Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1804-12-08

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they have given the like for schools in the
W ndsruess cCuntry they may give some
10 the gentlemen from Connecticut; but
would ai,y 'li them contend FOR an exemp-
non from paying hall or two thirds of The
price, when the sale was made on uni
form system, and would they ask for an
exemption from the payment of theirtax
lift WAS imposed Mr.. II concluded by re-
p atiHg The idea, that If you once step o.
yer ihe barrier, there is no security, and
ii Won tbrpivc or exempt the payment OF
the duties in ths instance, Congress may
forgive every thing to their fayorites,
when they have any.
Ntc. Dana mad: reply to MIR. Find
ley bat 1t is So difficult TO hear Centle-
men across The iiaDr thar the reporter dare
seldom attempt TO follow them. He con-
sidsrti AR. F's objection as being form
ed upon the idea, TIA; the books compos-
ing the libraries of colleges aud universe.
ties were OF the same kitd as those used
lin country schools; few things were more
dissimilar the one was merely to init
ate the pupil in the first principles, the o.
thcr took more extensive range, embra-
cling Inc whole circle Of science, the clas-
sic anShors. and the best writer's, ancient
and modern, books scarcely ever II be
found bd, in collections attached 10 litera-
~ institutions, and the rcvenIs arising
from them may be called tax upon Sc
niinaries Of learning.
MIR. J. CLAY was one Of the committee.
anil had agreed to the report; since rea
sous had been called for he would in few
words asS IN those which influenced him.
The gentleman Crom Connecticut (air. j. }
mistakes in thinking that a denial 10 ex-
emp, books (romimposti is tax on liJera
" institutions, and therefore not uniform,
as the constitution requires all imposis
S',0ud be; bat he did not make his stand
On the ground ofthe contribution, ne rested
tee question uponiis xpediency. Giving
Elc'try institutions The privilege Of exemp.
ton trnm impos;s would open wide door
for fraud we should soon have them ion,
porting books for sale duty free rivaiinr
the booksellers who are subjected 10 th 4.
paymcat of impost, and vending them in
every street and avenue of the nation.
Bot why privilege colleges and universe
ties 10 accommodate the rich for we may
believe that the rich and the children g!
the rich are the only persons who have
access to these. collections The poor
have little leisure and less opportunity to
improve the advantage which even nc'1h
b1rhord would Eve them to pcruse works
OF III: kind alluded 10, and surely il woui
be Thought unjust 10 taX their pittauce oil
imported articles, and in order TO enable
ger:iemen to read the classic aa,hoIs OF
the sublime and beautiful OF The mod6n
writer's.
MIR. t':ndey spoke Of colleges no, Of u.
Universities: we have three III Pepnsylva
MIA, one Of which, to be sure, has also The
tile Of university, hut two OF them have
not funds 10 import books on their own
account; IT is only rich institutions that
have this advantage, the pAorer class oil
scninaries buy Of booksellers, and pay
them the imp0st as well as their retail
profit. Indeed This remission 0f duties
will rather teud create disgust than give
satisfaction; and these seminaries which
have large collections OF books would be
induced to sellthem at ;heir present price
~ order to procure new ones cheaper a,
they have had to pay the duty on the for
I1sr, bat would have none 70 pay hpor
those they should hereafter import.
The question being called fpr--it wa,
pu; on agreeing to tre report OF the com.
mi,tee OF he wh1le. that 1t is inexpcdicnj
10 remit The duty on books, and carried ir
the affirmative, 70 members voting in the
affirmative.
Adjourned.