Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-01-20


stands precisely in the situation of any o.
Their alien, subject to the same disabilities,
entitled to the same imunities If then ne
is merely an alien, there is no functiOnary
IN the United States, vested with authority
to remove him from the country. My con-
ciusion is, that although the laws OF nations
justify, in certain cases the expulsion of n
foreign minister, yet that a Law of congress
is necessary, in order to delegate that
branch OF federal sovereignty, and to de-
clare the functionsry by whom 1t shall be
exercised.
BY the last mail from Washington, we
received no other intimat ON OF the pro-
ccedmgs Of Congress, but what is Contain
cd in the Washington Federaist IL APP
lpears rom that pse that on the 12Ih
and 18th instant, tine house OF Represen-
tatives we're engaged in a debate on the
proposed repeal OF the duties on salt. The
debate is very imper,ccriy stated, but
is evident that MIR. Dana and Mr. Quincy
! are, rs MIR Randolph says, 6h2giHg tke otd
game, and under the pre,eXt OF reliev-
ing the burthens of the poor, euucaycT ng
to prevent the repeal ofpny tax whatever
The articles of coffee, 3 hea tea and brown
sugar have been, once before rcsOrted to
IN order TO defeat the repeal OF the internal
taxes; and with the same benevolent soil
cltude for the interests Of the poor, the
same patriotic disposition to prevent their
oppression, they have annoyed these veteran
partizans of theirs, against the tyranD cal
repeal OF the duty on salt. 1t is proposed
b. Mr.. Quincy to retain the duty on salt,
and deduct the amount of the tax from the
duties on tea and sugar. The reason which
he assigns for this preference is, that soms-
where IN New England there is = manufaca
tory OF salt, which might be injured by
the repeal.
Such n clamor has been raised respec-
/ ting the duties On Bohea tea, sc, that ma.
| ny of the old women and overgrogn CHI
dren in the u. s. have been made to be-
lleve that the duties OH these articles, form.
ed very considerable items in the cataloguc
at our imposIs. From tho iiicial repor.
OF che secretary of the treasury it appears
| that the total amount of duties on teas is
COY Thousand dollars, out (which SIS thou
sand only arr paid or Bohea.
1t is an insult upon the understandings Of
! the American people to attempt to diStin-
| gu.sh them by classes Of rich and poor. IN
truth there are few very rich persons in
this country, and few very poor. The
y greater number are in a state of mediocre
", andlt would he imp ssiOle 70 raise re-
venue from either extreme. There is per.
haps no article offorei gn importation which
IS more subject of general consumption by
/ all Classes Of society than salt, nor is there
! any OF more Importance to the necessities Of
cIFilized man. The same cannot be said
OF Chinese luxury, imported from dis
lance OF ten thousand miles, and not known
until ~ late, even to the rich and luxurious
| 1t is moreover TO be considered taat a tax
en- salt is not simply tax upcn c0nsump.
ticn; IT operates indirectly as a tax uuon
husbandry, and upon the fisheries, those,
great sources OF national opulcnoe and pros.
perty During the revolutionary war, the
American people suffered great and seri-
Gus inconvenience from the privaeon of
salt, none but the fortified and cileminate,
ever lSmented the want of sugar and tea.
Sheech Of Mr. MIwoR CoC Orange in Me
House IF Delegates, on fhe motion 10
address The Prcs7dent."
Mr.. SPEAKER-I am perhaps to be in
minority to-day, upon the most important
question which mas duringthe session creap.
ed the attention Dfthis legislature Icannot
therefore, consistently with my feelings, a..
rnused as they have been by the dangerous
and alarming inrcad upon principle, which
that address contemplates, give a silent
vote upon 1t. But sir, before | enter into
the merits OF this question, permit me 10
express my deep and profound astonishs
ment at the course which this subject has
taken. If a petition for the establishment
I OF turnpike here, or ferry there, tolls.
bridge in this, or a town in that place; or
/ any OF those thousand frivolous subjects of
legislation, over which we doze and slum.
Der fer two-thirds Of the session, is pre-
sented to this house, time is allowed for
enquiry, all the foTmalIties necessary to OBJ.
tam thorough and complete Investigation
OF the subject, arc observed, il is canvassed
and examined in all its bearings and atti-
tudes, SO as 10 enable this house to arrive az
| a correct decision. But sir, when a aues-
ZION OF The most momehtous magnitude, is
I Drought before this house, a question which
involves the interests not of Virginia alone.
but OF the Union itself, a question which
involves one Ct those axioms in political
scIence, which we have been taught to re-
verence and respect us the pivot Itself up.
ON which every republican institution ought
70 be bottomcd, ROTATION in Office when
( a question sir, Of this magnitude is before
! the house, we are 20 be driven into its i'm.
mediate discussion, and not its discussion
/ only, but Its decision In vain is il, that we
/ have asked at the hands OF The friends Of
this address, a little time to WEIGH its NEE
i1ts and to canvass its extraordinary fea-
lures. In vain is il, that in the spirit OF
! n'aknamnuty, We have declared ourselves
I uuurcD9red for lie dierussic, a 49,. -