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

perpetuity. He had hiinfelf brought forward a motion for a temporary revenue, which had been decided .igainlt by the houfe in committee ; fo that unlets they meant to give this fyftem a permanency, much time and Uioney had been waft- ed to little effect. He believed no perfon would be indu- ced to lend money on a fund which depended on the will of one houfe, becaufe if either jranch of the legiflature ob- jedled to the re-palling of the law,, the fund will be anni- hilated, and they have bur une branch to truil to. Mr. Madison Withdrew his motion in order to introduce another, which he hoped would reconcile both fides of the houfe. Hejoinedihofe gentlemen who oppofed the claufe in think- ing that one or two years would be a period infuihcient to anlwer the purpofes in contemplation if the hcifeagree to : the claufe he would fubilitute for the one juit \.ithdrawn, he would move to till the blank with a more dillant day. His motion was, that this aft ihall not continue m for:e af- ter the day ot unlefs otherwife provided in the aft for the appropriation of the revenue. Mr. Fitztimons fecorJed the motion. Mr. Sherman Liked this motion better than the other. Although he was in favor of leaving the law at large he would vote for this claufe, if the blanks were hlkd up wiiii a fufficient 342 DEBATES A. 1789. time to accomplifli thofe objedls which the government had in vie\v in providing revenue. Mr, Am.es Thought the queflion would recur when the appropria- tion or collefting bill came before them ; he would rather^, for his ov.'h part, decide the queftion at this moment, than confume the rime of the houfe with another debate. Be- lide the houfe was not in poflelhon of an ad: for appropria- ting the revenue, fuch a meafure might never be agreed to ; therefore he hoped the decifion would take place at this time rather than be evaded. Mr. FiTZ SIMONS Was of opinion, that this revenue ought to be appro- priated to the payment of the public debts, what were the views of other gentlemen he could not fay. He was neverthelefs in favor ot limiting the law, and that upon con- flitutional principles, thougii he wiihed it commenfurate to its object. Gentlemen had faid a great deal refpecfing- the imperfedion of the fyltem, that it was the effedt of compromife but neverthelefs, he thought it as free from ; defe(ftsas it was poflible a revenue fyiiem could be formed with fuch materials as the houle poifefled ; but if it was imperfect, he did not fee the difficulties, fome gentlemen mentioned, in altering and amending it when experience iliall have pointed out its defeats. He was forry the appropriations could not be made at this time, for want of a knowledge of the public debt and current expences, but he hoped it might be done before the members left their feats, and then gentlemen might have an opportunity of making this law commenfurate with the objecl they have in view. He would obferve further, that all which jhad been faid by gentlemen refpeding public credit, tended to injure it and promote a fpirit of fpeculation. He hoped it would not be underltood, that this houfe were againll providing an ampJe fund for the payment of the debts eventually, and for the punctual difcharge of the intereit in the interim. If we mean to borrow money, it is certain ihofe who lend will judge of the fecurity j and it is to be hoped, they will not think ffom any thing that has been faid here, that the iegiflature heiitates to provide good and fufficient funds for their fecurity. Mr. EouDiNoT Acquiefced in the moiion now brought forward for the A. 1789- Of CONGRESS. 343 fake of accommodation, although he thought the bill would ftand better without any limitation claui'e whatever. ' Mr. Page Was againfl: the latter part of this claufe. It had been jullly faid that the bill would be opprefiive, but, from the necelhty of the times, the people will fubmit to it Shall : we not let them fee the end of their burthen in the law itfelf ? are they to look into another bill for that purpofe ? Perhaps after the Senate have agreed to this acl, they may oppofe the linjitation \\} the fubfequent one ; they may infill: upon having this in perpetuity, and then the objecl: which the houfe have in view will be defeated. Mr. Smith (of South-Carolina) moved a divifion of the queftion. Mr. Lee wilhed to ftrike out that part of the motion which related to the exception. Mr. Livfc-rmore feconded Mr. Lee. The queiHon was put, ai;d that part of the claufe loft. The queltion now ilood as originally introduced to the houfe. The previous queftion was then demanded by five mem- bers, Ihall the mam queftion be — now put ? And on the queftion, Ihall the main queftion be now put? It was refol- ved in the affirmative. And then the main queftion being put, that the houfe do agree to the amendment propofed 10 the laid bill, it was re- folved in the atfirmaiive — Ayes, 41, Noes, 8. The ayes and noes being called for by one-fifth of the members prefent. Thofe who voted in the afHrmative, are, Abraham Baldwin, Samuel Livermore, Egbert Benfon, James Madifon, junior, Thecdorick Bhr.d, Andrew Moore, ^^danus Burke, Peter Muhlenburg, Daniel Carroll, Job" Page, Ifaac Coles, Joflah Parker, Benjamin Contee, George Partridge, Thomas Fitzfunons, Jeremiah Van RenfTelaer, Vvilliam Floyd, Joihua Sene)-, George Gale, Thomas Scott, E'.bridge Gerry, William Smith, of (Maryl.) Nicholas Gilman, William Smith, (of S. C.) Benjamin Goodhue, Jonathan Sturges, Samuel Griflin,, Peter Sylvefter, Jonathan Grout, Jonathan Trumbull,  : 344 DEBATES Thomas Tuder Tucker, A. 1789; John Hathorn, Daniel Heifter, John Vining, Benjamin Huntington, Jeremiah Wadfworth, James Jackfon, Alexander White, and Richard Bland Lee, Henry Wynkoop, George Leonard, Thoie who voted in the negative are : Fifher Ames, John Lavvrance, Elias Boudinor, Roger Sherman, Lambert Cadwalader, Thomas Sinnickfon, and George Clymei", George Thatclicr. The claufe being added, it was agreed to fill the blanks firil day of June, 1796. fo as to read the Ordered, that the faid bill, with the amendments, be en= grofled, afid fead the third time to-day. A melTage from the fenate, by Mr. Otis, their fecretary, — Mr. Speaker The Senate have inflrufted their com- mittee appointed to confer with a committee of this honfe, and report what newfpapcrs the members of Congrefs ihall be furnifned with, at the public expence, to receive pf opo- fals for printing the afts and other j)roceedings of Congrefs. And then lie withdrew. An engroffed bill, for laying a duty on goods, wares, and merchandizes, imported into the United States, was read the third time, and the blanks therein filled up. Refolved, that the faid bill do pafs, and that the title be, " An act for laying a duty on goods, wares, and merchan- dizes, imported into the United States." . Ordered, That the clerk of this houfe do carry the faic! billtotheSenate, and defire their concurrence. — Adjourned. May 18. A petition of John Bryce, of the city of New-York, was prefented to the houfe and read, praying to be employed as ftationer and book binder to Congrefs. Alfo the feveral petitions of Edward Evelith Powers, and Thomas Greenleaf, printers, praying to be employed in the printing lervice of Congrefs Ordered, That the faid petitions be referred to the committee appointed to receive propofals for printing the ac^s and other proceedings of Congrefs. Ordered, that leave be given to bring in a bill con- cerning the importation of certain perfons into the United' States, prior to the year 1R08, and that Mr. Parker, Mr. Sinnickfon, and Mr, Muhlenburg, do prepare and bring in the fame. A. 17S9. Of congress. 3,;^ On motion, ordered, th.it a committee be appointed to prepare and bring in a bill, providing for the actual enume- ration of the inhabitants of the United States, in conformit}-' to the coniUtntion, and for the purpofes therein mentioned,' and that _Mr. Goodhue, Mr. Heiiler, and Mr. Seney, be of the faid conmiittee. . The houfe relolved itfclf into a committee of the whole on the bill for coliecling the duties on goods, wares_, ancf merchandize imported into the United States. Mr. Page in the chair. Mr. Lawrance . W idled this fubjcci: delayed, a few days, that the whole fyftem of impuft and tonnage might be decided upon, bc- caufe the exertion neceflhry to be ufed in the collectioi'. depended upon tiie quantiiy of the duties. This bill was founded upon the laws of the feveral flates, and was very inadequate to the objeds of the general go- vernment, whofe meafures ought to be nerfcftly equal. By the laws of foaie dates, they rate the goods at the value at the time and place of importation ; m others, ac their value at the place from whence they were exported : this would caufe a diiference in the duties of twenty-five or fifty per cent, and the conftitutipn declares, that all duties, imports, and excifes lliall be equal. Moreover, fome Itates admitted paper in pa^.-ment of duties, in cafes where this m.edium was depreciated there would alfo.be an inequality. For thefe reaions, and others that might yen- diiy occur, he willied the buihiefs to lie over. Mr, Huntington Had doubts refpeding the coniHttuionaiity of the bill/ befide being well falisfied of its incompetency ; the inequa- lities mentioned by the gentleman from New-York were very apparent, he would add another ; the cclleclioa would be enforced with a greater oriels degree of energ)% according to the fyfcems oFthe feveral fbates, and would be Unequal. Befide, there are fome Hates without iinpad and collecling laws, and, by the bill, they are to be governed by the laws of the adjoining ftate, he tliought this would julily give ground of umibrage ; how would one flate like to be regulated by the laws of another which they had nc. power in forming ? The ftate he reprefented would fiiM.', itfelf in this predicament. He hoped the bill would be '.hanged, and a fyften.> introduced upon general principles. Mr. Jackson Thought the bill imperted, and liable to all the objec' :>.46 tions mentioned. DEBATES If a fyftem, for laying an rer.>porary A. 1789. j njxift of five per cent, upon all goods imported, had taken place at the Aiil meeting of congrefs, he-ihoold have a- _ greed to foine regubtion of this kind, merely to embrace the rpring importations ; but as that was palled, he was for making tiie colleoiion bill of a Innilar nature with the -im. p9tt