Mr. Sherman, upon the general principle of opposition to drawbacks, and to prevent a diminution of the Revenue, which he norehended from the proposition ihould it be adopted, thought that it would be more eligible to enhance the duties on goods im ported in foreign vefiels. Mr Sylvester observed, That as these drawbacks will place the Treasury of the United Spates in a very aukward and uncertain i taation, by taking away with one hand what is put in with the other! he' null be opposed to the measure. Mr. Lawxince was in favor of the daufe—He pointed out a number of inllances in which it would prove fahitary—The (jifcrimination which the State of New-York had made, had pro ouccd a very sensible encreafe in her (hipping. Mr. Wadsworth : Port charges, Sir, are against this country all foreign ports: The American (hipping pays from 50 to 100 pr. cent, more in those ports than foreigners pay in ours : We cer tainly, iniuftice to our'elves, ought to place this matter more on a par; and as the proportion befoiethe Houl'e will conduce in some re" to that object, I wi(h it may be adopted. Mr. [Jlckson : I took it for granted, Sir, that this fubje£l of adilcrimination 011 tonnage, had been fufficieutly attended to _[ thought Sir, that the interest of the southern governments, had been fully burthened to cnceurage the northern navigation. Sir the (ituation of Great-Britain and America, are quite diffe rent—That nation, situated oil a little island, has need of all the encouragement possible to encreafe her navy, and extend her com mit—How is it in America ?—We Sir, are a nation of farmers, agriculture is the great support ot this country, on that we rn 11 ft depend—but Sir, how is it neglecfed !* how is it iacrificed in fa vour of navigation and manufactures. Thispropofition Sir, tends to theleflVning of ourrevenue, and encourages (hip-building at that expence, as this drawback is taicen dire&ly from it—This, Sir, will operate mod unjustly and oppressively, for the revenue paid by the southern States, will be as a bounty to the northern (hipping—What Sir, may we not expect—a dry tax will come next —this is a moll odious difcrimination —Our agriculture and produce, are already fuffi cicntly burthened—a navy is but a secondary consideration in comparison wi|h agriculture—But admitting it to be of ever so great importance, it is already fufficicntly encouraged—This will prevent the Ihipsof foreign nations, from coming to our ports— we have not fufficient of our own—What is not to be apprehend ed ? let. gentlemen but consider, how the States Of Georgia, South and North-Carolina, mud be affe&ed and injured—We are willing to give a preference to our brethren to the ctfftward : but for God's fake do not reft the whole of that encouragement on us— we arc but children yet—do not require that we Ihould run be fore we can walk.—l call upon the judice of this House, that we may not have our essential inrereft, the agriculture of the southern States, totally facrificed—l hope Sir, the proposition will not be adopted. Mr. Gerry observed in answer to Mr. Jackson, that Great-Britain is justly tenacious of her navigation laws ; As to their salutary and extensive operation, (he owes the flourishing condition ot her agriculture and commerce—navigation gives a fpringto agriculture, to indudry and manufactures ; and the most effe&ual method to promote the encreafe and sale of the southern produce, is to encourage and extend the American (hipping. Mr. Bland was opposed to the clause, as it would operate de monstratively to the lessening of the revenue—which he endeavor ed to (hew by dating the following indance, as an example, viz. A velTel of 300 tons will pay —fay 300 Dollars tonnage one hundred thouland pounds value in gor ds, may be imported in a (hip• of that burthen—the impoll on (uch a cargo at 5 per cent. is £.5000 ; a drawback of 10 per cent, on the ium is £'.500 which will prove a very great d< du&ion from the revenue. Mr. Smith (of Maryland) dated a variety of fa£b, refpefting the difference of the impoiitions on foreign and American vef (cls in foreign countries. Mr.LiVERMORE—I was, Sir,in favor of a discrimination be tween 01' own (hipping, and that of foreign nations, as a wife and just encouragement to our own navigation ; but I cannot content to the proposition betore the House, as it would operate very unequally against those parts of the Union who arc obliged to import their goods chiefly in foreign bottoms. Mr. Lawrence obfeivtd, that notwithdandmg it had been . ' that the agricultural interest was tacrificcd, yet in his opi nion, much had been done for its encouragement, as was evident from recurring to the lift of dutied articles in the bill The proposed claiHc will encrcaie our navigation, on which depends "i a great measure the encouragement of agriculture : It will ope rate to decrease the aggregate amornt of the duties, which gen tlemen contend aretoo high : It will have a twofold operation, as » will benefit the merchant,while it encourages the (hip-buildm branch : Merchants (hould beconfidered as manufacturers—they are eminently so, as contractors and proprietors in fhipbuildin^. nelofsof revenue apprehended, is mconfiderable, compared jvith the great, solid and lading advantages so be derived from e encreafe of our navigation and feainen.—l am heartily, Sir, mtavorof the proposed clauff. , Mr. Boudinot—As I came, Sir, from an agricultural State, 1 mi not be thought ieafonable, that I Ihould advocate measures at may contravene the farming iutercft : It has been my opini on ttom the begining, that tl.e proposed duties are too high, asthev will operate dirc&ly reverse from the d sign in impo ing them they will defeat the objedt of revenue, by ho!d ing out temptations and inducements to fmugghng, which all e powers of old and rigorous governments could no°t prevent. rlaf r 8 ! naturall y l"d to the adoption of the proposed tile, for as the fubjeCl cis revenuearrived to this advanced pe on aV ? mc P lan that will produce a general and fcvlible dnnmuti ne duties, will be thought more eligible, than to descend pa ticular articles ; this proposition is in point. 0 not therefore wish its adoption, meerly as an encourage in It, ° navl S at, on, although a very eflential point—but as it will thc r « enue alld promote agriculture and . IChouldtrotbeirifavoiirof the clause, did it appear to mc that jt• ave "neqral operation : the general idea is, that the l a S re to ° —I his sentiment, I find is entertained by the nm mcrcamile charafurs-I have r.ken pains to acquire the mod ln,or j mat '°" u P on the fubjeft, and from the whole, am nue ua( kd, that a dcduCti. 11 will be in favour of the rtve asl he f n", h 7, n Slates particularly benefited by this clause, 10 n out the strongest inducements to American fhip and Lin"' . 6 P rodl,ce ' rom foreign countries to those States, Tl' "\ r£ ' y encrcafe our domellic navigation. u-Sin. V'l P rc y cnt mu AShng, as it will interest the American* « ofT, a '" a K c "f it, to be vigilcnt,in deleting brea.h ie aw ' and thus they will become wat nmen over fo dedma' 31 fi uard i a n s ol the revenue.—.-The gentleman ad bo M dih y morc " bfi;l «" f 'ns, and concluded by faying, that he °PM the proposition would be acceded to. Mr. s"iij ACKSON ' Mr. Tucker, Mr. Parker, Mr. Seney and v "te be NtK! t N ' f f ver;, ' 1 y spoke upon the qncftion ; when the Wank J ng ,i. ?!,' pafi " l ll,e affirmative—qo to 16—The T ? Wastl *n filled up witl, ,o per cent. chair c "!' ITnitlee tbrn rofc—and the Sot akpr having refum<*d the md' !n J CVCr , an ' rrldn >