serving that one effect of the late glorious revolution was, to deprive the merchants of America of most of the channels of commerce which they had before pursued. This circumstance obliged them to search for other sources to employ their vessels in. It had been discovered that a pretty lucrative trade could be carried on with the countries in the East; the merchants have gone largely into it, and it at present gives employment to some thousand tons of American shipping, and seamen; our success has been so great, as to excite the jealousy of Europe, and nothing is left undone to cramp or prevent our commercial operations in that quarter. The Legislature of Pennsylvania, impressed with the importance of the subject, had granted it aid by discriminating in the manner he proposed to the committee; and with the like aid from the Government of the United States, the merchants may no longer fear the machinations of the opulent companies in Europe, who are unwilling to let us partake of a trade they so long have had a monopoly of. Already the trade to India has had a very happy effect in favor of our inhabitants, by reducing commodities brought from thence to one half of their former price, and yet a sufficient profit is left to enable those concerned to carry it on with advantage.

[APRIL, 1789.

merely because the specie was exported, but to show that it did not bring in an equivalent, as the goods were mostly of that kind which are termed luxuries.

Mr. BOUDINOT declared himself a friend to the Indian commerce. He thought it encouraged the employment of shipping, and increased our seamen; he knew its advantages to agriculture The gentleman from Virginia, (Mr. MADISON) supposed but little of our productions were sent in exchange for India goods; but our beef, pork flour, and wheat, were shipped for this purpose not to China, yet to ports where proper cargoes were taken in to answer the trade. Encourage ment and protection were necessary to prevent the large companies in Europe from underselling our merchants, which they would readily do, at considerable loss, if they could, in consequence, put a stop to our trade. He hoped, therefore, the committee would not hesitate in adopting the motion. The motion was adopted accordingly. On coal per bushel cents.

Mr. BLAND informed the committee, that there were mines opened in Virginia capable of supplying the whole of the United States, and, if some restraint was laid on the importation of foreign coal, those mines might be worked to advantage. He thought it needless to insist upon the advantages resulting from a colliery, as a supply for culinary and mechanical purposes, and as a nursery to train up seamen for a navy. He moved three cents a bushel.

Mr. HARTLEY was willing to admit a moderate duty, but thought three cents would be a great discouragement to those manufactures which necessarily consume large quantities of fuel. He moved one cent.

Mr. MADISON felt a reluctance in being obliged to state his reasons why he doubted the policy of the proposed measure. What, said he, is its object? It is not to add to the revenue, for it will in fact tend to diminish it, in that proportion which the importation from China lessens that from other parts; it is not to increase our commerce, t , for long voyages are unfriendly to it; it is not to increase the importation of necessary articles, for India goods are mostly articles of luxury; it is not to carry off our superfluities, for these ar- Mr. PARKER said, that a less sum than three ticles are paid for principally, if not altogether, in cents would not answer the purpose intended. solid coin. If the trade is beneficial at all to the Coal came from England as ballast, and was sold United States, it must be in this single point of so low, as almost to prevent the working of their view, that the articles can be imported cheaper mines in Virginia. He hoped, if the committee through that channel than any other; and, if so, were disposed to encourage them, they would that it is the interest of the people to be supplied proportion the means to the end; a duty of one as cheap as possible. There are no collateral good cent would be void; nothing under what was purposes to claim our attention in this case. It is moved by his colleague (Mr. BLAND) could annot in the nature of things that we should derive swer the purpose. He hoped, therefore, the comany other advantage than the one I have men-mittee would agree to three cents. tioned, without it is that of raising our India commerce from its weak and infant state to strength and vigor; to enable it to continue supplies at a cheaper rate than they could otherwise be ob

tained.

Mr. GOODнUE replied to Mr. MADISON's observations, respecting the mode of paying for India goods, by informing the committee that very considerable quantities of ginseng, naval stores, lumber, and provisions, were shipped; other articles were sent also, and disposed of at ports on this side of China, in order to procure the most suitable cargo; so that we do not pay principally for their commodities in solid coin, but send off superfluities to a considerable amount, much more than if we were to procure our teas and nankeens from any part of Europe.

Mr. MADISON had not made the objection

On the question, there appeared a majority in favor of three cents. After which the committee rose, and the House adjourned.

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which Mr. Churchman's labors are directed is confes

[H. OF R.

spending considerable sums in visionary pursuits; but if an inconsiderable sum will answer on this occasion, and there is a probability of improving the science of navigation, I see no reason against it. Gentlemen who have been on the committee understand the subject best, and they will please give the House their sentiments.

Mr. WHITE said that the proposed voyage had nothing to do with the principle of magnetic variation; it was intended to ascertain the cause;

Churchman, and find that he has made many calculations which tend to establish his position, that there are two magnetic points which give direction to the needle; that upon this doctrine he has endeavored to ascertain from a given latitude, and a given variation, what must be the longitude of the place; and having applied his principles to many instances in Cook's voyages, has found the result to correspond with considerable accuracy with the real facts, as far as they could be determined by the reckoning of the ship: That the object to sedly of very high importance, and his ideas on the sub-if the principle was true, it could be applied to ject appear to be ingenious: That, with a view of ap- duced it; therefore, the committee had reported practice without knowing the cause which proplying them to practice, he has contrived a map and a globe, whereby to show the angles which are made by in the manner before them. the intersection of the real and the magnetic meridians in different parts of the earth: That he is also engaged in constructing tables for determining the longitude at sea upon magnetic principles: That the committee are of opinion, that such efforts deserve encouragement, and that a law should pass to secure to Mr. Churchman, for a term of years, the exclusive pecuniary emoluments to be derived from the publication of these several inventions;" was again read, and, on the question put thereon, agreed to by the House.

The second clause, in the words following, to wit:

"With respect to the voyage proposed by Mr. Churchman to Baffin's Bay, the committee are cautious of recommending, in the present deranged state of our finances, a precipitate adoption of a measure which would be attended with considerable expense; but they are of opinion, that at a future day, if Mr. Curchman's principles should be found to succeed in practice, it would be proper to give further encouragement to his ingenuity;" was again read, and, on a motion made, was ordered to lie on the table.

The third clause, in the words following, to wit: "On the subject of the petition of Doctor David Ramsay, your committee report it as their opinion, that a law should pass to secure to him the exclusive right of publishing and vending, for a term of years, the two works mentioned in the petition;" was read, and, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House.

On these clauses, the following debate took place:

Mr. BURKE understood from Mr. Churchman that it would take a small vessel about four months, in the summer time, to be in the high northern latitudes, attending him in his researches into the cause of the magnetic variation. He thought Mr. Churchman's theory ingenious and deserving patronage; but the voyage to Baffin's Bay was rather premature.

Mr. PAGE wished the committee to state the expense, because he thought the Legislature ought to assist Mr. Churchman in the voyage, if it would not cost too great a sum. It is true that the theory can be carried into practice whether the cause is discovered or not; but as the theory depends upon the cause, a knowledge of this would demonstrate the truth of the other. Mr. Churchman's system consists in applying the magnetic variation to the discovery of longitude. He lays down two magnetic points, to which the needle is attracted, and a magnetic equator, defining the nature of the curves formed by the magnetic meridians, the periods of revolution of the magnetic points, their courses, latitudes and longitudes, their diurnal, monthly, and annual situation, for any time past, present, or to come, with rules to apply these principles and materials to use. Mr. Churchman establishes the truth of this theory from calculations, compared with the actual observations made by Captain Cook and others. Having examined some of the calculations, he was astonished at the surprising agreement he found-they generally agreed within a few miles, and only one case where they differed more than a degree. If the use of this discovery was as extensive as he imagined, and he had every reason to believe it would be so, it was certainly a discovery that would do honor to the American name. He thought some advantage might be derived from the projected voyage; and if the expense did not exceed five or eight hundred dollars, it might be prosecuted. If Government did not lend their aid, he expected individuals would patronise it, and furnish the means by subscription. He expressed a willingness on his part to join in such a measure, if the application to the Legisla

Mr. MADISON.-I wish that the committee had stated the expenses attending a voyage to Baffin's Bay, for the purpose of discovering the cause of the magnetic variation, as proposed by Mr. Churchman, that the House might be better able to judge of its propriety. Well aware as I am that public bodies are liable to be assailed by visionary projectors, I nevertheless wish to ascertain the probability of the magnetic theory. If there is any considerable probability that the projected voyage would be successful, or throw any valuable light on the discovery of longitude, it certainly comports with the honor and dignity of Government to give it their countenance and sup-ture was unsuccessful. port. Gentlemen will recollect, that some of the most important discoveries, both in arts and sciences, have come forward under very unpromising and suspicious appearances.

I am also well aware that the deranged situation of our treasury would not warrant us in

Mr. HUNTINGTON delineated the system also, and approved of it; but thought the voyage would be unsuccessful, if for nothing else, for the want of proper instruments. The use of Mr. Churchman's theory depended, in a great measure, upon obtaining the magnetic variation with accuracy;

for which purpose Mr. Churchman contemplated some improvement on the compass; if he was successful in this, the discovery would no doubt answer the object in view.

Mr. SHERMAN did not think the voyage would be of any help to the gentleman, and therefore should agree to the report.

Mr. TUCKER expressed a doubt whether the Legislature has power, by the Constitution, to go further in rewarding the inventors of useful machines, or discoveries in sciences, than merely to secure to them for a time the right of making, publishing, and vending them: in the case of a doubt, he thought it best to err on the safe side.

The House now decided upon the propositions of the committee, as before stated, and ordered bills to be brought in, securing the right of publishing, &c. of their respective works, to John Churchman and David Ramsay.

DUTIES ON IMPORTS.

The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union,

Mr. PAGE in the Chair.

The following clause of the bill was agreed to viz: "On all other articles, five per cent. on their value at the time and place of importation, except tin in pigs, tin plates, lead, old pewter, brass, iron or brass wire, copper in plates, wool, dying woods and dying drugs, (other than indigo,) raw hides, beaver, and all other furs, and deer skins." Mr. FITZSIMONS proposed a drawback of six cents per gallon on all rum distilled in the United States, exported without the limits of the same. Mr. MADISON asked if the quantity of rum so exported was very considerable? He believed it was not; and he would not, for the sake of encouraging that branch of trade, open a door by which frauds on the revenue could be committed equal to the whole duty collected.

[APRIL, 1789.

respecting the quantity exported from that State; from Pennsylvania the quantity was but small. Mr. LAWRENCE could give no exact information relative to the quantity of New York rum exported, but, from what he understood, supposed it to be about one thousand hogsheads annually; it was entitled to a drawback, and there was no reason to believe this had been the occasion of frauds on the revenue: he should agree to the

measure.

Mr. MADISON was sorry the gentlemen from Massachusetts were absent, because they could give authentic information with respect to the quantity. He had in his hands a statement of the exports from Massachusetts, which he believed to be pretty accurate, from January 1st to December 31st, 1787. From this it appeared, that there were exported during that period, to Nova Scotia, eighty-nine hogsheads; to Europe, one hundred and thirty-four hogsheads, and eight hundred and he submitted to the committee, how far it was ninety-seven to Africa and the East Indies. Now proper to adopt a measure for such a trifling concover to the clandestine trade that must necessasideration, which would become a most dangerous rily follow. Rum will, no doubt, be exported in the day and brought back in the night, for the sake of drawing back the duty, as has been done already in similar cases.

Mr. FITZSIMONS contended for drawbacks generally, but on this article it was particular injustice to omit it. The manufacture of rum was of considerable importance in the Eastern States, but it would not be able to stand a successful competition with West India rum in foreign countries, while loaded with a duty of six cents and he looked upon it to be the same thing as if per gallon. The tax on molasses was that sum. it had been paid on the rum at distillation; one latter. gallon of the former yielding but one of the

Mr. FITZSIMONS could not say what quantity of rum was exported in that way; but he feared, Mr. MADISON thought there were very few unless a drawback was allowed, it would be a great injury to the manufacture. At the time cases in which drawbacks ought to be allowed, the duty of six cents on molasses was laid, he perhaps none but what related to the East India trade. The small proportion of distilled rum exthought it was understood, the committee would allow a drawback on the rum exported. There ported did not justify so great a risk; but of the seems to be an apprehension that the system of small proportion which went abroad, the greatest drawbacks will operate to the disadvantage of part went to the coast of Africa. He feared this the revenue; but he believed a mode could be and ought to be reprobated instead of encouraged. trade was inconsistent with the good of mankind, devised to prevent frauds, in this case, fully as If gentlemen were to consider the great advan effectually as on the importation. If this was not tages derived to the distillers from the present done, it would be time enough for gentlemen to Government, they would perhaps think them oppose it; they would have this opportunity, be- sufficient for their encouragement without allowcause a bill, regulating the manner of collection, he presumed, would pass at the same time with Massachusetts to the several ports of the United ing drawbacks. The annual exportation from the one for levying the duties. If drawbacks States is five thousand three hundred and twentywere not allowed, it would be a very considerable restraint on commerce, particularly on the India seven hogsheads. This quantity was formerly trade, which he believed was likely to be consid-subjected to an equal duty with the West India erably extended. He was sorry the gentlemen could command this great sale, what will it do rum. If, under these circumstances, country rum from Massachusetts were not there in their places,* to give information to the committee now when the communication is free, and many parts of the United States laid open to this trade, that were shut before? This consideration alone ought to do away all complaints for want of a drawback.

* The delegates from that State were gone to meet the Vice President, who was expected in town this day.

And the House adjourned.

[H. of R.

Mr. BLAND said the committee had spent seve- ted to the Committee of the Whole; after proral days in encouraging manufactures, by select-ceeding some time in considering it, the coming articles for revenue, and were now extending mittee rose and reported progress: their views to the encouragement of commerce. He thought there was some impropriety in combining the clause proposed in this part of the bill, and even doubted if it was in order; therefore would vote against it.

TUESDAY, April 21.

Mr. HARTLEY asked and obtained leave of

The question was put on the motion for a draw-absence. back on country rum, and lost.

Mr. FITZSIMONS had another clause upon the same subject, only on more general principles; he hoped gentlemen would consider well before they doomed it to share the fate of the former. It was to this purpose: that all the duties paid, or secured to be paid, upon goods imported, shall be returned or discharged upon such of the said goods, as shall within months be exported to any country without the limits of the United States, except so much as shall be necessary to defray the expense that may have accrued by the entry and safe keeping thereof. The subjects of duties and drawbacks are so connected by their nature, that he did not see how they were to be separated. Gentlemen did not imagine that what had been done tended to favor commerce; it certainly did not. Every impost which is paid is a disadvantage to the person concerned in trade, and nothing but necessity could induce a submission to it. The interest of the landholder is undoubtedly blended with the commercial interest; if the latter receive an injury, the former will have to sustain his proportion of it: if drawbacks are not allowed, the operations of trade will be considerably shackled; merchants will be obliged, in the first instance, to send their cargoes to the place of consumption, and lose the advantage of a circuitous freight, which alone is a profit of no small magnitude.

DUTIES ON IMPORTS.

The House again resolved itself into a Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, Mr. PAGE in the Chair.

The motion respecting drawbacks, proposed yesterday by Mr, FITZSIMONS, was adopted without debate.

A motion being under consideration for laying a duty of six cents per ton on all vessels built in the United States, and owned by a citizen or citizens thereof, and all vessels foreign built, but now owned by such citizens;

Mr. MADISON observed, that some small provision of this kind was necessary for the support of light-houses, hospitals for disabled seamen, and other establishments incident to commerce. The motion was agreed to.

The next motion proposed was-" on all vessels belonging wholly to subjects of Powers in alliance with the United States, or partly to the subjects of those Powers, and partly to the citizens of the United States, cents per ton.

Mr. GOODHUE laid it down as a maxim, that the tonnage duty ought to bear a certain ratio to the freight; for which reason he had made some calculations to determine what proportion any given sum would bear to the average of the freights both to Europe and the West Indies. A vessel of two hundred tons carried three or four hundred Mr. HARTLEY expressed his sorrow for the barrels, the freight of which to the West Indies last decision of the committee; he wished the might be estimated at five shillings, to Europe at question had not been put in the absence of the one dollar. Now calculate this at the average, gentlemen from Massachusetts, who were on a and five per cent. on the freight would be about business in some degree of a public nature. The seventy-two cents; whether the duty should be present motion was only just brought in; he sub-rated at four, five, or six per cent on the freight, he mitted, therefore to the committee, if it were not best to pass it over for the present, in order to give time for consideration.

Mr. LAWRENCE was for expediting business, but thought, nevertheless, that deciding questions at this time, when several members were absent, did not tend to that point, because the question would be agitated again in the House.

Mr. BOUDINOT endeavored to evince the propriety of drawbacks by facts within his knowledge. A large quantity of Madeira wine was imported for the express purpose of exporting it again; now, not to allow a drawback of the duty, in this and similar cases, would encumber trade exceedingly.

submitted to the committee; but as this motion was confined to those nations in alliance with us, he would move but sixty cents.

Mr. BOUDINOT, on the principle last mentioned, proposed thirty cents.

Mr. GOODHUE.-There would be no occasion to lay additional duties on ships owned by foreigners, if our own vessels were not subjected to charges in foreign ports over and above what the natives pay. It is the operation of this unequal burden that renders it necessary for us to discriminate. It becomes us, therefore, to ascertain what these extraordinary impositions are, in order to regulate our conduct. I am very well satisfied, in my own mind, that thirty cents will be very inadequate to the object. Those who are acquainted with the disadvantages under which our commerce labors, will readily see that sixty cents are not fully equal to the extra duties imThe bill regulating the manner of taking the posed on American vessels in foreign ports, and, oath prescribed by the Constitution, was commit-consequently, not sufficient to establish that

On motion of Mr. CLYMER, the committee rose, and the Speaker resumed the Chair.

MANNER OF TAKING OATHS.