Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1806-04-22
AIoapAY, April IL.

-lliu tNs
Mr.. J. Randolph said he was about to
cali the attentions of the house TO a sub
Iect, which he sheuldlnot have probably
have brouyh, into view, but for the change
wrought in the state of the revenue, in
consequence Of the peace concluded with
irIpoli. Among the different articles
iroKi which monica were drawn, there
was none SO heavily burihcned as salt !;
and 1t would be recollrSted that it was
one OF the neccssaries of life, and an arti-
Gle the free use and consumption of which
was OF material importance to the sgr;-
culture of the country. Two acts had
been passed laying duty on this article.
IL was no nsw thing to wish--it -yas in
deed extremely desifable--,o diminish, if
not to take of this duty ;--and for that
purpose he submitted the following rsso.
iulion:
Resolved, That the committee OF ways
and means be instructed to inquire into
the expediency of repeating so much of
any aSs - 'ays i duty on salt, and to re
port such provision, as may n their Opt
'nion, be calculated tu meet The deficiency
occasioned by that repeal.
MIR. Thomas said, the committee of
ways and means, of which the gentleman
from Virginia (aIr. j. Randolph) who
has made the motion, was S. still is shairJ
man, were Instructed, by this house, in
the early part of last session, ON motion
which he had the honor then to submit,
10 enquire into the expediency of reduc-
my the duty on salt, and if he recolleetel
right they were directed to report by bill
or otherwise, but, from some cause or o.
Their, to him unknown, that committee had
never YET made any report on that subject
courtesy might induce him to impute
this neglect to the multiplicity of business
put into the hands of the members of tina,
committee.
lie, Mir. I. always considered the duty
on this article too high, and falling parti
cuiar'y heavy on the agricultural part of
the community. 1t was now, and always
had been his wish to reduce it as soon as
our revenue would permit, if consistent
with the provisions made for paying off
our national debt, and meeting the other
exgencies of government--ror his part.
he was at loss. however, to discover that
The present situation Of our revenue, and
the calls of government for expenditure,
together with the present aspect of our 70.
reign relations, warranted this measure
more 30" than last year. itwas true that
the war with the Barbary powers up the
Mediterranean had ceased, bat it was al
so true, that the TWO and an half per cent.
additional duty on goods paying cd valo-
rem duties, has likewise ceased with the
peace concluded with Tripol-- This duty
was laid for the. support of, and was
more than adequate to the expense oftha,
war.
He repeated, that he was in favor of re.
Gucingt the duty on salt, whenever we could
part with so much OK our revenue. He re.
GREETED, however, that the gentleman from
Virginia (Mr. RsndoIph) had not brought
this subject up atsn earlier period Of the
session when it might have been in our
power to have examined into il, and if
found practicable to have reduced the du
"; but as the gentleman is himself chair.
man of the committee, and has it it In his
power TO act on itiInmediateIy. il he pleas
cs, he hoped he, (air. Randolph) would
obey the Instructions OF The house when
predcated on his own motion, although
he did not whsn instructed by resolution
submitted by him, Mr.. L. and, therefore I
he would vote fer the resolution with an
expectation that We shall, now at least,
have report on the subject
Mr.. J. Randolph, said he had but two
or three words 10 offer on The subject Of
the motion said 10 have been offered dur
ing the last year onthis point. he had
a distinct rsco'!eelion Of such motion
having been offered and he also recolleel 4
ed thar he had told the mover of it, tha,
It was not then possible to take off the du
~ upon salt, iuasnuch as they had only
the session preceding been compelled to
raise additional revenue for the purpose
of carrying on the Trpolian war. He
did not rscolleEt whether the resolution
had been agreed 20 by the house. But ii
would be recoils eled that during ths lat.
Ter part Of the session the most active
members of the committee Of ways and
means were almost exclusively engaged
10 conducting an Impeachment depending
before the other branch of the legislature.
VI The committee Of ways and means had
failed in their duty to max. report, the
house would perceive lnalit was on one
OF those trivial motions, which had been
made under circumstances that did not en-
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