had received, he had bc?n led to fuppa'fe that the l'entiments of that houio perfectly corresponded with the ideas of their conltitueuts, that to revive, proceift and encourage the commerce, navigation, agriculture, and manufactures of the Union, were among the great objects tor which the Conltitaticm had been adopted.—-Tfie fifliery he observed, Mas one of the molt important among tliofe objects— Gentlemen on all hands, realized this truth—Of all the various branches of buiinefs carried oil in the United States, none perhaps had filtered more than the iilherics—lhut out from the Englith ports entirely,,and admitted into those of our allies up on severe restrictions, this molt beneficial buiinefs had rapidly declined—was daily growing worse, and it loaded with additional burthens would be totally' deltroyed—this buiinefs employed 26,00 c tons of flapping,and a great number of the poorer, though important pare of the community, and was a nuYfery for seamen, which it had been the poli cy of the wifelt nations to cherith and encouragi —these veilels r iade four fairs annually, and took upon an average upwards of 400,000 quintals ol fith —the greatelk part of the filh could be fold in 310 other market but the Weft-Indies, and there molafles was the only return's that could be obtain ed ; this molafles was consumed in its original ltate in great quantities by the filhermen. Ihe ex portation of the fifli employed nearly as much fhip ing-as was engaged in taking it, several important inecllanical branches depended upon, and were inseparably connected with this particular bufi nels—lf a doubt therefore could be raised upoii the expediency of adopting a measure, that might eflentially injure an interest foextenfive, gentle men could not think of being tenacious of luch a measure. Mr. Ames thought he could l aifcfuch a doubt.—The Honorable Gentleman from Viginia had alked, how it was to be .accounted for, that this buiinefs (hould be able to support itfelf before the revolution, when molafles paid a duty and foreign rum was free ? l o this Mr. Ames replied, that previous to the war, the br.fme(s was carried 011 tinder a variety of advantage:;, which jt was now deprived of, that the belt markets were entirely cut off—Newfoundland, Oucbeck, those great marts we were excluded from.—He adduced a va riety of other reasons why the present state of the buiinefs, would bear no compai iibn with its for mer situation, and then added, that to other pre sent embarrafmects, it was to be apprehended, that we might lhortly be deprived of the only market left us for the principle part of our fifli—as the merchants at L'Orient ha ', represented to govern ment, that it would be for the interest of their co lonies to diftill their molafles in the 1 (lands, and that upon the llrength of this idea, diftill houses were erecting in thole Islands. It had been objected, that encouraging the manufacture of country rum ■would diminish the revenue by leflening the con sumption of foreign Ipirits—to this Mr. Ames repli ed, that he was happy to find that the Hon. Gentle man from Virginia, upon the use of brandy, fur niSieda full answer to this objection, and that was, that although brandy had paid no duty there, and Jamaica spirits an high one, yet the use of brandy didnotencreafe, and the importation bore no proportion to Welt-India spirits—the truth was, theconfumption of that country rum was not fafhi onable, and therefore would never be extensive, it was conlidered as noxious—it was offenfive, and it was disreputable to use it—much had been said against the. use of fpiritous liquors—Mr. Ames was in lentiment with those opposed to their coiifump tion—but at the present moment,, gentlemen did not mean to take up the subject in a moral point of view—revenue was the great object ltow before them, and as it refpectecl that, he conceived, the duty on an article which would amount to a pro hibition, attended with the disagreeable conse quences pointed out, mull'oe impolitic. Mr. Ames next proceeded to consider the article of molafles as a neceflary of life—neceflaries he defined, such articles as are found faluta'ry, and enter into the daily and common fnltenance of all ranks, and more especially of the poorer clafles of citizens— Some kind of sweetening was universally allowed to be of thisdefcription—Molafles therefore from its wholesome qualities, and its cheapnef?;, was used very extenlively by the people of the New-Eng land States—it was used not merely as fngar, but entered into their food in a variety of ways—and was their only fubltitute for malt in the making of beer—the articles used in brewing at the south ward were, exempted from duty, and he conceived no good reafoti could beafligned, why a difference fnould be made between the common drink, of one part of the continent and that of another. This daty would operate as a very partial tax, in as much as in addition to it, the eastern States paid their full proportion upon all other articles. From tlie»ib:"egoing observations, Mr. Ames con. eluded, that as the navigation ot the Union, and jnore especially the eastern fiftieries, would be so materially affected and injured by this partial duty —as it was an object of importance to encourage exrenfive manufactures —as it could not poflibly enter in the views of the House to tax, heavily tax, the neceflaries of life—as this duty -as so over poportioned to the reft of the system—he wasdi cide llv onpofed to the sum of fix cents per gallon on molafles—he mentioned one cent, or that it should be included in 11011 enumerated articles. Mr. SvLvtsTEk observed, he thought that the Houie was ripe for a decifion--gentlemen differed so widely, that he defpuired ol getting better in formation —he was therefore in favor ot, and would propose a medium duty to save time. Mr. Madison ltill advocated the duty, and as he it a reaionable one, hewiihed that it mignt now he fixed, as gentlemen mufl ba l'enlible that variations in the revenue laws would be facrificing our bell friends—Mr. Madiion obser ved, that the exports fi-9111 Maflachufetts were not one third so much as those from Virginia, ami that consequently her imports were proportionably greater, and her burthen of taxes enhanced : He iurther observed, that he considered that the poor of one state was upon a par with thole of another, and therefore could not fee the propriety of any iliitindtion's being made. Mr. Fitzsimo ns was opposed to any diminution. The duty, he o'oferved, would not .fall 011 the ma nufacturer, but on the conf'umer of the article ; and as more than x oooooogallons of ruin would be expor ted,6n which a drawback would be allowed,he could not think the duty would fall so heavy : He obser ved, that the pref'ent trade was greater than it was before the war : That there could be no revenue without taxing neceflaries : The tax on fifhermen for this article, would not be more than 3*4 th of a dollar pr. annum ; and he conceived it was local to oppose it. Mr. Goodhue observed, That the duty on Mo lalles had been palled oyer, to give gentlemen time, who expec'ted information oil tfie fubjedt from their conflitucnts at the eastward ; but the port on Satur day had not brought any dispatches on the subject. He would therefore, he observed, endeavour to give the House all the information upon the fubjeJi, at present in his poHefficn : Molafles, Sir, is tlie pro duction alinoft altogether of the French Weft-India Islands ; and is purchased chiefly for fifli and lum ber. she fifh which is exchanged for it, is of so inferior a quality, by reason of being caught and cured in the hottest of the season, that none but the negroes of those illauds can be induced to make use of it. We are reftritfled by the French from takin?; any production in exchange for our commodities from those lflands but this article, the rum made from it, and fait. ihe only realbn for allowing us to vend our fifh there is, to take off their fuperfluous articles—their policy having prohibited the impor tation of molafles and rum into the mother country, left it should interfere with their wines and bran dies : From these facfts, it is evident, that the fifhery rests on the molafles bufmels. '1 hey stand or fall together. But, Mr. Speaker, molaffcs is a neceflary of life, when used in lubflance, particularly so to the poor er class of the people in the eastern States, who use it irjftead of sugar : the duty of 6 cents is 30 pr. cent, on its value—equal to the duty on ruin and double to that on fiigar : even luxuries are not taxed so liigli. Maflachufetts imports 3'oooo«o of molafles, annually, which at 6 cents would be.lßoooo dollars ; more than Pennsylvania pays on rum and sugar together. f his article has never been rated high by any <jf the states : a plain proof that the sense of the people is not in fav our of so exorbitant a duty. We ought to be circum fpetft in the business before us ; nor givejuft cause of uneasiness to our constituents ; especially at the commencement of the Constitution : for though I would not venture to fay, that Maflachufetts would not be as quiescent and fubmiflive to every measure of Congress, as any state in the union, yet I must fay, t hat they will consider thisduty, or any thine* near it, as injurious to their trade, fifheries and manufactures, and contrary to the principles of justice, or national policy. It has been said, that Maflachufetts ought not to complain, as the amount of her imports are not more than one third the a mount of those in Virginia ; but the gentleman has brought no evidence to prove it : I can fay, Sir, and I believe upon good grounds, that flie im ports quite as much. J his duty is compared to the duty 011 lboes, and candles ; but Sir, one cargo of molafles would pay as much at 6 cents duty, as the whole quantity of" candles probably imported into Virginia in a year. I beg leave to add one more observation— it is, that the British Parliament im posed, at one time, 3 pence fterl. a gallon on mo lafles—Not one farthing of duty was colletfled while it continued so high, so odious was it to all ranks ofpeople; andtheywere compelled to lower it to 1 penny.—l hope we fliall learn wisdom from the example. Mr. G, rry observed, that he was in favor of a revenue by impost, except on neceflaries, and raw materials, because on all other articles it may be considered as a voluntary tax, for the perfbn who was finally to pay it, had it in his power to avoid the tax, by not colifuining the articles dutied ; but it must be admitted, that imports were burt'hen fome on commerce, as the importer must advance the duty, and that being usually raised from some of the dutied articles, would oblige him to force a sale to alofSi: It must also be admitted,that he would be subject to bad debts, and that the imports there on would be his loss. It was therefore neceflary to be judicious in clioofing the articles, and in de termining the quantity of import, for it might otherwise destroy the "ourceof this revenue Ti : precaution he thought had not been taken in i tying moiafles : The trade itfelf v.as in Mafia iH ietts at a low ebb, and could hardly be fupw" Should a duty of 6 cents pr. gallon be now a cargo and outfits, of ioool. lawful, which way procure about 22,000 gallons of moiafles, pay 3961.. duties, being nearly 40 p .cent', on rt. capital: In addition ro the premium of infurai, and iailors wages, which mult always be paid"' the arrival of the veliel, the merchant must r °' raise money to pay the impost, which would n-q ]y distress him in the present lcarcity offp ec infer 011 him a considerable loss, and difcoui " the trade : and the evil would not terminateherf for a large quantity of this article was by the poor of the seaports, who to fublift tl lea selves and their families, were under the neccfe of qualifying with it their indian meal, and otlit articles, not being able to procure flour ormeal and they uled it with water, and in their beer' which being generally made of spruce, or hop' would be otherwise too unpalatable for use. were no breweries, hefaid, in that part of the cob! tinent; and this he fconfidered as a misfortune tri by no means a fufticient reason for thus taxing'&] poor. If a proposition fliould be made for lavi;- a duty on the ordinary beer used by the poor of other States ; or if beef and pork could not be pro! cured among ourfelvesin fufficient quantities, aji it fliould be proposed to lay an impost on thole sr. tides, would not gentlemen, from all quarters, cor, fider it as oppreiiive—furely they would—and j mnft be so considered in the present cafe—form, lafles was a neceflary ingredient of the food at; drink of the poorest people of fonie of the states ; ■ and the loading this article with so high a duty. would so raise its price, as to leflen the conftntp. tion, and thus be an additional difcouragenienni the trade ; but the evil would be Hill mere em five. The distillers now purchased mobiles intlr Ealtern states, free of duty, and an impolt of cents pr. gallon, would raise it 30 pr. cent, ana render it neceflary for distillers to have capita; proporrionably larger, or to manufacture leis run this circumstance, and the decilion of the HouJe not to allov- a debenture 011 rum exported, will leflen the demand of moiafles for diftillirg, ari prove a further discouragement to the trade: tr.: it is that rum is injurious to our citizens, but th: eftablifliment of diltilleries, as well as the impor tation of rum, has liacl the fandtion of our lav . and therefore the distillers ai e not charged:: with the evil. If it is neceflary at once to destroy these manufactories, the proprietors ought injuf lice to be reimbursed the coil thereof by the pub lie ; but if the article is still to be in use amongit . us, Ihould not good policy induce us to give a pre ferrence to our own manufaifhires ? It iiiuft then be evident this duty, by discouraging, will great ly leflen the moiafles trade, and with it the de mand for fifh, which is exported for thepurchalc of that article. The fifliery is already diftrefled, by the rcftricftions and impositions of the nations who are endeavoring to rival us, and who apply as a bounty on their own fifli, the duties impoftJ on ours ; and if the demand fliould ceafefora cor fiderable part of our fifh, which can only be carried to the Weft-India markets : This important branch can no longer be supported : This duty moreover would take from every filherman, who with lis family, will consume about 30 gallons of molalfo a year, about two dollars, which will in efFeift op erate as a poll tax: Already havepropofitionsbet! made to some of our merchants in that branch.: remove to Nova Scotia—and such difcourageme© would promote the emigration of our fifhermen The loss of the fifliery would extend itfelf to Un building, there being at least 27,000 tons offtip ping employed in taking, and half as much more in carrying to market that article : The ship-build ers therefore, and the numerous mechanics depea dent on Shipping, would be immediately afledij by this duty ; and it weuld extend itfelt through the whole lyftem of the eastern inequality of this duty is evident by comparing' with the impost on sugar, which is only one fa' of its value, whil!'; that on molafTes is one thi", and'fugar is a luxury, wliilft moiafles is not. the full force of these objections fliould not be mitted, 110 one can deny, that there will be 8 ' in adopting !the measure proposed: And are" not hazarding the difafFeiftion of the numerous 0 tizens concerned in the moiafles trade, fifliery, j tilleries and ihip-building, who warmly advocate 4 -. and expected benefit from the constitution; E ' the impost proposed will defeat itfelf, surely >'• never be good policy tolaythe duty fohighj 3s '! exceed the rilk of linuggling. If the rifle is JP. cent, and the duty 40 pr. cent, there can be ® doubt that the merchant wil 1 smuggle the mo a I more especially as he will confiderhimfe' io Pi' f ed, and will be compelled to do this, or to S^ e -j; the trade ; and if we multiply revenue of cers, '^ they eat up the revenue, they will not be a prevent the measure : It must appear then, t in lieu of this high duty, we iinpiofes modera cife 011 rum, or afmall impoft'on not only avoid the injuries which will others tend to our commerce,but shall also greatly 1 { - the revenue itfelf: He therefore moved ti words "onmoiafles6Cents" ihould be ftnic 0
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