Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1820-05-06

featuring system and particularly denied
that the independence of the country was in
any manner essentially connected with that
policy. With regard to the alledged effect
of this bill to promote the public interest, by
preventing people from buying goods atauc-
ton he considered the old-fashioned way the
best, which left to the good people OF the
United States ojudge Tor themselves OF what
would best promote their interests, Ibis
bill, he argued, would promote the Interes.
of but two classes--the merchants and the
manufacturers; by excluding the competition
OF foreign capital, and further burthening the
sales of imported goods, sc. Nth respect
to the morality of auction sales, he said, that
it was not the province of Congress, but OF
the state governments. to iegislate tor the
preservation Of the morals of the communl-
ty, &c. sc.
Mr.. Tracy delivered his views in OPPOSE
ton 10 the bill. With regard to the monop-
oily of the auction business, he said, it was
the first time he had heard serious allega-
ton against monopoly the object OF which
was to sell goods cheaper than, without these
auction sales, they would be sold. On the
contrary, the effect Of this bill would be, he
argued, to create, instead of destroying, a
monopoly. He examined the operation OF
sales at auction, and replied to the arguments
which had been employed to show their IN
furious and immoral tendency. People might
buy as immorally, and as foolishly, he said,
from the regular merchant as at auction
and more so, because in the one case they
must pay cash for their purchases, and IN the
other might obtain extensive credits, which
were always prejudicial. He denied the
force of the argument, that the business of
selling goods would be thrown into more
hands by abolishing sales at auctions he saw
no reason in Congress legislating for the pur-
pose of producing such an effect, &c. In
concluding his speech, Mr.. T. moved to
strike out the first section of the bill but,
pending the other motion, this motion was
not in order.
Mr.. Silsbee made some remarks, the object
of which was to shew that the proposed du-
ties were too high, and would certainly be
evaded, and evaded without fraud, by
change in the customary mode of doing bu-
siness. A single package of goods, for ex-
ample, would be sold at public sale to fix the
price, and the rest would be sold off at pri-
vate sale at the same price, and thus the du-
ty saved, sc. &c. He was of course in favor
of the amendment now under consideration.
Mr.. War6eld next spoke, at considerable
length, against the principle of the bill and
in reply TO the arguments used in its support.
He denied that the system of auction sales
could properly be considered as monopo-
ly, or that il produced the deleterious effects
ascribed toi it. He was disposed TO let COM
merce regulate itself, as much as we could
with due regard to the public interest. He
was therefore opposed to passing any law on
this subject; bet, if any law respecting it
were TO pass, he was in favor Of its being a
mended as now proposed by the gentleman
from New ok. He believed the operation
OF this bill would be to encroach in GER
tain degree itor the benefit of ano Their inter-
est on the agricultural interest of the coun-
try and ne was therefore entirely opposed
TO its passage in any shape.
Mr. Kinsey spoke in support of the bill.
He adverled TO the numerous petitions which
had been presented IN favor OF this bill, from
various classes OF society, as aitording the
strongest evidence this house could have in
favor OF the measure now before the house.
He recounted the details OF the operation of
these auction sales as converting the whole
business of trade INTO system OF hazard and
OF chance, having most uenoralzing effect;
aud, whatever gentlemen might say, he con-
tended this was consideration entitled to
the respect OF this house-our government
Itself beng founded OH pubic morals. lie
added many other arguments; and invoked
the parental care OF Congress to the sinking
American manufacturer and merchant from
the effect OF these sales at auction for the
benefit OF foreign competitors, &c.
MI. BALDWIN again spoke in support of the
bill. lie did not consider the duty Of ten
per cent. as prohlbitory duty it was not,
ne said, intended to be such, nor did he be-
heve, from ali the information he bad recei-