American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1824-02-17

and bring back the spirits III return. Even unde
.he duty, it now stands, the West India trade i
n lmpushing-the only profit is on the outward car
ones. while there is always dead loss on the re
turns. In this exchange of commodities consists
n great part of the commerce of this country. The
II increase Of duty on foreign spirits now proposed
will destroy that branch OF commerce altogether
me forests of Maine will not be cleared-lhe fish.
cries will languish. The Hon. Speaker has pro-
essed his readiness to meet an excise. If he is
DIV now 10 propose an excise domestic spirits to
the same amount as the proposed duty on foreign,
q am preparedto so with him in both. should have
v no objections that the committee make the duty on
the imported article Is cents instead of 6, provided
4 they lay an excise OF the same amount on the do
\ mestic article. That would indeed be public bles-
Il sne-and would of itself, produce fund more than
sufficient TO carry on and to complete that magnf-
cent scheme of internal Improvements, which has
This day passed this House. The measure as now
B proposed, operates in peculiar manner, one
4 particular district OF country The interests of the
81 farmer, the merchant and the manufacturer, would
n then be alike promoted As to any moral influence
that is hoped to arise from the prohibition, ii is al
4 most nothing. ! admit that no greater social or in
diyLua evil can curse nation, than the excessive
use Of ardent spirit but, will duty of six cents
d gallon, cure, or in any degree lessen this evil? If
the object is TO destroy the Of spirits, let US have
4 deity that will Prove adequate TO its end. When
heard the section read, that is now under discus
q SION did suppose that it was provision intended
simply forrevenue; and ii such was the calculation
"a ofthe committee, they have abored under great
N mistake as to facts. The effect of an increase Of
duty on spirits, has invariably been to diminish rev
N enue. What has been the experience of England
n in this matter Her duties on imported spirits a.
\ mount, now, 10 about fifteen shngs sterling gal
Ion and yet, the article brings less into the Exche-
a quer than when the duty only TWO and six pence.
Y il is plain, however from the very argument of the
Il Honorable Speaker, that revenue alone was not the
3 object Sir, am no advocate for the use of spr.
Hts; nor is the country from which come peculi-
ar at all, whatever the honorable member from
4 Kentucky may suppose,) for its attachment TO the
use OF what has such surpl Using effects on the up
per story And, lest should be misunderstood /
will assure the friends Of the bill that | am entire
& ly friendly to it and hat, were this clause stricken
out The bill should have my cordial appreciation and
support
4 Mr.. Hamilton, Of South Carolina, then observed,
that, gentlemen blended any views TO morality in
Their speculations this lect, spirits were Ger
t4iny most praseworthy subject Of taxation But,
1T the section now objected to, operates pro.
Inhibition OF foreign, and at the same time, bounty
\ 10 domestic spirits, the objects OF morality are not
Nlkey 10 be promoted by so high duty. II it will
Hbe any blessing to the country if it will add any
Mlhng 10 the lovely of its domestic felicity
io have loalhsome still every side Of the pic
pure, the country is likely TO be supremacy blessed
NJ he honorable Speaker, no doubt, prefers whskey |
10 brandy, and we seem in fair way have, in |
abundance, The pure western stuff fresh from the |
8fti 1t further appears, that we are about TO have
IA famine, and that it will be necessary to keep the
whole country drunk for fear OF dearth. We
ERaVe indeed pleasing prospects before Bot, TO
Die serious-when from the days of Lord Chester
&3fel0 n
sRlstory filled with the discussion of this subject
IN when il has been ably argued on both sides of
#the Atlantic, and the whole subject was, as he sup
sfosed, fully understood and settled, he had re-
Haly been surprised to find provision of this kind
Eqhtroduced into the bill.
81 Mr. Clay rejoined. He had been much amused
with the wittcisms Of the honorable gentleman from
eSouth Carolina--but he was restrained from enter
Bng into any thing liks general discussion Of the
Equeson, by fear that this was not a farorabie /
FIm' gfthe day for such discussion.
Yet he could not refrain from noticing the argu-
EmenI Of his honorable friend from Connecticut. III
m had rightly apprehended that argument, it was
Fpn substance this The produce of Connecticut is
Sent TO The West Indies, and spirits constitute the
/ ieturn' cargo. If you impose higher duty on
Esprs,the produce of Connecticut can no longer be !
H Sent to the West Indies. But this same argument
by urged with equal against the whole Tariff.
" il taxes an article raised IN the Middle States
/ lhen the gentlemen from The Middle States urge
E'ms argument. II you tax an article that is the
Aptoduce of the South, then gentlemen from the
|saoulh urge it Each different section of The coun-
IVY holds the same language. The honorable
Eeeneman is quite ready to concur in an excise on
E,ae Western whiskey, because that will not affect
ronnecticut-but if any duty is proposed that
E8'ouches Connecticut then our commerce is gone
HHa once The glory of the nation is annihilated
bug country is going to speedy ruin
me argument is falacious. Its falacy consists
70 this; it assumes that those persons in the West
4 indies who want The produce of Connecticut, will
HOT take 1t unless the Connecticut trader will take
@Eum IN eXchanpe (which he will moi do if the din.