Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-24

on, and that our population has increased since
1910, only one-third, it follows that d., 300, $50
gallons of distilled spirits are annually consumed
in the U. States. Deducting from this enor-
nous quantity, 1867, 744 gallons imported, and
there viii remain, distilled in the United States,
81, 732,S12 gallons. Is not this adequate en-
enlargement VIII not the gentleman from
pennsylvania stop short of total exclusion of
foreign spirits? The experience of the past
rapidly producing this result.
The chairman ofthe committee on Manufac-
lures told this committee that one object of the
Dill, under consideration, was to provide reve-
nue. This, sir, IS proper object the bill
ought to be so framed, as, by judicious addition
OF duties on some article to provide for any di-
minution which may result from the encourage
ment properly afforded, to the manufacturer of
other articles. In the year 1929, the duty paid
on foreign distilled spirits imported, into the u
States exceeded two millions and forty thousand
dollars. If you impose duty, which shall a.
mount to a prohibition, how, MIR. It. asked. is
this deficiency to be supplied, The govern
ment must be supported. The national debt
must be paid the pledged faith of the country
redeemed. Although we have large balance
IN the Treasury, yet we told that in order to
meet the payment of that portion of the public
debt which will become payable in 1926, it will
be necessary to borrow about one million of
dollars. Will yOurender it necessary to borrow
two millions more?
MIR. Chairman, adopt the amendment now
before the committee; exclude foreign distilled
spirits, and we present an anomaly in our reve-
nue. system. We exclude foreign, and impose
no duty on domestic spirits. An article of lux
ury, considered in all countries as fit subject.
and fruitful source of revenue, is exempted
from taxation, while we raise about 800, 900
from salt, necessary of life. Can the gentle
man from New York be serious in advocating a
measure fraught with such unjust and ruinous
results
lift is determined that the duty on foreign
spirits shall amount to prohibition, | ask gen
tlemen to give to the country duty on the
domestic article. Let not the revenue which
may be legitimately drawn from this source be
lost. ythis destroyer of the physical energies,
and the morality and happiness of its voiaries
must be permitted to continue its ravages upon
society, do not the principles of sound policy
dictate, that 1t be made to contribute largely
to the national revenuea If, said Mr. T.. pen-
tlemen will propose tax of 90 cents per gal
Ion on whlskey-call it an excise if YOU please,
ne cared not TOR the narne-it should have his
CORDIAL appreciation and support: and to effect
an object of such moral and national interest
he would give his assent to the imposition of a
duty on foreign spirits, which should afford ade-
quate protection to the domestic manufacture
Inc imposition ofsuch tax, if the distilled spi-
rlts consumed IN the country be estimated at
4o'ooo'ooO gallons, would produce aunnal
| revenue Of about eight millions of doiknrs-
With such a revenue might afford complete
protection to all the valuable manufacturing es-
adjustments IN the country, and secure an am
| pie supply OF all those manufactured articles
which essentially contribute to our security and
| independence.
Mr.. T.. said he had deemed it his duty to ex
plain to the committee the views which he en-
tertaincd regarding the proposition before it,
and he could say that it was his wish to consult
not merely the interest of manufactures, but OF
agriculture and commerce. Those interests
were closely and intimately interviewer They
are the JOINT sources of the national wealth. and
great care IS requisite that they do not come i'm
collision.
He concluded by expressing a hope that the
details of the bill would be so arranged as to do
justice and afford satisfaction to all classes of
the community, and to every section of tie Uni
on.
The question was then taken on Mr.. Tracy,s
motion, and decided in the negative, BY a large
majority.
The question then REQUIRED on the motion of
Mr.. Foot, of Connecticut, to strike out the whole
OF the clause proposing an increase of duty on
the importation of distilled spirits and, being
taken, was decided in the negative, 1902 votes TO
81.
Mr.. Garnett, of Virginia, moved to strike
out of the bill the clause in the following words,
VIZ: con orangers, fifty cents per hundred :;
e" on lemons, twenty-five cents per hundred !;
. on lines, ten cents Fer hundrcd.n In sup
port of this motion
Mr.. Garnet said, that, while this bill was a.
larmingly comprehensive in some respects. if
gas singularly, not to say ludicrously, minute
In others. Of the latter description were the
duties proposed to be stricken out; and there
was even duty proposed ON filberts and frs
He presumed the duty on lines and lemons was
introduced on the same principle with that on
foreign spirits, and proposed to operate by the
same means-by discouraging the manufacture
of punch, and promoting that of whiskey. The
duty on oranges, he supposed was for the bene-
INT of the agriculture of Florida. He wished
Florida had voice in this House He would
undertake to say, that, fshe had, though an in
FAINT in the Union, she would not be tempted by
this bait OF an orange to gulp down the nauseous
compound of ingredients offered by this bill. II
would scarcely take out the bad taste. There
was another duty intended for the benefit of Flo
rida; the duty on figs. He would venture to
say, she would not give fig for the duty. O.
ranges ana lemons were refreshing and useful in
sickness. tax on them, was tax ON the
sick. five did lay taxes in reference to the
sick, let it be for their beneft--let US tax some
Of those deadly weapons, and direful drugs,
which, for the last thirty years, have been so 70
tai to the sick in this country. He would sup
port the Chairman of the Committee on Manu-
features, IN tax on idnCetS, and he would vote
fot tax on colomel, though ii produced a ce-
neral constipation, from the Passarnaquaddy to
the Pedee. He thought this bill was sour e.