be referred to the conjmittee of the whole houfe on the Itate of the union. The houfe took into confideration the amendments pro- pofed by the fenate to the i)npcft bill, and concurred iri the following alterations. To reduce the duty on molafTes from 5 to 2 and a half cents. And on all wines, except Madeira, Irom 15 to 10 cents. To add the article of indigo to the bill, with a duty of 16 cents per Ib,- To encreafe the duty on jill green teas, other than Ky- fon, imported in American Ihips from India cr China, frorrt 10 to 12 cents per lb. To fubftitute for '^ On all teas imported from any other country, other than China or India, in any ihip or velTel v;hatfoever; or from China or India in any ihip or veiTel/ which is not wholly the property of a citizen or citizens of the United States, as follows : On all Souchong, or other bk^ck teas, - ic, cents. On all Hyfon teas, - - 30 cents. On all green teas, - - 18 cents. '^ Thcfe' words *' On all teas impc rted from Europe, in fliips : or the United States, and wholly belonging veflTels built in or in ihips built in foreign to a citizen or citizens thereof; countries, and on the i6th of May laft, the property ot a citizen or citizens of the United States, and fo continuing till the time ct" importation, viz. On Bohea tea per lb. - . S cents. On Souchotig, or other black teas, - 13 cents* On Hyfon teas, - -- - 26 cents. On other green teas. - - 16 cents, , On teas imported in any other manner : Bohea tea per lb. - - 15 cents. Souchone, or other black teas,* - 22 .cents* Hyfon teas, - - - 45 cents. Other greet? teas, - - 27 cents." • To add ihefe words "On all goods, wares, and mef» ; chnndizes imported in fiiips or velTels, not built in the United Slates, and not wholly the property of a. citizen or citixen* L 1 i 450 DEBATES A. i7gr> thereof; ot iu veflels built in foreign eountries, and on thtf i6th May laft the property of a citizen or citizens of the' United States, and lb continuing till the time of impor- tation, twelve and a half per cent, ad valorem." To add, " On gnn-powder, and paints ground in oil, ten per cent, ad valorem." To encreafe the duty on p^old, {ilver, and plated wares,, from feven and a half to ten per cent, and to add theretOj. gold and lllver lace, and gold and filver leaf. — Adjourned. June, i6. The hcufe went throngh tlvs remainder of the amend-' mentspropoied by the fenare to the impofl: bill, and agreed to add^ piayinn; cards renrcnts per pack, cotton three cents per lb. To allmv a draw back on brandy and geneva expor ted- without the limits of the United States, as fettled by the' late treaty of peace. To lirike out the drawback on fpirits diiliilcd froninJoiafTes in the United States. The .ether an>endments being non-concurred, V\*ere fent back to tire fenate, with an amend^nent, that the acl lliou id- be in force on the ^vi\ of Auguit. The honfe went into a committee of the whole on the bill for elfablilhing an executive department, to be deno- minated' the department of foreign aft^airs. > Mr. Ti-umbull in the chair. The firft claufe, after recapitirlatin;T the title of the offi- cer and his duties, had- ihefe words /' To be removable -; from cf lice by the preiident of the United States." xMr. White. The coni'Htution gives the