Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1802-08-11

their imPatience 20 accomplish an ohieef
SO desirable rs they considered the repeal
OF eAe internal taxes, seizcJ, AN occasion,
which they supposed would accelerate il.
ihus opened the campaign respeetiDe
the abolition OF the internal revenues. II
WI be rema,sed, thai the federal side of
ihe house, during the whole Of the discus
sion which ensued, conscious OF the infe-
rior'ty OF their strength, and Of their in
snthc,ency 10 resist directly the neasure of
ahohuoAi met i by a succession OF aiciden-
Iaf motions, sithyersive of unity Of view,
and calculated to involve the real merits
oil the subject in perp=tually yaryiog. OBJ
security by connecting with Il topics not in
the least allied. With whst w Tvs, thcse
steps were taken, it might be uncharitoble
10 decide; but their eiiect was through
the whole progress of preliminary discus.
SION to produce cr Heffe consideration, fur
nishlns opponents OF the measure with
an opportunity OF bringing for9arr a prcat
variety or topics urged in style, calculat-
ed as they believed, to NIKE some popu-
lar impression; while the friends Gr the
repeal anxious to exhilit an un2mbar--
rnssed view Of the subject, 20 save time,
ana to avoid all useless iayottion of ire
ievant topics, declined TO notice, or lJitt cru
soriiy arlimadverted on tl.eni as they &C
CURED.
The sec0't9 incidental step taken, to
Illustrate the repeal of The Internal taxes.
was proposition made by MIR. Bavarl on
the 9Th of January, to refer 10 tnc com
mlttee ct Ways and Means tl.e consider
alton Of the exPediency Of reducing the
duty on salt.
his proposition was strenstousic urged
ty the federal, and resisted by the replib-
hcan side OF the house, who moved the
previous question, which, after debate
that occupied the entire day, was carried
Yeas 49--Nays Al.
The third incidental effort TO Illustrate
the repeal of the internal taxes was made
on the 22d of January when Mr.. Rut.
ledge " moved that the committee of
Ways and Means be instructed to enquire
into the eXpedicncy Of reducing the duties
on brown sugar, coffee, and bohea tea.
his motion Produced debate. which
occupied the remainder of the sitting, dur
ing which She IsreUious question Scus nsoyed.
Those who supported the reference
were, Messrs.. RuJedge, Dana, Griswold,
Bayard, Goddard, Dennis, and T. Morris.
Those who opposed il were, Messrs.
,. smith, Claiborne, Smile, Southland,
Giles, Elmer, Nicholson, and Davis.
IN SUPPORT IF ne nloti5n, it was said flat
as the prosperous situation of the country
justified reduction Of the taxes, it be-
came important to select, as fit objects of
redncGons those iInpositions which were
the most unequal and oppressive /; that Of
thls nature were the duties on brown su-
gar; bohea tea, and coffee, which were OK.
orbitantly high ; that the duty ON sugar
amounted to so per- cent on its value tbat
on tea was as high and that ON coffee n
40 per cent; that these duties fell with
peculiar severity upon the poor; that they
we're %ecytc duties, pretficated on war
pHces, which would Undoubtedly fall, and
with the declension of which the duties
should aisofall; that their redae}ion would
De the only means Of preserving their pro
porIloh 10 the duties laid ad Unioren, that
d vas proper thai these Considerations
should DC submitted to the committee of
ways and Means who, having TINS the
whole subject of revenue before them.
would be enabled to determine the rnosf
proper arlcleson whichu reduction of d.
ties could be made, whether relative to the
I'ferHG; revenue, or cur erfe77ai trade.
Those sgho otisosed Tie re/frence declined
entering into discussion of tie rnerits -
the motion, which they declared pren,a-
ture and useless, snd aIledged that the
house had already referred Tia whole I'm
sincss o. revenue internal as wen as erfcr.
nal to the comnitteeofW Ways and Msane !.
to prove which the following extract FINN
the journal was read.
Resolved, That the committee. oF
commerce and and manufactures he H.
recled to report whether any and wbst n
terations are necessary in the laws in3Do.,.
my dutlcs on the tonnage Of ships or wee
sells, and ON goods, wares, and Inerchanl
disc, imported into the u. States,
"ResolVed, That said resolution be re.
terred 10 the committee of WAYS and
means"
They urged that such a reference co,,,d
only tend to embnrrass The Operations az
the committee Of ways ana means. when
the report Of that committee was made.
II would De seasonable to Offer ahy prom.
sltion, whose merits would then be duk
weighed. Such propositions as The pre-
sent only tcndedto rctard business. Ifite
objeGt was 70 defeat regeal Of ll,e inter.
Del taxes, NJ cuuht ~ l,c ,-.s-.....,i 49,.