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

exceptionsy important in themfelves and claim the particular at:entioir 5J>  . 26 DEBATES A. i/Bcs of the committee : Altho the freedom of commerce would be advantageous to all the world, yet, in fome particulars, one nation might fufter, to benefit others, and this ought to be for the general good of fociety. if America was to leave her ports perfcclly free, and make no difcrimination het\\ecn veiFels owned by her citi- zens and thofe owned by foreigners, while other rations make this difcrimination, it is obvious that fucli policy would go to exclude American fliipping altogether from foreign ports, and flie would be materially atiecled in one of her mod important intereds ; to this we may add another coii- fideration, that by encouraging the means of tranlporting our productions v.'ith facility, we encourage the railing them and this object, I apprehend, is likely to be kept : ir. view by the general government. Duties laid on imported articles may have anelFeA whi(.h comes within the idea cf national prudence ; It may hap- pen that materials for manufacTiures may grow up without any encourage oient for thlspurpcfe, it has been the cafe in fome cf the Hates, but in others, regulations have been provided and have fuccecded in producing fome ellablilh- iricnt, which oughjt not to be allowed to perifh, from the iilreraticn v. hich hss taken place: It v> ould be cruel to neg- ]eCt them and divert their induftry to other channels, for it is not pollible for the hand of man to Ihift from, one em- ployment to another, without being injured by the change. There may befomenxmufailures, which being once formed, Can advance lo^vard perfection without any adventitiousaid, while others for v/ant of the foftering hand of government will be unable to go on at all, legilJative attention will therefore be neceiuuy to coUecl the proper objects for this p'jrpcle, and thii will foraj an other exception to my ge- i^eral principle. I obfcrve that _a fumptuary prohibition is within the view cf fome of the prcpofed articles and forms another excepticm 1 acknowledge tiiat I do not in general think any ; grCrft national ad^/am'age arifes fi-om reilrictions palled on this head, becaufe as long as a diltin*^lion in point of value fibiifts'jfumpruary^ duties in lcn:cform or other will pre- vail and take eiTecl:. Annther exception is embargoes in time of war, thcfe mDyhecefrariiy occur and fhackle the freedom of connnerce; but the' reafons' for' this areib uijvious, that it rczidcrs any rcin.n"i\ jnn>.vi^.iarv'  — A. 1789. Of C O N G R E S S. 27 The next exception that occurs, is one on wh'ch great f.refs islaid bv fome well informed njen, and this with great plaufibilicj'.T'hnt each nation Hiould have within rtreh", the means of defence independent of foreign kipplics : That in whatever rebtes to the operation of war, no, ftate ought to depend upon a precarious fnpply fi'onj zny part of the world There n-ny be fome truth in this remark, : and therefore it is proper fer legiflative attention. I am though, well pcrfuadcd that the reafoning on this fubjecn: lias been carried too far. The difncuhis we experienced a few years ago, df obtaining military iupplies, ought not to furhilh too mucliin favourofan ellabliihment v.'hicii v.ouklbe difficult and expeniive ;becaufe our ^^/zow^'/'charaiTter isr.ow eliablilhed and recognized thi-oughcut the v.'Oild, and the laws of war favor ;:^.'fiGn.v7 exertion more than inteiline com- motion, fo that there is good reafon to believe that when it becomes necefiary, we may obtain funplies from abroad as readily as any. other nation whatfoevcr. I h.avc menti- oned this becaufe I think I fee fomething anx^ng the enu- merated articles that feems to favor fuch policy. The imnoft laid on trade for the nurj^cfe of obtaininfr revenue, may likev/ire be confidered as an exception ; fo far therefore as revenue can be m.ore convenient})' and'cer- tair.Iy raifed by this, than any other method v.-ithout inju- ry to the community, and its operation will be in due proportion to the confumption, which cohfuption is Vene- rally proportioned to the circumftances of individuals, I think found policy didlates to ufe this mean ; but it will be neccflaryto confine our attention at this time peci^liarlv to the objecT: of revenue, becaufe the other fubjeci. involves iome intricate queflions, to unravel which v.e perhaps are not prepared. I have no objection to th.e Conimittees ac- acepting the propoiltions offered by the gentleman from Penniylvania, becaufe fo far as we can entimerate the pro- per objecls and ajjply fpecific duties to them, v/e conform to the praftice prevalent in many of the itates, and adopt the moft laudable niethod of collecling revenue, at leaffc preferable to laying a general tax, wihether th.erefore we confult eafe and convenience in cclledlicn, or purfuing ha- bits already adopted and approved, fpecific duties as far as the articles can properly be enumerated is the more clici. ble mode of obtaining the end in contemplation uj^igii the whole, as I think fome of the oropofiiions may be produc- tive of revenue, and fome may protect our domeflic mann- faCliurc, tho' the latter fubjeti ought not to be too confuf-  ^.8 DEBATES A. 1789. edly blended with the former. I hope the committee will receive them and let them lay over in order that we may have time tc confider how far they are confiftent with juf- lice and policy. Mr, Boudu-'oT. I believe that it will not be difputed, but that the beH: and eafieft way of fupplying the public wants, is by raiimg a revenue on the importation of goods by way of jmpqii:, tho' the manner in which it fhoud be done, I confeis is a fubjeft on which 1 ftand greatly in need of in- formation. I iliould therefore moll; cordially comply with the requefl of the gentleman from South-Carolir.a, (Mr. Tucker^ in order to obtain time for confideration, and to ^vait the arrival of the abfent gentlemen, in order that we may have that alFiflancc which is to be derived from thera ; did I confider the queftion on the prefent motion final, 1 ihoult] be at alofs how to aft, but this I take it, is not the cale ; I prefume it is intended by the hon. mover only to lay on the table, with the original propofitions open for de- bateand confideration, till the committee are poil'eired offuf- iicient iniformation to proceed. I alfo coufefs, tliat in ge- neral, I am in favor of fpecific duties on enumerted arti- cle§, I ihall therefore vote for the amendment ; but in do« ing this, 1 fliall iiot confider r^yfelf as bound to fupport ihe whole, nor indeed any particular article which upon due confideration, I may deem either impolitic or unjull, for I cannot conceive, that by adopting the amendment v/e tye up our hands or prevent future difcuiTion no Sir, that — is liot the cafe ; and as I trulf vve all have the fame object: in view, namely, the public good of the United States, fo I hope that a willing ear will be lent to every propo- fition likely to prpmite this end, nor do I doubt but gentle. men are mutually iiiclined to i'acnfice local advantages for the accomplilhment of this great purpofe. I confefs. Sir, that J do not confider my felfmafler of the fubjeft, and ihall therefore wait for information from thofe gentlemen who are bejl able jo. give it I think we are: much indebted to the gentleman from Fennfylvania for going fo far into the fubjed as his lift of articles ihews he hv,s done, biu 1 would beg of hjm to inform me, if there is any thing peculiar in the manufacture of glafs, ?s I ob- ferve it is qmitted in his enumeration if there is nothing ; jmprpper in adding this article, i fliall certainly move for ft, as I fuppofe Vv'e are capable of manufacturing this as well as.manyofthg others — iij fact it is well known that wc  ; A. 1789. Of C O N G R E S S. 29 have, and can doit as well as mofl: nations, the materials being almoft all produced in our country— if there is any thing improper in it, I hope gentlemen will inlonn me, if there is not, I fee no reai'on againll its being enumerated with the others. Mr. FiTZsiMONs. I hope there will be no difficulty in receiving the pro- pofitions I had the honor to prefent, when we come to conlider them article by article tor the purpofe of taxing them, gentlemen will be at liberty to objcft, and if they offer good reafons for it, they may get them llruck out but this I ai)prehcnd cannot fo conveniently be done in the prel'ent Itate of the buiinefs. Mr. Madison. I fuppofe that the reafon which induced the gentleman from Pennfylvania to introduce the lill of articles now before us is fimilar to the one Vvhich actuated me to enu- merate thofe in the hril propofition, namely, that they were capable on the principle of policy of bearing a higher duty than thofe left in the conunon mal's to be taxed ad valorem; if gentlemen on conlidering them, f-iould think any incapable of fnftaining fuch addition, they will be at liberty to move to have them ftruck out and reftored to the general mals of articles, fo that I lee no very ftrong rea- lon againfl receiving them for conlideration. The motion was put by the chairman, and it wrs agreed to add them to the firil lift of articles introduced by Mr. Madifon. On motion of Mr. Lee, the committee rofc and reported progrefs, and the houle adjourned, Jpnl 10. The houfe met and adjourned without proceeding tobu- linefs. Jpril II. Mr. Smith (of Maryland) prefented a petition from the tradefmen, manufaclurers, and others, of the town of Baltiniore, which was read, fetting forth, That lince the clofe of the late war, and the conipletion of the revolution, they have obierved with ferious regret the manufacturing an.d the tradmg intereft of the country rapidly declining, and the atteispts of the ftate legiflatures to remedy the evil failing of their ubjeft ; that in the prefent melancholy fiate of our country, the number of poor encreafing for v*- ant of employment, foreign debts accumulating, houfes and lands depreciating in value, and trade and manufadures languish. 30 DEBATES A. 1789; ing atuj expiring ;they look up to tlie fuprcme legifiature ot the the L^iited States as the guardians of the whole em- pire, and from their united wifdomand patriotifm, and ar- dent love of their countrj', expert to derive that aid and allilhiHce which alone can diiiipate their jiul apprehenlions, and animate them with hopes of I'uccefs in future, by im- poHng on all foreign articles, which can be tnade in Ame- rica, i'uch duties as will give a juit and decided preference to their labors ; difcountenancing that trade which tends lb materially to injure them and impoverifli their country, r/ieafnres which in their confequences may alfo contribute to the dilcharge of the national debt and the due fuppcrt of go- vernment ; that they have annexed a lill of fuch articles as are or can be rnaiiufaclured a:nongiL them, and liunibly ti-uft in the wifdom of tlie legiilature to grant then>, in common with the other mechanics and manufarturers of the United States, that relief which may