Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1824-02-17

! times manifested by his Eastern friends; but he
was happy that he could now account for all the
queer notions from that section of our country.
| MIR. McDuffie observed that the subject was
of nature little suited to leyity: it called for
grave discussion. What was the state of facts
in relation to it {? Seven or eight years since,
VIC enjoyed great amount OF revenue from the
importation of foreign spirits; but the duty al
ready laid had reduced that duty by two mil
| lions of dollars. The question was clearly a
question OF revenue. Was it pretended that
whiskey was au article the manufacture of which
ought to be cherished Ii was a principle
which had long been settled in political econo-
my, that luxury was proper subject for taxa
ton and revenue. But the present clause went
to diminish the revenue from this source, while.
at the same time, it tendcdto increase the use
of the article 10y the people. OF all the various
descriptions of manufacture, this was, in every
view, the least worthy to be encouraged. Ii in
volved little skill, capital, or machinery; and
c0uldnot be argued for on any grounds usually
taken ON the subject of the tariff.
MIR. Clay differed entirely from the gentleman
from South Carolina; but he was very unwil-
ling To go into discussion ofthc general princi-
pies OF the bill on one of its mere incidental de-
| tails better course would be for some gen
tieman to move to strike out the cnacting clause,
and then Oct the committee take up the measure
OH gepem wounds. 1t had been said that the
clause |eSt,on would diminish the revenue.
This might possibly be the fact but must it,
therefore, necessarily diminish the wealth of the
country Suppose we had imported ten mil
lions OF gallons of foreign spirits. 1t is true we
derived the amount of the revenue upon it,
| which, So far, was gain but so far as we
thereby encouraged foreign agriculture, we paid
an equivalent for what we gained But, if,
instead OF having been manufactured abroad
and paid for abroad, the same quantity had been
made at home, and paid for at home, which would
have been the greatest gain to the country !:
Wealth at home was to be preferred TO that
which was brought into the country from abroad.
And were this duty, instead of being diminished,
to be increased yet more than is now proposed;
were the tax OIL 1t to be increased, SO as to go
to an absolute prohibition, |, for one, said Mr..
Z. am prepared, for myself, and, may say, for
my constituents, TO meet tax ON our home
products. l am not to be frightened by that
ominous word &c excise-excise,n if the wealth
OF the country is substantially to be promoted. /
agree that the western country is interested i'm
the manufacture of spirits; butt ask byimportinp-
spirits, are younotencouragin the foreignmanu-
1aoturer: We may experiencethc same vcissi-
tuden seasons and in crops that other countries
have gxpcrienccd-we may experience times OF
scarcity, and even of famine. Whatever en-
courages the extensive growing of grain, provides
you with resource against such a calamity -
But this article effects not only the grain-grow-
ing, but the fruit-growing, the cane growing
and the Matchmaking districts of our country
they are alfintercsted in the exclusion of foreign
spirits. Look at the example of England she
excludes the brandies Of France and the gin of
Holland; and so do France and Holland ex-
eludc England and each other. The duty has \
double operation; II not only encourages home
manufactures, bat home agriculture likewise
while the admission OF foreign spirits not only
goes to encourage the foreign manufacturer. b,,
| the foreign agriculturist Also
But, VIII not anticipate the discussion of
the general qucstlon-when that comes I'D. I
think shall be able clearly to show that the ma
.tional wealth is the only substratum ON which
to raise taxation.
Mr.. Garnett, Of Virginia, was surprised to
hear the tax on foreign spirits advocated on the
ground OF encouraging agriculture-its opera
tion was directly the reverse. Suppose Won
send bushcl of wheat abroad, and ret in ex
| change gallon OF rum; you thereby DESTROY
the demand abroad for one bIshci of grain ::
but the bushel of grain, if distilled at home. will
produce two gallons of spirits-so that when
nome spirits are used in the same quantity as
iorlegn, they occasion only half the demand for
agricultural products that would arise if impor-
| ted were used.
Mr.. TomIinson, of Connecticut. agreed in the
OPINION, that 1t was improper to discuss the ge-
neral questions involved in the bill, on inciden-
tai motions respecting its details; but, since the
motions has heen made to strike out the present
clause, he considered it his duty to support that
motion. The Speaker, in the remarks he had
made On this subject, seemed to think that the
people OF this country were all agriculturists-
and to forget that our commerce had any exist
ence But surely that commercial interest
which had proved to this country source of so
much wealth, ACKNOWLEDGEMENT, and national cIo
rry, was at least to be looked to as much as the
interest OF agriculture. The Honorable Spca-
ker seemed TO believe that we arc to have no
reference whatever, in our discussion of the du-
tY, to our experts which bring in the forern
splrits-to the fish, the live stock, TIL. I,rnber
which go, not only from the Eastern, but from
inc middle states, and from states south of this
District also, out to the West Indies, and brine
BACK the spirits III return. Even under the du-
ty, as 1t now stands, the West India trade is lam
gulshiug-the only profit is on the outward car
goes, while there is always dead loss nm tho
returns. In this exchange of commodities CON
sists great part ofthe commerce ofthis coun-
Try. The increase of duty on foreign spirits
now proposed, will destroy that branch Of com
,herce a!togeter-the forests of Maine will not
De cleaTed-the fisheries will laneuisb. The
Hon. Speaker has protested his readiness to
meet an excise. Ifhe is ready now to propose
an excise ON domestic spirits to the Same amount
as the proposed duty on foreign, am prepared
to go with bin IN both. | should have no o5iec-
ton that the committee make the duty ON the i'm
ported article 10 cents instead of 6, provided
they lay an excise of the same amount on the
domestic article. Thatwould be public bless
lng-and would, Of itself, produce fund more