Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-02-17

'ng spirits are YOU not encouraging the TO-
t-ign manufacturer We may experience
fhe same vicisstude in seasons and in crops
that other Countries have experienced-w
may experience times Of scarcity, and even of
famine. Whatever encourages the extensive
growing of gra;n,provides you with resource
against such calamity. But this article at
ftcts not only the grain-growins, but the fruit
growing, the cane-Srowing, and the malt
making districts of our cOuntry-th-y are all
Interested in the exclusion Of foreign spirits.
i'ook az the example If England ). she ex-
cludes the brandies of France and the gin of
Holland and SEA do France aud Holland ex-
clude England aud each other. The duty has
double operation Il not only encourages
home manufactures, but home agricutur.
'kewse-wbile the admission Of foreign spi-
r''s not only goes Ia encourage the foreign
manufactures, but the foreign axricuturalst
also.
But, will not anticipate the discussion Of
the general Question whrnthat comes Up,
thiak shall be able clearly TO show that The
national wealth is the only subsiratnm on
which Ia raise taxation.
Mr.. GARNErr Of Va. was Surprised 10 hear
the tax on foreign spirits advocated on the
ground of encouraging asriculture-i,s ape
ration was directly The reverse. Suppose you
senda bushel nf wheat abroad, and get in
exchange gallon Of rum you thereby des-
Troy the demand abroad for one bushel of
grain but this bushel Of grain, If distilled a,
home, will produce two gallons Of spirits--so
that when home spirits are used in the same
qnai'ity as foreign, they occasion only haH
tue demand for agricultural products that
would arise IL imported were used.
Mr.. TOMLiSsoN of Connecticut. agreed in
the opinion, that il was mpropeI To DISCUSS
the general questions in, olved in the hill, on
Incidental motions respecting its details /; but
since the motion has been made 10 strike out
the present clause, he considered it his duty
10 support that motion. The Speaker, in the
remarks he had made on this subject, SEEM
cd to think that the people Ut THE country
were all OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES To forget that our
commerce Had any existence. But surely that
commercial interest which had proved to this
country source OfsO muck wealth, agcran.
dlsemepf, aud national glory. was al least TO
ne looked Ia as much AS the interest Of acri-
culture. The hon. Speaker seemed To be-
iIeve that We are TO have no reference whate-
yer. IN our discussion the duty; to our ex-
ports which bring in the foreign spiriis-to
the isll, the live stock, the lumber which go.
not only from the Eastern, but from the mid
die states, and from the states south of this
District also, out To the West Indies, and bring
BACK the spirits in return. Even under the
duty, a, u now stands, the West India trade
Is lanSuIshing only profit is ON the out
ward carSoes, while there is always dead
loss on the returns. In this exchange of COM
modities consists "a great part of the commerce
of this country. The increase of duty ON TO-
reign spiiits nov proposed. will destroy that
branch of commerce altogeihrr-the forests
~ Maine will not be- clesred-the fisheries
VIII lanSuIsh. The hon. Speaker has profess.
e0 his readiness TO meet an excise. If ne is
m IN
spirits TO the same amount as the proposed
duty on foreign, | am prepared TO 90 with
him in both. should have no objection Thar
the committee make the duty on the import
eu article 10 cents instead of @, provided they
lay an excise ui the same amount on the do
mestc article. That would indeed be a pub.
lie blessing and would, of itself produce a
fund more than sufficient To carry on and to
Complete that magnificent scheme of internal
improvements, which has this day passed This
ilouse. Iie measure, as now proposed, ope-
,a'es III peculiar manner, on one particular
district Ut country. The interests of the far
mer, the merchant, aud the manufacturer.
would then be alike promoted. As to aoy
moral Influence that IS hoped to arise from the
prohibition, 1t is almost nothing. admit thai
no greater social OF individual evil can curse
na'ion, than thu excessive use of ardent spi-
TAI Dut, VIII duty III six cents gallon, cure.
or III aoy degree lessen this evil? Ifthe OBJ
lrct is 20 destroy the use OF spirits, let us have
,imy that VIII prove adequate 10 its end
Hh"D heard the section read, that is now
Under discussion, did Suppose that it was a
provision intended simply fur revenue and if
such WAS the calculation of The committee
they have lnbored undera great mistak. q.
tn facts. Toe effect of an INCREASE of dnty
on spirits, has invariably been 10 diminish re-
venue. What has been the experience of
England IN this matter Her duties ON inn
p"rl,d spirits amount. now, to about fifteen
shiiIings Sterling gallon; and vet, the artiel,
brings less into the Excbrquer, Than when I'M.
du'y was only two and nix pence. II ispJ,;n
however, from the very argument of IN. bo.
norable Speaker, that revenue alone was not
mr. object. Sir. am 40 adv ocate for the ma.
of spirits nor is the country from which |
come, peculiar nj all, Whatever the honorabi,.
fnenner ffom Kentucky may supposed for its
attachment 10 The Use Of what has surb err
prising effects on the upper story. A.,a Ice,
l should be misunderstood, will assure ,h,.
Giruds of the bill, that am entirely friendly
10 u and that, were this clause stricken Out
the bill should have my cordial approhaiinn
and support
Mr. HAMiLToN VfSOuth Carolina then oh
served, that, if grslenen blended any yis,vs
To morality in their sprcHIatUns on this sub
.l"ct' spirits were certainly most prasewor-
thy subject of taxation. But, If the section
now objected To, operates as prohibition oil
ioreISn aud, at the same time, bounty 10
domestic spirits the objects Of morality are
no no likely To he promoted by so high duty.
In VII he any blessing to the country /; If II
wei add any thing to the loveIy scene of its
domestic felicity, IT, have II lOathssme sill am
every side fthc picture, the country is likely
tn be suprcmfly blessed The honorable