Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1813-07-23

representatives., as that laying duty Of 20
cents per bushel on salt.-Ts this bill
the Chairman of the committee OF ways
and means offered an amendment making
provision for the fisheries, sc. agreeable
to the former law on This subject. To
this amendment there was much oppo-
si,ion-On this subject Mr.. John Reed
observed
MIR. SPEAKER,
1t was not my intention to have trou-
bled this house with any observations at
this time But, sir, consldel tiny du-
ty, to offer some PLAN ara obvious rea.
sons in favor Of the prop led amendment;
and also to read some extracts from an a.
bic and elaborate report Of q iormep Sc
cretary of State on the subject.
The ameudmen, now under conside-
ration, to the bill laying a duty Ut twenty
cents per tushel OR imported salt, makes
an allowance to vessel. engaged IN the
cod fisheries under certain limlations
and restrictions as therein provided. and
also allows drawback on the eXportg-
ton of picked fish and sated provisions.
The allowance and lrswbacE .boYemcu-
toned are intended as al cqnivaiert to
the duty paid on the salt used in the
curing and preserving fish and meat.
! would state to this house that in the
curing and preserving Goldfish, great
Quantities OF salt, especially in conapa-
rison with the value OF iish cured s pre-
served are absolutely requisite be-
lieye the remark equally true as it re-
speets picked fish.
II duty oftwenty cea,s per bushel
be laid ON al foreign salt DIS contemplate
ed by the bill on your table, and the pro-
posed amendment should not prevail,
this tax would be oppressive on fisher
Ehen beyond all precedent or Endurance.
Shall be permitted to state some ca
ses for the con sideraiion ct this house
Suppose fishing vessel of seventy tons
burthen use fifteen hundred bushels of
salt in the fishing season duty of 90
cents per bushel would amount to $500.
II all the profits to all the fishermen and
owaer of such vessel as have describ.
ed during the fishing season, in ordina-
~ times, and seasons and markets, would
amount to 5000, then by the proposed
tax of $500, you take from their pockets
So is per cent. or one third part Of all
the income and profits of fishermen.
The gentleman from n. Carolina, (Mr.
Pickens) has several times addressed
this house On the proposed amendment.
That gentleman observed yesterday that
the salt tax would bear very hard on his
constituents. He atated that in the dis
trict he had the honor &c represent, salt
sold for about So per bushel, that the
addition of twenty cents would be Sc
we're burtben; at the same time that
gentleman seems much opposed 10 any
amendment which has Tor its object the
relief Of any portion of the community
from the proposed duty. Other gentle
men have advanced the same sentiments.
If farmer use 5 or so bushels OF salt
he must pay tax 20 this government
Of S3 or Sc. If fisherman possessed
of the same value Of property and having
the same income would use 800 or 5000
bushels Of salt, of course he would pay
a tax TO this government of $500 or $500.
The Hypothetical statements l have
made, ! believe substantially true. |
will not for moment believe any gen.
tleman in this house, while he complains
of burthens about to be laid on his own
constituents, almost too heavy to be
borne, will consent to lay burthens one
hcndred fold heavier on any portion OF
the inhabitants of any section of the y.
States.
Again.-By the constitution we have
no power to tax the exports OF our Own
counsry.--Apd by provision in the bill
on your table, conformable to the uni
form policy Of the country, when salt
imported is again exported, drawback
is allowed. If no duty can be laid on
cur own exports, and drawback OF dc.
ties paid be allowed on the expectation
of foreign merchandise, am unable to
perceiveany good reason founded either
in Justice or the fitness of things, why
those who pay the duties or salt neces-
sarily used in preserving hsh and meat
should not be entitled to the like adva0-
tages on the expectation of the same, as
they would have been il the salt had not
been rsefully employed. team certain
~ be no objection in the mind OF any
man that the salt is incorporated with
the fsh--a production of this country
Of SO little profit to the fisherman, and
so highly advantageous to the y. States.
The quantity of salt necessarily used can
be easily ascertained. 90 not believe
the allowance proposed adequate to the
duty ON the salt which must necessarily
be used. l, certainly ought to be our
object to tax every portion OF the inha-
bitants Of the United States as equally
az Dossiblr. IT is nv solemn and deli