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

Virginia. George Leonard, Maliachufetts. James Madifon, jun. Virginia. Andrew Moore, do. Fetcr Muhlenberg, Fenjify.Ivania. 12 DEBATES A.- 1789. John Pajre, - - Virginia. Jofuh Parker, - . do. George Partridge, - JViafiachufetts. Ja'nes SchurcHTian^ - New-Jcrfey. I'hoijias Scott, - - Penniylvania. Roger Sherman, - - Connecticut. Wilham Smith, - - IMaryland. Jonathan Sturgis, - Connecticut. George Thatcher, - - MaHaGhufetts. Thomas Tudor Tucker; - South-Carolina. Alexander White, - - Virginia. Kciiry Vvynkoop, - - Penni'ylvania. The hcule now went into a committc of the whole, on the ftate of the union. Mr. Page in the chair. Mr. Madifon. I take the liberty Mr. Chairman, at this early liage of the bulinefs to introduce to the committee a fubjecT', which appears to me, to be of the preateft magni- tude ; a fubjed, Sir, that requires our hril attention, and our united exertions. No gentleman here can be unacquainted with the nume- rous claims upon our juilice ; nor with the impotency which prevented the late Congrefs of the United States from car- rying into efFeft, the dicl:ates of gratitude and policy. The union, by the eftabliihment of a n.ore effective go- vernment having recovered from the Ifate of imbecility, that heretofore prevented a performance of its duty, ought, in its firll aft, to revive thofe principles of honor and honef- ly that have too long lain dormant. The deficiency in our treafury has been too notorious to make it necelTary for me to animadvert upon that fubject. Let us content our felves with endeavouring to remedy the evil. To do this a national revenue muff be obtained ; but the fyflem muft be fuch an one, that, while it fecures the object of revenue, ic ifjall not be opprellive to our confti- taents :Happy it is for us that fuch a fyftem is within our power ; for 1 apprehend that both thefe objects may be ob- tainded from animpoih on articles imported into the United States. In purfuincr this meafure,I know that two points occur for our ccnfideration. l^he firfl, reipects the general re- gulatiion of commerce, which in my opinion ought to be as free as the policy of nations will admit. The fecond, re- lates to revenue alone, and this is the point I mean more particuiarly to bring into the view of the committee. A. 1789. Of C O N G R E S S. 13 Not being at prcfent pofleffed of Sufficient materials for fully elucidating thele points, and cur fituation admitting of no delay, I iLall propofe fuch articles and regulations only, as are likely to occalion the leaft difficuity. The propofitionb rcade on this Ibbjeft by Congrefs in 1783, having received, generally, the approbation of the fevcral fiates of the union, in Ibme form or other, feem well calculated to become the bufis of the temporary fyf- tem, which 1 willithe committee to adopt. I am well aware that the changes, which have taken place in many of the Hates, and in our public circumllances, fince that period, will require, in fome degree, a deviation from the i'cale of duties then affixed : neverthtkfs, for the fake of that ex- pedition, which is necellary in order to embrace the fpring importations, I fliould recommend a general adherence to the plan. 1 his, Sir, with the addition of a claufe or tv.o, on the fubje6l of tonage, I will now read, and, with leave, fubmit it to the committee, hoping it may meet their approbation, as an expedient rendered eligible by the urgent occafiou there is for the I'peedy fupplies to the federal treafury, and a fpeedy refcue of cur trade from its preient anarchy. Piefolved, as the opiiiion of this committee. That the following duties ought to be levied on goods wares and Hierchandife imported into the United States, viz. On rum, per gallon, of a dollar. On all other fpiritous liquors On m.olaires On Madeira wine On all other w ines On common bohea teas, per lb. On all other teas On pepper On brown fugars On loaf fugars On all other fugars On cocoa and cofTee On all other articles percent, on their value at the time and place of importation. That there ought, morever, to be levied on all velTel; in which goods, wares or raerchandifes, ihall be imported the duties following, viz. On all veflels built withii the United States, and belonging whoily to citizens there of, at the rate of per ton  t4 DEBATES A. 1789. On all vefTels belonging wholly to the fubje^ls of powers with whom the United States have formed treaties, or partly to the fubjects of I'uch powers, and partly to citi- 2ens of the faid ftates at the rate of On all vellels belonging wholly or in part to the lubjedls of other powers, at the rate of Mr. Boudinot. The necelTity of adopting forae meafure, like the one propofed by the hon. gentleman from Virginia, is too apparent to need any argument in its fupport, the plan which he has fubmitted to the committee appears to be (imple and fufficiently complete for the prefent purpofe, 1 ihali therefore, for my own part, be content with it, and iiiall move you. Sir, that the blanks be filled up in the manner they were recommend to be charged by Congrefs in 1783. My reafon for this is, thatthofe funis have been approved by the legillatures of every ftate reprefented on this floor, and of confequence muflhave been agreeable to the fenfe of our conllituents at that time ; and, I believe, nothing fince has intervened to give us realon to believe they have made an alteration in their fentiments. Mr. White. I wilh filling up the blanks may be deferred until the bufiinefs is more matured, nor will this be attended with a lofsof time, becaufe the forms necelTary to com- plete a bill will require fo much as to give gentlemen leifure to confider the proper quantum of mipolt, to be laid as well on the enumerated articles as on the common mafs of merchandize rated ad valorem, for as was hinted by my colleague, fomethingmay have occurred to render an alte- ration in the fums recommended in 1783 in fome degree necefTary ; time will be given to conlider the fubjecl if io, with more attention in the progrefs of the bill, and no un- neceffary delay can arife, wherefore I move you, S'r, that the committee now rife, report progrefs, and a(k leave to (it again. Mr. Madifan. I do not confider it at this moment necef- ry to fill up the blanks, nor had I it in contemplation at the time I offered the propofitions. J fuppofed that moft of the gentlemen would wilh time to think upon the principles ge- nerally, and upon the articles particularly; while others, who from their fituatlon and advantages in life are more converfant on this fubjeft, may be induced to turn their particular attention to afubjed they are well able to do juffice to, and to affiit the committee with their knowledge jinu information ; unlefs fuch gentlemen are now prepared A. 1789. Of C O N G R E S S. 15 and difpofed to proceed in filling up the blanks^ I fhall fe- cond the motion for the committees riling. Mr. Parker. As it is impoffible that gentlemen fboiild be prepared to go into the immediate difculnon of my worthy colleagues motion, for railing an impoft. I Ihall heartily concur in the motion for the committees rifing. The queftion on rifing being put, was agreed to, when Mr. Speaker refumed the chair, and Mr. Page reported progrefs. Adjourned until to morrow. Jpril 9. Two other members appeared and took their feats, viz J Egbert Benfon from New-York, and Ifaac Coles from Virginia. Mr. Boudtnot, reported from the committee on rules and orders, further regulations for the government of the houfe. "Which being read were ordered to lie on the table. Mr. Leonard and Mr. Wynkoop requefted and obtained leave of abfence. A letter from Oliver Ellworth, Efq. a member of the Senate, was read, flating the appointment of a committee of that houfe, to confer with a committee to be appointed on the part of this houfe, in preparing a fyftem of rules tor govern the two houfes in cafes ofconferrence and to regu- late the appointment of chaplains. Whereupon Meflrs. Boudinot, Sherman, Tucker, Ma- difon and Bland v/ere eledled by ballot for that purpafe. The houfe according to the fianding order of the day, refolved itfe If into a committee of the whole on the ftate of the union. Mr. Page in the chair. On motion of Mr. Sherman, the houfe went into s. committee of the whole On the /hie of the union. Mr. Laivrancs, The fubjecl: of the propofitions laid be- fore the committee, by the honorable gentleman from Vir- ginia, (Mr. Madifon) will now, I prefume, Mr, Chairman, recur for our deliberation. I imagine it to be of confide- rable importance, not only to the United States, but to every individual of the union. The objeCl of the revenue alone, would place it in this fituation and in this light I mean now to confider it. If I am not millaken the honor- able mover of the plan, vievv'ed it as a temporary fyftem, particularly calculated to embrace the fpring importations 5 i6 DEBATES A. 1789. therefore, in order to difcover whether the mode laid be- fore you is well calculated, to anl'wer this end, it will be proper to confider its operation. The plan conlifts of certain diftintl propolitions ; one part intended to lay a is fpecific fum on enumerated article?, the other a certain per cent ad valorem: perhaps (implifying the fyftem, may be produftive of happy confequences, and it (Irikes me that confulion and perplexity will be beft avoided by fuch a meafure Hence it may be proper to lay a duty at a cer- : tain rate per cent, on the value of all articles, v/ithout at- teinpiing an enumeration of any, becaufe, if we attempt to fpecify every article, it will expofe us to a quePci'>n which mult require more time than can be fpared, to obtain the objecl that appears to be in the view of the committee. A queftion, i fay, Sir, will ariie, whether the enumeration embraces every articTe that will bear a duty, and whether the duty to be affixed is the proper fum the article is able to bear. On this head. Sir, I believe that the committee have not materials fuMicient to form even the bafis of the fyftem, bcfide being wholly incompetent to determine the rate moft advantageous to the article of revenue, and mod ao;reeable to the intereit and convenience of our conftituents. Knowledge on thefe points, can only be obtained by ex- perience ; but hitherto we have had none, at leaH: of a ge- neral nature, the partial regulations made by the ftates, throve but little light on the fubject, and its magnitude ought to induce us toufe the greateft degree of caution. A fyftem of the nature which I hinted at, will, in my opinion, benot only lefs complex and difficult in its forma- tion, but likewife eaher and more certain in its operation, becaufe,