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

dividing the whole into the northern, middle, and fouthern diftriuls, it will be found that they contribute alfo in proportion to their numbers and ability to pay. If there be any diftinc- tion in this refpedl, it will be perceived to be in favour of the fouthern divifion, becaufe the fpecies of property there confifts of mouths that confume fait in the fame proportion as the whites, but they have not this property in the middle and northern diftrifts to pay taxes for. The moft important objeftion is, that the weftern part of our coun- try ufes more fait than any other ; this makes it unequal, but confidered as a part of a fyftem, the equilibrium is re- ftored when you find this almoft the only tax they will have to pay. W ill they contribute any thing by confuming imported fpirits ? very little, yet this is a principle Iburce of revenue ; they will fublift upon what they procure at home J and will they fubmit to a dired tax, if they mur- M  po mer at {"o DEBATES light a A. 1789. one on fait ? will they fubmit to an excife ? if they would, I trult it is not in the contem- plation of gentlemen to propofe it ; certainly it re- quires but time for reflection to difcover, in every point of view, the juftice of the meafure now propofed. If then there be no particular objedion on the footing of juftice, it mud be an argument in favour of the policy, for it can- not be prefuincd that good policy deviates from the princi- ples of juftice. There may exift prejudices againit mea- fures founded in tiie ftrifteft juftice and loundeft policy, but cei-taii>ly they will flee before reafon and conviSion. WiiileTn learch of revenue for fuch effential and important purpofes as urge us at prefent, we cannot difcriminate an/d fpare one part of the community ; this would be unjuft, and excite thofe complaints which feme gentlemen feem to fear. It has been faid by the enemies of this government, that its adminiftration would immediately betray the features of tyranny and oppreliion. It was likewife faid, that its operations would be gentle and infmuatingat firft, in order to obtain the confidence of the people to enable ir to fup- plant the ftate governments. Would not a difcriminating policy feem to Ciake good thefe charges ? Let us then a- void it with caution, and'endeavour to diftribute the public burthen with a juft and equal hand. In Ihcrt, under what- ever point of view you confider this tax, I think it will be feen to be improper to expunge it ; I w'ould make it mode- rate, and in lo doing it cannot be unjuft, nor can the po- pular clamour be excited. Mr. KUNTINGTON Had no apprehenfion of danger arifing from the odiouf- nefs of the tax in the ftate he came from ; his conftituents would enquire the realons why it was impofed, and v hen they found it was from principles of juftice, and to promote the public good, they would pay it without reluftance. From the nature of the article he looked upon it as the .mean of a certain and fure revenue, and if it was not now ufed as fuch, it would be done on fome future occafion witli conliderabie advantage. In France a duty was paid equal to 2S 6(] per bulhel, which is more than the value of the article ; in England the duty was cenfiderable, but cannot lay how much, A duty of 6 cents per bufhel here, would yield a great revenue, and no man would feel the opprel- .lion. If it isalledged, that it will aftedt the hulbandman or grazier with large herds of cattle, are they not rich.  —; A. 1789- Of CONGRESS. 91 at lead" rich enough on a bnfiiel of fait to pay 6 cents certainly fuch a tax is too triflino; to be niucli complained of even if it was unequal, but I think it has been clearly clemonflrated to be othtrvvife. Mr. WhiTk After fome doubts, had made up his mind againfl the article being taxed. We ought to pafs no law that is un- juft or oppreffive in its nature, or which the people may — confider as unjull or oppreffive -a duty on fait would be confidered in that light by a great number Our confti- tuents expecl fome eafe and rehef, particularly the poorer fort of people. It feems to be granted from all that has been faid, that it will affeft them in a manner which no other tax can, though, it is faid, they will not be affedled beyond their proportion, as they pay nothing for the con- fumption of wine, fpirits, &c. becaufe they ulenone. One reafon which influenced the committee to tax thofe articles was to abolilh the ufe of them altogether, or prevent the exceffes they occahoned — Now will you urge in argument for taxing the poor, that they already pradife that tem- perance which you defire to bring univerfally about. All taxes, it is admitted, are odious, and fotne merely from opinion ; but if they are odious from opinion they ought to be carefully guarded againfl, efpccially if the government depends upon opinion for fupport. The prelent Conftitu- Tution was adopted by a fmall majority in fome ftates, and in the opinion of many is not fo favourable to the rights of the citizens as could be dehred ; wifdom and prudence will therefore teach us not to exercife powers under it which opinion ruay judge opprefiive. Confidering the po- litical ftate of Kentucke and the weftern country, we ought to be careful how we give them umbrage ; means at this moment are ufing to detach them from the union, and place them in a different (ituation. This may be promoted in lome degree by the llighteft tax, for there are thofe v ho would gladly feii;e any advantage aridng from adifccntent among our citizens. It cannot be iiionght that this out)'- would be fo productive as to warrant the rilk we run in op- pofmg the public opinion. Mr. Scott. I grant that the policy of this meafurc is mere matter of opinion as its advocates have ftated ; it cannot be ctherwife, becaufe we have had no experience of it, and every gentle- man will form that opinion from fafts that have fallen ur.der his knowledge. Now, from the facis known to me, I doubt 92 DEBATES A. 1789. would therefore be clear for paf- its policy exceedingly. I ling it over for the prefent ; perhap^s my local fituation 'TJves me an opportunity to know ihefe fads better than moll: members on this floor, and this knowledge has pre- vailed upon me to be of opinion that the prefent meafure would have very dcflru(5tive confequences. I mean to give this opinion to the committee to make fuch ul'e of it as they pleafe ; but before I proceed further, I will jud re- mark, that I do not think tlie reafons on the point of juflice well founded. 1 think tliey have taken for granted fads that do not exifl. It was fuppofed, that the inhabitants of the back country did not ufe their proportion of the other articles which were taxed. Are we lo believe that a bottle of Maderia or of rum never crofled the Allegany moun- tains, or went more than 50 or 100 Uiiles from the lea coall ? Sir, on the banks of the Ohio I muft fay, though I am forry to fay it, there exiils as great a rage for every fpecies of luxury, which the people can lay their hands on, as there does even in the city ot IMew-York and how ; fliould it be otherwife ? have they not the example from yourfelves ? If a countryman comes among you lor a tinje, is he not innitiated and accuitomcd to your manners f will he not too often carry home your falliions and your vices? certainly he will. Then why fliould gentlemen fuppofe, that thefe people do not contribute tiicir proportion on other articles. 1 can fit at a door in a country village 500 jniles from this place, and fee nine out of ten of its inhabi- tants drefs in European clothes. 1 can th<^re procure wines, both in quality and quantity, equal as on the lea coaft. If the people do not confume as much there, it arifes merely from their inability to buy and pay for it ; but they con- fume in proportion to their property and wealth. Now, if the polition that people ought to pay taxes in proportion to their property is true, and I believe it is, and the inha- bitants of the weflern country contribute equally their part on all which has been laid, it remains only to enquire how the duty propoied will operate. 1 need not repeat the ar- guments already ufed to ihew its inequality. 1 he gentle- inan from Virginia (Mr. Madifon) has ceeded the point. He has laid, that if we were laying this particular tax it would be an improper one becauie of its inequality. Now then, I think it does come before us upon its own bottom, and as it is an unequal one, fo is it an improper one. What is un- juft is impolitic. On the principles of juftice and policy then die meafure ought to be rejected, i hope the oppofition A. 1789. OfCONGRESS. 93 which is apprehended may not take place againfl your go- vernment, the wifdom and patriotil'm of this Body will never, I am fatisfied, furnilh dieir enemies with weapons of deilruftion. Mr. FiTZSlMONS Fek hurt by fome of the arguments he had heard, whilft the Congrefs of the United States continue to aft upon principles of julf ice, they have little to apprehend from their enemies. He hoped never to fee any other principle govern them ; was paying their conftituents a bad com- it pliment to fay, that tliey would oppole meafures founded on Inch a balls, for his part he did not think lb little of their good lenfe and difcernment ; if gentlemen had proved that the propofed meafure was founded in injuftice, they would have fome pretextfor exciting alarms, but he did not think they had done this, he thought the contrary poiition was better eftablilhed. A-t hrft view it mud be difcernable that this article was of fuch a nature, as to enfure the col- lefuon of the duty, it was too bulky for fmuggling, the average quantity which a family would confume could not exceed 5 bulliels aimually, this at 6 cents per bufhel is lefs than one third of a dollar ; and are gentlemen ferious when they talk of this funi being fo opprelfive as to endanger the government? He knew very well that this ground had been trodden in almoft every ftate legiflature on the conti- nent, and addrefs enough had been ufed to make fome think it an unpopular meafure, but he could never fee a reafon for this opinion : It had been urged that we had better defer the fubjedl, in difculTion for the prefent, and take it up hereafter. — One reafon why he was in favor of high and general duties, in the firffc inltance, was to avoid tiie imputation which had been laid againfl the adminiftra- tion of this government by its opponents; he would not attempt to deceive the people as to its powers ; if a tax on fult will be right fome time hence, it is right now. Mr., Smith (of Maryland) Said they collected Scents in his liate, and it caufed no complaint that he knew of. The quelHon on impofmg 6 cents on fait was put, and carried, as was a motion for a draw back on lalied provifion and filh. On mariufaiTtured tobacco. Mr. Sherman moved 6 cents as he thought the duty ought to amount to a prohibition^ this was agreed to. On fnutf I o