Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1812-03-23
HOUSE ef REPRESENTATIVES,.
March 10.

Mr' newton presented petition OF the
Branch pilots for the Potomac river, praying
that a law may be passed 20 enable them
TO compel payment from persons residing
IN the District OF Columbia for piIotage OF
vessels into and out of said district. Refer
rcd.
Mr.. Rhea presented a petition Of sundry
inhabitants of Louisiana, praying an extern
sion to them otthe second grade of tcrritori-
al government. Referred.
The Speaker laid before the House a re =
port OF the Secretary cfNar, and Secretary
and Comptroller of the Treasury, on the
claims of the heirs of Gen. Moses Hazen and
of James Boyd. Referred.
The Speaker also laid before the House
report fthe Secretary of the Treasury,
enclosing the annual statement of the emol-
uments OF the officers of the customs For 1911.
Referred.
On motion of MIR. Harper,
RESOLVED, That a committee be appoin-
ted TO enquire into the state of Public Prin-
ting for the House of Representatives, and
to report such regulations for the same in
future as they may deem eXpedient.
Messrs. Harper, Peasants and Black
ledge were accordingly appointed commit
tee.
The engrossed bill for repeating the 10th
section of the act to incorporate the subscri-
bers to the Bank of the u. s. was read the
third time and passed.
DUTY ON EXPORTS.
MIR. Mitchill observed that he wished to
submit to the House proposition which he
had long revoived in his mind 1t was an
amendment uf the Constitution in the sec
tioa forbidding duty TO be laid upon arti
Giles exported from the several states. The
convention, who framed that invaluable in
tpfnVu f.r.t hoI 81. ,,,,@l
ton che products of our land and industry.
They had foreseen an inconvenience that
might have arisen from imposing export
duties upon certain articles, as oect, pork,
potash, tobacco, cotton or bread stuffs; for
example, in their bearing upon particular
members OF the contedGracy, or upon select
eel Glasses OF proprIetorS and their business.
Considering the inhabitants as chiefly en-
gagged IN the pursuits of agriculture, il was
declared that no money should be levied, e.
ven by Congress, upon the surplus articles
OF thar plantations and farms on transpor-
tation to foreign parts. There were, he
owned, strong reasons i'll favor OF this pro-
vision originally. But time, and the varied
condition of society, had remarkably dimin-
ished their force.
Since the formation of the constitution in
1877, and its ratification by the states in 1888.
1870 ~biOiio nav ItlASal plsACC III OFF no.
mestic condition. And changes vet more
considerable had been experienced, with
those parts of the world with which we held
the closest connection. In the lapse of TWEEN
ty-tour years, our people had become pro-
hcients III manufactures, The native ma
terlais OF the country had been, by the labor
and skill OF the inhabitants, worked up int,
thousand forms. Raw materials from a.
broad mad been subjected to similar process.
ses or art and the distilled spirits. the cot.
ton and hempen yarn, the preparations Of
leather, wool, wood aud iron, and MANY o.
Their things, were studiously sought after. b,
persons beyond the seas. He believed i
would be Just and proper to raise money on
foreign consumption. This might be effect
cd ny moderate ard discreet export dut,
upon me products Of our own agriculture
and manufacture, as they departed from oul
ports on their destination to distant mar
kGts.
The efficacy Of such q measure made hin
regret that the Legislature did not posses
the authority to adopt it. In our CONNER
clal competitions with other nations. ",
were always crippled through the want @
such power. It was an engine ,Vhict
they employed most severely against rs
In our attempts 70 Cpuntcrvail these reou
lations, however adverse, and to meet thei
system BY corresponding and rctaliator,
system, we were constantly fettered an,
hanIPered by a Constitutional restriction
Ihe western sovereigntes Of Europe, and
indeed, commerce itself, had suffered sucl
turnings and overturnings, that he believe,
we ought TO disengage ourselves a. quickf
as we conveniently could from the prohibi
tory clause Of our Constitution. Winnie IN,
beiligerent empires threw so many rnpedi
mcnts ~ the way Of liberal and advantage
GUS intercourse, l. Was our duty to remo,,
trom tAe path an obstruction placed ther,
by ourselves.