The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States, First Congress, First Session, Volume 1 Page: 121

                                
121
GALES  &   SEATON'S  HISTORY
122
H. of R.]                                           Duties on
of the whole   empire, and  from their united
wisdom and patriotism, and ardent love of .their
country, expect to derive that aid and assis-
tance which alone can dissipate their just ap-
, prehensions, and animate them with hopes of
J success in future,  by imposing on all foreign
V articles, which can be made in America, such
j   duties as   will give a just  and  decided pre-
r ference to their labors; discountenancing that
I   trade which tends so materially to injure them
\ and impoverish their country;  measure's which,
in their consequences, may also contribute to
the discharge of the national  debt and the due
support of Government: that they have annexed
a list of such articles as are or can be manufac-
tured amongst (hem, and humbly trust in the
wisdom of (he Legislature to grant them, in com-
mon with the other mechanics and manufactu-
rers of'the United States, that relief which may
appear proper.
Ordered, That the said petition be referred to
the Committee of the whole on the state of the
Union.
Agreeably to the order of the day, (he House
went into a Committee of the whole on the state
of the Union,
Mr. Lee,—The articles proposed for objects
of imposts again recur. I wish, therefore, that
the committee proceed to consider each separ-
ately; by this means we shall get through the
business with expedition and facility.
Mr.:Goodhue.—I think when the original
motion was introduced, it was only intended as
a temporary expedient; but, from what has fall-
en from the gentlemen on this subject, I am
led to believe that idea is abandoned, and a per-
manent system is to be substituted in its place.
I do not know that this is the best mode of the
two, but perhaps it may take no more time than
the other, if we apply ourselves with assiduity
to the task. As it does not appear that all the
articles-proper to bear an additional tax are yet
selecten, and as I wish the list to be as complete
as possible, that the committee may have, in
one view, all that is intended on the occasion,
I shall beg to add—upon anchors for every 112
lb.; upon every dozen wool cards; upon wrought
tin ware; upon every box of lemons; upon every
barrel of limes.
The committee agreed to add these articles
to the; list.
Mr. Clymer submitted it to the considera-
tion of the committee, how far it was best to
bring propositions forward in this way. Not
that he objected to this mode of encouraging
manufactures and obtaining revenue, by com-
bining the two objects in one bill. He was sa-
tisfied that a political necessity existed for both
the one and the other, and it would not be amiss
to do it in this way, but perhaps the business
would be more speedily accomplished by enter-
ing upon it systematically. It would be better
to appoint a sub-committee to collate the mate-
rials, and bring them before the House better
digested than they came now. He threw out
these sentiments for the consideration of the
Imports.                                  [April 11, 17S9.
committee, without any great degree of confi-
dence that they were right, or founded in strict
order.                                               '
Mr. Chairman was of opinion that a motion
of the kind just mentioned would be out of or-
der, because a committee could not appoint an-
other committee; the House appoints all com-
mittees.
Mr, Boudinot.—lam sorry, Mr. Chairman,
to hear it suggested by any gentleman, that the
proposition for a temporary system of revenue
is abandoned; it is not my sentiment that it
should he so.    When I rise on a question of this
magnitude, and which, particularly from my
local circumstances, I may be considered inad-
equate to the discussion  of, nothing ought to
be supposed to actuate me but a desire of ob-
taining information and  performing my duty;
and when my sentiments differ from those of
well informed gentlemen, they will attribute it
to the  true cause—the want of better infor-
mation, and not a wish to oppose; but the bet-
ter any measure is digested and understood, the
more likely we are to avoid partial ideas and
attend to what is most beneficial to the general
good.   The subject in debate was originally
brought forward as a temporary expedient to
obtain revenue to support the exigencies of the
Union.    It has been changed by successive mo-
tions for amendment; and the idea of a perma-
nent system, to embrace every object connect-
ed with commerce, manufactures, and revenue,
is now held up in its stead.    I admit that (he
accomplishment of what gentlemen have in
view is veiy desirable, and if we had time for
the necessary discussion, it ought immediately
to engage the attention of the committee; but I
feel such a want of information and ability to
judge of the propriety of many articles already
enumerated, at the same time I think I discov-
er similar embarrassments in other gentlemen,
that makes me think the present moment is, in.
some degree, improper for deliberating, when
we have so little time to  spare.    It appears to
me that (his business of raising revenue, points
out two questions of great importance, demand-
ing much information,    The first is, what ar-
ticles are proper objects of taxation, and the
probable amount of revenue from each.   The
second is, the proper mode of collecting the'
money arising from this fund, when the object
and its  amount are ascertained.    There are
three sources from which we may gain informa-
tion on the first question, namely, from the re-
venue laws of thedifferent States, for I believe
a partial  revenue has been raised almost in
every State by an impost.   The second source
of information, and a very natural one, is the
great body of merchants spread throughout the
United States; this is a very respectable and
well informed body of our fellow-citizens, and
great deference ought to be paid to their com-
munications—they are in a peculiar situation
under the present constitution, to which they
are generally esteemed sincere friends—they
are also more  immediately  interested in the