Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-05-09

were mol So high az 10 pr "a,
auction altogether. Such, FicrSs-
ed, would be the effec, OF DIV of 10
per cent. proposed in the Ne section.
MIR. S. assigned several q Hsous why he
thought auction sales ought not TO be
wholly inicrtlicted, al the same time that
he thought them III object for taxation.
lie therefore moved 10 strike out Of The "a
bove ten per cent. and in lieu thereof 10
insert two and a halt per cent.
MIR. SMITH, of Mary land, whilst lie OPP
posed this amendment, gave his general
views of the bill. The committee, he
said, had in his opinion, wisely discrinii-
nailed, retaining small duly only OH
such goods, groceries for example, as had
always heretofore been sold al auction.
That duty. however, he thought, ought
To be but one instead of two per cent
The object Of The ten per cent. daily on
safes of another description WAS TO pro.
htbn them altogether. To shew the adj
vanlageous effects of such a prohibition.
Alr. ). entered into general view of The
pernIriens operation OF such sales The
| effect Of The duty of ten per cent. swould
be 10 throw back the trade into the hands
OF The fair American merchant. The
Two and halt per cent. duty would not
have this operation il would be cheer
fully paid, and would give ID revenue Of
sou. 900 dollars. Revenue, however. was
not The object, but prohibition or exclu-
sion OF these sales and the proposed
amendment, therefore, ought not 10 be
adopted.
Mr. SERGEANT gave 10 the House his
views of this subject, and particularly Of
the amendment. With regard TO trade
IN general, he was opposed TO subiectiug
II 10 ton much regulation: but sales al
! anciloa were fair subjec, of regulation,
because the sys!em itself was The creature
| OF regulation, being subjec, 10 particular
restraints and giving particular benefits 10
those who carry il on, &c. He objected
10 The auction system, that IL was incou.
sisient with sober and moderate habits,
and induced gambling aud Specializing
haDits--he spoke OF il in a limited as
| well as In general sense. lie had there
lore no objection 10 The proposed pro.
mbiiory duty. But To The imposition O!
a duty on sales al auction as q means OF
revenue, he bad many objections, the
most fOrcible of which vas that its ope-
ration would be too partial such duty
would well form part OF a general sys-
len, but certainly ought not TO be select
ed from all other equally proper objects
oil iaierpal taxation, &c. He was of
course opposed TO The amendment.
Mr.. JOHNSON, of Virginia then took
lie floor. He regarded this bill as only
continuance OF the system of measures
commenced in one bill which has alreat.y
passed this house, and proposed TO be
continued in the other which was yes
ierday rejected: system which he
| pronounced 10 be calculated 10 visit with
ruin and distress one portion of the com
munliy 10 the benefit of two other clas-
ses. lie replied 10 some of the argu-
menis advanced on this day and on pre-
cediug days, III favor OF fostering the
manufacturing system and particularly
| denied that the independence of the
| country Was in any manner essentially
connected with that policy. With regard
to The alleged effect OF this bill TO pro-
mote The public interest, by preventing
people from buying goods al auction, he
considered the old fashioned way The
| best, which LEFT 10 the good people of tho
| Uniieei States 10 Judge for themselves OF
| what would best promote their Interests.
This bill, he argued, would promote the
interest OF but two classes--the mer'
! chants and the manufacturers by ex-
cindlng tho competiiion OF foreign CAPT.
tai, and further burthening the sales of
imported goods, &r. With respect 10
the morality Of auction sales, he said,
That II was not the province OF Congress,
but of the state governments, tO'legislaie
for the preservation OF The morals OF lie
community, &c. &c.
mr. Tracy delivered his views in Op-
position 10 The bill. With regard 10 the
monopoly of the auction business, lie
said, IL was the first time he had heard
serious allegation against monopoly
tn object of which was TO sell goods
lIP In ho, 10
they would be sold. On the contrary,
the effect OF this bill would be, he ar
gucd, 10 create, instead of destroying, a
monopoly. lie examined the operation
OF sales at auction, and replied 10 the
arguments which had been employed 10
show their injurious aud immoral lcDdeR-
cy. People m ght buy as immoral!y, and
as foolishly, lie said, from The regular
merchant a. al auciiOn--and more SO,
because in The one case they mnst pay
cash for their purchases, and in the other
might obiain extensive credits, which
were always prejudicia!. Hedenied the
!orce of the argument, that the business
o selling goods wopld be thrown into
more hands by abolishipg sales AT auc-
lion he san no reason III Cosgress
IesisIallng for The purpose OF producing
such an effect, &c. In concluding his
speech, Mr.. II. moved TO strike Oui 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 sliew that the pro-
posed duties were too high, aud would
certainly be cvaded, and evsded with
o"i fraud, by change i'll The customary
mode Of doing business. a single pack
age Of goods, for example, woald be
sold al public sale 10 fix Tic price, and