Alexandria daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1803-1808, 1806-04-17
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Monday, April ~.

Mr.. I. Randolph said ne was ABOUT 10
4calI the attention OF the house TO a SUBS
iecr, which he should not probably have
Drought into view, but dur the change
wrought in the state OF the revenue, Ia
consequences OF the peace concluded VITA
fripolI. Among the Different articles
from which monies were drawn, there was
none SO heavily barthened as salt; and ls
would be reeollsc.ed that II was oae OF the
necsssaries OF lite, aud an article the Tree
use and consumption Of which was OF MAJ
,erial importance TO the agriculture. OF the !.
country. Two acts had been passed lay.
ing duty on this article. II was no new
lhiag 10 wish; it was indeed extremely
desirable 70 diminish, IT not 70 take OH
this daty aud for that purpose ae suoMis.
ted tbs following resolution;
Resolved, That the coma,itte ofways and
means be instructed to enquire INTO the
expediency of repeating SO much OF any
act as lays a duty on salt, and to report
such provisions, as may in their opinion, DC
calculated to meet the deficiency oceaslon-
ed by that repeal,
Mr.. Thomas said, the committee Of
ways and means, of which the gentleman
from Virginia Mr. j. Randolph who
has made the motion, was and still is chair
man, were instructed by this house, in the
early part OF last session. en- a motion
which he had the honor then to submit, to
enquire into the expediency of reducing
the dusy on salt, and If ne reeoliected right
shey were directed 10 report by biz or o.
thcrw.sc, but, from some cause or other,
10 him unknown, that commplee had never
yet made any report on that subject cour.
tesy might induce him TO impute this ne
glect to the muluplcisy OF business pue IN.
10 the hands of the. members OF that cora.
nis1ee. 47a
He, Mr.. T. always Considered the du.
,y on this article too high, and falling par.
.tlcularly heavy on the agricultural part ct
the community. twas now and always
had been his wish to reduce it as soon as
our revenue would permit, if consistent
with the provisions mace fer paving of cur
national debt, and meeting the o.hsr eGi.
gsncies of government; for his part re
was a, loss, however, TO discover that the
present situation Of our revenue, and the
calls of government fer expenditure, toge.
Their with the present aspect OF our foreign
relations, Narrated this measure more
aewshan last year. 1t was true that the
var with the Barbary powersup the Me-
diterranean bad ceased, butt was also true,
.hat the two ADD an half per cent additional
duty oe goods paying ad valorem duties,
has likewise ceased with the peace conclud.
ed with Cripoll. This duy was laid for
Shs support Of, and was more than adequate
70 the exnence Of that war.
He repeated, that he was in favor Of
reducing the duty on salt whenever we
could part with SO much of our revenue.
He regretted, however, that the gentle.
man from Virginia (Mr. Randolph) had
not brought this subject up at an earlier
period of the session when il might have
been 10 our power to have examined into
it, aad if found practicable to have reduc-
ed the duty bur as the gentleman is him.
self chairman of the committee, and mas
In his power to act On it irnme diately If
ne pleases, he hoped he (Mr. Randolph
would obey the instructions OF the house
when predicated On his OWE motion, althe'
Ae did not when instructed BY areaolution
submitted by him. Mr.. I. and, therefore,
he would vote for the resolution with al
expectation that we shall, now at lsass,
have report on the subject.
Mr.. J. Randolph said he had but two or
three words to offer on the subject OF the
motion said to have been offered during
the last year on this point. He had dis
the, recollection Of such motion having
been offered; and he also recollected that
he had told the mover of it, that it was not
then possible to take off the duty upon salt,
inasmueh as they had only the session pre-
cediug been compelled to raise additional
revenue for the purpose Of carrying on