The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, First Congress, First Session, Volume 1 Page: 111
This book is part of the collection entitled: Annals of Congress and was provided to UNT Digital Library by the UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
in
OF DEBATES IN CONGRESS.
112
^PRIL 9, 1789 ] ])ulies on
Sola-i am [ from seeing it in this point of view,
that, on the contrary, I conceive it will tend to
facilitate it. Does not every gentleman dis-
cover that, when a pi'ticulai ai tide is offered
to the consideiation of thp committee, he will
be better able to give his opinion upon it than
on an aggregate question' Bemuse the partial
and convenient impost laid on such aiticle by
individual States is more oi less known to
■eveiy member in the committee It is alio
well known tint the amount of such revenue is
more accurately calculated and bettei to be
sehed on, because of the ceitainty of collec-
tion, less being left to the officeis employed in
bunging it foiward to the public treasury. It
4>eing my opinion that an enumei ation of articles
will tend to cleai away difficulties, I wish as
many to be selected as possible; for this leason
Ihavepiepaied myself with an additional num-
bei, which I wish subjoined to those already
mentioned in the motion on your table; among
/these are some calcuJated to encouiage the
/ productions of oui country, and piotect oui
I infant manufactures; besides olheis tending to
I operate as sumptuaiy lestrictions uponaiticles
I which aic often teimcd those of luxury The
I amendment I mean to offei is in these words
\ I shall lead it in my place, and, if I am second-
«d, hand it to you lor the consideiation oi the
committee.
Resolved, As the opinion of tins committee, that
the following' duties ou^lit to be lud on goods,
wares, and merchandise impoited into the United
States, to wit
[The articles enumerated for duty weie beci,
ale, and portei; beef, poik, buttei, candles,
■cheese, soap, cider, boots, steel, cables, coi-
nage, twine oi pack tlueacl, malt, nails, spikes,
tacks, oi biads; salt, tobicco, snuff, blank
. hooks, wilting, punting, and wiappiug paper;
' pastcboaid, cabinet waie; buttons; saddles;
I .gloves, hats, millinery, castings ol uon, slit, oi
! rolled iron; leathei, shoes, slippers, and golo
) shoes; coach, chauot, and othei foui wheel
I < amages; chaise, solo, oi otliei two whetl cai
\ juges; nutmegs, cinnamon, cloves, naisins,
* hgs, cuuants, almonds ]
fins motion was secondid by Mt. Schure
MAN,
Mi "Wiinis —I shall not pietend to say that
theie ought not to be specihe duties laid upon
•eveiy one oi the aitides enumeiated in the
amendment just otteied; but, I am inclined to
think, that enteung so minutely into the de-
tail, will consume too much ot oui tune, and
iheieby lose us a giealei sum than the addi
tional impost on the last mentioned ai tides
ivill bung in; because theie may be doubts
whethei many of them aie capable of bearing
an increased duty; but tins, sir, is not the case
with those mentioned in the motion of my col-
league; foi I believe it will be leadily admitted
on all sides, that such aiticles as turn, wines,
and sugar, have the capacity of beaung an ad-
ditional duty besides a per cent, ad valotein.
Impoits [H of R.
His system appeals to be simple, and its prin-
ciples, I conceive, are such as gentlemen are
agreed upon, consequently a bill founded there-
upon would pass this House in a few days;
the opeiation of the law would commence
eaily, and the treasuiy be furnished with mo-
ney to answer the demands upon it. This law
would continue until mature delibeiation, am-
ple discussion, and foil information, enabled us
to complete a pei feet system of revenue-: for,
in older to charge specified articles of manu-
factuie, so as to encourage our domestic ones,
it will be necessary to examine the piesent1
state of each thioughout the Union. This will
certainly be a woik of labor and time, and will
perhaps requne moitf of each than the commit-
tee have now in their power. Let us, there-
fore, act upon the principles which are admit-
ted, and take in the most material and pro-
ductive articles, leaving to a penod of more
leisure and information apian to embrace the
vi hole.
Mr. Tucker—In common with the other
gentlemen on this flooi, I consider the subject
which engages oui piesent deliberations as of
very gieat importance as it relates to our agn- j
culture, matiufactuies, and commerce,; I also/
considei it of consequence that we should give
full satisfaction to our constituents by our de-
cision, be that whatever it may; and I think
this most likely to be efftcted by establishing a
peimanent legulation, although, in the interim,
a temporary system may be expedient. I wish,
also, in the outset of this business, to attend to
the inteiests of every part of the Union; this,
I take it, can only be done by collecting the
opinion of the members from the seveial States.
At piesent, I look upon itas impiacticable, be-
cause the lepiesentation from the States is not
upon an equal footing; we ought to have a much
fuller House than we have before we enter on
the subject in its fullest extent. By looking
around me, 1 peiceive (heie is no representa-
tive, eveept myself, southward of Virginia; ^
and whatevei my opinion may be with respect
to the piopositions befoie you, 1 must own that
I wish to be acquainted with that of my col-
leagues; besides, I acknowledge myself incom-
petent to decide at this time on a subject of
such magnitude; but, even if I had moie com-
petency, I should hesitate, without I could
consult with the rnembeis whose inteiests are
insepaiable from that part of the Union which
I have the honoi to icpresent.
I was in hopes, sir, that every thing which
the committee had in contemplation would be
seemed by possessing a geneial impost, whilst
a fullei consideiation of the subject might be
defeired to a future day, when the committee
would have more leisure and information to
enable them to deteimine and digest a plan ca-
pable of giving moie geneial satisfaction.
I have no objection, sn, to go so far into the
mattei aa to pass a law to collect an impost ad
valorem, whilst it is undeistood to be but a
ternpoiary system^ and likewise to lay a duty
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This book can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Book.
Gales, Joseph, 1761-1841. The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, First Congress, First Session, Volume 1, book, 1834; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc29465/m1/58/: accessed May 7, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.