Alexandria advertiser and commercial intelligencer. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1800-1803, 1802-01-29

yeas and nays.
Mr.. Randolph deGred the clerk to reae
| an extract from the report of the Secretary
of the Trealury, then before The Houle.
The clerk accordingly read it as fol-
lows -
" 1t will appear BY the fame fate
ment, NJ, that Whit the expences of
collection on merchandise and tonnage,
which are betrayed out Of the revenue,
do not exceed 4 yer cent. ts.efe On the
permanent internal duties, amour: TO al.
mott 20 per cent. This, however, is an
inconvenience which on account of the
great number of the individuals OF whom
the duties are RATED, and On their d:fxh-
cd Gtuation through The whole exte"t OF
the United States, muit, mere or |sG at.
tach to the fyftem OF internal taxation, 70
long as the wants Of government !hall
not require any comfortable exteniion, and
the total amount Of revenue lhall remain
uncomfortable"
MIR. +. Morris did not corider the
repor. as furniihing the information want
ed. II exhibited only general reiul,.
Though that Ieiult exhibited an expence
Of 40 per cent. yet there were particular
branches Of the internal reye,ue whof.
collection did not require near 70 much;
thar on famrs did not require more than
5 or 6 per cent. He was furpriied thar
any gentleman E.suld refuie this ,ntorma-
ton He could not urdetHand what nc.
tives could sttuate gentlemen in fuch re-
fufal.
Mr.. Randolph called to order. The
gentleman had no right to isnpeaeh the
motive: of any memb;r.
Mr.. Z. Morris continued. He faid,
he hoped gentlemen would not treat this
motion, as they had treated his. This
is the place where We ought to dilcufs
topics Of national concern, and we ought
to receive information that will enable us
to difcufs thoie topics with correct UNDER
fanding of them. Gentlemen may meet
in private, deliberate in what had hereto
fore been denominated caucufes, and re-.
folve on what lhou!d be done; but he
hored, that before that houie were called
up2n to lanetion their meafures, we ihall
hear their reafons for them.
Mr.. Grilwold .laid, he fuppoled the
gentleman from Virginia had obtained
the extract from the report Of the fecfe-
tary Of the treafury to be read to thew
that this relolution ought to pats as that
report only aated the general expence OF
collection, while the object Of the refolu-
ticn was TO get the particular expence Of
each branch OF revenue.
Mr.. Huger felt it impodible to give
his vote, without expecting lis regre, a,
the caufe taken, which feemed to be pur.
lued under the determination Of repeating
the internal taxes at al! events. In his
part Of the country, the citizens paid tut
a triairg portion of the internal, while
they paid large portion Of other taxes.
Without information he was not prepared
to decide what taxes ought to be reduced.
His Object, therefore, WI. BY acquiring
all the information that could be furuiih-
ed, to make fair companion be,vs~
the operation Of the internal ard external
duties.
Mr.. Rutledge declared l.mielf ,pdz.
z!ed by tbs new form CT doing buG.
nels. Ever Gnce he bad been q mem.
Der of Congreis it had been the invsria.
bic practice of the majority, ifneaiures
were proPoled not agreeable TO them, to
adign their arguments againf tlem.----
When objections were made, gentlemen
were prepared to funain what they p'o-
poied. Thus, the affairs of the govern
mept went On, and the people were made
acquainted with the reaions wherein par.
cl!ar meaiures were adopted or rejets-
ed. But now, prop5dtion is made; 70
voice is raifed agaira what is rrorcEd,
vote as taken; ard meaiutcs, which
from the GIeuce cfgeo,lsmen, itwas in
fsrred would rafs unanimously, are re-
iee,ed by flent vote. This places US