Alexandria gazette, commercial and political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1812-1817, 1814-12-06
On motion or Mr.. Eppes. the
House then proceeded to the orders
ofthe day.
THE TAX BILLS.

- He LA bthLSs
The bill 10 provide an additional
revenue for defrayisg the expenses
OF the government, and for the pay.
men, Of the pstlic debt. by laying an
additiousl duty on spirits distilled
anil for amending the act already 10
existence for taxing that article. was
ready a third tins. Crhc additional
tax. il will be rccollected. is fixed at
t1centy cents per gallon o. the quaint.
ty distilled.
Mr.. Cannon Of Ten. moved to ne
commit the bill 10 the committee OF
Ways AMI Means /; which motion he
Supported by speech embrarinS'
priscipaily. these points Of objection
/. The amount Of the duty on the
articletaxed, which was ofopprcssiye
magsitnde. and unjust. because
unequal in its operation and. 8. The
mode Of collection as vexatioas, and
therefore irexped;snt.
TIE motion Far recommitment was
also supported by Mr.. iinmphreys
often in an argument ofsome length.
the object of which was 10 dsmen.
straie the unrqasl operation OF this
taxas affecting rd4tivoly the Eastern
or Westera states.
Mr.. Fisk Of VI. opposed the mo-
ton. This tax. he coniended would, in
The result. exhibit as great product
from the Eastern as Western states,
&c.
Mr.. Grosvenor Of N. Y. also OF.
posed the reesmmitment OF the bill.
and rontrnded. in reply to the gentle
mea fran Tennessee that the opera
tim of the tax Was not unequal. view,
ea i've csanexiss with the other in
teraaI duties. mar wouid il effect the
suppression Of the disiilleries, as
appeared 10 he apprehended.
Mr. lngerself Of Pa. oppo.ed the
recenmiim.Bt. In the dispute BE-.
tween the Eastern states. the inter
mediate ground was entirely ever.
lacked; tho he eonteaded Peonsylvs-
mia would pay as largo 3 propor.io"
Ofthe tax rs any other Sate-and
therefore he should vote for il, he
canss he was DESTROYS that state
should in the present crisis contri
butr its fall proportion. Among other
Things. speaking in support Of the
tax Mr.. /. said. he ronld mol see why,
whenever this ,ohissry tax eaRe up,
50 many 1ory face, shonld be made
upon il: md The sn,unt OF the TAX
could not Sc considered very sppres-
sive. when, even after the tax w1s
laid. man might make llimseif dead
druHk for sirpear'.
Mr.. Humphreys, in reply IN MIR.
Gro- venor, Who remarked, thate'en
If the tax did operate eppressirely,
the people of the West on. i' 10 hear
Il patiently bcrsr.e made necessary
BY the var FOR which they had tesn
so aIxio.s-ramarked. With much
point. OH the wee knrss ef this argn.
meni the people Of Tennessee. he
said. had advocated the war from
their zeal in behalf Of the rights Il
honor of the country. whirh 'hr, be-
lievrd 10 demand il aud il would be
hard indeed if they were to be taxed
higher thaa other sections OF the
Unisn. herause more devoted 20 their
rights!
MIR. kilhourn Of Ohie also advo.
Gated the recomaitnept OF the bill.
for the genera: reasons assigned by
other gentlemen. The tax already
in existence. he said. mud suppressed
or stopped perhaps one-haif Of the
in his district, and the
enereaye now proposed Of 400 per
.eat on the prevent duty woulu, as
he conceived. rather reduce thaa In.
crease the revenue, as he endeayored
10 demonstrate BY number Of argu-
mems.
Mr.. Webster Of ". Fl. asked fer
Of the gentleman from
Ohio. what proportion Of the Direct
Tax within that state was paid by
Z
MIR KiIbourn admitted that more |
han eas half IF the last direct tax
n OHIO had bsen paid by non resi-.
Tents hut perhaps fonr-iifths Of the
Ioil was opned by the non residents
(which had he been SO disposed, he
night have enumerated. When sp
,efore. as one Of the hardshi5s ua-
Ter which the state labsrsd.