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

eflates, Jackfonburgh, in the ftate of South-Carolina, on the 26th day of February, in the year 1782," palled in March, 1783. An aft, entitled', " An aft to confer the right of citizenfhip on aliens," pifled the 26th of March, 1784. Alio an ordinance of the legiflature of the faid flate, en- titled, ^' An ordinance to encourage fubjefts of foreign ftates to lend money at interefl on real eftates within this ftate," pafied the 26th of March, 1784. A certified cop/ of an extraft from an aft of the legiflature of that f^ate, entitled, "An aft for raifing and paying into the public treafury of this ifate, a tax for the ufes therein niention- ed," pafTed the 9th of September, 1779; and a printed copy of the conftitution of South-Carolina alfo a certifi- : cate from John Edwards, and V/illiani Horr, commiilioners of the treafury of that Hate, under their leal of office. Ordered, that the faid report do lie on the table. The hoafe, according to the order of the day, proceed- ed by ballot to tlie appointment of a ferjeantat arms ; and, upon examining the ballots, a majority of the votes of the whole houfe was found in favor of Jofeph Wheacon. Mr. Trumbull, from the committee appointed to confer with any committee from the Senate, refpecTiing the future Pp 298 DEBATES A. 1789 difpofition of the papers in the office of the late fecretary of the United States, made a report, which read, and or- dered to lie on the table. A. mefiage from the Senate, by Mr. Otis, their fecetary. — Mr. Speaker 'The Senate have appointed a committee to confer with the committee appointed by this houfe, on the difagreeing votes of the two houfes, on the fubje<^ of titles. And then he withdrew. The houfe then refrlved itielf into a committee of the whole on the impoft bill. The article of inolafles (till under confideration. Mr. Ames Wilhed to reply to the oblervation made yefterday by the gentleman from Virginia. Does that gentleman, faid he, recollecl: if we lay an excife, we prevent the burthen from being impofed upon the poor for their fublillance, molalTes, in the raw ftate, will be lighcly taxed ; In the next place, it is more favorable to the importers of that article than the iinpoU, it does not require fo large a pro- portion of their capital to be advanced in payment of duties, nor do they run the rifk of bad debts, becaufe it may be lo regulated that the retailer Ihall fecure the duty. Ano- ther reafon is, it will fave the expence of a numerous hoft of cuftom-houle officers, tide-waiters, &c. Thefe confider- ations proved, that if the excife was no better than an impoft, that it v/as no worle ; and as the duty would be better collecled, and give lefs reafon for imuggling, which above all things was dangerous to the revenue, it was fuf- ficient to warrant the committee in giving the excife duty a preference. Mr. Goodhue Would not trouble the houfe long on the fubjed ; but begged leave to repeat the manner in which the molalTes trade was conneded with the fiflieries, and the filheries with the navigation, that if the firft is injured, the other two are wounded through its fides. About three-fifths of all the filh that are put up for that market are of an in- ferior quality, and v.'ould not fell elfewhere the Frerch ; would not permit us to carry them there, but becaufe we take their molaues in exchange ; they will not let their colonies fend the molaiTes to France left it interfere with their brandy. Now, any impediment to the exportation of molailes will prevent the exportation of fifh, if we can- not export the filh, for what purpofe fliall we continue our filheries? and if they are given up, how are we to form feamen to man our future navy. A. i;89. Of C O N G R E S S. 299 Mr. Madison Said his mind was incapable of difcovering any plan that would anfvver the purpofe the committee have in view, and not produce greater evils than the one under confider- ation. He thought an excife very objeftionabic, but as no adlual propofition for entering into fuch a fyftem was be- fore the committee, he forbore to fay any thing lurther about it. He admitted an excife would obviaie in part fome of the difliculties but he did not think the aniwer ; given to his argument altogether fatisfadtory ; yet there was another argument he urged on a former occafion re- — mained unanfwered it was, that, at this moment, thefiih- eries, diftilleries, and all its connections, were laboring under heavier duties than what is propol'ed true, the duty ; is collecled in a different mode, but it aifetts the coufumer in the fame manner. The gentlemen have faid, to be fure, that the duty is evaded, but if half is collefted, it amounts to more than 6 cents per gallon. It is faid, that a tax on molaffes will be unpopular, but not more fo than a tax on fait : Can gentlemen Itate more ferious apj)rehen(ions in the former than the latter cafe ; yet the committee did not forego a productive fund, be- caufe the article was a neceffary of life, and in general con. fumption. If there is the difpofition, that is reprefented, for people to complain of the opprelTion of government, have not the citizens ot the fouthern Hates more jult ground of complaint than others ? the fyltem can only be acceptable to them, becaufe it is eflentially neceffary to be adopted for the public good. Gentlemen argue, that a tax on molaffes is unpopular, and prove it by experience under the Britifh government; if this is to be adduced as a proof of the popularity of a mealure, what are we to fay v.'ith refpec^ to a tax on tea ? Gentlemen remembered, no doubt, how odious this kind of tax was thought to be throughout America, yet the houfe had, without hefitation, laid a conliderable duty uoon it. He did not immagine that a duty on either of thole articles were in themfelves objectionable, it was the principle up- on which the tax was laid, that made them unpopular un- der the Britilli government. It is faid that this tax is unjufl ; now he had not a fmgle idea of judice, that did jiot coniraJid: the pofitiou. If it was confidered as it relates to rum, he was certain the con- lumers of foreign rum paid a larger proportion of revenue into the treafury than the confumers cf country rum, they 300 DEBATED — paid more than equal diflributive required A- ^7^, if it was conti= dered as itrefpefted molaires, there would appear no injul- tice; moiafles was corifuined in other ftates, but if it was not, fugsr was ufed in its Head, and fubjecl to a duty full as high as that on molalles. But difmilling both thefe cpnfi- derations, and even admitting the whole weight to fall up- on the northern ftates, it would not be diiproportioned, becaufe in the long lift of ennumerated articles fubje<5l to a high duty, fhe imported few or none; indeed the articles v/ere pretty generally taxed for the benefit of the manufac- turing j\^rt of the northern con.niunity — fee loaf fugar, candles, cheefe, foap, &c. Fe hoped gentlemen would not infer from this obfervarion, that he thought the encou- ragement held out by the bill to manufactures improper^ far from it ; he was glad to fee their growing confequcncCj and was difpofed to give them every aid in his power. From this view of the fubjed, he was inclined to adhere to the bill, and not make any reduftion. Mr. Gf.rry Hoped the committee would not corfider tlie fubjeft as finally decided, he thought it deferving of further nivefii- gation, and expeded the committee would be fatisfied of the propriety of making fome redudion — he felt a concern at being obliged to extend the difcuflion, but his duty im- pelled him to oppofe a uieafure he conceived injurious to his country. He meant to confider the fubjed in tv/o points of view. Firfij he would begin with premiling, that the bulineis of finance was a bulinefs of diiliculty and delicacy ; in Europe n is confulered in this light, and reqires to be coiiducted by the moft able and enlightened men. In America we had hitherto but little experience in this fcience, and per- haps not more than one man is qualified to fill luch an important llation as financier ; furely then Congrefs ought to be well alTured of the juftice and propriety of the prin- fipie they adept ; they ought to have fufficient under- flanding and information to be able to demonflrafe that their calculations were right; but we are defedive in docu- ments to guide us on our way, we are going onward blind- folded, and bave ferioully to apprehend evils from every Jlep. Naiions, whoare well infornied of all thefe points by the experience of ages, never attempt to lay a duty hi the firit inftance fo high as we propole to 'do ; they begin with fmall impolitions in order to try what the article will bear, and how far the people are difpofed to fullain ths A. 1789. Of e O N G R E S S. 301 prefTure in that particular part ; they alio have in view the certainty 01 the coUcdioii ; if they find all thefe circum-i ilances manageable, then they gradually encreafe the article Until the imppfition becomes equal to the ability of the ar- ticle. But he had forgfjt himlelf, he ought not to touch upon this point, becaule gentlemen were above deriving advantages from experience altho' we area young govern- ; ment yet to be eliaolilhed, we are enumerating and laying duties that could only be proper after many years experi- ence. Now, admitting thele duties to be proper iome years hence, was it not impolitic in Congrefs to load thp people immediately i;pon getting the po^\er of doing it, and burthening them in luch a manner as they never expe- rienced before even under the Britilh government. Gentlemen had contended, that a uuty cf 6 terts per gallon on molafies was juli: and equal ; for his part he could not difcover, with all fhe exertions his niiiid was capable of making, how gentlenien prove this to be cafe ; it ap- peared to him partial and oppreflive. The principle laid down in the conilitution for an equal be apportioned a- diftribution of taxes was, that they flj.-ill niong the levei-al ffates according to their relpeiaive num- ber of inhabitants ; this principle is made poiitive as it re- fpedts direoi taxes, but he though the equality ought to extend itfelf to every pofTible cafe. 1 he power polTefTed by the houfe, with regard tp revenue and the power of making all neceflary laws, enabled the general government to exilt independant of fubordinate aflociations ; but if they were inclined to annihilate the fiate governmenrs, yet it would be their interell to attend to the advantages of the community, and adminifter their powei- fo as not to make it burthenfome and oppreflive. Now, he wifhed to know ^vhat principle of jultice authcrifed the committee to lay a duty of 6 cents on molaffes ? unfortunately for Maflachu- jfettsihe imports a greater qtiantity than the whole union belide ; this makes her intereft (land alone, and her repre- fentatives are left to labor the point, knowing the ill tffe&. Jt will have upon their conllituents. Uiu'er thefe circum- itances it is neceflary to pay particulai* attention to the