The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, First Congress, First Session, Volume 1 Page: 119
2, iv-xiii, [654], xxx p. ; 25 cm.View a full description of this book.
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119 OF DEBATES IN CONGRESS. 120
April 11, 1789.] Duties on JrnpoiIs [H of R.
I have no objection to the committee's accept
ing the propositions ofteitd bv the gentlemin
trom Pennsylvania, because so fai as we can
enumerate the pioper objects, and apply speci
he duties, to them, we conform to the practice
prevalent in many ot the States, and adopt the
most laudable method ot collecting revenue; at
least prefeiable to laying a geneial tax W he
ther, therefoie, we con°ult ease and conveni
ence in collection, 01 puisuing habits alieady
adopted ard dppioved. specific duties, as fat as
the ai tides can he pioperly enumeiatcd, is the
most eligible mode of obtaining the end in con
templatiun. Upon the whole, as I think some
ot the propositions may be pioductive ot reve-
nue, and some may piolect oui domestic manu-
factures, though the lattei subject ought not to
be too conlusedly blended with the ionnei, 1
hope the committee will receive them, and let
them he over, in oidei that wc may have time
to consider how tar they aie consistent with
justice and policy
Mi. Boudinoi.—1 believe that it will not be
disputed, that the best and easiest way of sup
plying the public wants, is by taisinga levenue
on the impoitdtlun of goods by way of impost,
though the mannei in which it should be done,
I confess, is a subject ori which 1 stand greatly
in need ot information I should, theielore,
most cordially comply with the lequest of the
gentleman from South Carolina (Mr JTuouxb.)
in order to obtain time loi consideration, and
to wait the anrval ot the absent gentlemen, in
order that we may have that assistance which
is to be derived tiom them Did Iconsidei the
question on the present motion final, I should
be at a lots how to act; but this, I take it, is not
the case. Ipiesume it is intended by the mover
only to lay his motion on the table, with the
original propositions open for debate and con-
sultation, till the committee an possessed of
Buthcieutinfoimation to proceed lalso confess,
that, in general, I am m tavoi ol specihc duties
on enumualed articles I shall thciefoie vote
for the amendment; but, in doing this, I shall
not consider myself as bound to suppoit the
whole, noi, indeed, any pailiculai ,u tide which,
upon due consideration, I may deem eithei im
politic oi unjust; foi 1 cannot conceive, that,
by adopting the amendment, we lie up oui
hands, oi pievent futuie discussion. No, sir,
that is not the case, and as T tiust we all have
the same object in view, namely, the public
good ot the United States, so 1 hope that a
willing eai will be lent to eveiy proposition
likely to promote this end; noi do I doubt but
gentlemen aie mutually inclined to sacnhce
local advantages for the accomplishment of this
great pui pose
I confess, sn , that 1 do not conaidei myself
niastei ol the subject, and shall theielore wait
for mfoimatiou Aom those gentlemen who aie
best able to give i( 1 think we are much in
debted to the gentleman from Pennsylvania for
going so lar into the subject as his list of aiti
cles shows he has done; but I would beg of him
to inform me, if theie is any thing peculiar in
the manufacture ot glass, as I obseive it is
omitted in his enumeiatiou, ll theie is nothing
unpropei in adding this article, I shall certain
ly move for rt, as I suppose we are capable of
manufacturing this as well as many of the "•
others—in fact, it l* well known that we have,
and can do it, as well as most nations, the ma-
terials being almost all pioduced in oui coun-
tiy. If theie is any thing impropei in it, I hope
gentlemen will inform me; if theie is not, 1 see
no reason agunst its being enumerated with the
otheis
Mi. Fitzsimo\s—I hope there wrll be no
difficulty in leceivmgthe propositions 1 had the
honoi to piesent \Vhen we come to considei
them, article by aiticle, foi thepuipose of tax-
ing them, gentlemen will be at liberty to object;
and if they offer good leasons for it, they may
gel them struck out, but tins, I apprehend, can-
not so conveniently be done in the present state
of the business.
Mr Madison —I suppose that the leason
winch induced the gentleman from Pennsylva-
nra to intiodiice the list of articles now before
us, is similai to the one whrch actuatetl me to
enumeiate those in the fiist proposition, name-
ly, that they weic capable, on the principle of
policy, of beanng a higher duty than those left
in the common mass to be taxed ad valorem If
gentjumen, on considering them, should think
any incapable of sustaining such addition, they
will be at libeity to move to have them struck
out and i estoi ed to the general mass of ai tides,
so that I see no veiy stiong reason against le-
cerving them foi consideration
The motion was put by the Chan man, and it
was agieed to add them to the first list of arti-
cles introduced by Mr. Madison
On motion of Mi Lee, the committee rose
andiepoited piogiess.and the House adjourned
Friday, Apnl 10
T. he House met, but adjourned without doing
any business
Saturday, Apnl 11.
Mi. Smith (ot Maiyland) piesented a peti-
tion from the dadtsmen, manufacturers, and
others, of the town of Baltimore, which was
lead, setting forth, That, since the close of the
late war, and the completion of the revolution,
they have obsei ved with senous regret the manu-
facturing and the trading interest of the coun
tiy lapidly declining, and the attempts of the
state Legislatuies to lemedy the evil failing of
then object; that, in the piesent melancholy
state of our country, the numbei of pool in
ci easing foi want ot employment, foieign debts
acrumulatiiig, houses and lands depieciating
in value, ind trade and manufactures languish-
ing and expning, they look up to the supieme
Legislature ot the United States as the gnaidians
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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/m1/62/: accessed July 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.