Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-02-21

le<ieI AMI Collected III the same manner,
and under the same regulations, mode Of
security, and time Of payment, respective
", rs are already prescribed by law, in
relation to tine duties now in force on the
importation of articles imported from any
foreign port or place. That this act shall
continue in force until the first day of April,
1910. and no longer: Provided, that the
additional duties laid by this act, shall be
collected on such goods, wares and mer-
chandise as shall have been imported pre-
vious to the said day."
Mr.. w. Aston, in the absence of Mr..
G. w. Campbell, the chair man of the com.
mi.tee of WAYS and Means, moved to fill
the blank in the bill with the word seventy
five, stating that the opinions of the men,
bers of the committee had varied as to the
proportion with which to fill the blank
some being for lao, some for so; and rs had
been taken as the average.
The motion to fill the blank with " seven
ty-6ve" was negat:ycd, 81 to 81 |; and &c fif-
ty' agreed upon, SO to 80.
The words in Ifafic in the above were
struck out "n motion of Mr.. w. Aston.
The wo"tis :. ard allowances as 10 draw.
back" were inserted OH motion Of the same
gentleman, between the words "regula-
tions" and &c mode of security, &c."
4 motion was made by Mr. Milnor to strike
out the first section If the bill, which gave
rise to considerable debate; but was with
Drawn by Mr. Mlnor,swho moved that the
committee rise, with a view to recommit
the bill. Motion negatived.
in-he course Of the debate Messrs Mil
nor, Lloyd, Tallmadse, Scan and Quincy
op. .osed tae principle OF the bill on the
groun,, tina; the house had not before the m
buy speciic information on which TO act !;
thsr the day on imported goods were al
ready very high; that AN increase of them
would encourage evasions Of the revenue
laws by throwing oat temptations to snug
glers; that the Oil imposed 'ddi,ional du.
ties lnd.sc-imina'ely oh all articles import
ed, whilst the house, however it IN 'ght tax
some articles, should avoid burthening those
articles used almost exclusively by the
poorer classes of the people that the tag
il raised os proposed, would operate as
compete prohibition of the importation Of
some ar;icles, that an additional duty would
increase the value OF goods now in the
hands of menopolisers, aad excite discon-
content in part of the community; and
finally, that IL the measure was proper IN
itself, 1t was at this time prem ture, the
house not having decided what course of po-
Icy II would pursue.
Messrs. w. Alstcn, Fisk, Smile, Tay
Tor, Eppes and Rhea CD supported the
bill. They remarked that those who were
opposed TO the support of the government
would undoubtedly vote against any propo-
sitiou for raising revenue; that besides
producing revenue, the bill would encou.
rage our own manufactures, and thus render
us more independent of foreign nations !;
that this measure had been proposed at the
last session, though not acted on, and was
therefore not sudden proposition; that if
the proportion proposed were too large, the
committee might refuse it and agree TO a
smaller; that it would be impossible at this
late period OF the session to form new
taril of duties discriminating between the
increase of duty on different articles i'm
ported; that even supposlng there were a
difference of opinion as to the mode of lax-
ing the duty /; the time for the spring i'm
portatioB was nearly arrived, and by de-
laying the passage of the bill beyond
the present session the benefits of it would
be lost; that the bill for imposing discri-
minstiDg duties would be wholly different
from this, and could not he got through the
house during the present session.
Messrs. Lyon, Bacon, Cook and Burwell
were IN favor OF the object Of the bill, but
wished IL to be so amended as to discrimi-
nate between the articles on which the du-
ty was to be laid, excepting from it those
of the first necessity.
Mr.. ID. x. Williams wished toimpose the
additional duty exclusively on goods import
ed from England * France an1t hus max c
the increase of duty a measure to operate
on foreign nations as well as to produce re-
venue to the United States.
The bill having been gone through and a
motion having been made that the commit
tee report the bill
Mr.. ID. X. Wilinms moved to amend the
bill by inserting after the words "goods,
wares and merchandise" in the beginning
of the bill, the words I" the produce OF
manufacture of Great Britain and France,
and the colonies OF either" Mr.. w. said
it wouldbe perceived that this motion pro-
p,sed wholly TO change the aspect of the
bill; and as it was late in the day, he NOV
ed that the committee rise, ogive time for
reflection on it.
Phe cOomittee then rose, reported pro-
gress, and obtained leave to sit again.
Adjourned.
Wednesday. Feb IL