Jenks's Portland gazette., 1802-02-15
ElauLr d Rrprrfrntattnrs.


a motion made by Mr. Nicholion ID intruct me
conIsttee Of ways and means. to enquire, whether
any and what alterations may be necefary 10 the
duties on tonnage, and merchandise, was taken up,
and agreed to without dvilion.
The motion was made by Mr.. Nicholion, as he
fated, not from any necefIity exiting On his mind
for out TO fatisfy the cruples Of ome gentlemen,
wAe thought the reference on the fame fubje6t
made the I2ih December, ambiguous.
Mr. Bayard called up refolution, laid by him
fome days fince upon the table, directing the fecre-
tary OF the reaury tC Rate in detail the expsnCes
attending the coil ction Of the internal duties, 70
&C 70 q dicrmnate The expences Of one branch from
another, and alto what reductions 10 the expence
may be conveniently made.
M. Bayard faid, that as il was very polIible bis
motion might lhare the fame fateswith reiouti0n
that morning rejected, he thought il proper TO ex
Pl2in the grounds on which he made il. Geatie.
men were infinitely deceived if they think our OBJ
Jeet is by any particular mode Of procedure To gain
an advantage on the public opinion. They poiibly
view our meatures with jauudced eye, and aicrihe
70 US motives, which We do not feel He had
avowed, aud he wiChed the avowal 1 0 be remem-
5erei ibRt he was FOR soiag haaa in hand win
geniieEnen ID reducing the public burthens. In
dong this, his Object that the mOit eligible re-
duetio1s ih0uid be frt made bill had already
Paiied the houfe in relation to the army, which
contemplated large faving, other retreuChmeht3
which We ihould be enabled to make great deduc-
tons 10 the public impodtions. But the great
queition was what taxes ibouc DC firf repealed or
reduced. This quefioG he wifled TO view With
discriminating eye. One leading objection made 10
internalrsvenue was the great expenieS efCo cton.
fee what thste n the aggregate but as ap
piled to particular articles, be dered the informa-
tion now fought; that lie might be enabled to de-
eide whether lome branches of the internal revenue
might not be retained while others were Topped off,
lie hoped the information he fought would not
be denied. He bad never known the ocCaion
when iuch requef was refufed-He concluded by
dshring the yeas and nays.
MIR. Randolph deired the clerk to read an ex-
tract from the report Of the Secretary ofthe Treat
ury, then before the houfe.
The clerk accordingly read Ii, as follows
II will appear by the fame fatement, (M.)
that Whit the eXpences of collection on merChan-
dize and tonnage, which are betrayed oHt of the
revenue, do not exceed 4 per cent. thOfe Cd the
permanent lnteg nal duties, amountlto almOf 10 per
cent. This, however, is an inconveniency, which,
on account of the great number of the individuals
on whom the duties are raled, and of their diperf-
ed htuation throughout the whole exteAt of the
United States, mutt, more or lefs, attach to the
fyfem Of internal taxation, 70 long as the wants of
government lhall nat require any considerable ex-
teni1n, and the total amount OF revenue lhall
main incohGderable."
Mr.. I. Morris did not conGder the report as
furDilhing the information wanted. Il exhibited
only general reiult. Though that reful exhibited
an expence of 40 per cent. yet there were paticu-
lar branches of the internal revenue whole collec.
tioo did not require 70 much that on ftamps did
not require more than or 6 per cent. He was
furprfSd that any gentleman fhould rcfufe this n-
formation. He could not undertand what motives
could acuate gentlemen in fuch refulal.
Mr.. Randolph caled to order. The gentleman
had ne right to impeach the motives of any mem
Der.
Mr.. T. 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
d;lcufs topics of national concern, and we ought
to receive Information tbaC win enable Us TO diff
cufs thofe topics with cerre6t understanding of
them. Gentlemen may meet in private, deliber-
ale "a what bad had heretofore been denominated
caucufes, and refolve on what ihould be doae !;
bnl he hoped that before that houfe were called up
on TO fandion their mealures, we ihali hear their
reafons for them
Mr.. GrfEold faid, he fuppoled the gentlemen
from Virginia had obtained the extract from the
report of The fecTetary OF the treaury to be read
to fhew that this retaliation ought to paGs as that
report only ftaed the geHsrale lex9ence of collection,
while the ebiect of the refontion was 10 get the
particular eTpence of each branch olrevenue.
Mr.. Huger felt It imPoliibe to give hisvote with
out expreing his regret at the canfe taken. which
leemed TO be purified under the determination of
repeating the internal taxes at all events. IL his
part OF he coHGirys the ci,i7eny paid bit alraing