the length of time it was requisite to keep this wine before it was fit for sale, and the embarrassment a forced sale must occasion to the merchant, induced him to endeavor to prevail on the House to lower the duty. Mr. MADISON acquiesced in reducing this duty, because it was too high to insure its due collection, to twenty-five cents. Mr. FITZSIMONS opposed the reduction, and thought the duty proportionably low; the collection of the impost on wine would be as secure as the impost on rum. As to the objection that the merchant could not pay them, he might either deposite a part as security for the payment, or bond the debt, and obtain time. He thought, as it was a revenue principally paid by the rich, that no objection could lie against continuing it at thirty-three and one-third cents. The question on reducing the duty to twentyfive cents was put and carried. The duty on all other wines was, of consequence, reduced from twenty cents to fifteen. On motion of Mr. AMES, the duty on barley and lime was struck out; and shoes were reduced from ten to seven cents. The remainder of the report was ordered to lie on the table. The SPEKAER laid before the House a letter from the VICE PRESIDENT of the United States, notifying the House that the Senate had appointed the Rev. Doctor PROVOST Chaplain to Congress on their part; and then The House adjourned. Mr. BENSON, from the committee of both Houses, appointed to take order for conducting the ceremonial of the formal reception of the President of the United States, reported as followeth : "That it appears to the committee more eligible that the oath should be administered to the President in the outer gallery adjoining the Senate Chamber, than in the Representatives' Chamber, and therefore submit to the respective Houses the propriety of authorizing their committees to take order as to the place where the oath shall be administered to the President, the resolutions of Saturday, assigning the Representatives' Chamber as the place, notwithstanding." The said report being twice read, [H. OF R. Resolved, That this House doth concur in the said report, and authorize the committee to take order for the change of place thereby proposed. The SPEAKER laid before the House a letter from the VICE PRESIDENT of the United States, enclosing two orders of the Senate, one of the 13th instant, appointing a committee to confer with any committee to be appointed on the part of this House, respecting the future disposition of the papers, &c. in the office of the late Secretary of the United States: the other of the 27th instant, for the attendance of both Houses, with the President of the United States, after the oath shall be administered to him, to hear divine service at St. Paul's Chapel: which was read, and ordered to lie on the table. DUTIES ON IMPORTS. The House resumed the consideration of the resolutions reported by the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. Mr. FITSZIMONs proposed that a duty of one hundred cents be laid on cables and cordage, instead of the fifty cents. He hoped this alteration would take place, otherwise the object the committee had in view would be defeated. It is now become the interest of the importer to introduce cordage instead of hemp; the freight is lower and the value greater. Mr. GOODHUE said that there ought to be a proper proportion observed, and therefore he would second the motion. Mr. MADISON thought the question deserved a careful examination; it had been discussed in the committee, and it was then determined to be as necessary to promote agriculture as manufactures; that the labor of extracting materials from the bosom of the earth was as useful as that employed in giving them form; nothing had been said to invalidate that policy, and therefore he did not see it requisite to cherish the one more than the other by protecting duties. Mr. FITZSIMONS admitted the policy of encouraging agriculture. He was with the gentleman in that measure; he hoped it might tend to supersede the necessity of importing both hemp and cordage; but if some distinction was not made at present to give the latter an advantage over the former, we should have cordage imported altogether, and the manufacture destroyed for want of materials. Mr. GERRY remarked, that the duty which was laid on cordage was intended to give a preference to the manufacture of that article; fifty cents was deemed equal to the object, but no sooner was it laid, than the committee imposed a duty of fifty cents on hemp, by which means the manufacture was as much without encouragement as if nothing had been done. He begged gentlemen to consider how important a manufacture of this kind is to the navigation of the country, and he was persuaded they could not hesitate to agree to the motion now proposed. Mr. MADISON observed, that if cordage was so essential an ingredient in navigation, hemp was also useful; he doubted from the beginning the policy of subjecting either of them to a duty. It was unnecessary to repeat the arguments he had urged on a former occasion; the House would recollect them, and be satisfied that it was improper to raise the price of an article necessary to shipbuilding. Mr. MADISON said, that one hundred cents was too much to be allowed on cordage. As a difference was necessary in the duty between the two articles, he would move seventy-five cents. The question on one hundred cents was taken and lost, and seventy-five cents adopted. It was then proposed by Mr. FITZSIMONS that tarred cordage should be taxed ninety cents; this was agreed to. On motion of Mr. HEISTER, a duty of sixty cents on hemp was agreed to, but not to take place till the 31st December, 1790. Twine and pack thread was raised to two hundred cents per one hundred and twelve pounds. On molasses: [APRIL, 1789 Now annually, while employed in his business. the committee have dutied this article at thirty per cent. upon the prime cost, which is greater in proportion to its value than any on the list. The reason that was urged in support of a high duty was, that the revenue might be raised from counMr. WADSWORTH.-There is a material differ- try rum, in a ratio with what had been levied on ence between the two objects. There is but lit-West India. If this is the principal reason, I tle hemp raised in America; the manufacture of think it would be more just to raise it by way of cordage is carried to great perfection; if a duty is excise at the still-head, and not include that in the laid upon the former, it will be necessary to lay rough state consumed by the poor. To equalize it heavier upon the latter, or we shall prevent the this duty, we have agreed to one penny a pound European hemp from coming amongst us; the on brown sugar; but six cents per gallon on making of cordage will be altogether at a stand in 30,000 hogsheads of molasses will raise 180,000 America, while all our supplies of this article are dollars, which is a much greater sum than all the drawn from Europe; the consequences will be sugar consumed in America will pay. Massachudreadful. The loss of this manufacture will go setts imports that quantity of molasses, and would far towards the annihilating our navigation. contribute more than Pennsylvania for all the rum and sugar imported into that State; for, on a calculation from the late statements, I find the duty on both these articles amounts to no more than 164,000 dollars; yet Massachusetts imports her proportion besides of West India rum and sugar. Now, it appears to me, that on the principle of equality, this duty is too high, because it affects one State more than all the others together; besides it is too high in comparison with the duty now collected in the several States. In New York it is trifling; in Virginia it falls among the mass of non-enumerated articles; in Massachusetts it pays no duty. I am well persuaded that the House would not wish to subject any Mr. GOODHUE.-The committee have postpon- State to heavier burdens than the others; but it ed the consideration of this subject, in order to in-will be the case, unless they separate the distilled dulge the members of Massachusetts with an op- spirit from the raw substance. If this can be portunity to get information, that so they might done no other way, it can be done by excise, meet the discussion with greater ability; but I which will give less umbrage to Massachusetts believe they have been unsuccessful on this head. than so high an impost. The House will thereNo communications have been received from our fore consider well before they decide the quesState; we must therefore proceed to consider and tion, and on principles of justice and policy reduce judge the question by those lights which our own the duty. minds afford. The article of molasses is inti- Mr. SHERMAN had not made up his mind on mately connected with the fisheries of our coun- the subject; but he thought it necessary that try; it is produced almost altogether in the some way should be devised of coming at a proFrench West India islands; it is procured from portionable duty on country rum, otherwise the them in exchange for our fish: nine months are preference it would obtain, by the lowness of the our fishermen employed on the Banks, but a part price, must occasion a considerable diminution of of the Summer months the fish they catch is unfit the revenue, by lessening the consumption of for any other market; therefore, if we do not find foreign rum. If an excise was an agreeable tax, a market for this kind of fish, they must remain perhaps it might be so managed as to answer the unsold, nor can we get any thing in return even end; but he feared it was a disagreeable one in when it is sold but molasses or rum; for they al- some States, and ought therefore to be well conlow us to bring away no other articles. The rea-sidered before it was laid. He would, while he son why they allow us those is, because they do not wish them to be imported into Europe, lest they should interfere with their wines. It is a well known fact, that if we did not take those articles, they would prohibit our fish. From this view, it appears to me, that if the importation of molasses should fall through, our fisheries must fall with it: it will likewise be well for the House to consider, that molasses is a necessary of life; at least custom has made it such among the poorer class of our people; those who cannot afford the expense of sugar, use molasses. Each of our fishermen consumes, on an average, twelve gallons was up, mention another idea. He had said, in a former debate, that he would rather give our allies a preference over other foreign nations in any article than spirits. Molasses is an article principally imported from the colonies of nations in alliance; a discrimination, therefore, in favor of such molasses would be a substantial benefit, and he recommended it in lieu of that on brandy. Mr. JACKSON was opposed to a reduction of the duty; he thought it ought to be laid high, in or der to come at the necessary tax on rum. He knew the distilleries gave a gallon of rum for a gallon of molasses, and therefore the impost on each ought to be in due proportion, otherwise country rum would be sold fifty per cent. cheaper than West India. If he considered the subject, as it related to the morality and health of his fellow-citizens, he might venture to pronounce the New England rum five hundred times as bad in its effects as any from the West Indies; if therefore the House wished to obtain revenue, or discourage the use of bad spirits, they would continue the present rate. [H.OF R known that drawbacks injure both trade and revenue, and ought therefore to be avoided. My colleague over the way has justly stated the injury it will do the fisheries. At a time when the policy of every country is pointed against us, to suppress our success in this important branch, when it is with extreme difficulty that it continues its existence, shall we lay burdens upon it, which it is unable to support? A fisherman uses, while engaged in his occupation, twelve gallons Mr. GERRY.-It is clear by this time to the of molasses; add to this what is consumed in his House, that we have in contemplation no other family, and one man will on an average pay one mode of obtaining revenue but the impost, at hundred and eighty cents. Can gentlemen tell least for the present; the impost must come from you that one hundred and eighty cents is no burthe commercial States, and therefore the burdens den upon that class of men, while its operation is should be light, or one part of the community is as a poll-tax-a poll-tax towards which the poor oppressed more than the other. It may be said contribute more than the rich? Every incumthat the duty falls eventually upon the consumer, brance laid upon this branch of our trade acts in and therefore all the States participate in the the nature of a bounty to other nations. If this payment. But gentlemen will admit the importer important interest is injured, it will not only depays the revenue in the first instance, and I grant stroy the competition with foreigners, but will that if he sells his commodities on good terms, induce the people to sell their property in the he provides for the re-payment; but in case of United States, and remove to Nova Scotia, or failure in the person to whom he sells them, he some other place where they can prosecute their loses the duty, and the consumer does not pay it. business under the protection of Government. Considering the deplorable condition of our coun- There are at this time four hundred and eighty try, it is not unlikely but misfortunes of this kind sail of vessels engaged in the fisheries, amounting will frequently happen. This argument is direct- to 27,000 tons, constantly employed during the ed against high duties generally, or, in other words, season; it may fairly be supposed that the exit is directed against the rate of almost every ar-portation of the fish requires half as many more, ticle on the list. The article of molasses is now say thirteen thousand tons; and is this interest, imported under very great disadvantages, but if it together with the ship building and fishermen, to is burdened with an impost of six cents per gal be sacrificed for a revenue which is unjust and lon, the trade must be given up; the price of it unequal in its principles? Do gentlemen flatter has latterly increased in the West Indies so much themselves it will be borne without murmuring? as to make it scarcely worth importing. If on It certainly will not; for these people, in adopting a cargo of two hundred hogsheads a merchant the Constitution, expected to be relieved from has to pay down three hundred and ninety-six burdens? If they find them increased, it is natupounds more for the impost, he had better not ral to suppose they will be dissatisfied. bring it; but gentlemen will tell us, that he may have time by giving security for the payment. Sir, such is the scarcity of money in the country, that it will put him under the necessity of forcing a sale for the molasses. But if the whole of this article was made into rum, six cents would be an over proportioned duty, both as it relates to the price and quality of West India rum; but when the fact is otherwise, and very large quantities are consumed in the raw state by the people, and the poorest of the people too, it certainly must be judged too heavy. There are no breweries in our country; it may be our misfortune, but the people there use molasses, with spruce and hops, as a substitute, and why should they be taxed for this inoffensive liquor more than the consumers of beer brewed from malt? How would the middle States view a tax on malt beer? They would think it unwise and oppressive; yet a tax on molasses affects the Eastern States in a similar manner. This duty will prevent the sale of molasses to the distiller; it must reduce his capital, and he cannot buy so much as he used to do; to obviate this objection, it is proposed that a drawback shall be allowed upon what is exported. But why should such policy be necessary? It is very well 1st CoN.-8 It has been frequently observed, that rum is injurious to the morals of the people: if I could have my wish, it should not be to diminish, but to annihilate the use of it, both foreign and domestic, within the United States; but to encourage the importation from the West Indies, and destroy our own distilleries, can never be good policy, yet a duty of six cents per gallon on molasses will destroy the capital of the distillers and ruin the men. But why do this? To prevent the use of rum! yet gentlemen consider the consumption of spirits as their great source of revenue. It has been observed that the tax is unequal, and that the duty on molasses used in Massachusetts will amount to more than all the duties on molasses, rum, and sugar used in Pennsylvania. I would be glad, then, to know upon what principle gentlemen extend the duty to such a height on molasses? Will any gentleman say it is more a luxury than sugar? and yet it is taxed in more than a double proportion to it. In short, whether it is considered as it affects our fisheries, our ship building, and our commerce, or whether we consider it as too high for collection-which it certainly isit must be admitted that the object is not worth the sacrifice, especially as it may be accomplished in a more just and certain manner by an excise. Mr. SYLVESTER concurred in the tax for the purpose of raising revenue, but he did not wish it to bear hard on any class of citizens, especially the poorer class. Was all the molasses imported distilled into rum, he should not have hesitated to lay even a higher duty; but as the gentleman had explained the effect it would have in Massachusetts, he was inclined to agree with the Eastern members, and reduce it one cent, so as to stand at five; but as it was growing late, he moved an adjournment; which being agreed to, the House adjourned. TUESDAY, April 28. Mr. RICHARD BLAND LEE, from the committee to whom was recommitted the report respecting the mode of communicating papers, bills, and messages, between the two Houses, reported as followeth : "When a message shall be sent from the Senate to the House of Representatives, it shall be announced at the door of the House by the Doorkeeper, and shall be respectfully communicated to the Chair by the per son by whom it may be sent. "The same ceremony shall be observed when a message shall be sent from the House of Representatives to the Senate. 66 Messages shall be sent by such persons as a sense of propriety in each House may determine to be proper." The said report was twice read, and, on the question put thereupon, agreed to by the House. A letter from Matthias Ogden, of New Jersey, referring to sundry petitions from citizens of that State, complaining of illegality in the late election of representatives for that State to this House, was read and ordered to lie on the table. The order of the Senate of the 13th instant was read, appointing a committee to confer with any committee to be appointed on the part of this House, respecting the future disposition of the papers in the office of the late Secretary of the United States: whereupon, Ordered, That Messrs. TRUMBULL, CADWALLADER, and JACKSON, be a committee for that purpose. DUTIES ON IMPORTS. The House resumed the consideration of the resolutions reported by the Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union. The impost on molasses being under consideration, Mr. SHERMAN said: This subject was spoken of pretty largely yesterday; I wish the gentlemen would come forward with some plan that will secure the revenue on rum. They intimated that this could be done by way of excise; if it can I shall have no objection to reducing the impost on molasses to two cents, as I do not wish to burden the consumption of that article in the raw state. Mr. WADSWORTH.-I am opposed to a high duty on molasses for the reasons assigned yesterday. Besides, the arguments respecting the [APRIL, 1789. morals and health of the people are not well grounded; the fishermen and seamen belonging to the Eastern States are the principal consumers of country rum; they drink more of it perhaps than any other class of people, yet they are a healthy, robust set of men; and as for their morals, I believe they will not suffer from a comparison with their neighbors. But let us waive any further remarks on this head, with which at this time we have little to do, and consider the effect a duty of six cents will produce. The capital employed in this business of distillation amounts, at least, to half a million of dollars; it has been proved that the fisheries depend upon the molasses trade: this trade cannot be carried on unless the article is manufactured into rum, and if the manufacture is encouraged, it is likely to become an Considerable important branch of commerce. quantities of New England rum are at present sent to Africa and other parts, and a market is lately opened for it in the north of Europe. This extension of our commerce is a likely way to increase the number of our seamen; the fisheries gentlemen admit the necessity of improving our are one of the best nurseries for this purpose, and maritime importance; but the whole of this business is so connected with the molasses trade that, if you destroy that, the others must fall with it. The duty being so high will never be collected; the people conceiving it to be an unequal and unjust tax, will justify to themselves the illicit trade which you drive them into. Every individual will be interested to smuggle the article, and the extent of their sea-coast, their numerous inlets and harbors, will furnish abundant means for doing it without fear of detection. I will venture to say, that one-fourth part of the duty can never be collected, even if you fill the country with custom-house officers; but, if it could be collected, the trade of New England and the fisheries would be ruined; a capital of half a million of dollars would be thrown out of use, and thirty thousand tons of shipping would be unemployed; for which reason I hope the House will join in reducing the duty. Mr. THATCHER.-I did not intend to rise on this occasion, because commerce is a subject with which I cannot pretend to be well acquainted; yet, as the interests of my constituents are at stake, and the impolicy of the measure is so glaring as not to require any very deep researches, I may venture to give my opinion without being deemed presumptuous; besides, I might not give my fellow-citizens that satisfaction in the performance of my duty which they have a right to expect, if I were to pass the subject over with a silent vote. It has, on former occasions, been argued by the members of this House, that a duty which is in itself either unreasonable or partial in its operation ought not to be laid, unless for the purpose of equalizing the system. Now, that a duty of six cents on molasses is unreasonable, will appear, if we only consider it as a necessary of life, or as a raw material requisite for the well-being of an important manufacture. It is a necessary of life; the people in the Eastern States have been so long in the habit of using it in their food and drink, that it would be little less than a revulsion of nature to change them from it. We have done something on this occasion to favor the breweries in the Middle States; then why should we deprive our Eastern brethren of a simple liquor which they equally approve? It has been proved that the success of the navigation and fisheries of Massachusetts depend upon this trade; six cents will amount to a prohibition; then the question will regard the policy of producing such effects by our regulations. This article, considered as a raw material for a wellestablished and profitable manufacture, ought not to be prohibited; but when distilled into rum, it is said to be injurious to the health and morality of the people. I shall not take up the time of the committee with an examination of this position; but, supposing it to be admitted, I will ask the gentlemen if molasses ought on this account to be taxed any more than other materials that are worked up into more pernicious liquors; such as rye, apples, and peaches? What would be the opinion of the gentleman from Virginia, if a member was to propose a duty on those articles equal to six cents, and urge as a reason for so doing, that it was necessary, in order to keep up the ratio between whisky and Jamaica spirits? I conceive they would deem the proposition and argument absurd; they would never consent to its being done. What, then, ought to be the language of the people of New England on a proposal for taxing an article equally as useful to them as fruit is to the Southern States? I will place the subject in one other point of view, with the leave of the Chair, before I conclude the subject. How is the molasses brought into the State? It is the exchange procured by the hard labor and industry of the Eastern inhabitants; they toil late and early, day and night, in a business beset with danger and difficulty; they go in search of fish to the Banks, remote from their home, and when these are procured they cannot consume them, they must dispose of them to foreigners. But no market offers unless by barter, it is of necessity that they bring back molasses in exchange; this, then, becomes the produce of their industry, as much as the rice and tobacco of Virginia and Carolina become the staple articles of the labor of those States. Can any reason be assigned why the industry of Massachusetts should be imposted, while that of the other States goes free? and to my mind it is equal, whether the produce itself, or the returns for it are subjected to a duty. The effects are the same; it operates to discourage the pursuit ; but the returns for tobacco and rice are not imposted in any thing near a proportion with molasses. Let us compare it in one other point of light. Suppose a member from Massachusetts was to propose an impost on negroes, what would you hear from the Southern gentlemen, if fifty dollars was the sum to be laid? And yet this is not more than the proportion laid upon molasses. If the pernicious effects of New England rum have been justly lamented, what [H. OF R. can be urged for negro slavery? Certainly there is no comparison; but I will avoid the enumeration of its evils, and conclude with a hope that, if the House will not condescend to strike it out, they will reduce it to two cents. It will be unnecessary to recapitulate the immediate connexion between this article, the fisheries, and our navigation. I trust it is clearly seen by the House, if a high duty is still insisted upon molasses, you will have to go further, and provide energetic means for the execution; for the people will hardly bear a tax which they cannot but look upon as odious and oppressive. If gentlemen are determined in persisting on what was carried in the Committee of the Whole, they ought to know, with as much precision as possible, what they are to expect. If the support and good will of four hundred thousand citizens are worthy of cultivation, the House will decide the present question with candor and moderation; they will ever consider that their laws ought as much as possible to be conformable to the customs, habits, and sentiments of that people whose conduct they are intended to regulate. Mr. BOUDINOT.-I am sorry, Mr. SPEAKER, at this stage of the business, to hear any thing that sounds like an attachment to particular States, when we are laying a general duty to affect the whole. For my part, I consider myself as much the representative of Massachusetts as of New Jersey, and nothing shall prevail on me to injure the interest of the one more than the other. I profess myself a friend to the present revenue system, because it is the best way of getting money to supply our necessities. I am the more attached to it, because I conceive it will prevent an application to direct taxes. I say, I would avoid every thing which would make a difference between the States, and therefore I like the system before you; it goes upon the principle of mutual concession. It would be impossible to impose a duty on any article that will not affect one State more than some others; but we have endeavored to equalize the burdens as much as possible. I confess, at the same time, that I consider the duty on molasses too high; but it is for the same reason that I consider all the other articles too high. I do not conceive that it is much out of proportion to rum. The object I have in view by the impost is, to produce revenue enough to answer the necessities of the United States, and to have it done according to system. I have endeavored to establish some principle by which we should be governed in laying the duties. I have endeavored to do this in my own mind, and have fixed on about twenty-five per cent. on the value of the articles at the time and place of importation. If we infringe this principle, it ought to be in favor of a raw material, to increase the manufacture of an article within the Union, or secure the collection of the revenue. I confess, Mr. SPEAKER, I agree with the gentlemen from Massachusetts, that six cents are too high. If we reckon the cost of the molasses, we shall find five cents to be nearer the proportion of twenty-five per cent. which we have laid on other articles. |