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

juffice of themeafure ; gentlemen fhould confider that in iuch cafes there is danger of intereft prevailing over equity and policy, certainly if the raeafure is purlued we Ihall difcover this effect in the end. Gentlemen have conlldered the arguments brought againft this duty as ftanding upon local ground^ advocating 302 DEBATES A. 1789. the local intereft of Mafia chufetts, he would examine this pofition. It is the intereft of a majority of the people of that ftate that as much revenue (hould be drawn from mo- lafles as pofiible, fay it is the intereft of the ftate, for their intereft is divided between the landed and commercial, the landed intereft predominates, and it was always luppofed that the commercial bore a greater ihare of the public bur- then than it ought. The conduit of the ftate of JViaila- chufetts ought to be elteemed by us as the beft guide to difcover how far our .onmiercial regulations, as they re- fpect that ftate, are confiftent with poUcy, if ihe furnillies the belt example. Can we tind that ihe everimpofed a duty of 6 cents per gallon on molafles ? not a iingle inftance can be produced where fbe raifed revenue from this article. If they then never laid a duty upon it, and thef were dif- pofed to get every thing in their power from commerce, we muft conclude that if it could have been laid they would have done it. It is not the landed citizens, if he might ufc the term, who confumed molafies ; it is the inhabitants of the fea coaft; the former had the power and they were intereft- ed to lay fuch a tax, it might therefore be expected they would have done it, if they had not been convinced it would have deltroyed the filhenes and navigation of the ftate. Now, he wi/bed to know upon what principle the com- mittee would proceed to lay a tax which the Itate govern- ment had conlidered as injudicious, was it to make them bear a due proportion of the public expence ? Gentlemen had intimated that it was juft for this reafon, but what was the true ftate of the queftion ? Maflachufetts confumed of every article as much as other ftatcs, according to her num- bers, if the returns of the cuftom-houle were examined, this would be found to be the cafe. If the gentlemen from Georgia, Carolina, or Virginia, contend that we do not confume as much, and the refult of an impartial enquiry is that we confume m.ore, what reafon can be offered why we ihould be expofed to the full operation of this high duty on molalFcs ? is it becaufe it falls exclufively upon the eaftern ftates to pay fuch extravagant duties ? certainly gentlemen will not inlift upon this principle If MafTachu- : fetts pays her proportion on other articles we will never confent to add 120,000 dollars more, when all the reft of the union will not pay half the fum. The gentleman from Virginia told us, that Virginia ex- ports more than Maffachufctts, I think three limes as much, this was a fecret never known till the gentleman had dif- A. 1789. Of C O N G R E S S, 303 clofed it. When gentlemen want a pofition to fupporrrheir arguments, they alTume the commerce of their (tales to be very fmall, and hence a heavy tonnage duty ought not to be laid, left it (hould be ruined altogether but if they are ; to prove the quantum of revenue they contribute, their commerce is magnified, and becomes three times as great as the commerce of the moft commercial Hate in the union* bethought gentlemen ought to be condftent in their fa£ts and arguments, but he believed fuch an opinion was with- out foundation. How, faid he, do gentlemen afcertain this to be the cafe He had examined the fubjetft with confi- .' derable attention, but could find no ground for fuch a fup- pofuion ; the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Madiion) had enumerated a number of articles which were imported in- to Virginia, they were mere trifles, candles and foap. He would wiih to know, if the duty on henip and cordage did not amount to more than all fuch articles taken together • but the articles of which gentlemen complain, can be bought among them as cheap as they can in the eaftern ftates al- lowing only for the freight ; but if they n)uft have Euro- pean goods, it is to be prefumed they luppofe them of better quality, and ought to pay in proportion. If it was admitted that a duty of Cix cents was a reafona- ble one upon rum, why will gentlemen chufe a mode of levying it, which the ftate avoided for fear of ruining their commerce. But gentlemen are afraid of an excife, becaufe it is unpopular rather than run any riik on this account ; they would put to the hazard one of the moft elTential in- terefts of the United States, he meant the fisheries and na- vigation but after all, we (hall be under the necelfity of ; having recourfe to an excife, becaufe this Iburce of revenue will be infufficient for the public wants the deficiency mufl ; be made up either in that way or by diredl taxation. He did not think gentlemen would prefer a capitation tax to au excife, for his part, he would chufe the latter. The gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Madifon) cannot fee how an impoft on mohfTes can afi^eJl the diftiUeries and fifheries ; after having been repeated over and over again, itwould be unnecefTary that he fhould dwell on thispointj but every one could fee the conneftion, if we do not im- port molafles, we cannot carry on our diftiUeries nor vend our filh ;and it will be impoff.ble to import molafles under fuch heavy duties, at leaft the future importation will be limited to two thirds of the prefent, becaufe the demand will be in proportion to the encreafe of price, and the §54 DEBATES hiercliant will not have caplial to Import more A.17S90 than twa- thirds his ufual quantity. He would not reiterate the arguments refpecling the filheries ; itwas well known to be ilie beft nurfery for feamen, the United States'haduo other, and it never could be the intention of gentlemen to leave the navigation of the union to the mercy of foreign powers. It is of necef- fity then, that we lay the foundation of our maritime im- portance as foon as may be, and this can be done only by encouraging our filheries ; it is alio well known that we have a number of rivals in this buiinefs deiirous of exclud- ing us from the fi'hing banks altogether. This confidera- tion of iti'elf was fufficient to iriduce a wife legiflature to extend every encouragement tofo important a concern. In any regulation they make, by which it can be affeJled, they ought to be fure of the ground on which they went. It appeared to him that fix cents would have the mofl ruinous confequences to the general intereit he therefore ; hoped gentlemen would agree to reduce it, if not fo as to place it among the ad valorem articles, at leaft down to two cents. However, as the committee were not prepared to fay the particular funi proper to be laid, he hoped they would agree to leave it a. blank, to be filled up at feme future Ifag-e of the bulinefs. The queition was now taken on itriking out fix cents^, — and pafl'ed in the affirmative, ayes 24, noes 22. Propodtions were feve rally made for tilling up the blank with two, three, four, and five cents ; five being the high- cfl was firfl: put and agreed to — ayes 25, noes 23. The committee proceeded to coufider the fubfequent articles ; but not having time to go through the whole^ they rofe, and reported progreis, and the houfe ad- journed. May 13. A petition of the merchants and traders of the toVv'n of Portland, in the ftate of Mafi'achufetts, was prefenied to the houfe, and read, ftathig, that the propofed duty on mo- LilTes will operate injur iouJly Upon all the New-England Hates, and be attended with pernicious confequences to manufactures ; and praying that that article may remain entirely free from all imports and duties whatever. Ordered, that the laid petition do lie on the table. A petition of John Fitch, of the ftate of Pennfylvania, was prefented to the houfe, and read, ftatirig, that he is the original difcoverer of the principle of applying the A; 1789; O.^ C O N G.R E S S. 365 power of {team to the purpofes of navigation, and has ob» rained an excluilve right therein, for a term of years, in the ibtes of Virginia, Delaware, Pennlylvania, New-Jerfty and New-York, and praying that his rights may be lecureJ to him by law, and in fuch manner, upon the true principles of priority of invention, as will preclude fu'ofequent im- provers upon his principle from participating therein uncil the expiration of the term of his exclulive grants. Ordered, tfiat the laid petition be referred to Mr; Hunt- ington, Mr. Cad.valader, and Mr. Contee that they do •, examme the matter thereof, and report the fame, with their opinion thereupon, to the houle. The houfe refojved itlelf into a committee of the v/hole en the impoll hill. Mr. Ames moved to infert china, crockery- ware and gun-powder; bethought them articles of luxury. Mr. Fitzlimons delired the gentleman to change the exprelTion from crockery into earthen and llone--ware, which being done, the committee agreed to infert chma^^ earthen, and itone-ware at i'evtn one-half per cent, ad valorem, but negatived gun- powder. The committee af- terwards added looking giafTes and brulhes. Mr. Parker Moved to ii.fcirt a claufe in the bill, impofnig a duty oii the importation of flaves of ten dollars each pcribn. He was forry that the ConlVitution prevented Congrefs from prchTbiting the importation altogether ; he thought it a defecl: in that inftrument that it allowed of fuch actions, it- was contrary to the revolution principles, and ought not to be permitted ; bat as he could not do all the good he de- fired, was willing to do what lay in his power. He lie hoped luch a duty as he moved for would prevent, in fome degree, this irrational and inhuman traffic iffo, he fhouldf ; ieel happy from the iuccefs ot his motion. Mr. Smith (of South-Carolina) Hoped that fuch an important and ferious propoution as this would not be hallily adopted ; it was a very late mo- ment for the incroduftion of i.'ew fubjefts. He expected the committee had got through the buiiuefs, and would rift- without difculling any thing further at leall if gentlemen ; were determined on conlidering the preient motion, he hoped they would delay for a few days, in order to give time for an examination of the fubject. It was certainly a matter big with the nioft ferious confequences to the ftate he reprefented ; he did not think any one thing that ha^ 3o6 DEBATES A. 1789. been difcufied was fo important to them, and the welfare of the union, as the queltion now brought forward, but he was not prepared to enter on any argUiiient, and therefore requelled the motion might either be withdrawn or laid on the table. Mr. Sherman Approved of the objed of the motion, but he did not think this bill was proper to embrace the fubjedt. He could not reconcile himfelf to the inferticn of human be- ings, as an article of dut}', among goods, wares and mer- chandize. He hoped it would