Betides one State will tax another. The canfurtisrs will go to
the mult convenient market. So that the attempt to make each
State pay its own debt will be defeated, and the payments will
fall as unequally as if the ademption (hculd take place and the ac
counts not be fettled. New-Humpfhire, Connnetticut, Jerky and
North-Carolina would pay almost wholly into the trcafuries ol
the neighbor States. ' The non-importing States will be obliged
also to°impofe direa taxes to pay their creditors, so that their
citizens will be doubly taxed. If State exeifes then yield so little
and are so unequal, where are th le mysterious, State resources,
■which are inacceffable to Congress ? If they are not of an incom
municable nature, we can judge better by hearing the fubjefts of
taxation named. It ought to appear that such ex it, and that Con
gress could not draw, them forth.
Ifyou rejetl exeifes, you cannot have an adequate revenue,
and if the States have alio excites, the revenue will be impoverifti
ed and hazarded. For if ail article can pay both duties there is a
loss to get bat one, it might as well be collided throughout the li
nked States, as in one State, and if it cannot pay both, one or both
trcafuries will fuffcr tor the loss. Betides you incur a double ex
pence of "colle6tion.
What revenues are left you it the excise is rejected ? With such
a (lender sum yuu cannot oiler new terms. The modification o!
the entire debt as full proposed makes a saving in the capital of
almost thirteen millions. The debt to be alfumed is about twen
ty-four. The interest on the difference, or on the real increase of
debt by a (Turning is less than 500,000 dollars yearly.
We depend upon two principles tor the fecuri y of the revenues.
One 'S that th: trading people will not be difpo'ed to offend, and
the other is that all others will be inclined to watch and expose
them if they flvould. Never waifapapular a revenue fylLim. But
the violence to the jull demands of the creditors, depriving them
of the money they have been used to receive, and creating in the
ltates an nterelt to have your collection fail, in order to made the
llatefunds cffe6lu.il, will produce a moll disastrous change. It is
Jetting men's interdls as well as opinions against you. Nor wiil
the landed intcrell have a different sentiment—For they will be
murmuring under the load of direst taxes, and the more the ftati
revenues can be improved by lessening the national, the less they
will have to bear.
What reason is there, then, for afferiing that more money can be
obtained and more easily, by several fylkems than by one ? rh,s
bold atfertion which the sense of America would refute, il its ex
perience had not done it already, is not true of imposts. I have
■ endeavoured to expose its fallacy with regard to lUie excifts—They
produce much evil and little money. Direct taxes, infulficient as
they are, can be imposed by Congress to any amount, which ought
to be required as well as by the ttatcs, and I do not know that they
would be more obnoxious. It is true jull complaint is made ot
their unequal operation, and I trust thatcongrefswill not be under
the neceflity to call ior them. What advantages for taxation do the
Hates possess over Congress ? We ought not to admit that any
fr-.hexift till the reasons and lafls are made knowns to us — which
W:thout adequate funds, the (btcs cannot propofeto their cre
ditors .1 modification of the debt. By the constitution, they are
reftraiued from palling laws to impair I He burden
v. .11 reft upon the dates if not afluincd, at fix per cent, for without
funds the creditors will not content to take less ; il illumed, upon
Congress at four; is this the more cafy way of paying part ot 80
millions ? It makes a ditfercncc of lcveral millions aganift the
public. ......
It we commit an error by not afTuming, it will be an expenlive
one Have we funds so abundant and fate, thatweinay divide and
mangle with impunity ? But we are told that probably there will
be an alTumption at the next feflion, and that it is improper top-Is
a decision at the prcitnt, especially as immediate provilion i> not
to be made, and as delay will reconcile nun's minds to the mea
sure Tiiis is plaufiolr, but at Icall it is yielding the great points
to the principl . If the bulinefs Ihould be relerred to the next lei
fion, with intent then to aflume, ihc Hates will not impul taxes
and frame funding systems (or hall a year. In the mean tnn.-,
this ftateot their paper will make it the fubjeft ot the mott perni
cious (peculation. It will be engrossed for a tnfb by foreigner!,
and at tbc la me timk aggravate the fcartitv of money by employ
in' what there is, in purchases. In this (late ot fufpenle and to s
vTll the public mind become tranquil ? Will it unite the two torn
of creditors? But tho' you delay the interest on the ftatc debts to
i-q-, you pass the revenue laws as soon as pofflble. By delay
vou will lofethe revenue which may accumulate prior to that
t'ime—Suppofe a million and an half obtained before the payment
of interest lhall beg n, thatfum will secure the .interell agamit any
probable deficiency oftheduties for twoor three years. Will not
the public, will not the creditors ot every dcfcription, derive ad
vantage from an immediate alfumption and eftablilhineut ot du
ties, and from the proposed delay of paying interell ?
It is an unusual thing for a gentleman 111 a public alfetsbly to a„-
fcrt that four fifth of the people arc of his wayot thinking. This
however has been done. It is not ftrarfge for persons to mistake
their own opinion for that of the public. These fond prepotLlH
ons may be received instead of evidence; but they cannot weigh
much against evidence. My information may have Been less dili
e-ntlv fought, and less carefully examine 1 than that gentleman's ;
but I have compared it with what has been gathered by my
friends, and I dcclare that I belie efourfuhsof the wile and wor
thy men, in a very wide extent of country, look with strong dis
approbation upon the injulli-e, and with anxious terror upon the
impolicy of rejcfling the llate debts.
Little notice has been taken of an argument fo,r the alfumption,
which it iuft, is entitled to a great deal ; 1 mean that which has
been ur-ed to shew that it will (lengthen the government. The
answer given is, that, instead of pecuniary influence, new powers
ere wanting to the constitution. This is not denying the arg 1-
nient, but aliening a propofuion, which, iftalfe, isto be disregard
ed and if true, is not inconfiftcot with the point in question. So
far'from denying, it seems to admit the utillity of the alfumption,
and affrrtsthe ut'illi yof some other thing. Which other thing
he his not explained, and if he had, it is probably unattainable,
nor will its attainment, be it what it may, be prevented by the af
fump'um —But before we ask for new poweis on paper, let us
rxercifc those which are actually veiled in Congress. What will
new powers avail us, if we fuffer the constitution to become a dead
letter ? What has dropped from the gentleman in regard,lo this
point, amounts to an important eonccffioii. Little topics «>f ob
jection fink to nothing, when it is allowed that the alTumption will
strengthen the government. Is the principle of union too Itrong ?
Do not all good m ndefircto make it pertect ? What nation has
more to hope from union, or to fear from disunion ? Shall we
makethe union less strong than the people have intended to make
it by adopting the constitution ? And do not all agree, that the
aliumption is not a neutral measure ? If its adoption will give
flrength tothe union, its rejetlion will have the co.itrary effect.
I have thoughfof this government with the fondeft cnthufiafm.
I have conlidered it as tending to mend the condition of mankind,
and to pet petuate the bleflings o# liberty.—At this late period of
the debate, it is hardlv polfible for gentlemen to exercile impartia
lity. It willbe an a£l of virtue, of magnanimous fclf command
to do more—to place thcmfelves for a mom< nt in the situation ol
the advocates of the aflumption, and to (et with their eyes. They
love their country, and mean to serve it; and lam sure they would
(brink from the fpeflreof its misery which haunts us; they would
not consent to undo the constitution in practice, to realize the evils
•which were only apprehended under theconfederaiion, and which
were preven ed' by the total w„nt of power in Congress. With
this principle, however, it will be found that power enough is gi
ven to create division; and to make it fatal : It will beggar the
govermcntj and bind it in chains.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 30.
A MESSAGE was received from the Prendent
of the United States, with the copy'of an
Ast of theLegiflature of the State of Rhode Island,
for ratifying certain articles of amendment to
the Constitution of the United States.
Mr. Williamfon presented a Memorial from
Dr. Thomas Rufton, in behalf of the directors of
s Cotton Manufactory in the State of Pennsylva
nia.
In Committee of the whole on the bill concern
ing the tradeand navigation of the United States.
Mr. Madison entered into a discussion or the
principles on which the trade and navigation of
.he United Stales ought to be regulated—the
idea of discrimination in refpedt to foreigners,as
proposed in the bill originally, having been di(-
lgreed to,however juft and reasonable he thought
that diitintftion to be, he said, as there appeared
to be a majority againftit, he ihould wave any
further arguments on the fubjecJt, and would
fuggeit the principle of reciprocity as an idea
which would meet the general approbation of
the Committee.. Ke adduced several particulars
to lliew that tfreciprocity does not exist in our
:rade andintercourfe with Great Britain ; while
our (hipping is excluded from many of her ports,
and admitted into others under such restrictions
as are nearly tantamount to a prohibition—their
(hipping is freely admitted into all the ports,
harbors and bays of the United States.
He then read two propositions in the following
words, which he proposed Ihould be added as
clauses to the bill, viz.—
Aid be it further enafled, That in all cases
where veflels belonging to the citizens of the
United States may be prohibited from bringing
any articles from any foreign port or place, by
laws or regulations of the sovereign thereof, into
any port or place within the United States, the
vellels belonging wholly or in part to the fabjecfts
of such sovereign, shall after the dny
of during the continuance of such
prohibition, be prohibited from bringing like
articles into the United States, 011 pain of being
seized and forfeited to their ule. And the mas
ters or owners of all foreign vefiels clearing
from any port of the United States, with any ar
ticles the growth,produce or manufacture there
of, ihall give bond with fufficient security, that
no part of the said articles {hall be delivered at
any port or place to which vefiels belonging to
citizens of the United States may not be permit
ted to tranfporc like articles from the United
States.
And b; it further enaClid, That in all cases
where velTels belonging to citizens of the United
States, may bi prohibited by the laws or regular
tions of that foreign country, from carrying
thereto articles not the growth, produce or ma
nufofture of the United States, the veflels belong-
ing wholly or in part to the fubjeifts, citizens or
inhabitants of such country, lhall, after the
day of and continuance of
such prohibition, be prohibited in like manner
from bringing any articles not the growth, pro
duce or manufacture of such country, into the
United States, 011 pain of being seized and for
feited to their ule.
These proportions being considered as very
interesting and important in their consequences,
it was moved that the committee Ihould rife, that
the members might take time to consider them.
The motion tor the committee's rising was op
posed. m *
Mr. Wadfworth asked ifllat reason could be as
signed for the committee's rising ?—for his part
lie was ready to meet the propofi lions—he be
lieved he (hould vote for them—He considered
them a« calculated to try the strength of the com
inittee—it is coming to the point—it is proposing
a very bold nieafure indeed ; but if it is thought
we can Hand the shock.l Ihould have no objection
to try it. I hope the committee will proceed to
discuss the propositions.
Mr. Vining observed that he had no objection
to taking up rhe fubjedt—but as gentlemen ap
pear desirous of taking time to consider the pro
positions he was in favor of the committee's ri
sing—With refpedt to the " boldness" of the
measure, he wis at a loss to find the propriety of
the epithet—for his part, he considered it as a
measure offirmhefi —and as such highly becom
ing the national legislature of this country to
adopt.
Mr. Sherman observed, that he saw nothing
that favor'd of boldness in the propositions—they
appeared him to be natural, and nothing more
than a proper aflertion of the equal rights of
thiscountry— It is merely meeting with counter
regulations, the regulations of other countries,
that are hostile to our huerefts—this we have a
right undoubtedly to do. I hope the committee
will not rife, but discuss thefubjetf, that the me
rits of the propositions may be fully known.
Mr. Goodhue spoke generally in favor of the
propositions, and agaiuft the committee's rising.
Mr. Jacklon was in favor of the committee's
rising—the propositions he considered as very ex
traordinary indeed—and if they should be adopt
ed, they will annihilate, in a great measure, the
510
trade of Georgia, to the Welt-ladles, andiict,?-
lievecl of North Carolina too, notwithllandin
what the gentleman from that State has said j'it
the course of debate on this fubjedl.-~II e though*
it extraordinary that the gentleman from Vj r .
ginia should come forward with one exccpti ona .
ble proportion after another—the gentleman hav.
ing 101 l one favorite propodtion, so tenacious is
he of his object, that he now brings forward ano
tlier, in my opinion,faid lie,fuHas exceptionable.
The question being taken was carried in the
affirmative—the committee rose, and reported the
proportions, which are to be taken into coniidcr
ation to-morrow.
Ihe house then went into committee on the
WAYS and MEANS for pacing the intcreft on
the public debt.MSoine time was Ipent in (i, t
consideration of me plan reported by Mr. Ki: z .
limons, Uit tlje committee did not come toaiv
decision. Adjourned. 1
THURSDAY, JULY i.
The petition of John Fitch, of
lative to steam as applied to the purpofcs ofna»J»
gation, was read. '
Mr. Boudinot of tlie committee appointed for
thar purpose reported a bill to provide for the
national defence.
The bill further to provide for the payment of
the invalid penfionera of the U. S. was read the
third time and parted.
A was received from the Irefident of
the United Sta.es, informing that he had given
his assent to three a<fts, which originated in the
House : An A<ft providing the means of intercom fe
between the United States and foreign nations:
An Ast, for the relief of Nathaniel Twining, aits
an Act to fatisfy the claims of Joirn Mctord a
gainst the United States.
A mefiagefroni the Senate informed thelioufe
that they had palled the bill extending the enu
nieration law to the State of Rhode-lfiand.
The report of the committee 011 the memorial
of Thomas' Barclay was read—the fnbftance of
which is, that the sum of 3333-$ dollars be allow
ed the Memorialist in full for his services during
thetime he was employed by the United States,
exclusive of neceflary expences. A motion for
re-committing the report occafionedfoine debate,
but was carried in the affirmative.
hi committee of the whole on the Ways and
Means to discharge the intereftof thedebtof the
United States, the resolutions of the feletf com
mittee were agreed to—these are, I ft. to encrealr
tlielmpoft one/A/r(/--and the duties on the follow
ing enumerated articles to the sum annexed :
each— Distilled Spirits ij-.
Madeira Wine 32. (Centsp,
Other Wines iSj. r gallon
Molafles 3s. ) I
Bohea Tea 10. Cents pr. lb.
Souchong and other black Teas, 18. 1-6.
Hyson 32.
Other Green Teas 20'.
Coffee 4.
Brown Sugar ih.
Loaf ditto 5.
All other do. 2£.
Pepper 7. 4-100,
' Pimento /y.
Nutmegs 6j.
Macc 2;.
Mace-
Cinnamon 20.
Cloves I2i.
Caflia 10
2. Resolved, That after the day of
thedifcount of ten per cent.of the duties on g'>ods,
wares and merchandize, imported in lhips or
veflels, the property of a citizen or citizens of the
United States, be discontinued, and that an addi
tion of ten per cent, be made to the duties of!
goods, wares, or merchandise, imported in any
other {hip 01* veflel-
Ordered, That tliefe Resolutions lie on the ta
ble till to-morrow. Adjourned.
FRIDAY, JULY 2.
The report of the committee ol the whole houfr on the wz\s
and means to discharge the interest on the debt of the United
States was taken up, and agreed to without amendment.
"Mr. Stone moved to insert the article fait at an additional cutv
of 2 cents per bufliel—this occasioned a lengthy debate; the mo
tion was negatived.
A committee confiding of Mi. Fitznraom. Mr Sherman an
Mr. Tucker, was appointed to bring in a bill agreeable to there
port.
A meflage was received from the Senate, with a bill, _ eter
inining the temporary and permanent residence of Congre' s "~ t e
lubftance of which is, that the temporary residence (hall be at . -
ladelphia from the commencement of the next feflion io Decent,
btr, till the year 1800 ; and from that period, the permanent rcy
dence to be on the Potowmac This bill was read the nr an
lecond time—ordered to be printed, and referred totheeomm" c
of tne whole house on Tucfday next. - . c
The report of the Committee on the Fees, Bcc: to the <^ nu !^f c
the United States, was taken into consideration. The nn c z
of the report authorised Consuls and Vice Consuls to rc £ cl ? C
similar to those eftablflhed by law in the places for whic. t -e>
appointed ; and where no such fees are eft ablilhed, they wete 0
allowed dollars on the entry and clearance of e\er) 1
rican veflel of 100 tons and under—and dollar* on
such veflel of 100 tons and upwards. This clause, on nio
Mr. Fitzfimons was struck out. The othi!r parts o tic . r _
which allows them to receive dollars f f " CO^V| S & f .
tificates and other documents, also to own American u^ m ' lltcc i
were agreed to. It was then voted that the bill be re-n
—and the Committee inftrutled to consider and tepoj
ther provision should be made for Consuls and Vice- 0
Mr. Benfon had leave of abfencc for a fortnight.
Adjourned till MoneUy 10 o'Clock.
if-•:
7. 4-100,